Natural Remedies To Help Asthma

A Note On Modern Medicine

There is a time and place for modern medicine as there is a time and place for traditional medicine. While I stick to traditional medicine because I feel it is safer and many times more effective, I recognize that when it comes to the respiratory system, sometimes modern medicine is necessary to prevent a serious situation from becoming a life-threatening one.

When the brain and other body functions are being affected by a medication to cause a stunt in growth, its not worth using when there are safer alternatives.

This being so, I dont advise quitting asthma medicine cold turkey if your child is currently taking any. Start implementing these natural asthma remedies and then wean off of the medication.

Natural Home Remedies: Asthma

Asthma is serious and should be discussed with your doctor. But there are also home remedies you can try to reduce the severity and frequency of your attacks, and to help manage your symptoms when they happen.

Source: Adapted from 1,801 Home Remedies, Readers Digest

An asthma attack can occur when an irritant usually a common substance like smoke, cold or dry air, pollen, mold, or dust mites meets a set of temperamental lungs. Hormonal fluctuations, stress, and anger can also trigger an attack. Sometimes theres no apparent cause. Your difficulty in breathing occurs because the bronchi, the tubes that allow oxygen into your lungs, go into spasms. Accompanying them may be coughing and tightness in the chest. The spasms trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation and the production of airway-clogging mucus.

For severe asthma attacks the kind of tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath that can be really frightening most people do just what the doctor recommends. Often, that means quick action with an inhaler containing a drug such as albuterol. If thats what you use, and it works, dont give it up. And always have your doctors telephone number near at hand in case of severe attacks. But for non-emergencies, youll want to figure out ways to help yourself breathe easy.

Follow An Exercise Regimen

A regular dose of suitable exercise promotes aerobic fitness, alleviates asthma symptoms, and helps improve the overall quality of life in patients, but does not significantly improve lung function and airway hyper-responsiveness.

Asthma patients are recommended to perform light exercises, such as slow dancing and brisk walking, which do not put pressure on your lungs to trigger exercise-induced asthma.

Moreover, taking prescribed medicines before exercising and doing warm-up and limbering-down exercises may help avoid such a scenario.

Staying active may help reduce the severity and frequency of asthma episodes, but you must consult your doctor about appropriate exercises for your condition that will not trigger asthma.

Don’t Miss: How To Diagnose Asthma In Child

Practicing Buteyko Breathing Technique

This is also a system of breathing exercises. Buteyko Breathing Technique focuses on breathing out through the nose and not the mouth. Breathing out through the mouth can dry up the mouth and the airways very fast resulting in more problems. Practising and using BBT also makes you less prone to suffering from respiratory infections. Buteyko Breathing Technique can also be instrumental in decreasing your asthma symptoms with the help of slow and gentle breathing through the nose.

Record Your Peak Flow Rates

A peak flow meter is a piece of medical equipment used to measure the speed of inhaled or exhaled air and thus helps in monitoring asthma. The peak flow number lowers when the airways narrow, such as during an attack.

The device can detect these contraction hours or days before the symptoms and thus enables you to take preventive measures and medications.

Read Also: Can You Be A Cop With Asthma

Include Ginger In Your Diet

Just like garlic, ginger has anti-inflammatory qualities too. A study conducted in 2013 showed that ginger supplements were able to ease symptoms of asthma. Having some ginger daily can help you get some relief. Add ginger to your tea during winters. You can also add ginger while cooking your food and reap its benefits.

Help Manage Your Cats Condition

Although there are several home remedies for cat asthma, medication is still the most important part of your cats asthma treatment. These natural remedies should be used to help manage your cats condition but should not be used as standalone treatment.

If you are concerned with side effects of medication, talk to your vet about using inhaled medications in conjunction with the AeroKat* Chamber to keep your cat safe.

Read Also: Can Asthma Be Developed Over Time

Other Home Remedies For Asthma

One of the best home remedies for asthma cough at night is to expose yourself to outside air. Try to keep a window open even during the winter to bring fresh air in.

Additionally, consider these tips to avoid asthma-triggering irritants:

• Reduce dust mites by install flooring or carpets that you can vacuum.
• Some medications can worsen asthma symptoms. These include NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Avoid them if you can.
• Wash your bedding frequently, at least once a week. Vacuum upholstery and carpets regularly as well.
• Choose non-allergenic, non-down pillow cases and sheets.
• Avoid pet dander. Clean and brush pets regularly to keep your asthmatic loved one from being exposed to build-up around the home.
• Cockroach droppings are another asthma trigger. Talk to an exterminator if you suspect you might cockroaches in your home.

