Natural Cures for Asthma

Nowadays, people understand the importance of natural remedies along with the conventional ones in the treatment of diseases. Natural remedies don't produce many side-effects. In fact these treatment are used to avoid the side-effects resulting from conventional treatments.

Asthma
A medical condition that affects the respiratory system, in turn causing problems in the breathing activity, is termed as asthma. The consequences or effects of asthma are the inflammation in the bronchial tubes of lungs, and contraction of the muscles surrounding them. As a result of muscle contraction, the mucus is produced in the respiratory tract. It further deteriorates the situation by narrowing the air passages. Asthma is a commonly found problem among the people of all age groups.

Natural Cures for Asthma
There are two types of treatment used for asthma. One is the emergency treatment that deals with asthma attacks. In this treatment, bronchodilators are used to dilate the bronchioles, which in turn helps to ease up the airflow. The second type of treatment is the definitive treatment, in which steroids are used. Thus, to avoid the usage of steroids, alternative or natural treatments are used to cure asthma.

The natural remedies recommended for asthma treatment are discussed below.

• Vegetables and Fruits: As per the different studies and researches, the intake of fruits and vegetables minimize the risk of asthma in adults as well as children. Garlic proves to be an excellent medicine when consumed after boiling with milk. Ginger tea along with garlic is also used in the treatment of asthma. Turmeric powder mixed with milk is an effective medicine to treat asthma. Consumption of carrots and tomatoes, along with leafy vegetables, is helpful to keep asthma at bay.
• Buteyko: It is a breathing technique, developed by Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko of Russia. The patient who uses this method for the treatment of asthma, follows shallow breathing exercises. The objective or purpose behind using this technique is the generation of carbon dioxide. CO₂ helps dilate the smooth muscles present in the respiratory system.
• Butterbur: It is a type of shrub, found in Asia, Europe and North America. Petasin and isopetasin, the constituents found in this plant, treat asthma by reducing the spasms in smooth muscles of the lungs. The treatment also reduces the inflammatory effects of asthma.
• Omega Fatty Acids: These fatty acids play an important role in the reduction of arachidonic acid. The arachidonic acid is a fat that is responsible for the inflammatory effect of asthma. Ecosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the important omega-3 fatty acids that are used for the treatment. These are available in the form of capsules in drug stores.
• Bromelain: It is a protease enzyme, which is extracted from pineapples. Bromelain is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and thus, is used for the treatment of asthma.
• Boswellia: A herb that is used in Ayurvedic medicines. Boswellia is known to have an inhibitory effect on leukotrienes. The leukotriene is a harmful compound. It is one of the factors causing asthma.

The natural treatments used for asthma are mostly preventive in nature. According to some physicians, the natural cures for asthma are slow in their action. Thus, the natural cures should be used in tandem, with the conventional medicines available for treating asthma.