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Oriental
medicine is a non-invasive healing modality that facilitates the
bodyıs
natural ability to heal itself by restoring harmony and balance to
the
entire individual. The medicine originated in China more than 3,000
years
ago and is one of the most common medical systems in the world, used
by
one quarter of he worldıs population. Although it has been offered in
the
United States for more than 150 years, most Americans were exposed to
it
in
1972 when New York Times columnist James Reston used acupuncture
during a
trip
to China to provide pain relief from an emergency appendectomy.
In
the last 30 years, the many side effects and shortcomings of modern
Western
medicine have gained more attention. In particular, the overuse of
antibiotics
in children has led to serious health problems, including the
epidemic
of pediatric ear infections, antibioticsı suspected role in the
development
of allergies, and the development of new strains of infectious
bacteria
which are resistant to antibiotic treatment. From the Traditional
Chinese
Medicine (TCM) point of view, the incorrect use of antibiotics can
lead
to damage of the Spleen* and result in susceptibility to disease such
as
earaches, tonsillitis, and various allergies. Through the use of
Chinese
Medicine
in the care of children, many of the downfalls to Western medicine
can
be avoided.
Pediatrics
is one of the oldest specialties within Chinese medicine. In
TCM
pediatrics, children are not just considered miniature adults. Rather,
children
are believed to be immature both physically and functionally, and
most
of the common pediatric complaints are due to this immaturity.1
Chinese
medicine
holds that because childrenıs bodies are immature, and therefore
inherently
weak, they are susceptible to diseases which affect the Lungs,
the
Spleen (digestion) and the Liver. This explains why children so often
have
upper respiratory tract complaints such as colds, coughs, allergies
and
asthma,
as well as digestive disorders like colic, vomiting, diarrhea,
indigestion,
and stomachache.
In
Chinese medicine, there are four main methods of treating
children:
diet,
Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese pediatric massage, and acupuncture.
Generally,
on the childıs initial visit, the Chinese practitioner will try
to
determine whether the child is abnormally hot or cold, whether their
qi
is
sufficient or deficient, and whether there is some substance which
needs
to
be eliminated from the body. The practitioner will look at the childıs
eyes,
tongue, skin color and vein at the base of the index finger to tell
whether
the disease is hot or cold, an excess or deficiency, how far it has
progressed,
and how dangerous the condition is. The practitioner will also
listen
to the quality of the childıs breathing, voice and speech. Lastly,
questions
will be asked about this childıs history. Some questions are the
same
as a Western MD might ask while others are specific to Chinese
medicine.
Because
digestion plays such a pivotal role in the health and well
being
of infants and young children, the diet is extremely important in
preventing
and treating the most commonly encountered childrenıs diseases.
What
the average Western parent has been led to believe is a healthy diet
for
infants and children can be problematic according to TCM, and most
pediatric
diseases can be either completely eliminated or markedly relieved
if
one simply changes the childıs diet. 2
When
children are overfed, their Stomach and Spleen are inundated with
more
food than they can deal with efficiently, and may lead to digestive
system
discomfort such as colic. Feeding on a schedule and in smaller
amounts
can significantly decrease colic, earaches, coughs and colds in
infants.
Limiting sweets and dairy foods is also important to a childıs
health.
Sweets damage the Spleen, while dairy is too dampening. Children
should
be fed a diet high in complex carbohydrates and vegetables with small
amounts
of meat, eggs, and dairy.
Chinese
herbal medicine is one of the most sophisticated herbal
medicine
systems in the world. Typically, combinations of six to 20
ingredients
are used in formulas correlated to each individualıs pattern of
disharmony.
The formulas are crafted together to act synergistically, each
ingredient
designed to accomplish a part of the overall process of restoring
balance.
Typically, formulas for improving the general health of children
consist
of Chinese herbs which fortify the Spleen, harmonize the Stomach,
eliminate
dampness, transform phlegm, and clear abnormal heat from the
Stomach
and Intestines.3 Chinese herbs can include ingredients from the
animal
and mineral kingdoms as well as the plant kingdom such as roots,
barks,
fruits, berries, twigs, stems, leaves and flowers.
There
are a number of ways that Chinese herbal medicine can be
dispensed
for children. There are pills, powders, tinctures and teas. In
general,
teas should not be mixed in orange or other fruit juices, although
there
are a few exceptions. A bit of honey or lemon may be added to help
offset
any bitter taste. Chinese herbal medicine is great for both
preventative
and remedial treatment in children. When children have a
history
of chronic and recurrent infections where diet modification alone
has
not worked, using Chinese herbal medicine is often a good choice.
