Natural Living in the US

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While there is, of course, a place for prescription medication in certain cases of ADHD, you must give careful consideration regarding possible side effects.  The use of any stimulant medications in  children under age 6 is not recommended.  So please ensure you discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of giving these medications to your child.

It is strongly advised that all parents thoroughly research any suggested prescription drugs before commencing the treatment on their child.  Making sure that the following criteria are fully investigated: common uses, cautions, possible side effects, overdose, additional information, and major drug interactions.

In America, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still investigating the side effects of particular prescription ADHD drugs, and it is therefore advisable that parents do their ownresearch into these medications so that they are fully aware of the potential risks.

As research into the long-term effects of drugs prescribed for ADD is still in its early stages. Much more research is still required. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of using their suggested medications on your child.

Physicians still have a very difficult time prescribing medications which they feel will produce beneficial results, so treatment is individualized and usually performed on a trial and error basis. This is very much a ‘hit and miss’ technique.  As such it requires close observation and cooperation between Physician, parents/carers and the child.  This unfortunately, is not an ideal situation. In certain circumstances, with this trial and error system, a child may be taking a cocktail of drugs to treat the side effects of the initial medication, thus creating a domino effect.

Medications don’t cure ADHD, they only control the symptoms on the day they are actually taken.  Although the medications may help the child pay better attention and complete their school work, they do not increase knowledge or improve their academic skills, like some parents have been led to believe.  However, this may just as easily be achieved through behavioural therapy and othertechniques – such as creative teaching methods. It is imperative that you make sure that YOU are educated on all aspects of ADD/ADHD before making a decision on your child’s medication.

The best chances of minimizing any side effects, is to use a natural remedy that is totally free of side effects completely.  Whilst many doctors believe, or admit, these do exist.

Alternative treatments that are available and are currently being used for ADHD are:

Herbal Remedies – Many parents have tried natural remedies as an alternative to psycho-stimulants and other prescription drugs.Small trials have found that some agents, such as oral flower essence, Panax Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, and Melatonin may have benefited ADHD sufferers.

There are also some Homeopathic remedies which actively target some of the more disruptive symptoms of ADHD and allow the child to concentrate easier. Natural remedies should be considered as a first step ahead of any psychiatric medication. When Natural Remedies are combined with a healthy lifestyle, relevant counselling, and strong dietary control, they have been shown to be effective in helping to alleviate the symptoms ofADHD.

Dietary Approaches – A number of specialized diets have been created for people suffering with ADHD. Encouragingly various studies have reported improved behaviour with diets that restrict possible allergens.

Parents should discuss the elimination of certain foods with their health care professional or Homeopath or Nutritional expert before restricting the diet of any child.

Meditation Aids -  A technique that uses sound may prove to be an effective tool for increasing children’s attention. It also helps the child control their own brain wave activity.  These sounds may also be specially mixed to improve attention, motor control and certain academic skills.  When used with relaxation it also teaches the child to feel more relaxed, and less fidgety, and more focused.

You can download a free Health Report from  http://www.lisa-recommends.com/free-health-reports which contains information on the suggested Natural Remedy for ADHD in Children. 

Meditation aids can be found at http://www.spiritual-web.com/meditation-aids. 

In intact relationships, parents do not usually consider how decisions are made with regard to the care of the children, let along who would carry out the various parenting tasks. However, once parents are living separate and apart, these issues must be clearly specified, understood and agreed upon to avoid conflict and assure proper care.

A Parenting Plan is a written agreement between separated parents setting out the rules and structures for the ongoing care of the children. Parenting plans are constructed with sensitivity to the developmental and cultural needs of the children and the ability of the parents to meet those needs given respective parental strengths, weaknesses and willingness.

Parenting Plans are generally developed on a consensus-building model between the parents, whose efforts may be supported by others. Depending on the nature and quality of support required, supports may include legal counsel, parenting coaches, child specialists, family specialists and other specialists with knowledge, expertise and training in matters such as: mental health, addictions, domestic violence, child development and the like.

As with the development of any plan between separated parents, it is necessary to be mindful of power and control issues and imbalances that could give rise to lop-sided agreements; agreements not necessarily in the best interests of the children; or agreements that may perpetuate harm or may place persons at risk of harm.

Parenting Plans typically contemplate matters in terms of responsibilities and authority as well as set out rules and structure for the direct care of the children between the parents. By way of example, one parent may retain authority for deciding a medical procedure, yet the other parent may be responsible for assuring attendance and implementation of the decision.

