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Acupuncture may help chronic, acute asthma

Acupuncture was once thought to be akin to voodoo, but Western medicine is becoming more and more aware of the numerous medical benefits of the ancient Chinese art of placing needles into the bodys energy meridians to achieve a wide variety of effects.

From relief of postoperative pain and chemo-therapy nausea and vomiting to treatment for addiction, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, studies have shown acupuncture can be quite useful.

Now add asthma to that list.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, reported in its consensus paper that promising results have been shown for all these conditions, including asthma.

A British study reported in the September issue of Respiratory Medicine shows acupuncture, both real and sham, improves quality-of-life scores in patients with stable asthma.

That study showed no improvements in respiratory function after either real or sham acupuncture (needles placed on random points of unrecognized value on the chest wall), but with both real and sham acupuncture, there was a significant improvement in asthma quality of life scores and a parallel reduction in the usage of bronchodilators.

Recent studies back up NIH

A 1995 British study published in the Journal of Complementary Alternative Medicine showed acupuncture for patients with bronchial asthma facilitate[d] reducing pharmacologic medication and is safe.

A 1995 study published in a Russian medical journal says acupuncture resulted in a reduction of bronchial hyperreactivity.

Studies of the value of acupuncture are difficult, researchers agree, since its true placebo acupuncture points are impossible to establish because virtually any point on the body may have an effect on a condition.

Majid Ali, LAc (licensed acupuncturist), certified nutritionist, of M.M. VanBenSchoten Associates in Los Angeles, says acupuncture works by sending messages to the brain through energy meridians that tell the central nervous system to fix whatever is wrong.

Doctors are unlikely to start sticking needles into patients, although some are learning about acupuncture through a variety of courses, including quickie weekend seminars that acupuncturists find as dangerous as if a layman took a weekend course and hung out a shingle claiming to be a doctor.

Many people dont realize that legally, the scope of our practice is the same as a primary care physician, says Louis Kiwala, LAc, MTOM(Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine), director of the New York Center for Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine and co-founder of the Institute for Advanced Pain Management in New York City.

Chinese medicine is a complex art part science, part poetry with its foundations in anecdotal evidence gathered over 2,500 years of practice, he says.

Chinese medicine is more systemic than Western medicine, Kiwala says. In Chinese medicine, we would look at asthma as a an excess or an attack on an organ.

Consequently, he treats the entire system and often asks questions that seem unrelated to the lungs in his quest to strengthen the weak organs.

Kiwala and his colleagues rarely prescribe acupuncture alone for most conditions, including asthma. Generally, they will prescribe a combination of herbs to help the condition, so it is difficult to separate the effectiveness of each method.

Western medicine is a step behind because they find a single chemical to treat a condition, and that often results in side effects, Kiwala says. We find a variety of chemicals in herbs that interact with one another to restore balance and provide checks on one another, therefore avoiding side effects.

Ali starts his asthma patients off with herbs and acupuncture, and tells them the process isnt as fast and dramatic as Western medicine.

We look for imbalances, internal and external, Ali says. Some asthma is congenital; but most of it is environmental. We see a great deal of it here in L.A. with all the smog.

Bridges in treatment

Ali says sinus infections are a major underlying cause of asthma and estimates half of his patients have sinus triggers for asthma.

Another significant percentage of asthma patients suffer from chronic intestinal infection, Ali says.

When those conditions are treated, Ali says, patients find improvement or even the disappearance of their asthma.

Yet, he recommends that asthma patients combine their inhaled steroids and bronchodilators with the alternative route.

My goal is to get [off of] them; but if you need them, you have to take them, says the acupuncturist who works closely with many physicians, including neurologists, internists and psychiatrists and is working to bridge the gap between Western and traditional Chinese medicine. Ali calls himself a former asthmatic who still has an inhaler, but hasnt used it for several years. Id be stupid not to use it if I needed it, he says.

