Wisdom of Healing

Kids are back to school and autumn brings parents’ concerns about their children’s ability to focus, complete tasks and retain what they’ve learned so that they will be successful in our competitive world. There may be appropriate times to resort to prescription medications, but giving a child a class two narcotic should not be the first plan of action when a child’s abilities are in question or even when there is a more serious problem.

ADD, ADHD, various learning difficulties, childhood depression and a host of other physical or emotional health issues have risen exponentially in the last few decades. This is of growing concern to parents, pediatricians and educators alike. The side effects associated with many of the medications prescribed to children for attention and learning issues can include increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, seizures, chest pain, dependence, hallucinations, tremor, severe headache or migraines and many others. Most of these pharmaceutical drugs have never been tested on children, so the long-term effects are unknown. Do we want to risk such serious side effects before trying other, more wholesome avenues toward supporting our kids’ attention and learning skills?

There are several dietary and nutritional approaches that may be implemented for the challenges that so many children and parents face today. The first thing parents can do is to eliminate all artificial chemicals in the food and drink of their child’s diet, including artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. When we do this, a lot of the devitalized foods that can disrupt our ability to focus also leave the diet.

Reduce or eliminate sugar, fruits, fruit juices, deep-fried foods and flour, even whole grain, from the diet. I can hear your gasps from here! No bread, pasta, cereal or French fries? This would eliminate most of the foods in an American child’s diet! Providing healthier choices in the home will be the first step in your child’s eating more nutritious foods.

Starbright–Meditations for Children by Maureen Garth

Whenever possible, buy organic foods and beverages for your children and for the whole family. Research has shown that the chemicals sprayed onto our commercial fruit and vegetable crops may significantly increase Parkinson’s disease. This research raises the question of what these chemicals are doing to the young, fragile growing brains and nervous systems of our children.

There are several excellent choices of herbs and supplements to help increase the attention, focus and cognitive function for both children and adults. It is imperative that we choose the purest and highest quality products, if we desire to witness significant changes in mood, focus and ability to retain what is learned. Too many of the products offered on the US supplements market are rancid, made from chemical extractions or of such poor quality as to offer little benefit.

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are crucial for literally every cell in the body. They are referred to as ‘essential’ because the body cannot manufacture them, and therefore, must be consumed in the diet. Our ancestors got these good essential fats from fish, animal and organ meats, nuts, seeds, cultured foods (yogurt and kefir), and to a lesser extent, from vegetables.

A human brain with the water removed, is up to 30% fats, and a significant portion of these fats are the omega 3 essential fatty acids. Without good fats in the diet, our brain cells are built with poor quality fats, which may not transmit information well or function properly. When we consume high-grade fish, flax or hempseed oil, we nourish every connection within the brain and nervous system, allowing transmission of information without interruption. Numerous studies have been done showing EFA’s effectiveness with some of today’s common conditions, including ADD, ADHD, IQ scores, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, dyslexia, learning difficulties, visual function, hostility, aggression and many other related conditions.

Studies have also shown that children with any of these conditions are more likely to experience allergies, asthma, eczema, stomachaches and ear infections than other children. This indicates the probable connection to the digestive system, including both assimilation of nutrients and elimination of toxin accumulation. Supplementing at mealtime with children’s digestive enzymes and an excellent probiotic (acidophilus, bifidus, etc) first thing in the morning (wait 15-30 minutes before eating) will help the body to get the nutrients to the cells and improve elimination of toxins. Include more cultured foods in your child’s diet. Kids often love yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut and pickles, given the opportunity, because they taste sour and/or salty!

