Asthma Treatment & Management

OPC Antioxidant

January 25, 2010 By Cody Wells Leave a Comment

OPC Grape Seed Extract — Grape Seeds are a main source of OPC Antioxidants

OPC Antioxidant is made from grape seed extract and pine bark extract. They are considered Super Antioxidants and are scientifically known as Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins – OPC’s, Proanthocyanidolic Oligomers – PCO’s, Procyanidins or Proanthocyanidins.

Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC’s) are considered Super Antioxidants because they are unique phytochemicals known as flavonoids that have powerful antioxidant capabilities. OPC is highly water soluble so your body is able to absorb it quickly.

Clinical trials were performed to compare the effectiveness of OPC Antioxidants versus vitamin C and vitamin E with astonishing results. OPC Antioxidants may be as much as 50 times more potent than vitamin E and 20 times more potent than vitamin C in terms of bioavailable antioxidants. In fact, OPC Antioxidants work with the antioxidant glutathione to restore and recycle oxidized vitamin C which actually increases vitamin C’s effectiveness.

OPC Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances that are found throughout nature and are present in a variety of food and botanical sources. The two main sources of commercial OPC Antioxidants are grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) made from wine grapes and pine bark extract, known as Pycnogenol, made from from the French maritime Pine Tree.

Pycnogenol was the first source of OPC Antioxidants discovered and the process used to extract it was originally patented in the 1950’s. Pycnogenol is not a generic name for OPC Antioxidant, it is simply a trademarked name for pine bark extract.

Benefits of OPC Antioxidants

Because of the unique properties of OPC Antioxidants, including their ability to cross your blood-brain barrier and their high water solubility, OPC Antioxidants have been shown to produce some remarkable benefits when taken regularly. Here are just a few examples:

OPC Antioxidants can help protect your brain and spinal nerves against free radical damage.
OPC Antioxidants can help protect your liver from damage caused by toxic doses of acetaminophen.
OPC Antioxidants can help to strengthen and repair connective tissue, including that of the cardiovascular system.
OPC Antioxidants can help support your own natural immune system.
OPC Antioxidants have proven effective in slowing certain characteristics of the aging process.
OPC Antioxidants help to moderate your body’s allergic and inflammatory responses by reducing histamine production.

Currently, there are numerous studies in various stages of completion, testing the effectiveness of OPC Antioxidants in the treatment of some devastating diseases and ailments including: Asthma, Fybromyalgia, AIDS, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, and Macular Degeneration.

OPC Antioxidants have proven to be very effective and beneficial antioxidant that could be the anchor of your supplementation program.

Where to buy OPC Antioxidants:

Peak Flow Meters – Essential Tools for the Asthma Sufferer

January 9, 2010 By Cody Wells 12 Comments

Peak flow meters are essential asthma management tools which are particularly helpful when you use them regularly. Asthma attacks can be kept to a minimum by consistent monitoring of your breathing. Comparing your current breathing score against your “personal best” peak flow allows you to take a snapshot of your lungs’ current condition and judge quickly whether you need to take any precautions.

You can compare your “personal best” against your peak flow at any other time to get an objective idea of how well you’re breathing.

Unfortunately, the result of a peak flow measurement is very dependent on your efforts, so try to use the same effort every time.

A single peak flow measurement, without knowing what your “personal best” is, is not very useful.

Try to use peak flow values together with your other symptoms to evaluate the severity of your attack.

Peak flow meters measure how well you can get air out of your lungs.
Peak flow meters monitor how effectively your long term controller asthma medications and your quick relief asthma medications are working.
Peak flow at any given time helps you identify your asthma triggers.
Peak flow helps you decide when to seek emergency treatment.
A drop in your peak flow can be an early and effective warning sign of an asthma attack.
Peak flow readings can help you measure how well you’re responding to your asthma treatments.

Peak Flow Zones

Your “personal best” peak flow measurement can be used to determine your asthma action or treatment zones.

Green: 80-100% of your “personal best” peak flow. Just keep doing what you’re doing.
Yellow: 50-80% of your “personal best” peak flow. Caution – be careful. Use your quick relief medication as needed to try improve your peak flow or relieve whatever symptoms you might be experiencing. Remember – keep monitoring your peak flow after your treatments.
Red: Less than 50% of your “personal best” peak flow. Danger – Asthma Attack Action Plan time. Use your quick relief asthma medication and seek immediate medical attention.

Peak flow meters are one of your best weapons in your fight to control your asthma, so use yours often!

Where to buy Peak Flow Meters:

Licorice Root for Asthma

January 5, 2010 By Cody Wells 2 Comments

Licorice Root aka Gancao — Licorice Root (also known as Gan Cao) is a Remarkable Healing Herb

Licorice root asthma treatments have a well earned reputation as being highly effective. Licorice Root (also known as Gan Cao) in Chinese Medicine, has been used successfully for thousands of years to relieve asthma symptoms and breathing problems caused by bronchitis and many other chronic and short-term respiratory illnesses.

Licorice root has been shown to effectively soothe swollen airways, acting as an effective anti-inflammatory. It has also been found to effectively inhibit histamine release, inhibit coughing and has highly effective expectorant effects.

Licorice root eases congestion and coughing, helping to loosen and thin mucus and airways. It aids in the relaxation of bronchial spasms and soothes soreness and tightness in the throat.