Roberta Lee, MD, a fellow of the integrative medicine program at the University of Arizona in Tucson, says she has found that in a handful of asthma patients experiencing mild bronchospasms she treated with acupuncture over the course of one hour, they became less symptomatic. I think there is some kind of energetic relationship to bronchospasm, Lee says.

She believes an East-meets-West scenario will ultimately prove to be beneficial to patients, as does the NIH consensus report which says for asthma acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.

For more information on acupuncture for asthma management, contact: Majid Ali, (818) 344-9973

Parents and carers of a child with asthma should be aware that it is not uncommon for an acute attack to develop into a medical emergency. Recent research in the United Kingdom showed that one in five children who had asthma diagnosed by their doctor had to be hospitalized at some point. A serious deterioration in your child’s condition is a frightening experience for you and your child and it is essential that you recognize when it is time to call for help.

So, what should you look out for? Long before a situation develops, it is vital that you know what the signs of deterioration are and how to react to them. If your child’s symptoms are not improving and she is exhausted by the very effort of breathing, she should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. Her breathing will become very rapid.

As it becomes increasingly labored the whole of her upper body will appear to be involved in the struggle. The space between her ribs, the bottom of the ribcage and the area above her collarbone will all appear to be sucked in with every breath she takes. The wheezing may have become less obvious but this may be more a sign of fatigue than improvement in her condition.

Though it is less noisy, it can be an indication that her breathing is becoming shallower and this means she is taking less oxygen into her bloodstream. She may become unable to speak sentences and may also have chest pains.

Looking for an allergic bronchial asthma natural treatment? Look no further because I’ll share with you just one very effective natural treatment that drug companies don’t want you to know.

Did you know that 1 out of 4 people suffers from asthma and is evident in all age groups? Your asthma can be caused by allergies, emotions and stress. Many individuals experience warning signs that an attack is approaching and treat it by taking some prescription medications.

This condition is really distressing and it can force individuals to drastically change how they live just to avoid the attacks. Some of you have to stay away from stress, dust or allergens, which is really next to impossible to achieve most of the time. Many people get regular attacks no matter how many prescription drugs they take and how much they stay away from the triggers.

Having allergic bronchial asthma is really hard but the good thing is that some kids can grow out of it. But if you’re one of those who regularly suffers from attacks I’m sure you’re looking for anything that could give you some relief.

What if there’s a natural way to reduce your chances of suffering from regular asthma attacks? A research study back in 2005 found that 57% of the patients studied found more relief from a mix of conventional and natural treatments, than prescribed drugs alone. One of the natural treatments that was tested was aloe vera. This is really not shocking because since 1951 to the middle of the 80’s there have been documented studies on the benefits of aloe vera for asthma.

The aloe vera plant has natural steroids and other substances that prevent and relieve inflammation. It was interesting because there were studies in Japan back in the 1980’s that demonstrated some substances in aloe helped in removing some of the contaminants that triggered the attacks. This is one very good reason why aloe vera can help relieve your asthma attacks.
It’s important to remember that you should not take aloe vera if you’re having an asthma attack. It’s only been proven to be very effective if used as a preventive measure. So, even when you’re having some positive results with aloe vera, it’s still helpful to have your inhaler beside you in case of attacks.

Natural Remedies has been around for a long time and they have become increasingly popular among American folks today. How natural remedies help the human body is to take advantage of the body’s natural healing process and boost overall health. It offers an alternative approach to prescribed medication which can have undesirable side effects.

However, this does not mean that natural remedies do not have any side effect. They still have side effects and it is highly recommended that you check with your family doctor or qualified pharmacist before you begin to start on any herbal remedies regime. There is a huge selection of natural remedies out there in the market that you can choose from. I’ll start with two famous natural food.

Pineapple

Pineapple is a good tropical fruit when it comes to asthma relief. Pineapple contains a nutrient called Bromelain that comes from pineapple stems helps to absorb quercetin better. Quercetin a natural antihistamine helps to stabilize mast cells and prevents the release of histamines that caused inflammation in our body.

