MAILBAG: Take a DEEP Breath with Natural COPD Solutions
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 12, 2023
“Natural COPD help.”
– Lee
Hi Lee,
Over 11 million have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
But there are probably another 24 million folks who have the condition but don’t know it yet.
COPD occurs when the lungs are damaged and scarred.
Tobacco smoke is the most common cause, but chemical exposure and long-term illnesses like bronchitis are also pretty common triggers.
The bad news is it’s not easy to FIX damaged lungs. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to IMPROVE your breathing to make up for lost function…
It goes without saying that BREATHING is critical for life. But COPD can often make that simple act feel like an uphill battle.
COPD doesn’t JUST cause shortness of breath, either. It often comes with coughing, fatigue, and frequent lung infections.
I’ve had folks describe living with COPD to me like trying to breathe through a straw sometimes.
Over the years, I’ve developed some tried-and-true tips to help those folks support their lungs and compensate for some of their lost lung function.
- Obviously, breathing clean, fresh air is good for you. So, you should open windows at home and work as much as possible. And when you can’t keep them open due to cold or bad air quality days, consider using a HEPA air filter.
- On tough days, try pursed-lip breathing. This technique (precisely what it sounds like) helps control shortness of breath and is an easy way to slow your breathing, making each breath more effective.
- When you have COPD, you should move more and weigh less. Being overweight forces your lungs to work harder. And exercise strengthens your lungs and fights fatigue. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise program, and start slowly.
- Consider quercetin. This plant-derived antioxidant is especially good for supporting lung health. Studies show it can reduce injury caused by long-term smoking and boost pulmonary function.
- Omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation and promote lung health. Research shows omega-3s lower the rate of yearly lung function decline. Boost your levels by eating more cold-water fish and consider a supplement.
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid that improves bronchial and lung function, reduces cough, and improves oxygen saturation in the blood. NAC also breaks up mucus, fights free radicals, and increases the production of the lung-supporting antioxidant glutathione.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that helps convert food into cellular energy. Research shows it can improve lung function performance and shortness of breath in folks with COPD and may reduce oxidative damage in the lungs.
- Cordyceps (C. sinensis) is a medicinal mushroom used for centuries by traditional medicine practitioners to support lung health. In animal studies, the mushroom inhibited COPD-triggered lung inflammation. And a meta-analysis confirms the mushroom has potential benefits for lung function, exercise endurance, and symptom improvement.
There’s no cure for COPD. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to breathe… AND feel… better fast.
P.S. Breakthrough study reveals how to breathe better with PLANT POWER!
Sources:
Araújo NPDS, “Quercetin Improves Pulmonary Function and Prevents Emphysema Caused by Exposure to Cigarette Smoke in Male Mice.” Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Jan 18;11(2):181. doi: 10.3390/antiox11020181. PMID: 35204064; PMCID: PMC8868486.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868486/
“Investigating Associations of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Lung Function Decline, and Airway Obstruction,” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Volume 208, Issue 8, PubMed: 37470492, https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202301-0074OC
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/rccm.202301-0074OC
“Acetylcysteine – for mucus deposition and early plaque formation.” From: Clinical Ophthalmology: A Synopsis (Second Edition), 2009
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/acetylcysteine
“De Benedetto F, et al., “Supplementation with Qter® and Creatine improves functional performance in COPD patients on long term oxygen therapy.” Respir Med. 2018 Sep;142:86-93. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.08.002. Epub 2018 Aug 7. PMID: 30170808.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30170808/
Gutierrez-Mariscal FM, et al., “Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation for the Reduction of Oxidative Stress: Clinical Implications in the Treatment of Chronic Diseases.” Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Oct 23;21(21):7870. doi: 10.3390/ijms21217870. PMID: 33114148; PMCID: PMC7660335.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7660335/
“Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Cordyceps sinensis on Stable COPD of GOLD Stages 2–3: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2019, Article ID 4903671, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4903671
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2019/4903671/
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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