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ASTHMA

Description

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes the airways to become inflamed, narrow, and produce excess mucus, leading to breathing difficulties. There are two primary types: allergic asthma, which is triggered by allergens such as pollen or pet dander, and nonallergic asthma, often caused by factors like stress, cold air, or respiratory infections. During an asthma attack, the airways spasm, making it harder to exhale, but this is due to chronic inflammation and airway sensitivity, not just the spasm alone. Symptoms include wheezing, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and, in some cases, chest pain. Managing asthma involves identifying and avoiding triggers, following a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, maintaining physical activity, and controlling stress. Medical treatments like inhalers and bronchodilators are crucial for managing symptoms, alongside lifestyle changes that promote lung health and overall well-being.

Body System

young-caucasian-women-using-respiratory-inhaler-asthma

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1. Vitamin D: Vitamin D3 helps reduce lung inflammation and enhances immune response, promoting respiratory health and potentially lowering the risk of asthma exacerbations.

2. Vitamin C: Vitamin C supports the metabolism of histamine and prostaglandins, helping regulate bronchoconstriction and maintaining open, comfortable airways, which is essential in asthma management.

3. Zinc: Zinc plays a key role in regulating airway responsiveness and IgE levels, helping protect the respiratory system and reduce asthma symptoms.

4. Magnesium: Magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of the airways by counteracting calcium, promoting easier breathing and maintaining open air passages, which helps alleviate asthma symptoms.

5. Adrenal Extract: Adrenal extract supports adrenal function and may help manage asthma symptoms by improving the body’s response to stress and reducing reliance on inhaled steroids.

6. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine: N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) reduces airway inflammation and improves lung function by influencing the expression of CLDN18, a protein that regulates airway cell junctions, promoting healthier respiratory function in asthma patients.

7. Omega 3: Omega-3 fatty acids reduce airway inflammation, a key trigger for asthma, promoting smoother breathing and reducing asthma-related discomfort.

8. Probiotics: Probiotics, particularly strains like Lactobacillus salivarius and Bifidobacterium breve, support immune function and modulate the gut-lung axis, potentially reducing wheezing and airway inflammation in asthma patients.

9. Diamine Oxidase [DAO]: DAO primarily works in the gut to break down histamine, which can contribute to bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation. By reducing excess histamine, it may indirectly help alleviate histamine-related asthma triggers, potentially providing relief for individuals with asthma.

1. Mullein: Mullein helps soothe coughs and ease breathing, making it a natural remedy for respiratory conditions like asthma.

2. Quercetin: Quercetin reduces airway inflammation, bronchial hyperactivity, and excessive mucus production by inhibiting inflammatory mediators, helping to manage asthma symptoms.

3. Bromelain: Bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce respiratory inflammation and normalize bronchial sensitivity, easing asthma symptoms by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting mucus breakdown.

4. Butterbur Extract: Butterbur reduces inflammation associated with asthma by inhibiting the production of leukotrienes and histamines, providing relief from asthma symptoms.

5. Oregano Essential Oil: Oregano essential oil, rich in carvacrol, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress associated with asthma by inhibiting inflammatory enzymes and scavenging free radicals.

6. Thyme Essential Oil: Thyme essential oil, high in thymol, protects lung tissues from oxidative damage and supports respiratory health by reducing inflammation and boosting immune function.

1. Colloidal Silver: Colloidal silver reduces airway inflammation and sensitivity by lowering levels of inflammatory proteins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) and harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting a more balanced and responsive respiratory system.

2. Propolis: Propolis helps alleviate asthma symptoms by reducing airway inflammation and modulating immune responses, offering protection against nocturnal asthma attacks.

1. Halotherapy: Halotherapy (salt therapy) may reduce nocturnal asthma attacks, clear airways, and improve breathing by reducing inflammation, promoting mucus clearance, and potentially inhibiting bacterial overgrowth.

2. Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy using essential oils like thyme, lavender, and oregano helps reduce airway inflammation, promote relaxation, and support immune function, easing asthma symptoms and improving lung health.

3. Ozone IV: Ozone IV therapy may reduce lung inflammation and oxidative stress, providing relief from asthma symptoms by regulating immune responses and minimizing oxidative damage in the airways.

4. Ayurveda: Ayurvedic interventions improve lung function and reduce inflammation in asthma patients by strengthening the respiratory system, offering comprehensive support for overall respiratory well-being.

5. Biofeedback: Biofeedback helps manage asthma symptoms by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving self-regulation of physiological responses, potentially reducing reliance on medications.

