Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    The Great Mom Debate: Do You Approve of Alternative Therapies (Like Acupuncture) for Children?

    By Redbook | Parenting – Mon, Nov 28, 2011 12:59 PM EST

    By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, REDBOOK

    gettyimages

    I'm a grown woman who has never even had a massage (weird, right?), much less gotten acupuncture or a chiropractic adjustment done. When my 9-month-old son came down with his 10th ear infection, I became so desperate to end the cycle of antibiotics that I listened to all my mom friends who told me a chiropractor could cure him. In case you're thinking this will be a "And then he was magically cured!" story, I'll make this clear: When the scary lady wrenched my tiny baby's head to the side (making a popping sound like broken bubble wrap)... I freaked out. I think I may have even screamed as I grabbed my baby, my bag, and my pride as I ran right out the door. Yeah, I'm awesome in a crisis.

    That was five years ago, and no one in my family has been to see any kind of alternative doctor since. I try to keep an open mind though, even if I don't act on it. When a friend recently told me how acupuncture works wonders for autistic kids, I nodded and silently wondered, "What kid, much less one with sensory processing issues, would let a stranger stick needles all over them?!" But it turns out my friend may be on to something, as a study in the December issue of Pediatrics shows that acupuncture is both perfectly safe and increasingly popular for young children. The researchers simply caution to make sure the acupuncturist has a proper license and a clean facility. 

I know a lot of parents who are very passionate about acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal remedies, and other "alternative" treatments for their children-yet it's hard for me to forget my negative first (and only) experience.

    What has your experience been like? Help me out and let me know what you think:
    -No. Why experiment on your children?
    -No, but I'm open to it.
    -Yes, but they didn't work or had side effects.
    -Yes, I've found some that work well! I'll explain in the comments.
    Take our poll!

    More from REDBOOK:



    Permissions:     Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

     

    3 comments

    • LBC
      LBC  •  5 months ago
      Of course! Why would anybody not be okay with alternative therapies? All "alternative therapy" means is "remedies that don't give profits to the pharmaceutical industry." Usually these remedies have been around for thousands of years and don't have the nasty side effects that prescription drugs do. Not saying you should ONLY do alternative therapies, but you should also not ONLY do western medicine. All the health remedies out there in the world should operate cohesively, not alienated from each other.
    • Blondee
      Blondee  •  5 months ago
      For my kids chiropractic care has been wonderful...my son especially. He had chronic long lasting (like taking 2-3 medicines of progressing strength to get rid of it) double ear infections. I started taking him to a chiropractor when he was 3 years old...he didn't have an ear infection until just recently (after effects of a cold) and he is now 11. So that has been 8 years of no infections. Works for my daughter too, and she has been to the chiropractor since she was 3 months old. He adjusted his own children from young ages, and has certification to adjust children. My husband and I go to him too. He is a great guy along with being a good chiropractor. I know there are quacks in every kind of medical profession, but make sure you feel comfortable with them. If they don't answer your questions on how this adjustment should help, and what it helps with...that's when i would run out the door....The spine and the spinal cord is the main part of the body, if it's not working properly, why would anyone expect everything else to be fine and work properly? But everybody has their own opinion, and that's fine...just don't shoot somebody else down because their opinion differs.
    • Ann
      Ann  •  5 months ago
      If alternative treatment works on you or your kids, that's great and by all means, keep doing it. I feel safe saying that some if it may be reputable, but most of it, in my opinion, is mere placebo effect. The power of the human mind is a great thing, and if alternative medicine plays to that fact, that's just fine.
     Post a comment

    Work + Money »

    Beauty »

    The Thread »

    Join us on Pinterest

    Shine on

    DAILY SHOT VIDEO

    We apologize. An error has occurred. Please try again.