What is Asthma?
In an asthma attack, the membranes lining the bronchi become swollen – this membrane is called the bronchial mucosa. An asthma attack could be described as an involuntary response of the body to irritants, which are stimuli from the external environment that are not pleasing on the body.When the airway linings get inflamed and swollen, there is an excess quantity of mucous that is being produced by the mucous membranes, which, along with the contraction of the air passage in the bronchi, leads to acute breathing difficulties. The severity of the external trigger, in the form of allergens, as well as the levels of irritation that already exist in the air passages, determines the severity of the asthma attack. And when this happens, the passage for oxygen gets reduced and the quantity of oxygen reaching the lungs and hence, the blood cells becomes less, causing problems that could threaten the entire functioning of the body, leading to weakening of the systems for lack of oxygen.
Asthma Causes
Pollen grains and dust mites are the most commonly cited as causes for asthma. People with pets at home should be aware of the asthma possibly trigged by pet dander. In some cases, the presence of cockroaches or spiders in rooms, as well as fungal attacks and mould formation in the walls has been related to asthma attacks. Smoke and smoking, and even passive smoking, are problematic for some, and in some cases, there are food items that could be causes of asthma. The high levels of pollution are definitely a cause of asthma. Reactions to some food tend to be immediate and have also known to be life-threatening. Anxiety or stress is known to cause asthma in some people, where a sudden depression or shock could also be a cause of asthma. People prone to sinusitis tend to be vulnerable to wheezing and asthma. Sometimes, rigorous exercises or sporting activities can cause shortness of breath, and may be reasons for asthma. Excessive exposure to cold air may let a lot of cold air into the lungs, which, again, could be a reason for asthma attacks.Home Remedies For Asthma
Turmeric And Pepper For Asthma
Food tastes better, and is healthy, with turmeric added to it. There are loads of benefits that this yellow root could offer to mankind. You could take a bit of help from turmeric in your home remedy for asthma. Add turmeric powder to warm milk and sip into it slowly, enjoying and experiencing the milk as it soothes the mucous membranes around your throat.
This is one of the most effective home remedies for asthma. You could also us a spoon of pepper, ground into pieces and mixed with the milk along with turmeric powder. You could ask for instant relief from asthma with this soothing composition.
Black Pepper And Ginger For Asthma
Another home remedy for asthma would be a mix of one gram of black pepper, again, with one gram of ginger powder. You could mix them up in a teaspoon of honey and sip through the syrup. Ginger is good for the throat and buccal cavity region, even as black pepper would soothe the inner linings of the throat and provide relief from acute asthma attacks.
Honey For Asthma
Honey is an effective ingredient in many natural and homemade remedies – you could use honey as the base for a syrup of olive oil, milk and garlic. Heat the mixture and drink it in mornings, to provide instant relief for asthma – you could continue this treatment for a period as a useful home remedy for asthma. In fact, honey is so good for health, and specifically for asthmatic conditions, that it is said to give relief to people suffering from asthma, even as they inhale the air that has the essence of honey in it. If you could hold an open bottle of honey close to your nostrils and inhale along the bottle, it could provide relief and let you breathe more freely.
Fenugreek For Asthma
Ginger and honey do make a good combination when used with fenugreek seeds. Boil a glass of water with fenugreek seeds, and when it has come to boil, add the mixture of ginger powder and honey, one teaspoon each. Mix them well, sip and relax to the essence of ginger and fenugreek to make a difference, as an effective home remedy for asthma.
Drumstick Leaves Soup For Asthma
If you like soups, there is nothing like indulging on a glass of drumstick leaf soup. Take a handful of drumstick leaves, add them to a glass of water, and bring to boil. Add salt and pepper to taste. When it boils for a few minutes, leave it till the essence of drumstick leaves soak into the hot soup. Sip through it when it is hot enough to drink and create a soothing sensation to your throat. Drumstick leaves and the soup made of them are considered good, not just for asthma but also for bringing blood pressure under control.
Linseed Oil For Asthma
There are also a few natural expectorants that could come in handy towards being good home remedies for asthma. For instance, linseed is considered an effective expectorant, when around 20 grams of linseed are boiled in water and had at regular intervals.
Dry Safflower Seeds For Asthma
Similarly, dry safflower seeds could be powdered, mixed with a tablespoon of honey and had twice or thrice a day. This helps as an expectorant, where the sputum is let flow off the buccal cavity and could be released for ease of breathing. Red clover is another herb that could serve as an expectorant, being one of the most sought after home remedies for asthma.
