8 Natural Remedies for Asthma Symptoms

Living with asthma can be a challenge, especially when it limits your ability to enjoy everyday activities. While traditional medications, like inhalers, can help temporarily relieve symptoms, they don’t offer a long-term solution. Fortunately, there are several natural remedies and habits you can implement into your routine that can alleviate your symptoms and enhance your respiratory health. 

Though there is currently no cure for asthma, trying some of these natural asthma treatments could improve your quality of life all around. In this article, we’ll explore some of these natural remedies, including aromatherapy, yoga, and more. Let’s dive in and discover how you can regain control of your asthma – and your life!

 

 

Aromatherapy

 

Certain essential oils, such as eucalyptus and peppermint, have natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the airways. These mighty oils can be used in a diffuser to revitalize a space and enhance the aromatherapy throughout your home. Natural plant extracts and oils are also known to elevate your mood, provide a calming sensation, and reduce stress, all which are helpful in aiding asthma symptoms.

You can experiment with different scents to see which work best for you, making it a bit of fun to play around to find your perfect combination. Popular essential oils for asthma include clove, rosemary, and thyme to help with difficulty breathing and wheezing, and lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil to help reduce inflammation.

 

Halotherapy

 

It is believed that inhaling salty air can help stimulate the respiratory system, reduce inflammation, and reduce discomfort. But you don’t have to sit around the beach for hours to reap all of the benefits of salt. Halotherapy, or salt therapy, is a natural remedy that can be done in the comfort of your own home. 

The treatment involves inhaling microscopic salt particles, which has been found to be effective in clear blockages in the airways. This makes it particularly beneficial for individuals with asthma who struggle with respiratory inflammation. A study found that children with asthma who used speleotherapy, or salt-based therapy, for a four-week period experienced improved symptoms. Regardless of age, incorporating salt therapy weekly can help reduce inflammation caused by asthma.

 

Steam Therapy

 

Inhaling steam is another helpful way to open up your airways during asthma symptoms. Steam therapy can be done by taking a hot shower or bath, using a steam inhaler, spending time relaxing in a steam room, or even by simply standing over a bowl of hot water. Using steam is a quick and effective way to help open your airways, reduce inflammation, loosen mucus and congestion, and help provide moisture to airways for asthma attacks caused by dry air. While steam therapy isn’t a treatment for asthma, it’s a wonderful and easily-accessible remedy to alleviate discomfort when it arises.

 

 

Infrared Saunas

 

Recent studies have found that infrared sauna use may help improve lung and respiratory function. One recent review in 2018 found that those suffering conditions such as asthma saw breathing improvements after sauna use, and another study found that consistent sauna use helped reduce the symptoms of acute respiratory symptoms. Infrared sauna use can help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, maintain a healthy weight, and improve immune system health – all factors that can help improve overall lung health.

Better yet, you can incorporate other asthma-friendly practices like aromatherapy and halo therapy into your infrared sauna session with the HALOONE® salt therapy generator and AromaOne® aromatherapy diffuser. Both devices are portable and can be used anywhere in your home, but when paired with your Clearlight Infrared Sauna experience, you’ll surround yourself in wellness and have a powerful trio of natural remedies for asthma in one session.

 

Weight Management

 

Many who struggle with asthma know carrying excess weight can worsen symptoms and make it more difficult to manage their condition. Losing weight in a healthy and sustainable way can help reduce overall inflammation in the body and aid your respiratory function. Through a healthy diet and exercise plan, you could find great relief in your breathing. Aim to achieve your weight loss goals through gradual lifestyle changes that are realistic and can be sustained in the long run. Seeking out professional assistance can also help you in making these changes into a life-long commitment. 

 

Asthmatic-Friendly Diet

 

As you may be able to tell already, there is a common trend among all of these treatments: anti-inflammatory remedies and asthmatic patients are definitely friends. That is why having a diet plan with plenty of anti-inflammatory properties is optimal to stay in good health. 

Herbs such as ginger, turmeric, and licorice root have been used for centuries as natural remedies for asthma and respiratory ailments. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like those found in fish, nuts, and seeds can also reduce inflammation in the body.  Even if you don’t restructure your whole nutritional plan around these foods, including them once a day can be helpful in maintaining a healthy diet. If you see a nutrition specialist already, consider sharing about your condition with them and discuss how your nutrition could better aid your symptoms.

 

 

Yoga Practice

 

Yoga is a curative therapy known for its life-altering benefits, especially for those with asthma. This low-impact exercise has the power to improve lung function and reduce stress, two known triggers for asthma symptoms. Specific yoga poses, such as the downward-facing dog and the cobra pose, allow the lungs to expand, enabling deeper breathing.

Additionally, the breathing techniques practiced in yoga, known as pranayama, reduce anxiety by calming the nervous system and relaxing the body. Studies have found that people who practice yoga may experience fewer asthma attacks and get better results in breathing tests, and yoga can be an effective tool in managing mental health to help reduce stress-induced asthma attacks. Implement this easy practice into your fitness routine and take the deepest breath you’re taken all day! 

 

Acupuncture

 

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to improve energy flow and reduce inflammation.  A 2017 study found that adding acupuncture to your daily routine may be an effective treatment for asthma, reducing symptoms and improving lung capacity. By balancing the body’s energy flow, acupuncture has the potential to improve overall immune system function, leading to improved health and well-being for asthmatic patients and beyond.

 

There you have it. Now you know how to reduce asthma symptoms naturally. With just a few simple adjustments to your diet, exercise, and wellness routine, you can regain control of your life and enjoy everyday activities without the constant struggle to breathe. So, whether you try halotherapy, yoga, infrared sauna sessions, or any of the other practices mentioned above, try these natural remedies for asthma to help you get a deeper breath and lead a healthier, happier life!