Integrative Health Blog

Boosting Back-to-School Wellness with Naturopathic Medicine

Posted by on Tue, Sep 05, 2023

As the back-to-school season approaches, parents and caregivers are busy preparing their children for the new academic year. While shopping for school supplies and picking out the perfect backpack, it's crucial not to overlook the importance of your child's overall well-being. Naturopathic medicine offers a holistic approach that can contribute significantly to your child's health and readiness for the challenges of the school year.

Understanding Naturopathic Medicine

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Tags: immune system, children's health

5 Tips to Keep Children in Good Health

Posted by on Tue, Mar 14, 2023

Viral and bacterial infections are all around us; if your child is going to daycare or school, they are exposed to numerous microbes every day. 

Many of those microbes are not disease-causing, but the many that can cause disease could be severe enough to cause symptoms for your child and even your whole family. 

Below are my top 5 tips to boost your child’s immune system to keep viral and bacterial infections away. 

 

1- Abundant and Restful Sleep

A good night’s sleep should be refreshing for the body. During nighttime our body can reset many of the functions, clear the “bad stuff”, and strengthen the immune system. School-aged children need 9-12 hours of sleep every night, so make sure to get the kids to bed on time! 

 

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Tags: children's health, holistic pediatrician, natural medicine

Pediatrician Addresses Prevention and Wellness During COVID-19

Posted by on Wed, Mar 18, 2020

I have spent the last week and a half feeling overwhelmed at the unfolding of events concerning COVID-19.  There are no words to describe my full range of emotion- shock, denial, anger, sadness, helplessness.  This framework of emotion, I realize, is quite similar to the 5 stages of grief we experience when learning to cope with the loss of a loved one.  Do any of you feel the same? 

Amid the scramble I’m experiencing in my own home (as a pediatrician and a mom of 3) to figure out a new normal, I’ve been thinking of what more we can do to strengthen our personal and community response to COVID-19.

I firmly believe we all have the capability of being our most healthy selves.  And I think there is no better time than now to make that our collective goal.

How do we stay healthy?

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Tags: children's health, pediatrics

A Child's First Dental Visit to Holistic Family Dentistry

Posted by on Mon, Feb 03, 2020

February is Children's Dental Health Month!

Starting your child out with good habits and dental care will help to ensure that they have the best chance for a healthy mouth that will last a lifetime. 

When Should My Child First See the Dentist?

Baby teeth have an important role and beginning to care for your child’s teeth before they erupt should not be overlooked.  The first tooth may appear at around 6 months and as soon as it starts to erupt it is at risk for decay.  This is why the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your child have their first visit to the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth coming in (erupting), or by about 12 months of age. By the time your child reaches his third birthday they will have all 20 of their primary teeth.

The First Dental Happy Visit

At Holistic Family Dentistry we recommend you schedule a pediatric dentistry  “Happy Visit” to acquaint your child with our staff.  They will meet our dentist,  take a ride in the chair, meet "Mr. Thirsty,"  get their teeth checked and begin to establish a level of comfort with the dentist's office. 

The first dental visit  is for young children and is a brief visit. Some children may be anxious, and it may take more than one “Happy Visit” before they are comfortable. In order to prepare for this visit there are a few things to consider:

 

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Tags: holistic dentistry, children's health, pediatrics

Rachel Cohen, D.O., Holistic Pediatrician, Joins National Integrated Health Associates

Posted by on Wed, Jan 08, 2020

National Integrated Health Associates, NIHA, is pleased to announce that Rachel Cohen, D.O., holistic pediatrician, has joined the integrative medical team.

Dr. Rachel Cohen is Board Certified in Pediatrics and a Doctor of Osteopathy, dedicated to helping children reach their fullest potential by focusing on holistic care and disease prevention.  

Her journey to becoming a medical doctor started with a desire to be a healer- focusing on the interconnectedness of body and mind.  Dr. Cohen places particular importance on understanding a child’s medical history, development, emotional wellbeing, environment, stressors and nutrition.  She takes great pride in being an advocate for all families that come to her for medical care. 

