Why Are Food Allergies in Children on the Rise?

By Sean Kelley

In the last six months—ever since my youngest child was diagnosed with a sensitivity to wheat, peanuts, eggs, corn, soy, and chicken—children’s food allergies have been a constant topic of conversation whenever my wife and I get together with other parents. And everyone says the same thing: “There seems to be more kids with food allergies than there were when we growing up!”
As it turns out, there actually are more kids with food allergies nowadays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which released a report last week confirming that the number of young people with a food allergy has increased 18% in the last 10 years alone. The CDC estimates that three million kids have a food or digestive allergy.
However, no one really knows why allergies are on the rise. Even the CDC did not speculate about the cause of the upswing. But there are a number of plausible and implausible theories for this burgeoning allergy epidemic. Read More

Should I Give My Egg-Allergic Child the Flu Shot?

By Sean Kelley

It’s nearly flu season and my wife and I are in a quandary about how to protect our severely allergic son, Graeme. With a normal kid (older than 6 months), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the flu shot—with good reason. Each year more than 20,000 kids under 5 are hospitalized due to complications from the flu, according to the CDC.

And Graeme, who has asthma, falls into one of the highest risk groups for flu complications, such as bacterial pneumonia or increased asthma attacks.

But he’s also highly allergic to eggs, which means he isn’t supposed to get the shot. The flu vaccine is grown in fertilized chicken eggs and a tiny bit of egg protein can be left over in the final dose. If you’re severely allergic to eggs, you can suffer a bad reaction to the shot, which is why most allergists and the CDC do not recommend it for anyone with egg allergies. Which leaves us in a pickle. Read More

The Food Allergy Pantry Purge

By Sean Kelley

A few days after my son, Graeme’s, food allergies (to peanuts, corn, soy, wheat, egg whites, and chicken) were confirmed, my wife mentioned his problems to a surgery colleague at the hospital where she is a nurse. “We harvested the organs of a 2-year-old this week. She got into the pantry when no one was looking,” he told her. “Peanut butter.”

I’ve learned from my wife that people in the medical profession don’t often sugarcoat things and the sheer terror we felt hearing that story sent us straight to the pantry for an all out purge. Though it would have been easier to seal it off with bricks than to only remove the items that offend Graeme’s sensitive body, we opted for a surgical strike. Read More

Coming Clean on Personal Care Products

(HealthDay News) -- Is your deodorant boosting your breast cancer risk? And how much chemical preservative in hand and body lotions is too much?
News reports over the past few years have heightened consumer awareness of the myriad chemicals found in everyday beauty and hygiene products, but two expert dermatologists say it pays to investigate before tossing any product into the bathroom wastebasket.
The debate over deodorants and antiperspirants is one good example. Small studies have suggested that daily use of these products might raise a woman's risk for breast cancer over time, especially given the armpit's proximity to sensitive breast tissue.
But Dr. Lisa Donofrio, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, said that "there have also been a couple of studies that have been pretty good at showing that [these products] -- at least the aluminum in them -- are not really related to breast cancer." While future studies might turn up additional data, "this debate right now is probably closer to 'case closed,' " she said.
One issue that remains an ongoing source of concern for Donofrio is that of preservatives called "parabins" found in a wide range of beauty products meant to have a very long shelf life. One reason manufacturers tend to use parabins is that a small minority of consumers develop allergies to a competing class of preservatives, formaldehyde releasers.
"So, parabins are now found across the board in beauty items -- makeup, and most commonly in lotions," Donofrio said. But the problem with parabins is that they "are estrogenic, meaning they will bind to estrogen receptors [on cells], and in test tube studies, they actually stimulate breast cancer cells," she said. Higher levels of circulating estrogens has long been a prime risk factor for breast cancer.
Industry experts note that parabins are used in extremely small amounts in health and beauty products. "For that reason, they say they're just in too small amounts to cause any problems," Donofrio said. "But over a lifetime, with daily use of these creams, we don't actually know what the cumulative dose really is."
For that reason, Donofrio advises that anyone not allergic to formaldehyde releasers shy away from products containing parabins, which are usually noted on label ingredient lists as either methyl parabin or propyl parabin. For those people who are allergic to formaldehyde releasers, she suggests using products containing a third class of preservative, sodium benzoate. Compared to parabins, "it's the lesser of two evils," the Yale expert said.
Another long-debated issue -- the connection between hair dyes and certain malignancies -- may have already been solved by industry, said Dr. Steven Feldman, a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "First of all, the link has been talked about, but the studies don't really support it," he said. In any case, he said, hair dyes used today no longer contain the suspected carcinogen that gave rise to these fears in the first place.
Of course, consumers can develop lesser ailments, such as rashes and other signs of allergy, from skin and hair products. While manufacturers can help minimize the risk, Feldman said there's not much they can do to ensure that no one ever develops a reaction to their product.
"A person can be allergic to practically anything," he said. "Fragrances, especially, are one of the more common allergens -- people can expose themselves to them even through their fabric softener in the laundry."
As with any allergy, individuals who notice a reaction should note what they were using at the time and consult their doctor, if necessary. Feldman did offer one piece of advice: "Stick to well-recognized brands," he said. "I know some people fear big business, but companies that have a lot at stake don't want to blow it, and with business, the more they have to lose, the safer I think the product will be."
On the other hand, he said, "if you go for some fly-by-night company that promises you some herbal remedy, then, if somebody sues them, they just close up shop." Buying from a nationally recognized brand may "give you some assurance about quality that you might not otherwise get," Feldman said.
Many consumers may not be aware that health and beauty products are not subject to the tough federal safety standards that guide drug development.
"Most of us expect that the products we find on store shelves have been tested for safety, but the [U.S.] government has no authority to require tests," Jane Houlihan, vice president for science at the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said in a prepared statement. "An average adult is exposed to over 100 unique chemicals in personal care products every day -- these exposures add up."
Not everyone agrees that consumers need to worry about the products they apply to their bodies each day, however. In a prepared statement, scientists at the American Council on Science and Health -- which describes itself as a consumer-based advocacy group that receives some "no strings attached" funding from the cosmetics industry -- said organizations like the EWG "have invested a great deal of work in publicizing supposed health risks from myriad chemicals that have long been in everyday use with no evidence of harm to humans."
According to the New York City-based ACSH, much of the evidence for these "scares" relies on high-dose animal tests that "are not good predictors of human cancer risk."
Yale's Donofrio said that argument does have some merit. However, she said she's more concerned about the absorption of toxins through the skin and their slow build-up in the body over time.
"If you start thinking in terms of 'Well, this does this to cells in the test tube, and I'm using X amount of this over this amount of years,' then there's the potential that I could end up being those [affected] cells," she said.
More information
Find out more about the science of beauty products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Tiny Balloons Open Blocked Sinuses

(HealthDay News) -- A new procedure that uses tiny balloon catheters to prop open inflamed sinuses is easing the misery of chronic sinusitis sufferers.

A report on the procedure was to be presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Foundation annual meeting Sunday, in Toronto.

"This new technology presents what seems to be faster healing, less postoperative care, minimal pain and bleeding, and improved quality of life for many patients who suffer with chronic sinusitis," said study investigator Dr. Howard L. Levine, director of the Cleveland Nasal Sinus and Sleep Center.

Chronic sinusitis, which can be due to infection, inflammation or anatomical obstructions, affects some 37 million Americans. Many people with the disorder are helped with antibiotics, but more severe cases call for surgery. In conventional endoscopic sinusotomy, an otolaryngologist uses an endoscope to examine the sinuses, and inserts micro-shavers and delicate instruments to remove diseased bone and soft tissue.

"This enlarges the sinus and returns it to function," Levine explained.
From this concept, balloon catheterization was born. The investigators describe it as another technology that will augment the ability to preserve sinus function.

Dr. David Sherris, chairman of otolaryngology at the University at Buffalo in New York, agreed. "The study shows the balloon catheter is effective in opening some sinuses, and this may prove to be less invasive for certain aspects of sinus surgery," he explained.

Even though it is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia, the new procedure is shorter, with a quicker recovery, the researchers say. Using fluoroscopic imaging, a small flexible wire is guided into the sinus. Over this guide wire, a 3-millimeter, 5-millimeter or 7-millimeter balloon is passed into the sinus cavity. Once positioned, the balloon is dilated, the catheter is removed, and the dilated opening is inspected, Levine said.

The procedure takes from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on degree of pathology and the complexity of the patient's sinus anatomy. Depending on the disease, this procedure can be combined with traditional endoscopic sinus surgery.

