[Expectorant herbal medicines in respiratory tract diseases in tobacco smokers].

Cigarette smoking can cause a variety of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases like: bronchitis, emphysema, myocardial infraction as well as lung cancer. The tar phase precipitates in the respiratory tract, inactivating the ciliated epithelium and inhibiting the self-cleaning of bronchia. Herbal remedies increase mucosa secretion and hence facilitate coughing up the secrete residual. The action of expectorant herbs results primarily from their influence on the gastric mucosa and following a reflex stimulation which leads to an increase in secretion of the bronchial glands. Volatile-oil type expectorant herbs have shown a direct stimulatory effect on the bronchial glands by means of local irritation, accompanied with antibacterial and spasmolytic activity. Expectorant herbs containing saponins function reduce the surface tension of the secretions facilitating their separation from the mucous membranes.