http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/SpecificDiseases/asthma.

htm
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Asthma
*Asthma*--This is one of those diseases I m familiar with as I used to
have it.
*Did you know*. . .
· Asthma has increased continuously since the 1970s and now
affects an estimated 7% of the population worldwide.
· More than 20 million people in the United States suffer
from asthma as of 2008.
· Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of
childhood affecting more than 7 million children almost 9% of all
United States children have asthma.
· That boys get asthma more commonly before puberty and
girls get it more commonly after puberty.
· That asthma is more common in the African American and
Puerto Rican population.
· Asthma, when attended to and controlled does not often
result in death (about 1.1% of people who have asthma will die of
it), but it is the leading cause of hospitalization for children and
the number one chronic condition causing elementary school absenteeism.
· The cost of treating asthma is estimated to be over $14
billion dollars annually which includes over 13.3 million hospital
and doctor visits (a 2006 statistic).
· 90% of asthma sufferers under the age of 40 have attacks
triggered by allergies.
*Asthma is defined* as a disease of the airway system caused by diffuse
inflammation triggered by various stimuli resulting in partially or
completely reversible bronchoconstriction. If you ve never experienced
this particular illness you just can t imagine the blessing it is to be
able to take a deep breath and actually feel that your lungs are totally
inflating. There s also the panic of knowing that you may not be able to
get enough oxygen and that you could actually die and there s nothing
you can do about it. This is why it s so important to be able to ferret
out the triggers and core causes of asthma early on. The medical system
says that once you have asthma you ll always have asthma and there may
be some cases like that, but I ve seen and personally experienced
healing with many asthma cases.

* Symptoms/Signs of asthma* include difficult breathing (dyspnea), chest

tightness, cough and wheezing.
*The many forms of asthma include*:
· * Allergic asthma. *
· * Cough-variant or nocturnal asthma*
· * Exercise Induced Asthma*
· * Menstrual related asthma*
· * Nocturnal Asthma *
· * Non-allergic asthma*
· * Occupational asthma*
· * Persistent Asthma:*
· * Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS)*
*Asthma is classified* according to the degree of symptom, the number of
nighttime awakenings, interference with a normal activity, the use and
need for medications, the air flow rate (FEV--Forced Expiratory Volume
in one second or FVC--Forced Vital Capacity), how often an attack occurs
and by the latest asthma questionnaire that a patient fills out if they
go into a traditional medical system.

So, asthma can be classified as *intermittent, mild persistent, moderate

persistent or severe persistent*.

There is also a category called *status asthmaticus* which is defined as

severe, intense, prolonged bronchospasm resistant to treatment. These
cases are where corticosteroids are needed often and long term and the
patient needs lots of hospital care and are of greater risk than those
suffering from other types of asthma.

In addition to the above classifications, asthma can be* well

controlled, not well controlled or very poorly controlled*. All of this
input and data determine how often your doctor wants you to come in to
be re-evaluated after that initial diagnosis is made.

* There are also intrinsic, extrinsic and mixed types of asthma*.

*Intrinsic forms *include non-allergenic causes, non-atopic causes and
non-immunologic causes. *Extrinsic forms *include allergic, atopic and
immunologic causes. *Mixed form* of course includes some of each
category. So, let s just lump all the causes and triggers together,
shall we?

* The causes and triggers of asthma* include:

· * Environmental triggers*: dust mites, fungi, mold,
cockroaches, pet dander, mouse urine and mouse dander, cigarette smoke,
perfumes, air pollutants, ragweed and tree/grass/flower pollens, fossil
fuels (petrochemical pollution especially kerosene) and cleaning agents.

(*Note*: I find in my practice the cleaning agents causing the most

trouble are Scrubbing bubbles, Bleach, Pine-sol and Simple Green). Avoid
barns, hay, raking leaves and mowing grass if you know you re allergic
to molds.
* *
I ve read recently that the reason why there are so many more asthma
attacks in pollen storms is that air changes increase during
thunderstorms or major weather events such as El Nino. Interesting.
Another article said that the buildup of ozone before a storm may be a
factor.

Air pollutants that are strongly associated with asthma include ozone,
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

· * Genetics*: Asthma sufferers have often inherited

susceptibility genes from a parent. Mothers are more likely to pass
asthma to their child than the influence of the father s genes. Mothers
carrying female children seem to present with more asthma symptoms than
if they were carrying a male child. The genes connected to asthma are
associated with a type of white blood cell call T-helper cells,
eosinophils and mast cells which are a part of our immune system that
over-respond and over-react to environmental triggers.

