Asthma: Alternative Treatments

Asthma: Alternative Treatments

Leslie came into The Earth Center with difficulty breathing. Her shoulders were pulled near her earlobes and her hand clutched an inhaler. Her breathing was quick; labored, and loud. Leslie was having an asthma attack. The healer (Master Naba) asked Leslie to sit down, assessed that her problem was, indeed, an asthma attack, and immediately slipped into his herbal room. He emerged with an herb that he mixed with hot water, and he gave it to Leslie to drink. A few minutes later, her shoulders were more relaxed, her breathing was easier, and her asthma attack was gone.

Researchers tell us that asthma rates have been increasing recently, especially in developed countries such as the USA. The American Lung Association reports that asthma has risen from 34 cases per 1,000 people in 1982 to 56 cases per 1,000 in 1994. Over 20 million people are affected by this condition. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract; according to the modern medical system, it is a condition of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed, causing difficulty breathing. The modern medical system divides asthma into two subcategories: allergic/extrinsic and non-allergic/intrinsic.

Allergic asthma is considered to be an airway inflammation or obstruction that is triggered by an allergic reaction. This is the most common form of asthma and affects over fifty percent of asthma sufferers. Reactions or episodes can be caused by dust, pet dander, mold, pollen, etc. This type of asthma is considered to be more treatable by medication.

Non-allergic asthma is considered to be an airway inflammation or obstruction that is not related to allergies. Reactions or episodes can be caused by anxiety, cold air, dry air, stress, exercise, smoke, viruses, etc. This type of asthma is considered less treatable by medication.

Asthma is considered by doctors to be a genetic condition; they explain that some people are born with more sensitive airways than others, which appear to become troubled by certain things (which they label "triggers"). While there are many triggers, some of the most common are allergins (things that cause allergies), irritants in the air (such as smoke from cigarettes, strong perfume, chemical fumes, etc), respiratory infections, exercise, changes in weather, strong emotions, and certain medications.

During an asthma attack, triggers cause the lining of the airways to swell and become inflamed. The mucus begins to clog the airways and the muscles around them tighten. This causes the airways to become more narrow, and breathing becomes difficult. Some people describe an asthma attack as trying to breathe through a straw stuffed with cotton.

The modern medical system diagnoses asthma with lung function tests. The recommended test for confirming asthma is the spirometry test. During this Test, one breathes into a spirometer that records the amount of air you can exhale related to the amount you inhale. Another test is called the Peak Airflow test. It uses a meter that measures the rate at which one can force air out of the lungs. Trigger tests are commonly performed, and allergy tests are also common.

The modern medical system treats asthma with medications. There are two groups of asthma medications: long-term controllers and quick relievers. Long-term controllers are needed when one has an asthma attack more than twice a week. Anti-inflammatories are the most important of the long-term medications. Long-term controllers include:

Cromolyn Sodium and Nedocromil Sodium - prevent swelling in airways and prevent asthma caused by exercise

Inhaled Corticosteroids - prevent/reduce swelling in airways and decrease mucus in the lungs

Oral Corticosteroids - used as long-term therapy for people with severe asthma

Leukotriene modifiers - prevent airway swelling, and decrease mucus in the lungs

Long-acting beta-agonists - control daily symptoms and nighttime asthma

Anti-IgE therapy - an injection that tries to stop the root allergy of asthma. It is very expensive and is reserved for severe cases.

Quick relievers include:

Bronchodilators - open airways by relaxing muscles around them

Beta-agonists - relieve symptoms and prevent asthma caused by exercise

Oral beta agonists - used for children

Theophylline - used for symptomatic asthma and nighttime asthma

Preventing asthma attacks is also highly recommended by the medical system. One very important measure one can take to prevent asthma in people of all ages is avoiding cigarette smoke. Identifying triggers can help one avoid an attack, and taking medicine regularly is supposed to help.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine does not see asthma as being only a lung condition - the kidneys are also involved. Asthma is due to the disconnection of the lungs and kidneys.

Acupuncture is sometimes used to treat asthma. The medical system must always look into traditional methods they may be able to exploit, and acupuncture for asthma is no different. Trials at the Osler Chest Unit at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, England showed that patients using traditional acupuncture over a three-week period showed significant improvement in asthma scores, while those getting placebo acupuncture fared much less well.

