Q. I have had asthma since I was two. I am now in my 50s, and my doctor prescribed daily Advair and albuterol as a rescue inhaler.
I was using albuterol several times a week until I started fish oil and turmeric. With these supplements, I have much better results than previously when I was relying only on standard medicines.
A. We trust you are working closely with your doctor to monitor lung function. Asthma medicine must not be stopped without medical supervision, as that could trigger a breathing crisis.
Turmeric is the yellow spice in curry. Animal studies suggest that this compound has anti-inflammatory activity in the lungs (Inflammation, Oct. 2014). One study found that people who ate curry more frequently had better lung function than those who rarely or never ate it (PLoS One, online Dec. 26, 2012).
The omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil also have anti-inflammatory activity. A study of American youth found that those with the most omega 3 fats in their diets were only about half as likely to be diagnosed with asthma as those with the lowest intake of these nutrients (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan., 2013).
Another nutrient that has shown promise for asthma is vitamin C. This appears especially helpful if the asthma attack is triggered by a respiratory infection (Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, Nov. 26, 2013).
Some hard-to-treat cases of asthma appear to be triggered by a bacterial infection with C. pneumoniae or M. pneumoniae. To learn more about how such cases may be diagnosed and possibly cured, we suggest A Cure for Asthma? What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You–and Why, by David L. Hahn, MD, MS (published by People’s Pharmacy Press).
