Kids as Athletes – by Robert C. Scott, D.C.
How to Get Kids in Shape after the Holidays – by Dr Harry Hong, Ph.D, OMD , L.Ac.
Preparing for your Spring Athletic Season – by Robert C. Scott, D.C.
Children and Food Allergies – by Martha H. Howard, MD
The Top 5 Superfoods for Kids – by Dr. Jaena Stanley Gonzaga
Non-Toxic Approaches To Childrens Dentistry – by Dr Steven Koos, D.D.S., M.D.
Pain Management For Children – by Dr Mark Sobor
Back To School Swine Flu Precautions – by Dr Martha H Howard
Autism – by by Malina Chin OTR/L LAc. MSOM
Children Addicted To TV Run Higher Risk Of Spinal Problems – by Dr Helen Lee
How to Fight Autism Holistically – by by Malina Chin, OTR/L L.Ac.
Chinese Medicine For Children – by Qiying Jiang, Lic. Ac.
It’s Back To School Time For The Highly Sensitive Children! – by Dr Harry Hong, PhD, OMD
Healing the Hidden Emotional Stressors of Highly Sensitive Children – by Harry Hong Ph.D, OMD , L.Ac.
Multi-Sensory Children – by by Therese Rowley, Ph.D.
Don’t Stress During Tests – by Ian Wahl, LaC
Indigo, Crystal, Star Kids & Rainbow Children – by Karen Erickson
Meditation for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity – by Patrick Andries

Participation in athletics is a necessary part of growing up. The need for sports is especially great because obesity affects 25% of American children, and only 35% of school age children meet the criteria for fitness. However, we must realize participation in athletics does not come without risks.
In the United States, it is estimated that 35 million children are active in some form of organized athletic activity. Athletic injuries in this group are relatively common with up to 50% due to overuse of muscles and/or improper technique. Pediatric sports injuries constitute 750,000 emergency room visits annually. While 80% of the injuries are minor bruises, abrasions, cuts, strains and sprains, 20% are major fractures, dislocations, and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can cause severe pain, permanent deformity and significant delays in return to activity.
Many overuse injuries are unique to children. The child’s immature musculoskeletal systems, as well as external factors such as improper training and adult or peer pressure for performance and success, complicate children’s injuries. Most injuries, about 60%, occur during practice, not during competition. As mentioned before, the largest groups of injuries are due to repetitive micro trauma and the developing musculoskeletal system. Often the best treatment is rest, activity modification, and early conservative care. In addition, injuries of a more serious nature occasionally occur, and these injuries are not dealt with in an efficient manner.
Safe participation begins with coaches. Unfortunately, the coaches in youth leagues have very little training in the care of most injuries. Coaches should have at least basic first aid skills and on field first aid kits. Coaches should have an emergency plan of action so first aid and transportation can be readily activated in case of emergency.
As parents, it is up to us to be as informed as possible about the risk of participation. We need to understand the differences between adults and children. First, kids are continually growing, and exercise helps them grow. Second, the bones and muscles of their bodies are under tremendous strain as children grow, stretch, and improve coordination. Finally, muscles do not grow as fast as bones, making stretching of the muscles vitally important to injury reduction.

Beware of Strength Training
The structure of immature muscle determines that it has different needs than in adults. For instance, children are less capable of performing anaerobic (without oxygen) training. Strength gains with children are not due to increases in muscle mass as much as they are due to improved neurological input and balance, which combine to improve coordination. Young athletes are susceptible to injury because they lack coordination and therefore have slower reaction times. Exercise should be aerobic, preceded by a warm up and stretching, with focus on a variety of balance and coordination enhancing movements. Therefore, a new weight set for your young football player is not a necessity this Christmas.
Because a child’s bones are not fused, they are susceptible to a very serious type of fracture. The “end plate” of a growing bone may fracture, slip or separate. These types of fractures can cause permanent deformity as the fracture also disturbs the growth plate where future growth would occur. This type of injury is common in pitching; baseball players should have a maximum pitch count and a number of days to rest before they pitch again.

Keep Kids Hydrated
Dehydration can be a problem with children because they produce more heat per surface area than adults do. Children are not capable of dispersing heat at the same rate as adults. Additionally, children do not experience the effects of overexertion as readily as adults do. It is our duty to keep kids hydrated with water and to modify activities on hot days. We must realize that when the humidity increases, so does the heat index. Our body is approximately 75% water and if we are thirsty, it is too late. The body is already dehydrated. To hydrate, drink water rather than soda or sugared juices. Sports drinks often have too much sugar, and they should be diluted one-third water to aid with digestion. Dehydration leads to fatigue and poor performance. Hydrate hours before training or competition. Studies have shown that athletes who hydrate particularly right before activity have greater risk of dehydration versus those who started hydration much earlier. We need to make sure that children drink fluids before, during and immediately after competition and practice.
Take this to heart. Your child’s heart works much harder than yours does! A child’s heart is smaller per volume than an adult heart and is pumping less blood. Because it pumps a smaller volume, it has to beat faster to provide adequate circulation. This reinforces that rest intervals are a necessary part of any competition or practice. Parents and coaches should allow a young athlete’s heart rate to resume a resting rate during early conditioning practices, before beginning the next workout.

When Injuries Occur
If injuries occur, remember the PRICE method:

PROTECTION can minimize further injury. Splinting, immobilization, ace bandages all help before transport of an athlete for evaluation. Padding on bruises before competition, and cushions on blisters can help the athlete’s comfort and allow participation. Protect “dings and bruises,’ and protect injuries from re-injury. Try not to “play through” injuries especially without protection.
REST reduces bleeding, swelling and allows the injury to heal. Most injuries with kids are due to overuse and repetitive motion. With simply resting their bodies, overuse injuries can catch up with the healing process. An injury can worsen if return to activity occurs to soon. The child should be able to return to activity without pain before a full return to practice or competition. The athlete may benefit from doing associated activities, which are pain free or perform only within certain parameters without pain.
ICE applied for about 10 or 20 minutes each hour will reduce swelling and pain. Realize that ice when initially applied goes through four phases. First ice feels cold then burns, then achy and finally numb. To be effective it must be numb for about 5-10 minutes. Research has shown ice works better than heat for athletic injuries; do not apply heat! Do not massage the injury site; it causes additional bleeding and swelling within the injury. Ice and rest sports injuries.
COMPRESSION an elastic bandage with compression helps reduce pain and swelling. The compression also provides support, which assists with protection. Compression should not be too tight – check nail beds that they remain pink after compression on the nail bed itself.
ELEVATION reduces the pressure of swelling. Evaluation above the heart reduces pain and prevents the accumulation of blood and inflammatory products thereby improving the rate of healing. Pain from an injury is often due to the pressure of swelling. If you reduce the pressure, you will reduce the pain.
Solutions to the problems outlined include focused pre-participation examination by doctors with an understanding of sports demands. The pre-participation exam should occur weeks before practice starts. The sports doctor can provide valuable information regarding potential areas of concern and possibly recommend pretraining exercises to prepare for the season.
Warm up and stretching is essential, emphasize the basics that encourage coordination and improve balance. Strengthen with body weight exercises like push-ups and lunges. Strengthening exercises should also incorporate balance. Use the proper fitting equipment and understand the rules of the game. Encourage your child to understand that they should be fit first to participate. Vary sporting and training activities, cross train to avoid overuse injuries. Sports camps might be too specific. Take adequate breaks from training and competition to refresh and heal injuries. Allow children to guide their own athletic involvement; encourage but do not push. Listen to your child if they complain of soreness or fatigue; this could be a sign of injury, or apathy and both need to be considered.
Protect the little injuries and rest the painful injuries before they become serious. Seek help with doctors and sports specialists if needed. Offer positive responses win or lose. Kids want nothing more than to please moms and dads. Your children will model your actions, be a good sport and they will follow.
As parents, we have a duty to insure the health and safety of our children. We also need to teach them how to care for themselves through nutrition, health and fitness. Stress participation with your children. Encourage them to do the sports they enjoy and to do the best they can. Have fun and be safe.

