EFFECTS OF TRADITIONS ON CHILD HEALTH – A CHINESE PERSPECTIVE
Chap-Yung YEUNG
Department of Paediatrics, University of
Hong Kong
Respect for the elders is a virtue in
Chinese culture and traditions handed down through the older generations
tend to be observed as biblical truth. Many such traditions exert significant effects on child
health.
Traditional eating and feeding habits
are common examples which have been found to provide much lower calories
and nutrients as recommended by WHO.
The resultant smaller stature has recently given way to much
larger-sized children, as the traditional weaning habits are replaced by
the trendy Western life-style.
Some popularly used traditional Chinese
herbs (Chuen-Lien, Ngau-Huang, Yin Chen) have been shown to displace
bilirubin from protein-binding.
They are therefore potential risks for developing kernicterus in the
jaundiced infants. Other herbs
have been found to possess certain tonic or beneficial effects.
Traditional practice of covering the
umbilical cord of the newborn infant would invite bacterial overgrowth on
the decaying cord stump, which in turn could enhance bilirubin cytotoxicity
in the jaundiced infants.
Acupoint therapies
and many other traditional practices have been shown to produce clinical
and laboratory effects. More
scientific studies are needed to confirm or negate the claims of health
benefits of these practices.