Does Anyone Know of Any Natural Treatments for Asthma?

Two things I know of...#1 get him a flu shot. That will cut back on the sickness. #2 cut down on milk. Milk makes asthma worse. That's my 2 cents.

One of my earliest memories is sitting on the edge of the tub with the hot water running to make steam. I was very upset because I was missing Huckleberry Hound cartoons. I used to never have colds. It went straight to bronchitis. As an adult I started to study natural health and healing after being prescribed a potentially lethal combination of drugs, seldane and erythromycin. Seldane has since been taken off the market because of this very combination. Fortunately, when I didn't feel right after taking it I went against my doctor's advise and pitched it.

There are a lot of things that you can do to help your son. First you need to realize that this is due to a deficiency in his immune system. Start building that up. I am a big proponent of using food sources as much as possible. It is the safest. I would get him on some sort of superfood, dehydrated greens-wheatgrass, sprirulina, etc. You can find this at any health food store. I use Dr Schulze products. He is in the Marina, but you can find others that are also very good. Mix a tablespoon in with juice. You can also find "green" juice, but just watch out for the sugar content. Sugar will bring the immune system down faster than anything so be very mindful of that. You can also use bee products such as bee pollen, propolis and/or royal jelly. These are all by products of the bee hive activity. Local bee pollen is great in dealing with allergies. You can make smoothies and add these in. Add in the superfood as well. Use rice milk or soy or goat's milk. Cut out cow's milk entirely. Unless it is organic it is full of antibiotics and hormones. It also causes mucus build up. You can't take too much of these items. Look for powdered propolis. The liquid form is very sticky. As he gets older you can give him capsules. Here's a website that sells bee products. There are others. You can also purchase them at Marukai grocery store in Gardena.
http://www.glorybeefoods.com/gbf/Shop_List.cfm?PC=21&...

These bee products also offer antibacterial and anti-viral properties. Another natural antibiotic is oil of oregano. You can purchase it in capsule form which he may not be ready to handle just yet, but you can also get a small bottle of straight oil of oregano. It can be applied to the skin, but it is very strong and MUST be diluted down. Jojoba oil from Trader Joes is great. Jojoba oil penetrates the best of any carrier oil, but you can use olive oil if you want. Rub it on his chest and back.

Get a book on reflexology. They are readily available at Barnes and Noble or Borders. Just check a few out at the store to see which one is easiest to follow. Chances are that the problem starts in his sinuses and moves down into his chest. By reflexing the toes you are sending healing to his head/sinuses/neck. The padded area under the toes reflexes the chest. It's easy. You can do no harm and it feels good. Apply even light pressure. If a spot is particularly sensitive or sore, you've hit an area that needs attention. Do it in the morning when you get him up and at night when you put him down.

One of the very best things you can do is take him to a chiropractor. He is not too young. I've been going for years. I can personally recommend two, one in the Fairfax area, and one is in Long Beach on PCH just north of Seal Beach. Contact me if you would like the names. If neither of these locations are convenient for you ask around for recommendations.

I found out a long time ago that when I was near the ocean I always breathed better. You can purchase a salt pipe. Here's a link to one that has a good description. Google "salt pipe children" to look at other options. This one is specifically for children as young as 3.
http://www.portablesaltcave.com/children.html
As he gets older a neti pot would be a good thing for him to do. A neti pot cleans out your sinuses with salt water. The om sound vibrates the palate and helps keep the sinuses healthy.

Yoga would be a wonderful thing to do. There are DVDs specifically for children. Yoga keeps the spine flexible which is very important and the deep breathing will build healthy lungs. Just deep breathing is great exercise for the lungs. Simple backwards bends stimulate the immune system.
http://www.gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-media/yoga...

Hopefully at 3 you are not giving him soda. Don't start. Don't fall into the trap of "sugar free" products including gum. Aspartame is toxic, literally. Just be smart about limiting sweets. Be mindful that white rice, white bread and pasta are simple carbs which turn into sugar right away. Look for complex carbs-whole grains, brown rice. When you look at food labels keep in mind if the bread has 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of sugar, the sugar wins. Always try to find products that offer a higher fiber count than sugar. It takes a bit
of perseverance, but you can do it. Keep in mind also that wheat is often a culprit. It is a very common allergen for asthmatics. One way to test is simply cut it out of his diet and see if it makes a difference. Slowly reintroduce it. If he starts having trouble again, that's a good indication that he is allergic. Lots of water is essential. Herbal teas are good. An apple a day actually enhances the respiratory system. Emphasize lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in his diet.