· * Emotions involved as asthma* *triggers *include anxiety,

anger and excitement. Some resources listed fear or anxiety and a
feeling of constriction or suffocation by a relationship or situation .

In her book, / You Can Heal Your Life/, Louise Hay relates that
asthmatic children often have overdeveloped consciences and take on
the guilt feelings for whatever seems wrong in their environment. These
children have a deep sense of feeling unworthy so feel the need to
self-punish by blocking air flow. They may also have a fear of life and
not wanting to be here.

Often, once we get the treatable core causes attended to, I ll refer
these asthma cases to someone who performs emotional release work. Doing
*Neuro Emotional Technique* (www.netmindbody.com
<http://www.netmindbody.com>) or *Emotional Freedom Technique* often
helps release those buttons which can trigger an asthma attack.

Examples of emotional triggers may be the smell of cigarette smoke in a

bar or car or hotel room. Even though the allergy to cigarette smoke and
the viruses carried by the tobacco have been treated, the smell of smoke
would still stimulate neurotransmitters from the brain to be released
which would affect your parasympathetic nervous system to constrict the
air passages. If we can scratch or break that broken record pattern
within your brain the environmental triggers and memories won t have the
adverse affect on your lungs.

· * Exercise*: Cold/dry weather and unfiltered cold air is often

a trigger for *Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA)*. Symptoms of EIA are most
intense about 10 minutes into exercising. People with this type of
asthma don t require long-term therapy and the asthma resides when the
exercise has stopped but they can have other types of asthma at the same
time.

· * Aspirin (also ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve):*

*Aspirin-Induced Asthma* (AIA) occurs in up to 30% of older patients and
is often associated with post viral infections. With this type of asthma
the combination of the presence of nasal polyps, GERD and taking aspirin
somehow prime the body for asthma attacks.

I found it interesting in my research that none of the medical sites

mentioned that GERD could most often be overcome by following a blood
type diet. Often in the case of many chronic diseases and conditions if
you can just control what you can, eliminate what you can and manage the
other core causes, there can be stability and relief of exacerbations of
all kinds of problems the body gives us over the years. Once you do
these steps the body is open to repairing the damage that has been done
to it. Of course some organs take longer to respond, but they do respond
over time. I find this totally cool. Aspirin-induced asthma accounts
for about 10% of all asthma cases and is responsible for about 25% of
all asthma hospitalizations.

· * Infectious causes include viruses and bacteria. * Implicated

in the cause of asthma include: the adenoviruses */Chlamydia pneumonia/*
and */Mycoplasma pneumonia, Rhinovirus, Respiratory Syncitial Virus
(RSV), Parainfluenza virus /*/and* Pneumococcal pneumonia.*/
* *
I personally believe many people who have asthma have had a history of
bronchial infections or some type of pneumonia. The viruses that have
causes these diseases have never really been alleviated from the body
and eventually (often years down the road) asthma develops as a result.
The most common viruses involved are RSV (Respiratory Syncitial Virus),
rhinovirus and parainfluenza but I ve also picked up the
*/Tuberculinum/* bacteria with muscle testing. Did you know that people
with crooked teeth may have a cellular memory or generation influence of
having relatives who died of tuberculosis?

· * Hormonal changes in women. (*see Menstrual Related Asthma

above.)* *Studies have shown that the use of oral contraceptives does
not have much effect on treating this kind of asthma. The risk for
hospitalization increases fourfold as the woman goes through
perimenopause as her estrogen levels diminish.

· * Time of day: Nocturnal Asthma* factors may include chemical

and temperature changes in the body that lead to increased inflammation
of the airways, delayed allergic response from the day s triggers,
metabolization of the day s medications wearing off, increase in acid
reflux from laying down, postnasal drip and from sleeping on one s back.

· * Low Stomach Acid: * A study done in 1931 showed that 80% of

200 asthmatic children had below normal amounts of stomach acid. Low
stomach acid is associated with increases in food allergies.

· * Occupation: * Between 2 and 26% of adult-asthma cases are

related to work history. Now this type of asthma can be caused from air
quality or allergens at work or existing asthma can be aggravated by
those components. Over 250 agents have been identified as potential
occupational triggers of asthma. Some of these substances include
isocyanates, trimellitic anhydrides, woods like red cedar, oak, redwood
and mahogany, metal salts, vegetable dusts, biologic agents, xylanase,
pharmaceutical agents, glutaraldyhyde, red dyes (which are often made
from cockroaches) and diacetyl (artificial butter flavor).
* *
Workers in the farm industry, hairdressers and those in the garment
industry are at higher risk for occupational asthma. Are you being
exposed? To read more go to: http://adam.about.com/reports/000004_10.htm
<http://adam.about.com/reports/000004_10.htm>

· * Vaccinations: Influenza vaccination*s have been implicated

from various studies as a trigger for asthma. Because of this 90% of
asthma patients are not being vaccinated. Governmental agencies are
saying that flu shots are safe for both children and adults.

