Perilla oil Perilla frutescens (L.) has a positive effect on numerous conditions, being in a similar league to fish and flax oils. Perilla oil is an extract from the Asian Beefsteak plant, a rich source of omega-3 but cheaper than other oils.

Researchers agree that most people do not get enough essential fatty acids in their diets, and a lot of chronic disease like heart disease is in part due to such deficiencies. It has been shown the perilla oil helps prevent first and secondary heart attacks. Taking perilla oil is said to take effect in a matter of weeks.

Perilla oil has some remarkable anti-inflammatory properties making it useful in the treatment of conditions like asthma, arthritis, colitis, atherosclerosis, and many auto-immune diseases. It seems to inhibit the formation of inflammatory cytoklines. The anti-inflammatory properties have been identified and attributed to the plant compounds rosmarinic acid, tormentic acids and luteolin.

It helps to reduce the symptoms of allergies and intolerances, often a problem with asthma sufferers. It helps protect the body against cancer of the bowel and breast. An important aspect of anti-aging is its ability to protect all the cell membranes. Perilla oil it thought to also reduce cholesterol, and increase and protect the brain function, as we age.

Consuming perilla oil provides the body with sufficient alpha-linoeolic acid, which the body then converts into EPA and DHA fatty acids. For the body to be able to do this conversion it needs adequate amounts of magnesium, zinc, Vitamin C and B complex.

Traditionally perilla leaves have been used for centuries in Chinese herbal medicine, they seem to have anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties, and tumor preventing compounds. For the treatment of coughs, colds, and respiratory conditions like asthma.

In Japan the perilla leaves are used as a garnish with raw fish, for flavouring but also as an antidote to food poisoning.

The perilla plant now grows in the South East of the United States in the wild. It has a dark rich purple flower, a square-like stem with purple-reddish leaves. The leaves are a bit hairy with curly edges.

Perilla oil can be taken internally in the form of capsules and are generally 1000mg. Caution – if you are pregnant or breast feeding I suggest you do not take perilla oil as a supplement until after.

]]> http://asthmaalternativemethod.com/2009/08/perilla-oil-helps-asthma/feed/ 0 http://asthmaalternativemethod.com/2009/04/can-asthma-be-treated-naturally/ http://asthmaalternativemethod.com/2009/04/can-asthma-be-treated-naturally/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:06:35 +0000 hs http://asthmaalternativemethod.com/?p=231 Naturopaths do not treat an asthma attack, but they do treat the person so that eventually asthma attacks are less frequent and less severe, drastically deducing their medication dependency. And for some asthmatics their episodes become a very rare event with alternative treatments and methods.

The answer to the question can asthma be treated naturally? The answer is yes and no. Yes to prevention, no to attacks.

It is a slow and gradual process where conventional treatments are used along side alternative treatments,  referred to as complimentary. Time and dedication are needed.

Asthma is a serious condition and should be treated with respect and caution. Is is potentially a life threatening condition. Alternative therapies generally treat the chronic aspect of the disease NOT the acute attack.

In the true sense of the meaning alternative practitioners do not cure asthma. They do however, use natural processes that open the airways, reduce inflammation, and reduce spasms of the bronchial smooth muscles. It is about making a patient generally healthier in every aspect, by facilitating the body’s own natural healing. The idea is to improve the health of the patient, manage stress efficiently, reduce total inflammatory load, reduce pollutants, provide natural nutrients that will help bring about the necessary changes.

Diet is the most important aspect in any alternative treatment program to prevent asthma. For a lot of people its the toughest part of the program, and is the part of the program that is going to take time and effort to master. The the rewards are huge.

You will have to go on an anti-inflammatory diet. It is important to reduce general inflammation. A type of hormone known as prostagladins are produced by the body to maintain a balance between inflammation and anti-inflammation, arachidonic acid encourages the type of prostaglandin that encourages inflammation. Arachidonic acid in found in animal products especially meats. Make an effort to reduce the amount you consume.

In most practitioner’s experience with dealing with people who suffer asthma or other breathing problems, cow’s products cause a problem. Some people have food sensitivities to diary products, causing excess mucus production and inflammation.

The other main culprit is wheat so many people have problems with wheat and products containing wheat. Its amazing what a difference it can make.

Anti-oxidants are very helpful in general in reducing inflammatory induced free-radials. Your diet needs to be very rich in fruits and vegetables, all are a good source of anti-oxidants.

Generally alternative practitioners, use a variety of natural tools to bring about long lasting health and improvement in symptoms.

1) If you can afford it see a professional alternative practitioner like a naturopath or accupuncturist etc

2) Be prepared to make nutritional changes

3) Lose weight, if you need to

4) They might suggest certain exercises

5) They may prescribed breathing techniques

6) They could use homeopathy or supplements or herbs it depends on your individual symptoms

Take a good hard look at your life.

Arsenicum album -

feeling exhausted, yet restless and anxious

breathing problems tend to be worse while lying down,

better when sitting up,

attack may begin or be the most intense between 12 and 2 a.m.

dry wheezing may progress to a cough that brings up frothy whitish fluid

thirsty and taking frequent tiny sips

generally on the cold side,

burning pains in the chest and heat in the head

warmth often brings improvement.

