Parents know that kids love smoothies. While parents may like that their kids are getting good ingredients like fruit and yogurt into their bodies, they may not enjoy the time and the mess that go along with smoothie making. A relatively new product on the market, Odwalla Smoothie Refreshers, gives kids the smoothie taste they enjoy and provides the nutrition and convenience that parents want. These fruity drinks have a light texture, refreshing taste and provide 100 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C.
Kids will love inventive fruit combinations like Mango Lime Twist, Mixed Berry Shuffle, and Pear Berry Jive. All Smoothie Refreshers have coconut water added to give an unexpected but tasty twist to the mix. "Our newest smoothie flavors are so refreshing and delicious, we like to say they'll make you want to get up and dance," said Irma Shrivastava, Vice President Marketing, Odwalla, Inc. "With 150 calories per 12 fl. oz. bottle, these innovative new beverages are a nice complement to any meal." Odawalla® Smoothie Refreshers are available in convenient grab-n-go, 100 percent recyclable PlantBottle packaging. The PlantBottle is made from up to 100 percent plant-based HDPE plastic, sourced from rain fed sugarcane. Odwalla® Smoothie Refreshers are available in the refrigerated section of natural food stores, supermarkets and specialty outlets throughout the United States.
For kids who want the delicious smoothie taste in their lunchboxes, the newOdwalla Smoothies for Kidsis the answer. Odwalla® Smoothies for Kids come in three flavors that are sure to appeal to children: Strawberry Banana Jungle, Mango Pineapple Island and Grape Berry Prairie. Parents will appreciate that these natural drinks are fortified with vitamin C, are gluten-free, and are made from 100 percent not-from-concentrate juice with no added sugar. The compact 6.75 oz. Smoothies for kids will easily fit in lunch boxes and are 110-120 calories each.
The California based Odwalla, Inc. has been in the juice business for 30 years and prides itself on focusing on healthy products and protecting the environment. In order to show support for children's nutrition, Odwalla® is now a supporter of HealthyChildren.org, the official parenting web site of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Because of Odwalla's commitment to this organization, the HealthyChildren.org logo is now appearing on all Odwalla® Smoothies for Kids packaging.
The next time your kids are clamoring for smoothies and you're too pooped to puree fruit in the blender, remember there is a healthy, convenient alternative at a store near you. With all of the sugar-filled high calorie drinks marketed at kids today, these drinks are a smart choice both you and your child can feel good about.
Allergies do not affect everyone. While heredity seems to be part of the reason for the development of allergies, parents with allergies do not always produce children with allergies, nor do all children with allergies have parents who have these problems. Breast feeding seems to offer an advantage over bottle feeding because some of the mother's antibodies are transferred to the child which helps strengthen their developing immune system.
Stress is a big factor in why children and adults develop allergy problems. Unresolved emotional stress causes some suppression of the immune system, as does stress from physical and environmental factors such as the toxins children are exposed to every day in the forms of air and water pollution, and from household chemicals, personal care products and foods that are not organic and natural.
Some allergies to food may occur when a child eats the same food all the time. The body may develop a reaction after continuous exposure, so eating a variety of foods can be very helpful. To verify a food allergy, eat one food at a time. Take the pulse before eating the food and then twenty minutes after. If the pulse is rapid, this may indicate an allergic response. Poor digestion and poor dietary choices can contribute to toxic buildup which can lead to allergies; not just food allergies, but also allergic reactions to substances that are inhaled or come in contact with the skin.
For more complete information about the most common allergy causing foods, check out the link for Nourishing Thoughts.com for the eight most common food allergies. This site also features some great videos, games and nutritional resources for you and your child to learn more about the importance of healthy eating.
Allergy symptoms are triggered when the body reacts to substances that are not normally harmful. There are many different substances when eaten, inhaled or come into contact with the skin's surface that may trigger an allergic response. Some common substances that many people overreact to include pollens, cosmetics, dust, drugs, insect bites and stings, chemicals, foods, molds and animal hair/dander. Just about anything may cause an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/), reducing the possible allergens from your environment will help tremendously. "If you have asthma or allergies, stay away from animals, remove the teddy bears, rugs, curtains and lamp shades in rooms that you stay in a lot, like the bedroom. Plastic mattress and pillow covers, exterminators for pesky bugs, and the elimination of dust-traps like curtains and rugs in your bedroom may help you breathe easier. Or, if it's the trees and pollen that get to you, air conditioning and air filters should help." The NIEHS also has some fun interactive and educational games and online tools for you and your child on their kid-friendly website at http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/home.htm .
Thankfully, there are a wide variety of natural approaches to get your child's immune system working properly and many of these ideas are explored in my previous article, "Nutrition for Children: From the Fetus to Fast Food" ( http://www.huletsmith.com/?filename=nutrition-for-children-from-the-fetus-to-fast-food ). There are also numerous choices when it comes to what natural approaches help the acute symptoms of allergies in both children and adults. Herbs such as Stinging Nettle, Mullein, Bitter Orange, Horehound, Horseradish root, Fennel seed, Fenugreek seed, Burdock root, Parsley, Yerba Santa and Marshmallow root can all be helpful in different ways for allergy symptoms. Some act as antihistamines, some act as decongestants, some help to break down and assimilate foods, and all detoxify the body to some extent, while also strengthening digestive, intestinal and respiratory systems.
Other natural nutrients such as probiotics, enzymes (bromelain), essential fatty acids (black currant seed oil), and bioflavonoids (quercetin) are all very important and can help treat acute allergy symptoms, while also helping strengthen the immune system. MSM, Colostrum and Maitake and Shitake mushrooms have all been used with some success in overcoming allergies and improving overall immune system performance. Many folks turn to homeopathy for allergy problems and there are a multitude of homeopathic products designed just for children, and very specific remedies for very specific allergies and/or symptoms. The world of aromatherapy also helps control a lot of the acute symptoms caused by allergy reactions but be sure you only use essential oils that are appropriate and safe for children.
Local bee pollen and raw honey are generally wonderful aids for adults or children suffering with hayfever and pollen allergies. Bee pollen is a nutritionally perfect food, containing everything human beings need to sustain life. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of "The Use of Bee Pollen as a Superfood", local bee pollen helps build immunity to local allergens and can lessen seasonal allergy symptoms. However, because some folks have allergies to bee pollen and/or bee stings, the best approach for adding bee pollen to your child's diet is to start slowly and build up the amount they consume daily. Just start with one or two granules and slowly build up to 1/2 teaspoon per day for kids, or up to 1 teaspoon per day for adults. They can be eaten alone, or added to smoothies, breakfast cereal or any other food that is not too hot or too cold. Allergic reactions to the bee pollen can take up to 3 or 4 days to appear, so keep a close eye on your child. If allergic symptoms ensue from the bee pollen, simply stop taking it.
"Raw" honey refers to honey as it exists in the beehive or as it is obtained by extraction, settling or straining without adding heat, or pasteurizing it, and this product can often be found for sale in feed stores, natural health stores and farmer's markets. Raw honey contains more nutrients and enzymes than honey that has been pasteurized or subjected to heat, and also contains dilute amounts of various local pollens. Many parents use raw honey for themselves and their children to help desensitize themselves to allergic reactions to pollen. Honey should never be given to children under two years of age, however, as there is a slight risk of it containing botulism spores which a younger child could find deadly. The digestive tracts of older children and adults are able to prevent spore survival and growth.
Allergies and asthma may be the most prevalent chronic childhood disorders, but these conditions are preventable and treatable. If your child has a healthy and balanced immune system, this is definitely their best defense against developing allergies or any negative health issues. And if they already have allergies, strengthening the immune system is going to be the best cure for them all the way around. It may take some time and effort, but getting rid of allergies forever is probably one of the best lifetime gifts you could ever give your child!
DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are for educational purposes only. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Carol Koenigsknecht,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO
Nutrition for Children - From the Fetus to Fast Food
Prevention is the key to health. Preventative medicine is practiced in many different cultures and societies. The Asian cultures emphasize staying well and healthy more than treating the symptoms of an illness. It involves keeping the body in optimum health through nutrition, exercise, rest and natural supplements. But even under the best of circumstances, there will be problems. Illness will occur in our less than perfect environment. Accidents will happen no matter how hard we try to avoid them. Being prepared and knowledgeable can make things easier when problems do occur.
Children will become ill. It is important for them to experience common ailments in order to help develop and strengthen their immune systems. A cold or flu is nature's way of eliminating toxins from the body. No child is immune from the toxins that are in the environment. Most childhood diseases respond to the body's normal defense system, although some medical professionals would have you believe that the only way to cure some ailments is through antibiotic therapy. One example are ear infections in children, which are routinely treated with antibiotics. Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, author of How To Raise a Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor says, "As the years passed I learned that many of my patients, perhaps the majority, failed to take their antibiotics for the time period prescribed, and many of them never got the prescription filled at all. In medical circles this kind of behavior is called 'patient noncompliance', and it is frowned upon by doctors and pharmaceutical companies alike. But what disturbed me more than noncompliance was the realization that my noncompliant patients recovered from their infections as rapidly as those who complied, and not one of them ever went deaf!
"At first I consoled myself by invoking the standard line that all doctors are taught to recite when their patients get well by ignoring their advice: 'You're lucky, that's all.'. Before long that rationalization no longer satisfied me, because so many untreated patients had recovered without medication that there couldn't be that much luck to go around. That destroyed my faith in antibiotics, and I quit prescribing them, with no apparent negative effect on my patients."
Prevention actually begins while the fetus is developing inside the mother. The health of the baby rests to a great extent on what the mother ingests. The mother is responsible for nourishing the growing baby through the placenta. If the baby is given a good start nutritionally from conception, he will have a greater chance of being born with a strong immune system. This good nutrition continues with breast feeding. Breast milk is adapted to meet the needs of the infant and contains all the nutrients necessary for a great, healthy start.
When a baby is born, the immune system is not fully formed. Leo Galland, M.D., who wrote Super Immunity for Kids says, "A newborn infant's lymphocytes are also not yet capable of making all the different kinds of antibodies she needs. They acquire that ability slowly over her first year of life. The last one they begin to make is the IgA antibody, which performs a crucial service: coating her intestinal and respiratory tracts, thus protecting them against infection. Because their bodies can't yet make the IgA antibody, infants under a year are particularly prone to intestinal-tract infections." Breast milk contains substances which offer protection to the infant's intestinal tract. Breast milk also contains interferon which is beneficial for fighting viral infections and cancer, enzymes that help break down milk fat and inhibit the growth of parasites, and other important substances that help prevent allergies and help metabolize vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
The most important factor in strengthening the body and mind of your child is proper nutrition. Often, parents rely on their pediatrician to tell them what their child should eat. After all, they have been trained for many years in treating children, but medical professionals usually have very little nutritional training during their educational experience. It is important to research what is best for children to eat. Look for whole and natural foods for the most nutritional value.
Eating a wide variety of foods will help the body get the nutrients it needs and also make mealtime more enjoyable. Whenever possible, buy organically grown produce and grains. Buy meat from animals that have not been treated with antibiotics and hormones that can be especially dangerous to children. There is a wider variety of organic fruits and vegetables available in the supermarkets these days that are bursting with delicious nutrition for you and your child. Eat more raw food, or vegetables and fruits in their raw, uncooked state as this puts a lot less strain on the digestive and immune systems. Always wash all produce well before consuming, and peel produce that has been treated with pesticides.
It is impossible to prescribe a correct diet which will work for every child. And there are certainly contradictory theories concerning all types of nutritional regimens. Consider YOUR child's individual needs. Different amounts of nutrients are needed for children at different times in their lives. Nutrients are divided into three basic categories which include fats, carbohydrates, and protein.
Fats are the most calorie-dense nutrient. The human body needs fat in the diet to survive. But the amount needed is very small in relation to the overall diet. With the pace of life most of us live, we often choose to feed our children (and ourselves) fast food, which is usually very high in unhealthy kinds of fat. High-fat diets are responsible for contributing to many illnesses and disorders, including some types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, intestinal problems, hypertension and autoimmune disorders. A small amount of the right kinds of fats are essential to a healthy body. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K need dietary fat to be utilized by the body. Linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids found in polyunsaturated fats such as grains, nuts, seeds and some vegetables and fish help the body metabolize fats.
Fats are needed by every cell in our body to help it perform its many vital roles including brain function, the production of certain hormones, nerve impulses and metabolism. Most of the dietary fat falls under one of three categories of fatty acids which are saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Saturated fats are considered to be the LEAST healthy for the human body. While most saturated fats come from animals, there are some vegetable oils such as coconut and palm that are also very high in saturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are considered by many to be the best to use in moderation and examples include olive oil and canola oil. Hydrogenated oils should not be used at all, by anyone. The hydrogenation process involves extreme heating methods with a metal catalyst and has often been used to make margarine and shortening. The nutritional value is completely lost, while harmful chemicals, metals and trans fatty acids are present in the end product.
Carbohydrates have often been thought to be responsible for problems with obesity, yet complex carbohydrates, commonly known as "starch" are absolutely essential to good health. The sugars in carbohydrates are used for energy. All carbohydrates consist of one or more simple sugars. One is called a monosaccharide and when two combine, this is known as a disaccharide. And a combination of more than two simple sugars is called a polysaccharide. The polysaccharides are also known as complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are found in the form of different sugars including glucose, fructose, sucrose and lactose. Complex carbohydrates consist of whole grain products such as rice, potatoes, pasta, and corn to name a few examples.
These complex carbohydrates are very important to the body and are a valuable source of energy. They are easily utilized as energy and they are typically low in calories...it's the added fat and sugar that tend to cause problems. When the carbohydrates are refined (such as white flour and rice), they lose their nutritional value. They can still serve as a source of energy, but fiber and vital nutrients are lost in the processing and our bodies break down these refined products much differently than when they were in their natural state.
Simple sugars are burned immediately by the body. This can cause large fluctuations in blood sugar levels when large amounts are consumed. Insulin is required to remove the glucose from the blood. And this results in a sharp lowering of the blood sugar levels. The complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and do not cause the same fluctuations and the body can store the complex carbohydrates and use the calories as needed. Some forms of sugar considered natural include fructose (fruit sugar), maple sugar, date sugar, honey and raw brown sugar. These sugars may contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals, but they should still be used in moderation as they will still cause some blood sugar level fluctuations.
Protein is found abundantly in the body. It contributes to many important functions such as growth and repair of muscle and bone tissue. Protein also helps make up the complex cell structure of every cell in our body. Protein is broken down through the digestion process into amino acids. While there are many different combinations of amino acids in the body, 22 of these are considered important for life, and 8 of these cannot be manufactured by the body and must be gotten from the diet on a daily basis. Only a small amount of protein is needed in the diet, yet most individuals feed themselves and their children a lot more protein than is necessary to sustain life. High amounts of protein in the body puts extra stress and work on the digestive system, contributing to feelings of fatigue. Large amounts of animal proteins also overwork the liver and kidneys as they try to eliminate this material from the body.
Protein should be eaten in moderation when it comes from meat sources, especially those high in saturated fat such as red meat. Poultry contains less fat, especially when the skin has been removed. Fish is a good source of protein but be careful of contamination. Eggs are high in protein and have a healthier cholesterol content when they are from free-range and antibiotic-free chickens. Legumes, which include peas, beans, lentils and soy products are good sources of protein, especially when combining some of these legumes together. Protein from these plant sources are much more easily assimilated and are used with higher efficiency by the human body.
The synthetic hormones and pesticide residues found in animal products such as milk, cheese, eggs and meat can cause problems for children and adults alike. Excessive estrogen from these sources stress the liver and can lead to issues like breast cancer and other reproductive diseases and disorders. Precocious puberty is one condition found in children that is linked to excess hormone consumption, as is early menstruation. Too much protein from animal sources may cause problems such as constipation, autotoxemia, hyperactivity, heart disease and cancer.
Children are full of energy and life. It only makes sense that their food should be of the same qualities! Avoid packaged, processed, canned and frozen foods for you and your family and instead choose organic, natural, living food in its natural living state. Avoid synthetic preservatives, artificial food colorings and flavors, and sugar in all of its forms as all of these kinds of substances have been linked with all kinds of brain and behavioral diseases and disorders in children. A diet that consists primarily of whole, organic and unprocessed grains, fruits and vegetables will be pretty healthy for just about everyone. And a healthy and happy child grows up to be a healthy and happy adult who maintains a lovely chain of good health to continue passing down to future generations...which of course, helps us all!
DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are for educational purposes only. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Carol Koenigsknecht, Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO
Three Great Authors: Essential Reads for all Parents Who Wish to Promote Brain Development with their At-Risk, Autistic, Developmentally Delayed, Brain-Injured Children.
1. Dr. Bob Sears is an internationally renowned pediatrician who instructs parents on how to safely vaccinate their children: http://www.askdrsears.com/default.asp
The three preceding authors have changed the way my wife and I engage in pediatric therapy practice. These authors have changed how we feed and promote brain development in our children.
Omega 3, 6, and 9 fish oils versus Vegan seed based Omega 3 oils - Which is better?
Mark Hyman, MD recommends a huge increase in Omega 3 fish oils to grow the brain. He has a New York Times bestselling book called the "Ultramind Solution: How to Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First". I high recommend you read this book. It will dramatically enhance the way you deliver nutrition and supplements to your special needs, brain injured child. It's found on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/UltraMind-Solution-Broken-Brain-Healing/dp/1416549714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245524236&sr=1-1
Megan and I are giving Sophia (and our other kids) the Shaklee Omega 3 Fish Oils and the Speech Nutrients brand fish oil. Both brands are certified to be Mercury and Toxin free. We have tremendously increased Sophia's daily Omega 3 oil intake per the recommendation of Dr. Mark Hyman.
We give Sophia 1 Shaklee Omega Guard in the AM and 1 Shaklee Omega Guard in the PM (for a total of 666.5mg of Shaklee daily) Shaklee's Omega 3 fish oil is found at: http://www.shaklee.net/rehabmart/product/20244
Total Omega 3 Fatty acids that Sophia receives daily = 1666mg
We have seen good progress with Sophia taking the increased daily amounts of fish oil and adhering to a chemical free, dye free, color free, holistic food diet. Sophia is also eating more fish, mostly organic veggies and we are adding other supplements recommended by Dr. Hyman such as the B-complex vitamins and 5-HTP.
5-HTP; short for 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, is a nutrient that links the amino acid tryptophan to the chemical messenger serotonin. We get Tryptophan from foods such as: turkey, brown rice, milk, eggs, tree nuts, and from certain fruits. Our bodies turn 5-HTP into serotonin in the brain.Serotonin plays a large role in controlling mood, appetite, and sleep cycles. Proper levels of 5-HTP is essential for children with neurological injury and has been traditionally used to treat insomnia, migraines, fibromyalgia, attention deficit disorder, and Parkinson's disease in the Naturopathic Community.
Sophia is sleeping much more soundly when taking 5-HTP and her seperation anxiety and mood-swings have disappeared. Dr. Hyman's book will outline many other nutrients, supplements and diet/lifestyle changes that will help your child.
Does g-therapy make a hypotonic (low muscle tone) child more hypotonic.
In the 150 cases (children) I have completed case studies on, I have not heard of a single case where a hypotonic child became increasingly hypotonic.
If G-therapy does what Dr. Oswal believes it does in 70% of the cases, then a patient should experience some normalization of tone throughout the body. We would expect the majority of children receiving the therapy to experience a decrease in hypertonic tone in the extremities and an increase with tonal stabilization in the hypotonic trunk.
Why is this? Well ... Dr. Oswal believes that g-therapy increases neuronal excitability at the neurotransmitter level and that "it has the potential to work as a neuronal growth factor" at the neurotransmitter level. Examples of common neurotransmitters are dopamine, acetylcholine, epinephrine and serotonin. I am not saying that g-therapy is proven to be a nerve growth agent ... I am just quoting what Dr. Oswal has theorized. If his theory holds true that g-therapy assists the brain in growing and organizing its neuronal pathways, then resultantly we would see evidence of a brain which is healing and organizing itself. Hypertonic tone would normalize to some degree and hypotonic tone would also normalize to some degree. Progression from dysfunction to function is always what occurs when the body begins to heal itself or repair damaged brain tissue. The brain pathways begin to move from a state of dysfunction (disorganization) to a position of improving function (improved neurological organization).
Ultimately, I am just hypothesizing here based on case study evidence that I have collected. More extensive scientific research is needed to either validate or disprove the efficacy of g-therapy. Fortunately for patients taking the homeopathic g-therapy, there have been minimal reported side effects. Worst case scenario, no harm is done and Dr. Oswal believes about 70% of the patients display some degree of neurological progress.
Dr. Oswal, creator of the homeopathic g-therapy medicine {www.g-therapy.org} recommends that children avoid all meats and to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet while the child is on g-therapy. My daughter Sophia is taking g-therapy and our family tried for a limited period to adhere to a completely vegetarian diet. However, we found that we were not culturally suited to follow a strict vegetarian lifestyle. So, we compromised and eliminated most meats while Sophia is taking her g-therapy supplements. My wife Megan only cooks meats about three nights a week and we recently started making better meat choices by chossing ground-turkey, salmon, and chicken for meals where we have meat. We have a vegetarian breakfast and lunch that focuses on whole foods, grains, berries, fruits, and vegetables. Dr. Oswal would prefer a 100% vege diet, but for us, this was the best we could do. We still saw remarkable developmental progress with Sophia while following a limited meat consumption diet. I will say that I've grown to enjoy our complete vegetarian dinners. Megan has acquired various vegetarian cookbooks and she now makes a great lentil casserole and creates an array of all vege dinners. Megan also juices natural fruit juices every day with our Breville Juicer. I'm a southern raised guy, and if you told me that I would be eating this healthy 5 years ago, I would have said no way! Today, I can say I'm very happy that our family has moved toward a more natural / holistic diet with limited meat intake.
Dr. Oswal instructs that artificially flavored foods should be avoided. Most processed American food products contain artificial colors, artificial flavoring and preservatives. But, you don't have to eat this way anymore. The Feingold Association http://www.Feingold.org/teaches people how to buy food that is 100% color free, dye free, chemical free, and preservative free. Better choice processed foods are available in your local supermarket, one just has to learn how to read labels and learn how to locate the right foods, right brands, etc. Our family has been a practicing "Feingold Family" for the last 4 years. Once you start living this way, you will never go back to your former dietary habits. The goal is to move toward a more comprehensive whole foods diet while consuming less processed foods. Natural, organic whole fruits, vegetables and grains now dominate our dietary intake.
Once you get use to eating this way, it's no big deal. The Feingold Association will guide you on how to implement the lifestyle changes. This stuff is simple. For example, you can't have Doritos, it has tons of artificial stuff, but Tostitos are completely natural with no preservatives. We still eat potato chips, but we don't eat the flavored chips, we have the Lay's Natural Sea Salt Potato Chips. Feingold will guide you on which brands to buy. The Feingold Association has essentially become the Consumer Reports of the food industry for families who want to eliminate preservatives and artificial stuff in their diets.
Originally Posted: April 2007 by: Hulet Smith, OTR/L
In April of 2007, I traveled to Pune, India to meet with Dr. Gunvant Oswal and observe the effects of G-Therapy (Gunvant-Therapy) www.g-therapy.org , a pioneering treatment for neurological disorders. G-therapy is a homeopathic supplement made from a unique combination of herbals extracts in potentiated (homeopathic) form. The extracts are administered in small tablets known as "biochemical tissue salts" and are also referred to as "biochemic cell salts."
Dr. Oswal is the Founder and Director of the Center for Life Sciences, Health, & Medicine in Pune, India. He works collaboratively with his daughter [Dr. Pooja Upasani] and son in law [Dr. Shreerang Upasani], both have bachelor's degrees in Homoeopathic Medicine from Pune University. Dr. Oswal is an Integrated Medical Graduate BAM&S from the University of Pune.
An Invitation to Visit
I contacted Dr.Oswal in November of 2006, when a mother of one of my patients came across the G-Therapy.org website. I joined the Yahoo G-Therapy International Group and started speaking with parents online from the U.K. and from other parts of the world. I became intrigued by some amazing progress reports of children taking G-Therapy and wanted to learn more about it. In my private practice, I have many patients who are interested in doing more herbal and alternative therapies. Since it's not possible for everyone to travel to India to be evaluated for G-therapy, I thought I could meet with Dr.Oswal, examine his therapy, and possibly become a liaison between Dr. Oswal and patients who would like to obtain the therapy.
Dr. Oswal generously shard his knowledge via phone and email and invited me to visit his Center to observe a sampling of his patients. He sent me various videos and newspaper articles from his trips to the England along with television interviews that aired on a local London news channel. Dr. Oswal is a very humble man, focusing on treating children with brain injury in India. There's not a lot of private therapy there. Parents in India rely extensively on herbal therapies and use home-based sensory integration programs. I found the parents at the Center very eager to learn interventions, which enable them to carry out specific developmental programs for their children.
I also had a very personal reason for making the trip. My five-year-old daughter, Sophia has cerebral palsy and has made remarkable ongoing progress using organic nutritional supplements, herbs, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, suit therapy and an intensive daily sensory diet which we established for her under the guidance of Glen Doman, founder of the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential and an expert in maximizing potential in brain injured children. With Sophia, we focus on stimulating her brain in order to help it become more organized. I believe Sophia has made amazing developmental progress because her mother and I have worked intensively with her.
Today, Sophia is 100 percent medication free and has progressed from a blind, profoundly brain injured child, to a brilliant little girl who reads sight words, is learning to write letters, and has the vocabulary of an 8 year old. Her mother and I have dedicated our lives to helping Sophia achieve all that she can be and to exploring ways to unlock her full potential. Dr. Oswal's invitation to visit and collaborate at his Center for Life Sciences was an opportunity that I just couldn't pass up.
Observable Results
Over a six-day period in April 2007, I reviewed and observed around 100 patients with a variety of diagnoses and recorded my observations at the end of each 12- hour day. My case study results can be found on Yahoo G-therapy Health Groups at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/g-therapy/ .
The patients I saw ranged in age from one to 22 years; however, Dr. Oswal has treated patients as young as three days old with G-Therapy. All age groups appear to have responded positively to G-Therapy. The typical sustained treatment duration range was a period of two to eight years, but some children have continued the treatment for more than 10 years because they are showing ongoing and continuous progress with motor and cognitive functioning.
From random sampling of 100 patients that I assessed during my stay at Dr. Oswal's center, I estimate that 20 percent of the children appear to have made significant functional gains, 40 percent have made moderate functional gains, and 20 percent have made marginal gains, with the remaining 20 percent having just trace or no improvements in the functional life performance areas of motor, cognition, social, and verbal communication skills. None of the patients or parents reported any side effects or adverse reactions attributed to G-Therapy.
How Does It Work?
According to Dr. Oswal, "G-Therapy medication was developed over 25 years through research in Ayurveda and Homeopathy and when taken stimulates neurotransmitters and acts as a nerve growth factor. The body salts bring about the necessary changes in neurotransmission while the herbal extracts act as a catalyst". The degree of improvements, however, depends upon the brain damage and patient response. Explains Dr. Oswal, "A unique combination of herbal extracts in potentised form and biochemical tissue salts are prescribed all together or, in certain cases, as individual components."
"G-therapy has shown remarkable improvements in the motor and higher cortical functions of the brain in over 10,000 cases with a success rate of minimum 70 percent," Dr. Oswal explained. "The results have been scientifically well-documented by independent medical professionals. The improvements in patients, and parents' and medical experts' opinions, before and after treatment, are video-recorded and documented. There is also significant objective evidence of the efficacy of G-therapy in the form of improvements observed in nerve conduction velocity studies in cases of chronic degenerative or demyelinating neuropathies." Dr. Oswal is currently collaborating with neuroscientist, Dr. Pali Jeno from Hungary: they will be studying G-Therapy's effect on neuronal regeneration.
Dr. Oswal is the first to acknowledge that no one understands the exact mechanisms behind G-Therapy. "It is seen that a wide range of pathologies and physical and cognitive disorders are helped by G-therapy," he noted. G-Therapy has been implemented in patients with a variety of diagnoses that include all types of cerebral palsy, congenital brain anomalies, hydrocephalus, ADHD, kernicterus, metabolic disorders with neurological complications, strokes, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, Asperger's syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and many other forms of developmental disabilities.
My experience in India substantiated Dr. Oswal's thinking. The anecdotal clinical evidence that I observed during my time at the Center supports the hypothesis that Dr.Oswal's therapy optimizes the brains ability to stimulate branching and myelination of the axons/dendrites of the neuron. G-Therapy also clinically appears to have the potential to regenerate the axon and stimulate excitability in the neurotransmitters, resulting in the creation of more organized neurotransmission pathways. The clinical manifestation of the neuronal myelination is evident through my observations of improved fine/gross motor function, the gaining of the developmental milestones, improved cognition, improved behavior, improved language, improved circulation, improved bladder/bowel control, and improved self-care skills in the neurologically-impaired child and adolescent.
Dr. Oswal explained that the degree of improvement in any given case cannot be predicted, and depends in part on the degree of initial disability. "G-therapy does not claim that it can make every spastic walk and the mentally retarded to achieve normal IQ," he said. "It should also be noted that there is a definite number of patients who fail to respond positively to G-therapy. [However] G-therapy has shown persistent results...and it is up to the developed countries with modern amenities and electrophysiological studies available, to think, to test, and to verify the efficacy of G-therapy, so it can be made available to all the needy individuals."
Supporting Families
This entire experience has strengthened my commitment to the families I serve. My visit with Dr. Oswal heightened my passion for intervening with children who are severely impaired and coaching their parents to make the difference in their lives. My pediatric therapy practice has a contract with Babies Can't Wait, the early intervention program in Georgia. We serve many of the neurologically impaired children in our region of northeast Georgia, and my message to parents is that we can be your coach and teach you to do the same interventions for your babies that we do as therapists. For those families who have the desire, I assist them with creating a frequent and intense daily sensory stimulation program, which provides structured input at the developmentally appropriate level. The foundation of the home program includes making the floor a way of life. Children should be on the floor in prone as much as possible with parents and caregivers providing range of motion (patterning), visual stimulation, vestibular stimulation, auditory stimulation, or reading to the child. Not everyone has the financial resources for elaborate equipment or supplies, but everyone can carry out these measures once they are properly instructed.
My passion is to assist families in creating a stimulating environment for children using superb natural foods and appropriate nutritional supplements. I recommend that caregivers read child brain development books by Doman, Ayers, and others, and for children with autism spectrum, we support parents and provide resources on nutritional interventions such as the chemical free, gluten free, and casein free diet. A great place to start is at www.feingold.org and at www.gfcfdiet.com.
My job is to coach and guide families in this process of discovery so that we connect children with good food, nutritional supplements, and other interventions, which are specifically targeted to their diagnostic and developmental needs. It's important to encourage all families to provide their child with daily tummy time, frequent targeted sensory stimulation, and helpful nutritional measures, which strengthen the immune system. I feel that occupational therapy has not always considered optimized nutrition as an essential component of the rehabilitation program. Fortunately, for our children who are neurologically impaired, our country is starting to look for more balance with the introduction of these healthy lifestyle choices.
The G-therapy homeopathic supplement gives hope, but it is not a magic pill that allows you to sit the child in the corner and wait for him to improve. The brain is a sensory organ that develops through its sensory pathways. A child with severe to profound impairment child strapped into a wheelchair won't grow and develop unless we offer appropriate sensory integration techniques targeted at the level the child has attained to this point. More children who are severely impaired need to be stimulated frequently and intensely throughout their waking day. We can't expect everything to happen in a 45-minute a week therapy session.
G Therapy Availability and the Pharmaceutical Industry
It has been several months since my visit to India, and I am continuing to work with Dr. Oswal. He has asked me to serve as a liaison between him and U.S. companies or individuals who are interested in studying the efficacy of his homeopathic medicine. Dr. Oswal believes that "it would be a great service to humanity if G-Therapy could reach the many thousands of patients worldwide through a partnership with an established pharmaceutical company." He wants to "think, to test, and to verify the efficacy of G-therapy, so it can be made available to all the needy individuals". Any persons interested in this mission are encouraged to contact either Dr. Oswal or me.
Sophia's Progress on G-Therapy
On a personal note, my daughter, Sophia, began the G-Therapy treatment on April 9th 2007. Sophia has made remarkable progress on G-Therapy. She started walking independently over the last few months and displays much improved gross motor planning and control. She has become confident and gravitationally secure in the standing position and now prefers to walk independently without the use of her walker. Five months ago, creeping on all fours was Sophia's primary means of indoor locomotion. Sophia now ambulates everywhere, both indoors and outdoors, and she can walk distances of up to 100 yards unassisted. Sophia's legs and lower body movements are moving more fluidly, and her muscle tone is much softer. She just began a regular education public kindergarten program in August 2007. She is getting along well at school and is on par with her peers. My wife, Megan, and I are so grateful to Dr. Oswal for his work with children with brain injury and for the gains that we have seen with Sophia while taking the G-Therapy supplement.
Conclusion
On my last day with Dr. Oswal in India, we took a walk around the colorful tropical garden at his Center and he made a comment that left a lasting impression with me. He concluded: "Even the ant is a big teacher for us. Each organism is engaged in the fight to have an active, purposeful, and meaningful life. The past is gone, the future is unknown, but in the moment, we can create potential in every child so they may have a brighter future. So, whatever you observe, just simply take it in and do what is right."
Hulet Smith, OTR/L, HC/MBA is the founding partner of the Special Need Discovery Center. http://www.specialneedsdiscoverycenter.com He and his wife, Megan Smith, PT operate a holistic pediatric Occupational & Physical Therapy practice that specializes in designing dynamic educational, sensory based, nutritionally well-rounded, intensive rehabilitation programs where parents are empowered to be the primary facilitators of change in life of their special need's child. Hulet spends several days each month performing single-day Discovery Consultations with parents of brain injured children. "My objective is to empower parents to be the primary facilitators of change in their child's life. I strive to connect parents with the tools and techniques which optimally affect neurological recovery, brain growth and developmental wellness in the life of their special needs child".
The Discovery Consultation guides families in the process of learning how to use whole organic foods and targeted nutritional supplements as a foundation of the rehabilitation program for the special needs child. Potent, powerful, and pure nutritional supplements are used to promote optimal health and wellness in the life of the children living with cerebral palsy (CP), Brain Injury, Autism, Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities. We explore the most promising current treatment modalities from homeopathic medicines and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to suit therapy to stem cell therapies and then design home based, parent directed, intensive rehabilitation program which focuses on best practice interventions designed to meet the unique needs of each child. The final objective is to give parents the confidence to use their time and resources on interventions which deliver optimal return on time and resource investment for their child.
Hulet and Megan met at a rehabilitation hospital in Texarkana, Texas in 1996 where Megan was completing her physical therapy internship. They were married in October of 2000 and have four children: Sophia, Olivia, Ava and Warren.
"Our eldest daughter, Sophia was born in April of 2002. She has diagnoses of hydrocephaly, cerebral palsy, and cortical vision impairment. Sophia has made remarkable ongoing progress using organic nutritional supplements, herbs, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, suit therapy and an intensive daily sensory diet which we established for her under the guidance of Glen Doman, founder of the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential and an expert in maximizing potential in brain injured children. With Sophia, we focus on stimulating her brain in order to help it become more organized. I believe Sophia has made amazing developmental progress because her mother and I have worked intensively with her. I perform Discovery Consultations with families because I have a passion for sharing the possibilities we have uncovered."
As of January 2009, Sophia is enrolled in a regular 1st grade public school program. She is learning to read and write and is doing well with her studies. She is doing well in school and is walking without use of her walker for short distances of up to 500 meters. Sophia's developmental progress is explained in detail in other blog postings.
Additionally, Hulet is the co-founder and operational partner for Rehabmart, LLC found online at http://www.rehabmart.com. In April of 2008, Hulet co-founded CPdiscovery which is hosted at http://www.cpdiscovery.com. CPdiscovery is a place where parents of brain injured children can experience community and discover breakthrough interventions, current research, and best practice treatment approaches in the field of Cerebral Palsy / Brain Injury intervention. Hulet is a 1993 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia Occupational Therapy program and a 2003 graduate of Brenau University where he earned a Master's degree in Healthcare Business Administration. He is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association, and the International Association of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Megan is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.
