Natural Asthma Support: Effective Herbs & Supplements

Buteyko Breathing Method

Posted by Valorie M. (New York, US) on 10/22/2014
★★★★★

Tried breathing exercise (buteyko method) where I gently breathe in and out, hold my nose, close my mouth, then walk around the house until I cant breathe any longer. Stand still and count to a minute, then do it again 6 more times. Within a day this has cut my cold/flu/asthma/allergies to 80%. I did it morning and night on an empty stomach. By the 3rd day I am 100% cured.

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Jennywren (Perth, Western Australia) on 05/23/2013
★★★★★

Yea. Having suffered from bronchitis attacks for years and years, which brought out my asthma, I finally took the plunge and nebulised with colloidal silver. Here's what I did:

Day One - Five minutes of nebulising in the morning and fifteen minutes before bedtime. Day Two: Fifteen minutes in the morning, five minutes at noon and fifteen minutes before bedtime. Day Three: Fifteen minutes in the morning and ten minutes before bedtime

In three days it had all cleared up! That was last February, and I haven't had bronchitis since.

H2O2 Inhalation Therapy

Posted by Reba (Portland, Oregon) on 12/08/2012
★★★★★

I am just recovering from a nasty virus which caused my asthma and sinus congestion to worsen. A doctor prescribed a steroid inhaler, but I reacted badly to it. I began a 1% hydrogen peroxide inhalation via the mouth with a nasal spray pump (5 pumps per inhale, 5 times daily). I'm also taking 600 mg extended release guaifenesin (Mucinex) with no other active ingredients, to loosen things up. After only 3 days, I'm feeling tremendously improved. My coughing is much less than even before I became ill. My sinuses are clearer and so are my thoughts.

While I believe there are limits to how long and often one should do this, I absolutely can't argue with its effectiveness. I'm hopeful that this awful 3 year battle with asthma and 25 year battle with sinus congestion may be ending. I've researched endlessly and over the years have tried so many supplements and herbs that just didn't help. My advice to anyone trying this is to ease into it a bit and never start with a 3% solution. I doubt I will ever go stronger than 1% because my body reacts strongly to medications.

Many people are afraid of hydrogen peroxide because strong solutions are so dangerous. As with so many compounds, whether something is a poison or a medicine is all about the concentration. I learned this once when I put straight 3% hydrogen peroxide in my ultrasonic humidifier and inhaled the mist deeply and repeatedly. My breathing started shutting down and I was barely able to inhale enough albuterol to stop the attack. I think people just have to be smart about things and shouldn't go overboard. And I definitely recommend trying this approach long enough and frequently enough to see what it can do.

I believe allergies play a part in asthma and sinus problems, with the secretions in sinus and lung tisssues forming a material which gradually is populated by microorganisms from the environment and ultimately creates a biofilm. Biofilms can become highly impenetrable to drugs, a problem which is the target of much medical research.

My hope is that the 1% hydrogen peroxide inhalations will be the means of killing the bugs which are probably residing in films in my lungs and sinuses and causing my asthma. I believe taking the guaifenesin and drinking plenty of water is important in helping to move out those problematic secretions--killing the bugs is good, but getting rid of the gunk makes it even better.

Yamoa Powder

Posted by Tenderfoot (Las Cruces, Nm Usa) on 08/29/2010
★★★★★

Hello Tom - This is to let you know how much I appreciate your post about Yamoa Powder below. When I read about it ,I right away went to the web site and read the testimonials and bought myself a bottle as a last resort.

I'm happy to say I'm at least 70% better now after less than 4 weeks! At the time I read your post I was considering admitting myself to some kind of care facility. I felt so bad, taking baby steps to reach my inhaler and using furniture to support myself. It's such a good feelinig to be able to take a good breath now and move around freely. I'm glad you took the time to let us know about this wonderful supplement, it's so important to share information where we can all benefit. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Tom (Regina, Sk) on 08/03/2010
★★★★★

Re: Coconut oil for asthma

Almost certainly, the key reason it works is the lung surfactant secreted by the epithelial cells is almost solely palmitic acid, which by weight in coconut oil is 9%:

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/fattyacids1.html

Here is the reference for this:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller33.1.html

Saturated fats play many important biologic roles. They are an integral component of cell membranes, which are 50 percent saturated fat. Lung surfactant is composed entirely, when available, of one particular saturated fat, 16-carbon palmitic acid. Properly made with this fat, it prevents asthma and other breathing disorders. For nourishment, heart muscle cells prefer saturated long-chain palmitic and 18-carbon stearic acid over carbohydrates. Saturated fats are required for bone to assimilate calcium effectively. They help the liver clear out fat and provide protection from the adverse effects of alcohol and medications like acetaminophen. Medium-chain saturated fats in butter and coconut oil, 12-carbon lauric acid and 14-carbon myristic acid, play an important role in the immune system.