· * Alcohol: *Alcohol is a trigger not only because beer and

wine contain sulfites but alcohol is processed through the liver. When
the liver is sludgy or sick or not functioning well more allergies
manifest. When there are more allergies, there are more asthma attacks
associated with the allergies.
· * Foods and Food Additives:* Eggs, fish, shellfish (sulfites?)
nuts, peanuts (molds?), milk, chocolate, wheat, citrus and food
colorings may trigger asthma for various reasons. Food additives and
dyes can also be in medications and vitamin supplements so be aware of
that. Some food additives/dyes implicated in asthma include:
o * 4-hydroxybenzoate esters*
o * Amaranth dye*
o * Benzoates*
o * Coccine (red) dye * (the one made from cockroaches)
o * Pate blue dye*
o * Sodium benzoate*
o * Sulfites*
o * Sulphur dioxide*
o * Sunset Yellow dye*
o * Tartrazine* (orange dye)

*The Hygiene hypothesis*: There are some researchers who think children
are more resistant to developing asthma if they have been exposed to
small amounts of exacerbating asthma triggers early in life. They feel
that vaccines, antibiotics and cleaner environments do not help the
immune system develop proper T-cell function so when triggers for asthma
happen the immune system doesn t respond properly which causes problems.

*Dietary influences * which exacerbate asthma include vitamin C and E

deficiencies, certain fatty acid deficiencies and obesity.

*Asthma has also been linked to* young maternal age, poor maternal
nutrition, premature birth, low birth weight and to a lack of breastfeeding.

*Diagnosing Asthma: *

· * Diagnosis *is based on history, *physical exam* and

*pulmonary function tests* done with a *spirometer*. The pulmonary
functions tests should be repeated every year or two to monitor
progression of the disease.
· * Bloodwork* to check for increased eosinophils (a white blood
cell) can be indicative of asthma but it also can indicate parasites or
just plain allergies.
· * Peak Expiratory Flow* (PEF) is done with a hand-held meter.
This can be done at home by the patient and is used to monitor the disease.
· * Provocative Test*: One diagnostic test sometimes done is the
*provocative test*. The patient inhales a mild dose of a harmful agent
such as methacholine, histamine, adenosine or bradykinin which causes
bronchoconstriction. There are several contraindications to this type of
testing as you can imagine, but your doctor is skilled enough to screen
for patients that are high-risk of stroke, high blood pressure or COPD.
· * Pulse oximetry* is done when a patient is transported to the
hospital or emergency room to determine oxygen carrying capacity within
the bloodstream.
· * RAST testing* for allergies is sometimes helpful to find
triggering allergens.
· * Other tests* that may be helpful are the diffusing capacity
for carbon monoxide (*DLCO*) and *chest X-rays* (which veterinarians use
quite often).

*Treatments for Asthma*:

Treatment for asthma includes control of triggers,

drugs/supplements/homeopathics, emotional release work, monitoring,
client education and attending to exacerbations of the disease with
emergency procedures as needed. *Note*: Any asthma attack that does not
resolve despite using an inhaler is a medical emergency.* *
* *
*Drugs used to treat Asthma include:*
* *
· * Anticholinergics *which are used to dilate the bronchioles.
Anticholinergics include *Ipratopium *and *Tiotropium*. Adverse effects
of these include papillary dilation, blurred vision and dry mouth.
· * Anti-inflammatory agents: Cromolyn* (a mast-cell stabilizer)
and *Salmeterol *(Serevent) are both beta-agonists that also have mild
anti-inflammatory action.
· * Beta-agonists* act to dilate the bronchioles. From the
shortest acting to the longest include: *Cromolyn, Albuterol,
Levalbuterol, Ipratropium, Theophylline, Salmeterol, Fomoterol *and
*Tiotropium*. Tachycardia, tremor and mild hypokalemia (low blood
potassium) are side-effects of these drugs.
· * Corticosteroids* (Inhalers, pills and injectable in an
emergency). Use of long-term corticosteroids can really cause some
problems with the adrenal-pituitary axis and also cause osteoporosis,
liver damage, cataracts, skin atrophy, bruising and out of control hunger.
· * Immunomodulators* include *omalizumab* which affects the IgE
antibodies. One side effect of overuse is anaphylaxis so there should be
emergency drugs handy if this one is used.
· * Leukotriene modifiers* such as *Zileuton*. Occasional side
effect is the Churg-Strauss syndrome. Of course, being a veterinarian I
had to look this syndrome up. We normally just name our syndromes for
what the organ or system is and don t attach some doctor s name to the
syndrome. . . Oh, it s vasculitis.
· * Mast cell stabilizers* (for allergic causes). Some feel
these are the safest (but most ineffective) to use in controlling asthma.
· * Methylxanthines*. These drugs relax bronchial smooth muscle
and increase heart and diaphragm contractility. Theophylline is in this
category. Side effects are many and can include headache, vomiting,
cardiac arrhythmias and seizures. Additionally conditions such as fever,
liver disease and heart failure alter the metabolization of this drug so
it is dropping out of favor.
· * Some other drugs used in the treatment or control of asthma*
have included low-dose *Methotrexate* and *Cyclosporine* (both cancer
treatment drugs), *magnesium sulfate, Gold, Colchicines* (a gout drug),
*Heliox*, *general anesthesia* and *high-dose IV immune globulin.
Biaxin* (clarithromycin) may improve lung function if the patient shows
evidence of infection with /Mycoplasma /or /Chlamydia/. *Zanamivir *is a
new antiviral medicine used to treat influenza in patients over the age
of 12.
*Nebulizers* are used for acute asthma attacks. Several substances can
be used in the nebulizer including: *lidocaine, heparin,
corticosteroids, aminophylline and ipratropium*.

* Contraindicated* *drugs for asthma* include anxiolytics and morphine

because they cause even more problems with breathing and often increase
the need for mechanical ventilation.

*Inhalers* should be used properly to be effective. Have a trained

specialist walk you through this until you feel comfortable in knowing
that you are doing it correctly. If you see mist coming out of your
mouth after using an inhaler, you re using it wrong.
* *
*Natural Treatments for Asthma Resolution or Management*
* *
*Note: * I believe natural treatments work most excellently for asthma,
but please don t stop taking your real drugs until symptoms have
abated and you talk with your doctor about cutting back, minimizing then
finally eliminating the drugs you no longer need. Sometimes it s just
good to have an emergency backup plan if you fall off your healthy
living lifestyle. Now take a look at this list. Wow!
* Acupuncture/Acupressure: * Chinese medicine classifies asthma as
either acute or chronic. The treatments are quite different. For acute
attacks the focus is on symptom relief. For chronic asthma the focus is
on strengthening the weakened organs or systems.
* Alexander Technique*: Re-education on how to relax and breathe is
helpful in controlling asthma. The Alexander technique encourages the
release of tension in the chest while increasing the intrathoracic
capacity. It also helps with stress management. See the Alexander
Technique website for more information:
http://www.alexandertechnique.com <http://www.alexandertechnique.com>
* Aromatherapy: * Roman Chamomile is used to relieve spasms.
* Ayurvedic medicine: * The goal is to balance the doshas according to
the individual s condition. Panchakarma therapy may be useful. Here s a
link to read about that*: *
http://chakrapaniayurveda.com/panchakarma2.html
<http://chakrapaniayurveda.com/panchakarma2.html>. For immediate relief
of asthma, one Ayurvedic doctor recommends squeezing an onion and
drinking ¼ cup of the onion juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1/8
teaspoon of black pepper. Woof. My lip is already curling.
* Biofeedback or Autogenic training: * This isn t something that can be
done at home. There are clinics you can go to and usually this takes
several sessions to retrain your thinking patterns. The goal is to
desensitize your nervous system to some of the triggers of the disease.
*Buteyko Breathing Technique*: http://www.buteyko.com
<http://www.buteyko.com> The Buteyko method is named after its founder
Doctor Konstantin Buteyko. It is the most effective drug-free approach
for the management of asthma and other breathing related problems says
the website. It can be practiced by both adults and children, and gives
quick and consistent results. I checked it out and you can purchase a
DVD and manual for about $100 US. The method is based on raising carbon
dioxide levels in the airways.
*Caffeine: *Say you ve left your inhaler at home and you re stuck
somewhere and feel and attack come on. Now s the time to drink a couple
strong cups of coffee. Coffee acts as a bronchodilator and is similar to
theophylline (the caffeine found in chocolate).
* Chinese Herbal Formulas*. Chinese herbs for asthma include
carminatives, herbs to clear fluid retention (dampness) and herbal
tonics, antitussives, expectorants and anti asthmatic herbs. One listed
on the internet is *Aller Relief Chinese herbal* cold and allergy. This
one contains aristolochic acid which may cause kidney problems and has
been known to cause cancer. Make sure you get Chinese formulas that have
been screened for sulfites and heavy metals as they do use a lot of
sulfites as a preservative over in China which can make your symptoms worse.
*Chocolate*: In a pinch and this shouldn t be used on a daily basis a
couple of chocolate bars has enough theophylline in them to help in an
asthma attack.
*Cymatics or Sound Healing*: Certain sounds can help heal the body.
Cymatics is the science of finding those sounds and tones that work best
for your condition. Read more about that here:
http://www.collegeofsoundhealing.co.uk/pages/about.html
<http://www.collegeofsoundhealing.co.uk/pages/about.html>
* Eating for your Blood type*: www.dadamo.com <http://www.dadamo.com>* *
* Echinacea* has been used in the past and it may help the immune system
but often people don t test they need this one.
* Emotional Release work*: www.netmindbody.com <http://www.netmindbody.com>
* Exercise: * Practicing yoga exercises regularly helps reduce or stop
the need for asthma medications.
* Flower Essences*: Bach flower remedies such as *Rescue Remedy* can
help with stress and anxiety.
* Glandulars/Protomorphogens*: Taking these nutritional products that
contain some of the organs that we are trying to heal entices specific
nutrition to the organs that are weak. So asthmatics would take a
glandular (like *Pneumotrophin PMG*) with lung tissue in it. Many of my
