Natural Living Directory - January 2017 by Natural Awakenings DC

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LIVING DIRECTORY

January 2017 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings

January 2017

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PCRM

KICKSTART 2 1 D AY T R A N S I T I O N T O W H O L E P L A N T F O O D LOOSE WEIGHT, REDUCE CHOLESTEROL, INCREASE ENERGY In a public health climate where 75% of adults in the United States are overweight or obese and 26 million have diabetes, the need for a lifestyle change is greater than it has ever been. The Food for Life: Kickstart Your Health curriculum is based on the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)’s successful 21-Day Kickstart online program (21DayKickstart.org). The Kickstart program has helped 200,000 people adopt a whole plant diet to reach their health goals.

PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE Daily Lunch and Dinner Entrées

For 21 days you will receive lunch and dinner entrées, freshly prepared, organic delicious meals conveniently prepackaged to heat up at home or work. (4 Dinners at GreenFare during classes).

2 Blood Tests*

Scripts will be provided for blood testing at local medical lab for fasting at the start and ﬁnish of the program.

1 Lifestyle Assessment

Scheduled at least 3 days before start of class.

These classes can help you lose weight, maintain a healthy weight , or simply embrace an overall healthful diet. For some class participants, it’s the ﬁrst time the idea of not restricting amounts of foods but rather choosing the right foods has been the guiding principle for losing weight and staying healthy. Lower cholesterol, better diabetes control, lower blood pressure, as well as improvements in energy and mood are some of the many beneﬁts people experience on this diet. The program begins with a Kick Off goes for 21 days, essentially treating food as an addiction. During this period, most will lose up to 10% of body weight and experience a cholesterol drop averaging 20%, improve A1C levels, and achieve a normal blood pressure. Working with your physician is encouraged, as this program is prepared for optimal nutrition and not meant to replace medication or doctor’s advice. If you're interested in losing weight, increasing energy, and learning about this life-changing w a y t o e a t , s i g n u p f o r G r e e n F a r e ’ s 21-Day organic, whole-plant-food nutritional program. Our PCRM Kickstart removes the time obstacle to your success. Stop by or call GreenFare to register 1 week prior to program start date!

2 Weigh-ins

At the start and ﬁnish of the program.

1 Shopping Trip

Discover easy and affordable ways to sustain your new healthy eating habits with the guidance of your instructor.

4 Healthy Eating Classes

Learn some of our favorite methods for cooking delicious plant based meals.

LAST DAY TO SIGN UP: 1 WEEK BEFORE START OF CLASS

CLASS DATES & DETAILS Dinner Included In All Classes

Class 1: Whole Plant 101 Tuesday, January 3rd at 7pm Let’s Go! & Power of Your Plate Demo: Breakfast Options

Class 2: Food As Addiction Tuesday, January 10th at 7pm

Breaking the Food Seduction & Keys for Natural Appetite Control Demo: Sweet, Salty, Creamy Salad Dressings

Class 3: Internal Health Tuesday, January 17th at 7pm

Digestive Health & Healthy Blood Pressure Demo: 4 Recipes Under 8 Minutes

Class 4: Label Reading Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm Shopping Trip

PROGRAM COST: With blood testing: $650/person Without blood testing: $550/person*

For more information: info@greenfare.com greenfare.com

4 0 8 E L D E N S T R E E T , H E R N D O N , V A 2 0 1 7 0 O P E N D A I L Y 1 1natural A M - 9 Pawakenings M | ( 7 0 3 ) 6 8 January 9 - 0 5 0 6 2017

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January 2017

letterfrompublisher Dear Friends, contact us Publisher, Editor-in-Chief Robin Fillmore Contributing Editors Jessica Bradshaw Randy Kambic Editorial Intern Rachel Feidelman Design & Production Irene Sankey Sales Director Laina Poulakos Outreach Director Samantha Hudgins Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 4938 Hampden Lane, #214 Bethesda, MD 20814 Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsDC.com ©2017 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by using post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based ink on uncoated stock, avoiding the toxic chemicals and huge energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is harder to recycle.

Welcome to our annual Natural Living Directory. In this special edition, we have reached out to the best that our greater community can provide for healthy and balanced living, and provided an easy way for you to meet them—in the pages of the directory. When I started my own journey toward natural wellness and healing, one my first realizations was that it was a challenge to find the skilled practitioners who offered the types of services I needed. As I progressed on my journey, I discovered that there was so much I didn’t know and it was helpful to have some type of reference that introduced me to a whole new world of practices and services that would match my needs even better than those I already knew about. When taking stock of our value to the community, and from the response I get from you, dear readers, I have come to know that Natural Awakenings not only introduces you to these practitioners, businesses and new ways of thinking, it also enables us all to conceive of ourselves as a different kind of community—one that looks for alternative ways of thinking, better ways to care for one another and, most importantly, one that offers support in uncertain times. The response that came in from last month’s letter was overwhelming and offered me hope that there is a new consciousness and a greater level of solidarity among those who have visions of a greater nation that provides safety, inclusion and peace. As we start this new year together, I think it is just as important to take stock of the time that has passed and deeply dive into some self-analysis that uncovers our own strengths as it is to make a resolution for any new lifestyle changes. Certainly, we can all identify areas in our life where we can do better—for our health, in our relationships and for the community—and this “season of resolutions” is a good time to do that. But I would also encourage you to take some time to love the person that you are and find where you have a voice to make your neighborhood, your community, your world a better place. Even better, use your new year’s resolution to build up your skills to not only change yourself but to enact positive change in the world and for the people around you. Everyone has the potential to become a healer with the gifts they already possess. With nurturing and intention, these gifts are revealed, strengthened and unleashed in a majestic way. Drawn together with the healing powers of others in the community, we can create a new world. As Margaret Mead has said (and sorry for sharing this quote again), “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Make 2017 your year to change your world!

neverglossy.alwaysgreen 6

Washington, D.C.

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

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contents 10 8 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 20 healingways 24 practitioner

spotlight 26 community spotlight 14 30 naturalliving spotlights 33 artspotlight 35 ecotip 36 meditation spotlight 35 37 holisticdentistry 40 greenbuilding 41 calendar 44 naturalliving directory

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 202-505-4835 or email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. Deadline for editorial, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online: NaturalAwakeningsDC.com within the advertising section. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

16 TAKING BACK YOUR POWER The Obesity Endemic by Dr. Isabel Sharkar

20 AFFORDABLE

COMPLEMENTARY CARE

Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less

by Meredith Montgomery

22 THE WILD AND WOOLY TEEN BRAIN

What Kids Need from Us to Grow Wise by April Thompson

25 LABEL READING for Weight Loss by Gwyn Whittaker

28 THE NEW YEAR Getting the Right Start

by Barry Wind and Jeremy A. Pearce

25 36

32 CANNABIS SATIVA The Healing Botanical by Patricia C. Frye

34 DETOX AND STAY HEALTHY

with Whole Clean Foods by April Thompson

36 MEDITATE

EVERYWHERE

How to Make America Great by Cullen Kowalski and Matt Willmott

38 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FOR PETS

Why the Best Vets Use It by Shawn Messonnier

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January 2017

newsbriefs The DC Dentist in Contention for Sustainability Award

r. Terry Victor, of The DC Dentist, says, “If everyone does a little, we can do a lot to save our Earth.” A finalist for the Department of Energy and Environment Sustainability People’s Choice Awards for 2016, The DC Dentist promotes the connection between oral health and overall health in a green environment. This Sustainability Award recognizes and encourages green practices. The DC Dentist, member of both Green America and Eco-Dentistry, organizations that are in support of green businesses, was recently visited by DC Sustainability Energy Utility and Green Impact Campaign to provide more green advice. While in dental school, Victor envisioned a practice that Dr. Terry Victor decreases its carbon footprint while putting patients’ needs at the forefront, integrating their oral care with their overall health within a sustainable structure. The DC Dentist provides general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry while remaining the only holistic, biological and eco-friendly dental office in the D.C. metropolitan area. Stepping into the office, you land on original flooring from the early 1900s, you notice ceiling tile made of recycled bottles, keeping them out of the landfills, then sit on refurbished furniture in front of windows treated for protection against UV rays. The office sports 30 eco-friendly aspects, including a green roof. “It’s important to me to find the safest measures to protect my staff and my patients as I wanted to ensure a safe environment from a medical point of view, as well as from an environmental impact,” says Victor. Watch for more green to come in 2017!

Location: 509 11 St., SE, DC. For more information, call 202-544-3626 or visit TheDCDentist.com. See ad, page 23.

PlantPure Nation Screening at Neck, Back and Beyond

he documentary film, PlantPure Nation, tells the story of a small group of people spreading word about one of the most important health breakthroughs of all time. There will be a screening offered at Neck, Back and Beyond Healing Arts at 7 p.m. on January 26. This event is part of their monthly movie screenings offered at their Fairfax location. The film chronicles the work of renowned nutritional scientist and author of The China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, and his work with his son, Nelson Campbell, to propose and launch a pilot program in Kentucky that would document the health benefits of a plant-based diet. The Campbells find unlikely supporters within the Kentucky House of Representatives but once the legislation was confronted by agribusiness lobbyists, the motion is defeated. To find out the next steps in this real-life political and health-related story, join the team at Neck, Back and Beyond to learn the outcome. The screening also provides an opportunity to learn ways to help keep new year’s resolutions to lose weight in 2017. Cost: $5 donation. Location: 10560 Main St., Ste. 204, Fairfax. For more information, call 703-865-5690 or email NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com. See ad, page 28.

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2017 Environmental Film Festival: 25 Years of Films for the Planet

he Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, the largest and longest-running festival of its kind in the U.S., will commemorate its 25th anniversary this March. Marking a quarter-century of celebrating and defending earth through the power of film, the 2017 festival, March 14 to 26, will focus its lens on a planet in transition, exploring what has happened over the past 25 years and what lies ahead. The festival showcases the wonders of the natural world and seeks to advance understanding of the environment and inspire wise stewardship of the planet. The 2017 Environmental Film Festival will present 150-plus films at some 50 venues across the city and in nearby Maryland and Virginia—and the majority of film programs are free. Films will travel the globe, illuminating vital environmental issues and challenges and capturing earth’s splendor. A tribute to the majestic Colorado River; a call to action to address the plastic pollution in our oceans; celebrating the magnificent natural beauty and biological diversity of Colombia; protecting a spectacular and biologically significant coral reef off the coast of Mozambique; efforts to keep rivers undammed in the Buddhist nation of Bhutan; exploring the impact of noise on our lives; toxic whales; Istanbul’s cats; and the moral dimensions of raising animals for food are among the topics to be examined in films this March. Most screenings will be followed by discussion with filmmakers, environmental experts and cultural leaders. The complete festival schedule will be available on their website, DCEFF.org, in February. See ad, page 4.

Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom and Thrive Yoga Offer Restorative Yoga Class

avvy family, friends and neighbors, come unwind with Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom, in Rockville, and Thrive Yoga for their first restorative yoga class from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on January 25. This restorative yoga practice will utilize belts and the wall (tools that many people have available at home) to release stress and tension from both the body and mind. Participants will use breathing exercises and techniques of meditation to go deeper into stillness, while positioning the body in ways that release the connective tissue and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. The practice will unite the mind and body, leaving the practitioner feeling peaceful and rejuvenated. Join Nahla Tebcherany, a RYT-500 and Thai Yoga practitioner, for a candlelit restorative yoga session to experience the benefits of this practice firsthand. Attendees will also learn tricks and tools for bringing this practice into their homes. Come ready to balance your energy and promote ways of healthy, natural sleep with the Savvy Rest team and their friends from Thrive Yoga. Location: 12242 Rockville Pike, Rockville. Space is limited for this event, so register by emailing Sheena@SavvyRest.com to reserve a practice spot. See ad, page 19.

Come Celebrate New Year’s Day with Sing-Along Songs and Mantras

Almost Like Cheating on New Year’s Resolutions to Get in Shape he industry of body contouring and slimming without surgery has exploded in the past decade, such as the Zerona laser treatment, offered exclusively at Shaans Chiropractic, in Falls Church. Just in time to make good on that resolution to get in shape, Shaans is offering readers of Natural Awakenings a special promotion of 25 percent off their six- or nine- session Zerona fat reduction/body contouring packages through March. This is particularly good news for those men and women that eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly but are still unable to rid themselves of stubborn fat areas, primarily in the thighs, hips and waist. Zerona is a cutting-edge treatment that provides a safe and effective non-invasive circumferential reduction of the waist, hips and thighs. It works as the laser creates a pore in fat cells, enabling the fat to leak out and be processed by the body, as waste. The cell, itself, is not destroyed and can still secrete beneficial hormones. In fact, the side effects are so minimal, there is no downtime associated with a treatment.

aj Yoga and the Gurutrang Singh Along offer a great way to start off the new year, with beautiful songs and mantras. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on January 1, in Sterling. The One-Man-Mellow-Band will be playing some soft rock, folk, R&B and peace and love cover songs, artfully blended with mantras, and all are invited to sing along. Following the music, there will be a vegan potluck. All are invited to this free event. Gurutrang Singh has been described as “a wonderful singer-guitarist” and “one of the funniest and funnest guys on the planet” by GuruGanesha, of the renowned GuruGanesha Band. As part of the event, there will be special Guru Ram Das chanting to supercharge the happy in your new year.

Mention Natural Awakenings to receive the discount. Location: 2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Ste. 2-A, Falls Church. For more information, call 703-237-2161 or email Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com, or visit ShahverdiChiropractic.com. See ad, page 37.

Location: 22821 Silverbrook Center Dr., Ste. 160, Sterling. For more information, call 703-376-3433 or sign up at RajYoga. org/events. See ad, page 23.

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. ~Ernest Hemingway natural awakenings

January 2017

healthbriefs

study from Drexel University, in Philadelphia, has linked autism spectrum disorder with prenatal exposure to organochlorine chemicals. The researchers examined 1,144 children born in southern California between 2000 and 2003 with mothers that had enrolled in a state-sponsored prenatal screening program. Blood tests were taken during their second trimester of pregnancy, a critical time for neurodevelopment, to measure exposure to organochlorine chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and pesticides such as DDT. These compounds were banned from production in the U.S. in 1977, but remain in the environment. It’s well known that they can cross the placental barrier, impacting neurodevelopment in fetuses. The researchers selected participants based on previous health diagnoses: 545 children with autism spectrum disorder and 181 with intellectual disabilities, plus 418 free of both issues as a control group. They found a 50 to 82 percent increased autism risk in children with the highest levels of four identified PCB compounds in utero, based on which ones were present. “The results suggest that prenatal exposure to these chemicals above a certain level may influence neurodevelopment in adverse ways,” says Kristen Lyall, Sc.D., assistant professor in the university’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, promising further related studies.

Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com

Autism Risk Linked to Banned Chemicals

Ayurvedic Program Improves Blood Chemistry

clinical trial from the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine found that participants in a six-day, ayurvedic-based, well-being program showed metabolic improvements in blood tests for inflammation, cardiovascular disease risk (CDR) and cholesterol levels. Study participants consisted of 119 healthy men and women between the ages of 30 and 80. Sixty-five experienced a panchakarma program, a detox and rejuvenation protocol involving a vegetarian diet, meditation, yoga, massage, herbal therapy and other healing therapies. The other 54 served as a control group. Blood was analyzed before and after the test period. The researchers, led by Dr. Deepak Chopra, found measurable decreases in 12 phosphatidycholines (cell-membrane chemicals) associated with cholesterol, inflammation, CDR and Type 2 diabetes risk. They acknowledge that due to the short duration of the trial, the immediate changes were likely attributable to the vegetarian diet; more research is needed to determine the complementary role of the other therapies. “It appears that a one-week panchakarma program can significantly alter the metabolic profile of the person undergoing it,” remarks Chopra.

