Gentle Warriors

Growing the Tao: Building Health in Early Childhood

The Digestive System Rules

For infants and young children, the digestive system rules, and good food is essential to healthy growth. In Chinese medicine, the Middle Burner, governing the activities of the Stomach and Spleen, dominates physiological and psychological process during infancy and early childhood.² Relative to their size, children consume large quantities of food and fluids in order to generate an abundance of Nutritive (Ying) and Defensive (Wei) Qi, and Blood (Xue). They also eliminate substantial waste. Children are active metabolically, yet limited by their immature respiratory, digestive, nervous, and immune systems. Infants and young children, although they are at the height of their adaptive capacities, are also vulnerable because the Middle Burner is at a peak of activity in order to keep up with rapid growth. They can become intensely ill quickly, and recover rapidly. Or when a problem lingers, they become worn out.

Because of their voracious appetites, and easily overburdened eliminative functions, children can develop accumulations of food, fluids, and Qi, which in turn may evolve into patterns of Qi stasis, Food Stagnation, Dampness, Phlegm, Damp Heat, Heat and Internal Wind. Common manifestations of these congestions include colic, reflux, surplus mucus in the nose, ears, throat and sinuses, irregular bowel movements, rashes, excessive sweating, fevers, sleep disturbances, restlessness and irritability. These conditions are not illnesses, but rather dis-equilibriums of Qi that can predispose a child to catching colds and acquiring allergies, as well as developing problems with vision, hearing, mental focusing, learning and emotional equanimity.

Vulnerable and responsive to fluctuating internal and external influences, children can have dramatic responses. So it is important to pay attention to the timing and dosage of immunizations, antibiotics, decongestants and antihistamines as well as to their exposure to new foods and environments. Some of the common circumstances that put children at risk for imbalances include absent or early termination of breast-feeding and the abrupt introduction of cow's milk, soy-based infant formula, or solid foods before the child can adequately digest them. Even a breast-fed infant can react adversely to foods in the mother's diet that pass into her milk. Food intolerance can disrupt the fragile ecology of the gut, as can antibiotics or immunizations, spawning tribulations from indigestion to the onset of allergic reaction patterns.

The following are a few simple and supportive measures that can be employed to help prevent physical vulnerabilities and developmental problems from occurring:

1. Ideally, babies should breastfeed. The combination of friendly bacteria in the intestines with the antibodies present in breast milk builds resistance until the child's own immune system becomes fully competent. Do not hurry to substitute cow, goat, sheep, or soy for breast milk, as these can induce allergic reactions and immunological changes in the small and large intestine, and have profound nutritional consequences unless supplemented with other foods. Experiment with naturally fermented products such as yogurt, but be alert to any signs of intolerance such as mucus congestion, skin irritation, indigestion, diarrhea, irritability, or sleep disturbance. Contrary to conventional wisdom, it is not essential for children to continue drinking milk after the cessation of breast-feeding in order to maintain adequate calcium levels for proper growth. Sufficient calcium is available in other foods including leafy green vegetables like kale and collard greens, sprouted barley and quinoa, black and pinto beans, almonds and hazelnuts, sunflower and sesame seeds, sardines or other small fishes in which the bones can be consumed with the meat.³ Also, soup cooked with marrow bones and a little vinegar is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorous and essential amino acids.

2. Adherence to a rigid feeding schedule can be problematic, as can overfeeding. Introduce new foods slowly, one at a time, when the child's appetite indicates a need and taste for them. One indicator of the right moment may be the emergence of the two upper and lower teeth. Emphasize simple, easy to digest, nonÐallergenic foods: soupy porridge made from non-glutinous white rice, cooked and pureed carrots, yams, spinach, apples, pears, or bananas; diluted, unsweetened fruit juices; vegetable or meat broth. Finally, it is good to avoid the early or excessive feeding of sugar, honey, fruit juice, grains, starchy foods (bread, crackers, pasta), raw fruits and vegetables.

3. Avoid giving infants or toddlers iced or refrigerated liquids or foods-- the cold causes Stomach Qi to stagnate, inhibiting the capacity to digest, assimilate and eliminate. Liquids and soft cooked foods served warm or at room temperature are the most desirable and beneficial, especially when children are sick.

4. Since it is better for children to develop senses of taste and smell at their own pace, avoid adding flavorings or condiments to food like salt, soy sauce, pepper, garlic, ginger, sugar, oil or vinegar unless it is for specific reasons.

