5 Choices of Natural Asthma Medication that are Safe for Children
Asthma is a condition that makes a child's chest feel pain like it is tightly bound by a rope, causing it to have difficulty breathing, coughing, and breathing sounds (wheezing). The most recommended way to treat asthma in children is to use medical drugs from a doctor. But specifically for children, a high school can also be relieved with traditional medicines from herbal ingredients that are already in the kitchen, you know! What are you curious about?
Traditional asthma medicines from herbal ingredients for children
Here are some choices of traditional medicines from herbal ingredients that may be useful to help relieve child asthma.
1. Turmeric
Asthma symptoms in children tend to be more debilitating than adults. Apart from being sensitive to the respiratory tract of children, their immune system also tends to be weak. Therefore, asthma in children is very vulnerable to relapse.
Well, if you have a supply of turmeric in the kitchen, this yellow spice can be processed by you like traditional medicine so that children's asthma is not easily recurrent. Turmeric is known to have anti-allergenic properties that work to inhibit histamine, a chemical in the body that triggers inflammation.
This was supported by a study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. The study reports, routinely taking turmeric supplements for a month can help loosen blocked airways.
Unfortunately, this research is still on a small scale. More research is needed to ascertain the benefits and risks of turmeric as an herbal remedy for asthmatic children.
2. Ginseng and garlic
Anti-inflammatory garlic is believed by experts to reduce inflammation in the airways due to asthma. Interestingly, a recent study revealed that the efficacy of garlic to treat asthma is increased when combined with ginseng.
Mice given ginseng and garlic within 21 days were reported to have decreased symptoms and inflammation in the lungs. The study was conducted by researchers from the veterinary faculty, South Valley University in Egypt.
Even so, until now there has been no research that can prove that both of these herbs work for traditional long-term asthma treatment in children. So, you should consult with your pediatrician about using these two natural ingredients as a treatment for your child's asthma.
3. Honey
In addition to being a herbal remedy for coughs and sore throats, honey is also believed to help relieve asthma symptoms in children thanks to its abundant antioxidant content.
Research explains that antioxidants are effective in fighting inflammation and increasing the immunity of children with asthma. Researchers at UCLA recommend consuming 2 teaspoons of honey before going to bed.
The sweetness of honey is believed to trigger the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Well, it is this saliva that ultimately lubricates the airways so that it can help relieve a cough.
Honey can also reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes (airways in the lungs) and help thin the mucus which makes it difficult to breathe.
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey into a glass of warm water and ask your child to consume three times a day. To add flavor, you can also add lime juice, lemon, or a pinch of cinnamon.
4. Ginger
Ginger is one of the herbs that have many health benefits, including alleviating asthma symptoms. No kidding, the benefits of this one spice have even been recognized since the days of previous ancestors.
Until now there has been no explanation of how ginger can play a role as an herbal remedy for children's asthma. However, research reports that ginger reduces inflammation and prevents contractions in the airways.
Ginger is also reported to help relax the muscles in the tense respiratory wall, as found in some asthma medications. Not surprisingly, ginger can be used as a treatment of choice to relieve asthma symptoms in children.
Other research in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Biology also says that ginger can help reduce allergic responses by reducing levels of IgE in the body. As you know, asthma has a strong eruption with allergies. When this IgE level decreases, the allergic reaction that also appears will slowly decrease.
As a result, asthma symptoms experienced by children can be more controlled and rarely recur. As a traditional medicine to relieve asthma symptoms in children, you can make a glass of warm ginger. Add lemon juice and honey to improve the taste.
Be careful about giving traditional asthma medicines to children
Many parents choose to use traditional medicine with herbal ingredients because it is considered more effective and minimal side effects. In fact, herbal ingredients are not always safe for children. It's a good idea to consult your doctor first before trying any type of herbal concoctions as an alternative treatment for pediatric asthma.
In addition, research on traditional medicine for asthma with herbal ingredients is still very little. Even if there is, the study is still small in scope and limited to animals. So that, it takes a lot of other research with greater scope to prove that the use of traditional medicines with natural ingredients is really effective in treating asthma.
Your child may not experience any symptoms when using herbal ingredients to relieve asthma symptoms. However, another story for children who do have an allergy to certain herbal ingredients. Children with this condition can experience anaphylactic reactions that are dangerous and fatal.
So, use any type of herbal ingredients carefully. If your child has a history of allergies to herbal or natural ingredients, you should not force yourself to try it.
