Causes
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of emphysema. Chemicals found in cigarettes are thought to attack your air sacs (as well as the fibers that support them).
Air pollution (both indoors and outdoors) and exposure to chemical fumes, irritants, and secondhand smoke may also increase your risk for emphysema.
In a small number of cases, emphysema may result from the inherited deficiency of a protein that protects certain structures in the lungs.
Rattanakun Thongbun / EyeEm / Getty Images
Symptoms
Emphysema symptoms typically worsen as the disease progresses. These symptoms may include:
Treatment
Although emphysema-induced lung damage can’t be reversed, it’s possible to slow or even stop the disease’s progression through the use of certain treatments (including medications, inhalers, supplemental oxygen, and/or surgery).
Quitting smoking is considered crucial to fighting emphysema, and for those who prefer to go the natural route, there are natural remedies that can help you quit.
To date, very little is known about the safety or effectiveness of complementary medicine in emphysema treatment.Here are two substances that show some promise in the treatment of emphysema:
1) Coenzyme Q10
In one of the few studies to examine coenzyme Q10’s effects on pulmonary function, researchers found that eight weeks of coenzyme Q10 supplementation had some benefit for chronic lung disease patients. Overall, however, there’s a lack of evidence to support the use of coenzyme Q10 supplements among people with emphysema.
2) Curcumin
In an animal study published in 2009, curcumin (an anti-inflammatory compound available in the curry spice turmeric) was found to attenuate the development of emphysema in mice. However, there’s no evidence that curcumin can halt the progression of emphysema in humans.
If you’re considering the use of any type of complementary medicine in the treatment of emphysema, make sure to consult your healthcare provider about the possible risk and benefits.
A number of natural approaches and lifestyle changes are thought to benefit people with emphysema. These include:
You should also talk to your healthcare provider about breathing exercises that may help improve your respiratory function.
A Word From Verywell
Due to the limited research, it’s too soon to recommend natural remedies for emphysema treatment. It’s also important to note that self-treating a chronic condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you’re considering using complementary medicine in the treatment of emphysema, make sure to consult your healthcare provider first.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA, Kim V.Pathogenesis of emphysema: from the bench to the bedside.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(4):475–477. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-126ETTurino GM.Emphysema in COPD: consequences and causes.Thorax. 2006;61(12):1031–1032. doi:10.1136/thx.2006.066308Pahal P, Avula A, Sharma S.Emphysema. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Tanrikulu AC, Abakay A, Evliyaoglu O, Palanci Y.Coenzyme Q10, Copper, Zinc, and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Serum of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Biological Trace Element Research. 2010;143(2):659-667. doi:10.1007/s12011-010-8897-5Suzuki M, Betsuyaku T, Ito Y.Curcumin attenuates elastase- and cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema in mice.American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 2009;296(4). doi:10.1152/ajplung.90443.2008Additional ReadingWorth H. “What Is Proven in the Treatment of COPD?” Internist (Berl).Fujimoto S, Kurihara N, Hirata K, Takeda T. “Effects of Coenzyme q10 Administration on Pulmonary Function and Exercise Performance in Patients With Chronic Lung Diseases.” Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S162-6.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA, Kim V.Pathogenesis of emphysema: from the bench to the bedside.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(4):475–477. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-126ETTurino GM.Emphysema in COPD: consequences and causes.Thorax. 2006;61(12):1031–1032. doi:10.1136/thx.2006.066308Pahal P, Avula A, Sharma S.Emphysema. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Tanrikulu AC, Abakay A, Evliyaoglu O, Palanci Y.Coenzyme Q10, Copper, Zinc, and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Serum of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Biological Trace Element Research. 2010;143(2):659-667. doi:10.1007/s12011-010-8897-5Suzuki M, Betsuyaku T, Ito Y.Curcumin attenuates elastase- and cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema in mice.American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 2009;296(4). doi:10.1152/ajplung.90443.2008Additional ReadingWorth H. “What Is Proven in the Treatment of COPD?” Internist (Berl).Fujimoto S, Kurihara N, Hirata K, Takeda T. “Effects of Coenzyme q10 Administration on Pulmonary Function and Exercise Performance in Patients With Chronic Lung Diseases.” Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S162-6.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA, Kim V.Pathogenesis of emphysema: from the bench to the bedside.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(4):475–477. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-126ETTurino GM.Emphysema in COPD: consequences and causes.Thorax. 2006;61(12):1031–1032. doi:10.1136/thx.2006.066308Pahal P, Avula A, Sharma S.Emphysema. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Tanrikulu AC, Abakay A, Evliyaoglu O, Palanci Y.Coenzyme Q10, Copper, Zinc, and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Serum of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Biological Trace Element Research. 2010;143(2):659-667. doi:10.1007/s12011-010-8897-5Suzuki M, Betsuyaku T, Ito Y.Curcumin attenuates elastase- and cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema in mice.American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 2009;296(4). doi:10.1152/ajplung.90443.2008
Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA, Kim V.Pathogenesis of emphysema: from the bench to the bedside.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(4):475–477. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-126ET
Turino GM.Emphysema in COPD: consequences and causes.Thorax. 2006;61(12):1031–1032. doi:10.1136/thx.2006.066308
Pahal P, Avula A, Sharma S.Emphysema. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Tanrikulu AC, Abakay A, Evliyaoglu O, Palanci Y.Coenzyme Q10, Copper, Zinc, and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Serum of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Biological Trace Element Research. 2010;143(2):659-667. doi:10.1007/s12011-010-8897-5
Suzuki M, Betsuyaku T, Ito Y.Curcumin attenuates elastase- and cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema in mice.American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 2009;296(4). doi:10.1152/ajplung.90443.2008
Worth H. “What Is Proven in the Treatment of COPD?” Internist (Berl).Fujimoto S, Kurihara N, Hirata K, Takeda T. “Effects of Coenzyme q10 Administration on Pulmonary Function and Exercise Performance in Patients With Chronic Lung Diseases.” Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S162-6.
Worth H. “What Is Proven in the Treatment of COPD?” Internist (Berl).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