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January 2017

healthbriefs

Beating the Winter Blues by Benjamin Bregman s the days get shorter and colder, people often report that they feel more “blue” than usual. Though sadness is a normal part of the human experience, especially during difficult times, if a person’s low mood or lack of pleasure lasts longer and goes deeper than seems “normal”, this might indicate something more serious that should be evaluated by a professional. The typical psychiatric approach to these concerns frequently starts and ends with symptom reduction through medication. Though not without its merits, this strategy often overlooks the causes of depression. A functional psychiatry approach to addressing these conditions starts with understanding what might be causing the symptoms in the first place. Not getting enough sunlight or the dietary nutrients and minerals, all too common for most people, can be a good place to look for causes. Environmental exposures such as mold, toxins and food sensitivities can also be connected to depression and anxiety. Emotional stressors, toxic in their own right, can also contribute to both short-term blues and long-term depression. After identifying the specific factors, through a clinical interview and testing, the functional psychiatry approach tailors a specific treatment plan that fits the individual’s unique profile. Depending on the causes of a person’s symptoms, treatment can consist of dietary modifications, nutritional supplementation, photo-therapy, a detoxification regimen for environmental toxins, psychotherapy and, if deemed appropriate medication. This “whole person” approach to mental health care is not only be helpful in relieving negative symptoms, but also helps them reach their full potential at home, at work and in the rest of their lives.

Benjamin Bregman, M.D., practices integrative psychiatry at GW Center for Integrative Medicine. To contact him, call 202-833-5055 or visit GWCIM.com. 12

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Is Your Resolution Setting You up for Failure? by Rachel Feidelman id you follow through with your health-related new year’s resolution last year? If not, you’re not alone. According to a recent University of Scranton study, only 8 percent of people are successful in actually achieving the goal they set on New Year’s Day. However, a large contributing factor to this seemingly hopeless statistic is the fact that most resolutions are downright unrealistic. By setting a goal that is possible to reach and planning how you are going to achieve smaller goals throughout shorter time periods, completing your new year’s resolution doesn’t have to be such a daunting task this year. While setting a broad goal may seem beneficial because it allows some leeway in the results, doing so makes achievement nearly impossible. For example, the Scranton study reveals that the number one resolution of 2015 was to “lose weight.” If this is what you had in mind, consider specifying: Are you looking to lose 10 pounds, or are you looking to live a healthier lifestyle by regularly exercising and consuming a well-balanced diet? It is easy to get frustrated that you aren’t making the progress you hoped for if you set an impossibly large goal. Instead, set one large goal but multiple smaller ones that act as steppingstones every month. Instead of deciding you’re going to go to the gym every day of the week starting January 1 when you never went previously, consider aiming for twice a week in January, three times a week in February, etc. If you follow these tips and are still struggling, it is crucial to remember that January 1 is not the only day you can set goals for yourself. Every day has the potential to mark the start of positive change, so don’t restrict yourself to the mindset that this is possible only once a year!

Rachel Feidelman is a junior at the University of Maryland, studying journalism and economics. She is also an editorial intern with Natural Awakenings.

Legal Cannabis Products for IBD and GI Conditions by Katherine Leo n honor of awareness week for Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis, this is a good time to share how cannabidiol or CBD is helping others. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a broad term that describes conditions with chronic or recurring immune response and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two most common inflammatory bowel diseases are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Experimental evidence suggests that cannabinoids, molecules found in the body’s ECS (Endocannabinoid System) closely resemble compounds found in the cannabis plant, and play a role in limiting intestinal inflammation. IBD patients have been found to have higher levels of CBD (cannabinoids) receptors in their colonic tissue. Several small studies have shown that a significant proportion of patients with IBD report using cannabis to relieve IBD-related symptoms, particularly those patients with a history of abdominal surgery, chronic abdominal pain and/or a low quality of life index. CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory. Many people with Crohn’s disease experience a low-grade fever, likely due to inflammation or infection. It also helps with other symptoms like low energy, abdominal pain and cramping. CBD helps relax muscle spasms, which means that instead of just masking the pain symptoms, it helps with the causes of the painful contractions in the first place. Using CBD oil can be a tremendous help for those that suffer with these conditions.

Katherine Leo helps others find full health by using CBD. For more information about CBD or getting into the cannabis space as a business opportunity, call 516-418-7565 or visit CBDRevolutionUS.com. See ad, page 19.

Adding Ginseng for Clarity and Calming by Laina Poulakos inseng is one of the most commonly used herbal supplements in the United States. It is known for its powerful energy boosting properties as well as its ability to help one handle mental and physical stress. There are actually three types of ginseng that are commonly used. American ginseng, also known as panax ginseng, is beneficial for its calming and cooling effect on the body by helping to handle stress, both physical and mental. American ginseng is also good at boosting memory and for lowering blood sugar levels. Finally, it can also help with ADHD when combined with Ginkgo biloba. Next is Asian ginseng, also known as Korean ginseng. This form of ginseng is more of a stimulant and will help boost energy. Asian ginseng is a great tonic for heart health, and can even help to prevent stroke. Also, it is helpful with neurodegenerative diseases such as: MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. The benefits come from the ginsenosides, isolated from the ginseng roots. The third common ginseng is Siberian ginseng or Eleutherococcus. It is not the same as the other two ginsengs as it has a different active ingredient called eleutherosides. This herb is great at stimulating the immune system, but can also help with mental stress and memory, and can enhance physical performance. With so many benefits to ginseng, it is a great herb to have in your herbal medicine cabinet.

Laina Poulakos is the founder of Mother’s Nature Store and a certified aromatherapist and herbologist. For a consultation and products, call 703-851-0087 or visit Mothers NatureStore.com. See ad, page 18.

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January 2017

globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

where healthy food comes naturally

Reforesting India

Massive Tree-Planting Against Climate Change

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Indian officials report that volunteers planted more than 49 million trees on a single day in 2016, surpassing the 2013 world record of 850,000 in Pakistan. An estimated 800,000 volunteers worked for 24 hours planting 80 species of saplings raised in local nurseries along roads, railways and other public land. The effort is part of the commitment India made at the Paris Climate Conference in December 2015. The country agreed to spend $6 billion to reforest 12 percent of its land and bring the total forest cover to 235 million acres by 2030, or about 29 percent of its territory. Trees sequester carbon dioxide from the air and reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. India has experienced substantial loss of its forest cover in recent centuries as people cut down trees for firewood, pasture and development. Still, saplings need water and care and are susceptible to disease. Mortality rates can reach 40 percent after such massive tree plantings. Other countries are also replanting trees. Last December, African nations pledged to reforest 100 million hectares (386 square miles). A wide range of stakeholders from countries to companies also signed on to the non-binding New York Declaration of Forests that month, with the goal of halving deforestation by 2020 and ending it by 2030.

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Protecting Pollinators In

Maryland Bans Bee-Killing Pesticides

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Source: National Geographic

Maryland is the first state in the nation to pass strict restrictions on pesticides thought to be responsible for significant reductions in bee populations with enactment of its Pollinator Protection Act. Maryland lost more than 60 percent of its hives in 2015, each containing up to 20,000 honeybees, making it one of the states with the highest recorded declines. The national average is about 42 percent, yet across the country, farmers and gardeners are still using pesticides linked to colony collapse disorder. Globally, more than one-third of the world’s food supply could be at risk if these and other pollinators are lost. Neonicotinoids are one potent class of systemic pesticides introduced to agriculture in the 1990s that have been linked to bees’ demise. In recent years, pesticides such as Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon, and AllIn-One Rose & Flower Care have been made available to consumers and beekeepers have noticed a corresponding increase in bee deaths. CHRONIC PAIN The Maryland law bans the use of neonicotinoids by everyday consumers that have been spraying home gardens and trees with these deadly pesticides. Farmers and professional gardeners are exempt from the law. A similar law is awaiting the governor’s signature in Connecticut. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not officially recognized the well-researched link, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing it. Source: BeyondPesticides.org

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Smog Begone

California Aims Even Higher on Emission Controls

Website Screens Packaging for Toxin Although food manufacturers have pledged to voluntarily eliminate bisphenol A (BPA)—an endocrine disruptor linked to developmental problems in fetuses, infants and children—in their packaging materials, it’s still found in the lining of many canned goods. Recent testing by an advocacy group found BPA in 70 percent of nearly 200 samples, including products from Campbell and Kroger, which have joined the pledge. “It’s in beer, coffee, tea, energy drinks and aerosol cans for whipped cream... it’s everywhere,” says Samara Geller, a database and research analyst with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, BPA is safe at the levels people are exposed to via canned foods, but many consumers would rather not take the risk. Consequently, EWG created a new tool to help consumers avoid the 16,000 products that may have BPA in their packaging. The numbers listed on package UPC codes can be compared against the database at Tinyurl.com/EWG-BPA-Lookup. “Our main goal was to get this out quickly to as many people as possible,” says Geller. “The UPC code is really your best defense to finding out what they’re talking about,” because product names can change.

Lobster Liberation

Monks Free Creatures from Certain Doom A handful of monks from the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society living on Canada’s Prince Edward Island spent a day buying up all the live lobsters they could find at the local fish market, and then chartered a boat. Once out to sea, they recited a brief prayer over their writhing cargo and set them loose in the Atlantic. “The whole purpose for us is to cultivate this compassion toward others,” says one of the monks. “It doesn’t have to be lobsters, it can be worms, flies, any animals; it can also be driving slower, so we don’t run over little critters on the street.” One participant, Victoria Fan, says, “It’s rethinking the way you normally see these creatures. Their happiness is as important as your happiness, their suffering is as important as your suffering.”

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Eat Safer

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California lawmakers have enacted a bill that aims to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. It extends previous efforts such as the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 instituted to reduce emissions by 2020, along with another piece of legislation that vows to boost legislative oversight of climate change programs organized by the California Air Resources Board. Supporters say that emissions rules have created new jobs and led to billions of dollars of investment in California’s clean energy sector. Opponents argue that the strict targets have caused some job losses, particularly in oil manufacturing. The state, having the world’s eighth-largest economy, has further announced a goal of fighting climate change and improving air quality by putting 1.5 million zero-emission state cars on the road by 2025.

Aerotoxic syndrome is the medical term for the illness caused by exposure to contaminated air in jet aircraft, and it’s causing that ailment, plus the permanent disability and even death of airline employees and passengers. Whistleblowers have been met with ridicule and termination. The problem has been called the “asbestos of the airline industry” by critics. French scientist Jean-Cristophe Balouet, Ph.D., who discovered the syndrome in 1999, thinks it may have already affected 250,000 pilots, cabin crew and passengers worldwide. In 1963, aircraft moved from drawing fresh air into the cabin to “bleeding” part of it from the engines. The synthetic oil used by jets contains organophosphates used in pesticides and nerve gas, and was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for residential use in 2001 because of known toxicity. The byproducts of these carcinogenic organophosphates can also include aldehydes and carbon monoxide. Airplane seals wear out and there are no chemical sensors onboard aircraft to detect fumes— only noses to detect the “dirty sock” odor. The Aerotoxic Association continues to push for air quality detectors on all planes and the Cabin Air Quality Act sponsored by California Senator Dianne Feinstein. For more information, visit Aerotoxic.org.

Source: TheDodo.com natural awakenings

January 2017

YOUR POWER The Obesity Endemic by Dr. Isabel Sharkar

besity is reaching a global crisis point, where today one in five U.S. deaths is related to obesity. By 2025, an estimated 20 percent of the global adult population, 40 percent of British and nearly 45 percent of American adults will be obese. Carrying excess weight guarantees individuals to suffer from health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and heart attacks. Worldwide, obesity is responsible for half a million cancers each year. We live in a world where the grocery store is filled with fake, processed and refined foods, pumped with artificial colors, preservatives, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), MSG (monosodium glutamate), HFCS (high-fructose corn syrup) and chemicals of all sorts. It has become normal that most people don’t even question it, still believing that big corporations have the public’s best interests at hand. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a naturopathic

Washington, D.C.

doctor, we’ve spent four years of medical education learning what real food is. What we see in the grocery stores is not real food.

What’s Really Causing Obesity? An underactive thyroid, high cortisol levels (stress hormone) and other hormonal imbalances, as well as certain medicines, environmental chemicals, stress, lack of exercise and inadequate sleep are contributors to obesity. Not getting enough sleep leads to cravings for sweets and starchy foods, due to an increase in cortisol. One of the latest studies linking antibiotics to weight gain found that children who took antibiotics seven or more times before the age of 15 weighed an average of 3 pounds more than those with no history of antibiotic use. However, the primary source of antibiotic exposure is actually through the diet. The U.S. uses nearly 30 million pounds of antibiotics each year to raise

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Obesity is a Malnourishment Issue

Many overeat but are nutritionally starved. What is eaten makes a big difference in how much is eaten. The more nutrient-dense the food, the less of it will be needed to feel satisfied. A highcarb, processed diet high in sugar and lacking any essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, with poor quality protein and low in healthy fats, is the perfect recipe for obesity. The biggest breakthrough for those seeking escape from obesity comes from what they perceive as real food. The truth is that processed or fast food is not real food. Essentially, it is poisonous to the human body, which is not equipped to be under constant stress detoxifying these chemicals that naturally do not belong there. As a survival mechanism, the body stores all these toxins into fat tissue.

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TAKING BACK

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food animals, accounting for about 80 percent of all antibiotics used in the U.S. The “least-looked-at” cause for obesity is an individual’s mindset. What is the wound within that is causing one to hold on to weight? Willpower is not enough if there is an emotional trauma that needs to be addressed, buried underneath all that weight. What is the weight protecting you from and what are you trying to cover up? These are all things to examine when unraveling the reasons for weight gain. However, the most dangerous reason of weight gain may be right under your nose—and that’s your diet.

Cut Out the Soda

How much soda are you drinking? Drinking soda is one of the quickest ways to get on the obesity fast track. A 20-ounce bottle of cola contains 16 teaspoons of sugar in the form of HFCS, a cheap and unhealthy corn-derived sweetener, likely GMO. Diet soda is not any better, as it contains sweeteners like aspartame, which has 92 documented side effects. Twenty minutes after drinking a cola, the liver converts this sugar into fat. Research suggests that sugary beverages alone are to blame for about 183,000 deaths worldwide each year.

Stop Counting Calories, Starving Yourself and Eating Low-Fat

Counting calories is a thing of the past. Instead, become an expert in reading ingredients. Don’t starve yourself either as eating less and doing more does not work. The minute you start eating again, you’ll gain back all the weight you lost, plus 10 percent more. Stay away from low-fat as this fad contributes to the obesity epidemic. Saturated fat has been confused with trans-fat. Although trans-fat increases the risk of premature death, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, saturated fat is not the cause of diseases.

Why Does Unhealthy Food Even Exist?

There is a relationship between federal food policies and agricultural subsidies that promote the manufacture and consumption of addictive junk food. Corn, wheat, soybeans and rice are the top four most heavily government-issued agricultural subsidies. That is why it is easy to find these GMO grains and HFCS in all conventional food products. If you find yourself addicted to certain foods, don’t underestimate the genius behind the creation of processed food, which is created to be highly addictive.

What Can You Do?

