Natural Awakenings DC January 2019

F

E E R

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Renew Organ Vitality Boost Energy

for the New Year Dustin Sulak on the

Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis

Befriending

FOOD Embrace the Psychology of Eating

January 2019 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com January 2019

1

2

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Copper device stops a cold naturally last holidays,” she said. “The kids had colds going around, but not me.”

Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

Some say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.”

Copper may even stop flu if used earNew research: Copper stops colds if used early. ly and for several days. Lab technicians ew research shows you can went away completely.” It worked again placed 25 million live flu viruses on a stop a cold in its tracks if you CopperZap. No viruses were found alive every time he felt a cold coming on and take one simple step with a soon after. he hasn’t had a cold since. new device when you first feel a cold People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try coming on. and say it can completely prevent ugly it. They said it worked for them, too, so Colds start when cold viruses get in outbreaks. You can also rub it gently he patented CopperZap™ and put it on your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat the market. don’t stop them early, they spread in infections.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it your airways and cause misery.

The handle is curved and finely texand given feedback. Nearly 100% said But scientists have found a quick tured to improve the copper stops way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. colds if used withcontact. It kills in 3 hours after the Researchers at labs and universities germs picked up first sign. Even up agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills on fingers and microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, to 2 days, if they hands to protect still get the cold it just by touch. you and your That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- is milder and they family. tians used copper to purify water and feel better.

Copper even heal wounds. They didn’t know about Users wrote kills deadly germs Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. that have become viruses and bacteria, but now we do. things like, “It Scientists say the high conductance stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it resistant to antibiotics. If you are near of copper disrupts the electrical balsupposed to work that fast?” sick people, a moment of handling it ance in a microbe cell, destroying it in Pat McAllister, age 70, received one may keep serious infection away. It may seconds. as a gift and called it “one of the best even save a life.

Tests by the Environmental Protecpresents ever. This little jewel really The EPA says copper still works tion Agency (EPA) show germs die fast works.” Now thousands of users have even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of on copper. Some hospitals tried copper stopped getting colds. different disease germs so it can prevent for surfaces like faucets and doorknobs.

People often use CopperZap preserious or even fatal illness. ventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci This cut the spread of MRSA and other CopperZap is made in the U.S. of used to get colds after crowded flights. illnesses by over half, and saved lives. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave back guarantee when used as directed times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When to stop a cold. It is $69.95. Get $10 off he felt a cold coming on he fashioned “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” each CopperZap with code NATA7. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Go to www.CopperZap.com or call people are sick around her she uses Cop- toll-free 1-888-411-6114. gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold perZap morning and night. “It saved me Buy once, use forever.

N

ADVERTORIAL

January 2019

3

letter from the publisher

Dear Readers, With the birth of a new year and a metaphorical new start, Natural Awakenings is here to encourage, empower and provide a hopeful vision. For the past 25 years, Natural Awakenings magazines across the country have been publishing the most viable (and vital) information—keeping you apprised of leading-edge,

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITION PUBLISHER Stephen Ellis

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robin Fillmore

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jessica Bradshaw Randy Kambic DESIGN & PRODUCTION Irene Sankey OUTREACH DIRECTOR Samantha Hudgins

preventive, health-promoting and graceful-aging techniques, technologies, products and services for immediate use. It is our mission in life and our pleasure to have been able to do this for so many years—and we are still going strong.

Our major theme this month goes to the core of our mission—and to the core of your health. Namely, we look at how to you, our readers, can strengthen and support some of the

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 10411 Motor City Dr., Suite 301 Bethesda, MD 20814 Stephen@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

most vital parts of our bodies—your internal organs. There has been a great deal of research on the engines of our bodies in recent years. As is noted in our feature article this month by Ronica A. O’Hara, there is greater emphasis currently “because the organs create the vital essences of life, and our emotional and mental health depends to a great extent on how healthy our organs are.”

Simple steps that anyone can take—by watching what we put into our mouths, onto our

skin, noticing how we move and breathe and how we handle stress—all have a part in maintaining vibrancy in our brain, heart, lungs, kidney and liver. This month, we make it simple by offering tips to assess your current organ health, making suggestions on what to eat and drink and how to move to support each organ. Following these first steps make it possible to rediscover health all-year long.

Just as New Year’s Eve celebrations stir a sense of nostalgia, the arrival of January 1, 2019,

recharges heartfelt goals for the days and months ahead. Values of love and respect for life essential to the natural health movement empower us to excel at personal, community and planetary levels. We hope you are feeling that too.

Happy New Year!

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman

NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth

MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett

ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope

FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE DIRECTOR Anna Romano FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Scofield Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2019 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. 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.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

Stephen Ellis, Publisher 4

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

16

Contents 14 SILVER THREAD AND GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES

20

25 Years of Natural Awakenings

16 KICK-START

ORGAN VITALITY

New Energy for the New Year

19 BLOOD CHEMISTRY A New Roadmap to Better Health

20 BEFRIENDING FOOD

Embrace the Psychology of Eating

25

22 DUSTIN SULAK

on Cannabis as a Healing Therapy

24 HEAD, HEART AND GUT Lodestars of Powerful Decision Making

25 SURPRISE YOURSELF IN 2019

26

A New Year Promises a New You

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 202-505-4835 or email Stephen@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Stephen@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. Deadline for editorial, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events to: CalendarNADC@gmail.com.

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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

26 TESTING REPLACES GUESSING

New Answers for Health in the New Year

28 CLEANSE AND

STRENGTHEN THE VISCERA

Optimizing Your Internal Organs

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 8 health briefs 11 eco tip 12 global briefs 19 healing ways 20 conscious

eating 22 wise words

24 inspiration 25 first person 26 leading edge 27 film brief 28 natural healing 29 calendar 32 resource guide January 2019

5

news briefs

Become a Clinical Hypnotherapist in 2019

T

he Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy (IIH) is pleased to announce its next enrollment date for Clinical and Transpersonal Hypnotherapist Training in Alexandria, Virginia. The training begins on February 27, and enrollment is now open.

The Institute was founded by Matthew Brownstein, CIHt, in 2007 as the first, and currently only, state-licensed hypnotherapy school through the Commission for Independent Education. This credentialing provides true diplomas as a certified, clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapist.

IIH is one of the most comprehensive hypnotherapy trainings in the world today, offering more than 500 hours of online and in-house training, with a dedicated team of people who work to help their students to reach their goals.

To learn more, call 800-551-9247 or visit InstituteOfHypnotherapy.com. See ad, page 21.

Homeopathic Alternative Approaches to ADHD: a Free Webinar

M

any parents feel helpless when their child receives a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and are not sure how best to move forward in the best interests of their child.

They may have noticed that their child is struggling to make and keep friends or finding it difficult to focus on schoolwork.

Likewise, a child already on medication for this disorder may seem dazed and have little appetite. There is good news that there are natural methods to deal with ADHD. Michael Liss, of the Rose Wellness Center, will be offering a free webinar at 7 p.m. on January 9. This webinar is sponsored by Natural Awakenings D.C.

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that 11 percent of American children, ages 4 to 17, have this attention disorder, and that rate is rising quickly.

Diagnosing ADHD is a complex process because the behavioral symptoms are often part of a child’s normal development. It is challenging to know what is normal and when it is important to get support.

Homeopathic remedies have been shown to be effective and safe—as they are derived from natural sources and do not contain the toxins associated with prescription-based medications. All are invited to participate in this free time of learning.

To register, visit AlternativeApproachToADHD.eventbrite.com. See ad, page 22.

6

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Infrared Sauna Special Offered at Rose Wellness

I

nfrared saunas are effective tools for natural healing and prevention. Infrared light has the ability to penetrate human tissue which, in turn, produces a host of anti-aging health benefits—making infrared saunas one of the “hottest” therapies for overall healthier living. The Rose Wellness Center, in Oakton, recently started offering this healing method and is offering a winter special of $35 per session, and the fifth session is free.

It is well known that sweating is the body’s safe and natural way to heal and stay healthy. The infrared sauna detoxification happens by heating the body directly, causing a rise in core temperature.

This results in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where toxins reside.

Unlike traditional saunas which operate at extremely harsh temperatures, infrared is a gentle, soothing and uses therapeutic heat that promotes relaxation, while improving sleep.

The therapy is effectively used for weight loss, particularly when combined with a nutritional plan, as patients can burn upward of 600 calories while they relax. As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate, causing the body to burn more calories.

Another compelling reason to use the therapy is natural pain relief. Infrared sauna heat penetrates tissue, joints and muscles to relieve anything from minor aches and pains to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Pain management professionals often incorporate infrared sauna heat therapy into treatment plans to decrease pain and muscle spasms and to speed up recovery time.

Location: 2944 Hunter Mill Rd., Ste., Oakton, VA. For more information, visit RoseWellness.com. See ad, page 6.

Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine Functional Medicine Do you suffer with Chronic Pain? Fatigue?

Do you need help balancing your hormones?

Do you suffer with Chronic Pain? Fatigue?

Do you suffer with Chronic Pain? Fatigue?

Do you need help balancing your hormones?

Illuminate Festivals in Fairfax and Columbia

E

njoy the finest of local holistic wellness practitioners, products and amazing artisans of all kinds at the upcoming Illuminate Festivals. The Fairfax Festival will be held on January 20 and the Columbia Festival will be held on January 26. Both events run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and at both of these events, participants can shop, sample and delight the senses.

Practitioners offer mini-sessions of body- and energywork such as reiki, massage or sound therapy. Try an intuitive reading, consult an astrologer or see what the tarot deck reveals with an expert interpreter. Explore energy-enhancing crystals, essential oils and natural spa products.

Find jewelry, gifts and selections of beautiful art from a variety of disciplines—you may find paintings, photography, pottery, glasswork and more. Admission includes free intensive workshops, held hourly, on a wide range of topics—from the power of crystals to accessing past lives to the benefits of sound healing.

It is a wonder-filled day of wellness and spiritual rebalancing—blending the best of modern methods and ancient wisdom. Attendees are encouraged to look around, see what they are naturally drawn to and give it a try. There is always plenty to discover, for everyone from the newly curious to the avid practitioner.

Admission: $6 at the door/$5 (pre-purchase online). Free admission for active and veteran military, emergency response personnel and children under 18. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Locations: Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles, 14750 Conference Center Dr., Chantilly, VA and Nourishing Journey, 8975 Guilford Rd., Ste. 170, Columbia, MD. For more information, visit IlluminateFestivals.com.

Whatever your health challenges are, we can help you get on the path to real wellness.

Do youand need help balancing yourbyhormones?

We believe in restoring maintaining good health strengthening the body's own healing power to prevent disease and overcome chronic illnesses. We strive to identify the Whatever yourget health we can help you get the pathintorestoring real wellness.

We can help you on challenges the path are, to real wellness.

Weonbelieve root cause and treat YOU rather than just your symptoms. We will help pinpoint hormone, and maintaining good health by strengthening the body’s ownthe healing We believe in restoring and maintaining good health by strengthening body's own metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues. Our practitioners create perpower to prevent disease and overcome chronic illnesses.

We strive to the healing power to prevent disease and overcome chronic illnesses.

We strive to identify sonalized treatment plans based on your history as well as results from specialized diagidentify the root cause and treat YOU rather than just your symptoms. roottesting. cause and treat YOU2 rather than just your symptoms.

We will pinpoint Nutritionist, hormone, a nostic We have Functional Medicine Physicians, an help Integrative Classical Homeopath and an Acupuncturist.

Let usissues. help you your journey healing.

OUR KEY SERVICES AND TREATMENTS INCLUDE: metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity Our on practitioners createtoper-

sonalized treatment plans based on your history as well as• results from specialized diag• Integrative and Functional Medicine Hypothyroidism Our key services and treatments include: nostic testing. We have 2 Functional Medicine Physicians, an Integrative Nutritionist, a • Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement (BHRT) • *Integrative and Functional Medicine *Acupuncture Acupuncture Classical Homeopath and an Acupuncturist.

Let us help you on your journey to healing.

