Topics in Pediatrics

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Natural Lice Prevention

March 30, 2012 in Aromatherapy, Topics in Pediatrics | No comments

 

I’ve been hearing from moms lately that there have been several major outbreaks of lice in the elementary schools in Seattle. This is a common problem and one that is so frustrating when it happens in your own home. Lice are itchy! They’re also difficult to get rid of and require the use of harsh chemicals (and loads and loads of laundry!) About a year ago I learned about a natural product for preventing lice from jumping to my children’s heads. I’ve been using it ever since and so far so good (knock on wood.) It is a shampoo and leave in conditioner spray that have a strong scent of Rosemary which those little buggers hate. I use the shampoo on both of my children and on school days they each get a spritz of the conditioner at the nape of their necks (a place lice love to jump on) and on the parts of their hair. It smells wonderful to me and my kids and it gives me peace of mind.

The name of the product is Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Shampoo & Leave-in Conditioning Spray. It can be found on Amazon as well as in various Children’s Boutiques.

Interestingly, in Aromatherapy, Rosemary is said to combat mental tiredness, loss of motivation and poor focus and memory. That gives my kids an added bonus for their days in school.

 

 

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What is Shonishin?

June 22, 2011 in Acupuncture Techniques, Topics in Pediatrics | No comments

Shonishin is a Japanese acupressure technique that is well suited to babies and young children. Acupuncture channels and points are stimulated with a light stroking or pressing technique with small tools, sometimes even shells or stones. It can be used to treat all the typical childhood complaints such as colic, digestive problems, rashes, colds, etc. Even more effective, is the use of monthly shonishin on healthy young ones to help them maintain a state of wellness. It will calm them down, help them sleep better, and boost their immune function.

As you can see in the above picture, children enjoy the process of shonishin and might even enjoy “playing doctor” with it at home. It is a safe, painless, non-invasive way to help our babies and children maintain good health.

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Kids and Coughs

January 16, 2010 in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Season of Fall, Season of Spring, Season of Winter, Topics in Colds Flus Allergies, Topics in Pediatrics | No comments

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This time of year I hear a lot of patients talking about how their kids are coughing constantly. When children catch colds, they often get coughs, sometimes dry, sometimes phlegmy, and especially at night. These episodes are miserable for everyone. Western cough syrups are very strong drugs and many parents don’t want to use them but resort to them so that everyone can get some sleep.

There is a wonderful Chinese Medicine alternative. Blue Poppy Herbs makes a pediatric formula called Lung Qi Jr. that works wonders on those pesky coughing fits. I have been giving it to my children since they were infants whenever they had colds with coughs. Not only does it help to calm the coughing, it has several herbs in it that fight the infection at the source of the cough. It is one of those formulas that I think anyone with kids should have in the medicine cabinet. It comes in a liquid form and contains vegetable glycerin to sweeten it up so that it is more palateable to young tongues. I squirt it directly into my children’s mouths, but it can also be added to juice, milk, yogurt, or anything else.

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Childhood Ear Infections

July 16, 2009 in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chinese Medicine Theory, Season of Fall, Season of Spring, Season of Winter, Topics in Colds Flus Allergies, Topics in Pediatrics | No comments

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Several years ago Jake Fratkin, OMD (Oriental Medicine Doctor), made waves throughout the pediatric community by declaring on a radio show that the cause of ear infections was antibiotics. Since that time, several studies have been done which indicate that he was right. The likelihood of a recurrent ear infection during the first six weeks after taking antibiotics is significant. Not only is a child more likely to get another ear infection within six weeks if they are given antibiotics, but the recovery time from an infection is the same whether antibiotics are given or not. Even the Washington State Department of Health has issued a statement that most ear infections clear on their own and that overuse of antibiotics leads to drug resistant bacteria. So why are medical doctors still giving antibiotics to children with ear infections? In some cases, they no longer are. More and more doctors and medical institutions are reserving antibiotic administration for extreme cases of infection as a last resort. Here in Seattle, Dr. David Springer of Wallingford Pediatrics received an award from Premera Blue Cross for his use of “evidence-based best practices” in avoiding and limiting antibiotic use for ear infections.

