"We have just completed our second month of using RespirActin® and I can't begin to tell you how our lives have changed."
- HL, Anderson, IN


"I am writing to thank you for your product RespirActin®. It's the best and fastest relief I have had for asthma and allergy-related chest congestion ever."
- J.O., Clearwater, FI


"I began using RespirActin® approximately three weeks ago and have found my back muscles have eased considerably. I am happy to say that I no longer use or need my puffer at all."
-K.M., Rockwood, ON


"I wish to congratulate you on a wonderful product. RespirActin® does what it claims and more. using RespirActin® as directed I began to breathe freely and I experienced stamina I had not known for years."
- G.E., Edmonton, AB


"We introduced our daughter to RespirActin® this year and have had enormous success. She is now able to perform daily activities without the aid of any prescribed medication. We feel much relief knowing she is taking natural herbal products versus drugs"
- Mr. & Mrs. WH, Hamilton ON


"This product worked wonders on my father. It's the first time in years we have seen him get out of a chair and go outside"
- D.W., Waterloo, ON

Asthma, More Than a Bad Air Day
By: Lorna Vanderhaeghe

Three worrisome trips to the hospital emergency room in one month were enough for Caitlyn's mom to start looking for answers to her daughter's asthma. Caitlyn had been diagnosed with severe asthma two years earlier, when she was just three years old. Inhaled steroid medications were used to keep inflammation, a symptom of asthma under control and bronchodilating drugs were prescribed for acute attacks. Frightening episodes, where Caitlyn was left gasping for breath became frequent reminders that asthma is a deadly disease.

Problems with Caitlyn's health began shortly after she was born. Several infant formulas were tried before one was found that Caitlyn could tolerate. Recurring ear infections, colic and the regular use of antibiotics became the norm. Little did mom know that her daughter was developing allergy-induced asthma.

Inadequate nutrition, our polluted environment, a predisposition to allergies and a family history of asthma play a role in developing this chronic lung disorder. Those suffering with asthma have over-reactive airways that respond to 'triggers' by becoming inflamed and producing excessive mucus. This inflammation causes a narrowing of the airway making it extremely difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs. Recurring asthma 'attacks' promote an abnormal thickening and hardening of air passages. Our immune system also responds by secreting dangerous immune factors, namely Interleukin-6, that eventually destroy delicate tissues lining our airways. Symptoms include: coughing especially when exercising, wheezing, shortness of breath, a heavy feeling in the chest and waking at night due to breathing difficulties.

What 'Triggers' Asthma?

Most asthmatics have an allergy to some offending agent. This allergy then acts as the 'trigger' that starts the inflammatory, lung damaging asthma process to begin. It is easy to diagnose an allergy that presents itself quickly and clearly in the form of a runny nose and itchy eyes as a result of exposure to a particular agent such as cats or peanuts. It is much more difficult to discover an allergy that has vague symptoms or takes hours to display its effects (called delayed-onset allergy). Dark circles under the eyes, red-rimmed or swollen watery eyes, runny nose, constant nose rubbing (some allergic people have a crease just above the bulb of the nose from chronic rubbing, or one nostril will be stretched in the direction of the rub), inflamed tonsils, skin rashes, eczema, diarrhea, gas, bloated stomach, headaches, excessive sweating, dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, bed-wetting in children, joint pain and extreme salivation, to name a few of the most common allergy signs.

Several studies have looked at airborne allergen exposure during infancy in relation to asthma. It is very interesting that children raised in areas of low altitude have significantly higher rates of asthma. Moreover, children born during the high pollen months have a higher incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis compared to those born during non-pollen production months. If you have a strong history of allergy or asthma, choosing low pollen months for the birth of your baby may be an important factor in protecting your child from future allergies.

In North America, double-glazed windows, central heating and energy efficient homes result in an overabundance of dust mites and molds, which exacerbate allergic asthma. Fresh air is essential and an attempt to have an allergen-free home can help reduce asthma attacks. Find out what you are allergic to and then avoid the substances. Have comprehensive allergy testing done to discover the offending agents. An allergist easily performs tests for IgE allergies but IgG or cell-mediated allergies are not recognized by standard blood tests. I recommend Serammune Physicians Lab at 1-800-553-5472 for the ELISA/ACT (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) allergy test to rule out delayed-onset allergies.

In Caitlyn's case she developed asthma as a result of her initial allergy to milk products. Dairy allergy in children can cause ear infections that are unsuccessfully treated with repeated antibiotic therapy. Three or more courses of antibiotics in the first year of life are associated with a four-fold increase in the risk of asthma. Antibiotic create gut problems eventually leading to 'leaky gut' syndrome whereby undigested food particles enter the bloodstream through damaged areas of the gut causing allergic reactions.

Antibiotics are also associated with causing Candida Albicans yeast overgrowth further exacerbating allergic symptoms. It becomes a vicious cycle of allergy, gut problems, ear infections, antibiotics, and candida overgrowth with the cycle repeating over and over again.

Babies born to parents with food allergies should be breastfed for as long as possible. If a family history of dairy or wheat allergy exists breastfeeding moms should avoid eating the allergy-causing foods to ensure that your child does not react to the antigens in breast milk. Chronic ear infections in young children are a good indicator of dairy allergy. Eliminate all dairy products and test for other allergies and see if ear infection rates decline.

Exercise Induced-Asthma

Some asthma attacks are triggered by exercise. Excessive coughing during exercise is an early warning sign that you may have asthma. Exercise should not be eliminated entirely but milder forms of exercise should be adopted, walking during pollen-reduced days, breathing through the nose instead of the mouth, and extra vitamin C should be consumed before physical activity. Once you have been following the nutrient regimen mentioned below for a few weeks you may notice that you can exercise more vigorously.

It is unrealistic to think that we can avoid every trigger that promotes asthma attacks. Reducing the severity and frequency of asthma attacks and ultimately repairing the immune system so that we can be exposed to allergens and other triggers without suffering should be our goal. Certain herbs, phytonutrients and vitamin and minerals effectively reduce allergic responses, control inflammation and calm hyperactive airways.

Herbal Tonic to Breathe Easy

Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D. has used a traditional liquid herbal blend called RespirActin® to successfully treat allergies and asthma. It contains rosemary, honey, witch hazel, fenugreek seed, black seed, King Solomon Seed, ginseng powder, damiana leaves, marshmallow, sage, juniper berries, chamomile flowers, cloves, cinnamon, spearmint, and thyme. These herbs have antioxidant, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, anti-allergenic, anti-histamine and bronchial dilating effects. The Medical Chronicle, October 2000 reported that Picture of Canadian researcher Dr. George Luciuk, a certified allergist and clinical RespirActin immunologist, completed a double blind, crossover clinical trial of RespirActin® in Products 11 adult asthma patients confirming Dr. Broadhurst's reports. The study showed that patients with more symptomatic asthma had significant improvement within a few days to two weeks in lung function markers and quality of life assessments. In some patients a significant beneficial
bronchodilating effect was seen with their first dose. The benefits appear to be cumulatively beneficial over time. Most importantly RespirActin® has the ability to reverse small airway obstruction, which until now was deemed almost irreversible especially with standard metered-dose, inhaler delivered medication. Researchers believe that the oral administration of RespirActin® allows better perfusion and delivery to small airways in the lung that have been hard, if not impossible, to reach adequately. Reversing this area of obstruction can make a big difference to how asthmatic patients feel. Many asthmatics have become so used to having reduced lung capacity that when it is restored they are shocked at how much better they felt. With this research in mind it is also thought that RespirActin® may enhance lung function in athletes and racehorses to achieve a competitive edge and it definitely benefits those suffering from exercise-induced asthma. Researchers in this study believe that RespirActin® works by reducing the production of potent chemical mediators called arachidonic acid (AA). Arachidonic acid is released from cell membranes and converted to either prostaglandins or thromboxane by the enzyme cyclooxygenase or into the leukotrienes by 5-lipoxygenase.

RespirActin’s® active botanicals block the components of both of these pathways and as a result:
• control mucous gland hyper secretion in the airways reducing bronchial tube plugging and nasal congestion
• reduce bronchial smooth muscle contraction opening narrow airways and improving breathing
• halts inflammation. Researchers stated, " RespirActin® has 5-lipoxygenase activity preventing the inflammatory cascade thereby reducing destruction of airways."
• reduces asthma induced coughing by 34 percent.

Nutrients Reduce Attacks

Discuss the following anti-asthma nutrients with your health care provider and if you are on oral or inhaled medications do not discontinue their use without his/her advice. RespirActin® should be the basis for your asthma treatment program. 2 oz twice per day for 4-6 days then reduce to 1 oz twice per day. RespirActin® is safe for children as young as six months. Infants six months to two years of age take one and a half teaspoons morning and evening. Children age two to ten take one tablespoon (1/2 oz) morning and evening.

Vitamin E - A study of 77,000 women found those who consumed the most vitamin E had about half the risk of developing asthma compared to women who consumed the least amount of vitamin E.

Magnesium - Most of us are deficient in this mineral that is required by the body for over 300 enzymatic reactions. Every time we drink caffeinated beverages we lose magnesium. Magnesium helps reduce inflammation and relax bronchial tubes.

Vitamin C - A powerful antihistamine that helps control the release of histamine from mast cells. Those with exercise induced-asthma especially benefit from vitamin C thirty minutes before exercising.

Fish Oil - A powerful anti-inflammatory agent that reduces leukotrienes, biochemicals that promote and prolong inflammation.

Quercetin - A bioflavonoid found abundantly in onions has potent anti-allergy and antihistamine activity.

Multivitamin with minerals - Unless you are eating 7 to 10 half-cup servings of organic fruits and vegetables everyday you need a good multivitamin with minerals daily.

Caitlyn was fortunate because her mother learned about RespirActin® and the other nutrients mentioned above. After only two weeks on these nutrients Caitlyn's pediatrician was able to reduce her steroid medications and she has not required her bronchodilating medication either. Both mom and child are breathing easier now.

References

1. Aqel, M.B. Relaxant Effect of the Volatile Oil of Rosmarinus Officinalis on Tracheal Smooth Muscle. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1991;33:57-62.
2. Broughton, K.S. et aL Reduced Asthma Symptoms with n-3 Fatty Acid Ingestion Are Related to 5-series Leukotriene production. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1997;65:1011-17
3. Cohen, H.A. et al. Blocking Effect of Vitamin C in Exercise Induced Asthma. Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine. 1997;151:367-70.
4. Isolauri, E. et al. Breast feeding of Allergic Infants. Pediatrics 1999;134:27-32.