Dr. Robert C. Scott specializes in orthopedic, spine and nerve disorders. He received his doctorate as a chiropractor physician from the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard. He is a certified chiropractic sports physician and is the director at Scott Chiropractic Associates, Long Grove.

Holiday is fun but can be very stressful. The stresses are basically adrenal stress and dietary stress. Adrenal stress is from playing too much and not sleeping enough. Our body has an internal rhythm that follows the sun rise and sun down. If our activity messes up this rhythm by sleeping too late, the Pituitary-Adrenal system could be stressed. The symptoms of a stressed adrenal system include sleeping problem, fatigue and focus issue during the day. Not sleeping enough also weakens our detox function. Toxin accumulation may lead to a variety of high inflammatory symptoms as well.


Dietary stress is from having too much bad food or simply eating too much. Too much sugar intake causes hyper activity and Candida over growth in the gut. Candida produces extra toxins in the body and leads to high inflammation. The common symptoms include sleeping problem, indigestion, focus problem in school, breaking down easily etc.


To get kids in shape after holidays, parents have to do two things: control sugar intake and sleep early at night. Some children with low sugar diet may have to go through a sugar withdrew for a few days. For most of cases, life will go back to normal after two weeks. If the symptoms do not get better in two weeks, it could be a Candida outbreak. Special Candida therapy may be needed to help the kid return to the healthy balance.

Prepare for your spring sports adventure by first receiving a pre-participation exam. This examination is done months before the actual date of beginning the sports activity and is in addition to the typical physical examination done by an athlete’s family doctor. Get your pre-participation exam done by a qualified sports medicine chiropractor (CCSP) or medical physician (MD).

During this examination special detail will be taken to look at specific aspects of the athlete’s body which will be stressed during the specific sporting activity. For example, if you are a soccer player special detail would be given to your lower extremities, the foot, ankle and knee, hips; we would also investigate the cervical spine and lower back, and of course cardiovascular function. If deficits are found it is incumbent on the athlete to rehabilitate these regions before beginning the athletic season.
In addition to the pre-participation examination I recommend you focus your preparation for spring sports in three categories. Flexibility, coordination and diet. Improve flexibility in those muscles groups which will be used most. Teach kids the proper way to stretch after a functional warm-up. Improve coordination with body weight exercises which emphasize balance, coordination, and endurance. Try to focus on a cross training regimen with your coordination exercises.
Eat right! Begin to eat the foods necessary to fuel athletic success. Good lean sources of protein will help build and repair muscle, complex carbohydrates in proper portion to provide quick energy, and nutrient dense vegetables, fruits, grains and cereals to aid in the pathways of energy production. Stay away for sugary snacks and health drinks; drink water instead. Don’t be afraid to eat the good fats which aid in the proper expression of the inflammatory pathways and help with endurance and hormone production. Consider a multivitamin, from a whole food source, especially if you participate in an event which requires long endurance. Of course be aware! Women and children have different nutritional requirements then men.
www.ScottChiroSport.com

Everyone knows about the type of food allergy that causes an immediate reaction. The response can range from hives, to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. This type of allergy has received the most attention in standard medical practice here in the United States. It is known as a Type I, IgE-mediated response. A child who wheezes or gets hives immediately, or within 20 to 30 minutes after eating a food such as peanuts or strawberries has a Type I reaction.

However, there is another type of food allergy response that is delayed. It has brought about a huge gap between public and practitioner awareness of these syndromes. Unfortunately, here in the U.S. you may be more likely to hear about the wide range of symptoms caused by gluten in the book Gluten Free for Dummies than you are in the offices of many allergists and internists. In all too many medical practices, these reactions are often called “food sensitivity” or “food intolerance” or even “not real allergies,” and may be misdiagnosed, overlooked or dismissed. This has led to misunderstanding between medical practitioners and people who are seeking help for themselves and their children.

The fact is that these delayed type responses are actually identified in medical textbooks as a true allergic response. Most of the delayed-type food allergies fall into the category of Type III response. This means that an antibody called IgG, (or less often IgA or IgM) attacks the food. In a delayed response, the combination of the antibody and the food is a highly inflammatory particle (an antigen-antibody complex) that circulates in the body and causes many different problems. These particles can even cross the blood-brain barrier and cause mood and behavior problems. A child with a delayed Type III response may have ear pain, look flushed, have chronic nasal congestion, and a history of ear infections and tonsillitis. Or, a child might be very tired, have flu-like symptoms, swelling in lymph glands, and appear depressed. Or a child might have attacks of tantrums, hyperactivity and stomach pain. In some children, bedwetting may be the only symptom. In others, it may be only ADD, or childhood migraines.

Two of the most extreme examples of delayed-type allergic response may be autism and schizophrenia. There is a correlation between delayed response to wheat and dairy proteins and these two diseases. The main “problem protein” in wheat is gluten, and in dairy is casein. Both of these proteins, in people who are susceptible, are attacked by the body’s immune system, and the delayed-type allergy response is set off, with disastrous consequences for the health of the brain. Here is a paragraph from a June 2002 article in Original Internist by Meera V. Jathar, MD and V.S. Jathar, PhD:

“Cade, et.al, in their recent article “Autism and Schizophrenia: Intestinal Distorders,” [in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience,2000, 3:57-72] reported [that] a gluten-casein free diet was accompanied by improvement in 81% of autistic children within three months in most of the behavior categories. High-titer IgG antibodies to gliadin were found in 87% of autistic and 86% of schizophrenic patients, and high titer of IgG antibodies to bovine casein were found in 90% of autistic and 93% of schizophrenic patients.”

