Managing Asthma

What is Asthma

Asthma is a lung condition that causes a person to have difficulty breathing. Asthma is a common condition in kids and teens .

Asthma affects a person's bronchial tubes, also known as airways. When a person breathes normally, air is taken in through the nose or mouth and then goes into the trachea (windpipe), passing through the bronchial tubes, into the lungs, and finally back out again. But people with asthma have airways that are inflamed. This means that they swell and produce lots of thick mucus. They are also overly sensitive, or hyper reactive, to certain things, like exercise, dust, or cigarette smoke. This hyper reactivity causes the smooth muscle that surrounds the airways to tighten up. The combination of airway inflammation and muscle tightening narrows the airways and makes it difficult for air to move through.

Asthma is a lung disease that affects the airways and contracts it. It causes constant wheezing, tightness of chest, coughing and short breath. It affects people of all ages. The origin of this disease is either due to hereditary reasons or allergy to environmental substances. Allergies cause the release of histamine which widens the blood vessels and narrows the airways.

Figure above shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body. The two figures shows a cross-section of a normal airway and a cross-section of an airway during asthma symptoms.

There are different types of Asthma some are:

• Allergic asthma
• Exercise induced asthma
• Occupational asthma
• Cough variant asthma
• Nocturnal (nighttime) asthma

Controlling Asthma

Asthma cannot be cured. But with many modern knowledge and therapies available, it can be managed with great ease.

Aromatherapy Effects

Aromatherapy is one such therapy, if used judiciously.Most of the gas exchange occurs in the alveoli.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area in which they are in higher concentration to an area in which they are in lower concentration.

Diffusion takes place in the tissues as oxygen leaves the blood and carbon dioxide enters. Blood flowing into the lungs is low in oxygen. Air in the alveoli is rich in oxygen, hense diffusion causes movement of the alveolar air to the capillary blood. The blood is carried back to the heart and enters general circulation. Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood and into the air of the aveolus.

Gas Transport

Most of the oxygen that diffuses into the capillary blood in the lungs is bound to the hemoglobin of the red blood cells. In order to enter cells, oxygen must separate from hemoglobin. Oxygen is released as blood travels into the areas where the oxygen is low. The ability of blood to carry oxygen is seriously reduced with just a small amount of carbon dioxide.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood to be transported to the lungs in 3 ways:

- 10% dissolved in plasma

- 20% combines with the protein portion of the hemoglobin & plasma proteins

- 70% is an ion known as bicarbonate

Carbon dioxide is important in the regulation of the acid-base balance (pH) of the blood. The blood will become more acidic as the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood rises.

The regulation of respiration depends on moment to moment changes in cellular oxygen requirements and carbon dioxide production. The Medulla which is a part of the brain stem sets the basic pattern of respiration.

Chemoreceptors

Chemoreceptors play a vital role in the control of respiration. They contain numerous small blood vessels and sensory neurons that respond to increases in carbon dioxide and acidity and to decreases in oxygen supply. Carbon dioxide has the most immediate effect in regulating respiration.

How do essential oils enter the bloodstream?

Essential oils and oxygen pass through the capillary walls and into the bloodstream. Most of the essential oils are absorbed into the cells lining the respiratory passages and this may be an indicator why they work well on respiratory ailments. Some of them pass with oxygen into blood capillaries where they enter into blood circulation. Essential oils are easily absorbed and can diffuse throughout the body. The oils work with the mucous secreted by the mucosa to expectorate foreign bodies from the respiratory passages.

Diffused aromatherapy reflexology oils increase atmospheric oxygen and freshen the air we breathe, research shows that cold air diffusing of certain oils may:

• Reduce bacteria, fungus, mold and unpleasant odors (lemon essential oil)
• Relax the body, relieve tension, and clear the mind
• Help with weight management (peppermint essential oil)
• Improve concentration, alertness and mental clarity
• Relieve headaches (lavender essential oil)
• Improve digestive function (peppermint essential oil)

Essential oils which are the pure "essence" of a plant, have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. Essential oils and aromatherapy can be very effective for many alternative medicine applications. But using therapeutic quality organic essential oils is VERY important to obtaining good results.

