Traditional talk therapy can be very beneficial for a lot of people. Talking with a licensed professional helps people come to realizations and they can make major breakthroughs. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy for everyone to verbally communicate feelings. In fact, a lot of people struggle to say how they feel when sitting across from a therapist. It’s also possible that the feelings or traumatic experience you want to talk about are buried deep down, and talking about it can seem impossible. 

In all these cases, and many more, art therapy can serve as an alternative therapeutic way to process emotions. Art is a healing medium and it can be quite liberating and therapeutic, even outside an art therapy session. Scribbling, painting, or sculpting can help people release stress or tense emotions. 

What Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a practice that uses art as a tool to promote healing. An art therapy session gives you the chance to express their feelings and experiences in a physical way. Expressing an emotion through artistic qualities can be a lot easier than describing it verbally. Language processing, emotional processing, and creative thinking all involve different areas of the brain. What art therapy aims to do is integrate these areas to help bridge the gaps between these processes. Many art therapists agree that this process leads to a more holistic and intuitive outcome. 

It is far different from taking an art class because an art class focuses on technique. In an art therapy session, the therapist asks minimal questions while the client creates art in their presence. The therapist uses the time to observe the creation of the client’s art and what their body language is while making the art. The colors, intensity of the piece, and more all communicate things to the therapist, all without a lot of verbal communication. Continue reading to learn about some potential benefits of art therapy. 

It May Build Self-Esteem

Authors of a 2019 report noted that participating in expressive art activities may help build self-acceptance, confidence, and self-esteem. These types of interventions may help people with chronic illness, as it helps them process complex or difficult thoughts/emotions about their experiences and/or conditions. Other research notes that art therapy focuses on promoting self-expression to gain a sense of personal independence and self-sufficiency. Art can help you understand what matters to you!

It May Reduce Stress

The act of creating something can be very therapeutic and it can help you release built-up tension in the body. One systematic review, which included 37 studies, found that 81% of participants in the reviewed studies reported significant reductions in stress via creative art interventions. A smaller study found that 45 minutes of art-making (collaging, using modeling clay, or drawing) helped reduce cortisol levels in 75% of participants. Participants also noted that the art session made them want to make more art. 

It May Improve Behavior In Autistic Children

According to several studies, art therapy may be an effective form of healing that can aid children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A 2022 review included 15 studies that monitored children with autism between ages three and 16. The review concluded that art intervention, like drawing and painting, helped them express themselves and improve social learning. Additionally, a small study followed 40 children (ages six to 12) with ASD in Iran. After 12 sessions of art therapy, children showed more adaptive behaviors and emotions, improved social interactions, and an increased ability to share their feelings. 

It May Improve Symptoms Of Anxiety And Depression

One of the best ways to work through your depression or anxiety is to create art. You just let your emotions flow through you without ever needing to say a word. A small randomized controlled trial monitored elderly women with major depressive disorder. The group that participated in 20 weekly art therapy group sessions reported improvements in their depression and anxiety symptoms. Experts purport that making art helps participants cope with stressful events and express themselves in accessible ways. A systematic review of 413 studies concluded that art therapy was effective for helping patients with mental health disorders open up and share their feelings. 

It May Help People With PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops in some people who experienced scary, shocking, or dangerous events. One small study consisted of 11 combat veterans with PTSD. Findings indicated that art therapy, in conjunction with cognitive processing therapy (CPT), enhanced trauma recall and increased access to emotions. Additionally, researchers from this trial noted non-verbal therapeutic tools, such as art therapy, potentially allowed for deeper emotional processing. The veterans who participated in art therapy were either able to recover blocked memories or gain crucial realizations that helped them move forward.

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World Autism Day, which occurs annually on April 2^nd, kicks off Autism Awareness Month, which aims to spread awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD refers to a broad range of conditions that are characterized by challenges with repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communications, and social skills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 59 children in the United States are affected by autism.

