Childhood Asthma – Healthy.net

Better Treatment for Pediatric Asthma and ADD

Randall Neustaedter OMD — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:11:53 +0000

I am dismayed by the unnecessary drugging of children, and the tendency to
prescribe more drugs for kids on an ongoing basis. With the obvious
ineffectiveness of cough suppressants for children’s ailments, more
children are being put on inhaled steroids, often for an indeterminate and
interminable amount of time. An infant or preschooler develops a persistent
cough, and a quick diagnosis of asthma will often lead the pediatrician to
prescribe daily steroids to prevent further episodes of coughing and
wheezing. The other situation that ends in a permanent prescription is the
diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. And schools are pressuring parents to get drug
treatment for kids who have difficulty sitting still or staying focused in
the classroom.

The really unfortunate part of these scenarios is that effective, non-drug
treatment for both of these conditions is readily available to parents
through holistic pediatric methods. Asthma in children can be significantly
improved and even cured through a combination of one or more holistic
treatments that include nutritional support, Chinese herbs, acupuncture,
chiropractic, and homeopathy. Holistic pediatric training is available for
professionals at www.healthychild.com and www.icpa4kids.org, including a
specific course on asthma treatment (Healthy Child Holistic Natural
Parenting Alternative Medicine). A directory of holistic pediatric
practitioners in your area can be found at http://www.hpakids.org. There is no
reason that children need to take steroids on an ongoing basis, with the
risk of their attendant side effects (growth delays and immune
suppression), if they receive holistic pediatric care.

Similarly, the conventional drugs used for the treatment of ADD and other
behavior problems represent only short-term symptom relief for these
problems at best. These drugs may also cause significant side effects,
including sleep problems, loss of appetite, weight loss, and tics. A much
safer and more permanent solution exists in the methods of holistic and
functional medicine, including homeopathy, Chinese herbs, nutritional
supplements, and evaluation of neurotransmitter function. Biofeedback
systems may also help these children, depending on their age.

I encourage all parents to investigate these alternatives before putting
children on these drugs, and to consider transitioning children who take
conventional medications to more effective and curative methods of
treatment. If you know family members or other parents whose children are
dependent on these medicines, you may also want to offer them these
alternatives.

For more detailed descriptions of asthma and attention disorders go to my
website, www.cure-guide.com and search for these terms.

ASTHMA

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:51:58 +0000

Modern medicine’s so called breakthroughs in treatment for asthma are in fact adaptations of age old know how of medical herbalists.

Since around 2800BC, the needle like branches of a plant found in China called Ma-Huang have been used successfully there against asthma of light to medium severity. In the 16th century AD the physician pharmacologist Li Shih-chen listed it as an asthma treatment in his massive reference work, which is still seen as the authoritative reference for oriental herbal medicine.Ma-Huang, a member of the Gnetales family, resembles a horsetail. It is closely related to the Welwitschia mirabilis of South Africa. Ephedra helvetica, another relation, is used by herbalists in Switzerland, Spain, Italy and France. Another botanical relative is Ephedra distachya, the joint pine of Persia and India which quickly relieves bronchial spasm (RF Weiss, Herbal Medicine, AB Arcanum, Gothenburg, 1988).

In 1926, the drug company Merck produced a synthetic version of Ephedra, the alkaloid ephedrine. This, like the herbal remedy, has been widely used and both have been critically investigated over the years (Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1976, 3). However, the natural version has proved to have several advantages over the man made product: it is better tolerated by the patient, causing fewer heart problems like palpitations and hypertension.

Interestingly, if the Ma-Huang root is included in the preparation made from this plant’s branches, heart problems are reduced. Proprietary asthma drugs made from synthetic ephedrine, Benylin and Sudafed, are well known for their strong stimulant effect on the heart.