Coldwater fish cod

Coldwater fish like cod, mackerel and herring are also good natural anti-inflammatory agents as well. They contain omega 3 fatty acids, the nutrient many women on supplements are often raving about. You can find omega 3 fatty acids in flax seed oil too. Omega 3 fatty acids help asthma by improving the forced expiratory volume for asthmatic. You breathe a lot easier with higher FEV.

Now let’s turn to herbal remedies. Herbal remedies that improve asthma are those that have anti-inflammatory properties. One very good example will be licorice. Licorice contains an ingredient called glycyrrhizin that helps to soothe asthma symptoms. However, do take note that licorice can increase blood pressure, so it a huge no for those suffering from hypertension and for those who don’t to take it in moderation.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is another natural remedy that can improve mental sharpness is also found to be able to reduce the occurrence of asthma symptoms. Another plant extract called Pycnogenol. This extract is especially most suitable for kids and teenagers, people that are still in their growing years. This extract has been shown to ease mild to moderate asthma due to its strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Bach Flower

One flower called Bach Flower is effective in managing stress. If stress has been causing your asthma, then this is the natural remedy for you. To use this flower, just put 4 drops of the flower extract into a 1-ounce bottle filled with spring water that is three quarter full. If you want to, you can always add apple cider vinegar or vegetable glycerin as a preservative.

Consume the water four times daily at regular interval. A good time to take the water will be in the morning right after you wake up, during lunch, another at tea break and finally the last one before you sleep. If you find the taste unbearable, you may choose to just moisturize the water on your lips.

Of course, that is not all the natural remedies out there. There are even more than I can mention on this article. Just take note to always consult a professional before trying any new herbal remedies because not all remedies is safe for consumption.

Do you know when you use a MDI (metered dose inhaler), only 10 to 14 percent of the medication will ever reach your lungs even on good inhaler techniques? Most of the medicine will end up in your mouth and throat.

Surprisingly, many people adopt bad techniques and an end result is that 5 percent or even none of the medicine even gets in your lung at all. It is essential that proper techniques are used because it maximizes the effectiveness of the medication and could well save your life. This article teaches you how to retain that 10 t o 14 percent.

Before you start to put the inhaler, make sure to shake your inhaler well. This will ensure that you mix the ingredients in the canister in the correct proportion. Now breathe out slowly for 3 to 5 seconds until all the air in the lungs in your air has been exhaled out.

Now put the mouthpiece in your mouth. Position the mouthpiece 2 finger widths away from the mouth.

This is one common mistake that I see many people make. They press the inhaler first and then quickly breathe in later. No, no, no. Please don’t do that. By the time you breathe in, most of the mist will come out of your mouth already and you get the 5 to 0 percent retention value that I talked about earlier.

The proper way is to inhale slowly first for about a second, then press down on the canister. This will ensure that you get as much of the medicine in your lungs as possible. Do not stop inhaling until you feel that your lungs are full.

Now take out the inhaler from your mouth, quickly press your lips together and hold your breath for about 10 seconds. Let the medication slowly spread throughout the lungs. Breathe out afterwards

If you are having difficulty, you may consider using a spacer. The spacer is especially good for toddlers or young children whom many parents find it difficult to teach. When using the spacers, please remember to shake the inhaler before putting the mouthpiece in the spacer.

After inserting the mouthpiece, breathe in slowly for 1 second and press down on the canister. Continue inhaling until you feel that your lungs are full. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, then exhale slowly.

Do you know when you use a MDI (metered dose inhaler), only 10 to 14 percent of the medication will ever reach your lungs even on good inhaler techniques? Most of the medicine will end up in your mouth and throat.

Surprisingly, many people adopt bad techniques and an end result is that 5 percent or even none of the medicine even gets in your lung at all. It is essential that proper techniques are used because it maximizes the effectiveness of the medication and could well save your life. This article teaches you how to retain that 10 t o 14 percent.