Autism Awareness Month

The Autism Society was founded in 1965 and began to raise awareness in the early 1970s via nationwide campaigns. Every April since 1970 has celebrated the differences of those on the spectrum, and the intention has been to support and educate the public about autism. What most people don’t know about autism is that growing evidence supports that dietary intervention may be an effective treatment.

Medical experts conducted large-scale studies about altering gut health to reduce the symptoms of ASD. Caregivers have traditionally focused on rehabilitation, educational intervention, or medications, but dietary intervention may be a better and more affordable approach to manage symptoms. A review of 150 papers on ASD and gut bacteria found the links between composition of gut bacteria and autistic behavior. The growth of bad bacteria in the gut is largely attributed to diets rich in processed foods, refined sugars, gluten, meats, and dairy products. The build-up of bad bacteria can make the gut lining more permeable. Toxins can then get into the bloodstream and travel to the brain. Children under three years old are at the height of brain development, so the presence of these toxins in the brain may increase the risk of ASD.

Causes Of Imbalanced Gut Microbiota In Infants

Dr. Quinrui Li of Peking University, China, explains that the presence of bad bacteria in the gut is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Maternal obesity and diabetes during pregnancy, the overuse of antibiotics in babies, how a baby is delivered, and breastfeeding times can all factor into the development of ASD. Dr. Li’s review focused on restoring healthy gut bacteria via probiotics, prebiotics, and removing gluten and casein protein (found in dairy products) from diet. All of these had positive impact on ASD symptoms.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet

Some children with ASD have experienced reduced symptoms after following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, which restricts the consumption of all grains, dairy products, certain vegetables, and carbohydrates with more than one molecule. This diet was developed to treat gastrointestinal disorders like celiac disease and ulcerative colitis, but children with autism, many of whom experience digestive conditions, have benefited from it as well. The trick with this diet is understanding what foods contain all of these ingredients. Not all labels will list gluten or casein additives. For instance, canned tuna or salmon may contain casein that isn’t labeled. And it is important to be strict with this diet, meaning that you shouldn’t cave for special occasions. Food oriented holidays can be tricky, but you just have to find healthier substitutes because the wellbeing of the child is what matters most. A special occasion does not have to be gluten- or casein-oriented!

Each child is different, so a particular diet may work for one child and won’t work for the other. If you plan on changing a child’s diet, it’s all about starting slow and not jumping in too fast. It is best to slowly eliminate certain foods from the diet and replace them with healthier alternatives. Successful alternatives can make feeding time much easier.

Researchers are encouraged by the fact that improved gut health can potentially reduce ASD symptoms. Large scale studies need to be conducted to further support this preliminary evidence. For now, behavioral therapy remains a great option, but improving the gut microbiota may be a more effective treatment in the future.

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Some people like to think that children are like little bursts of energy that can run around without being harmed. In fact, a child’s body is just as toxic and polluted as an adult’s body. Even though children may have more energy, their diets can set them up for extreme failure later on in life. We are referring to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

The healthy development of a child begins in the mother’s womb. The developing baby is fed whatever the mother eats. If she eats unhealthy, processed foods or a lot of meat and dairy products, the baby will be exposed to those toxins. On the other side of the coin, a mother who eats a healthy diet that consists of nutritious plant-based foods will be supplying her baby with essential nutrients for development. Some babies are born with jaundice or hepatitis because of pharmaceutical drugs, synthetic vitamins, or other liver-damaging things that mothers consume while pregnant. The babies are then born with partially damaged livers.

The Standard American Diet Can Hurt a Baby’s Development

According to BabyCenter.com, roughly 70% of mothers breastfeed their infants at birth. By the time the baby is six months old, only 36% of mothers are still breastfeeding. At 12 months, only 17% of babies are breastfed. Babies who stop breastfeeding typically start drinking baby formula, which can contain harmful ingredients like lactose, iron oxide, or monodiglycerides, which is a pork derivative. These are not ingredients that human body thrives on. A baby who breastfeeds has a greater chance at building a healthy immune system.

When the child begins eating solid food, there is not always the hugest effort to ensure the baby is eating nutritious foods. A lot of people resort to buying commercial baby food, which can be filled with a lot of sugar. Rather than giving babies processed foods from the time they can eat something, try making them food with fresh ingredients and pureeing it. This helps to establish a healthy digestive system.