Delayed-type allergy is also associated with many symptoms that are less extreme than autism and schizophrenia, yet are still very serious. Symptoms can vary widely. Here is a partial list: ADD/ADHD, depression, chronic headaches, migraine headache, chronic sinusitis, chronic indigestion or reflux, “irritable bowel syndrome”-abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation–canker sores, cold sores, asthma, bronchitis, eczema, psoriasis, recurrent ear or throat infection, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, failure to thrive, joint pain, restless leg syndrome, and bedwetting.

Both immediate and delayed type food allergies are becoming more and more common in children. No one is sure about the cause, but there is more and more evidence that food processing and handling may be a significant part of the problem. It is possible that the use of processing chemicals, additives, and dyes makes the foods more allergenic.

In the study of allergy and immunology, added items that make a food more likely to cause an allergic response are called “haptens.” My own current theory is that molds, antibiotics, pesticides, chemical additives and dyes may function as “haptens” for much of the food that is currently sold and consumed here in the United States, making it more allergenic.

For example, peanuts commonly have a type of toxic mold called aflatoxin mold, which is thought to increase their allergy potential, especially for children who are already allergic to molds. Non-organic dairy can contain residues of antibiotics fed to the cows-another allergy enhancer. Wheat is often sprayed with a chemical to retard growth of fungus, probably making it more allergenic. The commercial sugar refining process also uses chemicals. Many chemicals and allergens are hidden within prepared foods. Unfortunately, when a child’s system has begun to react violently to the food, there is generally “no going back.” For example, if a child has begun to react to peanuts, even if uncontaminated, organic peanuts, free from sugar, added hydrogenated oils and molds, were given to the child, there would still be a reaction, because the immune system has “learned” to respond allergically. That said, it is still important to feed children organic and unprocessed food as much as possible to prevent the onset of new allergies.

The most common allergenic foods are wheat, rye, barley (gluten containing grains), oats, soy, yeast, dairy, egg, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, citrus, chocolate, tomatoes and strawberries, and increasingly-cane sugar. The most common allergenic additives are aspartame, MSG, sulfites, and food dyes.

If you suspect that your child has delayed type reactions to foods, it is important to seek out a practitioner who has education and experience regarding this type of allergy and its symptoms. Remember that skin tests only show one type of response-the immediate, Type I allergy. Any allergist who says that the skin (”scratch”) tests are the final word on food allergy, and who insists that if these tests are negative the child is not allergic to foods, is obviously not well informed on this problem. Any allergist who dismisses delayed type allergies as “not real allergies” is disregarding what it says in his or her own medical textbooks about the four types of allergic response. It is important to find allergists and internists who have the clinical experience to help you with this problem. In addition, it’s important to read a lot, discuss things with other parents of allergic children, and to develop your own knowledge and expertise.

One of the best types of testing for delayed-type allergies is ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay) testing. A good, reliable lab for this is Meridian Valley Lab in Kent, Washington. They can also help you find a practitioner in your area who uses ELISA testing. ELISA testing uses a tiny wand with a food sample on in, immerses it in a small sample of the patient’s blood, and counts the number of “hits” of IgG 4 antibody on the wand. Another form of testing is computer based, and uses responses read at acupuncture points to determine reactivity for foods. This form of testing is regarded as scientific in Germany, and is widely used by MD’s.

In the United States at the present time, the science behind this type of testing is not acknowledged. You may even find it mentioned on some web sites as a “worthless” or “quack” method. At best it must be currently classified as non medical and non diagnostic, no matter how much clinical evidence exists regarding its accuracy. Results of the testing are based on responses read at acupuncture points. However, the science behind the electronics of the body system upon which acupuncture is based has not yet been acknowledged. The preliminary scientific studies that best explain the electrical system of the body, were done by an MD, Robert O. Becker in the mid 1970’s. He was given an NIH grant to find out whether there was any scientific basis for acupuncture. When he found out that there was a scientific basis-a network of DC current that could be measured, at the exact locations of the traditionally identified acupuncture channels, he lost the last half of his grant money. In addition, his scientific results were buried in the 1976 journal of electrical engineering, because the medical journals at the time refused to publish his work. In my view, he is the Galileo of the “electric anatomy” of the body-a DC current network that the electrical testing taps to determine the body’s response to various foods and substances.

A good clinical example from our center, Wellness Associates of Chicago, is the case of a seven year old girl who came last year. She had been in “medical hell” for five years. It all began when she started to eat mainly solid foods, along with quite a lot of dairy, at the age of two. Her mother said she was at the doctor’s office two to four times a month for the whole five years, and sick all the time. When I first saw her, she had open sores all over her body from eczema, gum disease, recurrent ear infections, recurrent strep, and ADD. None of the practitioners who saw her suspected that the cause of her problems might be food allergies. She was given various prescriptions to address her symptoms. According to our testing, she was reactive to wheat, gluten, buckwheat, dairy, chocolate, peanut, shrimp, corn, rice, oat, egg, soy, honey, maple sugar, cane sugar, baker’s yeast, red potato; food dyes, MSG, aspartame, sulfites; weeds, grass, trees, mold, dust, cat and dog hair. She was taken off all the offending foods, dust allergy precautions were done in her home, and her parents purchased air filters. When I saw her about a month later for follow-up, she was about 80% better, not having infections, her skin was healing, and she was able to pay better attention.

After that the family didn’t return, and I wondered what had happened. A year later I heard from her mother who wanted to come in for testing too. They had carefully followed the diet for the little girl, and her mother said that she had been in perfect health all year. She had only seen the doctor once that year, when she hurt her hand on the playground. Her mother also said that they went to a large family reunion, and many of her relatives didn’t recognize her because she looked so different. The bottom line here is that if the testing had not been accurate, avoiding all the reactive items would not have relieved all her symptoms.

Of course, not all results are quite that spectacular, but we have seen hundreds of adults and children make significant improvements in their health over the last five years. The results of the computer testing have, in a number of cases, compared accurately with ELISA testing. Generally if both parents and child are willing to find a diet that is free from the tested allergens, there is at least a 75 to 80 percent improvement. If you suspect that your child has food allergies, it might be advisable to get some testing done that can reveal delayed as well as immediate type allergies, and serve as a guide to positive changes in your child’s health.

For more information about Food Allergies in Children, call 773-935-6377

Would you want your child to live a healthier and well nourished life? Children, nowadays, need the most impeccable guidance from the parents to help them live a wellness lifestyle. Now is the time to help our children break the unhealthy eating patterns that lead to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and many other health problems that many are now experiencing.


A great place for parents to start is with nutrition. Your child’s health will benefit tremendously with the incorporation of Super foods to their daily eating regimen.
Super foods are nutrient rich whole foods that are mostly found in your local grocery store or health food store. You may ask, “Why are Superfoods important for a child’s diet?” The answer, your child’s health now and in the future depends on it. Superfoods will give your child what they need for growth, development, adaptability and function.


The top 5 Basic Superfoods for kids to get started with are:

Almonds: Almonds are a great source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, protein, folic acid and fiber. Almonds also contain the good fats or monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. This powerful nut neutralizes acidity in the body with its high alkalizing mineral content. Almonds help protect the heart, build bones, and prevent cancer. Almonds can be eaten as they are, made into almond milk, or added to cereal.