Eat real organic food and prepare meals at home. Join a local CSA and get to know local organic and biodynamic farmers. Order meat from organic farms, as most ship from different states. It’s more expensive, but animal protein is not needed with every meal. Get natural spring water from local springs and drink up because chances are, you are not hungry but thirsty. Genetics tell each person’s story and there are many genetic tests available now that will help determine what percentage of fat, carbs and protein each person should be eating, as well as which type of exercise is best. Exercise, sweat regularly and make detoxing a part of your lifestyle to decrease the buildup of toxins stored in the body. Do a micronutrient testing to determine which vitamins, minerals, antioxidants need to be restored in your body. Learn to intermittent fast and give your digestive system a break. Dr. Joseph Mercola, the New York Times bestselling author and advocate for smart, healthy eating, believes that once an individual gets net carbs below 50 grams along with a moderate protein intake of 30 to 60 grams, and adds high quality fats like avocados, butter, coconut oil, macadamia and pecans, the body will start to wake up its fat-burning metabolism, and it will become virtually impossible to be overweight. Beating the obesity endemic is something we have to do ourselves. In Zoe Harcombe’s book, The Obesity Epidemic, she states, “Every one of us can bankrupt the fake food industry and put the drug companies out of business by taking charge of our own health and say, We’re just not having that junk.” The less junk in our bodies, the healthier we will be. Isabel Sharkar, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician and co-owner of Indigo Integrative Health Clinic, in Georgetown. For more information, call 202-298-9131 or visit Indigo HealthClinic.com. See ad, page 2. natural awakenings

January 2017

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Ashwaghanda root: While research is scarce, this Indian herb is traditionally believed to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol (which can boost belly fat storage). It’s also believed to boost conversion of the thyroid hormone T4 to the more metabolically active thyroid hormone T3. Doctor of Naturopathy Natasha Turner recommends 500 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) twice daily. Chromium: This mineral plays a key role in enhancing insulin’s action in the body. Numerous studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers and others suggest that taking chromium supplements can stabilize blood sugar, potentially reducing the cravings and energy slumps that come with glucose spikes and dips. Research on chromium’s impact on body composition and weight has been mixed. Turner recommends 200 to 400 micrograms (mcg) daily. Curcumin: This golden spice, found in turmeric, curbs painful joint inflammation from over-exercising, and has been shown by Tufts University and Columbia University researchers to improve fat metabolism in mice. L-carnitine: Helps the body use fat for fuel more efficiently and also can be used as an energy booster before cardio or strength training. Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith recommends 500 to 1,000 mg daily. Omega-3 fatty acids: In addition to being potent anti-inflammatory agents, the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have been associated with greater weight and fat loss when added to a diet and exercise program, according to studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the International Journal of Obesity. Prebiotics: These undigested fibers provide food for good gut bacteria to keep the digestive system and metabolism on track. Probiotics: These are generally believed to promote healthy gut bacteria so that the body metabolizes food more efficiently. One recent study in the British Journal of Nutrition followed 125 obese men and women throughout a 12-week diet, followed by a 12-week maintenance period, and found that the women taking probiotics containing the bacterial strain Lactobacillus rhamnosis lost significantly more weight during the diet than women that didn’t; plus, they continued to lose weight during the maintenance period. The men studied did not show similar results. Selenium: Selenium is critical for the conversion of inactive T4 to active T3 that the body can make use of. Smith recommends 100 to 200 mcg daily.

Washington, D.C.

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January 2017

value coverage that includes annual wellness exams, phone or virtual appointments and educational classes, plus followups and urgent care at minimal costs. The U.S. mainstream fee-for-service approach, whether paid by insurance or cash, has been criticized for encouraging unnecessary tests and procedures because doctors are paid for services performed. To maintain income, they typically shorten appointments to increase the number of patients they see. Lewis emphasizes, “Time is the valuable factor in DPC—healthy lifestyle changes, which can prevent or reverse 70 percent of health concerns, cannot be communicated in 10 minutes.”

Medical Cost-Sharing

AFFORDABLE

For generations, Christian communities have operated health care sharing ministries (HCSM) to collectively share the cost of each other’s medical bills as an alternative to outside insurance. Members are exempt from current Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) mandates. Liberty HealthShare, a nonprofit HCSM chartered by the Mennonite church, believes that everyone has the right to practice religion as they see fit. Their members share a commitment to personal health and sharing in the burden of health expenses with others that have these values. “Many in the functional and integrative medical arenas also believe in these principles,” says Tom Blue, of Richmond, Virginia, a director with The Institute for Functional Medicine. “Cost sharing feels very familiar; you present your card to your provider, but there’s no set network of providers, which is favorable for those seeking more progressive forms of care.” Expanding upon this model, Blue worked with the company to create its Liberty Direct program (LibertyDirect.org). Individuals pay an annual membership fee plus a monthly share amount. After fulfilling their annual unshared amount of out-of-pocket expenses (similar to a deductible), participants’ healthcare costs—including approved naturopathic and alternative treatments—can be submitted as expenses to be shared by the group. Liberty Direct provides financial advantages to DPC practitioners and patients by subsidizing membership fees; it favors nutrition over chronic prescription dependence by reimbursing physician-prescribed nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical expenses under the same terms. Members must be in good health with a lifestyle that helps sustain wellness, including good nutrition, exercise and abstinence from tobacco use and drug and alcohol abuse. The program also accepts approximately 7 percent of applicants on provisional terms when pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes can be improved through lifestyle changes. They pay an extra fee per month to cover the cost of a health coach; when they achieve their goals, they become full members paying regular rates.

Complementary Care Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less by Meredith Montgomery

he latest National Health Interview Survey available, from 2012, shows an annual expenditure of $30.2 billion in out-of-pocket costs for complementary health approaches, benefiting 33 percent of adults and 12 percent of children, and representing about 10 percent of out-of-pocket U.S. healthcare costs. Insurance rarely covers complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in full. As provider networks shrink, premiums rise and the future of healthcare reform remains uncertain, health-conscious consumers yearn for innovative ways to afford this kind of care.

Membership-Based Care

When Dr. Chad Krisel worked at an urgent care center, he saw up to 55 patients a day. Since opening Integrative Family Medicine of Asheville (IntegrativeAsheville.org), in North Carolina, with Dr. Brian Lewis, he averages 12 patients a day. His team provides a membership-based practice in a payment model known as direct primary care (DPC). Endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, DPC is broadly accessible. By applying simplicity, sustainability, quality and collaboration, their integrative practice provides comprehensive care for less than what many pay for phone service. “DPC removes traditional financial incentives and conflicts of interest because membership fees fund us. Our only incentive is to help and heal patients,” Krisel explains. Paying for memberships out-of-pocket (often electing high-deductible plans) or via a health-sharing plan, clients 20

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healingways

“The economics are staggering,” says Blue, who used to pay $760 a month for insurance with a $12,400 deductible and now pays a monthly share of $449 with a family unshared amount of $1,500. HCSMs are affordable because of restricted overhead budgets. Plus, they appeal to naturalhealth conscious clients and can decline unsuitable applicants. “This concept of communal cost sharing works—Liberty’s share amounts decreased in 2013 and have not changed since,” comments Blue.

GreenSurance

Told she was past medical hope, Kari Gray, of Kahului, Hawaii, sought to heal from cancer using natural medicine. “When thousands of dollars spent for natural protocols were denied reimbursement by my insurance company, I saw that the system needs to change,” Gray recalls. CAM therapies still deemed “unproven” by traditional insurance companies gave Gray a second chance at life. Following remission, she began a 20-year search for alternative medicine insurance. Finding none, in 2014, she created GreenSurance (MyGreenSurance.com). Serving people that proactively care for their health and prefer natural medicine as primary care, GreenSurance developed an evidence-based and science-backed list

of 40-plus covered CAM modalities, including thermography, energy therapy, biofeedback, essential oils and homeopathy. It also covers conventional medical and emergency care. Enrollees of the member-owned organization are supplied third-party payer information for provider direct billing once the member’s out-of-pocket amount is met. They use any state-licensed provider and the program is often more affordable than traditional insurance. GreenSurance is currently investing resources to broaden consumer access to the tax advantages of a health spending account (HSA). H.R. 1752 would allow enrollees in any healthcare-sharing program to open an HSA. “Simply, we’re a co-op whose members empower us to create an exempt program that protects members from ACA penalties and traditional health insurance,” says Gray. “More, we’re a grassroots movement for change.” Krisel notes, “Doctors too, are livid about the current status of America’s healthcare system. Be vocal about what’s important to you. The more voices heard in Washington, the more change we’ll see.” Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Getting to ‘Yes’ with an Insurer C

Know What a Policy Covers

Before using a complementary or integrative service, inquire about specifics: Sometimes preapproval or a referral is required to qualify; coverage may be limited to a certain network of practitioners; verify visit limits or the number required; and get details of out-of-pocket costs. Keep insurance-related communications records, including notes on calls and copies of bills, claims and letters, to help with any claim disputes.

Explore Available Options

Ask the insurance provider about coverage of CAM approaches, including whether a rider or supplement to the standard plan is required to cover them. Inquire about discount programs, such as when members pay for fees and out-of-pocket costs, but at a lower rate. State insurance departments and professional associations for

complementary health specialties may know which insurance companies cover specific CAM approaches.

Ask Practitioners About Payments

When seeing a complementary or integrative practitioner, clarify payment and insurance details before the first visit. Learn the cost of initial and follow-up appointments; how many appointments are needed; additional costs such as for tests, supplements or equipment; and if they offer an income-based sliding scale. Also confirm which insurance plans are accepted and if the patient or provider files claims. When insurance doesn’t cover a service, inquire about installment plans and discounts for cash payments. Jeanette Dietl/Shutterstock.com

onventional insurance rules adversely affect Americans’ consideration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapy use increased over the prior decade, but only among those without insurance. For those with progressive policies, coverage for CAM approaches is usually only partial.

Save with Tax-Exempt Accounts

Flexible spending accounts offered by some employers allow participants to set aside pretax dollars for health-related expenses. Health savings accounts can be established by individuals with high-deductible health plans to save for medical expenses. Contributions are tax-deductible and interest is tax-free. Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health natural awakenings

January 2017

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The Wild and Wooly

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TEEN BRAIN

What Kids Need from Us to Grow Wise by April Thompson

eer pressure and body consciousness are universal challenges facing teens and their parents. Experts find that by modeling healthy habits and maintaining open lines of communication, adults can help foster healthy independent thinking and responses to inevitable situations.

Respect Developing Capacities

Some teen struggles are literally all in their heads, according to Dr. Frances Jensen, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, in Philadelphia. “The brain is the last organ to mature, and isn’t fully complete until young people reach their late 20s. This allows the brain to adapt to its environment, which can be both good and bad,” says Jensen, author of The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults. Compounding the challenge, the frontal lobes, responsible for higher 22

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functions like insight, judgment, impulse control and empathy, fully mature last; it’s no coincidence that teens struggle in these areas, according to Jensen. The plasticity of the teenage brain is optimal for learning and adaption, but without the frontal lobe feedback, it’s a challenge for them to moderate the heightened emotions, novelty seeking and sexual impulses adolescents are also experiencing. “We expect teenagers to act rationally, but there are many reasons why their brains aren’t taking them there,” says Jensen. “Acknowledging this can lower frustration levels for everyone.”

Create a Safe Haven

Teens learn more from experience than lectures, so parents should facilitate positive experiences and influences at home, advises Carla Atherton, director of The Healthy Family Formula, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, which fosters family well-being by holistically ad-

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dressing root causes of poor health. Such activities can include regularly preparing meals together and going for family walks, rather than eating dinner in front of the TV. “Doing everything you can to connect with kids while they are in an environment you can control gives them a good foundation they can take into the world,” says Atherton, the mother of three teens. Parents have to give trust to gain kids’ trust stresses educator Naomi Katz, of Galilee, Israel, author of Beautiful: Being an Empowered Young Woman. “Create an environment where kids feel like they don’t have to hide or lie about anything,” Katz says. She also encourages parents to empower adolescents in decision making: Rather than telling them not to try drugs or alcohol “because I said so,” provide them real facts to help them draw their own conclusions.

Support Quiet Respites

In today’s hyper-connected world, Katz observes, “Social dynamics can get really confusing and painful and impact kids in far-reaching ways. We used to come home from school and be away from those issues until the next day; now that break doesn’t come because of social media and smartphones.” Katz recommends encouraging journaling or other forms of selfexpression to help teens unplug and reflect. Breathing exercises can help calm nerves and allow them to think more clearly in tough social situations before they react. Katz also suggests teens set aside time each week for a feel-good activity like playing sports or music, to give them a reliable source of pleasure and accomplishment, no matter what else is going on in their lives.

Stay Alert to Signs

Despite a parent’s best efforts, kids can and will make unhealthy choices, and parents need to be prepared to manage the consequences. If a child is suspected or found to be engaging in dangerous or addictive behaviors like self-harming or an eating disorder, it’s important to address these immediately, seeking professional help if needed, counsels Katz. Jensen remarks that it’s easier to learn unhealthy patterns when the

brain is malleable, and addictive behaviors are harder to eliminate than if they are acquired as an adult. The signs of unhealthy behaviors can be subtle, so it’s important to recognize cues without making flash judgments or placing blame, says Atherton, For example, a parent that notices her teen eating differently or obsessed with working out should consider initiating a conversation with him or her about body image. Talking to teens about images in the media can help them gain a more balanced and positive self-perspective. “You can tell your kids, ‘These advertising images are trying to sell you someone’s idea of a perfect look, but it’s not reality,’” says Atherton. For whatever issues teens are trying to cope with, parents need to cultivate their own sense of inner calm; to be the rock that they can cling to. “Caring adults need to give teens a periodic frontal lobe assist,” says Jensen. “It helps when we share more details and insights about how we organize our lives and make decisions. Modeling the rationality and empathy that teenagers may lack can be an effective counterbalance.” Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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January 2017

practitionerspotlight

A Passion for Children’s Holistic Health Care A Spotlight on Dr. Lorelle Bradley of NIHA by Robin Fillmore

r. Lorelle Bradley is a holistic pediatrician at National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) who understands that to help children, and their parents, she must be more than their doctor. She also serves as an advocate, helping families develop their children into healthy, productive adults. Trained as a general pediatrician, it is her holistic training that helps her navigate through roadblocks, detours, hurdles, and even road closures, which are often difficult and discouraging. She has found that the supportive environment found at NIHA, in Chevy Chase, enables her to practice the conventional and holistic components of her training, and allows her to live out her passion to serve children. “As a holistic provider, I have many more tools to use to traverse through the difficulties that are oftentimes encountered in the journey,” notes Bradley. “Holistic and integrative medicine are my enhanced traction devices that allow for the consideration of the environmental, genetic, biological and spiritual passages that serve as alternate or complementary routes to bring families and children safely to their ultimate destination.” Bradley graduated from the Univer-

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sity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with a doctorate in medicine and a masters of science in cell and molecular biology, with an emphasis in genetics. From there, she received pediatric residency training at Howard University Hospital and fellowship training at Georgetown in community pediatrics and child advocacy. In her first position as a full-time boardcertified pediatrician at an HMO, she discovered that many patients had issues that her conventional training did not address, and thus, inspired her journey to become a holistic provider. After much additional training, she become board-certified through the American Board of Integrative Medicine, in 2009, and since has been incorporating her knowledge of holistic modalities in general pediatric settings. She also gives back to the field by training medical students and resident physicians at Howard University and osteopathic students from other institutions through elective courses. Now serving at NIHA, one of the area’s most respected integrative healing centers, Bradley notes that her skills have been strengthened. “NIHA is a unique health ecosystem, allowing synergy of a multitude of complementary and alternative specialties to play well in the sandbox

