"Asthma (from the Greek ἅσθμα, ásthma, "panting") is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm.[1] Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.[2]
What is the cause? Wiki also cover the cause as below, normally doctor will ask if anyone in the family have this issues, meaning the genetic inheritance is very high. Otherwise it could be cause by environmental, such as dust etc.
"It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.[5] Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol).[6] Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers, such as allergens[7] and irritants, ..."
Spoken to few people to checked it out, with my brother, because his son used to use the inhaler, according to him, his son is cause by food, but have since recover, from food as well, which is the curry, of course not medical proven that curry have cure, but this is what he believe. From Eliza friends, due to dust, every time her friend came back from oversea, their kids will have to use inhaler. Lilian's son used to have a severe asthma as well, according to her also due to food, ice-cream, but recover after few years of controlled food and environmental precaution.
Another point to note here is the lung development of the child, not until age 10, their lungs still under development, hence this is the critical age : 6-10, once their lung have been ffully developed and if they already recovered from Asthma, normally they will be fine.
The key word here is "allergens". From the 2 cases above, it is apparently the cause of the external factor, one is food and another one is environment.
Got this book from Eliza - Encyclopedia of Foods and Their Healing Power - A Guide to Food Sceince and Diet Therapy by George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. What I would like to capture from this book is the food perspective.
Food To Take More
Onion
The Encyclopedia actually define Onion as a bronchodilator and antispasmodic. What it do is relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. It even put it that simply inhaling the aroma of the Onion will be effective.
What is bronchodilator? from Wiki, it basically mean it increase the airflow in the lungs, this is what an asthma person needed.
"A bronchodilator is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs."
What is spasm? From Wiki, it mean, the contraction of the muscle, in asthma case, it is the contraction of the broncho which cause the shortness of breath.
'In medicine a spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle,..'
The Encyclopedia also provide some preparation and use of Onion as below:-
1. Raw - best eating raw, hence if cooked, should cook less than one minutes.
2. Boiled in water - should be less than one minutes, otherwise the medical effects will be diminished.
3. Baked - similarly, bake to the minimum time
4. Onion Syrup - add honey or brown sugar
5. Onion water - soaking onion in water for several hours.
What is Malaysia food contain a lot of onion?
1. Fried Onion Eggs - my favorite.
2. Roti Canai Bawang?
Few points from encyclopedia on Onion and Asthma below:-
1. Respiratory disorder
If you notice after you ate the Onion, you mouth will have a onion smell. Why? This encyclopedia actually explain that the sulfur compounds from onions will rapidly pass to the bloods stream from stomach and the firsts place they release is through the lungs. Hence, when you exhale after eating onion, you will get the nice onion smell. This show the effect is so fast. If you have the sinus problem, try to eat the raw onion, it will clear it immediately.
This lead me thought of the Japanese wasabe, which also have a very strong effect on the noise, need to google to find out if the wasabe have the similar function?
2. Bronchial asthma
The encyclopedia also given a proven clinical by University in Germany - University Ludwig-Maximillian, that it was proven that thiosulfinate compound in hte onion, is capable of stopping the bronchial allergic reaction of the bronchial asthma.
Onion in Bible? Yes, during the exodus, when these Isrealite in the wilderness, they missed the Onions in Egyptian, you can also see garlic there. This mean Onion play an important role in their daily life of providing them with a good and healthy lung system.
Numbers 11:5
New International Version (NIV)
Oranges
Encyclopedia claim the Oranges come with the anti-allergic power and can neutralizing the effect of histamine.
Pick up some points from the encycliopedia
1. Orange juice should be drink fresh, exposure to light will cause the vitamin C to diminish.
2. 4 oranges or 250 mg per day is essential.
What is histamine? From Wiki, basically it is to do with immune system.
"Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter.[2] Histamine triggers the inflammatory response."
Inflammatory could be due to Pathogen or germ, meaning compound in the oranges will strengthen the against the allergen.
Horseraddish
I have no idea what is this? Need to find out. Encyclopedia claim it sulfurated essence decongest and strengthen the bronchial tubes.
Oil
The encyclopedia mentioned that the polyunsaturated fattryt acids in the vegetable oil, diminish adverse bronchial reaction to allergens tha cause asthma. They also contain antioxidants vitamin E.
Honey
The encyclopedia argue that the pollen in the honey can act to desensitize against the environmental pollen that cause asthma.
Vegetable
The encyclopedia provide two colored vegetable - green- spinach and red - peppers, claim to be the source od he beta-carotene and caorenoids that strengthen the bronchial cells.
Magnesium
The encyclopedia claim that the lack of this mineral cayse te muscle spasms of he bronchioal tubes. Legumes, wheat germ and vegetables are good source of the magnesium.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B, especially B6, reduce the excessive bronchial sensitivity, according to the encyclopedia.
Antioxidants
Provitamin A (pink and orange colored fruits and vegetables), Vitamin C (Citrus) and Vitamin E (Vegetable oil), according to encyclopedia improved the bronchial tubes ability to withstand the action of environmental pollutants.
Food Not To Take or Reduced
Salt
Encyclopedia claim that more salt will not help the respiratory functions.
Additives
Could be the source of the allergen, according to the encyclopedia.
Wine
Contain additive such as sulfates, which is not good to asthma, according to encyclopedia.
Beer
Simialry, beer also contain additives and Brewer's yeast, which is could cause the astham attack, according to the encyclopedia.
Fish
If fish is not fresh, it could contain histamine, which provokes the allergic reaction.
Shellfish
Could cause allergic reaction.
Cured Chesse
Contain histamine, which provoke allergies
Eggs
Eggs yolks could cause allergies.
Milk
Cow's milk could cause allergies.
Nuts
Peanuts and walnuts, could cause allergies to some people.
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