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Jennifer Lee, DO, MPH
Asthma Breathe Easier With These More Natural Approaches
Steinmetz Integrative & Functional Medicine Center

Asthma Breathe Easier With These More Natural Approaches

Fall is the peak time of year for asthma, and asthma in general is on the rise. There are several reasons for this, including pollution, which stresses the immune system, poor nutrition, and some food additives.

The standard medical treatments are steroid and beta adrenergic receptor agonist inhalers (Proventil). Many patients use medication like Serevent and Advair, but you need to keep in mind that in 2005 the FDA put out a warning that these medications can increase your risk of severe asthma attack.

An Integrative Approach

When you take an integrative medicine approach to asthma, you will discover ways to improve your symptoms and decrease your medications. As always we start with diet. Interactions with food can be complex, but research has shown that the additives tartrazine, benzoates, and sulfites can cause asthma in some people. Food allergies can also trigger asthma, sometimes right away, sometimes after a period of time rather than immediately.

Consider an elimination diet. You might avoid foods that commonly cause reactions, such as cow's milk, and those known to increase inflammation, including some types of meat.

Green tea may be helpful since it is an antioxidant and has other properties that can help improve asthma symptoms. Eating more fruits and vegetables will increase your antioxidants and is an important treatment for all chronic disease, including asthma. Losing weight if you are overweight will help.

Breathe Easier With Supplements

There are also nutritional supplements that can help. We start with anti-inflammatories such as fish oil. You should have about 3000 mg per day of EPA and DHA. Magnesium is an important supplement for asthma since it works by relaxing the muscles of the lungs. Vitamin C is the major antioxidant in the fluid lining the airway surface, so be sure to have adequate vitamin C intake. Low vitamin D levels are associated with asthma. You should have your vitamin D level checked and supplement vitamin D3 if your levels are low. You may also want to consider other supplements including vitamin E, selenium and B12.

Quercitin is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory and antihistamine that can help the airways. It comes from plants — apples are a good dietary source — and is often taken with Bromelain to help its absorption. Boswellia is a great anti-inflammatory herb to use. Just a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in a vaporizer can helpful. Lobelia, called Indian tobacco, is another useful herb.

Triggers and Treatments At Home

We also like to look at the environment. You should use a HEPA air purifier in your house. Try to eliminate as many chemicals in your environment as possible by switching to more natural cleaners. Other environmental triggers are perfume, molds, tobacco, dust mites, and pet fur and dander.

Breathing exercises are very important. I like to think of it as exercising your lungs. The mind-body connection is important in treatment so yoga, Qi gong, guided imagery, and hypnosis can all be helpful. Some patients may benefit from osteopathic manipulation.

You can improve your asthma and decrease your inhaler use with these and other therapies, so find a board-certified medical doctor experienced in the integrative approach and give it a try.

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