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.
• Yellow light:
There’s a gray area when it comes to some types of alternative therapies; the data just isn’t there to say if they’re beneficial or not:
Fish oil. Some parents give their kids fish oil supplements for a boost in omega-3 levels, but these supplements can thin the blood and increase bleeding time. Ginkgo biloba also has the same effect on the blood. If a child is going to have surgery, her or she definitely shouldn’t be taking these supplements for at least several weeks beforehand.
Echinacea. Some adults take this when they get sick with a cold, but no studies show it’s beneficial for children, says Dr. Mendelow. “Some parents are giving it to kids for prevention, too, and that’s wrong,” she says.
St. John’s wort. Dr. Mendelow says she will recommend this herb, in addition to cognitive-behavioral therapy (where patients learn how to deal with negative thoughts), for mildly depressed children. It should not be used in severely depressed children, though. Talk to your doctor if you think your child might need this kind of help.
• Red light:
Dr. Mendelow says parents should shy away from seeking these methods for their children:
High-velocity chiropractic treatments. “In general, chiropractors are great as general practitioners, they do a lot of nutrition counseling, food avoidance, and gentle manipulation,” says Dr. Mendelow. But, she adds, forceful “crack the neck” kinds of therapy are inappropriate for kids.
Creatine. This high-protein supplement is often used by bodybuilders, but it can harm the kidneys. Young weight lifters should avoid it.
Ma huang. This Chinese medicine is sometimes used to control asthma and boost athletic performance, but it can lead to heart palpitations and cardiac problems and is considered extremely dangerous for kids.
• Danger signs: Certain symptoms signal that it’s not a time to experiment. Consult your physician if your child has had a fever for more than 2 or 3 days, isn’t eating or drinking well, isn’t playing after a fever comes down, or has a rash lasting more than 2 or 3 days, says Dr. Mendelow. Waking up with a headache in the middle of the night and a cough with a fever are also signs to see a doctor.