Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affects 15 million persons in the United States. An estimated 5 million children have asthma, which makes it the most common chronic disease of childhood. Some 60 percent of people who use steroids long term for asthma and other diseases will develop a mood disorder, such as depression or manic depression.

Flavonoids may be helpful, including Genistein and Quercetin. These are available as supplements. Flavonoids are found in vegetables, fruits, and herbs. They have anti-inflammatory activity.
Boswellia is an Ayurvedic herb that has been found to be helpful for asthma in one study. See also butterbur herbal supplement.

Asthma may be classified as mild, moderate, or persistent. Patients with persistent asthma require medications that provide long-term control of their disease and medications that provide quick relief of symptoms. Medications for long-term control of asthma include inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn, nedocromil, leukotriene modifiers and long-acting bronchodilators. Inhaled corticosteroids remain the most effective anti-inflammatory medications in the treatment of asthma. Quick-relief medications include short-acting beta₂ agonists, anticholinergics and systemic corticosteroids.

Airway inflammation is the primary problem in asthma. An initial event in asthma appears to be the release of inflammatory mediators (e.g., histamine, tryptase, leukotrienes and prostaglandins) triggered by exposure to allergens, irritants, cold air or exercise. The mediators are released from bronchial mast cells, alveolar macrophages, T lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Some mediators directly cause acute bronchoconstriction, termed the "early-phase asthmatic response." The inflammatory mediators also direct the activation of eosinophils and neutrophils, and their migration to the airways, where they cause injury. This so-called "late-phase asthmatic response" results in epithelial damage, airway edema, mucus hypersecretion and hyperresponsiveness of bronchial smooth muscle.

Asthma triggers include
Additives to alcoholic beverages or foods — metabisulfites, MSG, tartazine (yellow dye #5), yeast, sulfite additives in wine.
Allergens from animal dander, cockroaches, dust mites or mold spores, pollen (trees, grass, weeds), indoor and outdoor pollutants.
Foods such as eggs, milk, nuts, soy, wheat and peanut. Toddlers who consume large amounts of margarine and foods fried in vegetable oil may be twice as likely to develop asthma as their peers who eat less of these foods.
Changes in humidity or barometric pressure.
Diseases such as GERD, sinusitis, rhinitis, viral infections, hyperthyroidism.
Drugs-- aspirin, NSAIDs, beta blockers, sulfites, estrogen.
Irritants--tobacco smoke, wood-burning, perfumes, cleaning agents, carbon dioxide, pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone. Children who live near a busy road may be at increased risk of wheezing, a symptom of asthma. Exposure to air pollutants may increase the risk of death among people with severe asthma. Almost 100 million people in 21 U.S. states breathe unhealthy levels of tiny particles spewed by coal-burning power plants, cars and factories
Physical triggers--exercise, hyperventilation, cold air.
Physiological factors-stress, psychological factors. Stress of finals may worsen the symptoms of asthma.
Asthma triggers can also include mice droppings. Individuals who are prone to allergies and live in houses with high levels of mouse allergen are more likely to develop wheeze and other symptoms of asthma as those who live in mouse-free houses. There's a critical level of mouse urinary protein -- specifically, 1.6 micrograms in every gram of dust -- above which people are more likely to be sensitized to mice.

Environmental control measures include removing carpets from the patient’s bedroom and living areas, weekly washing of bedding and clothing in hot water, specially designed mattress and pillow covers, removing stuffed animals, keeping pets outdoors. Quilts made of synthetic fibers like polyester might trigger wheezing in some children with asthma.

Acid blocking medications and asthma
Acid-blocking treatment during pregnancy increases the risk of asthma in infants. There does not appear to be an increase in risk of other allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, food allergies, allergic rhinitis or anaphylaxis.

Household cleaning products and asthma
Children exposed to cleaning products and other household chemicals before or after birth are at increased risk of breathing problems. Young children whose mothers frequently use household chemicals during pregnancy are at greater risk of wheezing and developing asthma symptoms than their peers. The more often mothers use products like bleach, disinfectants, glass cleaner and insect sprays, the greater the children's odds of developing a wheezing problem by age 7.

Asthma cause in children
Children who are breastfed for fewer than three months and who are overweight have an increased risk of developing asthma. 
   Children who attend daycare may have a lower risk of developing asthma later on, particularly if they start daycare between the ages of 6 and 12 months. The findings lend more support to the "hygiene hypothesis" -- the theory that the increasingly germ-free surroundings of modern life are actually contributing to an increase in allergies and asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, August 23, 2008.
   Infants who have been given the common pain reliever acetaminophen or Tylenol may have a higher risk of developing asthma and eczema by the time they are 6 or 7.

Asthma, corticosteroids, and CoQ10
CoQ10 supplements may be helpful in asthma patients who are taking steroids
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces corticosteroids dosage in patients with bronchial asthma.
Biofactors. 2005;25(1-4):235-40. Comenius University, Medical Faculty, Pharmacobiochemical Laboratory, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Long-term administration of corticosteroids has been shown to result in mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage of mitochondrial and nuclear DNAs. CoQ(10) supplementation reduces the dosage of corticosteroids in these patients. Data show that patients with corticosteroid-dependent bronchial asthma have low plasma CoQ(10) concentrations that may contribute to their antioxidant imbalance and oxidative stress. A reduction in the dosage of corticosteroids required by the patients following antioxidant supplementation was observed, indicating lower incidence of potential adverse effects of the drugs, decreased oxidative stress.

Asthma supplement review questions
Q. I have a few questions regarding serotonin boosting therapies and asthma. I have exercised-induced asthma and depressive tendencies. I have done an inordinate amount of personal growth work (10-years therapy and countless workshops) for someone my age. Prompted by depressive tendencies, I began using 5-htp. Immediately, from a low dose of 50-mg, I could feel constriction in my breathing. After some cursory research, I learned about serotonin levels and asthma. I am finding very little written about the topic which is strange given how many people suffer from asthma. What kinds of approaches can someone with asthma take? Do they take serotonin-boosting supplements and something else to mitigate the asthmatic responses?
   A. There does not seem to be a clear relationship between serotonin levels and asthma symptoms since patients taking SSRI drugs such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft do not seem to have an aggravation of their asthma symptoms. However, there may be certain individuals whose asthma may be influenced by serotonin levels.

Q. I am looking for asthma natural therapy for my child. Are fish oils recommended for children as alternative therapy?
   A. Yes, asthma studies do show fish oils to be helpful. Hopefully additional asthma studies will indicate which herbs and vitamins are useful as asthma alternative therapy.

back to home index