Treatments for Congested Chest?

[quantumleap]

DD is almost 18 months old (ah!), and some sort of chest infection has been going around. She got the cold, and is mostly recovered, but her breathing sounds awful. She's wheezy, and I'd say I hear rails too. I only just tonight pulled out my stethoscope to listen to her chest - I had been hoping it was mostly just upper airway congestion. It's not. The wheeze goes all the way down, on both sides. The other kids we know with this have been put on antibiotics to clear it. I'm not in the antibiotics = death camp, but we do avoid them as much as possible (ie: dd has never had any).
We have been doing elderberry, extra C, probiotics and flax oil (she reacts to fish oil). She has no fever as of a few days ago, and other than not sleeping well, she's totally normal. The sleeping issues could be related to the molars she's getting though, and have absolutely nothing to do with the lungs.
So, what else can we do?
Thanks.

[tanyalynn]

Our DO has recommended a couple things to help, structurally, with chest illnesses and even general illness.

I'm sure my description will be lacking, but if you google things like lymphatic pumping, you should start to get some ideas (wonder if they have vids on youtube?).

1--a rowing exercise, sit on a bed facing your LO, hold hands and each person leans forward as far as they can, then back, so their bodies make a tight V shape bending at the waist... we sing row, row, row your boat slowly with each forward/back movement

2--a gentle lifting exercise... pick up your LO with your hands just below her bottom ribs, slow and gentle, doesn't have to be vigorous, just lift up and put down, and then move your hands up one rib, do the same, and keep going up for as many ribs as you can.

It seems to cause extra coughing, I was told that's normal/good, but it seems to help us.