Carbo vegetabilis

be indicated when a person feels weak or faint with a hollow sensation in the chest coughing jags can lead to gagging

cold especially hands and feet,

feel a need for moving air, wanting to sit beside a fan or open window

gas and digestive upset are also likely, and sitting up and burping offers relief

feeling worse in the evening

worse from talking

worse for eating

worse for lying down

Ipecacuanha

coughing spasms leading to retching or vomiting

wheezing can come on suddenly with a feeling of suffocation and heaviness in the chest  mucus collects but has difficulty coughing it up and out

sweating a lot or feeling clammy

nauseous and worse from motion

worse from warmth sometimes

Natrum sulphuricum

when asthma attacks are brought on by exposure to mold and dampness

hold the chest while coughing, because it feels weak

wheezing and breathing difficulties made worse by exertion

attacks worse in the very early morning

Sonia Jone ND from The Haven Spa and Alternative Treatment Clinic, Boquete, Panama

Since ancient times, the Chinese have written about healing therapies to the hands. I am sure you have all seen the Chinese Shou-xing balls in many Chinese Store. Also known as healing, exercise or therapy balls, plus chime or harmony balls because they make a noise when moved.

This idea was created five hundred years ago during the Ming Dynasty, Shou-xing means Balls of Eternal Health. The Emperor’s physician had advised him that in order to treat his failing health he would need to exercise all his vital organs and at the same time reduce his hypertension. Hence the Balls of External Health were invented and made.

Since then generation after generation has benefited from the practice. How do they work? According to Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) the eight fingers, two thumbs and the palms are connected to all the vital organs of the body. Manipulating the Shou-xing stimulates various reflexes and acupuncture points on the hand resulting in an increase flow of vital energy and blood in the body. It promotes muscular tone and bone strength, while relaxing the mind. It can prevent or reduce hypertension and stress. This exercise will strengthen all the organs including the lungs.

Daily exercise with Shou-xing can increase concentration, promote memory, reduce fatigue and anxiety and ultimately extend our life. The balls come as a pair, and in different sizes, the pair you choose will depend on the size of your hands. Place both balls into the palm of one hand. Then by using the fingers of that hand rotate the balls around each other in your palm, exercise for 5 minutes and change to your other hand.They can also be used by the feet to stimulate reflex and acupuncture points. Place them on the carpet, then place your feet over them, press down a little and roll your foot over them. Does wonders for tired feet.

They would be a great present to give to someone, so consider adding these to your Christmas shopping list, a great ‘executive toy’.

By the way it only helps you if you use them everyday for a few minutes, just using them occasionally for a couple of weeks will make no difference.

Echinacea has a good reputation for enhancing and boosting the immune function. It was used by the North American natives, to treat fevers and wounds. By the 1930 the herb had become famous for being anti-viral, anti-bacteria, and anti-fungal, and the last 25 years has seen great interest in this medicinal plant emerge.

Other uses – it is anti-inflammatory helping swollen glands, and effective for treating lung conditions – bronchitis, allergies, asthma due partly to its immune boosting powers.

How to take

As a liquid tincture – preferred by people who don’t like to swallow pills. Tincture are made from the fresh plants, and easily absorbed. It is better to take the dose divided into three times a day.

Capsules (often contain the powdered herb) – for those who do not like the taste and smell of tinctures. Check out the potency of the product you buy.

Infusions (teas) have a milder action, I like infusions for long term use. Made from the dried parts, generally 1 teaspoon per cup of boiled water.

I drink several different infusions (teas) each day, varying them from day to day.

Candidia albicans is a fungal organism that lives in our body, when it get out of hand it can cause thrush or multiply in the bowels. When it gets out of control in the bowels, growing long tentacles which latch themselves to the lining of the bowels, changing its structure. This allows the lining to become more permeable, called a ‘leaky gut’.

This situation allows partially digested molecules to pass through the lining into the blood stream that would otherwise not be there. To put it simply it is like self, slow poisoning causing nausea, bloating, constipation headaches fluid retention are common. This is compromising and weakening the immune system, making it less able to cope with allergies, it becomes worn out dealing with this influx on a daily basis.

To help your immune system cope and therefore help with asthma, hay-fever, sinus problems etc, you need to get the candida under control. Cut down drastically on sugar, flour products and yeasts.

Take – probiotics capsules or powder, garlic capsules, and caprylic acid capsules.

If you have an allergy to pollen, animals, house dust mite,  or traffic fumes it is pretty much impossible to escape these things entirely unless you live in a bubble. Homeopathy can help, studies carried out some years ago at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary verified this.

For 8 weeks patients were given a homeopathic dose of the the very thing they were allergic to. The others were given a placebo. After only one week the patients given the homeopathic remedies saw significant improvements in their conditions.

This treatment has been likened a little to vaccines, minute amounts of a disease taint is injected into the the body so it can learn to cope and resist when it comes into contact the the full blown disease.