Pathways to Family Wellness - Issue #14

issue 14$7.95 USD

The Value of Authentic Vinegar

Mom’s Weekend Pass

The Webster Technique

Re-Valuing Free Play

Keeping Our Babies Safe in Motion

Sun Exposure Increases Survival

brought to you courtesy of:

New Approaches to Health Care“Alternative” therapies now mainstream for many families

pathways14_su2007.qxd 5/1/07 10:05 AM Page 2

Pathways magazine is a quarterly publicationoffering parents articles and resources to makeinformed health care choices for their families.Pathways provides thought provoking informa-tion from the holistic health perspective andinvites parents to explore options for familywellness.

The individual articles and links to health care information in Pathways are based upon theopinions of the respective author, who retainscopyright as marked. The information providedis not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medicaladvice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledgeand information.

The publisher of Pathways encourages you tomake informed health care decisions basedupon your researched knowledge and in part-nership with a qualified health care provider.

Pathways is provided to you by theInternational Chiropractic Pediatric Associationin collaboration with the Alliance for HolisticFamily Health and Wellness.

© 2005–2007 Pathways, Issue 14, May 2007

Executive EditorJeanne Ohm, D.C.

Editorial Board of AdvisorsSarah Buckley, M.D.Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.Stephen Marini, Ph.D., D.C.Larry Palevsky, M.D.Lisa Reagan

Assistant EditorsTracey Beck-CampbellAlissa Pond

Creative DirectorTina Aitala Engblom

A D V E R T I S E R S

For advertising rates and information, [email protected] or call us at 610-565-2360.

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C R E D I T S

On the Cover:© Photographer: Pascale Wowak Agency: Dreamstime.com

Images used are for illustrative purposes only.

Family Wellness Lifestyle


contentsF E A T U R E 6

New Approaches to Health Care ‘Alternative’ therapies now mainstream for many familiesby Jolene Gensheimer

L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I T O R 4

W E L L N E S S L I F E S T Y L E 1 2

Mom’s Weekend Passby Amy Tiemann, PhD

N U T R I T I O N A L N U G G E T S 1 4

The Value of Authentic Vinegarby Cheryl Player

C H I R O P R A C T I C F O R L I F E 1 8

Nerve System Function and Wellnessby Jeanne Ohm, DC

P R E G N A N C Y & B I R T H 2 0

The Webster Technique by Nicole A. Whitehead, DC

B R E A S T F E E D I N G 2 4

Why is Your Kid Purple?by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

PA R E N T I N G 2 6

When Consequences Don’t Workby Judy Arnell

M I N D — B O D Y 2 8

Re-Valuing Free Playby Cynthia Aldinger

FA M I LY L I F E 3 2

Keeping Our Babies Safe in Motionby Bridget Horan, DC, DACCP

S E A S O N A L S E C T I O N 3 6

Sun Exposure Increases Survivalof Melanomaby Van D. Merkle, DC, CCN DABCI

R E S E A R C H R E V I E W 4 0

News to Know and Share

PA R E N T S P E R S P E C T I V E 4 3

Chiropractic Comforts Baby

FA M I LY W E L L N E S S F O R U M 4 4

Adjusting an Infant

M A R K E T P L A C E 4 5


Nurturing the Family Wellness Lifestyle

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4 pathways | issue 14

A current topic of concern with many parentsis the exclusion of chiropractic and other vitalistic types of care under their insurance policies. It seems to make no sense when parents are choosing safe options for their children that support healing without invasive and risky procedures and insurance companies are refusing to support their choices.

This is a pertinent and legitimate concern on the part of parents and I will try to answer itfrom a perspective that will once again lead us back to core beliefs and paradigms abouthealth and wellness.

First and foremost, “health insurance” has been misnamed. Most coverage is about crisiscare, not true wellness. In order for coverage to be considered, there needs to be a diagnosed symptom or condition recognized by the insurance industry. Since the insuranceindustry bases its reference point of “health” from the medical allopathic model, most holistic forms of care are not even considered.

Secondly, there appears to be a double standard of coverage. Insurance companies areinsisting that holistic providers offer substantial “evidenced based research” to be includedin their policies and yet they are accepting numerous allopathic treatments that are not consistent with evidence based research. For example, the scientific literature has shownthat antibiotics are not effective for ear infections for many years now and that their useactually increases the likelihood of repeated ear infection. Even so, insurance companieshave continued to cover the administration of antibiotics. Ritalin and all psychotropic drugswhen prescribed to children are considered “off label” and therefore are not evidencedbased. Regardless, insurance companies continue to cover their administration. Too numerous to expound are the procedures practiced in obstetrics that are not evidencedbased at all, and yet full coverage for these procedures (and the complications they cause!)are never questioned for coverage.

In my naiveté, I used to wonder why insurance companies did not embrace the coverage ofholistic care. After all, holistic care is safer and works with the natural “prevention” of conditions and disorders. Parents value the safer options of care and continued “maintenance”care because they see overall improvements in their families well-being. They become baffled when their insurance company does not cover services that are safer and have lasting effects on their families’ health. Surely it is less expensive for the insurance company tocover safe and natural care for a family than to pay the costly expenses of questionabledrugs and risky procedures which just lead to future health crisis and costs. Then one day itdawned on me. Of course their motive is profit and continued growth of their huge industry.I was just looking at it from a completely erroneous perspective.

Health insurance companies support mechanistic/reductionistic care because, like thewhole concept of mechanistic care, the health insurance industry thrives on fear anddespair: fear of sickness, fear of disease, despair with inadequate body function.Mechanistic care and the insurance that covers it depends on people’s feelings of despair,hopelessness, doom and failure for its very existence! It is the fear factor that motivates people to renew their insurance policies covering modes of treatment they will never use.

Vitalistic/holistic care, on the other hand, directs our attention back to the purpose of the body to self heal, regenerate, be well with assistance and support in that natural, inborn process. Vitalistic care orients people to rely on a greater, inborn intelligence.Vitalistic care takes people out of the fear model and into a healing paradigm of trust. Fearthoughts and attitudes by their very nature shut down healing and inhibit wellness. Trust andconfidence in our body’s ability to be well sets the ground for healing to occur. One onlyneeds to read some of the outstanding literature being published in thePsychoneuroimmunolgy scientific journals to discover the direct relationship between ourbeliefs, our feelings and our health outcome.

l e t t e r f r o m t h e e d i t o r , j e a n n e o h m , d c

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So, if you are waiting for the insurance industry to shift its corevalue from profit to human concern, don’t hold your breath. They have obviously been successful in creating the perceivedneed for their services based on a skillful and successful marketing plan which feeds off of the very easily stimulatedhuman emotion, fear. To embrace healing arts that practice fromand reposition people into an entirely different paradigm: trust,would be suicide for their very existence.

During times of social transition it takes our individual initiativesto bring about the changes we want to see. In order to initiatechange in a mechanistic system diametrically opposed to ourholistic choices as parents, here are my suggestions:

Look for insurance policies that offer “catastrophic/crisis” carewith high deductibles and avoid spending unnecessary dollarson needless coverage that you may never use. Take the moneyyou save on monthly premiums and put it towards paying fortrue wellness services for your families. Receiving these servicesmay also significantly reduce the need for mechanistic treat-ments. Opt into “health saving plans” offered by your employeesthat put aside funds to be used for the type of care you reallywant. Choose providers based on their care, not your insurance

coverage. Remember you always have the choice. Rather thanstaying with a provider, “because he is covered” we need to proactively initiate change and utilize our right for safer, vitalistic care regardless of coverage

Finally, change your lifestyle choices to incorporate healthieroptions. Find providers that offer supportive vitalistic care andparticipate in their family wellness programs. Surround yourselfwith information and opinions of wellness. Above all, shift yourconsciousness about health and begin to respect and trust inyour body’s innate purpose for well-being.

It’s your family, it’s your life, it’s your choice!

Many Blessings,

Jeanne Ohm, DC

Are you dedicated to familywellness right from the start?

Do you support parents’ rightsto make informed health carechoices?

Are you interested in reachingmore families with your care?

ANNUAL INVESTMENTLicensed practitioners: $165Non-licensed practitioners: $85Students: $55Additional listings: $10

THE ALLIANCE WELCOMES YOU! The Alliance embraces practitioners of like mind in its mission for family wellness.

YOUR PARTICIPATION supports public education relevant to health in pregnancy, birth, childhoodand the whole family wellness dynamic.

TAX DEDUCTIBLE MEMBERSHIPThe Alliance has 501-c3 non-profit status under the Holistic Pediatric Association.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE - subscription to our family wellness magazine:

Pathways- primary speciality listing on our active, on-line

practitioner directory- exposure to parents via our national advertising

campaign- access to our interactive, on-line clinical forum- discounts on practitioner seminars- collaboration for global wellness

The Alliance for Holistic Family Health and Wellness

Holistic Pediatric Association: Visit us on-line:www.holisticfamilyhealth.orgFor more information: 610-565-2360



f e at u r e



After enduring 50 hours in labor and the

Caesarean Section birth of her son Anson,

Kim Pham of Seattle did not head straight

home from the hospital to rest.

She took her 3-day-old son directly to a chiropractor because shewas concerned about the effects of the difficult labor and theunnatural tugging and pulling from the C-section on her newbaby’s spine.

Inna Garkavi of Bellevue regularly takes her 6-year-old son Benjito an acupuncturist to strengthen his immune system andreduce the effects of his asthma. Since beginning acupuncture,Benji has had fewer colds and has not had an asthma attack,allowing him to avoid the steroids commonly used to treat asthma.Garkavi also gives him herbal supplements such as astragalusand elderberry to boost his immune system.

Last spring, now 3-year-old Caden Ward of Seattle was hospital-ized three times due to his asthma and suffers from severe foodallergies to wheat, oats, soy, peanuts, chocolate and eggs. Hismom, Jennifer, sought advice from a registered dietitian. Throughdiet and the use of supplements such as cod liver oil and acidophilus, Caden has not had another asthma attack and hasbeen able to re-introduce some foods with no allergic reactions.

“I feel it is an important part of parenting to seek out the besttreatment for your child. If conventional medicine isn’t giving usthe answers we need, then it is our job to seek out as muchinformation as possible and make the best choices for ourkids,” Ward says.

Ward and other parents are among a growing number of parentsbranching out from traditional medicine and approaching healthin a more holistic manner. With disturbing questions raised in the

news about antibiotic overuse and side effects of various drugs,many parents are incorporating both traditional and holistichealth care practitioners into their family’s health care routine.

“There is a lot of concern about very young people becomingincreasingly medicated,” says Bruce Milliman, ND, a naturo-pathic physician at Seattle Healing Arts, who has been practicingfor 25 years. “Parents ask, ‘Is it really possible that my childneeds to be medicated before 5 years old?’ In the past, that wouldbe unusual, and now it is more commonplace. I think it is disturb-ing to parents who might be more thoughtful or better educated.”

“On average, about 40 percent of Americans use complementarytherapies,” adds Anjana Kundu, an MD and acupuncturist who isthe director of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) atChildren’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

Recognizing the public’s strong interest in holistic health care,the US federal government in 1998 created the National Centerfor Complementary and Alternative Medicine (replacing theOffice of Alternative Medicine, founded in 1992) and is pouring$123 million into complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)research this year alone.

Given the increasing number of adults now using a variety ofhealth care, it is not surprising that parents are also choosingthose options for their children. A study recently conducted inBoston indicates that about 42 percent of children in that cityuse complementary or alternative medicine. Although a study ofchildren using CAM has not yet been conducted here, localproviders suspect that the numbers could be even higher in theSeattle area.

“Seattle is a hotbed for alternative practitioners,” says FernandoVega, MD, a founder of Seattle Healing Arts, an integrativehealth care practice in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood. One

pathways | issue 14 7

new approaches to health care“Alternative” Therapies NowMainstream for Many Families

Jolene Gensheimer

f e at u r e



reason, he says, is the proximity of internationally recognizedBastyr University in Kenmore, a major training and research center for the natural health sciences.

“It is also the culture, the demographics,” Vega adds. “We haveyoung people here who may be from somewhere else and havehad a larger world experience.”

In addition, experts say that complementary therapies dovetailwith the philosophy of many Seattle-area parents proactivelyseeking providers who help their families stay well, rather thanwaiting to see a doctor after illness strikes.

At Children’s Hospital, for example, acupuncture has been sosuccessful that the hospital has hired a second full-time MDacupuncturist to start in September. Children’s offers an array ofcomplementary practices including acupunc-ture, acupressure, massage therapy, yoga,music therapy, and biofeedback.

“We’re very dedicated to developing both the clinical and research aspects of comple-mentary and integrative medicine,” Kundusays. “We want to put this on the big map andwe want to be one of the well-known institutes offering CIM, but it takes time todevelop.” According to Kundu, Children’s haschosen the term integrative medicine asopposed to alternative because they want toincorporate it with traditional therapy.

The variety of options available can be over-whelming to parents trying to decide how best to help their children. Cora Collette Breuner, MD, MPH, director of theOutpatient Adolescent Medicine Clinic at Children’s Hospitaland the liaison between Children’s Hospital and BastyrUniversity, recommends parents do their research and commu-nicate with their primary health care practitioner.

“I have a lot of respect for my alternative medical colleagues,”Breuner says, but adds, “I give my support to those treatmentswhere there are some safety standards or some compellingthoughtful scientific data supporting their efficacy.”

Patients are generally wary of speaking to their primary healthcare provider about alternative therapies—expecting a negativereaction—but Breuner says studies indicate that more medicaldoctors are now open to hearing about alternatives and collab-orating as an integrated team with alternative practitioners.Such communication is vital, she says, noting as an examplethat some herbal remedies can have harmful interactions withantibiotics or medications.

As a number of parents step away from the idea of having oneprimary caregiver for their children and look for a holistic team

approach, a growing number of Seattle-area practices arebecoming more integrated.

Carol Doroshow, an MD and Board-certified pediatrician and homeopathic physician in Seattle, partners with a pediatric chiropractor, Gita Vasudeva, DC, FICPA, who has herown flourishing nearby practice and comes into Doroshow’soffice once a week. Doroshow also refers patients to naturopaths and acupuncturists.

“It is so important to have a team working for your kids. It isabout having the right combination of things. We look at theindividual and come up with a plan,” Vasudeva says.

Doroshow notes that her methodology is different from traditional medical doctors. Her goal is for her clients to be

“educated consumers of health,” and sheencourages an open, dynamic dialogueregarding health choices. For instance, parents are encouraged to bring in any litera-ture they have read regarding health and shewill take time to discuss her view of variousstudies and approaches to the issue.

“My experience has taught me to be veryopen-minded. There are many ways to look atdisease and health based on your perspec-tive,” explains Doroshow, who has lived andworked in Ethiopia, Canada and various partsof the US.

Doroshow also encourages a healthy skepti-cism in all patients, saying, “When they take the advice of aphysician, I think they need to be encouraged to ask questions.They need to say, ‘Do I have any other options? Why are weusing antibiotics? Do I have any other choices?’ And physiciansneed to be willing to discuss in an open way what they are thinking about.”

Jaimie Edidin of Seattle, who takes his two daughters to Drs.Doroshow and Vasudeva, believes this is a powerful approachand appreciates the open dialogue. “They listen to the parents.It is not the traditional thing where, as a parent, you listen to thedoctor and say, OK, I will do whatever you tell me to do. It is notyour typical ‘Take these five pills and you will feel better in themorning.’ They are open. They see the big picture and work forthe betterment of your child.”

Edidin’s 4-year-old daughter Kaela sees a number of health careproviders. Born with a rare infantile epileptic disorder, Kaelarequires 24-hour nursing and a ventilator. She suffers from limited mobility and low energy.

f e at u r e

Studies indicatethat more medicaldoctors are nowopen to hearingabout alternativesand collaboratingwith alternativepractitioners.




f e at u r e



“Prior to seeing my kids go through this, I thought chiropracticwas just a bunch of bunk. No way. Now I go,” Edidin says. Kaelaused to have about 1,000 seizures a day and is now down to10–15, he adds, and they have weaned her off her seizure med-ication. He also notices that she has increased mobility andmore energy after every chiropractic adjustment. The entire fam-ily now receives regular chiropractic care and says it has helpedlower their stress levels and boost immune function.

Seattle Healing Arts, where Drs. Vega and Milliman both practice, has another unique approach to integrative healthcare. A variety of independent health care providers are housedin one building and share a common waiting room and frontoffice. The providers, including medical doctors, naturopathicdoctors, acupuncturists, chiropractors and licensed massagepractitioners, also share office space.

“The concept of collaboration is a theme in the clinic. With thedesks in one place, we hear each other’s conversations, we hearhow each other talks to patients, and we havedaily consultations together,” Vega says.Providers discuss new things they havelearned and pool their knowledge when some-one has a “clinical conundrum” such as a mys-terious rash, he adds.

A practitioner’s specific health care trainingusually means a different approach to thesame medical problem, something parentsmay want to keep in mind when choosing analternative provider. “The standard of care inthe conventional world of pediatrics might beto use an antibiotic in the first instance, wherea naturopathic doctor might try to find an alternative for that,”explains Milliman, a family practice naturopath and an adjunctassociate professor at Bastyr.

For example, the conventional standard with an ear infection is still to use antibiotics, but Milliman says that standard earinfections can be cured just as effectively and quickly withoutantibiotics. In the case of eczema, “Instead of first resorting totopical steroids, which we all prescribe, we might look at proba-ble causalities for the eczema,” he explains.

“Naturopathic doctors prescribe antibiotics in Washington, and we are not averse to using them. However, if we do usethem, we give the patient something like acidophilus to protectthe digestive tract,” he adds.

Using food and diet to heal the body is another growing trend.Eating more whole foods as opposed to heavily processed foodsgives the body more vital nutrients.

“Food is more than fuel; it is information,” explains KellyMorrow, a registered dietitian with a master’s degree fromBastyr. She notes that diseases of inflammation such as allergies, eczema and asthma can be eased with essential

fatty acids such as high quality fish oil supplements that aremercury-free.

Acupuncture’s popularity is clearly growing, too. “Acupunctureis basically a therapy where you are using the stimulation ofspecific points in your body which are located on meridians, orchannels, that run throughout your body,” Kundu explains. It ismost commonly used and studied as acupuncture analgesia, orpain relief, and she is able to replace or reduce the amount ofexternal substances needed to fight pain, such as morphine.

People choose acupuncture for a wide variety of reasons, includ-ing pain management, postoperative nausea and vomiting,asthma, allergies, sinusitis, medical illness, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, bedwetting and to fight side effects of cancer or medications.

She says the term needle is really a misnomer and compares it toa tiny, flexible toothpick. For wiggly little kids terrified of needles,

Kundu has plenty of tricks up her sleeve. “I doacupuncture on myself, the parents or even ontheir favorite toy. I let them feel the needle andask me questions, so there is a lot of prepara-tion and creativity that goes into it,” she says,adding that distractions such as blowing bub-bles sometimes work.

Studies of chiropractic care—which stereo-typically is considered a treatment for adultswith back pain but more broadly addressesthe nervous system and its role in overallhealth—are also showing impressive resultsfor children, including treatment for asthma,

respiratory infections, colic, ear infections and ADHD.

Vasudeva points out that the way a child receives a spinal adjust-ment is very different from an adult adjustment. It looks more likea massage, and she compares the amount of pressure to theamount you would use checking to see if a tomato is ripe. And ifher young patients are nervous, her pediatric chiropractic tableshaped like a bus with an enticing net of sea creatures hangingabove helps encourage the youngsters to relax

“In this society we base so much on symptoms,” Vasudeva says.“When we are in pain we are not well, and if we are not havingpain we seem to think we are OK—but that is where we are lag-ging and have to think more progressively.”

Jolene Gensheimer is a Bellevue-based freelance writer and motherof two.

Reprinted with permission from the May 2005 issue of ParentMapmagazine (www.parentmap.com).

For references and additional information about the author andtopic, please visit: www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org/references

It is not your typical“Take these fivepills and you willfeel better in themorning.” They areopen. They see thebig picture...


wellness lifestyle


Amy Tiemann, PhD

Let’s be honest, whether we are at home with the kids oremployed while mothering, the daily demands of family life take their toll on our minds and bodies. All moms need a break from time to time—it makes me think of the mythicalcountry song “How Can I Miss You if You Never Go Away?”When we take a break from our family responsibilities, wegain the perspective that distance brings, as well as a veryimportant opportunity to recharge our batteries. This is notselfishness, it is self-preservation.