• Fibromyalgia andReplacement other Chronic Illnesses • Homeopathy *Bio-Identical Hormone (BHRT) *Homeopathy *Hypothyroidism *Integrative Nutritional Counseling • Women’s and Men’s Mood Disorder Treatment Our keyHealth services and• treatments include: *Fibromyalgia and other Chronic Illnesses *Digestive Health Program • Food Sensitivity Testing • Integrative Nutritional Counseling *Integrative and Functional Medicine *Acupuncture *Women’s and Men’s Health *Weight Loss Programs • Digestive Health Program Loss Programs *Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement (BHRT)• Weight *Homeopathy *Mood Disorder Treatment *Thermography • Thermography • Infrared Sauna Therapy *Hypothyroidism *Integrative Nutritional Counseling *Food Sensitivity Testing

*Infrared Sauna Therapy

*Fibromyalgia and other Chronic Illnesses

*Digestive Health Program

*Women’s and Men’s Health

*Weight Loss Programs

*Mood Disorder Treatment

*Thermography

Dr. Sushma MD MD Dr. AlexDr.Leon, MD , MD Dr.Hiranii, Sushma Hiranii, Alex Leon

*Food Sensitivity Testing

Elizabeth McMillan, Elizabeth McMillan, MS, LDN MS, LDN

Michael Liss,

Michael Liss, Homeopath *Infrared Sauna Therapy Homeopath

Virginia Mitchell, Virginia Mitchell, Acupuncture Acupuncture

Located in Oakton, VA Call (571)529-6699 Let www.RoseWellness.com us help you on your journey to healing.

Regain Your Health & Vitality

Regain Your Health & Vitality

Oakton, VA • 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Dr. Sushma Hiranii, MD

Dr. Alex Leon , MD

Elizabeth McMillan, MS, LDN

Michael Liss, Homeopath Virginia Mitchell, Acupuncture

Located in Oakton, VA Call (571)529-6699 www.RoseWellness.com

Regain Your Health & Vitality

Pick up CSA Membership Box, weekly, at one of our 5 locations in the Silver Spring and Bethesda area

3 CSA Share options to choose from:

Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable. ~Leo Rosten

JOIN TODAY!

prices are pro-ratedweekly in season

www.SpiralPathFarm.com

717-789-4433

538 Spiral Path Lane, Loysville, PA 17047 • csa@spiralpathfarm.com January 2019

7

Beet Juice Boosts Stamina Beetroot juice supplements increase exercise duration and intensity for heart failure patients with a condition called reduced ejection fraction, which affects about half of such patients.

In previous studies, beets have been shown to increase exercise capacity for healthy people because they increase nitric oxide levels in the blood.

8

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Alliance/Shutterstock.com Maxal Tamor/Shutterstock.com

Women that feel highly stressed on a daily basis have a lower ability to conceive, report Boston University School of Medicine researchers. In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, 4,769 couples that were trying to conceive were followed for a year. Those women with the highest self-reported stress were 13 percent less likely to conceive than women that reported little stress.

Men being under high stress had no effect on conception, but couples were a quarter less likely to conceive if the man’s stress score was low and the woman’s was high, which the researchers termed “partner stress discordance.” In North America, about one out of four women and one out of five men of reproductive age report daily psychological stress.

Nettle, a common roadside weed, may offer hope for sufferers of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Research from Iran’s University of Medical Sciences tested 59 patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a 12-week, double-blind clinical trial with an extract of nettle leaf (Urtica dioica). Those receiving the nettle leaf extract had lower blood levels of the C-reactive protein inflammatory marker along with a significant improvement in their inflammatory bowel disease quality-of-life scores.

Daily Walks Make Kids Healthier Thanks to a program called The Daily Mile, Scottish schoolchildren have shown improvements in their fitness and body composition, researchers from the universities of Edinburgh and Sterling report. Started by a teacher in 2012, the initiative encourages children to run, jog or walk around their school grounds during a 15-minute recess from classes in addition to normal activity and physical education lessons.

For the study, 391 pupils between 4 and 12 years old wore accelerometers to record their activity and were checked for body fat and overall fitness.

Compared to a control group, they increased their physical activity by 9.1 minutes a day, lowered sedentary time by 18.2 minutes, ran 42 yards

LeManna/Shutterstock.com

Stress Lowers Women’s Fertility

Nettle Leaf Helps Inflammatory Bowel Patients

farther and significantly lowered their body fat. “[The study] suggests that The Daily Mile is a worthwhile intervention to introduce in schools, and that it should be considered for inclusion in government policy, both at home and abroad,” says study author Colin Moran, Ph.D.

To date, the Scottish Government has extended it to half of the country’s primary schools, plus nurseries, colleges, universities and businesses.

The Daily Mile Foundation reports that 3,600 schools in 35 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Jamaica, the Netherlands and the U.S., have embraced the program.

verca/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

The risk of late-stage, age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, can be lowered by 41 percent by eating a Mediterranean diet, according to a new study presented by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). The research, which followed nearly 4,500 French and Dutch adults aged 55 and older for 21 years, found that no single food component lowered the risk; rather, it was the nutrient-rich diet itself.

The findings correlate with previous research that links the Mediterranean diet, typically rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, fish and olive oil, to a longer lifespan and a lower risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. “You are what you eat,” says AAO spokesperson Emily Chew, M.D. “It’s time to take quitting a poor diet as seriously as quitting smoking.”

Artificial Sweeteners Harm Gut Microbes Six popular artificial sweeteners approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—aspartame, sucralose, neotame, saccharine, advantame and acesulfame potassium-k—were found to be toxic to digestive gut microbes in a new paper published in Molecules. Researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University tested each sweetener along with 10 sports drinks that contained them.

They discovered that otherwise healthy bacteria found in the digestive system became toxic when they came into contact with even one mg/ml (less than one-hundredth of a teaspoon) of the artificial sweeteners.

AlenKadr/Shutterstock.com

Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com

grebeshkovmaxim/Shutterstock.com

Eating Mediterranean Diet Helps Save Eyesight

January 2019

9

Three Ways Hypnosis Helps Quit the Smoking Habit

by Michelle DeStefano, L.Ac, CCH While the story on hypnosis in last month’s edition of Natural Awakenings dealt with how it’s better than will power for quitting bad habits, we’ll look this month at how hypnosis can help to quit smoking.

The dangers of smoking are well known to most people, yet many that decide to quit find it too difficult to stop smoking on their own. To quit this devastating habit, hypnosis can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies such as patches, gum or other suggestions offered by a doctor.

Low-Nutrition Foods Linked to Cancers In a 10-nation study involving nearly half a million Europeans, researchers found that those eating foods with lower nutritional quality had a significantly greater incidence of cancer, especially colorectal, upper digestive tract, stomach and lung cancers for men, and liver and postmenopausal breast cancers for women.

The study supports wider adoption of a British front-ofpackage food nutritional content labeling system.

Here are three important ways hypnosis can help:

1

Hypnosis helps neutralize cigarette cravings, especially for the first few days. There are certain suggestions that can be given in hypnosis that may leave the client simply not wanting to smoke. For example, the client could be repulsed from the taste or the smell or could feel that the desire to be healthy outweighs the cravings, with the suggestions in a hypnosis session.

2

Hypnosis helps reframe the triggers that have people wanting to reach for a smoke. For example, if a person reaches for a cigarette with their cup of coffee—that coffee alone can taste way better than when it is corrupted by the taste and smoke of a cigarette. Or if their friends at work are going out of the office for a cigarette break, a person wanting to quit smoking could still join the others, but choose to take deep, energizing inhalations instead, while still getting social time and a break with co-workers­—thanks to the changes realized by hypnosis.

3

Hypnosis helps to reduce stress, which is why many people smoke in the first place. Hypnosis helps individuals reorient issues that they find stressful so that the need to cope by the use of substances is greatly reduced.

Hypnosis could be a great way for those who smoke to start off the new year emancipated from the habit of smoking. Luckily, there are many well-trained hypnotherapists certified in smoking cessation.

Michelle DeStefano is double-certified in hypnosis and is a member of both the National Guild of Hypnotists and the American Hypnosis Association. She is also a licensed acupuncturist and her specialty is stress reduction and pain management. For upcoming events or free consultations, call 301-744-0200 or visit FreeYourselfHypnosis.com. See ad, page 15.

10

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Optimism Linked to Better Heart Health Being upbeat helps heart health, reports a new review of research from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Analyzing dozens of studies on psychological wellbeing involving hundreds of thousands of people, the researchers found that the most optimistic people are more likely to kick a smoking habit, exercise regularly and favor fruits and vegetables over processed meat and sugary foods.

Mindfulness programs such as meditation, yoga or tai chi can help enhance optimism by reducing anxiety and stress while boosting quality of life, say the study authors. The researchers also highlighted a 2017 study that found that women in the top quarter of optimism were 40 percent less likely to die from heart disease.

Dragon Images/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

eco tip

risk of cancer and liver, kidney and central nervous system damage. Look for low- and zero-VOC products; buy solid wood, hardwood or exterior-grade plywood and antique furniture. Open the windows once in a while as a natural, refreshing way to ventilate.

Breathe Easy Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com

Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality For much of the country, winter means spending more time indoors—and exposed to potential toxins. Indoor air quality is critically important to children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems that may be especially sensitive to pollutants, according to WebMD.com. Recognizing and avoiding some of the most common sources of toxins in the home can safeguard everyone’s health year-round and notably now, at the height of the season when humans tend to hibernate in their warm abodes. n The Environmental Working Group warns about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be found in many household products from new carpets and furniture to paints and air fresheners. These airborne toxins can irritate eyes and respiratory systems, and increase the

n How, when and how often we vacuum is also important.

The Indoor Air Quality Association (iaqa.org) recommends a slow and steady motion “to keep dust from flying up into the air.” They also suggest pet owners should vacuum every two days. When choosing a vacuum cleaner, go with a model that includes a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to pick up microscopic particles a regular vacuum cannot remove. n The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends using and properly maintaining home ventilation systems, including exhaust fans, air conditioning and heating units; preventing mold by controlling moisture and humidity, including checking pipes and window sills for condensation; and keeping the home smoke-free, because burning cigarettes release at least 69 chemicals that can cause cancer. n Place a large floor mat just inside each outside door, suggests WebMD.com, as people track in many chemicals—especially from pesticides and other pollutants—via the dirt on their shoes, which also can be removed before entering.

Visit us to see why An employee-owned B Corporation

more and more people are creating their own customized organic mattress

258 Maple Ave E.

Vienna, VA (703) 255-7040

savvyrest.com/vienna January 2019

11

Rare Breed Monstrous Morass Great Pacific Garbage Patch Out of Control

In the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California, the 80,000-ton Great Pacific Garbage Patch is growing.

Encompassing 600,000 square miles, the world’s largest such dump is twice the size of Texas, according to a threeyear mapping effort by eight organizations. “To solve a problem, we need to understand it first,” says Boyan Slat, CEO of Dutch-based nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup.

“The bad part is that there is more [there] than what we thought. The good part is that most of the plastic is still large objects. Just 8 percent of the plastic is micro plastic. It’s not too late to do something about it.” Fishing gear comprises an estimated half of the debris. The Ocean Cleanup intends to capture, concentrate and ship the materials from the patch back to land.

Exmoor Ponies Beat the Odds The Exmoor pony, which inhabits an area bordered by Devon and Somerset counties in England, is currently listed as endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. It’s believed that these ponies derive from the original prehistoric horse that made the trek from Alaska to Great Britain some 130,000 years ago. Today, about 150 Exmoor ponies roam free on the moor and many more are being reared on farms in other parts of the UK. The Exmoor ponies benefit the environment, attract visitors and increase awareness of environmental conservation.

Shane Gross/Shutterstock.com

global briefs

Meatless Munchies

Vegan Beer Hall Highlights Plant-Based Food

Nature Finds a Way

Frogs and toads are returning in parts of Panama after a deadly fungal disease devastated amphibians in Central America from 2004 to 2007.

New research shows that evolution may have saved the day. In El Cope, at least four species disappeared, including the redstriped Rio San Juan robber frog. Four other species lost at least 88 percent of their populations. They are still infected with the fungus, but are alive and increasing in numbers, according to a new study in the journal Science.

