Home Remedies for Asthma: The Science Behind 8 Natural Treatments

If you have asthma, you’ve probably tried many treatments to help manage and improve your condition. While inhalers, nebulizers, and oral medications can help, there are also many safe home remedies for asthma that may provide extra relief.

Here’s a look at some natural home remedies for asthma and whether they’re effective.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of airways in your lungs. This leads to symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath

• Wheezing

• Tightness in the chest

Asthma is very common, affecting about 1 in 12 people in the U.S. While there’s no cure for asthma, it can be managed with proper prevention and treatment.

Asthma is often treated by using prescribed treatments like inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. In addition, many natural home remedies can help keep asthma under control and make these treatments work better.

Natural and alternative remedies for asthma relief

Many natural remedies for asthma have been studied over the years. While you should always follow the treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare professional, certain home remedies may help prevent asthma attacks and make living with asthma more manageable.

Generally, natural remedies for asthma are meant to be used in addition to prescribed medications, not on their own. It’s important to remember that home remedies shouldn’t be used during an asthma attack, when asthma symptoms are at their worst and can be life-threatening.

Here are eight natural home remedies for asthma to discuss with your healthcare professional.

1. Modify your diet

Many foods can play a role in improving asthma symptoms. Because asthma involves inflammation, eating anti-inflammatory foods may be helpful.

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Examples of anti-inflammatory foods include:

• Berries

• Leafy green vegetables

• Green tea

• Oily fish

• Nuts and seeds

Foods that are high in antioxidants may help, too. Research suggests that adults with asthma who followed a diet high in antioxidants showed better lung function after 2 weeks compared to those who followed a low-antioxidant diet.

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Scientists carried out a similar study to see whether an antioxidant supplement would have the same effect. They found that better health outcomes came from eating lots of fruits and vegetables, rather than from taking the supplement alone.

2. Work towards or maintain a healthy weight

People with obesity (a BMI of 30 or greater) have a higher risk of having asthma than people at a lower weight. They also don’t respond as well to asthma medications. This could be because excess weight places more pressure on your chest, constricts your lungs, and makes it harder to breathe.

Fat tissue also makes chemicals that can trigger inflammation, which can add to the risk of developing asthma and make symptoms harder to control.

Losing weight can be difficult. But following a nutritious, balanced diet and getting regular exercise are the most effective ways to do so. Working one-on-one with a healthcare practitioner, like a registered dietitian, can also offer extra support.

3. Yoga and meditation

Yoga and meditation have many health benefits and might also help people with asthma. A small study found that practicing yoga daily helped people use less rescue bronchodilators. This yoga included a mix of:

• Simple postures, involving sitting and standing

• Slow breath

• Relaxation

• Calming of the mind

Current research doesn’t prove that yoga eases asthma symptoms in all people, but it may be worth a try.

4. Breathing exercises

In addition to the breathing practices used in yoga, other breathing exercises may also help with lung function. Targeted breathing techniques may help get rid of stale air from your lungs and boost oxygen levels, leading to better lung health.

Examples of breathing exercises for asthma may include:

• Pursed-lip breathing: This exercise involves breathing in through your nose and slowly breathing out through your mouth with pursed lips, taking at least twice as long to exhale. This can help reduce the number of breaths you take and keep your airways open longer. 

• Belly breathing: This exercise also begins with breathing in through your nose and paying attention to how your belly rises. Place your hands lightly on your stomach. Then breathe out through your mouth for at least 2 to 3 times as long as you inhale. This helps retrain the diaphragm, the muscle below your lungs, to take on the work of breathing.

Even though these exercises may seem simple, they may take practice to master. The American Lung Association recommends around 5 to 10 minutes of practice every day. You can also ask your healthcare provider about these and any other breathing exercises that might be appropriate for your specific condition.

5. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine that has been gaining in popularity for the treatment of many diseases and conditions. It involves placing tiny needles on specific points of your body to improve blood flow, airflow, and possibly ease chest pain. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that acupuncture can be used as a complementary treatment for many diseases, including asthma. But strong evidence isn’t yet available.

6. Caffeine

There’s some evidence that caffeine may improve airway function for up to 4 hours in people with asthma. This may be because caffeine can act as a bronchodilator. This means it may help you breathe easier by relaxing the muscles in your lungs and widening the airways.

More studies are needed to understand the effects of caffeine and lung function. It isn’t clear what dose of caffeine or how it should be taken to help with lung function. If you do enjoy coffee, make sure to stay below the FDA’s recommended 400 mg of caffeine per day, which is about 4 to 5 cups of coffee).

7. Massage therapy

Massage therapy may be potentially helpful for people with asthma, especially children. This could be because massages lower stress, which can be a trigger for asthma symptoms. 

If you’re interested in trying massage, make sure to work with a trained professional. Be sure to discuss your asthma diagnosis with them beforehand, so they can make any necessary accommodations. 

8. Exercise

Exercise has many health benefits, including for people with asthma. It makes your lungs stronger and can help you use oxygen more efficiently. 

But keep in mind: For some people, exercise can actually cause asthma symptoms. This doesn’t mean you have to avoid exercise altogether. Talk to a healthcare professional about how to exercise as safely and comfortably as possible. They may suggest:

• Giving yourself plenty of time to warm up and cool down

• Covering your mouth when the air is cold or dry

• Avoiding poor air quality

• Using your asthma medication before exercising

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Written by:

Joanna Foley, RD

Joanna Foley, RD, is a registered dietitian (RD) and the owner of joannafoleynutrition.com, a private nutrition consulting business. She has previously worked as a clinical dietitian and outpatient renal dietitian.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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