Healthy Family
DR. LAUREN GOUIN, N.D.
The Childhood Immunity Trio: Eczema, Allergies and Asthma
A
child starts out with very little immunity developed at birth. The gross majority of an individual’s immune system is developed and cultivated with experience and interac-
tion with the environment. The influences from our environment currently are not the same as our ancestors, and with these new influences come an increase in several disease states in children. Eczema, allergies and asthma are all conditions associated
with childhood; however, they are substantially on the rise as the immune systems of our children are developing in a world of numerous vaccinations, highly processed foods and medications that interfere with the immune system’s development, such as an- tibiotics and aspirin. Also, there are new challenges, with plastics and other chemicals for our children’s young bodies to have to process and clear. On the surface, conditions like eczema, asth- ma and allergic reactions seem like different organ systems and almost unrelated. However, all these conditions surface where the environment
interfaces with the body, skin, lungs, eyes and nose. Our immune systems are vigilant at these locations, monitoring for potential foreign antigens. The skin and lungs are also two of the four loca- tions in the body known as the emunctories. Emunctories are the ways your body clears toxins and waste from the body. The secretions in sweat and the moisture and exchange in
breath are both ways the body clears unwanted chemicals and substances. A challenged immune system and demand on our detoxification pathways strains different aspects of young people, manifesting in skin conditions like eczema, breathing conditions like asthma, and allergic reactions like itchy eyes and a runny nose.
Eczema Currently one in five children in the United States will de-
velop eczema. Itchy, dry, red skin on the folds of elbows, behind ears or other patches on the body seems nothing more than that. It can blister and scab over time, but beyond the surface, eczema is a sign that the immune system is irritated, whether from an al- lergen, imbalance or irritant.
Asthma The most common chronic condition in children is the
tight chest, wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing of asthma. Between five to fifteen percent of American children suffer from this condition. Fourteen million school days are missed by children every year due to asthma and the rates of cases of asthma and child deaths from asthma continues to rise.
Seasonal Allergies Up to thirty percent of children suffer from some form of
seasonal allergy. Stuffy nose, itchy eyes and many symptoms of congestion that mimic a common cold can plague a child year round. Molds, dust, ragweed and other pollens are in all our envi-
www.naturalnutmeg.com September 2010 27
ronments, however, they can be a poison to some young immune systems when these environmental triggers create inflammation and irritation in the body.
Treatment
Calm and Balance There are many external factors that up regulate portions of a
child’s immune system. One of the goals when addressing an agi- tated immune system is to reduce inflammation and irritation and re-establish balance. Healthy fats can be part of the support of a calm immune system. Omega 3 essential fatty acids help keep the immune system calm and less reactive to external irritants. Stud- ies have found it to be helpful for all three of the common child- hood immune overreactions. Another excellent way to balance the immune system is to help repopulate the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. With a large part of the immune system being harbored around the digestive tract, researchers are now finding balancing bugs in the gut actually reduces risk of upper respira- tory infections, improve skin conditions like eczema and reduces our allergic reactions to the environment.
Treat the Cause While calming and balancing the immune system, address-
ing the cause of imbalance should be the long term goal. Natur- opathic medicine aims to support the immune system’s develop- ment, by nurturing a natural response to colds, good nutrition and removing obstacles to cure, such as food sensitivities and allergies. Aiding a young immune system to develop correctly from the start may prevent other diseases in the future.
Dr. Lauren Gouin is a board certified naturopathic physician with a family practice at 135 Center St, Manchester. She is currently accept- ing new patients and is in network with most insurance companies. To make an appointment, call (860)533-0179 or visit www.ctnatural-
health.com. See ad on page 32.
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