Replied by Sally_oh from Escazú, San José, Costa Rica on 10/10/2009

Check his food and environmental allergies. Remedies can only fight so much. Remove the obvious offenders: pets, feather pillows/comforters, sugar, white flour, dairy, clorox, windex, alcohol (very toxic - I used to use it clean my windows), smelly cleaners, ajax (used to contain mercury, don't know if it still does)... anything you can think of. If he craves a food, it is very likely an allergy. Remove everything for three weeks, then add things back in one at a time (ice cream first, of course!) See what he reacts to. Once you've pinned down his allergies and removed them, try the ACV again. It may have been working too hard against too many stimulants.

My son lived on meds from three to 15. He survived, he is bright funny and his asthma is now managed very well. Good luck!

Replied by Lauren from Memphis, Tn on 10/25/2009

I just wanted to elaborate on what Sally has said here. I have multiple chemical sensitivities and developed asthma 20 years ago, in response to synthetic chemicals that are ubiquitous in the indoor environment I have also had asthma in response to medications. Pollen and typical allergens don't bother me. I have cats, and they don't trigger my asthma....chemicals do.

Cleaners and pillows are just the tip of the ice burg.....carpeting, furniture and cabinets made of particle board,paint,health and beauty supplies, soap, laundry detergents, softeners and dryer sheets, perfume, air fresheners....just to name a few things. Fragrances are made of hundreds of synthetic chemicals, including petrochemicals.....even products that are labled fragrance free may still have a fragrance, but the manufacturer may add another chemical to mask the smell. Carpeting, particle board and many other products contain formaldehyde and can take years to outgas. Wrinkle free cotton clothing and polyester/cotton sheets are treated with formaldehyde to make them wrinkle free. These synthetic chemicals are making many, many people ill, but they don't know it. It is not ecomomical for companies to do anything about it....infact the industry denies this growing health issue, and works hard to oppose the idea that their products are making the public ill. Read up on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities,also called Environmental Illness, to gain a better understanding of the negative health effects of these chemicals and where to find them in your home and work place.

The average medical doctor is completely unaware about this phenomenon, and thus completely ineffective in dealing with this aspect of a persons health issues. Also,I need to point out that chemical illnesses aren't allergies, as the two reactions are mediated in the body in completely different ways. People understand allergies, and tend to call any negative reaction an allergy, but it is basically the body's inability to process the chemical(s). If you are able, you might want to check out a doctor of Environmental Medicine....they understand chemical reactions.

Several years ago, I heard a statement in the news that indoor pollution was 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor pollution. Unfortunately, there was no elaboration on what this meant, and I didn't understand it at the time. Now that I am chronically ill from synthetic chemicals, I know exactly what they were talking about. If someone could have explained this to me years ago, it would have saved me a lot of suffering and provided greater quality of life. It never occured to me that companies would be allowed to make products that would make me and others ill.

By the way, aside from avoidance, I learned on this site about ACV and honey, and use it to help settle my asthma flair ups and associated coughing ( 2 tbsp ACV, 1 or more tbsp honey and 8 oz water). It has been a great help to me, as I can no longer tolerate any medications including inhalers. For twenty years I only needed to use inhalers occasionally. Afer being given a new product last year, it caused my asthma to worsen when I used it. Once that reaction happened, the same thing happened with my old inhaler, so this homemade remedy is all I have to help, and I am thankful for the information!

I hope this helps some of you...good luck and good health.

Lauren

Replied by Vicki from Atlanta, Ga, United States on 03/10/2011

Jessica,
I have had asthma since I was six. I am now 52 and due to the inhalant steroids (Advair) which I only took for a few years, I now have steroid-induced cataracts. The drugs he's taking now will have serious consequences later on in life.

Everyone is different and react differently to remedies. Since ACV did not work for your son, you need to find something that does. I have learned that the single, most important and significant change I made was my diet. I became a raw vegan and that has helped tremendously. Wheat, dairy, peanuts and soy all aggravated my asthma. Well, actually, a lot of cooked foods trigger it also, so I find it best to stay on a raw fruits/veggies/nuts/seeds diet.

I cannot stress how crucial it is to take your son off all processed foods, dairy (no more ice cream or milk), wheat (no more cookies, crackers or bread), etc. Try it for 30 days. I think you'll be greatly surprised. Then you can add one item back at a time to see if he has a reaction.

Green smoothies are delicious and helpful. You can make raw ice cream out of frozen bananas or frozen strawberries. You can make awesome shakes out of almond milk. Starting him out on a raw diet now, at this young age, will allow him to enjoy a lifetime of excellent health.

Best wishes to you both. I empathize with your situation.

Replied by Rusti from Usa on 12/18/2015

I see this was posted in 2009, but for anyone else interested, I've been taking vitamin C with rosehips and bioflavanoids and omega 3s for years for asthma, stopping many attacks. Now take them everyday and haven't had an attack in years. That's the key in preventing attacks.

