Pathways Article Summaries and References
Issue 02 - Summer 2004
Letter from the Editor
Jeanne Ohm, DC
In the western world, we pride ourselves on our freedom and ability to make choices in our lives. We can carefully evaluate many options and choose accordingly. Perhaps our greatest freedom (although not exercised by many) is to make the choices that will affect our lives and our families’ lives for years to come.
As early as preconception, the choices we make for our own health and well-being affect the future lives and health of our children. The physical, emotional and chemical stresses we are subjected to have their effects on a cellular level and will impact normal function. It is our responsibility from the moment we are given these options to make choices that lead ourselves towards a more balanced lifestyle.
As parents, it is our right and responsibility to find out the many options available when it comes to choosing providers. We can solicit supportive health care providers who seek to give us valuable information and who empower us with the knowledge to make informed health care choices for our families.
In my 28 years in chiropractic I have discovered that unlike practitioners in any other profession, Doctors of Chiropractic are an incredible resource of information for family wellness care. Had it not been for an amazing support team of chiropractors, I may have never known or chosen natural birthing, bonding, breastfeeding, cosleeping, and natural healing.
In chiropractic I discovered very basic, vitalistic principles like the body is an incredible self healing organism that is governed by an intelligence that really knows what it is doing. I learned to trust the body’s ability to function and I learned that I could make choices to enhance my ability to function better. This knowledge gave me the strength as a parent to make decisions that supported my children’s potential to be well. These concepts
in practice are referred to as the “chiropractic wellness lifestyle.”
Pathways was started as another means of bringing to light the knowledge we need as parents to choose wisely for our children’s on-going health and well-being. Please share this knowledge with friends and family and allow them their freedom and right to choose.
Feature Article:
Antibiotics and the Aware Parent
Claudia Anrig, D.C.
This article discusses the overuse of antibiotics in the treatment of otitis media and the new AAP "watch and wait guidelines".
From the Article:
Acute Otitis Media is the most common upper respiratory condition treated in pediatric offices and the treatment of this condition continues to be the most controversial in the medical community (1-3). The majority of children suffering from Acute Otitis Media will automatically be placed on antibiotics despite growing evidence that suggests there’s only a marginal benefit from this form of care (4)...
References:
- Bain J. Childhood otalgia: Acute Otitis Media. 2. Justification for antibiotic use in general practice. BMJ 1990;300: 1006-1007.
- Browning G. Childhood otalgia: Acute Otitis Media. 1. Antibiotics not necessary in most cases. BMJ 1990; 300: 1005-1006.
- Froom J, Culpepper L, et al, Antimicrobials for Acute Otitis Media? A review from the international primary care network. BMJ 1997; 315: 98-102.
- Glasziou P, Del Mar C, et al. Antibiotics for Acute Otitis Media in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(1):CD000219.
- http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/aomqa.htm
- Little PS, Gould, et al Predictors of poor outcome and benefits from antibiotics in children with Acute Otitis Media: pragmatic randomized trial. BMJ 2002;325:22 (6 July).
- Fallon JM. The role of the chiropractic adjustment in the
care and treatment of 332 children with otitis media. JCCP, 1997:2,2:167-183.
About the Author:
Dr. Anrig can be reached at: canrig@sbcglobal.net
Wellness Lifestyle:
Is There Room for Philosophy in Health Care?
Rob Scott, M.Sc., M.Ed., D.C.
Dean, Northwestern College of Chiropractic
From the Article:
I recently received an article entitled Philosophy and Evidence-Based Orthodontics, by Harvard dental professor Sheldon Peck, DDS, MScD. The flavor of this article can easily be discerned by the following passage:
“In orthodontics, we seem to be witnessing nothing less than a throwback to the proprietary era, when someone’s crafty philosophy or school of thought could masquerade as new science. That may have been an acceptable pitch 90 years ago, but now thankfully we have sounder choices. In this factual, evidence-based age that is ours, do we really want or need anyone’s belief system as a cornerstone of our diagnostic and treatment methods? Philosophy can be a wonderful guidepost for our personal lives and our spiritual fulfillment; yet, that does not qualify it as a scientific basis for delivering the best orthodontic care.”
The dialogue within the orthodontic profession sounds strikingly familiar to that of chiropractic. I am continually amazed how minds become closed tighter than steel traps when the mere mention of the word philosophy is uttered...
This article was reprinted from The Bulletin, Northwestern Health Sciences University’s chiropractic alumni publication, Winter 2004; Vol. 12, No. 1;March 2004; page 18.
About the Author:
If you would like to speak with Dr. Scott regarding the value of philosophy in chiropractic education, you can email him at: rscott@nwhealth.edu
Family Life:
Child Playgrounds
Sherri Arnold
From the Article:
Research has found that playgrounds are essential to not only physical strength, but mental strength as well. Playgrounds help develop social, emotional and cognitive skills. Children however, need more than the traditional playground. They need playgrounds that challenge their skills and provide opportunities to learn new ones...
Annotated Bibliography:
- Bruya, L.D. Play Spaces for Children. Volume II, North Texas State University, 1988.
This book is a collection of papers from a variety of authors, professors and sociologist. The topics cover the development of playgrounds and equipment, playground safety, and playground solutions for children. - Cohen, U., Hill, A., Lane, C., McGinty, T., and Moore, T. Recommendations for Child Play Areas. University of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1978.
This book is an excellent resource for child play areas. It covers theories of play and contains numerous design recommendations. Each section or topic covers an issue, justification, pattern and lastly recommendations. - Senda, Mitsuru, Design of children’s play environments,
McGraw Hill, Inc. New York; 1 992.
Senda is an architect and professor in Japan and has been designing play structures and environments for over 20 years. He studied child play areas for ten years and has created numerous indoor and outdoor play environments. This book references many successful projects and shows how creative one can be when designing play spaces and environments.
Parenting:
Movement and Infants
Rae Pica
This article is filled with great validation for movement in infants.
From the Article:
Besides the fact that they were built to do so, there are a great many reasons why infants need to move. The truth is, even though their movement capabilities are extremely limited when compared with even those of a toddler, movement experiences may be more important for infants than for children of any other age group. And it’s not all about motor development either.
Thanks to new insights in brain research, we now know that early movement experiences are considered essential to the neural stimulation (the “use-it-or-lose-it” principle involved in the keeping or pruning of brain cells ) needed for healthy brain development...
About the Author:
Moving & Learning
Rae Pica, Director
346 North Barnstead Road
Center Barnstead, New Hampshire 03225
Phone/Fax: (603) 776-7411
www.movingandlearning.com
Email us at: raepica@movingandlearning.com
Nutritional Nuggets:
Uncovering the Truth about Sun Exposure, Sunscreen
and Skin Cancer
Jeanne Ohm, DC
From the Article:
Summer is here, and being so, we all spend a greater amount of time outdoors. Today, parents are almost considered abusive if they do not protect their children from the sun, the presumed cause of skin cancer. This article will bring new light to your attitudes about sun exposure, causes of skin cancers and the traditional sunscreens we rely on...
Resources:
Much of this article was excerpted from an excellent book called The Skin Cancer Breakthrough Program by Kurt Greenberg with permission. To order this book and a special cream he developed to reverse and prevent damage from the sun visit Sedna Health Products: www.sednaproducts.com.
Also visit Kurt Greenberg's website: www.kurtgreenberg.com to read exceptional articles and hear interesting interviews on other health issues.
Other sources are by Lavera Natural Cosmetics: www.lavera-usa.com
Where else do you find mineral-based sunscreens? Check out your local health food store.
Seasonal:
Bugs: The Natural Way to Keep Them at Bay
Andrea Candee, MH, MSC
This article offers natural repellent information for parents interested in keeping the bugs away and the toxicity of chemicals low.
From the Article:
Bugs! Do I respect them as part of Nature’s miraculous design…yes. Do I like them…not really.
Despite daily intake of supplements reputed to be bug deterrents (i.e. garlic, B vitamins), many of us are still sweet meat for the little critters. Acknowledging the skin’s ability to absorb substances into the bloodstream (modern medicine’s example of this biological fact is the invention of skin patches for delivering pharmaceutical drugs into the body) encourages us to seek out natural alternatives to chemical insect repellents...
About the Author:
Andrea Candee, MH, MSC is a Master Herbalist with over 30 years experience in the natural health field. She is the award winning author of Gentle Healing for Baby and Child (Simon & Schuster), available for sale on her resource-filled website: www.andreacandee.com
Breastfeeding:
Women’s Health Risks
Associated with Orthodox Medicine - Part II
Breast-feeding Versus Formula Feeding
Gary Null, Ph.D., Debora Rasio, M.D., and Martin Feldman, M.D.
From the Article:
Nearly 20 studies conducted since the late 1980s have identified negative effects of formula feeding or positive effects of breast-feeding. In this body of research, breastfeeding emerges as a clear winner over formula feeding.
The World Health Organization helps protect breast-feeding with a code that regulates the marketing of milk substitutes. As reported in the British Medical Journal, however, widespread violations of the code have been reported by several health agencies. The author notes that the resulting use of commercial preparations is associated with much harm. Bottlefed babies have significantly higher rates of childhood diseases and impaired cognitive development; they also have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases as adults.12...
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