DR. ALAN GREENE ON PARENTING AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH
A New You: Dr. Alan Greene on Parenting and Children's Health
Just how bad are cold medicines for children? What are the early signs of autism? How do you quiet a colicky infant? Dr. Alan Greene is a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University and the founder of parenting Web site drgreene.com. His most recent book, "Raising Baby Green," explores environmentally aware approaches to children's health. You may post your questions below. Please remember that Dr. Greene cannot answer all of them, and he cannot respond to solicitations for personal medical advice.
COLD MEDICINES FOR CHILDREN, ADHD, AND HERBS FOR CHILDREN
- Q: What's your opinion about diagnosing children as young as 2 or 3 years old with a mental disorder, like bipolar or ADHD? What about treatment of such disorders in young children with medications?
Posted by John Grohol
- A: Posted by Dr. Alan Greene
This calls for a change in our priorities and awareness. Mental disorders in children are real. Mental disorders in children are important. While conditions such as ADHD may be overdiagnosed, most children with mental disorders don't get the help they need. Insurance coverage for mental health is spotty at best. Children deserve better access to care, and better mental health screening training by their doctors, teachers, social workers, and juvenile justice workers. Recognizing these conditions can be a powerful contribution to children's lives.
In children as young as ages 2 or 3, diagnosis of mental disorders can be especially tricky. Overdiagnosing and underdiagnosing are probably both common. When children are inattentive and very active, for instance, they may mistakenly be diagnosed with the more popular diagnosis, ADHD, when the real problem is bipolar disorder. I'm a fan of young children seeing a child mental health professional that specializes in ADHD and bipolar disorder before a diagnosis is made.
As for using medications in young children, I prefer starting with other solutions where practical. As is the case with OTC medications for the common cold, some mental health medications may have more side effects and less benefit for children. For this reason, I like options such as the nutrition solution for ADHD studied in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial first reported in the June 2004 Archives of Diseases in Childhood. That study found that removing the chemical preservative sodium benzoate and chemical dyes from the diet was as effective as prescription ADHD drugs at reducing hyperactivity scores.
Many mental health medications have not been well studied in very young children. About 69 percent of depressed children, ages 6 to 17, improved significantly while taking Zoloft for their depression, according to a study published in JAMA on August 27, 2003. But data suggest to me that another option may be an even better choice for some children. To me, what was most striking about the study was that fully 59 percent of depressed children taking a placebo pill had significant improvement in their depression and followed a very similar pattern of benefit to those taking the drug.
At the beginning of the study, the children had an average CDSR-R depression score of about 64 points. Over the entire 10 weeks, those taking Zoloft had significant improvement, an average of 22.84 points. Those taking the placebo also improved significantly, but clearly not quite as much an average of 20.19 points. Depressed children deserve all the help they can get. It seems to me that identifying and addressing depression may be an even more important intervention than the modest extra benefit afforded by the prescription. Far too many depressed children suffer without this important help.
Thanks, John, for raising this complex and important question. I 'm eager to hear what others think on all sides of this issue.
Posted by Dr. Alan Greene
A: Posted by Karen Doolan, Natural Health Educator ***The following are Herbal Remedies used successfully for these specific health challenges:
This information was found in The Comprehensive Guide to Nature's Sunshine Products, published by http://www.treelite.com/ (Ask me about 2nd edition copies I have on sale).
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) are characterized by innappropriate inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. There is a tendency to haphazard, poorly organized activity. In true ADD, there is often a weakness of the sympathetic nervous system and a corresponding overactivity of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is easy to tell whether a child is suffering from anxiety or ADD by looking at their pupils. Enlarged pupils signal an excess of sympathetic nervous system activity, so standard nervines such as Stress-J, lavender oil or lobelia will calm them down. If the pupils are small and contracted, then there is an excess of parasympathetic nervous system activity and stimulants like caffeine will have a calming effect.In true ADD, nutrients that support sympathetic nervous system activity and adrenal function are usually critical. Products that stimulate sympathetic nerves include Adrenal Support, ENERG-V, licorice root, HistaBlock (which helps leaky gut) and small amounts of caffeine) preferably green tea). Note NSP's green tea extract won't work because it is caffeine-free.