Apples: Apples are a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. They contain a soluble fiber called pectin which helps to regulate blood sugar, prevent clogging of the arteries, and cleanses the digestive system. Most of the nutrients such as Vitamin C and other antioxidant phytonutrients like Quercetin are found just below the skin. To get the full nutrient value of the apple, the whole apple with skin must be eaten. Slice up some apples for your kids to graze on throughout the day. This will also help them sustain a good level of energy for their busy and playful lives.


Avocado: Avocados are actually a fruit that is high in the good fats and contains essential minerals like potassium, iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium. Avocados also contain essential antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C and E. Other vitamins include Vitamin A and B-complex vitamins. This fruit when added with other fruits and vegetables help with the absorption of fat soluble nutrients. Avocados are great for healthy skin, improved muscles and nerve function, electrolyte balance, energy metabolism and immune booster. Avocados can be made into raw soups, chip dips, shakes, smoothies, and popsicles.


Bee Pollen: Bee Pollen, of all foods, contains all the needed nutrients necessary for life. They contain a great amount of B-complex vitamins such as Vitamin B-12. Bee pollen also contains several amino acids, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and enzymes. Add this superfood to smoothies and cereal for a complete nourishing meal. It is recommended that children that are allergic to bees should stay away from this food.


Berries: Berries with its deep and luscious colors tell you immediately that they are a great source of fiber, minerals and antioxidants from phytonutrients and vitamins such as Vitamin C and E. Berries promote healthy aging, improved memory, and prevention of chronic diseases. Berries are easily incorporated into you child’s meals as snacks, in pancakes, in cereal, shakes, smoothies and home made popsicles.


Superfoods are not limited to a few foods, there are many. The rule of thumb is to slowly incorporate a variety of superfoods like fruits and vegetables into your family’s lifestyle. As your child gets older, their taste buds will continually change and improve. The creativity by the parent to find ways to keep these foods in every day meals is hard work at first and, just like any other practices, become easy and effortless. Continue to consistently teach your child the power of healthy choices in what they eat. You will see an impact not only in their health and vitality, but in their mindset. The child learns the mindset of what true nourishment is all about thanks to mommy and daddy.


Other recommendations that are the next step to the basic superfoods mentioned are cacao nibs, coconut, coconut water, gogi berries, green vegetables, and krill oil.

1. I am very interested in your new Eco-Friendly Dentistry^TM practice. Can you tell me what makes it different from other dentists?
Since this is a new concept and we actually coined the term, it is probably best to define what Eco-Friendly Dentistry^TM actually is first. Eco-Friendly Dentistry is a newly evolving practice of dentistry, which encompasses a simultaneous devotion to sustainability, prevention, precaution, and a minimally invasive patient-centric, as well as global-centric treatment philosophy. Eco-Friendly Dentistry, through green design and operations, protects the immediate health of patients and team members, protects the health of the surrounding community, and protects the health of the global community and natural resources.


ORA Dental Studio and ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio has proudly become the first and only green group dental practice in the nation. Our team at ORA truly embodies Eco-Friendly Dentistry and we have distinguished ourselves as leaders in the dental community through our steadfast commitment to the environment. We are significantly different from other dentists by not only building offices from the ground up as sustainable, green LEED projects, but also by employing green business practices and most importantly by comprehensively practicing green healthcare. As a landmark achievement unique to ORA, we are the first dental facility in the country to generate zero bio-hazardous waste.


2. I know my readers are concerned with some of the ingredients in toothpaste, like sodium laurel sulfate, silica, chalk and fluoride to name a few. What do you recommend as a non-toxic toothpaste for children?
This is an important concern and our recommendations for children are not really any different than what we recommend to adults. Growing evidence supports the idea that what goes in your mouth stays in your body, even after you brush and swish. Your mouth and gums absorb ingredients, and act as an entry point into your system. As a result, your choice of oral products is as important as the food you eat, what you put on your skin, and all the other products you choose for a healthy home environment. Small changes made to our daily habits can really add up. Two very good products out there that avoid toxic ingredients are:


- Tom’s of Maine Natural Toothpastes^TM, Adult and Children Formulations – these products do not contain triclosan; saccharin; artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, or flavors; or animal ingredients. They are tested without the use of animals. They have a refreshing natural flavor from real wintergreen and peppermint oils, not artificial sweeteners like saccharin. Some preparations are fluoride free and others contain only naturally sourced fluoride and zinc citrate, a naturally occurring mineral, which interferes with the calcification of plaque into tartar.

- The Natural Dentist Toothpastes^TM, Adult and Children Formulations – these products do not contain any artificial dyes or flavors. Mainstream products use artificial additives such as Blue #1, Yellow #5 and other FD&C colorants. The Natural Dentist uses vegetable juices such as red cabbage, purple carrot, beet, tomato and annatto. The company does not contribute to the manufacture of artificial ingredients, therefore, they are not introduced into the ground water or water treatment systems when consumers use their products. Their toothpastes are made without Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS is a foaming detergent that can irritate your mouth and has been linked to canker sores) Instead they use a natural coconut based oil as an effective surfactant. Their products are sold without a cardboard box – an important “green” step that reduces excess packaging. While eliminating a box may seem small, consider that one billion tubes of toothpaste in boxes are sold each year, contributing more than 28 million pounds of packaging to the waste stream. The environmental effect is more than the trees that are saved by eliminating the cardboard box — it’s also the energy to manufacture, print and transport the excess packaging.

Your readers’ quest for dental products that have natural, non-toxic ingredients should not end with toothpaste. They should also consider safe, eco-friendly choices for dental floss, toothbrushes and mouth rinse to complete a healthy at-home, eco-friendly dental wellness regimen.


3. We are concerned about mercury in old fillings. What are your recommendations about this issue?
This indeed has been a serious topic of concern for many years now for the public, the ADA, the WHO and the FDA, and would normally require quite a lengthy response.


At ORA, one of our paramount practice tenets is upholding the precautionary principle, which we feel all health professionals and organizations should abide by. The precautionary principle is officially defined as “a moral principle, which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action. The principle implies that there is a responsibility to intervene and protect the public from exposure to harm where scientific investigation discovers a plausible risk in the course of having screened for other suspected causes. The protections that mitigate suspected risks can be relaxed only if further scientific findings emerge that more robustly support an alternative explanation.”


So for us, the answer is quite simple. ORA Dental Studio has proudly partnered with the WHO (World Health Organization) to advance its Mercury Free Health Care Program. Mercury is one of the world’s most ubiquitous heavy metal neurotoxicants and ORA is leading the way as a designated mercury-free practice that also implements the safe removal of mercury containing fillings. But the concern for mercury use in healthcare shouldn’t stop with amalgam fillings. ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio utilizes only mercury-free thermometers, and sphygmomanometers. In addition, in the few locations where we use fluorescent lighting, we purchase only low-mercury fluorescent bulbs that meet the Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) standard set by the EPA and we also properly recycle these bulbs at designated recycling centers.


