The Best Natural Treatments for Asthma

Asthma is a lung condition that can cause difficulty breathing. This occurs when the bronchial tubes in the airways of the lungs get inflamed. The muscles tighten up and mucus is formed, which causes the airways to narrow making it hard to breathe. When untreated, these attacks can lead to hospitalization or can be fatal. Asthma sufferers can have a variety of symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, chest pain and an increased need for medication that helps open up the airways to facilitate better breathing. If you are having any of the above symptoms, you may have asthma. You should see your doctor to make sure you are diagnosed properly. Alternative therapies are not usually as successful in treating the symptoms of asthma as other therapies; but here are some popular remedies that are worth trying.

1. Biofeedback - a method many practitioners believe help treat asthma suffers.

2. Weight loss - obesity is a factor in asthma and losing weight can help.

3. Boswellia - An herb that has shown to inhibit leukotriene formation. Leukotrienes can narrow the airways in the lungs. This herb is available in pill form and should not be taken longer than 12 weeks unless authorized by a qualified medical practitioner.

4. Bromelain - A form of pineapple extract that is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

5. Butterbur - a shrub that grows in Europe, Asia, and North America. Petasin and isopetasin, parts of this plant, are believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce smooth muscles spasms.

6. Fruits and Vegetables - studies show that those who eat carrots, leafy vegetables, and tomatoes have a lower chance of asthma. Eating lots of apples may protect against asthma. Vegetables and fruit consumption in early childhood also may decrease the risk of asthma.

7. Omega Fatty Acids - Arachidonic acid is found in foods such as meat, egg yolks, and shellfish. Eating less of these foods has shown to decrease asthma symptoms. Taking fish oil has shown to reduce the amount of this acid that our bodies naturally produce.

8. Buteyko Breathing Technique - Developed by a Russian-born researcher Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko, this technique consists of shallow breathing exercises that are supposed to help people with asthma breathe easier. It is believed that shallow breathing raises the level of carbon dioxide, which helps dilate the smooth muscle of the airways.

Many of these therapies have been shown to benefit asthma sufferers. Before beginning any new therapy, you should consult with your doctor.