vegans and vegetarians won t take these products so if you are a
practitioner you may want to ask about the eating habits of your
clients/patients before recommending treatments.
* Grape seed extract (GSE)*: Grape seed extract is touted as a natural
antihistamine although I ve never experienced that in my practice.
* Herbs used for asthma include*:
· */ Angelica sinensis/ * is used* *as a natural antihistamine for
the relief of allergic symptoms in association with pollens, dust, molds
and animal danders.
· * Asian Ginseng*
· * Butterbur capsules*: The root extract of the herb */Petasites
hybridus/* (also known as butter dock, blatterdock, bog rhubarb and
exwort) contains petasin and isopetasin which supposedly act to reduce
smooth muscle spasm. Butterbur is a relative of ragweed though which may
exacerbate allergies and it does contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids in it
which can destroy healthy liver cells. *NOT recommended* in pregnant or
nursing women. Side effects can include indigestion, headache, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation along with elevated liver
enzymes and liver damage. I think there are safer products on the
market. I had never heard of this plant and have about 260 different
herbs on my shelves at the moment.
· */ Capsicum frutescens/* (Chili peppers) helps to desensitize the
airway mucosa to various mechanical and chemical irritants. Useful for
breaking an asthma attack.
· */ Drosera rotundifolia/ (Sundew)*
· * Elecampane*
· */ Ephedra sinica/ (Ma huang, Mormon tea or Desert tea*) Ephedra
has been used as a bronchodilator for well over 5000 years. Its use in
modern medicine began in 1923 with the discovery of its alkaloid
compound ephedrine. Ephedrine is not as safe as the whole plant and can
cause increased blood pressure. Ephedra s therapeutic effect diminishes
over time. It is often used with Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Panax
ginseng as these herbs support the adrenal glands which are weakened by
ephedra usage. I ve used this herb for my own asthma in the past but I
wouldn t want to take it for more than a few doses.
· */ Euphorbia hirta /*
· * Feverfew*
· * Ginger: * Drinking ginger tea can help increase circulation and
therefore oxygenation to the tissues.* *
· * Green Tea (/Thea sinensis/): * Theophylline and antioxidant
properties in green tea help to prevent and treat asthma.
· */ Grindelia camporum/: * Used as an expectorant.
· * Licorice (/Glycyrrhiza glabra/)* to support the adrenal glands,
as an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine. Licorice also helps to repair
damage done to the body by steroids. Too much is not a good thing
however. Licorice has been known to increase blood pressure over time
because it acts on the body to retain water.
· */ Lobelia /* is used as an expectorant and to help the body
release natural hormones from the adrenal glands that help to relax the
bronchial muscles/. Lobelia inflata (/Indian tobacco)/, Lobelia urens
and Lobelia dortmanns/ have all been used. In days past the Native
American Indians used /Lobelia inflata/ to cut and extend the tobacco
they got from the white man. As a tincture Lobelia inflata makes your
throat tickle and feel prickly. It s kind of weird.
· * Mullein*
· * Nettles * for its natural antihistamine value
· * Onions and Garlic*: Inhibits the manufacture of leukotrienes as
these foods contain Quercetin a natural antihistamine.
· */ Polygala senega/ * (Senega)
· * Passionflower*
· * Saw Palmetto*
· */ Scutellaria baicalensis/ (Chinese skullcap) * used for its
anti-inflammatory actions
· * Skunk Cabbage (/Symphlocarpus factida/)* is used as an
expectorant and respiratory sedative.
· * Thyme (/Thymus vulgarus/) * helps with viruses.
· */ Tylorphora asthmatics/ * is* *an Ayurvedic herb.
* Homeopathic Remedies*: My favorites are *Viral Immune System
Stimulator, Virus Nosode Drops, Chlamydiae drops, /Mycoplasma
pneumonia/, Tuberculinum Nosode drops* and any other homeopathic
supportive of detoxification that the body wants through muscle-testing.
Other common homeopathic mixes may include *Toxic Fungi/Mold drops,
Mycological Immune System Stimulator drops or Bacterial System Immune
Stimulator drops*.
* Hypnosis and Self-hypnosis: * You can go to a practitioner to learn
this therapy or you can read some books and develop a self-suggestive
guided meditation on how to make your respiratory system healthy, happy
and whole. Some people do well with hypnosis techniques while others
can t seem to trust enough to relax into the process.
* Massage* is used for relaxation
* Meditation * to learn how to control stress and increase your ability
to use mind over matter.
* Minerals: *
· * Selenium: * Selenium helps to reduce leukotriene formation.
