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Wellness Trading Post
Asthma
Wellness Trading Post
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Julieta Criollo
Nutrition/Lifestyle Counseling
(604) 760-6425
Bach Flower Essences
[email protected]
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Asthma Notes
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Wellness Trading Post
Asthma
ASTHMA
Description:
A pulmonary condition characterized by
chronic inflammation of the airways due
to hypersensitivity to a variety of stimuli,
producing airway obstruction (usually
reversible).
The airway obstruction is often caused
by:
1. bronchial constriction due to spasm of
the smooth muscles of the airway
passage. It is thought that white blood
cells (mast cells, eosinophils,
lymphocytes) are responsible for
initiating the narrowing of the airway
by releasing histamine and
leukotrienes and other substance that
causes the bronchial smooth muscles
to contract and increase mucus
secretion.
2. edema of the airway mucosa.
3. increase mucus secretion.
4. infiltration of the airway wall by
inflammatory agents (such as
leukotrienes, prostaglandins,
histamine).
5. damage to the epithelium lining of the
airways
In the early stage or acute phase, the
bronchial spasm is accompanied by high
mucus secretion causing airway
obstructions that worsen the attack.
In the late or chronic phase, the condition
is accompanied by inflammation, edema,
fibrosis, and necrosis (tissue death) of the
epithelial cell lining of the airways.
Types:
1. Atopic, extrinsic, or early onset
asthma: often affect children and
young people. It runs in family, and
members of the same family often
present with eczema, and/or hay fever.
Asthma attacks are usually triggered
by allergens.
2. Non-atopic, intrinsic, or late onset
asthma: associated with allergens, and
seen more often in adults.
Epidemiology:


Adult: 7–10%
Children/juvenile: 10–15%
Prognosis:
Excellent, when attention to general
health and management of symptoms.
.
Children with asthma usually outgrow
it by adolescence.
Causes:






Unknown.
Early exposure to allergens.
Early viral infections.
Diet, poor digestive function.
Reduction of childhood infections due
to improved public health standards.
Emotional stress
Triggers:
Narrowing of the airway triggered by
stimuli that don’t affect normal lungs.
Usual stimuli:
1. Upper respiratory tract infections:
colds/flues, sinus infections, laryngitis,
pharyngitis, throat infections, etc.
2. Allergens: feathers, cockroaches, pet
dander, pollen, dust, mold, house mites,
some foods, etc.
3. Irritants: as cigarettes, chemicals,
smoke, gasoline fumes, air pollution or
air quality, perfumes, nail polish.
4. Drugs: heart medication as beta
blockers, NSAIDs (such as aspirin)
5. Food additive/preservatives: MSG,
sulfites (often in wine, beer, salad
bars), coloring (such as Tartrazine – a
yellow coloring), artificial sweeteners,
etc.
6. Gastroesophageal reflux.
7. Non- specific or psychological:
anxiety, phobias, emotional upsets,
cold/damp air, exercise, laughing,
stress, etc.
8. non-identifiable triggers.
Differential Diagnosis:
Aspiration of foreign bodies, cystic
fibrosis, habit cough, viral respiratory
track infections, pneumonia, TB,
bronchitis, hyperventilation syndrome,
heart conditions.
Diagnostic Tests:

Spirometer: measures lung volume and
airflow, and used to determine airways
narrowing, and the severity of the
asthma.
 Peak flow meter: measures the rate at
which the air can be exhaled. Used to
monitor the severity of the asthma at
home.
 Allergy skin testing: to identify positive
allergens. However, the allergens may
or may not be triggers of asthma
attacks.
Signs & symptoms:
Vary with the frequency and severity
of the condition:
1. Episodic - the patient is
symptoms free between asthma
attacks. Often the case in atopic
asthma.
2. Chronic – the symptoms are
present during and in between
asthma attacks. Often the case
of non-atopic asthma.
Common symptoms:
 Coughs, often at night.
 Difficulty breathing.
 Wheezing (often at expiration,
and possibly at inspiration).
 Chest tightness.
 Tachycardia.
 Increased mucus secretion.
 Fatigue.
 Anxiety (during an attack)
 Sweating (during an attack).
 Pulse paradox – absence of pulse
for a short period of time.
 Static asthmaticus – severe
respiratory attack with no
bronchial obstruction due to
medication (such as bronchial
dilator or puffer)
 Nasal flaring (opening of the
nasal opening)
 Overdeveloped accessory
muscles.
 Nasal polyps
 Tracheal tog (tracheal pull toward
most affected side).
 Prominent ribs.
 Reduce sleep.
 If severe asthma, finger clubbing
(controversial) and cyanosis.
 Severe asthma persisting from
childhood may cause “pigeon
chest” deformity.
Complications:

Respiratory arrest may occur
during a severe attack.
 Rarely, some alveoli (lung air
sacs) may rupture, allowing air to
leak and accumulate in into the
plural space (space between the
lungs and the covering
membrane) or to accumulate in
the chest area, complicating the
shortness of breath.
Wellness Trading Post
Asthma
NUTRITION
1) Eliminate from diet all known foods that provoke allergic reaction.
2) To determine other foods causing allergic reaction, try a food elimination & re-introduction diet (refer to the
“Allergy health notes” documents for description of the diet).
3) Journal: keep a journal of your asthma attacks and symptoms associated with asthma. In addition, keep a
journal of your diet along with it. Record reactions/symptoms, how often, how long and their severity. Also
record location where you have been that day. This helps uncover general patterns on your symptoms and
attacks that are easily overlooked when just paying attention to the current one. This information helps uncover
and manage asthma triggers.
4) If possible, do a body cleansing/detoxification, or fasting program for 1 week to 10 days. This would help the
body remove excess toxins, and offending substances that have accumulated in the body. The best time would
be during the initial food elimination period, since it would help prepare the body for the re-introduction of
possible offending foods.
5) A body cleanse has many health benefits – apart from cleansing the body of toxins, it helps strengthen the
immune system (asthma and allergies are often due to an oversensitive immune system), it helps restore good
digestion and bowel health, and improve absorption of nutrients (food allergies and sensitivities are associated
with absorption of incomplete digested particle), increases the level of energy, helps reduces body aches and
pains, helps reduce excess body fat.
6) Avoid mucus-forming foods (milk and dairy products, bananas, citrus foods).
7) Avoid deep fried food, fast food, sugar, refined foods, processed foods (specially those high in sugar or
additive.
8) Increase consumptions of fresh fruit and vegetables. They are rich in nutrients, antioxidants (free radical
scavengers), and a source of fiber (promote bowel health and help cleanse body of toxins).
9) Drink a glass of water every two hours (helps keep the body clean).
10) Include garlic and onions in your regular diet. They strengthen the immune system, protect against infections,
and have anti-inflammatory properties.
11) Include foods containing essential fatty acids (needed for the production of the anti-inflammatory
prostaglandins) such as flax seeds, cold-water fish, raw seeds and nuts, avocados, cold press vegetable oils.
12) If possible, buy organic products to reduce intake of pesticide residues and other chemicals, and drugs and
hormones in animal-foods.
Wellness Trading Post
Asthma
SUPPLEMENTS
Nutrient
Acidophilus
Supplement Dose
As directed on
label
Essential fatty acids:
-Flax seed oil
-1–2 tsp/day
-Evening Primrose oil -500 mg 2–3 x/day
- Fish oil
-1000 mg/day
-Vit A
-10000 IU daily
-Beta-carotene
(Precursor to Vit. A)
-20000 IU daily
-B-Complex
50–100 mg
2–3x/day
-Extra Vit. B12
1000 mcg orally or
400 mcg
sublingual a day
Vit C
with bioflavonoids
1000 mg 2–3x/day
or to bowel
tolerance (increase
dose daily by 500
mg until stool
become loose, and
then reduce until
stool is normal
again, and keep
this dose after
that).
Quercetin
500 mg 3x/day
Lycopene
Digestive enzymes
30 mg daily
As directed on
label
Description and Food Sources
To restore normal flora in the bowel; act as immune enhancer, improve
digestion.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are needed for the normal development of
the brain, for nerve transmission, cells & organs respiration, lubrication
of tissues (skin, joints), for the support of adrenal and thyroid activity,
and for the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
Food source – cold water fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel), flax seeds,
vegetable oils.
Antioxidant (protects body against damage by free-radicals), it protects
against colds/flus and infections of kidney, bladder, lungs, and mucus
membranes. Needed for the utilization of protein by the body, promote
health of eyes/vision, and skin.
Food sources: liver, fish liver oils, green and yellow fruit and vegetables
such as green and yellow fruit and vegetables such as papayas, mango,
carrots, apricots, asparagus, cantaloupe, garlic, kale, squash, yams,
sweet potatoes.
B-vitamins work together synergistically, so it is best to take them
together and a B-Complex offers that.
They are needed for the health and proper functioning of the nervous
system, eyes, skin, liver, and more. They are also needed for the
production of energy, cell replication; and for the metabolism of fats,
carbohydrates and protein. Vit. B12 reduces the reaction to sulfites that
are associated with asthma symptoms in some people.
Food sources for B vitamins depend on the type of vitamins. Food rich
in various types of B vitamins are brown rice, egg yolk, fish, legumes,
liver, poultry, beef, whole grains, oatmeal, nuts & seeds, dried fruits
(raisin, figs, prunes), milk, yogurt, Brussels sprouts, dandelion greens,
leafy green vegetables, brewer’s yeast, avocados, cheese, bran
Antioxidant, support the immune system, needed for tissue growth and
repair; for the adrenal gland function (overworked during chronic
stress), and healthy gums. It helps with the production of anti-stress
hormones, and enhances immune function. It helps protects against the
effects of pollution, reduces risk of cancer, protect against infections. It
works synergistically with Vit. E and beta-carotene (so it’s best to take
them together).
Bioflavonoids (as quercetin) help stabilize the cell walls and inhibit
release of histamine.
Food sources: kiwis, citrus fruit, berries, green vegetables, asparagus,
avocados, black currants, mangos, cantaloupes, onions, kale, papayas,
pineapples
A flavonoid that help stabilize the cell walls and inhibit release of
histamine, increases immunity, scavenges free-radicals, inhibits
irritation of intestinal smooth muscles, and reduces the damage caused
by food allergens.
Food sources (bioflavonoids in general): colorful fruit and vegetables
such as peppers, buckwheat, black currant, apricots, blackberries,
cherries, grapefruit, grapes, plums, prunes, rose-hips, hawthorn berries.
Antioxidant that has shown to reduce exercise-induced asthma.
Improves digestion of foods
Food sources: papaya, pineapple, mango, kiwis, strawberries.
Wellness Trading Post
Asthma
Lifestyle and other recommendations
Lifestyle consideration for allergy-induced asthma:

Keep rooms free of dust; keep the furnace and air filters clean.

If any room in the home is humid, use dehumidifiers to reduce growth of mold.

If possible, paint home with mold-proof paint.

Try using air-purifier devices at the home and/or office to reduce possible allergens from surrounding
environment.

Avoid exposure to cigarettes, fumes, perfumes whenever possible.

When spending time outdoors, shower as soon you return home and change clothes.

Pollen is higher in the morning before 10:00 am, so reduce outdoors activities at during that time.

Avoid the use of aspirin (esp. after eating), it can aggravate allergic reactions.

Exercise is important for our health, however, in case of severe allergies, or during active seasonal allergies,
avoid outdoors exercise (esp. early morning).

Cultivate indoor plants that clean the air and reduce pollutants such as areca palm, Boston fern, English ivy,
spider plant, bamboo palm, dracaena, dwarf date palm, lady palm, rubber plant. Furthermore, placing some
charcoal at the bottom of the soil will help the plant eliminate pollutants.

Check your natural food store for homeopathy remedies for allergies.

Change your bed linens often, shampoo your carpet (if any) to reduce debris and dust mites from environment.
Placing the pillows in the dries for about ten minutes would kill dust mites. You can also use aromatherapy
based air spread (esp. lavender and tea tree) on furniture, beds, linens, etc. Essential oils are good antiseptic and
anti-microbial, and in general do not caused allergic reactions.

Aromatherapy: chest-rubs or steam inhalations with essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree,
peppermint, chamomile helps loosen congestion and clear the airways (test each oil separately for possible
allergic reaction before using them together).
Stress management (to reduce anxiety):

Anxiety can trigger asthma attacks, thus it is important to keep the stress level down.

Take time for fun and play – any activity that makes you relax or smile.

Nourish and/or build good relationship with people that support you.

Read books that dissipate work and worries from the mind, and lift the spirit.

Exercise regularly – it relieves stress and helps clear the mind, and tones the muscles and supports the health of
the body, it increases the body ability to take in oxygen.

Do deep breathing exercises daily. It helps relax the body and the mind. It promotes circulation, and increases
the lung capacity.

Join a Yoga class – it helps relieve stress and helps you practice deep breathing.

Express your feeling (negative emotions kept inside can create blocks, anxiety, depression, and more stress).

Try making time and room for small changes in current lifestyle, and give your body and mind the time to
accommodate/adapt to changes. Small changes are easier to implement than big ones and are less stressful to live
through (for instance, eat one piece of fruit a day; walk 15 minutes after lunch or diner instead of trying to train
for a marathon).

Practice love and patience with yourself.

Reduce or stop intake of alcohol, drugs, and smoking.

Try not to take life too seriously – learn to laugh.

Avoid the use or stimulants or medication to deal with symptoms associated with stress, such as caffeine to fight
sleep, painkillers for headaches, antacids to help digestion, drugs to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, or for
palpitations, etc. These merely mask the stress effects, they do not remove the stress response, and thus our body
continues to struggle over a vicious circle stress response until exhaustion.
Wellness Trading Post
Asthma
References
1. “Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine”, Churchill Livingstone, 1999.
2. “Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary” F.A. David Company. 1997.
3. “The Merck Manual”, 7th Edition, Centennial Edition; Merck Research laboratories. 1999.
4. “2003 Griffith’s 5-minute Clinical consult.” editor: Mark R. Dambro, Lippincott William & Wilkins,
2003.
5. “Principles of Anatomy and Physiology”, 9th Edition, by G. Tortora and S. Grabowski – John Wiley &
Sons, Inc. 2000.
6. “The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing ” by Alive Research Group – Alive Books, 1997.
7. “Prescription for Natural Cures” by James F. Balch, Mark Stengler. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
8. “Prescription for Nutritional Healing” 3rd Edition, by Phyllis Balch and James Balch – Avery, 2000.
9. “Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine” - Bartram, Thomas – Marlowe & Company, 1998.
10. “The Juicing Bible” by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles – Robert Rose Inc, 2000.
11. “The smoothies Bible” by Pat Crocker – Robert Rose Inc. 2003.
12. “Staying Healthy with Nutrition” by Elson M. Haas – Celestial Arts, 1992.
13. “The Herbal Drugstore” by Linda B. White, Steven Foster – Rodale, 2003.
Websites:
14. http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html
15. http://www.rense.com/general52/msg.htm