Question:

Where is the alt.support.asthma FAQ? I thought I bookmarked it but I guess I did’nt.

Response:

Where is the alt.support.asthma FAQ? I thought I bookmarked it but I guess I did’nt.

Here’s my alternative one: It may be possible to control your asthma to the point of not needing an inhaler. I have several alternative related 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. There have been anecdotal reports in the asthma newsgroup, but in general the group is very meds oriented. 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. 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. I have subtantially improved my own extrinsic asthma using the above and other suggestions. Two books on alternative/complementary protocols that I recommend: "Sinus Survival" by Ivker and "Reversing Asthma" by Firshein. (10) Newsgroup: alt.folklore.herbs Vit C is very good for Asthma, recent med studies have shown great improvement with daily doses of 3 to 5,000 mg/day spread out of course. (11) Newsgroup: alt.folklore.herbs The things that I’ve found personally helpful are: Acupuncture, massage, and taking milk thistle. Acupuncture seems to relieve immediate symptoms, massage keeps the muscles from tightening up, and the milk thistle helps cleanse and protect the liver. The last I started doing for health reasons unrelated to the asthma, but noticed that the effects of the asthma lessened while taking it. I hope you find this summary useful, Don (at panix com).

Response:

(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:

And there are many antecodal reports that dairy improves asthma.  This is why antecodal reports should be viewed with caution. From Wise Encyclopedia of Cookery, 1971: "Healthy lungs show twice as much

Do you always use cookbooks for medical information? 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.

I went to this site – then I looked at the actual abstracts that they referenced.  I found it odd that they seem to have ignored the double blind, placebo controlled clinical trials on the effect of dietary magnesium supplementation on asthma.  In fact they seem to have ignored all of the negative scientific evidence. This is why I always recommend that people look at the source scientific documents rather than somebody elses opinion of them. A major criticism of the noah presentation is that they do not make a distinction between the use of intravenous magnesium in the emergency room setting, dietary magnesium supplementation, and inhaled magnesium.  They seem to have lumped everything toghether, which creates a misleading impression as to the effectivness of oral magnesium supplementation. (Testimonials snipped)

Response:

(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: And there are many antecodal reports that dairy improves asthma.  This is why antecodal reports should be viewed with caution.

I think your right. Some dairy worsens asthma and some improves asthma. Regular milk probably worsens asthma but yoghurt not. This is the same with milky ice-creams and stuff like that. And the more sour stuff like yoghurt,carned milk will improve it. Jeunesse p.s don

Question:

My name is Lesley. I have had asthma all my life.  The sneaky type that creeps up on you and you don’t realise you have it. I use my Ventolin inhaler only now and then, but didn’t realise it was creeping up until I was very very ill and while on a flight from Sweden to Australia my breathing went down to 12%.  I stopped everything after arriving home and looked everywhere for a cure because I realised that I was no good dead. I have come up with these answers after doing homework for a year.  For the first time in my life (I am fourty-nine), I actually feel comfortable with my breathing. Drink 10 glasses of FILTERED WATER a day. Decide that raw fruits and vegies are what you are going to eat the rest of your life with only an occasional hot cooked dinner. Walk a lot, swim as much as you can, go outside after the evening meal and take deep breaths, drink aloe vera juice twice a day. Buy an expensive vacuum cleaner that really cleans the mattress, replace all carpets in your house with polished boards, do NOT go anywhere where there is smoke or dust. Just don’t go there. Remember, it’s much more comfortable. Quite a few more tips. Mail

Response:

My name is Lesley. I have had asthma all my life.  The sneaky type that creeps up on you and you don’t realise you have it. I use my Ventolin inhaler only now and then, but didn’t realise it was creeping up until I was very very ill and while on a flight from Sweden to Australia my breathing went down to 12%.  I stopped everything after arriving home and looked everywhere for a cure because I realised that I was no good dead.

Were you just taking Ventolin or were you perscribed (and using) preventative meds?   BTW, everybodys asthma is different.  What works for you may not work for someone else.  And personally, I’d rather take my preventative meds an eat hot meals.