You might start him on 200 mg a day, (adults 500 mg split 2 X a day, 500mg morning, 500 mg evening) more if he's getting the sniffles. Cod liver oil is a good source of omega 3s and A&D. Also, try going wholefood organic as much as possible. Juicing organic fruits and vegetables is even better. Agree cutting out any processed foods containing all kinds of contaminants.

Replied by Myway from Usa on 01/15/2016

I wanted to chime into this discussion so that parents have some direction with asthmatic children. I have to admit, I am rather alarmed at asthma rates here in this country - and how little progress we have made to remove the root causes. Did you know that 48% of kids here in the US are chronically sick?

My Story

I had terrible asthma as a child, born in the north, city. A pediatrician back in the 60's told my parents "get your daughter south" away from mfg plants and highways Or her asthma will get worse. Two parents, neither finished high school, one didn't speak English - 3 weeks later, we were living in the south. Mom had purchased a juicer (sounded like a jet landing in our kitchen every day) and flooded my body with nutrients, local produce, beans, grains, etc....in two weeks, Mom had me at 100%. No meds for her 3 year old. She washed my cotton bed sheets in diluted white vinegar and borax, homemade meals, play outdoors, cats and dogs everywhere, etc...I had a blessed childhood.

As soon as I hit college and got away from my daily healthy way of life from a dedicated parent - I felt my symptoms creaping back. I returned home, analyzed what my Mom did for so many years, incorporated them back into my life - and for about 20 years, no symptoms, no meds.

Now in my 40's, my asthma returned with a vengeance. I moved up north for my husbands job, lived near an airport and I-95. I was doomed. I started taking Advair, singular, inhalers...knowing I had to get myself back to holistic lifestyle. First of all - everyone quit blaming the cats. They may be part of the problem and are always in the lineup - but please work at getting rid of anything synthetic first (environmental toxins). Anyway, I landed here on earthclinic a couple years ago, determined to rid myself of dangerous meds. I followed Bill Munroes hydrogen peroxide inhalation method, removed all processed food and sugar from my diet, exercise daily, plenty of water - I feel healthy! It seems sugar was the toxin that caused my flair-ups More then anything. Natural sugars (like fruit, honey) I can consume - no problem. The point is - I took the time to figure it out. Everyone is different.

One item I wanted to mention - I notice when I sleep with any synthetics on my bed (fleece for example), I start itching - I feel some allergic response which can exacerbate my symptoms. I recommend everything cotton on the bed, including pillows, to sleep on.

Lastly, I am thankful to a mother who did not believe synthetic "patent" medicines were the answer. Because of her diligence, I have lived a relatively healthy life - she is a woman before her times. And at 80 - she says that it's now the new "60."!

I hope my story provides some encouragement to parents who are looking for answers. Work with your pediatrician or practitioner - but let medis be a last resort.

Blessings,

MyWay :D

Replied by Carmel from Essex on 09/22/2020

I have asthma and doctors were forever saying I must be allergic to my dog etc. They were all wrong. If it had been because of my dog then how come I was just as bad when in the hospital where no animals had been? My dog is hairless anyway, and I was the same before I had a dog. Another doctor said it must be something in my house I am allergic to, I have lived here nearly 30 years and there is nothing of significance which is new here.

It also did not make sense because I could get three months of severe and then nothing for three months, where it goes up and down, yet everything in the house has remained the same.

Acupuncture helped me but sometimes you need to have a dozen or so sessions and then later it comes back and you need to do them again.

Replied by Mmsg from Somewhere, Europe on 09/23/2020

Carmel, read up on Bill Munro's h2o2 inhalation method.

Replied by Charity from Faithville, Us on 09/23/2020

Yes I used to be allergic to everything but lettuce and when I ate it I couldn't stop burping. Cortisol is the stress hormone the produce robs peter to pay paul to make. It throws off hormones, minerals, water balance, and gets trapped in parts of the body. Eric Berg teaches on youtube how to release it. Then the body becomes out of mineral and water balance. To WARN YOU OF THIS SITUATION YOUR BODY WILL PRODUCE HISTAMINE. Has an anti histamine ever alleviated your symptoms? So now~~ you can put this information into a trail test and see if one of your minerals or hydration level is out of balance or if you have stress trapped in your body tissues.

Blessings, Charity

Replied by Richard from Calgary, Alberta, Canada on 10/20/2025

Try MSM also known as Organic Sulfur.

Buy the Amazon Organic Sulfur and start very slow consumption in water.

If no issues, slowly increase dose.

I have asthma due to animal dander, dogs Cats, and this allows me to sleep on their futon bed with no asthma issue. Without MSM, I am on my knees gasping in half an hour.