natural treatments for asthma?

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My son, 15, has developed asthma. The first meds were samples from the doctor. When we went to get them as prescriptions filled at the local discount drug store, we almost had an asthmatic attack ourselves, over the bill! It cost us over a hundred dollars for one month's supply!

Are there any good reliable alternatives to those ridiculously priced drugs?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 25, 2001

Answers

Just started second son on asthma medicine:( When other son didn't have insurance, the doctor would always pull samples off the shelf for him, gave us extra, and always advised to call back when we needed more. If you have a regular pedi, it might not hurt to ask if you can get more samples. Have you been able to determine what sorts of things trigger it? If so, he can be careful about those things. It may be that you can cut back some on the meds once it is under control, but you'd want to check with the doctor. He will learn to tell when he is wheezing, if he hasn't already, and if you put your ear to his chest, you might be able to hear the squeeks.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), July 25, 2001.

Need to really check around on prices. Our Eckerds drug store in town charges over $30 for a generic albuterol inhaler while Wallmart only charges $13. Same for the meds for the nebulizer if he is on a machine also. Remember also the prepackaged little bottles you dump and toss are significantly higher than the mix your own vairety which are actually as easy to use. Docs tent to overmedicate in the beginning anyway, with just one attack he certainly doesn't need to be on oral meds, like theodur (especially if you don't have the money to continue with the blood tests for levels) he dosn't need an inhaled steriod type inhaler unless his rescue (albuterol) inhaler is need way to often. He also needs to learn from another asthmatic, not a doctor, how to use his rescue inhaler. Until he understands about his asthma you should have him monitoring his breathing with that little machine, don't remember what it is called, but he exhales into it and measures his windflow. Rip the carpet, curtains and anything else upholstered in his bedroom. Tile floors, allergy zip up covers for the matresses or better yet a water bed, blinds or something easy to clean on the windows, will help tremendously. No smoking on the property, no animals in the house, a big one for me is propane heating. He will have to find out for himself what he is allergic to that is triggering his asthma, my kids also apply all their perfumes after they leave the house in the morning, I am also very careful with cleaning products, a big one for me is any kind of PINE cleaner, how weird is that, since I live in the National Forest! I have to vacume and wet mop floors daily, and with the humidity try and keep any mold in the bathrooms at bay. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 25, 2001.

Vickie writes:

Rip the carpet, curtains and anything else upholstered in his bedroom. Tile floors, allergy zip up covers for the matresses or better yet a water bed, blinds or something easy to clean on the windows, will help tremendously. No smoking on the property, no animals in the house, a big one for me is propane heating. He will have to find out for himself what he is allergic to that is triggering his asthma, my kids also apply all their perfumes after they leave the house in the morning, I am also very careful with cleaning products, a big one for me is any kind of PINE cleaner, how weird is that, since I live in the National Forest! I have to vacume and wet mop floors daily, and with the humidity try and keep any mold in the bathrooms at bay. Vicki

What has changed in your house?
Check the fridge, empty it out and wash it down.
Did you have a water leak and something get moldy? Rip it out!
new furniture / carpet - fiber board has fermaldhyde in it, not good for anyone's lungs.
Anything smell odd in your house? have a neighbor come in, someone with a good nose.
Did you paint.
What about at school? or other frequented place.

Vickie is absolutley correct about carpets and stuff. But you have to do the whole house, not just 'his' room - IMO [in my opinion], read on.
When our toddler needed treatment EVERY 4 HOURS [including waking up]. We cleared house. We replaced the carpet with tile in the whole house, they looked clean, but oh my the stuff that was in them [~10y.o., came with the house]. Carpet: they start out dirty and go down hill from there. And tile is much easier to clean, we all wear house slippers, to cushion our feet. Be sure to get a non-slippery style tile, lots of texture and not 'glossy'.
Also replace the pillow, get two new ones [swap] - wash them often [weekly] And linens.
Was their clothes seperate from yours, wash all dolls / stuffed animals. No fabric softeners of any kind! Stuffed animals are washed in an old pillow case with a zipper sewed on it, this keeps them 'healthly' when going though the spin cycle - nothing like stuffing Erin bear's guts back into her and pulling pvc pellets out of the washers guts, while a 2y.o. is histerical over the situation.
Dust their rooms.
Vacuum and mop weekly.
A plastic cover over the matress [wallymart-linen section]. And then use 2 or three layers of terry clothe [big towels] to insulate the plastic. Get cotton sheets / linens - 'natural' / not dyed if possible - they feel better. Wash new stuff 3 times in super hot super soapy water.
Use perfume and dye free laundry soap. A&H has a nice line and liquid 'free' All. They are not anymore expensive!
Change shampoo and soaps to the least smelliest kind, we use Ivory. Change deodorants, no perfumes.
Holdhold cleaners: use bleach, or ammonia or vinegar in place of all that other fancy stuff, a whole lot cheaper too. I do use simple green, though. [never mix bleach or ammonia with anything but WATER]

Pets, need frequent baths, ~weekly. And clean their beds / sleeping areas, too. Use simple shampoos, when ever possible.
Dish soap?
AC filters and coils been cleaned recently?

In short: Hunt down the cause, and nix it.

The doc said we would need to medicate for 3-4 YEARS, we stopped after 6 months! With no additional problems. Doc was amazed.

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 25, 2001.


Corrections & Additions:
Vickie=Vicki. Sorry there.
Any new / odd foods?
Wash the blankets, comforters.
Has he been playing with anything odd, or breathing stuff he should not be?
get a new car? or someone he's traveling with?
You might try a high quality painting mask that has activated charcoal in it ~$10. Let him wear that for a few hours, does that give relief? Get the one with a exhale valve, a white thingy on the front. If so, then you need to hunt down the offending toxic item.

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 25, 2001.

I agree with Vicki, especially about the carpets. After your son discovers his asthma "triggers" he can avoid them when possible. The medications are a must, even if expensive. Without them he can die from an asthma attack, especially if he does not keep his albuteral with him at ALL times. (I even keep one on my saddle for trail rides.) When his asthma is under control you can work with the doctor to cut back. By the way, it is a peak flow meter Vicki couldn't remember the name of ,I have an Airlife Asthma Check. You monitor your lung capacity on a regular basis which helps determine how affective the meds are. It will also tell you when your lung capacity is decreased before you notice the shortness of breath (the chronic not accute attack). Good luck to your son!

-- Nancy Bakke-McGonigle Mn. Sunset (dmcgonig@smig.net), July 25, 2001.


And lastly get pillows that are hypoallergenic.
and that goes for anything else. -- no scents or purfumes when ever possible.

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 25, 2001.

if you have duct work in your house, have it sucked out too. also, did dr. dear talk with you about your son's diet? it can be made worse by dairy foods, processed foods, etc. for some, vaccinations are a big no no. has he been going through a lot of stress? one friend came down with it at a point of crisis in her life. herbs can help build the body up and elimate the allergic reactions. it is important for this to do a gentle liver cleanse, and continue with a liver tonic, and work on building up the kidney/urniary system as well as the respiratory system. the kidneys have a lot to do with allergies in herbs....so study up on how to build this system back up to help him. also, a GOOD homeopathist (classical) can help....but make sure the remedy if found is administered in LM potencies, otherwise it can trigger a reaction. look for someone nationally board certified. of course, do not stop your medications for any reason, and talk to your doctor about interactions (that is covering all of our rears....)

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), July 25, 2001.

Though our house is all tile, blinds no curtains, and slip covers on the couch so I can wash it, nothing is as important as your bedroom. Close the door all the time, use a window AC (actually mine is mounted into the wall, much more attractive) and nobody is allowed in my room. Close the vents if you have central air and heat, you don't want that polluted air in his room, especially if he is allergic to molds like me. I shower before going in at night. In the house folks come in with all sorts of pollen, animal dander etc on them, but not into my room. Figure you spend 8 to 12 hours evenings in there, everything should start with it, then go to the whole house as you can afford it. I really think smoking and pollution are the biggys! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 25, 2001.

Hi, I totally understand. I have severe asthma and find it very hard to cope with bills from medications. Then I decided to go the alternative roots. Like aroma therapy and massage. WOW, I am human agian...... I simply could not tell you how well it works. I am completely off all doctor meds and back to lead a normal life. My doctor was a little concered at first but then as time progressed he is now recommending to 100's of his clients. Aroma therapy and massage does a lot more than just relax people. If ya want a referal I would be glad to email you a few of fantastic people who would love to help you out. Wish you the best.

-- Sheri Landgraf (sheriann@telusplane.net), July 25, 2001.

I have funny asthma. Got it after scarlet fever when I was 4. Doctors can't make up their mind which to call it, but all the same it results in asthma attacks and they treat it with inhalers, LOL.

Anywhooo, What triggers mine, and it took me until my teen years to recognize it are the following.

1. Temperature changes. If I am nice and snug in bed and cold are hits me on the upper back during the winter, it will trigger an attack. Also, breathing in cold air after being in a warm house.

2. Mildews and molds. Will give me pnuemonia or plurisy in a heart beat.

3. Avon and Revlon products.

4. High amounts of milk products or chocolate will increase mucouse and cause trouble breathing.

5. Stress.

6. Running for any distance.

7. Dry air.

Things that help prevent and attack if I am wheezing.

1. HOT tea or coffee, the hotter the better. Will open up the bronchial tubes.

2. Soaking feet in hot water past the ankles.

3. Covering my back during cold weather.

4. Lot of vitamin C so I don't catch a cold.

-- Stephanie Nosacek (pospossum@earthlink.net), July 25, 2001.



Sage tea and mentholated cough drops[ halls ect] help to.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), July 26, 2001.

Fabrics are treaded with fermalhyde and other nasty stuff to give an nice sheen. That is why you need to wash the linens well.
Did you buy a new garment and hang it in his closet?
Play sherlock holmes....

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 26, 2001.

As I just mentioned in a similar question, my 6 year old daughter has mild asthma, and was prescribed one of those "discus" inhalers. But I only use that in serious cases - usually I can give her spongia tosta, a homeopathic pill derived from sea sponges. Works well. I understand that homeopathic remedies can work differently on each person, but there are other homeopathic formulas for asthma, I belive. I had a question posted on 7/24.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), July 26, 2001.

Hi there - I have allergies & asthma. I finally broke down & went to an allergist last year to narrow down what I was allergic to b/c my asthma was worsening & I was becoming completely dependent on an inhaler & I HATED it. Results: I'm allergic to almost everything. Trees, animals, dust, mold, plants, dairy, you name it. I explained to the allergist that I was not a person who liked taking medication & that the prescriptions my GP had me on caused insomnia & stomach problems. His solution? MORE prescriptions to treat those 2 symptoms. . . ON TOP OF the prescriptions I was already taking from my GP. He also told me to get rid of all my pets - or at least kick them out of the house, get rid of all "stuffed" furniture (ie: cloth covered), buy new mattresses & pillows & put hypoallergenic covers on everything, etc. etc. etc. - everything the people before me on this forum have recommended.

Well, I thought this was a bit extreme.

I decided to do some serious research on the causes of allergies & asthma b/c I just couldn't imagine all these drugs were doing me any good. I'm one who actually READS those stupid inserts that are written in undecipherable doctorese in microscopic print in the boxes that your prescriptions come in. Pretty frightening!

Now, 6 months later - I am practically allergy & asthma free for the first time in my LIFE & I am off of ALL my medication. How? Very few minor changes, believe it or not! We did move into a house w/ allllll hardwood floors, but that was luck. & we did buy a new mattress set. We have mostly leather furniture, so the stuffed furniture wasn't really an issue. The animals are all still in & out of the house & sleeping all over everything just like they were before. I have cut as much processed food out of my diet as possible. But I think one of the most important things I've done - & this is going to sound silly - but I've done a lot of experimenting & I really think this is one of the main keys to my newfound health! I've cut out all refined/processed sugar from my diet & switched to locally-raised, organic honey. It's important that it's locally- raised honey b/c the bees make the honey out of local plants' pollen & nectar. Ingesting this will put those pollens into your system in teensy amounts, which will help your body build up immunity to those pollens that ordinarily would trigger the allergic reactions!

I have found that it's not JUST sugar, though . . . it's processed foods, in general. The other day I was on the road from morning till night. I stupidly didn't take the time to pack any munchies or food for myself & ended up eating fast food for 2 meals in a row. By that evening, around dinnertime, I was MISERABLE. My face was practically swollen shut, I was sneezing nonstop, had a dreadfully itchy throat, my nose was running incessantly & I ended up having to sleep that night sitting up, w/ a bunch of pillows stacked behind my back.

No more fast food for this cowgirl!

SO. There you have it. I am now a definite believer in the "You are what you eat" saying! & it's not that difficult to adjust your lifestyle, either, even though it seems daunting at first.

Now that I've rambled on for hours & hours I'm running late for work! Please feel free to email me privately if you wish to discuss this further.

Good luck! Regards, Sarah/MI

-- Sarah Sanders/MI (chilechile@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001.


You'll probably hear about Lobelia sooner or later so I'll give you my two cents..Back in my old life when I was smoker :( I would get bronchial asthma and bronchitis after having a chest cold. I used a lobelia seed tincture to open my tubes and also to try to help with nicotine cravings. Definitely *not* ok for use with kids due to side effects. High doses can be lethal, moderate doses cause vomitting. Worked so-so for my symptoms, no better than OTC Primatene mist and didn't help much at all with nic fits. I wouldn't recommend it.

-- Susan Troxel DeWitt (smtroxel@socket.net), July 26, 2001.


For Asthma look at:

Ephedra Sinica (Ma Huang)

Could be used in pill form or drank in a tea (oh but it is awful tasting! and needs to be Blended with something like chamomile or mint or lemon...yuck!) Another name for this herb is 'Mormon Tea'

Datura Stramonium (Thorn Apple or Jimson Weed)

This one would take a little more research on how to derive the medicinal properties out of the leaves. The leaves can be smoked to relieve an asthma attack immediately. Most of the inhalers contain Stramonium.

For Allergies look at:

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

I am not recommending these plants be used, just merely pointing out what is being used in the prescription drugs that are so darned expensive yet readily available.

Here is a link that will better explain the above mentioned herbs and their medicinal properties as well as others that might help.

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), July 29, 2001.


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