Use lavendar oil on his feet. It's calming and is helpful in dealing with asthma. Google
"essential oils children asthma" for more information. There are many other essential oils that one can use.

Magnets are also great to have. If he does get congested tape a couple of magnets over his bronchial tubes. I have used magnets to break up bronchitis. Make sure you get magnets that are clearly marked "north." The following info is copied from biomagscience.com

Remember, South Pole is positive. Positive is stimulating and could stimulate all forms of life including bacteria, viruses, increased swelling, increased cancer rates, etc.

The geological North Pole is negative. Negative charges create negative energy, the calming healing energy. Since so many do not know the difference between the true poles and the “seeking” poles of a magnet, BiomagScience as a scientific biomagnetic institute, has chosen to use Negative (-) and Positive (+) markings on our Biomagnets.
Here's another site if you want to check it out as well. When you google, look up "therapeutic magnets."
http://www.promagnet.com/products/neo.html

Finally, acupuncture is very effective in treating asthma. It is not for everyone, but I love it and keep it mind.

Everything I have listed here can be used in conjunction with pharmaceuticals. Use your best judgement as to when you can ditch them. Again, I speak from personal experience. Inhalers are not pleasant and are very hard on the heart. If you do end up giving him prescribed antibiotics be sure to give him acidophilus to protect his digestive tract. The best is liquid form that you will find refrigerated in the health food store. I realize that initially this can be expensive. Do what you can. Do as much of this as you can. Keep adding components and in the long run you will be rewarded with good health. Use environmentally friendly detergents and household cleaners. If you can, buy him organic cotton pillow cases. Contact me if I can be of further assistance. You can do this. Good luck.

Hi C. -

Sounds like all the advice you were given really inspired you! That is awesome that you are so intent on making these changes for your family. You're doing all excellent things, don't be discouraged if you can't do everything immediately. You can take 12 months to better health, but changing something and getting in that habit each month (or every couple weeks if your better able to get your arms around everything). Another very easy way to get healthier immediately is to get your family on Juice Plus. I can send you the childen's health study results which are extremely impressive about the health improvements shown in children, and being a Juice Plus family in itself is a catalyst to overall healthy mindset. Please contact me and I'll send you the info: ____@____.com sound like you need to focus on stengthening/balancing their immune systems so they are not so susceptable to getting sick. What is your son's diet like? Focusing on good nutrition for him/lots of fruits and vegetables will help him stay healthy. I know that's very hard for a three years old. Has anyone told you about Juice Plus? My three boys and I have been taking it for four years and we rarely get sick. When we do, it's very short and mild. I believe it's due to the fact that along with the fruits and vegetables we eat, we also get the nutrition from 17 fruits, vegetables and whole grains every day by taking it in capsule/chewable form with Juice Plus. It's the best nutritional supplement available because it's proven to be effective at improving immune function, helping to repair DNA, increasing anti-oxidant level in the blood, improving cardiovascular function, and more. Check out my website at www.wethriveonjuiceplus.com. Or feel free to call me at ###-###-####. Your 3 year old would eat the fruit and vegetables gummies. I have many customers who believe that Juice Plus has had a significant effect on their child's asthma. Also, one of the best parenting books I've ever read is Dr. Sears "The Healthiest Kid in the Neigborhood". It should be a guide for all parents in my opinion. It talks about ways you can feed kids to improve their immune function, reduce symptoms of ADHD, protect from Diabetes, and in general just protect overall health with food choices. Here's an excerpt:

Understanding the Imflammatory Response: Suppose you cut your finger. At the site of the injury, local cells send out chemical messangers which prompt the imflammatory response. The immune system sends an army of infection fighters to the place where the skin is broken and germs threaten to invade the body. At the site of the invasion, local cells engulf the germs, swallowing them up to keep them from entering the body. Redness and swelling in the area result caused by the extra capillary blood flowing to the injury site. All this commotion generates a lot of heat, so the injured area feels hot. Having an immflammatory disease is like having tiny fires burning throughout the body. What does fire do? It can burn up germs but it can also damage healthy tissues. Sometimes the body overreacts and sends a big army to fight a little infection, or it attacks something that isn't really a threat, such as a pollen or mold. The symptoms you experience when this happens are not the fault of the germ or allergen. Instead they're caused by an overzealous immune system inflammatory response. Sometimes the body's immune system gets confused and attacks its own tissues. The chemicals released by the inflammatory response end up damaging cells. because of the constant work they do, tissues that line important highways and intersections of the body are especially vulnerable to inflammation such as the joints, breathing passages (bronchitis, asthma), intestines, and blood vessels. . They get "rough edges" when they are chronically inflamed and the result can be pain and disease. They key to a healthy immune system response is balance. You want your immune system to do a good job fighting infections and repairing the normal wear and tear on tissues, but you don't want it to trigger inflammation that damages healthy tissues.

The book goes on to say that diet and lifestyle can make a big difference in a child's healthy immune function and healthy breathing passages. One of which is to eat healing foods like fruits and vegetables every day. You can fill the gap with Juice Plus. Call me if you'd like more information. I know that with consistent use your child's immune function will improve to better fight off colds and infections that trigger his asthma.

My Chiropractor treats asthma through a technique called biokinetics. It also helps for allergies.

Two sisters he treated had been in the hospital every week for injections to control their asthma and within a short time they were completely off the injections.

My cousin had been in the ER at least once a week for allergy attacks. He was treated by him several times over a week and had no allergies for 5 years until he was in a car accident. He went back for treatments and it has been 4 years and no problems, not even seasonal allergies.

He's pretty far from you but call and see if he knows of someone closer that performs this technique.
Dr. Mark Stokes DC
###-###-####
3325 Paloverde Ave
Long Beach, CA. 90808

Wish you the best

I had a similiar problem with my 3 year old and I found a naturalpathic doctor in Westlake Village. Her name is Dr. Melissa Metcalfe and her office is called Natural Solutions. The number is ###-###-####. I don't know where you live but I don't see a doctor anymore. I have a regime that I use for all my kids and she can prescribe antibotics if it gets that far along but her goal is to keep you healthy and not need them. I understand the asthma and it is scary but she has a lot of herbs and natural formulas that build up the system so it may not be so severe. I don't like this time of year either but i am so thankful for her! I have 4 kids and a baby on the way so I understand how frustrating it can be. I also have used the medications for asthma and I didn't like the side effects it gave my daughter. Whole foods is also a good resouce for some natural solutions. They have alot of good books as well that can tell you what to use for what symptoms. A good book is Smart medicine for Heatlhy Children. Good luck!

I use this website to find all of the natural treatments: www.herbalremedies.com. They sell everything and you can search based on the ailment.

My made a massage oil mixture for bruises. From what I can tell, as long as it rub it on the painful area right after it happens, my children do not develop bruises.

I also made a massage oil mixture to take care of my husband's high blood pressure and that helped.

For the asthma, there are a few things it lists, my daughter's asthma isn't really bad but periodically I would rub the tincture on her shirt so she could breath it in.

Good luck!

S.

*I've also had success with Advair as the other poster mentioned. It's great for maintenance care.

Here is a link I recommend you read:
http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/natural-asthma-remedies

Be VERY careful in what you try... you would potentially be using your son as a "guinea pig", even though that is certainly not your intention. Remember, he is only 3 years old... many of these studies/substance trials are done with "adults" not, toddlers.

Also, you cannot, nor should you be using alternative things without Professional/licensed guidance. It could harm your son... especially if there are overlapping of medicines or bad interactions between "medicines" used. You cannot anticipate or "guess" what these interactions would be....

I am the same way as your son... I have asthma, get it when I get any kind of cold... and it is very miserable. As I've gotten older, I sorta of grew out of it... but am still asthmatic.

When in the throes of an asthma attack... there are different things a Doctor evaluates: 1)listening to the lungs for wheezing (2) doing a measurement of amount of oxygen in the blood... which then tells the Doctor how acute it is (3) listening to the heart. IF a person is not able to breath optimally, then in turn, they cannot get in enough oxygen...which in turn means that the body & blood are not getting enough oxygen.... this in turn can strain the heart. When having an asthma attack or acute episodes... make sure his lips or fingernails or skin isn't turning "blue" etc. This could signal he is not getting enough oxygen.

One thing to understand.. .is that untreated Asthma, especially in the "acute" stages.... can DAMAGE your lungs, permanently, if not treated swiftly or adequately. THUS, the absolute need for the medicines. Remember, Asthma also kills people... a person can suffocate, and there is not always "warning signs."

In your son's case, or anyone with Asthma....it is important to strengthen the lungs... and of course, have optimum nutrition and vitamins etc. to build up his immune system.

Second, since he has asthma.. you MUST safe-guard him. Do NOT take him around large crowds if possible, nor around sick people. His immune system and lung status is weak.... so, you must keep this in mind. When the cold/flu season is approaching...I am VERY wary and cautious about who I'm around and where I go, and do NOT hesitate in saying that I have a "health concern" & a lung problem, so I must be cautious around sick populations. It IS life or death for some people with asthma.

Take care all and the best. Do know, that there ARE specific reason for these medicines. Asthma, unless you have it yourself.. is not always understood. It literally suffocates the person. Even walking 5 feet across a room is a hardship and causes a person to get out of breath and strain for even half a breath.

Maybe you can find some kind of asthma support groups... for your kids and you...since you mentioned you are burnt out of having sick kids with Asthma.

take care, Please ask your Pediatrician for the best possible options,
Susan

Hi C.,
I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I have a 6 year old that used to get horrible croup / mild asthmatic like symptoms every time he caught a respiratory virus. He would cough like crazy at night when in bed, and no one in our household was getting any sleep.
The weird thing was the breathing machine (albuterol treatments)always seemed to make it worse!
After doing pretty well the past couple years, he just had an episode (apparently a bad cough is going around all over the place). Our doctor did not feel he needed albuterol treatments, but instead had us give him BENADRYL before bedtime, and put VICKS Vaporub on his chest and neck. It really helped.
Also, as someone mentioned turning on the shower and breathing the steam for 20 minutes helps, but my son hated it.
I think one of the best things we did was get a humidifier to use in the winter when the heater is on. Huge difference for all of us. The weather is really dry right now, a humidifier in your house might help a lot.

But if your son's asthma is really bad, maybe none of this will work, but it's worth a shot. I hope it does help!
We also go to a chiropracter, not sure about helping asthma, but I personally know it can help clear congestion, as it has worked for me, and I've seen it clear my son's stuffy head before, almost immediately (like within the hour!).

Hi, 3 of my 4 kids have asthma. My 7 year old has it the worst and I used Juice Plus. It is a supplement with vegatables and fruits packed into 2 separate chewable or gummi forms. When he was on it, he was doing wonderfully. Because of the economy, I just can't afford it anymore but I do recommend it. When he was on it, he didn't go to the doctors at all. The previous year he went almost monthly. That alone says it all. I can't wait for the economy to get better so I can get some for him. Go to www.juiceplus.com and go into other products. They are only $22.50 per month but you have to provide a credit card. (That is my problem.) I also recommend a humidifier when your child sleeps.

The first thing you need to do is have knowledge. What kicks off the asthma and what foods are triggers. Get a blood test done that will check the IgG levels of immune responses. Once we did this and removed the 21 foods from my daughter's diet, no more asthma.

Lab Corp is the company that you want to do it. It is not cheap and most insurances will cover a portion or all.

We used a homeopathic called Phosphorus in a 200c. Also, my MD suggested Rosmarinus Officinalis, which has studies showing asthma relief on pubmed. In addition (and under his supervision) he suggeted collodial silver (the brand was mesosilver) in his nebulizer. That was a few years ago and he has been symptom free since. I believe we did this when he was 4 and he is now 8.

If you want to find out more about homeopathy, check out this article: http://www.bluedominoes.com/homeopathy_overview.php

Studies on Rosmarinus: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

Silver/Asthma Information:
http://www.colloidsforlife.com/asthma-colloidal-silver-be...

Best to you and your boys!

Hi C.,

My son is 2 1/2 years old and he has been diagnosed with asthma.

I take him to a doctor in West Los Angeles who is a medical doctor but now focuses on what he calls bio-energetic medicine, which incorporates several methods of natural medicine including acupuncture and homeopathy.

My son is taking remedies to support his lung and bronchial function and has had much less congestion and we have not had to use the inhaler so much. Also, the doctor "tests" the medicines he uses to see if his body responds well to it or not.

I still take my son to his pediatrician when I need to, but I highly recommend this holistic doctor.

Dr. Michael Galitzer
American Health Institute
Wilshire and Carnaby
West Los Angeles, CA

###-###-####

Call me if you have any questions. ###-###-####

Good luck and best wishes,

R.

PS I forgot to mention several other things that make a BIG difference. When we changed to natural cleaning products, he did not have any allergy problems at all. The most recent episode occurred when we ran out of the natural stuff and I used the regular cleaning supplies. I wont do that again! HUGE DIFFERENCE! Also, we use a humidifier and diffuse natural oils into his room. We prefer RC oil by Young Living, but also use Eucalyptus. He also likes to have the essential oils rubbed on his chest but only after mixing with massage oil. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Hi C.. I use Lobelia Tincure by Dr. Christopher's Herb Shop. It is an antispasmadic herb which has been used to help relax the respiratory system. Also, I work with several ladies in North County San Diego. They have helped me learn so much about homeopathy and other natural remedies. They are Dr. Debbie Novick in Encinitas, CA, Willow Tiptom in Del Mar, CA and Shelley McQuerter at Learn Homeopathy Now in Encinitas, CA. I don't know were you live but if you are close by get in touch with these ladies. Being plugged into their network has helped me treat my children naturally since they were babies. They are now 10 and 7 and I can honestly tell you they each have only had to use antibiotics once, maybe twice, in their lives.

For asthma in order of importance:

1. Serrapeptase 40,000iu caps

2. Asmaease www.goodhealthnaturally.com/pd_asthmaend.cfm

3. HealthPoint www.dovehealth.com

I agree with taking your son to see a chiropractor. I took my daughter when she was 2, she had about 6 sessions with her, and has been completely asthma free ever since. She is now 13!!!! I was petrified at first, afraid the chiropractor might "hurt" her, but am so so glad I did. Good luck to you.

Hi C.,
Acufinder.com is good for research. You type in your zip code and find an acupuncturist in your area. The one I use is in Burbank and that seems far from Thousand Oaks but if you'd like her number let me know. Good luck!

Vitamin D. Please take a look at the following article - http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/2008-october.shtml
The second question in this file is a mom who has 2 children with asthma and how she started supplementing them with 2,000 I.U. of Vitamin D and their asthma has completely disappeared.

My son is 4 now and barely has two colds a year. Partly because his immune system is strong due to the fact that he still breast feeds once a day... but before it was as strong as it is, I'd load his juice with Vitamin C and Airbourne. For Vit C I used the EmergenC packets. Mix with organic apple juice. About 2,000g and 2 airbourne in 2 cups of juice for him to sip on through out a few days.

Also, when it looks like something could come, I'd add some grapefruit seed extract (not grape seed, grapefruit seed - the big fruit). You can go to Nutribiotic dot com and do some research on it - it is the most amazing stuff - good for so many things. pureliquidgold dot com is better for research - they have receipes for usage. You can use it in the humidifier too to help with bacteria/virus that get the the lungs. I used it in my son's breathing treatment machine (nebulizer - I think) that he had to get when he was a baby - I love that thing.

I know that there are changes in the diet that are probably needed for him, but I do not know off hand anything specific except to try to go as organic/natural as possible. Just keep googling and you will find things that point you in the right direction.

Also try the Zicam products to cut down on the duration of the colds - the zinc suckers are great. If he is hanging around kids with snotty noses - give him a zinc sucker (he won't know its not real candy) or spray the spray in his mouth.

If you can find a homopathic or natural pathic doctor - that would be great.

Follow your instincts - a Mom knows
~NAA

Hi C.,
When I was growing up both my brother and sister suffered from asthma. My mom finally said she had enough of steroids and traditional medicine. She began taking my siblings to a homeopathic doctor and started them on homeopathic remedies for asthma. It really helped them as children. Now they are both adults and no longer suffer from asthma attacks. Good luck finding what works best for your child.

I no longer have asthma attacks, call me and I'll tell you how I made it go away.

F. ###-###-#### you may have to leave a msg.

Homeopathy is great. Our son has a lot of respiratory issues and was sick a ton last fall and winter. We were able to avoid giving him almost any drugs by seeing a homeopath. She was amazing and would call back within several hours, even on the weekends, to give us updates on rememdies to give him as his symptoms changed. I would suggest seeking out an Dip Hom or maybe an MD/Homeopath to start. I have heard great things about Dr. Feder in LA.

Hi,
I have a four year old daughter with cold/allergy induced asthma. I have not yet found an effective natural remedy, however, I have found some better options than turning straight to the steroid treatments. My daughter takes a Singulair allergy tablet everyday, as prevention. It does make a huge difference for the allergy induced asthma. (Also, with allergies that turn into infections) Also, at the first sign of a cold or a cough I do breathing treatments with Pumicort. Pulmicort is not "natural" by any means, but it is NOT a steroid either. It helps prevent the asthma. keeps it a bay, so to speak. If I jump on it soon enough, many times only the Pulmicort is needed and we never have to use the Zopenex (steroid). you may know all this already and use these medications. Just thought I would throw it out there.

C.,

My 2 y.o. has eczema which according to our allergist is the same thing as asthma but effects the skin instead of lungs (and obviously a rash isn't as scary as not being able to breathe!). And last year he was sick for 9 months straight (2 cases of pnemonia, 3 cases of stomach flu, some random colds, etc... he was sick non-stop from November to July) Some of the things that have helped us was to put him on Singular daily and buy a good quality HEPA air filter for his bedroom. We've also figured out he's allergic to both dairy and soy and eliminating those from his diet have made a big difference. Allergy testing in kids is very unreliable but if it can at least point you in the right direction for somewhere to start. If you can figure out what is irritating him and minimize it, he will do better. My husband has asthma and he reacts badly to horses, mold and dust. An air purifier in our bedroom has helped him also. I also use those allergen reducing mattress and pillow covers and I wash all of the bedding in hot water at least once a week. And I bathe our dog weekly (he's a chihuahua and doesn't put out a lot of dander). My next step will be getting rid of our carpeting and putting in something I can mop/bleach regularly. Basically I try to keep the dust, dander and all airborn nasties under control. You can't eliminate them but you can minimize them. I also bleach everything bleachable in my house (like the countertops) and air out my house as often as possible. A lot of the stuff I've read says that indoor air pollution is usually worse than outdoor air pollution so I try to run fresh air through my house regularly.

Good luck, asthma is a scary thing,
T.

OMG! My son had the same problem when he was that age, and because he was in preschool he would catch colds real easily. He would cough so hard that he would throw up. His doc recommended steroids and all kinds of things but I gave it to God and prayed over Him and anytime at Church they had prayer at the alter, I would bring my son to them to lay hands on him and believe God with me that He would grow out of it and God would heal him. And now maybe once a year my son has to use his pump, he is now 7.

I treat my daughter, 2, with aromatherapy.That is not to say that I don't take her to the doctor, but when she needs it (she gets really bad croup). I usually shcedule the aromatherapist before the doctor, and go straight from one to the other. Usually by the time we get to the doctor's, she's fine. The essential oil that I find most effective is REVENSARA, you can google it. It's a good preventative as well.
Good luck,
Sophie

I know that a good steam shower actually helps alot. It can even gets rid of your asthma in the midst of an early attack (when the asthma is not strong yet/when you feel it just coming on). Hence, keeping your son's room humidified is helpful. I've had asthma since I was 7. I'm now 33. But in the past 4 years, i started using Advair and now I rarely get attacks. And I only use it maybe once or twice a month now. Look into it for your child. Don't know if it's recommended for children, but ask. Advair basically stopped my allergies (which is really the underlining cause of asthma). I used to get them so bad (sneezing every morning for years! and waking up almost every night with wheezing until i was 27/28 years old). I would use my inhaler at least 3x a day! Not anymore. I probably use my inhaler 3x a month because I exert myself and get excited about something...
Maybe it stopped as I got older. But I am certain that it worked as soon as I started Advair. Because before Advair, my allergies and asthma stayed consistently the same with NO signs of gradual change/improvement even as I got older.

Make sure that you hold your son still and keep him calm when he's about to have an attack. Any energy exerted will actually make his asthma escalate and become worse.

You always want to treat every asthma attack as it can progress rapidly in kids to status asthmaticus which could land him on a vent or worse.

As far as preventing , try going organic . My son gets extremely congested with "regular" milk especially. There are also immune boosters made from colostrum at beanafter.info you could try . I would also make sure he gets plenty of execise, sleep, good nutrition and maintains a healthy weight.

I would also look into comprehensive allergy testing as that may be your root problem.

Find a nutritionist and/or a chiropractor and have him treated. Look for a holistic doctor in your area and search for some better ideas. I know it sounds odd to go to a chiropractor but when I started going I never thought he would cure me of so many things!!

I would go to homeopathy and accupunturism.
The best book I've found is "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child".
good Luck

Hi C.,

My son, now 18, used to get Bronchitis every winter. It was always when it was cold and they let them run around outside at school with no coats on.

Do you give your son high quality kids vitamins to help prevent the colds. If he his immune system is strengthened, that may help and if he's not getting the right nutrients when he eats, the vitamins will help.

Also, what types of cleaning, laundry and personal care products do you use. Chemical ingredients in those store brand products can actually cause a weak immune system and other more serious illnesses.

I would definitely take a look at his environment and his diet to make the first adjustments to his better health. I purchase high quality vitamins and all my household needs from a wellness company in Idaho and can tell you that I've heard many stories from moms just like yourself attesting to making these changes and how the company's products have helped their asthmatic children.

I do have a mom-owned business listing here under Live Total Wellness explaining a little more in details what we offer if you'd like to check it out.

Best wishes and better health,

T.
www.sharethecause.com/T.

Hi C.,
I go for acupuncture for my asthma and it has kept me off inhalers, etc. for years. I agree with the other mom who said to get the flu shot (that helps me) and I recommend looking into a pediatrician who is willing to do some acupunture or some other natural treatment. I also recommend a cool air humidifier in your son's room every night and saline nose spray - the kids don't like the spray but it keeps the colds away.

Good luck! Hope this helps!

I do know of an alternative treatment for asthma. If you would like to watch the dvd, please let me know.

God Bless!

J.
____@____.com

Wow, I could have written this message WORD FOR WORD! The only difference is that I have a 6 month old daughter and 3 year old son..

I have tried the Hyland's quick dissolving tabs with no luck, and am in the process of getting more serious about finding another method (natural). My chiropractor is a third generation Chiro, and he is always trying to have me bring him in, because he said there are many, many benefits for having a young child adjusted (asthma being one). I've always been interested in natural methods (ie, herbs), but he has some food allergies too and it makes me a little reluctant (ugh, poor baby!)

I have him in preschool a couple days a week. Last week there was a health update that Croup was going around, so I took him out and we are going to avoid that mess until it passes. Like you, I'm at a loss! I hope you feel better to know, there is someone out there going through the same thing :)

I will let you know if I find anything GOOD, and please do the same!!

Kimberly
Valencia

Hi C.,

I used to go to a chiropractor in Arroyo Grande. She had huge success, treating children with asthma. She also has a big library, where you can check out books,articles, etc. She runs her practice under the name of Family Chiropractic. Her name is Leslie K. I hope, that you'll be able to consult with her.If it's too far for you, call a DC closer by, and ask, if the practicioner has experience with treating children escpecially with asthma.
Best wishes and lots of prayers to you!

Sincerely

T. T.

I have asthma myself and I'm also a peds RN who treated asthmatics for years. I sympathize!

I wanted to ask first, has your son been evaluated for allergies? That might be a place to start as it's often a trigger for asthma. Also a trigger that it causes mucus production, breeding viruses and bacteria, which in turn, triggers the asthma.

I would do everything you can to allergy proof your home, especially concentrating on the bedroom. Encase mattresses and pillows (no feather pillows or down comforters), hot wash linens at least weekly if not more, no sleeping with stuffed animals unless they are washed quite often, watch for any dust collectors, replace carpet with another flooring if you can. Also check the humidity level in your home and see if a cool mist humidifier might help (although if there is already humidity, this can cause mold)

If an allergist has no answers for you, I meet seek advice from a pulmonologist.

I understand about wanting to treat naturally, believe me I do. But the key to asthma control is not necessarily medicating, it's the prevention of triggering episodes and knowing triggers.

Also, if asthma is not controlled at an early age, it causes what's called "remodeling" of the lungs, whereby the tissues actually change and it can get worse as they get older. So the importance is placed on treating it early and keeping it under control.

Is there a reason he's catching colds so easily? Is he around other kids alot? Have they checked his immune system? Has he had a flu shot this year and have the rest of your family (to protect him).

For this season coming up, some things to consider: hot washing linens a lot, throwing pillows in a hot dryer a couple of times a week, handwashing, handwashing, handwashing. If he gets a cold, replace the toothbrush. RSV season will be here soon, so make sure to be disinfecting toys and household surfaces daily (the virus can live on doorknobs, countertops, etc.).

Be cautious for "natural" treatments as some herbal supplements aren't made for kids and can cause dangerous side effects, some things like eucalyptus can trigger episodes, and while I've used chiropractic for other issues, I have never seen any medical evidence that it helps asthma (and my chiro gave me adjustments just to see if it would help me and it didn't).

