The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Asthma Inhalers and Mental Disturbances
Posted by Frank W. (New York City, NY) on 03/01/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
One of my relatives was recently diagnosed with steroid psychosis a year and a half after taking a steroid asthma inhaler for asthma (on and off). His family never knew, since he kept his delusions secret. However, it eventually came out in other ways. Please watch for this in your own family and friends who take steroids for asthma. I had never heard about side effects from asthma inhalers until now, but apparently its well known among psychiatrists.
Here is some information I found while researching the subject. I hope it helps someone:
"Asthma inhalers and nasal sprays that contain steroids are well known to cause psychiatric side effects such as depression, mood swings, aggression, irritability and insomnia. However, in rare cases, they can also cause a side effect called "steroid psychosis". People with steroid psychosis lose contact with reality and can appear to be crazy or insane. Symptoms of steroid psychosis can involve anything from incoherent babbling to psychotic delusions and hallucinations. The person may need to be hospitalized and treated with anti-psychotic drugs. The condition is usually reversible, although it may take weeks, months, or even longer to resolve. Steroid psychosis is rare with steroid asthma inhalers and nasal sprays (1 in 10,000 chance). However, it is much more common with oral (pills) steroid drugs, such as prednisone.
Examples of steroid asthma inhalers are Pulmicort, Flovent and Advair. Examples of steroid nasal sprays are Nasonex, Nasacort, Rhinocort and Flonase.
Steroid psychosis can begin with a feeling of being 'hyped up'. This can be followed by anxiety, tachycardia (rapid heart beat), pressured speech, increased blood pressure, loss of potassium, severe insomnia, depression, hallucinations, memory problems and delusions. The person can appear to have serious mental illness, such as bipolar mania or schizophrenia, which are mental illnesses characterized by the loss of contact with reality. People with steroid psychosis may experience suicidal or homicidal ideation (thoughts of killing themselves or others). They can have delusions of grandeur (a false belief they have great importance), such as believing they are Jesus Christ. They can also have paranoid delusions (a false belief they are being persecuted), such as believing they are the victim of a conspiracy. Also, the person may experience hallucinations or visual illusions. The hallucinations can be visual (seeing people or things that are not there), or auditory (hearing voices). Steroid psychosis can leave a person disabled and unable to work.
Note that the steroids in asthma inhalers are called "corticosteroids", and should not be confused with the steroids used by body builders called "anabolic steroids".
Source: http://www.sidefxdrugs.com/
Apple Juice
Posted by Gisela (Hunstville, Alabama) on 08/22/2007
★★★★★
A friend told me about hearing of studies done on children with asthma and how drinking apple juice helped them to not develop symptoms. She realized that her severe asthma had vanished once her children reached toddler age and that she was drinking apple juice with them daily during snack time.
I have severe asthma and have had to use a rescue inhaler on average about 5 times a day, which makes me go through about 2 inhalers a month. For anyone on a rescue inhaler, you know they are now switched to environmentally friendly inhalers (or so they say) which cost many times over what the old generic used to cost. Not having medical insurance, this was a big problem for me but not one I connected to the apple juice cure for a while (bear with me, there's a point coming). I started to drink apple juice, I bought the frozen concentrate and mixed it myself in a reusable container (trying to be more earth friendly and energy saving so I do this with all juices now). I started by having a glass in the morning, after dinner and before bed. I would also have some at the onset of asthma symptoms. I did realize after two or so weeks that I was feeling better, I no longer had heavy chest pressure or lung tiredness. Those two things alone were a big relief for me as I'd been told by my doctor that either lung could collapse at any moment and that neither was strong enough to fully support me long enough for a procedure to be done. For the first time in the year since she'd told me that, my lungs felt strong. I could literally run up my stairs and be ok, I started to exercise again and I could breathe deep, full beautiful breathes! I still had to use my rescue inhaler but only once at night. It was in realizing that my inhaler needed to be refilled that I came upon a great discovery... my inhaler had lasted me over 9 weeks!!! For the first time in my life, I had an inhaler last more than 2-3 weeks max. So not only was I ingesting less chemicals (that after a lifetime of use had left me with many other symptoms) but I was saving a ton of money too! It has now been nearly 4 months since I have been treating my asthma with apple juice and not only am I breathing better but my lungs don't hurt anymore and I'm only on my second inhaler since the start of the apple juice treatment.
