Personal Story

My little brother had an episode of asthma that landed him in the hospital when I was an elementary school child. The description of him in a hospital bed inside a tent that was helping him breathe painted a picture in my mind that was very scary for me. I wish I had understood what was going on.

Asthma

Asthma is the most common disorder of the lungs in children, and a leading reason for children being absent from school. Taking steps to understand and work towards a healthier life for the children through the integration of conventional and alternative therapies is important.

An Integrative Approach

An integrative approach to asthma is ideal since both conventional and alternative therapies are helpful to manage asthma. Asthma is not just one disease; it is a spectrum of symptoms and clinical presentations. The diagnosis is made based on:

• physical examination
• patient history
• assessment of airway reversibility

Airway bronchodilator reversibility is the distinctive that separates asthma population from patients with permanent obstructive lung diseases. 

Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies can help reduce the need for conventional medications, such as reducing the dose of a corticosteroid.

Scientific literature supports the use of:

• mind-body medicine
• dietary supplements
• nutrition
• lifestyle changes

The use of the above help meet the goal to improve asthma by reducing symptoms and decreasing the possible side effects of conventional medications. 

Symptoms

Asthma has many symptoms. These symptoms may include:

• shortness of breath
• nutrition limitations
• disruptive sleep
• exercise limitation
• chronic cough
• congestion
• airway collapse
• poor growth
• acute and recurrent pneumonia
• the need for acute and chronic medications

It’s hard to make a diagnosis in young children since some children who wheeze as infants may no longer wheeze after six years of age. Environmental factors, especially from early exposures, may play a major role in the development of the immune system. Asthma was once thought to be mainly a problem with too much mucus production and bronchial smooth muscle contraction that cause swelling and airway obstruction but now it’s believed because by inflammation and the results of that inflammation on the respiratory structure that leads to the development and persistence of asthma.

Conventional Therapies

Conventional therapies often involve chronic steroid use given by inhalation. Patients and families often withhold this type of medication in favor of non-pharmacological treatments. Under treatment of children with asthma can be a result of this stance. By using both conventional and CAM therapies, the integrative approach may lead to faithful management of asthma in children, but this has not been studied yet.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Chronic or acute respiratory problems should be evaluated by a medically trained health care professional before any CAM therapies are employed.

Some CM therapies include mind-body therapies. Research started in the early 1960s to study:

• Relaxation therapy
• Biofeedback
• Breathing exercises. (Belly breathing is often taught before doing relaxation therapies.)
• Storytelling is also used with the result of decreasing symptoms and medication use.
• Prayer is another often used CAM therapy, but it has not been studied for asthma in children or adults.

Biological Therapies

Biological therapies such as nutrition and herbal supplements are often used.

• The role of nutrition in asthma is thought to be important. There are benefits of including fruit and vegetables and other antioxidant rich foods in the child’s diet. One study of 690 children ate a traditional Mediterranean diet with an increase in plant foods, breads and cereals, legumes, nuts, and olive oil. 80% of these children were eating fresh fruit and 68% were eating vegetables twice daily. This diet was found to be protective for wheezing and heightened immune responses to common allergens. The herbal supplement category often includes herbal preparations, vitamins, minerals, and honey in naturopathy and Ayurvedic therapies.
• Good dietary supplements are a must when using with children. Pycnogenol and butterbur are two supplements that might decrease chronic asthma medications and provide better asthma control. Butterbur is an example of an herb that has undergone a small study in children and adults with mild to moderate asthma with promising effects. Studies have reported safety and good tolerance of commercially available butterbur products when used in recommended doses some side effects have been drowsiness, fatigue, headache, breathing difficulties, and pruritis. Several other supplements thought to be beneficial- vitamin C and magnesium. More studies are needed, both for butterbur and the other supplements.
• Nutrition can be improved by increasing vegetables and fruits for their antioxidant contributions and increasing omega-3 fatty acids like fish. Decrease vegetable oils. Adding antioxidants, such as vitamin C, selenium, and fish oil capsules might be considered. Magnesium with vitamin C may be helpful.

Physical Interventions

• Manipulative therapy such as chiropractic, massage, osteopathic manipulation, vibrational therapy, and chest percussion are also employed with children who have asthma. There is a mixed amount of success for these therapies.
• Acupuncture for people with asthma has not been found to be successful when studied.
• Exercise is both conventional and CAM therapy that does not fall under a specific category. It should be used with caution, since it can induce symptoms in patients with asthma. Swimming might be beneficial because the environment is moist and the cold, dry air might exacerbate asthma symptoms. Studies have not supported this. Any exercises that a patient does on a regular basis should be encouraged with caution. Lifestyle modifications like increasing exercise can be helpful. Exercise three to five periods for a minimum of 20 minutes per week.
• Environmental modifications of reducing exposure to secondhand smoke triggers can be helpful. Removing all pets from the home may help decrease the irritability of the airways.
• Breathing exercises have been shown to reduce stress and may help decrease the allergic response of the body.
• Massage, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation therapies might be helpful.

Action

The goal of all this information is to improve the life of a child who has asthma. Discuss these things with your practitioner and implement some of them to see how to they support the asthma treatments the child is doing.

May God bless your wellness journey!

Joni

P.S. What experience do you have with asthma?