Practitioner’s Corner—About Kids

About one in every six kids in the United States has allergies, and rates of childhood asthma, which is often triggered by allergies, have skyrocketed. So I hear from a lot of parents who are looking for natural ways to treat these illnesses. I start by saying that if they’re going to try these remedies, they need to make them part of a strategy that includes conventional treatment—especially for asthma, which can be life-threatening. If your child is gasping for air, you shouldn’t reach for anything but a bronchodilator.

That said, there are some effective natural strategies that can lessen the chances of an attack. Both allergies and asthma result from the immune system overreacting to generally harmless substances and—in the case of asthma—triggering inflammation of the lungs. Natural therapies can help get the immune system back in balance and calm the inflammatory response.

Here are some of the most common questions I hear on these topics. Q: What is the most effective natural way to control childhood asthma?

A: Sometimes asthma is triggered by substances the child is allergic to, so one of the most important things you can do is figure out what they are and keep your child’s environment as free of them as possible. Common triggers include pollen, animal dander, dust, feathers, mites, and household chemicals. (For tips on allergy-proofing your home, see the next question.)

Foods can also bring on attacks. Citrus and whole wheat can be a problem, especially when combined with food dyes and sulfite additives. It’s not uncommon for kids with allergies and asthma to have a tendency to get dehydrated, so parents need to make sure they drink lots of fluids.

As far as keeping inflammation in check, essential fatty acids, which are found in evening primrose oil, borage oil, and fish oil, are very effective. You can get all these in supplement form; read the label to figure out the age-
appropriate dosage for your child. (If there’s no specific dose information on the label, phone the manufacturer to get it.) With fish oils, make sure to choose a brand that’s certified as “molecularly distilled,” which is less likely to be contaminated with mercury.

Supplementing with magnesium, which dilates the bronchial tubes, can be helpful, too. The downside is that too much magnesium causes a loose stool, so you have to monitor the child carefully. Try giving 100 milligrams three or four times a week for three months. All these natural medicines work best if you rotate them. Try something for a month, see how it affects your child, then try something else.

You might also want to consider your child’s emotional state, since childhood asthma often comes along with emotional trauma. Homeopathic remedies can be helpful with this end of things, but I’d recommend a visit with a homeopath, who can tailor the remedy specifically to the child’s needs.

Another option, which many kids don’t get nearly enough of these days, is regular exercise. Swimming is especially good for kids with allergies and asthma, since the moisture keeps their air passages from drying out, and in time their lungs get stronger. Outdoor pools are best, because the chlorine is better ventilated. (If a child is allergic to chlorine, of course, you’re better off giving swimming a pass.)

Q: My son is allergic to so many things. How can I allergy-proof my home?

A: One of the first things you should do is get rid of carpets—very new carpets emit chemicals that can trigger allergies, and old ones tend to have a lot of allergens trapped inside. The same is true for rugs, drapes, and other fabrics. Bringing in an air filter—one of the best is the HEPA (high efficiency particle absorbing) type—can make a big difference, too. In the bedroom, hypoallergenic bedding is a good idea; dust and dust mites are less likely to build up. Also, remove all non-natural housecleaning agents, like ammonia and bleach, from the house. Substitute vinegar and natural cleansers—these are easy to find at health food stores. Outdoors, don’t use pesticides on your lawn, as these can easily be tracked indoors.

Q: Can acupuncture help my child’s allergies and asthma?

A: Yes—many children respond beautifully to acupuncture. My son is allergic and we turned to acupuncture to help him. It’s not something you’d use when the child’s having an asthma attack, though; you use it preventively. I’ve seen lots of kids do significantly better after six to ten treatments. No one understands exactly how it works, but I think it can be helpful in strengthening and balancing the immune system, so the body is less reactive.

The only problem is that lots of kids are leery of getting stuck with needles. Your best bet is to find an acupuncturist who specializes in treating children.

Q: How can I help my daughter get through the night when she’s sneezing and coughing?

A: Some form of hydration to soothe the irritated nose and throat is a big help. I like to have my children stand near a very hot shower and breathe in the steam before they go to bed. You may want to put a few drops of orange oil on the shower wall—the scent has a relaxing effect. Humidifiers that keep the air in the bedroom moist are very good, too.

If your child needs something more, I’d suggest a combination homeopathic remedy for allergies, which you can get in health food stores. They also carry cough syrups containing licorice root, slippery elm, and Chinese loquat, which are all very effective ingredients. To keep the throat moist, I recommend lozenges made with zinc or elderberry.

Q: What herbal treatments would you recommend for childhood allergies?

A: Reishi and Siberian ginseng are two of my favorites. I’d suggest trying one for a week, observing how your child feels, and then stopping for a couple of days and trying the other. If they work, keep using them in rotation. Turmeric, nettle root, and nettle leaf are great herbs, too. There should be dosage information specific to children on the packages. Again, if there isn’t, call the manufacturer to find out. A couple of other helpful substances are vitamin C and quercetin, which is a bioflavonoid; both have anti-inflammatory properties. For vitamin C, try 100 mg two or three times a day.

Q: My doctor recommended allergy testing for my daughter, but I’m wary of putting her through such an exhausting and painful process. Is it really necessary? If so, what type do you recommend?

A: Some form of testing is probably a good idea if you haven’t been able to determine what your child is allergic to on your own. But the standard prick test, which requires several trips to the doctor to have tiny amounts of allergens inserted into the skin, is fairly uncomfortable. Most kids have a hard time with the skin bumps and the itching, and they can get pretty agitated.

A blood test called RAST (radio allergen absorbency test) is much easier for children to handle. It requires having blood drawn just once, and then the blood is tested for the presence of antibodies to various substances that cause allergies.