macrobiotic child and disease

[ALEX]

Hi,
I have been living in Quebec for last 10 years, and tried to raise family on macrobiotic way.I lived in Europe before ,and was on strict macrobiotic diet for some years.Than I had children and become more flexible, but main macrobiotic diet is still a base in our home. I have 3 children that eat miso soups, vegetables, whole grains, as a base of their meals and were very healthy in comparation with their friends.They rarely eat extreme foods, and in small quantities. They have a good immune system, never had need for medical help , never need for antibiotics...
I tought that I did a good job. But lately my oldest child was hospitalised because of blod in her stools, that I couldn't remedy with things that I knew ( umeboshi, kuzu, miso...) No one of us ever expirienced hospitalization, and it was very dificult to accept all the agresive methods that they do, but I tried to be greatful that sombody can or at least try to help.We are now waiting for lab analises and I am very anksious .Two possible diagnoses are Chron's desease or ulcerous colitis. I am completely out of my mind, I believed that with macrobiotic diet at least I saved my children from serious deseases. She got very strict diet (for next 15 days untill we have results) without any fibers- white bread, white rice, meat and fish, without vegetables and fruits excapt for patato and fruit jus. I supose that idea is to give a break to her intestine. I know that 15 days of eating those things will not affect her a lot, but what after?This diet I can't accept but at the same time I dont know what to give to her, everything that we eat is full of fiber. Obviously I made mistakes. I dont know what to do , who to turn. 7 years ago I tried to find experianced macrobiotic teacher, I needed some advices, but all that I found were ex members of macrobiotic society from 80's who sad to me that macrobiotic diet is imposible to live on in this climate conditions, and that I have to widen my diet if I want to stay healthy...I hope that somebody will have enough patience to read my message. Thank you
Alex

[Nancy]

Hi Alex,

You are beating yourself up unnecessarily. You yourself -know- that your children have been very healthy all of this time, with good immune systems, no antibiotics. The human body is a complicated mechanism, but macrobiotics for the most part, simplifies what can become too complicated for our minds.

There is no better way of life that I have found as yet than the Macrobiotic Way. And, I am very well educated, and very well educated in the health field. You are right to be grateful that the doctors can put their heads together and figure out why your daughter has blood in her stools. Just have faith.

As you say, their strange diet (to us) of potatoes and juice, etc. will only be temporary and will not do your daughter much harm in the short term. Not one of you ever experienced hospitalization until now...that is fabulous! Often bowel diseases are due to mental stress. Perhaps you will learn more about your daughter -- trust the process. She is not dying from the wrong medication given to her, which happens to many children (and adults)! They have probably put her on a "low residue diet" which might include things like bananas. This is just to make bowel movements very easy for the short term.

The members here will be able to give you local macrobiotic contacts in a short time.

Don't listen to the people from the 80's. They quit macrobiotics to their own detriment. Macrobiotics is for all climates, cold, arctic, temperate, tropical. One must learn yin and yang which is not formidable, because Japanese children know it well. Trust in your own macrobiotic knowledge also, wait for the lab analysis, then you'll know what you are dealing with. A diagnosis is fine. Then, you can put together your own macrobiotic resources and knowledge to tailor make foods that will be good for your daughter's condition.

Don't second guess yourself, don't throw out macrobiotics, but instead calm yourself, find out what you are dealing with, and go from there. George Ohsawa would be a good author to read right now. Ohsawan Macrobiotics is the strong stuff, not watered down through the passage of years and political and social "correctness", and this strong type of macrobiotics is very simple to implement.

Balance your anxiety, and deal with the situation using your knowledge.

Will post Canadian macrobiotic resources next.

Nancy