How to Naturally Support Asthma with Integrative Medicine

Asthma affects at least 5.4 million people in the UK. The condition can seriously interfere with quality of life, and in some cases cause hospitalisation or even death. In fact, around 60,000 people are admitted to hospital because of asthma each year.

In this blog we’ll discover why asthma develops, and most importantly, how nutrition and lifestyle can help by addressing the root causes of the disease.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition caused by inflamed and narrow airways. These become blocked by excess mucus, obstructing airflow. This leads to difficulties in breathing, wheezing, chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath.

Asthma occurs in episodic attacks following exposure to a trigger. The smooth muscles in the airway walls constrict, and their diameter narrows.

How is Asthma Treated?

Conventional treatment of asthma includes steroids to suppress inflammation and inhalers designed to open up airways. These offer symptomatic relief but don’t address the underlying causes of the disease.

What Causes Asthma?

The most common type of asthma is allergic asthma. It’s triggered by an overreaction of the immune system following exposure to airborne substances. These might include pollen, household dust mites, pet hair, mould spores or certain foods. However, modern air is chock-full of substances capable of irritating lungs, including industrial pollutants, traffic fumes, and agricultural chemicals.

Allergic asthma often exists alongside other allergic conditions like hay fever and eczema, and frequently runs in families.

On the other hand, situations like respiratory infections, cold air, exercise, strong odours, hormonal fluctuations, or stress can trigger non-allergic asthma attacks.

Primarily, asthma is caused by a combination of immune system dysregulation and inflammation.

How to Naturally Support Asthma

Nurture Your Gut

You might not think your lungs and your gut are connected, but the gut is where most of your immune system resides. Your gut and your lungs both host their own microbial population, known as microbiomes. The two microbiomes communicate with one another via bidirectional pathways. This link between the gut and the lung is known as the gut/lung axis.

Imbalances in the microbiomes in either your lung or your gut can lead to immune dysregulation and inflammation. Scientists have discovered imbalanced gut microbiomes in people with asthma (1). In fact, poor gut health sets the stage for allergic reactions, elevated inflammation, and overall poor lung health.

If your gut isn’t healthy, you’re more likely to develop food sensitivities. In some people, certain foods can spark off an asthma attack.

Testing a sample of your stool is a great first step towards better gut health. A GI Map Test, which includes practitioner interpretation, can help identify microbial dysbiosis and inflammation which may be affecting your immune system and your lung health.

Eat Your Way to Healthy Lungs

A diet rich in nutrient-dense plant foods, full of microbiome-friendly fibre and antioxidants has been found in research to lower inflammation and reduce asthma symptoms (2). A Mediterranean-type diet also includes oily fish which contains omega 3 fats. These help manage inflammation, while having sufficient omega 3 is linked with reduced rates of asthma (3).

Important nutrients to help your body regulate inflammation include vitamin D (4) and vitamin C. Meanwhile, magnesium may help to assist the muscles of the airways to relax.

It’s now straightforward to detect nutrient deficiencies which may be contributing towards immune dysregulation and inflammation with a simple at-home pinprick test.

Clean Up Your Environment

You can’t completely control the chemicals you’re exposed to, particularly outside the home, but you can, to an extent, clean up the air inside your home. It’s a good idea to switch to toxin-free home cleaning products and natural essential oil-based air fresheners, and to avoid burning paraffin wax candles and open fires. Meanwhile, opt for used, rather than new, furniture. These emit less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air when off-gassing.

Meanwhile, remove all mould in your home by using white vinegar. Ventilate your home well to avoid mould spores, which can irritate lungs and cause widespread inflammation.

To reduce dust mites, ensure good ventilation in your bedroom, and keep the room cool. Vacuum your mattress regularly and wash sheets and pillowcases weekly on a hot wash. Consider using a HEPA air filter to trap dust mites.

Manage Your Stress

Stress means you automatically breathe less deeply and reduces expiratory flow rate. In addition, stress has a detrimental effect on immune health. Somatic therapies like Emotional Freedom Technique can help reframe your body’s response to stress. contributing to disease.

Exercise for Better Lung Health

Because certain forms of exercise can spark off an asthma attack in some people, you might be tempted to avoid exercising. But gentle movement can help strengthen the muscles surrounding your lungs.

Integrative Medicine Support for Asthma

Our team of therapists can support you in your journey. For example, a Functional Nutritionist can help support your gut health and identify any nutrient deficiencies contributing towards your condition. Meanwhile, Micro-Immunotherapy uses low doses of plant-derived substances to gently recalibrate the immune system and restore optimal functioning.

A great starting point towards your optimal health journey is an Integrative Health Assessment, designed to discover the root causes of your health issues and signpost you towards further therapies where needed. We look forward to supporting you.