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Asthma
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Asthma
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1. Nutrition
Following an asthma attack, drink a large amount of liquid as soon as you are able, to encourage the coughing out of secretions. To prevent and reduce the severity of asthma attacks, make it a habit to drink fluids regularly throughout the day to help liquefy mucus. A periodic juice fast, three days a month, helps rid the body of toxins and mucus.
A diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables and free of animal products is recommended. Milk and dairy products tend to increase mucus production. Animal products produce leukotrienes, which contribute to inflammatory reactions. Avoiding animal meat eliminates many possible food allergens. Raw fruit and vegetables, conversely, provide enzymes to stimulate digestion and eliminate toxins.
Other foods which have been know to provoke an immediate allergic asthmatic reaction include eggs, shellfish, fish and nuts. A delayed allergic reaction is provoked by homogenized and pasteurized milk, chocolate, wholewheat products (especially yeast baked goods), citrus fruits and food coloring (especially the yellow dye tartrazine). Sulphites, used extensively in restaurants to preserve salads, frozen french fries and avocado dips, are particularly linked to asthma attacks.
Raw sauerkraut prepared with onions, garlic and flax seed oil reduces inflammation and provide a helpful and tasty remedy in the treatment of asthma. Raw sauerkraut is a fermented vegetable which provides beneficial bacteria to fight infection. Onions and garlic are well-known antibiotics, while flax seed oil contains essential fatty acids needed for many metabolic functions. Fish oils high in EPAs (eicosapentanoic acid) from cold water fish like salmon, mackerel, rainbow tout and sardines also contain anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids.
Inhaling essential herbal oil vapors help clear blocked airways
2. Nutritional Supplements
Vitamin C is an important nutrient, as it helps to stabilize cell walls in all types of allergic responses and has an antihistamine effect. Vitamin C further protects the body from the effects of toxins and increases resistance to infections. Even low doses of Vitamin C are helpful as a prevention, and higher doses have been used for relief during periods of attacks. If diarrhea result from high dosages of vitamin C, reduce the dosage accordingly. Bioflavonoids act similarly to vitamin C and help with its assimilation. Many vitamin C supplements include bioflavonoids.
The mineral magnesium is important, as it relaxes muscle spasms in the bronchial tubes. It is useful in both the prevention and treatment of asthma attacks. Since absorption through the intestinal tract is relatively slow, only injections by a physician can alleviate severe asthma attacks.
Vitamin B12 is often useful in treating children and those sensitive to sulphites, with a noticeable difference within six weeks. Since some people absorb vitamin B12 poorly, choose the sublingual form which dissolves under the tongue for easier assimilation. Vitamin B6 is another nutrient found to be lacking in a number of persons with asthma and will reduce the severity and number of attacks when taken as a preventive. The B vitamin pantothenic acid (B5) also plays a vital role in asthma and allergy treatment. In fact, all the B vitamins are needed during stressful situations and the B complex vitamins should be taken together to avoid causing imbalances among them.
Vitamin A and E are also recommended as they protect against pollutants and are are particularly important for the proper functioning of the mucous membranes and elasticity of the tissues.
Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria (diary free) are friendly bacteria that help prevent the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by unfriendly/ pathogenic microbes like candida and parasites.
N-acetyl-cysteine is a mucolytic, natural antibiotic which stimulates the production of glutathione in the body, a very powerful antioxidant.
There was a time when the air was clean and the food was natural and the asthma was unknown!
3. Daily dosages:
Most important:
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Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1000 mg three times daily, and at least 4000 mg daily during asthmatic periods.
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Quercetin, 500 mg three times daily
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Magnesium, 500-750 mg
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Vitamin B12, sublingual tablet, 1 mg
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Vitamin B complex, 50 mg one to three times daily
Helpful:
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Vitamin A, 15000 IU (avoid in pregnancy)
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Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols, 600 IU
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Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1-2 capsules or 1 tsp.
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N-acetyl-cysteine, 100 mg
(Ref: Siegfried Gursche, MH. Medical Editor-Zoltan Rona, MD, MSc. Encyclopedia of Natural Healing. Natural life publishing, Inc. WA, USA. Alive Publishing, Inc. BC, Canada)
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Posted on February 09, 2005
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NATURAL HEALING - ARCHIVES |
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