Asthma And Yeast

70% or more of the immune system is in the intestines. The same immune components that are important in asthma also play a big role in intestinal inflammation and food allergies. So logically, one could look for a connection between asthma and what is happening in the gut. There are connections.

1.    If you merely take the DNA from good intestinal flora and inject it under the skin, it will relieve asthma.

2.    LPS from gram-negative intestinal bacteria can make the airways hypersensitive.

3.    Low blood sugar can make asthma worse. Toxins from yeast and the wrong intestinal flora will contribute to low blood sugar. In fact, one of the major complaints of people with “the yeast syndrome” is hypoglycemia.

4.    Magnesium is often very helpful in relieving asthma. Magnesium improves the integrity of platelet and mast cells. With more magnesium present, less serotonin will be released from these cells. This is very important because free serotonin outside of the cells will cause bronchial constriction. Low magnesium may be a problem when there is intestinal inflammation because the inflammation interferes with the absorption of minerals.

5.    B6 is often recommended to help with asthma. Yeast toxins can interfere with the creation of coenzyme B6, and they can cause a functional deficiency of B6. Yet, be careful. B6 and many of the B vitamins may encourage yeast growth. It may be best to take them on an empty stomach. Also, the active or coenzyme form of these vitamins are sometimes needed. This is not the form found in most supplements.

If you want to get asthma under control, healing the gut should be a major consideration.

References

1.    Rachmilewitz, D. (from Share Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel,) “Modulationn of TNBS-induced colitis by probiotics” Probiotics and Gut Ecology Conference, March 8-10, 2002 Scottsdale, Arizona. Sponsored by VSL. Pharmaceuticals, Inc

2.    Tigani B, Hannon JP, Rondeau C, Mazzoni L, Fozard JR. “Airway hyperresponsiveness to adenosine induced by lipopolysaccharide in Brown Norway rats.” Br J Pharmacol. 2002 May;136(1):111-9.

3.    Cochran JR, Khan AM, Elidemir O, Xue H, Cua B, Fullmer J, Larsen GL, Colasurdo GN. Influence of lipopolysaccharide exposure on airway function and allergic responses in developing mice. Pediatr Pulmonol 2002 Oct;34(4):267-77