6. Osteopathy: Osteopathic techniques improve lung function and breathing mechanics by easing muscle tension and optimizing lung capacity, helping alleviate chest tightness associated with asthma.

Supplements

Plant Extracts

Natural Compounds

Alternative Treatments

Symptoms & Signs

Causes

Allergic Asthma: Pollutants, Animal and Insect Allergens, Chemicals, Dust Mites, Food Additives, Seafood, Diary, Nuts, Mold
Nonallergic Asthma: Adrenal Disorders, Exercise, Smoke, Stress and Anxiety, Low Blood Sugar, Air Dryness or Humidity, Respiratory Infections

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How Nutrients Function

Amino Acids: Amino acids serve as the building blocks of proteins, crucial for muscle growth and repair. Additionally, they play key roles in maintaining proper pH levels, storing nitrogen, synthesizing hormones, and facilitating enzymatic reactions.

Electrolytes: Electrolytes carry charged ions essential for transmitting nerve impulses, regulating muscle function, and maintaining fluid balance. They are pivotal in supporting hydration, nerve signaling, and overall physiological balance.

Fatty Acids: Fatty acids serve as energy sources, structural components of cell membranes, and precursors to signaling molecules. Essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6, play critical roles in brain function, cardiovascular health, and inflammation regulation.

Fruit Extracts: Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, fruit extracts offer numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and immune-boosting properties. They also support digestive health and contribute to overall well-being.

Herbal Extracts: Herbal extracts contain bioactive compounds with various medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. They have been used traditionally to support digestion, immunity, and overall health.

Minerals: Minerals are essential for various physiological functions, including bone health, nerve transmission, and enzyme activity. They support overall health by ensuring proper cellular function and metabolic processes.

Other Nutrients: Other nutrients encompass a wide array of essential compounds crucial for various physiological functions. This category includes neurotransmitters and their precursors, which facilitate nerve signaling and are vital for central nervous system function. Additionally, naturally occurring structural components and biological detergents, such as phospholipids and bile salts, play critical roles in tissue repair, fat digestion, and overall bodily function. Phospholipids contribute to cell membrane integrity and fat emulsification, while bile salts are key to digesting and absorbing dietary fats. Hormones and their precursors regulate numerous physiological processes, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Furthermore, naturally occurring chemicals and metals play pivotal roles in enzymatic reactions, immune function, and overall health maintenance.

Probiotics: Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed. They support gut health, immune function, and oral hygiene by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of harmful pathogens.

Vitamins: Vitamins are essential micronutrients that play diverse roles in supporting cellular processes, immune function, and overall health. They must be obtained through diet or supplementation to ensure proper bodily function.

Nutrients Explained In Nutritional Guide

Podcast Episodes To Listen To

Educational Videos To Learn From

Functional Lab Tests That You Might Consider

References

Things To Do

Dietary choices, lifestyle changes, and a variety of health-improving techniques can all help with the management of asthma and the frequency of its attacks.

Diet:

Opt for a whole-foods-based diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, fish, and lean meats.
Consider also soy-based products, which contain isoflavone genistein, a compound that improves lung function in asthma.
Include whole foods that contain carotene, vitamins B6 and C, and minerals such as manganese, magnesium, and selenium.
Use garlic, onions, and other anti-inflammatory herbs and spices [rich in flavonoids] for their benefits in controlling inflammation.
Opt for room-temperature or lightly warm drinks and beverages.
Your meals should be light and small to medium-sized.
Try intermittent fasting to detoxify your body.
If you have food allergies, try an elimination diet to determine which foods aggravate this condition.

Other:

Depending on the asthma trigger, reevaluate the impact of your immediate surroundings on your health. If necessary, consider natural household cleaning and body care products and install air filters, humidifiers, or dehumidifiers. Use vacuums with HEPA filters installed, use air conditioning, clean regularly, and change your bedsheets frequently.
Also, consider whether your living location is right for you. In pollen-triggered asthma, you might be better off living in the city, but in asthma caused by air pollutants, it might be a better choice to move to the outskirts of the city or the countryside.
Exercise regularly to improve your lung capacity. Avoid exercising outdoors in cold weather to avoid asthma attacks.
Improve your breathing technique. Learn to breathe using your diaphragm to have better control over the muscles involved in this process.
If you like music, try learning to play a wind instrument such as a trumpet, saxophone, or oboe.
Get quality sleep.
Control your stress. Practice meditation, mindfulness, or yoga.

Things To Avoid

Asthma can be very debilitating to any individual; therefore, there are a set of things a person with this condition should avoid and exclude from their diet and environment.