EYE CARE FOR KIDS

Theblurrydistantvisionofmyopia isaworldwideepidemic.Nearsightednesshasdoubledinthe U.S.since1971 to42percent,andinsome Asiancountriesitaffects90percentof teensandadults,reportstheAmerican AcademyofOphthalmology.Eyedoctors saythekeytimetopayattentionisduring childhood,becausemyopiaandothereye andvisionproblemscanbereversedor stabilizedifaddressedatanearlyage. “Parentstendtoassumethatvision by Ronica A. O’Hara problemsaren’taconcernfortheyoung andhealthy,butit’snevertooearlyto promotehealthfulhabitsortobeonthe lookoutforpotentialvisionissues,”advises ophthalmologistSandyT.Feldman,M.D., medicaldirectoroftheClearviewEye& LaserMedicalCenter,inSanDiego. Ophthalmologistsandoptometrists recommendhavingachild’seyestested at6months,3yearsand5or6yearsto detectnearsightedness,farsightedness, astigmatism,“lazyeye”(amblyopia), crossedormisalignedeyes(strabismus) andotherpotentialproblems.“Forsigns oftrouble,Iaskparentsiftheyhaveseen theirchildhaveaneyethatwandersorif thechildcoversaneyeregularly,theyare rubbingtheireyesorplayingwiththeir toysclosetotheirface,”saysoptometrist NathanLangemo,oftheHopkinsEye Clinic,inHopkins,Minnesota. Ifmyopiabecomessevere,itcanlead toretinaldetachment,prematurecataracts andglaucomainadulthood,butearlydetectionispossible.AnOhioStateUniversity studyof4,500childrenfoundthatmyopia ineighth-graderscouldbepredictedin thefirstgradebytheireyeglassprescription.Childrenatage6arenaturallyslightly farsighted,andthosewithnormalvisionare morelikelytobecomemyopiclater. Acommonmedicaltreatmenttoslow myopiainkidsisdailyuseof0.01 percent atropineeyedrops,themedicationused todilateaneyebeforeanexam.Itslowed downnearsightednessbyroughly50 percentinSingaporechildren.Anew,twoyearstudyshowsthatcombiningtheeye dropswithnightlycontactlens-wearing is28to38percentmoreeffective.Forpreschoolerswithamblyopia,aniPadgame calledDigRushwasshowntobehelpfulin aUniversityofTexasSouthwesternMedicalCenterstudy.HongKongresearchers reportthat15weeksofacupuncturebeat outeyepatchesfortreatingchildrenwith lazyeyes,resolvingtheconditionin41 percentofcases,comparedto16percent.

Thesimplestpreventivestrategyfor myopiamaybesimplytoshoochildren outdoorseveryday,includinginvolving theminoutdoorsports.Researchersaren’t surewhetherit’sthevitaminDeffector thefactthatwhentheyareoutdoorskids focusmoreondistantobjectsliketreesand ballsthanwhenreadingabookorscreen, butrecentstudiesinTaiwanandDenmark haveverifiedthatmoretimeoutdoors islinkedtolessmyopia.Evensittingin sunlightinsidewhilereadingorusingfullspectrumlightbulbsisprotective,sayresearchers.Whenoutdoors,“Makesurethe childhas100percentUVAandUVBsun protectionfortheeyes,”advisesLangemo, includingusingUVcontactlenses. Evidenceismixedonwhethercloseupreadingbringsonchildhoodmyopia, butastudyof500collegestudentsthat heavilyusedcomputersfound53percent reportingheadaches,55percentwith burningsensationsintheeyesand48percentwithtiredeyes.Whenkidsfocuson acomputer,theireye-refreshingblinking rateslowsfrom10to12timesaminuteto threeorfourtimesaminute,saysoptometristMarcGrossman,ofNewPaltz,New York,authorofNatural Eye Care: Your Guide To Healthy Vision and Healing. Herecommendstakingbreaksat least10minuteseveryhour,usinghomeopathiceyedropsandgentlymassagingtheeyesbymovingfingersfromthe innercorner,aroundtheuppersocketand underneath,stoppingaboutsixtimesto massageeachpointforfiveto10seconds. It’salsoimportanttoremovehouseholdhazards.Medicalemergencyrooms increasinglyreporteyeinjuriesinkidsfrom populartoyweaponslikeNerf,BBgunsand paintballguns,aswellascolorfuldetergent podsthatpreschoolerslovetosqueezeor bite,plusaerosolsprayfrompaint,hairspray,cleaningproductsandbugrepellants. Feedingchildrentherightfoods,includinglotsofvegetables,fruitsandgrains, alsobenefitstheireyes.Theomega-3sinfish oil,nutsandseedshelpminimizedryeye, andleafygreensandeggshavetheeye-protectiveantioxidantsluteinandzeaxanthin.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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Movementcomesinmanycolors, frommoderndancetocountrylinedancing,andthere’s somethingforeveryone,includingthose thatclaimtohavetwoleftfeet.Dancingis healthyfortheheartandimprovescognitive functionbyforgingnewneuralpathways inthebrain.Itbuildsstrongerbones,helps balanceandimprovesflexibilityandendurance.Puttingondancingshoesalsohasa positiveeffectondepressivedisorders, floodingthebrainwithendorphins thatupliftmoodandjumpstart motivation.Dancehasfoundits wayintotheclinicalsettingasa psychotherapeutictoolforhealing trauma,eatingdisordersand addictions.

