Many individuals living with asthma turn to alternative forms of treatment, like acupuncture or herbal supplements, in addition to taking their prescribed medicines – known as complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). Such approaches should only ever be used alongside their medicine regiment, not instead.
Medication remains the best way to manage asthma symptoms and attacks, including daily preventer medication and reliever medication for flare-ups.
Natural cures
Alternative treatments for asthma have long been touted for their ability to alleviate symptoms, but without strong scientific backing they should only be used as adjunctive measures and not replacement treatments. Common asthma treatments include bronchodilators that relax lung muscles to allow more airflow through, as well as steroids which reduce inflammation and suppress immune responses to help prevent flare-ups; both types can be administered via metered-dose inhalers/nebulizers, or swallowed tablets directly.
Other home remedies you could try include breathing exercises, herbal and natural medicines, acupuncture, meditation and yoga or tai chi that can help manage stress effectively while improving lung function. Honey is often included in cold remedies; however, research has also demonstrated its efficacy at improving breathing and lung function for people living with asthma, as well as decreasing coughing and wheezing symptoms. Honey can even be mixed with cumin or ginger to ease breathing and soothe sore throats.
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine practice, involves inserting tiny needles into specific points on the body in order to improve blood flow and breathing, relieve chest pain and ease tension. According to studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health, more evidence supports using acupuncture as an alternative therapy treatment option for conditions like asthma.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon and mackerel may help with asthma, while herb ginseng has been shown to boost immune systems while garlic may reduce lung inflammation. Furthermore, evidence exists of Indian plant Boswellia Serrata (also referred to as Boswellia or Frankincense) decreasing inflammation within its own lungs.
Recognizing and eliminating triggers is key to successfully managing asthma. Common triggers include tobacco smoke, pet dander, mold spores, seasonal allergens, physical exertion and strong emotions. A stress management program with exercise, meditation and Tai Chi could be beneficial; or you could keep a diary to track which foods or activities cause your asthma flare-ups.
Breathing techniques
Breathing techniques can be part of an effective plan to manage asthma on your own. While they shouldn’t replace medications prescribed by a physician, breathing techniques may help to alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life. They often combine physical movement and mindfulness-based meditation practices like yoga exercises, Tai chi or breathing-focused meditation; others include hypnosis or acupuncture – but before trying alternative therapies like supplements or herbal remedies it’s advisable to consult your healthcare provider first as these may interact negatively with certain drugs prescribed to you.
People living with asthma often have difficulty relaxing and taking deep breaths. Breathing retraining exercises provide an easy and relaxing way to regain control over your breath and body, relieving stress and anxiety as a source of asthma attacks. They’re easy to learn and can even be practiced at home!
There are various breathing techniques, but those with the strongest evidence for helping asthmatics include those that help alter the pattern of breathing or strengthen or lengthen respiratory muscles. An example is Konstantin Buteyko’s breathing retraining technique which encourages individuals to breathe through their nose instead of mouth as this helps keep air warm and moist while being less irritating on sensitive lungs.
Pursed lip breathing is another effective breathing technique, in which lips are brought together like you are about to blow out a candle, followed by inhalation through your mouth for two seconds and exhalation twice as long. This makes a quiet hissing sound with each exhale – this simple exercise can be done anywhere but especially before physical activities or when feeling short of breath.
Other breathing exercises involve controlled coughing or huffing to clear excess mucus from your airways and reduce inflammation and congestion. You can practice these techniques when you feel mucus in your throat or after using a bronchodilator medication to open up airways.
Mind-body approaches
Many people with asthma turn to complementary therapies for relief such as herbal medicine, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy and biofeedback. Others try homeopathy; which involves giving small doses of an agent known to cause symptoms in order to stimulate your body’s own natural healing response. While such approaches can reduce stress and anxiety–common triggers of asthma symptoms–they should only ever replace medical treatments and should always supplement them instead of becoming the sole solution.
Mind-body approaches are invaluable because they value empathy and self-awareness while simultaneously teaching stress management, pain relief and the ability to manage one’s own health. Mind-body therapies fit seamlessly into today’s integrative healthcare model in which self-care and prevention take equal priority as treatments such as procedures or drugs.
Research suggests that mind-body practices such as mindfulness, breathing exercises and yoga may help people with chronic illness to experience improved psychological outcomes and avoid asthma symptoms altogether. Furthermore, studies show stress is one major cause of asthma symptoms; breathing techniques can relieve this stress by slowing the breath rate.
Though many mind-body therapies have not been rigorously assessed in clinical trials, some have shown promising results. Breathing exercises like Buteyko Breathing Technique may reduce symptoms associated with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma. Other relaxation methods, like hypnosis and meditation can help relieve stress – often one of the triggers for asthma attacks. Before initiating any new complementary therapy regimen it is wise to discuss it with your physician first.
Some forms of mind-body therapy are easier to implement in everyday practice, like hypnosis and guided imagery; others, like yoga and biofeedback, require more training to implement successfully. Psychosocial interventions adapted from mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may also prove beneficial as they provide social support and motivation.
Mind-body therapies remain unclear in their effect on other health conditions, like cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although no definitive proof exists for their efficacy, preliminary data indicate they could help reduce mental health symptoms among disadvantaged populations by directly targeting stress-related physiology by inducing relaxation response and deactivating sympathetic nervous system, or via impactful effects on inflammation or immune pathways.
Exercise
Researchers are discovering more and more evidence that routine exercise can significantly decrease asthmatic symptoms and quality of life issues for those living with this condition. Before embarking on any new fitness regime, however, discuss this decision with your doctor first as it might have adverse impacts on asthma symptoms as well as any activities which might aggravate them further.
Many people with asthma can develop exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), where asthma symptoms such as wheezing and coughing resurface during physical activity or exercise, typically brought on by cold, dry air or strenuous physical exertion – often leading to shortness of breath and shortness of breath; symptoms usually start within 20 minutes after beginning an activity and peak shortly after it ends.
Preventing asthma symptoms during exercise requires following a pre-exercise medication regimen, warming up prior to exercising and cooling down afterward. People with asthma should avoid certain exercises that might trigger their symptoms such as ice hockey and snow sports; additionally they must keep taking regular asthma medications; should their symptoms worsen following physical activity they should stop immediately until symptoms clear up.
Breathing exercises and relaxation therapies may help relieve the stress that contributes to asthma symptoms. A range of techniques have been investigated, including deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation techniques, guided imagery exercises and biofeedback; although some studies show positive results.
General fitness guidelines recommend that those in good health should commit to an exercise program with multiple forms of activity, in order to improve lung capacity and endurance as well as reduce risks related to asthma such as obesity or heart disease.
Alternative treatments for asthma may include supplements and herbs, yoga, meditation and relaxation therapy. While these approaches may help relieve stress levels, they should never replace your daily asthma preventer medication. It is always important to discuss any alternative therapies with your physician first and always follow the directions on the packaging for best results.
