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Asthma, Emphysema & Bronchitis

picture of a woman holding her chest because of asthma, emphysema or bronchitis who needs natural treatment from a naturopath
Sometimes it’s hard to breathe

Lung Disease: Asthma, Emphysema & Bronchitis

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the respiratory tract suddenly narrows, causing wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.  Swelling and spasms of the airways restrict airflow.  If left untreated or if treatment is delayed, severe asthma attacks can be fatal. In fact, 500 Canadians die each year from asthma.

What Causes Asthma?

Certain triggers may cause sudden constriction of your airways. Asthma triggers include food allergies, environmental allergies, pollutants, cold air, and exercise. Puffers or inhalers are often used to dilate the airways to allow the person to breathe and get enough oxygen.

What is Emphysema?

Emphysema is a condition where the lining of the lungs is damaged (often due to smoking).  Due to this damage, the surface area for absorbing oxygen is decreased. This causes shortness of breath and insufficient oxygen for healthy tissue function.

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi, the tubes that lead into the lungs. Inflammed bronchi don’t allow adequate air through and may cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Allergies, viral or bacterial infections trigger bronchitis.

As a naturopath, I can help your lungs heal, calm the spasms in your respiratory tract, and address the triggers for your asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, or other lung diseases.

Natural Medicine Treatment for Asthma, Emphysema, and Bronchitis Research

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Nov;17(11):1065-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0758.
Pulmonary functions of children with asthma improve following massage therapy.
Fattah MA1, Hamdy B.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:5620568. doi: 10.1155/2017/5620568. Epub 2017 May 21.
Massage Therapy in Children with Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Wu J1, Yang XW2, Zhang M2.

Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi. 1996 Nov;34(11):1182-8.
[Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on vital capacity in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema].
Inoue M1, Ohtsu I, Tomioka S, Hagiya M, Sumi M, Aoki H, Homma T, Hasegawa S.