Naturopathy & Autism Spectrum Disorder

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday! Dr. Amy Wells is here with a naturopathic view of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Have a great day. Here she is:
This month, I thought I’d shed some naturopathic perspectives on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a disorder affecting many families, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. ASD is defined by the Autism Society of BC [...]

Sunshine in a Bottle – Why We Need a Daily Dose of Vitamin D

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday! This morning Dr. Amy Wells is on site discussing the benefits of Vitamin D. Bring on the sunshine! Here she is:
After the craziness of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations died down, I made the mistake of saying to my toddler one morning “Okay, I’m ready for Summer now!” Every morning since, [...]

Year In Review – Family Health in 2009

Editor’s Note: If you missed this morning’s post, check out Assistant Editor Bevin Clempson’s tips for reducing holiday waste HERE. Now, it’s time for a trip in the way back machine to check out 365 days of preventative health care with Dr. Amy Wells:
If there is one thing that has dominated family life this year [...]

Top 10 Immunity Boosters for Kids

Editor’s Note: Happy Friday. This morning we have Dr. Amy Wells serving up ten of her favorite immunity builders for children. With cold and flu season ready to strike, she certainly got me thinking about the state of my family’s immune system, especially the small person of the house. Here she is: 

While autumn signifies the end of summer and [...]

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Every year, the ninth day of the ninth month is a time to acknowledge and educate about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This disorder is a very real and irreversible imbalance for many children and adults. Often under diagnosed and mistaken for other behavior disorders, such as Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADHD/ADD), FASD has a [...]

The Good & Bad About Fluoride

Editor’s Note: Good morning. Dr. Amy Wells is here today talking shop about teeth and the ongoing debate about the use of fluoride. As usual, I learned a ton of interesting information.
Enjoy your Friday.

The topic of teeth seems to keep popping up in our household this month.  My sister was horrified to report to me [...]

Dr. Amy Wells – Pesticides Effect on Kids

Editor’s Note: Good Morning! Today is the last day to get yourself registered for the 30-Day Challenge. Whether you make it to one or all of the events, registering means you get cool bonus material AND get a chance at all kinds of prizes. We are registering people live at Brambles from Noon to 6 [...]

Dr. Amy Wells – Overcoming Male Infertility

Good morning, OBE readers.  I thought I’d begin my column today by addressing some of the comments regarding my last article on female fertility.  I must admit I’m (pleasantly) surprised with all the attention Natural Fertility Management received.  I agree – it is a shame that we aren’t taught more about this in school, as [...]

Dr. Amy Wells – Taking Charge of Our Fertility

Editor’s Note: Good Morning. Dr. Amy Wells is here this morning talking about a hot topic in our house right now – fertility. Plugging in to your body cues is an amazing way to feel empowered when working on getting pregnant.
On a couple of other notes, I posed the question over on our Facebook page [...]

Prevention to Keep Kids Asthma at Bay

As I chase my toddler around the backyard on these Spring afternoons, I breathe deeply the fresh newness of this season.  I watch as my little guy gets out of breath from running, takes a quick five-second rest and recovers enough to continue playtime.  I take a minute to be thankful for his gift of [...]

Kids Health – The Pros of Probiotics

Nature provides us with a bundle of resources that help heal our bodies.  There are definitely a handful that I couldn’t operate my practice without, one of which is probiotics.
Probiotics, also known as good gut bacteria or acidophilus, are receiving more attention for their impact on health.  The literal translation is “for life” as it [...]

Healing Childhood Eczema Naturally

Our skin is an amazing thing. The largest detoxifying organ of our body, our skin functions as a protective barrier from the outside world while providing a route of elimination for waste products within.
As kids, our skin takes a beating.
Learning to walk results in tumbles and bruises. Bike riding spills end up with [...]

Kid’s Mental Health Effected By Heavy Metal Toxicity

During this time of environmental uncertainty, we’re all doing our part as parents to protect our kids against pesticides, hormones in our food, plastic by-products and heavy metals from various sources.
Because our children’s bodies are smaller and made up of fewer cells, equal amounts of pollutants and chemicals are exponentially more toxic to our little [...]

Milk…Does It Really Do A Child’s Body Good?

As an adult, I have fond childhood memories of evening dinners with my family that included good conversation, a home cooked meal and a tall glass of ice cold milk to wash it all down. Milk was a staple in our house, as it was in many others. I remember a neighbor telling [...]

Diet Is Key to Keep Children’s Ear Infections Away

Editor’s Note: With the Comox Valley nearly on the eve of the municipal election, we received a timely letter (now posted in our Letters section) about school trustee races from Valley parent and educator Brent Reid offering his perspective on critical races that are in voters hands.
Brent’s is one opinion on a very heated [...]

Building Immunity for Children, Naturally

A week ago, my little guy and I were walking by Thrifty’s and I was showing him how the leaves on the two big trees out front where changing from green to yellow, and how when we walked over the leaves on the sidewalk, they made this beautiful crispy, crackling noise.
Yesterday, as we walked [...]

Natural Remedies for Hyperactive Kids

Ahhh, September! The time of the year for new beginnings and fresh starts.
As our children head back to the classrooms, meet new friends, and adjust to new teachers, we expect this transition to go smoothly and quietly. Frustration can soon set in when Johnny can’t seem to get out the door in the mornings [...]

Natural First-Aid Kit

As we head into the middle of June with high expectations of warm summer days filled with fun adventures, I can’t help but feel a little hesitant.
While I’m excited for outdoor exploring time with my toddler, I’m also anticipating a few more bumps, cuts and tears as I watch him run faster than his little [...]

Fight Fatigue Naturally

When deciding on this month’s topic, I was noticing the amazing contributions of many of our valley’s Momprenuers (including you, Robin!!) and wondering if they have a secret reservoir of energy hidden in their basement, and how do I get my hands on it!
In my practice, about 75% of the moms I see will include [...]

A Guide to Natural Allergy Remedies

Pollens Be Gone!!
Spring is sprung, the grass is green…the grass, the weeds, the trees…gazoontite!!
While we all look forward to warm sunny weather and longer days, the ‘blooming’ flowers and plants of spring can cause havoc for many kids and parents alike. How can we, as parents, encourage our little people to get some fresh [...]

The Importance of Nutrition in a Child’s Development

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
I was never quite sure what the heck my parents meant by that enduring little phrase until our tiny person showed up and NOTHING became more painful than to watch her slug through a horrible bout of sickness.
I’m not one to pound a huge whack [...]