Treatment Alternatives for Children

Big news this month.  August marks the publication of my first book, Treatment Alternatives for Children (TAfC), with co-author Jeff Cohen.  In some ways, I feel like the very proud papa of my 3^rd child.  Nearly 20 years of pediatric practice have informed the book, a guide for parents looking for natural treatment alternatives for approximately 100 of the most common pediatric conditions.  Yes, I think the content of the book is compelling – more on that later – but one of the most rewarding aspects of writing this book is that it’s a true partnership between Jeff and me.  Jeff and his wife Carol, devoted, holistic parents of two delightful kids in my practice, approached me one day with the idea that became TAfC.  I had considered for some time writing a book based on my unique integrative practice, but it took Jeff and Carol to convince me that we could really do this now.  It’s hard enough running a busy primary care pediatric practice, but Jeff made the book writing process a pleasure.   I love that this book represents the shared work of a pediatrician and a parent.  It mirrors what I do every day, working together with parents to keep their children healthy.  Parents and their children should play the major role in their family’s health care, and I am a guide to help them navigate the path.  We work as a team, just as Jeff and I have done to create TAfC.

What will you find in this revolutionary book?  Organized into 13 chapters each devoted to a specific health concerns, TAfC offers practical natural health solutions for conditions ranging from relatively mundane (acne) to extremely serious (autism).  We list the causes and symptoms of nearly 100 childhood ailments, the most common conventional treatment for each ailment (including recommended dosage, active ingredients, and possible side effects), a natural alternative to the conventional treatment, and a few additional natural treatments to consider beyond the one highlighted for each condition.  It’s worth noting that our natural alternative recommendations include not only nutritional and herbal (biological) remedies, but we draw as well from the rich traditions of holistic healing, including mind-body medicine, homeopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine, just to name a few.  TAfC is truly an integrative guide.

Here’s a sneak peak at our Table of Contents:

1 Baby Matters

2 Watch Your Mouth 

3 Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling

4 Take Your Breath Away 

5 Temperature Rising

6 Tummy Troubles

7 Eating and Energy

8 Midsection Maladies

9 Dermatological Dilemmas

10 First Aid for Bumps, Burns, Bruises, and Bites

11 Aches and Pains 

12 Nervous System Worries

13 Behavioral and Developmental Difficulties

Throughout the chapters, there are numerous sidebars with interesting facts and helpful additional tips.  “Parental Guidance” features actual quotes from actual parents who have effectively used various treatment alternatives to improve their children’s conditions.  “Good to Know” reveals “fun facts” and statistics related to the conditions covered throughout the chapter, adding scope to the information presented.  “Science Says,” a crucial component of TAfC, provides the scientific rationale for each of the treatment alternatives cited, adding credibility to our recommendations.

At the end of each chapter, we’ve included a “Spotlight On” section to profile in depth a holistic practice (e.g., Yoga, Infant Massage) that has specific relevance for the given chapter.  We also have included almost a whole separate book’s worth of information in our appendices.  One, “Toxic Troubles,” covers the most common environmental health threats to our children and offers practical, evidence-based guidance on how to minimize and ameliorate exposure.  Another, “Top Ten Treatment Lists,” covers a greatest-hits of healing herbs, spices, foods, oils, mind-body therapies and homeopathic remedies, among other categories.  Finally, we provide scientific references for all of our natural solutions because we believe that you should understand how and why something works.

A few final notes on what makes the book so special.  Deirdre Imus has written a rousing forward, capturing the essence of TAfC:

“In this book, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to treating common ailments in your infant, toddler, child, or teen using natural methods, like oils and herbs and supplements. There are lists of salves for problems at each age, along with detailed lists of likely and unlikely allergic reactions to remedies both conventional and homeopathic. You’ll even hear directly from parents like Jeff about specific remedies that have helped their own kids. Treatment Alternatives for Children is really all you could ever want or need in an alternative treatments guide.”

We do include numerous snippets of advice from real-life parents (as noted above) along side nuggets of wisdom from many of my holistic professional colleagues.  The health care practitioners we feature truly represent the wonderful breadth of integrative practices to which families have access.  How many health guides include commentary from naturopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists and yogis, alongside medical doctors?  A key component of integrative medicine is respecting various traditions of healing and working together for the health and wellbeing of the families we serve.  I think TAfC honors that philosophy.

For a sneak preview of “Treatment Alternatives for Children,” check out this month’s issue of Kiwi.  And for more information on the book and on the exciting field of integrative medicine, please visit me at LawrenceRosenMD.com.