MSM

Posted by John (Nyc, Ny) on 01/15/2010
★★★★★

I have been in the healing profession (practitioner, researcher, advocate) for 30 years, nothing comes close to my experience with MSM, I am so sorry it took this long to try it. My chronic asthma gone in 3 days!! On albuterol for almost 40 years. I am in shock.

Some side effects which I consider to be cleansing symptoms: nausea, sleeplessness and skin breakouts, but I did start on a high dose of 20 grams a day. After three weeks no more 'side effects'.

My energy has greatly increased, I feel quite euphoric every day now. The only time I had that kind of euphoria was by drinking three glasses of organic green juices a day. I think people on heavy medications, mercury fillings, toxic diet are going to have more difficulties with it, so building up from a small dose with extra vitamin C and plenty of pure water will help.

The other supplement that really helps is Vitamin D3, I take 16,000iu liquid daily, no colds for two years now and my chronic bronchitis of 20 years has disappeared. Some years it was mild others, severe triggering serious asthma attacks. So the combination of Vitamin and MSM has been miraculous for me. This great website encouraged me to try MSM. Thanks so much.

p.s. Brushing my teeth with MSM has whitened them.

Asthma Inhalers and Mental Disturbances

Posted by Sharon (Fl) on 04/19/2017
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

I inhaled toxic dust at my workplace and got RADS. I coughed continuously for seven weeks until I was referred to pulmonologist who put me on very high dose prednisone for five days. Although it stopped the coughing, I did get a steroid psychosis which I would not wish on any one...mainly delusions and mania, plus a feeling of unreality. It can happen, luckily mine was short lived, although it took me a year to truly recover from the RADS.

Allergy Connection

Posted by Liz (West Bend, WI) on 10/15/2008
0 out of 5 stars

I developed asthma when I was pregnant with my daughter about two years ago. I think I had it for much longer as dust has always bothered me and caused me to have lung infections. I was taking meds, not religiously, but on occausion for the first year. I finally decided to see an allergist in March 08, and had reactions to the 6 most common indoor and outdoor allergens in varying degrees. I know the scale is from 0-4 and I'm a 4 for dust and cat dander. I'm also allergic to different tree pollens. I was trying to find the sheet that listed them all but I'm not sure where it is.

I believe my asthma is caused by my allergies and have been oil pulling two times a day for 5min, taking 2TBS raw organic ACV twice a day with 1/8tea of baking soda, 1 TBS raw honey, and have also recently added 1tea cinnamon and 1-2 tea lemon juice. I know these things help with my overall health but they haven't largely helped my asthma.

I also drink tea on a regular basis and have tried peppermint, licorice root, green tea, black teas. They seem to help while I'm drinking it but the effects are short lived.

I have also tried green tea with ACV and Cayenne pep during a cold, which did seem to help but didn't completely eradicate it.

Basically I'm looking for other alternative treatments to try. I have been having asthma attacks more frequently and I'm not sure if its my indoor air quality or what. I live in WI and its getting cold so all the windows are closed. I want to buy more plants to help filter the air which I think would help some.

I was also thinking of trying to do a clinical study by Dr.David Hahn. He believes that asthma is caused by a bacteria in your lungs I posted the links to his website under a post for azithromycin. I think that may be promising for some asthma sufferers.

Also,my asthma acts up when I excercise (which I try to do every day) and the highest I can blow on a peak flow meter is 300, lowest I get when having an attack is 90-150. Avg person gets between 400-700. My husband can max my device out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have twin boys and a daugther all under the age of five and my asthma takes my life away. Plus, I want to be able to help my kids if they develope asthma/allergies.
Thanks for your time,
Liz

Coughs, Acid Reflux and Asthma

Posted by Lori (Arkansas, Usa) on 11/20/2016
★★★★★

Same deal here! My son was diagnosed at 3 with asthma...almost never wheezed, just nagging cough. He had reflux as a newborn that eventually went "silent" until he started having trouble with esophageal strictures at age 11. Fundoplication at 15, persistent esophageal problem, but no reflux. At 16 he began a 6 food elimination diet and 18 months later an allergy to milk was uncovered. No asthma ATTACKS since the fundo-, no asthma at all since elimination of the dairy!

