Tuesday, September 28, 2010

When do you start chiropractic care?

I often hear people ask, "When should you start chiropractic care?"

I think people worry that once you start, you have to go for the rest of your life. Almost worrying that you could in some way become "addicted" to chiropractic... or even set yourself up to "need an adjustment".

I understand where people are coming from, as I've found myself asking the same question from other healthcare professionals, such as my dentist. "When is the best time to get my kid's teeth checked?" To which my dentist replied, "As soon as possible!" That made sense to me as I know the "war against cavities" can only (truly) be won in a prevention arena. I also realized that one checkup with the dentist didn't guarantee my children a life without cavities. I take them in every 6 months and then daily work on prevention. Prevention of tooth decay!

The bones in your mouth are important! But let's not forget about the bones in your spine. If you want to win the "war against decay" (and preventing problems in the future), let's start getting our children checked as early as possible! I recommend getting them checked right after birth, and when they learn to sit, crawl, stand, walk and run. Mine were checked at only a couple hours old. Why? Because I didn't want to wait until aches, pain, or symptoms of any sort arose from the problem. IF there's something there, I wanted to know about!

All three of my children get checked a minimum of one time a month. We add extra visits around colds and flus (research states that an adjustment boosts the immune system 200-400%!) and around tumbles or falls. I get them adjusted because I know it helps their body function better and gives them an advantage.

So when should you start chiropractic care? I guess as soon as you want to start benefiting from care.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Natural Solutions to Allergies

Allergy season is here again! 1 in 4 kids have allergies and for those families that are suffering, it can be miserable! 2 million school days are lost because of allergy symptoms. Even when attending school, the child may be limited in their physical activities and/or concentration due to allergies.

The good news is that safe and effective natural options exist! Holistic approaches can help to address not only the symptoms but the underlying susceptibility to allergic reactions as well.

Here you’ll find some of our favorite recommendations for allergy sufferers.

o Diet -- Removal of wheat, dairy, artificial coloring and high fructose corn syrup
o Stabilize blood sugar – balance out protein and carbohydrates, especially in the mornings
o Herbs –Echinacea, Nettles
o Essential oils – roman chamomile, lavender, geranium, tea tree, lemon
o Lymphatic massage (see demo on facebook), 6 drops into bathtub, 2 drops into lotion, use in a diffuser
o Multi-Vitamin, Multi-Mineral
o Probiotics
o Omega 3 Fatty Acids
o Water/ hydration, warm fluids/teas
o Neti pot – non-iodized salt
o Yoga postures, stretching
o Chiropractic Care!

How does Chiropractic care help allergies? By releasing stress on the nervous system, chiropractic permits the immune system to function more effectively - something all allergy sufferers need! With Chiropractic care, your body will work more effectively to neutralize the allergy-causing chemicals in your environment.

Monday, September 13, 2010

We love smoothies in this house!!!!

Our family loves making smoothies and the girls love helping!

If you want a simple, nutritious snack for your kids....listen up! And "spice it up".

Ok you're going to need a magic bullet (kohl's) or a blender. Personally, I recommend investing in a magic bullet as you'll use it so much more than blender. And it's easier to store and clean.

Have your kids get involved! Go to your grocer and let them pick out the assortment of frozen fruit. Use rice/almond (no soy please) milk instead of cow's milk (soon I will blog about my disgust for cow's milk) to make it creamier.

Here's how simple it is. AND... don't forget to get your kids involved. They'll be excited and much more likely to eat it.

Let the kids choose what fruits (frozen berries and a banana are a favorite blend in our house) and fill magic bullet 3/4 full. Add rice milk to the top of the fruit, a scoop of protein (to help even out their blood sugar levels) and then "spice it up"!

"Spicing it up"
means adding a bunch of nutrients.

I always add omega 3 oil (1/4 - 1/2 tsp) and probiotics (1/4 - 1/2 tsp) and often times add a handful of spinach (they won't ever taste it and my girls think green food is "cool").

You can also add their herbs or multi-vitamin into the smoothie. Whatever liquid nutrient you have can be added (hid) in smoothies!

We love smoothies in our house. It's a great snack or "meal on the go".