Khellah a member of the carrot family which grows wild in Egypt and countries of the eastern Mediterranean can either prevent asthma attacks or significantly reduce their frequency and severity (GV Anrep and others, J Pharm Pharmacol, 149, 3; and W Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, vol 1, Pharmaceutical Press, London 1958). Khellah is rapidly absorbed if taken by mouth, so injections are not needed. Although it is usually regarded as a preventative rather than therapeutic measure, its antispasmodic action lasts for around 6.5 hours, longer than that of modern asthma drugs. Toxicity is extremely low and there are practically no side effects, even when taken over a long period (RF Weiss, reference as above).

The latest orthodox drug derivative of Khellah is disodium chromoglycate (DSCG), marketed by Fisons as Intal. It is intended to stave off an asthma attack. In some patients it may cause a cough, throat irritation and bronchospasm (MIMS, July 1992).

Myrrh on the other hand, is a useful treatment, taken along with other asthma relieving drugs where the asthma is caused by catarrhal infection of the respiratory tract and bronchioles (R W Davey and others, Comp Med Res, Jan 1990). It has been shown to be effective against 20 strains of microbial organisms, including those that are regarded by orthodox medicine as multi drug resistant.

Harald Gaier is a registered naturopath, osteopath and homoeopath.

Asthma:Let them get dirty

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:51:58 +0000

Children exposed to pets, viruses and dust (Clin Exp Allergy, 1999; 29: 611-7; BMJ, 2001; 322: 390-5; Lancet, 2000; 35: 1680-3) at an early age have less asthma as they get older. This is because these things act as small, manageable challenges to the immature immune system.

Such scientific evidence calls into question the accepted wisdom of sterilisation, the use of antibacterial soaps and keeping children away from their sick friends.

Indeed, it appears that early exposure to bacteria is more likely to be health-enhancing if the child’s health is well-supported in other ways – such as breastfeeding and a staged diet free of other known food allergens, like cow’s milk and wheat, too early in life.

Asthma:You are what you eat (and breathe)

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:51:58 +0000

We now know more than ever about how to prevent asthma and how to keep attacks to a minimum. Consider the following advice to help keep your airways working optimally.

* Allergies. Asthma-causing allergens/irritants include air pollution, tobacco smoke, pet dander, dustmites, pollen, cleaning products, kerosene heaters, moulds and mildew. Bakers, manicurists, hairdressers and painters, and those in the construction, auto-body, food-processing and petroleum industries often develop occupational asthma from breathing chemical and food vapours, flour and dust. Asthmatics are often allergic to common foods such as citrus, dairy, eggs, soya, wheat and yeasts (Am J Clin Nutr, 1997; 66: 526S-9S).

* Breastfeeding. Early exposure to cow’s milk often leads to allergy (BMJ, 1999; 319: 815-9), but at least three months of exclusive breastfeeding can decrease the rate of childhood asthma by at least 30 per cent. In children with a family history of allergy, rates may drop by as much as 50 per cent (J Pediatr, 2001; 139: 261-6).

* Probiotics. Lactobacillus given to mothers prenatally, and to their infants postnatally, for six months reduced the rate of atopic eczema in the children by 50 per cent at age two years (Lancet, 2001; 357: 1076-9). Nutritionists believe it will similarly benefit asthma sufferers.

* Stomach acid. Low levels of stomach acid can lead to a ‘leaky gut’, where undigested food particles pass into the bloodstream in the colon, increasing the likelihood of an allergic reaction. Have your stomach acid levels checked by a reputable physician or lab.

* Essential fatty acids. Fish, evening primrose and borage oil supplementation may reduce allergies (Med Hypoth, 2000; 54: 72-4). And new oils are being added to the list of ‘good’ fats all the time, like perilla seed oil, which may improve lung function in some asthmatics (Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 2000; 122: 137-42). New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) extract has also been found to be effective (Eur Respir J, 2002; 20: 596-600).