In addition to its use as an asthma treatment, Licorice root has a well documented history of aiding in the treatment of colds and flu, depression, emphysema, gingivitis, HIV support, viral infections, fungal infections, ulcers, psoriasis, tuberculosis and arthritis.

Licorice root has also proven to be an effective anti-allergenic useful for the treatment of bronchial asthma, hayfever, conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Licorice Root also has an aspirin like effect, which helps in the treatment of fevers and pain relief from headaches.

Traditional methods of taking Licorice Root include drinking it as a tea, chewing on the root (not recommended) and in capsule form.

Mild side effects have been documented in the prolonged use of Licorice root, including water retention, increased blood pressure, and mild adrenal stimulation. Prolonged use should definitely be avoided if you suffer from high blood pressure. Be sure to discuss treatment options with your care providers.

Licorice root is available for sale in all parts of the world as an extract, pill and capsule, both in formulations containing a combination of multiple herbs and by itself.

Also known as: Chinese Licorice, Gan Cao, Gan-Cao, Kan-ts’ao, Kuo-lao, Licorice, Licorice Root, Ling-t’ung, Liquorice, Mei-ts’ao, Mi-kan, Mi-ts’ao, Sweet Licorice, Sweet Wood, Yasti Madhu

Where to buy Licorice Root:

[UPDATE]: I’ve written an article about an herbal asthma treatment called “ASHMI Clear Breathing With Chinese Herbs” which describes how Dr. Xiu-Min Li of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York combines Licorice Root (aka Gancao) with three other herbs to produce a natural and effective asthma treatment. It’s a good read. Take a look.

Kushen – Sophora Root – for Asthma

December 29, 2009 By Cody Wells 4 Comments

Kushen aka Sophora Root — Kushen (Sophora Root) is Used to Treat Asthma in Chinese Medecine

Kushen is the Chinese name of the root of Sophora flavescens. It is also known as Sophora Root and is a member of the pea and bean family.

Kushen has been used successfully as an herbal medicine to treat a wide variety of conditions for thousands of years.

My interest in Kushen (Sophora Root) was piqued because of two compounds found in Kushen: Matrine and Oxymatrine.

Kushen has been shown to be of significant benefit in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, eczema, fever, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmia, cancer, dysentery, inflammation, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, vaginitis, psoriasis, and conjunctivitis.

The alkaloids Matrine and Oxymatrine, as found in Kushen, inhibit histamine release, inhibit the urge to cough (antitussive), and demonstrate expectorant effects.

One study in particular shows a great deal of promise in the use of Kushen in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders. 517 cases of asthmatic bronchitis were treated with Kushen, resulting in an 86.5% effectiveness rate and a 38.8% marked effectiveness rate.

Kushen can be (and usually is) consumed in extract form with other medications. Due to its generally slight side effects, and low toxicity, it is considered to be a safe and effective medication in traditional Chinese Medicine. The side effects of Kushen are evident only at extremely high dosage levels, which include dizziness, gastric upset and evidence of immunosuppression.

Kushen is found in the desert area of northern part of China, especially in Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia. It is mainly found in the desert area of Ningxia.

Kushen is readily available all over the world. It is often used in formulations containing a combination of multiple herbs, but can also be found as a full spectrum extract.

Also known as: Ku Shen, Ku-Shen, Sophora, Sophora Root

[UPDATE]: I’ve written an article about an herbal asthma treatment called “ASHMI Clear Breathing With Chinese Herbs” which describes how Dr. Xiu-Min Li of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York combines Sophora Root (aka kushen) with three other herbs to produce a natural and effective asthma treatment. It’s a good read. Take a look.

Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir

December 27, 2009 By Cody Wells 4 Comments

Compound Herbal Cough Elixir produced by the Eclectic Institute is recommended and used widely as a cough and asthma treatment by physicians and naturopaths worldwide.

Compound Herbal Elixir 2 oz. by the Eclectic Institute

I first heard about this herbal compound from an article I read entitled “Notes on the Herbal Treatment of Asthma.” I was researching white pine bark for an update to my “OPC Antioxidant” article and came across it by accident.

Compound Herbal Cough Elixir, in particular, intrigued me because of it’s unique mix of ingredients, especially the Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), white pine bark (Pinus strobus) and the wild cherry bark (Prunus spp.).

Here is the full list of ingredients found in Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Cough Elixir:

Dried Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Dried organically grown Elecampane root (Inula helenium)
Fresh organically grown Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense)
Dried wildcrafted Wild Cherry bark (Prunus spp.)
Dried organically grown Horehound flower & leaf (Marrubium vulgare)
Fresh organically grown Gumweed flower & leaf (Grindelia robusta)
Dried wildcrafted Lobelia leaf & seed (Lobelia inflata)
Dried Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fresh Freeze-Dried Lomatium root (Lomatium dissectum)
Dried wildcrafted White Pine bark (Pinus strobus)
Fresh wildcrafted Poplar bud (Populus spp.)
Bitter orange essential oil
A base of kosher vegetable glycerin & water
Organic Grape Alcohol Content of 15%

According to the “Eclectic Institute,” the ingredients found in their “Compound Herbal Cough Elixir” were carefully chosen for their ability to work together simultaneously in treating your asthma symptoms, purifying your bloodstream and stimulating your immune system.

Where to buy Eclectic Institute Compound Herbal Elixir:

Compound Herbal Cough Elixir on Amazon.com