Being a lifelong asthmatic, I've often wondered what life would be like for us asthmatics if we lived before rescue medicine like Albuterol was invented. I bet it would have resulted in some long, agonizing days and nights.
I was surprised to find there were many books written about asthma. The most popular was a 19th Century book called "On Asthma" by Dr. Henry Hyde Salter in 1882. His book provided remedies that gave hope to many child asthma sufferers, including Teddy Roosevelt. Although you might agree with Teddy that most of these weren't remedies at all, but torture.
1. Ipecac: It causes nausea and makes you vomit (sounds like fun). Salter observed that asthmatics with full stomachs had increased trouble breathing. He also believed irritants in food may cause asthma, so if you vomit and clear your stomach contents you will have an easier time breathing. (I'm not making this up).
Modern thought: A full stomach presses up on your diaphragm and thus squishes your lungs making it harder to breath. The irritants Salter is referring to in the food may now be known as food allergies. This medicine is thankfully no longer recommended for asthma.
2. Tobacco: Salter encouraged kids having trouble breathing to smoke cigarettes. But, instead of inhaling, hold the smoke in as long as you can -- literally "ad nauseum". For prophylactic therapy, smoke a daily cigar.
Modern thought: Smoke is an irritant. Not only that, smoking will increase your chances of developing COPD, and thus making your breathing worse in the long run.
3. Strong coffee: Salter observed sleepiness and drowsiness favored asthma. So, if you stay awake you won't have an attack. Strong tea, ammonia, and ether also work to produce this same effect. Go ahead and pick your poison.
Modern thought: The caffein in coffee is a methylxanthine, which is a mild bronchodilator. Theophyllin is a methyxantine that became popular for asthma in the 1950s because it is a much stronger bronchodilator.
4. Indian Hemp: Otherwise known as marijuana. Like coffee, it increases your mental accuity. It makes you more vivid.
Modern thought: Marijuana is an asthma irritant. It too can cause more complicated lung problems down the road. It's an absolute no-no for asthmatics.
5.Alcohol: Recommended only in the face of "horrible suffering" because it is habit forming. Salter's theory was alcohol worked similar to coffee and hemp in that it stimulates and "gives a sort of shock.. to the nervous system..." and thus stops the asthma attack.
Modern thought: Alcohol has some molds and fungus in it that may trigger asthma. It also dries out your airway and may cause or make worse an asthma attack.
