The Effect of Alternative Medicine on the Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy ------ Case Study with Young Taiwanese ------

Background. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder caused by brain damage. Signs and symptoms associated with CP could be detected within 6-12 months after birth and have become more visible during preschool years as children continue to develop motor functions. While early intervention is helpful, there is no single treatment that works best for all children with CP. In Western cultures, common treatments include medication, surgical procedures, and physical therapy. In Eastern cultures, alternative approaches, such as Chinese acupuncture, are often applied to treat CP conditions.

Aims. This case study explores the use of Chinese traditional medicine in intervention and treatment of children with CP. It aims to learn more about the effectiveness of traditional medicine in the improvement of quality of life among CP children and to shed light on broadening the spectrum of treatments in Western cultures.

Methods. During the COVID-19 outbreaks, I landed in Taiwan for research on quality of life of children with CP. I conducted in-depth interviews with CP children and analyzed how traditional Chinese medicine played a role in helping CP children overcome physical, psychological, and social huddles in life due to their CP conditions and achieve independent living.

Conclusion. Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in improving motor functions among children with cerebral palsy. This case study highlights the importance of conducting well-designed comparative studies across diverse cultures. Identical assessment tools, e.g., Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QOL) in English language and in other languages, are needed to fully capture the pros and cons of using alternative medicine among children with CP before integrating Western and Eastern treatments.