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together. I learn from all the providers at NIHA, including the physicians, health coaches, naturopaths, energy healers, the detoxification and IV infusion teams, and especially the dental team! I feel honored and privileged to be a part of such a diverse team that serves children and their families.” Despite decades of training, Bradley makes time to expand her knowledge and enhance her skills, most recently to include mind-body modalities, herbals, supplements, diet and homeopathy. The focus of her recent training is to deal with ADHD, autism, behavioral issues, asthma, allergies (seasonal, environmental and food), gastro-intestinal disorders, eczema, Lyme disease with or without co-Infections and PANDAS/PANS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcus/pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome). Each day has the potential to bring miracles with Bradley. At the least, she is witness to the promise and hope in her patients. “They are so resilient, strong, sweet and vulnerable. I love advocating for them. Seeing them respond to little interventions amazes me and keeps me passionate about my role,” she notes. While there are challenges for parents, who often feel overwhelmed when faced with healthcare decisions, Bradley approaches her patients as an advocate and as a mother (and a “Glama” to bonus grandchildren, because she is “too young to be a grandmother”). From this perspective, it is easy for her to empathize as parents must make, sometimes, difficult choices. Most importantly, she deeply believes in selectively choosing support systems that have positive influences on children and in recruiting “village members”, including teachers, mentors, spiritual leaders, and even healthcare providers, who support the child and parents through difficult times. To Bradley, serving as a doctor and advocate with families as they go from birth through childhood, enables her to stand with amazing children as they encounter intertwining roads to success. She helps them discover physical, mental, emotional, environmental, genetic, biology and spiritual paths to healing and wholeness. Dr. Lorelle Bradley can be reached at NIHA, 5225 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Ste. 402, D.C. For more information, call 202-2377000 or visit NIHADC.com. See ad, page 5.

healthyeating

Label Reading for Weight Loss by Gwyn Whittaker

magine eating as much as you want, whenever you want, without gaining weight. Using the wholeplant food lifestyle, you can get to an optimal weight and stay there without calorie counting or portion control. The secret is learning to eat only ingredients with no nutrition labels (fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans) and to carefully read labels on the products that you do use to minimize ingredients that cause food addiction and weight gain: salt, sugar and especially, fat. Health comes not from what you eat, but what you don’t eat, and so taking harmful ingredients out of your diet will allow your body to restore its proper operation. Filling your freezer and pantry with the right convenience foods will enable your success with this lifestyle. First and foremost, don’t believe anything on the front of the package and go quickly to the nutritional label

to decide whether a product is nutritional or junk. For example, the terms “100 percent natural” and “all-natural” are meaningless. They are not regulated and used as a marketing ploy to sell products. Investing in your health with USDA certified-organic products ensures that you are not getting harmful pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Many people who believe they are allergic to gluten are actually allergic to the pesticides used to harvest GMO crops and so they remove nutritionally important grains from their diet under the belief that the culprit is gluten. Wheat is the staff of life, that is, unless it’s been saturated with glyphosate, which can cause gastrointestinal distress. Secondly, read the nutrition label to ensure that calories from fat are 20 percent or less than the total calories. For example, if the calories per serving are 160, then the percent of calories

from fat should be no more than 28 percent. If you take animal products out of your diet, and do not exceed this 20 percent calories from fat threshold, you will lose weight rapidly. Third, review the sodium content in milligrams. The amount of sodium to maintain health (as advised by the World Health Organization), should not exceed 1200 mgs per day. This is roughly equivalent to the number of calories to sustain weight: if you do not exceed the sodium in milligrams by the number of calories, you will not experience the hypertension that results from processed or restaurant food where about 70 percent of most sodium is consumed. Fourth, look at the list of ingredients and ensure that sugar is not one of the top three ingredients. Sometimes, manufacturers split sugars into multiple types of sugars to make it seem as though the product is healthy. For example, if cane sugar is the fourth ingredient and molasses is the fifth, then don’t buy it. Together these ingredients would move the sugar content into the third position. Reviewing most boxed cereals in this manner will change your perspective of whether they are nutritious. A few additional rules: do not buy products with ingredients that you don’t recognize and with as few ingredients as possible. Soy milk, for example, can be found with just “filtered water and soy beans” in the ingredients list, but other soy milk products will have a long list of additives. Continue reading labels even when you know the brand, as many of the more health-focused companies are being acquired by Big Food and ingredients’ lists change for cheaper ingredients with longer shelf lives, made possible by salt and oil. With this arsenal of knowledge, it is very possible to shop for convenience foods that are canned, boxed or frozen, to make quick and easy nutritious meals. Gwyn Whittaker is CEO of GreenFare Organic Café, 408 Elden St., Herndon. To learn about their 21Day KickStart program, designed to “Change Your Diet, Change Your Life”, developed by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), visit GreenFare.com. See ad, page 3.

natural awakenings

January 2017

communityspotlight

Breathe Freely and Move Easily

Reawakening Natural Flexibility, Strength and Stamina with FlexAware Fitness by Steven Shafarman

e’ve all admired the way young children move, so free, easy, spontaneous. Until around age eight, kids are extremely flexible. They’re also surprisingly strong. And they have great stamina. We were like that when we were kids. How do they do it? How did we lose it? Can we get it back? The simple answer to the first question, and the key to the others, is that they move efficiently. They naturally align with gravity. Muscles throughout the body coordinate in every act, so muscle tone is uniform and relatively low. Breathing is fully integrated with every movement. When we observe kids closely, these innate skills are obvious. 26

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As we age, however, and as we’re socialized, we develop habits of straining, stiffening and holding our breath. We want to look good, and most of us do as we’re told. “Sit still.” “Stand up straight.” “Stop fidgeting.” In effect, we were taught to strain and stiffen, to ignore discomfort and inhibit spontaneity. To reawaken and regain flexibility, strength and stamina, you can start by thinking about ideal efficient movement—what it is and what it means. Seek to be more aware of how you breathe and move. This awareness is direct and immediate—a sensorykinesthetic activity—more fundamental than any psychological or spiritual

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These ideas about breathing, moving and awareness are core aspects of FlexAware, a fitness-healing-exercise practice based on the way young children naturally move and learn. practice. It is somewhat like the awareness of young children who have not yet learned how to talk. A simple practice is to exhale actively, more slowly and completely than normal, while moving comfortably. Exhale while bending or twisting, for example, then inhale passively while returning to a neutral position. Imagine that your ribs are fingers, and exhaling is squeezing a sponge. Inhaling, then, is like releasing a sponge and letting it fill. You can do this while sitting, standing or walking and while lying in bed or doing yoga, stretching, strength-training or other exercises. This emphasis on exhaling is especially valuable, in part, because we tend to focus on inhaling, while ignoring the exhale. If we don’t exhale, however, we can’t inhale fully. Breathing involves both, plus effortless pauses between them. Moreover, recent neuroscience shows that inhaling engages the fight, flight or freeze stress responses, while exhaling activates our innate capacities to rest, relax and recover. These ideas about breathing, moving and awareness are core aspects of FlexAware, a fitness-healing-exercise practice based on the way young children naturally move and learn. FlexAware extends and expands on the insights of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, the engineer, neuroscientist and judo master who created the Feldenkrais Method. As young children learn to walk, they outgrow crawling and leave it behind. With FlexAware, people of any age can “outgrow” back pain, breathing difficulties, stress-related disorders and other problems. Every moment is an opportunity to breathe freely and move easily.

Steven Shaferman Steven Shafarman created FlexAware. He teaches individuals and groups, and educates new FlexAware teachers. The author of six books, including Awareness Heals: the Feldenkrais Method for Dynamic Health, he lives in Washington, D.C. FlexAwareÂŽ is a registered service mark of FlexAware Learning LLC. For more information, visit Flexaware.com. See ad, page 5.

Change your

thoughts and you change your world. ~Norman Vincent Peale

natural awakenings

January 2017

moneymatters

The New Year

Getting the Right Start by Barry Wind and Jeremy A. Pearce

any people look at the end of the year as time that has gotten away. Others might look at the coming new year as a great opportunity to do what’s right, get organized and make next year better than the last, perhaps using a new year’s resolution or two. Lots of wonderful people are looking at the new year as the beginning of their journey toward a financial life that is in order and working for them. Resolution: I hereby resolve to review my financial objectives, make changes if necessary, and initiate and continue any and all successful actions. Obviously, any journey first requires a map or plan of some sort, not unlike taking a trip to see relatives over the holidays. Finding some quiet time to consider and identify your financial and life objectives will pay huge dividends when you actually start to work to achieve such goals. Do you want to buy a home for your family? Do you want to address saving for retirement in a meaningful way? Outlining your objectives, writing them down and creating realistic action steps for reaching those goals is an excellent end-of-year activity for everyone from young adults, to new parents, and, yes, even for those of us with a few gray hairs. One action that everyone can take is to be prepared financially for all those unforeseen and unfortunate events that pop up into our lives. An emergency fund is the cornerstone of a sound financial plan. Many financial advisors recommend that your emergency fund cover at least three, if not six, months of household expenses.

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Unfortunately, two-thirds of Americans would have difficulty coming up with the funds for a $1,000 emergency, according to a recent poll by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research. If saving for a rainy day feels overwhelming, then start small… but start! Try to put a bit into your emergency fund each month or pay period. If your standard of living goes up, so should your emergency fund. Lastly, make you sure you can identify what is a legitimate emergency. Buying a fancy new car is probably not. Losing your job or having major medical bills probably are. Resolution: I hereby resolve to begin or continue making monthly contributions to my emergency fund. One more commitment we all can take is to address our retirement. Start, increase or maximize contributions to retirement plans, either at work or through an IRA. For young folks just starting out in the work world, remember it is never too early to start saving for your retirement. In fact, the earlier you start, the longer your investments have to grow. If you’ve been in the workforce for a number of years, try to maximize any employer contributions to your retirement plan that may be available. If you are a bit older and still haven’t started a nest egg, remember, it’s never too late to start saving for retirement. Resolution: I hereby resolve to make contributing to my retirement a priority by growing my IRA or my employer retirement plan. Another way to be prepared for what life throws at us is to obtain disabil-

ity insurance. If you are unable to work due to injury or illness, disability insurance can provide a stream of income to get you through this rough period. If you are a parent, life insurance can offer protection and income to your family in the event of death. Often, both disability and life insurance are benefits offered through your place of work. For others, private insurance may be an option. Depending on your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget, insurance may have to wait but it is still important to consider what your family stands to lose in the event of injury or death. Resolution: I hereby resolve to identify my disability and life insurance options and determine if these are a sound financial investment for me. Some consider planning for the future the most fun you never want to have again. Certainly following any of these steps might be easier said than done. But without a doubt, they are much easier than you think, especially if you engage the help of friends, family or a financial advisor. Starting 2017 off the right way will not only make this year brighter but will help you make every year after one to celebrate. Have a great 2017! Barry Wind and Jeremy A. Pearce are financial advisors in the Washington, D.C. area, specializing in socially responsible investing with SharePower Responsible Investing, Inc. Comments and questions can be sent to BWind@emailsri.com and JeremyAPearce@emailsri.com. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Different types of investments carry varying degrees of risk and clients and prospective clients should be prepared to bear investment and original principal loss. Investing, including socially responsible investing, does not guarantee any amount of success. These are the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Cambridge Investment Research, are for informational purposes only, and should not be construed or acted upon as individualized investment advice. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and SharePower Responsible Investing, Inc. are not affiliated. natural awakenings

January 2017

naturallivingspotlights

Prior Unity Garden

Nurtured Bones

n 2008, Debby Ward was ready for a life change. Friends suggested she offer her expertise in gardening. “You should do for everybody else what you’ve always done for us—you can grow anything. Why don’t you help people grow their own food?” they asked her, and in 2009, she launched Prior Unity Garden. “We help people grow organic food, so they can realize their organic garden dreams,” says Ward. The inspiration behind Prior Unity Garden’s name comes from the book Prior Unity by World Friend Adi Da. Prior unity, as discussed in the book, is the recognition of the inherent unity of existence, always already connected. Prior unity is how Ward views gardens, and thus the name was born. Prior Unity Garden helps you achieve your organic garden dreams through several avenues, including classes, courses, coaching, consultations, designs and more. Ward’s favorite aspect is teaching because she enjoys “helping grow other gardeners.” Prior Unity Garden’s banner course, The Foundations of Organic Gardening, is a hands-on, interactive, six-session course spread over six months. It includes workshops, multimedia, a customizable binder full of handouts and worksheets and fosters a sense of community. Dates for The Foundations of Organic Gardening have been set and registration is open at PriorUnityGarden.com/ FoundationsCourse. They also offer resources through, PriorUnityGarden.com, gardening videos and information on social media, including GardenCoachDeb.com, blogs, YouTube and Facebook. Prior Unity Garden sells their own locally grown plants, seed starter kits, garden guides, and their most popular product, rock dust, used to re-mineralize soil.

To contact Prior Unity Garden or sign up for their Foundations of Organic Gardening Course, call 703-281-7743 or visit PriorUnityGarden.com. See ad, page 17.

For more information or to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation, call 703-738-4230 or visit NurturedBones. com. See ad, page 28.

Washington, D.C.

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re you at risk for bone loss or have recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis/osteopenia? Nurtured Bones, with Susan Brady, MPT, offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to help you rebuild the strength of your bones. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans suffer from bone loss every year and having the right tools for prevention and treatment is essential. Nurtured Bones is dedicated to showing you how to preserve and improve your bone health through nutrition, exercise and a bone-building lifestyle. Brady is a physical therapist, doctor of Integrative Medicine and a nutritional consultant and has been working with osteoporosis clients for over 20 years. She helps patients build a path to better bone health with balanced nutrition while optimizing digestion to maximizes nutrient absorption. Brady also addresses stress reduction and quality of sleep (both key components to decreasing hormones which cause bone loss). Her treatment supports and sustains an exercise program as well as a personalized plan for supplements. Along with her dietary advice, she provides bone-healthy recipes and suggestions for making good food choices. Brady offers a free, 15-minute phone consultation, with no risk and no obligation, to those who are wondering if they may benefit from her services. Her office is located in Northern Virginia but she is available for consultations via phone or Skype as well.

Yoga 4 All Bodies

o you have a mind that runs constantly, find yourself slowing down physically or have aches and pains? You can be calmer, stronger, and more flexible with classes at Yoga 4 All Bodies, in Reston. Most people know the benefits of regular mindfulness and exercise practices. Yoga is both. Patanjali says in the Yoga Sutras, “Yoga stills the fluctuations of the mind.” Scientific studies show Iyengar yoga, a yoga practice that focuses on creating systematic awareness, helps with conditions such as arthritis, back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel and asthma, as well as side effects of reduced physical health such as depression, anxiety and hypertension. But have you found the right place for you? Do you wish you could take classes that meet you where you are at? Do you want to be in a space that is relaxing because it is comfortable and has small classes? Or perhaps you want one-onone attention? Are you curious about how to, as B.K.S. Iyengar says, “Know how to practice, and then… know why to do so in a particular way?” If you are looking for something different from a gym or big studio yoga, come to Yoga 4 All Bodies. They offer yoga in the Iyengar tradition, in very small group classes with a maximum of six people, and in one-on-one private sessions. They use props such as blocks, blankets and bolsters, as pioneered by B.K.S. Iyengar, so students are better able to do poses and learn more. Come learn how to create greater physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being for yourself. Yoga 4 All Bodies is a home-based Reston yoga studio located at 12021 Creekbend Dr., in Reston. For more information, call 703-297-2224 or visit Yoga4AllBodies.com. See ad, page 39.

