- Dr. Sally Sherriff L.Ac., DAOM320 River Street
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060831-508-0101
Pediatrics
Sleep Issues
Over the years, I’ve been asked many times, “Why is my child not sleeping?” This means that Mom and Dad aren’t sleeping well either!
Sometimes it’s digestive sensitivities that keep children up or life’s stresses, but other times it can be their constitution. Perhaps they are hot at night with sweating that interferes with deep sleep. Dr. Sally offers gentle treatments to help the whole family sleep deeply.
A few ways that we can help:
*A gentle foot massage with sesame oil before bed can soothe their whole body, mind and spirit.
*Having a bedtime routine, at the same time every night helps the nervous system to wind down for sleep.
*In-depth look at the diet can sometimes reveal a deficiency, such as magnesium or a food sensitivity.
*Testing and treating for food and chemical sensitivities.
*Individualized herbal formulas designed for your constitution.
*Therapeutic Tuina Massage and Shonishin treatments
For an individualized healing program for your child and info on Lunar treatments, contact Dr. Sally at 831-295-6327. 320 River Street, Santa Cruz, California 95060
Click Here to Schedule Appointments
Juvenile Rheumatoid (Idiopathic) Arthritis
A story with a happy ending:
Usually, I don’t see children with Idiopathic Rheumatoid Arthritis until after they have been on medications for awhile and their parents are at their wits end. Here is the story of one of my patients:
When I first met Loren, she was a bright eyed 3 year old and had been on medications since she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at only 9 months of age. Her mother was desperate to find a way to get her off medications and relieve her suffering. Loren’s knees and ankles were swollen, red and painful. Her sleep was intermittent and she was sweating at night. On testing for allergies, she was allergic to oranges and kiwis.
After the first treatment of NAET, pediatric Tuina massage and Shonishin, she was sleeping better and her pain level decreased. With each treatment, she became progressively better. Within the first month, she began sleeping better and her mother took her off all drugs, with her MD’s oversight. After 3 months, she became much more physically active. 6 months after the first treatment, she was almost pain free with only slight swelling in the right knee and enrolled in a children’s ballet class. She sleeps well and can now eat oranges and kiwis without any ill effects. She remains pain-free with no swelling or discomfort.
A complete recovery from Idiopathic Arthritis takes time, many treatments, changes to the diet and dedication to taking the formulas and supplements, but it is well worth the reward of healthy pain free living!
For an individualized healing program for your child and info on Lunar treatments, contact Dr. Sally Sherriff, DAOM at 831-295-6327. 320 River Street, Santa Cruz, California 95060
Click Here to Schedule Appointments
Headaches
Traditional Chinese Medicine views headaches as a sign of imbalance. Headaches are relieved through gentle treatments to nourish and harmonize the channels of energy (Qi). Diet and lifestyle changes are recommended to support the health of your child’s body, moind and spirit.
Some of the many potential headache triggers include:
- Certain medications (headaches are a potential side effect of some)
- Too little sleep or sudden changes in sleep patterns. Depending on their age, children need 10-11 hours of sleep every night. Make sure they are going to bed early enough to get the sleep that they need.
- Skipping meals. Be sure they are eating enough protein and vegetables every 2-4 hours.
- Becoming dehydrated. Add soups and herbal teas to their diet.
- Being under a lot of stress. Check in with how they are feeling, notice if they are worried or anxious about anything
- Having a minor head injury. Have they had an accident recently?
- Using the computer or watching TV for a long time. Make sure that your child plays outside every day. Limit screen time. This includes TV, computer, phone or any kind of electrical device.
- Vision problems. Be sure to have your child’s vision checked by a professional
- Menstruation
- Experiencing changes in hormone levels
- Taking a long trip in a car or bus
- Listening to really loud music
- Smoking
- Smelling strong odors such as perfume, smoke, fumes, or a new car or carpet. Have you purchased anything new that your child may be reacting to?
