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ALLERGY DRUGS: NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO ASTHMA MEDICATION
Drugs do not cure allergy. At best, they sometimes relieve the more common symptoms: wheezing, runny nose, itching. And they're often very valuable in breaking the spiralling escalation of more and more allergic irritation and discomfort, which can worsen allergies. One thing about drugs is certain, however: they all have the potential to produce unpleasant - and sometimes dangerous - side effects. It's enough to say that no allergy drug is perfectly safe, and all should be used cautiously. And in many cases, non-drug alternatives work just as well (if not better), especially when combined with a programme to avoid allergy triggers.
The chief characteristic of asthma is wheezing. The lining of the air passages swells, the bronchial muscles around the airways shrink or go into spasm and the lungs produce more mucus. The chest feels tight and breathing is a chore.
The obvious solution is to avoid the allergic stimulus, be it pollen, dust, dog hair or something else. When that's impossible, an asthmatic is likely to be prescribed one or more of the following drugs:
- an expectorant to thin mucus and promote coughing to eject it from the lungs (although use is increasingly less frequent);
a bronchodilator, such as theophylline, to relax tightened bronchial muscles;
- cromolyn sodium, if exertion triggers the asthma (in nine out of ten asthmatics, it does);
- a corticosteroid (such as prednisone) to reduce swelling and inflammation of the lungs and mucous membranes.
But there are non-drug approaches that relieve asthma, especially in non-emergency situations (which most are).
First of all, drinking plenty of liquids helps keep mucus in the lungs thin so that it can be coughed up, thereby eliminating the need for expectorants. (A dry or sticky tongue in an asthmatic is a sure sign that the body needs more fluids.) Drinking half to one cup of liquid, once an hour, is a good guideline. (Don't drink cold liquids, though. Cold can stimulate sensitive airways and trigger bronchial spasms. Also, avoid any colas or beverages with food dyes to which you or your child may be allergic.)
Drinking warm liquids such as soup, herb tea or even plain warm water has another benefit: it relaxes bronchial muscles, says Dr Constantine J. Falliers, an allergist and asthma specialist in Denver. 'We've used it, and it works. We've had kids in the hospital for treatment, and when they can't breathe, we give them something warm to drink - water, or something with a little more flavor, like tea or hot cider or apple juice. They relax and don't need anything else. We control the panic and they start breathing quietly.'
Notice that Dr Falliers mentions emotional calm as a necessary step in controlling an asthma attack. That's because relaxation loosens up the bronchial muscles, in many instances replacing the need for bronchodilators.
'Many children breathe better as soon as a physician enters the room, before any medication has been given,' writes Dr Doris J. Rapp in her book, Allergies and Your Family (Sterling Publishing). They anticipate help and that alone relaxes the bronchial muscles.' Similarly, if the parent keeps calm, the child will be less panicky.
To make relaxation a skill rather than a hoped-for response, children and adults alike are often taught relaxation techniques and calming breathing exercises to nip panic in the bud and prevent bronchospasms from mushrooming into full-fledged asthma attacks.
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ALLERGIES
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