Alternative Treatments for Asthma

by | Feb 28, 2018

Alternative Treatments for Asthma

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 230 million people worldwide suffer from asthma. Its prevalence is increasing with pollution cited as a major trigger.

Other triggers include exercise, cold weather, stress, certain foods or drugs and illnesses like colds or flu. One of the most common triggers is allergies.

The Asthma-Allergy Connection

Allergies and asthma often occur together because they both involve an exaggerated immune response. One theory holds that our cleaner lifestyles prevent children from being desensitized to allergens early in life. When they get older, their immune systems overreact to common substances, triggering an allergic (and, often, asthmatic) response.

Allergic reactions affect lungs and airways and often produce mucus that makes it harder for asthmatic patients to breathe. Avoiding asthma triggers is the first defense, but what are some other possible non-medicinal ways to combat this common health problem?

Exercise

It would seem counterintuitive to encourage asthma sufferers to exert their bodies more, but studies have shown that, when it can be done safely, exercise strengthens the pulmonary system, increasing stamina. This makes the body more resilient against asthma.

Many athletes like soccer star David Beckham, long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe and track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee control their asthma well enough to compete at top levels. Exercise is a good way to combat weight gain, one of the risks leading to the development of asthma.

For those whose asthma is triggered by stress, exercise helps regulate cortisol and other hormones that can adversely affect health. For those with hay fever-sensitive asthma, consider sports like martial arts or bring your activity indoors during high pollen season.

Salt Therapy

In the nineteenth century, it was noticed that workers in European salt mines rarely got respiratory diseases. This was attributed to the high salt content of the air they were breathing. Salt could reduce inflammation and thin out mucus to make it easier to clear. You don’t need to be a salt miner to get the same benefit.

Many European spas have salt rooms, and the treatment is spreading to the United States and Asia. If you can’t make the spa, salt treatments are available via lamps and inhalers.

Food/Drink

Can you eat your way to asthma stabilization? It might be worth giving the following foods a try, even if there isn’t definitive proof that all of them are effective.

Monofloral honey produced in New Zealand is the latest claimed miracle health food. This antibacterial honey derived from the pollen of the manuka bush contains amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. Honey, in general, is effective at reducing coughing and soothing mucous membranes. Pair it with cinnamon to reduce phlegm.

Originally used to make candle wicks, the mullein flower has been used for centuries to treat asthma. It’s utilized mostly via a tea or extract. The plant is also known as lungwort and shepherd’s staff.

When Eskimos were found to have low asthma rates, some scientists attributed this to their consumption of oily fish with lots of omega-3 fatty acids. Taking purified fish liver oil or krill oil can help control the allergy-induced lung inflammation in asthma.

Help in Your Crisper?

Beta-carotene is the substance that gives vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers and squash their bright colors. During digestion, beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A which has been shown to help control asthma symptoms.

Flavonoids come from the breakdown of fruits and vegetable in the body and help block chemicals associated with asthma. They act as antioxidants by preventing free radicals from damaging cells.

Caffeine was first recommended by Dr. Henry Hyde Salter in the 1850s. He thought that stimulating the nervous system was the reason for its efficacy, it does work on another level. Caffeine is broken down into theophylline, a bronchodilator that was widely used to treat asthma in the 1970s and 1980s.

Vitamins/Minerals

Magnesium in the form of magnesium sulfate is used intravenously in emergency rooms to treat acute asthmatic events. It inhibits muscle spasms and increases the body’s production of the anti-inflammatory nitric oxide.

In addition to vitamin A, vitamins D, C and E strengthen the immune system as well as suppress asthma’s exaggerated immune response. Vitamin D can be found in dairy, fatty fish, and cereals. Vitamin C is in citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Vitamin E contains the antioxidant gamma-tocopherol, which targets severe (neutrophilic) asthma. It can be found in nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables.

Supplements

Many supplements are thought to have an efficacious effect on asthma because they either are anti-inflammatory (gingko biloba, licorice root), or are known to relax the muscles of the airway (ligusticum wallichii, sophora flavescens). Butterbur has long been used to ease allergies, and dry ivy leaf extract helps clear mucus.

