in milk, meat and soy. Others hypoth- Several holistic approaches can
esize that a girl raised in a home with
work to slow or reverse early sexual
a man other than her biological father,
such as a stepfather, can physiologically development in children. These
react to his chemical scents, called
include naturopathy, traditional
pheromones, setting her own hormonal
cascade into motion. Some point to Chinese medicine, homoeopathy
the increased sexualizing of children in
and chiropractic, as well as changes
television and print advertising. Many
say that more stress and less exercise in diet and environment.
are culprits.
“In the animal industry, to hasten then stopped, as well as many who had
puberty, they keep the animals con- pubic hair at age 6, but didn’t develop
fined, they feed them really rich diets, breasts until years later. Less than 10
and they grow really fast. That is exactly percent of girls referred to him for signs
what we are doing to our children,” of early puberty require medication.
observes Herman-Giddens. “Sometimes pediatricians worry
enough that it makes the parents
Slow the Future
panic,” Kaplowitz comments. “The
While it is important to identify the
important thing for parents to under-
causes of early puberty, we also must
stand is that most girls who have early
ask what it means for the future, cau-
breast or pubic hair development do
tion children’s health advocates. Since
not have a condition that is dangerous
publication of the first of her many
and requires treatment.”
studies on the subject, Herman-Gid-
So what should a shocked and
dens says that she has been flooded
worried parent do? Both naturopathic
with letters and emails, both from par-
and conventional physicians say that
ents who have watched their children
once full-blown puberty has begun,
suffer ridicule at school and from young
regardless of the age, it’s hard to put the
women looking back on tormented
brakes on it without medication.
childhoods.
On the other hand, for less severe
Parents say it can be baffling for a
or less advanced cases, Sellman coun-
preschooler to make sense of a chang-
sels that several holistic approaches can
ing body and hormone-fueled mood
work to slow or reverse early sexual
swings, or for a second-grader to have
development in children. These include
to remember to put on deodorant or
naturopathy, traditional Chinese medi-
“I wasn’t going to just sit idly by and
bring a pad to school.
cine, homoeopathy and chiropractic,
say, ‘We’ll see what happens.’”
“It can be psychologically traumat-
as well as changes in diet and environ-
Denise de Reyna, Emily’s mom,
ic,” Herman-Giddens notes. She points
ment.
now volunteers with the nonprofit
to research that connects early puberty
After Stephanie Dillard’s fright-
Major Aspects of Growth in Children
with depression, teenage pregnancy
ened kindergartner called her into
Foundation (MAGICFoundation.org), a
and drug and alcohol abuse. “They are
the bathroom to show her the hair
parent support group that helps other
just alone and terrified,” she continues.
that had begun growing on her pubic
parents handle their children’s early
“Imagine being an 8- or 9-year-old, go-
area, Mom swept her off to a pediatric
development. At age 11, Emily is now
ing about your daily life, having older
endocrinologist, who told her that her
healthy and thriving. Owing to the
boys or men hit on you and having no
daughter did not require medication
medication her mom was so reluctant
clue how to deal with it.”
and sent her home. But the news of-
to put her on five years ago, she has yet
When it comes to recommending
fered little consolation.
to begin menstruating.
treatment, Dr. Kaplowitz makes a care-
“They never could tell me why it
“I think she is one of the success
ful distinction: There is true precocious
was happening,” she says. “They just
stories,” Denise de Reyna says. “In fact,
puberty, a full-blown pituitary cascade
told me to keep an eye on her.”
my daughter thinks she is the greatest
that also sets rapid growth and bone
Acting on Sellman’s advice, Dillard
thing since sliced bread.”
maturation into motion too soon (lead-
switched the family to an organic, hor-
ing to stunted growth later). Then, there
mone-free diet, and helped her daugh-
is the more benign appearance of an
ter lose some excess weight. She also
Lisa Ann Marshall is an award-win-
isolated sign, such as breast growth.
gave her liver-cleansing supplements to
ning journalist who writes regularly
He’s seen some girl patients whose
rid her body of any latent hormones or
for newspapers and magazines.
breasts began to grow at age 6, and
chemicals. “As a parent,” she remarks,
August 2008
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