Yoga can be a healthy choice for kids; not all alternative therapies are as benign.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—More and more parents are turning to alternative medicine treatments for their kids, according to recent studies. Some are looking to avoid expensive doctor visits for minor problems like the common cold; others want to avoid drug side effects or feel their doctors aren’t considering nondrug treatment options. But while some alternative therapies seem safe and effective for kids, others are inappropriate or downright dangerous.

THE DETAILS: New research shows that that up to 30 percent of healthy children, and 50 percent of chronically ill children, use some form of alternative or complementary therapy. Parents need to make sure a particular remedy or supplement is safe before giving it to a child, warns Dolores Mendelow, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School. “There is a huge place for complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics. In terms of complementary medicine, we’re using acupuncture, dietary supplementation, and herbal or botanical therapies,” says Dr. Mendelow. “Parents can ask doctors if certain alternative therapies will hurt a child,” she recommends. “It’s a good opportunity to open up a dialogue about this with your physician. And doctors need to learn more about them.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Every child is different, and depending on their medical history and medicines they’re taking, not every holistic treatment will be a good fit. It’s best to talk to your pediatrician before starting any new therapy, but here are the options generally accepted as safe, and ones to avoid.

Use the traffic light approach when considering alternative therapies for your child:

• Green light:
Dr. Mendelow says many mental and physical health conditions in children can be soothed by alternative therapies, including:

Honey for a cold. “Over-the-counter medicines like Sudafed aren’t helpful for the common cold, but honey and buckwheat are,” Dr. Mendelow says. A word of caution: Never give honey to a child younger than age 1. Eating elderberry fruit, or taking extracts of it, is also effective. If your child is on chemotherapy, however, this should be avoided.

Acupuncture for migraine. Acupuncture has a good track record for treating migraines, Dr. Mendelow says. It’s also known to ease nausea symptoms associated with chemotherapy treatments. Look for a practitioner who treats lots of kids.

Cranberry for frequent urinary tract infections. Children with a habit of holding their urine tend to be may be more prone to UTIs. Once doctors have ruled out a kidney problem, use cranberry juice or extracts as a natural way to prevent the irritating infections.

Probiotics for diarrhea. You can find probiotics—beneficial bacteria like those found in the human GI tract—sold in drinks, in foods like yogurt, and in supplement form. They’re especially useful in treating diarrhea associated with taking antibiotics.

Yoga and tai chi for stress relief and anxiety. The mind-body connection can do wonderful things for a child’s health. Yoga plus prescribed medicines can help asthmatic patients breathe better and remain calm during an attack, in addition to providing general stress reduction. Research shows tai chi helps reduce the risk of depression and anxiety in teens.