01/04/2025
Bronchial asthma can occur secondarily to a variety of stimuli. It is most common among children of 10 years of age and males are affected twice as often as females. Among the known stresses are viral respiratory infection, exercise, emotional upset, nonspecific factors (e.g. changes in barometric pressure or temperature), inhalation of cold air or such irritants as gasoline fumes, fresh paint, cigarette smoke, and exposure to specific allergens.
People whose asthma is precipitated by allergenic exposure (most commonly airborne pollens and moulds, house dust, animal danders), and whose symptoms are IgE mediated, are said to have allergic or "extrinsic asthma". When the symptomatic episodes appear to be triggered by non-allergenic factors (infections, irritants, emotional factors, this is called non-allergic or "intrinsic asthma".
Orthodox treatment
In acute attacks, conventional treatment is ventolin, given by inhaler or nebuliser. Ventolin opens the airways, allowing mucous to be exhaled. Steroids are also prescribed, e.g. prednisone
Naturopathic treatment and management
- reduce exposure to airborne allergens
- identify and remove food allergies
- eliminate alcohol, to***co, sugar, salt and caffeine
- drink at least 1.5 litres of pure water daily (avoid chlorinated water)
- avoid all artificial food preservatives, additives, flavourings and colourings
- digestive enzymes - low HCL common in Asthma
- L-Glutamine (500 mg TDS) to heal gut
- introduce flavonoids (quercitin) - inhibits histamine release
- anti-oxidants - beta-carotene, vit. E, vit. C, zinc, selenium
- B complex with extra B12 and B6
- increase magnesium (600 mg/day in divided doses)
- consider removing foods high in tryptophan and in salicylates
- eliminate major Lectin foods
- hot fomentations to the chest in acute attacks
Herbs infusions
- Mullein - Verbascum thapsus (expectorant, demulcent) 4-8 g TDS
- Thyme - Thymus serpyllum (spasmolytic, broncholytic, antimicrobial) - 0.6-4 g TDS
- Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara (expectorant, antitussive, anticatarrhal) - 0.6-2 g TDS