Asthma

What you need to know

This increasingly common respiratory condition can respond well to natural remedies and complementary therapies, but they should never be seen as alternatives to conventional treatment recommended by your GP. Always remember that asthma is a serious illness and can be life-threatening. Parents of asthmatic children should make sure that the child - and his or her teachers, guide/scout leaders, babysitters etc - know exactly when and how to administer their medication.

The most useful Supplements:

A good hi-potency multi-nutrient (a strong multivitamin) formula taken daily is useful to assist in correcting dietary deficiencies caused by a poor or restricted diet and those caused by steroids. 

  • Antioxidant formula

1 to 2 capsules per day
  • Fish

3gm to 6gm per day
  • Magnesium

200mcg to 600mcg per day
  • Selenium

100mcg to 200mcg per day
  • Vitamin B6

50mg to 100mg per day
  • Vitamin B12

100mcg to 1,000mcg per day
  • Vitamin C

3gm per day
  • Vitamin E

500iu per day

Other supplements which might be helpful:

Beta Carotene, Bromelain, Lycopene, Quercetin

The most useful Herbs:

Herbal remedies can also complement orthodox treatment.
  • Chamomile flowers

Used as a steam inhalant (one tbspn in a basin of boiling water)
  • Elecampane

Seep two tspns of root in cold water overnight, bring to the boil, strain and sweeten with honey
  • Ephedra

Is very effective but must only be confined to use by a professional herbalist.
  • Lobelia

Increases depth of breathing - as directed on the label

Other herbs that could help include:

Boswellia, Marshmallow, Mullein


NOTE: Chinese herbal medicine can be extremely effective, and safe in the hands of a qualified practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. However there are certain high street Chinese herbal medicine sHops that promise cures for asthma, but they’re sometimes run by unqualified people and use herbs which are contaminated or deliberately adulterated with steroids. Some remedies even contain dangerously high levels of ephedra. For your own safety, it is advisable to check to see if the owner is registered with a recognised body of Chinese herbal medicine.

Homoeopathy

Homoeopaths often use the following remedies to treat this condition, but is best to consult a professional to assess your individual needs.

  • Arsenicum album
  • Ipecacuanha
  • Natrum sulphricum

    • Aromatherapy

    The following are useful Aromatherapy oils put into a vaporiser, added to the bath or mixed with a carrier oil and massaged into the chest or around the nose.

  • Chamomile
  • Frankincense

    • Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

    Dietary changes are also important and the following measures will help:

  • Keep a diet diary to see if there are any foods that might trigger an attack. Often, but not always, Dairy foods seem to be the culprits. If you find that they are, you need to see a naturopath. Cutting out Dairy food must only be done under expert advice; you need to know the most efficient ways of replacing calories (for children) and Calcium (for women, particularly)
  • Avoid colourings, flavourings and preservatives wherever possible.
  • Some research suggests that avoiding salt, sugar and caffeine may reduce symptoms of asthma.
  • Chlorinated tap water may be a problem for some, so using bottled water of filtering water from the tap is advisable.
  • Eat more of the anti-oxidant foods - fruit, vegetables, salads, grapes, melons, tomatoes, peppers, kiwi fruit and wholegrain cereals.
  • Eat more oily Fish, as the omega 3 fats help reduce allergic reactions. 
  • Always keep well hydrated by drinking at least 2 litres of water per day.
  • There is evidence that salt (sodium) is a trigger for some people. In fact a low, sodium vegan diet has helped some people with asthma.

    • Other useful advice:

  • It goes almost without saying that asthmatic adults shouldn’t smoke. But parents of asthmatic children need to be very strict about allowing smoking in the home. The only message is . . . don’t.
  • Any furry pets - dogs, cats, cage birds, hamsters etc - must be banned too…sorry!
  • Bedroom hygiene is extremely important. Use a high-powered vacuum cleaner with an ultra-fine medical filter on the mattress, bedclothes, curtains and all flat surfaces at least once a day. Spray all bedding and surfaces with water every day, then wipe dry. These measures remove the dust-mite droppings that exacerbate asthma. If possible, remove all curtains, drapes, carpets and replace with blinds or shutters, hard wood or plastic tile flooring and use anti dust-mite bedding and anti dust-mite sprays. Wash all bed linen at a high temperature - again to remove dust-mite droppings.
  • Turn down the heating as dry air aggravates the symptoms.
  • Exercise is an absolute essential - as long as the patient is taking their conventional medication - because it gives the lungs a good work-out.- swimming is great, but not in indoor pools if chlorine aggravates asthma. And singing or playing wind instruments encourages asthmatics to take control of their breathing. One year-long study showed that sufferers who took regular exercise could completely be free of symptoms.

    • The following therapies may help:

  • Acupressure
  • Alexander Technique
  • Reflexology
  • Yoga

    • If you are overweight you are not only at higher risk of developing this disorder, but are likely to have worse symptoms if you become a sufferer. It is therefore advisable to take responsibility for your weight and get guidance from your doctor or naturopath. See the section on Obesity.

    Many parents are alarmed, some to the point of paranoia, about giving their children any form of steroids, and although natural remedies can improve asthma quite dramatically, they’re seldom a replacement for conventional medication. Inhaled steroids are, to all intents and purposes, free of side-effects (apart from those below), and even oral steroid medication produces negligible side-effects with short-term use.

    Oral Thrush is a common side effect of using steroid inhalers - and patients are seldom warned about this. After each use, rinse the mouth with water and spit out. Before bed, make a mug of sage tea with two tspns of fresh chopped leaf (one of dried) to 200ml of boiling water, cover, stand for ten minutes, strain and use when cool. It’s equally important to buy a new toothbrush at least every three months to prevent this infection.

    Both inhaled and oral steroids are known to cause nutritional losses, so it a good idea to supplement the diet with a multivitamin and mineral supplement to help correct any deficiencies there may be.

    As with all forms of medicine, there’s a balance between risk and benefit. The risk is negligible and the benefit is that you may avoid your child’s death. It’s vital that you ignore any practitioner who tells you to stop giving steroids to your asthmatic child. You should never consult that person again.

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    This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
    The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.