Moonbeam: A Book of Meditations for Children by Maureen Garth

As I‘ve often stated, the quality of the nutritional supplements that we choose is of utmost importance when we desire an improvement in health. The percentage of high quality products on the US market is quite low. Please read: Herbal and Nutritional Products- The Good, Better and Best, posted to this site very soon, for detailed information about which products are superior in the supplements industry, and why this may be so. Meanwhile, the best children’s digestive enzyme, in my humble opinion, is from Renew Life, and is called KidZyme. The very best probiotics, (and the only ones that I suggest) are produced by the following companies: New Chapter (capsules or powder), Natren (capsules or powder), Bio-K Plus (liquid or capsules), and a wonderful, rarely found product called Haelan 951 (liquid).

It is believed in holistic medicine that toxin overload within the body can greatly contribute to brain and nervous system disorders. A recent study showed that the average child, by his/her fifth birthday has the level of toxins in her/his cells that an eighty year old person had just fifty years ago. Gentle daily detoxification using foods and nutritious herbs is the safest method for reducing this toxic load from the liver, blood, organs and cells. Lemon juice, organic blueberries, Cellfood, nettles and raspberry leaf tea can all support gentle and safe daily detoxification.

When Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) or Melissa (lemon balm) is added to the EFA’s, probiotics and dietary modifications, results can be profound. Positive results are often noticed by teachers and parents within just a few days. Holy basil can also help with feelings of anxiousness, irritability, attention, focus, blood sugar issues, restlessness, disturbed sleep and mood swings. Melissa is soothing, calming, and beneficial for helping to improve focus. Both of these gentle herbs can support the immune system, helping to prevent cold, flu, ear infections, etc. according to research.

The Rhodiola Revolution by Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg, and Barbara Graham

Minerals are also an important group of nutrients for brain function. An easy way to ‘sneak’ minerals into your child’s diet is to sprinkle kelp or dulse flakes into everything you cook. Sea vegetables have all the macro and trace minerals needed by the developing and properly functioning brain. Another way for children to enjoy consuming vital nutrients is by offering them herbal teas every day. Experiment with flavors that they may enjoy, and feel free to add extra nettles, raspberry leaf or alfalfa to increase the nutritional profile. Be sure to cover the tea cup or teapot as it steeps to retain those important vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

Ample amounts of Vitamin B complex have been associated with good brain and nervous function. Likewise, low amounts of B vitamins have been shown to reduce cognitive function, increase irritability, depression and poor test scores. Good food sources of the B vitamins include all cultured foods, including whole milk organic yogurt and kefir. It is important to choose whole milk organic cultured dairy foods, as many important nutrients are bound to the fat, so low-fat and fat-free versions are simply not as nutritious. And as far as the fat goes, these are good fats, the ones that support good health and brain function! By the way, these foods are ok for those with lactose sensitivities, as the lactose is broken down through the culturing process.

There are few children’s multi-vitamin and mineral supplements on the market that are honestly natural. Tiny Tabs from New Chapter are easily swallowed, even by small children; supplying complex cultured whole food vitamins, minerals, trace elements and thousands of other nutrients. They are not specifically formulated for children, but if your child’s doctor, nurse or nutritionist has suggested a vitamin/mineral supplement, this is a top quality choice. Another excellent choice is a delicious fruity flavored liquid made by Flora, called Kinder Love Multivitamin for Children. This wonderful product has been produced for more than 50 years, and is made with complex whole foods, as well.

With so much stimulation in today’s society, children often don’t have enough quiet time. Teaching children to practice yoga, martial arts or meditation is an ideal adjunct to good nutrition. Improved test scores, increased attention span and reduced aggression and hostility were some of the results found in experiments with children who meditated just fifteen or thirty minutes each day. Gardening, take a relaxing stroll in the park or the forest, reading or lying quietly each day helps children and adults alike to regroup and relax the mind. These practices will likely carry forward into adulthood, helping to increase productivity and contentment while helping to reduce chances of depression, anxiety and substance abuse later on.

Limit television watching. You may choose to set limits per day or weekly, or allow a short period of TV after exercise and free play.

And sometimes we need to sit back and let children be children!

With such effective tools for safely addressing the needs of our children’s brains and overall health, maybe we can reduce the need for daily narcotics in our kid’s lunchboxes.

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