The multi-center landmark study analyzed six-month data from 115 patients (41 male, 74 female). Mean patient age was 47.8 years, and ranged from 21 to 76 years. Twenty-one patients (18.3 percent) had previous endoscopic sinus surgery. At 24 weeks, endoscopies showed that 82.1 percent (252 of 307 sinuses) were open. Patients showed consistent symptomatic improvement over baseline, the researchers reported.

No serious adverse events occurred, and there were no complications. Narrowing of dilated openings occurred infrequently, and revision surgery was rarely necessary, the researchers reported.
"Realistically, we know sinusitis is caused by many things -- respiratory infections, allergies. And even with the best of surgical procedures, there are always ups and downs, with the possibility for recurrence," Levine said. "The hope is that (balloon sinusotomy) will lessen disease severity and frequency and, hopefully, cure it."

Patients who are not candidates are those with nasal polyps, previous sinus surgery with severe scarring, or those with previous surgery who have new abnormal bone growth, said Levine.
In the end, people who live with the misery of chronic sinusitis now have a minimally invasive option that can preserve structure and function and allow return to normal activity faster, Levine said. He also speculated that the procedure could lower health-care costs because patients would be back to work and school sooner. "It could reduce costs in the long run, with less postoperative care compared to conventional sinusotomy," he said.

Although he is not currently trained in the procedure, Sherris said he "would be interested in trying it in minor revision sinus surgery and some sinus surgery in children."
"Longer term studies and head-to-head comparisons with standard endoscopic sinus surgery techniques will be necessary to establish the place of balloon sinuplasty in the toolbox of endoscopic sinus surgeons," Sherris said.

Because it is minimally invasive, the procedure could be "ideal for children," Levine said, noting a prospective study is under way to evaluate its feasibility in pediatric cases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure for adults last year, he noted.

More information
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has more on sinusitis.

Commentary on Nutritional Treatment

from Willam Walsh, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Pfeiffer Treatment Center http://www.hriptc.org/
(The following information is taken from Dr. William Walsh's discussion on Safe Harbor's "Integrative Psychiatry" email list for professionals.

To preserve Dr. Walsh's wealth of information, we have posted his comments here, with the notation of added commentary [with the date] as discussion goes on.)

SAMe
SAMe is very promising for undermethylated persons and a bad idea for those who suffer from a genetic tendency for overmethylation. I don't particularly like the "allopathic" method you referred to which is simply trial & error. SAMe can do great harm if given to the wrong person.

I hate going to funerals. (17 Dec, 2002)The mechanisms of action of SAMe and TMG are quite different. Most of our methyl groups come from dietary methionine. The methionine is converted to SAMe in a reaction with magnesium, ATP, methionine-adenosyl-transferase, and water. SAMe is a relatively unstable carrier of methyl groups and is the primary source of methyl for most reactions in the body.

Once the methyl group has been donated, the residual molecule is s-adenosyl-homocysteine which converts to homocysteine. TMG (betaine) is a biochemical which can donate a methyl group to homocysteine, thus converting it back to methionine.

The TMG route is secondary to the 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate/B-12 reaction which the primary route for restoring methionine. Methionine and SAMe supplements directly introduce new methyl groups into the body.

TMG can provide a methyl group only to the extent that there is insufficient folate/B-12 to do the job. In some persons, the methylation effect of TMG is very minimal. In addition, persons who are undermethylated have a SAM cycle which is "spinning very slowly", much like a superhighway with little traffic.

The answer for them is NOT to more efficiently convert the small amount of homocysteine to methionine (using TMG), but rather to directly introduce more methionine or SAMe into the body. A small percentage of persons with sufficient dietary methionine cannot efficiently produce SAMe --- These persons need supplemental SAMe, and not methionine or TMG and are the exception to the rule. In most other cases, methionine supplements alone are sufficient.

TMG is a great way to treat individuals with dangerously high homocysteine levels. TMG can be very useful in augmenting methionine therapy along with B-6/P-5-P , serine, etc. The challenge is to supply enough methyl groups to help the patient, without creating dangerously high levels of homocysteine. Use of TMG is an "insurance policy" against this happening. (Jan 22, 2003)

A quick way to test for need for methylation therapy is to carry out a cautious trial of SAMe.

Within a week or two you should have your answer. If she clearly is improving on the SAMs (which is frightfully expensive)..... you can get usually the same benefits (albeit more slowly) using methionine plus calcium, magnesium, and B-6. This should be side-effect free unless (a) the methylation is begun too abruptly or (b) the patient has a rare genetic enzyme disorder which disrupts the SAM cycle. We've found that direct methylation is usually more successful than tinkering with the SAM cycle. The primary way humans receive most of their methyl groups is from dietary methionine. It's often hard to improve on Mother Nature. (Jan 20, 2003)

SAMe is likely to cause great worsening of symptoms, including mania, if given to an OVER-methylated person. The incidence of overmethylation in our patient database of 1,500 bipolar cases is about 18%. Bipolar disorder is not a single condition, but a collection of very different biochemical disorders under the same umbrella diagnosis. SAMe works great for truly undermethylated patients, but all hell breaks out if given to someone who is overloaded (genetically) with methyl groups. The right way to do this is to (a) first determine the person's innate methylation tendency & then (b) act accordingly. (Jan 31, 2003)

Schizophrenia
Severe wheat gluten intolerance can cause classic symptoms of schizophrenia, and amounts to about 4% of all schizophrenia diagnoses in the U.S. These persons usually become quite normal when placed on a gluten-free diet.I've done medical histories for more than 2,000 persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and have always been struck by the high frequency of schizophrenia in other relatives. Interestingly, the schizophrenia would often skip a generation.

NIMH data suggests that the overall incidence of schizophrenia in the USA is between 1% and 4%, depending on the definitions. However, the incidence of schizophrenia for children who have a schizophrenic parent is about 16%. This number doesn't change much for children of schizophrenics adopted at birth. I don't think there is "a schizophrenia gene", partly because this is a garbage term which encompasses several completely different conditions.

There are a number of biochemical ingredients which predispose to each phenotype of SZ..... these may be either genetic or acquired. However, I'm absolutely certain there is a genetic component in most cases.

Carl Pfeiffer was the first to develop meaningful chemical classifications of schizophrenia (and separate treatments for each phenotype). Carl Pfeiffer of Princeton, N.J. saw more than 20,000 schizophrenics in his lifetime. He found that 90% of all SZ patients could be classified into 3 large groups, with completely different etiologies & treatment approaches. These he termed "histapenia", "histadelia", and "pyroluria". The remaining 10% fit into several splinter groups.

One of the splinter groups was gluten intolerance, which represents 4% (1 case in 25). This is a rare form of schizophrenia, but if you've got it, it's everything!Multiple food & chemical sensitivities are also associated with histapenia (low histamine, overmethylation), the largest of all SZ groups, amounting to about 48% of all cases.

For this group, SZ symptoms often worsen if exposed to the offending substances, & nice improvements often occur if they are identified & avoided. However, the food sensitivities usually disappear after about 1 year of aggressive Folate/B-12/B-3 treatment, which is the primary route to a normal life for these patients.

We've known for more than 20 years that the metallothionein protein system does not perform well in most ADHD patients. About 68% of them exhibit very poor control of Cu & Zn, based on lab data from more than 6,000 patients diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Autism is different in that about 90% of patients exhibit Cu/Zn imbalances that are generally much more severe than in ADHD.For several months, we have extended our metallothionein-promotion protocol to ADHD, behavior, depression, and schizophrenic patients who exhibit Cu/Zn imbalance.

