Asthma is serious and should be discussed with your doctor. But there are also some age old home remedies you can use to reduce the severity and frequency of your attacks, and to help manage your symptoms when they happen.

Mustard Oil

Mustard oil mixed with camphor is a potent combination for asthma treatment. Massage the mixture all over the chest, till you get relief from the asthma. Warming the oil before massaging it ensures you feel the warmth which provides quick relief.

Eucalyptus Oil

One handy measure to keep asthma at bay is through eucalyptus oil. Put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a bowl of boiling water and take its steam. This helps in opening up any nasal blockages to facilitate easy breathing.

Figs

When it comes to an effective home remedy against asthma, figs is up there among the best. Soak dried figs overnight in water. Eat them first thing in the morning. Drink the residual water.

Magnesium

Magnesium may make you feel better. Much research suggests that magnesium relaxes the smooth muscles of the upper respiratory tract. The recommended dose is 600 milligrams a day.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a first-rate anti-inflammatory. Mix ¼ tsp Organic turmeric, 3 tbsp organic honey and ½ tsp cinnamon, mix well and use as a spread on toast, or put a spoonful into hot water or your morning cup of tea. Check out our Organic Turmeric capsules.

Ginger

Given the multiple benefits for your heath and body, it is hardly surprising that ginger is considered a superfood. It is also very effective against asthma. Prepare a potion with equal quantities of ginger, honey and pomegranate – consume it 2-3 times a day.

Coffee

Caffeine is chemically related to theophylline, a standard medication for asthma. It helps open airways. It clears the nasal passage allowing you to breathe easily. If you do not prefer coffee go for black tea. But, limit intake to 3 cups a day.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are very useful in managing inflammatory conditions. It is helpful to treat just about every condition including heart disease, depression, seasonal affective disorder, in addition to asthma.

Evening primrose oil

The oil contains a fatty acid (GLA), which can have a positive anti-inflammatory effect. In some cultures, it forms part of traditional treatment for asthma.

Chinese Medicine

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine suggest the herb ginkgo to treat asthma. If you want to try it, take 60 to 250 milligrams of standardized ginkgo extract once a day. One recent study suggests that this herb interferes with a protein in the blood that contributes to airway spasms.

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Belly Breathing Technique:

This technique maximizes air distribution in your lungs. When you feel an attack coming on, Lie down and concentrate on your breathing. Breathe slowly and when you inhale your abdomen should go out as opposed to your chest. Exhale slowly with your abdomen pushing inward. Ideally exhalation should be twice as long as inhalation. When you feel you’re in control, inhale and just when you think you’ve reached full capacity, take in a little more air. See if you can raise the book a little higher. Repeat 5 times or till you feel it’s okay to stop.

Butyeko Breathing Exercise:

This technique is designed to help asthma and other respiratory issues by measuredly facilitating the way you breathe. Sit upright with relaxed chest and belly muscles while breathing. Focus, close your eyes and look up. Breathe through your nose gently with closed mouth. Breathe slow and shallow. Exhale slowly until it seems there is no air left in the lungs. Hold breath as long as possible and then revert to gentle breathing. Repeat.

Pursed Lip Breathing Technique:

This technique is helpful during an asthma attack. Since during an attack air is trapped in your lungs, this helps get more air out and make breathing easier. This involves inhaling slowly through the nose and then exhaling through pursed lips, or exhaling slowly as if whistling.

White Light visualization technique:

When an asthma attack comes on, stay calm. Panic can make your symptoms worse. Help yourself along with this visualization trick: Sit upright with the soles of your feet firmly on the ground. Close your eyes and visualisation a powerful shaft of white light entering you from your crown chakra. As you inhale gently, see your lungs expand and fill with its white gentle healing light, and feel your breathing become easier. Keep breathing and with each breath visualise it filling healing, cleansing, nurturing and energising your lungs and then every molecule of your being, while slowly radiating outwards from and forming a white ball of healing all around you.

Prevent asthma attacks by avoiding triggers-

• Don’t smoke, and stay away from people who do. Cigarette smoke irritates the airways.

• Don’t huddle around a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

• In cold weather, wrap a scarf around your nose and mouth to help warm frigid air before you inhale it.

• Be alert for unusual asthma triggers, such as strong-scented foods or the intensely perfumed sample strips bound into magazines, and do what you can to avoid them.

• Try eating smaller, more frequent meals, and don’t eat before you go to bed. The upward migration of stomach acids that cause heartburn can also trigger asthma attacks.

• Make a note of everything you eat for a month. Also record your asthma symptoms. While food allergies are rarely associated with asthma, occasionally there is a connection and certain foods increase the severity of attacks.

IMPORTANT: Home remedies are to supplement and enable a preventive and healing process and should never be used as a substitute for professional medical care especially if the symptoms are alarming or condition serious.