 

So if antibiotics aren’t the answer, what do we do for ear infections? Chinese Herbal Medicine is an excellent choice for the prevention and treatment of ear infections. There are two key formulas which, when administered correctly, can alleviate pain within hours and eliminate the infection within only a couple of days. They are safe, they are effective, and they are easy to administer. Several companies have created liquid extracts of these classic Chinese formulas adding a touch of glycerin or stevia to mask the bitter flavor of the herbs so that they are more palatable to children. I have used them with my own children and have avoided any antibiotic use so far. In addition to Chinese formulas, I have used garlic ear drops, which kill microbes and dry fluid when placed directly into the ear canal, and probiotics which help the immune system fight the infection. All three can be combined and your Chinese Medicine practitioner can help you determine the best course of treatment so you can avoid unnecessary, and potential harmful antibiotic overuse in your children.

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What Is So Great About Fishoil?

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Nutritional Therapy, Season of Fall, Season of Spring, Season of Summer, Topics in Colds Flus Allergies, Topics in Muscles Bones and Joints, Topics in Pediatrics, Topics in Pregnancy and Postpartum | No comments

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The main reason that fish and fish oils are so important is because they contain two fatty acids that do not occur naturally in any foods other than fish.

These fatty acids are called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Together with ALA (alpha linolenic acid), they are known as omega-3 fatty acids.

They are highest in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardine, tuna and salmon.

The average intake of EPA/DHA in the US diet is only 11-20% of the recommended amount.

These two fatty acids from fish oil have been shown in hundreds of studies to be beneficial in a wide spectrum of human health including:

Heart Health

including all types of cardiovascular disease by reducing triglycerides (fat levels) in the blood, reducing VLDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, Reducing inflammatory markers, which are now known to be very important in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, and by regulating (smoothing out) the rhythmic beat of the heart.

Arthritis, inflammation and allergy

including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, seasonal and food allergies, and eczema.

Child Development

both before and after birth. DHA and another fatty acid (arachidonic acid) are essential for the correct development of the fetal brain and mental ability. Neural development and eye function may be adversely affected by inadequate supply. 11% of the weight of the brain is the fatty acid DHA. Supplementing DHA in breast fed or formula fed infants has been shown to increase cognitive function including vocabulary and comprehension in 18 month olds.

Mental alertness, cognitive function and mood

due to the fact that EPA and DHA are the building blocks of neural cells. Those suffering from depression have significantly lower levels of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. Populations with higher consumption of fish have lower rates of depression than those with lower consumption. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly is more common in people with low blood levels of DHA.

So eat your wild caught fish!! Wild caught fish have a significantly lower levels of metals and other contaminants than farm raised fish. If wild fish is unavailable, or unappealing to you, take a fish oil supplement daily. Be sure you get your oil from a reputable source to ensure purity and high potency. High quality oils are tested for mercury, other heavy metals and PCBs. Consider a fish oil with the addition of the fat soluable vitamins A, D and E.

Since Copper River Salmon is in season right now, I highly recommend splurging and treating yourself to a delicious meal. I made this recipe last night from www.westcoastcooking.com and found it to be outstanding!!

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When a Baby is Breech

July 15, 2009 in Acupuncture Techniques, Topics in Pediatrics | No comments

Near the end of pregnancy, when the due date begins to loom, most babies will position themselves head down and facing the mother’s back. This is the ideal position for labor and delivery. When a baby is in this position the head descends and puts pressure on the mother’s cervix which helps initiate labor and leads to effective, productive contractions during labor. This position is also ideal for the descent of the baby through the birth canal and out into the world.

