People with asthma often experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. In some cases, it can be life-threatening but Can You Treat Asthma Without Medication?
Asthma can hold back your life, whether it’s affecting your ability to work or live an active lifestyle. It causes a lot of frustration and emotional turmoil because there seems like nothing that will help stop these symptoms from coming back again and causing more problems later on down the line.
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While it is highly recommended to seek professional help, there are some natural asthma remedies you’d want to try together with conventional medicine. This article goes over how you can treat asthma without medication by following certain steps which I would be sharing with you later on.
Can You Treat Asthma Without Medication?
Yes, you can treat asthma without conventional medications. Some people with asthma can achieve remission without the use of medication. They have an easier time doing so when they are at a lower stress level, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep.
In one study, one in six adults with asthma who took part after 5 years had achieved remission. This is a significant improvement because the number of people suffering from this condition has been increasing for over 30 years.
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The alternative treatments that have been shown to be effective include acupuncture and herbal remedies such as eucalyptus oil inhalers and chest rubs made by aromatherapy firms like Tranquil Touch LLC.
Some complementary and alternative treatments for asthma include herbs, vitamins, Chinese herbs, acupuncture, biofeedback (learning to increase the amount of air inhaled), yoga, and meditation. These are examples of some ways that people can treat their asthma symptoms without medication.
However, there is no evidence that one treatment works better than another because they all have different effects on asthma sufferers; therefore it’s difficult to determine which therapy will work best for each individual patient.
How Do I Overcome Asthma Without Medication?
There are many proven ways to treat asthma without medication as listed below:
Moderate Exercise
Moderate exercise can help strengthen your lungs and reduce inflammation. Quick-relief asthma medicines, taken before moderate or mild exercise, usually control this condition.
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Exercise is beneficial to the body, but it may cause airway swelling or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). In order to avoid complications due to these conditions and make sure that you are not experiencing any side effects with your medication, talk with your doctor before engaging in physical activity.
Reduce Environmental Irritants
Although some people may not need to use medication for asthma, it can be helpful in preventing or reducing the severity of symptoms when environmental irritants are present.
Stress Relief
Stress is more of a health risk than most realize. Asthma has psychological triggers and breathing exercises can help with asthma symptoms.
With the growing number of people with asthma, breathing exercises are more important than ever. According to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, practicing deep-breathing techniques can help reduce stress levels which is an issue for many asthmatics as well as other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease.
Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used to help reduce the symptoms of asthma without medication. These essential oils are anti-inflammatory and may ease some of the root causes associated with asthma.
Herbs
The Chinese medicine herbal blend includes Reishi, Chinese licorice, and Shrubby sophora. It is only slightly less effective than prednisone in treating asthma symptoms.
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Diet
Evidence exists that a diet high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent or treat asthma. A healthy lifestyle through food can help improve overall health which has a positive effect on the condition of asthma.
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Yoga
Yoga can help people with asthma, but not by improving lung function. Yoga may help by improving posture and opening the chest muscles, which encourages better breathing. Breathing exercises in yoga are the only benefits. The exacerbation rate is not improved but the quality of life is improved through breathing exercises in yoga.
Yoga is a practice that has been shown to help people suffering from mild to moderate persistent asthma.
Turmeric Supplements
Scientific studies show that turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Evidence for using turmeric for asthma is limited thus far, but many people use it to help with the condition. Turmeric supplements can be found online or at your local health food store.
Breathing exercises
Many other breathing techniques exist to help you overcome asthma. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises can ward off asthma attacks and decrease the severity of symptoms.
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Massage
Children, ages 4 to 8, who received massage therapy for asthma seemed to have better outcomes than children ages 9 to 14. A massage is a form of physical therapy that may help improve the symptoms of asthma in some people.
Note: The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, or NCCIH, has found insufficient scientific evidence to recommend these treatments for asthma.
Breathing Exercises For Asthma
Two of the most common exercises are pursed-lip breathing and diaphragmatic or belly breathing.
Pursed Lip Breathing
Pursed lip breathing is a simple way to help people with asthma. It can be done anytime, anywhere and it’s easy on the lungs.
Pursed lip breathing is a technique that helps to keep the airways open, remove stale air and take in more oxygen. It also trains the diaphragm to move normally while breathing. It’s important to keep the mouth closed while doing these exercises, so avoid yawning or chewing gum during your session.
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Diaphragmatic or Belly Breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing engages your diaphragm to fully empty the lungs. It is good for people with asthma because it reduces their symptoms and helps them breathe more easily.
Belly breathing is a type of deep-breathing technique. It’s best to practice for 5-10 minutes each day and it can help people who have asthma feel more comfortable during their daily activities.
Breathing exercises are an important part of yoga. Using breathing techniques can help change the pattern and make them more comfortable.
Does Asthma Always Require Medication?
Asthma always requires medication. However, the treatments discussed here are not 100% viable because their scientific evidence is insufficient. In order to treat the symptoms of asthma without medications, a person must drink lemon juice and eat vitamin C-rich foods in large amounts for at least two weeks or take salbutamol inhalers during exercise.
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Conclusion
Yes, you can treat asthma without conventional medications. There are proven ways you can treat asthma. They are targeted at reducing asthma symptoms. They are safe, cheap, natural, and without side effects. Adhering to these natural remedies will help you a lot and reduce your need for asthma medications.
Always consult your doctor or health professional before using any of these natural remedies for treating asthma.