This book offers precise and highly informative instructions for nurses and caregivers on how to select external applications for various indications and how to perform them on children. It also enables readers to gain a deeper understanding of the skin, its functions and the therapeutic potential of external applications.

The sense of touch is the first sensation that develops in the body during embryonal development; therefore, it is essential for orientation in the world from the beginning of life. The skin is known as the body's protective mantle. It is the largest sensory organ of the human body and plays a key role in perception, social interaction and health. Touch and external applications to the skin can have a lasting effect on overall health and wellbeing and contribute to the healing of various conditions in children. Through the skin, children react sensitively to external influences like natural active ingredients and touch. These mechanisms are particularly relevant with regard to the deep relationship between the skin and the organism as a whole. External applications use these mechanisms to support the health and healing processes in children.

The book is intended for healthcare professionals interested in complementing conventional pediatric care with external applications, especially in daily use by nurses and caregivers. Nurses will find guidance from complementary medicine and care to deal with various indications occurring in various pediatric fields like pediatric surgery, psychiatry, oncology, intensive care, neonatology and during the phases of child development. In addition to the detailed descriptions of the application techniques, it provides insights into the theory behind external applications and explains the mechanisms of action. Furthermore, it includes case studies, scientific data and personal reports from experts.

Prof. Dr. Alfred Längler is Head of the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Medical Director of the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke/Germany. He studied medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke. The clinical training as a paediatrician took place in the Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke, the Evangelical Hospital Hamm and the University of Cologne, where he qualified as a pediatric oncologist. His clinical focus is on pediatric oncology. He is Professor of Integrative Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Faculty of Health of the University of Witten/Herdecke/Germany. His scientific work focuses on integrative pediatrics. The use of integrative therapy methods in paediatrics as well as topics of further education and training in integrative pediatrics are the focal points of the scientific and practical activities of the working group he leads.  He is the author of numerous international peer-reviewed publications on the above-mentioned topics and author and editor of a large number of specialist books on the above-mentioned topics. He is also a member of a number of national guidelines groups of various scientific societies. He is the first chairman of the WHO/Unicef initiative Baby-Friendly Hospital in Germany and a member of the National Breastfeeding Commission in Germany.