Natural Treatment for Asthma from Dr Weil

Live healthy and long

From Dr Weil - how to treat Asthma Naturally

August 29, 2015

Dr Weil traces the cause of asthma and what the common cures are. He has a set of guidelines on how to cure asthma naturally which includes decreased intake of protein  (as the protein substances cause allergy and bronchoconstriction or airway inflammation)

He is particular about use of cayenne drops (at the start of the attack)   pepper

For long term control and prevention:

• Decrease protein to 10 percent of daily caloric intake. Replace animal protein as much as possible with plant protein
• Eliminate milk and milk products, substituting other calcium sources.
• Eat organically grown fruits and vegetables as much as possible.
• Eliminate polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils that might contain trans-fatty acids, all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).
• Use extra-virgin olive oil as your main fat.
• Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Always drink plenty of water to keep your respiratory tract secretions more fluid.
• Experiment with eliminating (one at a time) wheat, corn, soy and sugar for six to eight weeks to see if the condition improves.
• Eat ginger and turmeric regularly for their anti-inflammatory effects.
• Have some manipulative work done on the chest to break up restrictive patterns in nerves and muscles that develop in chronic asthma. The best systems I know for this are osteopathic manipulation, especially from a practitioner of cranial therapy, and Rolfing, a form of deep-tissue massage.
• Minimize contact with respiratory irritants, such as smoke, dust, molds, and volatile chemicals. Remove sources of offending materials from your home, install a good air filtration system, or consider moving if the air is generally bad where you live. Experiment with living in other locations: in high mountains, the desert, or near the seacoast. Asthma may improve greatly with a change of climate.
• In adults, GERD (acid reflux disease) may be an underlying cause of asthma. In such cases, successful treatment of the digestive problem will often clear up the asthma.
• Experiment with traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine (the traditional healing system of India). These systems are sometimes able to offer significant help through more specific dietary adjustments and herbal treatments.

Here are some specific recommendations for exercise-induced asthma:

1. Warm up very slowly to the point where you almost feel the "tightness" associated with exercise-induced asthma. Then stop and stretch or, if you're exercising vigorously, slow down. By taking this break, you often can block the development of asthmatic symptoms. You can then go back to your normal pace. This may take some getting used to, but can sometimes eliminate the need for medication.
2. Try breath work. The most effective approaches are pranayama techniques (breath control exercises taught in some yoga classes). You can do these after the initial warm-up when symptoms are almost felt. For beginners, start with "The Relaxing Breath," a technique I describe in my books and on this Web site.
3. Find a form of physical activity that minimizes your exercise-induced symptoms. Sports or activities that have intermittent rest periods (such as tennis, softball, and golf) can allow you to regain control of your breathing. Swimming may be better than running outdoors in cold weather, but no type of exercise is off-limits with proper treatment. In fact, some of the world's top athletes have exercise-induced asthma, and they're still able to compete successfully in Olympic-level events.