Other Toxic Sources

Baby and children’s medicines are drugs. The ingredients flood the baby’s body with toxins, and a child’s body may not be the strongest because of an immune system that isn’t fully developed. Whether you are using vitamins or hygiene products, you always have to take into account that you could be putting toxins into your child’s body. Even baby powder, which contains aluminum, and baby oil can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Some diapers or baby wipes are even bleached with chemicals that can irritate a baby’s bottom.

Vaccinations and immunizations can also harm a child’s body. Consider the ingredients: Mercury, Thimerisol, Sugar, chicken egg yolks, formaldehyde (embalming fluid), propylene glycol, and fifty-plus more harmful ingredients that can result in autism, smiling disorders, depression, partial paralysis, mental retardation, childhood diseases (chicken pox, measles, pneumonia, influenza, hepatitis, pertussis, etc.), and slow speech.

We don’t intend to scare you, but we want you to be mindful that there are toxins that can enter a child’s body in every corner of the world. This is why it can be beneficial to take part in some cleansing routines to keep a child’s body healthy.

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Causes and Risk Factors

Epilepsy or seizures are caused by a surge in electrical signals or energy in the brain. This can be triggered by:

• Head trauma
• Genetic influences
• Medical disorders
• Certain diseases such as meningitis, AIDS and viral encephalitis
• Pre-natal injury
• Developmental disorders such as Down syndrome and autism

Risk factors include:

• Age-while epilepsy can happen at any age, it’s typically seen in younger years or at ages 65 or older
• Gender-men are more likely to experience seizures than women
• Head injuries
• Hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, menopause or taking hormone-based medication such as thyroid meds, birth control or growth hormones
• Stroke or vascular disease
• Brain infections
• High childhood fevers

Symptoms

When consciousness is lost during a seizure, it is called “Grand mal seizure.” When consciousness is not lost during a seizure, it is called “Petit mal seizure.“

Seizures can display as:

• Temporary confusion
• Staring blankly
• Convulsion
• Jerking movementsLoss of awareness
• Loss of consciousness

Healing Options

Herbs great for healing epilepsy include all herbs that increase and enhance oxygen flow throughout the body, e.g., Gotu Kola, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, Holy/Blessed Thistle, Black Walnut Hulls, and Green Tea. Additional herbs great for healing epilepsy include Jasmine Flower, Lady’s Slipper, Irish Moss, Cayenne, Ginger, Fo Ti, Jatamansi, Scullcap, European Mistletoe, Oatstraw, and Maca Maca.

One of the best remedies for epilepsy involves the use of crystals. When you compress two pieces of crystal (especially Clear Quartz crystal) together, the friction creates a form of electricity called piezoelectricity that causes the release of negative ions throughout the entire body that travel down to the feet and up to the crown of the head electrically fine-tuning the entire body, increasing oxygen flow, and stimulating cellular regeneration.

Crystals that aid in the prevention and healing of seizures include Lepidolite, Sugilite, Jet, Selenite, Kunzite, Malachite, and Emerald. Because epilepsy affects the nervous system located in the brain, epilepsy is a Seventh or Crown chakra deficiency and therefore, for purposes of healing epilepsy, crystals that are the same color of the Seventh chakra (violet and/or white) are best for this purpose.

Essential oils that aid in prevention and healing of seizures include Marjoram and Lavender. It is best that these oils be inhaled or burned in a diffuser.

Bach flower essences that aid in prevention and healing of seizures include Heather, Impatiens, and Water Violet.

Avoid stress, since this can create a change in body chemistry that could lead to a seizure.

Get plenty of sleep.

Do not drink alcohol, take drugs or smoke.

Dietary Intervention

Meat and dairy foods are bound to clog the arteries and obstruct oxygen and blood flow and thus a switch to a vegan and/or raw foods diet would be appropriate and beneficial in healing from epilepsy. Natural foods (fruits and vegetables) will automatically bring more oxygen into the body and unlike meat and dairy products will not clog the arteries due to arterial plaque and mucus buildup.