Response:

I’m confused.  DO you eat ONLY raw fruits and vegetables, in addition to your Aloe Vera juice?  What else do you eat?  Have you lost weight in addition to beating your asthma?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My name is Lesley. I have had asthma all my life.  The sneaky type that creeps up on you and you don’t realise you have it. I use my Ventolin inhaler only now and then, but didn’t realise it was creeping up until I was very very ill and while on a flight from Sweden to Australia my breathing went down to 12%.  I stopped everything after arriving home and looked everywhere for a cure because I realised that I was no good dead. I have come up with these answers after doing homework for a year.  For the first time in my life (I am fourty-nine), I actually feel comfortable with my breathing. Drink 10 glasses of FILTERED WATER a day. Decide that raw fruits and vegies are what you are going to eat the rest of your life with only an occasional hot cooked dinner. Walk a lot, swim as much as you can, go outside after the evening meal and take deep breaths, drink aloe vera juice twice a day. Buy an expensive vacuum cleaner that really cleans the mattress, replace all carpets in your house with polished boards, do NOT go anywhere where there is smoke or dust. Just don’t go there. Remember, it’s much more comfortable. Quite a few more tips. Mail

Sorry, some of us don’t have the money for expensive vacuums and to install a wood floor.  Some of us don’t have the luxury of avoiding smoke filled rooms, and some of live in places like West Texas where dust is a way of life.  So your simple little solution is not everyubody’s solution, and one of these days I’d be willing to bet that you have another one of "sneaky" attacks (which I believe is one of the major problems with an attack; being "sneaky" and all). I think you are just lucky that you only have the occasional attack.  I hope you still keep that Ventolin handy.

Response:

In response to Michael: Some days I just want to complain and have someone listen, so know that I heard you and agree that having asthma is frustrating, annoying and unfair.  On the other hand, you need to take care of yourself.  If you don’t make your health a top priority, no one else will.  If you have extrinsic asthma, control your environment.  If you have intrinsic asthma, identify any triggers that you have and avoid them!  You’re right, not everyone can afford everything, but prioritization is important.  When I asked my doctor what I could do about my environment (I am very sensitive to dust and mold), wood floors were one of the solutions he recommended (as long as I lived somewhere else during the installation and subsequent clean up — sawdust is very nasty stuff).  Due to their cost, he suggsted that we do the bedroom first.  We couldn’t afford to do it immediately, but we saved, had the wood  installed, and found that it has made a difference.  I now have a safe haven when I am not feeling well.  Due to this improvement, we have been saving again and hope to do the downstairs next.  I cringed at the thought of a $400 vacuum cleaner, but after getting sick every time the house was vacuumed or left unvacuumed for too long, we sacrificed and made the purchase.  Once I did, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t done it sooner.  It made a big difference.  Since we chose to spend our money on these items, we drive an ‘86 Chevy Nova.  (Yes, we are saving for a car with air bags and anti-lock brakes.)  Although I no longer test positive during allergy tests for dogs or cats, I have strong reactions to the actual animals.  It’s frustrating to not be able to hang out at my friends’ homes (everyone seems to have a pet), but it’s more frustrating to not be able to breathe.  I live 2 blocks from one of the best blues clubs in the country, but since it’s smoky inside I don’t go there.  I want to live a long and full life, and I want my lungs to work as best they can during that time.  Therefore, I do everything that I can to see that they do.  I do acknowledge that I can’t control everything, and I do have asthma flares, but much of the time the only reminder of my asthma is the medication that I take throughout the day.  No one else is going to take care of your body if you don’t.  Make health a priority. Take medication as prescribed and do the things that you can to breathe easier.  Good luck. Lisa in Chicago

Response:

My name is Lesley. I have had asthma all my life….For the first time in my life (I am fourty-nine), I actually feel comfortable with my breathing. Drink 10 glasses of FILTERED WATER a day. Decide that raw fruits and vegies are what you are going to eat the rest of your life with only an occasional hot cooked dinner. Walk a lot, swim as much as you can, go outside after the evening meal and take deep breaths, drink aloe vera juice twice a day.  Buy an expensive vacuum cleaner that really cleans the mattress, replace all carpets in your house with polished boards, do NOT go anywhere where there is smoke or dust. Just don’t go there.

