Page 55 - Time Special Edition Alternative Medicine (January 2020)
P. 55
Kids on
Alternative
Medicine
Adults seek out alternative treatments for many
reasons, including the health and well-being of their
children, especially when there are few other options
BY KATHRYN SATTERFIELD
I grew up In a famIly that embraced conven- for steroids. “You have enough to worry about,”
tional medicine, getting vaccinations on time, at- he’d tell me. Conventional medicine wasn’t giving
tending all appointments on schedule and following me any answers. Thus began an ongoing journey to
doctors’ orders closely. That began to change when treat my son with alternative options. Throughout
my first son was born. On his third day of life, doc- the years, I’ve tried craniosacral therapy. Hippo-
tors at Yale New Haven Hospital saw physical anom- therapy. Swim therapy. Speech and occupational
alies that indicated he could have issues and ordered therapies, which he continues today. Nutritional
genetic testing. Six months later, they told us he had supplements. Essential oils. I applied for a service
150 or so extra genes on his 15th chromosome. They dog, hoping she would keep him calmer. And yet
also noted that, upon reviewing the literature, they I haven’t turned my back on modern medicine. I
could find only a handful of similar cases. We were vaccinate him on a modified schedule. He has an
dealing with an unknown syndrome. The kindly but inhaler and nebulizer for the asthma. Both he and
ill-prepared geneticist couldn’t say what this meant his younger brother have regular checkups, take
for our son, only that he would be mildly to severely antibiotics when they have an infection and get a
delayed. “What can we do?” I cried. “Go home and flu shot every fall.
love your baby,” he said. Though my son’s primary diagnosis itself may
Several months later, our pediatrician, who spe- be unique, incorporating alternative medicine
cialized in neonatal-perinatal medicine, patted my into his care is not. A recent survey by the National
hand when I expressed concerns about my son’s Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
seemingly incurable congestion and resulting asth- (NCCIH) revealed that approximately 12% of chil-
matic episodes, and the subsequent prescriptions dren ages 4 to 17 had been given some form of com-