4. Are your sealants, plastics used in mouth guards and retainers, and tooth-colored fillings BPA and phthalate free?
Traditionally, mercury fillings are replaced by tooth colored resin fillings, which contain BPA. This made absolutely no sense to us. BPA, known as Bisphenol A, is an organic compound used as a building block for several important plastics, plastic additives and in composite dental resins. It has been found to be hazardous to humans due to its estrogenic and possible carcinogenic potential. For the safety of our patients, ORA Dental Studio has diligently sought out a BPA-free dental composite resin, which we use exclusively.


Upholding the Precautionary Principle within our practice, ORA Dental Studio is the first dental practice to exclusively utilize a BPA-free dental composite resin. In addition, none of the Invisalign aligners or Vivera retainers that we use contain bisphenol A or any phthalate plasticizers.


5. How else do you limit your patient’s exposure to toxins while visiting your office?
Besides reducing our environmental footprint, having a true healing facility is what my vision was and what we at ORA strive to deliver. We have implemented countless protocols and details to limit our patient’s and our team member’s exposure to toxins. Some of these protocols and innovations include:

- Being a PVC-free, DEHP-free, and latex-free practice
- Having all of our furniture and cushioning BFR-free (Brominated Flame Retardant)
- Non- VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and textiles preventing off-gassing
- Non-urea-formaldehyde containing, chlorine-free composite wood and agrifibers from recycled content
- Finishes, textiles and veneers made from sustainable, non-toxic, recycled post-industrial and post-consumer waste
- Mercury free, BPA-free treatment
- Digital dental radiography and digital CT scanner – which means over 80% less radiation dose for the patient compared to conventional plain film. Also, no toxic chemical developers and fixatives as well as no lead-foil content to film, nor the carbon-footprint in the manufacturing, packaging and transport of these materials
- Lead-free patient x-ray aprons
- Eco-rock drywall^TM, Modular Arts^TM sculptural paneling, 3-Form^TM eco-resin doors, all of which are not subject to hazardous polymerization
- Earthwise^TM Energy Star HVAC system with no CFC coolants
- Digital patient charting and registration (paper-free) office
- Non-chemical sterilization, utilizing steam and dry heat, thereby avoiding any noxious chemicals within office and in surrounding environment
- GreenMaid^TM green cleaning services
- The ability to process our bio-hazardous waste with a revolutionary state-of-the-art system that renders it non-toxic, non-contaminating and safe for disposal with regular garbage – thereby avoiding harmful incineration, which releases these toxins into the atmosphere.


6. What are the most important things parents can do to help keep their children’s teeth healthy?
Starting at a young age, more frequent (at least bi-annually, if not quarterly) preventative check-ups and professional cleanings. Good healthcare habits and preventative care is built on trusting relationships with the doctor and team, education within the office and at home, and also by example. This means that good dental habits are modeled and learned as our children watch our behavior as parents, coupled with more frequent visits as a family to the dentist. Early detection of decalcification/demineralization is the key, thereby preventing the end stage of bacterial demineralization of tooth structure – namely tooth decay. Diagnostic tools like the DIAGNOdent^TM by Kavo, which is a laser detection tool measuring the mineralization loss in teeth, allow clinicians to detect cavity formation at its earliest stages and allow them then to intervene either before the cavity forms with re-mineralization procedures, or it allows them to be minimally invasive with cavity repair. In addition, Ozone therapy is a revolutionary treatment approach that is just on the horizon within dentistry and ORA Dental Studio is one of the first practices in the nation to begin its safe implementation in treating decay in a completely non-invasive way, utilizing the CMU3 device from LIME Technologies^TM.


So reinforcing thorough home care, healthy eating habits, using safe dental products and quarterly visits to the dentist are all part of the recipe to empower our children to maintaining healthy teeth for their lifetime.


7. How can parents encourage more dentists to take on these non-toxic and green principles? What can parents do right now about BPA in sealants and fillings as well as mercury in fillings?
The medical field has already embraced the fact that the health of the environment and our own health are inextricably linked. And a grand reformation is underway, albeit slow, within the medical industry towards sustainability. The dental industry should follow suit and at ORA we are trying to pave the way for this to happen. The motto we have is “What’s good for the environment is good for the patient” and as such, we have both built and are operating green facilities and comprehensively practicing green healthcare. As doctors, aligned with the Hippocratic Oath, we have an obligation to ensure that we do no harm – not only to the patient but also to the environment. In addition, patients and consumers are beginning to realize that one way that they can contribute to a healthy community and environment is to support green businesses and healthcare facilities. Every dollar spent, in essence, is a vote for or against the environment.


Patients need to encourage their dentists to take on more non-toxic and green practices by voicing their concerns and by starting dialogue with their healthcare providers. Another great resource to start with is the “Green My Dentist” program extended by the EDA (Eco Dentistry Association, www.ecodentistry.org) to help guide patients and their dentists towards better, safer patient health as well as planetary health.


Parents can also choose to have their families treated only by practitioners who practice mercury-free dentistry and who utilize non-BPA containing resins. There is only one BPA-free resin available on the market at the moment, so have your dentist do their homework and specify that this is what you prefer that they utilize.

Children feel pain, just as adults do, but have a hard time explaining what hurts. Their pain can result from either physical or emotional reasons. It’s up to parents to do a little detective work to see what is causing the pain.


The most common causes of pain in children are often related to trauma. By their nature, children are extremely active. Injuries that occur while bicycling, rollerblading, running or even rough housing are familiar to all parents.


The most important thing for a parent, as the primary caregiver, is to obtain a good history of the injury. It may be difficult to find out exactly what happened to cause the pain, because children cannot verbalize or are simply unaware of how they got hurt.


One day, when our daughter was 10 years old, she began to complain of pain in her right hip. As the day progressed, she actually started limping. As my wife and I reviewed what activities she’d done that day, I remembered that our daughter and her 15 year old brother had been playing soccer in the backyard with an oversized exercise ball. When I examined her, the thigh muscles were extremely tense. Our treatment plan was to stop kicking the big ball, gently massage the muscles, take a warm bath, perform an acupuncture treatment and stretch.


As children return to school, it is important to remember that the most common cause of headaches and shoulder, neck and lower back pain among students is an improperly fitted or overweight backpack. A good rule of thumb for maximum backpack weight is to keep it at less than 10% of a child’s weight. An 80 pound child’s backpack, for example, should weigh up to 8 pounds. Although messenger bags and various shoulder book bags may be “cooler”, they may result in strained and overused muscles. I’ve found that wheeled backpacks are the most sensible solution.


Some parents may be averse to giving their children Tylenol and other over the counter medications for pain. There are alternative pain treatments available. A good source of information is The Family Guide to Homeopathy: Symptoms and Natural Solutions by Andrew Locke. Remember never to give a child under 17 years old aspirin, because of the possibility of Reyes Syndrome.


