Farmer Sue Tickle
01-14-2003, 05:19 PM
Hi all,
I've had asthma for most of my life and only now am I taking charge, ditching the meds and seriously improving my symptoms. I'd like to hear any suggestions from any and all of you on what else I can do to make lasting, significant improvements in my respiratory health.
I try meditation regularly, have cut out mucous-forming foods, try and vacuum regularly, take sage and licorice (not together!) tea occasionally and take good strenous exercise when I can, all with good results but I want to go further. I've heard of (as with all allergies) trying to recreate and deal with emotional events from childhood and I've read a little on NAED.
Does anyone have any good stories ?
I've had asthma for most of my life and only now am I taking charge, ditching the meds and seriously improving my symptoms. I'd like to hear any suggestions from any and all of you on what else I can do to make lasting, significant improvements in my respiratory health.
I try meditation regularly, have cut out mucous-forming foods, try and vacuum regularly, take sage and licorice (not together!) tea occasionally and take good strenous exercise when I can, all with good results but I want to go further. I've heard of (as with all allergies) trying to recreate and deal with emotional events from childhood and I've read a little on NAED.
Does anyone have any good stories ?
Sponsor
Sarah68
01-14-2003, 07:40 PM
Ok, well both acupuncture and homeopathy can both be very effective in the treatment of asthma.
I developed an allergy based asthma in my 20's and was given first an Intal inhaler and then a Ventolin inhaler by my doc. Intal is a dry powder inhaler that made me cough so much, I could not take it. Although it is primarily for kids, he gave it to me as a preventer as it was meant to be good for allergic asthma. I then switched to Ventolin, which worked very well and then following a severe bout of bronchitis one winter, I ended up on a steroid inhaler too, to help clear it. I carried on like this, as I didn't know any different and would get bronchitis, would need more antibiotics and then more steroids and it carried on like this in a vicious circle. However, a friend at the time had started doing an acupuncture course and persuaded me to go along just for one treatment to see if I liked it. Her college was doing a promotion to try and get people to go to the student clinic for reduced prices. I went along and was totally amazed. After only one treatment and with the use of various points, my breathing became a lot better, so I went back and after 3 treatments I had ditched my steroid inhaler completely and by the end of the full course, I was not using my Ventolin at all. It was great and somehow taught me how to breathe very deeply from my belly rather than my chest and this has really helped ever since.
I actually discovered in the end that were also a lot of emotional components to my problems and just happened to pick up a book one day about homeopathy. By this time, I was so into the acupuncture that I had gone to study it myself in college and I was in the college library where I saw this book on homeopathy. As I was doing acupuncture, I was quite receptive so I sat down and started reading it. It was the book by Bill Gray MD, the Yale trained doc turned homeopath. Anyway, it was so easy to read that I found it fascinating. After reading it, I went and had some treatment myself and was amazed at the results. Suddenly, years of emotional suppression started to unravel themselves and I felt better both physically and mentally than I had done in years.
I completed my acupuncture training and went and set-up in practice and although my practice was great and thriving, I felt that something was missing, so went and trained in homeopathy too. I now integrate both acupuncture and homeopathy in my practice for the benefit of my patients, as I feel that there are some things that acupuncture will work better for and vice versa. Sometimes acupuncture is better for more physical problems, whereas homeopathy will go to a much deeper level and although good for physical ailments, is very good for mental and emotional problems too. I now still have a thriving practice, but feel that I found this missing link and am much more relaxed and seem to find more satisfaction in helping my patients.
Sorry this is so long winded, but I hope that it helps some of you and that you can derive some benefit from reading it?