Leukotrienes cause the bronchioles to constrict.
· * Magnesium*: Helps relax bronchial smooth muscle.
* More raw fruits and veggies*: Especially those high in antioxidants,
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, selenium and manganese like tomatoes, carrots,
leafy green vegetables and carrots. Selenium foods include fish, red
meat, grains, eggs, chicken, liver and garlic.
* Omega Fatty Acids*: Although lots of people who consult with me are on
different omega fatty acids, most times I find that *Udo s Choice Oil
Blend capsules* or * Norwegian Wild Salmon Oil* are the specific oils
they need in their body. I think these brand names come up most often
because some of the other brand names may not be as high quality or they
are left around too long so have oxidized or maybe they are contaminated
with mercury. If you re burping these supplements up, your body is
trying to tell you that you may not need them or they are the wrong ones
for your body.
* Probiotics: * A healthy gut is a healthy immune system. Often *Fructo
Oligo Saccharides *(FOS) are more effective in enticing good gut flora
to reproduce, but this was listed on one website.
* Reflexology: * Specifically work all the lung and bronchial reflexes
on the top and bottom of both feet. Also work the adrenal glands, the
solar plexus/diaphragm points and the sinus reflexes on the toes and
fingers. There are many great reflexology books on the market but I tell
my clients to just start rubbing and pay particular attention to
anything that elicits pain. Work those points more lightly at first and
then press with more pressure and keep working the areas until the pain
goes away. This may take 2-4 treatments but just keep at it. About ten
minutes a day is most beneficial.
* Relaxation and Stress Reduction techniques: * People with asthma have
higher rates of anxiety and depression. Because of this sometimes
protocols aren t followed properly and medications/ supplements are not
adhered to which makes asthma symptoms more severe and life threatening.
* Rolfing*: I couldn t find a good resource for this although this
technique was listed on several resources for the treatment of asthma.* *
* Shiatsu:* Shiatsu sequences help relieve strained neck muscles caused
by asthma attacks and the coughing associated with those attacks. Start
with light pressure and gradually increase it and be careful as the neck
is quite delicate.
* Treat underlying allergies and allergic rhinitis.*
* Urine Injection*: Ummm. OK. This treatment uses cattle urine. What the
hay Premarin is made of pregnant horse urine. Here s the link:
http://www.cowurine.com/asthema.html <http://www.cowurine.com/asthema.html>
* Visualization: * I like the Silva method but there are lots of great
methods out there. Often I find it s easier to visualize when you know
the anatomy of the area you are trying to repair so in your Google
search box type in images of or photos of or videos of the organ
or system you re trying to heal and you ll get some good images of
healthy tissue and function.
*Vitamins:*
· * Vitamin B6*: Vitamin B6 may help the body utilize tryptophan
which is converted to serotonin (a brain neurotransmitter). Asthmatics
seem to have a challenge using tryptophan in their body in the
conversion to serotonin. Apparently serotonin acts to constrict
bronchioles. Don t overdose on this however. Mega doses can be toxic. On
the other hand, it s pretty difficult to overdose on foods high in B6.
Check out those B6 foods here:
http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/Diet_Nutrition/vitamin_b6_pyridoxine.htm
<../Diet_Nutrition/vitamin_b6_pyridoxine.htm>. It may also help to cut
back on those foods high in Tryptophan.
· * Vitamin B12*: Vitamin B12 appears to be most effective for
people with sulfite allergies. The stomach cells that secrete stomach
acid also secrete B12 components (intrinsic factor) which help with B12
absorption.
· * Vitamin C*: Vitamin C inhibits the constriction of
bronchioles and helps to normalize fatty acid metabolism. In actuality,
ascorbic acid (*/which is not vitamin C/*) was used in these studies.
Ascorbic acid is just one molecule of the vitamin C. Vitamin C is made
of four molecules so natural forms of vitamin C (rose hips, acerola,
bioflavonoids) may work better than ascorbic acid as an antioxidant.
· * Vitamin E*: Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and helps to
inhibit inflammatory compounds.* *
* Water: * Drinking water is not an item that is very interesting for
asthmatics and people with other pulmonary conditions but this will help
thin the mucous that causes the plugs that makes asthma worse. Drink it
at room temperature, warm or hot. Iced water can cause constriction
* Weight reduction * for sleep apnea exacerbated asthma.

*Miscellaneous Notes on Asthma: *

* *
*If your child has asthma*, his/her teachers and nurses at school need
to know the action plan for attacks. Cromolyn and Nedocromil are
long-acting drugs for asthma but they are not as effective as other
medications. They do however prevent the embarrassment of having to take
medications at school.
*Pregnant women with asthma*: Poorly controlled asthma in the mother
increases prenatal mortality, premature delivery and lower birth
weights. Asthma drugs have not been shown to have adverse affects on the
fetus.

*Elderly people with asthma*: Increased use of corticosteroids also

increases the risk of osteoporosis so this group may need additional
supplementation to support the skeletal system.

*Poverty* is a consistent risk factor for asthma. Both the elderly and
the urban poor have the highest risk for severe asthma and death.

The *poorly educated* and *those who exercise less (and obese)* are the
highest risk for adult-onset asthma.

*Things you can do at home to help minimize trips to the emergency room:*
* *
*Clean often*: For those of you asthma sufferers who have to do your own
cleaning (and cleaning IS important) be sure to wear a dust mask,
gloves, grubby clothes and don t use feather dusters. Pick up the dust
with a damp cloth and use HEPA filters for your vacuum. When you are
completed with cleaning, take a shower to wash off the disturbed matter.
*Use pillows made of synthetic fibers* and mattress covers made of
impermeable material. Wash them frequently and don t hang them out on a
line to be dried where they will pick up more pollens and dust. Put
pillows in the drier on hot setting once a week for 20
minutes especially during allergy season. This helps minimize dust and
kills bacteria and molds that just love that warm humid environment
created while the patient is sleeping and breathing into the pillow.
*Wash and change bedding frequently* in hot water (130 degrees F or 54
degrees Celsius) as this kills any dust mites and helps to remove animal
dander. I usually recommend that the pillowcases be changed every week.
If you can t get your water that hot or you feel that washing them so
often in hot water will ruin them another option is to freeze the sheets
for 24 hours before washing them in warm water. Freezing kills the
mites but doesn t get rid of the feces. But the washing should do that.
*Remove from the sleeping area* and as many other areas as possible:
carpet, upholstered furniture, soft toys scented candles and pets. If
you can t remove the carpet then opt for low-pile carpet. Ditch the shag
carpeting.
*Keep bookcases out of the bedroom*. Books often build up dust on them
and also have mold spores in them especially in humid environments.
*Bathe your pets once a week*. This greatly decreases the pet dander
which exacerbates the asthma condition. Some pets that are
asthma-friendly are poodles and Devon-Rex cats (mostly hairless). And
don t use human shampoo to do this it has the wrong pH and can cause
skin problems for the pet. You wouldn t want that.
*Use a dehumidifier* in basement and poorly aerated areas.
*Damp mop and dust often* at* *least once a month-to remove dust and
molds. We spend about 8 hours/day in the bedroom so be sure to wipe down
the bed frame, around the bed and the furniture more often than the rest
of the house. Unfortunately, if you back off on any of the cleaning, new
dust bunnies will develop and you ll have to start all over again.
*Steam clean* existing carpeting and upholstery twice a year to diminish
dust mites, cockroach feces and animal hair/dander. Dust mites need a
warm temperature (about 70 degrees) and lots of humidity (about 50%) to
thrive. Come to think of it that s the perfect environment for fleas to
hatch as well!
*Keep the bathroom door closed* while showering and the vent fan on.
This prevents increasing humidity in other rooms of the house.
*Use window shades*: Window shades collect less dust than either drapes
or blinds. It s a hassle and expensive to wash curtains or blinds on a
regular basis but please do that anyway.
*Don t place your bed over a heating vent*. If you have to do this then
plug the vent so no air can come through it. You don t want dust coming
up through the heating system and you want that vent in an easy place to
clean it. Have your heating system vents cleaned about once a year.
*Use a HEPA* (High-efficiency Particulate Air) *filter* in your vacuum.
*Watch what you eat*: Avoid foods with sulfites and MSG. (see those
handouts listed under the Nutrition section of my website). Often milk
(which causes increased phlegm in many blood types), beer, wine, dried
fruits, nuts, seafood and processed foods are a hidden source of food
additives and allergens. I noticed that even flour tortillas are
preserved with metabisulfites. Even smelling some foods you are
sensitive to may bring on an attack.
*Use salt sparingly*: Especially table salt. Salt and increased asthma
attacks have a high correlation.
*Don t smoke in the house or around an asthma sufferer*. If you have
asthma, stop smoking! Louise Hay says that 95% of people who smoke have
an unresolved issue with either their mother or father. Do your body a
favor and resolve the issue and stop taking it out on yourself.
*Woodstove heat is a no-no*. If that is your only heat source then be
sure the stove and chimney are airtight to reduce particulate matter
coming into the room and be sure to ventilate the rooms you heat.
*Eat for your blood type*: Gastric reflux can exacerbate asthma. Most
all my clients who eat for their blood type resolve their GERD issues.
The medical system recommends taking an antacid before bedtime. This
should be a temporary fix as there are lots of challenges with antacids
(See Antacid handout:
http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/SpecificDiseases/antacids_problems_associ
ated.htm
<antacids_problems_associated.htm> )
*Don t wear perfumes, use room deodorizers or use detergents with strong
odors*.
*Don t exercise out of doors without a scarf or mask* to warm up and
humidify the cold/dry air as you exercise. Breathe through your nose.
*Take your asthma meds about 15 minutes before exercising*. Warm up,
start slowly, then be sure to add in a warm down cycle when you exercise.
*Don t exercise in high humidity*. Strangely enough though, swimming is
a good exercise for asthmatics. Baseball, tennis and golf are also good
sports. Be sure to wash your clothes and hands after golfing though as
there are lots of chemicals sprayed on those turfs. Golfers have a very
high incidence of cancers.
*Stay away from people with colds-especially viral in origin*. Wash your
hands often.
*Don t take aspirin*. Try Tylenol (Acetaminophen) instead for pain
management but even this may be a trigger for some with asthma.
*Control cockroaches*. Clean counters, put food and garbage away and
clean up any crumbs if you are in a cockroach area. Also, don t eat in
bed. It leaves too many crumbs for those critters.
*Close windows* during warm weather and turn on the air conditioner to
control humidity.
*Use indoor air filters* to control mold spores, tobacco smoke and
animal dander.
*Avoid outdoor activities* when air particulate levels or pollen counts
are high.
*In the car* be sure to set the fan or air conditioner on recirculate.
You don t need extra pollens speeding into the car as you drive down the
road.
*Moving to a different climate* doesn t always work these days. Places
like Arizona have changed so much over the years that urbanization and
irrigation are making the same problems there than where you are right now.

*Differential diagnoses for asthma *include:

· COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
· Emphysema
· Pneumonia (bacterial, viral, parasitic or fungal)
· Heart failure
· Obstructive Sleep Apnea
· Vocal Cord Dysfunction
*Prognosis for asthma * is good with treatment. The medical
professionals say there is no cure for asthma but I believe differently.
The key is to track down the triggers and eliminate or minimize them
from your life with whatever method works for YOUR body.

*Resources: *
· www.consumerlab.com <http://www.consumerlab.com> This
website is rather cool. It compares the different brand names of
some common supplements and how they rank. There is a fee of about
$30/year for membership though.
_· http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm
<http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm> This one s free
but doesn t have herbs on it.
_

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