* Choose your fats carefully. High intake of trans fatty acids, found in milk, meats and margarine, may worsen allergy-related symptoms (Lancet, 1999; 353: 2040-1). Similarly, in a diet already high in omega-6 fatty acids, flaxseed oil (having both omega-6 and -3) may also worsen the balance of omega-6 to omega-3 in the body. Too much polyunsaturated fats (rich in omega-6) have also been implicated in increased rates of asthma (Thorax, 2001; 56: 589-95).

* Learn to breathe. Dysfunctional breathing may contribute to asthma attacks (BMJ, 2001; 322: 1098-100). The Buteyko method of correct breathing may help some sufferers (J Asthma, 2000; 37: 557-64). Yoga breathing exercises may also reduce attacks (J Asthma, 1991; 28: 437-42).

* An ioniser. Some studies report temporary relief from symptoms with ionisers (Paediatrics, 1966; 38: 405) while others have found no effects whatsoever (Thorax, 1983; 38: 919-22).

* Coffee. For men and women, regardless of age or smoking habits, just a single cup of coffee a day reduces asthmatic symptoms (Chest, 1988; 94: 386-9). This is because caffeine breaks down into theophylline, a bronchodilator widely prescribed for treating asthma. One – but no more than three – cups of coffee daily is sufficient.

* De-stress. Asthma can be worsened by stress, particularly in children (Lancet, 2000; 356: 982-7). Do what you can to reduce stress at home and elsewhere; yoga meditation can reduce airway hypersensitivity (Thorax, 2002; 57: 110-5), but other relaxation techniques can work as well.

* Go fragrance-free. Perfumes are major asthma triggers (Allergy, 1996; 51: 434-9), affecting 72 per cent of asthmatics (Am J Med, 1986; 80: 18- 22). Watch out for hidden or unusual sources like furniture wax, plastic binbags, inks, hair gel/spray, women’s magazines and kitty litter (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 1995; 75: 429-33).

* Watch the weather. Atmospheric conditions associated with thunderstorms may increase the likelihood of asthma outbreaks by significantly increasing the concentration of pollens and other particles (Thorax, 2001; 56: 468-71). Adjust your activities on such days accordingly.

* Take a multifaceted approach. Combining nutritional changes while reducing common allergens can reduce the rate of asthma significantly – in one study, by as much as 11 per cent (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2000; 154: 657-63).

ASTHMA TREATMENT WITHOUT DRUGS

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:51:58 +0000

If you are alarmed by medicine’s hit and miss approach to asthma with dangerous drugs, there are many sensible approaches that may lessen or even eliminate your symptoms. As Leo Galland writes: “If an effective allergy desensitization technique is used and as much environmental control as possible is exercised, drug free treatment is virtually always possible in children.”

Find an experienced clinical ecologist or allergist who can find out what you are allergic to. This may mean going to someone who is familiar with exclusion diets or, in the case of airborne triggers, EPD desensitization methods which will locate your allergies with far more accuracy than the old prick test method .Avoid any food or ingested allergens. That particularly includes milk products. Use a calcium supplement if you don’t add enough calcium from other sources.

Add the following supplements to your daily diet: vitamin B6 50-100 mg, linseed (1-2 Tbs per day) or walnut oil (2 to 4 Tbs) plus evening primrose oil (4-8 capsules); vitamin C (at least 500 mg );’ zinc (10-20 mg ); vitamin E (at least 600 IUs); and magnesium.

Follow a diet low in sugar, animal fat and additives, and high in grains and vegetables.

Take regular gentle aerobic exercise like swimming or walking, which reduces symptoms.

Dr Galland recommends that asthmatic children have the following supplements, which play a role in assisting or curing asthma:

High doses of essential fatty acids. (I Tbs of linseed oil and 1 Tbs of cod liver oil or 3 g of MAX EPA per day). Magnesium: 3mg per pound of body weight per day. Calcium: 600 mg per day if dairy products are eliminated. High doses of vitamin C (2 gms a day). B6: at least 200 mg a day. B12: 1 mg twice a day for six weeks.

ASTHMA: Are swimming pools to blame?

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:51:58 +0000

Childhood asthma is on the rise – and researchers believe it could have something to do with the chlorine in swimming pools. The likeliest suspect is nitrogen trichloride, a byproduct of the chlorine, which is a powerful irritant.

Belgian researchers found high levels of lung-specific proteins – a marker of lung permeability – in children who regularly visited indoor swimming pools, and had done so since early childhood.

These proteins suggest that the lung’s epithelial barrier was being constantly and chronically disrupted and which, in turn, was allowing allergens to enter the lungs.

It’s an early indicator and more research is needed, say the researchers. Nonetheless, people who run swimming pools should already be looking at non-chlorine-based disinfectants.

In the meantime, try to search out these swimming pools for yourself.

(Source: Occupational Environmental Medicine, 2003; 60: 385-94).

MAGNESIUM: The secret remedy for childhood asthma

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:51:58 +0000

Childhood asthma can be a frightening, and sometimes dangerous, problem. Standard bronchodilators don’t always work, or can have serious side-effects.

So, with these concerns in mind, researchers wanted to find a safer therapy that was just as good as the nebulized bronchilator. They tested an infusion of magnesium sulfate (40 mg per kg of body weight) against a saline placebo over a 20-minute period. At the end of the infusion, the magnesium group had a significantly greater percentage improvement, an improvement that got better by 110 minutes after infusion.

The study supports earlier ones that also found that intravenous magnesium was an effective therapy against asthma, and particularly during an acute attack. (Source: Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 2000; 154: 979-983).

Allergies and Asthma in Children

Randall Neustaedter OMD — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 17:32:23 +0000

Excerpt from Child Health Guide: Holistic Pediatrics for
Parents, North Atlantic Books, 2005

Allergic conditions can begin at any age. Infants can
develop eczema soon after birth. Babies can also suffer from
asthmatic reactions to viruses, with chronic coughs and/or
wheezing following colds. Preschoolers may develop
sensitivity to milk and chronic sinus congestion or ear
problems. It is during the ages 5 through 10, however, that
allergies and asthma become especially prevalent. Children
at this age develop seasonal hay fever attacks and asthmatic
reactions to animals, dust mites, and plants. Asthma may
also manifest as exercise-induced wheezing when children
begin playing sports (soccer, basketball, swimming) that
challenge their endurance.

Allergies affect about 38
percent of all Americans, and about 5 percent of the U.S.
population has asthma. The highest proportion of asthma is
among children age 5 to 14, a total of 5 million children.
Childhood asthma has increased by more than 40 percent since
1980. In other parts of the world, the numbers are even
higher. In Western Europe as a whole, asthma cases have
doubled in the last ten years, according to the UCB
Institute of Allergy in Belgium. “The prevalence of asthma
in children can be as high as 30 percent in certain
populations,” explained Professor Romain Pauwels, Chairman
of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). “In Australia,
for example, one child in six under the age of 16 is
affected today. Experts are struggling to understand why
rates worldwide are, on average, rising by 50 percent every
decade.”

Many researchers have looked at the growing number of
childhood vaccines as a likely cause of the rise in
childhood asthma. Several clinical studies have confirmed an
association between vaccination and asthma. A team of New
Zealand researchers followed 1,265 children born in 1977. Of
the children who were vaccinated, 23 percent had asthma
episodes. A total of 23 children did not receive the DTP
vaccines, and none of them developed asthma (Kemp et al.,
1997). A study in Great Britain produced similar findings
that associated asthma with the pertussis vaccine. In that
study, 243 children received the vaccine and 26 of them
later developed asthma (10.7 percent), compared to only 4 of
the 203 children who had never received the pertussis
vaccine (2 percent). Additionally, of the 91 children who
received no vaccines at all, only one had asthma. Therefore,
the risk of developing asthma was about 1 percent in
children receiving no vaccines and 11 percent for those
children who received vaccines, including pertussis (Odent
et al., 1994). A third study was conducted in the U.S. from
data in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
of infants through adolescents aged 16. Data showed that
children vaccinated with DTP or tetanus were twice as likely
to develop asthma, compared to unvaccinated children
(Hurwitz and Morgenstern, 2000). Medications given to
children early in life also have a significant effect on the
incidence of asthma. Children given antibiotics or
acetaminophen (Tylenol) at some time prior to age 4 were
nearly twice as likely to develop asthma, compared to a
control group (Cohet et al., 2004). One group of researchers
discovered a possible cause for the development of asthma as
a consequence of antibiotic use. Mice given antibiotics
developed an alteration of intestinal bacteria and an
increase in the growth of intestinal yeast. These mice
developed typical allergic responses in the lungs when they
were exposed to mold spores. Mice that did not receive
antibiotics did not experience the allergic reactions
(Noverr et al., 2004).

Low income level has also proven to be associated with
childhood asthma. In a study undertaken by the Harlem
Children’s Zone, more than 2,000 children were tested for
asthma. All children under 13 who lived within a
twenty-four-square block area of Central Harlem were tested,
and 26 percent had evidence of asthma, five times the
national average. Clearly, healthful nutrition is an
important deterrent to the development of asthma in
children.

The dramatic increase in childhood allergies and asthma has
resulted in an equally alarming number of drug-dependent
children. Parents have become dismayed at the inadequacies
and dangers of conventional drug treatment for asthma. Most
children with asthma are prescribed steroid inhalers with
their attendant dangers of growth suppression and immune
system depletion. Allergy drug recalls, deaths associated
with asthma drugs, and the dire consequences of children on
steroids have stimulated millions of parents to find
alternatives. All of these drugs merely relieve symptoms for
a few hours with no expectation of overall improvement.
Effective conventional treatment for young children with
allergies is virtually nonexistent.

The solution to allergic and asthmatic conditions lies in
the realm of holistic medical care. Allergies can be
significantly improved, and even cured, with holistic
treatment. Homeopathic constitutional medicine is the most
profound and direct way to stimulate a healing reaction and
overcome immune system susceptibilities. Children’s immune
mechanisms can also be strengthened using a combination of
nutritional supplements and Chinese herbal treatment.
Treating asthma with holistic approaches can be complex and
needs to be carefully managed—children cannot stop their
medications suddenly. A number of safe and effective herbal
formulas exist that can control asthma in children and
simultaneously strengthen the immune system to prevent
further attacks. The Chinese Modular Solutions formulas Open
Air, Deep Breath, and Chest Relief, all developed for
pediatric use, are especially effective in managing asthma
without drugs.

Nutritional support for asthma is especially important,
including adequate supplies of vitamins A, C, D, and E,
colostrum, magnesium, and an omega-3 supplement. Several
important herbal formulations can also help bolster immunity
in older children, especially those combinations that
include the immune stimulating mushrooms (maitake, reishi,
grifola, polyporus, tremella).

Other treatment methods that can improve lung function and
create a healthy balance in the body for energy to flow
properly include acupuncture, and chiropractic and
osteopathic manipulation.

Finally, the emotional and energetic component of asthma
treatment should not be neglected. The field of
psycho-neuro-immunology has revealed the important
connection between emotions and the immune system.
Self-regulation techniques that develop a relaxation state
include guided imagery, biofeedback, and simple deep
abdominal breathing. These methods can help prevent asthma
reactions. Children proficient in these skills can also
relieve asthmatic symptoms when they occur. One of the
primary mechanisms of asthma is the constriction of smooth
muscle fibers that encircle the airway tubes. When the mind
is calm, when skeletal muscles are relaxed, and when
breathing is deep and regular, these muscles that constrict
air flow will also relax and allow children to breathe more
freely. Regular exercise, swimming, and dance training have
also been shown to increase lung capacity and reduce asthma
episodes.

