Toddler Vitamins and Calcium to Prevent Cold and Flu

Q. Could you recommend a good toddler multivitamin and a toddler calcium supplement for my 2 year to keep her immune system strong against cold and flu? She does eat her fruits and veggies.

A. I'm so glad your little daughter is eating her fruits and veggies! I hope she keeps eating lots of them over the years. I would like to make a few suggestions for you to consider.

These are all important nutrients that are often difficult to obtain from diet alone. I would suggest you give this a try for her. Here is a link you can review:

• Multi-Vitamin & Mineral by ChildLife - I would recommend giving her 2 tsp a day with a meal. It's more complete than most children's vitamins because it contains vitamin K, choline, and selenium.

In addition to this, I would suggest adding this mineral formula to help support her bone growth, and the additional vitamin D can also help her immune function:

• Cal/Mag w/Cofactors by Pure Encapsulations - this is a powder formula that you mix with water. It is sweetened with Xylitol, which is a sugar alcohol (though no alcohol in it). Xylitol also help prevent dental carries, so an added benefit. The minerals are highly absorbable, and well utilized by the bones. If she has little calcium sources in her diet, you might want to give her 1 scoop a day (divided in 2 doses), but if she has a fair amount of dietary calcium, then 1/2 scoop a day. Additional vitamin D in this will also help support her immune system.

• Baby Vitamin D drops - one drop a day can also help further support her immune system and growth. However, she may be getting exposed to sunlight daily when she is playing outside, so if this is the case, you may not want to give her these drops on those days. You can use 1-2 drops a day. We are finding that many people do not get enough vitamin D and need to supplement. Weakened immune systems often result from a deficient amount of vitamin D.

• Muco Coccinium, is fine if you would like to continue though cold and flu season, though it is coming to an end soon.

• HLC High Potency probiotic - 1/4 tsp a day is a good maintenance dose, and you can increase this if she starts to feel poorly to 1/2 tsp once or twice a day.

Whole food supplements and HLC Mindlinx probiotics for Autism

Q. My 11 year old autistic son has super sensitivity to oral ingestion. He eats only mac+cheese, chicken nuggets, fries, pop-tarts and plain noodles. I am super concerned for his development. He takes pills fine and right now takes your HLC MindlLinx, and fish oil capsules. Do you have any good whole food nutrition tabs to recommend. I have tried every shake/supplement on the market. Please keep in mind that I have a limited budget. I'm sure you know that autism therapies aren't covered under insurance benefits.

A. Many autistic children have extreme food preferences and taste sensitivities. The best thing to do is to try to get him to eat healthy fruits and veggies gradually, sneaking them into his foods whenever possible. The less fried food and sugar you give him, the better his behavior will be, especially if he is sensitive to gluten. Try making your own baked potato wedges instead of giving in to serving french fries.

I went through our line of whole food supplements and I'm going to recommend:

• One Daily I by Innate Response - (whole food vitamin & mineral tablets) - it says one a day, he may do better with 2 tablets a day, one at breakfast and one at lunch. Try him first at one tablet a day for a week before increasing to two tablets a day. Take note of any improvement or changes in his focus and behavior. Children with spectrum disorders often do better with higher levels of some nutrients, especially Vitamin B6 & Magnesium.

• P5P (vit B6) plus Magnesium - by Klaire Labs (veggie caps) - provides the correct ratio of these nutrients that are needed in higher quantities. I would recommend 1 cap with breakfast. P-5-P is essential for healthy amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter balance, immune function, and responsible for over sixty enzymatic reactions. Research shows that P-5-P or B-6 plus magnesium is the most critical vitamin/mineral combination in the treatment of Autism and ADD/ADHD.

Please feel free to review our link on Autism if you'd like. Also, you might be interested in signing up for our free Quick Health Tips newsletter, this is sent out 1-2 times a month via email and it has a variety or topics on health and nutrition, as well as coupons to be used with our products! Let me know if you need further guidance with our products or how he does with these products I've recommended!

