Table of contents:
- Traditional asthma medicine made from herbal ingredients for children
- 1. Turmeric
- 2. Ginseng and garlic
- 3. Honey
- 4. Ginger
- Be careful giving asthma folk remedies to children
Asthma is a condition that makes a child's chest feel painful as if it is tightly tied by a rope, causing it to have difficulty breathing freely, coughing, and exhaling wheezing. The most recommended way of treating asthma in children is to use medical drugs from a doctor. But especially for children, asthma can also be relieved by traditional medicine from herbal ingredients that are already in the kitchen, you know! What are you curious about?
Traditional asthma medicine made from herbal ingredients for children
Here are some choices of traditional medicine made from herbal ingredients that may be useful to help relieve asthma in children.
1. Turmeric
Asthma symptoms in children tend to be more debilitating than in adults. Apart from the sensitive respiratory tracts of children, their immune system tends to be weak. Therefore, asthma in children is very prone to relapse.
Well, if you have turmeric in your kitchen, you can process this yellow spice into a traditional medicine to prevent your child's asthma from recurring easily. Turmeric is known to have allergy properties that work to block histamine, a chemical in the body that triggers inflammation.
This is also supported by a study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. The study reports that regularly taking turmeric supplements for a month can help loosen blocked airways.
Unfortunately, this research is still on a small scale. More research is needed to ascertain the benefits and risks of turmeric as an herbal remedy for children with asthma.
2. Ginseng and garlic
Garlic is anti-inflammatory which experts believe can reduce inflammation of the airways due to asthma. Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that the properties of garlic to treat asthma are increasing when combined with ginseng.
Mice given ginseng and garlic for a period of 21 days reported decreased symptoms and inflammation in their lungs. The study was conducted by researchers from the faculty of veterinary medicine, South Valley University in Egypt.
Even so, until now there has been no research that can prove that these two herbs are effective for long-term traditional treatment of childhood asthma. So, you should first consult your pediatrician about the use of these two natural ingredients as a treatment for your little one's asthma.
3. Honey
Apart from being a herbal remedy for coughs and sore throats, honey is also believed to help relieve asthma symptoms in children thanks to its abundant antioxidant content.
Research explains that antioxidants are effective in fighting inflammation and increasing the immunity of children with asthma. Researchers at UCLA recommend consuming 2 teaspoons of honey before bed.
The sweetness of honey is believed to trigger the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Well, saliva is what ultimately lubricates the airways so that it can help relieve coughs.
Honey can also reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes (airways in the lungs) and help thin mucus that makes breathing difficult.
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water and ask your little one to consume it three times a day. To add flavor, you can also add lime juice, lemon, or a pinch of cinnamon.
4. Ginger
Ginger is one of the herbs that has many health benefits, including relieving asthma symptoms. No kidding, the benefits of this one spice have even been recognized since the time of our previous ancestors.
Until now there has been no explanation sure how ginger can act as an asthma herbal remedy for children. However, research reports that ginger reduces inflammation and blocks contractions in the airways.
Ginger has also been reported to help relax the tightened muscles in the respiratory wall, as is found in some asthma medications. No wonder ginger can be used as the treatment of choice to relieve asthma symptoms in children.
Another study in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Biology also says that ginger can help reduce allergic responses by lowering IgE levels in the body. As is well known, asthma has a strong attachment to allergies. When these IgE levels decrease, the allergic reactions that appear will also gradually decrease.
As a result, the symptoms of asthma experienced by children can be better controlled and relapse less frequently. As a traditional medicine to relieve asthma symptoms in children, you can make a glass of warm ginger drink. Add lemon juice and honey to enhance the taste.
Be careful giving asthma folk remedies to children
Many parents choose to use traditional medicine with herbal ingredients because it is considered more effective and has minimal side effects. In fact, herbal ingredients are not always safe for children. It's a good idea to consult your doctor first before trying any type of herbal concoction as an alternative to treating children's asthma.
In addition, there is very little research on traditional asthma treatment with herbal ingredients. Even if there is, the study is still small in scope and limited to animals. Therefore, many other studies with a larger scope are needed to prove that the use of traditional medicines with natural ingredients is really effective in treating childhood asthma.
Your child may not experience any symptoms when using herbal ingredients to relieve asthma symptoms. However, it is a different story for children who do have allergies to certain herbal ingredients. Children with this condition may experience anaphylactic reaction which is dangerous and which is fatal.
So, use any herbal ingredients with caution. If your child has a history of allergies to herbal or natural ingredients, you should not force yourself to try them.