| Western VS Alternative Medicine: What Are the | | | | poor air quality can be a trigger. The AAFA recently |
| Options When You Are Living with Allergies and | | | | released their annual list of Top 10 Worst Cities for |
| Asthma? | | | | Asthma. Six out of ten are in the Southeastern |
| According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of | | | | United States. |
| America (AAFA: asthma affects more than 20 million | | | | Next, I evaluate the internal environment of the |
| Americans (approximately 1 in 15), and over 50% of | | | | patient. I examine the patient’s constitutional |
| asthma cases are related to allergies. Combined, more | | | | strengths. I consider nutritional factors, as well as |
| than 60 million Americans suffer from asthma or | | | | hormonal balance, and identify if the patient requires |
| allergies. Western medicine provides a number of | | | | a body detoxification program. |
| helpful solutions for people suffering from asthma. | | | | Naturopathic Treatments for Asthma and Allergies |
| The most common are: | | | | Important nutrients are often deficient in people who |
| 1. Fast acting, short duration inhalers contain a | | | | have asthma. Essential fatty acids, antioxidants, |
| bronchodilator to open up airways quickly when an | | | | vitamins and minerals are often needed in order to |
| asthma attack is in progress. They are often referred | | | | strengthen the respiratory system and the body as a |
| to as rescue inhalers. | | | | whole. Herbal medicine can also be recommended to |
| 2. In recent years corticosteroid inhalers have | | | | clear mucus, reduce congestion and tonify the lungs. |
| become a common conventional treatment. | | | | In my holistic health and naturopathic practice I also |
| Corticosteroids effectively reduce inflammation in the | | | | use Electrodermal Screening to identify allergens and |
| lungs and often times are paired together with a long | | | | desensitize patients to them. This is a fairly |
| acting bronchodilator. | | | | uncommon treatment, but has excellent results. This |
| In addition to inhalers many asthma and allergy | | | | natural treatment helps patients remove triggers such |
| specialists seek to identify various allergens with | | | | as fragrance allergies, seasonal allergies and mold |
| allergy tests. Then they often prescribe allergy | | | | allergies. |
| medications or shots to help reduce allergic reactions | | | | Common Food Allergies Related to Asthma |
| that may lead to lung inflammation and airway | | | | Many people do not know that living with allergies |
| constriction. | | | | can make their asthma symptoms much worse and |
| Holistic Medicine and a Naturopathic Doctor’s | | | | more difficult to manage. Common food allergies are |
| Approach to Allergies and Asthma | | | | often triggers for children and adults suffering from |
| As a naturopathic doctor I have both personal and | | | | asthma. Electrodermal Screening can also help identify |
| professional experience dealing with allergies and | | | | common food allergies like wheat allergies, gluten |
| asthma. I have struggled with allergies and asthma | | | | allergies and milk allergies. This is why, as a |
| since childhood and at one time was prescribed nine | | | | naturopathic doctor, I place high value on the |
| different medications to mange my symptoms! I | | | | relationship between asthma and nutrition. |
| believe firmly that Western medicine has a lot to | | | | Dairy and wheat allergies have been shown to |
| offer, especially to manage emergency situations, but | | | | aggravate inflammation in susceptible individuals, which |
| holistic medicine and natural treatments also have an | | | | makes asthma symptoms worse. With proper |
| important role to play. | | | | nutrition, herbal medicines, allergy desensitization and |
| Holistic Health Considerations | | | | supplements, people with asthma can see a great |
| Asthma can have many underlying causes. Asthma is | | | | reduction in the number of asthma symptoms or |
| an inflammatory condition that affects the airways. | | | | attacks. This holistic health approach combined with |
| The lungs have an increased amount of reactivity to | | | | conventional treatments can improve quality of life |
| triggers that cause constriction of the airways and | | | | for even some of the most serious asthmatics. You |
| mucus production. Allergies are one of the most | | | | may find with more natural treatments that reliance |
| common triggers. In order to create a holistic health | | | | on an inhaler decreases over time as the body |
| solution for asthma patients with allergies I must | | | | becomes healthier and functions at a more optimal |
| evaluate all of the internal and external environmental | | | | level. When Western medicine and naturopathic |
| triggers. | | | | approaches are combined, patients with asthma have |
| First I speak with the patient about potential external | | | | the opportunity to improve quality of life and overall |
| environmental triggers. Do they have sensitivities to | | | | health. |
| dust mites, pet dander, molds, chemicals, etc? Even | | | | |