Environmental control, unfortunately, is sometimes not practical.  I know I am sensitive to soot and smog.  But that’s endemic to where I live and work.  And I have noticed that remote rural communities with less air pollution don’t have many employment opportunities for engineers like me.  Even if such existed, I would be forced to sell my home and leave–and then what if I find I am sensitive to some allergen in the new place I move to?  Perhaps the conclusion is that the ultimate means of environmental control is to become independently wealthy, so that you can afford to live and work wherever you want. As for "walking a lot" and "swimming as much as you can," the weather forecast for Boston predicts temperatures falling to near zero this Saturday with strong winds, which is murder on my asthma as it is, even without taking long walks or swimming in freezing weather.  And I have found indoor health clubs to suffer from the usual dust and indoor air pollution as other places.  Again, if I were a millionaire I would just take a 3 month vacation in Australia or somewhere.  But I’m not. — Steven D. Litvintchouk                  "There seems to be no mainframe Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware,       in which we’re living." the opinions expressed herein                 — President Bill Clinton are not those of my employer.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My name is Lesley. I have had asthma all my life.  The sneaky type that creeps up on you and you don’t realise you have it. I use my Ventolin inhaler only now and then, but didn’t realise it was creeping up until I was very very ill and while on a flight from Sweden to Australia my breathing went down to 12%.  I stopped everything after arriving home and looked everywhere for a cure because I realised that I was no good dead. I have come up with these answers after doing homework for a year.  For the first time in my life (I am fourty-nine), I actually feel comfortable with my breathing. Drink 10 glasses of FILTERED WATER a day. Decide that raw fruits and vegies are what you are going to eat the rest of your life with only an occasional hot cooked dinner. Walk a lot, swim as much as you can, go outside after the evening meal and take deep breaths, drink aloe vera juice twice a day. Buy an expensive vacuum cleaner that really cleans the mattress, replace all carpets in your house with polished boards, do NOT go anywhere where there is smoke or dust. Just don’t go

Although the above probably won’t cure asthma (and Lesley never said it would), I think that the parts about exercise, nutrition, and environmental control are worth noting for the well-intentioned tips they seem to be.  Of course, none of us have perfect environmental control, but the closer we get, the better we can be.  I was trigger-happy and looking for a sales pitch too, but let’s not throw out the beef with the spam, especially since this *is* a support group. BTW, has anyone had a *bad* experience with Aloe Vera?  Beyond a removal of ready cash? Just my $.02 Scott T.

Response:

For the first time since I have been diagnosed with asthma(3 years ago), my peak flow meter reached 500!!  I attribute this to:  allergy shots (twice a week for 6 weeks…now once a week).  I’m allergic to dust mites, mold, mildew.  In addition, I am taking Flor-Essence (2 oz. a day).  This is an herb combination which detoxifies the body, as well as colloidal minerals.  My allergist supports the herbs and minerals and agrees that it is the combination with the allergy shots that is improving my lung capacity.  Naturally, avoidance of known triggers is critical (cat dander, smoke…whatever they are).  My solution to my allergy to dust mites was the allergy shots…it seems to be working!!

Response:

Question:

Hi, The following post was sent to a local usenet in an area I live in called Santa Cruz, CA and the purpose of me posting it here is to see if anyone is aware of any method by which disability support, i.e., financial, can be obtained for this heinous disease.

Dennis you may want to contact the EEOC (ADA) Equal Employment Opprtunity Commission.  with you obvious technical skills have you thought about looking into computer jobs associated with medical facilities?  Just a though t.  dont I know personally how scary acute onset attecks can be, hang in there! There is a great book called "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, it’s the stress management program at Mass General in Boston.  Helped me alot. I would strongly advise you to try social services in your area as well. So what kind of help am I seeking? I need a job that will support me through this. Thats all I want! A job to keep me off the streets, pay my bills and live with some dignity. I have very few needs… Shelter, food and access via telephone and automobile to the outside world for medical appointments. That comes to about $1400/month net pay.

