Melissa Rodriguez

This time of year can be extremely busy, with many people putting in over time and losing sleep in rush to meet Spring Festival deadlines. Tension and anxiety can begin to take their toll. Stress management techniques can help maintain productivity, keep you grounded and prevent burn outs. Here are some suggestions to help manage the mayhem:

1. Breathing exercises: Most of us tend to take shallow breaths, especially when we are under stress. Deep breathing not only tells or bodies to relax, but it also oxygenates the tissues. Try this exercise.

2. Exercise: Exercise releases endorphins which are the natural “feel good” chemicals in our body. It also helps us release tension, anger, and frustrations.

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As of late there has been a stomach flu going around (aka, viral gastroenteritis – in no way related to the seasonal flu). Have you or someone in your family been affected? It can be especially difficult when children are sick, but the only way to deal with this infection is to let nature run its course. Someone in my family fell ill recently and it was not fun. We used naturopathic medicine to make her feel better and she quickly recuperated. If you’re taking care of someone with the stomach flu, the most important thing to do is to ensure that they’re well hydrated. It can be tough with ongoing vomiting and diarrhea, but these simple treatments can really make a difference.

(If you want to read more about what the signs of dehydration are and when to see a doctor, click here)

First of all, a person with viral gastroenteritis needs to sleep – a lot! It’s important for the infected person to stay at home and rest.

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The other afternoon, as I looked over at my daughter’s pixie cut, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as I recalled the events that lead to her current hairstyle…

I don’t know how many times my own mother asked me what was wrong with my daughter’s hair. “Why wasn’t it growing? Why was it so thin? Why didn’t she have more of it?” She insisted time and time again that I should shave all her hair off so that it would grow faster. The idea that thin hair can be made thicker by shaving is a wives tale of epic proportions.

I hate to admit that I gave into parental pressure, but I did. I decided I would shave my daughter’s hair before the summer was over and before I got cold feet. I knew that if I didn’t do it, my mother would never let me hear the end of it.

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Ever wonder if your child is getting enough calcium? Kids need plenty of calcium to sustain the rapid growth of bones and teeth. It’s also important for muscle and brain function. Between the ages of 1 to 12 kids need between 800- 1300mg of calcium a day. A cup of milk contains about 300mg of the good stuff.
 
Calcium can be found in dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, but these aren’t the only sources – or the best sources for that matter. Lactose intolerance and the possible hormones in milk might be a deterrent for some. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds all contain calcium. Dark-green leafy vegetables like broccoli and kale are good sources, as well as asparagus and sea vegetables such as kelp. Dried fruits like figs, dates and raisins are also high in calcium. Unlike leafy greens, kids are usually quite happy eating almonds and raisins as a snack. High concentrations can also be found in sesame seeds. Hummus (a spread made with tahini and chickpeas) is very easy to prepare and packed with calcium. It makes a great dip that kids love.

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 As the temperature drops and the moisture levels plummet, we can do things to breathe easier and keep our skin hydrated.

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Though not dire, both of my children were recently ill, signaling the start of the cold and flu season. My son had a sore throat, high fever and a cough, while my daughter thankfully only had a runny nose and suffered from a bad night’s sleep.

 
Below are a few steps that you can take to make your child more comfortable when they’re suffering with the cold or flu.
 

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It’s not yet winter but I’m already feeling the lack of moisture in the air. The winters in Beijing are extremely dry and my nose, my throat, my skin … it affects everything!
 
Staying hydrated is critical, but not just during the winter months. Our bodies are approximately 60 percent water. Even our bones are over 40 percent water. Lack of water can do a lot more than dry out your skin – it can cause dizziness, headaches, lack of concentration, dry mouth, weakness and fatigue. In extreme cases dehydration can cause an increased heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, and muscle cramps.

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At the age of nine, I had bad experience with a high dose of antibiotics which left me unable to hold down even water. From that point on my parents decided to turn towards more natural medicine. Whenever we were sick my dad would make us do steam inhalations, give us herbal medicines, and we always had to take our vitamins.

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I have to say that I’m very excited about starting this blog. It’s a combination of two great passions in my life: motherhood and natural medicine.

When I was a child there were two things that I knew I wanted to do when I grew up. One was to be a mother, the other to be a doctor. I can't remember exactly when I developed my maternal instincts. Perhaps it was being the eldest of three sisters, or maybe it was born from my love of babies. The only thing I can be sure of is that as long as I can remember I wanted to be a mom.

On the other hand I can distinctly recall the exact moment I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I was 8-years-old, I was at the doctor’s office and I was very frightened. The doctor was so nice to me and she quickly put me at ease. My experience was immediately transformed from terrifying, to calm and comfortable. I knew at that moment that one day I wanted to help children who were sick, just like her.

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