Reflux is no joke!

Quercetin

Posted by Paul (Morrisville, PA) on 01/19/2006
★★★★★

I have used quercetin with bromelain supplement to eliminate my daily use of inhalers and Singulair in order to breathe. One needs to take very high doses of quercetin when initially weaning themself off the medications (it's almost impossible to take too much quercetin - it's extremely non-toxic and safe). After a few weeks, a lower - and much more affordable - maintenance dose can be taken each day with no side effects or worries. This is not a true cure, but it is one natural way to manage asthma. A good holistic doc may help with finding a cure depending on the particular cause for each individual - whether it be a yeast problem, allergies, adrenal problem, Wilson's syndrome, etc

Dietary Changes

Posted by Adrienne (Regina, SK) on 11/29/2005
★★★★★

I started developing asthma about a year and half ago... I couldn't even walk a block without wheezing. On the advice of my mother, I stopped eating all wheat products and have had no trouble breathing ever since.

Dietary Changes

Posted by H.M. (Phoenix, AZ)
★★★★★

I've been on a dairy-free diet for less than a week and my breathing is much deeper than ever! As well, my allergies are dissipating. I was hospitalized for asthma earlier this year, and wondered if I was ever going to get my symptoms under control. I cannot adequately express how much better I feel. I'm also going to add ACV to my breakfast and dinner -- I feel that it will also help.

Vitamin C

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 08/14/2025
★★★★★

ASCORBIC ACID (PURE VITAMIN C) FOR ASTHMA and BRONCHOSPASM

Bronchial allergies are termed “asthma.” The allergens can also be physical agents, such as heat, cold, or sunlight, which cause unusual, strong reactions in hypersensitive individuals.

Form the Book: Healing Factor Vitamin C Against Disease – by Irwin Stone, Linus Pauling, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi 1972, p. 123-124

Source on-line: https://vitamincfoundation.org/stone/

Source download book: https://welib.org/md5/35609ae8abf6e1dcb1cc701374943358

The history of the use of ascorbic acid in the treatment of asthma also dates back to the mid-1930s and is also confusing. It was reviewed in the 1941 paper by Goldsmith (10), who noted the typical pattern of good results of some investigators and of others who failed to confirm these good results. Goldsmith measured the blood ascorbic acid levels of twenty-nine asthmatics and found twenty-two to be below 0.6 mg% (0.7mg% is considered the minimal normal level) and in two of their patients with hay fever only, ascorbic acid was practically absent from their blood (0.07 and 0.08 mg%). On a regime of 300 milligrams of ascorbic acid daily for 1 week, 200 milligrams daily for the second week, and 50 milligrams daily thereafter, six of seven of their asthmatics were unable to maintain blood levels of 1.0 mg%, which was easily achieved by a healthy control group. They interpreted this as a sign that asthmatics had a greater requirement for ascorbic acid. In some of their patients, they found a relationship between the low blood levels of ascorbic acid and the frequency and severity of asthmatic attacks.

Ten years later, in 1951, the literature was again reviewed by Silbert (10). Of the nineteen papers reviewed, thirteen reported benefit, some to complete remission of symptoms, while 6 reported little or no benefit. Silbert suggested that some of these failures may have been due to inadequate dosages of ascorbic acid.

A series of important papers reporting the work of W. Dawson and coworkers (3,11) on the nature of the antagonism of ascorbate on bronchospasm and on the action of ascorbate on smooth muscle, appeared from 1965 to 1967. They showed that spasmogen-induced broncho-constriction in guinea

pigs could be prevented by ascorbic acid. They believed this was due to a direct action of the ascorbate on the bronchial smooth muscle. They also showed that this action is dose-dependent; at low levels it may potentiate the effect of spasmogens, such as histamine, and at higher concentrations it inhibits their spastic effects. This dose-related smooth muscle phenomenon may explain some of the conflicting clinical results of the past four decades.

