The 21st century has created many opportunities for us to intercept medical diseases and conditions. This page is designed to help parents understand our philosophies and treatment therapies for our pediatric patients.
1. Immunity & Vaccinations
Immunity is the body's way to protect itself from disease. There are two know ways for immunity to be developed. This is via Naturally or Acquired (active or passive) immunity. Immunity may be life long or temporary.
Natural immunity is acquired when an individual catches a disease and then develops the infection and makes natural immunity to protect itself from getting the disease again.
Acquired (active) immunity is developed when a substance (vaccine) is administered and the immune system is stimulated to produce antibodies and cellular immune responses that protect against the infectious agent.
Acquired (passive) immunity is obtained when a person receives directly the immune globulin (by a needle) or naturally by the placental between a mother and her fetus or via breast feeding to an infant via mother's milk.
At Healthy Kids we recognize that parents may feel confused about the many new vaccines that seem to be offered to our children. We recognize that preventing illness and offering the safest future for our children is in all our minds. We offer full consulting services to help alleviate parent's anxieties with information packets and tapes for parents use. We recognize religious/moral exemptions to some or all shots and when immunizations are chosen, we use mercury (thimerasole) free and single dose or preservative free vaccines when available.
For parents with no insurance we participate with NYC vaccines for kids (VFC) and now offer thimerasol free vaccines to children at no cost.
2. Complimentary Medicine - Combining Modern Medicine with Wholistic Therapies
At Healthy Kids we recognize that healing is based on body, mind, and soul working together. We find that teaching both parents and patient - in an age appropriate positive manor - helps patients understand why therapies are being done and allows parents and patients to work together with the physician to be an important part of their own constructive healing dynamics.
How do we incorporate complimentary and wholistic medicine? Here's an example:
If a patient has a bacterial pneumonia and is wheezing we give the appropriate antibiotic and nebulization treatments that are standard modern therapy. In addition, we also give simple osteopathic CV-4 treatments to reduce fever - gentle osteopathic visceral releases to improve lymphatic and blood flow to and from the lung area - if needed we release the visceral restrictions in the respiratory diaphragmatic area and thoracic spine area. Parents are taught lung pressure points they can safely massage, reflexology, reiki techniques that may help relax the child and aid in sleep. Herbs/teas are recommended that will assist in food digestion, mucus elimination and relaxation. Probiotic and prebiotics are recommended during and after antibiotic use to help correct and replenish healthy body flora. Preparation of healthy foods choices are taught and recommended to assist in incorporating easily digestible, high nutrient foods to rebuild the body. These are just some of the techniques we incorporate and working together we believe helps the child improve and heal faster.
Other common illness and conditions that complimentary treatment is easily applied are:
- Asthma
- Colds and Coughs
- Ear Infections
- Eczema and Rashes
- Food and Environmental Allergies
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Migraines and Head Aches
- Pneumonia
- Sore throats
- Sinusitis
- Vomiting and Diarrhea
- Viral infections
At Healthy Kids we call this, "Combining the wisdom of nature with the knowledge of modern medicine" - If this is the kind of pediatric care you are looking for - make sure you come prepared with paper and pens for note taking - we have work to do together.
Other Key Online Resources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics (Children's Health Topics)
- Center for Disease Control (CDC)