Studies have shown that as bad as disease outbreaks get, they play a tiny role in species extinction, notes Andrew Blaustein, at Oregon State University, who wasn’t part of the current study. Evolution allows species to resist completely succumbing to the nastiest diseases, “So, yes, there is hope.”

12

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

The Problem With Bottled Water Is the Bottle One million plastic bottles are sold around the world each minute. Most are used for bottled water, and most end up in the trash. As demand grows, especially in China, so does the bottle problem. According to environmental watchdog Euromonitor, if the present rate of consumption is not reduced, humans will use an estimated half a trillion plastic bottles a year by 2021. The French mineral water brand Evian is part of the problem, but is working on a plan to address it through a new approach. The company plans to use 100 percent recycled plastic by 2025 and to partner with a nonprofit focused on collecting ocean plastic.

Gilmanshin/Shutterstock.com

Happy Hoppers

Poor Packaging

OKAWA PHOTO/Shutterstock.com

People relying on plant-based diets can find it challenging to honor their philosophies when enjoying a night out in a beer hall. But in Quincy, Massachusetts, the tavern Rewild is giving hope to those that want to get a little buzzed and still trust the menu. Owner Pat McAuley is working with chef Will Hernandez to offer vegan food at affordable prices. McAuley says, “There’s no other place in Massachusetts that you can go have a few beers, hang out with friends and eat plant-based food. My primary goal of the whole project is to just bring plant-based food in a social and fun way.”

Jana Mackova/Shutterstock.com

Ancient Canines

Presumed Extinct Dog Species Rediscovered

After thinking the New Guinea highland wild dog had gone extinct in its native habitat, researchers have now confirmed the existence of a healthy, viable population, hidden on the island in one of the most remote and inhospitable regions on Earth. According to DNA analysis, these are the most ancient and primitive canids (dogs) in existence. “The discovery and confirmation of the highland wild dog for the first time in over half a century is not only exciting, but an incredible opportunity for science,” says the group behind the discovery, the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation.

Smart Trash

andersphoto/Shutterstock.com

Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com

Baltimore Rolls Out Sensor-Equipped Bins Baltimore is spending $15 million to deploy 4,000 sensorequipped trash receptacles that signal when they need emptying to increase collection efficiency. “The cans come with Wi-Fi; we will utilize this capability to allow the can to transmit information, including how full it is, so we can offer as-needed servicing of the cans,” says Jeffrey Raymond, with the Baltimore Department of Public Works. The solarpowered trash receptacles are manufactured by Ecube Labs, with offices in Los Angeles and South Korea. The company is installing its CleanCUBE bins across Baltimore in three stages, starting with 150 units in the South Baltimore gateway/casino area.

Cork Rocks

The Self-Regenerating Building Material Cork is both recyclable and renewable because it regenerates its bark after harvesting, which causes no harm to trees. Durable cork can be found in the flooring of the Library of Congress and as an insulator for space shuttles. It’s also a waterproof, abrasionresistant fire retardant and acoustic insulator with odor and humidity-controlling and acoustic sounddampening applications. In Portugal, the world’s largest producer, the outer skin regrows in time for the next harvest. The stripped trees absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and release more oxygen, so Portugal’s cork forests, or montados, are often referred to as the “lungs” of the environment.

3-D Domiciles

High-Tech Instant Homes on Horizon A 3-D printed home can be built in less than 24 hours at a cost of $10,000. Developers hope to cut it to $4,000 to help families living in poverty or other unsafe conditions. New Story, a housing charity organization, and ICON, a construction tech company, have partnered to try ending global homelessness. Being able to lock the door and have a safe shelter can be elusive. An entire community of printed homes is planned for construction in El Salvador.

The 650-square-foot, proof-of-concept prototype— containing a living room, small office, one bedroom and one bathroom—was built in Austin, Texas. Human workers installed the windows, doors, plumbing and electrical systems.

ICON staff will use the home as an office to test its durability.

Fire Hounds

Dogs Help Restore Burnt Forests in Chile Forest fires in Chile ravaged vast swathes of land in 2017, burning sturdy older trees in the El Maule region. Since then, three border collies belonging to Francisca Torres, a member of the environmental nonprofit Pewos, have been wandering through the charred remains with special satchels that spray seeds as they run to sow seedlings, grass and flowers.

A major goal is for animals that fled the fires to return. “The main thing is for the fauna to be able to live,” says Torres. She says the dogs, bred to herd sheep, are smart and fast, covering a much larger area than a human could on foot.

January 2019

13

25 Years of Natural Awakenings

by Jan Hollingsworth

T

Sharon Bruckman—a he year was 1994.

The real “natural dreamer and entrepreAmerica Online awakening” is about neur in her own right— opened the first each of us waking up was quietly laying the gateway to the World to who we truly are foundation for what Wide Web; Jeff Bezos founded the fledgling and the kind of world would become the largbehemoth Amazon; and we can create together. est franchise publishing network in the natural Deepak Chopra installed ~Sharon Bruckman health industry: Natural the first bricks on his Awakenings magazine. path to enlightenment

“America’s natural wellness and sustainwith the publication of his book The Seven ability movements were in their infancy Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide when we started,” says Bruckman. “Now to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams.

Perhaps not coincidentally, genetically the seeds that were planted in fertile soil are benefiting people nationwide, as well as engineered tomatoes entered the U.S. food throughout our precious planet.” supply that year, spawning a GMO food Woven from the threads of grit, revolution that transcended the age-old inspiration and perhaps serendipity, debate between pesticides and organics. the magazine was a tapestry of health, Frankenfoods, as they are called, were the healing and mindfulness. Its successful leading edge of a cultural awakening.

Naples debut was quickly followed by a

Meanwhile, in the sleepy, sunsecond edition in Sarasota. drenched beach town of Naples, Florida, 14

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

EE FR

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

SIMPLE SHEET PAN SUPPERS ing

Family-Pleas Holiday Meals

BEST HYBRID & ELECTRIC CARS FOR 2019

A Global Wake-Up Call

Collective Consciousness Nears Spiritual Tipping Point

| NaturalAwakeningsMag.com December 2018 | Location-Edition

photo by Josh Pope

Silver Thread and Golden Opportunities

By 1999, it was clear that Americans had a voracious appetite for well-researched, practical information about the latest natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, personal growth and sustainable living.

The Natural Awakenings franchise was born that year, conceived as a local magazine in many different communities—now 74 markets in the U.S.—anchored by a national editorial team that explores and anticipates the latest trends in mind, body and spirit. Readership of the print magazines is 2.8-million strong, plus a broad online and digital reach.

Bruckman’s holistic-minded passion for health, wellness and integrative therapies has awakened in like-minded entrepreneurs a desire to embrace her mission.

As Paul Chen, publisher of the Atlanta franchise puts it: “Awakenings of the heart speak to our desire for deeper and stronger personal relationships. Awakenings of the mind speak to our desire to learn more, faster, and optimize our mental capacities.

Awakenings of the soul speak to our desire to develop greater love and compassion for all living beings equally and an increasing understanding of and connection with whatever it is we believe lies beyond our small, individual human selves.”

The magazine, in turn, has awakened its readers to new ways of connecting both with their communities and each other.

Natural Awakenings has become a go-to guide for local community events, products and practitioners in all of its markets.

“We love to spread light,” says Bruckman. “Natural Awakenings has played a significant role in fueling the wellness revolution I saw emerging all those years ago, propelled by the kindred spirits who read, advertise and contribute

Natural Awakenings Mission Statement To empower individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet.

To educate communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability.

To connect readers with local wellness resources and events, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives. to our magazines. Our publishers are torchbearers aligned with the vision of a healthier world and the mission to facilitate that transformation.”

During a lifetime of holistic-minded entrepreneurship, Bruckman, a constant gardener, continues to personally tend each new crop of ideas that germinate on the pages of her magazines which bear the imprint, “Healthy Living, Healthy Planet.”

By identifying and responding to a simple need in one community, she has tapped into a universal spirit that exceeded her wildest expectations. “If you have the heart, vision and enthusiasm to help make the world a better place, a greater force just might step in to enable success beyond anything you imagined. The real ‘natural awakening’ is about each of us waking up to who we truly are and the kind of world we can create together.”

We can’t always be shaded by the trees that we grow, yet after 25 years, the seeds Bruckman planted have branched across a nation and borne fruit that will make a difference in countless lives for many years to come.

It is my honor to join her on this journey as Natural Awakenings celebrates its silver anniversary.

Jan Hollingsworth is the national editor of Natural Awakenings magazine.

January 2019

15

seniors at Chicago’s Rush University found that eating leafy greens once or twice a day slowed mental deterioration.

reduce anxiety and depression, protect against mental decline and even correct stroke damage. In a Swiss study using MRI, people drinking green tea immediately had heightened activity in the workingmemory part of their brain.

Supplement with this: Ruhoy recom-

New Energy for the New Year

by Ronica A. O’Hara

W

ith the merry-making furor of the holidays behind us, it’s that time of year when our bodies are crying out for some detox and rejuvenation. Aside from getting back to the basics—a healthy diet and daily exercise—we can take a page from traditional Chinese and Indian medical practices and holistic approaches and use natural, organby-organ procedures to renew our bodies and restore inherent vitality.

“Strengthening our organs is critical because the organs create the vital essences of life, and our emotional and mental health depends to a great extent on how healthy our organs are,” notes T. Caylor Wadlington, a doctor of Oriental medicine and acupuncture teacher in Denver.

“In working to revitalize and re-energize the organs, we renew not just our physical body, but also our sense of well-being.”

Here’s a guide to a gentle fix-up campaign for the five organs considered vital for life in both Western and Eastern medicine:

16

Washington, D.C.

Boost the Brain

“Stress can lead to imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters, making it more difficult to focus, concentrate, relax and sleep—but it’s reversible, and the brain can absolutely heal from these effects under the right circumstances,” says integrative neurologist Ilene S. Ruhoy, M.D., Ph.D., of the Center for Healing Neurology, in Seattle.

Assess it: If you find it hard concentrating, sleeping, getting things done, remembering where things are and not being grouchy, the brain could be on stress-related overload. See a doctor if teeth grinding, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, fainting or dizziness develop.

Eat this: The top brain boosters are easy to swallow—dark chocolate, berries, nuts and avocados, along with oily fish, reports WebMD. Also, a five-year study of 950

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

mends boswellia, long used in Asian and African medicine. It targets cerebral inflammation, stimulates the growth of neurons, enhances cognition, lowers depression and alleviates learning and memory problems.

Try this movement: Shake it. Alter-

nating slow movements, or even rest with one-to-two-minute bursts of intense, all-out, heart-pounding moves like Zumba dancing, jogging or lunges increases important proteins called the neurotrophic factor that help brain cells grow, work and live longer, reports a new study from Canada’s McMaster University.

Rejuvenate the Heart

Stress also increases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which drive up blood pressure, blood sugar and inflammation, says holistic cardiologist Joel Kahn, M.D., of Detroit, author of The Whole Heart Solution: Halt Heart Disease Now with the Best Alternative and Traditional Medicine.

Assess it: Shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, anxiety, panic and swollen feet or ankles are signs the heart may be overloaded. Get medical help immediately if there is unusual deep exhaustion, unexplained weakness, nausea, dizziness, chest pain or pain that spreads to the arms.

Eat this: “The best foods for a stressed

heart are those rich in magnesium. I like a giant green, leafy salad, often organic arugula, with blueberries, pumpkin seeds and walnuts,” says Kahn.

Maria Averburg/Shutterstock.com

KICK-START ORGAN VITALITY

Natali_ Mis/Shutterstock.com

Drink this: Green tea is proven to

Drink this: Try hot, golden turmeric

milk, made with organic soy or nut milks, a heaping tablespoon of turmeric (a potent anti-inflammatory also shown to reverse Alzheimer’s “brain tangles”), a pinch of black pepper and maybe an organic pumpkin spice mix.

Maria Averburg/Shutterstock.com

Supplement with this: Hawthorn

strengthens and tones heart muscles, suppresses deadly blood-clotting signals, fights inflammation and lowers heart attack risk, studies show. European doctors routinely prescribe it for managing mild heart failure, either alone or with drugs.