5. Chinese traditional medicine has a particular bias against overly enthusiastic or frenetic activities that cause excessive physical, mental and emotional stimulation. Over-excitement of the mind and senses can agitate infants and toddlers, creating a dissonance between psyche and soma (Shen-Jing) that may lead to physical, psychological, and cognitive disturbances such as failure to thrive, behavioral problems, dyslexia, and ADD/ADHD. Resist exposing young children to prolonged or over-excited conversation, intense visual and auditory experiences like television, movies, loud music, fireworks and other events that may be too intellectually demanding or overwhelming to their sensitive nervous systems. This is particularly true for eating while watching television, which has been linked to long-term obesity and Attention Deficit Disorder.^{4, 5, 6} For proper restorative sleep, conditions that are not too noisy, bright, hot, cold, or too isolated are optimal.

6. Immunizations, for some infants and toddlers, can be challenging. To optimize conditions for immunizations, it is best to avoid multiple vaccinations administered simultaneously at one visit. It is rare under ordinary conditions that anyone is exposed to multiple diseases at once, and this puts an undue burden on an already delicately balanced organism. While it is often difficult to find a pediatrician who will order and administer individual vaccines since pharmaceutical companies prefer to combine vaccines, it is important for parents and pediatricians to lobby for single vaccines for the protection of children. It is also critical to postpone immunizations with a live vaccine (such as measles, mumps, rubella or chicken pox) for one month following an acute febrile illness such as a cold, the flu or gastroenteritis, in order to give the immune system time to recover.

7. Since antibiotics and immunizations can have a powerful impact on the immature intestinal tract and easily upset the child's immunological equilibrium, digestive capacity, cognitive competence, and mental tranquility, supplement these treatments with ample doses of beneficial intestinal bacteria (bifidus, sporogenes, and saccharomyces in the case of yeast overgrowth) and warm fluids. In the case of immunizations, pre-treatment with acupuncture and herbal formulas such as Grow and Thrive and Windbreaker can bolster a child's resistance prior to and following vaccinations. Some children with weak digestion, poor appetite, and slow growth can also benefit from digestive enzymes (vegetable or animal source) that include protease (for proteins), amylase (for starches), lipase (for fats), and lactase (for the milk sugar lactose).

8. Have faith in the child's ability to recover from mild and nonÐserious illnesses, even when they display a multitude of symptoms that may panic parents and perplex practitioners. For example, it is important to distinguish between a developmental phenomenon, like teething, that is normally accompanied by congestion and drooling, and a cold, which is a reaction to a viral challenge to the upper respiratory system. During the normal teething process, some children develop a hacking or phlegmatic cough with a clear, yellow, or green discharge from the nose or eyes, a sore throat, diaper rashes, low-grade fever, and experience ear discomfort along with sore and swollen gums. This does not mean an infection is the primary cause of the distress. Inflammation in the mouth temporarily generates conditions in the body that stimulate or may even promote microbial overgrowth, and the appearance of yellow or green mucus secretions. However, when the teething subsides, so do the mucus and the pain. Parents as well as practitioners are often swept away by the child's misery and their own doubts and fears. It is important at these times to act in the overall interest of the child, making an effort to identify the source of the child's distress, and providing appropriate relief without overly aggressive treatments. Simply stated, it makes sense to feel for an erupting tooth before reaching for an antibiotic.

9. There is also controversy regarding the appropriate medical treatment of sore throats and earaches in children. Evidence indicates that antibiotics are not a particularly effective treatment in most cases. Recent research also suggests that allowing children to recover naturally from common colds and flus without aggressive medical intervention reduces the risk of more serious respiratory problems like asthma and allergies later in life. Public health professionals are increasingly calling for restraint with regard to antibiotic prescriptions, except in specifically defined clinical situations. Antibiotics are not recommended for routine ear infections in children over 2 years of age, or for sore throats, except for culture-proven strep.⁷

Providing Safe Solutions For Pediatric Care

Product Line Information:

Gentle Warriors Introduction Dosage and Administration

Chinese Modular Solutions Sage Solutions

Formulator's Biography:

Korngold Beinfield

Articles & Books Written:

Korngold Beinfield

Historical Roots of Chinese Modular Solutions

The Five Body Constituents