YinOva Acupuncturist Margaret Sikowitz blogs:

Almost a month into the new school year and already many kids have missed days due to colds, stomach bugs and sore throats. It definitely comes with the territory as their little immune systems fatigue easily. In my house we have a morning ritual that I believe keeps them going pretty strong.

We start our day with a morning ‘cocktail’ of Nanogreens (you may have seen this in our office, we’re huge fans). For the kids, I add a little juice or lemonade and they drink about 3-4 ounces (an almost full little juice glass). For further immune boosting they use probiotic straws to drink their pick-me-up, I’ve yet to meet a kid who didn’t like straws. These are great because they are lined with probiotic powder that has no taste and is ingested when liquid passes through the straw. Probiotics are healthy flora lining the gastrointestinal tract so they’re great at helping regulate kids’ digestion. And we in the world of Chinese medicine also view them as great agents at overall health maintenance since the G.I. system has a strong link to the respiratory system. Continue reading…

Hi Everyone,

Its Margaret Sikowitz here, blogging while Jill is on vacation.

I can’t believe it’s the middle of August already. Like many of you I am enjoying a slightly more relaxed summer schedule but recent talk in the office turned to one of the aspects of back-to-school that fill many of us with foreboding, namely packing lunch. If your kid is old enough to be bringing lunch, she’s probably got a grasp of what’s considered healthy, and what’s considered a treat. However, if she’s like my daughter, she’d be happy with a cupcake and a piece of gum. So, after lots of trial and error, here’s what I’ve learned:

Continue reading…

My recent post about 5 Healthy Ways to Start Your Day sparked some conversations in our waiting room this week. As we shared our experiences and passed on tips, some Mom’s spoke about how they get their kids to start the day in a healthy way. My own daughter, Emma, is 17 now and my days of being able to influence her breakfast choices are long past. However I distinctly remember chopping kale into her breakfast oatmeal when she was smaller and what’s more I remember my own Mum doing the same thing. I guess Moms have been trying to sneak healthy food into their kids meals for ever. Recently, Jessica Seinfeld wrote a bestselling book on the subject which confirmed that another generation of Moms have discovered the same old tricks.

Research has shown that kids who eat breakfast do better in school and are also less likely to be overweight. Many of the Mum’s I talked to spoke about how hard it is to organize breakfast during the morning rush. So we pooled our knowledge and here from The YinOva Center waiting room are some suggestions from busy working Moms for healthy breakfast foods that kids will actually eat. Continue reading…

Parents often ask me to suggest some basic herbal formulas that they can safely give to their children to address minor ailments. All the formulas and supplements below can be kept in your medical chest and dispensed by you at your discretion. None of them are a replacement for the advice of your pediatrician and at The YinOva Center we encourage you to consult your child’s doctor about any ailment that is worrisome and to keep them informed about herbal preparations that you are using. We are always happy to talk to our patient’s doctors and explain what is in an herbal product.

Moreover you are always welcome to bring your child in to see us at The YinOva Center and we will design a specifically tailored formula for them and have it made by an herbal pharmacy. Specially made formulas are stronger and should only be dispensed by a board certified herbalist whereas the products below are sold over the counter at The YinOva Center and can be given at your discretion in the dose recommended on the label. Continue reading…