Question:

I’m doing the Proventil thing, but I am interested in any info you all might have on alternative methods of clearing this asthma thing up.  Any personal experience of leads would be appreciated.

Response:

I’m doing the Proventil thing, but I am interested in any info you all might have on alternative methods of clearing this asthma thing up.  Any personal experience of leads would be appreciated.

First off, there is nothing that will ‘clear up’ asthma.  Asthma is an incurable and chronic airway disorder.  Anyone claiming to ‘cure’ asthma is a fraud. Now, what to do about your asthma depends on its severity and what your triggers are. Mild asthma, (3 attacks a week or fewer) can be controlled by a bronciodialator (like your Proventil) used on an ‘as needed’ basis. Anything more than this needs you and your Dr. to sit down a tailor an asthma management program based on your symptoms and lifestyle (everybodys asthma is different). I also recommend that you visit one of the larger bookstores and find a book on asthma,

Response:

Thanks for the response, but I do not believe that asthma cannot be "cured".  You may think me naive, but in my opinion, to place a  limit on believing an illness can be cured is in itself a limit on getting  better.  If there are unorthodox methods people can employ to decrease the severity or occurences of their asthma, or prevent them all together, I am for it.  This in no way should keep someone from consulting with a doctor or using whatever medications are needed to keep breathing.  However, should we  not also keep an open mind and the pursue the hope of a cure?  At one time, people were absolutly certain that the earth was flat.  (By the way, even if a doctor says I am not "cured", but I can live attack free, what is the difference? ). It is not my intention to argue points of medical philosophy.  I only ask that people keep hope alive.  That in itself can be potent medicine.  

Response:

I’m doing the Proventil thing, but I am interested in any info you all might have on alternative methods of clearing this asthma thing up.

I don’t think you’ll be able to get rid of it, but maybe you can control it to the point of not needing the Proventil. I have several things: (1) Give up dairy. There are many anecdotal reports saying that dairy worsens asthma. It also makes one more susceptible to colds, increases mucous, makes one (mostly kids) more susceptible to ear infections, and other related things. You should be able to find this info off this page of links:   The No Milk Page:   http://www.panix.com/~nomilk/ (2) Take magnesium supplements. This has had anecdotal reports here in this newsgroup, though not for a while. I have collected some and I can e-mail them to you. As for how much to take? I’d start with 400 mg and work up and see how it helps. I would not take more than 1600 mg/day tops. Here is a quote I found: From Wise Encyclopedia of Cookery, 1971: "Healthy lungs show twice as much magnesium as lime [i.e. calcium carbonate]. Magnesium is a cell-builder, particularly of the nervous system and lung tissues. Magnesium salts assist in reducing foreign matter and waste, and in carrying them out of the system, thus invigorating the excretory organs and producing pressure, without which metabolism would be impossible." Note that taking calcium will work against the magnesium. So don’t take it. http://www.noah.cuny.edu/ has a summary from a scientific journal (1995) suggesting that increased consumption of magnesium is very beneficial for asthmatics–preventing attacks or lessening their severity. (3) B-6: Newsgroups: alt.support.asthma In an experimental study 76 asthmatic children  given 200mg B6 a day demonstrated significant symptom improvement and reduction in dosage of bronchodilators. Ann. Allergy 35:93-7, 1975 Experimental controlled study: 7pts. and 6 controls received 50 mg B6 twice a day. All asthmatics reported a dramatic decrease in frequency, duration and severity of asthmatic attacks and wheezing ceased in about one week (Reynolds RD – ibid) Also considered to be possibly beneficial were, B12, vitamin C, magnesium and Omega-3 fatty acids. (4) Aerobic exercise. Depending on what shape you’re in now, you may have to start slowly with this. But the better shape you’re in, the better your asthma condition will be. The benefit of Garlic for an asthmatic is that Garlic is the most powerful; least painful expectorant on the planet. Nothing gets fluid and congestion out of lungs better. Three ways to use: 1. Garlic soup; tastes like beef bouillon, no garlic after taste. 2. Raw Garlic for children; poke a couple holes in a  raw clove of Garlic and put in water or juice. 3. Raw Garlic for adults; Put small raw clove of Garlic in mouth until mouth too hot to tolerate. We are a nutritionally-oriented association, emphasizing mineral nutrition. Our asthmatic members have reported significant results supressing asthmatic reactions using magnesium aspartate along with pyridoxal-5-phosphate, a metabolite of Vit. B-6. This is an accepted treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Not everyone responded; however, over 75% did. The MgAsp formula was one we commissioned and the P-5-P was from Klaire Labs, Inc. of San Marcos, CA 92069 under their "Vital Life" label. (7) Avoid your triggers. They can be food or airborne ones. Everybody has different ones so it’s hard to list. My only one is cats, so by totally avoiding them I haven’t taken any Provential in years. If a cat owner throws a party I do not attend. I hope you find this quick summary useful, Don.

