Researchers at the University of Maryland have stumbled upon a new treatment for Asthma. What they discovered was that, like your tongue, the lungs have taste buds, more specifically bitter taste receptors. It was thought when doctors first noticed these bitter taste bubs in the smooth muscle of the bronchus that they were there for detecting toxins in the air. What they believed was that when a toxic chemical entered the lungs these taste buds would trigger the lungs to contract and so to lessen the impact of the toxin and causing the person flee from the area.

Contrary to what they thought the bitter taste receptors actually caused the lungs to expand. Studies conducted in lab mice showed that when a bitter chemical was inhaled it opened the airways. Another beneficial behavior of these taste receptors is that when they are stimulated they increase calcium levels in the smooth muscle cells of the lung, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels. Even more surprising is that fact that something as simple as a harmless bitter compound, when inhaled expanded the airways better than any treatment for asthma or COPD out today. The scientists at Maryland believe that this treatment will be available very soon and it could potentially take over most of the market for asthma and COPD medications.

This article captured my attention because I always find is interesting when scientists discover new treatments or cures for diseases that are easily found in nature. This bitter compound was not chemically engineered in a lab somewhere, it was an off the shelf cooking sweetener with a bitter after taste, but pretty much any bitter plant’s aroma can do the trick, things like lemons, onions, are garlic to name a few.