Asthma is caused by the spasms in the smooth muscles surrounding the bronchi and bronchioles (small airways in the lungs), causing the passageways to partially close. The spasms are accompanied with increased mucus which clogs the bronchioles/bronchi and worsens the attack. It is triggered by an allergic response and the immune system produces histamine; thus, any type of allergen can precipitate an asthma attack. It results in difficulty breathing (especially exhalation), coughing, wheezing, and a tight chest. This above condition is specifically known as bronchial asthma.

Common with asthmatics, yet usually overlooked by physicians are conditions which can play a major role in asthma. These include hypoglycemia, adrenal fatigue, adrenal gland or cortisol insufficiency, yeast or candida overgrowth, food allergy and others.

There is a major component of asthma to which many physicians and even allergists seem to be oblivious. It is a problem that is present to some degree in many if not most asthma patients. Yet, due to the relatively recent understanding of this problem, physicians are yet to be informed as to its importance. The problem is that of delayed onset food allergies or sensitivities. Asthma patients are routinely tested for allergies, including food. But, the problem is, they are not tested for delayed onset food allergies. A delayed food allergy is one in which you eat the food today but don't have an asthmatic reaction until tomorrow or even the next day. Unfortunately, the gold standard allergy test, the skin scratch, does not identify delayed onset allergies. There is a detailed explanation of this phenomenon to be found below and in this Food Allergy article.

Adrenal gland insufficiency or exhaustion is another factor commonly involved with asthma but usually overlooked in physicians' offices. The adrenals produce the body's cortisone and are often overstressed by the long term use of Prednisone. Adrenal insufficiency results in hypoglycemia and associated asthma potential. Learn about Hypoglycemia in this article.

Another often undetected problem is the overgrowth of yeast which results from extensive use of prednisone and antibiotics. Yeast overgrowth, termed
"candidiasis" is commonly found accompanying food allergy and adrenal insufficiency. Please see the Yeast and Candidiasis article for more information

Asthma and Food Allergies

Food allergies are the commonly overlooked villain in asthma. I will never forget the case of one adult asthma patient who learned the hard way just how great an impact made upon her allergy. We discovered her to be allergic to dairy products. ( Most asthmatics are allergic to milk and should avoid it.) When placed upon a treatment regimen similar to the one you will read about here, she was completely free of asthma and her medications. She decided to try some dairy rich foods at Thanksgiving and ended up in the ER with an asthma attack. Food allergies are a very important component of the asthma picture and must be addressed. Every asthmatic should have an IgG food allergy blood panel done. Please see the Food Allergy article for more information.

Asthma and Functional Hypoglycemia and Adrenal Axis Stress

The adrenal glands and their teammates the thyroid and hypothalamus are major players in asthma. The adrenals are responsible for production of your body's cortisone. It would seem only logical to reason that if your adrenals are producing enough cortisone, medications such as Prednisone would not be necessary. With Prednisone being one of the most potent, destructive prescriptions on the market, it behooves us all to avoid it if at all possible. That is where you can do yourself a world of good by paying close attention to the function of your adrenal axis system. Please study carefully the related pages of this web site listed below. Complete understanding of these related topics is essential to your seeing the big picture of asthma and how it occurs. With all these issues understood, asthma becomes a SYMPTOM. It is commonly a RESULT of all these other health conditions which join together to produce the picture we call asthma.

Asthma and Diet

Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet is beneficial to asthmatic patients. A vegetarian diet basically eliminates most of the allergenic foods. In light of the availability of simple blood tests for food allergies, it is a lot more convenient to just have the test as opposed to trying to determine by experimentation what are the offending foods.

Sugar and fat are major offenders with some asthmatics. In a study of 102 children with asthma, they were found to consume 25% more fat and 23% more sugar than non-asthmatics. Junk foods certainly are more of a threat than is commonly appreciated. Avoid them like the plague. I will never forget one of my first big successes with asthma. We treated a 12 year old boy for asthma and he was not responding. When we took him off Pepsi the asthma ended. The point is, avoid the junk foods, sweets and everything that is obviously bad for you. Take heed to what your mama said. Eat good food. That means 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

It has been estimated that about 90 million Americans suffer from gluten sensitivity, while celiac disease, a severe form of malabsorption caused by gluten, has now been found 50 times more prevalent than previously suspected. About 1.5 million Americans are thought to suffer from it. In its conclusions, the report states that celiac disease occurs frequently not only in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, but also in relatives and others with numerous common disorders, even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms

Asthma and Obesity

If you are overweight and serious about getting over asthma, you must lose weight. Obesity is a common component of the asthma picture and is completely reversible. See the Weight Loss and Metabolism for more information .

