Emphysema is a serious and debilitating lung disease. In this condition, alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs and bronchioles, the narrow passages leading to the air sacs, become permanently distended with air. The lung tissues lose their elasticity, and the number of blood vessels is reduced. It is essentially a chronic disease, which generally occurs after the age of 40. It is less frequent in women.

Severe type of emphysema is rare in old age. This is because severe cases generally occur in middle age and most often prove fatal by the time patient reaches late middle age. However, more modest degree of emphysema is common in the elderly and the clinical picture of the disease is similar to that in middle age.

To begin with, the patient-should undertake a fast on fruits or vegetable juices for about five days. During this period, a warm-water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels. The juice fast may be followed by an exclusive diet, of fresh juicy fruits such as apple, pineapple, pear, peach, orange and papaya for further five days or so.

The patient may thereafter gradually adopt a well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. The diet should be supplemented with vegetables oil, honey and goat's milk, preferably in soured form like curd and buttermilk. The emphasis should be on fresh fruits and raw vegetables, as well as fruit and vegetable juices. The short juice fast followed by an all-fruit diet may be repeated at intervals of two months or so depending on the condition.

Among home remedies is the use of garlic. Two or three cloves of this vegetable should be chewed daily, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach. A little, garlic juice can also be added to vegetable juices.
The use of lemon or lime is another valuable home remedy for emphysema. A teaspoon of fresh juice of either of the two fruits should be taken several times a day before or between meals.

Amaranth has proved beneficial in the treatment of this disease. Fresh juice should be extracted from this green leafy vegetable. This juice should be mixed with honey and drunk liberally by the patient.

The aniseed has also been found valuable in emphysema due to its expectorant properties. Five to 10 drops of aniseed oil should be mixed with one teaspoon of brown sugar. This mixture can be taken with beneficial results in treating this disease. It is an old emphysema 'cure' in folk medicine.
Raw juices of fresh fruits and vegetables have been found beneficial in the treatment of emphysema and the patient should make liberal use of these juices. Vegetables which can be used for juices are green vegetables, carrot, watercress and raw potato. Fruits which can be used for juices are lemon, orange and pineapple.

The use of salt in the diet should be restricted as the normal intake of salt is harmful for emphysema patient. According to Dr. Joel Schwartz of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a high-salt diet can cause emphysema and other respiratory diseases. The reason is that too much sodium throws the sodium-potassium ratio out of balance, setting off an exaggerated response by bronchial passages as well as by nervous system controls that lead to inflammation' and lung damage.

The patient should live in a place, with the least air pollution and smoke-free environment. The chronic bronchitis which is associated with emphysema must be kept under control as far as practicable through natural methods of treatment. Smoking, if habitual, should be given up. Breathing pure oxygen from a cylinder will allow enough of the gas to enter the blood. Weight loss can be overcome by taking frequent small meals comprising high energy foods.

The patient should undertake mild exercises which will help maintain muscle tone and prevent them from becoming rigid. Walking is especially beneficial and the patient should walk for at least five kms. morning and evening daily. He should also undertake deep breathing exercises in fresh air.