Try it... you might like it! :)

"Fever Phobia"

I recently read an article that pegged many parents as having "fever phobia". A whopping 91% of parents feared fevers! And no wonder, since many parents believe that fevers are actually THE ILLNESS.
Fever is not a disease in itself... it's an important part of the healing process.
Let me repeat that -- it's an important part of the healing process.
Now, don't get me wrong. It's as uncomfortable to watch my children hot and miserable as it is for any parent. But to break the fever isn't necessary and may not be wise.
Illness-causing "bugs" or microbes thrive at normal body temperatures. So it would make sense that the body raises the core temperature to "squash" the bugs from being able to reproduce. Not only does the fever speed up recovery from the illness but helps to "prune" the immune system so the child maturates and builds an adult immune system (typically completing around 6 yrs old).
And get this -- the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology states that having a fever in the first year of life reduces allergies seen later in childhood!
I'm actually glad that Kallen (my 8 months old) has already had a fever. A nice 103.5 that resolved easily in 24 hours with lots of mommy time, nursing, a couple of chiropractic adjustments, and 1 soaking of vinegar socks to make him a little more comfortable (put socks in vinegar and then put on their feet. Fever will drop 1 degree in 15 minutes).
And for those that fear the height of the fever, the body is fully equiped to protect your child and rarely ever goes above 105 or 106. No damage has been shown to occur until 108 degrees.
When your child is hot, quit watching the thermometer and start watching your child.
Be present, be there with them and release those fears.... your child's body is doing exactly what it's supposed to.

Monday, September 6, 2010

The teething child

It's funny how some kids breeze right through teething (ie- my twins) while others seem to suffer (ie- my son). And for those kids that suffer, they can really suffer.
My son, Kallen, made 5 attempts at falling asleep tonight. And so far, he's only been sleeping for 20 minutes. (cross your fingers that he's down for the night)

So what are we to do? My husband is a "fix-it" type of guy and sometimes wants a solution for ailments, aches, and pains.
I know how he feels and we have to remind ourselves that teething is simply a part of life. We can't "fix" it, but we can help to ease the transition.
My favorite remedies are Hyland's Teething Tablets (can purchase at Walgreen's or Azurestandard.com) and Gum-omile (can purchase at Yost Chiropractic or Campbell's).
These are simple but effective and definitely take the edge off.
Remember, that some of the best "remedies" simply lie in spending time with your child. Holding them, rocking them, reassuring them that they are safe...... and that we are here, on this journey with them.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Adjusting Kids


I love adjusting kids!!!! Love it!
I recently read a blog by a chiropractor that talked about the importance of brushing and flossing and how many dentists will tell you just to "floss the teeth you want to keep" (Circle Chiro).
The bones in your mouth REQUIRE you to take care of them if you want to prevent bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, inflammation, etc. If you want healthy teeth, it's best won in a prevention arena right?
The bones in your spine are the same way. They REQUIRE that you take care of them if you want to prevent pain, spinal decay, arthritis, excessive aging, wear and tear, breakdown, and ultimately disease.

Let's start educating our population that the same holds true for our kids and their spines. They need to get checked right after birth. They need to get checked regularly and keep their spine in optimum condition -- atleast the part of their spine they want to keep.

Sleep

Oh how I love sleep. I love it when my kids sleep. My twins are currently 3 1/2 (the 1/2 counts for alot in our house!!!) and we still have them napping. They are happier and more grounded when they've had a nap. Actually, I may be speaking for myself. I'M HAPPIER and more grounded when they've had a nap. :)
In truth, we need sleep for our brains and for our bodies. Sleep helps us remember what we have learned, pay attention and concentrate, solve problems and think of new ideas. For our bodies, sleep helps our muscles, bones, and skin grow as well as fix injuries. Sleep helps our body stay healthy and fight sickness. You grow, repair and rejuvenate when sleeping.
Think about how fast our kids are growing. Think about how much they run, jump, and play. They need to sleep.
Protecting your child's sleep and guiding them into good habits will help them grow stronger and be healthier.
This goes for parents too!!!!
Take care of you and lead by example!