Asthma Treatments Online

While there is a wide range of pharmaceutical asthma treatments available, it is worthwhile knowing about some of the natural asthma treatments out there that can reduce your asthma symptoms or the frequency with which you suffer asthma attacks. However, before trying any natural asthma remedies, please check with your doctor or asthma specialist to ensure that the remedy or dietary supplement does not contain any ingredients that could have an adverse effect on your asthma, allergies or health in general.

Following is a list of natural asthma remedies that have been known to either alleviate asthma symptoms or prevent asthma from occurring.

Caffeine

The caffeine in coffee and tea has been shown to prevent and reduce asthma attacks in adults. Researchers discovered that people who drank up to three cups of coffee or tea a day experienced 30% fewer asthma symptoms than those who drank no coffee at all. This is due to caffeine being a bronchodilator, that is, it relaxes and dilates the bronchial passageways and improves the passage of air into the lungs.

Onions

Onions contain anti-oxidants such as flavonoids, which act as anti-inflammatories and reduce the severity of asthma attacks by lessening the constriction of airways.

Chili

Similar to onions, chilis and hot peppers have anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of capsaicin which can assist in bronchodilation. Capsaicin is the substance that makes chillis and peppers hot, and is also used in lotions and ointments for arthritis and muscle or joint pain (such as dencorub).

Vitamin C

Research undertaken at Tufts University identified a link between low vitamin C levels and asthma, primarily due to the role Vitamin C plays as the main antioxidant in our lungs. As your vitamin C intake increases, the risk for asthma and other respiratory diseases decreases. You should therefore ensure that you are consuming enough vitamin C each day as per your recommended daily allowance, either by eating a balanced diet or through vitamin supplements.

Fish

Studies have found that children who eat fish at least twice a week reduce the risk of asthma by two-thirds when compared to children who don’t eat fish. Fish oil supplements have also been found to be effective for adults, who can reduce the risk of a severe asthma attack by up to 50 percent.

Magnesium

Research published in the Journal of Asthma revealed that adults with mild-to-moderate asthma can benefit from taking magnesium supplements. Researchers from Bastyr University and the University of California studied 52 men and women with mild-to-moderate asthma and found that those that consumed 340 mg of magnesium citrate daily for 6 months experienced significant improvements in asthma control and quality of life compared with the participants who received a placebo.

Omega-3 supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are important for a number of functions in the body including the relaxation and contraction of muscles, blood clotting, digestion, fertility, cell division, growth, and movement of calcium and other substances in and out of cells. They are found in foods such as fatty fish (sardines, salmon, mackerel, and tuna). and vegetable oils and are also available as dietary supplements.

While Omega-3s have been studied for (and used) for conditions such as asthma, more research is needed before conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of Omega-3s in successfully treating asthma.

These are just some of the many natural cures or treatments available for asthma. Remember, if you decide to try out a natural asthma remedy, be sure to check with your doctor first to ensure that you don’t have allergies to these supplements or any other medical reasons that prevent you from taking them.