Mangosteen Amounts

I had a couple comments in last week's Hunter Asthma Update asking how much of the wonderful Mangosteen juice do we give our little man.

While he was wheezing, I gave him 2 tablespoons twice a day in a glass of whatever beverage he was asking for at the time.

After about 3 days, we cut back to 1 tablespoon twice a day. Over the last couple days, he's probably only had about 1 tablespoon a day which is where we will keep it unless we start to hear wheezing again.

We've also put him on a multi-vitamin to make sure he's getting the Vitamin C and B he needs. So far so good - he doesn't even have so much as a runny nose! He played out in the snow today (which normally makes him wheeze). When he came in he was completely fine! Praise God!

WFMW - Hunter Asthma Update #2

Early last week we were facing another round of Hunter's asthma drama. We were dosing him with vitamins C and B with Emergen-C and a children's chewable.

Jamer's told me about success she's had with Mangosteen after a friend of hers said it cured her children of asthma. We bought some (crazy expensive but cheaper than the ER!).

Within 12 hours, Hunter's wheezing was almost gone, and had completely disappeared within 36 hours. We were also giving it to Brigitta who's cough was keeping her from sleeping. Her cough was also disappeared.

They were each drinking one packet of Emergen-C per day (divided between morning and evening) and two tablespoons of Mangosteen (in some juice) twice per day. Within a couple days we dropped the Emergen-C completely and went down to once/day with the Mangosteen. Now only Hunter is drinking the Mangosteen once per day for maintenance.

I'm praising God for the information He provided over the web and through friends. Hoping we will be able to avoid more attacks in the future!

Relief for Hunter - Update

After all my searching last night, we've decided to pursue this course of action to help Hunter's asthma attacks...

I ordered the Cough Tea blend (with Red Clover Tops, Licorice Root, and Ginger Root) and dried Mullein Leaf from The Bulk Herb Store. I'll use these to make a tea sweetened with stevia. (While I was ordering, I also bought some of Mama's Red Raspberry Brew for me - great stuff!)

I also bought The ABC Herbal and The How-To Herb Book. I've had my eye on them for years (something like 8 years). I found a good used price and snapped them both up for just over $11, including shipping.

In the meantime, we're encouraging the drinking of Emergen-C and anise seed tea to go with his breathing treatments. All together, what I've spent so far is less than one trip to the pediatrician - hopefully we'll be able to avoid a visit!

Searching for Relief for Hunter

Hunter started wheezing again this afternoon. :-(  He's had a slight cold, and that's enough to set the boy off. I think this makes his fourth asthma attack in the past three months including visiting the ER on our way home from Florida a few weeks ago. Not to mention his hospital stay last spring.

Time to get proactive! I've been surfing tonight trying to find some natural treatments that can keep him off the inhaler and steroids (a grumpy, amped-up two year old is never pleasant).

Here are some of the interesting things I've found so far:

• Increase intake of tomatoes, carrots and leafy vegetables
• High consumption of apples may protect against asthma (This one made me laugh because Hunter managed to take a two-bite sample from everyone's Christmas stocking apple!)
• Vitamin C, the major antioxidant present in the lining of the respiratory tract, appears to act immediately to combat inhaled oxidants (I gave Hunter and Brigitta some Emergen-C to drink and noticed reduced coughing in both!)
• Licorice as a potent anti-inflammatory that may have beneficial effect for asthmatics (I also made a tea from anise seed that I made them drink. Brigitta didn't like it, but even she said it helped.)
• Capsaicin, the active (hot) ingredient in hot peppers is a proven potent anti-inflammatory that may have application in asthma (Not sure I can get peppers down them, but I'd like that treatment!)
• Turmeric also has proven anti-inflammatory effects