ALTERNATIVE ASTHMA TREATMENTS
Control your environment. Eliminate dust. Use a HEPA air filter. Make your bedroom free of dust, animal dander, rugs, and feather pillows. Avoid tobacco smoke like it was poison (it is!). Be very careful about chemicals you use in your home and avoid volatile organic substances from paints, adhesives, and building materials
Consider food allergies. Try elimination diets of your favorite foods. They are most often the ones you are allergic to. Allergy testing can confirm inhalant and chemical reactions but kinesiology (muscle testing) and elimination diets are more reliable for food reactions. Drink plenty of water especially if you have exercise-induced asthma.
Candida fungal infections and intestinal overgrowth can lead to allergic symptoms, including asthma and rhinitis.
Gastroesophageal reflux of stomach acid is a very common cause of asthma. If you have this problem, get control of it to help your asthma.
Uncontrolled emotional stress clearly aggravates asthma. Learn how to do deep diaphragmatic breathing and meditate daily. Yoga and the associated breathing exercises have been shown to reduce asthma symptoms.
Get a peak flow meter and use it! It is an objective measurement of how your lungs are doing and it is available anytime, free and has no side effects.
Asthma is now known to be an inflammatory disease. Antioxidant therapy will help your body lower the inflammation. Take 1-2 grams of Vitamin C twice daily. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) taken once daily at 50 milligrams may help.
Magnesium is a relaxant of smooth muscle. Smooth muscle constriction of the bronchial tree is a factor in the airway obstruction of asthma. Intracellular levels may be low despite normal blood levels so a trial of 400 milligrams daily is warranted.
Zinc and selenium supplements may be helpful but evidence is
preliminary. A daily multivitamin with these is probably a good
idea until more evidence accumulates to indicate that higher
doses are beneficial in asthma.
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects and may be
helpful but clinical evidence is conflicting so unless another
condition warrants it, they are not a first line approach to
control of asthma.
Herbs have been shown to be helpful for alleviating asthma. The Ayurvedic (an ancient and sophisticated form of medicine originating in India) plant Tylophora asthmatica (also called Indian ipecac) not only decreased symptoms and improved objective measurements of airflow function but had a long lasting effect that persisted for weeks after the treatment was stopped. It has an irritant effect on the intestinal tract so should be used in consultation with an experienced practitioner of Ayurveda.
Boswellia serrata (also known as frankincense) has also been used in Ayurveda. A double blind placebo controlled study showed significant improvement when this herb was given.
Petasites hybridus (also called butterbur) was shown to be helpful in another study.
Quercetin is a plant derived flavonoid that has potent antihistamine effects but clinical studies are lacking. Due to poor bioavailability, a water soluble form is probably best.
Acupuncture has been studied extensively but due to small numbers and poor design, it is difficult to say with certainty how effective it is for asthma. There is enough evidence to suggest giving it a trial if other approaches are not working.
Biofeedback, yoga, massage, and chiropractic manipulation have all been used with some success in treating asthma.
Finally, use the standard medical approaches as recommended by your doctor if you have persistent or severe asthma attacks. They work and can help keep you out of the ER or hospital. These other approaches take time and a willingness to experiment to find what works best for you. If you are persistent, you may be able to eliminate your inhalers and steroid medications most or all of the time.
Daniel Blodgett MD