Try this movement: Hop on a bike:

Cycling 20 miles a week slashes heart disease risk by half, reports the British Medical Journal. Also, do slow stretches every day: A Japanese study found a correlation between flexibility of the body and of the arteries.

Cleanse the Lungs

Family holidays may not always be unconditionally loving, which can induce stress, anger and sadness—emotions linked in laboratory studies to decreases in lung function. “You

B

Assess it: Trouble breathing, shortness

of breath and a cough that won’t go away are signs of stressed-out lungs. If there’s coughing up of blood or mucus, or discomfort or pain when breathing, see a doctor.

Eat this: A 10-year study of 650 Euro-

pean adults found that eating apples and tomatoes two or three times a day, along with other fruit, speeds the healing of smoke-damaged lungs and seems to slow down the lungs’ natural aging process.

Drink this: Try a juice combining cilantro, carrot, celery and ginger. According to the Lung Institute, cilantro helps remove heavy metals, carrots provide vitamin A to repair lung tissue, celery helps flush out carbon dioxide and ginger removes irritants from the lungs.

Supplement with this: Take vitamin

D. Low levels seem to be linked to a higher risk of respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a review of clinical studies in Advances in Nutrition.

Try this movement: To loosen the

airways when tense, the American Lung Association recommends slowly breathing in through the nose for two counts with the mouth closed. Purse the lips as if to whistle, and then breathe out slowly and gently through the lips to a count of four.

Detox the Kidneys The kidneys are hardworking, fist-sized organs just below the back rib cage that filter waste and toxins out of 200 quarts of blood a day.

Assess it: Fatigue, feeling cold, short-

ness of breath, itchiness, swollen hands or feet, a puffy face, metallic-tasting food and ammonia-smelling breath are signs of growing kidney stress. See a doctor if experiencing kidney pain, weakness, lightheadedness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, extreme thirst or decreased urination.

Eat this: Bone broth, wheat, millet, black sesame seeds, chestnuts, mulberries, raspberries, strawberries and walnuts are recommended by herbalist and acupuncturist Irina Logman of the Advanced Holistic Center, in New York City, to restore the kidneys.

An Ounce of Prevention

y taking a few forward-thinking steps, we can protect ourselves proactively from dangers to our vital organs:

Brain

Just say Om! Meditation enlarges parts of the brain concerned with memory, body awareness and emotional control, concluded a review of 21 neuroimaging studies from 300 meditators. InsightTimer. com, a meditation app, makes it easy to meditate for even five minutes a day.

Heart

can actually give yourself a stress asthma attack,” says Maui naturopath Carolyn Dean, M.D., ND, author of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women’s Health.

Every night, write down two or three things to be grateful for. Heart patients at the Uni-

versity of California, San Diego, that did this for two months had reduced heart inflammation and improved cardiac biomarkers.

“Appreciating even the littlest things builds a heart-protective habit of gratitude,” says study author Paul J. Mills, Ph.D., a professor of family medicine and public health.

Lungs

Many popular cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOC) that several studies link to breathing problems, asthma and allergies. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s toxicity information on 2,500 products at ewg.org/guides/cleaners.

Kidneys

To energize sluggish kidneys, try a quarter teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in water. In a British study of 134 people with advanced chronic kidney disease, this easy strategy reduced the rate of kidney decline to normal levels. Check with a doctor if under nephrology care.

Liver

Examine the ingredients in prescriptions and over-the-counter meds to make sure daily intake of acetaminophen doesn’t exceed 3,000 milligrams; accidental overuse is the biggest cause of liver failure in the U.S. January 2019

17

Supplement with this: Dandelion tea

helps to cleanse and strengthen the kidneys and a new study in Renal Failure reports that it also protects the kidneys from damage by certain toxins.

Try this qigong movement: Rub the palms together to warm them, and then place them on the kidney areas. Slowly massage in circular motions 12 times, and then reverse direction.

Shore up the Liver

“The liver is critical for detoxifying the body, but higher sugar and alcohol consumption over the holidays, as well as more stress, can increase toxin buildup that can damage the liver, which is why it’s important to take steps to help it recover,” says functional chiropractor Jennifer R. Welch, DC, of Iowa Functional Health, in Clive, Iowa.

musky-smelling breath, itchy red palms and mental sluggishness are early problem signs. Advanced symptoms that require medical care are yellowish skin, abdominal pain, swollen legs and ankles, ongoing fatigue, dark urine and pale stool.

Eat these: A Chinese study linked liver disease with low potassium levels, so consume sweet potatoes, tomato sauce, beet greens, beans, blackstrap molasses and bananas.

Drink this: Sip probiotic drinks like

kombucha, kefir and yogurt-based smoothies. The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus significantly lowered liver damage linked to excess acetaminophen in a recent Emory University laboratory study.

Supplement with this: Milk thistle

has been shown in Italian animal studies to decrease and even reverse damage to the liver caused by medications, alcohol, antibiotics, pollution and heavy metals.

Try this yoga movement: With

feet shoulder-width apart, make circles with the hips, pushing the torso farther and farther outward with each circle.

Reverse direction.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based freelance health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Full-Body Boosters

A

few daily to-dos that benefit the whole body:

Walking. A mere 20

minutes a day extends sleep up to an hour and lowers early mortality risk by 20 percent.

Adaptogens. Tak-

ing super-herbs such as astralagus, ashwagandha and rhodiola in tinctures, capsules or tea helps us adapt to stress.

Turmeric. An antioxidant and antiinflammatory powerhouse proven to ward off cancer, heart disease and dementia.

Nature. A dose of greenery a day keeps

the blues away—and also guards against heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and early mortality from all causes, a review of 140 studies shows.

Sources: Harvard University School of Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil (DrWeil. com), American Journal of Preventive Medicine, ScienceDaily.com.

FIND YOUR

We invite you to join and experience a truly conscious, loving, dating environment with amazing members. TRY FOR FREE!

Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com 18

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Vecton/Shutterstock.com

lemon or lime. “The citrate makes water, as metabolized, more alkaline, which helps to remove acid from the blood, bring pH into balance and prevents bone, heart and further kidney damage,” says Phoenix nephrologist Mandip S. Kang, M.D., author of The Doctor’s Kidney Diet: A Nutritional Guide to Managing and Slowing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Assess it: Itchy skin, easy bruising,

Maria Averburg/Shutterstock.com

Drink this: Mix water with squirts of

A Better Roadmap to Health

healing ways

Oksana Shufrych/Shutterstock.com

BLOOD CHEMISTRY A New Roadmap to Better Health

by Linda Sechrist

G

ood detectives trained in the art of investigation know not only how to look for, collect and interpret evidence, but also how to use the tools that can help them solve a mystery. With the right tool, such as a comprehensive functional blood chemistry analysis, an experienced practitioner trained in systems biology examines the body’s metabolic blueprint, unravelling the enigma of declining health hijacked by chronic disease.

Holistic health practitioners like Kristin Grayce McGary, of Boulder, Colorado, use these skills to provide clients with sound recommendations, screen for health issues and monitor changes as needed. “This kind of sleuthing is what sets us apart,” says McGary.

Pathological Versus Functional The results of a blood test are essential to understanding anyone’s current state of health. No other screenings are more efficient and effective than the comprehensive blood chemistry panels used by functional medicine and holistic health practitioners to establish a baseline of biomarkers for tracking an individual’s health and nutritional needs.

In the field of blood chemistry analysis, there are two main types of reference ranges—pathological and functional. The

pathological range is used by the majority of conventionally trained medical doctors that are focused on diagnosing disease. The functional range is used to assess risk for disease before it develops, says McGary.

“It is critical that you find a holistic and intelligent doctor skilled in functional medicine,” says Boulder-based Suzy Cohen, a registered pharmacist and author of Drug Muggers: Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients—and Natural Ways to Restore Them. “Working with a functional medicine practitioner, as well as a local trusted pharmacist who has access to your medication regimen and sensitivities, is the safest way to regain health.”

It also saves money, because choosing the best supplements, herbal extracts, essential oils, dietary changes and other non-pharmaceutical healing modalities allows for healing faster, she says.

Conventional practitioners, constrained by insurance company requirements, generally order simple blood panels with basic markers for heart, kidney and liver function. These might include reference ranges for hemoglobin, platelets, glucose, calcium and electrolytes. “The baseline lab panel that I prefer for patients has 68 markers, plus a urinalysis. This means that I get five or six full pages of results, which gives me a more in-depth insight into someone’s health,” McGary says.

McGary considers the most important differences between the interpretation of functional and conventional markers to be the statistically compiled range of values that functional practitioners consider normal and the interconnections taken into consideration during the comprehensive analysis.

“Conventional reference ranges are compiled by laboratories from a huge population of people, many of whom had their blood analyzed because they were already sick. Functional reference ranges are compiled from a much smaller population of healthy people whose bodies are functioning optimally,” she says.

If a marker falls inside the tighter functional range, it’s a green flag that compares favorably with healthy individuals.

If a marker falls outside the wider conventional range, it’s a red flag that correlates to sick people. The marker that falls in-between is a yellow flag.

“Functional practitioners are looking for yellow flags, which are the early warning signs that no one sees or feels yet as symptoms,” explains McGary, who spends more than two hours reviewing the blood analyses with clients. “We’re not only about prevention and achieving vibrant health— which we do by helping clients choose the best supplements to correct deficiencies— we’re also about helping individuals get to the root cause of their health challenge so that they can enjoy life.”

Functional blood chemistry analysis is not generally covered by health insurance, and can cost between $180 and $2,500, depending on the complexity of the panel, the number of markers ordered and the time spent by a practitioner in consultation and interpretation of results.

However, the out-of-pocket cost may be worth it, says Cohen. “In health, sometimes you get what you pay for. You don’t want to be somebody’s number and pushed out the door,” she says. “It’s important to feel like you have been listened to and that your entire medical history has been fully evaluated.”

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

January 2019

19

conscious eating

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

I believe our plate is a reflection of our inner state. ~Carly Pollack, author of Feed Your Soul

BEFRIENDING FOOD Embrace the Psychology of Eating

by Marlaina Donato

A

nyone that has struggled to lose weight, eat right or deal with an eating disorder is familiar with the emotional battle that can evolve from the simple act of seeking sustenance.

“The black-and-white mentality of needing to be perfect or counting calories leads us into a rabbit hole of bingeing, dieting and stuck in a love/hate relationship with food,” says Carly Pollack, whose new book, Feed Your Soul: Nutritional Wisdom to Lose Weight Permanently and Live Fulfilled, comes out next month.

“We live in a society that is obsessed with mainstream media and celebrity culture,” says Pollack. “Poor body image and an unhealthy relationship with food are synonymous. You can’t have one without the other.”

Enter the psychology of eating, a movement built upon a mindset that reshapes our relationship to food, focusing on emotions, beliefs and physiological responses. These insights, grounded in research, offer empowering, new perspectives.

Mind Games

Nutritional Psychologist Marc David, who highlights research on the food/mind connection in his book The Slow Down Diet: 20

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Eating for Pleasure, Energy, and Weight Loss, says our thoughts about what is on our plates have even more impact on our physiological responses than vitamins or minerals. Guilt about consuming certain foods can slow digestion and increase chemical responses that store fat, while enjoying the same foods without stress can boost metabolism and nutritional absorption.

“The most important aspect of creating and maintaining a healthy relationship with food is to bring awareness to our thoughts and behaviors around food,” says Pollack, founder of Nutritional Wisdom, a holistic practice based in Austin.

Simplicity, eating real food and unraveling perceptions are paramount. “With all of the information overload out there, ‘eating right’ has turned into ‘eating perfectly,’” Pollack says. “I believe our plate is a reflection of our inner state.”

Gender Differences

Fear-based approaches to eating generally and eating to cope with emotions are seen often as primarily women’s struggles, but a high percentage of men also suffer. In fact, according to Marc David’s Institute for the Psychology of Eating, 40 percent of binge eaters are male.

Expect More than Clean.

Harriet Morris’ informative podcast, The Eating Coach TheShiftInside.com/podcast

INTRODUCTORY OFFER! $30 OFF 1st Cleaning $20 OFF 3rd Cleaning

Great eco-friendly house cleaning is all about the people.