My personal guideline is that every mother deserves to goaway at least twice a year for a long weekend of personalrenewal, in addition to any work travel or family trips shetakes. This doesn’t have to be an expensive getaway. It can mean staying at a retreat center, booking a value-pricedspa package, or renting a mountain cabin or beach cottage in the off-season with friends. My own moms’ group hasdone this several years for a reasonable cost. We alwayshave a blast and strengthen our friendships in a way that can only be done by spending an extended amount of timetogether. When I look back on what is special about thoseweekends, it’s not a fancy setting that matters. Sometimesthe conversations during the car ride up and back are themost fun. So is the chance to hang out in our pajamas andtalk over coffee until noon.

Mojo Mom’s Tips for a Relaxing Moms’ Weekend Away:

Scheduling at least two nights away will let you catch up onyour sleep, and will give you a full “day away” that is not atravel day.

Don’t over-schedule your weekend. Think about which activities will truly lead to a feeling of renewal. You don’twant to come home feeling more tired than when you left.It’s a true luxury to have the time to spend a day withoutmuch to do, to remember what free time feels like, and to let your mind roam. When I am away, I enjoy being as lazy as a lizard basking in the sun. As a writer, I have found thesebreaks to be key to my work productivity when I return.

Treat yourself to some nice meals out or enjoy cookingtogether. Watch your alcohol consumption—overindulgencenever feels good the next day and can undo the rejuvenatingeffects of your time away.

Your idea of a fun weekend might be to go shopping and catch a show in the city, but even if you create an urban getaway, set aside some timewhere you can visit a natural setting to recon-nect with natural beauty and walk outside.

Use this getaway as a chance for your husbandto run the household his way for a change. Aslong as he has the principles of basic safety covered,let the rest go. If the kids leave the house with theirshirts on inside out, it really doesn’t matter. There is a fine line between leaving the house in decent order so that your partner doesn’trun out of food and essen-tials on your first day away,and running around like amadwoman for a wholeweek cleaning the houseand cooking so that he

Mom’s Weekend Pass:


doesn’t have to. Find your comfort level in this arena andremember that it’s healthy for your family to carry the house-hold load on their own from time to time. This is a chance tomake the invisible work you do become visible. When yourfamily does the work by themselves they’ll better appreciatehow well you keep things running on a daily basis. Believeme, I’ve been there myself!

If you feel guilty about getting away, remember that beingrested will recharge your parenting reserves as well. Timeaway renews perspective. I am so excited to see my daughterand husband when I get home. I love the initial rush of free-dom that comes with getting away, and having someone elsecook and make the beds for a change, but I also love comingback to my own home and reconnecting with my family.

As the author of Mojo Mom: Nurturing Your Self While Raising aFamily, Amy Tiemann helps women create a new sense of identitywhen entering motherhood. Getting in touch with your true ‘self’while raising your baby is not only possible, it’s being done in“Mojo Mom Circles” around the country. See why women are

joining the revolution anddownloading their own“Mojo Mom Party Kits”from www.MojoMom.com.

Contact Amy at [email protected]

For references and additionalinformation about the author

and topic, please visit: www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org

/reference


Two nights away to recharge your batteries


n u t r i t i o n a l n u g g e t s


The Value of

Authentic VinegarCheryl Player


V


inegar has long had its place in the household kitchen cupboard.Unfortunately, the most commonlyused vinegar is white distilled vinegar.The process of distillation renders itnutrition-less, removing minerals such as potassium and important acids whichward off bodily toxins and unfriendlybacteria. This highly processed vinegarcan be demineralizing when ingested;therefore, it should not be used inter-nally. It does however work well in allkinds of household cleaning chores.

There are much better choices of vinegarwhich meet culinary approval and have medicinal integrity. One that hasgained in popularity over the years isapple cider vinegar. The taste is tartand fruity and complements many dishes. The best choice would be anorganic, naturally brewed, unfilteredand unpasteurized apple cider vinegar made with whole crushedapples, especially freshly picked applesinstead of the typical windfall apples. It is the apple cider vinegar made without heat or preservatives. Folklorehas it that it can be taken with water asa restorative tonic.

Because of the concern people mayhave about E. coli due to the outbreakin unpasteurized apple juice, I was ableto find out from the Vinegar Institutethat “E. coli cannot survive in the low

(acidic) pH of vinegar” and test resultswere negative. If it contains “mother,”then all the better. Mother is the namefor the stringy protein molecules thatform in authentic vinegar. If this isunappealing to you, it can be removedby gently filtering through an unbleachedcoffee filter or other appropriate method.

Apple cider vinegar has long been usedin folk remedies. Hippocrates, the fatherof medicine, used it in 400 BC to treathis patients. Dr. Jarvis, the author ofFolk Medicine, states “One reason for

the versatility of apple cider vinegar as aremedy in Vermont folk medicine is thatit associates minerals with potassium.These are phosphorous, chlorine, sodium,magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, fluorine,silicon and many trace minerals.” Healso stresses the importance of the mineral potassium in particular as hestates “potassium is to soft tissues whatcalcium is to hard tissues.”

Another illustration of the importanceof potassium is stated by Paul Bragg,ND, PhD in his book Apple CiderVinegar, about an experiment conductedin 1912. He states “Research scientistDr. Alexis Carrel kept the cells of anembryo chicken heart alive and healthyfor over 30 years by daily monitoringits complete nutrition, cleansing andelimination. The normal life span of an average chicken is 7–8 years.” Thechicken embryo was given apple cidervinegar daily for its supply of potassium.Dr. Carrel could have gone on with theexperiment, but he felt he had provedhis point that healthy cells can continueto rejuvenate with proper maintenance.

Also explained by Dr. Paul Bragg is the body’s amazing ability to constantlyrejuvenate itself. He explains that everythree months a new bloodstream isbuilt, every eleven months we build anew set of billions of body cells, andevery two years new sets of bones andhard tissues are built. This constantstate of renewal is indicative of thebody’s fight to stay young, healthy, and full of life with proper nutrition,minerals, and elimination of toxins.Apple cider vinegar provides importantminerals and also has a detoxifyingeffect on the liver.

Brown rice vinegar has been called theeastern version of apple cider vinegar.

This constant state of

renewal is indicative of

the body’s fight to stay

young, healthy, and full

of life...



The flavor has about half the sharpnessand a subtle sweetness. When shoppingfor brown rice vinegar, Kyushu is a particular type that stands out from the rest. It accounts for less than onepercent of Japan’s annual 100 milliongallon production of vinegar. Unlikeother brown rice vinegars, Kyushu is buried in the ground outdoors inglazed crocks where it is allowed to ferment. This keeps the temperatureconstant which is very importantbecause variations in temperature canruin a batch very quickly. This processincludes high quality ingredients and ismuch more tedious than conventionalbrown rice vinegar, but the end resultyields superior flavor and five times the amount of amino acids. Organicbrown rice vinegar can be used in place of apple cider vinegar in variousfolklore remedies.

Authentic vinegar is very useful to thebody and research suggests the aminoacids are partly responsible for themedicinal effect. John and Jan Belleme,authors of Culinary Treasures of Japan,state in their book “Dr. Yoshio Takino

of Shizuka University, Japan, has confirmed the importance of vinegar’samino acids. According to Takino, thetwenty amino acids and sixteen organicacids found in authentic rice vinegarhelp prevent the formation of toxic fatperoxides. He explains that when unsat-urated fatty acids from vegetable oilsand other foods are heated and exposedto light in cooking or oxidized duringmetabolism, fat peroxides can form,which contribute to aging and to choles-terol formation on blood vessel walls.”

Both apple cider vinegar and brownrice vinegar are used medicinally forvarious ailments. There are, however,other types of vinegar which are used

all around the world to add taste andappeal to all types of dishes. Modena,Italy is known for its great tasting balsamic vinegar. It is made by gentlycrushing wine grapes and then boilingthe juice in a vat. After several moresteps it is poured into wooden casts to ferment. The method of makingtradizional or the “real thing” takesyears and is very expensive. The endproduct is a nice balance of sweet andsour and lends full, rich flavor to all it issprinkled on. Balsamic vinegar is highin health-promoting resveratrol, anantioxidant found in red grape skins.

Wine vinegar differs according to thesource of wine. Red wine vinegar addsa robust flavor and goes well with pungent greens, as well as meats andcheese, much like red wine itself. Whitewine vinegar has a more delicate flavorand is excellent with tender, younggreens and pasta dishes.

The research that has been done onapple cider vinegar and brown ricevinegar speaks for itself concerning the health benefits. I was unable tofind health-related information support-

The twenty amino acids

and sixteen organic

acids found in authentic

rice vinegar help prevent

toxic fat peroxides.


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ing other vinegar types. This is not tosay, however, that this research is notin the works. Something to look forwhen shopping for either wine vinegaror balsamic vinegar is a type of preservative called sulfites. MarcioBontempo, a medical doctor in Brazilhas stated “one in five people are sulfite-sensitive,” and that “five percent of those who have asthma are also at risk of suffering an adversereaction to the substance.” Whichevertypes of vinegars you decide to experi-ment with, by all means add them toyour dishes to impart fresh, zingy flairto all your culinary creations.

This article was contributed by CherylPlayer. Please visit www.leaflady.org

For references and additional information about the author and topic, please visit: www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org/ references


c h i r o p r a c t i c f o r l i f e


Jeanne Ohm, DC

The term “wellness” is becoming common and being used bymany holistic care groups to describe the type of care they areoffering. In an effort to better understand its definition, I looked it up in various dictionaries. Merriam Webster defineswellness as “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal.” FromWikipedia, the free encyclopedia, I read,“Wellness is generally used to mean a healthybalance of the mind-body and spirit thatresults in an overall feeling of well-being…Inother words, wellness is a view of health thatemphasizes the state of the entire being andits ongoing development.”

The ICPA recently sent out a survey to its members asking for the reasons why parentsbring their children in for chiropractic care. Thenumber one reason reported was “wellness.”Parents are recognizing the importance of chiropractic care and the significant role itplays in the family wellness lifestyle.

Let’s look more closely how your doctor of chiropractic contributes to your family wellness. Back to basicchiropractic science, the adjustment reduces nerve systemstress and allows the body to function in a greater state ofhealth. As the nerve system regains proper function, all systems of the body are improved. This is because the nervesystem is the master control system of the entire body. Itorchestrates and regulates all other body systems. There is noquestion that health in the body is dependent on a healthynerve system function.

