Re: New here and in need of alot of support - very long

Greetings. Sorry you are feeling so blue. I have been there.

I have had some horrible asthma attacks, requiring emergency room visits for two or three treaments in a row, and once even ending up in intensive care for a week. During that time I had bubbles under the skin on my collarbone due to an embalysm. I got some oxygen in, but not as much carbon dioxide out, and it had to escape somehow. I also can't remember about half a day, and I guess that I was somewhat coherent when people talked to me. I guess my brain had stopped getting the correct amount of oxygen to function correctly.

I will offer you a couple non-herbal methods that I came by through my experiences.

The first, deep breathing. I mean very long slow inward breath. Try to breathe into the bottom of your lungs. Often times when asthma or broncitis is really bad, this will be somewhat painful. Next breathe out as fast as you can through the mouth until your breath has completely evacuated the lungs. Do this about 5-10 times in a row or more. You may induce a coughing fit, but things will move around, and breathing will be better.

Another thing that has helped me is breathing dry heat. There was a drought here in '88, and without the moisture and pollens, which are bad in Michigan, I didn't have any problems. I didn't even carry my inhaler that summer (wow, what freedom)! I have tried steamrooms, and they only exerbate the problems whereas saunas help dry that mucus out. I have also read that moisture is a problem because it creates a nice place for molds and such to grow.

Last on my list is a little trick I came up with while I ran in high school. I would kinda purse my lips while breathing out. It seemed to help a little. Later I read about a study that researched this technique. I guess when the passageway is narrowed in that way, it actually creates enough pressure to expand the lungs. When breathing in, there is a little more open area to fill.

Of course in the case of asthma, I do not suggest going off your drugs until you can. I know that my life was saved by the pharmaceuticals that treated my asthma. But, if you start taking care of your body and paying attention to, and avoiding, those things that aggrevate your problems, hopefully you will be able to become less dependant on the drugs. Nowadays, I use my inhaler about once a week or so. I don't even carry it around, but if I have a bad day, I use it when I get home.

By the way, I had a little bit of childhood asthma, but never had to go to the doctor or emergency for my problems until they escalated when I was between 17-25. I am not sure that I entirely ffall into that group that "grows out of it" because it was usually not even noticable while I was young.

Best wishes. I hope these suggestions may add another dimension to possible alternative treatments.