Baby Eczema and Flu Shot for infants

Q. I have a few questions about the flu shot for my 6 month old, and questions about the best way to treat eczema. I don't like the idea of my doctor telling me that I should get my son the flu shot I have never taken it before and don't plan to. I believe since I'm nursing and taken lots of probiotics that should be enough. Tell me what you think. Also my son has really bad eczema. What should I do? Do you sell products for baby eczema? (Steroid free of course).

A. To address your questions about your baby's eczema, I am including weblinks of some products I would recommend for you to try with him.

• Calendula Baby Cream - use topically to soothe the skin

• Calendula Cream Bath - use for bathing; Avoid harsh detergents, soaps, colors/dyes, fragrances, chemical additives such as paraben preservatives or foaming agents such as SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate)

• DriCelle Vega Pregnessence (child) - this is an essential fatty acid (EFA's) for infants until the age of 12 months, give 1/2 a teaspoon (1.5g) taken daily up to 12 months of age. Add to formula milk or expressed breast milk AFTER warming and stir until dissolved. A deficiency of EFA's can make babies more susceptible to ezcema. This EFA blend is more specific to brain development, and may not have a big impact in clearing eczema. I would also recommend adding 1/2 tsp of Cod Liver Oil a day as well. This will help reduce inflammation and provide Vitamin A & D, necessary for immune health and development.

• HLC Neonate Probiotic - Would recommend adding daily to help his intestinal health, and immune response. It is now acknowledged that imbalances in the flora of the neonate may significantly increase the risk of childhood allergy and susceptibility to infectious disease. Here is the recommended dosage:

Bottle Fed Babies: Mix apx 1/16 tsp into baby bottle (half of 1/8 tsp) once or twice a day.
Breast Fed Babies: Press clean finger into powder and have baby suckle finger. Or use a tiny plastic spoon (i.e. used at the ice cream/gelato store for flavor tasting). These fit perfectly into the Neonate bottle and then into their tiny mouth, and easily smears onto their tongue. Then follow it with a little breast milk, or let them mash it around their mouth with saliva. They may not even notice they have that tiny bit of powder in their mouth (it tastes slightly sweet). Approximately 33 mg (1 billion viable cells) will naturally adhere to the end of your finger (rough dosage idea). Repeat three times daily.

I would also recommend food allergy testing to see what foods he may be allergic to, or if you are already giving him cow's milk to discontinue until after the age of 1 years old, as eczema can be triggered by food allergies, as well as chemicals in soaps and clothing. Be sure to wash clothing and bedding with perfume free detergents, and wash before wearing.

As far as giving a flu shot, I cannot really advise you one way or the other, as it seems to be a personal decision. Though the flu shot, seems to be pretty controversial, and not free of potential negative reactions from immuno-compromised infants and individuals. However, if it were me, I would give the products I've recommended to help his developing immune system. In addition I would recommending adding this coconut oil based ingredient to applesauce daily to help immune function:

Monolaurin - open 1 capsule and mix with food.

You can use Monolaurin too, just use about 4 times as much for yourself or other adults. Thanks for your email and your continued business. Please let me know if I can be of further help!

Can Digest Plus by Genestra be taken crushed as I cannot take tablets?

Q. I am considering the Digest Plus by Genstra, but often have problems with tablets. Can they be crushed? Also, what do you recommend for heartburn?

A. Digest Plus tablets by Genestra can be crushed. But Genestra makes a chewable enzyme tablet which you might be interested in. Click here to read more information about it: BioEnzymes by Genestra

Also, here is a link to our category page called “Indigestion, Gas, Bloating” and recommended supplements:

For your heartburn, I recommend you take 1 enzyme tablet before each meal and ¼ tsp of HMF Powder probiotic after each meal for the first month. As symptoms disappear, you can reduce your dose. You should see big improvements within the first week!

In addition, making some changes to your diet is key. Focus on adding in alkaline foods to each meal such as vegetables and salads. For the first month, eliminate foods which aggravate your heartburn (i.e. fried foods, refined/processed foods, and sweets). After adding in your enzymes and probiotics, your body will have more tolerance to the foods which use to cause your heartburn.

Can you suggest a non allergenic Zinc & Vitamin C product for my toddler?

Q. I am looking for a Zinc and Vitamin C supplement for my toddler who is 26 months old, weighs 27 lbs. She is intolerant to a large number of foods, foremost dairy, soy, wheat/gluten/any grains, rice, orange, strawberry, chicken, corn. She received penicillin in utero, as I was GBS positive. Her other health issue has been severe reflux. Could you please tell me which of your products would be appropriate for her?

A. Based on the multitude of food allergies your young daughter has and what this indicates, I have some suggestions which could greatly help her. Most importantly, she needs to begin taking healthy bacteria (aka probiotics). I suspect that due to the heavy antibiotics, she has gut inflammation and breakdown.

To heal, she will need:

• HMF Intensive Probiotics: 1 capsule opened and mixed into food twice daily.
• Amino L-glutamine (necessary for GI healing): Take 2 capsules opened mixed in water if possible on an empty stomach once daily.
• Berry EFA Plus: Take 1 tsp twice daily (can mix other two powders into this). These essential fatty acids will help reduce the level of inflammation in her gut to allow it to heal. And they taste great for kids.

and lastly,

• Gammadyn Zn: Take 1 ampoule per day. Administer ampoule under the tongue and wait one minute before swallowing. This is important because zinc is needed for healing her gut and also for hundreds of other body functions.

I suggest beginning with this protocol because in order for your daughter to be well nourished and healthy, her gut needs to function better. This protocol will enable that to happen. Otherwise, even nutrients administered via supplements will only partially be absorbed. One her gut is healed, food allergies will improve and she'll be able to absorb vitamin mineral supplements better.

Can you suggest a tasty product for a 4 yo that might have worms?

Q. Would you mind recommending some tasteful remedies for my 4 1/2 year old, I think she may have some sort of worms?

A. You can ask your doctor to do a stool analysis to verify that your daughter, does in fact, has worms.

Please, see below the recommended products for worms or parasites:
Candicin by Genestra
Berberis Formula by Genestra
Black Walnut by Genestra
Unda 17

I understand your concern about the taste of the products. You can give her the Unda 17 mixed with a little bit of water; it doesn't really have a taste. I believe drops will be easier for this age, if she is not able to swallow capsules yet.

You can also use the Black Walnut by Genestra or mix the Berberis Formula by Genestra with some juice.

What remedy can one use for a 6 year old child who bed wets?

Q. What remedy can one use for a 6 year old child who bed wets?

A. Bed wetting is not uncommon for young kids, yet we don't know for sure why it occurs. Some of the possible causes include food allergies, nutritional deficiencies, stress/psychological problems, bladder infections, and drinking too much liquid before bed. It could be a combination of multiple factors. Here are some nutritional suggestions which may help.

Remove common food allergens—wheat-gluten, soy and dairy. If you need help with meal planning, I am available for a consultation. Also begin your child on a probiotic called HMF Neuro, by Genestra. HMF Neuro has special bacterial strains to help better break down gluten and casein. If your child does in fact have food allergies/sensitivities, this probiotic will lessen the problem. And regardless of food allergies, it is extremely helpful to help your child absorb more nutrients from diet. Take 1 capsule, 2 times a day with food (or the powder form).

Amino Acid Complex by Genestra—this is a targeted protein supplement to help strengthen the bladder muscle. I recommend 3 capsules daily, in divided doses if you can.

Cal Mag Liquid 2 by Genestra—this is a tasty liquid which will provide your child with some additional calcium and magnesium needed to relieve muscle spasms which may be contributing to the problem. Additionally, both minerals are involved in brain function and stress reduction. 1 tsp twice a day.

Cranberry Plus by Genestra—to help ensure a bladder infection is not a contributory factor, have him/her take 1 cap twice daily. If he/she cannot swallow the caps, consider either opening and mixing in water/juice, or let them drink pure cranberry juice—¼ cup daily.

Other tips: No fluids or Popsicles, jello, etc. before bed—reduce fluids after 6 pm. Get more fluids early in the day.

Is there a homeopathic product to remove toxins from baby vaccinations?

Q. I have a 6-week old baby and my pediatrician wants to vaccinate at 2 months and I don't. I want to delay vaccinations as much as possible and separate them out. If I do decide to vaccinate, I'd like to give him some homeopathic remedies to remove the toxins from his body. Any suggestions?