Before you start to put the inhaler, make sure to shake your inhaler well. This will ensure that you mix the ingredients in the canister in the correct proportion. Now breathe out slowly for 3 to 5 seconds until all the air in the lungs in your air has been exhaled out.

Now put the mouthpiece in your mouth. Position the mouthpiece 2 finger widths away from the mouth.
Chronic asthma
This is one common mistake that I see many people make. They press the inhaler first and then quickly breathe in later. No, no, no. Please don’t do that. By the time you breathe in, most of the mist will come out of your mouth already and you get the 5 to 0 percent retention value that I talked about earlier.

The proper way is to inhale slowly first for about a second, then press down on the canister. This will ensure that you get as much of the medicine in your lungs as possible. Do not stop inhaling until you feel that your lungs are full.

Now take out the inhaler from your mouth, quickly press your lips together and hold your breath for about 10 seconds. Let the medication slowly spread throughout the lungs. Breathe out afterwards

If you are having difficulty, you may consider using a spacer. The spacer is especially good for toddlers or young children whom many parents find it difficult to teach. When using the spacers, please remember to shake the inhaler before putting the mouthpiece in the spacer.

After inserting the mouthpiece, breathe in slowly for 1 second and press down on the canister. Continue inhaling until you feel that your lungs are full. Hold your breath for about 10 seconds, then exhale slowly.

The first thing not to do is deny you have asthma. Saying “Oh it’s just a common cold and I’m wheezing a bit. Maybe it’s bronchitis?” When a doctor has just confirmed you have the chronic disease of asthma. Being obstructive is a course of action that will likely set your health back dreadfully. Accept the prescribed medications offered.

Remember to take the medications and do not refuse to take them. Not at first anyway. You need to get acute asthma under control before it controls you. Do not deliberately deviate from the therapy guidelines.

You may be given an asthma treatment program. Usually corticosteroid inhalers to begin with and possibly some breathing exercises to assist the airways. Not taking your asthma medication to this prescribed schedule can lead to the symptoms becoming erratic. This can be inconvenient at best and possibly fatal at worst. Not using your prevention inhaler regularly as prescribed can add to the possibility of an untimely asthma attack.

I have read that a peak flow meter is an essential part of your asthma tool kit. Do not believe it. You need the correct oxygen to carbon dioxide balance in your system. Part of the asthma problem is a lack of carbon dioxide in the lungs. Giving a big blow into a peak flow meter will deplete even further the amount of carbon dioxide that is left. Thus exacerbating the problem rather than helping to cure it. One blow into a peak flow meter will take around thirty minutes of careful controlled breathing to recover from.

Not eating certain foods might be an advantage. It is known that dairy foods, white flour and white sugar help to produce the mucus you do not want. While I am not advocating you become obsessive in avoiding these type of food at all cost, do not eat them to excess. It would be difficult to totally avoid that combination anyway as they are used in so many processed foodstuffs.

Do not smoke. If your lungs are at risk from asthma then it should be pretty obvious not to add to the aggravation with all the cocktail of toxins that is in cigarette smoke. Even if you do not smoke, make sure you are not in close proximity to others that are smoking. People have been known to have asthma attacks from secondhand smoke from others.

Sudden changes in temperature can definitely set off some adverse asthma symptoms. It is one of those famous asthma triggers. So do not go straight outside into cold weather without taking care to ensure you are properly wrapped up suitably against such conditions. Make sure you have your rescue inhaler when going out as well.

Having said all the above, the one thing I did not do was to believe all the doctors told me. While you should use the prescribed medications and plan of treatments offered there are some side effects to these medications. Tell your doctor when you notice those side effects. You could research to see if there are safer effective alternative asthma treatments available.