The Institute for the Psychology of Eating PsychologyOfEating.com

Marlaina Donato is the author of Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

50

$

We know your time is valuable. That’s why our customers have depended on us for 28 years. Our star green cleaning team will get your home sparkling... ...and keep it that way!

High-octane inspiration from Carly Pollack (YouTube channel) YouTube.com/user/NutritionalWisdom

“Women’s food issues spring from the cultural pressure to prioritize their appearance over their wisdom, while men may turn to food to deal with career pressure,” says Harriet Morris, who hosts The Eating Coach podcast in Shropshire, England. “I’ve found, too, that both men and women use food as a way to avoid dealing with issues around sexuality, but their needs are very distinct.”

Because a man’s sense of self is much more linked to his sexuality, food can be used to avoid dealing with aspects of male sexuality he is uncomfortable with, says Morris. “Work with my male clients is about avoiding perfectionism and opting instead for a powerful kind of ‘imperfectionism’ where strength allows for pleasure. This— not a Marvel superhero—is a real man.”

Regardless of gender, changing perspective is key, adds Morris. “Our problem is not food. Bulimia, excess weight, IBS [irritable bowel syndrome] and a whole host of other issues are teachers, not enemies.

We have, for very good reasons, been using food as a life manager,” she says.

In the end, nourishing ourselves on all levels is what it’s all about, says Pollack. “Our relationship with food gives us the opportunity to examine our relationship to ourselves, our sense of worth, who we think we are, what we feel we deserve and how we show up day-to-day in this body for this beautiful life we’ve been given.”

Save

Consistent. Caring. Committed.

Helpful Links

Trusted since 1989 A+ BBB Rating HEPA Vacuums Remove 4x Allergens & Pollen Flexible Scheduling

Promo Code: NATAWA0918

Expires Expires09/30/18 2/28/19 Valid for new customers scheduling regular service.

Some restrictions apply.

Please call for details.

THE ONLY CLEANING SERVICE THAT’S GREEN CLEAN CERTIFIED® FOR YOUR HEALTH “I’m proud of everything I do to make my customers happy.”

-Isabel S. Ma

11 years with

id Brigade

When you want help cleaning, we’re the cleaning help you want!

703.879.2630 • maidbrigade.com Trained

Certified

Uniformed

Insured

Clinical Hypnotherapist Next Hypnosis Training Begins February 27th, 2019 in Alexandria, Virginia

     

State-Licensed Diplomas Comprehensive 500+ Hour Trainings Financial Assistance Available Online and In-House Training No Prior Degrees Required

Institute Founder and Lead Instructor Matthew Brownstein Department of Education License #3448

- Call 800-551-9247 or visit InstituteofHypnotherapy.com -

With the new year comes a refueled motivation to improve on the past one. ~Gretchen Bleiler January 2019

21

wise words

Dustin Sulak on

Cannabis as a Healing Therapy

by Amber Lanier Nagle

D

ustin Sulak, D.O., opened a private osteopathic manipulation, hypnotherapy and integrative medicine practice in Hallowell, Maine, in 2009, the same year the state’s voters expanded its medical cannabis law.

At that time, he was one of the few physicians in Maine willing to certify patients to use cannabis legally.

As of this writing, 33 states now allow medical marijuana, and 10 of them allow its recreational use. Cannabis initiatives continue to find their way onto state ballots with each election cycle.

Today, Sulak’s practice serves thousands of patients that use cannabis for authorized medical purposes. He educates medical professionals and patients on its safe, clinical use, while continuing to explore its therapeutic potential. Visit Healer.com to learn more.

What led you to become a national advocate for the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis?

After trying cannabis in my teens, I realized what I had been told about the herb was not true, and I began thinking more critically about mainstream and natural approaches to health. Cannabis helped 22

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

me make deeper connections with people, nature, music and spirituality. In college, I worked with social and political activists to learn and spread the truth about cannabis— that it’s a plant that has been used by humankind for thousands of years; that it has the potential to address many of our healthcare and environmental problems; that it’s been a victim of propaganda; and that it’s safe for most people.

Then, as a first-year medical student, I attended a conference lecture on the endocannabinoid system, a powerful physiological system our bodies use to stay healthy and respond to illness and injuries, and I saw the incredible therapeutic potential of cannabis in a new light.

Today, there’s enormous evidence, including a 2017 report from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, concluding that cannabis can be a safe and effective medicine for treating many conditions.

Which conditions are your patients using medical cannabis for?

My two offices in Maine currently follow approximately 8,000 patients who use medical cannabis, and of those, about 70 percent suffer from chronic pain, many

It’s a plant that has been used by humankind for thousands of years. of whom are able to eliminate or decrease their dependence on opioids.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is the next most common diagnosis we treat with cannabis, with excellent results where other medications fail. Medical cannabis is like a magnet for conditions that fail to respond to conventional medical approaches, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, epilepsy, movement disorders, tick-borne disease, brain and spinal cord injuries and more.

How do you address concerns that cannabis is a gateway drug and can become addictive?

Research proves that medical cannabis actually serves as an exit drug, not a gateway drug. One study of 350 medical cannabis users in California found 40 percent of the subjects used cannabis as a substitute for alcohol, 26 percent as a substitute for illicit drugs, and 66 percent as a substitute for prescription drugs. Any time a person can replace a harmful substance with a safer substance like cannabis, it’s a step in the right direction.

Cannabis dependence does exist, but is uncommon. One study published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology found that only 9 percent of those who try cannabis illicitly develop dependence, compared to 24 percent of those who try heroin. Cannabis withdrawal is mild and similar in intensity to caffeine withdrawal, and most people don’t have any trouble stopping using cannabis, when and if they need to.

Are there any side effects?

The common adverse effects of cannabis are mild, especially when compared to other drugs. A 2008 review found that in 23 randomized controlled trials, there was no higher incidence of serious adverse events following medical cannabis use compared with control. Dizziness was the most common non-serious adverse effect. Other common adverse effects include euphoria, altered consciousness, acute panic or paranoid reaction; altered motivation; impaired attention, memory and psychomotor performance; tachycardia; orthostatic hypotension; dry mouth; and increased appetite.

If someone lives in a state that has legalized medicinal cannabis and thinks it may help a disease or condition, what should be their first step?

The ideal first step is to find a medical provider with experience in the medical cannabis field. The Society of Cannabis Clinicians (CannabisClinicians.org) is a good resource.

Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer based in Northwest Georgia. Connect at AmberNagle.com.

January 2019

23

inspiration

Who is Danny/Shutterstock.com

Publish One of the Nation’s Leading Healthy Living Magazines Contact us about acquiring an existing publication FOR SALE highlighted in RED* Natural Awakenings publishes in over 70 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico (listed below).

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Gulf Coast AL/MS* Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ San Diego, CA* Denver, CO* Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley, CT Hartford, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT Washington, DC Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/St. Augustine, FL Miami & the Florida Keys Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central FL* Northwest FL Emerald Coast* Central Florida/ Greater Orlando Palm Beach, FL Sarasota, FL Space & Treasure Coast, FL Tampa/St. Pete., FL Atlanta, GA Hawaiian Islands* Southern, ID Chicago, IL Indianapolis, IN* Acadiana, LA New Orleans, LA Boston, MA Ann Arbor, MI East Michigan Wayne County, MI* Western MI Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN Charlotte, NC Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, NC* Southeast, NC

• Bergen/ Passaic, NJ • Central, NJ • Hudson County, NJ • Monmouth/ Ocean, NJ • North Central NJ • South NJ • Santa Fe/ Albuquerque, NM • Las Vegas, NV • Albany, NY • Long Island, NY • Hudson Valley W., NY • Manhattan, NY • Westchester/ Putnam/ Dutchess Co’s., NY • Oklahoma City, OK • Portland, OR • Bucks/Montgomery Counties, PA • Chester/Delaware Counties, PA • South Central PA • Lancaster/Berks, PA • Lehigh Valley, PA • Northeast, PA • Philadelphia, PA • Rhode Island • Charleston, SC • Columbia, SC • Greenville, SC* • Austin, TX • Dallas, TX • Houston, TX • San Antonio, TX* • South Houston/ Galveston, TX • Richmond, VA • Inland Northwest, WA • Seattle, WA • Madison, WI* • Milwaukee, WI

Head, Heart and Gut Lodestars of Powerful Decision Making

by Lee Milteer

W

e are living in unprecedented times of stress, confusion and overwhelm. We all need resources to help navigate these challenging times and make the right decisions for the highest and best long-term good for ourselves, our families and our businesses.

Those resources can be found within each of us if we pause to consider three reliable indicators: the head (intellect), the heart (feelings) and the gut (intuition).

Before proceeding in making an important choice, make a habit of checking these built-in sensors, which can warn us about danger or give us the go-ahead.

Head: Make use of intellect and past

knowledge. All decisions, actions and even non-actions have repercussions. Use the conscious mind to discern questions that need to be answered. For example, is this person telling the truth? What has worked in the past? Have we done our due diligence and homework before making a decision?

• Puerto Rico *Existing magazines for sale

Start a magazine in an OPEN TERRITORY • • • • • • • •

Los Angeles, CA Sacramento, CA San Francisco, CA Santa Barbara/ Ventura, CA Santa Clara Co., CA Louisville, KY Southern, MA Kansas City, MO

• Saint Louis, MO • Bronx, NY • Cincinnati, OH • Cleveland, OH • Nashville, TN • Ft. Worth, TX • Salt Lake City, UT Inquire about other open areas

Heart: I listen to my heart and ask: Is this

Apply now at

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise

or call 239-530-1377

EE HEAL FR THY L IVING

EE HEAL FR THY LIVIN G

HEAL THY

Eating Foreve Et Flexibler hnic

Keep Joints Naturally Healthy

HEAL THY

PLAN ET

PLAN ET

FRUGAL FOODIE

Savoring the SPECIAL World’s Five A Healthiest YOG EDITION Cuisines WHY OUR

Practical Uses for Aging Produce

BODIES LOVE IT TOP TRENDS YOGA

GLOSSARY

September

24

Washington, D.C.

SUNSHINE MAKES US HAPPY & HEALTHY

2018 | Location-Ed

ition | NaturalAwak eningsMag.c

the right direction for me? Do I naturally feel attracted to this? Am I hearing truth?

The internal part of us, the voice inside, tells us when things feel right or wrong.

For example, are we relaxed around the person we are asking the question about,

Ilona Selke

on

MAKING DREAMS COME TRU E

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com om

March 2018

| Location -Edition

| NaturalAw akenings

Mag.com

or do we feel uptight and uncomfortable?

Keep in mind that our bodies do talk to us.

For me personally, if I feel shut down, tight and not good, I know something is not right. However, if I feel open, lighthearted and relaxed, I trust that my heart is telling me that, “All is well.” We have to pay attention to our own internal signals.

Gut: We need to trust our intuition. If it doesn’t feel right, chances are it’s not right for us. What may be right for one person can be wrong for another. Our gut instinct, our inner voice, is always there for us when we take the time to pay attention and listen.

Become conscious, and do not go into the default mode of past decisions or behaviors. Life has changed and requires more awareness of what is truth and what is not, and we need to utilize our senses, not the old programmed beliefs from others. It is our job to use the instincts that we have to help navigate new terrain.

Lee Milteer is the author of Reclaim the Magic: The Real Secrets to Manifesting Anything You Want and an award-winning speaker and life and business strategist.

Sign up for her free weekly Gems of Wisdom newsletter at Milteer.com. Go to FiveTypesOfEnergy.com for a free copy of her “Five Types of Energy” video series.

are changing your brain, reducing stress and opening yourself to the possibility of new behaviors. Negative thinking keeps us from self-love and self-acceptance. We are not able to give ourselves the benefits of healthful changes without a foundation of self-love. Why would we do the right thing for an underserving person? We need to rise to the inner mental/emotional reality that great habits are what we deserve—to bring great habits into our days.

So instead of another year of resolving (and failing) to work out or eat less or (name your own resolution here), resolve to begin untangling the ties that bind the bad habit to you: your thoughts and your unconscious beliefs. The very simple steps provided in this story can surprise you. You are worth the effort.

first person

Surprise Yourself in 2019

Marcia Childress, RN, is the program director of the Rise Well-Being Center, in Reston. For more information, call 703429-1509 or visit RiseWellBeing.com. See ad, page 9.

A New Year Promises a New You

by Marcia Childress

F

resh starts are inspiring. We feel free from our past mistakes and even a bit smarter because of them; since we know more about what we want and perhaps too much about what we don’t want. A whole new year promises a whole new you.

But let’s stay real here: this is an artifice, an illusion. We continue to be who we are. Our heightened expectations often just lead us to deepening our familiar self-criticisms.

So how do the changes we want truly take form in our lives? Having been a researcher/teacher/student of this question for many decades, I see that nothing transforms until we accept where we are.

Whatever it is about us or our lives that gets us mad, sad, disgusted, numb or any other negative reaction is surprisingly reinforced by our resistance to it.

The energy we spend thinking, strategizing, fighting, defending and denying keeps it very much alive in our lives. It can seem impossible to not focus on your specific source of suffering. Yet this is the

habit to change—not overeating, smoking, spending or any other of our “faults”.

We cannot “hate” ourselves into loving ourselves. What this means to me is this: if we “resolve” to be aware that we are thinking about a “bad habit” or life circumstance, we will most likely see that our self-talk about this is extremely negative. Start there. Maybe you can even write down what you have been saying and throw it in the trash. Then write a new list where you reframe these statements into things that really support you, things that are kind, self-forgiving and understanding of human nature. Consciously choose to think these new statements in the morning, before bed and any other time you decide. Perhaps set a reminder on the phone or decide that at every red light you will dwell on your new thoughts.

When we calm the self-attacks of our negative thinking (even when the behavior is genuinely bad for you) you begin to lay the foundation for actual change. You

Without the

oceans there would be no life on Earth. ~Peter Benchley

January 2019

25

leading edge

Testing Replaces Guessing New Answers for Health in the New Year Dr. Isabel Sharkar, ND

W

hen it comes to taking care of your body, how will you make this new year different from all the rest? A healthy mind, a clean body and a strong spirit will go a very long way in helping you live your best year ever.

Your health is the most important thing.

Read on to learn how to regenerate, recalibrate and improve your health.

Your body has seven channels of elimination, which include the liver, lungs, lymphatic system, blood, skin, colon and kidneys. What you put on and into your body affects how well your body functions and how hard it must work to eliminate toxins. If your toxic burden is too high, these seven channels of elimination will be in overdrive, working hard to process and expel toxins. The cleaner your diet and personal care products, the cleaner your body will be on the inside.

Toxin overload leads to many chronic, degenerative and autoimmune diseases.

Take detoxing seriously this year and clean up your whole body. The cleaner you are, the better your body is able to flush out toxins. By the end of the year, you can be closer to having a new body.

Throughout the course of your life, 26

Washington, D.C.

you’ve likely picked up many viruses, bacteria, mold, parasites, heavy metals, stress, environmental and emotional toxins. Every year that passes by, your body also loses vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and hormones needed for it to function optimally. Work out a good protocol with your healthcare provider that helps you clean out these pathogens and restores your body’s vital nutrition.

Luckily, there are numerous functional medicine panels that allow your healthcare provider to determine what is going on inside of your body.

A micronutrient panel determines which nutrients (vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) in which your body is deficient. With the results, your doctor can supplement your deficiencies that are unique to you.

A food sensitivity panel determines which foods your body is sensitive to and causing inflammation. For your gut to heal, decreasing inflammation by removing triggering foods is important. Leaky gut, also something that can be tested, is when particles from the food you eat cross your gut lining and enter your bloodstream,

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

causing chronic inflammation.

A comprehensive stool analysis detects the presence of pathogenic micoorganisms such as yeast, parasites and bacteria that contribute to chronic illness and neurological dysfunction.

It evaluates beneficial bacteria, intestinal immune function, inflammation markers and the overall health of your gastrointestinal tract.

An adrenal stress test with neurotransmitters determines the health of your circadian clock and your cortisol levels. It also looks at your brain chemistry and checks on your neurotransmitters.

A mycotoxin profile will check for possible mold exposure. Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by fungi like mold, which can infest buildings, vehicles and food.

A specialized panel is beneficial for anyone who suspects possible Lyme disease. This disease is multifaceted and having a panel that tests well for possible co-infections is important.

Various genetic tests can give you tremendous insight on what you are predisposed to and how to manage it as you age. This is healthy aging down to a science—using a new DNA-based healthy aging solution engineered for your unique chemistry. It’s wonderful that you can have a roadmap of your specific genes on how your body works. Genetics tests can reveal everything from how well you tolerate fats, how your skin will age and what exercise is most beneficial—to how much sleep your body needs and if you have a tendency for systemic inflammation, hearing loss or lactose intolerance.

This new year you have the opportunity to get answers about your body that you’ve always wanted. These answers can guide you in how to best optimize, maintain and treat your body. Let this year be one of optimal thriving health, not just the absence of dis-ease.

Dr. Isabel Sharkar, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician and co-owner of the Indigo Integrative Health Clinic, in Georgetown. For more information, call 202-298-9131 or visit IndigoHealthClinic.com. See ad, page 36.

film brief FEBRUARY

Secret Ingredients

Heart Health

New Film Shares Stories of Hope and Healing A new feature-length documentary, Secret Ingredients, makes a compelling case for why organic foods may be the key to unlocking better health and reversing chronic illnesses ranging from asthma to autism. The film shares the uplifting stories of individuals and families that overcame their struggles with digestive problems, allergies, skin conditions and infertility after eliminating genetically modified (GMO) crops and agricultural toxins from their diets.

“This gives tremendous hope for those suffering from chronic disorders in that simply switching to an organic diet may improve their quality of life,” says Jeffrey Smith, who produced and co-directed the film with award-winning filmmaker Amy Hart. “We hope the film will create an organized tsunami driving millions of people to better living through healthy eating.”

Secret Ingredients includes testimonies from physicians and scientists that explain how GMOs, Monsanto’s ubiquitous Roundup herbicide and other pesticides can disrupt our biological systems and compromise our health. “More than 200 studies show the links between GMOs and poor health,” says Smith, “while Roundup and other toxic applications have been proven to damage mitochondria, disrupt the gut biome, throw off hormones, and promote tumors and birth defects.”

The film builds on the groundbreaking research that went into Smith’s prior feature-length documentary Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives, which looked at genetically engineered foods as a major contributor to rising disease rates in the U.S. Visit SecretIngredientsMovie.com for a trailer and schedule of screenings. Smith’s companion site HealingFromGMOs.com features a free online conference that shares research-based recommendations on how to protect against and heal from exposure to GMOs and pesticides.

plus: Socially Conscious Investing

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for:

Health Practitioners Natural Food Stores Meditation • Nutritionists Fitness Centers • Green Banks Financial Advisors • Eco-Investing ... and this is just a partial list!

NATURAL FOOD ISSUE

MARCH

Nutrition Upgrades

plus: Managing Allergies Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for: Healthy Cooking Classes Dietitians/Nutritionists Natural Food Stores Herbs & Supplements ... and this is just a partial list!

APRIL

Sustainable Living plus: Creative Arts Therapy Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for: Green Home & Building Eco-Interior Designers & Furnishings Environmental Products & Services Renewable Energy Resources Expressive Arts Therapy Healing Sound & Music ... and this is just a partial list!

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at:

202-505-3548

January 2019

27

natural healing

Cleanse and Strengthen the Viscera

Optimizing Your Internal Organs

V

by Allan Tomson

isceral manipulation practitioners, particularly those with qualifications as holistic chiropractors, are committed to helping patients be as healthy as they can be.

This means going beyond relieving symptoms to optimizing the function of all systems in the body. They can look at each system in the body and ask, “What are some things we can do specifically that will help this area function well?”

Our bodies have an incredible ability to keep going while under significant stress. We call this reserve capacity. It lets us bounce back from a night on the town without slowing down or being completely bed ridden (within limits of course). This reserve is what you want to build up. It’s like the body’s savings account.

Edgar Cayce, the medical intuitive, channeled many remedies in his readings. A very prominent one, the castor oil pack, has been used for improving liver function for decades. It’s a simple, one-hour hot compress over the liver that improves the organs function and metabolism. Castor oil packs are thought to enliven the energy of the lymphatic system, thus facilitating toxin removal by increasing the flow of lymphatic fluid.

The Kidneys: Along with the liver, kidneys form an essential part of the body’s defense against toxicity. Cayce channeled that the kidneys can be purified with cola syrup. It will gently create an alkaline environment in the kidneys. To make the basic syrup, use one-part cola syrup to three-parts water, without carbonation added. Cayce suggested avoiding any drinks with carbonation.

As stress inhabits our bodies, energy is blocked which can interfere with both physiology and function. In addition to vitamin and herbal medicines, some ancient forms of Chinese martial arts like tai chi and qigong can build up energy in the body, while reducing stress. These very powerful healing systems should be an essential part of any organ-cleansing program.

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, Tomson has skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, CranioSacral Therapy and Cayce protocols. See ad, page 23.

Let’s look at some of the more important organs that we can actively support to build that reserve.

The Immune System: Of primary importance, the immune system keeps us healthy and prevents infections. Organs related to the immune system are the spleen and thymus. Vitamin C is the go-to supplement to keep our immune system on track. A dose around one to 2 grams per day is adequate. Larger doses of vitamin C with echinacea and elderberry can be used to combat the onset of a cold.

It is important to be consistent with herbal medicine.

Dosing four to five times throughout the day is necessary. Use vitamin C, at least 600 mg per dose, four times per day. The Linus Pauling Institute found that for vitamin C cell saturation, a dose of 400 mg is required, which is viewed as the minimum dose. Aging and illness may demand much more.

The Liver: This is a wonderful organ with a big job as it produces more than 3,000 enzymes to perform many jobs from sugar management to detoxification to protein synthesis and more. We can support the liver in several ways. Herbal supplements that support liver health include dandelion greens in a smoothie or in tincture and capsule form. NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) is an amino acid and a precursor to glutathione a powerful antioxidant. Alpha lipoic acid, another antioxidant, is very liver-protective. These are just a few of many products that help the liver.

28

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

We Focus on What’s Best for Your Business and the Environment Our team of experts can become your outsourced IT department; responding to issues quickly, often before you even know about them. Covering everything from your servers and network infrastructure, to your computers, workstations and mobile devices, we provide end-to-end solutions for all of your technology needs.

For more info about our services visit our website at Pulse.Tech

calendar of events

Natural Health for the New Year with Essential Oils – 2-3:30pm. Learn from a certified aromatherapist how to use essential oils to support the health outcomes you’re seeking. Make a roller bottle blend to support your top health concern.

Holistically Healthy Home, 122 Moore Dr, Rockville, MD. Register: Bit.ly/NewYearEOs.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 Gong Medicine Journey – 1-3pm. With Angela Blueskies. Through the intense vibrations of the sound, the body and mind are able to relax and surrender to the healing energies of the gong and as the waves of sound wash over participants, a deep energetic clearing occurs, leaving participants feeling balanced, peaceful and light. $25-$30.

Quiet Fox Farm, 1225 Canaan Dr, Westminster, MD. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1

MONDAY, JANUARY 7

New Year’s Day Conscious Vision Creation – 11am-2pm. Followed by a potluck. With Honi Borden and Michael Abramson. We are the ones we have been waiting for. Michael and Honi will support and empower you to give rise to your incredible vision by helping you shift the realities that block your Divine Truth. Love donation. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/ Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

Healthy Menu Planning and Meal Prep – 6:308:30pm. With Chef Kara Garrett. Start out the new year on a healthy note. Learn tips to make weekly meal planning easier and together we will prepare simple make-ahead and easy-to-reheat meals for the week. $30 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 Top 5 Reasons Your Weight Loss Has Plateaued: It’s Not Will Power – 7-8pm. Learn what is stopping you from achieving your ideal weight.

The solutions my surprise you. Om Wellness, webinar online. Register: Info@TreatYourself ToHealth.com. Info: 703-454-9326.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 Reiki Training I – 9am-5pm. With Yvonne Gleason. This class teaches the ancient Japanese healing practice with popular, experienced teacher Yvonne.