A. You do have the right as a parent to choose to delay and spread out the vaccines or refuse them altogether. Here are some supplement and homeopathic recommendations to help your baby get through the vaccinations.

Homeopathics:

• Unda 1 by Unda Seroyal
• Unda 2
• Unda 243

These are good for drainage of toxins from vaccines for babies. Use one drop of each 3 times/day directly into the mouth. Give a few days before vaccines & continue for 1 month afterward. These homeopathics last for a long time, so are good to keep on hand for each period a vaccine given.

Supplements:

• Chlorgen - 1/2 tablet crushed 2 times a day for 1 month after vaccines, but can be ongoing. You could mix it with some applesauce or other baby food. Chlorella is good at binding metals and detox, as well as providing additional nutrients to his diet.
• HMF Natogen - Can be mixed into food or bottle 2-3 times daily. Dose is apx what can stick to tip of your finger. This is an infant probiotic that is helpful for overall immune function.
• Cod Liver Oil - 1/2 teaspoon, 1 time a day. Helps nervous system function, as well as immune response.

All of these supplements recommended here can be used on-going for supporting overall immune function and health.

Is Brain Vitale safe for my 6 yo with sleep apnea?

Q. Is Brain Vitale by DFH safe for my son who is 6 years old and weighs 60 pounds? He had suffered with serious sleep apnea, he is very emotional, and not able to focus on anything. He cannot get into the deeper levels of sleep.

A. Brain Vitale is safe for a healthy child without seizure or brain disorders. The dose would be 1/4-1/2 tsp daily. I would use Brain Vitale with him carefully and note any changes in behavior for the better or worse.

In addition, I highly recommend:

1. HLC Mindlinx, by Pharmax: This is healthy probiotics mixed with some glutamine, both very helpful for GI function and help break down gluten and casein in his food. Gluten and casein have been known to cause behavioral problems in kids. Give 1 or 2 capsules after meals.
   
   Your sons' sensitivity to certain foods/chemicals provides us a clue that his intestines are not working very well. If this is in fact true, (which would have been caused by antibiotic and steroid/anti-inflammatory med use from surgeries), than he is not absorbing his nutrients and would definitely exhibit poor brain chemistry symptoms such as poor sleep and emotional flux. Also, we know that you have developed Celiacs, probably related to stress, and this shows us that genetically, he has an intestinal weakness predisposition.
2. Berry Frutol Fish Oils by Pharmax (1-2 tsp. daily): My 4-year niece asks for them each time she steps foot in my house! This helps to reduce inflammation in the GI in addition to support neurotransmitter reception in the brain. Using liquid is better because it allows you to use a higher dose without having to swallow 8 or more pills
3. ASDplex Hypoallergenic Nutrition: Available only through our sister company, but very helpful to correct underlying nutrient deficiencies. It is free of all allergens. It is often used by children with Autism and ADHD, because of it's purity and bioavailable forms of nutrients such as B-vitamins and magnesium, both important for sleep and healthy brain function, and an excellent combination of amino acids, necessary for neurotransmitter production. Your son may have in common with autistic children that his GI system is broken down and having trouble producing neurotransmitters. Of course, Autistic children have other features as well, yet this product may be perfectly suited for your son.

Client feedback:
My name is Judy. I conversed with you via email back a few weeks ago and you made some suggestions for my son Lukas and I purchased the products you suggested. Luke has been taking them for approx. 10 days and the results have been incredible, within 2 days there was a dramatic change in his disposition he appears to be balanced. His behavior and the up and down emotional state have improved dramatically.
THANK YOU!!!

What are some health nutrition treats or snacks for my kids?

Q. What are some health nutrition treats or snacks for my kids?

A.

