The Holistic Approach to Chronic Illness
By Jane Sheppard Harris
We all want our children to be vibrantly
healthy and happy. Children will inevitably
get sick at times, but some children are dealing
with illness on a continual basis. Unfortunately,
an increasing number of children are burdened
with chronic illnesses or disorders that can
make their lives pretty challenging.
The current system of conventional health
care can be enormously frustrating and lacking
in real answers for children diagnosed with
asthma, autism, multiple allergies, attention
deficit disorder, recurring infections, or
other chronic health problems. Visits to the
doctor may result in drug prescriptions with
which you may not feel comfortable. The medication
may keep the symptoms in check, but what you
really want is for your child to completely
heal and reclaim health and vitality.
The holistic approach to health does not
reject conventional medicine, but is a sensible,
complete form of healing that considers your
child’s entire picture of health and uses
the best and most appropriate options for
healing. It is a process of strengthening
every system of the mind-body and allowing
your child’s natural healing potential to
flourish. Many of the chronic health problems
that affect children will respond best when
addressed from a holistic point of view.
Holistic is defined as pertaining to all
aspects of human nature – physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual. To approach health
holistically is to consider the mind, emotions,
spirit, and entire body when addressing the
health of a person, not just the area that
is manifesting the symptoms. The underlying
foundation and prerequisite for true healing
is compassion for the patient, and consideration
of all aspects of the patient’s nature, including
the family, culture and community. Taking
all this into consideration, holistic practitioners
choose therapies that are most appropriate
for the individual child.
Alternative medicine covers a broad range
of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies
that can be used alone, in combination with
other alternative therapies, or along with
conventional medicine. Most homeopaths, naturopaths,
and doctors of oriental medicine are holistic
practitioners, considering all aspects of
their patients and assisting them in achieving
a vibrant state of health. But not all alternative
practitioners can be considered holistic,
nor is a conventional medical doctor necessarily
not
holistic. Alternative practitioners who believe
that all disease is caused by vitamin deficiencies
or spinal misalignments are no more holistic
than a medical doctor who believes that all
illness is caused by germs.
When it comes to medicine, it is beneficial
to not have an either/or attitude. Both conventional
and alternative have an important place in
health care and can make a powerful team in
certain situations. Integrative medicine (another
word for holistic medicine) is an emerging
system of health care practiced by medical
doctors who respect all valid systems of healing,
recognizing the value of each one. Alternative
and conventional treatments are combined in
order to meet the needs of the patient on
all levels of healing. The treatments that
are the most effective in helping the patient
are the ones used. It is not a matter of what
type of medicine is better. It is a matter
of what works for each patient.
Doctors who practice integrative or holistic
medicine establish healing partnerships with
their patients and emphasize prevention and
self-care. They consider the patient’s thoughts,
feelings and beliefs when prescribing treatment.
They may incorporate one or several alternative
therapies into their practices and/or work
in partnership with alternative practitioners
either through referrals or by working directly
with them. More and more medical doctors are
aligning with integrative medicine and you
may
be able to find such a doctor in your area.
You can conduct personal interviews with potential
doctors first to get a sense of their philosophy
and how they work.
Finding a holistic doctor can be important,
but good health really begins at home with
breastfeeding, good nutrition, quality food,
a non-toxic environment, natural remedies
to strengthen immunity, and mental, emotional
and spiritual nurturing. Parents are the coordinators
of holistic health care for children. You
know your child’s body, mind, emotions, and
spirit better than anyone else. By carefully
assessing your children in each of these areas,
you can prioritize their needs and focus on
what may be diminishing their health. If you
need help from a health professional, you
can choose the form of health care that is
most appropriate and coordinate the different
therapies so your children can receive integrated,
whole-person health care.
Healing vs. Curing
We have been taught to look outside ourselves
and to call upon doctors or other health care
practitioners to cure us. It is important
to acknowledge that there is a difference
between curing and healing. Curing means the
elimination of symptoms or signs of a disease.