Essential fatty acids are absolutely essential to brain function since the brain structure is mostly composed of fat. Protein is also very important, both for balancing blood sugar and creating neurotransmitters. The amino acid l-tyrosine is very important because it is the precurser to epinephrine and norepinephrine. Its richest source is in red meat. Feeding children with ADD a hearty breakfast that includes eggs and red meat will help them to be more focused. Simple carbohydrates (such as sugar sweetened breakfast cereals) should not be eaten for breakfast. Super Algae or Free Amino Acids can provide essential amino acids (including l-tyrosine) for vegetarians.
Heavy metal poisoning, particularly with lead or mercury, can be another root problem in learning disabilites such as ADHD. These metals may have been introduced into the nervous system through vaccines.
There are specific neurotransmitters that calm down excess nervous system reactions. Focus Attention and GABA help to elevate levels of these neurotransmitters and calm down excess activity in the brain, making it very helpful in some cases of ADHD.
Hypoglycemia and leaky gut syndrome may also play a role in these disorders. Licorice root may be helpful in both. Don't substitute artifical sweeteners for sugar. Food additives, including aspartame, can be linked with hyperactivity and other behavioral disorders.Some Nature's Sunshine products used successfully for these types of deficiencies include:
AdaptaMax, Adrenal Support, Astragalus, Black Currant Oil, Chamomile, Chamomile (Roman), Clary Sage, Energ-V, Flax Seed Oil, Focus Attention Powder, Focus Attention Capsules, Free Amino Acids, GABA Plus, Grapine with Protectors, Heavy Metal Detox, Herbal Sleep, Licorice Root, Lobelia, Magnesium, Master Gland, Nerve Eight, Nutri-Calm, Spirulina, Stress-J, SUMA Combination, Super Algae, SynerProTein, TSII, Wood Betony.I am very often asked which of the Nature's Sunshine Products can be used by children. In addition to most of the products listed above, the following is a great place to begin using NSP remedies and products safe for young children:
ALJ, Aloe Vera Juice, Aloe Vera Gel, Bedwetting, Bee Pollen, Berry Healthy, Black Ointment, Blue Vervain, Calming, Catnip, Catnip & Fennel, CBG Extract, CC-A, Chamomile, Charcoal (Activated), Chlorophyll, Cold Homeopathic for Children, Colloidal Minerals, Silver Shield, Colostrum, Cough Syrup (Children's), Distress Remedy, Elderberry Plus Chewable, Eucalyptus, Flax Seed Oil, Focus Attention, Golden Salve, Grapine, Grapine with Protectors, Healing AC Cream, Herbal Punch, Herbal Trim Skin Treatment, Intestinal Soothe & Build, L. Reuteri, LB Extract, Lymphatic Drainage, Mineral Chi Tonic, Nature's Fresh Enzyme Spray, Noni, Omega-3, Oregon Grape, Papaya Mint, Red Clover Blend, Sunshine Brite Toothpaste, Super Algae, SynerProTein Powder, Tea Tree Oil, Teething Homeopathic, Tei Fu Oil, Thai-Go, Tofu Moo, Ultimate Echinacea, Ultimate Greenzone, Valerian Root, Vita Lemon Drink, Vitamin B-12, Herbasaur's Chewable Children's Multi Vitamins, Multiple Vitamins liquid, Chewable Anti-Oxidants with Grapine, Chewable C Vitamins, Zinc Lozenges, Natria and All Natural Body & Hair Care products, Xylitol, Xylitol Cinnamon Gum, Xylitol Spearmint Gum, Xylitol Peppermint Mints, Xylitol Lemon Mints
To learn more about these products and how to use them with yourself and your children, consider purchasing The Comprehensive Guide to NSP Products, published by http://www.treelite.com/ (Ask me about the 2nd edition copies that I have on sale).
