8 Oct 2008
Can Traditional Chinese Medicine serve your Children? Many doors are offered by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to assist us in maintaining true and vibrant health. This has never more true then with children. Even a simple understanding of the fundamental principles of TCM can provide one with tools and knowledge to help and guide ourselves and others to a balanced and healthy life. I will give a brief background of the basic principles of Chinese medicine so allow you to see and understand a child’s vulnerability to simple illnesses that are easily preventable. When a child is born they come with a certain bank account of energy; this is referred to as pre natal qi (energy). The amount of qi each child has is individual and different according to the circumstances of conception and the health and vitality of the parents at the time. The pre natal qi is similar in character to the congenital make up of a child or our vital force. This determines your physical and intellectual abilities and development. The Chinese view this energy as very precious and a lifestyle of simple disregard for the body will quickly start drain this energy bank account which will lead to illness and an imbalanced body. This bank account only allows one way transactions, withdrawals. The energy can NOT be deposited back or replenished in any way, only conserved. We will naturally use this energy in the course of our life and when it is depleted we die. Our other source of energy is referred to as post natal qi. This is energy that is sourced through our own efforts and diligence as a person. Without knowing it we are acquiring qi through our food and drink, the air we breathe and the environment we are exposed to. This can be looked at as the day to day energy that runs our vehicle. The amount and quality of this energy differs from post natal qi according to our lifestyle. The quality of food we consume, the strength of our digestive system and the amount of balance we maintain in our life are all essential for healthy post natal qi. Without adequate post natal energy to maintain your lifestyle and cope with your daily needs one is forced to withdraw energy from our precious pre natal bank account. This can have detrimental effects to our health, and even more so if this occurs in the early years of life. Insufficient post natal energy and the drawing of prenatal qi will compromise a child’s development delivering repercussions later in life. In the Huang Di Nei Jing written in 200 BCE it is discussed that the development cycle of boys and girls are different. Girls have seven year cycles of development where as boys have eight year cycles. With this, is the knowledge that the first cycle is of the greatest importance and illnesses or problems in this phase can have detrimental repercussions in later life. In that first phase of life children are pure yang qi like a little furnace of growth, development, change and energy. Yang qi controls their growth, development, and their digestive fire. The pure energy is not anchored in children and easily damaged. It is easily aggravated leading to fevers, headaches, night mares or night terrors and even convulsions.
Children are sensitive and not adequately developed. Generally children under the age of six have immature digestive tracts and this is most often the cause of common childhood illnesses, including indigestion, colic, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, tonsillitis, swollen glands, coughs, eczema, allergies and sensitivities. It is very common that children will suffer from digestive upsets and respiratory disorders. These are often due to damage of the yang qi in the spleen and stomach – The basis of digestion in Chinese medicine. If the yang qi of these organs is compromised the bodies balance is easily tipped and the child is open to a wide array of illnesses. Hence energy of the spleen and stomach is paramount in children. Once the digestive energy is compromised, the spleen and stomach become stagnant and weakened so unable to process food adequately. This can back up and cause abdominal distention, pain, stomachache, leading to coughs, hiccups, or vomiting or affect the digestive tract further along leading to diarrhea or constipation depending on the pattern and child. Once this pattern is developed and if not corrected it can lead to further weaknesses and problems in the body. For example the lung qi being further compromised giving rise to more frequent respiratory disorders, allergies, skin conditions such as eczema, and childhood asthma. All symptoms of phlegm and dampness that develop in the body will lead to inflammation and compromise the child’s immune system. In Chinese medicine, especially in children this can all be attributed back to a compromised digestive system. Yang qi of the spleen and stomach is easily damaged by cold, raw, irregular eating habits and excessive sweet foods. A new born child is preferably given a mother’s breast milk which is a perfect formula at a perfect temperature. As the child develops and is given sweet cold drinks which they love, the digestive fire is already starting to diminish. Cold cereal’s given in the morning for breakfast (when the qi of the spleen and stomach is the most abundant) further damages and weakens the body. If the child’s core body temperature is around 37 degrees, anything below this requires the body’s yang qi to warm it to a tolerable temperature, thus making it digestible by the body. These poor eating habits and lifestyle lead to an inability to produce adequate post-natal qi to support the needs of the child. If this occurs at such an early age it can damage ones pre-natal qi which leads to great complications in later life. An example of this is a weakened immune system and a greater susceptibility to degenerative diseases and particularly digestive disorders. To support a child’s vulnerable digestion there one must take great care in what and how they feed their child. Body temperature is always a good guide. Where ever possible try and feed the children warm food, rarely less then ones own core body temperature. Fruit is great and full of nutrients, but it should never be consumed any cooler then room temperature. Cold juices and drink should be kept to a minimum. Especially commercially made that ones that contain incredible amounts of sugar.
Fruit and vegetables should be consumed as often as possible. Once children have the ability to chew their own food then the vegetables should not be over cooked and presented with very little nutritional value left. Over cooking Vegetables will diminish some of the nutritional value of the food e.g. boiling reduces the Vitamin C content. Keep the food clean and simply cooked trying to maintain as much of the nutritional value and vital energy in the food as possible. Developing a regular eating pattern at an early age is also imperative. The human body craves routine and operates at its optimum when allowed to function under a simple regular routine. Eating meals at a regular time each day and sleeping at a regular time each day. Eating at a regular time means not grazing throughout the day. Snacking and picking food regularly easy damages the digestion. Small meals are great and healthy snacks provide energy and sustenance. But the stomach and spleen are not machines and require time to rest as well. It is also important to observe the amounts of dairy that a child consumes. An excess consumption of dairy (often cold) injures the spleen and stomach and leads to an accumulation of phlegm. One must learn to observe their own child and look for simple symptoms such as a constant runny nose. Any obstruction in breathing, a rattle or audible sound means there is phlegm on the chest. I can not advice to cease all dairy foods without knowing an individuals condition but it is something that requires observing. Dairy can be kept at a minimum if there is adequate calcium and protein in a child’s diet. Consuming seeds and nuts and a continual stream of green vegetables is sufficient to provide most calcium needs along with a plethora of other necessary nutrients. Above all observe your child’s health and dietary habits. Try not to fall victim to your child’s whims. We as adults and parents are responsible for our children and their health. If we let our children dictate when and what they consume are we serving them as best we can. I urge you to source interesting recipes from our website or many others and try and revitalize your child’s energy and eating habits. Where ever possible if symptoms present themselves on a regular basis please seek professional advice from a qualified traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or Naturopath. Talk to other parents and help each other nurture and cherish our children’s vital energy. Thus serving them as best we can and hopefully providing a strong and robust immune system so thy can confront what life brings to them from a space of strength and vitality. Stay strong and good luck © Byron Hillier (B HSc, Ad Dip TCM) Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Father of two vibrant, healthy children.
Byron Hillier (B.H.Sc TCM, Adv Dip H.Sc.)
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