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Maravilla, Any suggestions about a natural treatment for asthma. My son suffers from it and it has gotten worse as he entered his 20s. Tonight, we just had to return home early from a wedding because of an attack he had. He had to use his nebulizer and prednisone. Both of these are not good, but the attacks recently have been triggered when he gets a cold. He’s been to the emergency room enough times, and the doctor always uses the same treatments. Any information would be appreciated. I know you are not a doctor, and I don’t want to put you on the spot, just could use some help.
Sir, I can imagine it is very hard for you to see your son suffer. The reason we have such high health care cost is that we look to the Doctor and the medical industry for all the answers. They dont have all the answers, in this age we dont really have a reason for not knowing a lot of things. If you have a computer any questions you have about diseases is available, with solutions. They say ask your Doctor but if he knew anything about it why did’nt he tell me.
I am going to be 65 in January and the Social Security office sent me my welcome letter for medicare. They told me how much my premium is going to cost and that I will have to take medicare part B if I want to continue under TRI Care for life with the military. Nothing is for life, they have made many changes with military health care since my husband retired.
I’ve decided not to bother, because I can go get testing for different disease and pay doctors for examiniations. I only need major medical care if that. I’ve decided to take control and change my life. There is a date that I have with destiny and it is set. There is nothing I can do to change it, but how I live, I have power to make a difference. I paid insurance for years and only used it one time. I will not take medications until I make a judgement as to whether I will accept the side effects that come with it. I’ve discovered that it cost very little to maintain good health. Exercise, no smoking and drinking, stay away from sugar, drink plenty water and eat things that have a nutruition value. How hard can that be, it is simple and cheap.
My husband was going to the doctor here and everytime he told the doctor something he would give him some more pills. One day he decided that since he had been taking the pills he was feeling worse not better. He went to the doctor and the doctor set him up for a test. The test showed that one of the many pills he was taking was destroying his muscles. It took the doctor about one month to call my husband and tell him that. He could not face my husband.
If a side effect from medication causes you not to take the medication any more, then why take it in the first place. That does not make a lot of sense to me. Some things are elementary and we can do something about it. I am beginning to trust my wisdom and not depend on the doctor, who is trying to make a living. His main focus is the same as yours and mine he needs to make a living for his family. I don’t care whether he is a NP or any other type of doctor. He is not in it just because he likes to practice medicine.
Change our way of living, it will save a lot of health care cost. We are so dependent on the system. Other country’s pay for health care they pay in their taxes. We in the USA are always trying to figure a way not to pay taxes. You can not have it both ways, some one is going to have to pay. It would be better if we had set up in each community clinics that gave classes on healthy life styles .
Alfred; I know you live in NY look up Dr. Kamau Kokayi, http://www.drkokayi.com tell him Keith sent you. He is a terrific doctor and will most likely be unlike any trip your son has made to a doctors office, meaning he will actually spend time with you!
I would do what Jenny suggested and google your question. I don’t really know anything at all about asthma but I know several people who refuse to take the drugs the doctor gives them and they do take some natural remedy they got at the healthfood store, recommended by a naturopath, but I don’t know what that substance is. I read an article not too long ago that mentioned food additives and preservatives as triggers for ashthma attacks. If the underlying reason for this condition is because of factors within your control, it would be wise to investigate those things rather than relying on Western Medicine’s practice fo treating symptoms only, never ever addressing the root cause of anything.
Lotus, Thank you for the information and concern. Dr. Kokayi seems like a reasonable option. He’s about an hour and a half from us, but that should not be a problem. As soon as my son gets up I am going to show him the site. He is definately more open to eastern philosophies than I am, and this may be just the thing that may help. Western medicine has been both a blessing and a curse. We have been so indoctrinated in it, that any other form of treatment seems like voodoo. I myself have gone to an accupuncturist and did not recieve much relief for carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultimately I had to have the surgery. On the other hand, I had a Chiropractor that did wonders for a really bad cervical spine problem. It has been ten years since the doctors wanted to perform surgery on my neck. I regained my biceps through his care. Unfortunately, last year he moved his practice to another state.
An integrated approach to healing has to be a better solution than all the pills we need to take to remain healthy. As I get older I’m beginning to realize there are many more options to healthcare.
Thanks again,
AlJenny, Like you, I don’t think doctors have all the answers. The good ones will tell you so. They realize the limitations of their field. Some, who are either blind believers, or are in it for the money, may not be so forthcoming.
