There are about 20 million US citizens who suffer from asthma every year. Conventional treatment choices for asthma are limited to bronchodilators and steroid inhalers. These drugs are useful in treating the symptoms of asthma; however, they have side effects when used in the long-term and those side effects can be extreme. Natural treatments for asthma abound especially for chronic asthma that can provide effective remedy without the side effects that asthma drugs give.
Listed below is a list of herbal formulas and nutritional supplements to treat asthma:
For supplements
Quercetin – Quercetin is a flavonoid that is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients. It is known to help control allergies by stabilizing mast cells. If an allergic reaction is the cause of the asthma, quercetin is an ideal supplement to address it.
Grape Seed extract – This extract has very potent antioxidant properties that are very effective in treating the chronic pattern of allergy-induced asthma and in lessening inflammation.
Cod liver oil – Cod liver oil is very rich in essential fatty acids and these fatty acids aid in strengthening the immune system, improving blood circulation and lessening inflammation.
MSM – Methylsulfonyl-methane or MSM for short is a naturally-occurring compound, organic sulfur-containing nutrient present in the human body. The cells in our body need sulfur for their structure. Sulfur is also essential for antioxidants, antibodies, enzymes and hormones. Since sulfur is continually used by the body and is exhausted it on a daily basis, it needs to be constantly refurbished for good health and nutrition. MSM also contains anti-inflammatory attributes, is useful for treating allergies and strengthens body immunity.
Chinese herbs
Gecko and ginseng – One Chinese herb called ren shen ge jie san is know to clear phlegm and heat from the lungs as well as tonify spleen and lung Chi
Jade Windscreen – This is an oriental herb (yu ping feng san) that has the same properties as gecko and ginseng that boosts lung function and reinforces the immune system
Ding chuan tang – This Chinese plant is the most widely used herb for treating all kinds of asthma. Ding chuan tang is especially effective in the type of asthma that is aggravated by colds.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used all over Asia for more than 2,500 years. It has enjoyed a long and fruitful history of addressing a wide range of internal medical problems. Acupuncture is a potent treatment for asthma. It aids in minimizing inflammation and helps balance the energy of the major organs that may be causing the asthma symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that asthma is brought about by a number of factors including constitutional weakness, candida infection, allergies, diet and stress. All of these factors can be associated to different internal organs that may experience imbalance that cause the lungs to tighten up. Acupuncture treatment is done by understanding the patient’s symptoms tongue and pulse diagnosis to provide the acupuncturist with a clear picture of the inner workings of the patient’s body. Points in the body called acupuncture points are treated with reed-thin needles on predetermined energy pathways called meridians to help restore balance of the functional and energetic disharmonies. Complementary therapies also aid in the treatment of asthma. These therapies include gua sha and cupping.