Anybody manage to control moderate asthma holistically for example using homeopathic or any other alternative medicines not prescribed by your usual GP?
**Moderator here: please be mindful of the forum guidelines when answering. Please don't suggest alternative, unproven remedies in place of asthma medication, or claim that something is a cure. Please also be aware that even apparently harmless home remedies can be an asthma trigger for some people - even as simple as Vicks, steam, or opening the windows at night!**
I have not used homeopathy as I cannot find any evidence that it works for asthma.
What I have found is that there are lots of things you can do to improve your asthma that are not prescribed by a doctor.
So you can improve your environment indoor by decluttering your house or office, you can keep it dust free, you can use air purifiers.
You can adjust your diet to minimise Gerd and use supplements to avoid anaemia and keep your vitamin d up.
I find swimming personally very useful.
You can work out your specific triggers and minimise your exposure to them.
So you can optimise your asthma position with non medical means, whether that is for some people enough to avoid medication I do not know. It is not for me.
Over the years I've learned that, in addition to my asthma meds, a healthy diet (no processed foods, preservatives, colourings, sulphites), no alcohol, a healthy weight, moderate exercise, Buteyko breathing exercises and avoiding my asthma triggers have been most beneficial.
I take VitD3, VitK mk7, magnesium & omega3, but that's for bone & dental health (steroids can weaken bones and teeth, plus I'm now in my 60s). I avoid omega 6 rich foods as I have a respiratory disease called AERD, also known as Samters Triad, just to compliment the asthma. So I avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs.
If I get a sore throat, which for me can be the first sign of a potential chest infection, I will gargle with a mouthwash and take a couple of VitC/zinc lozenges.
I'm with Homely2 and Poobah on this. There are absolutely ways besides medication to help your asthma ' holistically' as much as possible, which may well be individual to you - see the suggestions in other replies.
BUT - I can't emphasise this enough - **please do not replace your medication with alternative remedies that have no evidence that they help asthma in humans, in clinical trials**. Moderate asthma is still asthma. To put it bluntly, it can still kill you. Half the people in the National Review of Asthma Deaths report were considered to have mild or moderate asthma before they died. If you're struggling with your current medications, please go to your GP and/or asthma nurse and discuss it, and/or ring the helpline to discuss with the nurses: 0300 2225800 or WhatsApp 07378 606 728 Monday-Friday 0915-5pm
There is no good evidence that homeopathy works for anything. Other home remedies *may* have some benefit in asthma, and there may be some studies that substances found naturally could help airway inflammation etc. Maybe in future, they'll isolate the helpful substance and it will be a new approach to treating asthma. But there's plenty of things that work in some cells in a dish, or in mice, and are not safe and/or effective when actually tested in humans.
You can of course give something like ginger or turmeric a go, if it's ok for you - just don't replace your medication with it. And bear in mind that the active substance that may or may not help asthma is likely very diluted in its natural form. Someone once told me turmeric helps asthma. I looked it up and it does contain a substance that seems to have reduced airway inflammation in some studies - but from memory, you'd have to eat about 2 tons a DAY for the same degree of anti-inflammatory effect that you'd get from a low-dose steroid inhaler. And you'd get side effects from that, like turning very yellow for a start.
Natural and alternative remedies are not side-effect free - even if they may possibly be helpful. And for some people they may trigger asthma. Generally if something works, it has side effects too (often because of how it works). You just have to balance those against how well it works, and how bad the side effects are. Sometimes it has really obvious ones, like eating deadly nightshade. I don't want to eat deadly nightshade, because it's very poisonous, but it does contain substances that can help your airways. If you take an Atrovent or Spiriva inhaler, you can get the benefits of those a lot more safely.
Apologies for the rant/essay - but I wanted to emphasise again that while I get it's rubbish (I have severe asthma I can't control properly!), there really aren't safe 'alternatives' to asthma medication, and you are potentially playing with actual 'fire' (dangerous inflammation levels) if you swap medication for alternatives. A safe holistic approach is the kind of thing Homely2 and Poobah are talking about.
when my asthma was very mild I tried a couple of things which may or may not have helped, I never could decide because I rarely had any trouble at the time, but one thing I've found that does work, if you are able, is exercise along with you medication, I cycle and walk when I can and this seems to reduce the number and severity of the exacerbations.
I don't know the answer to your question because I would never try that. If it wasn't for my preventor inhaler I'd have symptoms all the time and my life would be worse. My strategy is to take my preventor AND modify my life to reduce asthma triggers, as well as exercise and eating better (as others have said). By doing all this, I have been able to (suggested by my asthma nurse) reduce my preventor from 2 x 2 puffs a day to 2 x 1 puff. This shows that in addition to medication, having a healthier lifestyle can help but not eliminate asthma. So, you could make changes that allow you to reduce your meds, under the guidance of Medical professionals.
