Herbal Home Remedies to Reduce the Severity of Asthma Attacks

Let's Start With Global Statistics About Asthma

According to the World Health Organization, asthma:

• It is a significant, non-communicable disease
• Affected more than 339 million people around the world in 2016
• Killed around 417,918 people globally in 2016
• Can be effectively managed by avoiding triggers and using medication

This article will look at how you can identify your triggers to reduce your risk of attacks.

Before we go further, please understand that this information is to enhance rather than replace conventional therapy. Please don't use this article to replace medical advice.

10 Facts About Asthma

1. Chronic Inflammation: Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways, which makes them highly sensitive to various triggers.
2. Common Symptoms: Common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. These symptoms can range from mild to severe.
3. Triggers: Asthma symptoms can be triggered by a variety of factors, including allergens (such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander), respiratory infections, smoke, cold air, exercise, and stress.
4. Asthma Attacks: An asthma attack occurs when the airway inflammation worsens, leading to severe symptoms. Prompt treatment is crucial during an attack to prevent complications.
5. Asthma Types: There are different types of asthma, including allergic asthma (triggered by allergens), non-allergic asthma (triggered by factors like respiratory infections), and exercise-induced asthma.
6. Common in Children: Asthma often develops in childhood. Many children with asthma outgrow it or experience milder symptoms as they get older.
7. Lifelong Condition: While some individuals may have periods of remission, asthma is typically a lifelong condition that requires ongoing management.
8. Medications: Asthma is managed with medications, including bronchodilators (to open airways) and anti-inflammatory drugs (to reduce airway inflammation). These can be taken through inhalers, nebulizers, or pills.
9. Asthma Action Plan: People with asthma often work with their healthcare providers to create an asthma action plan. This plan outlines how to manage symptoms and what to do during an asthma attack.
10. Preventive Measures: Although asthma can't be cured, preventive measures can help control symptoms. These may include avoiding triggers, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and following the prescribed treatment plan.

Identify What Is Causing the Asthma Attacks

Pinning down a reason why asthma developed can be difficult. Experts speculate that heredity, allergies, and obesity might all be contributing factors.

It is easier, however, to pin down what triggers your asthma attacks. These will differ from one person to the next, but some reasons include the:

• Emotional distress
• Infections
• Exercise
• Pollution
• Exposure to allergens
• Stress
• Exposure to the cold

Every person’s triggers can be slightly different. A friend of mine has dreadful asthma when the humidity levels are high. Its helpful to keep notes so you can identify your triggers.

Keep Notes to Identify Your Personal Asthma Triggers

Identifying your particular triggers will help you manage your condition better, allowing you, where possible, to avoid trigger events or, when that is not practical, allowing you to be adequately prepared.

The first step in managing your asthma better is recording when attacks occur, what you were doing immediately before the attacks, and how severe the attacks were.

Keeping track of the actual attacks will help you identify triggers and give your physician an idea of how effective your treatment plan is. Keep a small notebook on you and record the episode as soon as possible while you can still remember everything.

Recommended

How to Let Go of Past Mistakes and Move on With Your Life

Also, Keep A Food Diary

Keeping a food diary for at least a month or two will also go a long way to identifying possible food allergies and sensitivities that may be exacerbating symptoms.

An Important Note About Herbal Teas

Again, I must stress that these are not a substitute for a physician's care. Let your physician know that you will supplement your treatment regimen with natural remedies, but please do not stop seeing them altogether.

In Between Attacks

During a severe attack, the first thing to do is to follow your physician's instructions. In addition, you can take herbal teas between episodes to help reduce the likelihood of attacks and help to support the system.

How to Make an Herbal Tea

You can make herbal teas with fresh or dried herbs, whichever suits you best. Unless otherwise mentioned, use 50g of fresh or 25g of dried herb for every 500ml of water.

If using the fresh herb, tear and bruise it before pouring boiling water over it to release more natural compounds within the leaves and flowers.

Then leave it steep for at least 5 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey, if you like. Sip slowly.

You can increase the quantities to have enough tea for a day or two but don't keep it for longer than two days.

Never Take a Herbal Remedy Over an Extended Period

It's easy to forget that natural remedies are highly potent. It is essential not to take the same treatment daily for more than two weeks at a time, or you risk developing a tolerance to it.

If you're planning to take the herbal teas regularly, switch them out every two weeks for the best results. Alternatively, you can take the tea daily for two weeks and then stop it entirely for a week.

Ginger Tea

Ginger is a warming and soothing herb that is helpful for several respiratory ailments. It can be beneficial when it comes to easing the tightness associated with asthma and relieving congestion.

Ginger relaxes, smoothes the muscle tissue in the throat, and so eases constriction. The Shogoal compound within the spice also reduces inflammation.

It is a potent antibacterial and anti-viral agent. It also helps to reduce the allergic response and boosts immunity, leaving you less likely to develop an infection in the first place.