- Drinking or eating too much caffeine (In soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate)
- Consuming foods with MSG (such as alcohol, cheese, nuts, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fatty or fried food, lunch meats, hot dogs, yogurt, aspartame, or anything with the food additive MSG)
**Be sure to give your child fresh fruits and vegetables at least 3x/day
For an individualized healing program for your child and info on Lunar treatments, contact Dr. Sally Sherriff, L.Ac, DAOM at 831-295-6327. 320 River Street, Santa Cruz, California 95060
Click Here to Schedule Appointments
Fever
Fevers, or elevated temperatures, are a good sign that the immune system is working. Fever is the body’s mechanism for fighting infections-speeding up metabolism to increase heart rate and blood supply where it is needed, producing more white blood cells to devour pathogens, and increasing antibody responses to infection. In Traditional Asian Medicine, we do not suppress fevers under 105F, with antipyretics (fever-reducing medications such as: Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin). Studies have shown that depriving the body of its ability to develop a fever with antipyretics may prolong the illness, decrease antibody response, and increase the likelihood of disease complications such as pneumonia and meningitis. Reducing fevers interferes with immune mechanisms and worsens illness.
When is a Fever dangerous? Danger Signs with Fever:
Any fever in a child under three months of age requires the attention of a qualified doctor.
If your child’s fever reaches 105F you should take your child to see the doctor or to the emergency room.
If your child is vomiting repeatedly, has a severe headache, lethargic, pale and unresponsive or crying weakly, or has a stiff neck or body, you must take your child to the hospital or MD immediately.
When a child has a fever, we want to support their immune system to clear the virus. In Traditional Asian Medicine, we use gentle, yet effective, Shonishin and Tuina massage treatments, diet and herbs to support the child’s immune system to clear the virus.
What can parents do for fevers?
-Keep a cool cloth on your child’s forehead
-Give Herbs such as Yin Qiao, Echinacea, Minor Bupleurum or Windbreaker
-Give vitamin C
-Give plenty to drink
-Give therapeutic Tuina-massage (parent instruction offered)
-Dry brush skin massage
-Keep child home from school and resting for twenty-four hours after a fever has subsided. Often children will have a fever in the evening, burn it off in the night, and feel much better in the morning. Then the fever may return later in the afternoon and the child feels droopy again. Better to rest until recovery is complete than to rush back to normal activities and prolong the illness.
For an individualized healing program for your child and info on Lunar treatments, contact Dr. Sally Sherriff, DAOM at 831-295-6327. 320 River Street, Santa Cruz, California 95060
Click Here to Schedule Appointments
Eczema
Eczema, skin inflammation is also known as atopic eczema.
I’ve seen many babies, some as young as 3-4 weeks with whole body eczema. By the time I see them, Mom and Dad have often already tried everything – different soaps, less bathing, more bathing, and every over the counter cream money can buy.
Research has finally linked the digestive tract’s “microbiome” to skin health. The “microbiome” refers to the population of bacteria that live in our gut. They play an important role in mediating the immune response, especially in regards to allergies and eczema. We know from recent research that children who have eczema are more likely to be born via c-section. We know they are more likely to develop asthma. We know that they are more likely to have an impaired microbiome.
The Causes of Eczema
Food allergies (IgE mediated) are known to exacerbate eczema, but non-IgE mediated food sensitivities can also play a role in eczema. The most common food culprits are dairy (cow’s milk, cheese and yogurt), eggs, gluten (wheat, barley, rye and oats), soy, peanuts, fish, beef, corn, citrus and even tomatoes. Stress, genetics, antibiotics, and environmental toxic ingredients like heavy metals can also play a role in atopic dermatitis.
What can I do?
1. Get rid of any personal care products that may be irritating. Certain chemicals can trigger eczema, or make it worse in susceptible children. Watch for irritating ingredients in:
- Bath soap
- Shampoo
- Parent’s personal care products including perfume, deodorant, etc.
Laundry detergent & fabric softener. (Choose an unscented laundry detergent.)
Make sure to choose skin care products that are free of:
- Fragrance, or “parfum”
- Sodium Laureth Sulphate
- Parabens
2. Establish and maintain a healthy population of gut bacteria. When is the best time to begin giving a child probiotics? C-section babies should start on the first day of life. Babies born to mothers who have been on many antibiotics and have a family history of eczema should also start early.
3. Give your baby DHA. Studies show that mothers who take DHA when they are pregnant help reduce the risk of their babies having eczema, allergies and asthma. Babies have a very limited ability to convert omega 3 fatty acids to DHA which is crucial for developmental and skin health.
4. Consider giving some of the following foods
-tea of Job’s tears barley and mung beans
-tea of dandelion and corn silk
-tea of aduki beans, Job’s tears barley and corn silk
For an individualized healing program for your child and info on Lunar treatments, contact Dr. Sally Sherriff, DAOM at 831-295-6327. 320 River Street, Santa Cruz, California 95060