Multi-faceted Alternative Treatment for Asthma
Sonia Jones ND from the Haven Spa and Alternative Treatment Clinic, Boquete, Panama
As a team of alternative practitioners (acupuncturists and naturopaths etc) we help people with chronic diseases, using our collective expertise. This might include acupuncture, nutrition, exercise, breathing properly, reducing stress, herbs and aromatherapy, to bring about a change in that person’s health and hence their symptoms subside.
As natural practitioners we never treat the disease, we always treat the individual.
This is one of the reasons it is so hard to measure a single treatment as alternative medicine doesn’t work like that. For instance – in conventional medicine if your cholesterol is high, you will generally be prescribe one of several cholesterol lowering drugs available (with their side-effects). For alternative medicine it is not that simple, every detail of a persons diet is noted, exercise habits, nutritional deficiencies, details that give clues like dry skin, or nausea or bathroom habits etc. A detailed diet is formulated, herbs maybe used that help the liver, supplements, plus treatments, but most of all education how to maintain a healthy life and maintain good cholesterol levels naturally for years to come, without being dependent on any type of medication.
Back to asthma – there are two types, intrinsic asthma , generally starts later in life and there seems to be no identifiable reason. Extrinsic asthma seems to be triggered by sometime inhaled and triggers an attack. There is also exercise induced asthma, brought by too much exertion.
Symptoms of coughing , shortness of breath, wheezing, and a tight chest, is frightening as you fight for breath.
Triggers could be – smoke, dust, stress, exertion, respiratory infections, Aspirin, NSADs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta-blockers), chemicals in foods, perfumes, chemicals in the atmosphere, pet dander, pollen, acid reflux, extreme changes in weather, emotional stress, food sensitivities, even laughing.
Life for an asthma sufferer is a mine-field.
To treat a person with asthma would only be successful if we treat them with a multi-faceted approach. We will never be able to make the environment fit for asthma suffers, but we can make asthma suffers fit for the environment.
Being taught how to breath properly
Having treatments like acupuncture to encourage the body
Research conducted a little while ago in London, showed a strong correlation with asthma attacks and having too much tablet salt.
How to eat right and strengthen the immune system (much more important than most people realize)
Food sensitivities – we can investigate which foods are causing a problems – heading the top of the list is cow’s milk
Vitamin C – is an excellent anti-histamine, protects lung tissue, encourages air-flow, good anti-inflammatory and reduces the chances of infections.
Vitamin E – works in synergy with Vitamin C, and is an excellent anti-oxidant protecting the lungs.
Evening primrose oil and flaxseed oil are both anti-inflammatory