“Schools are a living laboratory for most epidemics and diseases.” —Wayne Yankus, M.D., Pediatrician in New Jersey Ready—Set—Go As parents, we are never ready for the onslaught of illnesses that plague schools, generally six to eight weeks after school starts: strep throat, colds, influenza, sinus infections, ear aches, and yes, head lice. Read More ..read more

Autism is a brain function disorder resulting in impaired social interaction, difficulty with communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. These symptoms start before a child is three years old and affect four boys for every girl. It can be very severe, or present in milder forms of what is called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), such as Asperger's syndrome. Autism can have many triggers and causes, and also has a genetic component. Current research suggests that it is related to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia as well as hyperactivity, sharing in the causes and unde ..read more

Elbert Hubbard was right on target when he said, “The object of teaching is to enable a child to get along without his teacher.” While many of us read this quote and agree with it, we may not quite grasp its full meaning or its connection to Ayurveda. Read More ..read more

Raising children is very challenging. It is one of the toughest jobs in the world. Our children are born and suddenly we are thrust into the great adventure and challenge of rearing them. Since no one trains us how to do it, most of us fly by the seat of our pants in doing so, filled with great intentions and expectations. We love our children with a depth that is unfathomable. We do all we can for them. However, even with the deepest love and best of intentions, we invariably blunder and make mistakes along the way. Yet, we all desire children who grow to be adults filled with self-esteem, a ..read more

"Should I call the doctor?" It's a question many parents, grandparents and caretakers wrestle with when children get sick. On the one hand, you don't want to overreact and lug a sick child to the doctor's office where they can be exposed to germs lingering in the waiting room. But on the other hand, you don't want to miss something and have your child's fever, cough or dehydration turn into a bigger problem. Pharmacists field a lot of questions from parents who are worried about calling their pediatrician too frequently, or concerned about making unnecessary doctor appointments where they cou ..read more

Blue light-which comes from sunlight, digital devices (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.) and artificial light,1,2,3,4,5,6 penetrates deeply into the human eye and has great potential to damage retinal tissue.7,8,9,10 This ongoing exposure to blue light (regardless of the source) is a major risk factor for various retinal pathologies.11,12,13,14 In fact, research15 has demonstrated that headaches, eye fatigue, disturbed visual acuity, mucosal dryness, and eye burning and other indications of eye strain are associated with the daily use of video display terminals on computers and other ele ..read more

As parents, and consumers, we're never ready for the onslaught of illnesses that occur after classes start late August or early September. That said, you cannot wait until then to protect your health and that of your family. Generally, six to eight weeks after classes begin illnesses manifest; strep throat, colds, influenza, sinus infections, ear aches, and yes, head lice. The following PROACTIVE natural health measures are simple yet effective: Probiotics, essential for intestinal health and our gut is where most of our immune system is based. Probiotics help compensate for fast-food, dehyd ..read more

ADHD, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has become more common in recent decades, likely because of our new, high-tech world. It is more common in children, three to one in boys over girls, and becoming more common in young and older adults. Though genetics and personality may be factors, there are definitely strong correlations with poor diet and the overuse of salt, sugar, sodas and other beverages containing caffeine, refined foods, and food chemicals. There may be food allergies or hypersensitivities, and often there are deficiencies in minerals, such as potassium, zinc, magnesium ..read more

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimated that in 2011, 6.4 million children — or 11 percent of American children ages 4 to 17 — had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinical and therapeutic experience tells us that most of the discomfort and psychological suffering of educators and therapists facing children with ADHD is inherent to their subjective interpretation of the child’s behavior, conditioned by individual experiences that sometimes do not allow them to see the child’s real needs. To prevent the child from harming themselves and others, we quickly ..read more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately six percent of Americans suffer from asthma. This is a surprisingly high figure and it is on the rise. It is surprisingly high in part because asthma is one of a number of health conditions that can be present, yet unrecognized, in both children and adults. Yet being out of sight is not the same as being benign. Nearly 500,000 Americans are hospitalized each year for asthma and more than 5,000 die from it. Read More ..read more