Asthma is a very common respiratory disease, which attacks the bronchial tubes and the trachea. Asthma affects the asthmatic by attacking the respiratory system, which causes the airways to narrow. This decreases the amount of air that is able to reach the lungs, which makes it very hard for the suffering asthmatic to breathe.
Asthma is generally found in young children and young adults but can affect people of all ages and walks of life. Some of the most common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, coughing, and a tight chest, which is often accompanied by an increased difficulty in breathing.
There are two main types or categories of asthma found today, namely allergic asthma and non-allergic asthma. Some common allergens that have been known to cause asthma are chemicals, drugs, smoke, dust and pollen to name a few.
Non-allergic asthma is often induced by anxiety, dry or humid weather, or intense feelings of fear. In recent years the rate of asthma attacks in the United States has greatly increased, mainly due to an increase in the amount of the contaminates that we have been releasing into our environment. Many scientists believe that the recent increase in asthma is directly related to the air we breathe.
For this reason, many people who currently live in our major cities will have a greater chance of suffering from some form of an asthma attack, when compared to their fellow Americans who currently populate our smaller cities. Other scientific studies have shown that this is not the only contributing factor for the increase in asthma attacks. Other causes must also be entered into the equation such as genetics, food additives and the quality of our drinking water.
Most of the drugs on the market today are only able to provide temporary relief from asthma attacks. As a result many people have recently begun to seek out other alternative measure to gain relief from their recurring asthma attacks. Some alternative methods are listed below.
1. Vitamin B6 or Vitamin B12 – has been known to treat asthma effectively because it decreases inflammation which makes it easier to breathe.
2. Vitamin C – has been shown to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches the lungs, thereby reducing inflammation.
3. Ginkgo biloba – an herb that contains ginkgolideB, which in many independent studies, has been shown to decrease the frequency of asthma attacks.
4. Mullein oil – when taken in tea form has been shown to fight against respiratory congestion.
5. Salmon – has been proven to be useful in preventing asthma attacks when taken at least three times a week.
6. Pau d’arco – has been shown to be helpful in reducing inflammation.
7. Lemon juice – when freshly squeezed into a glass has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of asthma discomfort.
If you are looking for safe alternative methods to some over the counter drugs for asthma relief, give some of these home remedies a try. They may just turn out to be very beneficial to you.