Red Clover For asthma
Red clover is considered a blood purifier and is also thought of as a remedy for cancer. Red clover could be infused in tea and consumed as a soothing home remedy for asthma, given its expectorant properties. Red clover is considered a diuretic, known to relieve the body of excessive fluid accumulation, and clearing the lungs of mucous accumulation, proving to be an effective home remedy for asthma.
Thyme For Asthma
Another herb with properties of expectorant is the Thyme, a source of iron and used in a wide variety of cuisines around the world. Known for its strong flavour, thyme is also considered to have anti-bacterial properties, and is generally used as a home remedy for asthma and other respiratory disorders. Thyme could be added up and had as tea, which would clear your respiratory system of sputum and relieve your bronchial passages. Thyme is widely used in a variety of throat infections, coughs and allergic conditions.
Hot Water For Asthma
Taking bath in warm water is a natural remedy for asthma. Further, inhalation of steam is also a good home remedy for asthma, clearing the air passages and letting any accumulated phlegm out of the system.
Controlling Acidity For Asthma
People prone to acidity along with asthmatic attacks need to keep their acidity under check. Severe and repeated acidity could lead to what is called ‘Gastro-oesophageal Reflex Disease’, where the acidity from the stomach could regurgitate along the food pipe and may reach the back of the throat.While this may be described as heart-burn by normal patients of acidity, people prone to asthmatic attacks may experience wheezing, coughing or other irritations to the throat and respiratory system. It is essential that you make sure your acidity is well under control to prevent such scenarios, which in itself would be an effective home remedy for asthma.
Lemon Juice For Asthma
There is much goodness left in the tiny fruit of lemon for its size, and its healing powers in the case of asthma is just one more of the amazing health benefits of lemon. Lemon is high in Vitamin C along with potassium, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium, and could come in handy in many cases of throat infections, cutting through the phlegm in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, providing good relief for breathing. However, you may not want to add sugar and destroy the goodness that natural lemonade could give you as a perfect home remedy for asthma.
Basil And Turmeric For Asthma
Basil leaves have long been looked upon as blessings for humankind from a host of ailments; basil leaves could be shredded and boiled in water for fifteen minutes, with a little bit of turmeric powder. Turmeric is known to come in handy in many infectious conditions, and in combination with basil, proves to be an effective home remedy for asthma.
Basil And Honey For Asthma
One more useful home remedy for asthma would be to go for basil leaves, the tender green leaves that are full of medicinal properties, and mix them up with honey, mash them and consume the paste every morning. Themedicinal properties of basil leaves combine with the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of honey to provide relief from asthma.
Turmeric And Honey For Asthma
Turmeric, with its anti-bacterial properties and honey, with its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, tend to be useful home remedies for asthma, when you mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a tablespoon of honey, make a paste of it, and consume it for effective asthma relief.
Milk And Garlic Cloves For Asthma
While it is generally suggested that milk and milk products be avoided since they may not be easily digested, you could have this recipe as effective home remedies for asthma. Add a clove of garlic to a glass of milk and bring it to boil. After it has boiled, you may remove the clove and drink the milk for good relief from asthma.
Garlic And Honey For Asthma
Garlic has its own set of medicinal properties, as does honey. A combination of the two does well as home remedy for asthma – you need to add a few garlic cloves and a tablespoon of honey to water and bring it to boil. Once it has boiled for a few minutes, you could filter off the garlic cloves and consume the mixture as home remedy for asthma.
Lavender Oil For Asthma
Lavender oil has a pleasant aromatic smell, but people prone to asthma attacks first need to ensure that the fragrance of lavender oil does not aggravate their asthmatic condition. If the aroma agrees with your system, you could infuse lavender oil on to water and bring it to oil in a kettle, as you bend over the steaming liquid and inhale deeply. You could prevent the vapours from escaping by having a piece of cloth comfortably placed over your head as you bend over, as a home remedy for asthma.
Mustard Oil And Camphor For Asthma
Mustard oil is known for its health benefits, improving immunity in people prone to asthma attacks. You could add a few bits of camphor to mustard oil and heat it up, and apply the warm oil on to the back and chest of people suffering from asthma as useful home remedies for asthma.
Diet And Lifestyle For Asthma
Low Fat Food For Asthma
Avoid food that is high in fat content. People prone to inflammation and asthma exhibited an increased swelling immediately after they consumed high-fat food – and the inflammation particularly related to the respiratory system.
Clean Environment For Asthma
When you know that you are susceptible to asthmatic attacks, make sure your house is cleaned properly and walls are devoid of dust particles, especially spiders and dust mites. Dust mites live on crevices of the wall and can be found in beds, mattresses and pillows. And if you have pets at home, ensure that they are kept clean and well maintained.Ensure your bed and accessories are properly dusted and are exposed to sunlight, to eliminate moisture from them – moisture is a breeding ground for fungus, moulds and other pests that may trigger asthma attacks. It’s good to take leisurely walks and inhale fresh air, free from pollutants, to give your lungs a dose of freshness. Stay away from smoking and do not be a passive smoker either.
Ventilation For Asthma
Asthma is all about oxygen and the air passage, and the level of allergens in the atmosphere. It is important to keep your rooms and house well ventilated and allow some sunshine into your lives, as natural remedies for asthma. When there is a good deal of ventilation, you would not find stale air circulating within the room but a flow of fresh air that removes stenches and smells, which could trigger an attack of asthma.
Avoid Aerosols For asthma
Aerosols are suspended solid or liquid particles in gas. You could find aerosols in perfumes and body sprays, as well as air fresheners and after shaves. It would be a good idea to stay away from aerosols as much as possible for home remedies for asthma to be effective. Aerosols are available everywhere in the atmosphere and we would never be able to eliminate them completely, since they are suspended particles that float around all over the earth. However, you could ensure that there is no spray involved in your presence that could aggravate symptoms of asthma.
Vitamin D For Asthma
Asthma home remedies would start with vitamins. It is suspected that Vitamin D deficiency could be a trigger for asthma attacks. The first source of Vitamin D is sunshine. If you can find a way of exposing yourself to direct sunlight, especially if you live in a region farther away from the equator, you stand a good chance of letting your body respond to the sunshine and generate the adequate quantity of vitamin D. This natural remedy for asthma takes minimal efforts and no medication, as all you need is the initiative to walk out into the sun to get a dose of ultra-violet rays. It doesn’t take a high level of exposure to have the desired effects of vitamin D production in the body. Exposure to sunshine is one of the simplest of home remedies for asthma.
Vitamin C And Vitamin E For Asthma
Food could be a good home remedy for asthma, as you include a good deal of Vitamin C and beta carotene into your daily diet. Vitamin C is known for its healing properties, especially in the throat and pharynx regions, as used in times of throat infections. Both Vitamin C and Vitamin E are known to reduce inflammation. You could use citrus fruits, such as lemon and oranges in your diet, as well as broccoli and brussel sprouts in your food, as a natural remedy for asthma.Similarly, Vitamin E could also be added to your system by consuming cooking oil such as sun flower oil. Wheat germ is a good source of Vitamin E, as are sunflower seeds and almonds, which could be consumed as effective home remedies for asthma. In general, you could consume a whole-grain rich food for adding Vitamin E to your diet, thereby reducing chances of inflammation, and as a home remedy for asthma. Be regular in your food habits, without binging or starving.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids For Asthma
While the results of experiments have not been conclusive either for or against the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on asthma, there are reports of fish oil and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids playing a stabilising role when it comes to the hypersensitivity of the air passages to allergens in the environment. Including sources of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet may show improvements in the reaction levels of your body mechanisms to allergens, and hence act as home remedies for asthma.
Avoid Food That Is Difficult To Digest
It is generally observed that people who are prone to asthma also have a troublesome digestive system. Ayurveda looks at the causes of asthma as being in the digestive system, as toxins produced by improperly digested food particles in the digestive tract would lead to reactions in the lungs and in the respiratory tract, causing an attack of asthma. It would help to avoid foods that are difficult to digest as you try tackling asthma through natural remedies. You could avoid animal products, dairy products as well as pulses and grams that could lead to the bloating of the stomach upon consumption.
Avoid Sugar For Asthma
There is very less value that sugar could add to your systems by way of beneficial features anyway. When you consider the fact that sugar has been found to be linked with triggering asthma, you need to be doubly cautious.While asthma attacks themselves are triggered by the reaction of the respiratory tract to allergens in the body and in the environment, sugar is thought to aggravate the degree to which the respiratory tract reacts to allergens. Sugar is also found to have an impact on the activities of the pancreas, which could lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which, in turn, could affect the respiratory tract. In any case, home remedies for asthma could go well with your system if you reduced or avoided sugar intake.
Avoid Smoking For Asthma
It should come as no surprise that smoking could very well trigger an attack of asthma. That’s because smoking produces the same kind of effects on the respiratory tract, causing inflammation and leading to narrowing down of the air passage, as an asthmatic attack does. However, for people prone to asthma, smoking could produce drastic results that may be difficult to control with normal medicines, leave alone home remedies for asthma. It is important that you quit smoking and also stay away from people who smoke, as the effect of passive smoking on the air passages could be even worse than active smoking.
