Nutritional supplements and chiropractic adjustments helped a young boy alleviate his breathing troubles

A 10-year-old white male presented to my office with the chief complaint of breathing difficulties. He reported having chronic nosebleeds, a continuous sore throat, sinus congestion, and a chronic cough. At age 7, he had his tonsils and adenoids removed at the recommendation of another physician.

Other symptoms he reported included tenderness over the maxillary sinuses, headaches, “head rushes” when he stood from a sitting position, yellow discharge from his nose, post nasal drip, wheezing, pain on the right side of his chest, pain in his ears, abdominal pain occasionally after eating, diarrhea, an increase in symptoms in cold and damp places, and more difficulty breathing with exercise. He was taking medications for asthma, allergies, bronchospasm, and heartburn. He was diagnosed with asthma 2 years prior to seeing me based on decreased lung function studies and presenting symptoms. The patient reported that his breathing treatments did not always help.

Physical Exam Findings
Height, 5 feet 1 inch tall”; weight, 131 pounds; temperature, 97.2°; respiration, 20; pulse, 104; skin color and texture, normal. Thyroid palpation was within normal limits (WNL). Cervical nodes were tender and enlarged on the right side, as were submaxillary nodes on the right side. Eye exam was WNL. Otoscopic examination revealed excessive cerumen bilaterally. Nose and paranasal exam revealed inflamed turbinates bilaterally. Oral cavity and pharynx was WNL. Auscultation of lungs revealed wheezing bilaterally on inspiration and expiration. Auscultation of the heart was WNL. Auscultation, palpation, and inspection of the abdomen was normal.

Motor exam revealed 5/5 in upper and lower extremities. Pain, light touch, and Romberg’s test were WNL. Deep-tendon reflexes were 2+ for biceps, triceps, knee, and ankle. Distal pulses were normal. Motion palpation revealed restrictions at C1–C3 on the right and T4–T7 right lateral flexion. Range of motion was decreased in cervical rotation and right lateral flexion with end-point tenderness. Range of motion of the thoracic and lumbar spine were WNL. Vertebral artery screen was negative bilaterally.

I recommended a complete blood chemistry panel, food IgG ELISA (enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay) testing, and candida immune complex.

Candida immune complex was negative. Food IgG ELISA testing revealed a positive response to barley, coconut, corn, egg white, egg yolk, malt, cow’s milk, mustard, oat, peanut, black pepper, safflower, soybean, black walnut, wheat, brewer’s yeast, and yogurt.

Blood chemistry was evaluated by clinical standards and optimal standards (as used by the American Chiropractic Association Council on Diagnosis and Internal Disorders).

Laboratory results revealed the following:

• hemoglobin level: 13.1. Low clinically and optimally;
• hematocrit: 38.8. Low clinically and optimally;
• neutrophils: 67.6. High optimally;
• lymphocytes: 21.3. Low optimally;
• sedimentation rate: 55. High clinically and optimally;
• cholesterol: 222. High clinically and optimally;
• LDL: 168. High clinically and optimally;
• HDL: 43. Low optimally;
• C-reactive protein (CRP): 6. Abnormal by clinical and optimal standards;
• white blood cells: 8.3. High optimally;
• sodium: 136. Low optimally;
• magnesium: 2.1. Slightly low optimally;
• serum glutamic oxaloacetic (SGOT, a liver enzyme): 14. Low optimally;
• calcium: 8.9. Low optimally;
• serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT, a liver enzyme): 42. High optimally;
• thyroxine (a thyroid hormone): 12.0. High optimally;
• thyroid stimulating hormone: 0.905. Low optimally.
• iron: 70. Low optimally; and
• iron saturation: 20. Borderline low clinically.

On the day of lab testing, the patient completed a symptom questionnaire and the following symptoms were checked off: chronic sinus problems, frequently clearing throat, sinus trouble, allergic rhinitis due to food, chronic stuffy nose, thick post nasal drip, chronic cough, and asthma.

Treatment
The initial report of findings was done 21¼2 weeks after the initial testing. Chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) was recommended two to three times a week, and the patient was unable to comply. CMT was performed once per week based on motion palpation of the cervical and thoracic spine, and the patient tolerated treatment well. The test results demonstrated food IgG sensitivities, subclinical hyperthyroid function, inflammation (based on the elevated sedimentation rate and abnormal CRP), B-vitamin deficiency, anemia, suboptimal levels of calcium and magnesium, hypercholesterolemia, suboptimal levels of iron, and a possible subclinical viral component to his asthma (indicated by the neutrophil, lymphocyte, and white blood cell count).

Recommendations (with CMT):

• B12 and folic acid (4,800 mcg., 6,000 mcg.)
• B-complex;
• beta-carotene, 150,000 iu;
• bromelain, quercitin, and N-acetyl cysteine;
• magnesium 600 mg, once per day;
• calcium 1200 mg, once per day;
• gugu lipids and chromium;
• melissa extract; and
• iron 50 mg, once per day.

All allergic foods were removed from his diet for three months.

Five weeks later, the patient had lost 10 pounds and had reduced his breathing treatments to 1 per day, but he was still suffering from sinus congestion, yellow discharge nasally, and a cough. I prescribed lauric acid, a combination of stinging nettles, quercitin, and N-acetyl cysteine, and vitamin C to bowel tolerance. He was adjusted on this visit. Within 1 week, the symptoms had cleared.

The patient continues to follow the dietary and nutritional recommendations as prescribed for 3 months.

After 3 months, he was off his breathing treatments and all prescription medications (by his own doing). The chronic cough was completely resolved. He was no longer clearing his throat, reported no sinus trouble, and no post nasal drip. The patient reported not having to use breathing treatments to get through his daily activities. He was running in gym class, which he has not been able to do for years. At the 3-month mark, we started to reintroduce the allergic foods to determine which ones may be put back in his diet without re-creating the original symptoms.

At 6-months, he was riding a bicycle 5 miles per day, he no longer had breathing difficulties, and no longer took prescription medicines or breathing treatments. The reintroduction of dairy, peanuts, and coconut again created the congestion, and he had once again eliminated those foods from his diet. His cholesterol returned to normal. CRP and SED rate were within normal limits. Iron was within normal limits.

He has since discontinued the gugu lipids and chromium, iron, and the bromelain, quercitin, and N-acetyl cysteine. He takes the other supplements, continues with maintenance CMT one time a month, and had no recurring breathing issues for one full year as of December 2005. CP

Cindy M. Howard, DC, DABCI, FIAMA, practices in Orland Park, IL and is president of the American Chiropractic Association Council on Diagnosis and Internal Disorders. Contact her at drcindyhoward@msn.com.