Other names for Asthma

Allergic asthma
Bronchial asthma
Exercise-induced asthma
Non-allergic asthma
Occupational asthma

Synopsis of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The airways become hypersensitive, leading to narrowing (bronchoconstriction) and mucus production in response to triggers such as allergens, exercise, cold air, or respiratory infections.

Asthma severity ranges from mild to life-threatening, with some individuals experiencing only occasional symptoms and others having daily flare-ups. Although asthma is not curable, it can be managed effectively with medications and lifestyle strategies to reduce flare-ups and maintain lung function.

Types:

• Allergic asthma: Triggered by allergens like pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet dander.

• Non-allergic asthma: Triggered by infections, exercise, cold air, stress, or pollution.

• Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB): Triggered by physical exertion.

• Occupational asthma: Caused by workplace exposures (e.g., chemicals, dust).

• Nocturnal asthma: Worsens at night due to hormonal changes or reclined posture.

Common Causes (Risk Factors):

• Genetics: Family history of asthma or allergies.

• Allergens: Pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander.

• Respiratory infections: Especially in early childhood.

• Environmental factors: Air pollution, cigarette smoke, chemical fumes.

• Exercise: Particularly in cold, dry air.

• Weather changes: Cold air, humidity shifts.

• Stress and emotional extremes: Can trigger symptoms in sensitive individuals.

More Severe Causes (Complications):

• Severe asthma attacks: May require emergency treatment and can be life-threatening.

• Chronic airway remodeling: Persistent inflammation can thicken airway walls, reducing lung function over time.

• Sleep disturbances: Due to nighttime symptoms.

• Decreased physical activity: Limiting exercise tolerance.

• Psychological distress: Anxiety or depression due to chronic condition.

When to See a Doctor or Specialist (Pulmonologist):

• Frequent asthma symptoms disrupting daily activities or sleep

• Increased need for rescue inhalers (e.g., albuterol)

• Symptoms that worsen despite current medications

• Severe asthma attacks with difficulty breathing, cyanosis (bluish lips/fingers), or fainting

• Diagnosis of moderate to severe asthma or uncontrolled symptoms

Natural remedies for Asthma

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA, EPA): Reduce airway inflammation and improve lung function. Include fatty fish or fish oil supplements.

Magnesium Supplementation: Relaxes bronchial muscles and may reduce asthma severity. Consider magnesium glycinate or citrate.

Vitamin C and E: Antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the airways. Supplement or include citrus, bell peppers, almonds, and seeds.

Quercetin: Natural flavonoid that stabilizes mast cells, reducing histamine release. Found in onions, apples, or supplements.

Turmeric (Curcumin): Anti-inflammatory, supports reduction of airway inflammation. Take as a supplement or in food with black pepper.

Ginger: Anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator properties; helps relax airway muscles. Consume as tea, fresh, or in supplements.

Probiotics: Support immune modulation and reduce allergic responses linked to asthma. Include fermented foods or supplements.

Breathing Exercises (Buteyko, Pranayama): Improve lung function and reduce hyperventilation associated with asthma. Practice regularly under guidance.

Avoid Triggers: Reduce exposure to allergens (dust mites, pets, pollen), pollution, or smoke. Use air purifiers and maintain clean indoor environments.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity can worsen asthma symptoms and reduce lung function. Adopt a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Asthma

