Do you know any home remedies or tricks for asthma?

Question:

My daughter has severe asthma. This time of year it gets really bad. She is on Advair 2 times a day, Singulair once a day, Claritin once a day, Albuterol inhaler when needed, and an Albuterol Nebulizer 2 times a day. After all that she still has a lot of trouble off and on. Does anyone know any home remedies like I know coffee is supposed to help but it's hard to get her to drink it while it's hot like she's supposed to. I know obviously to take her to the ER when it's really bad, but if I can take care of it at home I want to try, b/c we have no insurance and her meds alone are 400.00 per month. Thanks for any ideas that work!

Answers:
Here are a couple of things that I try for my kids and I. Put her in the bathroom with the hot water running full blast. Of course, sit with her to avoid a burn. The moisture can open her up. Also, use a cool mist humidifier ALL the time in whichever room of the house she's in. I assume you've been told the old stuff like, pets, smoke, carpets, curtains can all make it worse? I give my kids cool coffee with a little sugar, the caffiene is what's important so being hot isn't really THAT important. Also, if she's so bad that she's on all of this medicine ALL of the time I would file for Social Security Disability for her. She may not qualify for a cash payment but she can then qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Asthma is a VERY expensive disease. Try finding a child's asthma summer camp that she can attend in your area. I found out alot of helpful info from the counselor's here in Az..

STRONG COFFEE.WORKS GREAT, MAKE IT AND THEN POUR IT OVER A STRAINER OF ICE, IT CHILLS IT AND IT STILL WORKS GREAT..

For my son, a hot steamy shower usually helps to calm it down.

OPC-3, a nutritional supplement might be an alternative remedy for asthma.

OPCs are super antioxidants that help fight free radicals. Free radicals have been implicated in a myriad of modern day diseases and conditions, including aging, asthma, arthritis, atherosclerosis, ischemia, Alzheimer and Parkinson's disease, AIDS and cancer.

Reason for taking it:
Studies found that the use of OPCs can benefit asthma and emphysema. Asthma is largely caused by an allergic reaction within the bronchial tubes that leads to bronchial constriction and excessive mucous excretion. Due to its ability to inhibit histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, OPC has been found effective in the treatment of asthma.

Two small double-blind pilot studies suggest that OPCs from pine bark might help reduce asthma symptoms

source from:
Hosseini S, et al. Pycnogenol Ŵ in the Management of Asthma. Journal Of Medicinal Food. 2001;4:201-210

Lau BH, Riesen SK, Truong KP, et al. Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of childhood asthma. JAsthma . 2005;41:825-32.

Recent studies have shown how Pycnogenol may help to relieve the symptoms of asthma in both adults and children. Researchers tested regular use of the supplement on 80 patients aged seven to eighteen with mild to moderate asthma and found that those given the supplement had an improvement in their symptoms over the three months. In a new study, asthmatic children who were treated with Pycnogenol were able to reduce or discontinue their use of rescue inhalers.

Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract from the bark of the maritime pine tree.

source from:
http://www.pycnogenol.com/consumer/...

http://www.costco.myodi.com/pages/health...

OPC-3 contains the most strongest antioxidant ingredients scientists can find today, including grape seed extract, red wine extract, and pine bark extract (Pycnogenol)

Do you know any home remedies or tricks for asthma?

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