Customer Reviews
Very helpful book. Try it. 
2008-05-03
This book has helped me to control my asthma.
I've had asthma for over 20 years. After my most recent and scariest episode, I decided I had to do something about it. After reading this book and applying some of the methods like deep breathing and vitamin supplements, I've been able to limit the frequency and severity of attacks.
My asthma isn't "Reversed", but it does seem much more manageable. And some of the symptoms that I thought were asthma related all of these years were actually because of breathing incorrectly. That was an amazing change I saw in the first week.
The author is obviously not a new age, everything must be natural, quack. He combines current medical techniques, breathing techniques, and diet and excercise into a very comprehensive plan. He also recommends discussing this plan with your doctor.
I doubt this book will Reverse your asthma, but it should definitely help control it. I highly recommend it.
Asthmatics- this is not the solution 
2006-02-20
I read Richard Firsheins book with much interest. Yes, it is well written and contains factual information but I found my asthma was as bad after reading it as it was before. The book did little to improve my condition - it did not reverse it.
In all my search- only one book solved my problem- it is called Asthma Free naturally by Patrick McKeown and it does what it says it will do. It teaches readers how to correct their overbreathing based on the work of Russian respiratory professor Konstantin Buteyko. This book is a real gem and should be made mandatory reading for all asthmatics.
Wrong theory? 
2005-12-04
Although I greatly admire Dr. Firschein for his initiative, my experience with asthma has taught me to be skeptical of the theory of correcting breathing presented in the book. If you consider how a normal person takes a natural deep breath you will see that the chest is vigorously expanded and the upper abdomen is drawn in and upward (Gray's Anatomy). It therefore seems highly arguable that an asthmatic simply "gets stuck" in his frantic effort to take a deep inspiration, and that the upward straining of the shoulders so typical of an attack is not pathological and the deep breath should be taught by correctly learning from a healthy breather in all details. Also, a healthy breather tends to restrict the inflow of air during the deep inspiration with his lips and/teeth.
If taking a deep breath is regarded as a distinct maneuver (like a yawn or sigh), then it is just a case of an asthmatic failing to do it. It is not a question of his breathing wrongly by being misguided. Therefore, diaphragmatic breathing as advocated in the book should be treated as something of a different kind. Regards, Richard Friedel s3e0101@mailin.lrz-muenchen.de
Please read this review 2005-05-26
There is significant evidence that the root cause of many, if not most, cases of asthma (and many allergies as well) is deficiency of magnesium. This fact is discussed in detail by Dr. Carolyn Dean in her excellent book The Miracle of Magnesium. Dr. Dean recommends 600 mg of supplemental magnesium daily. People with asthma who follow Dr. Dean's advice about daily magnesium supplementation often improve dramatically even if they have continued to struggle with asthma under other treatments which omit magnesium supplementation. If you are suffering from asthma please read Dr. Dean's excellent book and follow her advice regarding daily magnesium supplementation. It may well be the most important thing you will ever due to relieve this terrible ailment. By the way, although a variety of magnesium supplements are available, and beneficial, chelated magnesium -- which is readily available in most health food stores -- is the most effective.
Let Diet be Your Medicine! 2004-11-13
As a lifelong asthma sufferer and an Ehlers-Danlos Patient, I was told my prognosis was poor. The drugs were destroying my body and yet were no longer relieving the problems. When my daughter starting suffering herself, I found this book...and now our whole approach to healing is thru diet and supplementation. Within a year, both of us are better than the doctors could have imagined. This book has paid for itself hundreds of times over, in the lack of doctor visits and medicne co-pays alone!
read it, the author is no a quack 2004-07-25
I've run into people who claim that doctors who advocate getting off of medications and using alternative methods are quacks. I agree that there are many quacks out there, but Dr. Firshein is not one of them.