I did notice some of the symptoms start to come back as my allergies became very aggravated by a) an ongoing drought in my state that causes a lot of dust and such in the air and b) the maintenance men at my apartment complex cutting the grass every other day despite the fact that it doesn't need it. About three weeks ago I started to take a garlic supplement for a yeast infection (clears it up in just a few days) and noticed that my asthma seemed much better. I've since been taking one garlic supplement in the morning with my apple juice and found that I can go days without using my rescue inhaler I have previously tried to use just the garlic supplements for my asthma and they did help but not enough for me to continue them alone. Now using them in combination with the apple juice, I have found much better results then when I used a medicated diskus to prevent asthma symptoms.
Apple Juice
Posted by Sela (Huntsville, Alabama) on 07/25/2008
★★★★★
Update:
It has been almost a year now and I have continued to use the apple juice to help my asthma. I stopped using the garlic pill and started to implement garlic in my diet instead. However recently in taking ACV for my allergies and adding it to the apple juice to cover up the taste I found that it has boosted the effect of the apple juice to where I no longer have to constantly have my inhalor at had for just in case. I can breathe better and clearer as if I'd never had asthma at all. I still get occasional wheezing but nowhere near what it used to be.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jessica (Chicago) on 10/26/2006
★★★★★
I am a severe asthmatic with sinusitis. I'm not sure if asthmatics are allergic to dairy or if people who are allergic to dairy become asthmatics, but either way, there is a strong connection. Dairy not only effects my asthma, but my sinuses and allergies, as well.
Coffee
Posted by Brian (Newark, OH) on 05/28/2006
★★★★★
If I am out, and have forgotten my albuterol inhaler, and I'm having difficulty breathing -- I head to starbucks, caribou, or wherever else I can go for an espresso or a giant cup of coffee. The caffeine acts as an anti-inflamatory agent -- it helps to reduce air-way swelling. While it's NEVER a good idea to leave without your medication -- it's always a good idea to have an alternate, just in case (and hey, who doesn't want an excuse to splurge for capuccino or espresso every once in a while)!
Vitamin C
Posted by Paracelsus (Orlando, Fl) on 07/09/2020 46 posts
★★★★★
I read a review on Amazon for liposomal (fat soluble) vitamin C and saw a few people who stated that it cured their asthma. Normal vitamin C taken in large doses gets flushed out of the body quickly since it is water soluble. It can also cause diarrhea. This is not the case with liposomal vitamin C.
Liposomal vitamin C is the next best thing to IV vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown to cure or ameliorate many disease conditions. I take it daily for its immune boosting function and also in conjunction with niacinamide to keep my arthritis at bay.
I think we should never allow ourselves to think that something isn't curable. As the great physician Paracelsus said, "There are no incurable diseases, only incurable patients".
Aloe Vera
Posted by Flower's Mom (Pueblo Of Acoma, Nm) on 08/01/2018
★★★★★
I realize that I am very late in responding to Diane's aloe post below from 2009, but I only just read it and I wanted to share my experience with treating asthma with Aloe Vera. I have been using Aloe Vera off and on when needed for a couple of years now and have been totally symptom-free. Prior to that, I was on 2 prescription medications, taking them faithfully every day. The aloe I take twice a day is your regular run-of-the-mill household plant, although it loves the bright indirect light conditions and has grown to be huge. I choose a leaf that is big and fleshy and cut off the pointed ribs on both sides. Then I separate the two pieces of skin, exposing the juice and gel inside, which I scrape either with a spoon into a small bowl or with my teeth straight into my mouth. I find the taste to be clean and refreshing, not bitter at all.