Additionally, doctors of chiropractic offer their patientslifestyle options that contribute to their well-being. Improvedposture, suggestions for body movement and exercise signifi-cantly contribute towards our overall health by their affect onnerve system function. Awareness of chemical toxicities andtheir effect on the nerve system are another way that doctorsof chiropractic guide their patients to a healthier lifestyle.Chiropractors have always offered these suggestions to their

patients, even before other professions saw the importance ofthese factors in health. These physical components are vitalcomponents for healthy nerve system function and thereforewell-being.

We also know that when our nerve system is healthier ourminds function more efficiently as well. In chiropractic, our specific work with the nerve system has a significant effect onour ability to affect the way we think and behave. An overloaded, ill functioning nerve system cannot handle additional physical or emotional stress overload. Pathwayshas frequently published articles and testimonials supportingthe positive effect the chiropractic adjustment has had on people’s thoughts and feelings. In one issue, a young boy diagnosed with ADHD said this to his mother about the adjustment, “it takes the noise out of my head.” How profoundis his statement in realizing the direct correlation between

nerve system function and the ability to thinkand feel clearly.

So too, our feelings and attitudes have a directcorrelation to our nerve system. Current science is demonstrating the direct relationshipbetween our thoughts and feelings and ournerve system function. In other words feelingsof despair and hopelessness create a stressoverload on our nerve system and once again,an overloaded nerve system creates malfunc-tion in our bodies.

What chiropractic offers is the physical adjust-ment to reduce nerve system stress and acomplimentary philosophy to support nervesystem function as well. In this way it is

uniquely affecting nerve system function from two perspectivesand therefore offering a deeper level of health and wellness.

The chiropractic philosophy of health is: recognition, respectand trust in the body’s innate purpose to heal and be well.Understanding this empowering view of health is a huge bene-fit to reducing nerve system stress as feelings of despair andfear about healing are replaced with hope and confidence.Current scientific studies are showing us that those two feelingsare essential for true and lasting healing and wellness.

Chiropractic care is pioneering the wellness movementbecause of its unique ability to enhance nerve system functionon both of these levels. Join the many families who have madechiropractic care the largest natural healing movement today.

Nerve SystemFunction and Wellness



The chiropractic philosophy of health is:

recognition,

respect and

trustin the body’s innate purpose

to heal and be well.



p r e g n a n c y & b i r t h

For Many Pregnant Moms,webster technique is the Key to a Safer BirthNicole A. Whitehead, DC


If your particular high-risk situation doesn’t automaticallyrequire Cesarean, a breech (or transverse or oblique) presen-tation greatly increases that chance. Even in the case of low-risk pregnancies, abnormal position near the end of termcommonly results in surgical birth. In fact, 2003 data fromthe National Center for Health Statistics shows that 87.2% of all breech presentations were delivered by Cesarean.

If your baby has not turned head-down by approximately36–37 weeks, your doctor may suggest attempting externalcephalic version. In this procedure, your doctor tries to turnyour baby while still in the uterus by pushing on the babywith his or her hands through your abdomen. This procedurecan bring about complications for any mom, including vagi-nal bleeding, premature rupture of membranes, fetal distress

and premature labor.For many high-riskpregnancy situations,external cephalicversion would not be recommendeddue to these possi-ble complications.For some high-riskpregnancies, exter-nal cephalic versionis contraindicated,meaning it is not

even considered as a possible option due to the high likeli-hood that it would cause serious problems.

So, once you and your doctor realize that your baby is notpositioned head-down, the most likely approach in a high-risk pregnancy is to wait and see if your baby will sponta-neously turn. If your doctor is comfortable with the idea of external cephalic version in your case, you may weigh the pros and cons and decide to give it a try. Unfortunately,according to the American College of Obstetricians andGynecologists (2000), external version only has a 58% success rate. If you cannot try, or are not comfortable trying,external cephalic version, or if it is unsuccessful, you areusually left waiting again for your baby to turn on his or herown. At this point, you will be well aware that if your babyhas not turned head-down by the time you begin labor, youwill need a C-section. What else can you possibly do other

than just wait? What other options do you, as a concernedmother, have to attempt to prevent this scenario?

Let’s take a step back and talk about the “why’s” of abnormal presentation. Remember that your baby has innateprogramming that helps him or her know what to do duringgrowth and development. Most babies do assume a vertexposition before labor, because their instincts direct them to.This is the same way they innately know to push with theirfeet off the top of the uterus during contractions or to latchon to a breast even when they have never before seen one.So why hasn’t your baby turned vertex? Because your babydidn’t get the programming to know to do that? Of course not.

Something is preventing the natural process from occurringin your situation. In some cases, it can be a structural issuewithin the womb, such as a fibroid or other space occupyingpresence. Often, pre-term labor is accompanied by abnormalpresentation because the “time to turn” in the baby’s programming had not yet occurred. However, according toDanforth’s Obstetrics and Gynecology, there is no apparentcause for the failure to go vertex over 50% of the time. It would be ludicrous to assume that over 50% of the fetusesin abnormal position simply “didn’t get the memo” aboutturning head-down. So, it logically follows that something ispreventing the baby from turning.

In the late seventies, Larry Webster, DC, founder of theInternational Chiropractic Pediatric Association, noted a connection between misalignments of the sacral and pelvicbones and abnormal fetal positioning. He developed a gentle chiropractic adjusting technique (called the WebsterTechnique) to restore movement and alignment in the pelvic region and saw that babies would regularly turn to the vertex position on their own after the adjustment. During his career, Dr. Webster himself had a success rate over 90% (within three adjustments), working withapproximately 1,000 pregnant moms with babies in compromised positions.

The key to this approach is simple anatomy. The uterus is physically attached to the pelvis and sacrum by way of theuterosacral ligaments behind the uterus and the round liga-ments in front and the broad ligament on each side. Duringpregnancy, the increased physical loads on the skeleton andthe presence of the hormone relaxin in soft tissues make iteasy for the sacrum and pelvic bones to shift and become


As a mom navigating her way through a high-risk pregnancy, news of one more

complication just leaves you with more questions and concerns. When the news is

that your baby is not in the head down (or vertex) position, your questions go

something like this: Will my baby turn on its own? Will I need external cephalic

version? Can I even have that? Is it safe? Will I need to have a C-section?


misaligned. Extended bed rest can also contribute to sacralmisalignment, as can improper postures and minor traumas.When this occurs, the two ligaments described above arepulled into tension.

The pull of these uneven ligaments on the uterus causes torsion to the uterus and creates a condition referred to asintra-uterine constraint for the baby. Imagine pulling on twosides of a balloon. The balloon shortens and becomes rigidin response to the pulling forces. The same thing occurs with the uterus, essentially trapping the baby in whateverposition it was in at the time of constraint. Until the pull onthe uterus can be removed, the constraint will remain andthe baby may not be able to force its way into the vertexposition. Moms experiencing intra-uterine constraint willoften report a decrease in the baby’s movement, or a devel-opment of jerky, tense movements, indicating that the baby’sability to move is restricted.

The Webster chiropractic adjustment begins the process of realigning the sacrum, thus relieving the pull that createsthe intra-uterine constraint. Once that constraint is removed,

your baby is then freeto follow its instinctsand assume a vertexposition. This techniqueinvolves no externalforces on the babydirectly, and it is very comfortable and extremely safe.According to the Journalof Manipulative and

Physiological Therapeutics (2002), an 82% success rate is seen by chiropractors using this technique on motherswith abnormal presentations.

Although most pregnant moms can receive chiropractic care at any point in their pregnancies, a mother specifically concerned with an abnormal presentation can benefit fromthe Webster technique beginning in the seventh or eighthmonth. Because several adjustments are sometimes neededto facilitate optimal baby positioning, starting this care at the “eleventh hour,” after nothing else has worked, is not the best approach. It is always worth the attempt at the last minute to try to prevent a Cesarean, and the effort mayresult in a success, but having a week or two to administerseveral adjustments, if necessary, will greatly increase thelikelihood of the baby going head down. Even once the babyhas turned to the correct position, continued adjustmentsright up until birth can help create a safer and easier birth for the mother and baby.

Due to its high success rate and non-invasive nature, theWebster Technique should be the logical first choice for

mothers and birth practitioners who are concerned with a possible C-section or a complex vaginal delivery due toabnormal presentation. The Webster technique requires no medication and has virtually no negative side effects,making it a prudent step before attempting external version.In fact, there are often positive side effects to removing intra-uterine constraint for the baby besides the potential for vertex positioning. Without intra-uterine constraint, yourbaby has more room for movement and proper in-uterodevelopment. Free of pelvic and sacral misalignments, thebirth canal diameter is maximized, thus decreasing yourchances for difficult labor and additional complications during delivery. Due to the gentle nature of the Webster technique, it is a safe approach for almost all pregnancies,including many high-risk situations. When you find a Websterpractitioner, discuss the particulars of your situation withhim or her to confirm that the approach is in your and yourbaby’s best interests.

How do you find a chiropractor who is trained and experi-enced in the Webster Technique? The best resource is the“Find a Doctor” search on the website of the InternationalChiropractic Pediatric Association, www.icpa4kids.org. All the doctors listed have special interest and training in the care of pregnant mothers, infants and children. The directory shows clearly which doctors have receivedextensive advanced training and certification specifically in the Webster technique. When you find a Webster doctor,you can be sure that you are taking the safest, most effective steps toward helping your baby achieve optimalfetal positioning for a safer and easier birth.

Nicole A. Whitehead, DC is a family chiropractor in Mooresville,NC. She has extensive post-graduate training and experience in the care of pregnant moms, infants and children. She is amember of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association,and is, of course, Webster Technique certified. Her private practice, Advanced Spinal Fitness, is a diverse community where infants and kids achieve maximum health alongside“grown-ups,” including racecar drivers and crew members—Dr. Whitehead’s other specialized patient population.

Visit Advanced Spinal Fitness online at www.DrNicole.net.

Photo Courtesy of Westwood Family Chiropractic.

For references and additional information about the author and

topic, please visit: www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org/references


As La Leche League celebrates

its 50th Anniversary with World

Breastfeeding Week Celebrations

all across America, you can take

the opportunity to thank this

nonprofit organization for 50 years

of mothering wisdom, information

and support.

Thank you to the 2007 Platinum Level Prize Sponsors: ERGO Baby Carrier, Inc., Mothering Magazine, and Medela, Inc.

We also want to thank the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

1-800 LALECHE www.llli.org

Attend the La Leche League International Conference, Chicago, July 20-23, 2007,

or a World Breastfeeding Week Celebration, May 1 – September 30, 2007

listed at: http://www.lllusa.org/wbw/calendar.php.

Donate to your local La Leche League Group, http://www.llli.org/WebIndex.htmlin honor of World Breastfeeding Week.

Sponsor World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations on the local or national level. Have

your business or Web site featured on the WBW pages as a Platinum, Diamond, or Gold

Prize Sponsor. See http://www.lllusa.org/wbw/sponsors.php for more information.

Contribute online to World Breastfeeding Week at https://donate2lll.org/indexSecure.htm.

It’s a generous way to thank the seven Founders of La Leche League—the women who held

that first breastfeeding meeting 50 years ago!

Become a member of La Leche League, http://www.llli.org/membership.html.La Leche League needs your interest and support.

August 1-7, 2007


Nipple pain caused by Candida albicans

The pain caused by a yeast infection is generally different fromthe pain caused by poor positioning and/or ineffective suckling.The pain caused by a yeast infection is often burning in nature,rather than the sharp, stabbing, or pinching pain associatedwith other causes. Not uncommonly, the pain will begin after aperiod of pain-free nursing. This characteristic alone is reasonenough to try treatment for yeast. However, milk blisters onthe nipple also may cause nipple pain after a period of pain-free nursing. The pain frequently lasts throughout the feeding,and occasionally continues after the feeding has ended. This isin contrast to the pain due to other causes which usually hurtsmost as feeding begins, and gradually improves as the babynurses. Also, the pain may radiate into the mother’s armpit orinto her back. For some women, the pain is worse at night.

A yeast infection may be associated with recent use of antibi-otics by the baby or mother, but not necessarily. It may causeno change in the appearance of the mother’s nipples or areo-las, though there may be redness or some scaling, or the skinof the areola may be smooth and shiny. The infection may be

Why isYour KidPurple?

Using Gentian Violet

b r e a s t f e e d i n g

Gentian violet (1% solution in

water) is an excellent treatment

for Candida albicans. Candida

albicans is a type of yeast that

may cause an infection of skin

and/or mucous membranes in

both children and adults. In small

children, this yeast may cause

white patches in the mouth

(thrush), or diaper rash. When

the nursing mother has a yeast

infection of the nipple, she may

experience severe nipple pain as

well as deep breast pain.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC



quite severe and may or may not be itchy. Sometimes, theinfection may occur only in the breast. At the same time, thebreast appears or feels normal. This is not mastitis and there isno reason to treat with antibiotics. On the contrary, antibioticsmay make the problem worse.

Using Gentian Violet

We believe that gentian violet is the best treatment of nipplesoreness due to Candida albicans for the breastfeeding mother. This is because it almost always works and relief israpid. It is messy and will stain clothing, but not skin. Thebaby’s lips will turn purple, but the purple will disappear aftera few days. Gentian violet is available without prescription butis not available at all pharmacies. Call before going out to getit. Use the following steps to aid in treating a yeast infectionwith Gentian violet:

About 10 ml (two teaspoons) of gentian violet is more thanenough for an entire treatment.

Many mothers prefer doing the treatment just before bed sothat they can keep their nipples exposed and not worry aboutstaining their clothing. The baby should be undressed to hisdiaper, and the mother should be uncovered from the waist up.Gentian violet is messy.

Dip an ear swab (Q-tip) into the gentian violet.

Put the purple end of the ear swab into the baby’s mouth andlet him suck on the swab for a few seconds. The gentian violetusually spreads around the mouth quickly. If it does not, paintthe inside of the mouth to cover as much of the inside of thecheeks and tongue as possible.

Put the baby to the breast. In this way, both the baby’s mouthand your nipple are treated.

If, at the end of the feeding, you have a baby with a purplemouth, and two purple nipples, there is nothing more to do.If only one nipple is purple, paint the other one with the earswab and the gentian violet. In this way, the treatment is finished in one go.

Repeat the treatment each day for three or four days.

There is often some relief within hours of the first treatment,and the pain is usually gone or virtually gone by the third day.If it is not, it is unlikely that Candida was the problem, thoughit seems Candida albicans is starting to show some resistanceto gentian violet, as it is to other antifungal agents. Of coursethere may be more than one cause of nipple pain, but afterthree days the contribution to your pain caused by Candidaalbicans should be gone. Do not continue the gentian violet if

no relief occurs after 3–4 days of treatment. Instead, get moreinformation.

There is no need to treat just because the baby has thrush inhis mouth. The reason to treat is the mother’s and/or baby’sdiscomfort. Babies, however, do not commonly seem to bebothered by thrush. Uncommonly, babies who are treatedwith gentian violet develop sores in the mouth which maycause them to reject the breast. If this occurs, or if the baby isirritable while nursing, stop the gentian violet immediately,and contact the clinic. The sores clear up within 24 hours and the baby returns to feeding. All artificial nipples that thebaby uses should be boiled daily during the treatment, or well covered with gentian violet. Consider stopping the use ofartificial nipples.

If the infection recurs, treatment can be repeated as above.But if the infection recurs a third time, a source of reinfectionshould be sought out. The source may be the mother who is a carrier for the yeast (but may have no sign of infection elsewhere), or from artificial nipples the baby puts in hismouth. Treatment of the mother (usually with a medicationother than gentian violet) at the same time as treatment isrepeated for the nipples will usually eliminate reinfection.Contact your doctor.

For references and additional information about the author and topic, please visit: www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org/references

Photo Courtesy of Evan Long

A few notes about Candida albicans:

• The baby does not have to have thrush

in his mouth.

• A yeast infection of the nipple may be

combined with other causes of soreness.

• Burning pain may be due to other causes,

and pain due to a yeast infection does

not necessarily burn.



pa r e n t i n g

Your son rides his bike without a helmet. Again.You’ve nagged, begged, pleaded, and informedhim of the dangers of riding without one. Next,you’ve issued Consequences! You’ve taken thebike away and put it in the garage for a day, then a week, and then, a whole month. You’vedone everything the parenting books say for aconsequence to work. It’s reasonable. Anyonecan live a day without a bike. It’s respectful.You’re not hitting or calling him names. And it’srelated. No helmet, no bike. It’s simple to under-stand. But the problem is that he is still riding a bike without a helmet! And the situation couldturn into a huge power struggle every time youtake the bike away.

Clearly, the Consequence has not worked. Why not? Often, consequences are disguised as punishments. They do not help in makingamends, cleaning up, fixing things, nor do theysolve problems. Children really need to see thepurpose in logical consequences and very often,there is no real purpose, other then to inflict pain and inconvenience for the child until theychange their behaviour. However, children willnot change their behaviour until the underlyingfeeling or need has been addressed and a solution found.

In this instance, the consequence was issued as more of a punishment then a solution. Takingthe bike away does nothing to solve the problemof why the helmet is unacceptable to the child. How to tell the difference between consequencesas a solution and consequences as a punishment?If you are threatening a consequence, it’s probablymore of a punishment, and not a workable solution, and even with the three R’s, (respectful,related, reasonable) it won’t work to bring abouta positive change of behaviour.

What to do? Sit down with your son and probewhy he doesn’t like the bike helmet. Perhaps it’s

in an inconvenient place to access. He needs a solution to make it handier to use. Perhaps he just never can remember. He needs solutions to help him remember. Perhaps a visual pictureon the door might work. Perhaps the helmetdoesn’t fit right or looks goofy. He needs toobtain a different helmet. This isn’t all on theparent’s shoulder to fix. Involving the child infinding a solution is essential in developing theirproblem-solving skills, creativity, and teamwork,as well as making it more likely they will acceptthe solution chosen.

So, make sure that the consequences are solution-focused rather than pain-focused. A commonconcern is, “Won’t my child ever learn the consequences of his actions if I don’t set up logical consequences?” Of course he will. The rest of the world will be happy to teach your child the logical consequences of hisactions and sometimes it will be painful andinconvenient for him, but only you, the parent,can provide the safe haven of your loving relationship to teach him how to solve problems,make restitution, and make amends. That’s theharder job. But the bonus is that you’ll enjoyless power struggles and more connection,teaching, and learning in your relationship.

Judy Arnall is a 10-year veteran parent educator,award-winning speaker, and mother of five children. She is the author of Discipline Without Distress: 135 Tools For Raising Caring,Responsible Children Without Time-out, Spanking,Punishment or Bribes. Email [email protected] or visit www.attachmentparenting.ca for moreinformation.


When Consequences Don’t WorkJudy Arnall

Photo on this page:© Photographer: Jelena Popiç | A

gency: Dream

stime.com



Children will not

change their

behaviour until the

underlying feeling

or need has been

addressed and

a solution found.



m i n d — b o dy

Re-Valuing

Free PlAyCynthia Aldinger


Many parents don’t realize that imaginative free play has been

squeezed out of our children’s lives,

and what a tremendous loss this is.

The majority of preschool programs today emphasize earlylearning, computer literacy, or using the materials in justone way rather than being play-centered. Some public elementary schools provide no recess or physical educationtime at all. The highly structured time a child spends in preschool, daycare, school, or aftercare is usually supple-

mented by a daily dose of enrichment classes and adult-led sports. These activitiesare sandwiched in between the three to four hours a day the average child spendswatching television, movies, or playing with video games. The old refrain from mychildhood, “What’ll I do?” is rarely heard today as children have almost no time inwhich they are not being instructed or entertained.

Neighborhood play has all but disappeared along with our neighborhoods. Manyparents fearfully keep their children indoors or under constant supervision, andchildren frequently must be driven to friends’ houses. Spontaneous activities suchas bike riding, outdoor skating, or ball games have for the most part been replacedby soccer, hockey, or other leagues which often place tremendous pressure on thechild to compete or perform.

All children need “off time” in which they can be the initiators of their own activity,whether that involves making something, reading, writing, or just daydreaming. It isimportant for the development of the will, for the devel-opment of the ability to take initiative, that childrenhave unstructured time in environments which encour-age creative activity.

For the young child, imaginative free play is especiallyimportant because it nurtures the kind of creativitywhich will be transformed into creative thinking. Theyoung child’s ability to pretend that a basket ofpinecones is baby chicks one moment and apples thenext reflects the child’s fluid consciousness and isexcellent preparation for reading, where written sym-bols represent something else. When young childrenare using their imaginations in play, their brains areworking and developing in a much healthier way thanwhen they are being made to sit and do pages fromworkbooks. The saying “play is the work of childhood”reflects the importance which free play holds in thehealthy development of the child.

© Photographer: M

arzanna Syncerz | Agency: D

reamstim

e.com

It is important for the devel-

opment of the will, for the

development of the ability to

take initiative, that children

have unstructured time in

environments which encour-

age creative activity.




Activities which are child-directed are like an “out breath” through which he or shecan relax and release energy. When parents or teachers create the space for freeartistic activities or when toys encourage the child’s imagination, the child can beactive and express everything from life which he or she has taken in so eagerly.Creative free play engages children completely: their bodies are in movement, theirminds and imaginations are lightning-quick, they are able to act out roles and situ-ations which they have experienced around them, and they are often interactingsocially with one or more other children.

When I was teaching in a Waldorf (Rudolf Steiner) preschool, the most frequentlyheard comment at the November parent evening was, “Ryan is so much more imag-inative now” or “Heather plays so much better with her brother. There’s so much lessfighting now, and they always seem to have something to do.” How can you encour-age your child’s healthy free play? Here are some practical suggestions:

• Value unstructured time for your child. Look at your child’s schedule and see if it needs simplifying.

• Limit or switch off the media. Children should be playing with puppets, not watching them on tele-vision. Movement is the lifeblood of childhood.

• Read and tell stories to your child. Images formed through listening involve entirely different partsof the brain than those received from television.

• Provide simple costumes and toys which encourage imagination. Toys which aren’t very detailedsuch as cloth dolls without expressions and items found in nature engage active imagination betterthan cartoons or plastic action figures.

• Arrange toys so the child is “drawn in.” Put the dolls to bed or arrange figures in a scene ratherthan having everything thrown together in a basket.

• Provide time in nature and interaction with the four elements.

Creative free play engages

children completely: their

bodies are in movement,

their minds and imagina-

tion are lightening-quick,

they are able to act out

roles and situations...and

they are often interacting

socially with one or more

other children.


2006 World Organisation of Patients, Associations & Affiliations, a UK Registered Not-for-Profit Organisation.

The World Patient Association for

Natural Health Invites You…

JOIN NOW!(limited time offer)

CONNECT TO NATURAL HEALTH INFORMATION

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gency: Dream

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• Choose play-based programs for preschool and daycare.

• Let your child help you with real work. “Helping”rinse the dishes, fold the laundry, or fix a bicycle is quality time, especially if you enjoy one anotherand don’t expect them to “get results” (being goal-directed makes it adult work, not child’s play).

• Provide smaller-sized tools so your child can playout the things he has seen you doing—woodworking,cooking, etc. Children cannot help but imitate theworld around them.

• Encourage artistic activities which allow freeexpression: coloring on blank paper, painting, modeling with colored beeswax, etc.

When our children are adults, most of the jobs availablewill not even have been thought of today. And the worldthey will be inheriting will demand adults who can thinkcreatively and who are able to act with courage and initia-tive. By putting your attention on the value and quality offree play, you will be helping your child reclaim his or hernatural birth right, creative imagination, and you will begiving him or her important preparation for adult life.



fa m i ly l i f e


Keeping our Babies Safe in Motion

Although I would love to stay at home all day with mybaby, my life requires me to leave home on occasion.Well actually, my son, Xander, and I usually have to venture out everyday. The one

thing I can count on is that when I put Xander in his car seat I have done everything

possible to make him safe on our journey. When I was pregnant, I went to register

for my baby shower. What a confusing and overwhelming experience to say the least.

You have the list of “necessities” and the little sensor gun. Of course, once you got

started, the things like bedding, towels, and clothes were easy. You just picked the

color scheme you wanted. Then, it was time to pick out the stroller and high chair.

These items were also based on the look, color, and ease of setting up and taking

down. Now, I was almost done. I had only the car seat left. I remember standing there

in the aisle just staring. I had no idea what I needed. There were infant-only seats,

toddler seats, convertible seats, and booster seats. There were instructions on them

regarding forward facing and rear facing. Did they all fit in every car? Will my baby

need the same seat or different seats? Was it based on age or weight? I had to stop

© Photographer: M

athieu Viennet | A

gency: Dream

stime.com

Bridget Horan, DC, DACCP



and think a minute. I then decided to call a few friends who already have

children. After those phone calls, I didn’t know if I felt any better. Each friend

had a different brand and style. Each friend had different advice on why their seat

was the best. I decided to start with the one that was made for the smallest baby.

I chose an infant seat.

That seems like so long ago. I made a very good choice that day but I have

definitely learned a lot since then. I have learned that the best seat for your child

is the one that fits your child the best, is used properly, and is used every time

you drive. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued some basic guidelines

for Car Seat Safety. There are as follows:

Always use a car seat.

Read the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and

keep them with the car seat.

Read your vehicle owner’s manual for important

information on how to install the car seat correctly

for your specific vehicle.

The safest place for all children is in the back seat.

Never place a child in a rear-facing car seat in the front

seat of a vehicle with an active passenger airbag.

The harness system holds your child in the car safety

seat. The seat belt or lower anchors and tethers for

children (LATCH) system hold the car seat in the car.

All of these may sound like common sense, but many children are unnecessarily

injured in car accidents because car seats are used incorrectly or not at all.

Children are improperly placed in them or are in a car seat not right for their size.

Many safety experts believe that 80–90% of car seats are not installed and/or

used properly.1 Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death

for children ages 1 to 14 years. We can take steps to change these statistics.2

In my state, Illinois, the law requires that a child from birth to 8 years of age be

transported in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat when traveling in

a vehicle. Children between the ages of 8 and 16 must be secured in a seatbelt.2

There are different types of seats for the different ages and weights your child

will grow through. There are infant seats, which your baby should be in from birth

until one year of age and 20 pounds. There are convertible safety seats, which

should be used rear-facing prior to your child’s first birthday and until your child

reaches 20 pounds. Some rear-facing seats may allow your child to remain rear-

facing until 30 pounds. The convertible seat should be utilized forward-facing

when your child weighs between 20 to 40 pounds and is at least one year old.

Most forward-facing child seats have an upper weight limit of 40 pounds and

should not be used if your child weighs more than 40 pounds. A belt-positioning

booster seat should be utilized if your child weighs approximately 40 to 80

pounds. Some booster seats have upper weight limits of 100 pounds. These are

general guidelines, so always check the weight and height limits for the seat that

you purchase.2

If you are using a used car seat the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly

suggests, be sure to keep a few things in mind. How old is your car seat? Check

with the manufacturer for recommendations regarding how long a seat is usable.3

Most seats come with an expiration date. Most guidelines indicate a child safety

seat should only be used for 6 years from its manufacture date.2 Has the car seat



ever been in a crash? If so, it should not be used. Are there manufacturer labels with

the seat name or model number? If not, you should not use it because you will not

be able to keep current with recalls. Are there instructions with the car seat? If not,

you need to get them from the manufacturer before you use the car seat. Don’t use

if the frame has any cracks or is missing parts.3

Now, your next step is to learn how to use the seat you picked out. One of my biggest

inspirations for writing this article is that I commonly hear mother’s talk about how

excited they are to finally have their children forward facing now because they are

twenty pounds. I am very concerned because these children have not reached the

age of one year yet. Carefully read the instructions that came with the car seat and

the owner’s manual for your specific vehicle when installing the car seat. Fill out

and mail the owner’s card that came with the seat. This is how you will be notified

if there is ever a safety recall on the seat. If you still have problems getting the child

seat to fit properly in your vehicle, you can have your seat checked by a Certified

Child Safety Seat Technician. Many police departments, fire departments, and hospitals

have trained Technicians to assist in getting the seat installed properly. To locate a

technician in your area, go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov and click on “Locate a Child Safety

Seat Inspection Station” in the Child Passenger Safety section. You can also have

your child seat installation checked at a local Car Seat Checkup Event. A list of events

can be obtained on the Internet by conducting a search of “Car Seat Checkup Event

[your state].” You can also find additional information on child seat safety and laws

at the NHTSA website.2

The placement and fitting of the belts on your child in the seat is so important.

Please read the manual of the seat and the car to determine where the belts go.

The car seat harness should be adjusted so you can only slip one finger underneath

the strap at your child’s chest. The harness retainer clip should be positioned across

the chest at the armpit level.4 These guidelines are in place to keep your children

safe. My frustration regarding the mothers who have turned their infants’ car seats

forward too early, is that, although their children may weigh 20 pounds it does not

mean they have the musculoskeletal system of a one-year old. The forward direction

dramatically increases the probability of serious cervical spine fractures and neuro-

logical deficits.5 This is all the more reason to leave your infant rear facing as long

as possible. Infants are not necessarily “little adults.” Their skulls are more fragile,

their heads are proportionately larger, and their rib cage is thinner. Because they

have small stature and their musculoskeletal system is not fully developed, they need

the added protection of the car safety seats. According to the National Safety Belt

Coalition, car seat restraints provide a “ride-down” benefit during rapid deceleration

which works to allow the child’s body to stop as the vehicle is slowing, reducing the

forces on the child’s body and preventing contact with hard surfaces inside the vehi-

cle, with other occupants, the road, or other vehicles. They also act to spread crash

forces over the broad area of the body, thereby reducing forces on any particular part

of the body, and distributing these forces to the strongest parts of the skeleton such

as the hips, back, and shoulders.1 Even our bigger children need special accommoda-

tions when riding in our cars. According to SafetyBeltSafe USA, young children who

are placed in vehicle belts rather than booster seats are 59% more likely to suffer

devastating injuries, including severe damage to the brain, liver, spleen, and spinal

cord. Most children need to use a booster seat from about age 4 until at least age

8–10 for maximum protection and improved comfort in the car. Answer this 5-step

test the next time you and your child ride together in the car to determine if he or

she should still be in a booster seat.6



The 5-Step Safety Belt Test

Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of

the auto seat?

Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, your child

needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder and lap belt

right for the best crash protection. You can also find additional

information at www.boosterseat.gov.

After reading this, there is no reason not to have your child in

their car seat every time they are in a vehicle. It does require

extra planning sometimes. You have to think ahead when you

are traveling. You need to decide if you are going to take your

child’s car seat on the plane with you, or are you going to

arrange for a car seat for the rental car. I have never had a prob-

lem getting a car seat, both an infant and a toddler seat, when

I have rented a car. In my experience, limo and taxi services

don’t have car seats available because they are not legally obli-

gated to. It is necessary to bring your own. Hopefully, after read-

ing this article, you will take the time to do the extra planning.

Another tempting scenario occurs when your baby is crying too

hard in the car seat while you are traveling and you don’t think

you can stop anywhere. It really isn’t worth it to take your child

out of his seat. Your child is safer crying in the seat than out

of the seat. I can’t begin to count the amount of times I pulled

over into a parking lot to take care of my crying infant. I would

just jump in the back seat and nurse him. It usually didn’t take

longer than 10–15 minutes. He was soothed and ready to ride

again. Some other helpful tools for the fussy car rider are to be

sure he is comfortable in his seat and that nothing is pinching

or too tight. Have some car toys handy, play soothing music, use

a window shade if the sun is a problem, and sometimes even a

window slightly open to allow a little airflow will calm your baby

down. You can try to plan your car rides during naptime, and if

all else fails, plan your trips when someone else is home to

watch your child.

No matter how careful we are and how well we plan, accidents

happen. Although accidents can be devastating for the whole

family, our small children are especially at risk. According to

the American Chiropractic Association Council on Occupational

Health, the weight of the head of a child makes the cervical

spine much more vulnerable to injury. The infant has little

control in the muscles of the neck, and the head can bounce

from side to side and fall forward, which can cause serious

spine and neck injury.7 Children have more flexible upper bodies

and shoulders. This is why it is so important to have the belts

fastened correctly. Consequently, the head and cervical spine

of a newborn are the most likely to be injured.8 Be sure the

harness comes all the way up, over the shoulders. This is also

why there is a need for these specially designed child safety

seats. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention in Kentucky and reported in Nation’s Health

found a 37% drop in infant fatalities since 1982, ever since the

state law mandated the use of child car seats.7 Of course, these

fatal injuries are the ones we want to protect our children from

the most. It has been noted that some soft tissue injuries and

strains to the neck and low back may be caused by the seat

belts themselves. Even though these spinal injuries can be

very serious, a child under the age of 4 is still 10 times more

likely to be killed if they are unrestrained.9 Because of these

injuries, it is important to have any injury, no matter how small

you think it is, assessed by your chiropractor. Your chiropractor

can examine your child and determine the extent of the injury

along with developing a treatment plan for the resolution of

such injury. Injuries can even occur when there is no collision.

It has been found that sudden swerves, stops, and turning

corners cause movements of children in a vehicle and subsequent

injury.9 Even though your child may not complain of pain, he may

have other symptoms indicative of cervical spine injury. A wide

range of pediatric symptomatology may result from a suboccipi-

tal strain including fever of unknown origin, loss of appetite,

sleeping disorders, asymmetric motor patterns, and alterations

of posture.10 Your chiropractor can determine if any of these

symptoms may be caused by injury to your child’s spine. So, if

you were ever in an accident, it would be in the best interest of

your family to have everyone in the car get their spine checked

as soon as possible.

The qualities of our child safety seats are constantly improving,

as are the vehicles we ride in. This article is not meant to scare

you from ever taking your child in the car, but to educate you

on how to keep your children securely fastened and protected

in the car as possible. I hope when you are finished with this

magazine, you will find the manual to your car and car seat and

be sure your seat is properly installed.

Buckle up and set a good example for your children by using

your seat belt every time you drive. Happy travels to you and

your family.



36 pathways | issue 14 36 pathways | issue 14

Sun Exposure IncreasesSurvival of Melanoma

s e a s o n a l

We’ve been told for many years that the

sun is bad! According to the Mayo Clinic,

all forms of skin cancer have been on the

rise. The greatest rise has been in

melanoma, which is the most serious and

most deadly type of skin cancer. Even with

our sun-phobic, sunscreen-wearing socie-

ty, the percentage of people with melanoma

has more than doubled over the last 30 years.

Van D. Merkle, DC, CCN, DABCI, DACBN

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In contradiction to the “typical” skin cancer preventionadvice, the journal Cancer in March 2002, did an examina-tion of 506 regions and found a close inverse correlationbetween cancer mortality and levels of ultraviolet B light.The likeliest mechanism for a protective effect of sunlight is vitamin D, which is synthesized by the body in the presence of ultraviolet B. In a more recent study in theJournal of the National Cancer Institute [February 2, 2005],528 melanoma patients were assessed. It was found thatself-reported skin awareness, high intermittent sun expo-sure, and even sunburn were all linked to improved survivalfrom melanoma. Attempting to explain their findings, theauthors note that sun exposure is essential for the skin tomake vitamin D3. Vitamin D has anticancer properties andtherefore could explain the beneficial association betweensun exposure and survival from melanoma.

So, where does this leave our devotion to sunscreen?According to a researcher from Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center in New York, sunscreen does not protectagainst melanoma.

However, interestingly enough, octyl methoxycinnamate(OMC), which is present in 90% of sunscreen brands, was found to kill mouse skin cells even at low doses in astudy by Norwegian scientists. There are also many otherchemicals in sunscreens to be concerned about.

According to the National Institute of Health, sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 8 or greater will block UV raysthat produce vitamin D. Along with increased risk of cancer,Vitamin D deficiency is associated with weakened bones,osteoporosis in elderly individuals, in post-menopausalwomen, and in individuals on chronic steroid therapy; insulindeficiency and insulin resistance; progression of degenerativearthritis of the knee and hip; infertility; PMS; fatigue anddepression; auto immune disorders; obesity; and Syndrome X.

We have been told the sun is bad and we should limit oursun exposure. So, we did as we always do…we went over-board. We slather on the sunscreen and we work indoors so much that we hardly get ANY full spectrum sun exposure.Another component to this puzzle is the attack on Vitamin D

supplementation. So now, we’re not making vitamin D theway we should from the sun exposure and the fear stories in the media have us scared to take even 400IU of Vitamin D. This has obviously created a problem. It’s easy to blameeverything on the sun when you don’t have good science.None of these studies on skin cancer even mention or con-sider high consumption of raw, fresh fruits and vegetables,antioxidant supplementation or consumption of good quali-ty, natural fats.

In addition, look at all of the chemicals we are putting on our skin on a day-to-day basis. Read the ingredient labels on your skin care products and cosmetics. Take some time to find out what those ingredients are and any potential side effects they may have. I think you will be quite surprised and have some great ammunition to prevent skincancer. If you are interested in findings good quality skincare products, refer to your local health food store or goonline to www.allnaturalcosmetics.com

Even though the above-mentioned study suggests that sunburn may play a positive factor in survival from skin cancer, we still suggest you use caution in regard to burningthe skin.

To avoid a sunburn, slowly work yourself into exposing yourskin to the sun in the early season. Optimal hours of sunexposure are morning hours until noon and evening hours,3:00 p.m. to dark. Instead of toxic chemical sunscreens, use clothing and hats to shelter your skin when you must beoutside for longer periods of time. Or try one of the naturalsunscreens by Aubrey Organics or allnaturalcosmetics.com.

For light skinned people, about 10–20 minutes of exposure isenough to increase you natural vitamin D production. For thedarker skinned people, 20-30 minutes may be necessary.

During the winter, if you have problems with seasonaldepression due to Vitamin D deficiency, you can try supple-menting your diet or going to a tanning bed for 8-10 minutesper session, once or twice per week. Getting a blood test willhelp determine how much you need; contact our office formore details.




For over 100 years, families haveenjoyed the benefits of chiropracticcare for their overall health andwell-being. Many of these peoplesee ways to give back to thesource which improved their overall quality of life.

www.icpa4kids.org 610-565-2360

With your donation we are able to…

• Conduct research relevant to health in pregnancy, birth and childhood

• Promote family wellness lifestyles

• Offer parents resources to makeinformed health care choices

• Keep the public informed aboutadvances in chiropractic care

Donate $100 or more andreceive a freesubscription to Pathways!

As a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, the ICPA depends on our members to help fund our work. Whether you are a practitioner or layperson,

we welcome your support and are grateful for your generosity.

Make an ImpressionDonate to Chiropractic Research

Donatetoday!

Should you get burned, we recommend the followingregimen to help the skin to heal and repair:

A 150-pound adult, should take 6000–10,000mgVitamin C, 1200IU Vitamin E ,100,000–150,000mgBeta Carotene ,3000mg EPA/DHA , and 240mg GLAfor a few days. Be sure to drink lots of clean waterand apply cool aloe vera gel to the affected area.

A 50-pound child should be given 500–1000mgVitamin C, 400IU Vitamin E, 25,000mg BetaCarotene, and 1000mg EPA/DHA and drink lots of clean water (no juice, pop, milk, etc.). Apply cool aloe vera gel to the affected area.

Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following:

1. The information provided in this article is for edu-cational purposes only.

2. Your individual health status and any requiredhealth care treatments can only be properlyaddressed by a professional healthcare provider ofyour choice. Remember: There is no adequate substi-tution for a personal consultation with your chosenhealth care provider. Therefore, we encourage you tomake your own health care decisions based uponyour research and in partnership with a qualifiedhealth care professional.

Dr. Merkle is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and has two Diplomate Degrees in nutrition. He has a privatenutrition and chiropractic practice in Dayton, Ohio.Please visit his website at www.Bk2Health.com. Foradditional information about science-based nutritionvisit www.sciencebasednutrition.com


www.familiesfornaturalliving.org

Inspiring the creation

of communities

seeking wholeness

locally and globally.

We welcome all who wish to make informed choices,

for holistic health care, birthing, breastfeeding,

attachment parenting, schooling, nutritious whole

foods, and environmentally conscious living.


r e s e a r c h r e v i ew

How Hugs Can Aid Women’s Hearts

The study showed hugs increased levels of oxytocin, a “bonding” hormone, and reduced blood pressure—which cuts the risk of heart disease. Writing in the Psychosomatic Medicine, the researchers reported women recorded greater reductions in blood pressure than men after their hugs.

During the study, the men and women were taken to separate rooms to test their blood pressure and levels of oxytocin, which is released during childbirth and breastfeeding, and cortisol, a stress hormone.

The couples were then reunited and asked to sit together and talk about a timewhen they were particularly happy. They then watched five minutes of a romanticfilm before being left to talk to each other for a further 10 minutes. Next, the couples were asked to hug for 20 seconds.

Both men and women were seen to have higher levels of oxytocin after the hug.

People in loving relationships were found to have higher levels of the hormonethan others. But the study also found all women had reduced levels of cortisolfollowing the hug, as well as reporting the blood pressure benefits.

The researchers, led by psychologist Dr. Karen Grewen, wrote in PsychosomaticMedicine, “Greater partner support is linked to higher oxytocin levels for bothmen and women. “However, the importance of oxytocin and its potentially cardio-protective effects may be greater for women

Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation, said,“Scientists are increasingly interested in the possibility that positive emotionscan be good for your health. This study has reinforced research findings that support from a partner, in this case a hug from a loved one, can have beneficialeffects on heart health.” She added, “British Heart Foundation researchers have already demonstrated links between a positive emotional state, such ashappiness, and low levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.”


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Sunshine Prevents CancerThe increase of Vitamin D through sunlight, dietor supplements may decrease the risk of breastcancer by 50 percent and colorectal cancer bymore than 65 percent, according to two recentstudies conducted at the University of SanDiego. The breast cancer study was publishedonline in the most recent issue of the Journal ofSteroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.The colorectal cancer study was publishedonline in the February 6 issue of the AmericanJournal of Preventive Medicine.

The studies used meta-analysis to pool datafrom multiple previous studies, in order toincrease precision and be able to draw conclu-sions that the original data did not allow.Researchers divided subjects into groups basedon their blood levels of vitamin D, and com-pared the incidence of cancer between groups.“The data were very clear, showing that individ-uals in the group with the lowest blood levelshad the highest rates of breast cancer, and thebreast cancer rates dropped as the blood lev-els...increased,” said Cedric Garland, co-authorof one of the studies.


Breastfeeding Protects Mother from Heart Attacks

Breastfeeding is known to boost an infant’s health—

and now it seems it may be good for the mother as well.

In a study of 96,648 nurses who gave birth between

1986 and 2002, those who had spent at least two years

breastfeeding were 19% less likely to suffer a heart

attack than those who had not breastfed at all. The

leader of the study in New Scientist journal, Alison

Steube of the Harvard Medical School, said that

nursing a newborn may help a mother’s metabolism

switch from pregnancy mode back to normal.

“Ultimately, when you decide to breastfeed your baby,

what’s foremost in your mind is not whether it will

prevent you having a heart attack, but that it will be the

best nutritional choice for your baby and an incredible

bonding experience.”

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New Zealand SIDS Death Rate Decreases

New statistics released by the New Zealand Ministry of Health show

that the national rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) fell

by 70% after an educational campaign in wrapping mattresses with

special polyethelene covers was begun. The program began after

research by a NZ scientist showed a link between SIDS and the toxic

fumes emitted by mattresses.

According to the statistics, NZ Maori babies are 10 times more likely

than NZ European (Pakeha) babies to die of SIDS.2 Following the

implementation of mattress-wrapping by the Pakeha community

over the last eleven years (with an 85% reduction in their SIDS

rate), New Zealand has the highest inter-ethnic SIDS disparity of

any country in the world.

In contrast to the US and UK, where back sleeping has been adopted

as a method to prevent crib death, New Zealand began to publicize

mattress-wrapping in 1994, with the practice widely adopted. Since

then, the rate of deaths on unwrapped mattresses has continued to

increase, while no deaths have been reported for babies sleeping on

wrapped mattresses. Another advantage to this solution is that

babies can sleep in a variety of positions and not suffer from plagio-

cephaly, or flattened heads.

The results of the New Zealand mattress-wrapping program have

been published in two peer-reviewed journals of environmental

medicine3 and far exceed the results of any other SIDS prevention

program in the world.

A NZ scientistshowed a linkbetween SIDSand the toxicfumes emitted by mattresses.

For references and additional information about the author and topic,please visit: www.icpa4kids.org/research/wellness.htm



The Rotavirus Vaccine is Back—Including its Risk of Severe Injury.

Back in 1998, the FDA first approved of the Rotavirus vaccine. It was taken off the market when it was shown

to cause intussusception in pediatric patients who received the live, oral, vaccine. Results of injuries from the

vaccine included emergency surgery and even death. The vaccine

was taken off the market.

Now in 2007, the new improved rotavirus vaccine has

been reintroduced. Twenty-eight reported cases of

injury related to the vaccine occurred during and

after the 3-dose vaccine regimen, and almost half

occurred within 21 days of vaccination (range, 0–73

days). Fortunately, no deaths resulted, 16 infants

required hospitalization and intestinal surgery; the

remaining 12 had reduction of the intussusception by

contrast or air enema.

As with all vaccine reactions, healthcare professionals and

parents are encouraged to report cases vaccine adverse events to VAERS

at www.vaers.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-822-7967 for a report form.

r e s e a r c h r e v i ew

Additional Dangers of Fluoridated Water Confirmed

On November 9, the American DentalAssociation (ADA) finally admitted that fluoride levels in common tap water couldbe dangerous for infants. The ADA recom-mended that fluoridated water should NOT be mixed into concentrated formula or foods intended for babies. The ADA’sannouncement comes on the heels of a National Research Council report thatrevealed fluoridation’s adverse effects tothe thyroid gland and to diabetics, kidneypatients, high water drinkers and others.The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hasadded to the debate with a new reportshowing that fluoride absorbs into enameltopically. However, adverse effects occurupon ingestion.

Now comes a report from the CDC statingthat trace amounts of arsenic are found in fluoride chemicals added to drinking watersupplies. Trace levels of arsenic in drinkingwater increase a person’s risk of developingcancer, according to a report from theprestigious US National Academy ofSciences. “People drinking water contain-ing just one part per billion of arsenic have

an increased risk of developing bladder orlung cancer of one in 1,000,” reports NewScientist magazine.

“We’re glad the CDC finally admits thatarsenic can be found in fluoridation chemi-cals. But CDC should go further and list all undesirable chemicals and impuritiesallowed in the fluoridation chemicals, and make it publicly known so consumerstruly can make an informed choice,” saysBeeber. Paul S. Beeber, Esq., is Presidentand General Counsel, of New York StateCoalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.“Modern science establishes that fluorida-tion is ineffective at reducing tooth decay,harmful to health and a waste of taxpayermoney,” says Beeber.

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, [email protected]

The Lillie Center, Inc. www.thelilliecenter.comContact: Daniel G. Stockin

Organic Consumers: alerts.organicconsumers.org/trk/click?ref=zqtbkk3um_0-60x3c6x3176152&

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We sought out chiropractic care because our 6-month-old son,

Rex, was very colicky, gassy and suffered from a stuffy nose. Rex

couldn’t sleep well at all either.

Chiropractic has changed our lives. It is so unbelievable to see my

baby do “normal” things without crying in constant pain. He is able

to lay in his car seat and make it down the road in the car without

crying because of painful gas. He can now sleep through the night

without waking every 20 minutes to an hour because of painful gas.

Rex is now rolling over and enjoying his tummy time without pain.

He is a completely changed baby and we’ve only been under care

for three weeks!

Rex is finally on the road to a healthy and happy life thanks to

chiropractic care!

Mother of Rex L.

Minnesota, USA

Both Rex and his mother are under care with Andrew Kuecher, DC,

FICPA. He is an active ICPA member and supporter and has earned

his 120 Hour Pediatric Certification with the ICPA.


Do you have a chiropractic story about yourself ora family member that you want to share with us?

Send it to: [email protected] we will use it in an upcoming issue inPathways to allow more parents to understand the many benefits of family chiropractic care.

He is a completely changed baby and we’ve only

been under care for three weeks!

Chiropractic Comforts Baby


pa r e n t s p e r s p e c t i v e

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My husband and I have been seeing infants in my practicesince 1981 and all six of our children (even though theyhad natural home births) were checked immediatelyafter birth.

This is because as doctors of chiropractic who read the literature on birth and have also witnessed numerousbirths, we can say that the birth process even under normal, natural circumstances can be traumatic to theinfant’s spine and cranium. This trauma may adverselyaffect the infant’s nerve system function and thereforeaffect the infant’s future health potential.

Most hospital births include unnecessary trauma. The routine procedures of technological birth (anesthesia,maternal positions, a fearful environment) all contributeto increases in complications and often result in invasive,traumatic births. As we are seeing in the US, the startlingrise in c-section deliveries is a good indication that theseroutine procedures are not leading to safer more naturalbirths but rather to the practice of more invasive, unnat-ural procedures. Infant and maternal mortality rates are rising, not declining. Technology is not necessarilyproviding safer care.

A c-section delivery has as much, if not more, trauma than a vaginal birth. The pull force on the baby’s head and neck during the c-section may be considerablygreater than a regular vaginal birth because the uterinemuscles of the mother are not assisting the deliveryprocess. Most moms who have had a c-section describea pulling and tugging sensation as the baby was beingtaken out of the belly. This pulling (which sometimeseven lifts the mother from the table) is the amount offorce that is pulling on the baby’s fragile spine. Pulling,stretching, twisting the baby’s spine during delivery isknown to cause nerve system stress. Mechanical devisessuch as forceps and vacuum contribute excessive stress-es to the baby’s cranium, spine and nerve system.

Additionally in a c-section, the baby’s cranium does notexperience the passage through the birth canal where the cranial bones naturally overlap each other in thevaginal birth process. This overlapping, passage through

the canal and birthing through the perineum allows thecranial bones to experience a natural cranial bone reset.For infants born c-section, we have found that cranialcare right after birth is essential as they have not had the opportunity to experience the natural cranial molding.

It is my suggestion for you to check out www.icpa4kids.org to find a Doctor of Chiropractic in your area who cares for infants. I believe all babiesshould be checked by a qualified chiropractor right after birth, especially c-section babies who may needadditional cranial care. Also, for future pregnancies, you may want to get under regular chiropractic care aswell—it will help restore normal biomechanical functionto your pelvis throughout pregnancy and facilitate asafer, easier birth in the future. You can find a chiropractoron the ICPA website qualified to care for you throughoutpregnancy as well.

Finally, please check out the International CesareanAwareness Network: www.ican-online.org for additional information in regards to your c-section. They, too will offer you options for greater support in future pregnancies and births.

fa m i ly w e l l n e s s f o r u m

Email your questions to Dr. Ohm at [email protected]

Adjusting Infants? Certainly!I have heard that even babies should see a chiropractor to ensure they are aligned, especially

after birth. My son is seven weeks old and was born via cesarean. I don’t know what you

advocate in regards to infant chiropractic care or if you recommend it at all. Please advise.

Immediately after birth, a newborn is adjusted. Photo courtesy of Pam Stone, DC.


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ICPA, Inc. 327 N. Middletown Rd. Media, PA 19063

i.c.p.a. International ChiropracticPediatric Association

The intuitive mind is a

sacred gift and the rational

mind is a faithful servant.

We have created a society

that honors the servant

and has forgotten the gift.

—Albert Einstein

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Documents

Pathways to Family Wellness - Issue #14