Article

COPD Isn't Just One Disease

Written by Steve Berchtold

Topic: Health EducationPublished February 19, 2009
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used to categorize a number of lung diseases like emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma. There are many ways to treat COPD naturally.

The first thing to do is strengthen your immune system. Take a good multivitamin supplement.

Also antioxidants and the following nutrients and herbs could be of considerable help:

Magnesium
Vitamin C
Coenzyme Q10
L-carnitine
CreatinenGinseng
Omega-3 fatty acids
GlutaminenTurmericnResveratrol
Green Tea
Querceti

Others have suggested that these herbal solutions will also help fight the symptoms associated with COPD are garlic, licorice, labelia, eucalyptus and marshmallow (not the white ones you roast over a campfire). Add a few drops of oil of eucalyptus to a humidifier and breathe in the air, especially when having trouble breathing. I've used this myself on several occasions with great results!

Avoid things that irritate the airways, like exhaust and smoke. Use an air purifier to reduce these irritants in your home. Get as much oxygen as possible. One way to do this is by drinking oxygenated water.

Nitrates makes COPD worse:
Men who smoke increase their risk of developing COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis if they eat lots of cured meat. Cured meats such as sausage, ham, bologna, bacon and hot dogs contain high levels of nitrites, which are added to prevent rancidity and bacterial growth and enhance a meat's pink color. And just like cigarette smoking and air pollution, nitrites generate molecules known as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that have been linked to COPD. American Journal of Epidemiology, December 15, 2007.

People who have COPD are at higher risk for pneumonia than people who don't.

Lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the disease.

If you have severe COPD and low levels of oxygen in your blood, oxygen therapy can help you breathe better. They would give you oxygen through nasal prongs or a mask.

For some people who have severe COPD, using extra oxygen for most of the day can help them:nn * Do tasks or activities, while having fewer symptomsn * Protect their hearts and other organs from damagen * Sleep more during the night and improve alertness during the dayn * Live longer

Article author

About the Author

Steve Berchtold is a naturopath, researcher, author and health consultant in Florida. His knowledge of herbs, vitamins and supplements is freely shared, helping many people who were not able to find relief from "traditional" pharmaceutical treatment. His website, natural-cures-remedies.com, is loaded with helpful information about herbs, vitamins, drug interactions, parasites and much more. Steve wrote the eBook, “FIRE Your Doctor and Get Well.” You can get a copy at: http://www.natural-cures-remedies.com/Fire-Your-Doctor-and-Get-Well2.html n