Also, my dogs and cat regularly bite chunks of the leaves off. I hope this is helpful, in that you do not need to have a special plant to achieve positive results. Blessings, Flower's Mom
H2O2 Inhalation Therapy
Posted by MyWay (Wilmington, De) on 12/17/2014
Update: I am still having great success with the h202 inhalation therapy - using 6 squirts of the 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide a day. However, I really wanted to get to the root of this mild cold induced asthma condition so, I investigated my background a bit. I was born with asthma many years ago and was given many medications. My mother had little knowledge of the condition and so, I was given the standard meds back in the late 60's. Anyhow, I seemed to have little problems with asthma for many years but in reappeared about 10 years ago. I started with medications like singulair, flovent, duo-nebs, etc.....it was awful stuff. After 10 years, I knew I had to figure out this issue.
Fast forward to today...I am using hydrogen peroxide but knew that I must find out, on a cellular level, what is making me asthmatic. I started reading nutritional journals on the science behind nutrition therapy so, my investigation led me to Dr. Carolyn Dean and magnesium deficiencies. I have taken magnesium before but the pill forms are not bioavailable and, according to my research, we only get about 4% of the magnesium needed by taking a pill.
I delved into Dr. Deans blog, read everything I could about our deficiencies here in the United States and decided to get my magnesium RBC's checked (red blood cells) ...according the Dr. Dean, It needs to be above 6.0 and I was at 5.0. (I can't remember the measurement). I ordered her magnesium because in all honesty, I do believe the magnesium she developed truly is absorbable so much more then what we get from the nutrition shops and doesn't give me "the runs."
I have absolutely no affiliation with Dr. Dean but I respect her work and research immensely - I say this because I am sitting here, day 3 taking her magnesium liquid.....and no need for Advair or H202 therapy. Have I been magnesium deficient for so many years because of all the fluoride in my daily life? I believe so....I am speechless. The fluoride molecules are in so many medications and they hang on to the magnesium we get from our food sources. The pharmaceutical companies add fluoride to the medicines so they are more powerful but, with a price. I know Advair has fluoride molecules, my toothpaste has fluoride molecules, my water source has fluoride molecules.....folks, if you or your child have been taking ANY medications for many, many years (like me), get your magnesium RBC's checked. Here is a site that indicates which meds have fluoride in them.
http://www.slweb.org/ftrcfluorinatedpharm_ster.html
I give this information to everyone because it has taken me at least two years of investigation to get to this point and I hope it can help others. When I have my magnesium RBC's checked again, I will give everyone an update.
H2O2 Inhalation Therapy
Posted by Myway (Delaware, Usa) on 01/23/2015
★★★★★
Update: So here it is, my journey seems to be almost complete with my asthma. I use Bill Monroe's H202 Therapy as a go-to if I start wheezing, take 2 teaspoons of Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa) daily to reduce systemic inflammation AND keep my sinuses clear of mucous plus, take Dr. Carolyn Dean's Remag (picometer size liquid magnesium), 1/2 tsp 2X a day....and continue to practice buteynko method of breathing. BTW, my Magnesium RBC (red blood cell) test was 5.0 mg/dL and according to Dr. Dean, it needs to be between 6.0-6.5 mg/dL, not the 4.2-6.8 mg/dL as indicated on the test range. The fluoride in the Advair was leaching the magnesium from my system - hence, I was not getting the proper nutrition I needed to combat my asthma. My body was not getting properly fueled nutritionally because the magnesium was not allowed to drag into the cells the vitamins and nutrients it needed.
If you have an interest in getting to the root of some of your health issues, I suggest you read the follow excerpt from functional medicine university. This one page of information is an eye opener as it relates to magnesium deficiencies.
http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/882.cfm
Find the Triggers
Posted by Kellingo1 (Kalama, Wa) on 12/14/2012
★★★★★
I drank a 12 pack of diet soda every day for 20 years, I was overweight had adult onset asthma, migrains, autoimmune issues, couldn't lose weight. Had random allergic reactions like my throat closing up, or wheezing myself to sleep every single night, when I eliminated all artificial sweetners, aspartame, succrolose etc. I was completely cured of asthma, no more migrains and instantly dropped 25 lbs without effort that was the only thing I changed was removing the awful poisonous artificial sweetners that almost killed me. Its been 2 years and I sincerly believe it was the cause of my lupis symtoms and I feel so much better but was addicted to them and didnt have a clue that they were making me so sick so if you have asthma quit the aspartame and succrolose and be amazed.
