A Peaceful Place

Alternatives for Kids

By Anne Krueger

For most of us, the idea of sticking a child with needles is unnerving. We cringe at vaccinations, avert our gaze during the annual drawing of blood, and spend a great deal of time protecting our little ones from the errant sharp object. Ami Atkinson is no different. Yet there she sat in the spartan office of a practitioner of Chinese medicine, with curtained acupuncture stalls on one side of her and a wall of weird-looking herbs and roots on the other. She looked at her two-year-old son Will and wondered if she could go through with the appointment.

Then Will opened his mouth and coughed—and the flashbacks started rolling: the months of nebulizer and prescription drugs, the emergency room visit, the wheezing and coughing that never really went away. "Was I anxious about letting someone poke tiny needles into my child? A little," says the Palo Alto, California, mom. "But was I ready to try almost anything to help Will cope with his asthma? You bet."

Like Atkinson, many parents are nervous about venturing outside the confines of traditional medicine when it comes to their children. My own kids have had chronic earaches and respiratory ailments, but still I’m wary. How do we know if any of this stuff works? What if I waste time giving them an herbal supplement, when the antibiotic the doctor ordered would have worked better? Worse, what if I give my daughters something that actually harms them?

But if you talk to a lot of "last resort" cases, as I did, you’ll be reassured. Parent after parent told me tales of chronic ailments—from earaches to colic—that were finally cured through some sort of alternative therapy. Not one of those children was harmed along the way. And if their testimonials hadn’t convinced me, Michael Cantwell’s would have.

A pediatrician and specialist in infectious diseases, Cantwell is the director of the Health and Healing Clinic at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He calls himself a "whatever works doc," and his combination of medical training and open-mindedness dispelled my last worries about the mysteries or risks of alternative medicine for kids.

I especially like the fact that Cantwell looks at the big picture instead of just at the symptoms. "To be effective, you need to approach the child holistically," Cantwell says. "Consider the mental or emotional overlay to the disease and address that first, since that’s where the disease may originate." Stress, for example, is one of the things that can put the immune system out of balance, he says, even with kids. So if a child is coming down with cold after cold, it may be worth teaching him or her a relaxation therapy, such as meditation or guided imagery.

Cantwell is also reassuring about the risks of alternative medicine. It’s true that there hasn’t been a lot of scientific study of most alternative therapies, especially in the treatment of children. But using them, he says, presents few risks. "Nobody is going to die from an overdose of guided imagery or music therapy or craniosacral therapy," he says. Even most herbs and supplements are fine, he adds, as long as you consult a practitioner or a reference book for the proper dosage.

In fact, some of these treatments may be even better suited to children than adults. "Young people may be more responsive because their immune systems haven’t yet been compromised by years of disease or abuse," says Dana Ullman, a Berkeley, California homeopath and author of Homeopathic Medicines for Children and Infants. With osteopathy, in fact, which taps into the body’s own self-correcting mechanisms, the younger the patient the better, says Mark Rosen, an osteopath in Palo Alto. "We call children bent twigs because they’re still growing," he explains. "If we intervene early, often we can remove a potential lifelong obstacle to good health."

That sounds great to me, but I also know that some alternative healing isn’t so quick. (Learning to relax, as Cantwell mentioned, takes more time than popping an antibiotic.) And I do foresee a bit of a problem with the patience part of alternative medicine. As a busy working mom and a card-carrying member of the quick-fix generation, I’ve always liked my medicine simple and swift. I haven’t gone so far as the sitcom mom I saw recently who said to her son, "You can’t be sick today; tomorrow would be better," but I have urged the doctor more than once to give my children the super-duper antibiotic shot, rather than the ten-day course. And I have dispensed ibuprofen in the hopes that my nine-year-old’s morning aches came from school-day blues rather than a virus.

Also, my family lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where our pediatrician hadn’t even heard of the Harvard-trained alternative medicine guru Andrew Weil. Where am I going to find someone I trust who can guide me on this holistic journey?

Still, I’m not ready to settle back into the world of prescriptions and pills. I remember those ear tubes both my kids had surgically inserted, not to mention all the steroids they inhaled and the antibiotics they chugged before the age of two. It was hard on the whole family at the time, and who knows the future repercussions of all of that early messing around? I become more and more convinced that alternative medicine is worth a try.

Happily, Janet Zand, a naturopath and author of Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, who lives in Austin, Texas, advises me on how to get started in this alternatives-lite town. She tells me I’ll have to educate our family pediatrician and ask him to work with some local alternative medicine practitioners of my choice. "Anybody who calls him- or herself a physician needs to stay on top of what’s happening in all of medicine," she says. "I work with quite a few open-minded pediatricians who call me and say, ‘Look, I’ve had this kid on antibiotics for six months. What do you suggest?�?

If your family physician isn’t open to the therapies you suggest, Zand says, find a new doc. "It’s a parent’s right to feel good about their child’s medical care," she says. "None of this is black and white. You shouldn’t be encouraged to accept a prescription drug for your child if you don’t feel it’s necessary, and you shouldn’t be talked into acupuncture if you don’t think that’s right. You know your child best."

For Atkinson, whose son Will had such persistent asthma, following her instincts paid off in a minor miracle. "I can’t tell you how much of a difference acupuncture and herbs have made in our lives," raves Atkinson, whose son was breathing easier after just a few acupuncture treatments and several weeks of Chinese herbs. "I don’t really know how it works," she admits. "But I don’t really care. It works."

10 Childhood Complaints
Alternative medicine has much to offer children. To help you get started, we’ve talked to the experts and consulted leading references for advice.

Colds & Coughs
There’s still no cure for the common cold. But instead of dosing your child with an antibiotic (which won’t work anyway since colds are viral), or reaching for an over-the-counter drug that may squelch symptoms but cause side effects, try these alternative therapies.

SUPPLEMENTS & HERBS At the first sign of a cold, the old standbys for grownups—echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc—work fine for kids, says naturopath Janet Zand, author of Smart Medicine for a Healthy Child. The doses vary depending on the child’s age; Zand’s book gives detailed information on each. For vitamin C, lower the dose if diarrhea results.

Once a cold is full-blown, mullein tea is an effective cough reliever, and a tea made from sage and thyme helps clear mucus from the lungs. (The teas are available at health food stores.) To ease coughing, try an herbal rub made with 4 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 drops of eucalyptus, sage, rosemary, or peppermint oil. Another supplement, beta-carotene, helps the body manufacture vitamin A, which heals mucous membranes. Check Zand’s book for dosage information.

HOMEOPATHY To nip a cold in the bud, try anas barbariae, also called oscillococcinum, at the first sign of illness. After a cold gets going, various homeopathic treatments are available that may combat symptoms ranging from nasal congestion and swollen glands (try kali muriaticum), to fever with cough and sweating (belladonna), to loose rattling cough with "green snots" (pulsatilla), to a wet, clogged nose (hephar). With homeopathy, it’s very important to tailor the remedy to the symptoms and the person—this is called the law of similars—so you need to consult a practitioner or a good reference book to find what’s best for your child. Try Homeopathic Medicines for Children and Infants, by homeopath Dana Ullman.

CHINESE MEDICINE Acupressure is often used to relieve head congestion and coughing and to ease breathing. A practitioner can show you how to massage the relevant spots so you can do it yourself at home.

AROMATHERAPY To unstuff a nose, add some rosemary or orange oil to your humidifier.

Ear Infections
Recent studies show that in most cases, children recover from ear infections just as well without antibiotics as with them. In fact, treating ear infections with antibiotics can weaken the immune system, says naturopath Mary Bove, author of An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants. That, in turn, can lead to more infections—and more antibiotics. In contrast, alternative therapies ease earache pain and help break the cycle of infection.

HOMEOPATHY Ullman likes to tell people that his son had an ear infection two times, both for about an hour. "It gets a laugh, but it’s true," he says. In both instances, he treated his son with pulsatilla, but chamomilla also eases pain. Chamomilla is considered good for children who tend to be irritable and fussy when they’re sick; pulsatilla works better for kids who are clingy and want attention and sympathy.

MANUAL HEALING Fluid trapped in the middle ear—which causes infection and pain—can sometimes be released with an osteopathic treatment, according to osteopath Mark Rosen. "If you can get the fluid moving, often the symptoms of an earache will go away," he says. Chiropractic may also work.

HERBS Mullein oil, made from the powerful herb, reduces swelling and inflammation. Heat to slightly above body temperature and put 1 or 2 drops of warm oil into the affected ear three times a day for three days. Or combine the mullein oil with a very small amount of garlic oil for an antiviral and antibacterial combo. You don’t want to use this if your child’s eardrum is perforated, so it’s a good idea to check with your doctor first.

DIET & NUTRITION Some practitioners have begun recommending an unusual new preventive remedy for children who have recurring ear infections: xylitol. It’s a naturally-occurring sweetener that has a slightly different chemical make-up from sugar—and therefore different effects. Other sugars promote the growth of bacteria, particularly Strep mutans, which causes cavities and is closely related to another species of bacteria that is the major cause of ear infections. Xylitol, in contrast, inhibits Strep mutans. A major study showed that kids who chewed xylitol-sweetened gum�? pieces, 5 times a day, for a total of 8.5 grams—cut their incidence of ear infections in half.

