Is asthma an allergy? How can it be treated?

Causes and Long Term Treatment of Allergic Asthma


What is asthma and how is it connected to allergies?

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung condition characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have highly sensitive airways that react to irritants like allergens, by obstructing air flow in and out of the lungs. The most common allergens that cause asthma are –



  • Cold air
  • Dust
  • Strong fumes
  • Inhaled irritants Smoke Pollen (grasses, trees and weeds)
  • Animal secretions like danger from dogs and cats
  • Molds
  • House dust mites

These allergens narrow or obstruct the airway and can cause one or a combination of the following symptoms –

  • Airway inflammation (such and allergic reaction causes the airways in our to lungs become red, swollen and narrow)
  • Broncho-constriction (this allergy makes the muscles that encircle the airways tighten or go into spasm)
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness

How can allergic asthma be treated?

Treatment of allergic asthma depends upon the aggravating symptoms. Based on this, the treatment can be divided into long-term control and quick-relief medications.


Long-term control treatments for asthma allergy
Long-term control medications are taken daily to control persistent allergic asthma by controlling airway inflammation, but should not be used to relieve the acute attacks of asthma. Listed below are a few standard long-term control medications for treating allergic asthma –

  • Cromolyn Sodium (available in inhaled form)
  • Inhaled Steroids
  • Leukotriene Modifiers
  • Long-Acting Beta-Agonists
  • Oral Steroids (pills)
  • Theophylline

Quick relief treatments for allergic asthma
The quick-relief medications are taken to attain rapid reversal of an acute asthma and allergy attack by relaxing bronchial smooth muscles. This enables the patient to breathe normally without putting in extra effort to carry out respiratory muscle movements. The medications used for this purpose are –

  • Anticholinergics
  • Short-Acting Beta-Agonists
  • Steroid Pills and Syrups

The above-mentioned categories are based on allopathic treatments. Apart from these, there are many types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that help to treat asthma and allergy. Here are a few of the most practiced methods –


Hydrotherapy for allergic asthma
This is a method that is based on using water for treating allergic asthma. Many people with allergic asthma most probably have nasal and sinus symptoms like a runny nose and inflammation of the sinuses. These symptoms can make asthma and allergy worse, especially at night. A saltwater nasal wash (containing half teaspoon uniodized salt and a pinch of baking soda in an 8-ounce glass of warm water) can help reduce the symptoms by

  • Cleaning the mucus from the nose, making it easier to breathe
  • Clearing the nasal area for other medications
  • Draining allergens and irritants from the nose
  • Reducing inflammation in the nose

Homeopathy for treatment of asthma allergy
Homeopathic treatments are prescribed according to the symptoms that trouble a person rather than specific conditions. They have a spiritual and self-healing approach for treating an individual as a whole, as each disease can manifest differently in different people. Asthma and allergy symptoms are also treated on the same guidelines with an effective drug - Arsenicum Album, which is commonly used to treat allergic symptoms like nasal congestion, wheezing, water eyes, and inflammation of the mucus membranes in the airway. Arsenicum Album is also used in treating fear and anxiety that may arise in acute allergic asthmatic attacks.


Acupuncture for treatment of allergic asthma
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of treating allergic asthma. It is based on stimulating reflexes of the nervous system, which releases chemicals. These chemicals influence the body’s internal systems and strengthen its resistance against asthmatic allergens. Acupuncture is one of the few long-term drugless treatments for allergic asthma. Its long lasting effects are linked to -

  • The duration of needle retention in the specific points on the body and
  • The speed with which a patient responds to treatment (patients who receive frequent needling and those who respond faster to the treatment experience a better long-term asthma free life)

The symptoms of asthma and allergy usually improve after 15 treatments, but the treatment should be continued for another 10 times to strengthen the therapeutic effect. 30 sessions of acupuncture treatment over a period of 3 months should be enough to cure allergic asthma on a long term.


Another condition that can be effectively healed with complementary and alternative medicine is treatment of sun allergy. Read all about it in our allergy section.


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