The immune system protects the body from foreign microbes, pathogens and abnormal cells and eliminate them. The abnormal reaction that gives a ‘false alarm’ is called allergy. Allergies unheard of in the 60s, is affecting one in three Singaporeans now and half the population in 10 years’ time.
The immune system protects the body from foreign microbes, pathogens and abnormal cells and eliminate them. The abnormal reaction that gives a ‘false alarm’ is called allergy. Allergies unheard of in the 60s, is affecting one in three Singaporeans now and half the population in 10 years’ time.
Foods and substances like peanuts, shellfish, prawn, egg, fragrance, dust, pollen appear harmless to most people but may cause irritants to some allergic sufferers. They may trigger a series of responsive reaction such as running nose, sneezing, itchiness, rashes, swelling or asthma.
Eczema and Asthma
Asthma is often associated with house mite whilst eczema can be skin allergy causing itchiness or rashes on the skin and food allergy causing bloating or stomach discomfort.
Recent studies showed about half of children with eczema ends up with asthma eventually. The more severe the eczema, the higher the risk. Statistics further showed that those with severe eczema and allergies have a 70-80% chance of developing asthma compared with 20-30% for mild eczema.
What is asthma?
For majority of us, it is easy to take breathing for granted, but if you have asthma, breathing does not always come easy.
Asthma is the most common allergy reaction affecting the respiratory system. It is a chronic illness whereby the bronchial tubes are being filled with mucus secretion and become inflamed. This constriction of the airways impedes the transport of oxygen to the lungs and the removal of carbon dioxide. It manifests in typical symptoms of an attack like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. The duration can last for a few minutes to a few hours.
Causes
An attack can be triggered when the individual is exposed to an allergen or irritant, from within (eg. adrenal disorders, fear, laughing, low blood sugar, stress) or external sources (eg. temperature changes, humidity, chemicals, vigorous exercise, drugs, dust mites, tobacco smoke). Other reasons:
+ Some scientific studies point towards low plasma concentrations of specific antioxidants, eg. Vitamin C associated with more severe asthma condition. They are also found to have lower than normal levels of gastric hydrochloric acid, which is needed for proper digestion.
+ More people consuming junk foods that are highly processed and contain harmful chemical additives. The dietary changes have favored a hyper-acidic internal environment promoting inflammation and hypersensitivity of bronchial tissue.
+ The use of antibiotics damage the natural flora populations which protect bronchial and gut tissue allows further immune system degradation. It has been found that children whose mothers took antibiotics while they were pregnant were 17% more likely to be hospitalised for asthma subsequently. This can be due to a diminishing number of beneficial bacteria wiped off by the antibiotics. Upon transmission to the newborn baby, such unbalanced bacterial mix impacts on the immune maturation.
Treatment
+ Allergic allergens and irritants can be removed to avoid asthmatic attack. Non-allergic elements are harder to control, namely adrenal disorders, anxiety, anger, temperature changes, exercise, extremes of dryness or humidity, fear, laughing, low blood sugar and stress.
+ Asthma can be difficult to diagnose conclusively as its symptoms are quite similar to other respiratory diseases. In chronic cases, it is often treated with medications that are inhaled directly so the medicine reaches the air sacs in the lungs to aid breathing. However, long term dependency offers their share of side effects.
+ If you are currently using medication to control your asthma, supplements may help you gradually to reduce the dosage. Giving these supplements a try may restore healthy breathing in a safe and natural way, but inform your doctor know before taking supplements for asthma.
Supplements
+ Ginkgo
For more than a millennium, people in Asia have looked to the ginkgo tree as a source of healing. In recent years, scientists have discovered how ginkgo can make breathing more comfortable for people with asthma. The same substance that causes your blood to clot when you get a cut can trigger an asthma attack. It is called PAF or platelet activating factor that can cause allergic responses. This sudden narrowing of the main air passages from the windpipe to the lungs may feel like a tightening or squeezing in your chest, and breathing becomes difficult. Ginkgo can prevent this by blocking PAF.