Dancing,inessence,isfor everyone.“Danceisahumanright, afeatureofalmostevery cultureintheworld, andournatural inclinationtodance isoneofthethings thatmakesushuman,” saysDavidLeventhal,programdirectorofDanceforPD, anonprofitParkinson’sDisease programoftheMarkMorrisDance Group,inBrooklyn. ValerieDurham,amodern dancerinBaltimorespecializing intheIsadoraDuncantechnique, concurs,“Birdsdon’tconsiderifthey havetalentforsinging,theyjust sing.Theysingbecausetheyhave avoice.Similarly,danceisaright offeredtoanyonewithabody.” by Marlaina Donato

GoingdancingonaFriday nightalsoprovestonourishthebrain.A2017study publishedinFrontiers of Aging Neuroscienceshows evidencethatdanceincreases whitematterthatdiminishes withcognitivedecline.An olderstudysponsoredbythe AlbertEinsteinCollegeof Medicineandpublishedin theNew England Journal of Medicinespotlightsdata gatheredduringa21-year periodandrevealsthat regularsocialdancing canreducetheriskfor dementiainseniorsby 76percent.

“Anumberofpeerreviewedresearchstudies pointtodance’sabilityto improvemotorskillsand functionofpeopleliving withParkinson’sdisease—balance,gaitandtremor.Danceis expressive,givingpeopleacreative voicewhenitfeelsthattheircapacity forphysical,vocalandfacialexpression isbeingtakenaway,”saysLeventhal. Durham,whoworkedwithpatients attheUniversityofFloridaShands HospitalArtsinMedicinePrograminthe 1990s,witnessedmemorableresponses fromcancerpatients.“Wedancedwith patientswhowereattachedtoIVsand thoseevenintheICU,somewhowere

partiallyorevencompletelyparalyzed, peoplewhomaybecoulddanceonlywith theireyes.Andyettheydanced,”marvels Durham.“Gettingthelymphaticsystem, endorphinsandbreathflowingallelevate thebodyoutofpainmode.”

Allformsofdancinghavethecapability tofreethespiritandhealdeepemotional woundsburiedinthememory-holding fasciaofthebody’ssofttissues.Ecstatic dance,whichhasrootsinancientspiritual practices,isanunstructuredoptionthat diluteslimiting,self-conscioushabits. Thesedays,ecstaticdancegatheringshave beenorganizedincitiesaroundtheworld. “There’savastmovementinthe danceworldthathasnothingtodowith performance,butrather,isdoneforthejoy ofinhabitingabodyinmotion.Ecstatic danceisafree-formconsciousdanceand isavibrantglobalcommunityforpeople wholovemusicandmovement,”says DonnaCarroll,founderofEcstaticDance International,inSanFrancisco.“Whenwe canbecourageousenoughtoturnaway fromourculturalnormsthatsayyouneed ‘talent’todance,wegetachancetoexperiencemusicthroughourbodies,anditcan bequitepleasurableandlife-affirming. Ecstaticdanceisoneofthemosteffective methodstoreturntowhatmatters,toour bodies,toour‘home’,andisaccessiblefor peopleofallabilities.” Inherartisticsphereofperformance art,Durhamhasseenherstudentsblossomfromtheinside-out.“Theyareable toconnectwiththedeepwisdomintheir bodies,therebyreleasingoldenergetic wounds.Depressionandanxietyare relievedduringdancebecauseyouareso consciouslyconsumedwiththepresent momentofthestepsandthemusic.Dancerswillfindthattheyfeelmorejoyfuland atpeaceattheendofadancesession.” ForLeventhal,movingthebodyisa blessingforall:“Danceshouldbeaccessibleandenjoyabletoeveryone,regardless ofphysicalorcognitivechallenges.”

