Home Remedies for Asthma

Here is a list of various home remedies for asthma. Find out what is asthma, what causes asthma and what are asthma symptoms.

Asthma or bronchial asthma is an incurable but manageable lung inflammation. During an asthma attack, the airways that carry air to and from the lungs swell and become narrow and produce extra mucus. An asthma attack happens when something such as exercising, irritant or allergen triggers and bothers your lungs.

Some of the common asthma symptoms include breathing difficulty, wheezing or hissing sound while exhaling, chest pain, choking and coughing especially in the morning and at night. Other asthma signs and symptoms may include feeling tired, nasal congestion, the common cold related symptoms and having trouble sleeping.

The causes of asthma differ for each person. Some of the common triggers are certain medications, virus infections such as the common cold or flu, sinus infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, strenuous exercise, smoking, allergies to certain foods, food preservatives, airborne substances such as mold, dust mites and pollens, irritants such as smoke or air pollution, the weather, emotional problems such as anger and also anxiety and stress.

If you are prone to asthma attacks, you should have asthma inhaler at hand at all times to help ease your breathing and clean your respiratory system. One of the best ways to control and prevent asthma is to identify the cause. But while you try to track and figure out the cause of asthma, here is a list of home remedies for asthma that you can try.

Home remedies for asthma No. 1 - Apple cider vinegar

Raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar with the "mother" may help provide asthma relief. This natural asthma treatment may help if you have bronchial asthma, sinusitis, exercise induced asthma or suffer from the symptoms of the common cold such as runny nose and coughing. Apple cider vinegar has the ability to get rid of the mucus and helps treat coughing and eases your breathing.

What you need to do is add two tablespoons of apple cider to a glass of warm water, add honey if you wish and drink it at least twice a day. Drinking it before bedtime will help you get an undisturbed sleep. Drinking apple cider vinegar regularly provides secondary benefits such as breaking up kidney stones, boost energy level and also for weight loss.

Home remedies for asthma No. 2 - Herbal remedies for asthma

1. Black seed or black cumin seed has shown to have many healing properties and has been used as a natural remedy for asthma, allergies, viral infections and cough. Black seeds are available as whole and dried and you can chew them or sprinkle them in your beverages and foods. Or you can take black seed extract in the form of liquid extract or capsules as a health supplement.
   
   
   
2. Chamomile may help provide relief from the symptoms of asthma which is caused by stress or anxiety and also viral or bacterial infections. Drinking a cup of chamomile flower tea before bedtime helps relief respiratory problems and induces sleep.
   
   
   
3. Ginkgo biloba has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as one of the herbs for asthma, sinus infection and allergies. A study revealed that patients who were given ginkgo extract showed an improvement in the amount of air exhaled in the first second of exhalation.
   
   
   
4. Cinnamon and honey are also popular home remedies for asthma and especially if the symptoms include coughing caused by the common cold and flu.
   
   
   
5. Butterbur extract that is free from pyrrolizidine alkaloids may help as an allergy induced asthma treatment. Some studies found that taking butterbur helped decrease hay fever and sneezing caused by grass pollen which is one of asthma triggers.
   
   
   
6. Some studies indicated that the dried common ivy or English ivy extract from the leaves may help maintain healthy lung and bronchial passageway functions. The herb was used for more than 50 years in Europe to treat bronchitis and cough and is still used as one of the home remedies for asthma.
   
   
   
7. Thyme herb is a natural expectorant and the thymol present helps dissolve and removes thick mucus and phlegm. It is helpful in treating respiratory problems and nasal congestions.

Other herbs that may help prevent or treat allergy asthma symptoms are stinging nettles and other herbs that contain quercetin such as black and green tea. Quercetin is able to assist the cells in the body to inhibit the production and release of histamine and other allergic substances. Herbs that help are beneficial for respiratory problems are licorice root and mullein herb. pau d arco extract with its anti inflammatory activities is also used as asthma natural remedy.

Home remedies for asthma No. 3 - Alternative asthma treatment

Since stress and emotional disturbances can trigger asthma, deep breathing and relaxation exercises can help control asthma attacks. Other alternative asthma treatments include acupuncture and emotional freedom technique or EFT tapping.

Asthma Prevention

1. Strengthen your immune system to avoid viral infections that can trigger an asthma attack. Avoid people who have the common cold and flu.
   
   
   
2. If you are aware that certain foods are the causes of your asthma symptoms, avoid them.
   
   
   
3. Stop smoking and avoid people who smoke because tobacco smoke is one of the worst irritants.
   
   
   
4. If you are allergic to pets, it's wise not to have pets at home or avoid direct contact with a dog, cat or bird.
   
   
   
5. To avoid pollens, keep your doors and windows closed and use an air conditioner at home. Keep your indoor air clean by keeping your air conditioner and ventilation system free from dust and particles. When doing house cleaning or if you are out in a polluted area, wear a dust mask.
   
   
   
6. Since GERD and heartburn is the causes of asthma attacks, try these heartburn remedies to treat the symptoms.
   
   
   
7. Watch your diet and maintain a healthy weight because being overweighed can aggravate asthma symptoms and also lead to many other health problems. Eat lots of fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
   
   
   
8. Take health supplements such as omega-3, vitamin C, B complex, cordyceps, magnesium, selenium and grape seed extract.
   
   
   
9. Doing regular aerobic exercise beginning with warming up and light exercise may help prevent frequent asthma attacks. Some examples of exercises that you can do are swimming and walking. If you are allergic to pollen, wear a dust mask or exercise indoors such as walking or running on a treadmill. Always use your asthma inhalers or inhaled bronchodilators prior to exercising.

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