The informal results so far are very encouraging. However, we've not yet done a formal outcome study for these populations, and thus have no statistics yet.We are considering applying MT-Promotion to Alzheimers & Parkinsons patients in the near future. Both disorders involve serious oxidative stress and abnormal trace metal levels. In addition, recent research has revealed a striking metallothionein deficiency in the brains of Alzheimers patients. (Feb 25, 2003)I've evaluated more than 3,500 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia. The predominance of auditory hallucinations, serious self abuse, aggressiveness, inability to continue school, and social isolation...... all point in the direction of classic "paranoid schizophrenia", although many of these patients are labeled "bipolar disorder with psychotic features". Most severely mentally ill persons with a history of exceptional artistic or musical talent test as overmethylated. The biochemical recipe for these patients usually consists of (1) overmethylation, (2) low folate levels, and (3) elevated blood copper levels. All three of these chemical imbalances impact dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, and together can cause rather extraordinary abnormalities in these important neurotransmitters. In my opinion, the key to successful treatment is biochemical treatment to overcome these chemical imbalances...... fortunately this can be accomplished using aggressive therapy with nutrients to normalize the chemical factors.Most mental breakdowns are triggered by severe stress, but the underlying cause is genetic and involves brain chemistry. Many persons self-medicate with alcohol, marijuana, or other illegal drugs in a desperate attempt to feel better. Many patients and their families erroneously believe that the EtOH or drug experiences were the underlying cause of the condition. They are wrong! This adult-onset condition will strike eventually in most cases, even if substance abuse never occurs.Traditional medicine can provide medication support which can usually eliminate (temporarily) most/all psychosis symptoms. However, these patients are usually plagued by drug side effects and are a mere shadow of their original selves. Common side effects are (a) fatigue, (b) inability to focus/concentrate for more than a few minutes, (c) change in personality, (d) massive weight gain, etc. The most popular drugs for these patients are Zyprexa, Seroquil, Risperdal, Geodon, and Clozaril..... the so-called atypical antipsychotics. Since most patients hate these medications, poor compliance is a major problem.I've seen many young schizophrenics and bipolar patients achieve complete recoveries through biochemical (nutrient) therapy. This rarely occurs with traditional medication therapy. (May 12, 2003)Some of schizophrenics who spontaneously get better are those who experience a toxic psychosis. I have a friend who had a toxic psychosis after an accidental overdose of a medication during childbirth. For 6 hours she was a full blown paranoid schizophrenic..... No symptoms in the following 20 years. Also, schizophrenia comes in mild, moderate, and severe versions. Many persons with a very mild genetic tendency for SZ can experience an environmental insult which pushes them into a temporary mental illness. Most will become quite ok with or without therapy.The real problem is the millions of SZ persons who have moderate to severe SZ which does not go away easily. (May 27, 2003)

Taurine
Yes, I've read a few articles and a book that talked about Taurine's slow metabolism and tendency to build up over time. Because of this, I've believed that high doses of Taurine (1,000 to 2,000 mg/day) are ok in the beginning..... but that the dosages need to be reduced within 2 weeks to about 400 to 500 mg/day..... to achieve the same effect.I believe that Taurine is especially effective for (1) combating seizure tendency and (2) reducing liver stress in processing fats. There have been several reports of intolerances and side effects from use of Taurine, and I feel that indiscriminant high doses are unwise.About 12 months ago, there was a fad among several alternative practitioners in which high doses of Taurine were given to every autistic patient. One of the reasons given was "to assist the liver cope with stresses associated with toxic metal overload". This seems to be a poor reason, since Taurine's action in the liver appears to be limited to fat metabolism, and most autistics are slender malabsorbers with low lipid levels. (June 24, 2003)

Womb Trauma
There is an exquisite and fragile biological/biochemical process during gestation in which short, dense immature brain cells are pruned, grow into fully-developed brain cells, and then (remarkably) experience growth inhibition to complete the process. The molecular biology of this process is becoming very well defined, and it is clear that many environmental events can hinder or disrupt early brain development. The primary culprits are oxidative stress, teratological chemicals, and infections. The least appreciated of these harmful factors is oxidative stress which can deplete key proteins and enzymes required for normal brain development.Environmental harm to a developing fetus can result from (a) biochemical inadequacies of the mother, and (b) external environmental insults. We're all familiar with birth defects that can result from Thalidomide, Thorazine, Prolixin, Haldol, and other psychiatric medications. Also the dangers of mercury, lead, and other toxics are well established, and we know that a mother's improper diet (e.g. inadequate folic acid) can be harmful. Although lower on the radar screen, fetal oxidative stresses can be equally devastating.What I'm leading up to.... is the scientific fact that serious emotional or physical stresses experienced by the mother can impair early brain development, especially if the mother is not biochemically intact. For example high emotional stresses or physical trauma to the mother will weaken the activity of metallothionein (MT) and glutathione (GSH) proteins, andincrease oxidative stress in the brain. MT-1 and MT-2 are directly involved in growth of immature brain cells. MT-3 is a key protein required for pruning and growth inhibition. These proteins also have the job of defending against oxidative stress in the brain and are consumed in the process. Maternal emotional stresses and psychic traumae deplete the embryonic brain of MT proteins and can compromise brain development.Womb trauma is real and the concept of "a cry so deep" is not psycho-babble guesswork. Rather, it is solidly supported by scientific fields such as embryology and molecular biology. (Aug 1, 2003)If fetal or early infant traumae have resulted in a brain that hasn't completely matured..... therapies to promote MT and GSH appear very promising..... especially in tandem withbehavioral therapies which stimulate the development of new brain cells.If the net result of the traumae is biochemical or neurotransmitter differences, then biochemical therapy aimed at normalizing brain chemistry would be indicated.If the traumae resulted in diminished ability to tolerate environmental toxins (for example an incompetent blood-brain barrier), then avoidance of such toxins would be an important aspect of treatment.If the traumae resulted in an innate inability to cope with emotional stresses, then counseling or other psychological services could be very beneficial.If the traumae resulted in a brain that is structurally different, this may represent "brain damage" that may be refractory to all treatments. (Aug 1, 2003)

Zinc
There have been several recent published articles which indicate that zinc and zinc metallothionein proteins (1) tend to prevent brain strokes, (2) tend to assist brain recovery after strokes, and (3) that deficiency of Zn or Zn-MT is associated with increased stroke likelihood. An occasional test for plasma Zn could help identify the proper dosage. Most adults can safely start with 25 to 50 mg/day of Zn. Without indication of B-6 deficiency, it might be a good idea to limit pyridoxine hydrochloride (usual form of B-6) to about 200 mg/day. B-6 is very helpful in enhancing the utilization of Zn.After use of these nutrients with thousands of persons, I'm not aware of a single case of harm. However, it is a good idea to introduce zinc gradually & to take Zn during the PM only. (June 3, 2003
Every 5 years or so, the zinc experts of the world convene for a symposium in which they share new advances in Zn technogy & research..... It's usually headed up by the eminent Prof. Prasad.One of the topics is laboratory testing to indicate an individual's Zn status. They consider about 10 different methods including packed cells, taste tests, etc...... The last two symposia resulted in the consensus that none of the testing options is wonderful, but that the best of the commercially available tests is plasma zinc. Taste tests didn't make the top three methods.However the Zn experts also stated that the most definitive determination of zinc depletion is the presence of symptoms of Zn depletion which disappear after Zn supplementation.My organization has evaluated the Zn status of 18,000 patients and we've tried all of these methods. Our standard protocol involves plasma Zn, being careful to use acid-etched, trace-metal-free tubes.We find that virtually all treatment-naive ASD persons are very Zn depleted and overloaded in "free" (unbound by ceruloplasmin) copper. Our patient population for ASD is 2,800. Our database of 5,600 ADHD patients indicates that about 75% are depleted in Zn. The remaining 25% have problems associated with pyrrole disorders, methylation disorders, EFA disorders, toxic overloads, etc. (July 22, 2003)

The high level of zinc depletion in ASD appears to stem from a genetic weakness in the metallothionein protein system.Cu/Zn ratios in hair are very helpful in ADHD and behavior disorders..... but far less useful in ASD, depression, and schizophrenia. Tracking plasma Zn, serum Cu and serum ceruloplasmin levels can be very helpful in guiding dosages aimed at normalizing Zn.

Management of Zn & Cu levels is a challenging problem in ASD. Sometimes rather extraordinary Zn dosages are required to normalize blood Zn levels.Virtually all ASD persons are Zn depleted., but not all exhibit an elevated Cu/Zn ratio. A minority of ASD patients exhibit normal or low Cu levels in serum, but have vastly inadequate levles of ceruloplasmin. Thus, the level of "unbound" Cu can be very high, even though all standard measures of Cu appear to be low. Some of these patients seem to have a mild version of Wilson's Disesase. (July 24, 2003)

Children's Health

Children's Health
In this section many common questions related to children’s health are explored.

Contrary to popular belief, children are not "little adults," and the approaches to their health conditions are often markedly different than those used for grown-ups.

The rapid changes that occur during growth and development require special consideration in choosing both treatments and medications.

In some cases, specific treatments have not been well studied in children, but the majority of childhood health concerns are those that parents have been asking about for many generations, and the solutions are tried and true. Information on other childhood conditions can be found in the QA archives.

• Acupuncture
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Asthma from Exercise
• Bedwetting
• Broken Bones
• Carsickness
• Colicky Babies
• Constipation
• Ear Infections
• Early Puberty
• Fluoride
• Food Coloring
• Head Lice
• Overweight Kids
• Sore Throat
• Teething
• Toy Safety
• Vitamins

Acupuncture
In the United States, acupuncture hasn’t often been used to treat children, mainly because youngsters tend to be afraid of needles.

But several recent studies have suggested that this fear can be overcome and that children can benefit from acupuncture treatment for certain conditions.

The latest study on this subject was conducted at the Harvard-affiliated Children’s Hospital in Boston by Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management in children. Dr. Lin’s study included 243 youngsters ranging in age from six months to 18 years who were being treated for headaches, stomachaches, back pain and other chronic complaints that often caused them to miss school.

