by the University of Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Today, more children than ever are being treated with complementary and alternative therapies. Recent studies indicate that about 30 percent of healthy children and up to 50 percent of children with chronic disease are using some kind of alternative therapy.

“There is a huge place for complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics,” says Dolores Mendelow, M.D., clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Complementary and alternative therapies are becoming a more prevalent treatment for children. If individuals follow the directions of their physicians, these treatments are a safe and effective way to get and stay healthy, Mendelow says.

While certain types of complementary and alternative therapies are safe for children, there are many therapies that could potentially be dangerous. Mendelow notes that parents should always consult their children’s pediatrician before beginning any new treatment.

Alternative therapies can be successful against many illnesses – including the common cold or skin rashes – when over-the-counter medications do not have immediate success. For instance, honey can be used for coughs related to the common cold – just not for children less than one year of age.

“In terms of complementary medicine, we’re using acupuncture, dietary supplementation and herbal or botanical therapies,” Mendelow says.

Some types of therapies that may be beneficial for children: Yoga. Experts suggest that pediatric patients participate in yoga as a form of therapy. Yoga, when combined with medicines prescribed by a physician, can be used to help asthmatic patients learn to practice and use deep breathing and remain calm when faced with shortness of breath. Yoga also helps reduce stress in teens and adolescents.

Tai chi. Research shows teenagers encounter a lot of stress, which puts them at risk for depression. Mind and body therapies, such as tai chi, help reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. Tai chi and yoga help to decrease blood pressure and sympathetic activity in children. This allows for a sense of relaxation and calmness Probiotics. These live bacteria, similar to those found in the human stomach, can be found in dietary supplements or in food, such as yogurt. Used to treat antibiotic associated diarrhea, controlled studies have shown probiotics are safe for children.

Using probiotics can reduce diarrhea by one to two days, allowing children to go back to school or day care sooner.

Probiotics are not recommended for children on any immunosuppressive drugs or those who are immuno compromised. Always consult a doctor first.

While there is strong evidence that these complementary and alternative therapies are safe for children, Mendelow advises parents that other complementary and alternative medicines can have serious consequences for children and adolescents.

Some types of therapies that may be harmful to children include: Ma Haung. Ma Haung, a popular Chinese medicine used to control asthma, is an ephedra compound, a stimulant often used to boost athletic performance. Using this type of boosting agent in a child can lead to heart palpitations and other cardiac-related events, all extremely dangerous for a child.

Creatine. Creatine is another supplement that should not be used in a child’s diet.

“Creatine is used for a lot of body building and we know that it can have adverse side effects for kidneys,” says Mendelow.

Other supplements. Children that are on anticoagulants should avoid certain complementary and alternative therapies, including ginkgo biloba or high-dose fish oil.

­Anti-coagulants increase the bleeding time as do these two supplements, so that children are more prone to bleeding. Before taking any supplement, always check with your physician if you’re on other prescription medication to make sure it’s safe.

Chiropractics. Mendelow advises against high-speed spinal manipulation. “The children’s spines are probably not fully developed until they’re about 18 to 20 years old and you can actually do more harm than good,” Mendelow says.

­by Marvi­n Ramírez

Entrepreneurial hope for women: Approximately 40 graduates from ALAS program hold their diploma of fulfillment as entrepreneurs. (by Marvin Ramírez)

The current economic cr­isis affecting the U.S. and the rest of the world was not an impediment for approximately 40 Bay Area women from building hope for themselves by creating the business of their dream. They all graduated on May 4 amid a grand fiesta at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. Some had their own exhibition booth on display for business.

Armed with a business card, a business plan, and the energy and skills they learned, they were ready to conquest the world of commerce.

It took them months to achieve their effort. From setting up a restaurant to many other type of business plans, the women worked hard and with dedication, determined not to let their family daily obligations to interfere in their goal.

Every year, the nonprofit organization, ALAS or Women’s Initiative graduates dozens of new students, and helps build the entrepreneurial capacity of women to overcome economic and social barriers and achieve selfsufficiency.

Thais Rezende, executive director of ALAS, North Bay Region.: (photo by Marvin Ramírez)

Through out the years, the Mission Districtbased organization has help hundreds of women create jobs for themselves, access the mainstream economy, and increase their economic selfsufficiency when they are given business planning and financing support, according to their program description.

Adelaida M. Chumpitaz, of Isis Personal Concierge, proudly displays the services she provides.

Many of them never had the opportunity to attend school or improve their working skills over their lifetime, either because they were busy raising a 1family or simply because they were unaware of their potentials and did not know from where to start.

However, as many women lose their life partners or the breadmaker in the home, they find themselves unable to survive on their own, or because of lack of work skills find it hard to find jobs.

But ALAS (Alternativas para Latinas en Autosuficiencia) program, which boasts culturally competent services and extensive networks that propel Latina entrepreneurs into business success, has become the perfect solution for these women.

The program targets lowincome women of traditionally underserved groups including minorities, immigrants, and welfare recipients. Over half of the Women’s Initiative community participates in our classes offered in Spanish through ALAS.

