Asthma

Description

Asthma is a lung condition where a hypersensitivity reaction causes a person’s airways to become inflamed, narrow, and swell producing extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe causing respiratory distress.

Asthma attacks may be minor or they can interfere with daily activities. An asthma attack can be a life-threatening event in some cases.

Asthma is most commonly seen in children under 10 years of age, with male children being twice as susceptible as females.

Symptoms

• a. Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath
• b. Chest pain,
• c. Coughing and wheezing (constriction of the bronchial tubes).
• d. Tightness of the chest
• e. There may be a buildup of mucus that is hard to expel

Treatments

Although there is no known cure for asthma, conventional treatment revolves around managing symptoms.

1. Preventer inhalers can be used by everyone with asthma. These inhalers prevent swelling and inflammation in the airways and make symptoms less likely if an asthma trigger is encountered. Preventer inhalers are useful if:

a. Symptoms are experienced three or more times a week
b. Symptoms are experienced at night waking you up
c. An asthma attack has occurred in the last two years

2. Reliever inhalers will relieve symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, and a tight chest during an asthma attack. These inhalers are usually carried at all times in case asthma symptoms suddenly flare up. People who only experience mild or infrequent symptoms may only require the use of a reliever inhaler.

3. In severe cases medications such as long-acting bronchodilators and oral steroids may be prescribed.

4. Diet will play a role as food allergies may cause or aggravate asthma symptoms.

5. Intravenous ozone therapy

Nutrients and supplements:
1. Asthma formula – Asthma and asthmatic conditions, tightness in the chest, and difficulty breathing.
2. Lung formula – traditionally used for breathing difficulties, emphysema, pneumonia, restoring collapsed lungs, lung tissue, and tuberculosis.
3. Flax seed oil – contains essential fatty acids required for the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins
4. Vitamin D3 – required for tissue repair
5. Quercetin – has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
6. Vitamin B Complex – stimulates the immune system

Causes

There are two types of asthma:
1. Extrinsic asthma (atopic asthma) attacks are brought on by exposure to allergens such as dust, mold, pollen, animal fur, and food sensitivities.

2. Intrinsic asthma is caused by nonallergenic factors such as cold air, exercise, infections, emotional upset, and irritating inhalants such as smoke, gas, and paint fumes.

Most people suffering from this condition seem to have a mixture of extrinsic and intrinsic asthma, although it is thought that the allergic-type is more common in infants and children.

3. Avoid food additives BHA, BHT, and FD&C Yellow no 5 food dye.

4. Carpeting especially in the bedroom may be a contributing factor.

5. Asthma sufferers may have deficiencies in Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Selenium.

Underlying Emotions

1. With asthma, there can be feelings related to fear (the severity of the attack may be directly related to the level of fear and anxiety) of life and not wanting to be here, feeling unloved or ignored. Fears of maternal separation and generalized feelings of anger, anxiety, repressed anger, and aggression.

2. There may be issues associated with dependency, particularly related to struggles for independence from maternal influence.

3. People with asthma are often highly sensitive to the loss of love and appreciation from meaningful figures, but may repress feelings of longing for more attention and love. This hypersensitivity can be associated with strong feelings of dependency and compliance. There may be a cry for the mother’s love in young asthmatics or fears of estrangement from the maternal figure.

4. Evidence suggests that generational traumas may be a factor as studies have shown that mothers of asthmatics suffered more depressive illness than in controls groups.

5. Childhood asthma may have a role in maintaining family stability. The child may serve as a “conflict avoidance tool” and as a protection for other family members. Many emotional conflicts between the parents and siblings may often get avoided or diffused due to an overriding concern over the asthma condition.

Diet

1. An important dietary intervention to relieve asthma symptoms and prevent further attacks would be to avoid all milk and dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, etc

2. Food allergies may also cause or aggravate asthma symptoms so eliminating possible trigger foods from the diet is a good way to determine if one or several of them are responsible. Foods containing dairy products, eggs, gluten-containing grains (barley, rye, wheat), corn, and sugar are the usual culprits. If after eliminating potential trigger foods from the diet, and the symptoms have ceased, one food at a time can be reintroduced to see if the symptoms reoccur (permanently eliminate all foods which cause symptoms to reoccur), one new food would be introduced each week.

3. For those suffering from chronic asthma, which isn’t responding to treatment, a vegan diet should be considered, and all meat and dairy products should be avoided.

4. Foods containing artificial colors and preservatives, especially sulphites found in wine, and beer should be avoided.

5. Foods that may assist relieve asthma symptoms include garlic, onions, leeks, turnips, grapes, pineapple, green leafy vegetables, apricots, almonds, walnuts, carrots, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, figs, lychee, tangerines, loquats, honey, molasses, mustard greens, sesame seeds, cauliflower, cherries, elderberries, sprouted seeds, and grains. Increase omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil, salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, evening primrose oil, and black currant oil. Research has shown that children who eat fruit rich in Vitamin C are less likely to experience wheezing.

Remedies