When the study began, the young patients rated their pain as an "8" on a scale of 1 to 10. (One of Dr. Lin’s methods of demonstrating to the kids that the needles won’t hurt is by inserting them first in the children’s parents.)

When the year-long study was over, the average pain rating among the youngsters was a "3." The kids also reported missing less school, sleeping better, and being more able to participate in extracurricular activities as a result of treatment.

In an earlier study at the same hospital, 70 percent of the 47 youngsters participating reported that acupuncture helped relieve their pain and 59 percent of their parents agreed.

The conditions for which these patients were treated included migraines, endometriosis in teenage girls, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (a syndrome in which pain becomes chronic after an injury).

In this study, 15 children were age 12 or under while 32 were between 13 and 20 years old. Other studies have looked at acupuncture as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cerebral palsy in children.

While not many acupuncturists specialize in treating children, Dr. Lin estimates that about a third of pediatric pain centers nationwide now offer acupuncture to their young patients.

Acupuncture is best used for pain reduction as part of comprehensive treatment that includes relaxation techniques, clinical hypnosis and various forms of bodywork.

Attention Deficit Disorder
Ritalin, a stimulant, remains the most common treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), also called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Paradoxically, with ADHD the drug has a calming effect, apparently because it stimulates parts of the brain that regulate activity and attention.

While it can have excellent results in some cases, it is greatly over-prescribed.
There currently is no herbal treatment for ADHD, except possibly coffee, which may work like Ritalin for some patients.

Pediatrician Sandy Newmark, M.D., of Tucson, Ariz., confirms that no herbs have been found effective for treating the main or "core" symptoms of ADHD — that is, lack of focused attention that often leads to poor school performance. And he doesn’t think coffee is a good long-term solution. However, Dr. Newmark notes that herbs can help with some of the associated symptoms. For example, valerian tea can help youngsters with sleeping problems and St. John's wort can help relieve depression. For children under 12, use half the adult dosage.

Dr. Newmark does recommend a dietary supplement, omega-3 fatty acids, for all children with ADHD because levels of omega-3s in the plasma and red blood cells of children with ADHD are lower than in normal children. He also recommends that youngsters with ADHD take a quality multivitamin as well as a good probiotic, a product that contains "friendly" bacteria that can stabilize the digestive tract. You can find milk-free brands in health-food stores.

Make certain that the underlying cause of your child’s disruptive behavior really is ADHD, and that he or she isn’t acting out difficulties at home or expressing frustration with a learning disability. Be sure to rule out hearing or vision problems, allergies, depression or even boredom in a gifted child.

As far as foods are concerned, while there’s no evidence that a dietary approach helps in all cases, a 1993 Cornell University study found that eliminating dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts, artificial colors and preservatives seemed to decrease ADHD symptoms. An even earlier study showed that a low-allergen diet supplemented with calcium, magnesium, zinc and vitamins produced favorable results.

Asthma from Exercise
Exercise can trigger asthma symptoms in children and adults – even those who don't otherwise suffer from the condition - and can aggravate the problem in up to 80 percent of those who do have asthma.

The symptoms – coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest – usually come on after exercise, although they can occur soon after exercise has begun. It can be treated with medication and by taking precautions to prevent or minimize symptoms. Here’s a rundown of medication options, provided by pediatrician John Mark, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Arizona who treats asthma in both adults and children.

Albuterol – A short-acting bronchodilator that’s inhaled 15 to 20 minutes prior to exercise and that protects against symptoms for about four to six hours.

Salmeterol – A long-acting bronchodilator that’s inhaled twice a day which offers protection for up to 12 hours. You can also use salmeterol as a preventive before you work out.

Montelukast (Singulair) – A drug that blocks the action of leukotrienes in the lungs, resulting in less constriction of bronchial tissue and less inflammation. Leukotrienes are one of several classes of chemical messengers produced in the body that can trigger bronchial constriction and inflammation. Montelukast is available in pill form and is taken the night before you exercise.

Cromolyn (Intal) – An anti-inflammatory drug inhaled 15 to 20 minutes before exercising that prevents the release of histamines and leukotrienes. It’s most useful in asthma when an allergic component is present.

In addition to medication, the following approaches can help prevent or minimize symptoms:
A very slow warmup. Even to the point that your child reports the beginning feelings of the "tightness" associated with exercise-induced asthma.

Then your child should stop and stretch, or slow down if exercising vigorously. By taking this break, the development of asthmatic symptoms can often be blocked and a normal pace can be resumed. This may take some getting used to, but can sometimes eliminate the need for medication.

Try breath work. The most effective approaches are pranayama techniques – breath control exercises taught in some yoga classes for adults. You can have your child do these after the initial warm-up, again, when the symptoms are almost felt. For most children, you can start with Dr. Weil’s technique for "The Relaxing Breath."

Find a form of physical activity that minimizes exercise-induced symptoms. Sports or activities that have intermittent rest periods (such as tennis, softball and golf) can allow your child to regain control of his or her breathing. Swimming may be better than running outdoors in cold weather, but no type of exercise is off-limits with proper treatment. In fact, some of the world’s top athletes have exercise-induced asthma, and they’re still able to compete successfully in Olympic-level events.

Bedwetting
Although by age 8 most youngsters have outgrown bedwetting, a sizeable minority still haven’t. As a matter of fact, 5 to 10 percent of boys still have enuresis (the medical term for bedwetting) by age 10. Enuresis tends to run in families and, when this is the case, children usually outgrow it at the same age as the parent, sibling or other relative who had the problem did.

No one knows what causes bedwetting, although it is sometimes associated with constipation. If so, simple dietary changes such as eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more water early in the day can help resolve matters. Pediatrician Sandy Newmark, MD, of Tucson, Ariz., suggests making sure that children aren’t drinking any beverages that contain caffeine (such as some sodas) and trying to limit (within reason) the amount of fluids they drink in the evening.

Dr. Newmark explains that an "enuresis alarm" is the most simple and effective intervention for youngsters. This device is a wristwatch with a sensor that is attached to pajamas so that the alarm sounds at the first sign of wetness.

This system eventually conditions a child to wake when the bladder is full. Dr. Newmark says that the alarms work in about 70 to 80 percent of children. They are available at most drugstores and cost about $50. Be patient with this system since it can take weeks, and sometimes months, to see results.

If the alarm doesn’t help, Dr. Newmark suggests trying hypnosis as a safe and effective treatment. While some pediatricians prescribe drugs for children who wet the bed, using medication is controversial and should be viewed as a last resort. Homeopathic remedies also may be effective; consult a homeopathic practitioner if you want to try this approach.

Broken Bones
Results of a recent study at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., suggest that the rate of wrist and forearm fractures among young girls has increased dramatically in the last 30 years. The study results, published in the Sept. 17, 2003, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the fracture rate for young girls increased 56 percent from 1969-1971 and 1999-2001.

Boys still suffer more fractures, but the rate of increase among young boys was only 32 percent. Overall, the Mayo Clinic researchers found that the fracture rate among young people had increased 42 percent over three decades.

The researchers had no answers for why this is happening. It is unlikely that youngsters are breaking more bones because they’ve become more physically active. One possibility is that kids may not be getting enough calcium during a period when their bones are growing rapidly.

If so, their bones may never become as dense as they should, which raises the possibility that affected youngsters may be more vulnerable later in life to osteoporosis and hip and vertebral fractures.

The researchers noted that government surveys have shown a decrease in milk consumption among older girls and an increase in consumption of carbonated drinks. The phosphates in carbonated beverages interfere with calcium absorption.

The RDA for calcium is 1,300 mg for young people age 9 to 18. This translates to 4-5 servings of dairy per day, but kids don’t have to drink milk to get their calcium. Other good sources include yogurt, cheese, sea vegetables, collard and mustard greens, kale, bok choy, broccoli, canned salmon and sardines, tofu that has been coagulated with a calcium compound, calcium-fortified soy milk, fruit juice and blackstrap molasses.

Other experts have noted instances of vitamin D deficiency that could contribute to weakened bones. Our bodies make vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, and youngsters who spend too much time indoors may not produce optimal amounts of vitamin D. Spending 10 minutes in the sun without sunscreen a few days each week will do the trick, but it is not a bad idea for kids 12 and older to take a multivitamin supplement that includes 400 IU of vitamin D.

Carsickness
Carsickness, like all types of motion sickness, occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the inner ears, eyes, and other parts of the body that sense motion. A child sitting in the back seat of a car may sense movement – her inner ear perceives the motion – but she may not be able to see out the window to see that she is moving. At the same time, her perception is that her body isn’t moving at all. In some children, these conflicting messages can result in very distressing nausea.