This holistic approach to asthma will strengthen the immune
system and lung function, prevent the airway inflammation
characteristic of asthma, relieve the muscle constriction
that impairs breathing, decrease mucus production in
airways, and create a balanced energy flow that allows the
lungs to do their job without impairment.

Breathing Again: A Case History
Kayley is a
fun-loving, friendly, and talkative first-grader. She likes
Barbies and art projects and playing with her dog.
Unfortunately, Kayley has some health problems that
interfere with her life and play. She gets out of breath and
coughs when she plays soccer. If she catches a cold it will
quickly settle into nightly coughing spells that often
worsen and turn into wheezing episodes. Twice, they have
gotten so bad that she landed in the emergency room where
the doctors used inhaled drugs to restore her breathing and
then sent her home with a prescription for oral, systemic
steroids.

The allergist prescribed an inhaled steroid for Kayley to
use every day and a second bronchodilator drug for Kayley to
take before exercise and whenever she developed cough or
wheezing. Kayley’s mother was not especially happy with the
doctor’s pronouncement that Kayley required continuous drug
treatment, nor did she appreciate the side effects. The
drugs made Kayley hyper. So began the search for
alternatives to the standard drug approach for Kayley’s
asthma.

When I first saw Kayley, she still had a chronic dry, tight
cough despite the drug treatment. Since Kayley was in no
acute distress and the drugs were not preventing or curing
her symptoms anyway, we decided to replace the daily drug
regimen with Chinese herbs and put Kayley on a program of
immune enhancing supplements. I prescribed a liquid extract
of herbs formulated for children (Deep Breath by Chinese
Modular Solutions) and a similar formula for acute episodes
of cough or wheezing (Open Air). She received one dose of a
constitutional homeopathic medicine, Natrum-sulphuricum (1M
strength).

Kayley needed help getting through her wintertime colds.
Echinacea, vitamin C, herbs, and homeopathic treatment
prevented the downward spiral that used to occur with her
acute illnesses. Mild allergic rashes improved with
supportive treatment. She never took steroids again, and she
continued to excel at soccer and gymnastics. Her mother was
frankly amazed at the new level of Kayley’s resilience when
she caught a cold. Chronic coughing was no longer a problem,
and Kayley stopped identifying herself as an asthmatic.

Cohet, C, et al. Infections, medication use, and the
prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in
childhood. J Epidemiology Community Health 2004 Oct;
58(10):852–857.

Hurwitz, E L, and Morgenstern, H. Effects of
diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on
allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among
children and adolescents in the US. Journal Manipulative and
Physiological Therapeutics 2000; 318(7192):1173–1176.

Kemp, T, Pearce, N, Fitzharris, P, et al. Is infant
immunization a risk factor for childhood asthma or allergy?
Epidemiology 1997; 8:678.

Noverr, M C, et al. Role of antibiotics and fungal
microbiota in driving pulmonary allergic responses.
Infectious Immunology 2004 Sep; 72(9):4996–5003.

Odent, M R, Culpin, E E, and Kimmel, T. Letter to the
editor. Pertussis vaccination and asthma: is there a link?
Journal American Medical Association 1994; 272:592–593. 2004
Oct; 58(10):852–857.

Kemp, T, Pearce, N, Fitzharris, P, et al. Is infant
immunization a risk factor for childhood asthma or allergy?
Epidemiology 1997; 8:678.

Noverr, M C, et al. Role of antibiotics and fungal
microbiota in driving pulmonary allergic responses.
Infectious Immunology 2004 Sep; 72(9):4996–5003.

Odent, M R, Culpin, E E, and Kimmel, T. Letter to the
editor. Pertussis vaccination and asthma: is there a link?
Journal American Medical Association 1994; 272:592–593.

Osteopathic Treatments Effective in Managing Childhood Asthma

Mary Anne Morelli DO FACOP — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

During my first year of medical
school I experienced the benefits of osteopathic
manipulation for asthma. As a child, I hadsignificant
difficulties with allergies and asthma. Gradually my
symptoms lessened as I matured. But even in college and
medical school I struggled with frequent upper respiratory
illnesses.

In
medical school, the extra time I spent in the anatomy lab
preparing for exams triggered asthma symptoms. This proved
to be frustrating as I needed more energy, not less.
Fortunately, I had been paired with a second-year student
with a keen interest in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
(OMT).

He treated me and to my surprise the feelings of shortness
of breath dissipated. I was relieved to find that I no
longer needed inhaled medication. Furthermore, despite the
continuing intensity of medical school, the frequency of my
upper respiratory infections began to abate. Having suffered
for many years from the aggravating effects of asthma and
allergic sensitivities I experienced the benefits of OMT
first hand. How I wish my family had been introduced to the
benefits of OMT when I was a child!

Rather than merely suppressing symptoms, osteopathic
medicine addresses the underlying disturbances in the body’s
mechanisms. In asthma, medications are prescribed to cause
dilation of the bronchioles. However, through properly
applied manipulation, the body can be stimulated to release
its own supply of these same chemicals. Proper circulation
is absolutely necessary for effective function of the lungs.
The arteries supply nutrition to vital organs and tissues in
the body, while its counterpart returns the deoxygenated
blood back to the heart through the veins. Osteopathic
manipulation strengthens these vital pathways while removing
road blocks to the body’s natural healing process.

Have you ever tried to take a deep breath with your rib cage
locked? It is very difficult. Another goal in the
osteopathic treatment of asthma is to create free motion in
the rib cage and thoracic diaphragm. Osteopathic techniques
to enhance drainage of the lymph nodes also help the immune
system with its housecleaning tasks. OMT can also be
effective when a child has taken a hard fall. Many times a
fall to the tailbone will trigger an asthma attack in a
child. This is due to the relation of the tailbone to the
“primary response mechanism” . Making sure the sacrum
(tailbone) is moving properly is very important in
successfully treating asthma.

Nutrition happens to be one of the best weapons in the
prevention of asthmatic episodes. There is a clear
relationship between poor nutrition and bronchial
difficulties caused by asthma.

A healthy diet should include fresh fruits, vegetables,
nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Vitamin C, bioflavinoids,
ginger and tumeric help reduce inflammation. Foods that
promote inflammation such as fried foods, junk food, smoked
or barbecued foods, and partially hydrogenated foods should
be avoided as well as mucus-forming foods including milk,
sugar, refined flour, and most dairy products. It is
important to read labels and avoid all chemicals and
additives. Do you know that modified wheat starch contained
in many cereals and processed foods is “modified” by six
chemicals all of which can cause allergies and asthma? Food
is one of our best medicines– use it wisely!

Asthma can also be triggered by
airborne substances. Asthmatic attacks are commonly
triggered by smoke, high pollen counts, vacuuming, dust,
animal hairs, and mold growth. Using a hepa filter on all
filtering machines, keeping your windows closed from 5
a.m.to 10 a.m. during high pollen count periods, and
vacuuming with a sealed system with a hepa filter attached
will reduce exposure. Routine cleaning and dusting of
bedding reduces build up and the invitation for an airborne
substance to trigger an asthmatic episode.Washing sheets in
hot water kills dust mites and cleaning with vinegar or a
10% bleach solution will prevent mold growth.

Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy is an effective means of
treating and managing asthmatic conditions for children.
Coupled with a strong nutritional and environmental program
I have seen amazing transformations in health– for all
family members.

Childhood Asthma

American Institute for Preventive Medicine — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

A lot of children get asthma. Most children grow out of it after they are teenagers. Children under 4 years old hardly ever get asthma. These are all symptoms of asthma:

Wheezing
Tight feeling in the chest
Chronic coughing
Trouble breathing

Asthma symptoms come and go. An asthma “attack” can be big or small. Asthma can get worse when your child is upset or worried. But it’s not “in his or her head.” It’s a real physical problem. A doctor should treat your child if he or she has asthma. Asthma runs in families. Children who have hay fever or eczema often have asthma, too.

