Alternatives in Cystic Fibrosis Treatment

In the fight against Cystic Fibrosis (CF), an inherited and ultimately fatal genetic disorder affecting the lung and digestive systems, several medical advances have been made. With the help of many charities and big name donors such as Bill Gates, Celine Dion, and Rosie O'Donnell, new medical advances are coming close to helping slow the progression of this disease and make life for those who suffer from it longer and fuller. The current life expectancy for Cystic Fibrosis suffers is in the mid-thirties. Lesser known though, are some of the alternative medical advances that have come to light in the treatment of this disease.

One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine touted curcumin, an extract from the yellow spice turmeric, as having potential healing benefits. The study's authors found that in mice, the spice extract helped previously mutated cells to function at an almost normal level.

Another recent study proved that salt water was beneficial. Lung function for CF patients showed great improvement after inhaling a 7% mixture of hypertonic saline, a much cheaper and more natural treatment than many of the very expensive medicines that those with the disease often take daily to maintain lung function and ward off infection.

Other Cystic Fibrosis patients turn to alternatives such as homeopathy, chiropractic care, or acupuncture to help deal with the disease. While none of these alternatives have been proven by scientifically to treat the disease, patients attest to feeling better after treatments. Homeopathy, a system of treatment where a law of similarities is taken into account, finds similar substances from nature as those that cause complications in CF to combat effects of the disease. Acupuncture helps to realign the body's meridians. Acupuncture for treatment of Cystic Fibrosis can help with deficiencies in many of the areas affected by the disease: namely, the lungs and pancreas. Finally, due to the often deep and wracking coughs that many Cystic Fibrosis patients have, suffers find that their body alignment often gets out of whack. Many find that chiropractic care can help as well. Each of these alternative therapies has it's place in easing the battle that many face against Cystic Fibrosis.

Since Cystic Fibrosis also affects the body's absorption of nutrient sand minerals, some CF patients find that they may benefit from alternative programs offering nutritive supplements like the Juice Plus program and courses of probiotics.

CF patients have always known that exercise, an age-old prescription for good health, is an absolute necessity to maintaining and improving lung function. Many CF patients also find that alterative regimes such as Yoga and Pilates can help to strengthen core muscles that may get tired from coughing and improve lung function through the breath work associated with each discipline.

While patients with CF should always consult their doctors before starting an alternative medical regime and should be wary of any alternatives that tout that they cure the disease (there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis), many who suffer with the disease may find that they are able to supplement their medical care with alternatives to help prolong and enhance their quality of life.