In view of the above, the Parenting Plan document will usually address at least, the following:

Parents are advised to consider the input of a professional with experience in these matters to be assured that their plan is appropriate to the developmental, emotional, psychological and safety needs of the child.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW
(905) 628-4847

gary@yoursocialworker.com http://www.yoursocialworker.com

faircompanies.com collaborator SuChin Pak cleans the bathroom without chemicals: just vinegar and baking soda. For more videos, news and blogs: www.faircompanies.com Original story here: faircompanies.com

The art of cooking is a joy for many people, while some seem to dread it like the plague! Many factors contribute to this love or hate relationship that so many have with cooking; personality traits, prior cooking experiences, knowledge passed down from one generation to the next. Some non-cookers have simply never been taught properly in the ways to prepare food. For more details go to: www.chow-chows-secrets.com others simply were not interested in learning because their mother, father or other guardian always did the work. Yet, cooking can be made into an enjoyable experience with a bit of creativity and some knowledge on the process. Those who cannot even boil water can learn, and with time, even become experts in the art of cooking! Cooking with a Purpose and a Plan Often, we stumble into the kitchen and open the refrigerator only to stare into it blankly with no idea of where to begin. We just want something, and we want it now! Yet, cooking with joy is obtained when there is a purpose for your cooking and a plan to help you. The purpose for cooking could be that you want to provide healthy, whole and nutritious food for your growing children and your husband or wife. You want them to have the healthiest bodies that they can, and you have a desire to see them thrive. This motivation can serve to give you joy in your cooking experience, knowing that you are giving them the best that their bodies deserve. Another great way to begin to enjoy cooking is to have a plan. Having a meal planned out in advance takes the stress and struggle of deciding away from last-minute preparations. Planning helps to ensure that you will have the right ingredients on hand in order to make your dish, and you will not be frustrated with coming up with a meal and then give up. With a plan, you can calmly prepare the meal even while listening to music or talking to a friend on the phone. For help visit: www.cooking-groundbeef.com this will help you be more relaxed at dinnertime as well. Having the right attitude toward cooking goes a long way in making it an enjoyable experience. It is true that some tend to be more natural when it comes to food preparation, but that is no excuse for not attempting to cook a healthy meal. Anyone can learn to cook simple and tasty meals for themselves and their loved ones each day. Do not let a long-standing distaste for cooking sway you into sticking with your TV dinner rut. This is not only bad for your health but it is an expensive way to eat. Letting your children help you in the kitchen can also create fun as well as become a great learning experience for them. With all the easy and exciting ways to simplify your life, cooking should definitely be a part.

Organic baby gifts are not only friendly to the environment, but they are safe for babies to play with and put in their mouths. Find toys made from organic cloth, wood or other materials with advice from the owner of a natural baby supply store in this free video on organic gifts. Expert: Emily Miner Contact: www.ausitnbabyonline.com Bio: Austin Baby is a boutique baby and natural parenting store located in Austin, TX.

There is a quote attributed to Sigmund Freud, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”. So too of childhood behaviour and incidents; they may be simply within the range of normal childhood life. However, in the context of high conflict separated parents, the simple explanation can get transplanted with extraordinary suspicions and theories.

Normal childhood development has toddler-age children exploring their bodies, discovering the genitals and anus and taking pleasure from self-touching. They are at the toilet training stage of life and hence are drawn by normal parenting behaviour to attend to these body parts. In intact families as children are observed to engage in self-stimulation and genital play, they are simply redirected to either stop, or to engage privately at appropriate time and place. In the context of high conflict separated parents, there is a risk to ascribe these childhood behaviours to sinister behaviour on the part of one of the parents. So a parent may inadvertently bring greater attention to the child’s behaviour and thus actually reinforce the concerning behaviour themselves while at the same time alleging sexual abuse at the hands of the other parent.

As preschoolers, children take flight on playground equipment. They may be learning to ride their two-wheeler. Hence this is a time of childhood injuries, particularly bruises, bumped heads and broken arms. In the context of high conflict separated parents, a parent may be suspicious of child-abuse in view of injuries and use the situation to allege physical abuse or at least neglect. However, and again, even in intact families, children can get hurt; bump their heads and fall from bikes and playground equipment.

As school age children try to get their own way, they naturally try to pit parents against each other. They will use whatever strategy works. Kids may tell you that other kids are getting or doing what is desired or they may tell you that the “other parent” let’s them do as requested. In intact families, parents simply call their children on manipulative behaviour or at least check with the other parent to determine if what the child is saying is true. However, in the context of high conflict separated parents, a parent may take what a child says at face value and believe that the other parent is undermining their own parenting or the values of the child.