Home Remedy Treatments For Asthma

• Enclose your mattress in an airtight cover, then cover it with a washable mattress pad.
• Wash your sheets in hot water every week, and wash your mattress pads and synthetic blankets every two weeks.
• Use polyester or dacron pillows, not those made of kapok or feathers, and enclose them in airtight dust covers.
• Avoid carpeting, which is difficult to clean thoroughly stick to bare floors with washable area rugs.
• Choose washable curtains instead of draperies.
• Avoid dust-catchers all over the house, especially in the bed the less clutter the better. If possible, avoid storing out-of-season clothing or bedding in the bedroom if you can’t, enclose them in heavy plastic.
• Try not to do heavy cleaning, but if you must, use only a vacuum cleaner and damp cloth to clean dust mops and brooms stir up the dust.
• Wear a mask over your mouth and nose while cleaning, and leave the room when you have finished.
• Run an air conditioner or dehumidifier in warm weather, especially in spring and fall when mites multiply. Aim to keep the humidity level in your home under 40 percent but above 25 percent.
• Consider using an air purifier in the bedroom to keep the room free from dust particles.

Don’t Miss: How Common Is Asthma In Adults

Diet Will Help Keep Asthma Under Control

Weve all heard you are what you eat. And its so true. If you eat junk, youre going to be feeling like junk and coughing up junk when your asthma kicks in.

But dont get too hung up with what youve read online. Its not about some restrictive diet, being vegan or vegetarian or gluten free. You can be all or none of those things and it wont necessarily affect your asthma.

The best diet for asthma is really just the healthiest diet that works for YOU specifically. You need to discover what your personal food intolerances are. Remember that being intolerant to a food doesnt have to mean you turn blue and die after eating something, like with a peanut allergy. It can simply be that a certain food leaves you feeling acidic or phlegmy, or just generally unwell after eating.

But sometimes its not so easy to determine which foods are causing reactions over the course of a day. Each day you eating dozens of different things, with potentially hundreds of ingredients.

This is why I encourage everyone to start keeping a food journal. Very simply, this is a journal where you write down what youve eaten and then how you feel 1-2 hours later. If a food makes you plegmy and heavy-chested, stop eating that food for a week and see what happens. Likewise, if a food makes you feel good and full of energy , eat more of that food.

Learn more about how to journal for asthma management.

Can You Use Alternative Medicine For Your Childs Asthma

Alternative treatments have been in use for managing symptoms of asthma for a long time. However, proper evidence on such treatment is lacking. While some of them like the non-drug therapies are usually harmless, you can ask your childs pediatrician about the right one for your child.

Breathing exercises are forms of non-drug treatment that has been routinely used in the treatment of people with asthma. These include structured breathing programs, such as the Buteyko breathing technique, the Papworth method, yoga, and pranayama that manipulate the breathing pattern and help in asthma.

Emotionally stressed children suffer from more attacks of asthma. Try teaching them relaxation techniques, such as meditation, hypnosis, and progressive muscle relaxation.

If you do not know any of these non-drug approaches, learn from complementary and alternative practitioners, doctors, psychologists, social workers, or nurses who may be able to teach you all these.

A few home remedies have been tried for asthma, including

• Black seed

Also Check: Does Smoking Weed Affect Asthma

Effective Ways To Treat Asthma At Home

In people with asthma, the airways become narrow and produce a lot of mucus. It triggers difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Several factors can increase the risk of suffering from asthma. Some of the risk factors include having a blood relative with asthma, smoking, being overweight, and passive smoking. For some people, asthma doesnt pose many problems. However, there are others who suffer from asthma attacks.

Are you tired of having to latch on to your inhaler and your asthma medications? Do not let them go just yet. Make a few changes to your lifestyle see your symptoms ease up a lot.

10 Home Remedies for Asthma are:

Make An Asthma Action Plan

If you don’t have one already, work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan. This is something you talk about and write down. It helps you tell how well-controlled your asthma is and what to do about it. Your action plan might include:

• How much medicine to take and when
• A list of your triggers and ways to avoid them
• What to do when you have specific symptoms of trouble

Read Also: How Long To Recover From Asthma Attack

How To Cure Asthma Naturally Permanently 5 Powerful Strategies

Life with asthma is hard. Every asthmatic has wondered how to cure asthma naturally, permanently is it even possible? Of course, there is no cure for asthma but the symptoms can be effectively controlled with natural methods in many cases.

Asthma can be cured naturally permanently with a combination of lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, meditation, breathing exercises and herbal teas. When youre body is as strong and healthy as possible, youll be able to breathe better and hopefully youll find your asthma is greatly improved.Following this guidance, asthma symptoms can effectively be cured forever.

There are lots of possibilities to treat asthma naturally.

