Advice for serious asthma?

Question

I have asthma. It's usually pretty mild and I'm pretty active, but when cold season comes around it seems like I jog 1 lap around the track and i feel like someone is sitting on my chest. If I get a cold it almost always turns to bronchitis and then leads to pnemonia. I'm made numerous ER visits. The most serious one was at night I woke up and I could hardly breathe and there was this liquidy rattling in my chest every time I inhaled. My mom drove me to the ER and they tested my oxygen level, which had gotten down to 81. I'm currently prescribed with an albuterol inhaler, Xopenex for a nebulizer fluid, and pulmicort for a daily medication. Is there anything else I can do?

Answer 1

Hi Bethany

Here are a few remedies and testimonials to give you some insight.

Cause:
Asthma is caused by malnutrition. Only by diligent and consistent effort to change embedded habits will one get permanent relief. The cough is a result of nature's effort to expectorate mucus from the lungs, after which breathing becomes easier. Ofttimes the cause of asthma is basically a nervous condition because the nerves are irritated

Herbal Aids:
1. Convulsions: When a person is in a convulsion there are certain herbs that will give very fast relief. One of these is tincture of lobelia, and a valerian decoction with a little cayenne added to relieve spasms. If such an attack comes after a meal one should use an emetic, such as a large dose of lobelia or use the Yoga finger method. (see # 2 below)

2. Yoga Finger Method: Drink several cups of warm water, then place the middle finger deep down the throat and press the tongue until regurgitation starts. Mustard is also good to clean the stomach and lungs. Prior to the emetic a peppermint or spearmint tea should be used to soothe the area and alleviate the discomfort of continual vomiting. Hot fomentation of castor oil, comfrey, lobelia, mullein, etc., may be placed over the stomach, liver, spleen and lung areas. Frequent hydrotherapy baths or lengthy sweat baths are beneficial, followed by a cold shower or sponging.

3. Vapor Bath: Another helpful method is to take a vapor bath twice a week, inhaling steam from a decoction of cudweed ragwort, wormwood, or a decoction of the following herbs, taken warm, (equal parts) will prove very beneficial: elecampane root, horehounds, hyssop, skunk cabbage root, vervain, wild cherry bark (and to this preparation add tincture of lobelia or antispasmodic tincture. Clear the bowels with an injection of catnip or barberry bark. This affliction also calls for plenty of outdoor exercise, deep breathing, and good ventilation while sleeping. The whole body system should be built up with tonic herbs such as chickweed, comfrey, marshmallow, mullein, etc. Diet should be mostly fruits and vegetables, avoiding all processed devitalized foods.

4. Dr. Christopher's Herbal Respiratory Formula: (Resp-Free) It is wonderful for asthma. This combination of herbs in tablet, tea and capsule form is an aid to relieve irritation in the respiratory tract--lungs and bronchial. This is an aid in Emphysema as well as other bronchial and lung congestion such as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, etc. Suggested amount for an adult is a cup two or three times a day, or 2 or 3 capsules or tablets two or three times a day with a cup of comfrey tea. For additional help in the program, it is good to add three to six drops of tincture of lobelia to each cup of tea. This formula consists of comfrey root, mullein, chickweed, marshmallow root and lobelia.

5. Dr. Christopher's Hay Fever Formula: (Sha Tea) It is good for asthma also. This combination is a natural herbal aid working as a decongestant and antihistamine to dry up sinuses and expel from the head and broncho pulmonary tubes and passages the offending stoppage and mucus. Combine this with the respiratory combination to speed up the process. The wise person will turn to fresh wholesome food and beverages to keep the body in a perfect state. This will guarantee permanent relief, by going to the cause.

6. Elder: The inner bark is used, although it should be aged before used. The fresh bark is violently irritating and poisonous to children. It is specifically used for spasmodic asthma with copious phlegm and stringy mucus. For asthma, take a tablespoonful whenever an attack threatens. Powdered Cloves can alleviate excessive vomiting when using the bark. To avoid bowel cramps, add a tablespoonful of powdered Ginger to the infusion. (ShoA:58).

