Home remedies for asthma can be very helpful in allowing people to breathe easier and to relieve much of the anxiety that asthma causes. Understanding what causes asthma and being able to clearly identify its symptoms is important to the process of understanding natural remedies for asthma and how they work.
Asthma Definition
Asthma is characterized by a temporary inflammation and narrowing of air passages that cause laborious breathing. Described as a chronic, very dangerous disease, asthma affects more than 22 million people in the United States.
Asthma Causes
Asthma can be caused by irritants such as mold, pollen, dust, and cigarette smoke or can be caused by an allergic reaction to certain foods. It can also be caused by genetic factors and it is not uncommon to find that more than one member of a family has asthma. Poor diets, particularly those high in processed foods and sodium, also contribute to asthma.
Asthma Symptoms
Symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness or pain in the chest
- Coughing
- Wheezing
Asthma symptoms may vary according to the individual. Some may only experience symptoms when they are sick with a cold or flu, while others may feel the symptoms daily.
Home Remedies for Asthma
Home Remedies for Asthma (can be used singularly or combined):
- One tsp. of pure honey in a glass of water consumed three times per day
- Steam baths and sunbathing help remove lung congestion
- Consume ginger tea mixed with fresh minced garlic twice per day
- Licorice root tea
- Combine a small amount of ginger powder with equal part black pepper and consume in a tsp. of molasses of honey
- To relieve the chest of mucous and prevent an attack, chew fennel daily
One of the best home remedies for asthma involves keeping the immune system strong through proper diet, exercise and rest, which can help in avoiding colds and other viruses that trigger attacks.
During an attack, the following natural home remedies for asthma may be helpful:
- Placing honey under the patients nose and allowing them to inhale the scent (within minutes, the attack should begin to ease)
- Inhale the steam from boiling water with added caraway seeds
- Massage chest and back with a mixture of mustard oil and camphor
Herbs useful as home remedies for asthma are:
- Aloe
- Hyssop
- Coltsfoot
- Black cohosh
- Blue cohosh
- Milkweed
- Vervain
- Horehound
- Khella
- Skunk cabbage
- Mullein
- Poplar
- Yerba santa
- Jaborandi
- Thyme
- Calamus
- Cubeb berries
- Holy Basil
- Boneset
- Masterwort
- Lungwort
- Pleurisy root
- Wild Cherry
- Anise
Herbs can be taken as a tea individually or combined for greater effectiveness.
People with asthma should get fresh air daily and avoid environments where there is dust, including sawdust or other wood shavings. Also, avoid places where mold, mildew or cigarette smoke may be and environments where secondhand cigarette smoke may be found lingering in furnishings or fabrics.
Foods that are known to commonly trigger attacks and that a person with asthma may want to avoid are:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Shellfish
- Nuts
While these foods are not common allergens to all asthmatics, among the best home remedies for asthma involves knowing which foods prompt even the slightest breathing irregularities and avoid them at all times.
If a person is having a serious attack and breathing becomes increasingly difficult or the skin darkens from a lack of oxygen, emergency medical assistance should be sought immediately. However, if properly understood and managed, people with asthma can live normal, comfortable lives by using natural cures and home remedies for asthma.
