CAM options for Cystic Fibrosis

By: Chris

Sources:
http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/2/175 Oxford Journals
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cystic-fibrosis-000045.htm University of Maryland Medical Center

Nutrition and Supplements
Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
• Eliminate potential food allergens and foods that increase mucous production, including dairy (milk, cheese, sour cream, and ice cream), wheat (gluten), soy, corn, potatoes, cabbage, bananas, sugar, preservatives, food additives and excessive salt and meats. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.
• Eat more foods that decrease mucous production, including garlic, onions, watercress, horseradish, mustard, parsley, celery, rose hips tea, pickles, lemon, and anti-inflammatory oils (nuts, seeds, cold-water fish).
• Eat more foods containing digestive enzymes, such as papaya and pineapple.
• Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise moderately, for 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:
• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tablespoonful of oil twice daily, to help decrease inflammation and improve immunity. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good food sources.
• A multivitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, the B-vitamins and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.
• Digestive enzymes, 1 - 2 tablets three times daily with meals.
• Coenzyme Q10, 100-200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant and immune activity.
• N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), 200 mg daily, for antioxidant effects. Alternative health care practitioners may use higher dosages. Check with your health care provider.
• Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus) , 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. You should refrigerate your acidophilus products.
• Grapefruit seed extract ( Citrus paradisi ), 100 mg capsule or 5 - 10 drops (in favorite beverage) three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal activity, gastrointestinal health, and immunity.
• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), 3,000 mg twice a day, to help decrease inflammation.
• Whey protein, 10 - 20 grams daily mixed in favorite beverage, for support of immunity and weight gain, when needed.


Herbs
Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting any treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.
• Ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ) standardized extract, 40 - 80 mg three times daily, for inflammation and as an antioxidant.
• Green tea ( Camellia sinensis ) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant and immune effects. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
• Cat's claw ( Uncaria tomentosa ) standardized extract, 20 mg three times a day, for inflammation, immune and antibacterial or antifungal activity.
• Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) seed standardized extract, 80 - 160 mg two to three times daily, for detoxification support.
• Bromelain ( Ananus comosus ) standardized extract, 40 mg three times daily, for pain and inflammation.
• Ground Ivy ( Hedera helix ) standardized extract, 50 mg three times daily, to decrease mucous production and to loosen phlegm.


Homeopathy
Although very few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider the following treatments to alleviate respiratory symptoms (such as those experienced from cystic fibrosis) based on their knowledge and experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual.
The following treatments should be used under the guidance of a licensed, certified homeopath in addition to standard medical care provided by a medical doctor:
• Antimonium tartaricum -- for wet, rattling cough (although the cough is usually too weak to bring up mucus material from the lungs) that is accompanied by extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing. Symptoms usually worsen when the person is lying down.
• Carbo vegetabilis -- for shortness of breath with anxiety, chills, and bluish skin discoloration.


Acupuncture
Acupuncture may alleviate symptoms of cystic fibrosis. Acupuncture may help enhance immune function, normalize digestion, and strengthen respiratory function.


Massage
Therapeutic massage can help drain mucus from the lungs. Parents may reduce anxiety levels by massaging their children with cystic fibrosis and their children may benefit from receiving massage by having less anxiety and improved mood, which in turn may facilitate breathing.