Medically Reviewed on 12/23/2020
In case of the usual asthma attacks, the pediatrician may ask you to use medicated inhalations delivered through a metered-dose inhaler, nebulizer, and dry powder inhalers.
Treatment of a child’s asthma involves following an action plan developed in consultation with your child’s pediatrician. Severe asthmatic attacks require immediate medical attention and treatment at the hospital. Never take asthma lightly!
In case of the usual asthma attacks, the pediatrician may ask you to use medicated inhalations delivered through:
- Metered-dose inhaler: This is a small handheld device and is a common method of taking in the medication for immediate relief. Always keep the inhaler at hand in case of an emergency.
- Nebulizer: The medications are delivered through a mask that contains the asthma medications in the form of mist.
- Dry powder inhalers: Some medications need to be delivered by direct inhalation of their powdered form.
There is no permanent cure for asthma, but some things can help you minimize asthma triggers. Here are a few steps that you can follow:
Can you use alternative medicine for your child’s asthma?
Alternative treatments have been in use for managing symptoms of asthma for a long time. However, proper evidence on such treatment is lacking. While some of them like the non-drug therapies are usually harmless, you can ask your child’s pediatrician about the right one for your child.
Breathing exercises are forms of non-drug treatment that has been routinely used in the treatment of people with asthma. These include structured breathing programs, such as the Buteyko breathing technique, the Papworth method, yoga, and pranayama that manipulate the breathing pattern and help in asthma.
Emotionally stressed children suffer from more attacks of asthma. Try teaching them relaxation techniques, such as meditation, hypnosis, and progressive muscle relaxation.
If you do not know any of these non-drug approaches, learn from complementary and alternative practitioners, doctors, psychologists, social workers, or nurses who may be able to teach you all these.
A few home remedies have been tried for asthma, including
- Black seed
- Fish oil
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Honey
- Magnesium supplements
- Sauna bath
- Herbal steam inhalations
Some of these home remedies can interact with the prescribed medications that your child has been taking, and so, it is wise to consult the pediatrician before you try any of them.
Ayurveda also has some effective therapies for treating asthma and other such respiratory illnesses. Oiling or gentle massaging herbal oils over the child’s chest followed by hot fomentation or steam baths have been used by the practitioners of Ayurveda to reduce the exacerbations of asthmatic attacks. Some herbs and their combinations have been proved to work as antihistamines in allergic asthma in many research studies. A special form of therapy known as panchakarma can also help. Consult an alternative medicine practitioner to know more about them. Remember not to start any Ayurvedic therapy before asking your child’s doctor.
QUESTION
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease.
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Medically Reviewed on 12/23/2020
References
Mayo Clinic. Childhood Asthma. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-asthma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351513
Mali RG, Dhake AS. A Review on Herbal Antiasthmatics. Orient Pharm Exp Med. 2011;11(2):77-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3245822/
Rawal M, Chudasma KM, Vyas RV, et al. Effect of Vasantic Vaman and Other Panchakarma Procedures on Disorders of Various Systems. Ayu. 2010;31(3):319-324. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3221065/
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