ILLNESS IS more than just a series of physical symptoms. So says Karen Sullivan, author of Natural Healthcare for Children (Piatkus). "It's important to understand that emotional, spiritual and physical health go hand in hand - that's the underlying premise of holistic health," she says.
In Ireland, more and more parents are taking on board this wider view of health and illness - particularly in relation to their children. This is evidenced in the growth of interest in complementary therapies for dealing with both physical illnesses and behavioural problems in children.
Osteopathy, homeopathy, herbal medicine and nutritional therapy are the most popular complementary therapies sought by parents when their children become ill. Although each therapy has a holistic approach, practitioners use different tool kits - hands-on treatment, herbs, homeopathic remedies, food and food supplements - in their attempt to redress imbalances within the child's life.
Here follows a summary of the most common types of illnesses with which parents bring their children to complementary therapists and the approach taken by different therapists.
Osteopathy: Osteopathy is a hands-on therapy which combines gentle manipulation of the joints and spinal vertebrae with massage and stretching of the muscles and ligaments.
Osteopath Chris Campbell works as part of the family and children's team at the Littlejohn Clinic in Walkinstown, Dublin. "Colic and sucking problems in babies are common problems we see. These can be the result of birth strain, which osteopaths can diagnose and treat," he says.
Children with recurrent chest and ear infections, breathing problems, asthma and digestive problems are also commonly seen by osteopaths.
"In many cases, our job is to restore or establish the normal rhythm or movement in the body," he says.
According to Campbell, there are three types of parents who bring their children to an osteopath.
"There are those who have been everywhere and haven't found a solution. There are those who have a feeling that something is not quite right and nobody is picking up on it and there are those who simply want to have their children checked out to see if everything is okay."
Generally speaking, Campbell says that osteopathy should always be gentle, non-invasive and not cause disturbance to the child. "You have to establish trust and respect the child, and stop the treatment if they are distraught," says Campbell.
Herbal Medicine: Western Herbal Medicine (where herbs are grown locally) and Chinese Herbal Medicine are the two main types of herbal medicines practised in Ireland.
Often parents will seek advice and treatment from herbalists when orthodox medicine has failed them. "Herbal medicine is family medicine and herbs such as chamomile, limeflower and elderflower work wonderfully with children," says Dr Dilis Clare who runs Health and Herbs clinic in Galway city.
"Nowadays, most people accept that herbal medicines work so I don't have to explain the belief system behind it but I do support parents with dietary advice and give them confidence in their ability to look after their children."
Recurrent chest and ear infections, colds, skin problems (particularly eczema), hay fever, allergies and asthma are the most common problems with which parents bring their children to herbalists. Herbalists also have tonics that help children cope with exam pressures and/or family crises.
Homeopathy: Homeopathy requires a completely different mindset from orthodox medicine, according to homeopath Suzi Duff who treats children regularly at the drop-in homeopathy clinic in Greystones, Co Wicklow.
The drop-in clinic sees patients for 15-20 minutes at a lower cost (with no extra charge for return visits) which is quite different from the standard one-hour first homeopathic consultation.
"Homeopathic remedies are stimulants or catalysts to help the body get better itself and people need to understand that you are aiming to use the smallest dose possible to treat the child," she explains. "They won't interfere with medicines so a child can be given Belladonna homeopathic remedy and Calpol for a fever."
Like herbalists, homeopaths tend to see children who have recurrent chest, ear and nose infections and whose parents are weary of repeat antibiotic prescriptions.
"We also see children with behavioural problems and those who are anxious or lacking in confidence. We will always look for the reason behind the symptoms so that we can find a lasting solution," says Duff.
Nutritional Therapy: Nutritional therapy is in some ways both the newest and oldest form of complementary therapy used by parents when their children are ill. Some families have traditional cold and flu remedies that they still use in the home.
Yet, in the past few years, nutritional therapists have noted an increase in numbers of parents seeking help for their children.
"Many parents are worried that their children aren't eating a balanced diet and often we find that it helps to talk directly to the children [without their parent present] about what foods are good for them," says Richard Burton, nutritional therapist from the Irish Institute of Nutrition and Health in Bray, Co Wicklow.
"Children with low energy levels, digestive problems, chronic constipation and skin problems are who we see most," he says.
"Recently, we are also getting GP referrals of children who are overweight. The most important thing is to treat each child individually. You can't give standard advice as you have to work around personal likes and dislikes and time and money constraints within families."
Boost your child's immune system
1 Breastfeed your baby. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect babies against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
2 Help your child to learn to relax and to talk about problems instead of bottling them up. Make sure your child gets adequate exercise and rest during the day, and ensure he/she gets a good sleep at night.
3 Create a home environment that supports rather than puts pressure on the body. Avoid smoking indoors and keep use of household cleaners to a minimum.
4 Make sure your child washes his/her hands before meals and after contact with pets or other children who are ill.
5 Ensure your child has a healthy balanced diet. A diet high in sugar suppresses the immune system. Include garlic in your child's diet as often as possible. Its powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties help fight infection. Fruit, veg and herbs and spices also boost the immune system.