Response:

In regards to the use of Magnesium, one of the drugs that we use in hospital for severe attacks in the emergency room is Magnesium Sulfate (you may know it by the name Epsom Salts). Mag works as mentioned and it also will prolog the duration of the chemicals is the muscle cells of the breathing tubes to keep them relaxed, therefore keep them open longer. Hope I can be of assistance, Lee

Response:

     Hello, all!     I have recently come out of an asthmatic tailspin which lasted for two months. My Peak Flow Readings were consistently in the 320-350 range, and I am a 33-year old 5 foot 9 male.     My doctor had me on 60 mg Prednisone, Flovent, Flonase, and of course a bronchodialator.     While I had no desire to stop taking these medications, I was concerned that my asthma "marathon" (induced by a viral infection) showed no end in sight. I began researching alternative methods of dealing with the symptoms. NOTE: I did not stop taking my medications- I simply added some home remedies to the mix.      I found an Herbal tea specially for reducing congestion and another for improving respiration. I drank several cups of these hot teas with honey daily.      I put several drops of eucolyptus essential oil in my humidifier and ran it at night.      I used Vick’s Vapor Rub on my chest at night.     I began taking vitamin supplements.     My wife would rub the muscles between my shoulder blades and along     the  sides of my rib cage.     When I added these into the mix, I found some relief from my symptoms. It may well be that the medications finally kicked in (after 2 months) or that the viral infection ran its course at last.      Since then, when I’ve started to have asthma trouble, I’ve used one or more of these alternative methods to help limit their severity and duration- again, without interrupting my asthma maintenance plan developed with my doctor.       While these "alternative" ways of dealing with asthma certainly will not cure it, they do (for me) alleviate the symptoms. I offer them as suggested SUPPLEMENTS to any asthma regiment, not as a replacement. I did not discuss these with my doctor yet, but plan to do so when I see him for a follow-up appointment. I suspect he’ll say something along the lines of, "Well, they can’t hurt- but don’t stop the asthma regiment we’ve mapped out together."              Rick

Response:

I began researching alternative methods of dealing with the symptoms. NOTE: I did not stop taking my medications- I simply added some home remedies to the mix.   I found an Herbal tea specially for reducing congestion and another for improving respiration. I drank several cups of these hot teas with honey daily.   I put several drops of eucolyptus essential oil in my humidifier and ran it at night.   I used Vick’s Vapor Rub on my chest at night.   I began taking vitamin supplements.   My wife would rub the muscles between my shoulder blades and along the  sides of my rib cage.

This may work great for some, but beware if you are prone to allergies. Most herbal teas set me off, especially any with chamomile. The smell of eucolyptus or Vick’s Vapor Rub starts an asthma attack for my husband. And we run a humidifier as little as possible, since both kids are allergic to dust mites (which thrive in humidity above 45%). Mary

Response:

I discovered a great book called"Reversing Asthma" by Richard Firshein DO.  It is a wealth of naturopathic treatments for asthmatics and I am currently taking the herbal and vitamin suppliments he suggests.  I think they are working!! Being an asthmatic is very draining and like most others I am tired of being dependent upon so many drugs all the time.  I hope to at least decrease me inhaler intake at least. Good luck to all!!

Response:

Along with allergy shots (once a week) I take 2 oz. daily of Flor-Essence (herb combination of sheep sorrel,burdock root, slippery elm bark, rhubarb root).  In addition, I started colloidal minerals.   The combination of these three has reduced my use of inalers from 4 x a day to 2 a day.  Good luck!

Response:

Hello. Just found this newsgroup and am delighted at the wealth of info. I’ve been living with chronic asthma since I was 10, I’m 40 now. (The ouside world thinks I’ll still grow out of it…) Anyhow, this is the first time I’ve heard anything about magnesium, and wondered what dosage, etc. is typically used. And in response to the message above about Magnesium Sulfate, this may sould stupid but how is it administered? BTW, I’m on a regimen of Azmacort, Intal and Proventil. And managing OK. Many thanks. Jan

Response:

Hello. Just found this newsgroup and am delighted at the wealth of info. I’ve been living with chronic asthma since I was 10, I’m 40 now. (The ouside world thinks I’ll still grow out of it…) Anyhow, this is the first time I’ve heard anything about magnesium, and wondered what dosage, etc. is typically used. And in response to the message above about Magnesium Sulfate, this may sould stupid but how is it administered?

The studies I have read about discussed magnesium used intravenously in hospital settings.  Most of us who use magnesium daily, use oral dosages of around 450 mg.  If you want to try it, start off with just 100 mg. of magnesium supplement such as you find in the vitamin section of the store.  Some people are more sensitive to it than others, and it can cause loose stools if you take too much.  If you tolerate 100 mg. but still don’t notice any improvement, work your way up to 450 mg.  If 450 mg. doesn’t help, then it probably isn’t going to do anything for you (in my opinion).  You should, of course, ask your doctor, but if yours is anything like mine, he doesn’t care what supplements you take and doesn’t want to talk about it. Laura

Response:

I started taking magnesium and I don’t think it did any thing for my asthma.  But it did eliminate most of the cramps I was getting from Azmacort.  I was getting them in my feet and in my tongue or jaw when I yawned.  Jim

Response:

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