Treatment with drugs, surgery, herbs, or other
methods may cure you by relieving the symptoms
of discomfort, pain, or disease. However,
unless the underlying pattern of dysfunction
is stopped, the symptoms may recur. Healing
goes deeper than curing, and occurs when the
root cause is overcome and the systems of
the mind-body, including emotions and spirit,
are strong and vital. Although health care
professionals can help facilitate healing,
the ability to heal ultimately comes from
within.
Consider, for instance, recurring infections.
Simply taking antibiotics or an herbal remedy
may cure
the present infection. But if the body is
overloaded with toxins and the immune system
is weak, the infections may continue. The
impaired immune system and all the other affected
systems of the mind-body must ultimately be
healed
internally. To address the problem holistically,
there are many factors to explore. First,
the toxic assault on the body needs to be
discontinued by changing the diet and reducing
chemical exposures as much as possible.
Next, all the systems of the body and overall
health must be strengthened. In order to function
effectively, the immune system relies on neurotransmitter
activity from the nervous system, as well
as nutrients and hormones from the digestive
and endocrine systems. If the other systems
of the body are blocked in some way, there
may be problems with immunity. Furthermore,
the immune system is strongly affected by
thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. If your child
is frequently sad or angry, the immune system
will become compromised to some extent. Likewise,
plenty of laughter and joy has been shown
to strengthen immunity. So all the systems
of the mind-body, including thoughts, feelings,
and beliefs need to be considered.
Practical Use of This Philosophy
Healing is usually not as simple as taking
a pill or a natural remedy. Children are all
different and their mind-bodies are complex.
You may hear of a supplement, herb or treatment
that has worked for another child, but this
does not necessarily mean it will help your
unique child.
How do you decide which therapies to use
for your child’s particular health condition?
It helps to first get a diagnosis to determine
where to begin. Particularly if your child
is experiencing symptoms that are unusually
persistent or severe, have him or her checked
out by a doctor first. Then you can focus
on specific pieces of the puzzle and take
a look at each aspect of your child to determine
the specific needs. Keep in mind that the
body, mind, emotions, and spirit are all interrelated,
each one impacting the others. Some treatments
will affect several or all aspects of your
child’s health. Massage therapy, for example,
can positively affect the circulatory, lymphatic,
nervous, muscular, skeletal, digestive and
immune systems as well as providing emotional
security and mental relaxation.
The Holistic Health Assessment
The following factors are important to consider
in determining your child’s entire picture
of health. Many chronic illnesses can be alleviated
or healed completely after making certain
changes in these critical areas. Keep in mind
that although nutritional, environmental and
structural problems may seem physical in nature,
these factors can greatly affect your child’s
mental and emotional health. Likewise, mental
and emotional nurturing can positively affect
the physical body. Your child is one mind-body
with all these interrelated, interactive systems,
and emotional stress, environmental toxins
and processed food will impact his or her
entire being.
Nutritional
Nutrients are needed to provide energy and
assist in the functioning of your children’s
many body processes. Food is a vital part
of health, and diet can be a substantial factor
in the cause as well as the treatment of many
health problems. Take a look at what your
children eat on a regular basis. Does their
diet give them enough of the nutrients they
need for good health? Do they eat a lot of
processed foods that contain sugar, hydrogenated
oils, additives, or white flour? Is their
food mostly organic? Pesticides and other
chemicals can diminish the functioning of
the body, particularly the nervous, hormonal
and immune systems
Simple changes to your children’s diet can
improve their health considerably. In addition,
you may want to supplement the diet with vitamins,
minerals and herbs. There has been much research
done in this area, and it is best to find
out all you can before purchasing any supplements.
A child who has been ill for some time may
need nutritional supplementation under the
supervision of a health professional. A certified
or licensed nutritionist, naturopathic physician,
medical doctor specializing in nutritional
medicine, traditional Chinese medical doctor,
or herbalist can assist you with nutritional
assessment, diet and/or supplementation.
