Treat Asthma Naturally
I can’t think of anything more frightening than not being able to breathe Yet for millions of Americans, the nightmare of gasping for breath is their reality.
I just recently witnessed my friends lose their precious little boy to this dreadful disease. I can attest first-hand that asthma not only devastates lungs, but breaks hearts.
Asthma has grown to epidemic proportions. Today, 1 in 12 people suffer with asthma and the numbers continue to grow each year. Why, in a time of increased technology and improved medical practices would a disease be far more prevalent than it was 100 years ago? Though no one knows the exact answer, I suspect that some of our technological advances hurt, rather than help, the human body. Chemicals and fumes that didn’t exist hundreds of years ago now saturate the air we breathe. Our internal balance becomes compromised when we venture too far from nature.. Sadly, the result of imbalance is often disease. And for millions, that disease is asthma.
What is Asthma?
Asthma can occur at any age. Just because you didn’t have asthma as a child, doesn’t mean you won’t contract it as an adult. In fact, adult onset asthma is on the rise. Many people in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond are finding themselves in the doctor’s office complaining of breathing difficulties. Adult onset asthma is often associated with a faster decline of lung function and more severe symptoms than child onset asthma. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, I recommend seeing a physician about the possibility of asthma.
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness, pressure, or pain
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
- A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
- Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu
- Dry cough at night or when exposed to particular triggers
- Colds that are respiratory in nature and last longer than 10 days
- Shortness of breath after exercise or exposure to cold air
Before the onset of puberty, more males are diagnosed with asthma than females. Conversely, females are more often diagnosed with asthma as adults. This results from fluctuations in female hormones that can play a significant role in adult onset asthma. Researchers believe it is specifically due to drops in the hormone progesterone.
Some of the most common contributors to adult onset asthma include:
- Pregnancy and menopause
- Hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills
- Exposure to viruses and bacteria, especially those that affect the respiratory tract
- Allergies, both food and environmental
- Exposure to dust, mold, and chemical scents like perfumes
- Obesity
- Smoking
However, even with the growing rate of adult onset asthma, 80% of those with asthma experienced their first attack before 6 years of age. Some people show great improvements with their asthma symptoms as they mature into adulthood. For others, symptoms disappear for years, only to see them return in later adulthood. But for others, asthma begins in early childhood and remains a thorn in their side their entire life.
Child onset asthma is often caused by:
- Genetic predispositions
- Exposure to mold (black mold specifically)
- Secondhand smoke exposure
- Viral and bacterial respiratory infections
Research concludes that there may be another possible cause of asthma: antibiotics. Antibiotics are frequently prescribed to infants and toddlers for everything from ear infections to strep throat. In some cases, like strep throat, antibiotics are necessary and help heal and prevent the spread of these harmful bacteria. However, antibiotics have been over-prescribed and often used when unnecessary. This has contributed to a rise in antibiotic resistant superbugs, which are extremely hard to treat.
Superbugs aren’t the only result of overuse of antibiotics. One of the most recent studies observing the connection between antibiotic use and asthma analyzed data from 62,576 children ages 7 years and younger. It included 26,693 who had taken at least one round of antibiotics before the age of 1. By 3 years of age, 18% had developed wheezing or asthma!
Unnecessary use of antibiotics lowers immunity by disturbing the natural bacterial balance in the body. It wasn’t until recently that mainstream medicine began to back off from over-prescribing antibiotics. Many times when parents take their children into the doctor, they expect to walk out with a prescription, whether the illness is bacterial or not. I was one of those kids and was on round after round of antibiotics most of my toddler years. I have suffered extreme gut issues because of the damage that antibiotics caused. Luckily, I didn’t develop asthma, but millions of children do every year. It is always best to use antibiotics only when absolutely necessary and to always follow every round with a month’s worth of probiotic supplements to replenish healthy bacteria stores.
Reducing Asthma Attacks
Avoiding asthmatic triggers is the best way to avoid asthma attacks. Although this is always easier said than done. Environmental allergy triggers can’t always be avoided. You can’t always choose the air you breath. Something as minor as someone’s perfume may send you into an asthma attack.
Try to always be aware of your surroundings and don’t be afraid to voice your concerns. Let your friends and family know what triggers your asthma so they can make the appropriate accommodations. There is no shame in being honest and open with others about what triggers your asthma! They’ll be relieved that you told them as no one wants to cause harm to someone they care about!
One of the largest contributors to asthma attacks is stress. Anxiety and stress can increase the frequency of asthma attacks. The stress and asthma connection is very cyclical. Asthma attacks cause anxiety; anxiety causes more asthma attacks, and so on. The key here is taking control of your thoughts and feelings. Taking the time to calm your mind and reduce your stress levels can do wonders for asthma.
Avoid stress-induced asthma:
- Split up the workload. Don’t even try to carry the entire load yourself. Involve your significant other and your kids. Also, be okay with life being a little out-of-order. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
- Exercise lowers stress. Use exercise appropriately as it can sometimes induce asthma.
- Sleep at least 8 hours at night and go to bed before midnight. Proper sleep lowers your stress hormone levels and lifts your mood.
- Practice relaxation techniques like prayer, meditation, and deep breathing.
- Find time to relax. Even if everything isn’t done, the house is a mess, and you have projects to do, be sure and take time for yourself each week. Get away, go shopping, or read a book. Do whatever helps you relax and rejuvenate!
- Take stress-relieving supplements if necessary. L-tryptophan, L-theanine, holy basil, relora, and ashwagandha are all excellent supplements to help take the edge off. I recommend a product called L-Theanine Serene by Source Naturals.
Supplements for Asthma
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a critical nutrient for your immune system. It is no surprise that studies have found a direct correlation between this essential vitamin and asthma.
If you have asthma, then have a vitamin D blood test performed. This will tell you whether or not your levels need to be boosted. Aim for a level of 60-80 ng/ml. Supplementing with around 35 IU of vitamin D per pound of body weight is a great dose to maintain healthy levels in your body.
Even better, go outside and soak up the free vitamin D available from the sun! Just 20 minutes in the sun can give you 25,000 IU of vitamin D! I promise, 20 minutes a day won’t cause cancer; it will prevent it! Vitamin D boosts your killer cell activity and reduces inflammation in the body; therefore, lowering the chance of disease! Vitamin D is an inexpensive and effective treatment for asthma.
Butterbur
In my education of becoming a Traditional Naturopath, I learned many effective uses of natural herbs, vitamins, and supplements. These natural remedies, though effective, are often not recognized by mainstream science or the medical field. Because of this, I’m always thrilled when studies prove and recognize the efficiency of natural supplements. This was the case when I read a study that demonstrated that butterbur was an effective treatment for asthma!
I first saw butterbur come on the market around 10 years ago. It was initially recommended for migraines, but later also showed an ability to decrease allergy symptoms. Then, it was noted that it decreased asthma symptoms. Butterbur contains both anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
Butterbur dosage for asthma is around 50-75 mg twice daily.
Boswellia
Boswellia is another natural herb that has shown to be effective in treating asthma in clinical trials. It works by inhibiting leukotrienes, which are inflammation-inducing compounds, in the body. When leukotrienes are released in the lungs, airways are narrowed and an asthma attack is often the result. Boswellia’s ability to decrease inflammation is a wonderful way to treat asthma naturally.
Take 300 mg three times a day of Boswellia to treat asthma.
Natural Homemade Inhaler
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could inhale something all natural, without side effects to improve your asthma symptoms! Inhalers, though at times life saving, contain steroids, which cause many side effects like acne and lowered immunity. Although a natural inhaler may not be a substitute for a steroid inhaler, it may decrease the use of steroids.
You can purchase essential oil diffusers, which allow the oils to be diffused into the air, allowing you to breathe them in and experience their benefits.
There are many beneficial oils used for treating asthma. However, the most commonly recommended oils include:
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Tea Tree (melaleuca)
- Lemon
- Cypress, pine, marjoram, and bay leaf are also great oils to incorporate.
If you want to make your own inhaler, purchase the oils of your choice and a refillable inhaler available by clicking HERE.
Once you have your selected oils and inhaler, assemble your inhaler and drop around 15 drops of combined oils onto the wick provided. The oils should last several days and the inhaler is easily transported in your pocket or purse to use when needed.
If you aren’t up for making your own inhaler, Olbas makes an all-natural inhaler you can purchase here.
There is also a product called Herbal Breathing by Baar and Inspirol by Heritage. These products use essential oils combined with other traditional folk remedies, which are inhaled and expired by the lungs. These formulas were used long before corticosteroids were available to bring relief to those with asthma and other lung issues.
Lowering your stress using natural supplements and essential oil therapies can effectively and safely treat asthma. Don’t allow asthma to rob you of your life! Take steps towards health and healing by including holistic, all natural therapies into your treatment plan. Take a deep breath and breathe in a new and revived healthy life!
Taking the asthma drug Xolair is already a risky proposition. But finally, after 6 years of being prescribed, more dangers have come to light. Ones the FDA knew about all along. Don’t risk a dangerous drop in blood platelet levels or going into anaphylactic shock! Try these safe alternative remedies for asthma!
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