One effective remedy for motion sickness comes from an old Chinese fisherman’s remedy of stimulating the acupressure points that control nausea. The updated version of this treatment is done with wristbands equipped with a plastic peg that presses on acupressure points on the inner surfaces of the wrists. The wristbands are available at most drug and health-food stores. Follow package directions carefully – proper placement of the wristbands is critical.

Motion sickness can also be prevented (and treated) with ginger. Mix a half teaspoon of ginger powder in a glass of water and give it to your child 20 minutes before you get in the car. Or give your child two capsules of powdered ginger.

This remedy has proved more effective than Dramamine – with none of the drowsiness that can occur as a side effect of the drug. Ginger snaps, ginger ale and candied ginger can all help with mild nausea, so keep some in the car should someone develop symptoms during the trip. You also could explore homeopathic remedies – and possibly hypnosis – as a long-term solution.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests trying to deal with carsickness in children by focusing youngsters’ attention away from their queasiness. Listen to the radio or tapes, sing or talk. Also, direct their attention at things outside the car, not at books or games. Make sure that they look out the front windows, where apparent motion of objects is less.

Colicky Babies
First, exclude other reasons for the baby’s crying. Make sure the infant isn’t running a fever, isn’t lethargic, is eating normally and isn’t having any trouble breathing. Your pediatrician will also want to exclude GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which can occur among babies (although it is much more common among adults).

The good news about colic is that what you see is what you get – a fussy, crying but otherwise perfectly healthy baby. Some doctors think that this irritating phase may be part of normal development. Between 5 and 28 percent of infants develop colic between when they are two to six weeks old, and usually outgrow it by the time they’re three to four months old.

Here are Dr. Russell Greenfield’s suggestions for dealing with colic – and with the frustration it can breed among parents:

• Try massage therapy, a great way to enhance bonding between parent and child at a time when colic may be interfering with the bonding process.
• Rock your baby rhythmically.
• Turn on music or try the clothes dryer or vacuum cleaner. Sometimes the white noise they produce helps.
• Try cranial osteopathy or homeopathy; both may help and are safe forms of treatment.
• Try herbal remedies such as cooled chamomile or fennel tea. You can get tea bags at the health food store and give the baby one to two ounces at a time, no more than three to four ounces per day.
• Switch to a cow’s milk-free formula, or, if breast feeding, change the mother’s diet to affect what is entering her breast milk (in some cases, a food sensitivity may play a role).
  Swaddle your baby – it provides a nice snug feeling.
• Chill – find a way to relax; try breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques to lower your frustration level.

By the way, the latest international report on colic comes from a Canadian study that found that mothers don’t appear to sustain any lasting psychological effects as a result of dealing with a colicky infant.

Constipation
Constipation is a common problem for children and usually is temporary. Strictly speaking, a child is constipated if he or she has fewer than three bowel movements per week or if the stools are hard, dry, and unusually large or difficult to pass. Because constipation can make bowel movements painful, youngsters may try to avoid having them. (In addition, about 60 percent of constipated children experience recurrent abdominal pain, a common stress-related condition in youngsters.)

The causes of constipation in kids usually are simple and relatively easy to correct: not enough fiber in their diets, not drinking enough liquids or not getting enough exercise. Then, too, constipation can occur when youngsters ignore the urge to have a bowel movement, which they can do for reasons ranging from not wanting to take a break from playing to embarrassment at using a public bathroom or because a parent isn’t around to help when the urge occurs.

Medication can also be a factor. Those that can cause constipation include aspirin and codeine, vitamins with high doses of iron, the bismuth in Pepto-Bismol, as well as some chemotherapy agents (vincristine) and some psychiatric drugs (imipramine).

Sandy Newmark, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine, recommends the best ways to deal with constipation in young children, listed here:
Decrease dairy products: They can be constipating. Provide your child with an alternative source of calcium such as soy milk fortified with calcium or a calcium-fortified breakfast cereal.
Increase fluids: Encourage your child to drink lots of water.

Increase fiber: Give your child lots of high-fiber fruits and vegetables as well as high-fiber cereals, whole-grain breads and beans.

Although these measures probably will do the trick, if a child’s episodes of constipation last longer than three weeks and prevent him or her from participating in normal activities, you might want to consult a pediatrician. Don’t be tempted to administer the over-the-counter laxatives designed for children. They can be dangerous to youngsters and should be given only under the direction of a pediatrician.

Ear Infections
Recurrent ear infections can be troublesome during early childhood. Here are two strategies:
Eliminate milk and milk products from your child’s diet for at least two months. This means avoiding all dairy products as well as other foods containing milk in any form. Soy, rice, and nut milks such as almond milk are all right. The protein in milk, casein, is often associated with recurrent ear infections in early life as well as with sinus conditions, eczema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.

Try cranial osteopathy. It is another good treatment for recurrent ear infections. When performed by a skilled practitioner, this technique can often end cycles of ear infections, sometimes with a single treatment.

The late Bob Fulford, D.O., a leading practitioner of cranial osteopathy, had great success curing recurring infections in young children. He believed that fluid stagnation in the middle ear – caused by restricted breathing – was at the root of the trouble.

Gentle manual manipulation (and sometimes application of a vibrating instrument known as a percussion hammer) opens up breathing, which in turn helps fluid drain from the middle ear. To find a practitioner of cranial osteopathy, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Cranial Academy, 8202 Clearvista Parkway, #9D, Indianapolis IN 46256. At the University of Arizona, researchers are now concluding a study funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine on the use of both cranial therapy and Echinacea to break cycles of recurrent childhood ear infections.

Early Puberty
In the United States, there's a virtual epidemic of precocious puberty these days – the onset of puberty at very young ages in both boys and girls. Among Caucasian girls today, 1 in 7 starts to develop breasts or pubic hair before she is 8 years old. Among African-American girls, the number is 1 out of 2! Unfortunately, no one knows why this is happening, although there's plenty of speculation. Precocious puberty can be triggered by tumors in the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, ovaries, or testicles, but these cases are rare. Environmental factors are more likely to blame for the upsurge in cases today. The theory with the most scientific support is that obesity is responsible. I think this may be true, since we've long known that overweight girls mature physically earlier than thin ones.

Research also has suggested that environmental pollution may play a small role. In the spring of 2000, results of a study reported in the Journal of Pediatrics showed that boys exposed to DDE (a breakdown product of DDT) were heavier than their peers, while girls exposed to PCBs were heavier than their peers and tended to reach puberty a bit sooner, even though the actual numbers involved in the study were not deemed statistically significant. (Both DDT and PCBs are chemicals that appear to interfere with the body's own hormones.) Researchers are also looking at other environmental chemicals – among them Bisphenol A (BPA), used in manufacturing plastic – but so far haven't found a definitive link.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot to offer in terms of treatment and no natural remedy that I can suggest. Since it's occurring so often these days, some physicians believe that precocious puberty in girls between the ages of 6 and 8 should be seen as normal and not treated at all. (We do know that the risk of breast cancer later in life increases with an earlier onset of puberty.) The only approved allopathic treatments are two drugs: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, GnRH, and Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone, LHRH, both given by daily injections or at intervals of every three to four weeks. These drugs interfere with the hormonal changes responsible for precocious puberty, in effect putting them on "hold" until the child reaches a more appropriate age (typically between the ages of 11 and 13 in girls). The drugs may also reverse the changes that already have taken place.

The physical changes are only one aspect of what girls must contend with as a result of precocious puberty. Because they look like young women, they're often treated as if they were much older than they are by boys (or men who should know better) and may also be teased by friends and at school. If you are a parent with a child in the midst of precocious puberty, you must keep the parent-child lines of communication open. Make sure that your child understands that despite the change in her appearance, he or she is still a child.

Fluoride
The only children who need fluoride supplements of any type are those who live in communities without fluoridated water supplies or in homes with water purifiers that remove minerals. The easiest, most efficient and most cost-effective means of making sure that children have adequate fluoride to protect against tooth decay is to support fluoridation of your area's water supply.

If your community's water is not fluoridated, your child will need dietary fluoride supplements which are available only by prescription from your dentist or physician. To protect against tooth decay, children need fluoride on a daily basis from the age of 6 months to 16 years. (Pregnant women take fluoride supplements beginning in the sixth month of gestation to ensure strong tooth development in the fetus – check with your obstetrician about this.) The correct dosage for your child must be calculated on the basis of the natural fluoride concentration of your local drinking water as well as your child's age, and the extent of his or her exposure (if any) to other sources of fluoride, such as toothpaste or commercial products.