In intact families or even between separated parents with good communication, normal childhood events tend not to escalate with suspicion and drama. Issues are nipped in the bud and children are redirected to appropriate behaviour. Injuries are attended to without additional fanfare. A parent may feel guilty for a child’s injury, but not blamed per se.

In the context of high conflict separated parents, normal childhood behaviour and incidents can take on epic proportions. Otherwise normal behaviour can lead to suspicion or be used against a parent to undermine care and custody. As one parent cries foul, the other cries parental alienation syndrome. The fight is on and heats up to the point of boiling over. The child is caught in the middle and their behaviour escalates as a result. Both parents then use the child’s behaviour as evidence of their own claim against the other.

Here is where a good assessment is so necessary. The assessor will tease out normal from abnormal childhood behaviour and incidents and determine how much of a child’s behaviour is attributable to just the conflict between the parents versus truly sinister behaviour deliberately aimed at harming or neglecting a child.

Parents beware though. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, despite suspicion.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW
(905) 628-4847

gary@yoursocialworker.com http://www.yoursocialworker.com

A clean and orderly environment means an equally clutter free and peaceful mind. If your home (or workplace) is a mess, then you won’t feel peaceful and/or happy. Imagine if you have a lot of problems and your surroundings will up the stress factor because it is too dirty or messy. Now that would just cause you more unneeded stress and irritation. If your number one reason for not really cleaning that much is because you don’t have a lot of time to go to the grocery store and buy specific cleaners for your sink, etc, then after you read this, you don’t have a valid excuse anymore. Understandably, every minute of our time equals to money. So idling away or spending a few extra minutes in the grocery store is not an option for a lot of people out there. Or it is also possible that your budget is just enough for your bare necessities and you don’t have extra money to spend on those high priced chamomile infused toilet bowl cleaners and the like. Either way, it is still best that you stick to the basics. What is meant by that is to use all green cleaning products instead of them toxic cleaning aids found in your local grocery stores. Sure, you may have to put in a bit of effort when you mix things up in the kitchen, but at least you don’t have to go to the grocery store and spend extra cash on things that you can actually make yourself.
First things first, what exactly are natural cleaning products? Do you know the difference between wholesale cleaning products and the toxic kind? Well, the main difference is that natural aids are not toxic. That’s it. When you dispose of bottles or leftover natural cleaning aids, you don’t add toxic waste to our already polluted earth. Mother Nature would be so proud of you if you did your part even if it was just a small act. Okay, so here are some tips and tricks when cleaning around your house using all organic cleaning products.
The first natural cleaning product you should give a try is cornstarch. We use it to thicken sauces and soups, but it can also be an effective cleaning aid. The best part about cornstarch is that it is not toxic and you won’t worry if your toddler accidentally ate cornstarch. Just give him/her a glass of water and it’ll be a-okay.
Now, you want to start with clean tools right? Let’s start with your good old feather duster. Make it clean by putting an ample amount of cornstarch in a strong plastic bag and encircle the top of the plastic bag around the handle of the feather duster. Then, shake vigorously. After that, take out your feather duster and shake out the excess cornstarch. Reuse the plastic bag and put all kinds of trash there later on.
After cleaning your feather duster, why not move on to cleaning your rugs or carpet? Sprinkle cornstarch on the carpet and leave it on for about 10 minutes. After that, get your vacuum cleaner and vacuum away. The cornstarch attracts dust and it’ll help the vacuum cleaner do its job well.
The next non-toxic cleaning aid is baking soda. It is a known effective cleaning aid and has been used by our grandparents to clean everything from laundry to silverware. If you want a gentle fabric softener that won’t irritate even the most sensitive skin, use baking soda. Before adding soap to the water, add a cup of baking soda to your regular load. Then, let it stand for a few minutes. Add your regular soap afterwards. You’ll be surprised how soft your clothes are.
These are just some kitchen bystanders-slash-natural cleaning products that you can find in your own home. Try them today and see how well they do the job without breaking the bank.