Take care
I developed an allergy based asthma in my 20's and was given first an Intal inhaler and then a Ventolin inhaler by my doc. Intal is a dry powder inhaler that made me cough so much, I could not take it. Although it is primarily for kids, he gave it to me as a preventer as it was meant to be good for allergic asthma. I then switched to Ventolin, which worked very well and then following a severe bout of bronchitis one winter, I ended up on a steroid inhaler too, to help clear it. I carried on like this, as I didn't know any different and would get bronchitis, would need more antibiotics and then more steroids and it carried on like this in a vicious circle. However, a friend at the time had started doing an acupuncture course and persuaded me to go along just for one treatment to see if I liked it. Her college was doing a promotion to try and get people to go to the student clinic for reduced prices. I went along and was totally amazed. After only one treatment and with the use of various points, my breathing became a lot better, so I went back and after 3 treatments I had ditched my steroid inhaler completely and by the end of the full course, I was not using my Ventolin at all. It was great and somehow taught me how to breathe very deeply from my belly rather than my chest and this has really helped ever since.
I actually discovered in the end that were also a lot of emotional components to my problems and just happened to pick up a book one day about homeopathy. By this time, I was so into the acupuncture that I had gone to study it myself in college and I was in the college library where I saw this book on homeopathy. As I was doing acupuncture, I was quite receptive so I sat down and started reading it. It was the book by Bill Gray MD, the Yale trained doc turned homeopath. Anyway, it was so easy to read that I found it fascinating. After reading it, I went and had some treatment myself and was amazed at the results. Suddenly, years of emotional suppression started to unravel themselves and I felt better both physically and mentally than I had done in years.
I completed my acupuncture training and went and set-up in practice and although my practice was great and thriving, I felt that something was missing, so went and trained in homeopathy too. I now integrate both acupuncture and homeopathy in my practice for the benefit of my patients, as I feel that there are some things that acupuncture will work better for and vice versa. Sometimes acupuncture is better for more physical problems, whereas homeopathy will go to a much deeper level and although good for physical ailments, is very good for mental and emotional problems too. I now still have a thriving practice, but feel that I found this missing link and am much more relaxed and seem to find more satisfaction in helping my patients.
Sorry this is so long winded, but I hope that it helps some of you and that you can derive some benefit from reading it?
Take care
Farmer Sue Tickle
01-15-2003, 12:59 PM
Not long-winded and thanks for taking the time to write; certainly appreciated.
I used to use Intal too (a non-corticosteroid) when I as a kid and was moved on to Becotide, a corticosteroid (there's progress http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif ). I know what you mean about the antibiotic cycle. I've had a couple of cases of prednisolone treatment. Well I think you know what they do and how it's borrowing from Peter to pay Paul when you want to breathe properly.
I threw away my steroids last March and have used a bronchodilator only occassionally since. My breathing could still be better, though. Acupuncture will be my next stop. Lastly, how does homeopathy help if it's an emotion-rooted problem ? Doesn't homeopathy work in a similar way to a vaccine ? Should I inject myself with small doses of my mother so I can learn how to deal with her better? ;)
[This message has been edited by Farmer Sue Tickle (edited 01-15-2003).]
I used to use Intal too (a non-corticosteroid) when I as a kid and was moved on to Becotide, a corticosteroid (there's progress http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif ). I know what you mean about the antibiotic cycle. I've had a couple of cases of prednisolone treatment. Well I think you know what they do and how it's borrowing from Peter to pay Paul when you want to breathe properly.
I threw away my steroids last March and have used a bronchodilator only occassionally since. My breathing could still be better, though. Acupuncture will be my next stop. Lastly, how does homeopathy help if it's an emotion-rooted problem ? Doesn't homeopathy work in a similar way to a vaccine ? Should I inject myself with small doses of my mother so I can learn how to deal with her better? ;)
[This message has been edited by Farmer Sue Tickle (edited 01-15-2003).]
Sarah68
01-15-2003, 04:02 PM
You are not far wrong when you say that it works like a vaccine, I suppose it does, as it works on the principle of 'Like Cures Like' so you have to match a person symptoms to the remedy and if you get the right remedy, or the closest similar remedy, then in theory, it should work. However good a homeopath is they sometimes cannot expect to hit on the perfect remedy first time round, but you do get better with experinece and there can also be blocks to cure that get in the way.
