HFC Blog 

Bedwetting can happen in younger and older children alike. I haven’t personally dealt with it chronically in my children, but the times it has happened I can 100 percent say it was during a season of stress. This can be a sensitive subject, but I’m covering it now because I’ve seen an increase in cases since the ‘stay at home’ order…

In matters of health, two things happen every winter: exercise decreases and diet worsens. People stop moving when it’s cold outside and outdoor activities become limited. People eat comfort foods, increase their sugar intake, and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables and healthy proteins can be harder to come by. During the winter months, the body isn’t detoxing through all of its elimination pathways, and it’s also not getting vital nutrients needed to detox on a micro-level. What can happen then? Enter a symptom list of fatigue, brain fog, constipation, increased susceptibility to sickness, increase in autoimmune disorder expression, and over time even diseases like cancer.

During the summer months, children and adults are more likely to be exposed to poison ivy and ticks. Here are some things to know about them.

Many of my patients (children and adults alike) come into our office with complaints of constipation. I regularly hear that a patient is having a bowel movement (BM) as little as every other day or every three days, and sometimes even weekly. While infrequent BMs can be normal for exclusively breastfed infants under 6 months (which should be evaluated by a medical professional), it’s not normal for anyone else.

Caring for our pediatric population, we get a lot of questions regarding dental care. We’ve had many conversations with parents regarding their children’s teeth, and want to share some of that information with you.

Wintertime is traditionally the season we think of as cold and flu season. Why is this? Most people think the cause of this is just because it’s cold outside.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast. The infection can be superficial or deep in the breast tissue. It occurs when bacteria enters a milk duct through a crack in the nipple. Mastitis can be caused by oversupply if a baby is not effectively emptying the breast (which can be due to a tongue tie, among other things) or if a mother goes longer between feedings than usual.

he purpose of this blog is not to answer the many questions surrounding the use of vaccines. What I am going to do is talk about the multiple factors that should be considered in a discussion on vaccine administration. Not sure what those would be? Keep reading.

You’re an expecting mom, thinking about birth and motherhood, all of the unknowns and potential stresses accompanying this time in your life. Here’s another thing to consider! Yay huh!? Seriously though, tongue and lip-ties can impede your breastfeeding relationship. No, I’m not trying to stress you out, but I am trying to make you aware of potential issues and offer effective solutions so that, should you have breastfeeding difficulties, you aren’t defeated.

For the majority of women, menstruation should last 4 days with scarlet-colored blood and no cramping. Any variation of this is not considered normal or healthy. During menstruation, the uterus sheds its lining from the top to the bottom. But factors such as environmental toxins, inflammatory processes, miscarriage, childbirth (especially by cesarean), trauma, abuse, infections, and scar tissue can disrupt regular flow.

Magnesium is touted as the most essential mineral in the whole body. It is responsible for insulin regulation, muscle relaxation (including the heart), metabolism, parathyroid gland function, teeth and bone integrity, digestion, sleep quality, and body detoxification. Without enough magnesium, these functions and systems will not operate optimally.

MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which is why it is called MTHFR. It is a genetic mutation, and approximately 30% of the population worldwide has it. The mutation affects the ability of the body to turn vitamin B12 and folate into forms the body can utilize.

Candida is a type of yeast (which is a fungus) that exists naturally on the surfaces of the skin, in the internal gastrointestinal system, and on/in orifices such as the mouth and genitals. Likely, unless you’ve done a Candida cleanse recently, Candida is just a part of your skin and body.

Anemia by definition is an iron deficiency. Iron is a trace metal found in the environment, including some food sources, and is absorbed by the intestine when consumed. A healthy gut is essential to absorbing the vitamins, minerals, and trace metals necessary for doing life.

For starters, I like to talk about practicing birth control as an attempt to have a birth rest. No one sexually active can really have control--babies are known to defy science. Yet there are times when a woman and her family find the need for rest from having children.

Children hit their heads all the time. An exaggeration I know, but they do, and frequently. I often say that you haven’t been inducted into parenthood until your child hits their head.

When it comes to using essential oils, the phrase ‘less is more’ is particularly relevant. Essential oils are extremely powerful. One drop of peppermint oil is equal to 28 cups of peppermint tea.

In order to detoxify the body (hair, skin, nails, intestines, etc.), begin by detoxifying the liver. I recommend doing a liver cleanse. In fact, it is recommended to do a liver cleanse yearly, due to overexposure to toxins in the environment. Liver cleanses are not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or while sick.

Probiotics are good bacteria and yeasts that 1) help aid in digestion, and 2) counter the effects of harmful bacteria. The human digestive system already has good bacteria in it. The intestinal tract is teeming with bacteria that help the body break down and digest food. Unfortunately, certain conditions have a tendency to wipe those good bacteria out.

Elderberry not only helps at the onset of cold and flu symptoms, but even prior to exposure to the flu virus. For best results, take elderberry throughout the fall and winter months.

Children need 400-600 International Units (IU) a day. Though Vitamin D deficiencies in children are common, it’s important to you know if your child is deficient or not before you begin supplementing. Over 75% of our patients are Vitamin D deficient, including children.

The correct dose of acetaminophen for your child is based on their weight, not their age. If you don't know how much your child weighs and they are too young to stand on a scale, weight yourself while holding them and then weigh yourself alone. Subtract your weight from the combined weight to get your child's weight.