Being the parent of a child with asthma can be a terrifying experience, as you’re constantly on the watch for any respiratory symptoms, any other children around with colds, and any of the triggering factors that may cause your child to have an attack. And while pharmaceutical medications for asthma such as inhaled corticosteroids are a godsend they also have long-term side effects such as reducing immune system function (enabling future infections), lowering bone density, and impacting psychology (resulting in anxiety, depression, and other issues). Thankfully, regular use of acupuncture and herbal medicine can greatly reduce asthmatic symptoms and rebuild immune system function. A pediatric acupuncturist and herbalist can also advise on diet, supplements, and daily life activities that will support improved lung function. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are wonderfully tailored to address asthma because these modalities are able to address the variations in asthmatic symptoms that each child will have. Some children’s asthma will be triggered by cold air, for others it will be certain foods, stress, air pollution or other allergies, and of course respiratory infections. Acupuncture and herbal therapy would treat each of these kinds of asthma differently, understanding that the body needs different types of support to overcome these triggers and become more resilient. Acupuncture and herbs can also target the varying kinds of cough that are often associated with asthma, such as a lingering dry cough after illness, a persistent wet cough, an aggressive hacking cough, and more. Lastly, acupuncture and herbal therapy address the stress and fatigue that come from dealing with chronic asthma, helping to relax the nervous and strengthen the body’s overall energy and the immune system. If digestion is also a concern, acupuncture and herbal therapy can work in tandem with dietary changes to reduce phlegm and ease digestive discomfort. If you're curious about how acupuncture and herbs can help your asthmatic child, please reach out for a free consultation so we can see if acupuncture and herbs may be right for your family. Here's to your health!