The protocols for future clinical research using ascorbic acid in asthma should include the megascorbic prophylaxis levels. The dosages would be increased to a point where a therapeutic effect would be obtained. In severe asthmatic attacks, large doses of sodium ascorbate administered intravenously should be tried to relieve the attack. For the safety of this procedure, check the references in Chapter 20 on eye conditions, where doses of 70 grams of sodium ascorbate have been used intravenously without undesirable side effects in the treatment of glaucoma.

Note: Use a good quality Ascorbic acid, made in the USA, third party tested. I choose Nutricost brand, Ascorbic acid Vitamin C because it met all my requirements and it is fairly cheap $20 for 1lb. I am taking one gram (¼ tsp.) powder in half a glass of water 3x/daily. That's 3,000mg

Lung Herbal Tonics, Salt Therapy

Posted by Jennifer (Phoenix, Az) on 11/20/2017
★★★★★

Have had breathing problems since a little girl due to swimming in chlorinated pool. I finally found a way to cure my lung issues. I take a lung tonic which is a liquid I purchased from a health food store with herbs for the lungs. I take this while I use an herbal inhaler that I got from the health food store. I purchased it at Whole foods. then I did Salt therapy. There are salt therapy clinics all over the country where you sit in a salt room and inhale the salts. Go slow as it can make things very constricted at first. Like 10 minutes to start. I also have purchased a cheap nebulizer on ebay and nebulized salt water into the air where I can breath it in. I have done some essential oils also. You have to go really slow though. As it cleanses your lungs of all the toxins, it can make things feel worse at first. I have also found that a little red wine can loosen things up. I mean a tiny bit. I started to drink it a long time ago after one episode of breathing issues that lasted a year, and finally gave up and started to drink some red wine. And low and behold my breathing came back. I don't know if it was this or all the lung herbs I drank in a tea, like lungwart, lobelia etc.

The most recent situation was very life threatening as I moved into a new home with new construction dust. I almost died. And had to stay at a hotel where someone setoff a smoke bomb outside my hotel room. And I was in massive distress. The taking the tonics I got at Whole foods, and their inhalation stick, together with nebulizing some salt water and essential oils eventually cleared my lungs. I also took some stabilized oxygen pills (non chlorinated - very important) but that doesn't help by itself.

I would also treat for candida and mold knowing that my environmenal scientist friend says that our air is filled with it.

H2O2 Inhalation Therapy

Posted by Myway (Delaware, Usa) on 01/23/2015
★★★★★

Update: So here it is, my journey seems to be almost complete with my asthma. I use Bill Monroe's H202 Therapy as a go-to if I start wheezing, take 2 teaspoons of Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa) daily to reduce systemic inflammation AND keep my sinuses clear of mucous plus, take Dr. Carolyn Dean's Remag (picometer size liquid magnesium), 1/2 tsp 2X a day....and continue to practice buteynko method of breathing. BTW, my Magnesium RBC (red blood cell) test was 5.0 mg/dL and according to Dr. Dean, it needs to be between 6.0-6.5 mg/dL, not the 4.2-6.8 mg/dL as indicated on the test range. The fluoride in the Advair was leaching the magnesium from my system - hence, I was not getting the proper nutrition I needed to combat my asthma. My body was not getting properly fueled nutritionally because the magnesium was not allowed to drag into the cells the vitamins and nutrients it needed.

If you have an interest in getting to the root of some of your health issues, I suggest you read the follow excerpt from functional medicine university. This one page of information is an eye opener as it relates to magnesium deficiencies.

http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/882.cfm

Buteyko Breathing Method

Posted by Sam (Miami, FL) on 01/02/2015

And that is absolute true! The cardinal mistake people make, they confuse Maximum pause with Control pause. The Buteyko method is not about forcefully pausing your breath, but about consciously reducing its depth, not forcefully. One should never interfere with body's natural breathing. You gradually reprogram your brain to underbreath, so to speak, that will increase level of co2 which in turn will break oxygen /hemoglobins bond and make oxygen available to the tissues.

Buteyko Breathing Method

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 02/08/2024

In the early 1900's, Gallaher Ltd. (a UK-founded tobacco company) printed a short “How-To” series, with clever hints for emergency situations. The cards were distributed with packs of cigarettes. All the pictures are part of the George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library.