Some fluoride is present in all water sources, but according to the American Dental Association, most bottled waters don't contain enough to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation of community water supplies involves adjusting the fluoride content to the optimal level for dental health, 0.7 to 1.2 parts fluoride per million parts water. Too much fluoride can be bad for children's teeth, just as too little is bad. An excess of fluoride can lead to mottled, chalky, white spots on the teeth. Other health risks include weight loss, brittle bones, anemia and weakness. Be aware that there are conflicting reports that continue to fuel the controversy over fluoridation. Yet at proper levels, fluoride is of immeasurable benefit to the teeth – during childhood and throughout life.

Food Coloring
We are seeing more and more strangely colored foods and snacks, but as a precaution, keep children – and adults – away from foods with artificial colorings. The danger is that the chemicals used to create color are energetic molecules, many of which are capable of interacting with and damaging DNA. Anything that damages DNA can injure the immune system, accelerate aging, and increase the risk of cancer. Indeed, many synthetic food dyes once considered safe have turned out to be carcinogenic. Some approved for use in Europe are considered unsafe in the United States, and vice versa.

Dyes are added to foods for the convenience of the manufacturer, not for the health of the consumer. Luckily, these are among the easiest types of food additives to avoid. Try to convey to your children that garishly colored snack foods are weird and unhealthy – rather than attractive – and make it a rule not to buy them. Watch out for labels that list any of the following terms: "color added," "artificial color added," "U.S.-certified color added," or "FD&C red No. 3" (or green or blue or yellow followed by any number; these are FDA-approved food drug and cosmetic dyes).

There is nothing wrong with foods dyed with natural colors obtained from plants. The most common, annatto, is from the reddish seed of a tropical tree. It is widely used in Latin American cooking to make yellow rice and breads, and is also commonly added to butter and cheese to make them yellow or orange. Other safe food colorings are a red pigment obtained from beets, a green one from chlorella (freshwater algae), caramel, and carotene from carrots.
Definitely keep your kids away from bright green ketchup, a product designed specifically to appeal to youngsters.

Head Lice
Head lice are a common nuisance of childhood. Kids pick them up from someone who already has them by wearing each other’s hats, scarves, hair ribbons and other clothes; sharing combs, brushes or towels; or lying on a bed, couch, pillow or even cuddling a stuffed animal that belongs to a child who has lice. Try to discourage this kind of sharing, particularly if you hear that there’s an infestation at school, at a day care center, or wherever your children spend time.

The conventional treatment is one-percent lindane, sold as Kwell lotion. Yet lindane is a cousin of DDT and can harm the nervous system. Natural and safer alternatives include one-percent permethrin cream rinse, sold as Nix and Neem, which is derived from a tree in India. Lice can develop resistance to permethrin products, and they can aggravate asthma in some children, but both are relatively nontoxic. (Neem is sold in garden shops.)

Some California school systems are using a new product called Lice B Gone, a non-toxic, multi-enzyme shampoo made from plant sources that seems to get rid of lice in a single application. It works by softening the glue that holds the nits (lice eggs) to the hair shaft and also dissolves the exoskeletons of adult lice. Since it contains no pesticides, Lice B Gone is considered safe for pregnant women, nursing mothers, young children and people with asthma.

Overweight Kids
You'll probably be happy to hear that not all children who are heavy grow up to be overweight adults. However, we do have an epidemic of childhood obesity in the U.S., and all parents should be aware that for every year that a child remains overweight, his or her chances of growing into an overweight adult increase.

Aside from eliminating sodas or junk food at home, look to physical activity as a way to help your child lose weight. Try for at least half an hour of physical activity each day. Unfortunately, only 25 percent of school-aged children now take physical education classes. If your child doesn't get any exercise at school, it's up to you to make sure he or she does some type of physical activity at home.

Here are some approaches to add exercise to your child's life as well as foods that will help control his or her weight:
Curb screen time. Limit the time your child spends watching television, sitting at the computer or playing video games.
Set a good example. Studies have found that children are more likely to be physically active if their parents and siblings are active, and if they're encouraged to take part in physical activities. Take family walks, hikes or bike rides on a daily basis, if possible.
Emphasize nutritious foods. Don't limit the amount your child eats, but make sure the foods he does eat are low in fat and high in fiber. When making these changes, say that you're doing it for the entire family to avoid drawing attention to your child's need to lose weight.
Eat meals together. Family breakfasts and dinners give you more control over what your child eats and allow you to make sure that everyone gets at least two nutritious meals per day.
Think about drinks. Cut back on fruit juices, sodas and whole milk. Drinks can provide a surprisingly large number of calories per day.
Teach a relaxation technique. If your child eats in response to stress, you might show him how a relaxation technique such as deep breathing can help to calm him.

Sore Throat
The most important thing parents can do when children develop sore throats is to make sure that the problem isn’t strep, a bacterial infection that requires antibiotic treatment. Strep is diagnosed via a throat culture. (Or a rapid strep test, which takes only 10 minutes but is not as accurate.) While the results may not be available for a few days, a doctor often can tell on the basis of observation whether strep is the likely problem and begin immediate treatment with penicillin. The sore throat usually eases in 24 to 48 hours.
Besides a very sore throat, symptoms of strep often include fever, swollen and tender lymph glands under the jaw, and a swollen and marked redness at the back of the throat that may have white dots. Those symptoms don’t always mean strep, but they often do. (Another clue: suspect strep when there are none of the typical symptoms of a viral infection such as a cough, runny nose, hoarseness and eye irritation.)
It is very important to treat strep throat with antibiotics as soon as possible, because in rare cases it can lead to an autoimmune reaction – rheumatic fever – that can affect the joints, heart and kidneys.
To reduce your child’s susceptibility to sore throat, try to build up his or her immune system by administering a course of the Chinese herb astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) during cold and flu season. You can get astragalus in tincture form or in capsules at the health-food store. Administer one half the adult dose. This herb is safe for regular use.
If your child can gargle, give her a mixture of half hot water and half hydrogen peroxide to use several times a day. Gargling with warm salt water (one-quarter teaspoon salt to one cup of warm water) is also soothing.

Teething
In many infants, the process of teething is painless, causing only some increased drooling and a desire to chew. However, some infants develop tender, swollen gums, may not sleep or eat well, and may run a low fever (under 100 degrees). A fever above 100 degrees or diarrhea suggests problems unrelated to teething.
Here are some recommendations to keep a teething baby comfortable:
Wipe the drool off your baby’s face with a soft cloth (to prevent rashes).
Rub the baby’s gums with a clean finger.
Let your baby chew on a wet washcloth that has been placed in the freezer for 30 minutes (wash it after each use). Alternatively, use a cool spoon or rubber teething ring (take it out of the freezer before it gets so hard that it bruises the tender gums).
Never tie a teething ring around a baby’s neck – it could get caught on something and strangle the child.
Homeopathic teething tablets are a good option. Many parents tell me they have used them successfully to relieve the minor discomforts of teething in their babies.

Toy Safety
Look over the toys you have at home to see if they are age-appropriate for your children. In general, this means making sure they aren't too advanced for the youngest child, but sufficiently sophisticated for the older ones. Homes with infants or toddlers should make sure all toys (and their removable parts) are large enough so they can't be put into a child's mouth and become a choking hazard. (An easy test: A child can choke on any object that fits inside the tube from a roll of toilet paper.)
Parents or grandparents should also be aware that over the last two years toy manufacturers have recalled teethers, rattles, and other products that contain a cancer-causing chemical called diisononyl phthalate (DINP) from the market. Phthalates are used to soften plastics, but high doses have been linked to cancer in mice and rats. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has said the amounts that might have been ingested by small children are not high enough to pose a risk, but it does make sense to toss any soft plastic rattles and teethers that you’ve had more than a year – that's when most toy manufacturers agreed to phase out use of the additive.
The following guidelines for toy safety are from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Consumer Products Safety Commission:
Check the surface and edges of wooden toys. Sandpaper sharp corners and splinters.
Don't give hobby kits, such as chemistry sets, to children younger than 12.
Don't permit children to play with adult darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that have sharp points.
Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.
Discard all plastic wrappings on toys before they become deadly playthings.
New toys intended for children under age 8 should be free of glass and metal edges.
Toys with long strings or cords may be dangerous around infants and very young children. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children can become entangled.
Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones.

Vitamins
Yes, children should take vitamins, mostly because so many kids don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, and because their diets are often full of processed and refined foods. However, vitamin supplements shouldn’t be substitutes for whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
Teach children of any age to enjoy healthy food by involving them in its preparation, even if they’re only in the kitchen to observe. In "The Healthy Kitchen," Rosie Daley and I give a number of ideas for recipes and snacks that kids will like. Also, try to discourage your children from eating too much fast food, processed food, sugar and caffeine (in cola and other soft drinks). There’s no harm in the occasional ice cream, pizza or candy bar in the context of a well-balanced diet, but try to encourage snacking on healthier foods – fresh or dried fruit; a small handful of raw, unsalted nuts such as cashews and walnuts; a piece of flavorful, natural cheese; or a piece of dark chocolate.
As far as supplements are concerned, give children a complete antioxidant formula as well as multiminerals. Be sure to keep the vitamins out of the reach of young children – some supplements for kids taste and look like candy and there is a danger of overdosing, especially when supplements contain iron.