Ginkgo biloba extract is sold as an herbal supplement in health food stores. It comes in liquid form, tablet or capsule. The extract should contain 24% flavoglycosides, 10% quercetin and 6% terpenoids. Also look for ”tannin-free” and “50:1 concentrate. Take 40 milligrams (mg) thrice a day over 4-6 weeks to see some noticeable effect.
+ Turmeric
The pigment in turmeric called curcumin gives curry its yellow color. According to researchers from the Nihon University School of Medicine in Tokyo, this pigment can help to prevent asthma attacks by curbing the release of substances resulting in wheezing and chest-tightening. It can inhibit platelet aggregation, aid circulation and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Available in capsule or liquid form, the usual dose of turmeric for other conditions is 1.5 to 3 grams daily. There are no known side effects from turmeric except occasional stomach upsets after prolonged use. Do not take if you have gallstones or a blockage of the bile duct.
+ Magnesium
Quite a bit of research has linked magnesium with the improvement of asthma symptoms. One study at City Hospital in Nottingham, England found that making an effort to take more magnesium can have a positive effect on asthma in a very short time. In a study involving 17 people who took either 400 milligrams of magnesium or a look-alike supplement without magnesium (a placebo) for several three-week periods, symptoms were significantly fewer when people in the study were getting the supplemental magnesium.
Avocado, sunflower seeds, nuts, legumes, dairy products, seafood and dark green vegetables are good source of magnesium, which have an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle of the upper respiratory tract. In fact, asthma patients usually have low magnesium level and doctors may prescribe magnesium sulfate to improve the condition. Since it is easily lost during washing, peeling and processing, choose fresh or minimally processed foods.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium is 320 mg for women over 30 and 420 mg for men over 30. For an asthma attack, recommended dosage is 600 milligrams of magnesium along with any medications that have been prescribed by your doctor. If you get relief, continue with a daily supplement of 600 milligrams, but do not take this much if you have any kidney problems or low blood pressure. Even under normal circumstance, do not over-consume as it can make you very sick, causing nausea, vomiting, or even paralysis or death. This is especially so for some over-the-counter medication, including laxatives and antacids where magnesium is the key ingredient.
A safe combination is calcium, magnesium, zinc and Vitamin D. The effective calcium/magnesium ratio is 2:1. Correct usage may stop the acute asthmatic episode by increasing the capacity of the lungs, tissue repair and has the dilating effect on the bronchial muscles.
+ Vitamin C
Medical studies have showed vitamin C’s ability to squelch certain inflammatory substances that are produced by over-reactive lung cells. There is a correlation between the low blood levels of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and the frequency and severity of asthmatic attacks. Hence, high dosage administered can help to reduce asthmatics by lowering histamine levels.
+ Omega 3
In an emergency situation, certain drugs called leukotriene inhibitors are probably the quickest route to relief to counteract bronchial constriction and other allergic reactions, but supplements of omega-3 fatty acids work by a similar anti-inflammatory mechanism and are also effective for long-term asthma control.
Our bodies do not produce Omega-3 fatty acids and have to derive from food sources especially in the oils of cold-water fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon. Over time, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can dramatically reduce asthmatic wheezing. Some doctors recommend a daily dose of 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of fish-oil concentrate or two teaspoons of cod-liver oil.
+ Bioflavonoids
Colourful fruits and vegetables contain bioflavonoids as can be seen by the bright pigments. Bioflavonoids are growth regulators in plants and have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Available in supplemental form include quercetin, pycnogenol, grapeseed extract and ginkgo extract.
+ Coenzyme 10 - has the ability to counter histamine and promote detoxification of dangerous substances from the immune system by enhancing oxygen utilisation by our cells.
+ Vitamin A and E – needed for lung tissue repair and keep down infection. Also increase air flow and fight inflammation.
Dos and Don'ts
Do -
+ Eat a diet comprising mainly fresh fruits and vegetables. As a guide, diet should be high in protein, low in carbohydrates and sugarless.