1. Paleomeal Smoothies — Paleomeal is a delicious, 100% pure and nutritious protein powder, which I use daily and also give to my niece as a treat. It supports the immune system with pure whey protein and a nice vitamin/ mineral spectrum. It comes in Chocolate, strawberry, and natural vanilla flavor. I make smoothies, for instance, a strawberry smoothie with strawberry Paleomeal, frozen strawberries, orange flavored finest pure fish oils (by Pharmax), and ½ banana. It is a delicious meal or snack. Another example is chocolate paleomeal with Plain Almond Milk, Banana, Nut Butter, and ice. We offer many recipes using Paleomeal.
2. Brain Power Sours by DFH: A healthy gummy bear type of treat with healthy brain nutrients inside to improve concentration and memory.
3. Protein Bars: All natural ingredients, healthy sweeteners, and high quality protein and nutrients in each bar. A perfect snack or meal replacement for kids and adults.
4. CardioPower Chocolate Truffles by DFH: These are delicious healthy chocolate truffles. Not intended to be overconsumed, 1-2 a day would be a nice treat for you and your family.
5. Berry Frutol by DFH: Your kids and you can each take 2-3 tsp daily to get your healthy omega 3 fatty acids, pure and potent, which aid in overall health, including immune system and reducing inflammation, which is now considered the leading cause of almost every health condition. This is a fruit puree that tastes delicious. It’s so good that my niece asks for it the moment she walks in my door.

Please suggest a non powder protein supplement for child who only eats carbs.

Q. What would you suggest as a protein supplement for my 12 yr old son who eats only carbs and refuses to eat protein? He will swallow pills but doesn't like protein powders.

A. Ideally, you should work on getting your son to start eating some protein rich foods. Some ways you can do this are:

• egg fortified pancakes or muffins
• yogurt with fruit and nuts
• almond butter
• fried rice with extra egg
• cream soups using whole milk

Of course, chicken, fish, and red meats are healthy too. One thing I have found true in children who do not eat proteins is that it often stems from a deficiency of healthy bacteria in the gut. Since the gut is essential to digest protein, children who are deficient literally cannot digest protein, and therefore refuse it. Lack of good bacteria is caused by lack of breastfeeding and antibiotics or other meds. Is this applicable?

Try giving him HLC High Potency Probiotics by Pharmax to restore his gut function. It tastes very good and is administered as a powder with excellent compliance by children. (give him 1/4 tsp. twice daily to begin. Retry protein foods in small quantities to find out if he tolerates them better in about 1-2 weeks)

For now, since your son will not take any protein powders, here is a capsule supplement that he would do well on: Enteric Amino Complex by Pharmax 90 caps - Depending on how his protein needs (based on weight, health level, and physical activity), he would need about 8-10 capsules 2x per day between meals. You will need about 1 bottle per week.

Can you suggest a product for 3 month old who is on formula?

Q. I have 3 months old baby, who is unfortunately on formula. Please advise which product should I get for him?

A. There are a couple of supplements which help to compensate for the formula's deficiencies. Certainly one is HLC Probiotics. Use HLC Neonate Powder: Insert a clean finger into the bottle and press against the powder. Approximately 32mg (700 million viable cells) will naturally adhere to the finger end. Allow the infant to suckle the powder. Repeat three times daily.

Also, use DriCelle Vega Pregnessence (child) by Pharmax for your baby's healthy brain development. 1/2 tsp powder combined with formula once daily.

Any suggestion for a 20 month old who is very aggressive towards others?

Q. I am having BEHAVIOR trouble with my 20 month old. He gets in trouble all day long. In day care or playgroups, he starting hitting, pushing, grabbing, pulling kids down to the ground. I have a German Shepard and I've caught him hitting the dog. The dog just lays there. My husband and I are happily married. He sees lots and lots of love...And we give him lots and lots of love. What can I do?

A. Over the years I've had a lot of experience with the effects of food on behavior. It's absolutely incredibly how powerful foods are and their effect on the brain. Even foods you might think of as "healthy" could be foods he is sensitive to causing him to become more aggressive. (food sensitivities can develop at any time).

Some of the most common things which can cause behavioral modifications are food additives, colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, soy, and gluten (found in all flour containing foods). An example is the kids I work with who have autism. When they eat certain foods (i.e. gluten and artificial chemicals in food), their behavior goes out of control, or sometimes perhaps just exhibit more aggression. And when those triggers are removed, they improve dramatically. It's amazing.

The reason for this behavioral effect from food is that certain chemicals can leak out of the gut, into the blood, and pass the blood brain barrier causing a drug like effect. It's quite common (called "leaky gut"). If his gut is a little leaky, or organs not detoxifying well, all environmental chemicals including pesticides and household chemicals (and lead) can cause significant effects on behavior.