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Karen Herrmann-Doolan, NSP District Manager
posted by Karen Herrmann-DeSantis, Herb Specialist, Natural Health Educator | 11:44 PM
Posted by Terry Graedon
The F.D.A.'s action doesn't mean that they plan to rob kids (and exhausted parents) of remedies in the name of safety. Instead, the agency is taking a step toward protecting kids and parents from spending money on medicines that don't work and may be dangerous.
As parents, it's easy to be fooled into thinking that these remedies are effective, in part because we've felt better when we've taken them. This is the same thing that happened when many of these remedies were approved for kids in the 1970s. Regulators assumed that if the medicines are safe and effective for adults, they must be safe and effective for kids. It turns out neither is true.
I tell parents to opt for remedies that have demonstrated effectiveness in children, or are at least unlikely to do any harm. After age 1, honey may be one good solution, according to a study of kids from ages 2 to 18 that was published in the December 2007 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The kids in the study had come into an acute-care clinic with coughs that had kept them awake (along with their parents) the night before. About one-third were randomly selected to receive over-the-counter DM cough syrups artificially flavored with honey, another third were given real honey, and the final third got no treatment at all.
In a three-way comparison, the plain honey scored best in every category (yes, better than cough syrup!), reducing the number and severity of coughs and increasing sleep for both kids and parents. In two-way comparisons, only honey was significantly better than no treatment at all The dose was a half-teaspoon 30 minutes before bed for kids ages 2 to 5, a full teaspoon for kids ages 5 to 11, and two teaspoons for kids ages 12 to 18. Infants who have not reached their first birthday should not be given honey. The study recommends darker honeys, as they contain more bioactive compounds.
Dark chocolate may also be a good remedy for coughs better than cough syrup, according to a January 2005 report in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
For kids over age 3, I'm a big fan of "cough" or "sore throat" drops. They can be soothing and also stimulate more saliva production. Saliva contains the best cold medicines: viral antibodies.
Gravity is a good decongestant for all of us and especially for babies. Keeping the head above the heart decreases congestion (which is caused not primarily by mucus, by the way, but by swollen blood vessels in the lining of the nose). I like carrying drops during the day and head elevation at night.
Nasal saline is a wonderful natural decongestant, especially followed by a bulb syringe to pull out mucus and viral load. The salt may also have an anti-viral effect. Eating chicken soup has been found helpful in several studies, and perhaps saltiness is one of the reasons.
Warm moist air in a steamy shower or with a vaporizer can be quite helpful, especially if the child has thick mucus. The mucus pulls in the extra moisture, thins out, and is easier to get rid of.
Posted by Dr. Alan Greene
A: Posted by Karen Doolan, Natural Health Educator ***The following are Herbal Remedies used successfully for these specific health challenges:
This information was found in The Comprehensive Guide to Nature's Sunshine Products, published by http://www.treelite.com/ (Ask me about 2nd edition copies I have on sale).
CHILDREN'S COUGH & COLD
Under normal conditions, the lungs and sinuses secrete a thin, protective layer of mucus that traps dust and other particles in the air. This, hair-like projections called cilia sweep this mucus to the back of the throat (from the sinuses) or to the top of the throat (from the lungs). When the mucus gets trapped in the lungs and the cilia are unable to move it out of the lungs, this creates an involuntary, explosive expulsion of air from the lungs in an attempt to expel the mucus and irritants from the lungs.
All over-the-counter cough medicines contain cough suppressant, which suppress this cough reflex. This does not help the body eliminate the irritants. Decongestants help thin the mucus so that it can move more freely and expectorants stimulate the cilila to move it out of the system. The following are all herbs that act as expectorants and decongestnats to help make the cough productive: ALJ, Asthma, Cordyceps, Cough Syrup (Childrens), Cough Syrup-DH (dry hacking), Cough Syrup-LP (loose phlem), Cough Syrup-NT (night time), Eucalyptus, EW, Four, Garlic, HCP-X, Lobelia, Marshmallow, Marshmallow & Fenugreek, Mullein, Myrrh, Pine, Rosemary, Tei Fu Oil, Thyme, Fenugreek & Thyme.
Also - Remember Silver Shield to keep infections from settling in. Posted by Karen Doolan, Natural Health Educator