+ Most asthmatic patients have weakened immune system due to poor flora population. Thus, prebiotic supplementation plays an important role to rebuild immunity.
+ Use lemon juice to cleanse the body of toxins and mucus for 3 days.
+ Eat lightly as a big portion meal can cause shortness of breath by putting too much pressure on the stomach. Also, asthmatic patients tend to have lower levels of gastric hydrochloric acids.
+ Garlic is a natural antibiotic that helps to prevent lung infection.
+ Coffee and other caffeine-containing drinks seemed to help in reducing asthmatic outbreak as caffeine has a dilating effect on the bronchial airways.
+ Bee propolis can be used to soothe the mucous membranes.
Don'ts -
+ Avoid gas-producing foods, such as beans, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage and take a good enzyme complex. Gas can irritate an asthmatic condition by putting pressure on the diaphragm.
+ Stop cold drinks or ice cream as cold can shock the bronchial tubes into spasms.
+ Strong emotions and stress can trigger an asthma attack.
+ Avoid sensitive and additive foods.
+ Avoid using the aircondition and switch to fan instead. This is because when sensitive airway reacts to a trigger factor like cold and dry air, it tightens and becomes inflamed, causing coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Recommendation
Since there is no cure in asthma, minimise any effect by controlling the symptoms through:
- reducing inflammation in the airways and excessive mucus production;
- reducing sensitivity of allergens.
Remember, a compromised immune system is unable to handle asthma triggering assaults.
Source: http://www.medical-explorer.com/asthma.php?011; Prescription to Natural Healing
VIVA corner
VIVA products recommended to rev up immunity and prevent allergy and asthma:
VIVA Basic Essential Pack comprising Green Barley, Dailyguard, Vivashield, Floraguard to cleanse, balance, nourish and protect to create a solid foundation for a stronger and healthier immune system. VIVA Floraguard contains strong prebiotics and probiotics to support a healthy digestive system and strengthens the immune system. VIVASHIELD with potent antioxidants Vitamin A, C, E and Selenium combined. A correlation has been established between the low blood levels of antioxidants and the frequency of asthmatic attacks.
2. VIVA Gingko Biloba helps to dilate the bronchiole to improve air flow to the lungs, thus relieve and prevent asthma attack.
3. VIVA C-Complex helps to improve allergy and asthmatic conditions by minimising the harmful effect of allergens.
4
. VIVA Oxypower contains CoQ10 and antioxidant A,C,E to enable better cell oxygen utilisation.
5. VIVA Omega3 reduces inflammation, swelling and pain.
Eczema and Asthma
Asthma is often associated with house mite whilst eczema can be skin allergy causing itchiness or rashes on the skin and food allergy causing bloating or stomach discomfort.
Recent studies showed about half of children with eczema ends up with asthma eventually. The more severe the eczema, the higher the risk. Statistics further showed that those with severe eczema and allergies have a 70-80% chance of developing asthma compared with 20-30% for mild eczema.
What is asthma?
For majority of us, it is easy to take breathing for granted, but if you have asthma, breathing does not always come easy.Asthma is the most common allergy reaction affecting the respiratory system. It is a chronic illness whereby the bronchial tubes are being filled with mucus secretion and become inflamed. This constriction of the airways impedes the transport of oxygen to the lungs and the removal of carbon dioxide. It manifests in typical symptoms of an attack like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. The duration can last for a few minutes to a few hours.
Causes
An attack can be triggered when the individual is exposed to an allergen or irritant, from within (eg. adrenal disorders, fear, laughing, low blood sugar, stress) or external sources (eg. temperature changes, humidity, chemicals, vigorous exercise, drugs, dust mites, tobacco smoke). Other reasons:
+ Some scientific studies point towards low plasma concentrations of specific antioxidants, eg. Vitamin C associated with more severe asthma condition. They are also found to have lower than normal levels of gastric hydrochloric acid, which is needed for proper digestion.