Find the Triggers
Posted by Larry (Oakland, Ca Usa) on 06/17/2012
★★★★★
Asthma can be caused by fungul and bacterial sinusitus. The fungus and bacteria drip down your throat and into your lungs and cause asthma. This type of asthma is often misdiagnosed. Mine was misdiagnosed for two years by several pulmonologists. Then I went to an allergist who really listened to how it started with a horrible almost violent allergy attack and correctly diagnosed it. Turns out I was exposed to fungus and bacteria from illegal construction in my apartment building where the terrible developer opened up water damaged walls without enclosing them. This released the fungus and bacteria which lodged in my sinuses. The pulmonologists treated my lungs and not my sinuses. Its treated by getting rid of the fungus and bacteria in the sinuses through drugs and surgery. The drainage causes a cough. I've had 3 surgeries and used lots of drugs but because I was misdiagnosed for two years the fungus and bacteria are deeply embedded in my respitory system now and very hard to get rid of. I am holding it down (not eliminating it) and controlling the cough by using a Neil Med with 1 extra strength Neil Med packet, 8 drops of garlic extract, 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract, six drops of hydrogen peroxide 3 times a day. Its not perfect but it helps.
H2O2 Inhalation Therapy
Posted by Jim (Sun City Center, Fl) on 03/09/2012
★★★★★
Have been remiss and never said thanks to Bill. I had chronic asthma, using 2 different inhalers from VA, 3 snorts am and pm. Started inhaling peroxide about 5 years ago, initially had some throat irritation. Stopped for a week and restarted at half strength. Figured it was coating on back of my throat from years of inhaling. Did 50% for a week and then full strength. Still have my 3 refills from VA in linen closet as a reminder. On a recent visit annual vist to VA I got a new female MD, She almost had a cow when I told her how I cured asthma, in so many words she said "impossible and insisted that I take a rescue inhaler which I returned unopened when they arrived.
My wife of 55 years has had a chronic minor cough, which may have been a throw back to when she smoked. She had heart problems 7 years ago and quit. A few months ago I got her started on using a small inhaler and keeping it on a table next to her TV chair. The cough is now non existent. My sincere thanks Bill and I know the good Lord has blessed you for your efforts. Jim
Coffee
Posted by Sl0j0n (31503) on 11/24/2016
★★★★★
I have asthma, & I drink coffee, [LOVE! It] usually almost a 12-cup pot, / day.
Coffee has more polyphenols than green tea, has been proven to help prevent diabetes, & others.
I believe caffeine functions as a substitute neurotransmitter.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sandra (Tampa, Florida) on 04/27/2008
★★★★★
The cure for both Asthma and Allergies is a healthy alkaline based diet. Foods come in 2 groups acidic and alkaline. The more acidic foods we eat the more we are susceptible to diseases like cancer, high blood pressure, tumors, colds and asthma and allergies. I am curing my son who has had chronic, food allergies and asthma. There was one point he could only eat 3 foods, now he eat about 15. I realized that he was allergic to all foods acidic and his food allergies were compounded by his asthma. I instituteed a heavy alkaline based diet and now his allergies are better by 50% and asthma went for chronic to mild.... It's all what we eat... do some research into alkalinity and acidity and I guarantee you, you are what you eat!!!
H2O2 Inhalation Therapy
Posted by Marci (Wilmington, NC) on 04/16/2008
★★★★★
I was desperate to find something other than my rescue inhalers (7-8x/day), steriods, Adviar, Singulair, Albuterol nebulizer and whatever else I've tried throughout the 11 years since I was diagnosed with severe asthma and allergies.
