Alternative Health Care Question

Hi R.,

Four of my five kids are mildly asthmatic, and present only when they have colds. My son presented as early as 4 months; he's five and already outgrowing it because of proper treatment. Don't be afraid to give your son the inhaled medications--the doses are so low that they will not harm him in any way (not giving them to him and controlling his lung function can lead to hospitalization and failure to grow and thrive properly). QVar is an inhaled corticosteroid--it needs to be in the system at least 2 weeks to be fully effective. It will control the inflamation in his lungs. Taking him on and off QVar, instead of keeping him on a low and steady dose, can affect growth in the long run (its the on and offs, not the ons, that are the problem with inhaled corticosteroids). The albuterol is a bronchodilator, which relaxes constriction and spasm that he needs when he's actively sick. My kids never wheeze, even with serious respiratory illness, because of the maintenance meds. The good news is, that he's so young and his airways are so small, that this winter may be the only bout he has with this. Treat him exactly as your doctor tells you, and he may be done with this by next year--if you let chronic inflammation build by not complying, it may continue. The only other note that I would make is that Flovent is another corticosteroid that you can explore with your doctor (QVar is less expensive and was not effective on my kids; they all went back to Flovent after a try on QVar). Good luck, don't worry.

1 mom found this helpful

The only options you have is to run a cool mist humidifier every night throughout the winter. Every morning dry out the filter (in the tub) and change the water. Also, if you have carpet in the bedroom, it should really be changed. I put pergo in my daughters bedroom it really helps. His sheets should be washed every 2 days in hot water and when he gets bigger you need to get hypo allergenic mattress and pillow covers - those are not expensive if you go to JCPennys. Bed bath and beyond are more expensive. Hope this helps.

HI R.,

You are on the right track wanting to find a more natural solution. There are plenty things you can do to help your son. Too many to write here, as need more information to help with a solution. Like do you have pets, does he have any food or environmental allergies to toxins and nature outdoors? Does he eat a lot of dairy? As a single mom myself I know how you feel as I felt just like you when my kids were young and found a solution for healthier kids and moms and dads. Please feel free to contact me, C. at ____@____.com

Helping Families Breathe with Ease

Put him on a gluten free, wheat free, and dairy free diet. The gluten and wheat contribute to asthma like symptoms (as per my naturopathic MIL and me from experience) and the dairy creates tons of mucous. My son is also on the diet for other reasons but has only had 1 minor cold in the past year. As for me, the elimination of wheat/gluten completely eliminates my allergies. Best of luck.

I would go with what your pediatricia recommends.
Without those meds, things can get out of control.
Good luck.

I see a chiropractor (well, I've missed a month of appts!!) - but there are studies that show adjustments help with this type of thing. They don't adjust children like they do adults - it's a gentle pressure to keep them aligned. My neighbor's son had constant colds and ear infections. She gives her kids alot of junk food and stuff that's probably not the best, but didn't change a single thing last winter (January) except take him to a chiropractor and he didn't have another one after that (except normal stuff).

I would try that- honestly. If my dgtr were constantly on medication and sick, I would feel the same way as you. I don't know where you live, but my chiropractor works with only the best and knows them all over the country. I can ask him to recommend someone for you, unless you live in or near Westchester or Dutchess counties in NY - then go to him at Ashburn Family Chiropractic. He's a great guy.

Good luck - I hope your little one feels better.

Hi R.,

A few suggestions: Peppermint, Elder Flower, Eucalyptus, Lemon Balm. All of these herbs are very beneficial for colds. You can mix the herbs together & use a teaspoon of the mix in a cup of boiled water, let it steep for about 10-15 minutes, strain, let it cool enough for him to drink it. You can always make a big batch & throw the rest in the fridge, it'll save for a few days.

If he's really congested, you can always use vapor rub on his chest, which can help break up congestion.

Feel free to e-mail with any questions (____@____.com). I'm an herbalist, and have a 2 year old daughter who very rarely gets sick but when she does, it always breaks my heart!

