Allergy - Bed-Wetting in Children

For most children who wet the bed there is no need for medical intervention - as there are usually no physiological problems. However, for both the child and their parents it is inconvenient. It is uncomfortable for the child to be wet and cold and to have their sleep interrupted - it can also be embarrassing if the child wants to spend the night with a friend. There is also the extra laundry that needs to be done. Common causes of bed-wetting There are several common causes of bed-wetting and more than one may apply in any given case. They include the child: being very deeply asleep when they have a full bladder during the night. having drinks, quite juicy fruit or cold food before going to bed. taking in too many stimulants such as cola and chocolate - especially in the evening or before going to bed. having urinary tract or vaginal infections. being cold during the night. having weak kidney or bladder tone. not going to the toilet to empty their bladder before going to bed. experiencing psychological factors related to such things as moving house, changing schools, a new baby or just being tired. having food allergies and intolerances. being nutritionally deficient - especially in magnesium, calcium and silicon. Food allergies and other allergic triggers are very common in children who wet the bed. They often have other allergic symptoms and problems such as asthma, eczema and hyperactivity. Often they will be hot and sweaty at night as allergens tend to over stimulate the nervous system - including the nerves that control bladder function. What you can do to help There are many positive things that you can do to minimize and potentially eliminate your child's bed wetting. Many of these causes of wetting the bed can be prevented. Monitor your child's nightly eating and drinking patters. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids early in the day and discourage any after about 5 pm. Check that they go to the toilet before bed and have plenty of bed clothes in cold weather. Keep your child's lower back and abdomen warm by having them wear a cotton undershirt and teaching them to keep this tucked in. However, if they have allergies don't overheat them. Basically, use the causes that are outlined above as a guide to try and see what the underlying problems might be. The following are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection: constant urge to pass urine, painful, burning sensation when passing urine, fever, dull backache, and cloudy or blood stained urine. For further information on urinary tract infections and their treatment consult the Herb-Health-Guide.com/urinary-system.htm. This information is also primarily geared to adults and adjustments will need to be made when considering children - but the basis of the information is essentially the same for adults or children. When dealing with children it is wise to consult a trusted health care professional when you become aware of the signs and symptoms mentioned above. For preference, consult a naturopathic doctor. The following are the symptoms of a vaginal infection: dry, red and itchy vulva and a white discharge. For further information on vaginal infections see vaginal thrush at healthy-vitamin-choice.com/female-reproductive.html. This information is also primarily geared to adults and adjustments will need to be made when considering children - but the basis of the information is essentially the same for adults or children. The same advice concerning consulting a professional applies here too. If allergies are suspected it is important to find out what are the triggers. Common food allergies in children include: eggs, cow's milk and other dairy products, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, chocolate, citrus fruits and juices, food additives and colours. Eliminate the suspect foods from the diet for a few weeks. If it is the cause the problem should be eliminated. If it contributes to the cause, along with other factors, there may or may not be a marked improvement. However, in both cases there will be a heightened response to the food if it is reintroduced. You can also work on strengthening the bladder. The muscle that we release to allow our urine to flow is called the urethral sphincter. It can be released both voluntarily and involuntarily. This muscle can be strengthened by an exercise. To do this you need to teach your child how to recognize the sphincter muscle by having them stop the flow of urine midstream and then allowing the urine to flow again. Have them practice stopping the flow of urine during the day - so that they can recognize what using the sphincter feels like. When they can feel what using the sphincter feels like they can then practice using this muscle at times other than when they are passing urine. Have your child practice using the sphincter muscle 10 times per day and then increase the number of times that they practice to 50. On each contraction of the muscle they should try to hold the contraction for the count of 5 seconds. Before long the necessary tone and control will be available. Additionally, here are some recommended herbs for strengthening the urinary system and reducing any anxiety and tension which might be related to bladder control. They are: 1/2 ounce St John's Wort tincture 1/2 ounce kava tincture 1/2 ounce partridgeberry tincture 1/2 ounce schizandra tincture 1/2 ounce bistort tincture. Combine all the ingredients in an amber glass jar. Have a child (aged between 5 - 9 years) take 1/2 teaspoon twice daily. For a child aged over 9 years give 1 teaspoon twice daily. Another herbal mixture is: 1 ounce horsetail tincture 1/2 ounce agrimony tincture 1/2 ounce sweet sumach tincture Combine all of the ingredients in an amber glass jar. Have a child (aged between 5 - 9 years) take 1/2 teaspoon twice daily. For a child aged over 9 years give 1 teaspoon twice daily. It is important to explain what you want your child to do without making the child feel guilty or burdening them with added anxiety over the situation. Scolding, belittling and punishing a child for bed-wetting is never appropriate. Never commit the poor parenting error of comparing the child's behavior unfavorably with that of a sibling. A child who feels in any way rejected because of their bed-wetting or that they must stop in order to be loved and approved may develop lasting problems that are more difficult to deal with. Dealing with bed-wetting in children over a longer than normal time can be quite exhausting. Use night time 'nappy pants' - so that you don't have the added burden of extra laundry - while dealing with the problems. Try to relax and not let it get you down. This really is quite a common problem and with the above strategies you can ensure that it doesn't last for too long. I hope you find the above useful. Remember that this problem is not insurmountable, is nothing to be ashamed of and it will pass. References Brewin, L. 2002, Natural Health for Children. ABC Books. Hoffmann, D. 2000, The New Holistic Herbal. Element Pub. Mills, S. Y. 1989, The A-Z of Modern Herbalism: A Comprehensive Guide to Practical Herbal Therapy. Thorson. Romm, A. 2000, Naturally Healthy Babies and Children. Storey Books. Shaw, N. 2002, Herbalism. Element. Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking, cleansing their body, taking essential, non contaminated vitamin and mineral supplements (from healthproductssite.com) and many other methods, including herbal remedies. She also owns Healthy Living blog. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Jenny_Tylee Allergy - What is CAM? (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a term used to describe a diverse group of healing systems that are not presently considered to be part of mainstream medicine also known as traditional or western medicine. The goal of conventional medicine is to locate the physical source of a particular disease and then remove it or treat or "mask" the symptom. For example, if a patient has some sort of infection, a conventional doctor would probably prescribe a specific antibiotic to kill the invading bacteria. If a patient has an allergy, that patient is usually treated with over the counter or prescription medication to treat the symptoms. For other cases, a patient is given a series of shots that can last many years to teach the body to build up immunity. CAM practitioners, on the other hand, take a more "holistic" approach to healthcare. They believe that health and disease involve a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors. In order to treat a disease or simply promote good health, CAM practitioners treat the whole body by taking all of these factors into account. These practitioners also look at ways to prevent illness or symptoms. In the United States, this holistic approach to health has been labeled "alternative" for a variety of scientific, cultural, and political reasons. When you think about it, traditional medicine in the United States is really the alternative when you consider things like Chinese Medicine which has been practices for thousands of years not a couple of hundred years. In many cases it is very difficult to scientifically test alternative practices, such as acupuncture, in the same way that certain conventional practices, such as medications, are tested. Although alternative therapies are often based on hundreds -- in some cases thousands -- of years of experience, the conventional medical community relies heavily on scientific evidence (rather than clinical experience) when evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a particular therapy. For this reason, many alternative practices that have not been thoroughly tested (or cannot be thoroughly tested) are considered "unscientific" by modern Western standards. Not too long ago, Chiropractic medicine was not covered by most insurance policies. In addition, many non-Western healing practices are not taught in United States medical schools, available to patients in U.S. hospitals, or even covered by health insurance in the country. So typically in the United States, medical professionals treat the symptoms and not the cause or the whole body. They don't usually look at how to prevent the symptoms. If you have a headache, take an aspirin. If you have an allergy, take an anti-histamine. An example of a CAM would be a product called NasalGuard for allergy sufferers. This product creates an invisible electrostatic screen around the nose. Since all allergens have an electrostatic charge, it screens out the allergens and therefore a patient does not get the allergy symptoms. Some patients and doctors even recommend NasalGuard to keep people from catching the cold or flu, as these viruses also have an electrostatic charge and are killed on contact as NasalGuard has an ingredient called Lysine which is proven to kill off these bacteria and viruses. NasalGuard can be used as a Complimentary treatment and sometimes an Alternative treatment. What does complementary medicine and alternative medicine mean? The terms "complementary medicine" and "alternative medicine," although often used to mean the same thing, actually have quite different implications. Complementary medicine refers to medical practices used together with conventional medicine while alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of complementary medicine is the use of hypnotherapy together with pain medications to reduce anxiety and enhance relaxation in people recovering from severe burns. Following a special diet rather than taking medications to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an example of alternative medicine. What is integrative medicine? The term "integrative medicine" is often used interchangeably with CAM, but it has a subtle and very important different meaning. Professionals who practice integrative medicine blend appropriate CAM therapies with mainstream medicine rather than simply adding one complementary therapy (such as herbs, for example) to a standard medical treatment. For example, an integrative treatment for Alzheimer's disease may include a combination of the following: 1. Medications that increase certain brain chemicals, 2. Antioxidants (such as vitamin E and ginkgo biloba) that scavenge free radicals, 3. Changes in lifestyle (such as walking programs and relaxation training) to reduce anxiety and improve behavior. 4. Music therapy to bolster the immune system. More and more Americans are becoming familiar with the term "integrative medicine," and studies have found that this blended approach to healthcare is safe and effective for a growing number of medical conditions. What are the basic principles of CAM? Although CAM therapies vary widely, several themes can be traced through them all: - The focus is on the whole person -- physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. - Prevention of illness is a primary concern. - Treatments are highly individualized. - Treatments are aimed at the causes of illness rather than at its symptoms. - Treatments are designed to support the natural healing processes of the body.