Asthma

a naturopathic prescription for the signs and symptoms

• Asthma can be a life threatening condition, and you are advised to always work with your professional health practitioner when taking decisions to supplement your health.
• If there was one medicine to cure asthma - then there would be no asthma! So please accept that people who suffer from breathing problems have their own unique circumstances, and triggers, and needs, and almost certainly need customised prescriptions. Nevertheless, there are some general guidelines you might consider. Remember, before embarking on any of these suggestions, please talk with your professional health practitioner.
• Recognised factors in episodes of acute breathlessness, wheezing, coughing and increased mucous production include: environmental, nutritional, allergies, infections, emotional and genetic. You could have one or many of these factors. Treatment varies according to which factors are present.
• There is no better reason to stop smoking. Here is a link to Quit Line. Evidence is conclusive.
• Know your triggers! And avoid them if you possible can!
• Start by removing all foods you eat a lot of (eg at least twice a week). Some people are convinced that certain foods such as chocolate, eggs, nuts, shellfish, milk, cheese, and certain food additives (eg sodium benzoate, sulfur dioxide, tartrazine, metabisulfites) are implicated in triggering an attack. Some people can tolerate a small amount, others can have an acute crisis from the merest trace of these foods.
• Asthmatics are often likely to be affected by sulphite preservatives (220-228) in a wide range of foods and drugs including fruit flavoured cordials and drinks, wine, bread, sausages and dried fruit and some medications
• Eat more fish than other meats.
• Black coffee can help, especially during an acute attack.
• Exercise induced asthma, and weather induced asthma are perhaps the hardest to control - sometimes you cannot avoid these triggers! Nevertheless work out what your limits are and have an"exit" plan to a safer environment.
• Stress induced asthma is perhaps the easiest to address in lifestyle change. Refer to Anxiety.
• Recent studies have indicated that dust mites are not significant in asthma. However, there are plenty of parents who might disagree. So it is wise to keep a clean environment as possible (without stressing out too much!)
• Homeopathy can be very useful - customised to one of about 30 remedies.
• Select a supplement from the following recommendations for your country (clicking the hyperlink refers you to a suitable supplier. Look for products with the following ingredients: antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, E; bioflavanoids such as quercitin; zinc and selenium); magnesium, Vitamins B6 and B12, omega-3 fatty acids; Tylophora, Boswellia.

	Natural Product	Type	Formula	Value for money
	Blackmores BioACE Excell	Capsules	****	***
	Microgenics Magnesium Complex Cramp Bark Formula	Capsules	****	****
	Thompson's Omega 3 Fish Oil	Capsules	***	****

Support services: Asthma Foundations of Australia Telephone:1800 645 130

If the asthma persists, you need to make an urgent appointment to consult a professional health practitioner.
If you are having an uncontrolled attack, ring for an ambulance.

Naturopaths consider WHY a person has asthma and treat accordingly.

David Wilson, Naturopath

See also Food intolerance, Anxiety

Keep me informed about any news concerning asthma.