Allergies and the signs of springHealth in Motion director Natan Gendelman discusses allergens and ways to deal with the signs of spring

Good morning everyone and welcome to spring! With a mild winter behind us and the beginnings of what promises to be a beautiful and warm season up ahead, there are a lot of things we need to be aware of and look out for as we start our countdown to the first days of summer. For this reason, in this month's news-letter I will be looking at seasonal allergies, as well as ways you can help relieve symptoms so that you too can go out and enjoy the fresh air.

Often referred to as hay fever, seasonal allergies are usually triggered by airborne pollen produced by trees or plants. When pollen finds its way into a person's airways, it can trigger symptoms such as watery eyes, runny noses, coughing, sneezing, and congestion. While seasonal allergies cause discomfort and irritation for many people, there are several things that you can do to help relieve symptoms. Here are a few remedies which you can try:

Consume herbs like stinging nettle. With a natural ability to reduce the amount of histamines the body produces, stinging nettle has long been used in traditional folk medicine as a cure for many different ails and illnesses. With growing evidence to support its medicinal properties, today it is known primarily as a potent remedy that works in fighting inflammation and reducing seasonal allergy symptoms. It can be used dried or fresh to brew tea, and is also available in capsule form.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin C and flavanoids. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, citrus fruits, broccoli, red grapes and green leafy vegetables are great sources of antioxidants, Vitamin C and flavanoids such as Quercetin. Together, they act as a mild antihistamine and can help reduce allergy symptoms.

Add more spice to your diet. Cayenne peppers are another source of Quercetin and their spiciness can help to ease congestion. Other foods such as garlic and onion are also great sources of this flavanoid, making them ideal when clearing up the sinuses. Try including them in your next meal.

Eliminate dairy products. While this fact hasn't been proven, many people find that consuming dairy products while their allergies are acting up can contribute to mucus production and congestion. For this reason, it may be worthwhile to take a break from eating dairy products during allergy season.

Before trying any of these remedies however, be sure to consult a licensed health practitioner who is familiar with your medical condition. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at natan@healthrehab.ca. Thanks everyone!

Good Health NewsMAY • 2012Volume 5 Number 4

Allergies and the signs of spring ...................................................Page 1

Does your family have sleeping problems? Try changing your dinner plans ...................................................Page 2

Natan's Remedies: Nettle Tea ...................................................Page 3

Here's What People Have to Say About LIFE ...................................................Page 4

In This Issue

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If your family has problems with sleeping, try changing your dinner plans so that the foods you prepare are easy to digest, light and nutritious while still fulfilling any dietary needs.

- FOODS TO AVOID -Red meat and high-protein foods. When having dinner, try to avoid a lot of heavy foods that are rich in protein. These items are best consumed earlier

in the day to help your family feel awake and ready to seize the day. Red meat, for example, takes a lot of work to digest in comparison to fresh fruits and vegetables. It can also inhibit the synthesis of serotonin, which may prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Potatoes and heavy starchy foods. If your family has digestion problems and trouble sleeping, starchy foods such as potatoes and pasta may not be a good idea. While eating a lot of carbohydrates may make someone feel sleepy, they can also cause bloating and gas and disturb his sleeping habits.

- FOODS TO INCLUDE -Salad with seasonal vegetables. Salads without protein or starch are light and easy to digest.

Bread and honey. Honey is known for its calming properties and is great for helping with sleep. Honey can be eaten alongside dinner, as a spoonful be-fore bed or mixed in with some warm chamomile tea. One thing to be aware

of, however, is that pasteurized honey (the kind that stays clear for a long time) has less nutrients than raw honey (the kind that gets cloudy and turns sol-id after approximately two months) as it has been heated to remove bacteria and extend its shelf life.

**Before making any lifestyle changes be sure to consult a health practitioner who is familiar with your family's dietary needs. Do not feed raw honey to your child if he is under the age of one year, as it may contain allergens that can trigger severe reactions.**

General Health Does your family have sleeping problems? Try changing your dinner plans

Na�an´s Remedies NETTLE TEA

Stinging nettle tea has long been used as a tonic meant to heal various illnesses and ailments. Try a cup to help relieve your seasonal allergies, increase circulation and promote good health.

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp fresh or dried stinging nettle leaves1 cup boiling water honey, to taste

Place the stinging nettle leaves in a cup and pour in the hot water. Steep for several minutes until desired strength is achieved. Add honey to taste. You can also add a sprig of mint leaves and a slice of lemon as garnish.

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Good Health News • May • 2012

As we’ve mentioned before, many children with neurological conditions can experience problems with their digestive tracts, motor function and cognitive development. In order to deal with unmanageable behaviour, some children are put on certain drugs that are thought to help with the is-sue. However, these forms of treatment do not come without consequences. Before you consider a method of treatment for your child, you should know that there are several factors coming into play that may be affecting your child’s behaviour.

The effects of food. Like we have said in our previous blogs We are what we eat and How food can become a learning experience, making the wrong food choices can become a big obstacle in a child’s condition, concentration and behav-iour. As a result, I ask that you try and remove any junk food, condiments and dressings from your child’s diet, and transi-tion him into eating natural and wholesome foods. Rather than just reading the label on what you buy, also try to cook homemade dishes without any additives or artificial colours and flavours. In doing so, you may find that his behaviour improves as a result.

Teaching and learning from your child’s perspective. In addition, how you interact with your child will definitely have a great impact on his behaviour. As you speak to or teach your child, do not try and force him to do things. Be patient, and take the time to explain things again and again. Use simple terms and words that will clearly convey what you’d like done, how it’s supposed to be and what it means. At this point, if your child is not answering or responding from your standpoint, remember that it doesn’t mean he isn’t listening. Just repeat it again, wait for him to process it, and repeat again. Eventually he will come to understand.

If your child’s response is to scream and yell, do not respond by screaming back. Instead, explain that you are not unsatis-fied or trying to fight with him. Tell him that you are there to explain; your role is to help him understand the world around him, and guide him through the learning process. As a whole, your goal is to bring him to a level where he can act com-pletely independent. For this, both the parents and therapists need to focus on bringing him out of his shell and back into our lives.

Looking at your child’s stage of development. As we’ve mentioned before, a child’s autism can start a chain of events that can affect his development. A child with motor dysfunc-tion, for example, may often use his tongue instead of his fin-gers to explore. This can lead to problems with transitioning to later stages and milestones which include rolling, sitting, standing and walking. As a result, a child may not take the time to explore and discover the world around him.

This is why an explanation of every single object, part of the body, and what things stand for is necessary. We need to repeat the tasks that we set out, reiterate our words and sen-tences and essentially unlock the child from this vicious cycle. A child with autism often creates his own world, constructing a shell which separates him from us. So, you cannot simply pull him out without preparation. Without the gradual process of discovery having taken place, you risk having him return to his shell. That is something that you need to consider and overcome, since you play a big part in your child’s treatment process.

What you can do. In this way, a child’s behaviour is some-thing that is affected by a number of different factors. To ad-dress this, it is best to develop him in every aspect of his life. For many, this can involve the use of different therapies and introductions to different textures and stimulus while a child is attending treatment sessions.

For many families however, these resources are often not available on hand outside of therapy hours. Instead, I recom-mend focusing on working with the space and materials that you have. Actions are very meaningful, so make sure to show your love to your child, and be positive. Trust in him, believe in him and guide him in whatever he does. As we’ve said before, autism and behaviour arise due to a combination of factors. A child’s life has to be balanced in everything, from his food, to his sleep and his daily function. By paying atten-tion to these different aspects of his life, you will help your child to grow, succeed and progress.

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Want to subscribe?Good Health News publishes articles about current 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, On-tario, (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 contact us. We hope you enjoyed this issue! -The Health in Motion Team

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Here's what people have to say about our LIFE Program:“Health in Motion was recommended to us by friends in Ireland who had a very positive experience with their son’s treatment so we decided to give it a try. When Seán started his treatment at Health in Motion in April 2010 he could not roll over and was not reaching his developmental milestones. He has made very good progress over the last six months. Seán started rolling over in mid-May, started crawling in July and can now get himself up onto his feet and take a few steps along our sofa. The Health in Motion team is very professional, caring and most importantly has provided excellent all round treatment for Seán including functional reha-bilitation, massage therapy and communication skills. Natan is a very unique individual and is second to none when it comes to his dedication and treatment. Thank God we found Health in Motion and we thank Natan and the Health in Motion team for their continuing support. ”

John and Laura, Ireland

Mini ProgramFor: kids 0-12 & 12-15 with CP, ABI, or stroke Frequency: 1-3 times a week, 2-3 hours/dayDuration: Ongoing as needed

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Contact us if you are interested in booking for 2012. Limited spots available. Call or email us for information about our adult LIFE Program.

For more information, visit our website: www.healthinmotionrehab.com.

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