Children can also have physical pain caused by emotional reasons. Stress and anxiety caused by difficulty in school, bullying, divorce, moving and changes in routine can result in everything from constipation to headaches and restless sleep. As parents, we have to listen to our children and deduce what is affecting them. Most children like routine and knowing what to expect. Here are some simple things you can introduce to your routine which will result in a healthier, pain free child:

- Regular daily exercise
- Set meal times and healthy meals & snacks
- Regular bedtimes, bath/shower times and quiet time/music before sleep
- Limiting electronics (TV, computer, handheld games & iPods)
- Positive reinforcement—showing support through listening and affection

- Finally, children mirror their parents in how they react to stress and pain. What example are you setting? Incorporating some of these tips may also help you in your life.

Vaccination Precautions
I do not feel it is wise to receive swine flu vaccination for grade school children at this time.

The vaccines being developed are to contain the “adjuvant”—a chemical that induces greater immune response—squalene, which is known to cause a harmful immune response in rats resembling rheumatoid arthritis.

There are currently no other vaccines containing squalene that have been approved for use in the United States.

There are generally about 100 child deaths per year in the United States from flu. Even if that is doubled by swine flu, I do not feel it is worth the risk of exposing your child to possible long-term problems with immunity.


Effective Ways to Protect Children from Getting the Disease-
Make sure children carry tissues and hand sanitizer, and know how to use them—sneeze or cough into the tissue, throw it in the wastebasket (not on the desk), put a dime size blob of hand sanitizer on hands and rub together until dry.

Make sure children are trained as much as possible not to share drinks or food, and not to touch their eyes nose or mouth with their hands.

Avoid close contact with sick people.


Natural and Homeopathic Alternatives
N-acetylcysteine.

A recent study reported in the August 2009 issue of the American Family Physician journal, showed that elderly patients taking 600 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) twice daily over the flu season were much less likely to have clinical influenza illness (29% vs. 51% of controls), and when they did have it, episodes were much less severe. In addition, cell mediated immunity was improved in the people receiving NAC, and not in the controls.

Give children N-acetylcysteine in a dose that is proportional by weight to the adult dose of 600 milligrams twice a day.

A 70 pound child would be given 300 milligrams twice a day. A 35 pound child would be given 150 milligrams twice a day, and so on. For children under 2, consult a physician.


Treatment for Children who Contract the Virus
I recommend supportive treatment—rest, fluids, and Chinese herbs

The combination of two readily available formulas, Zhong Gan Ling and Yin Chiao Chieh Du Pian (both available online) is effective for treating flu.

CDC now is recommending that people stay home 24 hours after fever is gone (without Tylenol) rather than the previous recommendation that they stay home 7 days OR 24 hours after the fever is gone, whichever is longer.

Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention, according to the CDC:

- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough


General Virus Information
At this time, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not consider novel H1N1 “swine” flu to be more dangerous than other types of seasonal flu, but it does state that the disease burden of swine flu is greater on young people.

The flu virus is mainly transmitted from person to person by sneezing or coughing, but can also survive for 2 to 8 hours. If you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your nose or eyes, you can be infected.

The most important thing to consider about swine flu is how to teach good public health preventive measures that are based on actual facts about the way the flu virus is transmitted.

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An article in the November 8, 2004 edition of the “Daily Record” from Glasgow in the United Kingdom, reports on a study showing that children who watch TV for large amounts of time are more likely to suffer spinal problems and pain.


The study conducted by the British Chiropractic Association, looked at 200 secondary school aged children. They found that boys spent an average of 41 hours in front of the TV (or video game) per week while girls spent only 21 hours. The article notes that one quarter of them are lying down with their heads up placing extra tension on the neck and upper back areas. The article also notes that heavy backpacks seem to additionally contribute to the problem.


The article explains that the additional time in a non-active posture does not permit the spine to strengthen during the years of development, which last up till around age 18. Dr. Chris Turner, a chiropractor in West London, said: “The major factors in children’s back problems are a more sedentary way of life and lack of exercise.” He continued, “This means their muscles do not work very well and leads to strains when they are used, especially for carrying relatively heavy weights, including school bags.“


The research also noted that 44% of children with school bags do not use both straps and instead carry the bags unevenly with only one strap. Dr. Scott Miller, the chiropractor who led the research, explained by saying: “Children’s bones are soft up to the age of 18. Discs in the spine are stronger than the bones and so deform if you keep carrying weight on one side.” He added, “Because many children lead sedentary lives, the bones aren’t getting the exercise they need to get strong. Then they are subjected to the horrendous weight of school bags, so the spine distorts.”

How do you develop healthy habits in children through the wisdom of Chinese Medicine?

The middle burner in Chinese Medicine is the heart of the digestive system. A vivid analogy of the middle burner is a fuel-burning stove that heats a house. Digestion is the stove and food is the fuel. The quality of the fuel determines the efficiency of the stove and therefore the warmth of the house, i.e. the health and energy of the body.

My experiences growing up gave me the best quality of knowledge in nutrition and good health. My mother, Dr. Ming Yin, is a pediatrician of Chinese Medicine for almost forty years. She studied and practiced with Dr. Shongzhao Tsao who is the 20th generation of Chinese medicine doctor in her family and practicing pediatrician. I am a proud mother of two beautiful healthy boys, age 8 and 5. I have taken the important knowledge I learned from my mother to raise my boys western-medicine free, and I have been sharing this knowledge with mothers and patients for many years.

Guidelines

The equivalent to efficient middle-burner in Western medicine is an effective metabolism. Good metabolism will “burn” the food cleanly, utilizing calories and assimilating vitamins and nutrients, giving the body energy for day-to-day activities. If your child’s metabolism is appropriate for his/her activities and food intake, he/she will naturally maintain a healthy immune system.

Tips for Newborns and infants

Tips for Toddlers

Parents should provide freshly prepared fresh foods with a minimum of chemical preservatives or additives. Grains should be cooked thoroughly to allow for easy and complete digestion. Vegetables, on the other hand, should not be overcooked so as to conserve valuable vitamins and enzymes. Sugar, salt, oil and fat consumption should generally be kept low.

Breakfast: It is best to begin the day with breakfast to build a strong digestive fire. In Chinese medicine, hot whole grain cereal, called congee, is an ideal meal to gently start digestive metabolism for clean, efficient, warm burning.
Lunch: The digestive fire is strongest at lunchtime. Lunch should be the biggest meal of the day with the most variety. It should contain concentrated protein such as meat.
Dinner: The last meal should be the smallest. It is best to eat a cooked meal of vegetables and grains before 7pm.

Tips for sick children:

For children with a cold, flu, fever, cough, diarrhea or ear infection: Rice congee and Ultimate aloe vera juice along with Chinese herbal formula. For children with chronic illness such as constipation, asthma, allergy. ADHD, autism and cerebral palsy: Chinese herbal formula combined with pediatric massage, acupressure and acupuncture. Please consult with a holistic practitioner.