Andrew Weil, M.D.–Author of:
Eight Weeks to Optimum Health
Spontaneous Healing
The Natural Mind
The Marriage of the Sun and Moon
Health and Healing
Natural Health, Natural Medicine
From Chocolate to Morphine (with Winifred Rosen)

METHODS of Diagnostic - Thermographic System

Regulation Thermography identifies illnesses and disease processes by measuring reactions of the human body to cooling stimuli. Even at the earliest stages of the disease process, there are minute, detectable changes in circulation patterns and thermal characteristics of the major organs.

The CRT 2000 ® Thermographic System quantifies these thermal characteristics and compares the thermal profile against a vast library of historical data in order to provide health care practitioners with a report identifying potential problems and risk factors. The CRT 2000 ® features many advantages over traditional laboratory tests and imaging, as it is a non-invasive, reproducible diagnostic that evaluates all the major body organs and is able to detect the very early onset of many disease and degenerative processes.

The analysis provided by the CRT 2000 ® provides focused statements of individual organ systems, indicating the severity of conditions, allergies, toxicity, and degeneration.The CRT 2000 ® Thermographic System quickly locates the focal points of chronically, malignant and unspecified diseases such as:

• Migraines
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Low grade chronic viral and Fungal infection
• Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Intestinal Toxins and Dysfunction
• Lymphatic Obstructions
• Food allergies
• Rheumatic Diseases
• Bowel Diseases
  

Report of a Wholistic Holiday

Report of a Wholistic Holiday
©Copyright 1998 by James A Kholos, D.C., N.D., USA (Explore Issue: Volume 8, Number 4)

Attending the recent Isopathic/Homeopathic Seminar, January 29 to February 1, 1998 in Scottsdale, Arizona was more than learning about Pleomorphic therapy.

To say the participants only enjoyed the cool Arizona sunsets in the Pueblo Spirit, would be like referring to Native America petroglyphs as graffiti.

The information presented on how to treat and combine different methods and products effectively, the most important Sanum Remedies and their successful interrelationship to other biological remedies, Meridian Therapy and Homeopathy, basic concepts of biological medicine, tools for determining the need for biological medicine, heavy toxicity, Detection and Dtoxification Research and the Biological Terrain, meridians and their structures, thermoregulation and new developments in holistic dentistry and the relationship to biological therapies can only be described as baffling to nearly everyone.

My particular favorite was Dr. Thomas Rau's presentation on the Significance and Clinical Meaning of Darkfield findings, as a new way of interpretation, and understanding Darkfield microscopy as a dynamic examination.

Typical of Enderlein seminars, Chrystyne Jackson consistently makes the desert bloom into a garden with exhibitors, equally worthy, presenting products I consider the cutting edge of science and technology in advanced medicine. It is here in Scottsdale twice yearly, knowledge becomes a gallery telling a story of the medical arts, past present and future.

If advanced medicine has a gold standard Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, Ph.D. occupies this high place equally with friend and colleague, Dr. Thomas Rau. Their fascinating shared experience overlapping Chinese medicine, neural therapy and Dr. Garry Gordon's plain old-fashioned American horse sense, gives one the impression that the mysteries of anti-aging medicine will soon appear like some rock art symbols in a Petroglyph should you survive the next ten years.

The information presented could be considered everything you should want to know, the therapies that are working in Europe you didn't learn in medical school.

"When I left allopathic medicine in 1985 and turned to advanced medicine," related Dr. Robert M. Battle, of Houston, Texas, "I observed a patient suffering from congestive heart failure I had treated without success for five years. After twenty-five chelation (chelation & detoxification) I.V.'s he went from barely breathing, to hiking and jogging."

Dr. Battle invited Bill Glaros, DDS to participate in the dental workshops. He confirmed enthusiastically "every encounter brings an opportunity for a mission". He further confirmed that the fact that stopping the placement of mercury/silver fillings in patients decreases the possibility of the detrimental effects on their health was continuously validated by physicians, researchers and dentists in practice.

Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MD, Psychiatrist, presented his thesis on Spiritual Nutrition and the Rainbow Diet. To think past the popular research that fails to demonstrate that food and nutrients behave differently in different people with different dominant metabolic types has profound implications. Cousens claims that the key to understanding his fast and slow oxidizer concept is knowing how the body produces and metabolizes ATP from glucose.

There are two primary cycles. One is called glycolysis which produces twenty percent of the ATP. The other is called the Citric Acid Cycle, which produces eighty percent. Any interference with the step-by-step breakdown of glucose to ATP from the incomplete oxidation of glucose intermediates in the brain resulting in impaired mental functioning. An example of this might be a deficiency in Niacin which participates in the enzymatic breakdown of sugar at several places in the cycles of energy production. A deficiency of Niacin slows down brain metabolism and therefore affects the creation of energy for the brain-mind function.

It is well known that a Niacin deficiency might result in pellagra with a variety of mental symptoms associated with it, including depression and anxiety. Niacin is also needed for tryptophan metabolism and a Niacin deficiency has been implicated in some forms of schizophrenia. Deficiencies of other vitamins and minerals, as well as pH imbalances may profoundly alter brain energetic functioning and, therefore, the normal functioning of brain-mind activities.

Although glucose metabolism primarily happens in brain metabolism, the adequate utilization of protein and fat breakdown products in the citric acid cycle, significantly affects the amount of ATP that is used in brain metabolism. There needs to be a proper mix of the intermediates, from both glucose metabolism and from fat and protein metabolic breakdown, for the citric acid cycle to produce the optimal amount of energy for proper functioning. I taught Dr. Cousens everything he ever learned between the speaker breaks.

Moving right along, Robert Zieve, MD, a practitioner of Integrative Alternative Medicine, author of Rhythms in Time: the Homeopathic Future, electrified the seminar, presenting an anthro-philosophical approach to developing imaginative thinking in biological medicine.

His thesis, Forming a Curative Community, was based on the genius of Rudolph Steiner, who strived for a Utopian ideal of realizing receptivity to the meaning of life. Dr. Zieve brought us his light beyond the shadow of scientific objectivity into the realm of objective imagination. With a controlled passion under Dr. Zieve's patient guidance, all were set aglow who silently participated in this deep healing, thoughtful awareness training.

We all learned to approach our patients as if they were writing a biography of themselves, beginning with our examination, at that moment in time. With objective examination, our own inner images and feelings of transference craft our fluidity in assisting the patient to enhance creative intellectual thought into a habitual form.

Through workshops on painting with water color, theater, and through therapeutic musical expressions, one can help overcome the part of the patient that does not want to get well. Applying the creative movement of knowledge, the removal of symptoms becomes a process of consciousness. This in fact can change the internal milieu of the patient's biochemistry. We human beings are the only species whose thoughts change our biology.

Speaking of monitoring the biological terrain, Dr. Robert C. Greenberg, Chairman and Founder of Biological Technologies International and the inventor of the BTA's 2000, considered the most advanced and accurate instrument in the world for the assessment of the biological terrain, explained how it works. In brief, by objectively analyzing blood, urine and saliva to establish baseline for pH RH2 (Redox and R (Resistivity), the BTA explores the area of the digestive system, kidneys, and blood for electrical charges between oxidation reduction.

A differential must be maintained at appropriate levels. In other words, too much reduction causes a buildup of acids in the cells through normal metabolic processes, thus revealing the Redox equation and levels of oxidated stress. Oxidative phosphorylation* of the mitochrondia and alphalipoic acid are necessary to help transfer oxygen across the mitochondrial membrane.

Most degenerative diseases begin with the failure of the cycling of oxidative phosphorylation. Other equally important factors as the oxidation of carbohydrates and fats and the Henderson-Hasselbalch enter into the equation.

This follows Dr. Watson's work on slow oxidizers, fast oxidizers, whereby he managed through supplementation to stimulate an increase in fax oxidation and lower the carbohydrate content of his patients' diets. The data collected, tabulated and analyzed yields objective information on treatment protocols.

The BTA is consistent with the premise of Otto Warburg, MD, corresponding to anaerobic and aerobic potentials with relationship to degenerative disease. Like Native American petroglyphs, the biological terrain measurements are not doodles. As anthropologists and historians can offer explanations of the petroglyphs (rock carvings of the Southwest), physicians applying oxygen therapies to offset the nitrogen component realize greater outcomes using the BTA monitoring technology for baseline function studies with their patients.

