Asthma is an increasingly common respiratory condition in which sufferers have difficulty moving an adequate volume of air, and often wheeze or cough as a result. If your baby is having trouble breathing or is wheezing, you may wonder whether asthma is the cause. You should not attempt to treat respiratory problems in infants with herbal remedies, however.
Asthma
Asthma is a reactive airway disease in which small air channels in the lungs, called bronchioles, become constricted. This restricts air movement and results in a characteristic wheezing noise and inadequate oxygenation. Your infant may often breathe loudly, which can sound like wheezing, and may periodically cough, regardless of whether the baby is actually sick. True asthma, however, is quite rare in infants, explains KidsHealth.org.
What To Do
If you think your baby is displaying symptoms of asthma, it's possible that you're just hearing regular congested breathing -- which is common in infants -- or your baby might be sick, explains Dr. Scott Cohen in his book "Eat, Sleep, Poop." Either way, it's best to take the baby to the pediatrician, because respiratory illnesses can be very severe in infants, and you'll want your doctor's opinion as to the cause.
Herbal Remedies
Both because asthma is almost unheard of in infants and because it's nearly impossible to diagnose, infants aren't generally treated for asthma at all, either with prescription drugs or with herbs. There are herbals that have been used historically to treat children with asthma -- ephedra is one example -- but these aren't appropriate for infants because they affect the heart and lungs, and because they do no good if the cause of the difficulty breathing isn't asthma.
Herbal Concerns
Another problem with using herbs to treat your infant's suspected asthma is that herbal remedies are regulated differently by the FDA than food and pharmaceuticals, per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. This act allows for manufacturers to sell herbal supplements without verification that they're either safe or effective, meaning you could purchase an herb that was unsafe for use in babies without knowing it. It's always best to talk to your pediatrician before giving your baby anything meant to treat a health problem.
References
- KidsHealth.org: Asthma
- FDA: Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act
- "Eat, Sleep, Poop"; Scott Cohen, M.D.; 2010
