Werbach (1992b) suggests that in an emergency, where professional help
is not available, the patient should drink a few cups of coffee.
Rall (1980: 592-593) says that theophylline, caffeine and theobromine are
closely related alkaloids known as xanthines.
According to him, they share common pharmacological actions including:
diuresis, central nervous system stimulation, cardiac stimulation,
and (bronchial) smooth muscle relaxation.
It has been shown that a diet rich in oily fish, reduces the risk of
developing asthma in children.
The mechanism is thought to be due to a higher ratio of omega-3
(eicosapentaenoic acid), as opposed to omega-6 (arachadonic acid) fatty acids
being deposited into the phospholipids of the cell membranes.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) also competes with arachadonic acid as a
substrate in the manufacture of mediators such as leukotrienes, thromboxane
and prostaglandins.
This results in a decreased activation of inflammatory cells, decreased
broncho-constriction and decreased mucus secretion. (Van Schoor, 1998.)
Werbach (l992c) found that magnesium is able to relax muscle, even
smooth muscle. He says that injected magnesium may abort asthmatic attacks.
Further, inhaled magnesium is found to reduce the ability of both
histamine and metacholine to produce bronchospasm in asthmatics.
Hart (1993) writes that 43% of asthmatic children at the Red Cross
Children's Hospital developed a tight chest due to a common food preservative,
sulphur dioxide. Sulphur dioxide and other sulphites are also used to
spray fresh produce in supermarkets and to condition dough in bakeries.
It is also used as an
anti-microbial agent in soft drinks, beer and wine.
He further observes that the severity of the tight chest was
proportional to the amount of preservative ingested.
From the above it can be seen that food, food supplements and food
additives do play a role in amelioration and exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
[
Kindliches Asthma: Morgan-Bach.
Asthma in Infants:
Ip.: with spasms, danger of suffocation and bluish face yield to Ipecac.
Samb.: occurring during sleep, with screams, dry and husky cough and
anxiety.
Laur. or Mosch.:
spells seems to be excited by some abnormal condition of the heart
Phos.: tall slim children
Viol-t.: [Dr. Julian] Drainage of a child’s skin.
Has proved to be an excellent pulmonary drainage in infantile asthma.
Chin.: Indicated when there are suffocative fits
in the evening in bed; appears as if dying; cough, with difficult expectoration
of clear, tenacious mucus;
<: at night; >: every other day;
[Shrikant Talari]
A child with asthma during rainy season calls for Nat-s.