Holistic healing

Wellbeing: Healthy breathing techniques

Don’t let asthma get you down with this advice on natural alternatives from Julie Penfold

Don’t let asthma get you down with this advice on natural alternatives from Julie Penfold
Around 5.4 million people currently receive treatment for asthma in the UK, of which 1.1 million are children.

Though there is no cure for asthma, sufferers can lead a relatively normal life if they manage their condition correctly. Identifying triggers and avoiding these where possible, adapting your lifestyle and protecting against asthma via the diet can all help to better manage your condition alongside professional guidance from your asthma nurse or GP.

ASTHMA TRIGGERS

Triggers for asthma can differ from person to person, most commonly these include:

House dust, pets, exercise, pollen, air pollutants, weather and stress.

For some sufferers, chlorinated water can be a trigger. Special care should be taken when consuming tap water or when showering or bathing as chlorine is not only harmful when inhaled but is also absorbed by the skin. Try drinking pure water and using a filter when showering if this is a problem.
Preservatives, additives such as monosodium glutamate, flavourings, colourings, artificial sweeteners, preserved meats, processed foods, plus sulphites found in wines can also have a reactive effect on symptoms.
As dairy is mucus-producing and is quite acidic, it can worsen symptoms for some sufferers leading to chest tightness, wheezing and increased coughing,” says nutritional therapist Elouise Bauskis. “If you recognise dairy as a trigger, consider replacing this with dairy-free alternatives such as goat’s milk products or soya.”

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

The Buteyko Method is a natural drug-free complementary therapy designed especially for asthma sufferers and those with related breathing-disorders. When an asthma attack is occurring the tendency is to breathe through the mouth which can worsen the longevity or severity of the attack.

Stress can also be a trigger for asthma sufferers and when faced with high stress situations this increases our cortisol levels. This in turn depresses the immune function of the body. Meditation, yoga and hypnotherapy can be beneficial in helping someone living with asthma to learn techniques to reduce stress and help to calm. “Hypnotherapy is one of the fastest ways to achieve a deep state of relaxation, so that your mind and bodily systems slow down, allowing healing to take place,” says clinical hypnotherapist Caroline Carr. “Your hypnotherapist can show you how to do this for yourself and you will be surprised how quickly and easily you can achieve this state again”

Halotherapy is a widely used in Eastern Europe and Russia. The sodium chloride particles released into the air of the salt chamber penetrate deep into the lungs and have many respiratory benefits. Alternatively try a DIY salt pipe such as the Cisco ceramic a salt pipe (£29.99, thesaltpipe.co.uk) which draws air over halite mineral salts which cleanse and widen the respiratory tract, helping to clear the causes of inflammation.

NUTRITIONAL AIDS

Naturopath and herbalist Susse Wedel suggests eating more foods rich in quercetin and bromelain as they are important for inhibiting the body’s histamine release and dampening down allergic responses to triggers.

“Quercetin and bromelain are two bioflavenoids which have excellent anti-inflammatory effects and can be found naturally in many food sources. Apples, green and black tea, red onion and garlic are good sources of quercetin, while pineapple is the number one source for bromelain.”

Other dietary anti-inflammatories include foods rich in essential fatty acids such as oily fish, flaxseed oil, barley, thyme and hemp. Alternatively try taking an oil such as Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil (£10.99, udoschoice.co.uk) to ensure your body gets the daily requirement in needs.

Increasing the amount of vitamin-enriched fruit and vegetables in your diet can also help to improve immune function and reduce your susceptibility to trigger points for worsening symptoms such as recurring colds and chest infections.

Foods rich in vitamin A which helps strengthen immunity include orange and yellow fruit and vegetables such as apricots, mango, sweet potato and carrots. Vitamin C has an immune-boosting effect and can be effective for minimising asthma symptoms. Dietary sources include kiwi, oranges, tomatoes and broccoli.

Magnesium is a powerful muscle relaxant and is also effective at minimising stress which can be an asthma trigger. “In the case of asthma, sufferers are often magnesium deficient and a lack of magnesium in the body can also cause the lungs to constrict,” says nutritional therapist Elouise Bauskis. “A magnesium supplement would be one of the first things I would put an asthma patient on as it will have a highly relaxing effect on the lung musculature whilst also having an anti-stress effect on the whole body. While it can be found naturally via magnesium-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, in the instance of asthma, you do need a supplement to enable greater absorption into the body. I would suggest a good therapeutic dose on a daily basis for a minimum of three months to improve magnesium levels, though in some cases it may be more beneficial for that asthma sufferer to remain on a magnesium supplement in the long-term.”