The patient's page.

Pain Control for Children

Breathing techniques can be a very effective form of pain relief. Children in pain will often hold their breath or take very shallow breaths. Breathing deeply can help your child relax. Use of a rhythmic, deep-chest breathing technique, or patterned, shallow breathing can reduce pain, stress, anxiety, and even panic episodes.

The "Deep Belly Breathing Technique": Instruct the child to put his/her hand over his belly, to breathe deeply into the lungs, and feel the belly expand. Next, instruct the child to breathe out through the mouth slowly, allowing the belly to deflate.

Guided imagery is another effective means of pain control. The child is coached to imagine a favorite place or a favorite activity. This not only produces distraction, but enhances relaxation, as well.

Instruct your child to do the following: Relax for a few minutes and imagine a happy, comfortable place. This may be a place you've been before, or a place where you would like to go. It could be a place that you have just imagined. Choose one place knowing that you can visit others another time. Now, pretend that you are in that special place. What do you see? What do you hear? Are there smells in this place? What do you feel in this special place? Now, spend a few minutes just enjoying everything about your special place.

Progressive muscle relaxation helps your child recognize and reduce body tension associated with pain. It can decrease anxiety and discomfort and increase body awareness.

Ask your child to lie down in a comfortable position. Ask him/her to notice how the muscles feel in each part of the body. Taking individual areas of the body one at a time (face, shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, abdomen, thighs, lower legs, feet and toes), instruct your child to clench the muscles for approximately 5 seconds, to take a deep breath, and then release. Next, instruct your child to clench all muscles simultaneously, hold for 5 seconds, then release.

    "Pain Management in Children: Developmental Considerations and
    Mind-body Therapies"
    Dr. Susan Gerik
    Southern Medical Journal, March 2005

Symptom Relief for Menopause 

Hormone replacement therapy has been the mainstay of therapy for menopausal symptoms. Recent research findings, however, have encouraged physicians and their patients to search for non-pharmacological alternatives for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

The following techniques have been shown to decrease hot flashes:

    Exercise
    Relaxation techniques and deep breathing exercises
    Dietary changes to incorporate whole foods and soy (these changes
    can also assist with heart disease and obesity)
    Botanicals, such as black cohosh, evening primrose oil, and red
    clover may decrease the severity and frequency of hot flashes

    "Integrative Therapies for Menopause"
    Drs. Julie McKee and Sara Warber
    Southern Medical Journal, March 2005