When you have a flu jab, they inject you with an attenuated flu vaccine and this stimulates the immune system. Homeopathic remedies do boost the immune system, but not in quite the same way as a vaccine does. A vaccine stimulates the body on a physical level, however, as remedies go through a process called potentisation, they then stimulate the body on more of an energetic level and tap in to that side, in the same way that acupuncture does.
When I say that homeopathy can work on an emotional level, what I mean by this is that a practitioner will want to know about you as a person and your feelings, thoughts and fears and what makes you tick, as well as your sleep patterns, your food cravings, whether you are a hot or a cold person and then your physical problems too. This is then all made into what are know as rubrics and then a full repertorisation is undertaken using what are known as mental/emotional, general and physical symptoms. For a Totality remedy, more emphasis is put on the Mental/emotional symptoms, but you should find one remedy to cover most of the symptoms, but not all, as this is why it is called a Similar remedy, rather than an exact match.
I am afraid that a dose of your mother in potency would probably be too much of an exact match - known as Isopathy rather than homeopathy.
Anyway, hope this helps and post back if you want any more info re anything and good luck with the acupuncture?
Sarah
When you have a flu jab, they inject you with an attenuated flu vaccine and this stimulates the immune system. Homeopathic remedies do boost the immune system, but not in quite the same way as a vaccine does. A vaccine stimulates the body on a physical level, however, as remedies go through a process called potentisation, they then stimulate the body on more of an energetic level and tap in to that side, in the same way that acupuncture does.
When I say that homeopathy can work on an emotional level, what I mean by this is that a practitioner will want to know about you as a person and your feelings, thoughts and fears and what makes you tick, as well as your sleep patterns, your food cravings, whether you are a hot or a cold person and then your physical problems too. This is then all made into what are know as rubrics and then a full repertorisation is undertaken using what are known as mental/emotional, general and physical symptoms. For a Totality remedy, more emphasis is put on the Mental/emotional symptoms, but you should find one remedy to cover most of the symptoms, but not all, as this is why it is called a Similar remedy, rather than an exact match.
I am afraid that a dose of your mother in potency would probably be too much of an exact match - known as Isopathy rather than homeopathy.
Anyway, hope this helps and post back if you want any more info re anything and good luck with the acupuncture?
Sarah
Blaana
01-18-2003, 12:10 AM
I developed asthma when I was 35 (10 years ago) and was on 2 inhalers and 1 oral med. I also would get bronchitis about 3 times a year and always had a cough.I started taking something called transfer factor and transfer factor plus about 3 years ago. Within 2 months of starting these I no longer needed the asthma meds. I recently stopped taking these supplements and the asthma has not returned.
I ordered the transfer factor from a company called 4-life research. A friend of mine told me about it (she knows one of the doctors who helped research and develop it). It is all natural and is good for the immune system. They have a web site, you can probably do a search and find it. Other on-line health stores sell it sometimes too.
I ordered the transfer factor from a company called 4-life research. A friend of mine told me about it (she knows one of the doctors who helped research and develop it). It is all natural and is good for the immune system. They have a web site, you can probably do a search and find it. Other on-line health stores sell it sometimes too.
