[SIDE EFFECTS]  10/26/2008: Lauren from Memphis, TN writes: "I just wanted to make all those asthma sufferers, including Liz from Wisconcin, a little more aware of their environment and possible triggers that they may not be aware of. I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and developed asthma 18 years ago, when I moved into my sister's new townhouse. I thought her cats were making me sick, including the asthma, but they weren't. It was the townhouse.

Many elements of our home and work environments are overloaded with synthetic chemicals, which are the main trigger for my asthma. For example, carpeting is processed with a number of toxic synthetic chemicals, including formaldehyde. Much of the manufactured furniture is made of composite woods, which also contain formaldehyde and toxic glues. Our interior environments are loaded with many synthetic chemicals, so I suggest you learn more about them. Many manufactured components take months or years to outgas and can silently make a person ill. Furniture, carpet, cleaning solutions, health and beauty aids are loaded. Fragrances, including perfumes and air fresheners are nothing but synthetic chemicals that you and your family are breathing in, and those toxins are building up in your bodies.

With my condition, I try to be very careful about what comes into my home, as it is my safe place. Recently, I purchased a dehumidifier for our basement, which produced some kind of gas that floated up through the floor boards (I couldn't smell anything). It never occured to me that this would be a dangerous piece of equipment, but it was. Just beware of the unknown....four years ago, I took doxycycline which caused a severe asthma episode that lasted for 4 or 5 weeks. You never know!

In addition to the asthma I am currently experiencing,I have also had an annoying cough at night. That's what brought me to Earthclinic tonight, as I needed to deal with this. I figured the most effective concoction would include AVC..I wasn't dissapointed! I can tolerate ACV, but don't like honey, so I heated 2 Tablespoons of ACV, 1 Tablespoon each of honey and lemon in 1 cup of water. With the first sip, it calmed my cough and I think it has eased my asthma some too. This mixture was almost tasty, and I will definitely keep it up! Thanks everyone!"

[YEA]  Deborah from San Francisco, CA writes: "I have been taking Ephedra for 8 months now and find it the best remedy so far. I am considered a servere chronic asthmatic and have only had to use the inhaler about two times a week now. The secret is to only use the amount you need and not more. I feel it has been made illegal in the United States because if more people used this herb which has been used in Chinese herbs for 2000 years, the pharmaceutical companies would lose a lot of business. Peace and love and prayers every day for all asthmatics."

[YEA]  07/03/2010: Shana from Miami, Florida, Usa writes: "I suffered for years with asthma, made worse by cold wet weather. It was one of the reasons I moved to a warmer climate. Inhalers and other medications did not really work. It felt like a giant hand would just squeeze the air out of my lungs. Once I was at a lecture with a friend and he said people thought I was making fun of the speaker, when actually it was my wheezing! Both of my parents smoked,and I think I was dealing with COPD from the time I was five or six. I can remember hiding in closets as a small child so people wouldn't hear me wheeze and clear my lungs. I don't smoke, never have.

I researched for natural cures and found fish oil. I started taking it and the wheezing went away. My lungs feel pliant and able to open up. Wet and cold weather do not affect me anymore. I can breathe! When I don't take the fish oil, the wheezing comes back, so I'm convinced that what is what works for me.

The recommended amount I read is one teaspoon for every 50 lbs. of weight. That's what I take. I usually will take a liquid form, but sometimes pills, so I will take about three or so of those. My body lets me know how much works. I take the fish oil in the morning. I also take flax oil at night, one or two tablespoons. But when I only take flax oil, the wheezing comes back. It has to be fish oil (sorry vegetarians, I don't know any other answers for you).

In the winter I take cod liver oil, in the summer just regular fish oil. Both work as well, but the cod liver oil has vitamin D, which I feel I get enough of in the summer.

So I believe for me, the answer is that I need the omega 3 fatty acids for normal lung function.

The taste can be unpleasant, but there are flavored forms and then of course the pills, though they tend to be rather large.

Another bonus is that I notice my vision is much clearer when I faithfully take fish oil, particularly the cod liver oil. The owner of one of the vitamin stores I go to says that the elderly customers who have taken cod liver oil their entire lives often have 20/20 vision. I believe it.

I hope this can help someone and I'm really glad I found this site. I'm trying a few of the suggestions here and will post in a while when I see (or don't see) results."