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DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: ASTHMA
Description:
Asthma is a lung disease that causes obstruction of the airways. During an asthma attack, spasms in the muscles surrounding the bronchi constrict, impeding the outward passage of stale air. Sufferers often describe this plight as "starving for air." The spasms that characterize an acute attack are not the cause of the disorder, but a result of chronic inflammation and hypersensitivity to certain stimuli. Whatever the particular stimuli that brings about an attack, it causes the bronchial tubes to swell and become plugged with mucus. This inflammation further irritates the airways, resulting in even greater inflammation. Asthma can be difficult to diagnose conclusively. Its symptoms may resemble those of other diseases, including emphysema, bronchitis, and lower respiratory infection.Cardiac asthma is a condition that causes the same symptoms as other types of asthma, but it is caused by heart failure. Intrinsic asthma, a less common form of the disease usually appearing in adulthood, is often associated with other respiratory disease such as bronchitis, and tends to appear during upper respiratory viral infections. People with intrinsic asthma are usually vulnerable to changes in weather, exercise, and emotional stress.
Symptoms: Typical symptoms of an asthma attack are coughing, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and difficulty in breathing.
Incidence: About 14 million Americans now have asthma. More than 4,000 people die each year from complications of serious asthma attacks. Children under sixteen and adults over sixty-five are more likely than other people to suffer from asthma. Among children, the incidence of hospitalization for asthma has increased fivefold in the last twenty-nine years; the rate for adults has doubled.
Causes: The symptoms of asthma are caused by bronchial spasms (bronchospasms), a sudden narrowing of the branching tubes that lead into the lungs. While asthma and hay fever-type allergies are distinct conditions, they overlap, especially among those under age 15. Ninety percent of children with asthma also have allergies, and these allergies can trigger asthma attacks. Common asthma-provoking allergens include animal dander, chemicals, drugs, dust mites, feathers, food additives such as sulfites, fumes, mold and tobacco smoke, but any kind of allergen can precipitate an asthma attack in a susceptible individual. Other causes of asthma attacks include adrenal disorders, anxiety, temperature changes, exercise, extremes of dryness or humidity, fear, laughing, low blood sugar and stress. A respiratory infection such as bronchitis may also be involved.
Asthma specialists speculate that rising levels of environmental pollution lead to a higher incidence of asthma. Asthma epidemics related to atmospheric contamination, situations in which dust and chemical matter are abundant, are well known. Occupational exposure to chemicals such as urethane and polyurethane, epoxy resins from paint, fumes in auto body shops, dry cleaning chemicals, etc., may also be a major risk factor.
Treatments: Asthma is usually treated with drugs that open airways and reduce inflammation, as well as by avoiding substances that trigger attacks. Approaches such as diet and nutrition, herbal medicine, and hydrotherapy have shown positive results in the treatment of asthma, without the negative side effects associated with drug therapy. However, reducing your dosage of asthma medication should be done only under medical supervision. Stopping asthma drugs abruptly can lead to problems.
Nutrients:
Supplement Dosage Comments
|
Vitamin A plus natural beta carotene |
15,000 IU daily. If you are pregnant, do not exceed 10,000 IU daily. 10,000 IU daily. |
Needed for tissue repair and immunity. An antioxidant and precursor of vitamin A. |
|
Flaxseed oil or Primrose oil |
1,000 mg. twice daily, before meals. |
Sources of essential fatty acids needed for production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. |
|
Vitamin B complex Plus extra Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) Plus
Vitamin B12 |
50 mg. 4 times daily. 50 mg. 3 times daily.
1,000 mcg. twice daily, between meals. |
Stimulates the immune system. Helpful in treating allergies and asthma. Injections under a doctor’s supervision are best. Decreases inflammation that occurs in the lungs during an attack. |
|
Vitamin E |
600 IU and up daily |
A potent antioxidant. |
|
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids |
1500 mg. 3 times daily. |
Needed to protect lung tissue and keep down infection. |
|
Coenzyme Q10 |
100 mg. daily |
Has the ability to counter histamine. |
|
Magnesium Plus Calcium |
750 mg. daily |
May stop the acute asthmatic episode by increasing the vital capacity of the lungs. Has a dilating effect on the bronchial muscles. |
|
Multivitamin and mineral complex
Plus Selenium |
As directed on label
200 mcg. |
Necessary for enhanced immune function. Use a high-potency formula. A powerful destroyer of free radicals created from air pollutants. |
Herbs:
 | Ginkgo biloba, an herb containing the active
ingredient ginkgolide B, has shown good results in many studies. | Other herbs beneficial for asthma include echinacea,
goldenseal, horsetail, juniper berries, licorice root, and slippery elm bark
tablets. Caution: Do not take goldenseal on a regular basis for more
than one week at a time and do not use during pregnancy; if you have a history
of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or glaucoma, use only under supervision.