Health is wealth. Starting these practices early on and offering infant massage daily will give your child the advantage of learning ways of eating and living that start the anti-aging process from day one. Nutritious foods, a harmonious environment, nurturing touch and good quality sleep are the key to preventing illness. This is true for all of us no matter what age. Teaching our children healthy ways of being is a wonderful gift that will continue to give back to them throughout their lives.

References

The Tao of Healthy Eating by: Bob Flaws 1998
Between Heaven and Earth by: Harriet Beinfield & Efrem Korn 1991

Qiying Jiang is a licensed acupuncturist in Illinois and is certified by NCCAOM in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. Her practice is in Willowbrook.
www.QiAcupuncture.com

According to Dr. Elaine Aron, Highly Sensitive Children, are easily overstimulated and require informed parenting in order to prevent temper tantrums, stress illnesses and the avoidance of pleasurable group activities.


Changes in life are very hard on Highly Sensitive Children. The beginning of a new semester, especially if they are moving on to new schools, can be extremely difficult for them. If you throw in moving of the family residence, it is even harder. Make sure your children meet their new teachers before school starts. Let them know which one of their old friends are going to the same school. Please also listen to your kids during this difficult time, especially if they mention some new kids at school who are giving them a hard time. Stay on top of things so you can inform teachers of problems soon after such problems occur. You can never be too careful when dealing with sensitive children. This type of stress can turn them against schooling for a long time—something no parent would like to happen. There are other things you can do to strengthen your kids’ character, such as karate and sports. Holistic therapies for emotional stress include flower essences (such as Bach or Australian flower essences), homeopathic remedies that support the heart and kidney meridians, and Emotional Freedom Tapping Technique. It is also helpful to provide your kids with another community other than school, such as church youth groups, park district sports teams or scout groups. These communities give the kids extra identity and confidence, so they don’t feel being totally defined by who they are in school.


Back to school time is also time for more vaccines for your children. Please do your own research to make informed decisions. Highly Sensitive Children are much more likely to have adverse reactions to any kind of medication, including vaccines. Delay them to an older age when the neurological and immune systems are well-developed would help your children avoid heavy damages by vaccination. More importantly, get the kids check out structurally by their osteopathic doctors or chiropractors. Sound structure will help to insure their body’s natural detoxification system work properly, so they are less likely affected by germs in school.


Highly Sensitive Children are more likely affected by artificial ingredients. If you pack their school lunches and snacks, make sure to give them foods with less sugar, additives, artificial coloring and preservatives. This will ensure they have good concentration in class.

Are you aware that victims of childhood abuse can have a lot of serious health troubles in their lives? It seems like the abuse has altered how our body’s immune system functions. It is the same case for sensitive children. There is usually no real abuse going on. However, their bodies, in a stressed and chaotic state, associate resuscitations, shots and restraining while giving shots as “abuse”, thus causing the immune system to malfunction. This malfunction can lead to hyper sensitivity to everything comes in its path, no matter how clean and health the allergens are.


This is the reason why they can be allergic to their own organs, hormones, and all the organic food you provided for them. When the immune system is under so much stress for long period of time, it can lead to serious illnesses such as autoimmune conditions and cancer. This is the reason we see emotional therapy is an important part of our healing program.


Through emotional tapping (not EFT or TFT) and a combination of different emotional homeopathic remedies (symptom-specific or Australian or bach flower essences), we train the body to overcome the false sense of “being abused”, and truly protecting the body rather than attack everything coming into its path (hyper-sensitivity). We also train the body to not over react to stressors, such as change of environments or being refused of a request the child made.

ADHD – These children are often highly creative and relate to life in holographic ways, resulting in their having less access to linear, logical and/or sequential brain capabilities. The way these children experience the world may be summarized through the simple adage: “A picture speaks a thousand words.” These children may be better at communicating through art or theater than linear language. Also, competition means less in a holographic, un-sequenced world, so they may be less inclined to want to compete. These children are also highly sensitive and can vibrate at higher frequency than others, slipping in and out of their bodies. ADHD children are more inside their bodies than those with autism, but they may not relate to physical reality in a relational way. They are often in touch with other worlds that feed their imaginations and offer them ever more out-of-the-box creativity.
Honoring and nurturing the creativity of these children and connecting them to environments that support their creative gifts are very beneficial. Professionals who can measure and support the development of spatial and sequential intelligence are also helpful.

ADD – These children often notice and can take in more sensory data than others. This includes: light, sound, vibration, verbal tones, and non-verbal cues, to name several. While they are sensitive to more stimuli, these children and teenagers may not have the brain function developed to process this overload of sensory data until their mid-twenties. Therefore, they can be overwhelmed more quickly than others. Physical problems, such as anxiety, panic, stomach aches, etc. may result as they try to take on the challenge of digesting their multi-sensory experience. They may have a harder time organizing material, distinguishing big picture from detail, and determining what information is most important. There may be a capacity to be sequential, but it may not be a common version of logical. Their nervous system may be vibrating faster than the rest of their body can comfortably contain.
Their energy and gift often leads them to be more comfortable in expansive and visionary roles than in routine or operational ones. For these children, helping them find and practice their energetic and physical relationship to the ground and the boundaries of their body is very helpful. It is also beneficial to help them with mental boundaries and structures in their thinking.

Highly Sensitive: Like the others, these children are also highly sensitive to external stimuli. In addition, they can be very intense, mature beyond their years, feel responsible for the world, be insightful, clear, very intuitive or conscious, and sometimes mystic. They can organize their world around their spiritual awareness and are therefore often misunderstood. They can be very good symbolic, abstract thinkers, but may not be able to communicate their experiences. Many can easily leave their bodies and merge, or find spiritual union. Some have extraordinary gifts.
These children in particular may pick up others’ thoughts, feelings, emotions, and moods. They may pick up information about another person’s current situation or the future, and try to make sense of it in present time, or they can carry around past family patterns (ancestral or “past life”) with a sense of responsibility and intensity. These children may be labeled ADD, though they seem (even if not until later childhood or adolescence) to exhibit specific spiritual, intuitive, and/or psychic gifts.
It is helpful for these children to have a regular spiritual practice and to articulate their values. Assuring they feel accepted and have a comfortable method for describing their experiences (through arts, journaling, or verbally) is important. It is also beneficial for them to allow their awareness of the state of the world to become a prayer for the world rather than an overwhelming personal responsibility — and to be assisted in the notion of giving the responsibility for the world back to Spirit/God/Universe.

Practical Recommendations for Multi-Sensory Children
There is no magic bullet or right answer that will make life smooth for these children and their families. It is a painful experience to hear the judgments of others, to project into a bleak future for a child labeled with “learning disorders”, and to wade through conflicting advice and recommendations that come from well meaning physicians, psychologists, teachers, and others. Parents’ attitude toward their child makes the biggest difference in a child’s life. Parents can name and celebrate their child’s gifts and also address development opportunities. While all kids want to fit in and feel “normal”, it is more instructive for parents to model and teach that “normal” is not optimal.
The most important things parents can do is to love their child, stay in their hearts, trust themselves, believe in their child, and see the child through the lens of her gifts so that the world can learn what she came here to teach us.

