HEALTH INFO - Asthma

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ASTHMA

Asthma occurs when your airways narrow making it difficult for air to get into your lungs. It can be caused by a number of things e.g. an allergy (inhaled or otherwise), irritants (like wheat, dust, pollution or other chemicals sometimes found in your household), or an overactive immune response. It is often triggered/made worse by stress & overweight & may even be psychosomatic.

Whatever causes it, the response is that muscles in your airways go into spasm, causing your airway to narrow. Sometimes your body has a protective response of producing mucous which actually makes the attack worse. Contracting bronchitis can make the sufferer worse as the bronchioles (tiny tubes which allow your body to take air to your lungs) in your airway become inflamed.

Here are some tips as to what you can do to improve your health & help put you back in the driving seat. Go for the easier options first because you are more likely to stick with these lifestyle changes if they work.

If it doesn't seem to work at first, it is worth sticking with some of the changes for 3-6 months to make a difference, but other changes may take effect more immediately (e.g. eating dairy). If after this you find things don't work out, try some of the
other options, & maybe try them anyway if you are doing well & want to step up a gear.

-AVOID dairy products like cheese, yogurt, butter, milk etc. TRY alternatives like soya, rice milk etc.

-AVOID eggs, bananas, & any products containing wheat. OPT for corn, buckwheat or rice pasta; you can get wheat free breads or make your own, although I find oatcakes, corncakes, rice cakes & ryvita a tastier alternative to a sandwich for a snack or light meal.

NOTE:- these foods according to Chinese Medicine are known as damp foods which produce more mucous & can aggravate asthma, so it is good to avoid them & try healthier alternatives.

-Avoid processed foods, jams, cider, wine, SUGAR! (check all your labels, I guarantee it will shock you!), tea, coffee, chocolate to detox your body & give it a fighting chance to become healthy & balanced.

Changing to a whole food diet doesn't always happen overnight, so it can be helpful to introduce it in stages as you become used to planning your food, & that is the key to eating well, PLANNING. It becomes easier as you become used to it & put aside time for it. Contact me for specific advice, but there are lots of good recipe books on sale now. I have found the Barbara Cousins
"Cooking without " series very useful.

-Use benzoin, frankincense, may chang & lavender oils in your bath, on a tissue to inhale, or burn them in a burner. These address the physical symptoms, as well as any emotional reasons that may trigger or worsen an attack.

-There are acupressure points that help which can be combined with massage, especially at the top of the spine in the neck area to relieve symptoms & bring about a relaxed state of mind. Please feel free to contact me for an appointment if you wish. Alternatively contact a qualified acupuncturist for further support.

-Some people find that osteopathy & chiropractors can ease the problem, again to ease any impingements around the neck area which may contribute to the condition.

-Others find the Alexander Technique, Homeopathy (especially for allergy based asthma), acupuncture, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, & taking up yoga helpful.

Give whichever one you fancy a whirl for at least 3 sessions with a therapist you feel comfortable with. We all need time out to destress, otherwise it affects us & attacks us in our weak spot.

-Try eating plenty of garlic & onions to boost your immune system naturally.

-Look at your diet. Are you getting enough Omega 3 oils, B vitamins, etc? If you are worried, then make changes to your diet, & get support from a nutritionist or from your local health food shop.


Some people have found their symptoms improve with the following:
2gm vitamin C per day
300mg Evening Primrose or borage oil /day
an antioxidant complex daily
a multivitamin & mineral with vitamin B complex
& plenty of oily fish or flax seed oil (I pop a little of this & evening primrose oil & vitamin E oil in every bottle of olive oil I open & use it to dress salads, healthy & tasty!) each week.

-Others find the herbs coltsfoot, hyssop of gingko helpful. See your health food shop for advice.

-Avoid pollutants & allergens, e.g. chemicals, feathers, cats?, & go natural where you can. This includes all household cleaners, toiletries & make up.
Ecover do a fantastic range of cleaners that work as well as any toxic equivalents. There are many ranges of natural 100% toiletries on sale, but check the ingredients as legally they only have to contain 1% of something natural to label it as such! I sell some excellent well tried & tested products on my web shop, including the ethical Urtekram & rich & lush Green People ranges.

- 500mg of vitamin C per day may help, but you may need to reduce the amount if your stools end up too loose. Vitamin C is present in the lining of your respiratory tract & combats against inhaled pollutants.

- 200mg magnesium twice daily can help relax muscles in your
respiratory tract & lungs. It may be 2months or so before you see
the difference, so stick with it. Taken in the form of magnesium
citrate i best as it is more readily absorbed.

- Vitamin B complex can help reduce wheezing.

- Quercetin found in red onions (which typically have about 20mg) inhibits the production & release of histamine which is a response to allergic & inflammatory reactions. So this would be
particularly useful with allergy based asthma. 500mg a day is
recommended.

- Omega 3 found in oily fish & flax seed il is useful too.

- Rescue remedy for adults, or Chill or Settle Indigo Essences can
help with children.

-On a psychological level, are you the sort of person who finds it hard to let go & accept things as they are now; do you react to a breach of your boundaries or feel they have been lost; do you find it hard to trust people? You may need to think about forgiveness, acceptance, letting go, trusting & moving on. The Aborigines call this closing the circle & moving on. If you need support to do this, a psychotherapist, counsellor, hypnotherapist or aromatherapy massage therapist may be able to give you a helping hand in the right direction.

Should you wish to make an appointment for a consultation, or for me to blend a prescription of oils to suit your individual needs, or have any support in making any lifestyle changes, please feel free to contact me on:
Tel: 01209 711686
@
The Little Massage Clinic
nicolle@lifenlimb.co.uk