Anyhow, the info can get very technical, but I wanted to at least share with you some "food for thought". Try giving your son a very "clean" diet of fresh real foods, no artificial anything, no boxed/canned/packaged foods, no sugar, caffeine, and no gluten for a month to see if there are any changes. Here is a summary of dietary changes with can make a big difference:

Top 10 Dietary Tips
Here is an info page on the dietary recommendations I make for kids with ASD, but these apply to any child who may be reacting behaviorally to certain elements in his food.

Supplements designed for kids 2-12 years old
Lastly, nutrient deficiencies can cause aggressive behavior. The research points to magnesium, zinc, Omega 3s, and vitamin B-6. Get him on some good nutrients. There are lots of great formulas for children which taste good. (i.e. Berry Frutol liquid, Vitavescence powder).

If you want to read some research summaries about nutrient deficiencies and aggressive behavior, type in "aggression, behavior, children" in the search box of Vitasearch.com.

Let me know if I can help you further! Good luck.
Annika Rockwell, CN

Any product help a 1 yo with ear infections that are not helped by antibiotics?

Q. My 12 month old is battling another horrible ear infection and she has had 3 before this one. The antibiotics don't seem to work. Can you help?

A. The most important thing you should be thinking about is WHY your baby is getting re-occurring ear infections. From my experience, 95% of infants with ear infections benefit from eliminating pasteurized cow dairy which is the most common allergen. It's fascinating to see how powerful nutrition is in infants. Your baby can go from chronically ill to perfect health by just focusing on her nutrition.

Perhaps the only thing you need to do to get her better is eliminate the offending cause. Can you remove ALL pasteurized cow dairy from your baby's diet for 1-3 months and see how she does? The reason is that pasteurized cow milk (which is the base for infant formula) contains some very strong allergens which cause an inflammatory reaction resulting in ear infections, skin conditions, asthma, and gastro-intestinal problems.

Your very best substitute for cow dairy based infant formula is RAW goat milk. Raw milk actually helps PREVENT ear infections while pasteurized milk tends to cause them. If you don't know about raw milk, please read up on it. It has improved the life and health of countless babies and parents. It's an amazing health food.

Read about benefits and safety of raw milk here.

If you live in Miami, I have started a Co-op to obtain it from a wonderful Amish farm. Read more details about the Miami Co-op, raw dairy and safety for infants here.

If you are not in Miami, your health food store (Whole Foods/Wild Oats) will carry it. It's sometimes in the back and you have to ask for it. The label will say "for pet consumption", but it's just a Florida law. (In very health progressive states like California, for example, raw milk does not need to say "for pet consumption"). Or if you don't want to get it at the health food store, you can have very high quality raw milk shipped to you from a number of farms around the country.

Your second best alternative if you cannot afford raw goat milk (which by the way is delicious and lasts 2-3 weeks in a cold fridge), is pasteurized goat milk found next to the regular milk at the supermarket. Click here to see what it looks like.

However, due to the ultra processing/pasteurization of this milk, it may also aggravate your baby's ears. Yet it's easier for infants to digest and more similar to breast milk.

Lastly, it is critical that you give your baby probiotics aka beneficial bacteria specific for infants. These good bacteria which keep your baby's immune system strong, have all been killed off by the antibiotics. Now, with much of the good flora destroyed and immune system weakened, ear infections can occur more easily. Here is a page of info on a great brand of infant probiotics./p>

You should also read about homeopathic remedies for ear infections. They are the safest way to treat them in infants, and proven effective in numerous scientific trials over the years. The best known homeopathic ear remedy for infants is called Oto-Plex by Weber and Weber.

In brief, if you do not address the underlying cause of her ear infections by removing allergens and building up her immune system, the infections will continue to happen and your baby's health will always suffer in one area or another. The reoccurring ear infections are a sign that "something is wrong" and causing her immune system to constantly battle. Getting tubes put in does not eliminate the offending cause.

I highly encourage you to try removing all cow dairy in her diet for at least 3 months and supplementing with probiotics, and use Oto-Plex. Side note, do not use soy milk. It is a poison for babies and linked to some horrible health problems. You can read more about dangers of soy for infants and kids here.