7 Lobelia: Most people agree that Lobelia is a specific treatment for asthma, as well as other bronchial or spasmodic troubles. Because the herb removes obstructions, giving it when an attack comes on will often cause vomiting; matter will accumulate in the stomach which will cause obstructions. When the person vomits, it removes the intestinal blockage and often removes the mucus accumulations in the bronchial system as well.

8. Lobelia: It is one of the best plant expectorants, but as it is a stimulant to the vagus nerve it can easily produce nausea and vomiting when taken in excess. If a teaspoonful of the tincture produces nausea, cut down; it can easily be overdone, says herbalist Moore (Moore:98). The leaves and flowers have strong antispasmodic effects on the bronchials when smoked, and certain individuals with asthma can find it a reliable herb to smoke at the first signs of spasms.

9. Mullein: This herb soothes the lungs and helps bring up the phlegm. It can be combined with sage and plantain for use in asthma. Sometimes a vapor treatment of Mullein is good for asthma, which is made by simmering a strong pot of Mullein tea and inhaling the steam with a towel over your head. This is also good for bronchial troubles of various kinds.

10. Skunk Cabbage: Because of its antispasmodic properties, is well known in many cough problems. Foremost in this use is its application in asthma. It can help control the coughing and sneezing in hayfever. Many claim that it is useful in cases of tuberculosis. For people who have chronic dry coughing spells, skunk cabbage can offer relief. It will also clear up a chronic cold, with a cough which will not leave because of mucus accumulations and bronchial problems of all kinds.

11. Milk Products: One of the best ways to prevent and therefore treat Asthma is not to use milk products. Dr. N. W. Walker, in his book Raw Vegetable Juices (Norwalk Press Publishers), says about cow's milk, "Cow's milk is probably the most mucus-forming food used by human beings. The casein content of cow's milk is exceedingly high, being about 300% more than is contained in mother's milk. [Casein, by the way, is a milk byproduct and is considered to be one of the most tenacious adhesives used for gluing wood together.] This is one of the reasons for the mucus condition of children and adults brought up to drink quantities of such milk and for the resultant colds, running noses, tonsil, adenoid, and bronchial troubles--whereas carrot juice is one of the greatest aids in the elimination of mucus!

Testimonials:

1. Man Who Couldn't Sleep Lying Down for 20 Years Because of Asthma--Cured: Dr. Christopher used the tincture of Lobelia to clear people of asthma, although they have had it many years. A couple of young fellows brought an old, old man into the Doctor at about two o'clock one morning in Evanston, Wyoming. The old man had had asthma for 26 years. For 20 years of the 26, he had never been able to work. He had never laid in a bed for 20 years. They had to build a special chair so he could sit up at night with his feet stretched out. He had a doctor at the home an average of once a week, either to give him some drug orally to keep him alive, to give a shot, or to administer oxygen. Since the family couldn't locate the doctor that night, they came in desperation to Dr. Christopher. Since the doctors did not want a naturopathic physician in town, most people had never heard of such a thing. The young fellows asked, "Do you treat human beings?" The Doctor said, yes, and to bring him in.

As the man sat down, the Doctor gave him a cup of elderleaf tea to drink gradually. He told him how he had asthma. He had been quite independent, but lately they had had to mortgage their home in order to go on with the doctoring. After he had had the elderberry tea for about ten minutes, the Doctor gave him a teaspoonful of the tincture of Lobelia. He waited ten minutes--being sure to be very accurate about this--and gave him a second teaspoonful of the tincture. After another ten minutes he gave him the third. In forty years of practice, the Doctor commented, he never had to use the tincture of Lobelia more than three teaspoonfuls to a patient. He explained that this was so because each time he was called it was at a crisis, at the climax of the disease, the right time for clearing the disease. They just sat around and chatted. The Doctor had buckets and pans around, and all of a sudden, the man started to heave. This was a little after two o'clock in the morning and he heaved on until five o'clock, for three full hours. At the finish it was dry heaves, but he brought up everything he had eaten for days, plus nearly a cup of phlegm and pus from his lungs and bronchi, from yellow to green. After he was done, the Doctor told his sons to take him home. "Should I bring him back tomorrow", he asked. "No", answered the Doctor, "it's a do-it-yourself-kit; it's all finished".

