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Kid's Corner: Hydrotherapy

Submitted by on November 11, 2009 - 11:21am.

Hydrotherapy-- the application of water for healing benefit-- is a great way to balance your child’s immune system at the start of a cold or flu. One of the best treatments at the very beginning of an infection is the Alternating Foot Bath, which increases levels of white blood cells (the ones that fight infection). Kids love to make a mini-party out of this treatment! It is also effective for adults.

 
1) Take two shallow tubs, one with cold water and one with warm water (as warm as tolerable).   Expect some splashing and spillage!
2) Child places feet in warm tub for three minutes, then cold tub for 30 seconds. 
3) Repeat  this cycle three times, ending with cold. Dry feet and cover with socks or slippers.
4) The more frequently it is performed, the more effective it will be—the best range is 2-5 times per day.  For prevention, do one cycle per day four days per week.
 
Next month: Warming Socks to decrease nighttime nasal congestion and promote sleep!

 

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Allergies and Asthma: Prevent and Prepare!

Submitted by on February 23, 2010 - 2:58pm.

 Allergies and asthma are on the rise in children; in the U.S., approximately 20% of children suffer from either asthma or allergies.  As the incidence of what we call “hot” diseases, or infections, has decreased, the occurrence of “cold” diseases such as allergies, asthma, and autism have increased.  Asthma is often associated with—and sometimes caused by--allergies, so we’ll address both.

 
Many parents do not know that allergies and asthma are curable.  In fact, when the cause is addressed, a cure is possible for children (and adults.)  When a resolution is not found, however, the problems often continue into adulthood. If someone in your family has allergies, this is the time of year to address them proactively—so we can get ahead of the pollen!
 
Allergic responses of any kind represent the body’s attempt to tell us that something is out of balance; if we heed that reminder and restore biochemical balance, then we have a much greater chance of ensuring lifetime health.  That’s because all the systems of our bodies are interconnected. The immune system, most directly involved with allergies, also affects the hormonal, kidney, digestive, and central nervous systems.   We need all of these systems to work optimally in order to thrive.
 
When we have an allergic reaction of any kind, it means that we are over-reacting to something in the environment (food, pollen, or mold, etc.) that other people can tolerate.    It is interesting that autoimmune disorders such as lupus, many thyroid diseases, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and Celiac disease are also on the rise.  There is some evidence to show that allergies may actually trigger autoimmune processes.  Certainly most of the adult patients in my practice with autoimmune disorders had some eczema (often the first sign of allergic predisposition), allergy (often hayfever), or asthma as a child. 
 
At Insights to Health, it is our experience that reducing  allergies and asthma in children, and treating these conditions holistically when they do occur, greatly reduces the incidence of more serious health problems later in life.  Of course, quality of life is enhanced immeasurably as well when spring is not met with allergy symptoms!  Pharmaceuticals may decrease symptoms, but they do not correct the underlying process that causes the allergic response; they provide palliation, but not a cure (evidenced by the fact that when the medication is stopped, the symptoms return).
 
Here are a few things we recommend you do to decrease the chance of allergies and asthma for your children:
 
  1. Use a high quality probiotic (healthy bacteria).  Five billion cells daily for children without allergies is sufficient.  Please buy a product that has been independently tested and verified to contain what the label states.  Additionally, research shows that mothers who take probiotics while pregnant reduce the chance of allergies in their offspring.
  2. Avoid food sensitivities: these can easily be detected in an infant when foods are being introduced appropriately, and tested for in older children through a test that just requires a quick prick to the finger.  Irritability, sleeping problems, and/or blood sugar problems are clues that a food sensitivity may be present.
  3. Get your children outside and let them play in the dirt.  Hypoallergenic environments are linked to the rise in allergies. 
  4. Let your children get fevers when they are sick.  Increased temperature serves the purpose of allowing the body to burn up the pathogen and eliminate it.  Safely allowing and encouraging fevers, with your doctor’s guidance, is a way you can “tune up” the immune system and train it to keep doing its job throughout your child’s life.
  5. Decrease stress by getting adequate sleep and encouraging downtime, family dinners, plenty of fun and laughter, and exposure to nature.
 
If your child does have allergies or asthma, there are many natural treatments that can decrease the severity of symptoms while the underlying cause is addressed.  Nutrition, enhancing gastrointestinal health and sleep quality, allergy-specific probiotics, and various botanical therapies, as well as addressing any other health issues specific to your child, all contribute to not only a cure to allergies but to a lifetime of health and vitality.   

 

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