Your child suffers from asthma and you would like to explore if there are natural solutions to help him? Here are some naturopathic ideas.
First of all, you have to ask yourself the question: why does my child have asthma? Can I work on these causes (eg, toxins, environmental irritants, antibiotic abuse, poor nutrition, microbiome imbalance, food allergies, etc.)?
Asthma is inflammatory and is linked to the immune system. Therefore, it is necessary to support immunity which, let us not forget, goes through the he alth of the microbiota (intestinal flora). Here are solutions to help and soothe your child; they do not replace consultation with a he althcare professional.
Food
Food is the basis! It is linked to asthma, it is what feeds the bacteria in the intestine. To support your child's immune system, be sure to provide a natural, varied, nutrient-dense diet that is organically grown if possible.
It is important to favor fresh vegetables at each meal (50% of the plate) and to vary the colors of the vegetables; this allows you to get different nutrients.
Good Allies
- Beta-carotene: sweet potato, carrot, leafy green vegetables, berries, tomato
- Vitamin A: grass-fed meats, wild fatty fish, egg, organic clarified butter
- Antioxidant: crucifers (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, etc.), garlic and onion (rich in quercetin which lowers histamine)
- Omega 3: wild salmon, sardines, mackerel
- Proteins (at each meal): meat, fish, poultry, legumes
- Cook with clarified butter, coconut oil or olive oil; try banishing vegetable oils and margarine which are inflammatory
- Give foods rich in prebiotics which are food for the good bacteria in the intestine (sauerkraut, miso, kefir)
- Avoid sugar, juice and all processed foods
- Beware of excess dairy products; your child could be lactose intolerant and this creates a breeding ground for asthma
Be aware that hidden food allergies are often triggers for asthma attacks. The most common are pasteurized dairy products, gluten, soy, eggs and nuts.
Natural products
Here are three natural ways to treat asthma.
Vitamin D. If I had a supplement to give, I would recommend giving vitamin D to your child with asthma. A studyhas found that low levels of vitamin D are linked to higher rates of asthma inchildren.
Probiotics. It is important to improve intestinal he alth in cases of asthma and allergy. The addition of a probiotic in tablet form, combined with food, can modify the microbiota and therefore modulate the immune system. I like the UltraFlora Cold Support product (made by Metagenics) which has been formulated and studied for the he alth of the respiratory system. Be careful to consult a he alth professional before taking such a product and to follow the dosage carefully.
Herbs. There are herbs that strengthen the bronchioles and the immune system. You can buy these herbs in bulk at a he alth food store and then mix them at home. To be effective, you must take at least two cups a day. If it seems unrealistic to get your child to drink herbal tea, use RespirActin, an herbal product in syrup form that kids love.
Again, be sure to follow the dosage and consult a he althcare professional.
A herbal recipe
Mix the following dried herbs in a liter of water.
• 1 tbsp. mullein leaf (Verbascum spp.) for the lungs
• 1 tbsp. elecampane root (Inula helenium) for bronchioles
• 1/2 tbsp chamomile (Matricaria recutita) to ease allergic type reaction
• 1/2 tbsp echinacea soup (Echinacea spp.) to strengthen the systemimmune• 1/8 tablespoon ginger (Zingiber officinale) for its antihistamine properties
The homeopathic remedy Spongia may also help calm seizures; follow the recommended dosage.
One last piece of advice: be patient! Treating asthma with natural solutions can take a long time. In naturopathy, we work on the root causes of the imbalance. If you choose this avenue, do not hesitate to call on a certified naturopath who will be able to guide you.