From China

Acupuncture is widely used in China to help regulate breathing. Studies have suggested that it might decrease medicine dosages needed to keep asthma under control, but more trials are needed to make a definitive statement.

In moxibustion, either cones or cylinders are used to burn moxa mugwort onto the skin at acupuncture pressure points. In the small groups that have been studied, it is shown to be more effective when paired with massage.

Both acupuncture and moxibustion have a low incidence of side effects.

Chiropractic

The idea of chiropractic is to adjust the spine and, in effect, the nerves, allowing the thoracic cavity to expand more easily when breathing. This non-invasive treatment also claims to help alleviate obstructions in the lungs and airways.

Homeopathic Medicine

When carefully and accurately prescribed by a well-trained, homeopathic doctor, homeopathic remedies can provide significant relief from acute and chronic asthma. Worldwide clinical research has proven the effectiveness of homeopathy for asthma. Find a homeopathic physician near you at https://homeopathyusa.org/directory-physicians/

Recent Posts

4 Natural Remedies for Gout

Gout is metabolic disease that develops when uric acid isn’t being removed from the body in the way that it should be. Without a functional metabolic pathway, the acid builds up within a patient’s bloodstream and causes uric acid crystals to develop within bone joints around the body, most notably in the feet. These crystals […]

10 Natural Fibromyalgia Treatment Options

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes chronic, widespread pain in your muscles, and joints. Other key symptoms include sleep disturbances, a general sense of tiredness, and sensitivity to touch. Patients describe the pain as an intense stabbing, shooting or burning pain that feels as if it is deep within the muscles. Joints feel as if […]

10 Amazing Natural Ways to Treat Hair Loss

Researchers all around the world have been trying to find the key to a healthy head of hair for as long as anyone can remember. At Alternative DrMCare, we’ve had huge success with natural hair loss remedies. Our natural hair loss treatment list consists of supplements, home-made remedies, and lifestyle changes. Our top 4 home-made […]

Your Health Your Way

Two Smart Solutions

$197 Only

for Lifetime Membership Unlimited Access

Join Us

Solution 1

Join Alternative DrMCare Today
and Take Control of Your Health

Exclusive Member Benefits

Comprehensive Natural Protocols
Comprehensive Natural Protocols

Address various ailments with tools tailored to support your body and mind.

High-Quality Product Recommendations
High-Quality Product Recommendations

Get direct links to professional-grade, pharmaceutical-quality supplements and resources to complement your health plan.

Personalized Care
Personalized Care

Submit special requests for custom-designed protocols tailored to your unique health needs through consultation.

Global Access
Global Access

Use your protocols anytime, anywhere in the world.

40+

Years of Extensive
Experience

Solution 2

Request a Personalized Consultation with DrM

Unlock the full potential of natural self-care with a personalized consultation! DrM provides expert guidance tailored to your unique health needs, ensuring you maximize the effectiveness of cutting-edge, natural medical self-care protocols.

Why Schedule a Holistic, Natural Medical Consultation?

Customized Health Solutions
Customized Health Solutions

Get specific, actionable advice on applying our natural protocols to address your specific health concerns.

Expert Guidance
Expert Guidance

Benefit from DrM’s 40+ years of extensive experience and expertise in natural, holistic, and integrative medicine.

Confident Self-Care
Confident Self-Care

Gain clarity and confidence in managing your health with personalized strategies designed just for you.

Tailored Support
Tailored Support

Whether you're exploring prevention or need help with an existing condition, DrM provides insights you can trust.

Supplementation
Supplementation

Dr.M will create a personalized supplement plan to support your health goals and treat specific conditions.

Custom Homeopathic Remedy
Custom Homeopathic Remedy

After completing a detailed questionnaire and consultation, DrM will craft a personalized homeopathic remedy tailored to your unique needs. You'll receive clear instructions on how to take it for optimal results, ensuring a safe and effective approach to healing.

Alternative Natural Medical Self-Care Protocols Learn How to Heal Yourself!