Childhood Asthma:
A Complementary Approach

“In Australia today, one child in 6 under the age of 16 is affected by asthma."

In Australia one child in six under the age of 16 is affected by asthma today. Experts are struggling to understand why rates worldwide are on average rising by 50 percent every decade. Some research suggests the use of vaccines and overuse of antibiotics are responsible for the rise in the number of asthmatic children. The dramatic increase in childhood allergies and asthma has resulted in an equally alarming number of drug-dependent children.

Childhood- asthma is closely linked with the presence of eczema, hay fever, urticaria (hives) and migraines. People with this kind of family history are called atopic. If both parents have a history of atopy then the chances of the child being affected are 50%; if one parent is affected, the chance is 30%; and if neither parent is affected, the chance is approximately 12%.

Childhood asthma may be preceded by episodic coughing which later develops into wheezy bronchitis and then eventually into asthma. Such children often have a history of slow recovery from upper respiratory tract viral infections.
Many asthma attacks are triggered by allergens, such as dust, mould spores, mites, animal hair. The onset of asthma can also be caused by cold air, exercise or infections such as the common cold. Stress and more specifically acute anxiety are known to be immediate triggers for many attacks, and this can sometimes give rise to a vicious circle of asthma - anxiety about the asthma - further attacks.

While Herbal Medicines should not be used in an acute asthma attack, when prescribed by a qualified herbalist they can be immensely effective in managing the symptoms of asthma and reducing the need for steroids.

Herbs can help to reduce inflammation and mucous production. They can also improve the response of the immune system. Parents should seek advice from a qualified herbalist prior to using any form of herbal medicine as some herbs can exacerbate existing symptoms of asthma when not properly prescribed.

Research on children with asthma shows benefits from supplementing with Vitamins C and E, Magnesium, Zinc, and of course Omega-3 particularly EPA from fish have been studied immensely with excellent results in asthmatic children.
Elimination diets can identify foods that may be worsening symptoms of asthma, commonly dairy, wheat, eggs, citrus and foods containing sulphites and preservatives.

Probiotics are cultures of potentially beneficial bacteria that normally reside in the healthy gut. There are many different strains of probiotics; studies have found that probiotic results in trends in reduced inflammation and reduced allergic symptoms. Research also shows promising results in preventing asthma when probiotics are taken by a pregnant woman with a history of asthma or eczema.

Fighting Fatigue:
Improving Energy Production

Fatigue is a symptom not a disorder and it is normally the result of complex underlying factors.
Stress levels, lifestyle, sleep, exercise, work patterns, caffeine, alcohol, medication, poor immunity and diet all contribute to reducing energy.

Even the fittest of people suffer from fatigue when they do not give the body the extra support it needs to produce energy.
This is why Chronic fatigue effects highly trained athletes and active people just as often as the rest of us.
As a naturopath, fatigue is the number one presenting symptom in patients seeking help. In clinic the aim of treatment is to support energy production at a cellular level by providing the body with the nutrients it needs for cellular energy production.

Some of these nutrients include: Coenzyme Q10, Lipoic acid, the amino acid N-acetyl-Carnitine, the B-Vitamins and my particular favourite Magnesium.

Under normal conditions we should obtain these vitamins from our diet or the body produces these nutrients itself.
However, when the body is under additional stress primary nutrients can be shunted to other more primary needs such as the adrenal glands.

In response to stress the adrenal glands produce cortisol. In the short term this is essential for survival, however over a long period of time excess cortisol has a range of negative effects, encouraging inflammation and reeking havoc with the delicate balance of hormones in the body, particularly the thyroid gland and sex hormones.

Herbs are a fantastic way of supporting the adrenal glands during times of excessive stress. There are many high quality herbs for adrenal support such as Licorice, Withania and the Ginsengs which encourage the action of the adrenal glands, helping the body adapt to stress.

Other factors that contribute to fatigue include poor liver function, low iron levels, underlying chronic inflammation and in digestive disturbances.

If your digestion is compromised then you wont absorb the nutrients from food effectively. So ensuring good digestive function can also be imperative to improving energy production.