Please call her directly to inquire about this or future Level I and II classes at 703-830-8515. $150. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/ Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

Andean Despacho Ceremony for the New Year – 1-3pm. A Despacho is a sacred offering, created in the form of a nature mandala and prayer bundle. Objects placed within the mandala are symbolic offerings, carrying the prayers of those gathered for the ceremony, calling for the release of heavy energies, welcoming blessings and benevolent forces and honoring the balance of ayni, reciprocity, the sacred exchange of giving and receiving. $30-$35. Heart Centered Healing, 3345 Duke St, Alexandria, VA. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

How and Why to Ferment Food and Drinks – 1:30-2:30pm. Join Liane Paulson for an hour packed with the basics of preserving vegetables using the ancient art of fermentation in this demonstration/tasting. Participants may taste a variety of fermented vegetables and sauerkrauts while learning how to make them. $20 for nonmembers and $25 for Rise members. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events.

Info: 703-429-1509.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 Info Session for the PMTI Professional Training Program – 6:30-9pm. Ask questions and learn details about attending one of the most respected Massage Training Programs in the US. Free. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. RSVP: 202- 6867046 or Admissions@PMTI.org. Info: PMTI.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 Andean Despacho Ceremony, Sacred Fire and Potluck – 6-9:30pm. A Despacho is a sacred offering, created in the form of a nature mandala and prayer bundle. Objects placed within the mandala are symbolic offerings, carrying the prayers of those gathered for the ceremony, calling for the release of heavy energies, welcoming blessings and benevolent forces and honoring the balance of ayni, reciprocity, the sacred exchange of giving and receiving. $20 (suggested donation). Rumi Wasi Sanctuary, 1030 Shannondale Rd, Harpers Ferry, WV. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

Mind-Body for Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia – 6:30-9:30pm. Through Jan 12. Learn self-care, mind-body practices to empower you to improve your health and well-being and live a better quality of life. $159. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

Sound Meditation Concert – 7:30-9pm. Come, relax and be bathed in sound with Dante Baker. Dante uses 8 crystal bowls, 25 Himalayan bowls, vocal toning, chimes and 9 Solfeggio tuning forks to guide you through deep relaxation and energy balancing using this wide range of sound frequencies. $20 for Rise members and $25 for nonmembers. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events.

Info: 703-429-1509.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 Naturopathic Reiki Level 1 Online Certification

– 8-11am. With Dr. Akua Gray, ND. Naturopathic reiki is a subtle vibration healing therapy that gently promotes balance in body, mind and spirit. Learn to heal thyself. A Life of Peace Wellness Education Institute, Online. Register: A-Life-of-Peace.org/ Reiki-Certification.

CPR and First Aid – 10am-5pm. Red Cross approved. Adult CPR, checking conscious and unconscious victims, choking and unconscious choking. First Aid (2pm – 5pm): covers seizures, diabetic emergencies, stroke, poisoning, bleeding, burns and injuries to bones and joints. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202686-7046 or PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

The Ultimate Visioning Masterclass: A Purposeful Vision Board Experience – 10am-2pm.

In this masterclass you will get a half day of life coaching from Renée Emery, certified transformational coach, mindset mentor and SOAR Retreat facilitator. You will be guided to unearth your vision and create a visual map for yourself. $40 for Rise members and $45 for nonmembers.

Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.

Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 Feet! Trager Principles – 10am-5pm. With Roger Tolle. 6 CEs. Trager approach offers great ways of working effectively with foot-related issues brought to us by clients. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org/Continuing-Ed. Tasting and Intro to Intermittent Fasting – 1pm. Kickstart your wellness program, includes specialty formulated beverages and soups by local organic juice company Tasty 6. Neck, Back & Beyond, 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA. Info: NeckBackAndBeyond.com.

Intro to Shamanism: Animal Totems and Guides – 2-4pm. Explore the shamanic practice of journeying to the rhythms of the drum and learn to make contact with your own intuition, as well as with guides, totem spirits and ancestors. For beginners as well as those with experience. $30$35. East Meets West Yoga, 8230 Old Courthouse Rd, Vienna, VA. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 Essential Oils Class: Boosting Your Immune System – 7pm. This is a great, low key evening to be introduced to essential oils or to continue to learn the endless amazing benefits of essential oils. Everyone attending will be entered in a drawing for a free 15ml bottle of essential oil. Free. Neck, Back & Beyond, 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA. RSVP: 703-8655690 or NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 Essential Oils for a Smart, Healthy Brain– 6:309:30pm.3 CEs for MTs but open to everyone. 5th of 7 monthly topics in their Essential Oils Series. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

Howard County Native American Flute Circle – 7-9pm. The Howard County Flute Circle is comprised primarily of flute enthusiasts who have en-

January 2019

29

joyed the Native American Flute Class at Howard Community College and is open to all those who have basic competency on the Native American style flute. $25.The Sanctuary, 12670 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

Sanctuary. $69.95 with new full color, interactive ebook or $94.95 with an e-book and a printed book.

Hosted by Holistic Veterinary Healing, 12627 Wisteria Dr, Ste C and D, Germantown, MD. Register: PetEmergencyEducation.com. Info: 240-715-6570.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18

DC Young Adult Cancer Salsa Night – 7:309:30pm. Join the DC Young Adult Cancer Community for a fun evening of chips, guacamole, salsa dancing and music. Renowned dance instructor Catherine Butterworth will provide instruction for those who want to learn or improve their salsa skills. Dress is casual; wear comfortable shoes.

Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Sound Medicine Journey – 7:30-9pm. With Angela Blueskies. Let go of stress and relax while you are bathed in the healing vibrations of singing bowls, flute, chimes, sounds of nature and inspirational songs. $25$30. East Meets West Yoga, 8230 Old Courthouse Rd, Vienna, VA. Info: AngelaBlueskies.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

special event Illuminate Fairfax Mind-Body-Spirit Festival

The finest local holistic wellness practitioners, products and amazing artisans—try sample sessions; find crystals, jewelry, essential oils, spa products, gifts and art. Free workshops. Admission is $6 at the door/$5 online. Free admission for active and veteran military, emergency response personnel and children under 18. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Sunday, January 20 • 11am-6pm

Westfield Marriott Washington Dulles 14750 Conference Center Dr, Chantilly, VA Info: IlluminateFestivals.com/Fairfax

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 CPR for Health Care Providers – 10am-5pm.

Red Cross-Certified. Learn adult and infant CPR, including mouth-to-mouth (on synthetic medical CPR doll), compressions and more. Regulations in Maryland for LMTs require Health Care Provider CPR for re-licensing. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org/Continuing-Ed. Intro to Sports Massage – 10am-5pm. 6CEs. Explore sports massage theory and techniques and examine common sports-related injuries. Specific protocols for performing pre-event and recovery massage will be covered. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI. org/Continuing-Ed.

special event Reiki Training II – 9am-5pm. With Yvonne Gleason. This class builds on level I training with popular teacher Yvonne. Please call her directly to inquire about this or future Level I and II classes at 703-830-8515. $150. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events.

Info: 703-429-1509.

Touch of Massage – 10am-5pm. Learn how massage relaxes, heals and rejuvenates. Focus on increasing awareness of self and others. Using techniques from Swedish massage, you will work on the feet, hands, face, neck and back. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202686-7046 or PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

Illuminate Columbia Mind-Body-Spirit Festival

The finest local holistic wellness practitioners, products and amazing artisans–try sample sessions; find crystals, jewelry, essential oils, spa products, gifts and art. Free workshops. Admission is $6 at the door, or save $1 by purchasing online. Free admission for active and veteran military, emergency response personnel and children under 18.

All minors must be accompanied by an adult. .

Saturday, January 26 • 11am-6pm Nourishing Journey, 8975 Guilford Rd, Ste 170, Columbia, MD Info: IlluminateFestivals.com/Columbia

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 Couples Massage – 2-5:30pm. Increasing awareness of self and your significant other through Swedish massage. This workshop is intended for two individuals who are a couple. Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-6867046 or PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 PetCPR+ Certification – 2-5pm. The PetCPR+ Certification program is designed to train the participant in canine and feline CPR and First Aid. It is our foundation animal CPR training. It provides the participant an overview of what to do in an emergency situation with their pet prior to getting veterinary care. Fundraiser for Barking Holler Animal

30

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

A Fitness Conversation – 1:30-3pm. With Bryant Johnson and Michelle Stravitz. Join us for an afternoon of motivation, conversation and empowerment with Bryant Johnson, Supreme Court Justice and octogenarian Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s personal trainer and author of The RBG Workout, How She Stays Strong and You Can, Too and Michelle Stravitz, Co-founder of 2Unstoppable. Books and special-edition Super Diva. T-shirts will be available for purchase. Book signing follows. Free.

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 The Fine Art of Hands-on Assists for Yoga Teachers – 2-5pm. With Marni Sclaroff. Learn the key bio-mechanical actions that support each class of postures and how to transmit this using hands-on guidance; and so much more. $45. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/SpecialEvents. Info: 703-429-1509.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31 Musical Mending – 6:30-8pm. With Melanie Edwards. Join in harmony to relieve stress, find inner peace and express your authentic self with musical mending. Use different instruments and singing techniques with therapeutic mantra chanting in the form of call and response to activate relaxation, calm the mind and nourish the soul.

Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Movie Night – 7pm. Inspirational movie Finding Joe about the famous mythologist Joseph Campbell. Neck, Back & Beyond, 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA. Info: 703-865-5690 or NeckBack AndBeyond.com. .

plan ahead SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Discover Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley – 7:30am-2pm. Through April 23. Travel to this enchanted land and be inspired by the deep nature, archaeology, Inca culture, and twice daily yoga and meditation practices. Our journey will culminate with a visit to one of the seven modern wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. $3,495. International Yoga, Sacred Valley, Peru. Register: InternationalYoga.com/Retreats/YogaCulture-in-Peru-Mimi-Rieger-Hawah-Kasat.

ongoing events NOTE: All Calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email CalendarNADC@gmail.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

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: LivingMindfully.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.

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.

Pet Loss Support Group – 6:30-7:30pm. 1st Tues. This group, facilitated by Dr. Karen Randall (DVM), is a safe place to share your grief with others who have also lost a beloved pet and or service animal. It’s a place to share memories, stories and to learn how to work through grief. Attendees are encouraged to bring a photo or a memento of their fuzzy companions to share. The Big Bad Woof, 6960 Maple St, NW. RSVP: Info@Solacevs.com.

Info: 202-291-2404 or TheBigBadWoof.com.

Back School – 7pm. 2nd Tues. With Dr. Tomson.

Learn how to take care of your back. Join us for a short talk and demo on easy ways to improve back health. Gentle exercises, dress comfortably. $5. Neck, Back & Beyond, 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA. RSVP: 703-865-5690 or NeckBack AndBeyond@gmail.com.

monday

wednesday

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: LivingMindfully.org.

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.

YogAnatomy – 5:40-6:20pm. Open to everyone. Learn muscle names and actions, improve proprioception (self-perception) and practice patience and stillness. Drop-ins welcome. $5-$25 (suggested donation). Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org/ Community-Workshops.

All-Levels Iyengar Yoga – 9:30am First class is always free. Winter session runs through March 23. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: text Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

Level 1/2 Iyengar Yoga – 5:45pm. First class is always free. Winter session runs through March 23. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: text Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

Breathing in Wellness: Mindfulness Series – 6-7pm.With Erin Price, LGSW. Developing mindfulness skills can help combat stress, anxiety and uncertainty in everyday live. This series will explore various mindfulness skills over four weeks.

All are welcome to attend one session or all four. $10/session or $30/series (suggested donation).

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Level 2 Iyengar Yoga – 7:15pm. First class is always free. Winter session runs through March 23. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: text Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.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.

Community Yoga – 5:15-6:15pm. Gentle, vinyasa-style flow, great for all levels of yoga practice. Drop-ins are by donation. $5-$25 (suggested donation). Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI. org/Community-Workshops.