I recently quit my job because my attacks had gotten so bad, I couldn't function. No health insurance, no money, I had to rely on friends' prescriptions, samples and $4 drugs from Walmart.
I found this just yesterday and tried the HP therapy in my nebulizer. INSTANLY no more wheezing - no more coughing! I was sure I had gone nuts. I got my first solid night's sleep in ages! I woke up this morning feeling better than I had in years. I will do it again every 2 hours and see how I am tomorrow, but this is so encouraging.
Thank you so much for this site. I will read everything I can find. I hope it lasts.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 02/25/2016
Dear Colleen,
I would probably start with 1/4 teaspoon of cold-pressed coconut oil three times a day. You could then increase by 1/4 teaspoon at a time. For a four year old I would probably not give more than 1 Tablespoon a day total, but there may be exceptions.
To get a coconut oil in a four year old, I spread it on toast, mix it in oatmeal, add some to steamed vegetables, add it to smoothies, etc.
You might also want to try milk kefir for your daughter. Regular consumption of milk kefir really turned my daugther's health around, including asthma problems.
~Mama to Many~
MSM
Posted by Scott (Kent, OH) on 12/07/2007
★★★★★
I have been on a quest to cure my asthma for a few years now as I feel that allopathic medicine just makes my breathing worse over time. I recently tried apple cider vinegar and oil pulling with no siginifcant improvement. I have also tried many herbal remedies that I won't even list as they never helped enough for me to give up my inhalers. Let me clarify that my asthma is chronic and I have been on Advair, Singular, a daily nubulizer, Proventil, Albuterol, Primetine, and Asthmanex. On most days I was using a combination of these medications and although they helped to a degree, they never gave me complete relief and if I missed doses I would be close to emergency room wheezing (actually, after starting Advair I went to ER two times and prior to this med - I hadn't been to ER in 15 years). Now it may be that my quest is over as I started MSM last week and I feel as though I had a lung transplant. I can't really put into words how overjoyed I feel and how thankful I am to this website for exposing me to this supplement. I have made it through an entire week without using my inhaler at night and have decreased my inhaler to once a day. I was up to about 10-15 times a day depending on weather and allergens in air!!! I have quit taking singular and have thrown out asthmnex. I will continue to keep my albuterol for emergencies but if MSM continues to work so well - I may not have to use it. I have also found that when I have had difficulty breathing like sledding with daughter the other night - if I wait a few minutes it goes away. Normally, I would reach for inhaler for relief but don't feel that it is as urgent or severe. MSM may not work for others but it seems worth a try because for me it is nothing less than a miracle. Thanks again for this site and happy breathing to all. I will post an update if anything changes.
Allergy Connection
Posted by Amarilis (San Diego, CA) on 03/30/2007
★★★★★
I read a few of the articles on here, and I just wanted to share my personal experiance. My asthma comes from my allergies. A lot of people are like this. Whenever I get a sinus infection, I am sure to get asthma. Or if I am around something that makes my allergies act up, I am sure to get asthma...So if you notice that there are things that you are allergic to, that cause you to have a constant wheezy cough..pressure against your chest when you breathe...go get allergy tested.
Buteyko Breathing Method
Posted by Alan (Rockville, MD) on 10/16/2006
★★★★★
Asthma: Significant Reduction in dependence on Albuterol inhaler. I have very serious steroid dependent asthma. Patrick Mckeown has written two books Asthma Free Naturally and Close Your Mouth which feature the Buteyko Method for breathing. Simple technique of breathing in and out of your nose, and exercises called the control pause response--2 seconds breathe in through nose, 3 seconds breathe out through nose, pinch your nostrils and hold your breath. By how long you can hold your breath, this will tell you how well you are breathing. Try this method. You will breathe better, catch fewer colds and infections.
Vitamin C
Posted by Jazlyn (Raleigh, NC) on 04/24/2006
★★★★★
I've been taking C-1000's in large doses everyday for about 4 months and I used to have to use my inhaler every single day and now I never need to use it. If you take about 5000mg-10,000mg a day for a week or two it should start to help alot, then you can drop down to 3000mg a day.
