If you are one those people suffering from the symptoms of chronic asthma, you might want to take a look at some alternative method of treatment. These treatment might decrease your steroid intake and give you some surprise relief.

Yoga

If you are asthmatic, you might feel that sometimes, when you are stressed and anxious, you feel like your chest is closing up and you can’t breathe. Yoga postures, effect both our body and mind, helping us relax physically and mentally. In fact, long ago, research has found that asthmatics who also performed, Hatha yoga at least thrice a week for 10 weeks felt a major decrease in asthma symptoms. Some of them said that they were less stressed now and were able to cut back on their usual medications.

Massage Therapy

Similar to Yoga, Massage therapy is also another body-mind relaxation technique. Always research well and look for a massage therapist who understands your problem and helps your breathing by messaging your upper body, by relieving the tension in the muscles. Some people suffering by asthma, actually reported having a better breathing pattern and reduced tension and anxiety after a session of message therapy.

Acupuncture

It has been used for weight-loss, quitting smoking, and even cosmetic nip and tuck, but perhaps the biggest effect acupuncture can have is on asthma patients. Acupuncture, originally from China, is now a wide spread practice, in which, fine needles are placed in the skin at strategic points on the body, to relieve a particular symptom. In the case of asthma, these needles at a particular point on the body release endorphins — hormones or neurotransmitters that reduce pain and have a calming effect, and send calming signal to the patient’s brain.

Probiotics: Natural Food and Artificial

Probiotics are microorganisms(live bacteria), consumed as fermented foods with specially added active live cultures(e.g. yogurt) that provide the host body with an array of health benefits. In the digestive system, probiotics help keep harmful bacteria from multiplying in the intestines. Sometime, people with asthma also have consistent digestive problems, or patients who intake antibiotics, frequently, may be helped by the consuming probiotics. Probiotics is available as an added supplement in foods like yogurt and even artificially in capsules.

Biofeedback: Pneumograph

Pneumograph, is a part of Biofeedback process which is a technique that helps people measure and in turn, control and relax involuntary bodily functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate or breathing. In a Pneumograph, the patient’s chest, heart and abdomen are connected to electrical sensors that give feedback to a computer, reading which a technician/doctor can help the patient control the breathing. It can help asthmatics, reduce their breathing tension and anxiety.

Herbs & Supplements

Anti-inflammatory herbs like gingko biloba, licorice root, and stinging nettles can be helpful in reducing asthma symptoms. In fact, experts recommend taking fish oils, which also have anti-inflammatory effects; a daily dose of 1-2 gram of fish oil combined with multivitamin (vitamin C, magnesium, antioxidants) should effectually lessen asthma symptoms.

However, always talk with your physician first, before taking any medicine or alternative treatment for asthma. If have allergies, any unsupervised treatment might worsen it; also some alternative treatment might not be safe for children.