As parents it is really difficult to make decisions regarding any kind of healthcare for our children bc there is so much information on every subject. Whooping cough is a tough one as well. I thought this was a very interesting article on this subject and definitely worth the read! http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/02/26/rspb.2010.0010.abstract

Many children have chronic health issues largely owing to imbalances caused by dietary factors such as excess sugar, sugar substitutes, chemical food coloring, and other chemicals they may be subjected to in their daily routines. IT is everywhere, and as a parent very difficult to stay on top of-but-doable if one keeps themselves well read on these topics. However, it is impossible to know everything and even when well read there are issues that slip through the cracks. This article just came across my desk recently, and I think it is very important to share this information, as it was not even something I would have thought about before-even as one of those informed parents. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/us/12bounce.html

I have endlessly defended my position on agave after using it for years in the clinic. I have not seen another natural sweetener that compares.

I have not had time to fully research this, but, this just came in to back up its defense.

Shocking! There is much misinformation about agave 
syrup and its production process.
The Truth
 We’ve been following with interest the article “Shocking! This 'Tequila' Sweetener is Far Worse 
than High Fructose Corn Syrup” the last couple of days. It is amazing how powerful internet is in 
terms of informing or in this case misinforming people.
It is obvious that the article was written by a person with more than just passing knowledge about the production of High Fructose Corn Syrup, but less than a limited knowledge about the production of agave syrup. Perhaps, this is the reason the author constantly confuses one with the other.

A clear example of the limited knowledge of the agave showed in the article is the head line where the agave syrup is erroneously called tequila sweetener; but in order to make tequila the piñas (agave cores) are cooked then crushed to extract the juice and proceed to distillation process, in the case of agave syrup the piñas are directly crushed to extract the juice and then the juice goes through filtration and hydrolysis.

with Dr. Jay Gordon. We too have seen many cases of confirmed swine flu and many we think are swine flu and treated them all very effectively! Please read his response to a recent Peachhead2 post on the subject:

Don't forget to have your cold and flu remedies on hand or to come in if you get sick. Herbal remedies are very effective in treating you when you get colds and flus!

See the story below that we posted on one of recent flu patients who was also pregnant!

As always, I love to share the wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from the desk of our Western medicine pediatrician, Dr. Jay Gordon. Here is his latest letter:

In case any of you missed it, tylenol was recently recalled for kids:  http://tylenol.com/

We typically do not recommend the use of tylenol-restated actually, we never recommend it. We always recommend trying to use herbal therapy to ease any symptoms that parents would use for tylenol for in their children.

True story: the other night we went out to dinner and left the kids with a babysitter-my good friend who happens to be a physician assistant in the ER happened to be at our house. One of our children spike a really high fever so much so, she called to say we had to come home. We of course ran home, but we were a half an hour away. So, I told her what herbs to give my child until we could get to the house. The fever was gone by the time we got home and she was no longer like a wet rag laying on my friend's chest!

Often using tylenol can actually complicate your child's illness-so many options are available instead of tylenol.

This letter came in this morning from the desk of Dr. Jay Gordon, our family's pediatrician. We treat our family, but have Dr. Gordon as our Western pediatrician and rely on his expertise and good judgement in child development and health.

We find his perspective to be refreshing and logical and consistent with our beliefs. The following is his comments on the flu and tamiflu this flu season. Using alternative medicine to keep the immune system as strong as possible is a very effective way to combat viral and bacterial infections and chronic illness. Having both a western pediatrician and an alternative one is a ery good idea for a complete family health plan.

Here is a list of vaccine friendly docs in your area. If you are looking for a pediatrician who will listen to you and work out your feelings and concerns, this list may be helpful for you. Too many docs have the my way or high way attitude making it difficult to feel comfortable about your child's healthcare. Of course, using excellent preventive medicine, where clinics like ours come in is paramount, but having your western pediatrician on the same page as you is also!

Check out this list and if you know someone who is not on it, post a comment below!

http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/Vaccine_Friendly_Doctors.asp?ut...

When it comes to the freedom to choose our healthcare, I am so grateful that we live in a country where we have access to information and choices. Or do we? This story is of a child who has cancer and is being forced by the court system to undergo chemotherapy! 

We are not advocating against chemotherapy -but we do maintain that parents should have the right not only to their own healthcare choices, but the ones of their children. There is an increasing number of outstanding alternatives therapies for cancer that are being used as main treatments or adjunctive treatments. There are some tremendous things going on here, in our own country as well as other countries like Germany, Canada, and Mexico. And, the person having the cancer certainly should be the one to choose which route to go. After all, chemotherapy as we all know, is not always a way to cure cancer, it often may only prolong the fight.

I thought I would share this with everyone to remind us that our rights are immeasurable, and when they are taken away, well, it is concerning.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_he_me/us_med_forced_chemo