Asthma Support Group
Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.
Hello everyone. I was diagnosed this summer with asthma. Many things have changed in my life that could of caused it but moving to North carolina I believe has been the main one. The change of environment for sure. Anyways I wanted to ask if anyone has tried alternative treatments such as herbs or anything else to treat their asthma. And if so what was the outcome?
I haven't used alternative treatments to control the underling inflammation in my lungs, but I have used a variety of things to control triggers.
I take raw, local honey from May to November to control my allergies--The bees that make the honey spread pollen, and if you have the local, unpasteurized honey, there's some in there. It's the same principle as allergy shots, only safer, cheaper and tastier. I just learned about it this past year and doing so has made a huge difference in my summer/fall hay fever.
Another thing I do, especially during allergy season, is shower at night and not in the morning. This rinses off all the pollen, mold, etc that's collected on my skin and hair during the day and doing this makes sure I don't drag it to bed with me and wake up wheezing in the middle of the night.
I also have chronic ear and sinus infections, so I use a Neti pot or other saline rinse to cleanse my sinuses 1-3 times a day. Sinus drainage can trigger an asthma attack for me, so cleaning my sinuses out a few times a day removes most irritants, pollen, germs or mucus. It really helps my over all health.
Also, tea and coffee contain small amounts of the natural asthma medicine theophylline, so drinking hot tea or coffee during an attack can help. It's not a replacement for your inhaler, but adds a little kick, and can be used if you don't have your inhaler and need something fast.
As far as what I take, I try to go natural as much as possible. I take a multi-vitamin everyday as well as extra magnesium, C, B and D to treat other problems.
that's all I can think of off the top of my head. this is just what works for me personally and it may or may not work for you. I'm curious to see if anyone else says anything.
Good luck :)
-Anna Faith
Also I use this salt inhaler thing that is really helpful because it gets my airways in better shape even if my asthma is not bothering me. When I was little we lived on the ocean and my asthma was never very bad, but when we moved inland I started doing this to get the healing salt back in my system.
My father has kept bees from since he was 11 (till he turned 40 and found out he was allergic,) so Honey is a big staple of our diet, which is a help to my breathing.
I was born with bad lungs, been diagnosised for 14 of the 15 years of my life. I hope your asthma doesn't give you too much trouble,
sending good thoughts
~HB