+ More people consuming junk foods that are highly processed and contain harmful chemical additives. The dietary changes have favored a hyper-acidic internal environment promoting inflammation and hypersensitivity of bronchial tissue.
+ The use of antibiotics damage the natural flora populations which protect bronchial and gut tissue allows further immune system degradation. It has been found that children whose mothers took antibiotics while they were pregnant were 17% more likely to be hospitalised for asthma subsequently. This can be due to a diminishing number of beneficial bacteria wiped off by the antibiotics. Upon transmission to the newborn baby, such unbalanced bacterial mix impacts on the immune maturation.
Treatment
+ Allergic allergens and irritants can be removed to avoid asthmatic attack. Non-allergic elements are harder to control, namely adrenal disorders, anxiety, anger, temperature changes, exercise, extremes of dryness or humidity, fear, laughing, low blood sugar and stress.
+ Asthma can be difficult to diagnose conclusively as its symptoms are quite similar to other respiratory diseases. In chronic cases, it is often treated with medications that are inhaled directly so the medicine reaches the air sacs in the lungs to aid breathing. However, long term dependency offers their share of side effects.
+ If you are currently using medication to control your asthma, supplements may help you gradually to reduce the dosage. Giving these supplements a try may restore healthy breathing in a safe and natural way, but inform your doctor know before taking supplements for asthma.
Supplements
+ Ginkgo
For more than a millennium, people in Asia have looked to the ginkgo tree as a source of healing. In recent years, scientists have discovered how ginkgo can make breathing more comfortable for people with asthma. The same substance that causes your blood to clot when you get a cut can trigger an asthma attack. It is called PAF or platelet activating factor that can cause allergic responses. This sudden narrowing of the main air passages from the windpipe to the lungs may feel like a tightening or squeezing in your chest, and breathing becomes difficult. Ginkgo can prevent this by blocking PAF.Ginkgo biloba extract is sold as an herbal supplement in health food stores. It comes in liquid form, tablet or capsule. The extract should contain 24% flavoglycosides, 10% quercetin and 6% terpenoids. Also look for ”tannin-free” and “50:1 concentrate. Take 40 milligrams (mg) thrice a day over 4-6 weeks to see some noticeable effect.
+ Turmeric
The pigment in turmeric called curcumin gives curry its yellow color. According to researchers from the Nihon University School of Medicine in Tokyo, this pigment can help to prevent asthma attacks by curbing the release of substances resulting in wheezing and chest-tightening. It can inhibit platelet aggregation, aid circulation and has anti-inflammatory properties.Available in capsule or liquid form, the usual dose of turmeric for other conditions is 1.5 to 3 grams daily. There are no known side effects from turmeric except occasional stomach upsets after prolonged use. Do not take if you have gallstones or a blockage of the bile duct.
+ Magnesium
Quite a bit of research has linked magnesium with the improvement of asthma symptoms. One study at City Hospital in Nottingham, England found that making an effort to take more magnesium can have a positive effect on asthma in a very short time. In a study involving 17 people who took either 400 milligrams of magnesium or a look-alike supplement without magnesium (a placebo) for several three-week periods, symptoms were significantly fewer when people in the study were getting the supplemental magnesium.
Avocado, sunflower seeds, nuts, legumes, dairy products, seafood and dark green vegetables are good source of magnesium, which have an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle of the upper respiratory tract. In fact, asthma patients usually have low magnesium level and doctors may prescribe magnesium sulfate to improve the condition. Since it is easily lost during washing, peeling and processing, choose fresh or minimally processed foods.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium is 320 mg for women over 30 and 420 mg for men over 30. For an asthma attack, recommended dosage is 600 milligrams of magnesium along with any medications that have been prescribed by your doctor. If you get relief, continue with a daily supplement of 600 milligrams, but do not take this much if you have any kidney problems or low blood pressure. Even under normal circumstance, do not over-consume as it can make you very sick, causing nausea, vomiting, or even paralysis or death. This is especially so for some over-the-counter medication, including laxatives and antacids where magnesium is the key ingredient.