Even if a healthy diet is eaten, the metabolism
may not be functioning optimally. The food
a child eats may not be absorbed into the
body properly, causing the cells and tissues
to be lacking in the nutrients needed. Food
sensitivities or allergies can be a major
factor for a child dealing with chronic congestion,
behavior problems, ear infections, or many
other puzzling ailments. A doctor specializing
in environmental medicine, a qualified homeopath,
or a practitioner of NAET may be helpful in
these situations.
Structural
The structure of the body includes the muscular,
skeletal and nervous systems. The components
of these systems give the body support to
stand upright and move around in all directions.
The nervous system controls nerve impulses
from the brain that stimulate important organs
and tissue of the body. Improper spinal alignment
may cause patterns of strain and impede the
flow of nerve impulses and energy to certain
organs and tissues, which can result in pain
or disease. Chiropractic adjustments can be
beneficial in aligning the spine and unblocking
the nerve flow.
The head is made up of many bones that are
supposed to move gently in synchronization
with one another to allow for the proper movement
of fluids. Many things can affect the movement
of the bones in the head, including falls,
recurrent infections, and birth trauma (especially
if forceps were used). Fluid that accumulates
behind the eardrum can result in chronic ear
infections. Gentle movement of the bones of
the head to allow drainage of the fluid can
prevent and cure the infections. Craniosacral
work is the gentle movement of the bones of
the head and sacrum. Practitioners who do
this work are usually chiropractors or osteopaths
who can also do gentle spinal manipulations
for children. There are also craniosacral
therapists that do this treatment alone or
combine it with other therapies.
Many forms of massage and bodywork can help
to correct structural imbalances and alleviate
symptoms of pain and tension. Alleviating
the stress in your child’s life is an important
aspect of maintaining structural health and
strengthening the nervous and immune systems.
Exercise is a necessity, and yoga can be helpful.
Deep breathing, relaxation techniques, and
meditation have been shown to decrease stress
and pain by promoting deep relaxation. Children
can easily learn to do regular yoga, deep
breathing and/or meditation.
Unexpressed emotions, physical trauma, poor
diet, pollution and stress can cause the flow
of energy in the body to become blocked or
stagnated. This can weaken your child’s immune
and other systems. Acupuncture or acupressure
can be helpful in releasing the blocked energy
and strengthening immunity and overall health.
Reiki, therapeutic touch, or energy work can
positively affect physical health as well
as mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Environmental
In addition to outdoor pollution, children
are continually exposed to toxins in their
food, water, schools, and homes. Extensive
research done over the last 30 years shows
a definite link between environmental toxins
and disease. Exposures to synthetic chemicals
and natural allergens, such as dust, molds,
and pollen can trigger serious physical, neurological,
and psychological problems. In addition to
typical allergy symptoms such as asthma, eczema,
hives and hay fever, environmental toxins
can directly cause, contribute to, or aggravate
the following health problems: fatigue, arthritis,
recurrent infections, stomach aches, constant
congestion, headaches, muscle or joint pain,
hyperactivity, depression, bowel problems,
bad breath, twitches, auto-immune diseases,
behavioral problems, memory problems, learning
problems, and emotional problems.
Be aware of what your children are breathing,
touching, applying to their skin, and eating.
Remember to take environmental factors into
account when you are determining the cause
of any disease. There are numerous tests you
can do on your own or with a doctor. A doctor
practicing environmental medicine will do
a thorough environment and nutrition history,
as well as a physical examination, in order
to uncover possible contributing factors to
your child’s health problems. Homeopathy,
when prescribed by a qualified classical homeopath,
can be very helpful in assisting the body
to recover from environmental insults. NAET
can eliminate the body’s allergic reaction
to a substance.
Mental-Emotional
There has been an enormous amount of research
done on how thoughts and emotions affect the
cells, organs and tissues of the body. Many
researchers and clinicians have reported the
negative health effects of hopelessness, depression
and the bottling up of emotions. Thoughts
and emotions actually generate physiological
substances that affect the processes in the
body.
The field of psychoneuroimmunology is helping
us to better understand how the nervous, immune
and endocrine systems communicate. Neuropeptides
and neurotransmitters are messengers released
by the brain that influence the cellular activity
in the body. White blood cells (key factors
in getting rid of bacteria and cancer cells)
receive direct messages from the brain through
the nervous system. These are just some
of the communication paths between the mind
and body. Through research and experience,
it is becoming increasingly evident that the
mind and body are one and the same. Your child’s
state of mind definitely influences the development
of and the healing of illness.
