Nursing is supposed to be a calming, tranquil time for a newborn, but when Deb Kruse-Field put her son, Luke Field, to her breast, instead of cuddling up and eating, he arched his back and screamed.

"We would both end up miserable," says Kruse-Field. "And he started eating less."

Kruse-Field tried everything she and her pediatrician could think of to help Luke. She cut out foods from her diet that could be irritating her son's stomach, such as dairy, soy and chocolate, and her doctor prescribed medicine for his acid reflux. Both helped, she says, but Luke was still gassy, had diarrhea and spit up frequently.

Frustrated that Luke was still in pain, his parents, who live in Madison, Wisconsin, were nonetheless reluctant to take their baby to see more doctors. They'd gone that route when their older child, Anna, had stomach problems, and nothing the specialists recommended worked terribly well.

But then a family friend suggested they contact Dr. Adam Rindfleisch, a University of Wisconsin family doctor who specializes in integrating traditional Western medicine with alternative medicine.

Rindfleisch suggested probiotics  - "friendly" bacteria that he says have been shown to help babies and children with diarrhea. While probiotics didn't cure Luke, Kruse-Field said, they seem to have helped.

For Kruse-Field, finding a pediatrician who knew about both approaches - traditional and alternative - was crucial to solving Luke's stomach problems. While not everything billed as "alternative medicine" is suitable for children, there are several alternative treatments that have been shown to be safe and effective for kids. Here are some of the top ones.

1. Probiotics for diarrhea

"These are incredibly safe," Rindfleisch says. "We've even used them on preemies with gastrointestinal issues."

He recommends finding a probiotic designed especially for children, adding that kids who are severely immune-compromised, such as those with end-stage HIV, shouldn't take them.

The Web site for the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, or CAHCIM, has information about using alternative medicine to treat diarrhea. 

2. Chamomile tea for colic

In many cultures, from the Middle East to Latin America, parents give chamomile tea to their cranky babies. "What that tells me is that over thousands of years, people have figured out that it works," says Dr. Sandy Newmark, who's on the faculty at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.

Newmark recommends steeping a teaspoon of dried chamomile, or a tablespoon of fresh, in hot water for five to 10 minutes. Cool it off and then give the baby a half an ounce to an ounce every few hours in a bottle, spoon or medicine dropper.

For other information on treating colic with alternative medicine, go to CAHCIM's site.

3. St. John's wort for mild to moderate depression

When her teenage patients get depressed, Cora Collette Breuner sometimes suggests they take the herb St. John's wort. She recommends 300 milligrams three times a day for teenagers. Breuner, an associate professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, says the herb should not be used for depression for children under 13.

The CAHCIM Web site has more information about alternative medicine and depression.

For more tips on how to treat your kids with alternative medicine, check out my column at CNNhealth.com

If your doctor prescribes you some medication, you probably think its going to work, right? A new study suggests that may not be the case.

More and more physicians are prescribing drugs off label without evidence the drug will work. And according to a paper in the December issue of Pharmacotherapy some of the most common drugs used off label, are in need of additional study to determine whether they are safe and effective.

When a doctor prescribes a drug off label, that means it is being used to treat a disease or medical condition different from the one for which it was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration.   For example, some doctors prescribe the anti-depressant Zoloft for bipolar disorder even though it has not been approved for treating it.  Taking a drug off label isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there are some questions you should ask your doctor before picking up your prescription.

Is this off-label? Your doctor may not always tell you up front.

Is there proof that it works? There may be some scientific proof behind it or your doctor could just be going out on a limb! If he can't give you an answer, it's OK to insist he does.  And if the answer doesn't satisfy you, ask about other treatment alternatives.

What are the side effects? Have your doctor's office check beforehand whether your insurance will pick up the tab for the off label drug.  Often, insurance companies will deny those claims.

For more information on how to be an Empowered Patient check out my column at CNN.com/empoweredpatient

   Many people take the herb gingko biloba in hopes of staving off Alzheimer’s Disease, but a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says it doesn’t work.

          In the study of 3,000 people over the age of 75, some took gingko, while others took a placebo, or sugar pill. University of Pittsburgh researchers found that those who took gingko were just as likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia as those who took the placebo.

          Gingko manufacturers say this isn’t the first – or the last – word on the herb. “There is a significant body of scientific and clinical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of ginkgo extract for both cognitive function,” said Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council.

          But many experts are still skeptical. Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at UCLA, says her 86-year-old mother once asked her if she should take gingko, but London told her not to bother.  “But I do tell my mother there are other things she can do,” says London, who’s studied the brain and aging. “I tell her to go out and do things and see people every day and be active.”

          Here are five tips for staving off Alzheimer’s from London and other brain experts.  

1. Antioxidants

          London makes sure her mother takes Vitamins A, C, and E. “There are studies that suggest antioxidants might prevent dementia,” she says.

2. Fish Oil Supplements

          Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging, says aging brains show signs of inflammation, and fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Phosphatidylserine supplements

          Phosphatidylserine is a lipid found naturally in the body. Small says he’s not 100 percent convinced these supplements will help stave off dementia, but they’re worth a try. “If I start having memory problems when I get older, I’ll give them a trial run and see if they help,” says Small, author of the new book “iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind.”

4. Curry

          Small, who’s 57, says as he gets older he might also try eating more foods with curry in them. “Some studies in Singapore show that those who ate curry once a week had better memory scores,” he said.

5. Crosstraining your brain

          “Our brains can be made stronger through exercise,” says Andrew Carle, assistant professor of in the departent of health administration and policy at George Mason University. “In the same way physical exercise can delay many of the effects of aging on the body, there’s some evidence cognitive exercise can at least delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.”

          But Carle says it’s not enough to do just one kind of brain exercise. “Doing a crossword puzzle every day is good, but it’s the equivalent of only doing pushups – your arms will get strong, but  not the rest of your body.” He recommends doing other activities in addition, such as computing numbers in your head instead of using a calculator, or using one of the “brain gym” computer games designed to enhance brain function.

Your 401k is plummeting. Your bank needs a bailout. You’re worried about your job. Never perhaps since the Great Depression has there been a more legitimate time to stress out.

A new study by Emory University researchers suggests a new, yet old, way to de-stress. Drawing on ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings, Compassion Meditation teaches people to meditate on why they dislike someone, and how to take a more empathetic view of that person.

The goal is to change the perception of the disliked person; the theory is this can help someone brighten their view of the world as a whole.

The study showed that those who practiced Compassion Meditation had physiological changes that indicated lower stress levels. When presented with a stressful task, study subjects who’d practiced Compassion Meditation had lower levels of a stress hormone called cortisol compared to those who weren’t taught the meditation method. Distress scores, as measured by a 30-item profile, were lower among the meditators.

Lower stress levels have been linked to better immune function and lower rates of a variety of diseases, including depression and cancer.

"We’re using meditation to try to generate positive emotions and thoughts about everybody, whether you like them personally or you don't like them personally," says Dr. Charles Raison, assistant professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine. "It’s a way of using meditative concentration to change your mind so you say, 'I should be more equitable towards everybody.'"

Study subjects who saw physiological benefits meditated for about 20 minutes per day, four to five days per week.

Other stress busting techniques that don't require a lot of time include exercises at your desk, listening to tranquil music, and keeping a stress diary. Click here for a demonstration of how to do chair squats; click here for free relaxation music, and click here for advice on how to keep a diary of what triggers stress for you.

CNN's Matt Sloane and Tanika Gray contributed to this report.

A new study finds that many Americans believe in medical miracles. In the study, 57 percent of randomly surveyed adults said God's intervention could save a deathly ill family member even if physicians said treatment would be futile.