Discovering and Embodying Spiritual Confidence – 7-8:15pm. With Bennet Crawford. Spiritual Confidence is the capacity to trust the natural intelligence and wisdom within you. In this series you will have the opportunity to tap into your calling and discover greater purpose. $40 for Rise members for all five classes and $10 drop-in. $50 for the five week series for nonmembers and $20 drop-in. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/ Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.

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.

saturday All Levels Iyengar Yoga – 9:45am. First class is always free. Winter session runs through March 23. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: text Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

All Levels Iyengar Yoga – 11am. First class is always free. Winter session runs through March 23. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: text Leanne at 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

Community Class: Mindfulness Meditation – 7-8pm. 2nd and 4th Wed. Reduce stress and quiet inner criticism. Guided meditation with Jerry Hartman. No experience necessary, drop-ins welcome. $15 (suggested donation). Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI), 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org/Community-Workshops.

January 2019

31

community resource guide

CONSULTING

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 Stephen@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

BEDROOM FURNITURE SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM

10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage,reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 23.

VIRGINIA MITCHELL, L.AC

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 andretailer of fine bedroom furniture.

See ad, page 11.

CANCER SUPPORT

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 • Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com

NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

Virginia Mitchell is board certified in acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and has been helping patients feel better for over 20 years. Virginia also focuses on acupressure, cupping, Gua Sha and zero balancing. Acupuncture is one of the most powerful tools used in alternative medicine. Used for its many health benefits, acupuncture therapy is considered a safe and effective treatment for a variety of health conditions. She helps patients of all ages (minimum age 7). Let Virginia ease your suffering and feel your best. See ad, page 7.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, there are supportive treatments which may enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer and help the traditional cancer treatments work more effectively.

Integrative, holistic medicine combines traditional and adjunctive complementary treatments to restore the patient to a better state of health and improve the quality of life. Whereas traditional medicine will focus on treating the tumor, the holistic approach is to focus on the patient and outcome. See ad, page 15.

AYURVEDA RANJANA CHAWLA AYURVEDA & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Dr. Ranjana Chawla Vienna, VA 571-429-2716 • RanjanaChawla.com

Ranjana Chawla is an Ayurvedic Doctor. She uses ayur vedic science to diagnose diseases and treat the underlying root cause of the sickness—not just managing the disease symptoms. Her entire treatment is customized to patient’s own unique body-mind constitution. She uses a multitude of healing modalities including herbal medicine, diet, lifestyle recommendations, aromas, meditation and yoga.

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 • NIHADC.com

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

10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.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, CranioSacral Therapy and Cayce protocols. See ad, page 23.

CLEANING MAID BRIGADE CAPITAL REGION

4813-A Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 800-515-6243 • MaidBrigade.com Marketing@Maid-Brigade.com We are Green Clean Certified, so you can have peace of mind that you r home w i l l b e healthier for you, your pets and the environment.

See ad, page 21.

32

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

JESSICA CLAIRE HANE CONSULTING 571-358-8645 Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com JessicaClaireHaney.com

Writing, editing, marketing/ digital media support and strategy consulting for holistic-minded businesses and organizations from experienced local writer, blogger and event organizer Jessica Claire Haney.

CORPORATE WELLNESS MARIANNE SCIPPA

Neck Back & Beyond Wellness Center 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com ScippaAssociates.com We design interactive sessions for you and your staff to better understand the physical, mental and emotional costs of many common work management habits. Individual or team coaching for ongoing leadership, management and health development support to create the peak performance habits you need. See ad, page 23.

ENERGY THERAPIES RISE WELL-BEING CENTER

11130 Sunrise Valley Dr., Ste 150, Reston, VA 703-429-1509 • RiseWellBeing.com Info@RiseWellBeing.Center Looking for more peace and well-being in your life? Come nurture yourself and experience the inherent healing of nature. Rise offers a relaxing indoor garden area, Mindful Movement, yoga, meditation and wellness classes, one-on-one sessions including reiki, and Healing Touch to give you the personalized attention you desire. Discover how good you can feel! See ad, page 9.

ESSENTIAL OILS PAM SNYDER

Neck Back & Beyond Wellness Center 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com Let us help you integrate the healing power of essential oils into your home and personal care routines. We offer free ongoing classes each month. Individual and group consultations are available by appointment. See ad, page 23.

HEALTH COACHING ​CHI HEALTH CARE

15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste.200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI C H I H e a l t h C a r e ’s integrative primar y care model includes a staff of collaborative practitioners.

Services include family medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, health coaching and programming. See ad, page 9.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES 5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 NICADC.com/Health-Programs/ Rejuvenation-Detoxification.html

Rejuvenation & Detoxification program provides guidance to restore balance and health with lifestyle tips on diet, hydration, digestion and internal cleansing and detoxification with integrative at-home and spa strategies. See ad, page 15.

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

Elizabeth McMillan is a boardcertified clinical nutritionist specializing in functional nutrition.

She believes in finding the root cause of a liments and cre at ing 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 7.

HOLISTIC PARENTING HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK HolisticMoms.org

Holistic Moms Network is a national organization supporting natural-minded parents. Local chapters in Arlington/Alexandria, Burke, Fairfax, Gainesville and Montgomery County hold monthly meetings and more.

MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE571-358-

8645 • MindfulHealthyLife.com Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com

Online lifestyle magazine for natural-minded parents with a blog, calendar, directory and eBook filled with resources for holistic parenting and family wellness in metro D.C.

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, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, allergies, asthma, childhood ailments, migraines, hair and skin disorders, immune deficiencies and sinus disorders. See ad, page 7.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SUSHMA HIRANI, MD

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com • 571-529-6699 Dr. Sushma Hirani uses an integrative approach to wellness, utilizing conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies. She strives to treat the whole person and emphasiz es nut r it ion , 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 7.

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 36.

ALEX LEON, MD

Integrative Family Physician Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Dr. Alex Leon is a board-certified family physician specializing in integrative functional medicine to help restore and maintain your wellbeing. He has a special interest in men’s health care, chronic pain syndromes including mus c u loskelet a l problems, fibromyalgia, bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women, chronic conditions including hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal disorders and allergic disorders. He treats kids too. See ad, page 7.

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 15.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com Info@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 7.

MEDITATION RISE WELL-BEING CENTER

11130 Sunrise Valley Dr., Ste 150, Reston, VA 703-429-1509 • RiseWellBeing.com Info@RiseWellBeing.Center Looking for more peace and well-being in your life? Come nurture yourself and experience the inherent healing of nature.

Rise offers a relaxing indoor garden area, Mindful Movement, yoga, meditation and wellness classes, oneon-one sessions including reiki, and Healing Touch to give you the personalized attention you desire. Discover how good you can feel! See ad, page 9.

NATURAL LIVING RESOURCE MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE OF METRO DC Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com MindfulHealthyLife.com • 571-358-8645

Blog, calendar and directory for natural living, holistic parenting and family wellness.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE ​CHI HEALTH CARE

15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI C H I H e a l t h C a r e ’s integrative primar y care model includes a staff of collaborative practitioners. Services include family medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, health coaching and programming. See ad, page 9.

January 2019

33

NUTRITION ​CHI HEALTH CARE

15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI

PRIMARY CARE ​CHI HEALTH CARE

15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI

C H I H e a l t h C a r e ’s integrative primar y care model includes a staff of collaborative practitioners.

Services include family medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, health coaching and programming. See ad, page 9.

C H I H e a l t h C a r e ’s integrative primar y care model includes a staff of collaborative practitioners.

Services include family medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, health coaching and programming. See ad, page 9.

ORGANIC PRODUCE - CSA

SHIATSU THERAPIST

SPIRAL PATH FARM

717-789-4433 • Csa@SpiralPathFarm.com SpiralPathFarm.com 100% USDA-certified organic all grown at our farm in southcentral Pennsylvania. Join for our weekly produce deliveries t h rou g h a C om mu n it y Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. See ad, page 7.

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Nathalie Depastas 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com Nathalie Depastas is a highly skilled acupuncturist and Shiatsu therapist with 30 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including medical qigong. See ad, page 23.

OSTEOPOROSIS SUPPORT 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 30.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

MaxAlignment Bodywork Max Rosenberg, L.M.T. Chevy Chase, DC 240-893-6209 • MaxAlignmentDC.com Structural Integration is a specialized fascial manipulation technique aimed toward realigning each segment of the body. It is an effective treatment for any form of chronic pain, misalignment, stubborn injury or trauma.

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 30.

POLARITY THERAPY

SHIATSU THERAPIST NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Janice M Johnson 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 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 electromagnetic fields (PEMF). See ad, page 23.

34

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage,reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 23.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

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 7.

YOGA RISE WELL-BEING CENTER

11130 Sunrise Valley Dr., Ste 150, Reston, VA 703-429-1509 • RiseWellBeing.com Info@RiseWellBeing.Center Looking for more peace and well-being in your life? Come nurture yourself and experience the inherent healing of nature.

Rise offers a relaxing indoor garden area, Mindful Movement, yoga, meditation and wellness classes, oneon-one sessions including reiki, and Healing Touch to give you the personalized attention you desire. Discover how good you can feel! See ad, page 9.

YOGA THERAPY ​CHI HEALTH CARE

15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI C H I H e a l t h C a r e ’s integrative primar y care model includes a staff of collaborative practitioners.

Services include family medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, yoga therapy, therapeutic massage, health coaching and programming. See ad, page 9.

What Does Optimal Health Mean To You?

As the most comprehensive bioregulatory healthcare center in North America, we can help you find the answer.

HEALTHCARE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE Bioregulatory healthcare is a revolutionary system of medicine and dentistry that works from the inside out, exploring root causes of chronic disease and correcting imbalances to help your body address illnesses before they start or worsen.

INDIVIDUALIZED, INTEGRATIVE CARE We are pioneering the reintegration of medicine and dentistry working together to ensure that you receive truly integrated care utilizing cutting-edge technologies.

We work with you to develop a personalized approach to your optimal health.

DISCOVER A HEALTHIER YOU Contact us today to learn more about the assessment and treatment process, or to schedule your consultation. Telemed consults available.

833-8BIOMED | WWW.BIOMEDNE.COM American Center for Bioregulatory Medicine and Dentistry 111 Chestnut Street #1, Providence, RI 02903 January 2019

35

Washington D.C.'s Finest

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CARE OUR DOCTORS SPECIALIZE IN: Lyme Disease. We take a deeper look at your specific reaction to this most commonly misdiagnosed vector-borne illness in the United States and determine the best way for you to overcome this disease.

IV Therapy. An effective method of delivering vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants directly into your bloodstream that helps your nutrient levels rise, boosting your metabolism and energy.

Chronic Fatigue. We have accurate tests to determine your adrenal and hormone levels, and possible autoimmune conditions. We investigate why you are feeling exhausted and stressed and treat appropriately.

As Naturopathic Doctors, we help to reset your body by discovering the root cause of your problem and directing our efforts to correct the source—to get you well.

Food Sensitivities. Each person has a unique profile as to which foods can either hurt or heal the body. We help you define which foods are causing you chronic inflammation versus those that build your immune system.

Detoxification. Every day you are exposed to chemicals that can make you feel drained, moody and unable to concentrate. With our metabolic Indigo Detox Program, you could feel reenergized in just 7-28 days.

Suppressing symptoms without addressing the underlying cause can be more harmful than beneficial and end up costing you significantly more money.

As your partner in health, we find the best solution for you, targeting your condition while strengthening your immune system.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation

202-298-9131

36

info@IndigoHealthClinic.com Learn more at IndigoHealthClinic.com Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

SNEJANA SHARKAR, RND, FNP, ACNP

ISABEL SHARKAR, NMD

INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC 1010 Wisconsin Ave. NW Suite #660 Washington, D.C. 20007

Our goal is to lead you back to thriving health WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING: “This was a great experience with very personal and knowledgeable staff and doctor. I will definitely be returning for a follow up and recommend this clinic to anyone interested in getting to the bottom of their health issues. It was great to get looked at from a holistic approach rather then just masking the symptoms. “ ~RK “I’ve been to many doctors in my life and finally, Dr. Sharkar has actually helped me to improve my health. It has been the best investment I’ve ever made and I’m very happy to have such a great and caring doctor. The best part is that everything is natural and it actually works. “ ~ ES