They took him home and started to walk him to his chair, but the man said, "No, boys, I'm sleeping in the bed tonight". "But, Dad, it'll kill you!" they pleaded. "No, I'm the boss-- take me to bed". They were afraid to stretch him out in case he should choke up and die. This was at five o'clock in the morning. He slept through until five o'clock the next morning--which is twenty-four hours--and slept on past noon--thirty hours he slept! When he woke up, for the first time in over twenty years he took a deep breath of air. He could take it without choking or coughing, and he said, "I'm healed". The boys were quite pleased about this. Twenty years later, one of them touched Dr. Christopher on the shoulder in Salt Lake City. He said, "My name's Workman; remember me?" Dr. Christopher said, "No". "We brought our pap into you in Evanston, Wyoming at two o'clock one morning." The Doctor then remembered him. He asked, "What happened to your dad?" The young man answered, "He never had an asthma attack from that day to this, and he went to work as a gardener and never missed a day's work since that time. The family thanks you very much".

2. Choking Phlegm in Pregnant Women Relieved: Dr. Nowell told the story of a woman who at forty years old was pregnant with her first baby. She was suffering terribly with asthmatic spasms, unable to lie in bed, fighting for breath; both she and her husband begged their doctor to stop the cough. They were told that nothing could be done until the child was born.

Dr. Nowell gave them a bottle of tincture of Lobelia, telling her to take a teaspoonful whenever the coughing began. The next morning, the patient told the Doctor that almost immediately after taking the first dose, the patient brought up long, thick masses of phlegm from the lungs the size of a man's fist. No further dose was taken and the patient never had a trace of any chest trouble since and lived a long and fruitful life.

Best of health to you.

Cheers

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Well, you might have suffered from pharyngitis then, since you had sputum choking you and then having trouble breathing. You might be suffering from bronchitis or acute asthma, which means that your lungs have had been weakened by certain foreign agents while you were young or some other reasons and due to their weakness, you have the tendency to acquire asthma with changing weather, places and with exposure to dust, smoke, pollens etc. As far as the inhalers are concerned, they are a superficial treatment, Just like taking paracetamol for reducing the fever. You have to find the root cause of your disease and then only you shall be fine. Inhalers will only dilate your pharynx and bronchi but would not help in treating your disease. Additionally, if you are living on high altitudes, are subject to pollution and have less oxygenation, then also you will have these problems. You indeed described that you have been living in a humid place , so heat and humidity expands the air molecules and then it is difficult for us to gather all scattered oxygen molecules and therefore a person like you, who as it is has troubling breathing, will obviously suffer. Keep a check on your mucous( if there is at all any), then you must visit a clinic. This will otherwise worsen and turn into COPD( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and that would be a lot hell difficult for you to treat. Also check for the RV & RA functions of your heart, since lung congestion can dilate Right side heart chambers and the can trigger RS heart failure. So be cautious! You also need to change the environment, you live in, move to a place which has a normal temperature, not high or low altitudes and Is free from pollution. Do yoga (like exhaling and inhaling ) exercises and only your doctor can assess your present condition and help you get over your disease!! Do not let this progress, as that will make it more difficult and expensive to treat. You, yourself cannot treat it as it requires the usage of drugs like doxyphylline & theophylline etc , which the doctor will adjust according to your condition. Inhalers are not going to help much in this!!! But you follow a meds guidelines and switch to a better place, you may not require inhalers at all. One more thing, keep a track on acid reflux too, that also contributes to pharyngitis and lung incapacity causes acid reflux. Lastly, Go to a doctor as soon as possible & keep a portable oxygen cylinder at your home!