Another equally effective means utilizing computerized regulation thermography (CRT 2000 Eidam) presented by Daniel Beilin, OMD, joined by Dr. Thomas Rau, explained how patterns of autonomic responses identify skin changes as a regulation for the afferents, spinal cord organ input, organ output spinal cord afferents, and serves as an indicator or key to the origin of disease. Applying a probe to points tested then comparing it to baseline indicates either a hyper- or hypo- function. Using this means of monitoring the immune system, one can arrive at a balanced integrated empirical diagnosis able to pinpoint "dysbiosis" established within the program of the software. The CRT 2000 is designed for the dedicated biological practitioner.

The CRT accomplishes:

• Identification of hidden foci
• Assessment of effectivity of therapeutic modalities
• Dental evaluation
• Breast analysis
• Mesnchymal reflection
• Organ function "scan"
• Neural therapy validation
• Geopathic pattern identity
• Neurological impact assessment
• Fungal/dysbiotic intestinal status measurement
• Quick prioritization of treatment protocols
• Food intolerance vs. terrain analysis

In conclusion, more recently, culminating 15 years of collaborative research, German physicians have developed new indices for terrain, teeth, enteropathy, vitality, physomatic and immune integrity. Much more exciting correlations will be possible as these combined efforts seek new answers.

Highlighting every Enderlein seminar I have attended together with illustrious, overlooked diagnostic possibilities of Dr. Thomas Rau is Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, Ph.D. addressing Neural Therapy. Dietrich gets better with age, and his humble appearance should not detract from his strong and intelligent effective healing techniques. He has published books in both peer-review journals and lay literature, and his German textbook on the psychological counseling techniques "Psycho-Kinesiology" has become a best seller.

He is the President and Founder of The American Academy on Neural Therapy and may be contacted through our Explore offices. If anyone could speculate on why the petroglyphs were made, Dietrich would postulate his impressions based on his deep spiritual life, and knowledge of Jungian psychology as a vision from his own past.

He is neither a Shaman nor Vision seeker, yet this German-American scholar is considered to be the leading authority on Neural Therapy in the world today. Most astounding to me, his new theory on depression, relating seratonin levels to gut bacteria, was most profound. He is a pathfinder in both neurology, kinesiology and orthopedics. This new found knowledge we learned in Arizona this past weekend will resonate in our minds and practices into the next century. The new edict should be that diagnostics should not be labels, rather the symptoms which appear allopathically should be interpreted for what they are in Advanced Medicine.

The renaissance in Biological/Isopathic homeopathics began with Enderlein conferences since 1995. Over the past years, I have witnessed the brightest minds in the healing arts conquer the ignorance of mainstream medicine and learn the shifting paradigms of Advanced Medicine. We honor Professor Dr. Günther Enderlein (1872­1968), for being the founder of the biologics firm SANUM, now Sanum-Kehlbeck GmbH & Co., producer of the Enderlein therapeutic remedies.

Enderlein's contributions fit neither traditional biological terminology, nor medical doctrine. His concept that all blood contains micro-organisms which exist in cooperatively and mutually beneficial relationships (symbiosis) is not easily grasped. Its corollary is that almost all disease processes indicate a disturbed balance of these organisms as they evolve from harmless, and usually helpful viral-like symbionts, into bacterial forms that eventuate as parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These can be broken down by products based on the symbiotic and lower forms of the organisms that are present in all blood. Enderlein anticipated many aspects of psycho-immunology with his emphasis on the somatic influence of mind and emotions. He outlined how the autonomic nervous system and endocrine metabolic systems influence and are influenced by the endobiont cycles.

Dr. Klinghardt revisited this premonition of Enderlein, presenting the most substantial science yet proving Enderlein's original hypothesis. Much of today's medical turmoil results from the medical establishment's resistance to change. Integrating different methods and the new therapy prescription schedules was the order of the day in Scottsdale.

Dr. Abram Ber, MD spoke and few whispers could be heard when the man welcomed us as "Brothers and Sisters". He has become the unofficial Chairman of the Board.

Leading in the forefront, among several distinguished exhibitors, was the Allergy Research Group. Again the theme of gut reaction had been featured prominently in the November 17, 1997 Newsweek article on "Leaky Gut Syndrome". Isopathic and practicing nutritional health providers have long acknowledged the concept of intestinal permeability and its clinical importance ("Leaky Gut Syndrome") in numerous pathologies. Steven Levine, President, has designed several new nutritional formulas I consider to be on the cutting edge of neutraceuticals today. Such products as live protein, amino acids, gastric nutritional support programs, super-food concentrates, and many other products have been developed with scientific cooperation.

Doctors Data, the premier reference laboratory for multi-element amino acid and other specialty assays advised the participants tapping into their immense data base which included the latest research in nutrition and bio-chemistry.

A new instrument called NervExpress can detect the early signs of aging and its reversal. This device offers quantitative objectivization of alternative treatments. Heart Rhythm Instruments, Inc. of New York City has a new scientific approach based on heart rate variability and spectral analysis. It can also measure the quantitative effect of spinal manipulative therapy on the autonomic nervous system.

Another delightful exhibitor was Avatar Data Acquisition Patient Monitoring Systems. This advanced instrumentation is even FDA registered electronics approved for testing acupuncture points based on VOLL/EAV protocols. Come to think of it, the FDA once called the EKG quackery. None of the vendors or exhibitors presented products that I would consider Doctors' Confidential; however, discretion may be advised with your state licensing agency.

Other loyalists and royals exhibited products from localized hypothermia by Indiba S.A. to Ron Williams' Biotron, in my opinion the simplest and most effective EAV instrument on the market today. Dr. Richard Clements, Medical Director of Heel Homeopathics attended and was equally excited with the product presentation that featured both Sanum and Heel remedies used in combination. My favorite vendor, Michael Coyle of NuLife Sciences makes buying a microscope as easy as obtaining a 0% interest loan. Dr. Andreas Marx of Marco Pharma Laboratories was on hand to share his useful knowledge with the seminar attendees.

The Enderlein Family of Advanced Medicine will reconvene this coming June 1998 for another conference on June 11th to 14th,1998. Take your minerals complete and be among the rock art symbols of freedom of medical expression. The flintstones of allopathic medicine may stay in their caves, but we, the advance guard of alternative medicine, perceive them to be nothing but fossils in the Arizona desert.

Join us at the Holiday Inn/SunSpree Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona and enjoy a Wholistic Holiday! You deserve it!! u

About the Author:
Dr. James A. Kholos, DC, ND is affiliated with the American Naturopathic Medical Association, The Academy of Anti-Aging Medicines, and is a contributing editor to the National Health Federation. He is a nationally known public access host of his own program "Outlook on Health" that showcases alternative medicine and cutting edge therapies for degenerative conditions. He is the author of Athletic Training for Cardiac Recovery and is a regular medical correspondent at Enderlein seminars. He is also a microscopist certified through the Enderlein Foundation. Anyone wishing to purchase his book or other books mentioned in this article may do so through the Explore Book Club. See Resource Directory for purchase of tapes from this seminar and the Enderlein seminar of June 1997.

more info at : www.dreddyclinic.com

Ask Dr. Z - Functional Illness!

Ask Dr. Z - Functional Illness!:

"What is Functional Illness?
Many people don't feel good, but don't really know why. They complain of unexplained symptoms such as chronic fatigue, over-weight, depression, food cravings, head aches, muscle and joint pain, arthritis, intractable back pain, heartburn, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, mood swings, rashes, itching, allergies, ...the list goes on.

Standard medical tests show little or nothing. Many of my patients have reported over the years that their MD's either ignore these symptoms or give vague explanations such as:

• It is because of your age
• You just have to live with it
• It's all in your head
• It is stress
• It is...

What this really means: nobody knows how to determine the cause for all these symptoms.
As the name implies, Functional Illness comprises symptoms caused by the abnormal function the body. An organ or groups of organs have begun to malfunction.

The real problem arises when this abnormal function is ignored and/or remains undetected for prolonged periods of time. This may then lead to a state of actual disease. Disease implies pathological changes that can be evaluated by standard medical tests.

So we could say that Functional Illness is this gray and vague area between optimal health and disease.

Here are some factors that may contribute to Functional Illness:

• structural stress: misalignments of the spine which can lead to stress on the nervous system
• emotional stress
• lack of sleep
• over-consumption of sugar and carbohydrates
• lack of proper nutrition
• junk food
• food additives sedentary life style
• 'recreational' drugs
• pharmaceutical drugs
• antibiotic use (past or present) which destroys the healthy intestinal flora
• alcohol
• tobacco
• enviroment."

more info at: www.dreddyclinic.com