The clinical pharmacology of a herbal asthma cigarette.

1 Herbal preparations containing atropine-like alkaloids are marketed as proprietory asthma remedies, typically in the form of cigarettes. 2 This randomised, cross-over study compares in six healthy volunteers the pharmacological effects caused by smoking a standard, medium tar, tobacco cigarette or a herbal cigarette. 3 Smoking a herbal cigarette is associated with a significant fall in heart rate consistent with the systemic response to atropine-like alkaloids and a significant increase in peak expiratory flow rate consistent with the bronchodilator effect of reduced cholinergic activity. 4 Smoking a herbal cigarette seems analogous to the inhalation of ipratropium by aerosol for a local bronchodilator effect.