However, just under 20 percent of doctors and other medical workers said God could reverse a helpless outcome.
The study was published last month in Archives of Surgery and is one of many to show a "faith gap" between doctors and patients.
"Patients are scared to death to talk to their doctors about this issue," said Dr. Harold Koenig, co-director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University.
Given this gap, how can you discuss God with your physician?
1. It's OK to ask for a doctor who also has strong religious convictions
Koenig suggests this approach when talking to a physician: "I would say: 'My religious beliefs are very important to me and influence my medical decisions and the way I cope with illness, and I want a doctor who has those same convictions. If you don't come from that perspective, do you know a doctor you can refer me to?' "
If you're a Christian, you might find a like-minded doctor through the ZIP code search at the Christian Medical and Dental Associations.
2. Don't be surprised if you find No. 1 difficult to do
"Religion is the last taboo in medicine," said Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, an internist, a Franciscan friar and director of ethics at St. Vincent's Hospital and New York Medical College in New York. "Doctors and patients talk about intimate details like sexual practices and drug use but still have this great reluctance to talk about religion."
Sulmasy suggests not asking directly about the doctor's own religious beliefs but instead focusing on your own religious needs.
3. It's OK to ask your doctor to pray with you
According to a 2006 study by the University of Chicago, 53 percent of doctors surveyed said it was appropriate to pray with patients when asked.
This can work even when doctor and patient don't share the same faith. For example, Koenig, who's Christian, has prayed with Jewish patients. "In most cases, a general prayer asking for God's comfort, support and healing will be sufficient," he said.

One issue sure to be mentioned in Barack Obama’s acceptance speech is health care and the millions of Americans who are fighting to get out of medical debt.

A report out last month from the Commonwealth Fund found that 28 percent of the population said they were paying off medical debt in 2007, up from 21 percent in 2005.
"Two-thirds of the people who go into medical debt have insurance," said Mark Rukavina, executive director of the Access Project. "When medical debt hits, it hits very quickly. It's a jolt, and it's generally not very predictable."
"These are all honest, hardworking people," added Jessie Maurer, a medical billing advocate in West Des Moines, Iowa "This could happen to just about anybody."
By avoiding the mistakes below, you can get your medical debt under control.
Mistake No. 1: You ignore your bills
"The most dangerous thing people do when they get into debt is ignore the statements and notices," said Mary Jean Geroulo, a former hospital administrator and now a partner at Stewart and Stimmel, a health care law firm in Dallas, Texas.
"They think doctors and hospitals won't send them to collection agencies, but they absolutely will," she added.
To find an advocate, visit the Medical Billing Advocates of America, The Fairness Foundation and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling also offer help to those in debt.
Mistake No. 2: You don't look for errors in your bills
"I had a client once who was charged for a surgery she never had," said Nora Johnson, vice president of Medical Billing Advocates of America in Caldwell, West Virginia. "Another one was charged more than $5,000 for disposable gloves."
To catch errors, you have to get an itemized bill. Often, say experts, you have to ask for one.
Mistake No. 3: You don't negotiate the price down
"People think they have to pay the amount on the bill. But doctors and hospitals are very willing to negotiate," Rukavina said. "Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Maurer, for example, says one of her clients owed $14,000 for a five-hour stay in a hospital emergency room. "She could afford to pay $4,000, so I told her, 'Show them a certified check for $4,000.' She did and told them, 'This is all I have in the world,' and they took it."
For more tips, check out my column at CNN.com/health

"Be prepared." It is the Boy Scout motto, but it is also true when it comes to hurricanes and other weather emergencies. Here's a list of things you should keep close at hand in case you are ever in a weather emergency.

1) Emergency supply kit: According to ready.gov, keep these things in your kit: a first aid kit, prescription medicines, bottled water, a battery-operated radio, a flashlight and batteries.

2) Important documents: Make sure you have a copy of the following documents: driver's license, Social Security card, list of doctors, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates and tax records.

