What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease of the lungs common in children, but can affect any age. The rate of Asthma has doubled in the last 20+ years. The airways become inflamed, narrowing and restricting airflow, which can be very distressing. It is important to take asthma very seriously and to seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
What are symptoms of asthma?
Symptoms can include any of the following:
- Coughing
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
- Low immune system
- Fast heartbeat
- Drowsiness, dizziness, and lethargy
- Blueness to lips
Asthma can be aggravated by dust, pollen, animal dander, fumes and pollution, medication, stress and mould and damp conditions. It can be worse in cold weather, night, or early mornings and is also intensified by infection, including common colds.
There is no known cure for asthma so standard treatment focusses on relieving the symptoms. Usually this is delivered by either relief inhalers, prevention inhalers or both. Prevention inhalers tend to contain a small number of steroids. For those whose asthma is less controllable, there are other courses of medication to consider.
Does the gut health affect asthma?
There is increasing evidence suggesting that the gut can affect asthma through what is known as the gut-lung axis. This connection highlights how the health of your gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria and other microorganisms in the digestive tract—can influence respiratory conditions like asthma. Here’s how the gut may impact asthma:
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Gut Microbiome and Immune System: The gut is home to a large portion of the body’s immune system. A healthy and balanced gut microbiome helps regulate the immune response and reduce inflammation, which is critical for conditions like asthma, where inflammation of the airways is a key factor. Disruptions in the gut microbiome, such as an overgrowth of harmful bacteria or a lack of beneficial bacteria, can lead to increased inflammation and potentially worsen asthma symptoms.
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Gut Dysbiosis: Studies have shown that individuals with asthma often have imbalances in their gut microbiome, known as gut dysbiosis. This imbalance can affect how the immune system responds to allergens, potentially increasing the severity of asthma symptoms. Improving gut health by restoring balance in the microbiome may help regulate immune responses and reduce asthma flare-ups.
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Leaky Gut and Inflammation: A condition called leaky gut syndrome can also contribute to increased inflammation in the body, including in the lungs. Leaky gut occurs when the gut lining becomes permeable, allowing toxins and bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which can trigger inflammation and potentially exacerbate asthma symptoms.
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Probiotics and Asthma Management: Research suggests that improving gut health through the use of probiotics may help manage asthma symptoms. Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria, can help rebalance the gut microbiome, reduce inflammation, and potentially improve lung function. While more research is needed, early studies indicate that probiotics may offer a supportive role in asthma treatment.
The gut can influence asthma by affecting the immune system, promoting inflammation, and altering how the body responds to allergens. Maintaining gut health through a balanced diet, probiotics, and lifestyle changes may help manage asthma symptoms.
What is a naturopathic approach to asthma?
Whilst there is no known cure, a naturopathic approach seeks to identify the common triggers whilst strengthening the immune system and overall health. Identifying triggers of asthma is a complex process, as asthma is usually triggered by combinations of many potential factors.
Common triggers to consider:
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Allergens and intolerances to foods such as dairy, wheat/gluten and eggs are common individual triggers, and any sufferer of asthma should be tested for these. Other allergens include animal dander, dust, and pollen.
- Environmental exposure such as mould exposure, damp conditions, fumes, chemical pollutants, and smoke.
- Dysbiosis of the gut.
- Low vitamin D.
- Low omega 3.
- Stress - one of the biggest contributors to poor gut health, one of the most common triggers for many other conditions including asthma and eczema.
- Low immune system, which is often seen alongside poor gut health.
- Changes in the weather, especially cold spells, and changes in humidity.
- Medication.
- Exercise or exertion.
- Shock and panic.
Poor diet lowers the immune system as well as having a detrimental effect on our gut and liver. Asthma in children can also manifest alongside hay fever, eczema and recurrent throat or ear infections.
What is the right diet for asthma?
There is no specific diet to prevent asthma, but a diet designed to create a healthy gut and immune system may improve symptoms.
Any food triggers, allergens, or intolerances need to be identified. In some cases, dairy, wheat, and gluten can worsen symptoms. Dairy can be very mucus-forming.
Foods high in sulphites have been shown to worsen asthma, such as dried fruits, beer, wine, cider, cereals, and processed or canned foods.
It is important to ensure you have a diet as rich as possible in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin A & beta-carotene, vitamin E, zinc and selenium.
An anti-inflammatory diet should also help and we recommend increasing omega-3 whilst reducing inflammatory omega-6. There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids: alpha linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). ALA is found in plants, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds and nuts, but it is quite hard for the body to convert it for use, especially because our diets tend to be higher in omega-6 fats, which negatively affect the process. It is generally advised that we get our essential omega-3 fats from EPA and DHA which are found in oily fish and some animal foods.
Whilst there are varying diets, one thing all experts agree on is a diet free from processed foods, sugars, and inflammatory oils such as man-made seed oils and highly processed oils.
What are key supplements and herbs to help with asthma?
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an underestimated vitamin and a deficiency can impact our our health in many ways. Vitamin D deficiency can affect our immune system, respiratory system (especially incidences of asthma) depression, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and even cancer. Vitamin D helps lower our blood pressure and helps to keep us calm and less anxious. It can also help the body break down stubborn fat cells.
Quercetin
This flavonoid is a powerful antioxidant, but also has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. It is especially good for nasal congestion, sinus issues, hay fever, asthma, and some allergies. It can also help to boost the immune system. Studies have shown it can help to protect from heart disease and cancer. You should consult your medical practitioner before supplementing Quercetin if you are taking heart medication, especially anticoagulants.
Probiotics
Restoring gut health is key to a good immune system. We tend to see more dysbiosis of the gut in babies who were born by caesarean section, babies who were not breastfed, and those who had early exposure to antibiotics. Poor gut health can also flare after weaning.
Omega 3
Omega 3, found in oily fish, is anti-inflammatory. A study of children over 6 months showed less incidence of asthma when given more omega 3 in their diet. Omega 3 has many health benefits ranging from heart health, joint health, brain health and more.
Vitamin C
This powerful antioxidant helps protect our cells from the effects of free radicals. It is important for overall health but in the context of asthma it can help reduce bronchial spasms as well as protect from exercise-induced asthma. Vitamin C plays a key role in the production of white blood cells, which protect against infection, helps to protect them from damage once they are formed. High concentrations of vitamin C are found in the adrenal gland, so this is often the first sign of adrenal dysfunction when we start to become deficient in this essential vitamin. We also see more need for vitamin C when we smoke, have high stress, fight infection, or have a more toxic environment and lifestyle.
Other supplements
You can also support the immune system with key support, such as selenium, and beta glucan, especially important if there are other immune related conditions in tandem with the asthma. Zinc also supports the immune system but has also been shown to help reduce inflammation and support healing.
All recommendations are intended for informational and educational purposes only. The information and recommendations provided are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice from your GP.