Maravilla, With all the information on the internet, it can get confusing. My son has used WEBMD, but I would assume the traditional doctor is where you will ultimately be sent. I’ve seen conflicting information on many things, as I’m sure you have. I figured you may have had some first hand knowledge, as I know you have done much research. I appreciate, and thank you, your response. And agree Western Medicine treats symptoms and never gets to the root cause of the problem. Like you said, if it is something within our control, that is what we should be looking to do.
With all the televison ads for medications today, and the warnings they provide for each, it scares you to death(pun intended)about taking them.
I think Lotus’s suggestion is a good option. If my son agrees, we will give it a try.
Alfred, I’m sorry your son is not feeling well–that’s always scary for a parent, but I’ve also heard Dr. Kokayi speak on http://www.wbai.org radio (Global Medicine Review program) and he gives great advice. I had never suffered from asthma until I started living in CR the 2nd time around and it was one of the scariest things to feel that you could do very little to get enough air into your lungs, but you can overcome it. I worked on strengthening my immune system (which helped prevent the colds and the allergic reactions), taking some specific vitamins from food sources and exercising also helped, but it took a while. Unless absolutely necessary, I would steer clear of the Prednisone, I can’t tell you how much that hurt my general health, but when I was in the midst of the worst asthma crisis, I just wanted to breathe so I understand his reasoning for taking it. Heck, at one point I even ate some peanut beetles because they said that could help–as you can tell, I was desperate, but today I no longer suffer from this. In the meantime Vitamin B6 helped me an awful lot and it helps reduce the need for steroids, eating different sources of Vit C/Zinc helped the immune system and peppers, citrus and other foods containing Vit C tend to have flavonoids that help reduce the release of histamines that are triggered in an allergic reaction and asthma is very closely linked to allergies.I hope your son gives alternative medicine a try–especially when coming from someone that is very knowledgeable like Dr. Kakayi. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers…
I think WEBMD is owned by Pfizer, or E-lie Lily. You won’t get any concrete answers from that site. You need to google “natural rememdies – asthma” and see what comes up. And going to the doctor that Keith recommended is a good idea. He’s like me, doesn’t much believe in what Western Medicine has to offer. I rarely listen to the drug ads on TV (I always hit the “mute”) but last night I listened to the ones for Detrol, Visicare, and Effexor. Are they kidding? Who would take those drugs with the list of side effects — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, suicide, seizures, ruptured bowels — good grief. I can’t believe how gullible people are. They need to stop this drug advertising on TV; all it does is make the person listening to the blah blah think they need this or that drug. We’re such a bunch of hypochondriacs in this country. I love it when Big Pharma gets busted for their deceit — like BristolMeyers just did and had to pay out $515 Million dollars because of their bad drug. Whenever I go to the doctor, which is only once a year just to make sure I’m still alive, the nurse always asks which blood pressure med I take. When I tell her I don’t take anything she is astounded that a person my age could have blood pressure that is that of a ten year old – 110/65. I have a friend in CR who takes some blood pressure med and he has all the side effects, including impotence. Won’t be long before they start adding drugs to treat that, you know, the ones with stroke and blindness as side effects, and priapism, which needs surgical intervention to correct! Ahhhhhh, western medicine — you gotta love it for how ridiculous it all is.
Rebeca, We thank you for your thoughts and prayers, and suggestions. It means a lot to us.
All of you cannot know how appreciative we are for your concerns and caring thoughts. It restores our faith in humankind knowing there are still people around who actually take the time to help others.
The B6 is a great suggestion. I remember it was one of the treatments I used for Carpal Tunnel syndrome. It acts like an anti-inflammatory. I’m going to the natural foods store right after I finish this and get it.
Maravilla, I can agree with your perception of Western Medicine. Still, there are some beneficial drugs, as you and I have discussed in the past. Medicine was once a noble profession, but has now been corrupted by greed. As most other things in life, the money factor seems always to take control in even the most altruistic endeavors.
Again, at the risk of repeating myself, Thanks to Jenny, Lotus, Rebeca and Maravilla and all others I might have missed. You guys are the best!
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Remember Cod Liver Oil? it is still a good remedy for many things because it strengthens the immune system. Alfred do you remember anything about Whiskey, honey and lemon. Some of the best cough syrup you can make. If you want the recipe I send it to you (smile). Health care, really caring for our health, at one time the medical profession was very different.
Here in Costa Rica I see the Tico’s giving up some of the natural cures they practice for medicine. They think they want and need a quick fix. We do need Doctors but our doctors should be studying foods and the body. If they did it would cut health care cost because a lot of things would not be sold in our stores. They would ban white bread, white flour, white sugar, and white rice. Preservatives would not be used.
When I was a girl just a few days ago, they did not use preservatives and the rats would nibble the corners of the bread. You would have to look for a package of bread that had not been nibbled. Now you can lay a loaf of bread in fron of a rat and he will not eat it. They have better sense then us. So many things are driving up health care cost. I hear the presidental canidates saying medical insurance for everyone. I would rather spend our money on medical prevention. Save our children by practicing prevention.
I feel sorry for many seniors that are here just so they can get cheap medical care. My heart goes out to them. It is terrible to spend your last days on this earth in fear of having and not having health care. Not to mock those people that is a real concern, but when are we actually going to be free and live the quality life we worked all the years to enjoy.
Sugar is one of our biggest killers, it kills far more people then cigarettes, alchol, or cocaine. Figure that one and what does your child see at his eye level in the grocery store. We just did not know, and now we see the results.
If more people took cod liver oil, they wouldn’t have to take so much Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft. 100,000,000 rx’s for those drugs were written in 2005. Besides boosting your immune system, it keeps your brain functioning and your moods stabilized. I still rely on my grandmother’s remedies for most things, and they usually work. I’ll take pharmaceutical drugs when I’m bleeding from every orifice and they tell me without those drugs I will die!!
Jenny and Maravilla, I went and got the B6, Zinc and Vitamin C today, and I was speaking to one of my friends tonight and he said Cod liver oil too. I haven’t heard of cod liver oil being used much since I was a kid. What is the usual amount to take? Is it one teaspoon per day? And, is it OK for us older folks to take also? I think I remember reading something about vitamin A overdose or poisoning with cod liver oil some years ago.
Alfred, as with everything, even if it typically is good for you and natural, you can hurt yourself if you overdo it especially for fat soluble vitamins since they’re stored in our bodies. You can overdose on Vit A and B6 (which can put the other B vitamins out of wack) among many others, for now give your son the recommended supplement dosage (5,000-6000 in IUS is the RDA— in food sources +/- 10K-15K of beta-carotene will allow the body to convert it to Vit A=2 carrots). The problem with an asthmatic is that if his lungs are also secreting too much mucous, it will be difficult for him to absorb the Vit A which is just why he may need to supplement with foods and cod liver oil. Please do not give him more than 10K IUS of Vit A without it being monitored by the Dr. Kokayi since it can not only affect his liver, but his brain could also swell (which will cause frontal headaches) when toxicity levels are reached. The doctor can go way beyond the RDA amounts while monitoring him for short periods of time. Also, the Vit C will enhance the effect of the Vit A (typically you don’t have to take so much Vit A if you’re also taking Vit C and E).
Unfortunately, like you said, the noblest of causes can be corrupted by greed, but there are people that are taking medicine into the orthomolecular level to address nutritional cures from core sources (as with anything, beware of some who call themselves orthomolecular doctors and most certainly are not anything but quacks). Since big pharma has hijacked our modern medicine, most of the research monies are used to find new drugs to treat symptoms, not to cure people—that would be counterintuitive in an economic sense because if they cure people, then they loose their customer base. Nonetheless, there has been some wonderful research done as to how micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzyme) supplementation can actually cure the root cause of some diseases therefore also eliminating the symptoms (not trying it the other way around). It’s amazing to see how someone that was being treated as a schizophrenic actually had an incredibly severe Vit B6 deficiency and was able to lead a normal life once that was balanced. Sailors of previous centuries would tell of some of the hallucinations their peers experienced while suffering from scurvy (a mere Vit C deficiency). Our generation may now have refrigeration and many other technologies to make our lives much easier, but our food sources are less nutritious, contaminated with all sorts of manmade chemicals and genetically tampered with so we don’t only have to worry about our genetic flaws that may lead to nutritional deficits, but also that our food choices be the most effective ones for us. That’s why I admire the people on this Forum like Maravilla, happygirl, Jenny and so many others that have had the opportunity and made the choice to grow their own foods and eat the healthiest choices. For us city/suburban dwellers, we have to educate ourselves and make our food choices at the store—no matter where, I also believe it is our choice. I hope your son feels better soon and try to get him that appt so that Dr. Kokayi can help him overcome this truly exhausting and scary problem he’s dealing with as soon as possible.
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