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by Sheila Julson D r.JudithM. Shoemaker, veterinarianand founderofAlwaysHelpfulVeterinaryServices, inNottingham,became intriguedbyintegrative veterinarymedicine modalitieswhenher horsewasprofoundly helpedbyachiropractic adjustment.Impressed, Shoemakertrainedin animalchiropractic throughtheAmerican VeterinaryChiropractic AssociationwithDr. SharonWilloughby,who pioneeredveterinarychiropracticduring the1980s.Today,chiropracticisoneof severalintegrativetechniquesShoemaker offersatAlwaysHelpfulVeterinaryServicesforequineandcompanionanimals. Shoemakerisafoundingmemberof theAmericanVeterinaryChiropracticAssociation(AVCA) andtaughtchiropractic coursesfrom1987to2000.She’slectured throughoutthecountryandinternationallyonmyriadintegrativetopicsincluding chiropractic,acupunctureandposturalrehabilitation.She’samemberoftheAmericanAcademyofVeterinaryAcupuncture (AAVA) andtheInternationalVeterinary AcupunctureSociety(IVAS). AlwaysHelpful’sintegrativeservices emphasizehelpfor“bothendsoftheleash,” andfocusonindividualizedcareforeach animal.“It’sterrificallyimportanttorealize thateveryanimalisanindividual,”Shoemakerexplains.“Integrativemedicine involvesgettingasmuchinformationfrom clientsaspossibleaboutseeminglyunrelatedthings—theanimal’slikesanddislikes, itsfamilylife,whereit camefromandhowitreactedtolifeoccurrences. Thoseareallimportant factorsindiagnosingand treatinganimals.”

Shoemaker’sphysicalmedicineworkis PosturalRehabilitation. “Posturesassociated withemotionalissues orinjuriescancreate problemsmechanically andwithphysiology;we canchangethese,”she says.“It’scrucialtothe animal’swell-beingand balance.”Shelooksat whethertheanimalbearsweightappropriately,howitusesitselfandhowitstands. Shecorrectsfactorssuchastoenaillength, whichcandramaticallyaffectstance,postureandemotions.Theyusesophisticated “fear-free”nailtrimmingtechniques. Shoemakerandherstaffcounsel clientsonproperfeeding.Theyemphasize naturalmeatandvegetabledietswithlittle ornofillerssuchaslegumes,which,inexcess,lackproperaminoacidsorcanblock theirabsorption.“Aproperlybalanced, realfood,unprocessedrawdietisreallya greatwaytoimproveouranimals’health,” sheadvises.“Dogsareomnivores.We’re notagainstfoodadditives,butwechoose verycarefullytofindthingsthatarewellbalancedandprovideessentialnutrients.” AlwaysHelpfulVeterinaryServices promotestheuseoftitering,orblood testing,todetermineifanimalsneed vaccination,ratherthanautomatically boosting.Shoemakeraffirmstheyarenot anti-vaccine,anditdoestakeacertain amountofvaccinationtoprotectanimals Dr. Judith M. Shoemaker giving a Yorkie a pedicure.

frompreventablediseasessuchasparvo anddistemper,butroutinetitertesting thereaftercandetermineifananimalhas establishedimmunity.“We’reverydiligent aboutmakingsureanimalsareprotected. Wetestthemtoprovewhetherweneedto vaccinate,”shesays.“Excessivevaccinationscanhavedeleteriouseffectsonthe immunesystemandcauseallergies,skin problems,andchronicinflammatorydisease.Wewanttovaccinateappropriately, butnotover-vaccinate.” OtherintegrativemodalitiesShoemakeroffersincludeQest4testing:a functionalmedicineDNAtesttohelp determinespecificsupplementalneeds. Homeopathyservicesconsistofpreparing individualizedremediestorestorebalance. Theclinicalsousesozonetherapyfor infectiousdisease,allergies,earandskin problems,boneinfections,andtohelp withpost-surgicalhealing.Ozoneisalso usedasanadjuncttocancertherapy. Shoemakerhasresearchedmany cancertreatmentsforanimalsandsays sheisoneofthefewveterinariansinthe countrytoofferSanaWaveelectromagnetic/hyperthermictechnology.Shesays it’sparticularlyhelpfulintreatinganimals thatdon’ttoleratechemotherapywell.It alsohelpsreducethemetastasisofcancers andtreatsthosethatcan’tberemoved throughsurgeryorradiation. BEMERtechnologyisaGermandevicethathelpsimprovedeliveryofoxygen tothebody’stissuesandremovaloftoxins. Shoemakernotesthatallanimalsenjoy BEMERtherapysessionstohelpenhance microcirculationandeasediscomfort.In addition,ShoemakerusesChineseherbs andtreatmentslikenanoparticulateiron, givenintravenously,totreatcancerous tumors. “Weneedtoeducatepeopleabout alternativesandtheirintegrationwithconventionalmedicineandhowtohelpkeep theiranimalswell,”Shoemakerconcludes.