Answer 4

i completely know what you're going through. i have extreme athsma too, and being on the track team at school, I swear sometimes I need to faint.

your prescription seems okay, and I've taken the fluid before. "doctor" wise i don't think there's much you can do since they've evaluated you and presribed you, so they won't help much anymore.

you do have other things that can totally help:

1. if you're in a PE class (if thats why you're running) or something, bring a doctor's note saying that you are able to run when you feel up to it and because your athsma is unpredictable, then there will be days where you'll make up runs and sit out. if your like me, you'll be teased or asked by so many people "why aren't you running?" when they ask, don't say athsma....it's true but don't say it since kids are cruel and think that's not a good excuse...simply say "lung problems, and the doctor's are still trying to fix my breathing somehow without prescribtion pills..."

2. drink plenty of water (might not help you during an attack, but water after running will clear your system and help you breathe better).

3. air in the winter is colder and actually fresher, but the reason why you can't breathe is because the cold air fills your lungs faster and makes you wheeze and your lungs contract and expand faster. while running, take slow breathes in your nose, and breathe out your mouth. totally helps.


lastly, if you're getting viruses take some echnicacia (vitamin pills) every night before you sleep. they'll strengthen your imune system.

feel better and hope i helped.

Answer 5

I feel your pain. I've had asthma for 14 years now and have seen several doctors. The truth is, there is no known cure for asthma at the moment. But the symptoms can be prevented. It really depends on what causes your brother's asthma. Mine is usually dust and hot weather. But I think the universal method is using the control inhaler.

I cured my Asthma the natural way?

Answer 6

Asthma is a respiratory disorder which is due to exposure to cold and/or pollens, dust, feathers, etc. In the airway of an asthmatic person, the airway is pretty sensitive to these things because of increase levels of antibodies specific for allergy. However, this is genetic and hereditary so you can't blame yourself for that. The best thing to do is try getting rid of what might trigger your allergic response. As for you, i think it is stress induced which is triggered by cold temperatures because exposure to it can also cause bronchoconstriction (constriction of the airways). I see your fond of jogging. You can still have it but as tolerated only. Do not go for a lap if you can't tolerate it already because surely that might trigger the response. Taking your medications religiously and bringing your puff with you will help also specially on emergency situations.

Answer 7

i am like that too sometimes..when i get to the point when i can't breath sometimes i always get a cold rag and put it over my mouth and let a fan blow on it and breathe it in..the moisture helps when breathing it in..at least it does me..if that doesn't work then i use my albuterol..i take 2 squirts breath in let out slow wait a few seconds see if that helps and take a couple more squirts..see if any help then try the hosiptal if nothing works that is what i do...

Answer 8

I to have very simular asthma to you. I have been on prednisalone for 3 weeks now as my chest wheeze just wont clear, my doctor finaly put me on a seritide auto inhaler and i take it 3 times a day, and that along with the pred is actually doing the trick. they are both a steroid and are both excellent. speak to your doctor because he should have already done this for you.

Answer 9

i have asthma, running in the cold is horrible for me. Just make sure you always have an inhaler on you just incase an attack comes. and humidifiers with steam help around the house.
dont stop exercising, you lungs need the workout , and ifstop if you feel like you cant breathe, dont push yourself ... trust me

Answer 10

I hope you listen to me from experience; I have been through so many episodes that it would astound you; here is the solution; talk to your penologi and discuss your medications! Yes, there is something you can do--you can take control of you life by insisting that you get the right medications! For one thing, I am on Advair; sindgular; naosones and it works! Let me know!

Answer 11

I HAVE ASTHMA TOO. I ALSO TAKE THE ARBUTEROL INHAILER. I ALSO TAKE SINGULAIR FOR MY REAL BAD ALLERGYS. BUT THE BEST THING I CAN TELL YOU IS TO SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE AND KEEP TAKING UR MEDS AND GO TO UR DOCTOR REGULARLY. YOU CAN ALSO DO THIS, I DONT KNOW IF U ARE A BELIEVER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST....IF YOU ARE, ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU CONTROL THE ASTHMA AND TELL HIM THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IT IN HIS HANDS TO HEAL YOU AND REMEMBER IF YOU DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL DO IT. BUT THATS WHAT I DO, I STILL TAKE MY MEDS, TAKE IT EASY AND GIVE IT TO THE LORD...HOPE THIS WILL HELP!