Asthma

A Stimulating Prescription

Ephedra has caused a lot of controversy in modern-day America. As a stimulant, it has been used as a weight-loss aid in products that claim to boost metabolic rates. But it also raises blood pressure and heart rates, which poses a danger to those with health problems. In 2003 the FDA banned dietary supplements containing ephedra.

Still, for centuries, the Chinese have used the herb in its natural state (Ma Huang) to heal respiratory ailments like asthma, as it opens airways for easier breathing. Before you try Ma Huang, however, talk with your doctor. Also, check with your doctor to make sure that any preexisting health conditions will not be exacerbated by this powerful herb.

Tea to Loosen Up

Try black tea. That's what many asthma sufferers turn to for relief from tightening in the chest. Black tea contains chemicals related to the stimulant theophylline, which is also the basis of many modern medical asthma remedies.Three or four cups of black tea can open airways and ease breathing.

Ginkgo Goes a Long Way

Although herbalists and doctors won't go so far as to claim that ginkgo tea (from ginkgo biloba leaves) can cure asthma outright, when used regularly it has been shown to help patients cut down on prescribed medication. Aside from its purported effects in boosting blood flow, ginkgo taken three times a day for weeks or months at a time (ask your doctor how long would be best for you), relaxes the lungs and helps keep the breathing passageways clear.

A Six-Point Prevention Plan

When it comes to asthma, your own home may playa major role in triggering attacks. Here are six ways you can clean up, clear out and create a healthier home.

1 Clean your pet

If you have a pet-particularly a cat-it is so important to bathe him once a week. Research shows that it's not their fur but their saliva that contains allergens, including pollen picked up outside on their paws. When cats groom them­selves, they spread allergens from their saliva onto their fur. So, the cleaner your cat keeps himself, the more you'll need to wash him.

2 Tear up the carpet

Dust mites, microscopic critters that live on dust particles, cause a lot of allergies and asthma attacks, say physicians. Ripping up carpets and removing drapes that trap dust can reduce the number of mites tickling your nose and throat. Opt instead for throw rugs and blinds that can be washed easily-and wash them regularly!

3 Sleep "alone"

There's something else in the bed with you: Millions of dust mites. Covering mattresses, pillows and box springs with plastic covers provides a barrier between you and the offending creatures. Also, washing linens frequently on the hot cycle will rinse away mites from sheets and pillow cases.

4 Repel the roaches

Catch that cockroach. In addition to other insidious traits, it appears that the cockroach-in particular its feces and shell-contains allergens that trigger asthmatic attacks. Set traps, changing them even more frequently than the package instructions say. And in areas where you see cockroaches, clean thoroughly to guard against allergic reactions.

5 Keep the great outdoors, outdoors

During pollen season, don't bring the outdoors in. After extended periods in the park or backyard, leave your shoes outside, shower off the pollen from your body and hair and change your clothes as soon as you come inside. This reduces the chances of the pollen working its way into your sinus passages, eyes and bronchial tract.

6 Close the windows

Do everything you can to insulate your environment against the elements. Close your windows and use an air conditioner so you're not breathing pollen-laden air. Regularly replace the filters to keep the air conditioner from pumping allergens into your home. Do the same with the humidifier, which otherwise might be circulating allergy-causing molds into the air.