Mamane: scientific therapy for asthma?

Mortality from asthma in Hawaii continues to increase and chronic problems of medication compliance, side effects, and cost persist. The advisability of adding alternative (traditional) medication for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic function was examined. One of the herbs for asthma in the Hawaiian narrative tradition is mamane, or in scientific terminology, Sophora chrysophylla. The scientific literature on S. chrysophylla and of the closely related species Sophora flavescens ait were reviewed in this context and the findings support further investigation.