Asthma cuts down the air flow in the lungs. This makes it hard to breathe and can cause wheezing. (Note: Other things can cause wheezing, too. Something may be stuck in the throat, or there may be an infection. Always tell the doctor if your child is wheezing.

These things can help cause asthma attacks:

Bronchitis or an infection in the throat and lungs
Colds
Breathing pollen from plants, mold, animal dander, dust, or smoke
Eating some foods
Taking some medicines
Breathing cold air
Exercising too hard
Getting upset, angry, or “stressed out”

The right asthma treatment depends on how bad the attacks are. It’s hard to treat asthma with medicines you buy without a prescription. Your child’s doctor should keep track of how your child is doing. The doctor may prescribe one or more of these for your child’s asthma:

Bronchodilators – Bronchodilators open up the airways in the body. They come either as a spray or as something you swallow.
Steroids – Steroids help when you have allergies. An allergic reaction can bring on an asthma attack. Steroids work against the allergic reaction. They come either as a spray, or as pills you swallow.
Cromolyn sodium – Your child can inhale Cromolyn sodium before an attack that is triggered by allergies or exercise. This medicine won’t work once the attack starts.
Cromolyn sodium and steroids – They can work together to prevent attacks.
Antibiotics – Your doctor will only give these to your child if the child has an infection.

Questions to Ask

Does your child have any of these problems? Blue color around the lips Has to sit up to breathe Can?t talk or make normal sounds Has very noisy, grunting sounds with breathing

Is your child wheezing a lot? Does your child?s chest feel tight? Is it hard for your child to breathe?

Does your child have a fever? Is your child coughing up anything green, yellow, or bloody?

Does your child?s asthma attack stay just as bad, no matter what you do for it?

Are your child?s asthma attacks coming more often or getting worse?

Has your child?s cough lasted more than 2 weeks?

Self Care Tips

Try these tips to help your child avoid asthma attacks:

Have him or her drink a lot of water, juice, or soft drinks. (Ask your child’s doctor how much fluid your child should have each day.)
Find out what triggers your child?s asthma, and get rid of things that bother your child at home, at school, and where they play.
Keep things your child is allergic to out of his or her bedroom.
Give your child a foam or cotton pillow, not a feather pillow.
Cover your child’s mattress and pillow with a plastic cover. Wash mattress pads in hot water every week.
Don?t hang sheets and blankets outside to dry. Pollen can get on them.
Put throw rugs in your home instead of carpets. Pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust mites collect in carpets. Use blinds instead of drapes on your windows.
Vacuum often. But put a filter mask on your child first. (When you vacuum, the dust that comes up can give your child an asthma attack.)
Mix 3/4 cup bleach in a gallon of water to mop bathroom tiles and floors, the kitchen, and other rooms. Then air out each room. This helps keep mold from growing.
Put an air filter in your central heat or air-conditioning. Or use portable air cleaners to keep the air clean.
Change or wash filters often. Keep the humidifier filter clean, if you use one. Use distilled water, not tap water, in humidifiers and vaporizers.
Have your child wear a scarf around his or her mouth and nose when they are outside in cold weather. The scarf warms the air before your child breathes it in.
It’s good for your child to do sports like swimming. But tell them to stop exercising if they start to wheeze.
Don’t let your child eat foods or medicines that have sulfites. Shellfish for example often have sulfites. They bother many people with asthma.
Have your child sit up during an asthma attack. Don’t let them lie down.
Don’t run out of your child?s 12 asthma medicine. Keep the medicine handy. Have them take it as soon as they start to feel an attack.
Don’t give your child aspirin! Some people with asthma are allergic to aspirin. Try acetami-nophen instead.

(Note: Do not give aspirin to anyone under 19 years old unless a doctor tells you to. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome, a condition that can kill.)