Alternative Treatments for Asthma in Toddlers

Treating asthma in toddlers can be difficult. To use an inhaler--the traditional treatment for asthma--often requires a device called a spacer that is a tube with a face mask that releases the inhaler's vapor. Syrups are also available. However, these treatments come with drawbacks; spacers are expensive, and syrup dosages contain significantly more medication than inhaler dosages and may include steroids that can compromise growth. Subsequently, many parents look for alternative treatments for their toddlers' asthma. Anyone considering alternative treatments for asthma should first consult a doctor.

Vitamins and Minerals

There is clinical evidence that various vitamins can prevent and reduce the severity of asthma. A study published in the "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" reported that asthma severity and instances of hospitalization were inversely proportional to the amount of vitamin D that appeared in the diet of 616 children with asthma. Researchers from the University of Nottingham discovered that deficiencies in vitamins C and A were predictors of the onset of asthma through a review of 40 studies spanning 30 years. A study from Johns Hopkins Children Center concludes that the inclusion of folate in children's diets prevents asthma in addition to allergies and wheezing episodes. Accordingly, supplementing a child's diet with appropriate amounts of vitamins A, C and D as well as folate may help to treat asthma in a child over time.

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Massage

Several studies found a correlation between stress and the onset of asthma in children, according to Marybetts Sinclair, author of "Pediatric Massage Therapy." Specifically, depression of the mother, inadequate marital support and issues with child care correlated with the early onset of asthma. Another study indicates that asthma often occurs following stressful or traumatic episodes. In fact, another study concluded that children in families that experience high levels of stress are up to four times more likely to eventually develop asthma. Accordingly, massage, particularly of the back and lateral muscles, can improve asthma conditions. Not only can massage relieve stress, it can optimize respiration by relaxing back and lateral muscles and improving pulmonary function.

Bach Flower Remedies

Thirty-eight remedies comprise the Bach remedy system, which Dr. Edward Bach developed in the 1920s and 1930s. Rather than treating a condition, Bach remedies approach the negative symptoms associated with a condition to render them more bearable. Accordingly, Bach remedies stratify by emotion rather than condition. For example, the Mimulus remedy treats anxiety and fear. Ergo, Bach treatments can reduce negative emotions that are known predictors of asthma onset and attacks, such as stress, anxiety and panic. Most remedies come as liquid tinctures, which means that they have an alcohol base. However, the actual alcohol content of the treatments are minimal.