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Inthesecoronavirusdays,anessentialoilmixturewithlegendaryoriginsintheBubonicPlagueofferssoothingscentsforthe homeboundandmightaddsomeviralprotection. Themixtureoffiveoils:eucalyptus,clove,cinnamon,lemon androsemary,isknownasThieves.Asthestorygoes,inthe1500s, astheBlackDeathdecimatedEurope,whenfourunemployed spicemerchantsthatturnedtorobbingthebodiesandhomesof thedeadwerecapturedandthreatenedwithbeingburnedalive, theyconfessedtothejudgetheirsecrettoavoidinginfection—the spiceblendthattheyrubbedontheirhands,ears,feetandtemples. Theywereallhanged,buttheirformulasurvivesasThieves, andistodayoneofthemostpopularessentialoilblendsinthe market,soldunderthatnameandalsoasFiveGuards,Health ShieldandFightingFive.Althoughshowntosharplyreducethree kindsofairbornebacteriain10minutes,itsantiviralproperties havenotbeenextensivelystudied.Itscomponents,however,have provenantimicrobial,antisepticandantiviralproperties:

n Eucalyptus,longusedforrespiratoryinfections,hasbeenproveneffectiveagainstanumberofviruses,particularlytheswineflu andherpestype1 viruses.

n Clovehasexhibitedstrongantiviralactivityagainstsuch virusesastheadenovirustype3respiratoryvirus,poliovirusand coxsackievirus.

n Cinnamonleafshowsantiviralactivityandcanpreventpneumoniaduetoinfluenza.

n Lemonoilhasantibacterialandantifungalproperties,andis oftenusedincleaningproducts.

n Rosemaryeasesstressandhasantiviral,antimicrobialand antidepressantqualities.

Thievescanbepurchasedinnaturalhealthstoresoronline. Forahomemadeblend,JenniferLane,anaromatherapist,registerednurseandfounderof LovingEssentialOils.com,recommends combiningtheseessentialoils:

4 35dropslemon 4 20dropscinnamonleaf

4 15dropsclovebud 4 15dropseucalyptus

4 10dropsrosemary

Addingfivedropsoftheblend,alongwithwaterina diffuser,canwaftthescentthroughoutaroomanddiminish airborneodorsandgerms. Forrespiratorysupport,putafew dropsintoacupofsteaming,butnotboiling,water,drapea towelaroundthecupandface,andbreatheinthevapor. Add ittoacarrieroillikejojobaoilorcoconutoilata1:30ratio (suchasone-halfounceThievesto15ouncesjojoba) andrub itonpulsepointsinthewristandneck. Butdonotingestthe blend. Ifachildunder10isinthehouse,don’tdiffuseitor useittopicallyonthem,becauserosemaryandeucalyptuscan beunsafeforachild,advisesChristinaAnthis,authorofThe Beginner’sGuidetoEssentialOils:EverythingYouNeedto KnowtoGetStarted.

by April Thompson F resh-cutflowerscan elevateaspacewith color,scentsand texturesthatdrawtheeye andnose,butprofessional floraldesignscanbepricey. DIYarranging,however,isaneasy,fun andinexpensivecreativeoutletthatcan alsohelpcultivatemindfulness. Flower arrangingismorethanjustadecorative art;it’saspiritualactivitythathelpscreateakinshipwithnatureandmergethe indoorsandoutdoors. Ikebana,theJapanese artofflowerarranging,dates backtotheseventhcentury, whenfloralofferingswere madeatBuddhistaltars, accordingtoJeanneHa, owneroftheWashingtonFlowerSchool,in TakomaPark,Maryland.Inthe16thcentury,Japanesesamuraispracticedflower arrangingpriortocombattohelpcalm themandstaycentered,astress-reducing activitymostofuscanbenefitfromtoday. “Seasonalflowersareanimportantelement The good news is you can’t mess up flowers. ~Kathy Jentz