Do not use licorice on a daily basis for more than seven days in a row, and
avoid it completely if you have high blood pressure. | |
Recommendations:
| Eat a diet consisting mainly of fresh fruits and
vegetables, nuts and seeds, oatmeal, brown rice and whole grains. Eat a high
protein, low carbohydrate diet and avoid sugar. | Include garlic and onions in your diet.
| Avoid gas-producing foods such as beans and cabbage,
and large amounts of bran. Gas can irritate an asthmatic condition by putting
pressure on the diaphragm.
| Do not eat ice cream or drink extremely cold drinks.
Cold can shock the bronchial tubes into spasms.
| Eat lightly – large meals can cause shortness of
breath by making the stomach put pressure on the diaphragm.
| Use an elimination diet to see if certain foods
aggravate the asthmatic condition. Common culprits include alfalfa, corn,
peanuts, soy, eggs, beets, carrots, colas, cold beverages, dairy products
(including milk and ice cream), fish, red meat, pork, processed foods, salt,
spinach, chicken and turkey, white flour, and white sugar.
| Use aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) with caution, including ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin and others)
naproxen (Naprosyn) and piroxicam (Feldene). These drugs are responsible for
over two-thirds of drug-related asthmatic reactions, with aspirin accounting
for over half of these. Chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics can also
induce asthma reactions.
| Avoid stress. Strong emotions such as stress, worry
and fear can trigger asthma attacks.
| Avoid furry animals; the food additives HGA and BHT;
FD & C Yellow No. 5 food dye, and tobacco and other types of smoke.
| There are vacuum cleaners on the market that destroy
dust mites. An application of benzyl benzoate powder (such as X-MITE from
Allersearch) will eliminate mites for two to three months. If local pharmacies
don’t carry the powder, you can order it from Aller-Guard Corporation of
Ocean, NJ; telephone 800-234-0816. | |
Considerations:
| According to Nutrition Health Review, strong
feelings of anger, anxiety, and depression may be an important cause of asthma
attacks. Unfortunately, many of the drugs used to control and alleviate asthma
themselves cause jittery nerves, mood swings and insomnia.
| Caffeine has a dilating effect on the bronchial
airways. Research has shown that people with asthma who drink coffee and other
caffeine-containing drinks generally have one-third fewer symptoms than those
who do not. Caffeinated cola drinks, cocoa, and chocolate also contain
caffeine.
| Many people with asthma are allergic to sulfites. Many
restaurants use sulfiting agents (sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite,
potassium bisulfite, and sulfur dioxide) to prevent discoloration and
bacterial growth in green salads, fruit, frozen shellfish and other foods.
| Cigarette smoke, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide and photochemical substances are air pollutants that can
trigger asthma attacks.
| Inhaling a muscle-relaxing medication such as
albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) from a bronchodilator can relieve an acute
asthma attack immediately by opening the bronchial tubes. Bronchodilators do
not treat the underlying problem, however.
| A sustained-release form of the drug theophylline,
sold under the brand name Theo-Dur Sprinkle, has been used with good results.
| A study reported in the Journal of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology suggested that taking 2 salmon oil capsules before
each meal and eating fish three times weekly may be beneficial for asthma. | |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
224-15 |
Beta Carotene 25,000 IU Softgels |
2 softgels daily, in divided doses |
$4.50/100 |
|
111-15 |
Flaxseed Oil 1000 mg. Softgels |
2 softgels daily, before meals |
$7.95/100 |
|
891-15 |
B Complex 50 mg. Tabs. |
3 tablets daily, in divided doses |
$6.95/100 |
|
836-15 |
B6 50 mg. tablets |
1 tablet 3 times daily. |
$3.35/100 |
|
895-15 |
B12 500 mcg. tablets |
2 tablets daily between meals |
$3.95/100 |
|
237-15 |
Vitamin E 200 IU (D-Alpha Tocopheryl) |
3 softgels daily |
$5.28/100 |
|
955-12 |
Vitamin C 500 mg. with Rose Hips Tablets |
3 tablets daily |
$4.95/100 |
|
091-12 |
Citrus Bioflavonoids 1000 mg. tablets |
3 tablets daily, take with vitamin C |
$5.59/100 |
|
949-11 |
Coenzyme Q10 100 mg. Capsules |
1 capsule daily |
$19.95/30 |
|
498-17 |
Calcium 600 with D |
2 tablets daily |
$5.75/120 |
|
NSMM |
Magnesium with malic acid 740 mg. tablets |
1 tablet daily |
$9.95/90 |
|
982-15 |
One A Day Maximum Tablets |
As directed on label |
$6.95/100 |
|
236-15 |
Selenium Tabs. 200 mcg. |
1 tablet daily |
$5.95/100 |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Prevention’s Healing with Vitamins, by the Editors of
Prevention Magazine Health Books
The Green Pharmacy, by James A. Duke, Ph.D.Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide
Compiled by The Burton Goldberg Group