Millions of people around the world suffer from asthma, with several thousand fatalities resulting from the disease. Being an allergic inflammation of the lungs, which can occur due to a variety of reasons, asthma symptoms are not clear from the onset to identify immediately by the common person, and require a medical practitioner to perform a diagnosis. When a person suffers from an asthma attack, the inflammation of the walls and formation of sticky mucus inside the lungs ends up making it difficult for the person to breathe. While the severity of the attack can vary from time to time, there are cases where it can go on for a few days instead of a few minutes.

Full diagnosis by a medical specialist who has knowledge of asthma symptoms can yield an effective response and help the person gain quick access to medications and treatment. However, certain asthma symptoms are for the sufferer themselves to judge, before deciding on seeing the specialist or not. These include experiencing a scratchy throat, bouts of coughing, shortness in breadth, wheezing sounds when breathing, and tight sensation in the chest area.

Asthma symptoms can pop up due to a number of reasons;

• the environment at home and at work,
• the general state of health of the person,
• the diet and exercise regimen that is followed,
• levels of stress.

Even location and climate can cause certain asthma symptoms to develop leading to more severe problems later on. It is important that the following symptoms be kept a close watch on, and asthma sufferers immediately seek medical advice upon discovering any one:

1. If you are already a sufferer, and feel that the medication prescribed by the practitioner is not taking effect as it should, this is an asthma symptom for an expected severe attack.
2. Another asthma symptom, especially for a serious attack, is when you have trouble, breathing, talking and walking. With such activities causing botheration, it is essential to immediately seek emergency medical care.
3. Should your finger nails or lips turn blue, this due to a lack of oxygen. This is another asthma symptom of an impending attack, and requires medical attention.
4. An asthma symptom is also if your chest feels congested, with pressure on ribs when breathing. This could be another sign to state of something serious going down soon, and should be referred to the practitioner at the earliest.

Whether you are an asthma sufferer yourself or know someone who is, or otherwise; it is important that one understands these symptoms so that when case presents itself, you are able to possibly assist in the saving of someone’s life.

Much coverage has been given recently to Americans that suffer from Asthma. Both adults and children suffer from its debilitating effects. Asthma is a condition that is caused when the air ways in the lungs become inflamed. Some of the symptoms of Asthma are shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and even chest pain. Some people are fortunate enough to only suffer mild cases while others deal with a life threatening condition and require being on constant medication. In this article I will try and give you suggestions for how to make dealing with your asthma easier and less threatening.

First, you want to find a good doctor that understands Asthma and you feel you can trust. You want to discuss all of your symptoms with your doctor and tell them when they occur.Sometimes Asthma attacks can be triggered by such simple things as a blast of cold air, pollutants in the air, chemicals in the air,or by simply running out of breath due to some over exertion. If any of the above things cause you to have symptoms it is best to avoid them.

Secondly, you want to maintain a good diet and stay healthy. Simple colds and flu can trigger severe Asthma attacks. Eating properly can help to keep your lungs healthy. You want to make sure your body gets the right amount of vitamins and minerals. If your diet is lacking in vitamins and minerals, I suggest you take supplements to ensure your body has the correct balance of the essential vitamins and minerals. Maintaining a healthy weight is also very important, because many physicians feel obesity can lead to Asthma.

Third, get yourself on a good exercise routine. You want to build up your lungs. Moderate aerobic exercise can be quite beneficial along with resistance training. But before you start any exercise routine check with your doctor to make sure it is advisable for you.

Lastly, in the event you have an attack you want to make sure you know what to do so it does not get out of control. Speak to your doctor about medications you should be taking on a daily basis, as well as rescue inhalers that are used on a need basis. Prevention is a key word in controlling your Asthma attacks so keep in mind at all times what may trigger an attack for you and try to avoid them. Also many feel the drinking of teas can prevent attacks, such teas as green tea and chamomile are recommended. If you are diagnosed with Asthma don’t panic just take a smart sensible approach to living with it.

Being a chronic illness that has been affecting millions for over centuries now, asthma is one of the most widely studied diseases of mankind. This is why new ways of treating the disease comes out every so often.

