Colostrum for asthma and sinus problems

Asthma is a disorder of the respiratory system in which the tubes that allow air to enter and leave the lungs become narrowed, causing wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath due to restricted air intake. More than 17 million Americans suffer from asthma and it occurs equally in men and women and in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Asthma prevalence rose more than 60% in Americans between 1982 and 1994. Scientists suspect that the sharp increase was due to increased exposure to secondhand smoke, increased population in polluted urban centers, and new housing. poorly ventilated

Asthma attacks occur when the bronchi and bronchioles become inflamed, usually from contact with a triggering irritant, such as pet hair or cigarette smoke. This reduces the space through which air can travel through the lungs, making the lungs work harder to move air in and out. The attack usually begins with mild chest pressure and a dry cough, and as the attack intensifies, wheezing develops and breathing becomes difficult with coughing up stringy mucus. Since inflammation in the airways prevents some of the oxygen-rich air from reaching the alveoli, the body’s cells begin to burn oxygen at a higher rate, which actually increases the body’s demand for oxygen.

Airway inflammation occurs when an irritant comes in contact with the walls of the airways. The body’s immune system detects the irritant as foreign and releases an immunoglobulin of the IgE class that can bind to the irritant. This triggers the release of specialized white blood cells, known as mast cells, which head to the site of irritation. When they get there, the mast cells release histamine, a chemical that causes swelling and redness as part of an inflammatory response. This causes the muscles lining the airways to contract even more, further narrowing the passage. The cells lining the airways overreact to the inflammatory response and secrete a large amount of mucus, which clogs the bronchioles and causes wheezing.

The most common causes of asthma attacks are extremely small and light particles that become airborne and are inhaled into the lungs. For many people, environmental triggers are allergens such as plant pollens, mold spores, animal dander, and fecal matter from dust mites and cockroaches. Triggers can also be physiological, such as exercise and infections like the common cold. Alternatively, attacks can be triggered by substances found in food, such as sulfites used to preserve beer and wine, and in medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Sinus problems are likely to be closely related to a person who may suffer from asthma. The sinuses are air-filled, mucus-lined cavities on the head and cheekbones and in the frontal bone just above and between the eye sockets. All sinuses drain into the nasal cavity. The sinuses often become infected with bacteria, causing inflammation and severe pain. Environmental and chemical irritants, as well as most allergens, can similarly cause a mild to severe inflammatory response in the sinuses. In all cases, the inflammation results in an overproduction of mucus by the cells lining the cavities. Repeated attacks often lead to thickening of the mucous membranes and sometimes to scarification requiring surgical intervention, which often only provides temporary relief.

So what can be made of all this? The answer is routine dietary supplementation with high quality bovine colostrum and here’s why.

First, allergic reactions and asthma are manifestations of an immune system that is out of control. The problem is that around the age of 13, the body’s health support mechanisms began to deteriorate. Before puberty, when you were just a toddler, the very foundation of your immune system was established by a small gland-like structure in the upper chest, the thymus. It is within this structure that cells mature that will determine the appropriate type of response your immune system must mount after an attack, and then cells from the same source will regulate the quality and intensity of that response. The cells of this gland also analyze the blood for abnormal cells and eliminate them. After puberty, the thymus begins to shrink and finally almost disappears between the ages of 50 and 60. So, although the immune system develops more immunological memory over time, it gradually loses the ability to efficiently and effectively orchestrate and direct the actual immune response.

When it comes to any kind of inflammatory condition, including infection, it’s prudent to recognize that the best defense is based on a good offense. Scientific studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a major component of high-quality bovine colostrum, and the IGF protein superfamily can restore and maintain a fully functional thymus, even in adults. Furthermore, colostrum contains the alpha and beta chains of the hormone thymosin which act independently and in concert to regulate the functions of the thymus. In addition, proline-rich peptide (PRP), also known as thymulin, in colostrum is known to downregulate the immune system and keep the response to a foreign substance in check. Other studies have shown that including only small amounts of colostrum in the daily diet of adult animals significantly improves the ability of their white blood cells to respond to infection and destroy invading bacteria and viruses.

Therefore, routine dietary supplementation with a high quality first milk colostrum, such as that from Immune-Tree, will strengthen and support the immune system and help the immune system function at an optimal level and keep the inflammatory response low. control or, at a minimum, reduce the impact of asthma attacks. As suggested use, routinely consume 5-6 500mg capsules or powder equivalent per day and try to increase this to 8-10 capsules per day during periods when attacks historically occur.

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Clark R, et al; insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulation of lymphopoesis, J Clin Invest 1993; 92(2): 540-8.
Fry TJ, Mackall CL; Current Concepts of Thymic Aging, Springer Semin Immunopathol 2002; 24(1): 7-22.
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