Home Remedies For Asthma

Home remedies for asthma are probably not used as much as they should be.

Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult. It's caused when airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. It's hard to breathe and it triggers coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Home remedies for asthma should be discovered and used diligently.

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects 20 million Americans, and includes almost 1 in 10 children.

During an asthma attack, the airways in the lung's (bronchioles) become inflamed. When this happens, they contract and become lined with excessive amounts of mucous. This then restricts the airflow, making it very difficult to breathe. There are several home remedies for asthma that can be implemented to help relieve this mucous buildup.

For some people, asthma is not a major problem, but for others, it's a very serious and scary issue that interferes with daily living and could lead to a life threatening asthma attack.

Most doctors believe that asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. I believe home remedies for asthma are the best answer in strengthening not only your lungs, but also your total immune system.

These attacks are triggered by pollution or some environmental irritant like change in air temperature or humidity, stress, allergies, cigarette smoke, cleaning agents, or other toxins.

Your bodies first line of defense is your immune system. Specialized cells and organs help your body recognize and respond to foreign invaders. Your immune system even has its own circulatory system, called the lymphatic system, to help "filter" out these attackers.

If your immune system can't do its job, the problems that follow can be serious. A weakened immune system is evidenced by allergies and asthma.

When an immune system gets so weakened, that the normal germs, bacteria, viruses, etc. that we're all exposed to can tear our health down, we are at serious risk.

Chronic asthma can be a frightening condition which often requires vigilance to prevent and minimize the occurrence of acute attacks. The standard conventional Western medicine usually only treats symptoms. I always prefer homeopathic or naturalistic treatment.

While many asthma attacks are relatively mild and can be treated at home, some can be quite severe and may even require hospitalization.

A doctor can do a physical examination and non-invasive lung functioning test to determine if you or your child has asthma.

Your physician may also examine the skin and ask if there is a history of hives, eczema or skin-related allergies, since there is a common link between skin reactions and chronic asthma. If a diagnosis is confirmed, it is important to discuss different treatment options with your doctor and explore home remedies for asthma, rather than just accepting the doctors prescribed drugs.

Remember, there are always side effects with pharmaceuticals.

It is so critical to have strong and healthy immune system. Strengthening the immune system should negate the need for taking antibiotics and help avoid unnecessary medications.

Natural remedies have been used for thousands of years to help promote a healthy immune system, so that the body works at its best ability to ward off disease and infection.

Herbs like Echinacea purpurea, Astragalus membranaceous, Inula helenium, and Withania somnifera are known to be effective for their antiviral, anti fungal and antibacterial properties, as well as their excellent ability to strengthen the immune system.

These herbs work as a tonic for the immune system and are recommended to help prevent and aid recovery from illness or infection.

Home Remedies For Asthma Foods

Magnesium has been shown to improve asthma sufferers' ability to breathe. Foods containing magnesium include whole grains, green leafy vegetables, almonds, cashews, peanuts, beet greens, spinach, wheat bran, Brazil nuts, soybean flour, pumpkin and squash seeds, bran cereals, bananas, chocolate and agar seaweed.

Spices containing magnesium include basil, celery seed, sage, coriander, cumin seed, tarragon and marjoram.

Asthma sufferers tend to have low levels of selenium in their bodies. Selenium combines with proteins in the body to form selenoproteins, or antioxidant enzymes, that play a huge role in the immune system.

Fresh vitamin C rich fruits given to children with asthma was shown to be effective in reducing asthmatic wheezing.

Part of a healthy diet should include, fruits rich in vitamin C, including papayas, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, tangerines, mangoes and guavas.

Broccoli, cabbage greens, bell peppers, potatoes with skin and raw spinach are also some vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin C.

Apples, parsley, onions, tea, red wine, dark berries, cherries, citrus fruits, and olive oil contain quercetin, an antioxidant and flavonoid.

Quercetin is anti-inflammatory and acts as an antihistamine in the body, inhibiting cells from releasing histamines. There is no scientific evidence as yet that quercetin can help reduce symptoms of asthma, but it's being studied as a treatment for asthma.