Suggested lotion for toddler with itchy skin? Eucerin or Aquaphor do not help.

Q. My 2 year old has extremely dry patches all over, especially on his behind. He scratches so hard he draws blood. If I see him I always stop him, but he usually scratches in his sleep. I keep his fingernails clipped for the scratching part. I've tried Eucerin, Aquaphor, and various other lotions. Any suggestions on lotions etc to help with his uncomfortable itching. Thanks so much!

A. Ninety-five percent of kids and adults with extremely dry skin patches and eczema improve dramatically or have complete reversal in symptoms by targeting the root of the problem: Food allergies and/or Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency. Have you ever given your boy a good quality Cod Liver Oil? Infants and kids needs a LOT of healthy fats.

A 2 year old should be consuming at least 6 tablespoons of healthy fats daily including Cod Liver Oil. You can mix it into their food and they don't even know it's there. The good quality Cod Oil does not taste fishy (just oily). Pharmax is a great brand and their Finest Pure Cod Liver Oil is excellent. Coconut Oil is also fabulous for kids and skin health.

Here are some detailed recommendations from my site on essential healthy fats and how important they are for everything from brain health to immune system and the skin.

You will be blown away at the dramatic effect adding good oils to his diet can be for his skin. Your little body is just starving for them.

Removing foods he is sensitive to (i.e. pasteurized cow milk products) could also cause a huge improvement. Most Eczema is caused by or made worse by dairy. For over 10 years I have seen complete reversal by just removing foods causing the skin inflammation.

In summary, rubbing lotions on his skin or taking toxic medications will never really fix the problem until you correct the underlying cause of the severely dry skin patches. His skin symptom is a sign that something is wrong. I urge you to fix the problem from the inside out!

What a huge difference the Allicillin made for my 4 year old.

Hi Rachael, what a huge difference the Allicillin made for my 4 year old. It was truly amazing to witness the difference (in my 4-year old’s stomach aches and behavior). The HLC Uritol has also reduced her urinary frequency and discomfort but it was more gradual and I'm about to order more because we haven't completely resolved this issue but it is 65% better. I did start weaning my older daughter (6 years old) off the Bactrim with HCL Intensive 3 times a day and Allicillin 2 times a day and she seems to be doing quite well. No huge side effects or outrageous behavior, both children are doing well, and I will be eternally grateful for all of your good advice!!

—Jennifer D.

Natural safe alternative to flu vaccine for children.

Q: I have three children, ages 7, 5, and 2 and of course, as all parents are, I am worried about the increase of illness around us already. I choose not to get the H1N1 vaccine for them as I am concerned about putting a unknown into their bodies. They are healthy children, no major medical concerns, and I am looking for a product that will help boost their immune system.

A: Below are my top recommendations for supplements to help boost the immune system of your children.

Muco Coccinum is a homeopathic flu prevention supplement and it works very well to prevent infection and increase the immune response if your children start to get sick. For natural prevention for your children: 1 tablet per week throughout the winter season. For your youngest who is 2 years old, 1/2 tablet per week should be enough.

Immune Support Kit for Kids by ChildLife Essentials is an excellent group of supplements to keep on hand in case any of your children start getting sick. At the first sign of the sniffles or before airline travel, start dosing up on each of these right away. They will improve your childrens' ability to fight off the infection naturally.

Monolaurin is an anti-microbial agent that protects the immune system from a range of infectious agents, mainly virus and fungus infections. Monolaurin is a glyceride ester derivative of lauric acid, a fatty acid found naturally in breast milk and certain vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. It is very safe for children and adds extra support for the immune system. You can break them open and sprinkle the Monolaurin into something such as applesauce or yogurt for your children. I would recommend one capsule a day for preventive, if they start to come down with 2 a day for the youngest and 3 or more a day in divided doses for the older two children.

For overall good intestinal health, and as a daily supplement, I recommend a good probiotic, once a day with meals. Over 90% of our immune function begins in our intestinal tracts, so keeping it healthy with good bacteria is an important part of overall immune health. Here is a good probiotic for your little ones: HLC High Potency- It comes in a powder or capsules, which ever you prefer. (the powder tastes great right off the spoon).