Asthma I think...anyone used homeopathy/natural meds for their kids?

[Pinkponk1]

Hi all
Our son has from v early on had bad coughs..lots of croup when a baby (now 4). He has more of a rattling muciusy chesty cough day and night that really takes it out of him.also makes this throat clearing noise a lot. Does this sound familiar to anyone? We've been told mild asthma but I'm not sure

We've seen numerous docs.. He is outgrowing allergy to egg and he has mild reaction to grass and birch pollen on scratch test. The doc prescribed the clemil modulite 2 puffs twice a day and avamys nasal spray which seems to work. I'm worried about amount of steroid though.

Has any tried homeopathy, diet, naturopathy, hay fever type treatments instead?

Also can anyone explain diff between steroid inhaler like preventer clemil modulite and singularity for kids?

Thanks mums.. X

Personally I would only use alternative therapies to support proper medical treatment. The doses of steroids in inhaled medicine for most children is very low dose and really not something to be overly worried about

Asthma reportedly kills three people a day. Please go and see the doctors and explain your steroid concerns so that they can talk this through with you. Inhaled steroids will be far safer than systemic steroid (tablets etc) anyway but you need to get a balance between potential side effects and the risks of not treating with them. There are plenty of good things you can do to help support asthma care which will then reduce the need for these things, but please do this with medical advice.

Please don't fuck about with alternative treatments with asthma. Asthma Kills.

Use alternative medicine for mild backache, bumped knees and vague feelings of "not rightness". Use medicine that works for asthma.

What others have said...a cousin of mine died from an asthma attack. I have asthma.

I'm all-for natural remedies in the right place, but asthma kills. Keep taking the steroids, please.

I'm backing up the others. Asthma can kill, please discuss your concerns with your GP but don't just stop treatment.

Use homeopathy alongside the inhalers as others have said.

Is your ds old enough to use beconase spray for hay fever? My ds's asthma improved a lot once we got the hay fever under control.

IME clenil/steroid inhalers are safer than singulair (I assume that's what you meant there?) but I only say that because ds had horrific side effects to singulair.
You really need to go along with the dr's advice here though. As others have said, asthma kills.

I have had asthma since I was a child. My parents tried all sorts of alternative treatments (alongside prescribed inhalers), most of which did bugger all.
Acupuncture has really helped though. If I was to advise anything alternative, it would be acupuncture, but I cannot stress strongly enough that anything you try must be alongside the drs advice. Do not stop him taking any inhalers.

If they decide to start him on singulair, please do some research into side effects and watch out for them like a hawk.

Lot of asthma is triggered by hayfever symptoms as the nose generates watery snot and it drips down into the lungs. One type of inhaler clears the lungs of gunk and one widens the pipes to get more air in. The long term one, I take symbicort, clears the lungs and the ventolin ones widen the passages. I find if I widen the passages too much, the gunk ends up moving further down so ventolin I use only when necessary.

I am all for alternative medicines, but not for asthma. It is too dangerous.

At his age, try him on regular local honey, if he can build up an immunity then it will do wonders for his long term asthma, but that's not at the expense of not using the inhalers.

I have asthma, and believe my mom used various homeopathic remedies for me as a child, alongside conventional meds. I don't use them now, as an adult, to be fair, but have no deep-seated conviction that they weren't helpful. Especially the homeopathic remedies for hay fever - I am slightly convinced that they helped, and can vaguely remember purchasing them in my early adulthood. Do keep in mind, though, that I was basically raised to view homeopathy as equally valid as conventional medicine - while I don't agree with that now, my perception is still probably not the norm.
The key here, is that even my obsessed-with-alternative-meds mom used them ALONGSIDE conventional meds, not instead of. And that is why it is called complementary medicine. It complements the hard stuff!
Good luck with your ds - do hope he is ok,

No, no, no, no, and no.
Asthma kills.
Asthma needs medication, not nonsense.

There is no evidence whatsoever that homeopathy works. Please ensure that your child has access to proper medical care. Things like diet, exercise, environment can make a difference, but work with your doctor on this.

If you don't threat asthma PROPERLY then it damages lungs, which makes asthma worse...which then if you don't treat properly it damages lungs more...see where I am going with this?

Inhaled steroids are a very low dose.

I am on the max dose of 2 different strong inhalers at the same time - so much much more than the one you mentioned. And this is still less than the equivalent of 5mg oral steroid.

Do not fuck about with asthma. It kills.

I'm all for minimising medicine and trying alternatives and I wouldn't hesitate to try things but along side, medically prescribed dr approved stuff.

Dd has asthma and whereas I believe that I do contribute to it having improved through means other than medicine, I would never ever not use an inhaler if required.

I would speak to your dr or nurse and get your concerns about steroids heard and explained.

The inflammation of the bronchioles that asthma sufferers get when they are wheezy results in mild scaring to the lungs. Even if you manage to 'control' his asthma using alternative medicines, if he still wheezes, even mildly, then he is still developing scaring in his lungs.

One of the best 'non-drug' things that you can do which has real benefit for asthmatics and which should reduce his need for medication is to control his environment. Keep him away from smokers. Take out any carpet from your house. Re-home pets if he reacts to them. Get hypoallergenic bedding. Reduce the amount of harsh chemicals you use for cleaning. Avoid strongly scented fabric softeners and don't wear perfumes. Air fresheners and sprays in your house is a complete no-no.

Also, be mindful of his diet- I have asthma and know that there is an artificial flavouring or colour that makes me wheeze (I always react to something that is 'summer fruits' flavour). Removing processed food and artificial flavours, colours and preservatives may help him.

But remember. Asthma is a killer, and even if it doesn't kill, suffering symptoms is miserable, and will do more harm to his physical and emotional well being than you fear might happen from the asthma medication.

That's really interesting thistledew, there is a lemon flavour/colouring in some squashes that makes me wheezy too.
Another one to watch for is fireplaces. I've just moved to a house with open fires and get wheezy if I sit to close to them even though we have never lit them.

No dont visit someone untrained in respiratory disorders
Dont waste money on homeopathy.its got no treatment basis.water doesn't have therapeutic memory

My Ds has had severe asthma since birth & no way would I even consider alternative medicine to treat his Asthma it would be ridiculously dangerous & unnecessary .

So what would the alternative be to Inhalers/nebulizer when say Dc was having an asthma attack or struggling to breathe ?

Oh & the steroids are completely necessary to strengthen the lungs , I can definitely say that my Ds would not be here right now if he had not been taking them .
How can you even consider putting your child at such risks ?!

Getting away from irritants (eg: air pollution, pet hair, pollen, dust) will help asthma generally, but there is no "natural" remedy

Please do not stop the medical treatment which is probably saving your child's life

I would use anything like aloe Vera with caution as a lot of things like that can be triggers for asthma

My DS is similar to yours OP - he had brochitis 3 times between 3 and 7 months which affected his lungs. After 2nd bout of bronchitis at 4 mths he was a constant wheezer and we had to have the inhaler to hand/use several times day and night. We uad a number of very scary emergencies. I cant explain the diff between inhaler and singulair in medical terms, I just know that when we got him on singulair at 5 mths the constant wheezing and use of inhaler stopped except if he got out of breath through excercise or a cold/chest infection. For us it was a miracle! If its helping your DS then keep going would be my view.

DS is now almost 4 and does not need any medication at all except if he gets a chest infection (thankfully rare) - we lived in the middle east when he was born and the constant heat/sand/dust/aircon/pollution were his triggers. Returning to the UK and removing him from this environment removed the causes. We gradually stopped singulair 6 months after returning to UK

I never tried a any homeopathic remedies, asthma kills and you need to treat/manage it with whatever works scientifically! Environment triggers can play a strong role, so I'd encourage you to think about what triggers your DS and moving this from his daily life

The original poster was only asking for some advice, she didn't mention stopping the medication prescribed by the Dr, just for some advice about other things which might help!

MummaT83, the OP asked Has any tried homeopathy, diet, naturopathy, hay fever type treatments instead? - hence the strength of the reaction! As almost everyone has said, asthma is a killer - people don't want her child to be put at risk.