NZ Single Parents Trust

Kiwi women are commencing menstruation earlier and developing larger breasts. Kiwi men sperm-counts have halved. We have to ask ourselves why?! Of course, nutrition is a huge part of the complex situation. So almost every day society in general is becoming just a little bit more aware of the positive ramifications of eating organic food – meaning the type of food human beings had always eaten until 50-60 years ago, now fashionably called bio-dynamic food.

It is good, we are now questioning how harmful it is to expose ourselves at a metabolic cellular level, to constant amounts of dioxin carcinogenic (cancer-causing) or teratogenic (fetal malformation-causing) pesticides, such as chemical insecticides, herbicides and fungicides; plus all the synthetic fertilizers; artificial colourings; flavour enhancers; chemical preservatives; antibiotic growth promotant feed enhancers; and other synthetic additives.

But what of our toxic homes ??

Partnering with bio-dynamic food ideals are the principles of bio-harmonic living – that is living in a healthy home that uses natural bio-building principles, such as an energy-efficient design, low-toxicity materials, and environmental sustainability of renewable natural resources. This is another area where Kiwis are becoming adept — housing solutions using clay, sand, straw, earth and recycled reused materials.
Read more…

Julie Health

When is the best time to educate your kids on sex? Some parents say “age appropriate NOW”, and some say “leave it to the schools”, with many other parents somewhere in between. This is a delicate subject, involving lots of emotion, cultural norms, religious beliefs, and subjectivity, but we suggest parents be fully informed when considering and deciding for their own family.

Sex Education
What did your own sex education consist of? Was it the ideal way to learn about sex? What did you (or will you) do differently for your kids? To guide your thinking on this sensitive subject, check out our four Sex Education articles – “An Introduction” ; “The Practicalities” ; “STIs” ; and “Emotions“.

Special Offer – Counsellor & Parenting Coach

Self-Development therapist and Counsellor for couples, parents and children, Caroline Beazley, has a Mother’s Day Special Offer for Mums. Check out her wonderful offer.

After School Care

Phew … the kids are back to school! But what about after school care? Check out the latest on SKIDS, a fast expanding provider of Before school, After school, and Holiday Programme care, now in 45 locations throughout NZ.

Eating Tips for New Mums

Our resident Dietitian and Nutritionist, Fiona Boyle, provides some excellent tips on eating for new Mums.

Simply Nappies

Confused by your nappy choices? Simply Nappies is the ultimate trial pack. Four nappies from three leading nappy companies. Only $79.95, Normally RRP$125! Visit www.simplynappies.com

FREE Naturopathic Consultation

Skin problems? Stressed? Sleeping poorly? Tired? Don’t be shy, contact our resident Naturopath and Medical Herbalist, Tracy Harris, for a FREE naturopathic online consultation.

Learning Difficulties

Is your child struggling at school or disinterested in learning at home? Have a read of learning difficulties specialist, Rosemary Murphy’s general articles, plus articles specifically on Dyslexia and on Dyspraxia.

Julie Children, Health after school care, dyslexia, dyspraxia, learning difficulties, nappies, sex education

As net worths nosedive and layoffs loom, everyone is feeling anxious. But from an emotional standpoint, it’s disproportionately women who are taking the hit. In fact, a recent poll from the American Psychological Association found that 25 per cent more women than men feel stressed about the economy.

You might think that women need to find more minutes to squeeze into the day — not deduct them for “me” time, right? Not exactly. Now more than ever, women need to figure out ways to take care of themselves.

Experts are concerned about damage to women’s health from failing to make themselves a priority. You may have heard that excessive stress produces cortisol, which can cause weight gain and even heart problems. But did you know that stress can cause dementia-like symptoms?

Cortisol build-up can create memory loss and a lower attention span, says Sandra Chapman, the director of the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas. “It’s particularly toxic to the memory area of the brain,” she says.
Read more…

Julie Health

If the Dow just closed after a dismal day of trading and a tightening sensation is beginning to spread through your chest, stop and try this exercise:

Instead of focusing on the money you’ve already lost or obsessing over future losses, try zeroing in on the present moment. Let go of distractions like a looming bill or the record unemployment rate and concentrate on your breath. Take in all the air you can, pause and then release.

“It’s actually totally boring concentrating on your breath,” says Dr. Michael J. Baime, director of the Penn Program for Stress Management at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. “Lifting a barbell is totally boring too, but it’s exercising a muscle.” After 10 repetitions, he says, you should start to feel some degree of calm.
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Julie Health

Men in their early 20s are just as likely to be abused by their partners as women, according to the latest government figures seen by Newsbeat.

6.4% of men in England and Wales between the ages of 20 and 24 say they were victims over the last year, compared with 5.4% of women.

The official definition of partner abuse includes non-physical forms like emotional bullying.

It also means more serious behaviour like threats and severe force.

Overall women are more likely to be abused in general and to be the victims of stronger physical violence.

Across all age ranges, one in four women have been abused compared with one in six men.

But analysis of the latest figures from the Home Office shows the problem is more evenly spread between the sexes in the early stages of a young relationship.
Read more…

Julie Health, Research

The Dominion Post has an article about Gardasil being given to boys as well as girls.

The cervical cancer vaccine should be given to boys as well as girls, to protect them and their future partners from genital warts and cancer, public health experts say. The main introduction of the $177 million vaccination programme, which aims to immunise 300,000 Kiwi schoolgirls over five years, begins this week.

READ MORE

The push for vaccination is very big in New Zealand – via the media, in schools, on billboards, in leaflets being handed out to parents, at hospitals and doctor surgeries.

