Sneezing and Wheezing all day long?

 

 

Sneezing and Wheezing all day long?

You don’t have to suffer another spring through.

Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory condition that affects the lungs and respiration and is characterized by difficulty in breathing and frequent coughing.  In Britain one in 12 people are currently asthmatic – and it is on the increase.

 

Asthma in children

Asthma is difficult to diagnose in children because their lungs seldom wheeze.   If a child gets regular bronchitis, or only coughs at night or only coughs when exercising – you can consider the possibility of asthma.

 

In children it is common that the allergy mainly affects the epithelial tissue of the nose.  As the inflammation spreads it later also affects the lungs – then they get asthma.  With many children the asthma can be prevented by keeping the allergy under control in the nose.

Factors associated with asthma and hay fever:

 The biggest contributors to asthma: Disbiosis (damaged bowel ecosystem), food allergies and mold allergy and secondary to that stress, exercise and chemicals in the environment.

 

• Aeroallergens and food allergens

House dust mite is the most significant allergen.   Minimizing house dust mite will reduce severity of asthma attacks.  Remove carpets. Remember, feather filled pillows have a lower allergen content.  Age of pillows is more important – replace them more often.  In the asthmatic patients lung function will improve with 21% by just eliminating certain foods.   In patients on inhaled bronchodilators and steroids an elimination diet can half dosages of inhalers.

• Air quality and chemicals

The average person in Britain is currently exposed to 18000 environmental chemicals per day.  Most of these chemicals are fat soluble.  They can affect the immune system and are linked to asthma.  Parental or maternal smoking has been linked to asthma severity and incidence.

 

Ozone increases with a rise in temperature – which is a major constituent of smog.  Higher levels of ozone have been linked with lung disease.  Higher levels of CO₂ will favour the growth of ragweed and other pollen producers.  Ragweed churns out more pollen as CO₂ levels rise.  The drastic increase in asthma can also be linked to the increase in molds and emissions from diesel engines. The diesel particles help the molds deeper into the lungs because of bond the form.  Dust storms from the desserts combined with drought driven fires are the perfect combination for serious increase asthma.

• Increase in allergic conditions like sinusitis; otitis media; eczema and a family history of atopic allergies occur more frequently in asthmatics

 

Sinusitis has been linked with asthma in various studies.   When you treat the nasal condition the asthma improves.  Leukotrienes, prostaglandin D2 and histamine levels in sinus patients are most of the time elevated.

 

• Poor digestion

Low stomach acid can aggravate asthma.  Hydrochloric acid therapy will improve asthma.  Gastro esophageal reflux (GER) has been linked to asthma – treatment by surgery or drugs (PPI) will cure or improve asthma.  A 73% improvement with omeprazole was found in asthmatics.

 

• Quality of our diets and breastfeeding

Absence of breastfeeding or breastfeeding for less than 3 months can increase the risk for developing asthma.  A high consumption of omega 3 rich fish can protect the child against asthma.  There is a link between low magnesium levels and risk for developing asthma.  An apple a day keeps the doctor away and 5 apples a week can keep asthma at bay.  Yes, apples can improve lung function because of the flavonoids.

 

Sulphites in wine and dried fruit and other processed food – can aggravate asthma.

• Stressful or inactive lifestyles

Stress can aggravate asthma.  Obesity can also aggravate asthma – abdominal fat can limit lung capacity.

 

• Aspirin-sensitive asthma (ASA)

• Overdependence on inhalers

 

• Infection and infestation

Viral infections can trigger an asthma attack.   Bacterial infections are linked to adult onset asthma.  In children parasitic and Candida infection has been linked with asthma.

 

• Salt intake and dehydration

A high salt intake can interfere with the rehydration of the lungs.  Exercise induced asthma can be limited and/or prevented by drinking enough water before exercising.

 

• Hormonal factors

Glucocoticoid insufficiency has been linked to asthma.   Premenstrual asthma improves with progesterone injections.   Hormonal variations in women may prove to be an independent risk factor for asthma.

 

• Antioxidant status

A simple dietary and environmental intervention may reduce oxidant stress and can prevent or minimize asthma in addition to current pharmacological strategies.  Low vitamin C levels and selenium levels have been linked to a risk factor for asthma.

Causes for asthma and hay fever

·         IgE allergy (Immediate Onset)

Severe IgE-mediated food reactions affect approximately 1.5% of the population. These can be extremely serious, and may be life threatening. IgE-mediated food allergy reactions appear almost immediately (within 2 hours) after ingestion of an offending food. Symptoms may take the form of swelling of lips or throat, sudden and violent skin rashes, vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems, sudden asthmatic breathing, and anaphylactic shock. Shellfish and peanuts are the most common allergens that can result in severe reactions in adults. In young children, the most common offending food allergens are egg white, cow’s milk, wheat, peanuts and soy. In the US alone, about 3 million Americans suffer from peanut allergies, and of the 150 children who die every year from food allergy reactions, 100 deaths are attributed to peanuts.

 

Testing for susceptibility to severe food reactions is normally done by looking for IgE antibodies to the allergen in question. Classical methods include total IgE testing for general susceptibility, Elisa and the RAST^™ method or skin prick testing for various specific allergens.

