Walk into any store these days, and there are miles of aisles full of vitamins, supplements, teas, herbs, and more that claim to help with every breathing issue there is. I am wary of each and every one of them, largely due to possible interactions with other drugs you may be taking. For people with lung problems, more often than not, it’s what you take out of your diet (and environment) that will help you more than what you take in.
Step one is to find out what you may be sensitive or allergic to. Many people are allergic to dust, pollens, weeds, even smog. Most of my patients don’t need an allergy skin test to figure out exactly what inflames their airways, but if the coming season of Spring makes you want to go stock up on Kleenex, a skin test might just be able to identify the ONE thing that sends you running for your inhaler. Allergy shot series are not fun, but often preferred for those who have an allergy to only one or two things. Once finished, desensitization is complete, and many people can lose the allergy pills and the subsequent haze that often accompanies taking them. Not to mention the cost! Some people need to take seasonal allergy shots for Fall as well, most notably for allergies to Pine and other trees that don’t lose all of their leaves in Winter.
As for food sensitivities, Doctors often start with the ‘Elimination Diet’, whereby you cut out all dairy and see if there is any improvement. If not, cut out all Soy. Then Wheat. Then eggs. What’s missing is I have never heard any MD tell their patient to cut out the chemicals they are consuming: Aspartame, artificial colors, non-dairy creamers, etc. If you’ve gone gluten-free, dairy-free, everything-else-free, and are still having problems, my recommendation is to first cut out all artificial colorants. If that helps, you are on the right track. Next, cut out all artificial sweeteners. Then, all High Fructose Corn Syrup. Lastly, soybean oil, canola oil, and margarine.
Other Options
Asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease, with many different triggers that can start the spiral of not being able to breathe. However, many of my recommendations for Asthma patients also hold true for my COPD and ILD patients.
There are several teas out there, Yogi Tea’s Breathe Deep and Traditional Medicinals’ Breathe Easy seem to take top awards in respiratory forums. Visit Amazon if your local grocer does not carry these.
Ginger has been shown to relax smooth muscle, helping to keep the airways open. You can make a tea from just ginger, or eat foods that have ginger as a spice. Avoid pickled and candied ginger.
Vitamin D supplementation can ensure adequate levels of the vitamin, as low levels have been linked to a decrease in lung function. Unless you still drink lots of milk and get out in the sunshine, ask your doctor about a D3 supplement.
Another interesting supplement is Modified Citrus Pectin. It is derived from orange peels and works by binding with a protein that is present when there is inflammation. Please don’t go eating orange peels, though…. just ensure the MCP you are buying is organic.
For people who notice their symptoms worsen when they are nervous or anxious, I recommend Bach’s Rescue Remedy.
Following a Mediterranean diet has also been shown to decrease the number of flare-ups. The Mediterranean diet consists of whole, unprocessed foods, olive oil, and lentils and beans.
Always check with your Doctor or Pharmacist before taking any supplements, vitamins, herbs, or minerals. He or she will able to check for interactions with prescriptions you are currently taking.
And don’t forget, your inhalers are a prescription drug!
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