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Home › Articles › Dad's Health › Breathe Easy

Breathe Easy

Natural Approaches to Asthma

By Andrea Candee

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  • Beauty salon chemicals
  • Cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke
  • Animal dander and feathers; feather pillows, down comforters and jackets

    • Natural Remedies
    If this makes you want to hide in a padded cell, then at least be sure the padding has been washed in natural detergent! In addition to aggressively keeping your home free of environmental toxins, an air purifier/ionizer can significantly help to cleanse the air of fungus, bacteria and chemical odors. Plants are not just visual treats but nature's living air purifiers! For those with mold sensitivity, take note: Plant-filled rooms contain 50 to 60 percent fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants.

    A sensitivity to certain foods may or may not be the primary cause of the asthma, but it can certainly exacerbate it. Dairy is the No. 1 food to be avoided since it is a mucous-producing and mucous-thickening food, and the asthmatic is already challenged by an excess of thickened mucous. Perhaps certain foods should be avoided during pollen season so there is better tolerance to the unavoidable exposure to airborne pollens.

    Beware of food additives, especially sulfites and MSG. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can be hidden in food products under the label "hydrolized protein" and "flavorings." Sulfites are often found in commercially prepared salads and dried fruits. Look for "unsulfured" dried fruits in the health food store.

    Treat Yourself
    Meditation techniques relax the body and mind. Visualizations can help you imagine the airways opening. These are effective tools used by corporate executives, sports figures and cancer patients. Many books have been written about these techniques, and conventional medical practitioners are adding them to prescribed health programs.

    Focused breath work is a technique that can strengthen the lungs and teach you how to breathe more effectively. In addition:


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