Herbal treatments are also used. Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is a special prescription (made to order) that strengthens and connects the lungs and kidneys. Cordyceps strengthens the lungs and kidneys, while Coriolus strengthens the immune system.

Reishi is used when asthma is related to allergies.

Ayurveda

Asthma is known as Swas Roga in the Ayurvedic tradition. According to this system, there are five types of asthma: Mahaswas, Urdhwashwas, Chhinnashwas, Tamakshwas, and Kshudrashwas. The first three are not curable. Tamakshwas is controllable and difficult to cure, and shudrashwas is curable. More than 75% of cases belong to the last two categories.

Ayurvedic texts relate asthma to many factors. Factors related to diet include the excessive use of Ruksha (dry) and "guru" (heavy) things, such as cold water and drinks, excessive use of Abhishandi (Kapha-producing) things, such as irritant food and food that is hard to digest, and excessive amounts of black grams, raw milk, salt, meat, seafood, and lablab beans.

Factors related to work include exposure to dust and smoke, exposure to wind, cold, or excessive heat, the suppression of natural urges, psychological factors, and excessive exercise, walking, or sex. Other factors include trauma to vital organs and other diseases. 

Prevention of asthma is possible, according to Ayurveda. One should avoid cold and damp places and avoid overeating. One should avoid tobacco, wine, smoking, perfumes, air conditioners, and mosquito repellents. One should go for a morning or evening walk and should do Pranayama yoga, drink boiled water, and avoid too much exercise or sex.

To treat asthma during an attack, one should apply a warm Til tail over the chest and back. A tonic for the lungs can be made using black resin, dates, lomg pippali and honey in equal quantities. One teaspoon taken every morning and evening with warm milk should help.

Herbs

There are many herbs that are useful for asthma. These herbs should be used under the care of a professional.

Bloodroot - small doses act as an expectorant. Larger doses are sedative - excess can be fatal.

St. John's Wort - this herb is very good for the nervous system and can help in asthma.

Wild Cherry Bark - used to sedate the respiratory nerves.

Ephedra (Ma Huang) - this is a very useful herb for asthma, however, it has been banned in some countries.

Colt's Foot - this herb has anti-inflammatory properties and is also expectorant.

Chickweed - good for internal inflammation

Garlic - mix 10-15 drops of garlic juice in warm water and take internally to help relieve asthma.

Traditional African Healing

According to traditional African healing, asthma can either be a hyper-sensitivity to things in the air or a nervous disorder. Technically, asthma is a defense mechanism of the body - the respiratory tubes swell so that the intake of air can be reduced. This happens so that the body can protect itself from pollutants or substances in the air. An asthmatic episode is when the body perceives that there is something dangerous in the air and reduces the flow of air to the lungs.

People with asthma either suffer from a hypersensitive nervous mechanism in the respiratory system the nerves are ultra-sensitive and trigger this constriction of the respiratory tubes from the slightest disturbance) or from a nervous disorder (a person has an attack because the body fools itself into thinking there is something dangerous in the air when, in reality, there is not). Naming "triggers" is unnecessary in traditional African healing because even pure air itself can cause an attack if the nerves think there is something in it! 

Preventing asthma is possible. In traditional societies where people live outdoors, asthma is fairly rare because their bodies are used to the pollen and other "pollutants" in the natural air. Exposure to natural environments helps prevent asthma. People who are confined inside buildings, houses, cars, etc., are more likely to develop asthma because their bodies are not used to natural air. Unfiltered air becomes strange to the body, and the body will react by having an asthma attack.

People with asthma also tend to suffer more depression, mental illness, and cancer, especially those with the nervous-type asthma. Because the body can be so easily fooled, it is much more prone to perceiving its environment negatively or reacting to other chemicals that are ingested to form tumors.

Ankhkasta Natural Healing has traditional African remedies for asthma that are easy to use and safe. If a person does not have full-fledged asthma, one can talk him out of the condition. If asthma has already developed, one must get the body used to what causes an attack. For example, if one is allergic to pollen, one can gather honey from the season in which asthma is a problem and eat it (and thus, the pollen contained inside of the honey) - this will slowly help the body become used to the pollen so there will be no more attacks.

Depending on the severity, Ankhkasta has an herbal mixture that will rid the body of asthma. This herbal remedy targets the nerves and usually clears asthma within two weeks. One can call Ankhkasta Natural Healing at 737-201-1213 or visit at anhlife.org for more information.