A safe combination is calcium, magnesium, zinc and Vitamin D. The effective calcium/magnesium ratio is 2:1. Correct usage may stop the acute asthmatic episode by increasing the capacity of the lungs, tissue repair and has the dilating effect on the bronchial muscles.
+ Vitamin C
+ Omega 3
Our bodies do not produce Omega-3 fatty acids and have to derive from food sources especially in the oils of cold-water fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon. Over time, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can dramatically reduce asthmatic wheezing. Some doctors recommend a daily dose of 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of fish-oil concentrate or two teaspoons of cod-liver oil.
+ Bioflavonoids
Colourful fruits and vegetables contain bioflavonoids as can be seen by the bright pigments. Bioflavonoids are growth regulators in plants and have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Available in supplemental form include quercetin, pycnogenol, grapeseed extract and ginkgo extract.
+ Coenzyme 10 - has the ability to counter histamine and promote detoxification of dangerous substances from the immune system by enhancing oxygen utilisation by our cells.
+ Vitamin A and E – needed for lung tissue repair and keep down infection. Also increase air flow and fight inflammation.
Dos and Don'ts
Do -
+ Eat a diet comprising mainly fresh fruits and vegetables. As a guide, diet should be high in protein, low in carbohydrates and sugarless.
+ Most asthmatic patients have weakened immune system due to poor flora population. Thus, prebiotic supplementation plays an important role to rebuild immunity.
+ Use lemon juice to cleanse the body of toxins and mucus for 3 days.
+ Eat lightly as a big portion meal can cause shortness of breath by putting too much pressure on the stomach. Also, asthmatic patients tend to have lower levels of gastric hydrochloric acids.
+ Garlic is a natural antibiotic that helps to prevent lung infection.
+ Coffee and other caffeine-containing drinks seemed to help in reducing asthmatic outbreak as caffeine has a dilating effect on the bronchial airways.
+ Bee propolis can be used to soothe the mucous membranes.
Don'ts -
+ Avoid gas-producing foods, such as beans, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage and take a good enzyme complex. Gas can irritate an asthmatic condition by putting pressure on the diaphragm.
+ Stop cold drinks or ice cream as cold can shock the bronchial tubes into spasms.
+ Strong emotions and stress can trigger an asthma attack.
+ Avoid sensitive and additive foods.
+ Avoid using the aircondition and switch to fan instead. This is because when sensitive airway reacts to a trigger factor like cold and dry air, it tightens and becomes inflamed, causing coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Recommendation
Since there is no cure in asthma, minimise any effect by controlling the symptoms through:
- reducing inflammation in the airways and excessive mucus production;
- reducing sensitivity of allergens.
Remember, a compromised immune system is unable to handle asthma triggering assaults.
Source: http://www.medical-explorer.com/asthma.php?011; Prescription to Natural Healing
VIVA corner
VIVA products recommended to rev up immunity and prevent allergy and asthma:
VIVA Basic Essential Pack comprising Green Barley, Dailyguard, Vivashield, Floraguard to cleanse, balance, nourish and protect to create a solid foundation for a stronger and healthier immune system. VIVA Floraguard contains strong prebiotics and probiotics to support a healthy digestive system and strengthens the immune system. VIVASHIELD with potent antioxidants Vitamin A, C, E and Selenium combined. A correlation has been established between the low blood levels of antioxidants and the frequency of asthmatic attacks.
2. VIVA Gingko Biloba helps to dilate the bronchiole to improve air flow to the lungs, thus relieve and prevent asthma attack.3. VIVA C-Complex helps to improve allergy and asthmatic conditions by minimising the harmful effect of allergens.
. VIVA Oxypower contains CoQ10 and antioxidant A,C,E to enable better cell oxygen utilisation.5. VIVA Omega3 reduces inflammation, swelling and pain.
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