Background

Dr. Rachel Cohen completed her undergraduate and graduate work at Tulane University in New Orleans, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience.  From there, she moved to New York City to attend medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.  As a fully licensed physician, her additional training in osteopathy emphasizes a whole-person approach to treatment and care. Dr. Cohen completed 3 years of pediatric residency training at Harlem Hospital Center in New York City, an affiliate of Columbia University Medical Center.   Her time there was focused on delivering medical care to underserved populations.  Upon completion of residency, her family moved to the local area, where she has spent the last 2 years as a general pediatrician in Washington, D.C. 

Caring for the Whole Child

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Tags: children's health, pediatrics, holistic pediatrician

Holistic Pediatrics: Take Home Points from the Vaccine Event

Posted by on Wed, Aug 31, 2016

The Let’s Talk About Vaccines event held at National Integrated Health Associates was educational, engaging and enlightening.  I had the privilege of sharing my experience at this event with students, trainees and colleagues in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at Howard University’s College of Medicine.  My focus for that talk was the Holistic Pediatrician’s Management of Vaccine Refusal.  Your stories, the information shared and the discussed research by Dr. Suzanne Humphries, Barbara Loe Fisher and the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) served as an incredible background for teaching empathy to current and future providers and promoted the perspective and need for more personalized and precision medical approaches to keeping our children healthy and protected.

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Tags: vaccinations, children's health, holistic pediatrician

Let's Talk About Vaccines: An Evening of Discussion on August 25, 2016

Posted by on Sat, Aug 13, 2016

Special Event


Let's Talk About Vaccines 

When: Aug. 25, 2016
Time: 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: NIHA
5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW #402
Washington, D.C. 20015

 

Please join us on Thursday evening, Aug. 25, 2016,  for lectures,  information and education about vaccine safety.

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Tags: vaccinations, children's health, pediatrics

3 Ways to Improve Your Child's Gut Health and Immune System

Posted by on Mon, May 04, 2015

Gastrointestinal symptoms occur frequently in children.

Unexplained abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and gassiness all commonly prompt a visit to the doctor’s office. More and more research is showing the importance of gut health for a child's healthy immune system, healthy brain and overall wellness. Therefore, here are some ideas for optimizing your child’s gut health:

A healthy gut starts with a healthy diet

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Tags: immune system, children's health

A Holistic Approach to Autism

Posted by on Mon, Apr 27, 2015

April is Autism Awareness Month. It is estimated that 1 in 68 children in the United States has autism, a complex disorder which impairs social and communication skills. Often times, the symptoms of autism are thought to be irreversible, but continuing research is showing that a variety of interventions may improve, and sometimes reverse autism. While there is a wide spectrum of approaches to autism treatment, the following three form the basis of biomedical interventions for children with autism:

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Tags: autism, holistic nutrition, detoxification, children's health

What is Your Baby Sleeping On?

Posted by on Mon, Mar 23, 2015

A question about baby mattresses was submitted recently to our  Wholesome Mama's Facebook group, and the answer is important to share with new and expectant parents. Babies spend a lot of time sleeping, an estimated 16 to 18 hours per day.  For decades, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has promoted the “Back to Sleep” campaign, encouraging babies to sleep on their backs, which has been successful in reducing the incidence of SIDS. However, there is evidence that the mattress that your baby sleeps on may also increase a baby’s risk of SIDS. 

Studies show infants exposed to chemical emissions from mattresses

In 2014, a study by the University of Texas was released which found that “infants are exposed to high levels of chemical emissions from crib mattresses.” The researchers examined 20 new mattresses and found that they contained over 30 volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  Moreover, new crib mattresses release about 4 times the amount of VOCs as old mattresses. And even more alarming is that the VOC level is significantly higher in the infant’s breathing space than in the general air.  The researchers estimated that the infant laying in the crib is exposed to twice the VOC levels as someone standing in the room. Therefore, the researchers concluded that a good strategy to reduce this VOC exposure would be to let a new mattress air out for an extended period of time, perhaps in a garage or outdoors.

This research seems to suggest that an old mattress would be protective; however, a used mattress comes with risks as well. Dr. Jim Sprott, a New Zealand scientist, is convinced that a number of chemicals, which includes phosphorous, arsenic and antimony used in fire retardants, are directly responsible for SIDS.

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Tags: sleep, children's health, pediatrics