Natural Treatments For Emphysema

Healthy Eating

Maintaining a nutritionally-balanced diet is important for overall health, and it can help relieve symptoms related to breathing difficulties, including those that are the result of emphysema. There are some foods to avoid because of their mucus-producing tendencies, such as dairy, processed food items (e.g., lunch meats), and anything with additional preservatives. Healthy options include recommended daily requirements of fresh fruits and vegetables, wild-caught fish, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. All vitamins, minerals, and fiber should be consumed, along with omega-3 foods for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Breathing Techniques

When performed properly, breathing exercises can help improve oxygen flow, even with emphysema involved, and are simple to practice anywhere. Pursed-lip breathing is done by breathing through the nose for two to three seconds with a closed mouth. Purse the lips similar to whistling and exhale twice as long as the inhale. Diaphragmatic breathing requires placing one hand on the rib cage and the other hand on the chest and monitoring the lower hand’s movement while breathing in and out slowly. Breathing this way strengthens the diaphragm. A focus on simply breathing is surprisingly helpful when it comes to treating emphysema symptoms and increasing quality of life.