title: Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Selected Oral Conditions in Two Pediatric Populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use, emphasizing herbal remedies, for oral conditions among two Chinese pediatric populations in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  318 unique ethnic Chinese parental units in Houston and Boston with children younger than 12 years old were interviewed for themselves and their children. Questionnaire included age, gender, duration in the United States, frequency of TCM use, and the five selected oral conditions for which TCM agents might be used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents (45.6 percent) and children (19.1 percent) used TCM for oral conditions, most commonly for aphthous ulcers (64.2 percent). Most commonly used TCM agents included watermelon frost (37.4 percent), niuhuang jiedu pian (15.5 percent), and honey/propolis (9.9 percent). Chi-square tests with logistic regression (P<0.05) showed duration of U.S. residency significantly affected (P=0.002), parental TCM usage, age group (P=0.003), and birth location (P=0.02) related to child use. Parental TCM use increased child likelihood of use (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, traditional Chinese medicine was widely used for oral conditions by Chinese immigrants. Factors such as duration of U.S. residency, age, birth location, and parental use affect utilization of TCM in this population. Future studies are needed to explore the therapeutic properties of the various components of TCM.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric dentist in private practice, Spring, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Minyue R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: South Cove Community Health Center, Boston, Mass., USA.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. Ryan.Quock@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Ryan L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Quock
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Flaitz
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000367:Age Factors; D001213:Asian; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D010290:Parents; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal