A study published in Pediatrics (March 2005) looked at the reasons that children were seen at the teaching clinic of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine during a four month period. A total of 482 children were seen. Vaccination status was also identified for these children. Nearly 9 percent of children had not been vaccinated. And of the vaccinated children 27 percent has possible vaccine-associated adverse events.

The most common reasons for parents to bring their children for naturopathic care included skin disorders (23%), digestive complaints (17%), and behavior or psychological symptoms (15%).

More than one third of the children were already using some form of nutritional supplement or other "alternative" products prior to their first visit to the clinic. The most common products included vitamins (35%), herbal remedies (15%), oil or fat supplements (7%), probiotics (4.5%), and homeopathic medicines (4%).

This tells us that parents who seek naturopathic care have a high level of awareness about the dangers of conventional medications and vaccines, and a high level of education about raising children with holistic methods. Congratulations to these dedicated and conscientious parents who choose to seek health care for their children that encourages healing and the highest level of optimum health through holistic pediatric methods.

It is not just parents who are interested in holistic or alternative methods for children. Doctors are interested too. A study published in 1998 showed that half of all pediatricians responding to a survey said that they would refer patients to alternative therapies and 55 percent said that they would use alternative therapies for themselves or their own family. The most common reasons that they would refer patients for alternative treatment included "chronic problems (headaches, backaches, pain management, seizures), for which traditional therapies had failed, for behavioral problems, and for psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression)."

References:

Wilson K, et al. Characteristics of pediatric and adolescent patients attending a naturopathic college clinic in Canada. Pediatrics 2005 March; 115:788.

Sikand A, Laken M. Pediatricians' experience with an attitudes toward complementary/alternative medicine. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine . 1998; 152:1059-1064.