Lotus Garden Wellness Spa

he lotus is a symbol of struggle and rising up from muddy waters toward the light. The lotus also represents hope for human lives which can be fraught with challenges, stress, pain and illness, impeding our growth and ability to reach our full potential physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Nicole (Nikki) Kastelanic, LMT, CCP, CHHC and member AADP, faced many health challenges and struggled through the quagmire of confusing information and the myriad modalities of both allopathic and alternative medicine to find solutions to eradicate such debilitating illnesses as fibromyalgia, chronic and adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism and Lyme disease. Kastelanic studied and trained in holistic modalities and techniques—ancient and modern—that she found to be the most effective, fast, and beneficial in her healing journey. She wanted to share her knowledge and expertise and to support others in their health and wellness journey. To help them rise above life’s challenges like the lotus, Lotus Garden Wellness Spa, LLC, was established, in Herndon, Virginia. The spa offers personalized holistic services such as massage therapy, acupressure, reflexology; frequency therapies (CYMA therapy and other Sound Therapies, Light and Color Therapies); energy medicine (reiki, Pranic Healing, Quantum and Healing Touch), aromatherapy (including Raindrop Technique and AromaTouch), plus nutritional education and coaching. Monthly and seasonal specials, and discounted packages are offered for stress and pain relief, and for body and energetic systems support. There are vegetarian, vegan, raw and live food classes and regular qigong practices and self-healing meet-ups, and Twin Hearts group meditations for personal and global healing. For more information, call 703-870-7859 or email Info@ LotusGardenWellnessSpa.com to schedule a free, no-obligation phone consultation, to begin the journey to optimal health and wellness. See ad, page 11.

natural awakenings

January 2017

leadingedge

Cannabis Sativa

The Healing Botanical by Patricia C. Frye, M.D.

hatever you thought about marijuana growing up during the era of “just say no”, you may want to set aside for just a moment. Consider that while some cannabis use may be part of a lifestyle of overindulgence, cannabis used in small doses can help create balance and homeostasis. What I am proposing is that you no longer think of medical “marijuana”, as the recreational drug you tried in high school and didn’t much care for. Think, instead, about cannabis sativa—the 20,000-year-old medicinal remedy first used in Chinese and Ayurveda medicine more than 3,000 years ago; the medication introduced into the U.S. Pharmacopeia in 1856, and prescribed to treat migraines, asthma and numerous other symptoms by U.S. physicians until it was outlawed in 1937, over the objections of the American Medical Association. Cannabis sativa, also known by its street name, marijuana, is a plant that contains approximately 400 different compounds. Some of those compounds, cannabinoids, are unique to cannabis while others, such as terpenes and flavonoids, are found in plants throughout nature. These compounds have a wide 32

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variety of medicinal effects which include reducing inflammation; relieving pain; alleviating anxiety; regulating sleep, as well as gastrointestinal and autoimmune function. They are effective in elevating and stabilizing mood, relieving stress; and alleviating seizures, muscle spasm and psychotic symptoms. Animal and lab studies have demonstrated that cannabis is a potent anti-oxidant, kills certain cancer cells and interferes with tumor growth and metastasis. Of all the compounds found in cannabis, THC is the most widely known and is the primary psychoactive component of the plant. It reduces inflammation, relieves chronic pain, is a potent muscle relaxant, and, among other things, prevents the deposition of amyloid plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been shown to reduce agitation, irritability and aggressiveness while improving sleep, mood, appetite and sense of wellbeing in Alzheimer’s patients. THC is also very effective in promoting hours of restful, restorative sleep for those with anxiety, sleep apnea and insomnia. Another large compound is cannabidiol, or CBD, which has no psychoactive properties and is becoming

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more widely recognized as an alternative to treating certain seizure disorders. It, too, is an anti-inflammatory, relieves chronic and neuropathic pain, migraine headache pain, arthritic pain and stiffness, and muscle spasm; it regulates appetite, glucose and fat metabolism, modulates the autoimmune system and has also been found to be effective in treating the symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease—Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Another very important property of CBD is its ability to counteract the psychoactive effect of THC. Cannabis is especially effective in treating chronic, neuropathic and migraine pain, because it attacks the cause of the pain through its anti-inflammatory properties, interrupts the firing of damaged nerves and alleviates anxiety. Patients with fibromyalgia, lupus, Lyme’s and other autoimmune conditions often experience relief due to cannabis’ ability to both reduce pain and modulate autoimmune function. Cannabis also potentiates the pain-relieving actions of opiate medication, without increasing the risk of respiratory depression, so it is helpful in reducing opiate doses and attenuating possible symptoms of withdrawal. Cannabis can be used medicinally, without the “high”. Patients can experience hours of symptom relief without mental impairment or sedation. It doesn’t have to be smoked, but can be taken in drops or sprays under the tongue or used topically in a salve or lotion. It’s high safety profile is an added bonus—the risk of addiction is low; for adults, possible side effects are benign and reversible; and no one has ever died from a cannabis overdose. So if old ideas about “marijuana” prevent you from considering cannabis sativa as an adjunct or alternative to your conventional medication, it may be time to set those aside and give thought to the benefits of cannabis sativa, the healing botanical. Patricia C. Frye, M.D., is the founder of Takoma Alternative Care, located at 6930 Carroll Ave., Ste. 412, Takoma Park, MD. For more information, call 301-328-3045 or visit TakomaCare.com. See ad, page 14.

artspotlight

Magic Wand Murals A Spotlight on Nancy Illman by Robin Fillmore

Illman works ancy Illman with clients of has been all ages, but the painting inprojects she’s most terior murals for 25 passionate about years, and sees it as are immersive a healing modality. murals on a child’s “I do reiki and bedroom walls, I paint walls, and because, she says in my mind, the “In most cases, the two practices are bedroom is the only closely aligned; space over which a they’re both ways child has any sense I can enhance of dominion.” people’s enjoyment “Executives of their life. People Nancy Illlman have offices, chefs think of art therapy have kitchens, but as a creative method a child generally spends their days in of expression, used as a therapeutic spaces controlled by adults, whether technique. Most people don’t realthat is the classroom or the playing ize, however, that there is tremendous field, and then retreats to his room, therapeutic value in commissioning where he will read, do homework, (custom) art, especially when that art listen to music and entertain friends. It transforms an intimate living space.”

is also his private space in which to fall asleep, dream, wake up and get ready to face each new day.” “Giving a child the opportunity to articulate their most heartfelt desires and to see them realized upon their walls is incredibly empowering.” she says. “I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that this experience and the room that results—can define a childhood.“ Illman calls her business Magic Wand Murals because it is the instrument through which a child turns their private space into the room of their dreams, merely by uttering words, which is similar to how magic works. “When I was 4,” Illman recalls, “my parents purchased our family home. Soon after, my mother hired an interior designer. I was sitting at the kitchen table, drawing in a sketch pad with pink and orange crayons, and my mother complimented my artwork, saying it would make a beautiful wallpaper; she said we’d show it to the decorator. Later, when I got up from my nap, and joined their meeting, already in progress, I was devastated to learn that my ideas would not be integrated into my bedroom’s design. The two grown-ups chose a yellow and white gingham with a glossy white grapevine overlay, and over the next decade, my resulting sense of indignity and disappointment faded along with the wallpaper’s yellow ink.” Years later, her mother went through the motions of consulting her a second time, as she pored over another book of wallpapers and selected a design that did not reflect her taste, with the rationalization that Illman would soon be headed off to college. As a result, Illman’s room became an even less pleasant space in which to dwell. “So, my plea to parents is this: please, don’t be like my mother,” implores Illman. “Give your child the opportunity to collaborate with me on an amazing bedroom that they will feel great about and love to be in!” To contact Nancy Illman, call 513-2594842, email MagicWandMurals@gmail. com or visit MagicWandMurals.com. See listing, page 47.

natural awakenings

January 2017

FEB Conscious Dying Plus: Children’s Dental Health Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Estate Planning, Hospice, Eco-Burial Advice plus Holistic Dental Care & Pediatric Dentists

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

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conscioiuseating

AND STAY HEALTHY with Whole Clean Foods by Allan Tomson, DC

s we leave the season of indulgences and look ahead, many people will consider various dietary changes as a way to “clean” up the body and get on the right track again. Research has shown how the body detoxifies itself, which helps us to understand how to use this system to release deeper patterns that may be limiting. It is not only for the physical body that a detox is recommended. The autonomic nervous system stores traumas and past performances that have upset the sympathetic nervous system that we have not have been fully able to process and learn from. These methods of detoxing allow the body to open up blocked pathways within the nerves, blood and lymph. There are many ways to detox. All one has to do is Google “detox” and up comes a myriad products, programs and services to accomplish many goals: weight loss, energy boosting, symptom elimination, chronic disease treatments and of course general health improvement. Finding the right fit with each body is key and it is recommended to get help from a professional to do this. Many medical practices will often use a detox as part of an overall program to heal the gut and to identify and eliminate food sensitivities. Taking out of one’s diet potential allergens and then adding them back when the detox is done is a way of accurately seeing what symptoms the food is causing.

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What can I expect from a detox? Detoxing the body is not about starving yourself. As a matter of fact, it is vitally important to be safe with your blood sugar. With decreased food entering the body and, therefore, decreased energy available, your blood sugar may become unstable and drop. Symptoms may include light-headedness, headaches, fatigue and digestive upset. Your foundation is shifting and you must honor that. It is better to eat up to six smaller meals per day to balance the blood sugar by ensuring that a steady stream of fuel is available to the body. Eliminating nutrient-poor foods such as sugar and processed foods is vital. The best programs will include fresh organic plant-based foods and nutrients. A person’s total symptom picture will determine the ease at which they move through a program. More symptoms going in may predispose one to reactions in the first few days of diet change. A person’s individual ability to detox, that is the efficiency with which the body performs the function of detox, and your general health status, determine the ease at which you may move through the program that you pick. If you are feeling bad in this early phase, it is important to increase water and vitamin C. Additional support through resources, such as the far infra-

Getting started and sustaining momentum As with any lifestyle or behavior change, your chances of success increase if you have support of loved ones or a “buddy” to go thru the process with you. Workplace wellness programs that encourage healthy habits can be very effective, since this is where we spend so much of our time. Nutritionists know that just removing sugar, wheat and dairy can have an immediate healthful effect on the body. Dr. Allan Tomson, DC, is the executive director of Neck Back & Beyond Healing Arts, an integrative wellness center in Fairfax, with a satellite office in Manassas. Not your ordinary chiropractor, Dr. Tomson has skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, cranial therapy and Cayce protocols. To learn more about detoxing and assessing your current health status, visit the team of health professionals at Neck BackAndBeyond.com. See ad, page 17.

ecotip Bird Buffet

Making Feeders Safe for Wild Birds

gracious_tiger/Shutterstock.com

red biomats or saunas, PEMF technology, lymphatic drainage, colon hydrotherapy and visceral techniques, can help ease the progression through the detox program. It is also very important not to be in a high stress environment when doing a detox program. Stress stimulates the adrenals to release cortisol into the blood stream. This has a detrimental effect on the liver’s ability to balance blood sugar and efficiently do its job.

Feeding wild birds helps fuel them and provides viewing pleasure, yet a communal feeder may hold hidden risks, reports a recent study in Ecology Letters. In reviewing 20 published research papers on host/pathogen interactions in human-fed wild populations, researchers at the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology, in Athens, found that intentional feeding changed their behavior and diet enough to foster potentially harmful growth of parasites and viruses. “Feeders can bring unexpected species and more birds together more frequently than normal, facilitating conditions for parasites and other contaminates,” says lead researcher Daniel Becker. Birds crowding into tight spaces to reach tasty morsels also makes it easier for pathogens like house finch eye disease and respiratory ailments to be passed among them. Maintain cleanliness. Stephen Kress, director of the National Audubon Society’s Project Puffin, advises that safe bird feeding includes completely scrubbing out feeders with a 10 percent non-chlorinated bleach solution at least a few times a year, and certainly between seasons. Be food-specific. While using bird seed mixtures to attract a wide range of species is cheaper, such food usually includes fillers like milo that most birds quickly pass through, making a mess under the feeder that can make birds sick. Kress suggests, “Buy specific seeds for specific feeders—like cracked corn and millet in one and only sunflowers in another. This decreases interactions between species that eat the different seeds and dramatically cuts waste.” Creative option. Try some peanut butter and other healthful ingredients, suggests Julie Craves, supervisor of avian research at the Rogue River Bird Observatory at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, in a recent edition of BirdWatching magazine. “It’s high in fat, protein and calories.” Avoid nut butter made with the artificial sweetener xylitol, as it can kill birds. She recommends mixing one part organic peanut butter with four or five parts plain, non-GMO (genetically modified) cornmeal and add oats and raisins. Plain or chunky works. “The dough can then be shaped into portions that will fit in suet feeders or logs, or just placed in feeding trays.”

natural awakenings

January 2017

meditationspotlight

Meditate Everywhere How to Make America Great

by Cullen Kowalski and Matt Willmott

ullen Kowalski knows that our elected leaders will not save us. The solution, he says, is to help guide an evolution in consciousness. Kowalski aims to act locally, but he is not thinking small. In 2013, he founded Samsara House 2023, a rowhouse in Bloomingdale, Washington, D.C., dedicated to promoting healing and awakening by investigating, experimenting and teaching through direct experience. The goal of Samsara House 2023 is to help cause a transformation in global consciousness by 2023, a 10-year deadline inspired by the growth of Ken Wilber’s Integral Movement and the potential of Steve McInE V E R tosh’s Evolutionary Worldview. Kowalski is a systems engineer and management consultant who left the corporate world to pursue transformational work on a full-time basis. His business partner, Bennett Crawford, is a licensed clinical social worker in Fairfax County. Together they conduct innovative meditation workshops and monthly “Fireside Chat” meditation circles. They invite visitors to try meditation at public events, such as the Bloomingdale Farmers‘ Market, and they offer a dynamic meditation class at East Meets West Yoga Center every Sunday evening. But their latest effort, Meditate Everywhere, is their most ambitious project yet. “Everyone has the capacity to meditate

everywhere, especially when we recognize the most important place we will ever go in life is found in the relationship with ourselves or others,” says Kowalski. “And people spend at least two-thirds of their entire lives at work. Imagine if everybody everywhere, throughout the day, were meditating. Imagine if more bosses, employees, teachers and students—everyone—learned how to create space and healing in the relationship with themselves and others.” As a business-tobusiness service, Meditate Everywhere seeks to help businesses, small communities and schools create Y W H E R E in-house meditation space solutions. Kowalski and Crawford and their associates meet with a soliciting group to design a full-service program which includes hosting and facilitating meditation sessions, teaching members how to meditate and training meditation teachers, with the intention of developing a self-sustaining practice at each organization. “You provide the space, we create the environment and manage it,” says Kowalski. “We show how to make mindfulness an integral part of corporate life as well as all life.” Meditate Everywhere does not aim to simply be a solitary practice. Crawford and Kowalski are pioneering a unique synthe-

MEDITATE

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sis of “Integral Consciousness,” “Waking Down in Mutuality,” and emergent “Integral We-Space” practices and stand upon the shoulders of several years of their respective formal meditation training in Mahamudra and Zen. Their pragmatic secular form of meditation includes and transcends these traditional meditation practices, focusing on how people engage with one another—a practice they call “Interpersonal Mindful Mutuality.” “A human being’s greatest need after food and shelter may quite well be the need to be emotionally seen, felt and heard by another human being,” Kowalski says. “When these needs are met, people are able to move from being a costly pathology to themselves and society to becoming a full expression of harmony, creativity and compassion itself.” At work, this means that meditation is not only good for our well-being, it’s also good for the bottom line. Research shows how compassion can create a sense of loyalty with others. Our willingness to trust also increases and wherever there is more trust, job performance improves. As compassion increases trust, loyalty and creativity, employees become happier and more productive and turnover is lower. Likewise, healthy relations help us stay physically healthier and use fewer sick days too. “Meditating everywhere just makes good business sense,” says Kowalski. He notes, “In Buddha’s last teaching, he counseled that when a society comes together to make decisions in harmony, honors its elders in their wisdom, cares for its most vulnerable members, and when it respects the environment and listens to its citizens, it can be expected to prosper and not decline. Now is the most important time than ever for humanity to work together. Now is the time for us to develop the mind as the gateway to the collective heart and discover our capacity to embrace others as ourselves, undivided. We can prosper, not decline, whether our elected leaders are guiding us or not, by learning a new way of being in which we meditate everywhere, it’s up to us.” Meditate Everywhere’s inaugural launch into the Washington, D.C. region takes place this month. For more information contact: Hello@MeditateEverywhere.com. See ad, page 35.

holisticdentistry

The Importance of Holistic Dentistry by Dr. Terry Victor

entists everywhere often hear from their patients, “How do my teeth impact on my health, since they are just teeth. Right?” A good dentist then begins an explanation of how all aspects and systems of the body are connected— we are truly holistic organisms. Our mouth is such an integral part of our well-being. It is a major point of esthetics. Can you imagine someone you consider very attractive missing their two front teeth? That would decrease their attractiveness and for them it could also become a self-esteem issue. But our teeth and our mouth goes far beyond simply esthetics or attractiveness. Our mouth is the first stage of food digestion. If we do not break down food sufficiently so the gut can digest it, many problems can be created.