 

It is interesting to note that when IgE blood test has a high reading but RAST is negative – it does not mean that you don’t have allergies – but you can have parasites.

• IgG allergy  (Delayed Onset)

Less severe reactions, often referred to as Food Intolerances, are much more common and affect approximately 45% of the population in one way or another. There are several possible causes of Food Intolerance, including enzyme deficiency, reactions to chemicals in foods, and delayed food allergies mediated by the IgG antibody.  The prevalence of Food Intolerance is fueled by the fact that modern diets include more exotic foods, new additives, and new methods of containing and preserving foods. IgG-mediated food allergic reactions have a delayed onset (2-72 hours) after ingestion of an offending food.

 

The Difference between Delayed Food Allergy and Immediate Food Allergy

 

• Non immune sensitive reactions

Symptoms present like allergy, but the immune system is not involved.  The problem is enzyme deficiencies or biochemical deficiencies like e.g. lactose intolerance and sensitivities to preservatives like Sodium benzoate and Sulphur dioxide.   There is no reliable lab test for the above.

 

• Acid reflux in adults

When the valve between the stomach and the esophagus does not close properly – acid and stomach content will push up.  This can enter the lungs via the vocal cords   when you sleep.  Sufferers wake up early morning coughing and complaining about a sore throat.  Asthma pumps are not the solution, though it will help.  The reflux must be addressed – that will solve the problem

 

Phytotherpy for the management of asthma:

 

• Inhibitors of Prostaglandin and Leukotriene production

Allium cepa: inhibitor of arachadonic acid

Boswellia serrata: potent inhibitor of leukotriene production – 70% improvement in double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study.   FEV₁ (a measure of bronchial obstruction) and PEFR (a measure of lung capacity) improved in patients.

• Other Mediator effects: Tylophora indica (Tylophora asthmatica) is a well known antiasthmatic herb which depresses cell-mediated immunity.  It also stimulates the adrenal cortex, increasing plasma steroid levels and antagonizing steroid-induced suppression of adrenal activity.  Several trials shown benefit.
• Antiallergic effects: Picrorrhiza has anti-allergic mast cell stabilizing effects – proofed in several studies.
• Anti-inflammatory: Curcumin (Curcuma longa) inhibits AA; had similar efficacy to cortisone in clinical trials.

 

Other important herbs in asthma management:

 

• Adhatoda vasica: bronchodilator and expectorant; used for 2000 years in Ayurvedic system; WHO recognized
• Grindelia humilis: bronchodilator; listed in British Herbal Pharmacopoeia

 

Homotoxicology for management of asthma

 

• Tartepedeel: bronchodilator and cough suppressant
• Husteel: spasmodic bronchitis
• Drosera-Homaccord: bronchial asthma and whooping cough

 
Advice in a nutshell: work in close cooperation with your doctor/pharmacist

 

• Stabilize asthma and hay fever
• IgE allergy tests for food and inhaled allergens
• IgG allergy tests for food intolerances
• Adjust diet accordingly – elimination diet – 6 to 24 months – then slowly re-introduction of those foods.
• Desensitize for above
• Supplements: daily  multivitamins; antioxidants; vitamin C 2000mg; omega 3 & 6
• Butterbur root will reduce asthma medication in 40% of all patients.
• Eat lots of onions and garlic – they contain cysteine and methione – those amino acids will reduce allergic potential drastically.
• Probiotics – will stimulate protective mucous and IgA and that will prevent bacteria, yeast, parasites and food allergens from contracting the intestinal lining and passing into the bloodstream.
• Don’t abuse alcohol – makes gut more leaky by irritating the digestive track – can trigger asthma attacks – especially – wine (sulphites; yeast and salicylates)
• Drink more water – concentrated blood reaching your lungs will result in increased production of histamine and aggravate the asthma.

In people with exercised induced asthma, they can prevent the discomfort by drinking more water.  Dehydration or exercised induced asthma can worsen in 50% cases especially in hot and dry conditions.

• Ensure optimal liver function – an allergy patient most of the time has a liver that doesn’t function properly (toxin elimination not optimal).
• Parasite cleanses one to twice a year.
• Smoking – quit if you smoke.
• Quit dairy – will lead to unhealthy mucous membranes – even with negative allergy tests – long term improvement in asthma.
• Reduce stress levels – meditate and exercise.
• Reduce mite-related allergen exposure – replace linen with Dreamguard allergy protection linen – 021-797-1878.

 

Asthma and hay fever is not a death sentence

 

You can control your asthma and hay fever effectively with natural and/or conventional medication.  Do not try to manage this disease on your own.  Work close with your healthcare professionals.

 

References:

1. New Optimum Nutrition Bible – Patrick Holford
2. Hidden Food Allergies – Patrick Holford
3. Prescription Alternatives – Earl Mindell
4. Natural medicine  – Beth Maceoin
5. Herbal Medicine  – expanded commission E Monographs
6. Natural Medicine – Feb/March 2006 issue 22
7. Genesende Voeding  – Dr Willem Serfontein
8. Gesondheid vir `n leeftyd – Dr Christiaan
9. Townsend letter – April 2006 #273 & May 2006 #274
10. Time April 3, 2006