 YOu want what any decent, responsible citizen wants-a life! We all would like not to have asthma and to breath easy.  I wish you well and lots of luck.  I hope this stuff helps. EB

Response:

I feel for this fellow sufferer  –  my former employer endowed me with severe chemically caused asthma and I was jobless for 15 months until the medical institution where I spent so much time hired me. I will forward this along to a couple of other groups to which I belong which have a fairyly wide membership.  Also, there’s a giant classified board and old friend of mine works on out of Boston but it covers the country.  It’s called the Monster Board.  The web address is:http//www.monster.com. I send encouragement to your friend…..I know what this feels like — I guess I must be on at least 8 meds for  similar thing. Lizbeth

Response:

Hi, The following post was sent to a local usenet in an area I live in called Santa Cruz, CA and the purpose of me posting it here is to see if anyone is aware of any method by which disability support, i.e., financial, can be obtained for this heinous disease. My name is Dennis and I need help. I am a 42 year old Computer Technical Support Engineer with 20+ years experience (Atari (pong), Intel (8080), Televideo, etc.. who contracted a pulmonary disease about ten years ago when I used to reside (and could afford at the time) at Nearys Lagoon. This disease is making it nearly impossible to hold a full time job due to the medical appointments I must keep in order that my pulmonary functions dont shut down in 15 minutes, which it has done in the past. Thats a terrifying feeling. Its similar to the time you may have dove too far into the water and then realized you may not make it to the surface and panic sets in. This panic will constrict your chest and worsen the effects thereby increasing the rate of pulmonary failure until you stop breathing. This occurred to me last July in Los Angeles (Daniel Freeman Hosp) and I nearly died in the ambulance because the paramedics would not transport me until they received an OK from their superviser to take me to another hospital outside there jurisdiction which was closer than the one they proposed. The problem I face is multifaceted. The medications I take are very serious in nature (2 steroids (10 months), 2 bronchodialators, synthetic theophyline (1.8 grams/day), antibiotics (varied to control tolerance) and two new prescriptions to control reflux and water accumulation in the body (Prilosac and Claritin)). The side effects of these medications include irritability and mood swings and I have had a problem not saying what I feel at times when my job is threatened by employers. This has led to numerous jobs in the past five years and the track record has made me unemployable by Human Resource people. If I tell them that I have a serious ailment, my resume gets dumped and I never hear from them again so I dont tell them and then lose the job due to my fear, frustration and anger. It would seem evident that I should be entitled to some form of benefits but I’m not and the reason is that the requirements for disability for this disease are antiquated and stygmatized. I would have to be emphasymic and blow less than a liter of air to qualify. And that is a constant condition meaning that I would have to be in pulmonary duress 24 hours a day and I don’t want to go there! The definition/name of this disease is called Extrinsic Asthma and the triggers that set off spasms for me are mold spores (level 4 sensitivity), cold temperatures and stress. And believe me, right now the stress factor is very high as I am facing eviction at the end of the month and the triggers that set off my spasms are rampant when you have to sleep in the bushes. You might ask why I dont call on family and friends for assistance and I would had I not been abandoned at 14 by my mother and stepfather and then by the rest of the family because they were severely alcoholic and dysfunctional. As for friends, I dont exhibit a lot of trust in my fellow man due to the abandonement issue and I tend to keep people at a distance and dont open up to them quite readily. Besides, my real needs are not capable of being met by "friends" as they are not the leaders or presidents of companies and or governements. So what kind of help am I seeking? I need a job that will support me through this. Thats all I want! A job to keep me off the streets, pay my bills and live with some dignity. I have very few needs… Shelter, food and access via telephone and automobile to the outside world for medical appointments. That comes to about $1400/month net pay. If you have any leads to support this request I can be reached at the following but please remember that I only have until the end of this month. After that i dont want to live anymore. Its too hard to keep up this struggle. Thank you for taking the time to read this, Dennis A. Nolen 170 W. Cliff Drive #40 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (408) 457-1270 PS – Should anyone question the severity of my condition or wish to verify if the above is true please contact Dr. Michael Ellison at the Santa Cruz Pulmonary Medical Group on Frederick Street, 425-1905. He’s not aware of this post though so I’ll probably get hell for doing this but I’m a little desperate at this point. Also, I have been treated by over forty different hospitals in the past ten years alone and many of them several times each. This isnt a joke Dennis A. Nolen

Response: