Living with a chronic condition isn’t easy; you’ll always have to be on guard against elements that trigger the condition and will have to lug your medications wherever you go. Asthma is one such chronic condition that, according to the CDC, affects approximately 25 million people in the country. Moreover, this condition is quite prevalent in children—1 child out of every 12 is diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory condition that affects the airways to the lungs and makes breathing difficult.

Mostly, people opt for medications to keep asthma under control and prevent an asthma attack. But there are others who rely on alternative treatment techniques to control asthma symptoms and keep the condition in check. Here are some effective home remedies to keep asthma under control.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment method that involves inserting thin needles into specific points in the body. In fact, this method has been used in western countries as well to improve the symptoms of asthma. Acupuncture improves lung function and is believed to modulate the immune system as well. Also, there is an increase in studies on the effect of acupuncture in treating respiratory conditions. Although some have yielded inconclusive results, some have reported that acupuncture can control the symptoms of asthma.

Yoga
One of the major triggers of asthma is stress, and one of the best ways to deal with stress is to practice yoga. The breathing exercises used in yoga can help people with asthma control breathing as well as relieve stress. There are certain yoga poses that can improve asthma symptoms as they open your throat and chest and facilitate easy breathing. The Bound Angle Pose, Bridge Pose, Bow Pose, and Cat Pose are some of the effective yoga poses that can help you deal with asthma symptoms.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Numerous studies validate the benefits of adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. Not only does it improve heart health but it also benefits people with asthma. Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs, and one of the primary causes of inflammation is arachidonic acid—fats in certain foods that increase inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods like eggs, meat, shellfish, and yolks. One way to avoid inflammation caused by these foods is to reduce its consumption. A more effective way to combat this inflammation is to increase the intake of beneficial fats like eicosapentaenoic acid from fish oil and gamma-linolenic acid from borage or evening primrose oil.

Buteyko Breathing Technique
The Buteyko (pronounced bew-tay-ko) breathing technique was developed by Russian researcher Konstantin Pavlovich Buteyko. This technique consists of shallow breathing exercises that are designed to help people with asthma breathe easily. The Buteyko breathing technique is based on the belief that raising blood levels of carbon dioxide through shallow breathing can benefit people with asthma since carbon dioxide can dilate the smooth muscles of the airways.

Garlic
Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties that make it the perfect natural remedy to manage several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Since asthma is also an inflammatory condition, consuming garlic can help in relieving the symptoms. The use of garlic to control symptoms of asthma is still being studied for more concrete results.