1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
Abrus
Acacia
Aconite
adrenal cortex
Adrenergic amines
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Agastache
Ajuga
Albizia
Allium tuberosum
Almond fruit
alpha-pinene
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Anamarrhena
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
Angelica
angel\'s trumpet
anise
apigenin
apocynin
apple
Aralia
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
ashwagandha
aster root
Asteraceae
astragalin
astragaloside
atractylodes
atractylone
Auricularia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bacoside
bacteria
bael
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balloon flower
balsam
bamboo
banana
banyan
Baphicacanthus cusia
barberry
Barleria
Basidiomycota
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee hive
bee pollen
bee products
bee propolis
beet
Belamcanda
benegut perilla (proprietary)
Bergenia
bergenin
bermuda grass
beta caryophyllene
betel
Bidens pilosa
Bifidobacterium longum
biota seed
bird\'s nest
bishop\'s weed
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black garlic
Black Hellebore
black nightshade
black pepper
black root
black seed
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
borage
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
Bougainvillea
Broussonetia
buckthorn
Bupleurum
Butea monosperma
butterbur
bасора
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
caffeine
California chia
Cannabis sativa oil
capillary artemisia
capsicum
cardamom
carrot
carry me seed
caryophyllene
catecholamine
caterpillar mushroom
cayenne pepper
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chaff flower
Chekiang Fritillary
chinatree
Chinese Ligustrum berry
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese raisintree
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
Chlorophytum
chocolate
chrysanthemum
cineole
Cinidium
cinnamic acid
Cinnamomum
citron
Citrus
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Clostridium butyricum
clove
Cnidium
coca
cocoa
cod liver oil
Codonopsis
Coin-leaf desmodium
cola nut
coltsfoot
commiphora
cordyceps
cortisol
costus
cowage seed
cowherb
cubeb
cumin
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
curry leaf
Cyanthillium cinereum
cypress
Desmodium
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
Dichrostachys glomerata
dioscorea
divi-divi
dodder
dragonhead
Echinodorus
Eclipta
eicosapentaenoic acid
elecampane
elephant\'s head
Embelia
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
Ephedra
ephedrine
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Erodium cicutarium
Erythropalum scandens
essential oil blend
Euphorbia
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European Elder
European five-finger grass
Evodia
fatty acids
fennel
fern
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
fig
fish oil
flavanones
flavones
flavonoids
flavonols
flavonones
Fomes fomentarius
forskohlii root
frankincense
fringed pink
fritillaria
fritillary
fruit
fulvic acid
fungus
Galangal
Gallesia
gallic acid
ganoderma
garden cress
garlic
garlic bulb
gastrodia
giant blazingstar
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginkgolides
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Glechoma hederacea
Glehnia littoralis
glehnia root
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Gnaphalium
goji berry
goldthread
gooseberry
Greek mountain tea
green tea
green-lipped mussel
Grindelia
Guaco
Guava
Guazuma ulmifolia
Gypenoside
heal-all
Heartsease
heartwood
Hedychium spicatum
Helicteres isora
Hellebore
Hemidesmus
hemp
Hempnettle
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Himalayan salt
Homalomena
honey
honey loquat syrup
horehound
Horsemint
horseradish
Huang hua
hyacinth bean
Hygrophila
hyssop
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Indian frankincense
Indian gum arabic tree
Indian kinotree
Indian nightshade
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
inula racemosa
iridoid glycosides
iridoids
isoquinoline alkaloids
Ivy
Jatoba
Javanese Long Pepper
jujube
jungli-bean
Kachnar
Kaempferol
Kefir
Khella
kiwi
Kokilaksha
kudzu
labrador tea
Laggera pterodonta
Lebbek
lemongrass
Leptadenia
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
ligustilides
Ligustrazin
Lilium polyphyllum
linalool
lingzhi
Litsea
little ironweed
liverwort
lobelia
lodhtree
long pepper
longan
loquat
Loranthus
lotus
luffa
luteolin
Lycium
Macaranga indica
mace
magnesium
magnolol
Maidenhair Fern
malabar nut
mallow
Malva sylvestris
mandarin
marigold
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Marjoram
Marshmallow
Mastic gum
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Melia
Menthol oil
Mesua
Methoxylated flavones
Methylxanthine
Microcos
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Momordica
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Moringa
Morning glory
Morus
Mucilage
Mugwort
Mulberry
Mullein
Mushroom
Mustard
mustard seed
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naringenin
Neem tree
Nigella seed
Night jessamine
Nimbidin
nut grass
Nutmeg
Nymphaea nouchali
omega-3 fatty acids
onion
Onosma bracteatum
Ophiopogon
ophiopogon root
orange
orchid
oregano
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osthole
Oxystelma
paeoniflorin
pagoda tree
papaya
Paris polyphylla
parthenium
Passionfruit
paw paw
peach
pear
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Pentatropis capensis
peony
Pepper
perilla
Persimmon
Petasines
Petiveria
Peucedanum
phellodendron amurense
Phenylpropanoids
Phthalides
Phyllanthus
Physalis angulata
phytocannabinoids
Pimpinella
pine bark
Pinellia ternata
Piper nigrum
pistacia integerrima gall
Plantago
plantain
Platycodon
platycodon root
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
plum fruit
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonatum
polymorpha
polyphenols
Polypodium
polyunsaturated fat
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
Propolis
Prunus
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
Pycnogenol
Pyrrosia
quail egg
quercetin
Quisqualis
radish
raspberry
ravinsara
reishi mushroom
rhizome
Rooibos
root tuber
rosemary
rosmarinic acid
royal jelly
Rubiaceae
Rubus
rue
Sabadilla
Sagebrush
Salmon Oil
Salvia
Sandalwood
saponins
schizonepeta
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
seaweed
Self-Heal
Semecarpus anacardium
Sensitive Plant
Sesbania
Sete sangrias
shen-chu
shiitake mushroom
Shilajit
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sicklepod
siler root
Silkmoth
slippery elm bark
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum anguivi
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Speedwell
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
spirulina
squawvine
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stellaria dichotoma
Stemona
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
Sumac
Sundew
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
sweet flag
sweetgums
Swertia
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tagetes
Tamaricaceae
Tamarind
Tayuya
Tea
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Theobromine
Theophylline
thyme
Thymoquinone
Thymus
Tinospora cordifolia
Trametes
Tremella
Trichosanthes
Triphala
Triterpenes
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Tylophora
typhonium
Uncaria
Varuna
Vasicine
Vasicinol
Vasicinone
Vervain
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
Vladimiria souliei
Watercress
Waterhyssop
wheat grass
Withanolides
Wulinshen
Xanthine
xanthium (cockleburs)
Xanthophyll
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba santa
Yuzu
zanthoxylum
zhejiang fritillary
Zingerone
Zingiberene
Zucchini