Although
there are many medical ways to help asthma sufferers breathe easier,
experts recommend combining certain natural home remedies with
prescription anti-inflammatories and bronchodilators. Here are some
helpful remedies right from the kitchen.
Home Remedies From the Cupboard
Coffee. The
caffeine in regular coffee can help prevent and control asthma
attacks. Researchers have found that regular coffee drinkers have
one-third fewer asthma symptoms than those who don't drink the hot
stuff. The reason? Caffeine has bronchodilating effects. In fact,
caffeine was one of the main anti-asthmatic drugs during the nineteenth
century. Don't load up on java, though -- three cups a day will
provide the maximum benefit -- and don't give coffee to children with
asthma.
Onions.
Onions are loaded with anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have
shown that these properties can reduce the constriction of the airways
in an asthma attack. Raw onions are generally too irritating, but
eating cooked onions may help to lessen asthma attacks.
Home Remedies From the Drawer
Cheesecloth.
Put a fine cheesecloth over each room's heat outlet. This homemade
dust filter can help by catching dust, animal dander, and pollen before
it's recirculated into the air. Stick-on commercial filters are also
available. And don't forget the number one most effective home aid --
scrupulous cleaning. It's not easy, but being a bit obsessive about
keeping a clean house goes a long way toward helping to alleviate
asthma symptoms.
Home Remedies From the Refrigerator
Chili peppers.
Hot foods such as chili peppers open up airways. Experts believe this
happens because peppers stimulate fluids in the mouth, throat, and
lungs. The increase in fluids thins out the mucus formed during an
asthma attack so it can be coughed up, making breathing easier.
Capsaicin, the stuff that makes hot peppers hot, acts as an
anti-inflammatory when eaten.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
Eating hot foods like chili peppers may help you breathe easier.
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Orange juice.
Vitamin C is the main antioxidant in the lining of the bronchi and
bronchioles. Research discovered that people with asthma had low levels
of vitamin C; eating foods that had at least 300 mg of vitamin C a day
-- equivalent to about three glasses of orange juice -- cut wheezing
by 30 percent. Other foods high in vitamin C include red bell pepper,
papaya, broccoli, blueberries, and strawberries.
Salmon. Fatty
fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, and tuna contain omega-3
fatty acids. These fatty acids seem to help the lungs react better to
irritants in people who have asthma and may even help prevent asthma in
people who have never had an attack. Studies have found that kids who
eat fish more than once a week have one-third the risk of getting
asthma, as compared to children who don't eat fish. And researchers
discovered that people who took fish oil supplements, equivalent to
eating 8 ounces of mackerel a day, increased their body's ability to
avoid a severe asthma attack by 50 percent.
Yogurt. Vitamin
B12 can alleviate the symptoms of asthma, and it seems to be even more
effective in asthma sufferers who are sensitive to sulfite. Studies
have found that taking 1 to 4 micrograms (mcg) works best as protection
against asthma attacks. The current RDA for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg for
adults. One cup of yogurt has 1.4 mcg of the lung-loving vitamin.
Home Remedies From the Spice Rack
Peppermint extract.
This is a folk remedy for a homemade vaporizer: Put 1 quart
nonchlorinated water in a stainless steel, glass, or enamel pan, and
put it on the stove. Add 10 drops peppermint extract or peppermint oil,
and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about 1 hour, until all the
water is gone. The volatile oil will saturate the room air.
Home Remedies Do's and Don'ts
Don't overload your salt intake. Salt tends to make the airways more sensitive to triggers.
Do consider a high-quality vegan diet. Getting
rid of animal products in the diet helps asthma by eliminating many
food allergens (cow's milk, for example). Remember, though, that vegan
diets can be deficient in protein and B12, which can be especially
risky for kids and pregnant or lactating women. You might consider
seeking the help of a nutritionist or dietician to help you plan a
vegan diet.
For more information about asthma and the allergies that can trigger an attack, try the following links:
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Timothy Gower is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in many publications, including Reader's Digest, Prevention, Men's Health, Better Homes and Gardens, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. The author of four books, Gower is also a contributing editor for Health magazine.
Alice Lesch Kelly is a health writer based in Boston. Her work has been published in magazines such as Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Eating Well, and Health. She is the co-author of three books on women's health.
Linnea Lundgren
has more than 12 years experience researching, writing, and editing
for newspapers and magazines. She is the author of four books,
including Living Well With Allergies.
Michele Price Mann is a freelance writer who has written for such publications as Weight Watchers and Southern Living magazines. Formerly assistant health and fitness editor at Cooking Light magazine, her professional passion is learning and writing about health.
ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS:
Ivan Oransky, M.D., is the deputy editor of The Scientist. He is author or co-author of four books, including The Common Symptom Answer Guide, and has written for publications including the Boston Globe, The Lancet, and USA Today.
He holds appointments as a clinical assistant professor of medicine
and as adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
David J. Hufford, Ph.D.,
is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department
at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a
professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and
Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial
boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.
This
information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED
TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R),
Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take
responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment,
procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of
medication which results from reading or following the information
contained in this information. The publication of this information does
not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not
replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider.
Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the
advice of their physician or other health care provider.
To Take And Read More, Click Here: 25 Natural Home Remedies For Astma
