Home Remedies For Asthma Emergencies

Asthmatics know how difficult, unpredictable, and inconvenient their condition is. There is nothing that can warn you as to the most precise moment the asthma attack will come forth. These days, you can always grab your trusty rescue inhalers to bring you relief and prevent any dangers that can arise should it be left untreated. If you unwittingly used the last drop of your medication, however, what can you turn to? Can you even hold off the attack while someone runs to the pharmacy for your refill?

During emergency situations like these, you can utilize a few remedies that are likely to be found in your own kitchen. Bear in mind, however, that you cannot depend on these alone and cast your inhaler away. Home remedies are for a temporary control of the asthma attack; it's not by any means a replacement for what your doctor prescribed you. Think of it as your backup plan. Keep a few things in your kitchen so you can be ready when emergency situations arise. To give you a better idea of what they are, here are a few examples:

Coffee: Around two cups of strong, hot coffee can give you control over your condition almost immediately. The pharmacological components of coffee have effects similar to those you can find in your rescue medications: dilating the inflamed airways, as well as break the build up mucus for easier expectoration. If you're a skeptic, here's for you: scientific research and various medical studies have confirmed the effects of coffee against asthma exacerbation. So the next time your doctor suggests drinking coffee in times of emergency, don't take it as sarcasm.

Steam: Steam inhalation is predominantly used in nebulizers, which gives relief to asthmatics just as fast, if not faster than, hand-held inhalers. For home remedies, the steam will simply come from hot water. If you have eucalyptus oil or any other essential oils, you can include a few drops in. This is especially useful if you ran out of coffee and you're left with just hot water for it. Another way to generate steam is to let hot water run in the bathroom. Allow and inhale the steam to build and fill up the room. Flush the toilet before you do so, just to make sure you inhale only what you want to inhale.

Honey: Honey has also been used in a lot of home remedies, treating various ailments aside from asthma. For asthmatics, putting a jug of honey under the nose during emergency cases can immediately provide relief, which can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. While it is recommended non-commercial grade honey, commercially manufactured honey can also be used when local ones can't be easily found.

There are other examples of home remedies you can use in times of emergency; there are just too many to mention. Find more as you browse the internet, or you can talk to your doctor for additional tips. The bottom line is you have something to grab when you run out of medication. Home remedies for asthma may just be a plan B, but it's better than having no backup plan at all.