While turning head down is the norm, not all babies move into this position on their own. Giving birth to a breech baby who is butt down or feet down is possible, but it carries a higher risk to the baby and mother and most care providers are not willing to do it.

There are two choices in Western medicine when it comes to breech babies. One is to attempt a manual version from the outside. The midwife or OB will use their hands on the outside of the mother’s abdomen to try and turn the baby into the ideal position. This is done with the aid of an ultrasound machine while the heart rate of both baby and mother are monitored closely. It is not without risk and not all practitioners are willing to perform this technique. Some women find it to be painful and opt out of trying it. The second choice, when manual version is not an option, or is undesired, is to schedule a cesarean section.

Chinese medicine offers another option. 

There is a simple technique that can be quite successful if applied correctly and daily within a specific time period.

Moxibustion is applied to the point Zhiyin (BL-67) on both feet for 15 minutes every day.

A practitioner of Chinese Medicine can perform the technique once, showing the woman and a partner how it is done, and then the woman can have it done at home every day for up to 5 days. After 5 days, the pregnant woman should be checked to see if the baby has in fact turned. If not, another 5 days of moxa can be applied.

The ideal week of gestation for applying moxa is week 34, but anywhere between 30 and 38 can be done. If it is applied too early, the baby may turn back into the breech position, while attempting too late may not be successful if the baby doesn’t have enough amniotic fluid or room to make the move.

There have been several studies performed testing the efficacy of this technique. The success rates vary from 60% to 80% success, depending on the study. Most of these studies also conclude that the 34th week of pregnancy is the ideal time to perform moxibustion for turning breech babies.

I have personally seen this technique succeed and feel that it is usually worth trying when cesarean section is the only other option.

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When Our Children Suffer From Illness

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Medicine Theory, Topics in Pediatrics | No comments

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Children bring us such joy. Watching them play, learn, and drink in life with such zeal is a benefit to our heart qi. It is so painful for us to see them sick. As a mother, I have found this to be true, and I have seen it in the parents of my pediatric patients.

Children Can Benefit from Chinese Medicine

When our children suffer, there is no reason we can’t help them with acupuncture and herbs. Children’s bodies change so fast, they respond quickly to treatment and require very little to step onto the road to recovery. With small children, needles are inserted and removed quickly. There is no need to retain needles for the usual 20-30 minutes, since the qi of children is so close to the surface and very accessible. In addition to this quick needling technique, medical massage, called Tui Na, and acupressure can be used, particularly when a child is afraid of the needles. I have found that parents tend to be more worried than their children about having needles inserted. Children are usually more curious than anything, but will pick up on the fear of their parents and then decide they do not want to be needled. When this happens, acupressure and massage techniques can still be very effective.

Herbal medicine is as safe for our children as it is for us. There are a few companies making Chinese Herbal formulas in liquid form specifically for children. These are easy to administer, either directly into the mouth with a quick squirt, or mixed in with drinks or soft foods such as yogurt or oatmeal. My own daughter takes hers directly into her mouth without complaint, but as the daughter of an herbalist, she has had many years to get used to the taste of chinese medicinals. With older children, the same herbal pills that we take ourselves can be given in smaller doses.*

Moxibustion is another technique that is very useful for children. Even newborns can benefit from a little moxa to warm the belly and aid in digestion.

What Pediatric Disorders Does Chinese Medicine Treat?

Children suffer from some of the same disorders that adults do. There are also some things to which children are more prone and below is a list of the most commonly seen things in the pediatric Chinese Medicine clinic.

Colds, Flus, Allergies

Ear Infections

Skin rashes, viral, eczema, or acne

Constipation, Diarrhea, Vomiting or Gas

Acid Reflux

Failure to Thrive, Low appetite

Insomnia, or Night Terrors

Irritability or Agitation, Anxiety

ADHD

Asthma

Headaches

Cough

Sinus Infections

Menstrual Irregularities

Depression

*Always seek the advice of a trained herbalist before administering herbs to children.