In Europe, a set of standards has been established that outlines the chemical profile and principal constituents that a quality essential oil should have. Known as ANFOR (Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) and ISO (International Standards Organization) standards, these guidelines help buyers differentiate between a therapeutic-grade essential oil and a lower grade oil with similar chemical makeup and fragrance.


Inhale deeply and slowly for 2-3 minutes prior to breathing exercises. There is a practice in Yoga known as prana yama , or breath work that stimulates and strengthens the respiratory system.

This synergy may also be utilized during a mild asthma attack as it helps to open the airways.Add the following combination in a diffuser.

4 drops Peppermint, Mentha x piperita
6 drops Lavender, Lavendula angustifolia
10 drops Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus smithii

Benefits of Honey

Honey is the best source to cure asthma, as it contains a wide array of amino acids, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. Honey has the ability to heal any kind of ailments and particularly it can cure asthma much better. As per the truth described from Ayurveda, the increased level of Kapha Dosha in the stomach is the major cause of troublesome asthma problems. The enhanced phase of Kapha blocks will block the natural flow of air and creates trouble in breathing, which in turns results to wheezing.

If you suffer with asthma, then you can find the best cure with honey and cinnamon. These both are considered to be a very effective method to help cure asthma. Gently grind the pinch of comb honey, as it provokes your immune system because of the little quantity of pollen. During the extreme moment, you can chew or grind for about 20 minutes of the honey tops at least 5 to 6 times a day.

Most of the facts have proven that honey & cinnamon has an ability to help cure most diseases. Honey and cinnamon are always effective and moreover they are free from any side effects. Honey and cinnamon mints will surely work as well, as they are very rich and efficient herbs that will cleanly eliminate the cause of asthma attacks.

Take one tea spoon of honey and a half tea spoon of cinnamon powder. Mix them significantly prior to your consumption. This will be the best treatment to get a complete cure for your asthma problem. Honey is a really effective home remedy treatment for asthma. Honey could be taken from any form and when it is mixed with cinnamon, it will give you quick relief. It assists you better to help you cough away the accumulated mucus that is built up in your respiratory passage. These are simple proven facts that will help people in getting better relief from asthma problems.

Omega 3 helps control Asthma

Omega 3's have been studied in inflammatory conditions apart from asthma and have shown benefits.

Agents that modify the asthma process, with some influencing inflammation, include:

• Beta-2 adrenergic agonists.
• Corticosteroids.
• Leukotriene modifiers.
• Mast-cell stabilizing agents.
• Theophylline.

Considerable interest in the possible value of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in asthma was sparked by Horrobin's hypothesis that the low incidence of asthma in Eskimos stems from their consumption of large quantities of oily fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

A potentially interesting hypothesis investigation relates to the possible asthma-related benefits associated with actively and markedly decreasing levels of omega-6 fatty acid intake concurrent with increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Clinical research suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplements (in the form of perilla seed oil, which is rich in ALA) may decrease inflammation and improve lung function in adults with asthma. Omega-6 fatty acids have the opposite effect: they tend to increase inflammation and worsen respiratory function. In a small, well-designed clinical study of 29 children with asthma, those who took fish oil supplements rich in EPA and DHA for 10 months had improvement in their symptoms compared to children who took a placebo pill.

HEPA Filters for Asthma

Run a HEPA Room Air Cleaner to remove airborne allergens like pollen, mold spore, dust mite waste, and animal dander.

What to Avoid

Avoid foods with artificial colors and preservatives.In the majority of cases, individuals with some form of allergy, e.g. asthma, hayfever, urticaria, etc., will be affected by these additives.