1. Heat up Your Air Passageways
Warming up your breathing passageways causes them to expand, which counteracts the constriction you experience during an asthma attack. A number of home remedies can be used to introduce heat expansion to your lungs to naturally stop an acute episode.
If you're able, drink a hot beverage as quickly as possible. You can choose coffee, herbal or regular tea or just regular hot water with some lemon. You could also take a hot shower and breathe in the steam, or boil a large pot of water, lower your face over the steam and cover up with a towel to stop the vapors from escaping. You'll breathe them in, and your symptoms should begin to abate.
2. Try Eucalyptus Oil
You might prefer the soothing effects of eucalyptus oil over inhaled steam vapors. This home remedy is recommended as a faster alternative to introducing heat-based treatments, as there is no preparation time involved. Simply keep the oil on hand and inhale it whenever you feel an attack coming on or start to suffer from symptoms.
3. Basil Leaf Juice and Honey
Drinking a mixture of the juice of basil leaves mixed with equal amounts of honey has helped many asthma sufferers overcome the symptoms of an acute attack. These compounds are thought to introduce soothing anti-inflammatory properties to your throat tubes in a short amount of time, allowing for a larger volume of air to pass in and out.
4. Use Natural Preventative Techniques
Ask your doctor about intaking a concoction of wild licorice and hot water each day. This technique seems to increase the efficacy of commonly prescribed medicinal treatments. Ginseng is another herb that has anti-inflammatory properties, and by taking it every day, you promote better breathing by keeping your lungs dilated and free of obstruction.
You can alter your diet to include more essential fatty acids as another preventative measure. These fats, particularly omega-3 fats, have been clinically shown to prevent lung swelling in asthmatics. Some people also swear by a diet rich in garlic, sage and cloves as a way to keep your breathing steady and constant.
5. A Word of Warning
You should always treat asthma attacks as directed by your doctor, and use home remedies as a supplementary rather than primary treatment tool. However, if you do decide that you want to leave your inhaler behind and manage your asthma with home remedies, don't abandon medicinal management techniques until you have found a reliable home remedy that you can trust in the event of an acute episode. Use trial and error, and always keep prescription medicine on hand just to be safe.
