This holistic approach to asthma will strengthen the immune
system and lung function, prevent the airway inflammation
characteristic of asthma, relieve the muscle constriction
that impairs breathing, decrease mucus production in
airways, and create a balanced energy flow that allows the
lungs to do their job without impairment.
Breathing Again: A Case History
Kayley is a
fun-loving, friendly, and talkative first-grader. She likes
Barbies and art projects and playing with her dog.
Unfortunately, Kayley has some health problems that
interfere with her life and play. She gets out of breath and
coughs when she plays soccer. If she catches a cold it will
quickly settle into nightly coughing spells that often
worsen and turn into wheezing episodes. Twice, they have
gotten so bad that she landed in the emergency room where
the doctors used inhaled drugs to restore her breathing and
then sent her home with a prescription for oral, systemic
steroids.
The allergist prescribed an inhaled steroid for Kayley to
use every day and a second bronchodilator drug for Kayley to
take before exercise and whenever she developed cough or
wheezing. Kayley’s mother was not especially happy with the
doctor’s pronouncement that Kayley required continuous drug
treatment, nor did she appreciate the side effects. The
drugs made Kayley hyper. So began the search for
alternatives to the standard drug approach for Kayley’s
asthma.
When I first saw Kayley, she still had a chronic dry, tight
cough despite the drug treatment. Since Kayley was in no
acute distress and the drugs were not preventing or curing
her symptoms anyway, we decided to replace the daily drug
regimen with Chinese herbs and put Kayley on a program of
immune enhancing supplements. I prescribed a liquid extract
of herbs formulated for children (Deep Breath by Chinese
Modular Solutions) and a similar formula for acute episodes
of cough or wheezing (Open Air). She received one dose of a
constitutional homeopathic medicine, Natrum-sulphuricum (1M
strength).
Kayley needed help getting through her wintertime colds.
Echinacea, vitamin C, herbs, and homeopathic treatment
prevented the downward spiral that used to occur with her
acute illnesses. Mild allergic rashes improved with
supportive treatment. She never took steroids again, and she
continued to excel at soccer and gymnastics. Her mother was
frankly amazed at the new level of Kayley’s resilience when
she caught a cold. Chronic coughing was no longer a problem,
and Kayley stopped identifying herself as an asthmatic.
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