I am reading a book called Integrative Pediatrics, Edited by Timothy P. Culbert and Karen Olness. I was fascinated to read the contributor’s thoughts about the foundations of integrated pediatric care, specific therapeutic approaches, clinical applications, and thoughts about the future of integrative pediatrics. When reading the introduction, I was struck by this sentence: “Integrated pediatrics focuses on the overall goal of defining and delivering “What’s Best For Children?” Wow! I love that! The focus is not on whether conventional medicine or alternative medicine is correct.  The focus of integrated pediatrics is on what is best for children. Teaching children about natural ways to wellness will help children apply the concepts throughout their lives. Children and adolescents need to be understood as a whole person, who has a body with physical symptoms, emotions, and spiritual beliefs.

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Personal Story

I was ten when I found out I had scoliosis. I went to a children’s hospital and it was decided that I would undergo treatment with body casts and then bracing to try to straighten my spine. As a child, I felt that the many doctors, nurses, and students who looked at me were only seeing me as a textbook example of scoliosis. I don’t remember anyone going out of their way to get to know me as a person. I can see value in taking time to really understand children as whole people.

Understand the Child as a Person

The medical concerns that children face can range from minor to severe. To get a good sense of who the child is and to consider what’s best for that child, one must look beyond the child’s body to the important relationships in a child’s life and the events that are meaningful to the child, and ask questions about how the condition affects the child. Talk with the child, not at or about her.

Physical Symptoms

Parents can help the child voice the physical concerns, but the child can also talk and provide insight into what they are feeling physically.

Emotions

Children experience a variety of emotions when they are sick.

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Guilt
• Helpless
• Sadness
• Overwhelmed

Talk with your child to find out what he is feeling and help him convey that to the medical personnel.

Spiritual Beliefs

The spiritual beliefs of the child are important. Discussions can help the child process his beliefs about God in relation to an illness. Reaching out to a pastor or other spiritual leader can also help.

Action

When a child is ill, take time to make sure her “whole person” needs are being addressed, including physical, emotional, and spiritual.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. What do you think about integrated health care?