AROMATHERAPY Dilute equal parts lavender oil with vegetable or olive oil and swab the area around the ear. If your child doesn’t mind, put the oil on a cotton ball and place it partially in the ear. Change it several times a day.

Tummy Trouble
Diarrhea shouldn’t be suppressed too quickly because your child will feel better after he or she has been flushed clean, experts say. But be sure to keep your child hydrated during this process. Natural remedies can ease diarrhea’s discomfort, as well as the aches from gas or a garden-variety upset stomach.

HERBS Peppermint tea and ginger can soothe an aching tummy. For babies, naturopath Bove recommends 1 teaspoon of ginger tincture with 2 tablespoons of filtered water. Give doses of 3 to 5 drops, every 1 to 2 hours. It might be easier to use a 1-ounce bottle than a regular baby bottle.

SUPPLEMENTS Yogurt with active cultures or supplemental lactobacillus acidophilus and lactobacillus bifidus restore healthy flora to intestines disrupted by antibiotics or other disturbances.

HOMEOPATHY For the diarrhea that can accompany teething, try calcarea carbonica. For the gassy or crampy child, try magnesia phosphorica.

CHINESE MEDICINE Curing Pills, a Chinese herbal formula, can help tummy upsets and diarrhea, according to Zand. The package contains dosage instructions.

MIND-BODY Although mind-body techniques aren’t generally used for the occasional stomachache or bout of diarrhea, hypnosis has proven helpful in treating older children who suffer from nervous diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome, says Kathi J. Kemper, a pediatrician and author of The Holistic Pediatrician.

Asthma
Because asthma can be life-threatening, children should never go cold turkey on their conventional medications, and they should remain under a doctor’s care. The doctor can advise you about cutting back on inhaled steroids and other drugs while introducing alternatives. If your child’s condition remains stable or improves, you may be able to cut back some more.

HOMEOPATHY/CHINESE MEDICINE Randall Neustaedter, a doctor of Oriental medicine and author of The Child Health Guide, says he’s been able to completely wean children from prescription bronchodilators and steroids with a combination of homeopathy and herbs. He suggests so many options that it’s difficult to recommend a single regimen, so consult his book or a homeopath for advice.

MIND-BODY Studies show that relaxation techniques—yoga, meditation, or deep breathing—help kids with all sorts of pulmonary conditions. In one study, for instance, asthmatic kids who received a daily massage from a parent breathed more easily and suffered fewer attacks. In other studies, patients achieved similar results by keeping a journal.

SUPPLEMENTS In Japan, children with bronchial asthma who were given fish oil capsules reported fewer asthma symptoms. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce the body’s production of inflammatory chemicals. Kemper has her asthma patients, children or adults, take sustained-release vitamin C supplements and eat a diet rich in magnesium. Vitamin C reduces reactivity to histamine (the chemical that causes bronchial spasms), and study participants with high magnesium levels had fewer and less severe breathing problems.

Colic
This one’s a stumper, because it has no known cause and no surefire cure. (Just ask any parent who’s been up with a crying baby until 3:00 a.m.). That’s all the more reason to add these remedies to your arsenal.

HERBS Studies have shown that herbal teas—particularly, chamomile, but also fennel, vervain, dill, licorice, and balm mint—are helpful. Give them to your baby right from a bottle or mix them with breast milk or formula. Try a little bit at a time to see if your baby is allergic, and don’t give more than 4 to 6 ounces per day.

MANUAL HEALING Osteopath Mark Rosen has had good luck treating colic, which he thinks is caused by the combination of an immature gut and cranial nerves that were compressed or irritated during the birth process.

MUSIC THERAPY In one study, parents played a recording of soothing music and paid extra attention to their baby during periods when the baby was calm. Then, during crying episodes they turned off the music and spent less time tending to the child. Within days of this conditioning, the baby’s crying and colic significantly decreased.

Attention Disorders
Many symptoms get lumped together under the "attention disorder" label. Kids with attention deficit disorder (ADD) have difficulty focusing but are very calm. Others suffer from the more overactive version of the condition, called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And way too many children end up on prescription drugs, such as Ritalin. Before medicating a child who can’t pay attention or who is aggressive, it’s worth considering these options.