An item that does help keep the nasal passages clean is called Simply Saline (you can find it in drug stores)-- they have a "baby formula"; it's saline spray that keeps the passages moist and has the tiniest bit of pressure to wash out the sinuses. It's not a neti pot which would harm little passages, but this is a very gentle mist. We use it daily, and more often on the onset of any cold.

good luck

Hi C.,

I'm sorry you and your kids are going through this. My dad, brother, and grandmother had severe asthma. My family actually moved to California because my dad's asthma was so bad when he was a kid.

I don't know of any natural treatments--I'm sorry--but I can tell you that playing sports, over time, helped both my dad and my brother. It must have to do with increasing your lungs' capacity and strength. My dad and brother rarely have attacks now, even when they do get colds. I remember my brother being a sick little boy--but not a sick big boy (in fact, neither my dad nor my brother has carried an inhaler for years)--so take heart. It will get better, it just might take some time.

I think 3 year-olds in general have a hard time not getting sick. My friends with bigger kids tell me that it gets a lot better once they are out of preschool. I guess for now, you can try to establish good hand-washing habits and perhaps keep them out of really germy places during the next few months, like airplanes, if at all possible...

Hang in there!

My daughter has no more problems with her "diagnosed" ailments. Actually, she has nothing wrong with her any more. She is brilliant, sleeps wonerfully, no "down time", just pure childish energy!

I left the world of "a pill for every ill" kind of doctors and entered the world of nutrition. Here is what I give my daughter:
http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isakidssystem.dhtml
is is the best $125 I spend each month. I will NEVER go back to the world that says "she has BLAH BLAH, so you need this drug". Both my daughters are on this program and they are both amazingly healhty. I no longer treat any "symptoms" i feed the body so that it can be the miracle machine it was designed to be.

B.
Family Nutrition Coach
Education, not medication

Hi C.:

Please consult with my doctor, Dr. David Karaba, with East West Medical Group in Fullerton. He is NAET certified and cured my grand daughter's condition, which they said was asthma, but was really allergies. She used to be on medicine after medicine non-stop. Not any more.

Best wishes,

M.

Dear C.,

Bless the doctors and nurses who have told you to get used to your son being sick a lot. They're trained in managing symptoms but not in building the immune system. I recommend that you find a good acupuncturist who treats children and a good naturopath or Ayervedic practitioner who can work with his nutrition (It can be the same person). There are foods that he is sensitive or allergic to that need to be eliminated and others that will build his immune system. Don't go into it blindly. Educate yourself. You can do research on the internet, go to your local health food store, and ask your friends to recommend someone that they know.

Where do you live? It sounds like you have a good, Western doctor who knows everything about medical treatments and not much about natural methods, so it makes sense that he/she wouldn't be so helpful in that area. you can find all sorts of natural remedies for helping asthma online, but since it can be such a serious condition - I would highly recommend researching a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) in your area. These consultations or visits may not be covered by insurance. I would personally use them in conjunction with my MD as a compliment to the treatments you are already using. Although their methods will not always go hand-in-hand, you can be educated about your options and what is best for your baby boy. I wish you all the best. You will handle this perfectly!!!

Hi-
There are a couple of things I would recommend... two Chinese herbal formulas specifically for children with asthma. One for the acute stage, one in between attacks. In addition you can do "shonishin" which is a touch based non-needle acupuncture therapy for stimulating the immune system in children. I am a licensed acupuncturist in Agoura and am listed on Mama Source if you have more questions. T. Rubio L.Ac.

Modern doctors won't give out any homopathy remedys, if you really want to get serious about natural meds, find a homopathic doctor make an appt, there is a huge choice of them and I have no reccomnedations for one, check back grounds always, I have aneighbor who took her son to one for years he has autism and had bad ear infections, he seemed to heal from seeing this type of doctors, I also heard acupuncture helps with asthma...

Blessings & prayers sent

I do not know of any natural treatments that you can give your son while he is in the midst of an attack but there is a really great book out there that is called Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders by Dr. Kenneth Bock. It's all about how these 4 disorders are on the rise due to environmental triggers and what you can do to natural boost your child's immune system and remove the offensive triggers.

Hello C.,

My two little ones also suffered from asthma and allergies. They are 4 and 6. My doctor just gave me breathing treatments 3x a day and claritin. That was 2 years ago. I have since started shopping with a international health and wellness company 2 years ago. I completly converted my home with naturally based products. The BIGGEST difference came when I cleaned and did laundry with these awesome products. My kids are not sick and do not have asthma anymore. NO MEDICATION!!!!! WAHOOOOOO I would love to tell you all about it.

Thanks
J. SAHM of 3
www.more4mykidzfuture.com