The fresh root is preferable for ginger tea - you want about two to four teaspoons of thinly sliced ginger for every cup of boiling water. Again, sweeten with honey, and drink as hot as possible.

Use ginger powder if you cannot lay your hands on fresh ginger. Use a teaspoonful of a cup of boiling water.

Take two to three cups a day.

Chamomile Is an Excellent Choice

Chamomile tea is easy to obtain and can be extremely useful physically and psychologically. In addition, the tea is a mild antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and systemic tonic.

The flavonoids within the tea actively reduce pro-inflammatory markers that might precede an attack.

On a psychological level, it is a mild sedative and can be extremely useful for soothing stress, insomnia, and emotional upsets.

Take two to three cups daily as a preventative measure to alleviate stress.

Thyme Tea

Thyme is a useful antispasmodic and decongestant herb. It can help to soothe a tight chest and help to clear up phlegm as well.

It has potent anti-bacterial and antiviral properties, which can help you get over infections while simultaneously acting as an immune booster.

Luteolin within the plant is an anti-asthmatic compound.

It would be best if you either used Lemon Thyme or Creeping Thyme.

Garlic Cloves

Garlic is one of nature's superfoods and deserves mention here. In Chinese medicine, it is commonly used to treat asthma, and scientific research has proven its efficacy in reducing inflammation.

It has strong anti-inflammatory properties as well as strong antibacterial and anti-viral properties. It will also help to thin the blood, boost immunity and help clear up infections.

The rub? You should eat it raw for the best results. Granted, it isn't great raw, but cooking it destroys many beneficial compounds. And, once you are used to it, it is pretty straightforward. Peel and slightly crush two cloves of garlic, chop them so you can swallow them quickly, and chug them down. If you do find that you have garlic breath, chew on some parsley.

You can find garlic supplements, but, to be honest, this is a lot easier and less expensive, and at least you know that you are not getting any fillers and binders.

Vitamin Supplements to Consider as a Preventative Measure

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 oil supplementation is a critical vitamin supplement, especially if you do not eat fish. This is because Omega-3 can help fight inflammation in the body and reduce the chances of having an attack. Studies have shown that children who eat fish at least once a week reduce their chances of having a seizure by around a third.

Vitamin C

Adding a 1000mg dose of Vitamin C daily can assist by strengthening the body's ability to resist the irritation caused by pollutants in the bronchial system. This, in turn, helps to reduce coughing.

Vitamin E

Getting enough Vitamin E makes it easier to flush phlegm build-up out.

Betacarotene

Betacarotene could help to reduce wheezing overall. Yet another good reason to add healthy fruits and veggies to your diet.

Magnesium

500mg - 1000mg of Magnesium, taken in divided doses daily, can help to reduce the frequency of attacks.

People Also Ask

Here are a few other questions you may have.

What helps asthma without an inhaler?

• Sit up straight
• Try to remain calm
• Seek medical attention
• Practice Buteyko breathing

What is Buteyko Breathing?

It's a breathing technique that calms the mind and resets the natural breathing rhythm. Follow these steps:

1. Sit quietly and close your mouth without clamping it shut
2. Breathe through your nose as naturally as possible for about 30 seconds
3. Inhale and exhale forcibly through your nose once
4. Close off both nostrils and also keep your mouth shut
5. Stay that way until you can no longer help taking a breath
6. Inhale deeply through your nose

This breathing exercise may be enough to stop the attack. If not, it'll give you something else to focus on while waiting for medical assistance.

How can I calm my asthma naturally?

Mild asthma naturally by:

• Avoiding triggers
• Practicing good posture
• Reducing stress
• Following a healthy lifestyle
• Taking Ginger, Thyme, or Chamomile tea regularly can help keep attacks at bay, as can eating raw garlic.

What drink is good for asthma?

Your choices include:

• Ginger Tea
• Thyme Tea
• Chamomile Tea

Drink them as warm as possible to soothe the throat and reduce inflammation.

Can asthma go away?

It can, especially if it developed initially in childhood. Usually, when it develops in adults, it's a permanent condition.

Summing It All Up

Getting yourself healthier can play a significant role when it comes to managing asthma. Make sure that you do follow a healthy eating plan and use a vitamin supplement if necessary. Be sure to include a clove or two of fresh garlic into your daily diet as well.

Herbal teas are your next line of defense when it comes to heading off asthma attacks. Chamomile, Ginger, and Thyme tea all work well when it comes to preventing attacks.

I want to lastly stress that the information given above is not a substitute for a doctor's advice. Be sure to speak with your physician about any home remedies you want to try.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

What Home Remedies Have You Tried for Asthma?

Fiona (author) from South Africa on August 15, 2016:

Very true CrazyGata - I think we underestimate just how badly the highly refined foods, etc. that we take are.

Mara Clemente from Borinken, Loíza on August 14, 2016:

Nice read, above all, avoid toxic foods, pills and vaccines.