­by the El Reportero’s news service

Rafael Correa

President Rafael Correa recorded a comfortable win in Ecuador’s presidential elections on April 26. No candidate had won in the first round since the return to democracy in 1979. While he won a firm endorsement, however, the victory was not as crushing as opinion polls had indicated. His main rival, Lucio Gutiérrez, performed twice as well as expected.

Traditional parties, dubbed the “partidocracy” by Correa, also staged a comeback in the congressional elections, although the painstakingly slow count makes it difficult to divine whether he will fall short of a majority in the 124-seat congress. This is very important because while the elections were not fought on economic issues, the post-electoral debate will be.

Panama opposition leads elections

Extra-offi cial information suggests Monday the triumph of Ricardo Martinelli, of the opposition Alliance for Change party, in the Panamanian presidential elections, with 60.3 percent of votes and 91.3 percent of ballots counted. Figures from the Electoral Court show early Monday that after evaluating 89.4 percent of polling stations, the businessperson had 873,244 votes in his favor.

Following Martinelli is Balbina Herrera, of the Democratic Revolutionary Movement, with 37.3 percent (540,543 votes), and Guillermo Endara, of the Homeland Moral Vanguard party with 34,231 votes.

The information also stated that of the number of votes reported, 1.13 percent were blank and 1.84 null.

Martinelli’s victory will be decided once the National Vote Counting Boards evaluate the country’s 39 electoral constituencies, which could happen Wednesday, May 6.

Venezuela’s Chávez courts Iran as US shows concern

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chávez met with a delegation from Iran last week to prepare for an upcoming visit from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — an alliance that has provoked concern in Washington.

Venezuela’s ambassador to Iran, David Velásquez, said following the meeting ­that Ahmadinejad’s visit will deepen ties between the countries and “allow us to move ahead in the transfer of technology and industry,” according to Venezuela’s state-run Bolivarian News Agency.

Latin America’s leftist leaders have in recent years strengthened relations with countries including China and Iran — inroads that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday termed “quite disturbing.”

“They are building very strong economic and political connections with a lot of these leaders. I don’t think that’s in our interest,” Clinton said.

She said President Barack Obama’s administration aims to improve deteriorating relations with Latin American nations including Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela to counter the growing infl uence of China, Iran and Russia in the region.

by Veronica Macías

U.S. health and civil rights experts have been quick to counter allegations by antiimmigration zealots that undocumented Mexican immigrants are spreading swine flu throughout this country.

At Weekly Report’s press time, the 226 U.S. cases reported in 30 states ranging from New York to California, did not include a single one attributed to an undocumented immigrant.

While anti-immigrant voices have seized the chance to scapegoat Mexican migrants for the potential swine flu pandemic, it’s a move that has come as no surprise to Hispanic leaders here.

“Conservative media is distorting the reality of the situation. They are always looking for someone to blame,” National Hispanic Health Alliance president Dr. Jane Delgado told Weekly Report “They are doing a disservice to their listeners and to the world by not presenting accurate information.”

Despite confirmations from U.S. authorities that the confirmed swine flu cases here have been nearly exclusively from residents who recently traveled to Mexico, right-wing pundits including Glen Beck, Lou Dobbs and Michael Savage are continue to politicize the issue to advance their ongoing nativist stances.

“Make no mistake about it, illegal aliens are carriers of the new strain of human/swine/avian flu from Mexico,” said Savage Nation radio host Michael Savage.

Referring to the outbreak at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York, National Hispanic Medical Association president Dr. Elena Rios censured the critics, “They should pay attention to the facts. These were American citizens who had money to go travel to Cancun for spring break. “

The virus is identified as the H1N1(swine flu) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine confirmed that its two reported cases were of residents who separately came down with the disease following trips to Mexico.

In Maryland, a U.S. Energy Department security official contracted AH1N1 when traveling to Mexico with Secretary Steven Chu last month. He infected his family when he returned.

The World Health Organization, the U. N.’s health authority, believes the virus first manifested in Mexico City, where a stronger strain killed an estimated 146 people.

Within a few days the virus spread to 13 countries.

The first swine flu-related death was of a 23-month-old Mexican boy whose family traveled from Mexico City to visit Houston.

The Libertarian Party and Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) have been among groups responded to the growing number of U.S. cases by demanding much more vigilant border enforcement.

ALI PAC president William Gheen emphasized to Weekly Report, “We are calling for all non-essential traffic and illegal immigration to stop.”

Blaming the Congress for not moving more decisively and allowing commerce “to take precedence over public health,” he urged that thousands of U.S. National Guard troops be brought in to, in effect, close off the border.

Since news of a likely pandemic broke April 23, Mexico’s huge tourism industry has collapsed. Voice of America reported it has plummeted by 77°/0.

A five-day shutdown of Mexico City businesses ordered by President Felipe Calderon effective May 1 was said to be costing the city $57 million a day.

The WHO made no recommendation on imposing global travel restrictions since the virus has already spread and it would be “highly disruptive” to the world economy.

On its web­site, the CDC suggest that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.

While some media pundits called the virus the “fajita flu,” other well known faces like MSNBC host Keith Olbermann called the comments ignorant and racist.

Boston radio talk host Jay Severin was taken off the air for characterizing Mexican immigrants as “criminaliens.”

Health officials say 35,000 U.S.residents die every year of the seasonal flu and an increase from the swine flu is inevitable. Hispanic Link.