Incomplete digestion has been seen as contributing to leaky-gut syndrome. This is where the gut tissue has spaces between it so food is able to pass through it and enter the bloodstream directly, rather than traveling through the intestines. This can cause significant issues with bowel diseases. Incomplete digestion can also cause many other digestive disorders. Missing teeth is also something that can have major implications on our overall health. If we have missing teeth, we are not able to chew properly. This also does not allow the gut to receive, breakdown or digest food properly. Missing teeth also causes our existing teeth to shift and when this happens, it changes the way our teeth come together or our bite. If your bite is “off”, it can affect many aspects of our mouth. It can cause pain in our jaw joint,

which can cause headaches as well as soreness in the muscles of our jaw. This can also effect the muscles in the neck and back. Even further, since all the muscles are connected, it could go as far as affecting the hip joint. The mouth is also a great indicator of the health of the overall body. In Chinese medicine, a skilled practitioner can get information on many systems of the body by looking at the tongue. The mouth is also where genetic material of the body is stored. From a cheek swab, information can be gathered on ancestry, genetic makeup as well as the health status of the body. The mouth is really connected to and is a doorway to the rest of the body. When seeing a holistic dentist, your overall health is taken into consideration when evaluating any findings from your bi-annual exams. It is recommended to see your dentist and hygienist at least twice a year, as preventive care is the best care. So, tonight’s homework is to make an appointment for yourself and your family with your dental office, and be proactive for the year ahead. Terry Victor, DDS, The DC Dentist, provides holistic, biological and eco-friendly general restorative and cosmetic dentistry. His practice is located at 509 11 St., SE, on Capitol Hill. For more information, call 202-544-3626 or visit TheDCDentist.com. See ad, page 23.

natural awakenings

January 2017

naturalpet

Referral to a qualified practitioner is needed to help a pet benefit from functional medicine.

Functional Medicine for Pets

Functional medicine best addresses these concerns because it involves understanding the origins, prevention and treatment of ailments and emphasizes customized care. The goal is to promote health as a positive force well beyond the absence of disease. It’s possible for many pets to appear to be healthy while specialized, noninvasive testing shows underlying issues that must be addressed if illness is to be prevented. Conventional medicine either doesn’t offer such testing or ignores minor abnormalities, placing the pet at risk for developing serious and potentially irreversible problems.

Why the Best Vets Use It by Shawn Messonnier

any pet owners have chosen functional medicine for their own care, so they logically turn to it for their four-legged family members, as well. Most veterinarians are still unfamiliar with this approach to pet health care and may even discourage its use because they see it as being out of synch with conventional ideology. Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging patients and doctors in a partnership designed to improve health. This evolved practice better addresses individual needs than a traditional approach that focuses on illness and treating disease rather than restoring overall health. By shifting from an allopathic platform to a more holistic, patient-centered one, functional medicine addresses the whole pet, not just a set of symptoms.

Why Functional Medicine

Integrative Approach

Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock.com

The system of medicine practiced by most vets is geared toward acute care of a severe trauma or a climax in illness that necessitates urgent diagnosis and treatment. They typically apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or perform surgery to treat the immediate problem or symptom.

This approach works well for pets experiencing a crisis, but isn’t appropriate for restoring health when animals have chronic disorders. It also doesn’t help them to at least live comfortably with incurable problems without the side effects often caused by extensive administration of medications. Conventional veterinary science lacks the proper tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease. In most cases, it doesn’t take into account an individual’s unique genetic makeup or exposure to toxins such as too many vaccines, drugs or environmental chemicals. Functional medicine always focuses on the unique nature of the patient; there is no “one treatment fits all” mentality. Functional medicine vets are specifically trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet and naturopathic remedies to both treat and prevent these illnesses. They can ably help the increasing number of pets suffering from complex, chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, allergies, arthritis, seizures, bowel and bladder problems and immune system disorders.

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An integrative, science-based healthcare approach considers interactions in the pet’s history, physiology and lifestyle that might lead to problems. All of the diagnostic and treatment modalities are based upon proven scientific principles and follow evidence-based medicine to yield the best results in terms of total function. Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “holistic” or “complementary” healing methods. The focus is on prevention through nutrition, diet and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets and detoxification programs, using drugs only when necessary as a last, rather than a first, resort. This whole-pet approach allows doctors to choose whichever therapies are best for each patient. Holistic vets see many patients for which conventional medicine has proven ineffective. Sometimes conventional doctors back away from offering treatment, either because the pet is “too old,” the treatment is “too expensive” or the results are unlikely to be “satisfactory.” Functional medicine can help many of these so-called hopeless cases,

return pets to health and often heal disease after principles of functional medicine have been consistently applied to the petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s everyday lifestyle. Finding a functional medicine vet is challenging, but worth the effort. Focusing on the individual needs of a pet ensures the optimum chance for achieving and sustaining proper health. Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information, visit PetCareNaturally.com.

Calendar

A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.

202-505-4835 NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings

January 2017

greenbuilding

Beyond the Big Box A Spotlight on Amicus Green Building Center by Robin Fillmore

here is an undeniable trend in our area and throughout the country where many individuals are beginning to understand that the path to wholeness is achieved beyond eating a healthy diet and getting the right amount of exercise. What goes into the body is just as important as the environment in which a body dwells. Likewise, as many search for sustainable, farm-raised, locally sourced and organic foods at farmer’s markets and grocery stores, they are now also seeking products and materials that reflect their desire not to harm our planet as they build, renovate and furnish their homes. This is where Amicus Green Building Center, in Kensington, comes in. Since 2005, the staff at Amicus has been offering a wonderful alternative to the big box stores for those looking to do small and large projects in their homes and work spaces. Specifically, Amicus is a design center and home improvement store 40

Washington, D.C.

that takes a fresh approach to creating spaces—fostering fresh designs, fresh air and water. No matter the homeowners’ or renters’ goals or budget, they have products and expertise can help create a wonderful space that looks fantastic and feels great. Their stated mission is to “help people live, work, play and pray in sustainable, comfortable, healthy, affordable and responsible buildings.” According to the founder, Jason Holstine, the motivation to open Amicus grew out of his desire to grow a green business that makes a real difference. “I was drawn to the concept of green building because it can address so many aspects of environmental and health living—protecting forests, waters, air, flora and fauna; minimizing energy waste; making people more comfortable healthy, and productive; and protecting our neighbors and economy by supporting domestic jobs. It really is an allencompassing action that can move the

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needle,” notes Holstine. One doesn’t need to be a homeowner to get value from the services offered at Amicus. They also work with renters and professionals in the building trades, including architects and designers. Many area homeowners turn to Amicus first when they want to embark on kitchen, bath or bedroom remodeling projects. They also can supply products and expertise for home additions, new residential construction and commercial projects. “In addition to working on full projects, we also work with many people needing to solve problems—like to block off-gassing paints and finishes (although of course the better bet would be using our products to begin with), or to put the right flooring or carpet down,” notes Holstine. “Without a doubt, our greatest value is to help people think through their decision process and create designs, all without having to worry about the health or environmental considerations, because those elements are already baked in.” What they do at Amicus, and the services that they provide, are just as important as the way that they do business. Just as their name implies (amicus means friend in Latin), they strive to bring products, principles and practices that are friendly and support their customers, as well as their wallet, while protecting the planet. They pledge to screen every product for health, environmental integrity and durability, with a priority on those made as locally as possible. Customers don’t need to compromise on quality or overpay for products when they shop at Amicus. A common refrain from regular patrons at Amicus is “Thanks for being here.” Holstine suggests that his customers and customersto-be are seeking avenues in all aspects of their lives to take a positive stand. “We continue to work on more projects—of all sizes and scopes—and the current political climate tells us that our resolute work is as important as ever.” Location: 4080A Howard Ave., Kensington, Maryland, in the West Howard Antiques District. For more information, visit AmicusGreen.com. See ad, page 39.

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1 An Intentional New Year: Creating an Intentional Action Plan for 2017 – 10am-6pm. Learn the tools and create a plan (a plan that you’ll stick to) for manifesting your intentions and vision in 2017. This workshop will include essential elements from yoga and coaching geared towards setting you up for a year of wellness and success. $85 preregistration or $95 at the door. Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Contact to register or onfo: 202-643-8875 or Info@BeHereNowYogaDC.com or BeHereNowYogaDC.com. Yoga Nidra – 2017 Intention Meditation – 4-5:30pm. Yoga Nidra offers an easy way to be in harmony with our own powerful energy. When we tune in to our own energy, we find the power and grace to release what no longer serves us. $30. Bikram Yoga Riverdale Park, 6202 Rhode Island Ave, Ste 200, Riverdale Park, MD. Register: BikramYogaRiverIC.com/ Event/2017-Set-Your-Intention-Meditation. New Year’s Day – Fun Songs ‘n’ Mantras and Vegan Pot Luck – 5-7pm. Start off the new year beautifully, with a fantastic one-man mellow band, ‘The Gurutrang Singh Along’. Celebrate with the most musically marvelous, soft rock, folk and R&B, peace and love cover songs of all time, artfully blended with magnificent mantras. Free. Raj Yoga, 22821 Silverbrook Center Dr, Unit 160, 2nd Floor, Sterling, VA. Register: RajYoga.org/Events.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 Healthcare Provider CPR – 10am-5pm. 6 CEUs $120. Info: 202-686-7046 or Info@ PMTI.org or PMTI.org. Touch of Massage – 10am-5pm. A taste of Swedish Massage Techniques as taught at PMTI. Develop your love for giving and receiving the gift of touch. Potomac Massage Training Institute PMTI, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 Sexuality and Intimacy for Young Adult Cancer Survivors – 3:30-5pm. Most cancer survivors will

have some form of sexual dysfunction after cancer diagnosis and treatment. Join us for a discussion on communicating sexual changes, desires and needs, as well as learn to connect and get to know your body again. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. D.C. Young Adult Cancer Meet Up and Support Group – 5-6:30pm. Meet other young adult cancer survivors in a monthly facilitated group session. This gathering is a collaborative initiative of local hospitals, health organizations and cancer support groups. A healthy meal is provided. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org..

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 Awareness Through Movement – 1:15-2:30pm. This class offers an innovative approach to movement and health that is beneficial for anyone experiencing fatigue, pain, or restriction of movement due to injury, surgery, or treatment. Each class guides you through a series of simple exercises which have an effect on your posture, breathing and movement. $10 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Conversations on Healing – 1:15-2:15pm. Join us to discuss what you can do to promote health and well-being while undergoing advanced medical treatment. Learn how we all can access and amplify our innate ability to heal. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13 Singles Sangha – 7-10pm. A welcoming community of people who gather to experience a shared connection with others who are, by choice or by circumstance, single at this time in their lives. All varieties and ages of single people are encouraged to join. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 The

Foundations

Organic

Gardening

Course – 9am-4pm. Don’t wait another year to make your organic garden dreams come true and be a savvy and successful gardener. Starts now. Fun workshops, no-homework. Payment plans. Prior Unity Garden is a short walk to the Vienna Metro, James St, Fairfax VA. Register: 703-281-7743 or Gardeners@PriorUnityGarden.com or Prior UnityGarden.com/FoundationsCourse.html. Visually Expressing Our Grief – 10am-3pm. Express yourself creatively through painting, writing and poetry. The grief journey is not easy to express and this class seeks to help bring some of your feelings into a visual expression. $40 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Bingo for a Vegan Billboard – 6-9pm. Bingo fundraiser to bring Baltimore its first vegan billboard. Admission at the door will cover a delicious meal provided by PEP Foods (PepfoodsInc.com) and 8 games of bingo. $20. Open the Cages Alliance (OpenTheCages.org) and Maryland Veg Events (MarylandVegEvents. com) at Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828 York Rd, Baltimore, MD. Info: 443-261- 9679 or ChrisDietrich366@yahoo.com or Facebook. com/Events/1117900208287558. Open Fireside Chat Awakening Circle – 7:309:30pm. Co-founders of the D.C. Awakening Collective, Cullen Kowalski and Bennett Crawford, would like to share with you direct experiences with meditation in the context of full-time embodied awakening. $5. Samsara House 2023, 36 R St, NW, Bloomingdale. RSVP: Wakeup@ SamsaraHouse.org. Info: Bit.ly/OpenFireside or SamsaraHouse.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 Children’s Sangha – 4:15-5:30pm. For 5-12year-olds, accompanied by parents. The class provides young children with a Buddhist framework to explore their inner life, understand the causes of emotional stress, and develop peace, wisdom and kindness. Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. For details: Living-Mindfully.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20 In the Flow Open House and Book Signing – 2-4:30pm. Join us for the book signing of Dr. Deborah Norris’s new book In the Flow: Passion, Purpose, and the Power of Mindfulness! The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethes-

natural awakenings

January 2017

da, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulness Center@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 Mindfulness for Stress Management – 122pm. Learn simple mindfulness practices to improve your health and wellbeing. Mindfulness can play a significant role in coping with stress, improving health, even in treating chronic diseases. $35. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com. Essential Mindfulness for Daily Living Workshop – 2-5pm. Many of us are experiencing a great deal of stress and adversity these days because of the never-ending demands and pressures of everyday life. This workshop could be for you. $45 pre-registered or $55 at the door. East Meets West Yoga Center, 8227 Old Courthouse Rd, Ste 310, Vienna, VA. Register: EastMeetsWestCenter.com. Info: WakeUp@ SamsaraHouse.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 CPR/First Aid – 10am-5pm. Red Cross Approved. $80 for all or $45 for one part only Info: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org. Healing through your Akashic Records – 1-5pm. Healing core stories from your past lives through your Akashic Records can resolve long-standing challenges and empower future growth. Join us for mini-healing sessions. $40. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com. Info: 703-392-9200 or Rising PhoenixHC@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 Experience Healing Qigong – 2-3pm. Qigong is an ancient martial art utilizing physical postures, breathing, and focused intentions. It promotes health, increases vitality and can be used for chronic disease, pain control and well-being. Join us for an introduction to this healing work. $25. Neck Back & Beyond Healing Arts, 10560 Main St, Ste 204, Fairfax, VA. Info: 703-8655690 or NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 Movie Night – 7pm. Sustain your New Year’s resolutions and join us to be inspired by the PlantPure Nation. This documentary tells an

important story for all communities to rally around. $5 donation. Neck Back & Beyond Healing Arts, 10560 Main St, Ste 204, Fairfax, VA. Info: 703-865-5690 or NeckBackAnd Beyond@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 Mind-Body for Cancer – Through Jan 28. Learn how mind-body practices are reducing pain, improving quality of life, rates of survival for patients with cancer, heart disease and other conditions. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com. Winter Poly Wonderland: A Polyamory Tribe Event – 6pm. Through Jan 30. Whether you’re new to poly, poly-curious or a poly-pro: Come spend up to 4 days in a woods-and-water setting, at an event centered around building authentic connection, relationship skills, self-awareness and tribe. $230 before Jan 10 and $260 after Jan 10. Polyamory for All Seasons at Elk Garden, WV. Register: Cfnc.us/WPW/Registration.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 Reiki Level 1 with Certification – 9am-5pm. With Gurunater Kaur. Preregister by Jan 25th. $150. Raj Yoga, 22821 Silverbrook Center Dr, Unit 160, 2nd Floor, Sterling, VA. Register: RajYoga.com. Trager Level II – 9am-6pm. Through Jan 30. Level 2 is given over two weekends. Second half of this class is given March 4-6. Prerequisite is Trager Level 1. 48 CEUs. $900. Potomac Massage Training Institute PMTI, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org. Studying the Enneagram Part 1 – 1-4pm. The enneagram is a psychological and spiritual tool that can be used to improve self-understanding and acceptance of others. Learn the enneagram system to discover who you really are, what you see and don’t see about your behavior and how you can grow into being more fully actuated. $25 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30 A Different Paradigm in Healing – 6-7:30pm. In this talk, you will explore the wisdom and healing life practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which are as valid today as they were 2,000 years ago. Topics include acupuncture, art, herbal medicine and more. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U

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St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Meal Planning for the New Year – 6-7:30pm. Start the new year right by learning simple strategies for preparing satisfying meals for optimal health. $20. Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine, 6829 Elm St, Ste 300, McLean, VA. Register: RSVP@KaplanClinic.com. Info: KaplanClinic. com/Event/Meal-Planning-for-the-New-Year. Laughter Yoga – 7-8pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

plan ahead WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Essential Oils 101 – 6:30-9:30pm. A free introduction. Essential Oils for Massage Therapy monthly series continues the first Wednesday of each month. Feb 1 Your Animals. 3 CEUs. $65. Potomac Massage Training Institute PMTI, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Biodynamic CranialSacral Therapy – 9am6pm. Through Feb 9. Series continues with Part 8. 32 CEUs. $695. Info: 202-686-7046 or Info@ PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Yoga Philosophy for Kids – 5:30-9pm. A yoga philosophy workshop that includes yoga sutras, chakras, meditation, Yoga Nidra and guided relaxation for kids. Learn fundamental yoga philosophy and how it pertains to children. $115. YoKid...stretch your limits at Yoga District. Register: YoKid.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Teaching K-5th Grade Yoga in Schools – 10am5pm. Our practical and informative training will provide you with what you need to teach traditional and non-traditional poses and teach you age appropriate language and methods for creating a fun, yet calming environment for kids. $215. YoKid... stretch your limits at Yoga District Columbia Heights, 3315 11th St, NW. Register: YoKid.org.

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday Sunday Morning Meditation Class – 10:30am12:30pm. With Hugh Byrne. An oasis in a busy week, including 30-minute guided meditations, a 10-minute walking meditation and 30-minute discussion. A mini-retreat. Drop-ins welcome. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Cancer Support Group – 6-7:30pm. This support group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. Please RSVP by phone prior to your first visit. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Mindfulness in Recovery – 6:30-8pm. This group is open to new meditators and seasoned practitioners alike with a common interest in the intersection of Buddhist teachings and 12 Step recovery. All 12 Steppers are welcome and we ask that participants have at least 90 days of continuous recovery and a working relationship with a home 12 Step recovery group be established before attending your first meeting. This group is not a replacement for our individual 12 Step programs. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

monday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. A beautiful way to start your day, with a 30-minute meditation and optional 15-minute discussion following. Drop-ins welcome. A project of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Gentle Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. Gentle yoga classes to help reduce stress and balance the mind, body and spirit. All experience levels welcome. No class Jan 2 and 16. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or Smith Center.org.

tuesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Chair Yoga – 12-1pm. You are invited to relax deeply as we move through a series of gentle seated and supported poses that promote selfcare. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or Smith Center.org. Gentle Yoga – 6-7:15pm. See Mon for details. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

wednesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Outside the Lines: A Creative Art Studio – 10:30am-12:30pm. 1st and 3rd Wed. Facilitators will help reclaim art-making as a healing tool through guided creative projects. $10/session (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Register: 202-483-8600. Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar. Stretch and Restore – 12pm. Slow Hatha Vinyasa performed with a focus on pranayama, meditation, concentration and fluid, soothing asana movement that is suitable for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-9861090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com. Traditional Tai Chi Fundamental – 7-8:30pm. With Joanne Chang from Wuwei Tai Chi Club. For beginners and continuing students. Cheng Man-ching style traditional tai chi solo form. Lakewood Elementary School (All Purpose Room), 2534 Lindley Terrace, Rockville, MD. Info: WuweiTaiChi.com.

Teen Sanga – 7:30-9pm. 2nd and 4th Wed. The teen sangha provides a framework for exploring one’s inner life, understanding the causes of emotional stress and realizing the possibility of inner freedom. We explore key Buddhist teachings and how they can be helpful in navigating life’s inevitable challenges. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Traditional Tai Chi Development – 8:30-10pm. With Joanne Chang from Wuwei Tai Chi Club. For continuing students tai chi postures and applications. Lakewood Elementary School (All Purpose Room), 2534 Lindley Terrace, Rockville, MD. Info: WuweiTaiChi.com.

thursday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Gentle Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. See Mon for details. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Traditional Tai Chi – 7-8:30pm. With Joanne Chang from Wuwei Tai Chi Club. For beginners and continuing students. Studying Cheng Manching-style traditional tai chi solo form. Garrett Park Elementary School (All Purpose Room), 4810 Oxford St, Kensington, MD. Info: Wuwei TaiChi.com.

friday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Move, Dance, Create – 11am-12:15pm. Stretch your creative capacity, feel good and connect with fellow participants. Featuring a variety of dance styles, the class is a well-paced and refreshing experience for all. $10/session or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Meditation Circle and Vegetarian Potluck – 6pm. Guided meditation with music begins at 7:30. $10 (suggested donation). 12803 Twinbrook Pkwy, Ste 204, Rockville. Register: Contact Carol “Anandi” 269-365-8939.

saturday Refuge Recovery – 6:30-8pm. Refuge Recovery is a mindfulness-based recovery program and community that utilizes Buddhist philosophy as the foundation of the recovery process. Based on the Four Noble Truths and Eight-fold Path, emphasis is placed on both knowledge and empathy as a means for overcoming addiction and its causes. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

natural awakenings

January 2017

naturallivingdirectory Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com to request our media kit. ACUPUNCTURE 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 17.

ARCHITECT

HELICON WORKS ARCHITECTS

7108 Holly Ave, Takoma Park, MD 301-404-5578 • Bill@HeliconWorks.com HeliconWorksArchitects.com Helicon Works Architects is a green architecture and natural building collaborative in the D.C. metro area. We create healthy and ecological homes for our clients. See ad, page 39. e

AROMATHERAPY

MOTHER NATURE’S STORE 703-851-0087 Laina_Poulakos@hotmail.com MothersNatureStore.com

C e r t i f i e d a r o m at h e r ap i s t and herbalist offering lifestyle consultations and handmade products, including soaps, balms and beard oils. Reach a better state of body and mind. See ad, page 18.

202-730-9443 CBDRevolutionUS@gmail.com CBDRevolutionUS.com We increase public awareness of hemp health/CBD that enables the mind and body to work at their optimal state thereby promoting ultimate health, wellness and longevity. We are an innovative community, passionate about empowering individuals to balance their health and wealth while becoming leaders in the cannabis movement. We spread the truth about the benefits of an amazing plant in our modern culture, teaching people how to get healthy without the high. See ad, page 19.

CATERING GREENFARE

DR. VISHAL VERMA, DC, CCSP Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com

Dr. Verma specializes in functional ch i ropr a c t i c c are for p ai n management and active restoration of the body. He treating root causes using gentle chiropractic, physical therapy, cold laser therapy and rehabilitation for fast effective results. Dr. Verma treats back, neck, spine and joint pain, sciatica, sports injuries, fibromyalgia, and various other chronic and acute pain conditions. See ad, page 11.

CLEANING

408 Elden St., Herdon, VA 703-689-0506 GreenFare.com

MAID BRIGADE CAPITAL REGION

GreenFare is an innovative community cafe and learning center that serves organic, whole plant food in concert with medical professionals, environmentalists, and animal welfare advocates who recognize that this optimal diet can positively transform our world. Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. See ad, page 3.

We are Green Clean Certified so you can have peace of mind that your home will be healthier for you, your pets, and the environment. See ad, page 29.

CHIROPRACTOR NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER DR. ALLAN TOMSON, DC

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com

SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM

258 Maple Ave East, Vienna, VA and 12242 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 703-255-7040 (VA) or 301-770-7040 (MD) Maddie@SavvyRest.com • SRNB.com Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom is the premier retailer of Savvy Rest organic mattresses and bedding, a Virginia manufacturer and retailer of fine bedroom furniture. See ad, page 19.

Washington, D.C.

Chiropractic preventive care, naturally. See ad, page 37.

CANNABIS PRODUCTS

BEDROOM FURNITURE

2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Ste 2-A, Falls Church, VA • 703-237-2161 Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com ShahverdiChiropractic.com

CBD REVOLUTION US

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

SHAANS CHIROPRACTIC AND SPORTS REHAB CLINIC

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Dr. Allan Tomson, DC, director of Neck back & Beyond Healing Arts in Fairfax, VA with a satellite office in Manassas, VA. He is not your ordinary chiropractor with skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, cranial sacral therapy and Cayce protocols. See ad, page 17.

4813-A Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 800-515-6243 Marketing@Maid-Brigade.com MaidBrigade.com

COACHING HEALING THROUGH YOUR AKASHIC RECORDS 301 448-0388 BillSanda@gmail.com Facebook.com/HealingYourSoul ThruAkashicRecords/

Akashic Records are vibrational information of every soul‘s journey in form. Resolve recurring patterns, heal challenges and empower choices through an Akashic Record session. See ad, page 30.

LIGHTHOUSE COACHING, LLC

703-742-8137 LighthouseCoaching@comcast.net PattyHagan@com Focus on your entire being with Lighthouse Coaching. Patty is a certified life coach, reiki master and Pranashakhti Practioner who helps clients achieve their goals. See ad, page 12.

NATURAL HEALING OPTIONS 703-371-2174 Jay.Quinn@verizon.net NaturalHealingOptions.com

Energetic clearing of stuck areas in your life, including physical challenges, childhood traumas, family and business relationship and non-beneficial energies in your home or business.

SUSANN SWAN

Neimology Science Advanced Practitioner 571-276-4566 Susann93@Use.Startmail.com The letters in your name and their placement reveal your personality, preferences and talents. Contact for individual readings or parties. See ad, page 42.

THE COME ALIVE PROJECT

703-217-2746 Bob@TheComeAliveProject.com TheComeAliveProject.com We provide information about health, fitness and positive personal energy for active seniors. See ad, page 31.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com An effective method for cleansing the colon and large intestine. It helps to renew and cleanse the cells, purify the blood and give life to the digestive system. Accumulation of toxic waste materials in the body, also known as autointoxication, is the root cause of many diseases. CHT allows the body to get rid of these toxins, and is a necessary part of any type of detox program or cleanse. See ad, page 17.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA 703-430-8883 ElsaLam@GoldenHealthPharmacy GoldenHealthPharmacy.com Prescriptions with personal attention (we accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special needs. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 11.

HARMONY LIFE COACHING

CRYSTALS A TOUCH OF CRYSTAL

HIGHEST HARMONY HEALING AND COACHING

703-609-9588 Crystals4TheSoul@yahoo.com ATouchOfCrystal.com We offer hard to find crystals for health, healing and happiness that are uniquely cut, shaped and polished by hand before being wire-wrapped. Discover which one is meant for you.

Rev Carol Anandi Richardson M.Div., MPH Body-Mind-Spirit Coach, Mystic Healer, Speaker, Author 12803 Twinbrook Pkwy, Ste 204, Rockville, MD • 269-365-8939 Carol.Dodson.Richardson@gmail.com HighestHarmony.Guru Mastermind Stars: Mindfulness and Movement Programs for students, teachers and families. See ad, page 27.

DENTISTRY NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALH ASSOCIATES

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 • NIHADC.com The professional health team at NIHA is comprised of holistic medical physicians, biological dentists, naturopaths, a chiropractor and health professionals highly skilled in acupuncture, nutrition and other healing therapies. See ad, page 5.

TERRY VICTOR, DDS THE DC DENTIST

509 11th St, SE, DC 202-544-3626 Staff@TheDCDentist.com TheDCDentist.com Dr. Victor’s practice believes patients’ needs are primary. Holistic dentistry integrates dental health with your overall health. The DC Dentist—holistic, biological and eco-friendly. See ad, page 23.

FAT REDUCTION THERAPY ZERONA FAT REDUCTION

2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Ste 2-A, Falls Church, VA • 703-237-2161 Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com ShahverdiChiropractic.com Effective, non-invasive, fat reduction therapy. See ad, page 37.

FITNESS FLEXAWARE FITNESS 202-557-8384 Info@FlexAware.com FlexAware.com

FlexAware is a fitness/ healing/exercise practice for people of all ages and health conditions. Discover ways to breathe freely and move easily. See ad, page 5.

HEALTHY FOOD WILDTREE

703-WILDTREE 703-203-9508 WildtreeTaraO@yahoo.com MyWildTree.com/TarasTable Wildtree is an all-natural, organic, non-GMO food pantry company. We offer healthy and easy mealtime solutions through meal prep workshops and tasting parties. See ad, page 42.

HEALTHY PETS WHOLE PET CENTRAL

Info@WholePetCentral.com WholePetCentral.com We are your one-stop destination for all things natural regarding your pet’s nutritional and grooming needs. Shop online or visit one of our stores locations in Rockville, MD, Herndon, VA or Ashburn, VA. See ad, page 14.

HERBS MOTHER NATURE’S STORE 703-851-0087 Laina_Poulakos@hotmail.com MothersNatureStore.com

Certified aromatherapist and herbalist offering lifestyle consultations and handmade products, including soaps, balms and beard oils. Reach a better state of body and mind. See ad, page 18.