Years ago, I was on 4 different asthma medications and now I'm completely drug free! I've had some asthma problem from time to time since getting off of the medications, but I feel that I'm now more intelligent about isolating the cause so I'm now able to control it without going to the doctor. What I find interesting is that I've virtually followed the same advice Dr. Firshein gives in his book without having read it. He outlines a method call the Comprehensive Asthma Prevention Program or CAP. In the CAP program, he outlines methods such as breathing exercises, visualization, biofeedback and locating and eliminating the source of your problem. He also talks a great deal about diet and exercise. There are certain foods which help repair the damage asthma may cause and prevent this disease from causing further damage. Exercise can't be emphasized enough for asthmatics. I see no reason why any asthma sufferer who conscientiously follows Firshein's CAP program wouldn't be able to get to the point where he/she requires no medications. I'm living proof that one can get off of asthma medications if determined. I simply refused to be sickly and use inhalers 3 or 4 times a day. As Firshein points out, asthma medications can cause more health problems than most realize. "Locked Lung" syndrome is a condition which is caused by overdosing on an inhaler. What happens is that the patient reaches the point where his inhaler won't work as well as it had before so he keeps using it. Eventually, the lungs completely choke themselves off and the patient can die unless he gets immediate medical attention.
So the imformation is definately out there it's just a matter of following it. The problem with most however is that we want a quick fix. We're constantly bombarded by ads telling us: "if you can't breathe, take a pill or puff on an inhaler", "if your stomach hurts, take a pill", "if you have high cholesterol, take a pill", "if your toe hurts, take a pill". Don't get me wrong, medications have their place and in some situations they are a necessity but so many people don't really need them and abuse them. The best doctors are those who try to suggest ways of working your way off medications (like Dr. Firshein) for things such as asthma instead of blindly prescribing medications.
A book that can save your life 2004-03-18
This book saved my life. I had an asthma attack and almost died. Then the medicine almost killed me. I have been asthma free for months and feeling better than I have in years due to Dr. Firshein and his book. The book helps but having a workup by Dr. Firshein gives you the 100% picture.
this book changed my life forever for the better 2003-08-15
Like the author, I have had horrendous asthma since I was born (I'm now 30). I've been on ALL the asthma meds (inhalers, pills, steroids, myrax, etc.). A HUGE animal lover, I got a dog two years ago and my asthma got even worse (like it could get any worse). I was taking my rescue inhaler 6-10 times a day in addition to my steroids! I told myself I had to do something, so I bought a bunch of books, including this one. Took the test in this book, found out my asthma was moderate to severe (I figured that). I started taking fish oil, vit c, e, a multiple, calcium, magnesium, selenium and quercitin, and a b-complex like he recommends, and SLOWLY (over 4-5 months) weaned myself off of my meds (I was extrememly addicted, and let me tell ya, it was HARD!). It's been over 6 months now that I haven't needed ANY meds, not even in the morning, haven't even had a shortness of breathe, and to top it off, my doggie sleeps in my bed right next to me now, and she doesn't give me the slightest bit of wheezing (for years my pulmonologists/doctors insisted that I give up my pets). this author has changed my life forever for the better. thank you, oh, and my doggie thanks you too!
Great Book 2002-12-18
After reading this book I went out to buy copies for friends with Asthma. (Also bought it for my doctor.) This book is great because is mixes the holistic treatments with the standard medical treatments. It is one of the few books that looks at the underlining causes of asthma and I believe will be the treatment standard in the future. If you or a loved one have asthma, this is a MUST READ!!!
A must buy for all Allergies/Ashtma sufferers... 2002-06-20
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy this book and help yourself, if you an Ashtma/Allergy sufferer. I have no relationship whatsoever to Dr. Firshein, but his instructions in the book helped me to get rid of steroid and albuteroal inhalers. All allergists/ENTs/pumonary physicians I saw in last 10 years were not able to help me out. This book did. The most interesting thing is my allergist, who has a MD + Phd in Immunology is not ready to belive that food allergies (delayed IgG response) can cause so much trouble to a person. Doctors do whatver they have taught to do (they do not use their mind or experience...).
Dr. Firshein is a medical doctor. He suffered thru a long period of Ashtma, tried to use his own research/exp. and fixed his problems. I wish, all the physicians start following the guidance given in this book.