quackers
02-24-2003, 01:26 AM
Hello, I'm 40 and have been asthmatic for 10 yrs, but I suspect I had it several yrs (wheezing, S.O.B., constant URI's) before diagnoses. I've used the Alupent inhalor since diagnoses with Albuterol solution (PRN breathing tx) about 5 yrs ago, steriod inhalor every A.M. and Singulair every P.M. for the past 3 yrs. Also various steroid injections over the yrs. I finally got disgusted about it...oh, last Dec and stopped them all. I didn't feel any better taking them than I do now. In fact, I now feel a lot better. My asthma gives me fits but not Asthma attacks that warrented emergency attention. I've started taking an Apple Cider Vinegar tonic for aches and pains and supposedly it is suppose to be good for your lungs too. According to the book...if you drink this junk for a life time...you should never die cuz you'd be the healthiest person alive!!! LOL! Of course the book didn't exactly say that, I kind of over dramatized it. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/clown.gif But seriously, with excersize, healthy eating (cut out most wheat, starch, sodium and greasy foods) you should be able to keep yourself asthma 'free'. Of course you know that there is no cure for asthma and it can re-accure. Your best course of action is to learn what your triggers are and avoid them for the time being. Check into the homeopathy...it really sounds interesting. Right now, I am just in the process of going 'natural' and am still fighting the junk food addiction! I have just past my 30 days of being (basically) med free! I'm still using my inhalor PRN (cold weather really messes with my lungs and we just got 10"!!!) and my Donnatol PRN (for IBS), plus PRN Ibuprophen for tendonitis in left arm and Right shoulder. I've been doing alot of research on the internet, plus have been buying books on natural remedies and the use of food in healing the body. Now if I can only get the time to read them!!! Anyways...good luck on anything you do. Take care and be safe.
kat721
02-24-2003, 11:51 AM
posted>>>>Right now, I am just in the process of going 'natural' and am still fighting the junk food addiction! <<<<
Personally, I think the whole food thing is really the answer to a lot of stuff in our health lives.
I personally don't eat anything with a soy additive.
I don't even eat the natural supposedly healthy soy that is processed correctly and served up as Tempeh.
My dermatologists take on asthma is that it falls into the autoimmune category.
We got to talking about this while trouble shooting my family history and my current battle with Endometriosis.
I pretty much agree on the autoimmune problem.
I have a nephew who has asthma so bad that at 6 he was on 3 different kinds of inhalers.
I have a few major rules for my personal battle with Endometriosis which is also linked with autoimmune disorders.
I don't eat any thing with soy and I don't eat anything with garlic and I never take Echinacea.
I work on immune function support but I stay away from anything that acts as a stimulent to the immune function.
My nephew does well with baths of Lavender essential oils and Tea Tree. It helps him breathe as well as the aromatic vapors helping his lungs.
I learned something recently (over the last year)
about diseases like asthma and IBS which might be rooted in the emotion.
If the condition of trouble goes on long enough to cause disruptin, pain or any other distress to the physical body, you can probably bet that eventually one is going to develop an emotional attitude when the problem arises.
Since I just had ALL my internal organs yanked out to address chronic pain I can tell you that once the source of the unrelenting proliferative destructive process that was happening in my body was discovered and treated, that my highly emotional nature did a complete turn around and all of a sudden many many things that used to up set me, bother me or otherwise put me on edge simply were non issues.
Pain and suffering is a disease in it self.
Kat
Personally, I think the whole food thing is really the answer to a lot of stuff in our health lives.
I personally don't eat anything with a soy additive.
I don't even eat the natural supposedly healthy soy that is processed correctly and served up as Tempeh.
My dermatologists take on asthma is that it falls into the autoimmune category.
We got to talking about this while trouble shooting my family history and my current battle with Endometriosis.
I pretty much agree on the autoimmune problem.
I have a nephew who has asthma so bad that at 6 he was on 3 different kinds of inhalers.
I have a few major rules for my personal battle with Endometriosis which is also linked with autoimmune disorders.
I don't eat any thing with soy and I don't eat anything with garlic and I never take Echinacea.
I work on immune function support but I stay away from anything that acts as a stimulent to the immune function.
My nephew does well with baths of Lavender essential oils and Tea Tree. It helps him breathe as well as the aromatic vapors helping his lungs.
I learned something recently (over the last year)
about diseases like asthma and IBS which might be rooted in the emotion.
If the condition of trouble goes on long enough to cause disruptin, pain or any other distress to the physical body, you can probably bet that eventually one is going to develop an emotional attitude when the problem arises.
Since I just had ALL my internal organs yanked out to address chronic pain I can tell you that once the source of the unrelenting proliferative destructive process that was happening in my body was discovered and treated, that my highly emotional nature did a complete turn around and all of a sudden many many things that used to up set me, bother me or otherwise put me on edge simply were non issues.
