Fibromyalgia involves widespread pain, sleep disturbance, and depression. It effects 2.4% of the population (Wolfe, Ross, Anderson, Russell, & Hebert, 1995); predominantly women (Henriksson & Burckhardt, 1996). Systematic review confirmed a high comorbidity with irritable bowel syndrome (Whitehead, Palsson, Jones, 2002), with as many as 70% of patients suffering with fibromyalgia also reporting symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to these symptoms...<< MORE >>

Approximately 1 in 3 adults Americans has high blood pressure. Blood pressure is a factor of relative pressure against the walls of blood vessels. In a healthy body blood pressure is controlled through a negative feedback loop regulated by baroreceptors which measure the degree of tension, or pressure, on the vessel walls. When the tension is too great<< MORE >>

In my internet presentation Stress and Coping, I addressed the importance of finding means of defusing the effects of stress. Parents and teachers of children with learning difficulties are at particular risk for the effects of stress. If you feel the effects of stress in muscle tightness and soreness, progressive muscle relaxation is simple, fast, effective, and scientifically tested tool that can help. Originally developed by Edmund Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation employs sequential tensing and releasing of major skeletal muscles. Jacobson’s (1938) original protocol called for sequential relaxation of 16 muscle groups. The well known behaviorist Joseph Wolpe (1948) developed an abbreviated technique of relaxing 7 muscle groups.<< MORE >>

Some of you may have heard off Brian Thompson and Claire Fletcher-Flinn’s Knowledge Sources Theory of Reading Acquisition. The theory has been receiving increasing attention in the last 5-7 years. The premise is that there are four main sources of knowledge that beginningreaders might access in learning to read...<< MORE >>

According to Donerstein, Slaby, and Eron (1994). American preteens watch an average of 28 hours of television each week. Their older brothers and sisters watch 23. This is about half of the free time available to these groups. Even more troubling than time spent watching, is precisely what these children are watching. << MORE >>

For parents and teachers dealing with behaviors, the point when we notice there is a problem is when the child exhibits the target behavior – that thing we don’t want him to do.<< MORE >>

Parents know it is important to protect our children from harmful substances such as pesticides. We avoid spraying these substances around our children. Many of us may even invest in natural repellents such as chrysanthemum, neem, and tobacco leaves. When it comes to food, we wash our fruits and vegetables carefully before preparing them for our children. However, new research has revealed << MORE >>

Teaching in a small private school, I see a lot of lunch boxes. All parents want their children to enjoy a healthy lunch. But not all parents know how to accomplish that. One of the biggest mistakes I see is too many complex carbs. Talking to parents about this I realized that they believe they are providing food that will last, that will carry their children through the day. But...<< MORE >>

Nothing can ruin a day at school like a tummy ache. But poor digestion can manifest in other, less obvious, ways too. When food doesn't digest properly a sound night's sleep can be sacrificed. And sluggish digestion can lead to all around sluggishness. << MORE >>

Although the human body contains only four to five teaspoons of magnesium, it is our fourth most abundant mineral. Approximately 60% of this is found in bone tissue; primarily on the surface of bone. << MORE >>