Parents agree their children’s health is priority number one. While many parents rely exclusively on Western medicine to treat childhood illnesses, more and more are turning to alternative healthcare options.

Written by Carol Heffernan

As controversies heighten over issues like vaccinations and the overuse of antibiotics, there is a new level of openness when it comes to a variety of interventions. With a focus on healing and disease prevention, alternative techniques pay equal attention to a patient’s mind, body, and spirit, rather than merely managing the symptoms.

From herbal remedies to chiropractic care to acupuncture and massage, alternative medicine encompasses healing practices that do not fall under the realm of mainstream medicine. In other words, these treatments are not generally taught in medical school or frequently used by doctors or in hospitals. Yet, as a growing number of patients and parents request non-traditional types of care, more medical schools and healthcare centers are incorporating alternative medicine into their research and practices.

Pediatric Alternatives, a practice located in Mill Valley, California, combines state-of-the-art Western medicine with alternative care. “We have many patients who come to us after unsuccessful treatments for their chronic conditions, especially ear infections, allergies, eczema and asthma,” says Dr. Hillary Fredrickson, a naturopathic doctor at Pediatric Alternatives.

“One patient, a 2-year-old with chronic congestion, had been treated with antibiotics six times for ear infections,” Fredrickson says. “His parents were frustrated by the amount of antibiotics he was prescribed, and they came seeking an alternative. After assessing the child and recognizing he had mild eczema in addition to the chronic ear infections, I looked into food sensitivities using a blood test.

“He was sensitive to dairy and gluten-containing foods and those were eliminated from his diet. I also prescribed a homeopathic remedy to decrease his congestion, daily cod liver oil as an anti-inflammatory and probiotics to re-establish gut health. After one month of treatment and dietary changes, he no longer had the chronic nasal congestion. Over time, he was much less likely to get sick. His eczema cleared, and he has not needed an antibiotic since,” Dr. Fredrickson says.

According to a recent government survey, nearly 12 percent of U.S. children age 17 and younger use some form of alternative medicine, typically in response to chronic or hard-to-treat illnesses. These include back or neck pain, body aches, colds, anxiety, insomnia, and attention-deficit disorders.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a government agency dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices, reports that the most common treatments for children include natural products such as echinacea, fish oil and herbs, deep breathing, yoga, meditation and diet-based therapies.

“Nutrition is a cornerstone of our practice,” explains Dr. Fredrickson. “We work very hard to educate our parents about food, using whole foods and avoiding food sensitivities when applicable. We commonly use food allergy testing to help tailor nutritional advice for our patients, especially those with chronic complaints. If patients are acutely ill, we commonly use homeopathy, herbs, and hydrotherapy to help manage symptoms and prevent complications.” Research indicates that while some such alternative products and practices show benefits in clinical trials, most lack the large-scale, scientific studies needed to confirm safety and effectiveness—particularly in children. Furthermore, unlike prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbal products and supplements are not fully regulated by the government.

Still, many parents are undeterred, opting to work alongside their doctor to coordinate alternative and traditional care.

“If families are happy with Western medicine and see no use for any other modalities, then perhaps alternative medicine is not for them,” says Dr. Lindy Woodard, one of three pediatricians at Pediatric Alternatives. “However, if their children are frequently ill or if they are wondering about the benefits of some of the treatments their children are receiving, then they might want to see a doctor who uses both Western and alternative medicine, so that they feel comfortable in both worlds.”