Asthma

These suggestions are not intended to replace appropriate medical advice. Please check labels and consult your pharmacist if you are on prescriptions drugs. 

The first important step is to identify and eliminate triggers - dietary, chemical/pesticide, environmental, or stress related. Aspirin and ibuprofen are common triggers. So are dust mites, smoke, over exertion, cold air, and animal dander. And watch your posture!  Your lungs need room to breathe.

A Healing Diet - Minimize, Mucous, Maximize Nutrition

• Drink 7-10 glasses filter or spring water at room temperature. 
  
  
• Consume a diet that is 75-80% alkaline forming. Most important.
  
  
• Organic foods are the safest way to nourish yourself – a worthwhile investment.
  
  
• Make antioxidant rich fruits, vegetables, raw seeds and nuts, bean, legumes, and whole grains the mainstays of your diet. 
  
  
• Animal products are acid and mucous forming. Consume in moderation.
  
  
• Have complete protein no later than lunch for better digestion of amino acids.

• Combine foods for efficient digestion – fruit on an empty stomach – eat complex carbs (need base secretions) and animal products (need acid) at separate meals.
  
  
• Hot spices like cloves, ginger, and cayenne pepper thin mucous in the lungs.
  
  
• Beets and beet juice promote nitric oxide which is beneficial for the lungs.

• You may be sensitive to histamine.  Eliminate fermented foods, including alcohol,  for a 2-week period to see if symptoms improve.
  
  
• Take 2 tsp apple cider vinegar and raw honey (opt) in room temperature water with meals.  Low stomach acid is common with asthma.

Basic Supplements - For the Maintenance of Good Health

• Bio-Strath – important for digestion and stress tolerance.
  
  
• Extra vitamin C – 1,000-2,000 mg daily until improvement, then 500 mg daily.
  
  
• Vitamin D – 8,000 IU for one month then reduce to upper limit of 4,000 IU– steroid precursor, anti-inflammatory.
  
  
• Magnesium – keeps airways relaxed, promotes better sleep and regularity.
  
  
• Omega 3 fatty acids – supports respiratory health, decreases inflammation.
  
  
• Make intermittent use of probiotics.

Special Care for Lungs

• N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has a beneficial effect on overall lung health. It thins mucus, supports overall immunity, and aids in detoxification.

• For two weeks, drink 2-3 cups of fenugreek or Holy Basil tea daily with ¼ tsp of manuka honey to break up congested material in the lungs.   
  
  
• Take serrapeptase upon rising and at bedtime on an empty stomach for 2 weeks then reduce to once at bedtime.  This enzyme digests waste in the lungs.
  
  
• Spend time outdoors breathing deeply.  A walk in the fresh air is revitalizing and regular deep breathing clears congestion and expands lung capacity.
  
  
• Nitric oxide relaxes the lungs and improves oxygen circulation.  See Dr Zack Bush’s 4-Minute Workout online. 
  
  
• Studies show keeping a journal helps those who suffer with asthma.
  
  
• Mix a few drops of frankincense essential oil in a carrier oil such as coconut, and message it over the lung area, front and back.  Frankincense has powerful regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. 
  
  
• Keep the air in your home healthy with plants, salt lamps, an essential oil diffuser, and natural bees wax candles with jute wicks.  Replace furnace filters spring and fall.

• In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs are associated with grief and an asthma attack can be triggered by an emotional upset.
  
  
• The homeopathic remedy for grief is Iamara (Ignatia).  Some customers who have used this remedy to “let go” of grief, experienced an intense release of emotions, and sometimes memories of a past experience, then an easing of pressure in the lung area.  Others simply experienced the easing without any strong emotional reactions.

Journal and track your progress for 1-3 months then reassess. Many people find their health improves in multiple areas. You can systematically bring about positive changes.  Health by design!

*Revised September 2024