Only do what your heart tells you. ~Princess Diana natural awakenings

January 2017

HOLISTIC NUTRITION ELIZABETH MCMILLAN, MS, CNS Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com

Elizabeth McMillan is a board certified clinical nutritionist specializing in functional nutrition. She believes in finding the root cause of aliments and creating a personalized dietary plan to restore optimal wellness. Elizabeth specializes in diabetes, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal health, autoimmunity and metabolic syndrome issues. Call today to see how she can help. See ad, page 11.

HOLISTIC PARENTING HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK ARLINGTON/ALEXANDRIA CHAPTER HolisticMomsArlAlex@gmail.com HolisticMomsArlAlex.blogspot.com

National nonprofit organization supporting parents in their natural lifestyle choices. Local chapters: Arlington/Alexandria, Burke/Springfield, Loudoun, NoVA/Fairfax, Montgomery County and Harford County. National: HolisticMoms.org. Local: Bit.ly/1rHHgaT.

MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE

571-358-8645 Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com MindfulHealthyLife.com Online lifestyle magazine for D. C . - are a n atu r a l minded families. Event calendar, resource directory, blog. News, events, giveaways, profiles, tips for holistic healthy living and mindful parenting.

HOLISTIC INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES LOTUS GARDEN WELLNESS SPA, LLC 1/2 mile from the Herndon Community Center 703-870-7859 Info@LotusGardenWellnessSpa.com LotusGardenWellnessSpa.com

Holistic therapeutic practice offering personalized alternative modalities and integrative programs to help you relieve pain and stress, and attain your optimal health and wellness. See ad, page 11.

Washington, D.C.

HOME IMPROVEMENT AMICUS GREEN BUILDING CENTER 4080A Howard Ave, Kensington, MD 301-571-8590 • Info@AmicusGreen.com AmicusGreen.com

A design center and home improvement store that creates fresh spaces–fresh designs, fresh air and water–to foster better buildings. See ad, page 39. parenting.

HOMEOPATHY

MICHAEL LISS

Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Michael Liss is a Doctor of Classical Homeopathy and an integrative health practitioner. He specializes in using homeopathy to help you find relief from various emotional and physical health problems including addictions, s u b s t a n c e a b u s e , a n x i e t y, depression, allergies, asthma, childhood ailments, migraines, hair and skin disorders, immune deficiencies and sinus disorders. See ad, page 11.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SULTANA AFROOZ, DO

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Dr. Sultana Afrooz specializes in diagnosing and treating patients who have been chronically ill from effects of tick-borne infection, mold toxicity and environmental toxicity. See ad, page 11.

SUSHMA HIRANI, MD

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Dr. Sushma Hirani uses an integrative approach to wellness, utilizing conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies. She strives to treat the whole person an d e mph a s i z e s nut r it i on , preventive care and lifestyle changes. Dr. Hirani specializes in the treatment of chronic issues such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, menopause and women’s health issues. Patients love her compassionate care and personalized attention. See ad, page 11.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC 1010 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 660, DC 202-298-9131 IndigoHealthClinic.com

The body has an innate ability to heal itself and achieve balance from everyday stressors through non-toxic, non-aggressive and highly effective modalities. See ad, page 2.

NATURAL HORIZONS WELLNESS CENTERS

11230 Waples Mill Rd, Ste 125, Fairfax, VA 703-246-9355 Info@NHWellnessCenters.com NHWellnessCenters.com Natural Horizons Wellness Centers are leaders in the field of integrative and holistic medicine and wellness in the Washington, DC area.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 NIHADC.com The professional health team at NIHA is comprised of holistic medical physicians, biological dentists, naturopaths, a chiropractor and health professionals highly skilled in acupuncture, nutrition and other healing therapies. See ad, page 5.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, allergies, stress? Whatever your health challenges, Rose Wellness Center can help you get on the path to real wellness. We help identify hormone, metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues to get to the root cause of your health problems, where true healing begins. Our services include digestive and women’s health programs, hormone balancing, acupuncture, Lyme treatment, homeopathy and thyroid management. See ad, page 11.

TAKOMA PARK ALTERNATIVE CARE 6930 Carroll Ave, Ste 412, Takoma Park 301-328-3045 Info@TakomaCare.com TakomaCare.com

Pediatric and adult evaluations for D.C. and MD by certified medicinal cannabis specialist. Tr e a t m e n t / d o s i n g recommendations; nonp s ycho a c t ive proto c ols available. No residenc y restrictions for MD program. See ad, page 14.

MASSAGE MEETING YOUR KNEADS

703-868-2045 MeetingYourKneads@gmail.com YourKneads.com Offering therapeutic massage in Fairfax, in-home sessions throughout Northern Virginia, corporate chair massage and in home spa parties. See ad, page 41.

ZEN BODY THERAPY

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

4200 Technology Ct, Chantilly, VA 703-357-3808 • NovaBirthCenter.com Midwifery, model maternity and newborn care. Waterbirth, birth-center, homebirth, Well-Woman, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and yoga, all in our beautiful wellness center. Free information sessions weekly. See ad, page 30.

NUTRITION 703-581-5551 KathyShuey@gmail.com MyPurium.com/LifeForce

MEDITATION MEDITATE EVERYWHERE®

Hello@MeditateEverywhere.com MeditateEverywhere.com Meditate Everywhere® seeks to help businesses, small communities and schools create full-service in-house meditation space solutions. See ad, page 35.

MEDITATE E V E R Y W H E R E

MURALS MAGIC WAND MURALS

7417 Cedar Ave, Takoma Park, MD 513-259-4842 • MagicWandMurals.com MagicWandMurals@gmail.com Dr. Anne Berkeley is a licensed, boardcertified naturopathic physician offering individualized health care to your entire family with an emphasis on prevention and wellness.

Allow me to join you in creating your own individualized treatment program, which provides a safe and supportive experience for your healing process, with Polarity Therapy and Swiss Bionic Solutions MRS 2000 (Magnetic Resonance Stimulation) pulsed electro magnetic fields (PEMF). See ad, page 17.

GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

I’m a holistic nutritionist using Purium organic, non-GMO superfoods to balance client’s bodies. Products for children, athletes, weight loss and healthy living. See ad, page 13.

6930 Carroll Ave, Ste 412, Takoma Park 301-328-3045 • TakomaCare.com Info@TakomaCare.com

Janice M Johnson 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com

PRESCRIPTIONS

PURIUM

TAKOMA PARK ALTERNATIVE CARE

Pediatric and adult evaluations for D.C. and MD by certified medicinal cannabis specialist. Tr e a t m e n t / d o s i n g recommendations; nonpsychoactive protocols available. No residency restrictions for MD program. See ad, page 14.

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

NOVA NATURAL BIRTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

Chaz@ZenBodyTherapy.com ZenBodyTherapy.com A chair massage business focusing on providing work benefit packages for clients.

POLARITY THERAPY

NATURAL BIRTH

ORGANIC GARDENING

PRIOR UNITY GARDEN

A short walk from the Vienna Metro 703-281-7743 • PriorUnityGarden.com Debby@PriorUnityGarden.com Helping you achieve your abundant, beautiful, organic garden dreams. Classes, courses, workshops, presentations, consultations, coaching and products insure you are a successful and savvy gardener. See ad, page 17.

PET SITTING JUST PAWS PET SITTING

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE ANNE BERKELEY, ND 1915 I St, Ste 700, NW 202-798-0221 MedicineToThrive.com

Dr. Anne Berkeley is a licensed, boardcertified naturopathic physician offering individualized health care to your entire family with an emphasis on prevention and wellness.

703-732-2468 Anne@JustPawsLLC.com JustPawsLLC.com

If you are needing caring pet-sitting in your home when you are away, Just Pause... and call Just Paws. See ad, page 13.

PHYSICAL THERAPY NURTURED BONES Great Falls, VA 703-738-4230 NurturedBones.com

Nurtured Bones provides a holistic approach to addressing osteoporosis and bone loss. Our BONES method will help you build strong, healthy bones for life. See ad, page 28.

PRESCRIPTIONS GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

natural awakenings

January 2017

QIGONG

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

SONG HO HEALTH CENTER

805 Winhall Way, Silver Spring, MD 301-625-4801 QiWorkers@gmail.com • SongHo.net Healthcare and self-care with traditional Chinese medicine, EFT (tapping), classes in tai chi, qigong and energy medicine with Master Nianzu Li and Peggy Li.

REIKI

INNER WORKS

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Kathleen Hudson 703-618-1967 KHTucson@gmail.com Emotional healing and trauma intervention. Oneness Bless, healing circles and meditation. By phone, one-on-one and family sessions with affordable hourly rates. Choosing healing wholeness peace and joy. See ad, page 31.

UNITY OF GAITHERSBURG

703-438-4402 Superpowers16@gmail.com Superpowers16.com I know first-hand how debilitating chronic pain is, I lived it for years. I want to help others achieve the freedom I have found in reiki. See ad, page 41.

111 Central Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 301-947-3626 • UnityOfGaithersburg.org Admin@UnityOfGaithersburg.org We are a vibrant spiritual community awakening love, joy and abundance in all. We honor all people and inspire them to live out their potential.

RESTAURANT GREENFARE

STORYTELLING I HEAR VOICES

408 Elden St., Herdon, VA 703-689-0506 GreenFare.com GreenFare is an innovative community cafe and learning center that serves organic, whole plant food in concert with medical professionals, environmentalists, and animal welfare advocates who recognize that this optimal diet can positively transform our world. Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. See ad, page 3.

RETREAT CENTE SEVENOAKS RETREAT CENTER

403 Pathwork Way Madison VA 22727 SevenoaksRetreat.org 540-948-6544 A serene and beautiful sanctuary for retreats where mindfulness and healing can occur. The lush grounds, forest and walking trails are inspirational and tranquil with wildlife and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains nearby. See ad, page 10.

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 17.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

SPIRITUAL LIVING

SUPER POWERS

THERMOGRAPHY

Storytelling for Adults and Children 703-568-0698 S_Coti@hotmail.com • IHearVoices.biz I am a storyteller who uses world tales and original stories to delight and inspire couples, dinner party guests, families or participants in other group events.

SPORTS REHABILITATION SHAANS CHIROPRACTIC AND SPORTS REHAB CLINIC

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com Rose Wellness Center for Integrative Medicine offers Thermography or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). This noninvasive diagnostic technique creates thermal images that are analyzed for abnormalities and early signs of disease. Thermal imaging is painless, non-invasive, does not involve any compression and emits no radiation. Call today to setup your scan. See ad, page 11.

THERMOGRAPHY IMAGING, INC. 10721 Main St., Ste. 204, Fairfax 703-270-1008 ThermographyImaging.com

Offering thermography imaging for all areas of the body, they can scan any area, including breast, upper body, lower body or full body to assist in diagnosing disease and determining prognosis. It is often complements other forms of medical testing such as mammograms, MRIs and CT scans. See ad, page 27.

TRADITIONAL TAI CHI

2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Ste 2-A, Falls Church, VA • 703-237-2161 Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com ShahverdiChiropractic.com

JOANNE CHANG

Joanne@WuweiTaiChi.com WuweiTaiChi.com

Shaans Chiropractic is a topranked provider of effective patient-centered care for many types of sports injuries, including injuries involving the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. See ad, page 37.

Tai Chi: gentle slow moving postures to improve balance, core strength and a quiet mind. Small classes in Rockville and Garrett Park (North Bethesda), MD.

SHIATSU THERAPIST NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Natalie Depastas 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Nathalie Depastas is a highly skilled acupuncturist and Shiatsu therapist with 30 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including medical qigong. See ad, page 17.

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one. ~Dolly Parton

ULTRASOUND INFANTSEEHD

10721 Main St., Ste. 204, Fairfax 703-537-0410 • 3DAnd4D.com Their technicians have been performing 3D/4D/HD Ultrasounds and have scanned tens of thousands of babies over the past decade covering the VA, MD, DC and WV areas. Their state-of-the-art sonogram equipment allows expectant parents to see their baby in live 4D motion video, unlike any other on the market today. Packages available.

VEGETARIAN FOOD LOTUS VEGETARIAN

13872 Metrotech Dr, Chantilly, VA 703-378-6888 LotusVegetarianChantilly.com At Lotus Vegetarian, we strive to make healthy yet enjoyable foods by using the freshest ingredients coupled with great skill and dedication. Our Chinese-inspired menu suits the tastes of not only vegetarians and vegans, but also customers who want an alternative to their favorite foods. Sea salt and vegetable oil are used in our dishes. We do not add MSG. .

VETERINARIAN - HOLISTIC

HOLISTIC VETERINARY HEALING

Pema Choepel Mallu, DVM, CVA, M.Ac. L.Ac 12627 Wisteria Dr, Ste C/D, Germantown, MD 240-715-6570 HolVetHealing@gmail.com HolisticVeterinaryHealing.com We offer integrative compassionate veterinary care. We view your animal as a whole focusing on the root cause of dis-harmony for long-term healing. See ad, page 18. .

WOMEN’S HEALTH

BEAUTY VANTAGE, LLC

207-338-2177 BeautyVantage@MyFairPoint.net BeautyVantage.com In spite of the widespread acceptance of cosmetic and surgical procedures, the drawbacks remain at cross purposes. Breast implants and fat transfer are needlessly injurious in light of the dramatic, perennial results that can be organically achieved with Natural Woman “plant-vs-implants” formula. Stay Natural and stand out in a plastic world!

WORKPLACE WELLNESS NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Marianne Scippa, MS, MHSA, RPP 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Marianne Scippa, MS, MHSA, RPP brings an innovative combination of psychology, organizational development and holistic health care to her work. In partnership with Dr. Tomson they have created a series of experiential wellness inspired programs for any size company interested in creating a culture of health. See ad, page 17.

YOGA RAJ YOGA CENTER

22821 Silverbrook Center Dr, Unit 160, 2nd Fl, Sterling, VA 703-376 3433 Info@RajYoga.org • RajYoga.org Welcoming, serene yoga center. Daily classes: Kundalini yoga, vinyasa and children’s yoga. Meditations, music and tea. Beautiful uplifting space to rejuvenate, strengthen and relax mind body and soul. See ad, page 23.

FEB Children’s Dental Health Plus: Conscious Dying

Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Holistic Dental Care, Pediatric Dentists plus Estate Planning, Hospice & Eco-Burial Advice

YOGA 4 ALL BODIES

12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA 703-297-2224 • LcrYoga@me.com Yoga4AllBodies.com Want classes that meet you where you’re at? Grow your ability to benefit from yoga, including enhancing strength, flexibility, and equanimity. Yoga 4 All Bodies. See ad, page 39.

YOGA WITH NYA

Nya@YogaWithNya.com YogaWithNya.com

yoga with nya

Nya A lemay hu is a yoga instructor in Washington, D.C., dedicated to building community through sharing the practice of∙ private instruction y o g a . N y a o f f e r s p r i v a t∙ especialty workshops ∙ sunday community classes instruction and workplace yoga. at Union Market See ad, page 27. ∙ workplace yoga

yogawithnya.com nya@yogawithnya.com washington, dc ∙ 202.212.9304

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January 2017

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Graduate Degrees in Holistic Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, and more Maryland University of Integrative Health is one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only accredited graduate schools with an academic and clinical focus on natural health. Here, the ability to be self-reflective and cultivate a healing presence is as critical to your academic success as competence in your chosen field. MUIH offers graduate programs in: Nutrition and Integrative Health | Herbal Medicine | Health and Wellness Coaching Health Promotion | Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine | Yoga Therapy

Washington, D.C.

Online and on campus programs muih.edu 800-735-2968 NaturalAwakeningsDC.com