Pediatrics is one of the oldest specialties in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In fact, information on treating children can be found in classic medical texts dating back to the late Han dynasty (late 200s).  In TCM children are seen as intrinsically different from adults and must not be diagnosed and treated as "miniature adults."

Anyone who has spent time with children knows they are easily susceptible to disease...much more so than adults. And when they get sick, the disease process moves fast. Children typically get sick quickly and they recover quickly. There are many reasons for this (from a TCM perspective) which I will not go into here, but this rapidity of disease and restoration of health is one of the factors TCM practitioners must consider when treating children.

Here's what you need to know...

Diet is the key cause of most diseases children suffer from. Some common childhood diseases include colic, earaches, cough, swollen glands, allergies, asthma and eczema. In TCM all of these complaints stem from a dietary imbalance. Children have immature and weak digestion. Their systems are not prepared to handle the complex, rich foods adults are accustomed to digesting. As a result children get indigestion and this leads to more complicated imbalances.

The good news is that since improper diet is the cause of most childhood disease...proper diet is key to the treatment. Regulating and strengthening digestion is crucial. Isn't that great?! A change in diet can go a long way in helping children heal from physical, mental and emotional imbalances.

So...what (and how) does Chinese Medicine recommend feeding our children?

Great question! Chinese Medicine has a lot of specific recommendations. I dive into some fabulous tips here.