There are environmental conditions, spiritual practices, attitudes, and actions that serve multi-sensory children well. Here are seven:
Coordination of mind and body through conscious movement

Nutrition that keeps them in line with a healthy relationship with the planet

Environment in the home that is as calm and peaceful as possible

Spiritual Practice as the touchstone for health, gratitude, and challenges

Validation and Appreciation as regularly as food

Leadership opportunities

As much as possible, use facilitative language rather than authoritative language:

Therese Rowley Ph.D., is a ChicagoHealers.com practitioner, a management consultant, educator, and medium. She has facilitated leadership development and accelerated change for leaders and organizations over the last 25 years. Dr. Rowley’s practice as a medium most recently included families with adolescents who are spiritually and/or intuitively gifted. Based on her experience with clients and with her research into this area, she produced a video on The Misdiagnosis of Gifted Children, interviewing experts from across the country on this phenomenon. Based on her organizational change expertise, she is now speaking about multi-sensory children and offering new perspectives.

With mid-terms and finals just around the corner, many students have difficulty concentrating and experience high anxiety. This high anxiety often leads to unsuccessful test taking. Put down the energy drink. There are natural remedies to help boost cognitive performance when taking exams, including comprehension and information retention.

Taking an exam will always add extra stress and over-stressing is unnecessary. Prioritize and avoid junk food and sugar, drink lots of water and get the proper amount of rest and relaxation. These tips will help de-stress students when an exam is approaching.

Eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones is a necessity to successful test taking. There are certain ingredients in foods that are detrimental to brain cells. Saturated fats are the most dangerous. Avoiding fast foods such as hamburgers and milkshakes is smart. Anything with trans-fatty acids can also be harmful to the blood flow in the brain. Processed foods such as salad dressing, fried food, doughnuts and margarine are high in trans-fatty acids and need to be avoided.

• Simple rest and relaxation is an excellent way to unwind and recharge. Stress is less likely, while concentration and focus will be much easier.

• Increased water intake is a simple solution to revive brain function. Since water makes up 85 percent of brain tissue, it is essential to smooth, consistent brain function.

• Avoid diet soda. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in most sugar-free drinks, may go directly to the brain and disrupt memory function.

• Omega 3 supplements are a good addition to a diet, especially when trying to avoid stress. These supplements are known to boost mood and brain function. Another way to increase Omega 3 fatty acids is by incorporating servings of fish, such as salmon, to the diet.

• Drinking tea is one of the easiest, quickest and most calorie-free ways to infuse the body and brain with antioxidants. The caffeine in tea is just enough to give a buzz for concentration but not enough to be over caffeinated.

Science is showing that there is a new evolution of the human species that is happening in the genetics of many of the children that have been born since the 1980’s. These new children are referred to as the new spiritual children of today or as the Indigo, Crystal, Star Kids and Rainbow Children. These new children have new DNA communication patterns and posses one or two new genes that were discovered by the Univ. of Chicago in August 2005 and they use a higher percentage of their brain and have higher IQ’s. As a whole, the new children can be very intuitive, sensitive, telepathic, highly intelligent, wise souls, musically or artistically gifted, empathic, healers, sense dishonesty and have sensitive immune systems. These children have come to help the human species evolve consciously, to become more aware of what we are doing to the planet and to each other. They are here to help break down the old systems that are not in alignment with our hearts and for the good of the people and planet as a whole and to help us reconnect to our spirit and remember who we really are…spiritual beings having a human experience.

Indigos children are more free spirits, independent, have nervous energy, need to move and wiggle, are protectors, activists, rescuers, get bored easily, out of the box thinkers, and like to challenge the old systems and authority that is not in integrity and often get diagnosed with ADD & ADHD. Crystal children are easier to raise, very loving, highly empathic and sensitive, very clingy and want to be held a lot, late to speak, love to sing, musically inclined, artistic, extremely sensitive to chemicals, foods, vaccinations, drugs and have higher percentage of autism diagnosis. Star Kids are highly evolved, usually petite, love science and technology, extremely intelligent and intuitive, fascinated with the stars and constellations and have telekinesis abilities. Rainbow children are very advanced wise souls that teach wisdom at early age, avatars, very peaceful and loving, completely fearless, all about service to others, highly telepathic & empathic, advanced healers, vegetarians and highly diagnosed with autism.

The most important thing for raising these children to keep in mind is to give them a very healthy diet, one of organic and unprocessed foods without food dyes and preservatives and chemical free products and home. They need to learn in smaller class rooms and do best at schools that incorporate all the senses in learning that are more project based. They are very sensitive to vaccinations and can not handle the ridiculous amount of vaccinations that are being recommended for children by the time they are 18 months old. These children respond extremely well to natural ways of healing, using sound, color, herbs, homeopathy, natural foods and energy medicine to help them heal. Parents need to talk to their children honestly and explain why certain rules or things need to be done and parents need to be in integrity, walk the talk. Getting your children involved with music, the arts, and spiritual studies or organizations is highly recommended.

Many people today, especially younger people, are being labeled as having a deficit of attention, often with hyperactivity. This is called either Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). This diagnosis is so prevalent in our culture that many consider it to be an epidemic. In reality, we cannot have a deficit of attention because the mechanics of the mind are the same for all of us in much the same way that the physiology of the body is essentially the same.


What can happen is that the ability to hold the attention where we choose for it to be can be weakened, in some cases to the point of apparent helplessness. This leads to the attention jumping from one thing to another without the ability to follow through effectively. This can also be displayed as an inability to sit physically still, which is an outer expression of the scattered mind. This can affect not only the person experiencing the scattered mind, but often those he or she is in contact with. Fortunately, just as with weakened muscles of the body, we can do exercises for the mind that build our ability to control the attention and stay focused on the project at hand.


One type of mind exercise that has been used successfully for thousands of years is meditation. Few would argue the effectiveness of this practice in bettering the life of the practitioner, but often we do not realize that the foundation of meditation is the focused mind, which replaces the scattered mind over time.


To begin a meditation practice, first sit in a comfortable position keeping the spine long and vertical. Lying down is not recommended, especially when starting out, because of the ease of slipping into sleep. Next, focus your attention on the breath. Feel the breath as it enters and leaves the body. Any time that the attention leaves this experience, bring it back. It doesn’t matter how often you must do this, only that you do it each time. As you experience your mind becoming focused and calm, begin listening to the mind paying close attention to any gaps between your thoughts. It is these quiet moments that we expand over time. If you find yourself wandering, bring your attention back to the breath.


Five minutes a day is sufficient to start, eventually working up to about fifteen to thirty minutes daily.


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