Good luck!

R.

Hi R.,
The first thing you can do for your boy and yourself, replace all your toxic products that you have in the home with nontoxic ones. That is Clorox, bleach, Tide, ammonia etc. these are carcinogens that effect our health.
You might want to check with a health food store for some really good children's (baby) vitamins.
I can as well suggest a company where you can buy children vitamins and all your daily consumables at wholesale.
This is a membership club by invitation only.
C.
www.saferforall.net

my niece, who is now 7, had horrible asthma. she had it from around the time she was 12 months. they think she got it from living downwind of the trade towers on 9/11. she was only one month old then. anyway, my sister first had her on all those meds and decided it was too much for such a young body. they went to see a holistic chiropractor (in philly) who did adjustments on her as well as diet restriction. she pretty much cut out gluten, sugar and most dairy. (not yogurt) it helped her tremendously, and now my niece only has her treatments once during the winter if she has a really bad cold and wheezing.

These tips are great! I'd use them in conjunction with advice you get from your doctor though. You might want to get a second opinion from another doctor but I wouldn't discontinue use of the prescribed medicines unless you get the go ahead from them. Asthma is serious.

There are some great supplements on the market to strengthen the immune system and help reduce the instances of asthma. The one I recommend that I give to my daughters is OPC-3. It is a powder that you dissolve in water so they drink it. It tastes pretty good and I find it easier than many of the chewables out there. Besides - it is an antioxidant not a multivitamin.
It used to be designed specifically for adults but the company just realeased a line for children. I take the OPC-3 myself. I used to get colds, sinus infections, respiratory infections & bronchitis repeatedly. I have been taking the OPC-3 for almost 5 years now and I haven't had ANY respiratory distress and I have only had 2 sinus infections in those 5 years. My allergies are under control and i don't have to take daily meds for it any more. I still have to take an occasional claritin during really bad allergy seasons but it's fairly rare.

You can get more info or find someone who sells it at www.marketamerica.com
Look under Health & Nutrition for Children's Health

I think one of the other moms suggested this also, but I would have him tested for alleriges. I went through the same thing with my now 6 year old and it went on for 2 years before we figured out what the real problem was. She would get a horrible cold and cough, but also break out with eczema. The doc had her on so many different meds that at one point She had 2 different creams for the eczema, 4 meds for the nebulizer and 3 oral meds. I think with the side effects the poor baby didn't know if she was coming or going. One day had my older child at the allergest because of peanut allergies and I asked him about my daughter. He had me bring her in and they tested her. She was 3 at the time. It turned out that she was allergic to many foods that she was eating on a regular basis and lots of environmental allergies. Once we eliminated the problem foods and other things she got much better. One thing that the Allergist told me was a big problem causer for infants and toddlers was stuffed animals in the bedroom. He told me that they do nothing but harvest dust and dust mites which are the biggest allergens in most people. He told me that as a rule of thumb, if it is not machine washable, then get rid of it.
Another reason to consider having him tested for allergies would be it you notice that he keeps getting these colds, but the rest of the amily is not getting sick. I am sure you know that the common cold usually starts with one person and then works its way through everyone that erson has come in contact with. At your son's age they do the allergy testing through the blood. They can draw the blood ant then test it for tons of allergens. It may not be pleasant for you guys during the blood draw, but you may also get answers!!!! Even with him on the meds, if you do not remove whatever is causing his problem, then the problem is going to continue. With my third child I requested that when the blood was drawn for her 1 year labs that the allergy panel was drawn also and sure enough she has most of the same allergies as my middle child does!! Good Luck!!

My son took albuterol in a syrup form... it worked like magic. I only have it to him when he would start to wheeze... I loved it. One teaspoon full when needed. He lived on it for about 2 years only when needed.. then he grew out of it. good luck.. try it..

R.,

Congratulations! Thank you for wanting to do the right thing and not just medicate him as many doctors do - it is what they are taught, not preventative.

My job and my business is to prevent aliments in the first place and to naturally treat them when they do happen. This can be done not just through nutrition (supplements) but your household cleaners play a part of your illnesses as well.

I'd love to help. E-mail me and I'll give you my number so I can share some information if you are open to it.

T.
____@____.com

hello R.. I'm not a big fan of meds either, so I try preventive methods to combat illnesses, such as adding more vitamin c enriched foods, cutting back on certain foods that contain additives, dressing in layers to allow for weather changes, and using Lysol products in the home, which help with the viruses. Research your meds thoroughly before giving them to your son. My stepson is almost two and from birth he kept colds...mainly it was due to environmental factors, but in some cases it's also food related, too.

My friends kids and my daughter see:
Denis Bouboulis, MD
17 Old Kings Hwy S
Darien, CT 06820

Phone: ###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####

He is great with kids and it is an asthma and allergy specialist. Tell them I reffered u, J.

They will test and treat your child with care...

Look into the Bowen Technique and Cranio-Sacral therapy, two very effective and gentle forms of bodywork.

Hi R.,
I have been using garlic oil drops which I have purchased at a Wholefoods store. Garlic is a natural antibiotic. I suggest you do some research to see if this may be an answer to your son's constant colds.

Health & Happiness,
B. C

I have not tried this yet but I am thinking about taking my baby to an ostepath. An ostepath is a holistic MD that is covered by insurance. I saw on cable what they do and they concentrated on cranial muscular system. I am thinking about taking my baby to one once a year for overall health.

Hi R.,

Please go see a Naturopath Dr. In reading your request, my initial thought is that your poor son is getting chronic illnesses because his immune is down. What is causing the immune to be down? Most likely a food(s) that he is eating that his body is sensitive to and going through 'trauma'. PLEASE go to a Naturopath Dr. and get him tested. You will see a tremendous difference. And, you will be able to get him off of meds that only mask the ISSUE and give side effects......

Good Luck,
J.

My son has asthma. I was at a festival once and he was having trouble. A homeopathic physician approached me and offered some eucalyptus for him to inhale, it helped to open up his lungs. My son was about 1 at the time. Maybe a visit to this kind of physician can offer you some natural alternate choices on to how to manage the wheezing.

My son had chronic ear infections. Bottom line cut out any sugar. Improve the diet. Add nutritional supplements. SEE a medical nutritionist. As SOON as we did that, the ear infections came to an end. Its all about a healthy immune system.

Make sure your house is hydrated and not too hot. Also overdressing him when you go out or in the stores can make him overheat and weaken his immune system. Invest in a humidifier and buy some plants. Lower the heat to 68 or 70 at the most and 65 at night. When you take him shopping remove his coat, hat and mittens in the store. Also kids his age dont eat much, so a good vitamin can help boost his immune system too.

Did this Doctor tell you that your son has ASTHMA OR COPD??????? Why does your son get sick often, and why does he wheeze...what did the doctor say about this?????? Is something more going on other then a COLD? You made no mention of this..therefore I wont talk about Alternative health care as your son might be suffering with a condition that makes him sensitive in getting sick often with colds and wheezing.

I haven't a clue what QVar is...but I went from "Adult Asthma" to now being "COPD" and use Albuterol along with other medications to keep my condition under control...I'm very senitive to catching colds and viruses and had to learn how to protect myself and in keeping my immune system up and healthy. When I do get a common cold, it usually plays havoc with the COPD and I always end up in the hospital for at least a week on antibiotics and Prednizone...and it's a long recovery at home due to a lot of side effects from these medications...

My point being "Asthma and COPD are on going conditions which makes people more senitive to catching colds and viruses.. Not to mention one of the side effects from most medications for Asthma and COPD cause infections...

If you aren't sure if something more isn't going on with your son...then question the doctor before you start playing around with medications and alternative health care..

Also, there is a bood test to check out ones immune system and what the body is missing in terms of vitamins and minerals...