It was promoted so quickly with very little research being given to the public because of elections coming up last year. This has concerned the Women’s Health Action Trust.
Read more…

Julie Children, Health, News

In February this year, the Canadian federal government announced its plan to vaccinate women and girls across the country and has pledged $300 million for the project.

The vaccination of children as young as nine was recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). According to NACI, the primary age group recommended for vaccination is females aged 9 to 13.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and is now known to be the cause of nearly all cases of cervical cancer in women. It is also linked to anal, penile and throat cancer in homosexual men.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says there are over 100 types of HPV and that there is “no treatment which can cure HPV infection.” The recommendation therefore is for prevention, for which the Health Agency says the best way is a vaccine or a condom. However, no mention is made on the Health Agency website of abstinence from sexual activity or monogamy within marriage as a means of prevention.
Read more…

Julie Health, News

A Family Court judge is alarmed at drug P’s impact on families. Reference Sunday Star Times 24th February 2008.

Couples are increasingly citing use of the drug methamphetamine or “P” as a reason for seeking protection orders, divorce and sole custody of children.

Family Court judges have told the Sunday Star-Times that allegations of P use in such cases were prevalent and rising.
Read more…

Julie Health, Legal Information, News

Updated 30th April 2009

This is just a bit of useful information to save you money on dental bills.

Description

The Oral Health Service is a regional service managed by the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) with the majority of clinics held at Greenlane Clinical Centre, Middlemore Hospital, Buckland Road and the Mangere Refugee Centre.

Children and adults from the Waitemata District Health Board are treated at Greenlane Clinical Centre.

The Oral Health Service also holds clinics and inpatient and daystay operating sessions at Starship Children’s Health, Auckland City Hospital, and Middlemore Hospital.
Most dental services for the Counties Manukau population are provided at the Oral Health Clinic at Middlemore Hospital and Buckland Road Southern Cross Campus at Mangere.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE ORAL HEALTH DENTAL SERVICE

* Emergency relief of pain clinics. (includes tooth pulled)
* Primary care (community) dental service for IHC and special needs children.
* Secondary services (hospital) for medically compromised patients including cardiac, oncology, respiratory, immuno-compromised.
* Cleft lip & palate and orthodontics.
* Tertiary services (complex hospital) in both inpatient and outpatient settings across the Auckland region.
* After hours on-call regional acute service for oral and maxillofacial surgery for the treatment of acute trauma.

Relief of Pain Service

* $40.00 (except children and referred psychiatric patients who are free). This needs to be paid on the day of treatment at the Cashiers Office, Ground Floor, Greenlane Clinical Centre or directly to the Receptionists at Middlemore Hospital.
* We accept payment by cash or EFTPOS only.
* The $40.00 user part charge covers the consultation time and x-ray. If you are required to come back for further treatment or you decide to seek private dental treatment, this does not mean that your RPO consultation is free.
* Some treatments will have an extra charge, for instance, the extraction of wisdom teeth under general anaesthetic costs $350.00.
* The Oral Health staff will advise you of any additional charges.

Locations of Services and Facilities:

Middlemore Hospital
Map and location information
Phone (09) 276 0145

Green Lane Hospital Oral Clinic.
214 Green Lane West, Epsom. Auckland
Map and location information
Phone (09) 367 0000

Starship Children’s Health
Park Road, Grafton. Auckland
Directions
Phone: (09) 3074949

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Another solution is to go to certain Dental clinics that are cheap for pain relief.

Pull a tooth: $40.00 (may be more depending on need)
X _Ray: $25.00

Albany
Appollo Medical Centre
Lv1: 119 Appollo Drive, Albany
Ph: (09) 477 3795

Sylvia park
(Sylivia Park Shopping Centre)
N219 Sylvia Park
Ph: 0800 4 76453

Henderson
(Wai Health)
15 Ratanui Street, Henderson
Ph: (09) 835 4422

Remuera
Unit 42, 130 Gt. South Rd, Remuera
Ph: (09) 523 1288

Otahuhu
LV1, 469 Gt. South Rd, Otahuhu
Ph: (09) 276 5855

Manakau
(Manakau City medical Centre)
18 Wiri Station Rd,
Ph: (09) 262 1133

Papakura
(Counties Care medical Centre)
79-85 Gt. South Rd,
Ph: (09) 298 5120

Glenfield
(Northern Medical Centre)
212 Wairu Road, Glenfield
Ph: (09) 444 0011

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If you want some heavy duty dental care, this may be of interest.

Tourists flocking to India for cheap dental care – and a holiday

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Kids

Routine dental checks are provided free for all children through school clinics. Free dental treatment is also available if requested.

Teenagers

The Government’s Dental Benefits Scheme aims to cover the cost of dental care for teenagers aged 13 to 18. But involvement in this subsidised scheme is voluntary and many dentists prefer not to participate. There are also restrictions on the types of dental care available. To obtain this free service you must register with a dentist who subscribes to the scheme.

For details of local school clinics and dentists offering free services to adolescents, contact the Dental Service Manager in your local District Health Board (see the ‘Hospitals & other service providers’ section in the front of the White Pages).

Julie Health, News

Here in New Zealand we are seeing a growing number of young children and teenagers being prescribed Ritalin because of learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

Ritalin is used for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as for similar disorders. These orders have extremes on one side to extremes on the other side. Many ordinary behaved children fit within these extremes. It can be difficult for doctors to decide who has these disorders and who doesn’t as fightforkids shows.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A list of behaviours that psychiatrists declare are problems, such as: has too little attention, is too active, fidgets, squirms, and, therefore, is not “normal.”

Read more…

Julie Children, Health, News