by Jane Sheppard Many of us, as teen-agers, have experienced the dread of acne. Blackheads, whiteheads and the red, swollen, pus-filled lesions we call pimples is a disease common in teens called acne vulgaris. Eight out of every ten teens experience it. Mild acne is considered a “normal” condition of puberty, continuing throughout the teen…
by Jane Sheppard If you find that bugs or insects are feeding on your children, be careful that the toxic “solution” does not put your children at greater health risk than the problem. Many of the bug or insect repellent sprays, lotions or liquids that are used on children to repel ticks, mosquitos or other…
Natural First Aid for Summer By Jane Sheppard Summer brings plenty of opportunities for kids to be outdoors. More time in nature is healthy, but children can be vulnerable to certain hazards – sunburn, insect bites, poison oak or ivy, cuts, abrasions, and other injuries. The good news is you don’t need to expose your…
Natural Treatment for Sunburn By Jane Sheppard Although moderate sunshine is healthy, children can easily get too much sun. A safe sunscreen or protective clothing should be used if spending long periods of time in the sun. If your child does get a sunburn you can help soothe the pain by taking the following steps:…
By Shiroko Sokitch, MD Symptoms of Ear Infection One of the most common problems pediatricians see is ear infection. Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection during their first year, and by age three, over two-thirds of all children will have had at least one middle ear infection….
Randall Neustaedter OMD, Lac, CCH What are the symptoms of an ear infection? Ear infections can be accompanied by mild or severe pain, or no pain at all. In babies, symptoms often only include fussiness and night waking, runny nose, or fever. Sometimes all three symptoms are present. Ear pain tends to worsen at…
Excerpt from FLU: Alternative Treatments and Prevention, by Randall Neustaedter OMD, North Atlantic Books, 2004
Some special issues apply to children with the flu. First, children can develop high fevers with much less severe accompanying symptoms than adults. A child with a 104 (40º C) temperature is miserable, but can also quickly rally. An adult with this level of fever feels as if he will die. Second, because children have easily weakened digestive functions, they tend to develop more digestive symptoms than adults. They often have vomiting and diarrhea with the flu, sometimes as one of the first few symptoms of illness. Third, children go through stages of the flu fairly quickly and the treatment regimen may need to change frequently during the course of the illness to match the symptom picture. This applies especially to homeopathic medicines. A medicine that fits the picture on day one may transition to a new medicine on day two and again on day four.
By Jane Sheppard Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, Allergies and Sick Home Syndrome The numbers of children who do not feel well are sadly increasing. Parents are puzzled because their children do not seem to remember things as well as they used to, or they may not be able to learn at their natural level of…
By Krispin Sullivan, CN Doctor Price was right, as usual. Cod liver oil is very good for you, more than you ever knew. Research studies ranging from 1918-2001 give cod liver oil an A+ rating. This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D,…
Randall Neustaedter OMD, LAc, CCH The Issue of Attention How does a child pay attention, focus, and concentrate persistently on tasks? What constitutes the norms of attention? What are the cultural expectations projected on children? How do these effect the child’s view of herself? How do attention functions intersect with other issues in a child’s…
Randall Neustaedter OMD, LAc, CCH The number of children put on drugs for attention problems is staggering, and school authorities pressure parents to use dangerous stimulant medications and antidepressants to keep children behaving in specific desirable patterns in the classroom. The approach of holistic pediatrics offers an effective management system for attention problems (so-called ADD…
Randall Neustaedter OMD, LAc, CCH Excerpt from Child Health Guide: Holistic Pediatrics for Parents, North Atlantic Books, 2005 (Click here to order Child Health Guide) Attention and attentiveness are somewhat paradoxical when viewed by adults. We expect children to pay attention. We expect them to be alert to subtle differences in similar written statements and…