Pain and suffering is a disease in it self.
Kat
HumanSpirit
03-09-2003, 11:28 AM
Things I did for daughter and myself. Our problem was Formaldhyde in the carpeting and a doctor attempting to rip us off for insurance profits. We are clear of Asthma for the past 4 years.
to do list:
1. Check diet that no aspartamine is being taken.
2. If you have new carpeting or padding or furniture or if your eyes/throat are irritated by smell or odd taste then your in the vicinity of Formaldhyde. Since the cost of new padding and furniture is expensive: Have it washed and cleaned. (Note: Some detergents have Formaldhyde as a cleaning agent) New cars use formaldhyde also.
3 Do away with milk products.
4. Reduce the Steriods until you stop using them that includes the other medications which also means "Inhalers" Note: Steriods must be gradual in reduction.
5. Begin using:
GARLIC: anti bacterial
GINKGO: Ginkgo biloba leaves have a long history of use for coughs and asthma due to their antihistamine effect. They have been effective as a muscle relaxer to help with breathing. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo seeds are used to stop asthma and as an astringent for the lungs.
AMINO ACIDS: Multi. There must be an amino acid present as the catalyst for vitamin absorption into cells.
Vitamins: A / E / D are important. A general vitamin is needed but an increase on A+E+D is needed more so in the begining stages which shold be tapered off after short while to a general multi-vitamin. Read about vitamin toxicity.
Minerals: Trace minerals are important and should not be forgotten.
Note: Vitamin toxicity can be caused by excessive use and the purpose is to find a balance. The same applies to Herbal and minerals and pharmecutical drugs. Be smart and aware that both pharmecutical and herbal products are chemical and in elementry chemistry there is "Cause and Effect". Get off of depression or SSRI drugs as they defeat all health purposes and interfere with the amino acid "Tryprophan" which is essential to maintaining good health. READ ON THE WEB.
to do list:
1. Check diet that no aspartamine is being taken.
2. If you have new carpeting or padding or furniture or if your eyes/throat are irritated by smell or odd taste then your in the vicinity of Formaldhyde. Since the cost of new padding and furniture is expensive: Have it washed and cleaned. (Note: Some detergents have Formaldhyde as a cleaning agent) New cars use formaldhyde also.
3 Do away with milk products.
4. Reduce the Steriods until you stop using them that includes the other medications which also means "Inhalers" Note: Steriods must be gradual in reduction.
5. Begin using:
GARLIC: anti bacterial
GINKGO: Ginkgo biloba leaves have a long history of use for coughs and asthma due to their antihistamine effect. They have been effective as a muscle relaxer to help with breathing. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo seeds are used to stop asthma and as an astringent for the lungs.
AMINO ACIDS: Multi. There must be an amino acid present as the catalyst for vitamin absorption into cells.
Vitamins: A / E / D are important. A general vitamin is needed but an increase on A+E+D is needed more so in the begining stages which shold be tapered off after short while to a general multi-vitamin. Read about vitamin toxicity.
Minerals: Trace minerals are important and should not be forgotten.
Note: Vitamin toxicity can be caused by excessive use and the purpose is to find a balance. The same applies to Herbal and minerals and pharmecutical drugs. Be smart and aware that both pharmecutical and herbal products are chemical and in elementry chemistry there is "Cause and Effect". Get off of depression or SSRI drugs as they defeat all health purposes and interfere with the amino acid "Tryprophan" which is essential to maintaining good health. READ ON THE WEB.
kat721
03-10-2003, 05:43 PM
Thoughts on Tryptophan:
In people who are vitamin B6 deficient, tryptophan may be degraded into toxic metabolites such as hydroxykynurenine, xanthurenic acid and hydroxyanthranilic acid. While the toxicity might be considered mild it is a consideration non the less with self medication with OTC suppliments.
Tryptophan hydroxylase converts tryptophan to
5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5HTP) this is a vitamin B6 dependant carboxylase enzyme which converts 5HTP to serotonin.
