Herbal Action: Antispasmodic

Also known as: Spasmolytics

Antispasmodic herbs relieve irritation, muscular spasms, convulsions, and cramps. In the respiratory system, they are used for constant coughing beyond what's needed to expel mucus, hacking coughs, and asthmatic conditions.

What they do:

• Relieve muscular spasms, convulsions, and cramps

• Calm hacking or constant coughing that goes beyond productive mucus expulsion

• Support asthmatic conditions by easing airway spasm

• Ease general spasm-related pain

How they're used:

Antispasmodic herbs are typically taken as teas, extracts, or capsules, often at the onset of a spasm, cramp, or coughing fit, or taken consistently for chronic or recurring spasms.

When to consider them:

Cramping, cough, asthma, hiccups, restless legs, and muscle spasms or tics — especially when tied to chronic tension from stress, anxiety, or other underlying factors.

Herbs

• Black cohosh

• Black haw (cramp bark)

• Chamomile

• Fennel

• Ginger

• Kava kava

• Lavender

• Lemon balm

• Linden flowers

• Passion flower

• Peppermint

• Valerian

• Wild yam

• Anise seed

• Blue cohosh

• Boneset

• Bugle

• Calendula

• Capsicum

• Cascara sagrada

• Catnip

• Chaparral

• Clary sage

• Coltsfoot

• Cramp bark

• Elecampane

• Garlic

• Hawthorn berries

• Lobelia

• Mistletoe

• Motherwort

• Mugwort

• Mullein

• Oats

• Ox-eye daisy

• Pennyroyal

• Pleurisy root

• Red clover

• Red raspberry

• Red root

• Rosemary

• Rue

• Sage

• Scullcap

• Self heal

• Spearmint

• Tansy

• Thyme

• Vervain

• Virginia snake root