How to Increase Lung Power

Stand straight with your head held well back looking straight up at the sky (as in the illustration).

Inhale deeply until your lungs are fully inflated, and then gradually exhale.

Repeat this exercise several times in both the morning and evening.

Source: https://www.boredpanda.com/vintage-100-year-old-life-hacks/

Onion Poultice

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 08/26/2013
★★★★★

Hi! My 9 year old had a terrible asthma attack last night. She coughed and wheezed all night. By morning, the coughing was non-stop. All night I tried remedy after remedy and nothing was working. (She had this trouble a year ago and we found a number of natural solutions for her. Then she only had a little trouble every so often, easily treatable with nettles and quercetin.) Anyway, I was reading through all the asthma stuff here on earth clinic and trying what I had on hand. ACV didn't work. Essential Oils didn't work. Lobelia tincture didn't work. And Epsom Salt bath didn't work. Green tea didn't work. Coffee didn't work. Herbal steam didn't work and nettles and quercetin didn't work. ) Previously, many of these things had worked for her, so I was really baffled.

Finally, I called a friend (when the hour was decent) to ask her about a remedy she had once used on her son who has bad asthma. It was an "Onion Poultice." I sauteed about 1/4 cup of onion in coconut oil until it was soft. I put it on a cloth. I added a lot of salt. (at least 1/4 cup. ) I wrapped it in the cloth and when it was no longer too hot (test on forearm) I put in on her chest (which had some oil as a barrier on it, so the onion wouldn't burn. ) In a few minutes she stopped coughing and slept with not a single cough for almost 2 hours. She was still wheezing but not coughing. When she woke up, I gave her 4 nettles capsules and 2 quercetin capsules. When I checked her breathing with a stethoscope 30 minutes later, her lungs sounded almost normal.

By the way, if you have a stethoscope, here is a great website to know what you are hearing. I found it very helpful.

http://www.easyauscultation.com/lung-sounds.aspx

She may have a little cold that brought this one and perhaps ate something yesterday at a pot luck that didn't agree with her (she went to bed with a migraine.)

I was thinking we might end up in the ER and was so grateful that we didn't have to do that. Thank God for onion.

I hope that helps another mom one of these nights when you are searching and searching for what will help you child!

~Mama to Many~

Lobelia

Posted by Yosef (Brooklyn, NY) on 05/09/2013
★★★★★

I have used a mixture with lobelia seed to treat asthma attacks and it clears it within 5 minutes. It also is used to prevent attacks when taken in settings that may trigger them. Other ingredients were nettle, Pleurisy, Ginger, Mullein leaf, Comfrey root, Marshmallow root, Onion, Elecampane Root, Coltsfoot Leaf, Licorice Root, Kola Nut, Cherry Bark, Fennel Seed, Peppermint Leaf.

Oregano Oil

Posted by Valerie (Coconut Creek, Fl, Us) on 05/01/2013
★★★★★

Oregano oil for bronchitis and asthma:

After trying EVERYTHING I read about I came across a book by Dr. Cass Ingram in which she describes how wild oregano can be used in the treatment of different diseases. I started using the oil and a supplement with oregano and other spices and after a week I'm so much better, I rarely use my inhaler anymore. Amazing!

Dietary Changes

Posted by Ralph (Australia) on 04/30/2022

Hi Rachel, Just saw your post. I too am sensitive to sulphur both good and bad types to the point that salbutamol is no longer able to control my asthma. I have avoided corticosteroids use up to this point. For the last 12 months, I have found that when I am on a keto diet I am able to completely control my asthma and even eat some broccoli, cabbage etc, however, if I slip up and fall out of keto my asthma will come straight back. The keto diet controls some of the major inflammatory mechanisms affecting the lungs. Finding this out has been a major relief for me and the keto diet can be very satisfying once you get around the learning curve a bit. I hope you or somebody else finds this to be helpful. Cheers Ralph

Oil Pulling

Posted by Anonymouscat (La, Ca) on 01/02/2013
★★★★★

I'm been doing oil pulling ( oil and 3 drop Thyme oil mixed in) for few days, my breathing is better. Now I'm thinking that since all root canals leak infection supposedly. Perhaps the shortness of breath is due to this issue. I'm seeing a holistic dentist next week to discuss having them removed and redone the correct way.