DIET & NUTRITION One study showed that when kids with ADHD ate a diet free of chemical additives, preservatives, MSG, chocolate, and caffeine, they had fewer behavior problems and less trouble sleeping.

SUPPLEMENTS Vitamins E and C, magnesium, flaxseed and primrose oils, and zinc have all proven effective in decreasing symptoms of ADHD. But it’s worth having your child tested by a naturopath to see which ones might work best for him or her.

HOMEOPATHY A British study found that children with ADHD showed far fewer signs of hyperactivity once they began taking homeopathic medicine. Here, again, the options are too various to recommend a particular remedy, so you should consult a
homeopath.

CHINESE MEDICINE In another study, kids undergoing acupuncture were calmer and better able to focus and interact appropriately.

MIND-BODY At the Healing Center of the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, techniques such as yoga, biofeedback, and guided imagery are used to help children slow down. "We teach parents to relax as well," says pediatrician Cantwell, "since there’s evidence that children may feed off their parents�?anxiety."

Autism
Cantwell believes that conventional medicine has little to offer autistic children. But this unfortunate condition, in which kids suffer from a range of social and communication problems, has responded well to some alternative therapies.

SUPPLEMENTS "There’s some evidence that a high daily dose of cod liver oil is beneficial," says Cantwell. The natural vitamin A in this oil is thought to benefit receptors critical for sensory perception, language processing, and attention. Some doctors prescribe a combo of prescription Bethanechol, a drug that comes from betel nuts, and natural cod liver oil. Eighteen studies have established that vitamin B-6 and magnesium can produce dramatic improvement in some cases of autism. DMG (formerly called vitamin B-15) is another safe nonprescription nutrient that has brought marked improvement in speech, learning, and attention span.

DIET & NUTRITION Research suggests that some autistic children may benefit from a diet free of gluten and casein. These proteins are found in common allergens milk and whey, and the thinking is that food allergies may exacerbate developmental problems for some kids.

HOMEOPATHY Bruce Semon, a doctor and psychiatrist who uses homeopathy in his practice, has had success with zincum metallicum, helleborus niger, and syphilinum. But he recommends consulting a homeopath to find a remedy that’s individualized for your child.

Headaches
See a doctor immediately if your child also has a high fever, vomiting, or a stiff neck. Otherwise, try one or more of these therapies.

MIND-BODY Tension is a major cause of headaches, so learning to relax is key. In fact, there’s more evidence that hypnosis and guided imagery cure migraines in kids than there is for conventional medicine, says Cantwell. Biofeedback can also help.

HOMEOPATHY Treatments vary for migraine, tension, and sinus headaches (which sometimes feel like migraines), so consult a practitioner or reference book.

DIET & NUTRITION A food elimination diet may help determine if your child’s headaches are caused by a particular food or chemical. A multivitamin with calcium and magnesium may also help, since these minerals calm muscles and relax blood vessels. Zand suggests giving a child a liquid combo supplement with 250 milligrams (mg) of calcium and 125 mg of magnesium, twice a day, until the headache eases.

MANUAL HEALING While there haven’t been studies on children, anecdotal evidence suggests that manipulation techniques such as chiropractic, osteopathy, and craniosacral therapy, which are all safe, can help ease headaches.

Pain
There’s nothing worse than watching a child in pain—from falls, from illness, or from surgery. Fortunately, you don’t have to just sit by and wait it out.

CHINESE MEDICINE Acupuncture works so well that since the year 2000, it has been an option in more than 30 percent of the pediatric pain treatment programs at academic medical centers in North America.

MIND-BODY Many studies show that biofeedback, hypnosis, and guided imagery can help children suffering from post-operative pain and other discomforts.

HERBS White willow bark is a natural anti-inflammatory that can be given in a tea with chamomile.

HOMEOPATHY Arnica is an age-old treatment for pain from injuries or bruising. For post-surgical pain, homeopaths often prescribe hypericum.

Constipation
Hard stools can be caused by a couple of days of poor eating. But if constipation persists, your child may need help these gentle therapies can provide.

DIET & NUTRITION Fiber is the safest treatment for constipation, and you can introduce it gradually. Start with whole-grain cereals and breads; if your child needs something stronger, sprinkle a gentle, natural laxative such as psyllium or flaxseeds on cereal. And make sure your child drinks plenty of water to keep stools from getting dry and hard.

MIND-BODY Techniques such as hypnosis and guided imagery might be better for the child whose constipation has an emotional component, which can surface either during toilet training or later. A child might learn to visualize having a bowel movement that isn’t painful. A few sessions may be all that’s needed to get things back to normal.

From: [http://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com]

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