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Aswithanyartisticmedium,creative choicesareimportantinfloralarranging. Wecanoptforafussy,formalstyle,arustic farmhouselookoramodern,asymmetricaldesign.“Thegoodnewsisyoucan’t messupflowers.Whethermultidimensionalorone-sided,monochromaticor multicolored,youreallycan’tgowrong,” saysKathyJentz,publisherofWashington Gardener Magazine andaflowerarranging instructorinSilverSpring,Maryland. Likeagoodmeal,theingredientsofa bouquetareasimportantashowtheyare assembled.Startwithorganic,pesticidefreebuds.“Lookforlocal,seasonalflowers, whichwillbefresherandlastlongerthan thoseflownin,”saysBettyAnnGalway,a certifiedfloraldesignerandinstructorat theNorfolkBotanicalGarden,inVirginia. Farmers’markets,communitysupported agricultureCSAsandpick-your-ownfarms areallgreatplacestofindlocally,sustainablygrownflowers,accordingtoJentz.To selectforlongshelflife,lookforfresh-lookingstamensandfoliage,andfirmheadson flowers.Mums,carnationsandasterswill lastuptothreeweeks,saysGalway. Whenselectingflowers,AmiWilber, floralandeventdécordesignerattheWashington,D.C.,HillwoodEstate,Museum& Gardens,recommendsstartingwithacolor scheme,whetherlimitingthepalettetoone ortwocolors,usinganalogouscolorslike pinksandpurplesorselectingcomplementarycolorslikebluesandoranges.“It’salso goodtofindafocalflowerorashow-stopperthatwillimmediatelydrawattentionto abouquet,”saysWilber. Preppingtheflowersbeforearranging willalsoprolonganarrangement’slongevity,includingcuttingstemsdiagonallyto providemoresurfaceareaforwater,suggestsJentz.Shealsorecommendsplunging flowersintocoolwaterimmediatelyafter trimmingtheirstems.Leavespumpwater upthestem,soleaveafewonwhileclearingthosefromthebottomthatwouldotherwisebesubmergedinwater,addsGalway.

Therearemanywaystocreatestructure foranarrangement,mostofwhichisoften hidden.Wilberstuffschickenwireintoan opaquecontainerandthentapesdownthe topwithagridoffloraltapetoprovidemore controloverthedirectionofthestems.Ha usesfloralfoam,soakedtoprovidehydration,intowhichstemscanbeinsertedatany angletocreateagravity-defyingdesign. Differentstylesofarrangingdrawfrom differentprinciples,butmanycommonrules ofthumbapply;forexample,usingodd numbersofeachtypeofflowerandadding

Flower Arranging Tips From a Pro A healthy, professional-looking bouquetdoesn’t takeyearsof flowerdesigning toachieve;these tricksofthe tradewillhelp neophytedesignersgetstarted. Toloosenuptightlywoundbuds, breatheonthem.Hotbreathwillopen budsupfaster,sayspublisherandarrangerKathyJentz. AnarrangingtechniqueJentz recommendsisclusteringblossomsbetweentheindexfingerandthumbofthe less-dominanthand,resultinginatight arrangementthatcanbeheldinplaceby arubberbandpulleduptothetopsof thestems. Ifworkingwithhydrangeasor otherflowerswithwoodystems,smash openthestemsalongthelengthtoget morewatercirculation. Considerupcyclingcommoncontainerstomakeflowervases,Jentzsays. “Youcancreaterecycledvasesoutofold jarsandbottles,orusechalkpaintto colorfullycoveroveratincan.” Thesecretsauceinflowerfoodis simplysugarandcitricacid,saysJentz, soalittlelemonademixaddedtothewaterofanarrangementwillworkfineina pinch. inthelargestflowersfirsttocreateananchor forthecomposition.Forarustic,farm-totablebouquet,lookbeyondjustbloomsto incorporateseedpods,grassesandother foliagefromthebackyardorwoods,says Wilber.Thesewillnotonlyfillingapsleftby thin-stemmedflowers,butalsohelpcreate contrastintexture,sheadds,recommending that70percentofthecontainerbegreen. Oncethedesigniscomplete,finetunethearrangementbysteppingbackto seethebig-picturelookandmakingany adjustments,removingdiscoloredleaves andaddinggreenerytoanybaldspots,says Wilber.Manydesignerswraplarge,flat leavesaroundtheinsideofacontainerfora clean,polishedlookthathidesthestems. Mostimportantly,don’tforgettostop andsmellthelilacs.Lettheflowerslead thedesignandletgoofanyunattainable visionofperfection.“Appreciatingthe flowersandbeingthankfulisanimportant partoftheprocess,too,”saysHa.

Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.