GOOD HEALTH NEWS
December 2014
Volume 7 No. 2
IN THIS ISSUE
Pg. 1
Improving Communication
Between You and Your
Special Needs Child
Pg. 2
How to Recognize If
Your Child Has Physical
Development Delay
Pg. 3
3 Teas that Help Reduce
Anxiety Naturally
Pg. 4
Health Holiday Recipe
Pg. 5
Our Brand New VitaPlus
Program
IMPROVING
COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN YOU
AND YOUR
SPECIAL NEEDS
CHILD
Health in Motion director Natan
Gendelman talks about improving the
communication between you and your
special needs child.
I do not make any distinctions between
children who are special needs
and those that we call regular children.
All kids are special; the only difference
is that those who undergo normal development
explore their environment
on their own. Parents will teach them
not to do certain things (i.e. touching
a hot stove, playing with an electrical
socket, etc.), but for the most part,
these children will discover the world
by themselves. However, this is not
the same for children who are developmentally
delayed.
Every special needs child is different,
and the degree to which they are
limited cognitively and physically will
vary. But in general, these kids may
have trouble discovering and interacting
with the world and people around
them. As a result, they may have a hard
time communicating with others.
So how can you begin to foster good
communication and encourage your
child to be independent in interacting
with their environment? I tell the
parents of my patients at the LIFE
program that communication always
starts with eye contact. Always ask
your child to look at you while you are
talking. Use simple instructions like,
“Turn to me. Look at me.” This is where
independence starts. Begin to develop
a vocabulary with your child by asking
simple questions. “Do you want to
wear the red shirt or blue shirt today?”
And show them which color belongs
to which shirt. By giving choices and
asking questions, you start to develop
communication between you and
your child. Start with simple questions
and then move on to more complicated
ones. By doing this, you can start
to develop an understanding of what
your child wants and why. It is through
the small and seemingly unimportant
directions like, “Look at me,” that communication
is built up.
When I teach my special needs patients
how to roll for the first time, I always
ask, “Where am I?” And proceed
to tell them where I am.
For example, “I’m on your left side.”
They don’t understand orientation
yet, so you must spend an enormous
amount of time showing them through
repetition. Your directions should be
very simple, explicit, and consistent.
Lastly, it is important to tell them
why you are asking them to move. In
the clinic it would be something like,
“Please roll to the left side, because
we are learning how to roll.” At home,
“Please roll to the table because we’re
going to eat now.”
Fostering good communication between
yourself and your special needs
child early on is so important. Not only
will they be able to express what they
want, but they will also be encouraged
to try things on their own and be more
independent.
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Maggie receiving treatment at the
LIFE Program at Health in Motion.
HOW TO
RECOGNIZE IF
YOUR CHILD
HAS PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENTAL
DELAY
As a parent, it’s natural to worry about
your child developing normally. Especially
when comparing your child with
other kids: For example, “Her brother
was crawling by this time, why can’t
she?” Please remember that every
child is different, and will
develop at different paces.
However, it is important
to be aware of the ‘red
flags’ associated with developmental
delay.
Here are some warning
signs to look out for:
• At 2 months: When
picking up your child, they
should be able to bring
their head forward. In a
developmentally delayed
child, their head will move
backwards because they are not able
to hold it up.
• At 2 months: If they are arching
their back and neck away from you
while being held.
• At 4 months: Watch how your child
mimics others and if they react to people
around them. If they don’t smile,
react, or try to copy others’ expressions
and movements, this may be a
sign of developmental delay.
• At 6 months: If your child is constantly
keeping their hands closed and
fisted. Also if they don’t try to grasp for
toys and have difficulty opening their
hands.
• At 7 months: They are unable to support
their head when they are helped
into a sitting position. They don’t grasp
or reach for their toys.
• At 9 months: They are unable to sit
without support. Normally developing
children will generally begin crawling
around this time and be able to stand
up by holding onto something.
• At 12 months: They are not crawling
and can’t stand by holding onto something.
You can find a more complete and
detailed list of warning signs here:
(http://www.babycenter.com/0_warning-signs-of-a-physical-developmental-delay_6720.bc).
Please be aware
that this is a very general timeline,
and every child will vary in terms of
when they hit their developmental
milestones. If your child seems to exhibit
any of these signs, then consult
your doctor or a pediatric neurologist
so they can be assessed. Even if there
is no problem, it’s always better to err
on the side of caution.
“If your child happens to be diagnosed
with developmental delay, you
must understand that the diagnosis
is not a label. This is just a title for the
symptoms that the child is exhibiting.
As a therapist, it gives me certain information
to keep in my head so I can
lead this patient out from what he has.
CP and developmental delay is not a
life sentence. No one can predict your
child’s future.” –Natan Gendelman,
D.O.M.P.
3 BENEFITS OF RAW, UNPASTEURIZED HONEY
1) Soothes throat irritation and cough: In one study, eating buckwheat honey was more effective than dextromethorphan
(a cough suppressant) and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) in helping 139 children in relieving
their nighttime cough. It even improved their sleep! (http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/medicinal-uses-of-honey?page=3)
2) Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal & anti-viral properties: The enzymes found in honey produce hydrogen peroxide,
which is a natural antibacterial agent. Honey has also been shown to effectively fight food-borne pathogens like E.
coli and salmonella, as well as many other bacteria. Because of its unique properties, eating honey may also be a
good treatment for stomach ulcers and food poisoning!
3) Allergy Relief: Exposure to small amounts of flower pollen naturally found in unpasteurized honey may help
build up the body’s immunity to seasonal allergies. Try taking two teaspoons of honey daily up to 6 weeks before
allergy season kicks in to help combat bad reactions. For serious allergic conditions, you should always consult
your doctor.
2
3 TEAS THAT HELP REDUCE ANXIETY NATURALLY:
Have you been under a lot of stress
lately? Whether it’s meeting a new
deadline at work, kids misbehaving at
school, relationship troubles, or just
general apprehension about the future,
it’s perfectly normal for everyone
to feel the anxiety jitters from time to
time. However, if you find that your
anxiety symptoms continue to persist,
consider adding these natural
herbal remedies to your diet to soothe
your nerves.
• Chamomile: For centuries, chamomile
has been used as a medicinal
herb to treat a variety of conditions
such as eczema, rheumatic pain, indigestion,
etc. It was also regarded
as an effective sedative to treat anxiety,
hysteria, and even sleep problems
such as insomnia. A recent study has
shown that chamomile significantly
calms the human body by relaxing
its blood vessels and smooth muscle
fibers. Another 2009 study by the
University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine found that patients diagnosed
with generalized anxiety disorder
(GAD) who were treated with
chamomile extract for 8 weeks experienced
a significant reduction in their
GAD symptoms compared to patients
who did not receive chamomile extract
treatments.
• Lavender: Used in the ancient baths
and homes of Greece and Rome,
this herb has a long history of being
used to help remedy a wide range of
conditions including insomnia, anxiety,
depression, upset stomachs, and
headaches. Lavender is widely used
as an aromatherapy treatment for its
calming and sedative properties (this
is why you may find some doctor’s
office waiting rooms scented with lavender
oil), but it can also be made
into a tea. In a study published in the
International Journal of Phytotherapy
and Phytopharmacology, researchers
found that lavender administered orally
to adults with GAD effectively reduced
anxiety symptoms just as well
as lorazepam, a common medication
used to treat anxiety disorders. Since
there is no potential for substance
abuse with lavender, researchers concluded
that it could be a good alternative
to using certain medications.
• Peppermint: The menthol present
in peppermint leaves acts as a natural
muscle relaxant, which is excellent
for soothing the body when it is under
a lot of tension. It has been used to
treat stress induced headaches and
migraines, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea,
indigestion, and even symp toms of
the common cold and flu. According
to the University of Maryland Medical
Center, some studies suggest that
peppermint may have antibacterial,
antifungal, and antiviral properties.
When preparing these anxiety-reducing
teas, always use loose tea leaves
for best results! Also, consult your
health care provider if you are on any
medication before taking any herbal
supplements to prevent unwanted
side effects. And remember, it’s also
important to treat anxiety disorders
with a healthy lifestyle (nutritious diet
& exercise); surrounding yourself with
people who love and support you; and
consulting a therapist to learn proper
coping mechanisms.
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE?
DID YOU KNOW?
People whose diets are rich in
potassium may be less prone to high
blood pressure. Besides reducing
sodium and taking other hearthealthy
steps, eat potassium-packed
picks such as bananas, cantaloupe,
and oranges.
Good Health News publishes articles about curent health issues. The
material in this newsletter is not copyrighted, and may be reproduced
and shared with family and friends. Articles in GHN are for informational
purposes only. If you have a health condition, please consult your physician
or health care provider before following any advice. Good Health
News is published by the Health in Motion Rehabilitation Clinic, Toronto,
Ontario, (416) 250-1904, info@healthinmotionrehab.com. Previous
issues of Good Health News are posted at: www.healthinmotionrehab.
com. If you would like a subscription, or a copy of past issues, feel free
to contactu us. We hope you enjoyed this issue!
-The Health in Motion Team
3
HEALTHY HOLIDAY RECIPE
Baked Stuffed Apples (4 servings)
Duration: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
-4 apples (choose your favorite organic kind!)
-one handful of nuts, roughly -chopped (use your favorite
assortment)
-one handful of dates, roughly chopped
-one handful of raisins
-one handful of figs, roughly chopped
-¼ teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
-2 tablespoons of unpasteurized -honey for sweeter taste
(optional)
Directions:
Photo credit: Morsels Minus
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Slice off the top of the apples and scoop out the center
and seeds for each, so there is a hole where you can
place the filling. Should look something like an apple cup!
3. Save the apple bits you scooped out, chop them
up, and toss with the nuts, dates, raisins and figs in a
separate bowl with honey.
4. Stuff each apple hole with the honey-coated nuts,
apples, dates, raisins and figs.
LIFE PROGRAM
“Since we’ve been
coming here, Poppy
has made so many
improvements and
has learned to do so
much. When we first
came 2 years ago,
Poppy’s movements
and skills were very
limited. She couldn’t
roll, she couldn’t pick
things up, she couldn’t
hold things, and she couldn’t sit without throwing herself
back. Now she can roll, she can hold things, use her
hands, and she can sit with minimal support. She’s almost
crawling, she can stand, and can even take steps with
support. The LIFE Program has taught Poppy so much and
she is now on her way to crawling, something we didn’t
think would ever be possible.”
-Haley Lyons, Poppy’s mother
Mini Program
For: kids 0-12 & 12-16 with CP, ABI or stroke
Frequency: 2 times a week, 2 hours/day
Duration: Ongoing as needed
Maxi Program
For: kids 0-12 & 12-16 with CP, ABI or stroke
Frequency: 5 times a week, 4.5 hours/day
Duration: 4 weeks
Contact us if you are interested in booking for 2015.
For more information, visit our website:
www.healthinmotionrehab.com.
Have something you’d like to share?
E-mail us! We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to:
healthinmotion@bellnet.ca
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www.twitter.com/EnabledKids
www.facebook.com/healthinmotionrehab
4
WHAT IS VITAPLUS THERAPY?
VitaPlus therapy is an all-natural treatment for people suffering
from chronic illnesses, which activates the body’s
innate ability to regenerate healing through a completely
organic and vegetarian diet, juicing, natural supplements
and vitamins, detoxification and cleansing. Based on osteopathy
manual practitioner Natan Gendelman’s extensive
experience of successfully treating various conditions,
such as cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, irritable
bowel syndrome, Crohn disease and so on, the VitaPlus
methodology and program is based on a whole-body approach
which reactivates the immune system and develops
an environment in which diseases cannot survive.
VitaPlus Approach
We see the body as a single unit of function, which encompasses
the mechanisms and ability to heal itself. Our
treatment reactivates and boosts the immune system,
which fights and kills diseases.
How Do We Do This
VitaPlus treatment is a full intensive detoxification and
cleansing regimen focused on restoring and reactivating
the body’s ability to heal itself.
It Consists Of:
- Entirely organic and vegetarian diet plan,
including juices, meals and snacks
- Up to 5 litres of fresh pressed juice daily
- Biologically-natural nutritional supplements
and vitamins
- Detoxification and cleansing
- Massage therapy
- Health coaching
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