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HEALTHY
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CROPS IN THE CITY Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground
The Power of the
VAGUS NERVE A Superhighway Between Gut and Brain
YOU ARE WHAT YOU DIGEST Stomach Acid and Other Digestion Problems
July 2019 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com July 2019
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letter from the publisher
Dear Friends, As I write this letter—the day after an outdoor barbeque for Father’s Day—I am anticipating how fun July is for us in the Washington, D.C. area. Schools are closed, the pools are open and families are preparing for summer vacations. July seems to be the official kickoff to the bounty of fresh corn and tomatoes from our Eastern Shore farms. There’s a place in Annapolis close to where I lived for a few years that receives beefsteak tomatoes and corn on the cob so fresh, you can still feel the morning dew on the corn husks. The farmers had just delivered them that morning. For me, sitting down to fresh crabs I caught off the dock, sliced tomatoes and sweet corn from local farmers is heaven on Earth. I wish all of you that same feeling for whatever it is that makes your summer fun. Although we have a way to go, it’s refreshing to know that many consumers and caring farmers are paying attention to the demand for organic healthy produce choices. Agriculture takes center stage in this month’s issue, with fresh perspectives on where and how we produce our food—and why it matters. In “Crops in the City: Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground,” writer April Thompson profiles some of the noteworthy pioneers that are forging a path to organic city farming on a commercial scale—tapping into new technologies and markets—and turning challenges like dealing with space constraints into innovative opportunities. Learn how these enterprising entrepreneurs have found their niche on rooftops, in vertical tower gardens and abandoned warehouses in former food deserts, reconnecting urbanites to their food sources while bettering the environment, communities, diets and health. Meantime, budding backyard growers can get a boost from a small army of experts planted in nearly every county in the nation, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Help for Home Gardeners: Extension Agents at Your Service” details the resources available, including low- or no-cost soil testing, the latest research, handbooks on a variety of local gardening topics and workshops on everything from making rain barrels and creating rain gardens to implementing eco-friendly pest control, cultivating native plants and employing best practices for organic gardening. Remember when kids were once shooed out the door to play and told not to return until mealtime? In “The Pure Joy of Play: Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun,” writer Ronica A. O’Hara reminisces about those bygone days and presents compelling evidence that free play is so important to children that pediatricians are actually writing prescriptions for it. Such is the power of play, power being a recurring theme for July: There is the power of the vagus nerve, the superhighway that connects the gut-brain axis; and the transformational power of dreams. We hope you seize each opportunity—including great food and good playtime—that July has to offer. Best,
WASHINGTON, D.C. EDITION PUBLISHER Stephen Ellis
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Contents 12 CROPS IN THE CITY
20
Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground
15 THE GRACE
OF ABUNDANCE
Five Practices to Create a More Abundant Life
16 SUMMER EATING The Herbal Connection
18 TONING THE VAGUS NERVE
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Relief for Pain, Anxiety and Inflammation
20 ALICE ROBB ON THE Transformative Power of Dreams
21 WELCOME TO YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Healing Your Gut Naturally
22 YOU ARE WHAT YOU DIGEST
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Stomach Acid and Other Digestion Problems
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.
24 THE PURE JOY OF PLAY
Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun
26 HELP FOR
HOME GARDENERS
Extension Agents at Your Service
DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 15 inspiration 16 conscious
eating 18 healing ways 20 wise words
21 leading edge 22 natural health 24 healthy kids 26 green living 29 calendar 32 community resource guide
July 2019
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Illuminate Festivals in Our Area
news briefs
Welcome to the NeighborhoodHolistic Healing Naturopathic
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aturopathic Doctor, Tim Salotto, has recently launched a center for all things health-giving in downtown Washington, D.C. After devoting decades to the study of natural medicine as a graduate of the Bastyr University doctoral naturopathic medical program, he has opened this D.C.-based practice to help people dealing with chronic Dr. Tim Salotto illnesses solve the root causes of their medical issues. The mission of Holistic Healing Naturopathic is to improve the health, energy and happiness of his patients. Salotto makes it his practice to listen deeply and respond to his patients in ways that honor their concerns. “I am absolutely honest with patients in providing what I know is the most effective treatment—the potential limitations of available treatment options if present and providing the maximal amount of clarity regarding what to expect moving forward, ” he notes. His goal is to help his patients get healthier by changing their lives for the better and not just prescribing another pill. “Seeing how people light up when a condition that has been bothering them greatly for years is suddenly improved beyond their greatest expectations really motivates me to do what I do.” Salotto works with patients suffering from chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases, hypothyroidism, anxiety, allergies, asthma, depression, insomnia, autoimmune disorders and multiple chemical sensitivity. When asked what keeps him inspired, Salotto notes, “I have seen naturopathic medicine provide incredible results. Sometimes, even I am surprised at how effective treatment plans can be in regard to how quickly patients see results. Other times, patients will state how they are no longer experiencing particular issues or symptoms that were separate from what was being treated from the treatment plan provided.” Location: 1331 H St. NW, Ste. 200, Washington, D.C. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 717-728-4546 or visit DrSalotto.com. See ad, page 27.
The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. ~Ernest Hemingway
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njoy the finest of local holistic wellness practitioners, products and amazing artisans of all kinds. At the Illuminate Festivals, everyone is invited to shop, sample and delight your senses.Upcoming editions, all taking place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will be held in Annapolis, July 13; Ocean City, July 27; and Fairfax, July 28. Throughout the days of each festival, practitioners offer mini-sessions of body- and energy-work 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 select from beautiful art choices from a variety of disciplines including painting, photography, pottery or glasswork. Admission includes hourly free workshops on a wide range of topics. Illuminate Festivals create a welcoming, inclusive place to learn, connect and enhance well-being. Festival founder Judy Bazis encourages attendees to “just look around, see what you 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: $5/online; $6/at the door. Free admission for active and veteran military, children 16 and under. Locations: Annapolis at Anne Arundel Community College Student Union, 101 College Pkwy., Arnold; Ocean City Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City, Maryland; Fairfax, Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles, 14750 Conference Center Dr., Chantilly. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit IlluminateFestivals.com.
Let’s Play for Climate Action
M
oms Clean Air Force, a community of more than 1 million moms and dads across the country, united against air pollution and committed to fighting for climate safety to protect our children’s health, is hosting their 6th annual Play-In for Climate Action on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. The event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on July 11. The Play-In is a fun morning of activities including parachute play, yoga, hula-hooping, music and more. Latin Grammywinning children’s musician Mister G will perform, followed by short speeches from some of the most inspiring voices for clean air and climate safety. This year, youth climate activist Alexandria Villaseñor and her mother will be speaking. Free water and snacks will be provided. Location: National Mall at 3rd St. SW and Madison Dr. NW. For more information or to register, visit MomsCleanAirForce.org/ Play-In-For-Climate-Action.
Free Webinars: Five Signs Your Body is Showing Stress
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o many people go to their doctor with concerns of tiredness, insomnia, inability to lose weight, poor sex drive, fatigue and muscle pain, irregular bowels, depression or lack of motivation, thinning hair, loss of muscle and gaining fat, memory problems, brain fog, heart palpitations, dizziness, poor sugar control, high cholesterol or high blood pressure— Dr. Serena Satcher and not given good answers. The traditional approach is to drive the labs into the “normal” range by a prescription cocktail of antidepressants, cholesterol statins, both diabetes and blood pressure medicines. However, this drug-only approach is not helping 90 percent of the those that try it. To help, Dr. Serena Satcher will lead two free Stress, Hormones and Health webinars at 6:30 p.m. on July 11 and 7 p.m. on July 16. Participants will learn the underlying causes of 85 to 90 percent of medical problems and issues, how a drug-only approach is harming glands and tissues, why medications may not help and why a personalized approach to health is essential. Satcher is board-certified in PMR, functional medicine and integrative medicine. Join online with your spouse so you both will finally learn why it’s not all in your head. To register: Info@TreatYourselfToHealth.com.
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?
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-
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health briefs
In further confirmation of the importance of the gut-brain axis, 18 Italian students at the University of Verona from ages 18 to 33 that took a freezedried mixture of four probiotics for six weeks experienced less depression, anger and fatigue compared to a control group of 15 that consumed a placebo. The positive effects continued, as discovered in follow-up testing three weeks later. The probiotics group also slept better. The probiotic bacteria blend of 4 billion colonyforming units included Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium longum.
Munch Nuts for a Healthy Brain
Emily Li/Shutterstock.com/Shutterstock.com
Seniors that ate more than 10 grams—about two teaspoons—of nuts a day were able to ward off normal cognitive decline and even improve their cognitive functions by up to 60 percent, according to University of South Australia researchers. The study was based on 22 years of records of 4,822 Chinese adults ages 55 and older; 17 percent of them ate nuts every day, most often peanuts. These seniors had as much as 60 percent improved cognitive function compared to those that didn’t eat nuts, and they showed better thinking, reasoning and memory. “Nuts are known to be high in healthy fats, protein and fiber with nutritional properties that can lower cholesterol and improve cognitive health,” says study author Ming Li.
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Sleep Better and Feel Happier With Probiotics
With the aid of a new infrared camera technology called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), early Alzheimer’s disease can be detected by checking the back of the eyes for weakened and decreased blood vessels, reports a new study. Northwestern Medicine researchers reached the conclusion by comparing the vessels in the eyes of 32 people that exhibited the forgetfulness typical of early-stage Alzheimer’s with those of another 32 people with normal cognitive
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abilities. The vascular changes were detected non-invasively, without the need for dyes or expensive MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. The technology quantifies capillary changes in great detail and with unparalleled resolution, making the eye an ideal mirror for what is going on in the brain. Early detection of Alzheimer’s is critical because existing therapies are more effective if they are started before extensive brain damage and cognitive decline have occurred.
Prokrida/Shutterstock.com
Get Eyes Checked to Detect Early Alzheimer’s
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Take B12 to Help With Parkinson’s
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Eat Mostly Plants to Ease Gum Inflammation The inflamed gum condition known as gingivitis is fairly common and often mild, but can be a precursor of more serious periodontal disease linked to Alzheimer’s and rheumatoid arthritis. German researchers at the University of Freiburg tested 30 people: half in a control group that did not change their diet, and half that switched to a diet low in meat and processed carbohydrates and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants, plant nitrates and fiber. After four weeks, those on the plant-based diet had significantly less gum inflammation and bleeding. They also lost weight and had higher vitamin D levels.
New research has found the basic micronutrient vitamin B12 may be the first good tool for averting the hereditary form of Parkinson’s disease, which accounts for about 15 percent of such cases worldwide. In lab tests, an international team of scientists found that AdoCbl, one of the active forms of vitamin B12, inhibits the activity of a mutated enzyme linked to Parkinson’s. Inhibiting this enzyme appears to help stabilize dopamine release in the brain. Dopamine deficiencies manifest in the muscle rigidity and tremors that are hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s. Another recent study from the University of California San Francisco that included nonhereditary Parkinson’s patients found that symptoms worsened more quickly in early-stage patients that had low B12 levels than in those with higher levels of the vitamin.
Try Cordyceps to Strengthen the Lungs People suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, can breathe easier by taking the Chinese medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis, a new meta-analysis shows. Researchers at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine conducted a review of 15 high-quality studies that involved 1,238 COPD patients and found that cordyceps significantly improved lung function, exercise endurance and quality of life with no report of any serious adverse effects. Cordyceps, which is said to relax and open the airways, has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an anti-asthmatic, expectorant and cough suppressant.
Snack on Walnuts to Slow Growth of Breast Tumors
The gene expression in the breast cancers of women that ate a handful of walnuts each day for about two weeks changed in a way that suppressed the growth of the tumors, according to a small clinical study from the Marshall University School of Medicine, in Huntington, West Virginia. Five women in the experimental group with biopsies that had revealed breast cancer tumors ate two ounces of walnuts a day until their surgery two to three weeks later. Using cells taken during surgery, researchers identified 456 genes in the walnut-eating group that had significantly changed their expression and slowed tumor growth.
July 2019
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Too Blue
Cannabis is enjoying a renaissance of sorts, and one new application for hemp, the no-buzz industrial variety used in fabrics, oils and foods, is cleaning nuclear radiation from toxic soil and removing metals like cadmium, lead, mercury and other pollutants via phytoremediation. Allison Beckett, a cultivation expert at Marijuana.com, says, “Industrial hemp has been used in areas of high radiation, such as Fukushima, [in Japan,] with promising results. Not only does hemp pull toxic, heavy metals from the soil, it actually improves soil structure, making it usable as productive farmland again. Plus, hemp is a vigorous plant that absorbs CO2 rapidly, making it an encouraging solution to climate change.” Hemp phytoremediation has been used in Italy to clean up the small town of Taranto, where a steel plant has been leaking dioxin into the air and soil. The Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Council and Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, are running a project to test the process in an arsenic-contaminated area in Upper Saucon Township that once harbored a zinc mine.
Alarm Sounded
Ireland Declares Climate Emergency
The Republic of Ireland is the third country worldwide to declare a climate emergency, with both the government and opposition parties agreeing to an amendment to a climate action report. “We’re reaching a tipping point in respect of climate deterioration,” says Climate Action Minister Richard Bruton. “Things will deteriorate very rapidly unless we move very swiftly, and the window of opportunity to do that is fast closing.” The UK governments of Wales and Scotland have also declared climate emergencies. Suggested responses include limiting oil and gas exploration, and issuing an additional biodiversity emergency measure.