I'd say it's really not worth the risk giving up meds. If, for example someone came off the meds, then because ill, it could end of making their asthma worse permanently. COVID has shown that taking our preventors everyday is the most important thing. I had to come to terms with taking daily medication and it was a long difficult journey. I've accepted it now and I feel much better.
I can only reiterate all of the above. 25-30 years ago my asthmatic son's friend who also had moderate asthma was a student in London. I believe there was an ambulance strike at the time, he'd called 999 due to an attack himself but was dead before by the time he was found.
It certainly brought my son and I up sharp.
In those days medication wasn't so refined as it is now and having used a homeopath in the past (he was also a medical doctor otherotherwise I wouldn' thave used him) I wouldn't dream of it for asthma though, as stated above it can kill.
I have tried both homeopathy and herbalism over the last 25 years for asthma and various other health issues. I found that the homeopathy helped reduce the amount of steroid inhaler puffs I needed a day and I needed virtually no Ventolin/similar inhaler. I went to a qualified medical herbalist (NIMH) for a personalised prescription for the herbs which had a similar result. I wouldn't experiment with taking herbs without guidance - they're potent. She also mixed me up a liniment to apply to my chest and back when actually having an attack of the wheezes, it had anti-spasmodics in it as far as I remember. I tried this on a few occasions, keeping my inhaler in hand to use if necessary, when I was at home when this happened (not enormously convenient when out and about!). It did work after about 20 minutes but I couldn't wait it out and had to use my inhaler a couple of times - as far as I've found, nothing natural works so quickly. Definitely look into increasing your general health and wellbeing as this has a massive effect on asthma.
I’m assuming holistic you mean diet/lifestyle things that helped your asthma?
Definitely exercise as tolerated as already mentioned. Try to avoid exercising near triggers (for me diesel fuel or cars without cats, so I avoid busy roads for ex).
Check your indoor air quality (you can get online cheap air sensors… they aren’t perfect but might give you a good baseline). Make sure there’s no mold, your furnace is functioning properly and well maintained and hvac system is clean. If you live in a polluted area, look into HEPA filters for your furnace. Even if you’re only sleeping at home, 8 hours a day in a trigger free environment does wonders (and improved sleep quality helps too!). My asthma got worse after moving to a new house and I assumed it was worsening of allergies, turns out the previous owners never maintained the furnace so we had uncombusted fuel being pumped into the house… so pay attention to when you have symptoms and look for a trigger present at that time. If something doesn’t fit the pattern it means you’e probably missing something (for instance if you have allergic asthma to grass and you’re having symptoms in winter… then look for a second trigger… )
Good sleep, good food, reduce stress.
allergy testing and treatment.
But really being your own detective and finding out what your triggers are and taking action to reduce them as much as possible has helped me get control/feel better/have energy and be able to enjoy my life.
My pulmonologist said ginger is a broncho dilator but I, personally, only use what’s been tested and evaluated. She also recommended taking the reliever to be able to exercise. Homeopathy has no scientific basis and, when examined in the lab, has minuscule or no active ingredients. The herbalist, previously mentioned, may have used some helpful herbs but these are not tested for purity( contaminants).
While some individuals with asthma may explore alternative or complementary approaches, it's crucial to emphasize that holistic management should be done in consultation with healthcare professionals, and it should not replace prescribed medications or medical advice from a qualified healthcare provider.
Several alternative therapies, including homeopathy, acupuncture, breathing exercises, and dietary changes, have been explored by individuals with asthma to complement conventional treatments. However, the effectiveness of these approaches can vary from person to person, and scientific evidence supporting their use for asthma management is often limited.
Here are a few alternative approaches that some individuals have explored for asthma management:
Homeopathy: Some people with asthma may consider homeopathic remedies. However, the scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of homeopathy for asthma is inconclusive, and individual responses can vary.
Breathing Exercises: Techniques such as deep breathing exercises and yoga may help improve breathing and reduce stress, potentially benefiting individuals with asthma. Practices like pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing may be included.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice involving the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body, has been explored by some individuals with asthma. While some studies suggest potential benefits, more research is needed to establish its effectiveness.
Herbal Remedies: Certain herbs, such as Boswellia and Butterbur, have been investigated for their potential anti-inflammatory properties. However, it's important to use herbal remedies cautiously and under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as they can interact with medications and may have side effects.
It's essential to approach alternative or complementary treatments for asthma with caution and to inform your healthcare provider about any alternative therapies you are considering. Asthma can be a serious condition, and effective management often requires a combination of prescribed medications, lifestyle adjustments, and, if applicable, complementary approaches.
Always consult with your regular GP or an asthma specialist before making any changes to your asthma management plan. They can provide guidance based on your individual health needs and ensure that any alternative treatments are safe and compatible with your prescribed medications. Remember that holistic approaches should complement, not replace, evidence-based medical care.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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