Also the consideration of Tryptophan pyrrolase is important.
Tryptophan pyrrolase is a liver enzyme that plays a role in the beakdown pathways of tryptophan. Tryptophan pyrrolase is known to be activated by:
The stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands.It is a stress hormone. It is released in response to chronic stress. Cortisol is known to be frequently elevated in conditions, such as, depression, insomnia and obesity for which people will take tryptophan as a suppliment.
The increased intake of tryptophan also elevates liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity. So if liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity increases, more supplemental tryptophan will not necessarily translate into increased brain serotonin because of the body's
production of Cortisol and the increased production of
tryptophan pyrrolase. The tryptophan pyrrolase pathway is the major tryptophan degradation pathway.
So again, since stressors stimulate tryptophan pryrrolase and taking supplimental tryptophan elevates
tryptophan pryrrolase then it would largely depend on the dosing of the tryptophan suppliment as to whether the tryptophan suppliment would be beneficial or determental to the body condition.
So how does one know what the body needs with respect to needing a suppliment?
A blood sample would be the first step in determining ones need and maintenance of the substance.
And who should read that blood sample?
Hopefully someone who knows what the levels mean.
So while taking tryptophan could be an effective answer, taking the proper amount of tryptophan with respect to the existing levels in the body would create a more successful out come.
It is generally thought that a more conservative dosage would be more beneficial than a large dose.
Personally, I'd be thinking more about my B6 content.
In people who are vitamin B6 deficient, tryptophan may be degraded into toxic metabolites such as hydroxykynurenine, xanthurenic acid and hydroxyanthranilic acid. While the toxicity might be considered mild it is a consideration non the less with self medication with OTC suppliments.
Tryptophan hydroxylase converts tryptophan to
5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5HTP) this is a vitamin B6 dependant carboxylase enzyme which converts 5HTP to serotonin.
Also the consideration of Tryptophan pyrrolase is important.
Tryptophan pyrrolase is a liver enzyme that plays a role in the beakdown pathways of tryptophan. Tryptophan pyrrolase is known to be activated by:
The stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands.It is a stress hormone. It is released in response to chronic stress. Cortisol is known to be frequently elevated in conditions, such as, depression, insomnia and obesity for which people will take tryptophan as a suppliment.
The increased intake of tryptophan also elevates liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity. So if liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity increases, more supplemental tryptophan will not necessarily translate into increased brain serotonin because of the body's
production of Cortisol and the increased production of
tryptophan pyrrolase. The tryptophan pyrrolase pathway is the major tryptophan degradation pathway.
So again, since stressors stimulate tryptophan pryrrolase and taking supplimental tryptophan elevates
tryptophan pryrrolase then it would largely depend on the dosing of the tryptophan suppliment as to whether the tryptophan suppliment would be beneficial or determental to the body condition.
So how does one know what the body needs with respect to needing a suppliment?
A blood sample would be the first step in determining ones need and maintenance of the substance.
And who should read that blood sample?
Hopefully someone who knows what the levels mean.
So while taking tryptophan could be an effective answer, taking the proper amount of tryptophan with respect to the existing levels in the body would create a more successful out come.
It is generally thought that a more conservative dosage would be more beneficial than a large dose.
Personally, I'd be thinking more about my B6 content.
Karcia
04-02-2003, 05:28 PM
My mother developed asthma when she was 29, and it was just terrible for years. She started to go to Acupuncture often, about 3 times per week, and gradually weened off. She hasn't had any sign of asthma in 13 years. She goes now once a month just to keep in check, but she went about 6 years without going at all. It did not recurr, she went for other reasons. Give it a try, I would, however, recommend that you choose an acupuncurist that is a DOCTOR in accupuncture, and not a physical therapist, who has a weekend course in acupuncture. A Chinese Doctor would be your best bet. They really know their stuff!!
Good luck!
Karcia.
Good luck!
Karcia.