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Allergies and Asthma in Children
As much as 20 per cent of school going children have some degree of wheezing. The incidence of asthma and allergies in children is increasing, possibly caused by unhealthy diets, pollution of our homes and environment as well as increasing chemical additives in our food. Children with asthma will usually have a history of frequent respiratory infection, which can often trigger an asthmatic attack. An asthmatic attack occurs when the passageways in the lungs become blocked, perhaps due to an over-production of mucus, as often happens when there is a respiratory infection. The blockage will thus impede the flow of air. The muscles in the airway walls then go into spasm and narrow the tubes quite considerably. For infants, the airway walls, being soft, may collapse, but in older children the muscles can easily go into spasm, especially if the child is in a tense situation that makes her nervous and upset. Although asthma in children is usually allergic in origin, it is more confusing than other allergies because its onset is inconsistent and sometimes unrelated to specific food or environmental allergens. The asthmatic attacks can be provoked by colds and other respiratory infections or illnesses, anxiety, emotional trauma and other psychological conditions. The frequency of asthmatic attacks can also vary with activity, food, climate (especially cold weather) and the environment conditions of the home. Natural RemediesResearch has shown that specific components derived from colostrum may benefit individuals with allergies as it contains proline-rich polypeptides (PRP), which is a powerful immune modulator that can help tone down the overactive immune response that leads to allergies. Bovine colostrum also contains a variety of antibodies that will help to act against the allergens that are affecting your child. The cow builds up antibodies to the allergens, which are then transferred through the colostrum to help minimize the allergic response in the child. You may also use a combination of physical therapies, chiropractic or osteopathy, massage and simple breathing exercises to help relax the muscles and nerves in your child and allows for free movement of the chest. This will help loosen and expel the mucus.
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