Although, this is also quite great news for the millions of asthmatics all over the world, this can also be quite a hassle. As you need to keep ahead of the information when it comes to treating asthma, you will also need to be updated when it comes to the latest and current asthma treatment methods and procedures that can help you deal with your condition.

So, to help you do just that, here are some current asthma treatment procedures, methods, and techniques that you can take advantage of:

• Vitamin D3. Although not exactly universal current asthma treatment, Vitamin D3 has been found in the recent years to be one useful supplement in dealing with asthma cases that are treatment-resistant. As being resistant to drugs can either be developed through long-term use of the meds or the patient just really doesn’t have the necessary bodily functions, parts, or end products that can help in processing the asthma medicine. On most cases, however, a handful of asthmatics are resistant to steroids, a widely known and used current asthma treatment. But with Vitamin D3, the treatment-resistant body gets to have the necessary component it needs to process steroids, allowing the patient to be treated by asthma meds. In turn, Vitamin D3 proves to be a helpful, if not essential, current asthma treatment for those suffering from treatment-resistant asthma.
• Diet. As today’s society turns to more natural ways of treating its illnesses, more and more people look at an asthmatic’s diet as a good current asthma treatment. And since your diet can also trigger your asthma condition, there’s really no reason why your diet can also help you deal with your condition. One way to succeed with this current asthma treatment, however, requires you to consult with your doctor first. As mentioned earlier, some food items do have an effect on your illness, but some of them are also necessary for you to consume to have a balanced diet. This is why if you plan on using the diet method, make sure you still manage to get efficient alternatives to the ones you will cut off.
• Prescription meds. Again, as asthma is continuously being studied by experts and specialists worldwide, a usual consequence would be the regular release of new medications that can be an effective current asthma treatment. However, keep in mind that using a new drug can still be dangerous, especially if it’s not under your physician’s supervision.

All in all, getting current asthma treatment can be very helpful, especially if your case is quite rare. Just don’t forget to always prioritize your safety before trying new things so you can be sure that you are helping yourself and not adding another ailment on your list.

Exercise induced asthma is of the most common types of asthma out there. Basically caused by the cold air that gets inhaled mostly during strenuous activities, it can be quite a hassle for most patients and individuals afflicted with the condition.

Sadly, almost anyone can get the ailment. As asthma can be developed at any point of a person’s life, learning more about it can be an advantage for most folks, especially for men who are more often required to get involved in heavy exercises and other strenuous activities.

So, how can exercise induced asthma in men be prevented? Here are some ways:

• Warm up. This should be the number one thing you should keep in mind when it comes to induced asthma in men. As asthma attacks are guaranteed to happen during exercises, warming up can help as doing this can cause minor attacks that can allow you to do some exercises without experiencing more severe episodes. Called as the refractory period, doing this helps a lot in letting patients continue living active lives despite their ailment.
• Avoid cold air. Cold air is the number one enemy for induced asthma in men, so you should avoid it at all costs. One way to do this would be to wear coverings for your nose and mouth during cold days to help you filter and warm the cold air before inhaling it.
• Take medications strictly. Induced asthma in men is a serious matter, so treating it should really be given a lot of importance. Make sure you get prescription from your doctors and follow the instructions carefully in taking them. Also, never take over the counter drugs and risk self medicating in cases like these, as you need to be very careful in handling this type of asthma.
• Pre-treat. Along with warming up, make sure to take prescription meds before engaging in a strenuous activity or exercise. Take note, you should only take prescription medicines as taking the risk of using cheaper, but non-prescribed drugs can be more harmful to your condition and health.
• Stop doing anything as soon as you get an attack during an exercise. If you still get an asthma attack even after pre-treating and warming up, make sure to immediately stop whatever it is that you’re doing and rest as this will also help you prevent the attack from worsening. Take your quick relief medication right away and try to calm and slow down your breathing.

These are just some of the ways you can prevent and avoid induced asthma in men.