Preventing and Treating Asthma Attacks Naturally

Asthma is a fairly common respiratory condition in which airways constrict, making it difficult to breathe. Typical medical treatments for asthma include inhalers and nebulizers. However, there are also natural remedies you can use to treat and prevent asthma attacks. Asthma is a respiratory condition in which your airways are inflamed. When something, such as allergies, irritate your airways, they become narrower, which typically leads to an asthma attacks, constituted by wheezing, breathing difficulties, coughing, and tightness in the chest. Not only do the airways become narrower during asthma attacks, cells within the airways may produce more mucus than normal, and muscles around the airways tighten, which cause the airways to become even narrower and makes it difficult for air to reach your lungs.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the cause of asthma is not yet known; however, genetics and early exposure to allergens, tobacco smoke, and/or infections seem to play a part in why individuals develop asthma.

There are certain things that tend to bring on asthma symptoms and attacks. These typically include exercise, irritants, allergens, and viral infections. Some irritants that may lead to asthma attacks are: expressing strong emotions, such as laughing hard and crying, painting or cooking fumes, changes in weather, cold air, cigarette smoke, air pollution, and scented products. Some common allergens that lead to asthma attacks include: cockroaches, animal or pet dander, grass and tree pollen, dust mites, and mold.

It is important to learn what types of things lead to your own asthma attacks so that you can adequately prepare and prevent asthma attacks from occurring. However, you will not be able to avoid ever having an asthma attack. Thus, you can use the following natural remedies for asthma when you experience an attack.

Please note: While I have asthma, I have not tried these suggestions. The United States Food and Drug Administration does not monitor the safety and effectiveness of vitamins, minerals, and herbs for the treatment of medical conditions. Please talk with your doctor or other qualified medical professionals about the safety and effectiveness of these natural asthma remedies before you employ them as regular asthma treatment in your daily life.

Boswella serrata: Boswella serrata is derived from the Boswella serrata tree, which is found in India. In Ayurvedic medicine, boswella is utilized to treat joint problems, some inflammatory conditions, arthritis, and respiratory diseases. Boswella is thought to inhibit inflammation within the airways in asthma, according to the website Vitamin Retailer.

According to Vitamin Retailer in a double-blind study with 80 asthmatic participants the effectiveness of boswella was tested against a placebo. The results showed that 70% of participants who took 300mg of Boswella three times each day significantly improved their breathing capacity and reduced the number of asthma attacks they had compared to only 23% of individuals who took a placebo.

Vitamin Retailer asserts the recommended dose for boswella for the treatment of asthma is 400mg three times per day; however, no long-term studies on the effects and safety of boswella for asthma have been conducted. Some individuals who take this herb for asthma report gastrointestinal distress.

Butterbur: Butterbur grows as a perennial shrub in Europe and in some parts of North America and Asia, and it has a long history of being utilized as a medicinal herb for asthma, skin wounds, fever, and cough. More modern uses of butterbur include treating asthma, migraines, and chronic cough. It is thought to help treat asthma by being an antispasmodic and helping the bronchial tubes relax, according to Vitamin Retailer.

There are a couple of drawbacks to using this herb to treat asthma naturally. Butterbur contains components that are potentially carcinogenic and toxic to the liver; however, certain processing mechanisms remove these harmful components. Please only use butterbur extracts that have undergone proper processing to remove these harmful chemicals! The Vitamin Retailer asserts a dose of 50mg of butterbur taken twice a day should help treat asthma.

Buteyko Method: The Buteyko method, also known as the Buteyko breathing technique was created by the Russian doctor, Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko. The Buteyko method utilizes breathing exercises focused on relaxation, nasal breathing, and breath holding to "retrain" irregular breathing. The breathing exercises are use to treat asthma, anxiety and panic attacks, sleep apnea, and snoring.

In one clinical study in 1995, researchers discovered that while there were no noticeable objective changes in lung function between participants who were taught the Buteyko method and a control group of participants who were taught other breathing exercises, those who were taught the Buteyko method reported taking less medication and having an improved quality of life. However, it was later discovered that the Buteyko teacher was calling participants who learned the technique, which may or may not have effected the results of the study.

In a similar study done in New Zealand, researchers wanted to determine the effectiveness and safety of the Buteyko method. Likewise, the researchers discovered no differences between forced expiratory volume between participants who were in the control group and those who had learned the Buteyko method. However, as in the 1995 study, a significant number of participants reduced their dependence on asthma medications. More specifically, there was an 85% reduction in the use of beta-2-agonists and a 50% reduction in the use of steroids among participants in the Buteyko method group. Thus, both studies appear to indicate the Buteyko method is effective as an alternative therapy for asthma.

You must be taught the Buteyko method by a trained teacher, and teachers are not available everywhere. Alternatively, you can buy certain DVDs to teach you the breathing technique.

Yoga: Studies have shown yoga to be effective for asthma and asthma attacks. Yoga helps reduce anxiety, improve lung function, and helps regulate breathing. You can find yoga classes in almost any gym these days. Talk to your yoga instructor about specific yoga exercises you can do for asthma and asthma attacks.

Chiropractic care: According to the Holistic On-line website, chiropractic care is an effective form of treatment for asthma and asthma attacks. In one research study, 47 individuals participated in a study in order to determine if chiropractic adjustments were effective for asthma. All participants received between 14-44 sessions of chiropractic care where they received a series of chiropractic adjustments.

The researchers discovered all of the participants improved between 87-100% each! Furthermore, asthma attacks reduced in frequency and asthma attack medications were needed significantly less often. These improvements continued to be seen two years after the study was over.

If you would like to try chiropractic adjustments for your asthma, look up local chiropractors in your area and see if they are able to help your condition.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition, but you can utilize these natural techniques to help you treat and prevent asthma attacks.

Sources:

Vitamin Retailer: Waiting to Exhale: Natural Treatments for Asthma by Lisa Turner:
http://www.vitaminretailer.com/VR/articles/Asthma.htm

Wikipedia: Buteyko Method:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buteyko_method

Yogawiz: Yoga for Asthma:
http://www.yogawiz.com/articles/60/yoga-and-disease/yoga-for-asthma.html

Holistic Online: Chiropractic: Asthma:
http://www.holisticonline.com/Chiropractic/chiro_asthma.htm