The modern medical system has not been able to find a cure for asthma. Drugs and vaccines have only a limited value in alleviating symptoms. Most of these are habit forming and the dose has to be increased from time to time to give the same amount of relief.
They also tend to make asthma chronic. Allergy – which is the immediate cause of the asthma – itself is an indication of lowered resistance and internal disharmony caused by dietetic errors and a faulty style of living. The real cure, therefore, lies in the stimulation of the functioning of slack excretory organs and appropriate diet patterns to eliminate toxic and waste matter and reconstruct the body.
To begin with, the patient should fast for three to five days on lemon juice with honey. During this period the bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema. After the fast, the patient may resort to an all-fruit diet for a further five to seven days to nourish the system and eliminate the toxins.
Thereafter, other foods may be gradually added to the diet. Further short fasts and periods on all-fruit diet may be required in certain cases at intervals of two or three months depending upon the progress being made.
A vegetarian diet is best for asthma. Ideally, his diet should contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are acid-forming foods, and a liberal quantity of alkaline foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables and sprouted seeds and grains. The breakfast may consist of fresh fruits with prunes or other dried fruit.
Steamed vegetables with whole wheat bread or chappatis may be taken for lunch and dinner may consist of a large salad of raw vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce, tomato, carrot and beets with cottage cheese, prunes or other dried fruit. The last meal should preferably be taken before sunset or at least two hours before going to bed.
The patient should avoid foods which tend to produce phlegm, such as rice, sugar, lentils and curds as also fried and other difficult -to-digest foods. He should also avoid strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments, pickles, sauces and all refined and processed foods. Initially, milk and milk products should be totally avoided. After noticeable recovery, a small quantity of milk may be added in the diet.
Asthmatics should always eat less than their capacity. They should eat slowly, chewing their food properly. They should drink eight to ten glasses of water every day, but should avoid taking water with meals.
Asthma, particularly when the attack is seve re, tends to destroy the appetite. In such cases, do not force the patient to eat . He should be kept fasting till the attack is over. He should, however, take a cup of warm water every two hours. An enema taken at that time would be beneficial.
Honey is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma. It is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with the honey, he starts breathing easier and deeper. The effects lasts for about an hour or so.
This is because honey contains a mixture of ‘ higher ‘ alcohols and ethereal oils and the vapours given off by them are soothing and beneficial to the asthma patients. Honey usually brings relief whether the air flowing over it is inhaled or whether it is eaten or taken either in milk or water. Some authorities recommend one year old honey for respiratory disease.
A recently completed study by Dr. Robert D. Reynolds Ph.D., a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has shown that a vitamin B6 deficiency contributed to an asthmatic condition and the intake of even 50 milligrams of this vitamin twice a day can relieve the wheezing and other symptoms.
Says Dr. Reynolds, ” The daily B6 supplements stop the wheezing in about a week and the asthmatic attacks themselves occur less frequently and are of shorter duration. ”
The patient should also follow the other laws of nature. Air, sun and water are great healing agents. Regular fasting once a week, an occasional enema, breathing exercises, fresh air, dry climate, light exercises and a correct posture go a long way in treating the disease.