by Jan McBarron M.D., N.D. ( Natural Remedy News)

About 20 million Americans have asthma, including 9 million children. In fact, asthma is the most common chronic childhood illness. About half of all asthma cases develop before the age of 10.

While there is no known cure for asthma it can be controlled with the help of the proper natural remedies.

Asthma symptoms can range from mild and intermittent to severe and persistent occurring throughout the day on most days and even during the night. According to the latest research there seems to be a connection between the severity of asthma attacks and vitamin D levels.

Asthmatics with low levels of vitamin D may suffer more severely from asthmatic attacks than patients who have asthma yet sufficient levels of this vitamin. According to researchers in Denver in a study recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the findings suggest that low vitamin D levels were associated with increased degree of asthmatic attack.

Researchers measured the immune system response as well as responsiveness of the airways and lung function in patients who had asthma. Notably, the overweight and obese patients were significantly more likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Furthermore, people who were overweight had increased risk of asthma. This new study suggests that vitamin D plays a role in the link between being overweight and suffering from asthma.

Dr. McBarron’s Natural Remedy for Asthma

For a complete natural approach to controlling asthma including risk factors, prevention treatment options and much more click here: Asthma.

Following are the natural remedies that I usually recommend for asthma patients:

Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is the natural vitamin D that the body makes. Therefore it is best to take a vitamin D3 supplement; not vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol.  In addition, Vita Logic Vitamin D3 has a high concentration of vitamin D; 1500 IU available in pill form.

Vitamin B is thought to help reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks, especially Choline, one of the B vitamins.  I have found that all of the B vitamins are utilized better when the entire B complex is taken.  Therefore I usually recommend a complete B complex such as Stressed Out.

People who have asthma often have low levels of magnesium, and some studies show that intravenous (IV) magnesium can be effective as an emergency treatment for an asthma attack.

At least a few studies have found that fish oil supplements may reduce inflammation and symptoms in children and adults with asthma.  If I suffered from asthma I would not overlook a fish oil supplement  as a natural remedy.

One preliminary study suggested that children with asthma had significantly less wheezing when they ate a diet rich in fruits with vitamin C. Vitamin C does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help you maintain good health overall.

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid and stops the production and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory chemicals in the body. Histamine contributes to allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and hives.  Bio C is a great formula that contains quercetin along with vitamin C..

A review of studies on a standardized extract from French maritime pine bark, called pycnogenol, suggests that it may reduce symptoms and improve lung function in people with asthma.