I was sent, courtesy of the publisher, a review copy of the book Healthy Child, Whole Child – Integrating the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine to Keep Your Kids Healthy - by Stuart H Ditchek, M.D. and Russell H. Greenfield, M.D. and found it to be a great reference for exploring options beyond (but not excluding) conventional pediatric care.

…The Whole Person – body, mind, spirit, lifestyle, environment – is taken into account.            …Treatment focuses on the underlying causes of a health problem as well as the symptoms. …The body’s natural capacity for healing is engaged and supported. …Doctor and patient work in partnership. …Care is individualized. …Both conventional and “alternative” therapies are considered. …Emphasis is placed on prevention of medical problems and promotion of healthy behaviors. …Gentler therapies with fewer side effects are tried first.

 

From protection to healthy lifestyle to therapies to medical conditions, Healthy Child, Whole Child is a book you should read when researching or exploring interest in additional methods of pediatric care.        

 

We tend to be an "off the beaten path" type family. We have five children.  We drive (or will soon) a mini school bus.  We live in a church.   I have my babies at home, sometimes with a midwife. We don't go to well-baby checkups. If we are sick, we go to the doctor; if it's an emergency, we go to the ER. We try to use natural and herbal remedies first, before antibiotics and other prescribed medications. We don't vaccinate.  Basically, we don't use conventional medicine unless we have to.  When I was presented with the opportunity to review Healthy Child, Whole Child, I was intrigued and said that I would. I didn't know what to expect but knowledge is power and the more I know the better I can treat my children's illnesses and injuries.

I have really enjoyed reading this book.  The authors cover the basics in section one.  The basics include things like food and water, vaccinations and exercise, popular culture and the air our children breathe.  Section two covers non-conventional therapies and section three covers specific conditions that are common to our little ones.

The biggest issue that I have with this book is the issue of vaccinations.  Although the authors provided some very impressive and convincing arguments for vaccinations, I have not changed my stand.  I have chosen not to vaccinate my children.  Some other reviewers (I read some snippets on Amazon) have in essence thrown this book out because of the issue of vaccinations.  I, however, chose to look further and get whatever else I could from the book.  I am very comfortable with my decision to not vaccinate, therefore what they had to say was not a threat for me.  I believe that this is a decision that parents must make for themselves.  This book does provide some great arguments for vaccinating.  I would encourage parents to get "the other side" of the story as well to make a well informed decision.

I have found this book to be in depth but very easy to read.  Reading this textbook type manual is daunting at first but when you get into the chapters, before you know it you've finished a chapter and on to the next.  It's like sitting down with a well-educated and knowledgeable friend.  Or like having an appointment with the type of doctor you dream about having as your family doctor.  (Unfortunately because of my stand on vaccinations, the doctors writing this book would not take my family on as patients.)  There is so much information in this book that I will be reading it again, maybe with a highlighter and notebook.  I will refer back to it for more information and solutions.

Some of the alternative therapies may not be for everyone.  Some of them have a deep spiritual or religious tint.  However, I love that the information about those therapies are summarized for me in this book.  That way I (or you) can decide for myself what is right for me and for my family without compromising our beliefs.

The authors specifically focus on children in this book, but I will be applying much of what I learned in this manual to my husband and myself as well.  The principles carry over, in my opinion.

Healthy Child, Whole Child can be purchased at Amazon and other bookstores.  My copy was supplied by the publisher for review.

Book Details:

• Authors: by Stuart H. Ditchek &
  Stuart H. Ditchek (Author)

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  Russell H. Greenfield
• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition (May 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062737465
• ISBN-13: 978-0062737465
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches