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Worms in kids

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Few of my friends are always  worried about their child's growth. Natasha always keeps me asking why her daughter is not gaining weight and why she falls sick again and again.  The worms are parasites which feed off the host’s body and eventually result in malnutrition, affecting the healthy growth of the child.  Worms may get entry into abdomen and create health problems .          Though all age groups can get worms, kids are more susceptible. Worms in abdomen can affect the appetite and ultimately growth of a child. When a child is not eating properly we assume he is showing tantrums or too busy in playing and ignore it but it can be worms those are troubling the stomach. When to suspect worms? Itchy bottom, which is usually worse at night Redness around the bottom area Restlessness due to itching Difficulty in falling asleep Visible worms – small, white and 8-13 mm long (often mistaken for bits of toilet paper!) ...
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Cognition in kids

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Cognition is the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thoughts, experiences, and the senses.

 Cognitive skills are the skills the brain uses to think, learn, read, remember, pay attention, and solve problems. They are also the skills that are measured to determine IQ.
Here are Piaget’s four cognitive stages during childhood development:
  1. Sensorimotor Stage: Birth through about 2 years. During this stage, children learn about the world through their senses and the manipulation of objects.
  2. Preoperational Stage: Ages 2 through 7. During this stage, children develop memory and imagination. They are also able to understand things symbolically, and to understand the ideas of past and future.
  3. Concrete Operational Stage. Ages 7 through 11. During this stage, children become more aware of external events, as well as feelings other than their own. They become less egocentric, and begin to understand that not everyone shares their thoughts, beliefs, or feelings.
  4. Formal Operational Stage. Ages 11 and older. During this stage, children are able to use logic to solve problems, view the world around them, and plan for the future.
Kids achieve different developmental milestones what are meant for a particular age and cognitive skills for the same age. Everyone wants their child to be a genius. This is a competitive world and being a parent if we can contribute in improving the cognitive skills it will be delightful.

 There are many ways to improve child's cognition which involves some mind games, computer based programes, music, art, early education etc. 

       In recent years there has been a tremendous urge globally in the search of medicinal plants to improve cognitive function. As this is a natural way with less or no side effects. In Ayurveda , they have mentioned a couple of herbs which can improve cognition. These herbs are called Medhya Rasayana1. This is a Sanskrit word. Medhya means intellect or cognition and Rasayana means rejuvenation.

These herbs are-   1)Mandukparni (Centella asiatica)-

Act on behaviour besides being neuroprotectives brain growth promoter, inhibits the memory impairment induced by scopolamine through the inhibition of AChE.








2) Yashtimadhu (Glycerrhyza glabra):
It increases the circulation into the CNS system, improves learning 

3) Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia):



possess learning and memory enhancing, anti-oxidantand anti-stress action, enhances the cognition in normal and cognition deficits animals in behavioural test. It is useful for treatment of bhrama(Vertigo), in improving behavior disorders, mental deficit and IQ levels.
4) Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pleuricaulis):
 Anxiolytic. It calms the nerves by  regulating the production of stress hormones,adrenalin and cortisol. . 
There are few more herbs with same properties like Vacha(Acorus calamus), Kushmandh(Benincasa hispida), jatamansi(Nordostachys jatamansi),Aindri (Bacopa monneira), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).2

 There are many  Ayurvedic medicinal preparations containing these herbs available in market which are safe for kids to improve cognition. These drugs improves following mental abilities and characters:
  • Memory or Retention
  • Intelligence
  • Concentration
  • Mental Perception
  • Creativity
  • Immunity
  • Longevity
  • Learning and reasoning skills
Other than this following are some supportive and important factors to improve cognition:

Create happy and peaceful environment:

Most important thing is to provide healthy, secure and loving environment which will facilitate  proper growth and peace of mind. Comfortable and supportive environment builds self confidence in child and helps in learning. The love and affection that kids see around reflects in their action.

 Diet:
Child's diet should be complete and well balanced. Particular nutrients influence cognition by acting on molecular level that are vital for cognitive function. Vitamins like Omega3 fatty acids, curcumin, B12, D3, E,copper, iron are important for proper brain development and cognition. But it is better to have balanced diet than popping suppliments.3

Sing along :
Play the same music or sing a song to your child and over a period she will also try and sing with you. This activity helps to improve memory and identifying words.

Counting numbers:

In daily activities try to teach her numbers like to count the stairs, or number of balls or toys. So the learnimg will be playful and child won't get bored of it.

Play with kids:

Get involved in games and encourage them. As playing and exercise are important for growth. They learn so many things while playing. Brain gets more oxygen and works well. 

 Educational games:

Games like "colour-colour" help kids to identify different colours. Engage kids games like building blocks , this boosts the brain functioning.

 Make them speak:


 Ask them questions , let them answer and express themselves, so they lose fear. Ask them to come up with original ideas.

 Listen to your kids:

 When your child asks a question, listen to them, don't ignore and answer in easy and detailed manner. Sometimes fear of something can trouble a child so always ensure them that you are there for him/her.

 Art:










Make them learn some form of art like drawing, painting, music, singing etc. 

 Interaction with people around:

 Sometimes kids don't talk with other family members or neighbors. Talking to people around you relieves stress and gives a sense of security, which adds to their confidence.

 Video games: 

Though they are non popular in parents due to the fear of addiction and all still the video games can help child in learning and in cognition.Such games can help to improve attentiveness, mental flexibility,ability to track moving objects etc.3




Take kids to different places:


The new environment and new experiences teach a lot.

References:
1) Upadhyay AK, Kumar K, Kumar A, Mishra HS. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook. f. and Thoms. (Guduchi) – validation of the Ayurvedic pharmacology through experimental and clinical studies. International Journal of Ayurveda Research. 2010;1(2):112-121. doi:10.4103/0974-7788.64405.
2)Kumar V. Potential Medicinal Plants for CNS Disorders: An Overview. Phytother Res. 2006;20:1023–35. [PubMed]
3)https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201502/cognitive-benefits-playing-video-games




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