AmityMama.com - View Single Post - Strengthening respiratory system of a 20 month old?

mamabear · 03-02-2004, 12:06 AM

Both my kids have "weak" lung spots at least according to pure genetics. Jake has major sinus issues.

Ari, your list is great -- just put that book on hold. Lots of stuff we can add to our list, some that we already do.

Here's what we did in the past year that made a difference. (Last winter Jake was on abx 6 times for sinus infections, this winter - nothing.)

Clean air inside: eliminate carpets, mold. (Haven't gotten rid of our dog, and our old A/C unit is likely filthy as are the air vents, I'm sure. But we run an air purifier in the bedroom where J sleeps and keep things CLEAN.)

I have to say eliminating the carpeting has been the *major* change in the past year.

Make people take their shoes off to enter your house. Utne Reader has an article this month, on that subject. It keeps outside dirt, outside- incluing pesticides, and mold. *We have done this for years.*

Infant massage, especially tummy, back and chest. And sinuses. I know my two month old was having sinus headaches. He looked like a cat: my thumb could cover the whole center of his forehead. *Yes, this works great for us, too.*

Increase potassium and magnesium: it makes it easier for her body to move sodium and calcium, which contribute to the "stickiness." *Bananas are a great source and Jacob eats tons of them.*

Sunshine, every day, outside, It was the treatment of choice for TB, before penicillin, and it does seem to make lungs happy. Bare bodied, as much as the weather permits. *We do this as well, thanks to it being the sunny South.*

Trampolines also move lymph around. As does turning one's head from side to side (like looking left, looking right) -- do it slowly -- 11 times at least. This pumps the lymph. There are these little spots where you can *gently* press a finger, right behind the clavicle on the tops of the shoulders. They are little depressions and you will feel little muscle there, it's soft. Press gently like your fingers are bouncing on a trampoline (gently!) a few times on each side.

Also for each cold I follow some or all of the following protocol to help prevent it from moving to sinuses/lungs:

*increase vit C to 250 mg 4x day
*put a couple of drops each of lavender and rosemary (tea tree if you aren't under homeopathic treatment) in the bath (tub should be full, swirl around well before putting child in)
*echinacea/zinc or elderberry/zinc lozenges, a couple a day
*herbal chest rub applied after bath (like vicks but EO's only, no nasty petroleum stuff)
*massage sinus pressure points on face
*extra foot massage paying attention to tops of feet (lung points)
*craniosacral balancing
*call homeopath

Please remember, it's not like I do every single thing for every single cold (or think everyone should). I do some, none or all just depending on how he is handling it...and he has genetic challenges that others may not have. But thought I'd share what we've found works well, in case it helps anyone.

Naturally Healthy Babies and Children by Aviva Jill Romm has some really great suggestions, too, for herbal stuff you can do to strengthen the respiratory system. I love that book!

Oh, yes, and we also cut out all wheat. We had RAST blood testing done (though if they told me it would've been 6 large tubes and inconclusive, I probably would have pased), and he came up mildly allergic to it.

03-02-2004, 12:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
mamabear ~namaste~ iTrader: 3 / 100% Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: firmly planted in the postmodern pastoral economy Posts: 12,986	Both my kids have "weak" lung spots at least according to pure genetics. Jake has major sinus issues. Ari, your list is great -- just put that book on hold. Lots of stuff we can add to our list, some that we already do. Here's what we did in the past year that made a difference. (Last winter Jake was on abx 6 times for sinus infections, this winter - nothing.) Clean air inside: eliminate carpets, mold. (Haven't gotten rid of our dog, and our old A/C unit is likely filthy as are the air vents, I'm sure. But we run an air purifier in the bedroom where J sleeps and keep things CLEAN.) I have to say eliminating the carpeting has been the major change in the past year. Make people take their shoes off to enter your house. Utne Reader has an article this month, on that subject. It keeps outside dirt, outside- incluing pesticides, and mold. We have done this for years. Infant massage, especially tummy, back and chest. And sinuses. I know my two month old was having sinus headaches. He looked like a cat: my thumb could cover the whole center of his forehead. Yes, this works great for us, too. Increase potassium and magnesium: it makes it easier for her body to move sodium and calcium, which contribute to the "stickiness." Bananas are a great source and Jacob eats tons of them. Sunshine, every day, outside, It was the treatment of choice for TB, before penicillin, and it does seem to make lungs happy. Bare bodied, as much as the weather permits. We do this as well, thanks to it being the sunny South. Trampolines also move lymph around. As does turning one's head from side to side (like looking left, looking right) -- do it slowly -- 11 times at least. This pumps the lymph. There are these little spots where you can gently press a finger, right behind the clavicle on the tops of the shoulders. They are little depressions and you will feel little muscle there, it's soft. Press gently like your fingers are bouncing on a trampoline (gently!) a few times on each side. Also for each cold I follow some or all of the following protocol to help prevent it from moving to sinuses/lungs: increase vit C to 250 mg 4x day put a couple of drops each of lavender and rosemary (tea tree if you aren't under homeopathic treatment) in the bath (tub should be full, swirl around well before putting child in) echinacea/zinc or elderberry/zinc lozenges, a couple a day herbal chest rub applied after bath (like vicks but EO's only, no nasty petroleum stuff) massage sinus pressure points on face extra foot massage paying attention to tops of feet (lung points) craniosacral balancing call homeopath Please remember, it's not like I do every single thing for every single cold (or think everyone should). I do some, none or all just depending on how he is handling it...and he has genetic challenges that others may not have. But thought I'd share what we've found works well, in case it helps anyone. Naturally Healthy Babies and Children by Aviva Jill Romm has some really great suggestions, too, for herbal stuff you can do to strengthen the respiratory system. I love that book! Oh, yes, and we also cut out all wheat. We had RAST blood testing done (though if they told me it would've been 6 large tubes and inconclusive, I probably would have pased), and he came up mildly allergic to it. __________________ *Be realistic: Plan for a miracle. ~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh* My blog! Christmas Challenge Ticker! ISO: Woodstove steamer Excalibur dehydrator *Stainless steel 6-8-qt pressure cooker The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products mentioned are not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.