02 May Acupuncture and Natural Therapies for Asthma
Every year in the United States, asthma affects approximately 20 million people.
Traditional treatment options are limited to steroid inhalers and bronchodilators. These medications are effective in relieving the symptoms of asthma however; the side effects of using them long-term can be severe. There are a number of natural treatments to consider for chronic asthma that offer effective treatments without side effects.
Below is a list of nutritional supplements to consider using to treat asthma:
Supplements
- Grape Seed extract
- A strong antioxidant that is excellent at reducing inflammation and breaking the pattern of allergy-induced asthma
- Quercetin
- Proven to be a superior flavonoid because of its remarkable anti-inflammatory antioxidant and properties. Quercetin is known for its ability to stabilize mast cells and help control allergies.
- Cod liver oil
- Supplements that are high in essential fatty acids, such as cod liver oil, greatly reduce systemic inflammation and helps promote healthy circulation, and is utilized for strengthening immunity.
Chinese herbs are very important in the treatment of asthma. The formulas I have has the most success with in my practice aid in: clearing heat from the lungs and strengthening the lung and spleen qi, treating asthma when it’s exacerbated by the onset of a cold, and supporting and strengthening immunity and boosting lung function.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be very effective in the treatment of asthma and has bee practiced for over 2,000 years in various cultures throughout Asia. Acupuncture has enjoyed a long, successful history of treating internal medical conditions. Acupuncture helps to rebalance the major organs that are contributing to asthma and reduce the systemic inflammation in the body. In Chinese medicine, asthma can be caused by a variety of reasons including: diet, environmental allergies, stress, constitutional weakness and a candida infection. Each of these factors relate to different internal organs that are causing the lungs to constrict. When treating patients with acupuncture, the concept involves combining the patient’s reported symptoms with a pulse and tongue diagnosis to get a clear understanding of the body’s inner workings. The treatment is then tailored to create balance in the body and correct any energetic or functional disharmonies. In additional to acupuncture, cupping and gua sha are also helpful treatments.
Diet
The key strategy for people suffering from asthma is to avoid foods that aggravate or create inflammation in the body. The worst offending foods are refined sugars and carbohydrates. Any food that converts into sugar quickly is going to cause inflammation. Many asthma patients report significant improvements in their symptoms purely by taking this step.
In Chinese medicine, the lungs are closely related to the large intestine. Intestinal toxicity can cause a whole host of internal problems, including asthma and allergies. This is why changing a diet might e necessary as well as adding in the every important probiotics. If there is a history of constipation, then a cleanse is helpful to completely detox the colon, which will indirectly benefit the lungs. A diet high in fiber such as organic fruits and vegetables is essential to this process. Prunes, pears, flax seed, and herbs such as rhubarb root are helpful in cleansing the colon. If you are interested in a detox please ask for a recommendation.
Deep breathing
Anytime the asthma is in remission, I recommend deep breathing exercises as much as possible. Deep breathing exercises help build lung capacity and strength the lungs. Try the one-minute breath. This involves inhaling as slowly as possible for as long as possible, holding the breath for as long as possible and then exhaling for as long as possible. Try to do this until you can build up to the entire cycle of one minute.