Chinese
herbal medicine, when prescribed and dispensed by a licensed
practitioner,
is safe with few or no side effects.
Pediatric
massage, or Tui Na, can be a highly effective modality for
treating
commonly encountered pediatric diseases. It is gentle, safe and
without
side effects. Chinese pediatric Tui Na is specifically designed to
prevent
and treat pediatric disorders and uses a special repertoire of
points
that are paticular to children. Chinese pediatric massage is useful
for
treating children up to the age of twelve, however, the younger the
child
is, the more effective the pediatric massage.4 There are certain
combinations
of specific massage maneuvers for the rebalancing of particular
patterns
of disharmony. Usually a Chinese pediatric massage treatment lasts
20-30
minutes and is typically performed with the child clothed or in their
underwear
or diaper. Chinese pediatric massage usually needs to be done
frequently:
every day for a couple of days for acute conditions, every other
day
for chronic conditions.5
The
benefits of Chinese pediatric massage are becoming more understood
and
integrated into Western medical practices. In San Diego, nurses from
San
Diego
Childrenıs Hospital participate in a continuing education lecture
series
on Chinese pediatric massage sponsored by Pacific College of Oriental
Medicine.
There, Registered Nurses learn Chinese Pediatric Massage and basic
concepts
and theories of traditional Oriental medicine to incorporate into
their
caregiving practice.
In
general, acupuncture is not the primary modality in pediatrics
within
Chinese medicine. There are a number of related treatments that do
not
require the actual insertion of needles. One treatment involves a
Japanese
style of pediatric acupuncture (shonishin) involving scrapers,
combs,
rollers, brushes to stimulate various acupuncture points and channels
at
the surface of the childıs body. This technique stimulates and
balances
the
childıs qi without actually piercing the skin. Children typically
love
this
treatment since it is very soothing and comfortable.6
To
lessen any anxiety that may accompany a childıs first acupuncture
treatment,
the acupuncturist may only needle points on the childıs back out
of
the childıs view. Others stimulate the needle for a moment or two
after
insertion
and then immediately remove it. Many acupuncturists will try to
use
fewer insertions than they would for an adult with the same condition.
Because
children change more quickly than adults, the amount of herbal
medicine
and the length of acupuncture treatment need not be as extensive.
Moxibustion,
the burning of a dried herb on, over or near various
acupuncture
points of the body, is mainly used to warm up areas of the body
which
are too cold or to add qi to specific organs of the body. It is often
used
to treat Spleen and/or Kidney deficiency conditions. The area that is
moxaed
becomes slightly red and warm to the touch, but is not painful and
does
not cause a blister or burn.7 Children often find this procedure quite
relaxing
and calming.
In
1993 the FDA estimated that there were 9 to 12 million patient
visits
each year for acupuncture with over $500 million spent for these
services.
Acupuncture has been cited by the World Health Organization to
treat
over forty-three conditions, and the National Institutes of Health has
stated
that "the data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those
for
many
accepted Western medical therapies." 8 Chinese medicine provides
great
insight
into many health problems not dealt with completely or
satisfactorily
by modern Western medicine. It is empowering in that it gives
simple
reasons for why we get sick and tells us what we can do to prevent
and
treat those diseases. The fact that this modality is gentle and free
from
side effects makes it an excellent choice for keeping young children
healthy.
--
--
*The
names of Chinese organs and systems do not necessarily correspond to
the
recognized physiologic organs.
--
8
Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Alliance, "Acceptance of
Acupuncture in
the
U.S.".
1,2,3,6,7
Bob Flaws/Blue Poppy Press, Keeping Your Child Health with Chinese
Medicine,
1996.
4,5
Dr. Fan Ya-Li/Blue Poppy Press, Chinese Pediatric Massage Therapy,
1994.
----
The
most commonly encountered childhood diseases treated with Chinese
medicine:
Attention
Deficit Disorder
Insomnia
Colic
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Diaper
rash
Prickly
heat
Cradle
cap
Oral
thrush
Teething
Fever
Ear
infections
Cough
(common cold & bronchitis)
Whooping
cough
Pneumonia
Asthma
Strep
throat
Tonsillitis
Lack
of appetite
Constipation
Cold
sores
Bedwetting
Impetigo
Allergies
Eczema
Hives
Common
& plantar warts
Poison
Ivy
Nosebleed
Canker
sores
Conjunctivitis
Hyperactivity
Measles
Rubella
Chickenpox
Scarlatina
Mumps
Diphtheria
Neonatal
Jaundice
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