News today is reporting a link between asthma and acetaminophen (Tylenonl) in teens. Even used once a year, this drug can dramatically increase asthma rates. These startling results comes on the heels of a study showing acetaminophen use in babies increases asthma in 5-6 year olds. While researchers are investigating the link and understanding the cause, what is a conscientious parent to do?
Well, lets start by saying the reason your body makes a fever is to heal itself. The fever literally “burns off” the bugs and using fever-reducing medications interferes with the plan, exchanging a temporary relief for long-term problems. In babies, there is a risk of a very high fever causing a febrile seizure (convulsion), but even these are generally harmless despite how terrifying they look.
There is some evidence that not having a fever in the first year can increase asthma risk, yet another reason to let the fever run it’s course.
When your baby gets sick with colds and/or infections there re many natural health options available and you should consult with a good acupuncturist or naturopath.
So what if your child already has asthma? Is it too late to do anything for him or her? There are many holistic health options to support your child’s immune system and reduce the effects of asthma. Simple stuff like reduce greasy food, add probiotics and fish oil and of course plenty of exercise to strengthen the lungs. For more help, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are very effective at reducing the need for “rescue inhalers” and effectively eliminating allergies for allergy-induced asthma.
Treating kids with asthma became an important cause for me when I learnt that asthma medications can cause suicide in children. I thought, how can we say we are protecting our children when we are giving them these powerful drugs. Now that I know acupuncture and Chinese medicine can reduce the need for them, I hope to spread the word and prevent these terrible side-effects. I hope that if you know someone on asthma medication you will do them a favor and suggest they consider contacting an acupuncturist. You never know, you might be saving their life.