Emotional health needs to be nurtured throughout
pregnancy, birth and childhood. Listening
to your children and honoring their feelings
promotes healthy expression of emotions. Nurturing
touch communicates love, the main ingredient
for emotional growth and well-being. Babies
need to be breastfed, held, carried, rocked
and cuddled on a continuous basis.
Does your child freely express his or her
feelings and have a strong sense of self-worth?
Has there been a loss of a close relative,
teacher, friend, or pet and has he or she
been able to fully grieve the loss? Has there
been any type of physical or emotional trauma
or a traumatic birth? These emotional states
can definitely affect the state of a child’s
health.
If needed, a psychotherapist can provide
support for and be a guide for your child’s
mental and emotional healing. Art or music
therapy can be very helpful for children to
get in touch with their feelings. Imagery
is a fun and powerful mental technique that
allows children to use their imagination to
influence their health. They can use guided
imagery to calm themselves down, relieve pain,
increase immunity to disease, increase body
image, increase learning or athletic potential,
and promote healing.
Spiritual
Beyond the mind-body connection, there is
a source of inspiration that you can access.
This is your spiritual connection. Working
with spirit means reaching beyond your understanding
of your own limits to access a greater healing
power. You can bring this healing power into
your life and your child’s healing. It can
take the form of prayer, inspiration, intuition
or insight. In his book The
Healing Journey, O. Carl Simonton,
M.D., oncologist and director of the Simonton
Cancer Center states “our work with patients
has demonstrated that health involves body,
mind, and
spirit. And while the mind alone can be used
to influence the physical state, it is used
most effectively when it is aware of spirit.”
It is not necessary to subscribe to a particular
religion in order to work with spirit. You
can explore your own beliefs about what spirit
means to you. Intuition, gut feelings, hunches,
meditation, and prayer are only a few of many
spiritual processes. When you pay attention
to these “gifts”, you can increase your awareness
of your child’s health condition and gain
important insights to help you in your parenting
decisions. You can help your children to access
their spiritual connection by teaching them
to pray, discussing your beliefs, reading
spiritual books, attending church, helping
others in need, creating rituals, attuning
to the moon and the seasons, and taking walks
in nature. Nature is a potent healing force
and an essential part of the healing process.
Meditation is suitable for children and can
be as simple as observing or counting breaths.
Teaching children prayer or meditation trains
them to tune in to their spiritual lives and
to notice the many ways in which they are
blessed. The
Whole Parenting Guide, by Alan Reder,
Phil Catalfo, and Stephanie Renfrow Hamilton
(Broadway Books, 1999), provides ways to teach
children different types of prayer and meditation.
A recent double-blind study looked at the
effects of prayer on heart attack patients.
These patients all received the same high-tech
coronary care, but half were also prayed for
by name by prayer groups across the country.
The group that was prayed for had fewer deaths,
faster recovery and used fewer medications.
(Randolph C. Byrd, Positive Therapeutic Effects
of Intercessory Prayer in a Coronary Care
Unit Population, Southern
Medical Journal, Vol. 81, no.7, July
1993, pp. 826-29) This is one of many studies
done that suggest a healing connection to
prayer. Larry Dossey, M.D, author of the best-selling
books Healing
Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice
of Medicine and Prayer
is Good Medicine, has looked at 160
of these studies. In talking about prayer,
he notes, “…interestingly, the studies on
prayer show no correlation between religious
affiliation and the effects of prayer in the
laboratory. The factors that seem to work
are love, compassion, empathy and deep caring.”
In summary, approaching health holistically
means that you strive not only to be free
from disease, but also to create deeper healing
on all levels. Preventive measures of holistic
health can become a way of life for the whole
family.
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Use
the information provided on this site as an
educational resource for determining your
options and making your own informed choices.
It is not intended as medical advice or to
diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific
illness.