3) Family evacuation plan: You may not be with your family when disaster strikes. According to the American Red Cross, you should decide ahead of time where to go if you have to evacuate. You should also discuss ahead of time how you are going to get in touch with one another in case you get separated. Experts suggest making an out-of-town friend or relative a contact in case the phone lines are down in your community.

While downing margaritas in Brazil one evening, Sheila Scott Hula's drinking mate suggested they "jazz up" their drinks with a little local liquor.

Hula, who's always ready for an international gustatory adventure, ordered some from the waitress, tossed it into her drink, took a swig, and all of a sudden couldn't breathe.

"I popped a Benadryl, but that didn't act fast enough. My chest felt constricted, and the people around me started to panic," she said. "Then I pulled out my inhaler, and that did the trick."

Keeping certain medicines with you is just one of the many tricks Hula has learned during her 11 years of travel covering the Olympics (she’s in Beijing now and travels four months out of the year). Here are some others:

1. Keep your “travel health kit” with you at all times.

Read the CDC's complete list of what to pack in your travelers' health kit.

2. If you're worried about the food or water, bring an antibiotic with you

Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky, an expert consultant in the division of global migration and quarantine at the Centers for Disease Control, recommends either azithromycin or a drug in the quinolone family, such as ciprofloxacin. You can get these only with a doctor's

3. Learn about your destination

The CDC has country-by-country information on health hazards, and the State Department does, too.

Take with you a list of U.S. embassies and consulates in case of an emergency. You can also register your trip with the State Department so the agency can find you easily.

If you're going someplace unusual, Kozarsky suggests joining the Listserv at the International Society of Travel Medicine. "If I'm going to Tanzania, I can go on there, and in a few minutes someone will chime in and say, 'Hey, I have a buddy there who runs a terrific clinic,' " she says.

For more tips on traveling healthy, check out my column at CNN.com/health.

Imagine going to bed and waking up to find that the cost of your medicine –- medicine you need to live –- has doubled.

That’s what’s happened to some people who take drugs for HIV and cancer, as well as for more common ailments, such as blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Last month, researchers at the University of Minnesota testified to Congress that in the past eight years, hundreds of drugs have had instant price jumps of 100 percent or more. Topping the list is Cosmegen, a cancer drug that saw a more than 3,400 percent increase in one day, according to the PRIME Institute at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota. Norvir, a drug to treat HIV, went up 400 percent all at once, according to the group.

Drugs for more common ailments saw less dramatic increases and the increases weren’t all at once, they happened over a period of years, the researchers say. For example, Ambien, a sleeping pill, had a 160 percent increase from 2002 to 2007, and Lipitor had a 30 percent increase during the same period.

The Phamaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America, which represents pharmaceutical makers, says they have a program to help people pay for drugs. In a statement, Senior Vice President Ken Johnson added that overall prescription drug prices increased 1.4 percent in 2007. “Critics often overlook the fact that prescription drug spending growth is at its lowest level since 1961,” Johnson said.

Here are some tips for cutting down on prescription drug costs.

1. Think twice before accepting samples from your doctor.

It sounds counterintuitive, but samples can end up costing you more. That’s because samples are often for very expensive drugs, and once the samples run out, you (or your insurance) will have to foot the bill. It’s a better idea to just ask your doctor from the start for a less expensive drug, advises Dr. Richard Adair, a University of Minnesota professor who researches physician prescribing habits.

2. See if there’s a less expensive alternative

Many times, there are several drugs that could treat your ailment. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs offers cost comparisons for drugs used to treat many conditions, from ADHD to ulcers. And of course, if your doctor prescribes a brand-name drug, ask if there’s a generic equivalent.

3. Ask your pharmacist to call your doctor

Ask your pharmacist if there’s another, less expensive drug that would work for your ailment. "The pharmacist can't switch your drug, but the pharmacist can call the doctor and suggest less expensive alternatives," says Gail Shearer, director of Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs.