Read time: 5 minutes ✉️ A note from Dr. Krumbeck, Politics aside, as clinicians it is our responsibility to critically evaluate the literature so we can make the best recommendations to our patients. Unfortunately, when politics and science become intertwined the evidence can be distorted or misrepresented, leaving patients and consumers confused about what to trust […]
Read time: 5 minutes As integrative pediatric clinicians, we’ve long understood that medications don’t act in a vacuum. Every compound we introduce into the body—whether prescribed, over-the-counter, or natural—interacts not only with human physiology, but with the trillions of microbes that call the gut home. For years, our conversations around antimicrobial resistance have understandably focused […]
Read time: 3 minutes Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) remains a frequent and frustrating complication in pediatric primary care. While most cases are self-limiting, AAD can increase caregiver distress, interrupt treatment adherence, and occasionally lead to more serious sequelae such as dehydration or Clostridioides difficile infection. Probiotic interventions are a common integrative strategy, yet clarity is still […]
What is the function of vitamin B6? Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin known as pyridoxine. The active coenzyme forms of vitamin B6 are called pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine 5 phosphate (PMP). Vitamin B6 performs a wide variety of functions throughout the body in these active coenzyme forms. It is involved in over 100 enzymatic […]
Read time: 3 minutes Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and otitis media remain among the most common causes of morbidity in children, often leading to missed school days, parental stress, and frequent antibiotic prescriptions. With rising concerns about antimicrobial resistance and microbiome disruption, there is growing interest in safe, evidence-based botanical interventions. Echinacea purpurea, long […]
Read time: 2 minutes Persistent, spastic cough in pertussis-like syndrome (PLS) can be distressing for children and frustrating to manage in clinical practice. While macrolide antibiotics address underlying pathogens, they often fall short in alleviating symptoms. A new systematic review and meta-analysis examines whether integrating traditional herbal medicine (HM) with standard Western medicine (WM) can […]
Read time: 3 minutes Childhood obesity is a complex condition shaped by far more than calorie intake. Inflammation, metabolic signaling, and the gut microbiome all play a role—and targeting the gut ecosystem has become a growing area of research. A new systematic review explores whether microbiome-based therapies can shift outcomes for pediatric obesity. Here’s what […]
Read time: 3 minutes Many children experience recurring leg pain labeled as “growing pains,” often dismissed as benign and self-limiting. But new prospective data suggest that in children with a family history of migraine, these pains may be an early warning sign. Could growing pains be the first symptom in a larger neurovascular picture? Let’s […]
Read time: 2 minutes Cannabis legalization is reshaping parental behaviors—but how does this impact children? A recent JAMA Pediatrics study explores the link between parental cannabis use, parenting quality, and young children’s emotional and behavioral health. Here’s the evidence integrative providers need to guide families. Parental Cannabis Use: When the Conversation Includes the Kids While […]
Read time: 3 minutes Emerging research links parental technology use around young children with subtle but meaningful developmental outcomes. For integrative pediatric providers, this highlights an important conversation point in family-centered care: supporting mindful tech habits as part of holistic child health. Digital Distraction and Development: An Overlooked Family Health Factor Integrative pediatric care looks […]