All grains, with the exception of rice, and the various grain meals, require prolonged cooking with gentle and continuous heat, in order to so disintegrate their tissues and change their starch into dextrine as to render them easy of digestion. Even the so-called “steam-cooked” grains, advertised to be ready for use in five or ten minutes, require a much longer cooking to properly fit them for digestion. These so-called quickly prepared grains are simply steamed before grinding, which has the effect to destroy any low organisms contained in the grain. They are then crushed and shredded. Bicarbonate of soda and lime is added to help dissolve the albuminoids, and sometimes diastase to aid the conversion of the starch into sugar; but there is nothing in this preparatory process that so alters the chemical nature of the grain as to make it possible to cook it ready for easy digestion in five or ten minutes. An insufficiently cooked grain, for more details visit to www.fair-recipes.com although it may be palatable, is not in a condition to be readily acted upon by the digestive fluids, and is in consequence left undigested to act as a mechanical irritant.Water is the liquid usually employed for cooking grains, but many of them are richer and finer flavored when milk is mixed with the water, for more details visit to www.chicken-wing-cookbook.com one part to two of water. Especially is this true of rice, hominy, and farina. When water is used, soft water is preferable to hard. No salt is necessary, but if used at all, it is generally added to the water before stirring in the grain or meal.The quantity of liquid required varies with the different grains, the manner in which they are milled, the method by which they are cooked, and the consistency desired for the cooked grain, more liquid being required for a porridge than for a mush.All grains should be carefully looked over before being put to cook.In the cooking of grains, the following points should be observed:1. Measure both liquid and grain accurately with the same utensil, or with two of equal size.2. Have the water boiling when the grain is introduced, but do not allow it to boil for a long time previous, until it is considerably evaporated, as that will change the proportion of water and grain sufficiently to alter the consistency of the mush when cooked. Introduce the grain slowly, so as not to stop the sinking to the bottom, and the whole becomes thickened.3. Stir the grain continuously until it has set, but not at all afterward. Grains are much more appetizing if, while properly softened, they can still be made to retain their original form. Stirring renders the preparation pasty, and destroys its appearance.In the preparation of all mushes with meal or flour, it is a good plan to make the material into a batter with a portion of the liquid retained from the quantity given, before introducing it into the boiling water. This prevents the tendency to cook in lumps, so frequent when dry meal is scattered into boiling liquid. Care must be taken, however, to add the moistened portion very slowly, stirring vigorously meantime, so that the boiling will not be checked. Use warm water for moistening. The other directions given for the whole or broken grains are applicable to the ground products.Place the grain, when sufficiently cooked, in the refrigerator or in some place where it will cool quickly (as slow cooling might cause fermentation), to remain overnight.www.cooking-groundbeef.comwww.chef-123.com

When we live in a clean environment, we feel better and yes, even happier. Have you ever noticed how a cloudy and rainy day makes for a gloomy environment while a happy and sunny day makes you feel glad? Well, that’s how powerful our surroundings can be. So it is no wonder that a clean environment also makes for a happier place to live in.
But we shouldn’t only care about the cleanliness of our own houses; we should also care whether or not Mother Nature stays clean too. So come on in and enter natural cleaning products. Regular cleaning products are usually composed of hazardous chemicals. The cleaning products of yesterday even had big skull and crossbones signs pasted along with the label. That is how deadly those cleaning products are. Not only are those harmful to us, but also to Mother Nature. So your best bet is to choose cleaning products that are natural, non-toxic but can eradicate even the toughest of stains.
But the benefits of choosing all organic cleaning products don’t stop there. If someone in your abode is allergic to cleaning materials and/or plain old washing detergents, then it will be really beneficial to grab natural products. Even infants with sensitive skin will not experience rashes when natural cleaning products are used. You even have an option to choose the fragrance free counterparts of those products if the allergies experienced by someone in your house are really bad.
It is also essential that you know more about these cleaning products and why choosing biodegradable and wholesale cleaning products are better than their toxic counterparts. First, you should know that good old toxic substances that are used as cleaning aids will eventually land in landfills and add to the pollution in our environment. Some of those products may even linger in the air and cause cancer and other kinds of health risks. While some will end up in bodies of water and cause harm to sea creatures.
But of course, there is always a negative side to choosing all green cleaning products. The most noticeable disadvantage is of course the price. Some natural products are probably pricier than their toxic counterparts but just imagine, if you just add a few coins to your grocery budget, then you will be a better citizen and you’ll also save more. And by saving more, it means you save more lives because you don’t add to the pollution that causes a lot of health problems for some people.
Another downside is you might not be able to shop for natural cleaning products anywhere you like. But there is always the internet and nowadays, shopping online has become easier. You don’t have to go through a lot of hassle, you just have to choose a particular brand that you like and order online. And if you’re lucky, you might even receive free samples.
When you switch to natural products, not only will you help your family – and essentially, other people – lead a better life, but you’ll also help the environment. If everyone in this world switched to all natural and organic cleaning materials, imagine how many tons of hazardous waste would be eradicated. You could even try to encourage your friends to do their part and switch to a better alternative. Although such acts may seem small, if everyone did their part, this world will definitely be a better place.