Water, fruit and/or vegetable juice, and herbal teas should be the drink of choice for purposes of healing from epilepsy.

A ketogenic diet may be beneficial. This type of diet forces the body to burn fat rather than carbohydrates. It is based in high-fat, adequate protein and low carbohydrate foods.

Dherbs Solutions

Dherbs.Com products that aid in the prevention and healing of seizures include:

• Full Body Cleanse
• Brain Booster
• Central Nervous System
• Nerves Formula
• Cardiovascular
• Circulation Aid
• Brain Booster Tea

This article is compliments of www.dherbs.com.

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Autism, formally known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a variety of complex brain disorders that affects six out of every 1,000 children.

Some experts believe that the rise in autism-related diagnoses is due to broader definitions of different disorders within the ASD family. Autism is the more severe form of ASD. A milder form of ASD is called Asperger’s Syndrome.

ASD is seen is all socio-economic and ethnic groups. While most commonly diagnosed in children, adults can develop it as well. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, boys are three to four times more likely to have ASD than girls.

Causes and Risk Factors

No recognized authorities know exactly what causes autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and other ASD disorders, however it is believed to be a combination of reasons, rather than one specific cause. It has been linked to:

• Genetics
• Diet
• Vaccine sensitivity
• Inability to properly process and digest vitamins and minerals
• Mercury poisoning
• Digestive track changes
• Immune system dysfunction

Symptoms

Many parents suspect something is wrong with their child by the time they are 18 months old, and generally seek medical advice by the time the child is two years old. The list of symptoms is quite long, depending on the type of ASD a child may experience.

Some recognized symptoms of autism, Asperger’s, and other ASD conditions generally include:

• Difficulty in social situations
• Difficulty playing
• Sensitivity to light, sound and other sensory activity
• Experience distress when the environment or routine changes
• Repeated movements
• Unusual methods of communication such as using gestures, talking about themselves in the third person, repeats patterns of words, etc.
• Difficulty interacting with others or making friends
• Seizures
• Obsessive-compulsive behavior

Healing Options

There is no known cure for ASD, but there are things parents can do to help their children live with it.

A combination of medical and non-medical treatments is recommending, including:

• Educational therapy
• Behavioral therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy

Dietary Intervention

Many parents report seeing an improvement in their children with ASD when they make significant dietary changes.

Learn to read nutritional panels and analyze ingredients in any processed foods if you decide to use dietary intervention in helping a child live with ASD.

Common changes in diet include:

• Gluten-free
• Casein-free
• Sugar-free

Some vitamin and mineral supplements use gluten and casein as binders or fillers, so be especially careful when choosing which brand to buy.

Gluten-free diet

Gluten is found in places where you wouldn’t suspect, so carefully review ingredients before purchasing any processed foods. A gluten-free diet means no consuming of wheat, rye or barley.

Other names for gluten include: flour, bulgur, cake flour, semolina, spelt, frumento, duram, matzo, matzoh, matzah, graham, kamut, farina, couscous, barley, malt (which is different from corn malt), wheat protein, vegetable protein (unless specifically not from wheat), wheat germ oil, caramel coloring, and triticale.

Casein-free diet

Casein is a protein found in all milk produced by mammals, including human beings. Like gluten, casein is found in many foods where you might not think it exists.

Other names you might find include: milk solids, curds, whey, sodium caseinate, sodium lactylate, lactose, lactalbumin, galactose, protein, caramel coloring, soy cheeses, hydrolized caseinate, etc. Products marked as non-dairy may not have fluid milk, but they almost always have casein or casein derivatives.

Sugar-free diet

While opinions differ on the role of sugar in the diet, many parents see an improvement in their ASD children when processed sugar is removed from the diet.

Other names for sugar include: anything with the word “syrup,” anything ending in “ose” (such as glucose, fructose, dextrose, etc.), caramel, honey, molasses, raw sugar, sorbitol, maltodextrin, and many more.

This article is compliments of www.Dherbs.com

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