Asthma and Food Supplements

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is a mainstay in the asthma nutrition protocol. Several studies have shown it to be beneficial. It should be taken in conjunction with Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) which is supportive for the adrenal glands. We use a product called "Cortico B5B6" from the Metagenics company. B6 dosage for adults usually ranges from 100-250 mg. in divided doses daily. For children, the dose should be decreased proportionately according to body weight.

Vitamin B12 was given by injection to 100 children in a study done in 1989. They all improved except one and 60% stopped wheezing entirely. In a difficult case, ask your physician about this. Meanwhile, Vitamin B12 can be taken orally at the dosage level suggested on the label.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids are products derived mainly from fish oils. They are very beneficial if the patient is not allergic to the fish (another reason to be tested for delayed food allergies). Typically, one gram a day will improve asthma but don\'t expect immediate results. In one study, it took nine months to see improvement. If you are allergic to fish oils, try taking flax seed oil instead.

Magnesium is a major player in the protocols for asthma. There have been a number of studies looking at magnesium treatment for asthma given orally, by inhalation and by injection. They all were beneficial. The typical dose for oral Magnesium is 400-800 mg. per day for adults, less for children according to body weight.

Antioxidants play a role in all hyperimmune and allergy conditions, asthma included. Zinc is a good antioxidant which has been shown effective in reducing the production of histamine. If you take zinc, a dosage of 25 mg. per day and possibly increasing to double that amount is typical. Zinc is antagonistic to copper and therefore copper should be taken concurrently with zinc at a dosage of about 10% the level of zinc. In other words, if you take 25 mg. of zinc take about 2.5 mg. of copper.

Quercetin is another antioxidant which, similar to zinc, has a good antihistamine effect. Usual dosage is 250 mg. two to four times a day.

Vitamin C at a dosage of 1-2 grams per day is shown to be of benefit. In times of acute asthma vitamin C can be taken up to 5-6 grams per day depending on bowel tolerance. When you increase dosage to the point of it giving you diarrhea, that is about your limit. Buffered ascorbate powder is a form of vitamin C which allows larger dosages without the bowel effect. You should consult a nutritionist before using this product long-term.

N-acetylcysteine is a precursor to the very powerful antioxidant glutathione. NAC is useful because glutathione is not easily utilized by the body when taken orally. NAC is transformed into glutathione. 600 mg. twice a day is a typical adult dose.

Hydrochloric Acid (plain old stomach acid) was found to be deficient in a study of 200 asthmatic children. No, it's not a misprint, they were deficient, not high, in stomach acid contrary to what the ads for antacids would have us to believe. Hydrochloric acid can be purchased as a food supplement and you can try it if you have no stomach ulcers or inflammation. Take it according to the label, after meals. Visit Gastrointestinal Disorders article for more information

Ethnic remedies

• Traditional Chinese Medicine:  Shinpi-to, Licorice root, Ma huang, Gingko biloba
• Kanpo (Japan):  Saiboku-to, Sho-weiryu-to, Sho-saiko-to
• Ayurvedic medicine (India):  Coleus forskohlii, Tylophora indica, Mullein
• Hawaiian kahuna:  Mamane, Kava kava, Popolo, Kukui
• Puerto Rican:  Siete jarabes, Auga marvilla, Jarabe maguey
• European:  coffee and tea, onions, Gingko biloba
• Native America:  Evening primrose, Jimsonweed, Licorice root, Mullein, Slippery elm bark, Wild cherry bark

 According to Shé D'Montford, Shambhallah, from Australia ‘The human body "WILL HEAL"... If we get out of our own way and allow it, it heals itself. It is our basic nature. Anybody who tells you other than that is trying to sell you something. No matter what you have been told. Don't give up on yourself and don't buy into the lines like ... ‘oh well you've had a good life'... 'at your age'... and the worst of all ...'there's nothing further I can do, I suggest you finalize your affairs'... How dare anyone tell you to give up! So much in society combines to convince us of the propaganda that some things never get better. It's up to you ... do you want to get better? Make things better? It is human nature to make things better, evolve and grow.”

This site  is intended to provide general information only and is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment. All matters regarding health or a particular health situation should be supervised by a licensed health care professional.The author and the publisher shall not be held responsible or liable for any harm or loss allegedly arising, directly or indirectly from any information in this site