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	growing child child health

Asthma Soothers

Asthma involves an obstruction to the bronchial tubes, which carry air from the mouth to the air sacs in the lungs. This obstruction can be caused by swelling of the inside lining of the bronchial tubes, contraction of the muscles surrounding the tubes, and hardened mucus secretions that plug the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes of asthmatics are hypersensitive. They overreact to stimuli by obstructing the bronchial tubes, resulting in wheezing and shortness of breath.

Asthma can be caused by hypersensitivity to allergens such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander, house dust, and foods. It can also originate with, or be aggravated by, respiratory infections or exercise. It is important to understand your child's asthma and any medications that are prescribed. Taking your child off medication without supervision can result in a severe asthma attack and hospitalization, and should not be attempted. In the event of an acute asthma attack, seek immediate medical care for your child.

There is no known way to prevent a child from developing asthma. If your child has suffered an asthma attack, you should keep any foods or environmental allergens that you suspect may trigger another episode away from your child. Some natural asthma helpers that have been identified include acupressure, acupuncture, yoga and relaxation, food guidelines, nutritional supplements, herbs, and homeopathy. Natural soothers for asthma are directed at preventing or supporting recovery from an asthma attack rather than treating an acute episode.

Lifestyle
Encourage your child to get regular exercise to improve lung function. Swimming is particularly good. (Make sure, however, that your child does not swim in an excessively chlorinated pool, since high levels of chlorine can produce allergic reactions in some children.) Depending on the severity and type of your child's asthma, he or she may need to take medication before an activity to prevent respiratory distress.

Certain food additives, especially metabisulfite, can be dangerous for a child with asthma. Sulfites are commonly found in commercially prepared foods such as dried fruits and are also used by many restaurants to keep fruits and vegetables in salad bars looking fresh. If your child has asthma, it's best to avoid salad bars and to buy only unsulfured dried fruits. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can also cause problems for some asthmatics, so avoid food products prepared with this additive, including "hidden" sources of MSG that appear on food labels as "hydrolyzed protein," "autolyzed yeast," "sodium caseinate," and "calcium caseinate."

Other food ingredients that have been suspected but not proven to trigger asthma are tartazine (and other food dyes and colorings); benzoates (food and drug preservatives); BHA and BHT (food preservatives); aspartame (NutraSweet); and nitrates and nitrites. A child who has asthma should eat a healthy, whole-foods diet based on lean proteins, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Excessive saturated and animal fats should be avoided.

Try cutting down on or eliminating dairy foods, which tend to increase the production of mucus. Beware of foods such as nuts, citrus fruits, whole wheat products (especially yeasted breads), and seafood. Any of these items can cause or exacerbate an allergy-induced asthma attack in susceptible children.

Following an asthma attack, encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids once his or her condition is stable enough to do so. It is important to thin secretions so that they are easily coughed out.

Supplements
Essential fatty acids (EFAS) help to regulate the inflammatory response. Good sources are evening primrose oil or EPA (fish oil). Give your child either of these supplements, one to three times a day, for two to three months, following the dosage directions on the product label. A combination of the two may be more effective in some children. However, do not give evening primrose oil to a child who has a fever.

Magnesium has a bronchodilating effect if taken in the proper dosage. Some doctors give magnesium sulfate by injection to treat acute asthma attacks. Try giving your child one dose of magnesium twice a day. If your child develops loose stools, reduce the dosage.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) supports adrenal function and the nervous system. Give your child one dose of pantothenic acid two or three times a day, for two months. When giving your child supplements of any of the B vitamins, it is best to give a daily B-vitamin complex supplement as well.

Vitamin B-12 deficiency has been linked to some types of asthmatic conditions. Given in either oral or injectible form, this vitamin can help to prevent an asthma attack. Discuss this with a physician well versed in nutrition.

Herbs
Astragalus (Astragalus membranacious) is a Chinese herb that helps to increase what the Chinese call wei chi, or a person's own protective energy. It also helps strengthen the lungs. Give your child one dose twice a day, for two weeks out of every month, for six months following an asthma attack. Do not give this herb if fever or any signs of infection are present.

Licorice root soothes the lungs and helps to strengthen adrenal function. Give your child one dose daily every other month, for six months after an asthma attack. This herb should not be given to a child with high blood pressure, and it is contraindicated in pregnancy.

Minor bupleurum formula is a Chinese herbal combination that is helpful in restoring and building the immune system. Give your child one dose dally for three months following an asthma attack. Stop for three months, then repeat. Minor bupleurum should not be given to a child with a fever or any other sign of acute infection.

Touch
Asthmatic children who were given daily 20-minute massages at bedtime by their parents for a one-month period showed a decrease in anxiety and stress hormones. At the end of this study, the parents' anxiety had also decreased. Over the one-month period, the children had fewer asthma attacks and were able to breathe better based on daily peak air-flow readings.

Inhalers
Metered dose inhalers (MDIS) contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), a propellant known to damage the environment. The first of the environmentally-friendly MDIS are now available. Proventil HFA is the first CFC-free MDI. It contains hydrofluoroalkane-134a as a propellant, is safe for the environment, and is as effective as the polluting formulation. Inhalers work best at room temperature. When playing outside in the winter, children should keep their inhalers in an inside pocket close to their bodies. Their body heat will help to keep the inhaler warm and effective.

Adapted from Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand, OMD, Rachel Walton, RN, and Bob Rountree, MD. Additional material from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, January 1997; and Pediatrics for Parents 16, no. 11, PO Box 1069, Bangor, ME 04402.