It is generally felt that an Asthma attack can be triggered by allergies, stress, pollen, pollution, lack of water, heredity, etc.  And it can be life threatening!

These children (and adults) are condemned to a life of bronchodilators, drugs, and steroids, all of which have serious side effects. These side effects can be either immediate or develop over a lifetime of chronic drug use. Asthma is said to be the leading cause of chronic illness among children. Not a fun thing to have. It is definitely a condition best avoided.
Here is the catch however, and I want you to really think about this for a moment: Have you ever wondered why some children subjected to the same stresses, pollens, etc., develop Asthma while others do not? After all, if Asthma was caused by all the factors the public has been taught and led to believe, then all children absolutely would have it. Right?

Wrong!
Only some do, and their numbers have been rising at an alarming rate!
Why is that? (I love that question)

The standard medical first-line approach to dealing with Asthma is to prescribe inhalant steroids, the so-called “puffers.” These often reduce the frequency and intensity of Asthma attacks, but not without a price – and they certainly do not ―cure‖ it. Steroid use has been linked to osteoporosis, stunted growth in children, nerve damage, and cataracts. The effects of long-term use are unknown since these drugs are still fairly new, believe it or not. Steroids substitute for and decrease the body‘s ability to make its very own steroids, in response to stress. They also cause a major suppression of the immune system. Those taking high doses of these drugs are warned to avoid vaccinations that are made up of live viruses (MMR, Oral Polio, Chicken Pox). If any of these viruses are contacted while steroids are being used, it could be life threatening. Although these drugs are often taken by pregnant and breast-feeding mothers they have not been tested for safety under these instances (though it stands to reason that these drugs will have similar effects on babies).

Many moms do not realize that all drugs cross the placental barrier and affect their baby. According to a recent study, “the majority of adults and children with Asthma experience unwanted side effects of medication, such as feeling generally restless, shaky hands, shaky feet, racing heartbeat, etc. These side effects have prompted 1 in 3 adults to reduce their medication and cause one in four to skip a dose at some point.”

Some authorities feel that Asthma is really a reaction to a lack of proper hydration of the body; that it is a lack of water. They, therefore, suggest drinking plenty of pure water to hydrate the body. In my practice, I have not met many children who like to drink pure water – it is boring. If you believe this is the solution, I recommend that you use a fruit concentrate, such as Ribena Blackcurrant Concentrate, mixed with 5 parts water for taste. It is an English drink, but moms can pick it up in most grocery stores. Or you can use any other fruit drink that is not loaded with sugar.

Many researchers, on the other hand, have found that Asthma seems to be related to our current vaccination program: There are increasing numbers of scientists and practitioners who support this conclusion. Bart Classen M.D., of Classen Immunotherapies in Maryland, is among the most vociferous. (You are welcome to visit his web site at www.vaccines.net).

How does this work? Here is the reason: Vaccination alters the normal immune response and makes a child‘s immune system overreact to something perfectly innocuous, plus, it introduces a foreign agent into their body – I shudder at the thought (I will be discussing vaccination and its effects on the health of our children in later issues of this newsletter)! As a result, a child’s immune system is over-stimulated and becomes over- sensitive. Air, for example, that would not normally bother a person, can have an adverse effect on a child whose nervous and immune system are “overloaded.”

You may be surprised to learn that Asthma, difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness, etc., are actually only symptoms. It means that your child‘s body (or yours) is not able to deal with this problem on its own!
To understand this better, I want you to think about this for a moment: D. D. Palmer, the Discoverer of Chiropractic, once explained it this way in 1885, “I desired to know “what is it that causes one man to be sick, while his partner, sitting at the same table, eating the same food, drinking the same water, breathing the same air, is healthy?”
If you understand this, you are on your way!

Doctors of Chiropractic like myself have been helping children with Asthma for years. We need to remember that we are dealing with children, NOT their Asthma. Our approach recognizes that difference. We feel it is important to deal with the child, NOT his label.