What Are Natural Remedies For Asthma

With all the studies on alternative medicine and natural remedies, you may wonder if thereâs a natural cure for asthma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma at this point. In fact, you should avoid any treatment or product — natural or otherwise — that claims to be a “cure” for asthma.

Some natural therapies may help you manage symptoms of asthma. For instance, a negative response to emotional stress can cause an asthma attack. Some natural relaxation remedies like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback can help relieve stress.

Other findings suggest that diet plays a role in easing asthma symptoms. For example, omega-3 fatty acids found naturally in high-fat fish like salmon, mackerel, and cod may help your body fight inflammation. Whether this may help people who have asthma is still unproven.

Also Check: Can You Take Aspirin With Asthma

Common Names For Nigella Sativa

• Black cumin
• Black seed
• Kalonji

Some preliminary research suggests that nigella sativa extract may offer some bronchodilatory support to help open the airways in those with asthma. A small study with 15 participants found that boiled extract of nigella sativa improved pulmonary function tests, including forced expiratory volume , peak expiratory flow , and maximal mid expiratory flow . Although, the bronchodilatory effect was not as effective as the drug theophylline that was used as a comparison. More research is needed to explore nigella sativa’s potential use for asthma, an effective dosage, or any adverse effects.

Best Foods For Treating Asthma

Carotenoid Foods

Do you like oranges? Well, those foods that reflect the reds, oranges, and yellows of the rainbow contain carotenoids. A study of 68,000 women showed that those who ate more tomatoes, carrots, and leafy greens had much lower rates of asthma, and that people prone to asthma tended to have low levels of circulating carotenoids in their blood. And yes, salad leaves tend to be green, but the color under the green chlorophyll are the carotenoids. Think of a leaf turning color in autumn.

Foods with folate .

Do you want another reason to eat your greens? Dark green leaves are also high in folate the water-soluble vitamin B9. High-folate foods include green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.

Folate reduces allergic reactions and inflammation. Furthermore, it might be capable of reducing wheezing by regulating inflammatory processes.

Vitamin C and vitamin E

Another natural remedy for asthma wheezing, according to some research, is consuming more vitamin C and vitamin E. These vitamins are powerful antioxidants and help detoxify the body.

For vitamin C, consume leafy greens, citrus fruits, cruciferous veggies, and berries. Vitamin E, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, is found in nuts, seeds, and healthy plant oils.

Magnesium

For magnesium, consume greens, nuts, seeds, beans, cocoa, and certain ancient grains.

Cruciferous vegetables

Omega-3 foods

Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Asthma Completely

A Diet Rich In Fruit And Vegetables

On average, people who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables tend to be healthier and have healthier lung function. The Swiss National Science Foundation conducted a recent study with the Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois . on mice. The research shows that mice fed a high-fibre diet had fewer lung infections in the presence of mites than mice not fed the high-fibre diet. Enjoy seasonal products to fill your plate with a rainbow of colours for the best mix of vitamins and minerals.

Using A Natural Remedy Arsenal For Asthma

Asthma symptoms are a nuisance at best and dangerous at worse. Luckily there are some natural remedies for asthma that can help you prevent the onset of asthma symptoms for you or your child, and make daily life more enjoyable.

Do you or a family member suffer from asthma? What remedies work best for you?

Recommended Reading: How To Use Kalonji For Asthma

Homeopathic Remedies For Asthma Attack

1. Arsenicum album : A person who feels really worn-out and restless needs this medication, even more so if he/she feels difficulty in breathing, especially while lying down. The problem might be accompanied by frothy white fluid during coughing.

2. Carbo vegetabilis : When a person feels extremely weak or has a feeling of getting faint, this medication is used. Other symptoms may include burping, frequent passing of gas, and an upset stomach.

3. Chamomilla : When a person becomes overexcited or very angry, experiences dry cough with irritation, this medication is helpful. The person also becomes hypersensitive along with the above symptoms.

4. Ipecacuanha : When coughing eventually leads to vomiting, this homeopathic medication is suggested. Other symptoms include accumulation of mucus in the air passages and difficulty in coughing out.

5. Natrum sulphuricum : When a person feels so weak that he/she holds his/her chest while coughing, this medication is recommended. Conditions become worse in the early morning, and the person finds it difficult to breathe while getting up from bed.

Other useful homeopathic medications include Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, and Spogia tosta.

Modify Your Cats Diet

Ensure your cat is fed a well-balanced diet. A complete, wholesome diet gives your cat the nutrition they need to keep their immune system as healthy as possible.

A low-allergen diet may help reduce inflammation and reduce instances of asthma attacks. Ask your vet for recommendations before switching your cats food.2

You May Like: Why Do Cockroaches Cause Asthma Attacks