Articles about Asthma

Note about this page: The latest issue of Positive Health magazine is published on the 4th Thursday of each month. The articles from that issue (or summaries thereof) are placed on this web site on or about the same date.

One Hundred Years of Treating Asthma by Jennifer Worth This article is an attempt to reconstruct the old and natural remedies used by our parents and grandparents for a condition that has reached epidemic proportions in the last 30-40 years, in the hope that some of them may be helpful to those who do not want to fill themselves or their children with powerful drugs.

Asthma Epidemic, The by Dr John Mansfield Currently, the mortality rate for England and Wales is just under 2,000 per annum. Yet in 1929 Conybeare’s text book of medicine, a standard ‘bible’ of medicine at that time, stated that it is doubtful whether death has ever been caused by uncomplicated asthma. In 1929, it must be remembered, industrial pollution in many areas was quite horrific.

Asthma Interferential Therapy and Chartered Physiotherapy by Wendy Emberson A five-year-old boy developed asthma at six months old after being prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection. Up to that point, he was a normal healthy child. After a short course of Interferential Therapy [IFT] and chest physiotherapy, this child had no signs and symptoms of the asthma and no longer needed the ventolin or becotide. He has remained healthy and symptom free for four years.

Asthma and its Aromatherapy Management by Dr Vivian Lunny  “Not all people with asthma have allergies. Roughly 5% of the population lives with asthma”.
     Asthma is a disease that is characterised by increased responsiveness of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (main airways) to some type of trigger that causes widespread narrowing of the airways that changes in severity either as a result of treatment, or spontaneously.

Prevention of Atopic Asthma by Mary Cameron Ph.D  Asthma induced by allergy to house dust mites (HDM) is a world-wide problem.¹ Despite advancement in our under- standing of asthma and safer medications, patterns of prevalence in the UK and for most industrialised countries show an increased incidence in children. . . .Yet there is now overwhelming evidence to suggest that allergen avoidance can prevent the onset of asthma and reduce the severity of asthma attacks for those individuals already sensitised.

Links to other Asthma web sites

As well as the links highlighted below It may be worth checking out the Allergy heading and the Research Updates section

Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics A good site of an organization that looks at things from the perspective of the patient and the patient’s family.

Allergy and Asthma Rochester
Resource Center Good clear information and links.

Allergy and Clinical Immuniology International A journal aimed at allergists and immunologists and for primary care physicians. Interesting articles but fairly technical.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Information on and for their members. News and general information.

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Information, referrals and articles.

American Lung Association Plenty of information on asthma in children and adults. Particularly good pages for children and teenagers.

Asthma School Information for Asthma
sufferers Many links, not all of them working.

Asthma Research Unit Information on current asthma research and links.

Better Health Good information for those trying to find out more about Asthma.

British Lung Foundation Access to leaflets and information.

Canadian Lung Association Solid, clear information about asthma, if somewhat conventional in approach.

Doctors Guide: Asthma. Information and Resources General information and links.

European Federation of Asthma and Allergy Associations An excellent site with quality information. An emphasis on making information accessible and relevent with special features for children and teenagers.

General Practitioners in Asthma Group (UK) A group of primary care doctors with an interest in Asthma. Includes a useful Newsletter.

Kids Health General health pages for children includes some information on asthma.

Scottish Respiratory Site Useful information and discussion, especially for those in Scotland.

The Importance of Breathing by Drs Natalia and Sergei Lapa Breathing is one of the most important and most “instant” of all the vital functions of the body and yet the understanding of it, let alone the correction and therapeutic use of it, in complementary medicine is far from sufficient. The aim of this article is to shed light on some of the confusing issues about respiration.

Yoga and Breathing Exercises for Asthma by Sandra Goodman, Ph.D. and Lisa Saffron  Much emphasis is placed upon environmental factors in asthma prevention and treatment, but the profound role of breathing is not sufficiently acknowledged as a therapeutic option. Recent trials of breathing techniques, posture, relaxation and stress reduction confirm their importance in treating asthma and lung diseases.

Buteyko Breathing for Health by Rosalba Courtney Breathing is one of our most important functions and plays a large part in the patterns of disease and health. Most doctors and health care practitioners know little about how people in optimal health breathe in comparison to those suffering from some illness.

Transformational Breathing™ – A new process for health and wellbeing by David Thorpe Transformational Breathing is a powerful self-healing process. It opens up restricted breathing patterns, clears the subconscious mind, assists in connecting with higher states of consciousness and integrates body, mind and spirit experiences.