5 Home Remedies for Managing Asthma
At times, people with severe asthma might not find any medications to provide relief from the symptoms. Thankfully, there are some natural home remedies for managing asthma that give you relief from symptoms, help you reduce the intake of medications, and make the quality of life better in general. So, here are a few home remedies that you can try.
1. Introduce changes in the diet
There is no specific diet that can cure asthma. However, there are some dietary changes that you can make to relieve the symptoms. Having an unhealthy body weight or obesity can make the symptoms of asthma worse. Therefore, eating a healthy diet that comprises lots of vegetables and fruits is essential. Eating more vegetables and fruits can increase your intake of healthy antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene. These antioxidants can prove to be beneficial in reducing the inflammation present around the airways. Besides adding these foods to your diet, there are some foods that should be avoided. If you experience that your symptoms are flaring up after eating certain foods, ensure that you avoid them. Consult with your doctor if you think you have food allergies that are making your asthma worse.
2. Try the Buteyko Breathing Technique
The technique has been named after its founder Konstantin Buteyko who was a doctor in Ukraine. He came up with the technique in the 1950s. It focuses on slow and deep breathing. Hyperventilation or rapid breathing can trigger symptoms, such as breathing difficulties, in asthma patients. In this method, patients are taught a series of exercises, which lets them breathe slowly and deeply. It concentrates on breathing out of the nose instead of the mouth. However, the effectiveness of the technique has received mixed responses. However, with this technique, improvement in the symptoms of asthma can be experienced and the need for medication can be reduced.
3. Try the Papworth method
Another breathing technique, the method focuses on providing relaxation and it has been in use since the 1960s. The technique uses the diaphragm and the nose to create breathing patterns. These breathing patterns can be used during multiple activities that can cause flaring up of symptoms of asthma. It is usually recommended to undergo training before starting with the method and making it a part of your routine.
4. Drink more caffeine
Caffeine has been proven to be a bronchodilator. It has also been known to reduce the fatigue on respiratory muscles. The effectiveness of caffeine on asthmatic patients was shown in a 2010 study. Consumption of caffeine can be helpful in improving the functioning of the airways. The effects can last for up to four hours after you consume it.
5. Yoga
Yoga can be one of the effective home remedies for managing asthma. Exercises that are a part of yoga focus on breathing and stretching. Hence, yoga can be beneficial in providing the flexibility to the body and it gives a boost to your overall health. Yoga is known to reduce stress in many people. Stress can be a trigger of an asthma attack.