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Hemp to the Rescue at Detox Sites
The world’s oceans may be getting bluer, thanks to climate change. The effect is more likely to be detected by satellites than Earthbound people, and is caused by the depletion of marine phytoplankton as seawater warms. A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published in the journal Nature Communications predicts that more than 50 percent of the oceans’ collective 140 million square miles of surface area will likely be affected by 2100. Marine ecologist and leader of the study Stephanie Dutkiewicz says, “These microscopic organisms live in the water and are the base of the marine food chain. If there are less of them in it, the water will be slightly bluer.” Phytoplankton serves as a food source for small sea creatures that are eaten by fish, squid and shellfish. If phytoplankton populations dip too low, vital fisheries in certain areas could be decimated.
Dangerous Dozen Produce to Avoid
The 2019 Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce (Tinyurl.com/ DirtyDozen-Clean15List) highlights increased pesticide use on up to 70 percent of conventionally grown U.S. produce. Several different types of pesticide, insecticide and fungicide residues are present on many fruits and vegetables. The Dirty Dozen list includes strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes. The clean 15 list includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, frozen sweet peas, onions, papayas, eggplant, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms and honeydew melon. The EWG advises that eating organic produce, especially for pregnant and nursing mothers and young children, should be a national priority.
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Wonder Weed
Algae Loss Colors Ocean
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global briefs
Sunny Solution Piyaset/Shutterstock.com
Wastewater Turned into Hydrogen Fuel
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Action Alert
Greenhouse Gases Hit Landmark
Certainty that we are facing a climate crisis today and not just in the future was reached in May through an alarming milestone in carbon dioxide levels. Data from the Mauna Loa Observatory, in Hawaii, shows that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached 415 parts per million, the highest ever recorded. However, environmental organizations charge that ominous news like this is not being communicated to the public to the degree warranted. While the CBS, NBC and ABC nightly TV news reports combined devoted nearly 18 minutes of coverage to the birth of the royal baby between May 6 and 12, airtime regarding climate change and extinction during the same period only amounted to one minute and 21 seconds, and only on CBS. For more information and to get involved, including signing a petition to demand that the media cover the climate crisis and extinction more frequently and in greater depth, visit Tinyurl.com/ClimateCrisisCampaign.
Producing pure hydrogen is expensive and energy intensive, but a research team at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, at Princeton University, used sunlight to pull hydrogen from industrial wastewater by using a specially designed chamber with a “Swiss cheese”-like black silicon interface. As reported in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, the process is aided by bacteria that generate electrical current when consuming organic matter in the wastewater; the current, in turn, aids in the water splitting. It “allows us to treat wastewater and simultaneously generate fuels,” says Jing Gu, a co-researcher and assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at San Diego State University. The scientists say the technology could appeal to refineries and chemical plants, which typically produce their own hydrogen from fossil fuels and face high costs for cleaning wastewater.
Pastoral Pollution krugloff/Shutterstock.com
Drugs Found in Rural Rivers
Researchers at King’s College London and the University of Suffolk have found a diverse array of cocaine, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in UK river wildlife, as described in a study published in Environment International. The team collected samples of freshwater shrimp from five catchment areas and 15 different sites across the agricultural county of Suffolk. Cocaine was found in all samples tested, and other illicit drugs, pesticides and pharmaceuticals were also widely recorded in the survey. Dr. Leon Barron, from King’s College London, notes, “Such regular occurrence of illicit drugs in wildlife was surprising. We might expect to see these in urban areas such as London, but not in smaller and more rural catchments. The presence of pesticides that have long been banned in the UK also poses a particular challenge, as the sources of these remain unclear.” July 2019
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~Wendy Coleman
Wendy Coleman, founder of LA Urban Farms, works with chefs, resorts, hotels, universities and corporate clients to set up aeroponic tower gardens, such as these kale and lettuce crops.
from elementary school gardens where kids learn to grow, cook and eat nutritious food to corporate gardens inside a new office building for lender Fannie Mae’s employee café. One of its crown jewels is a 6,500-square-foot rooftop garden on the Nationals Park baseball stadium, where edible flowers end up in cocktails and organic produce feeds fine diners and VIP ticket holders. Ray grew his business organically, fueled by passion and curiosity, rather than any horticultural background. “I grew up in NYC, where I had nothing to grow on. When I moved to Florida for grad school, I had a huge backyard to play around with,” says Ray.
CROPS IN THE CITY Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground by April Thompson
T
he average American meal travels 1,500 miles to reach its plate, according to the nonprofit Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture. Yet, enterprising green thumbs across the country are bringing the farm back to plate’s reach, growing hyperlocal food in backyards, on rooftops, through indoor farms and more. City farming reconnects urbanites to their food sources while bettering the environment, communities, diets and health. Urban agriculture, harkening back to the Victory Gardens planted to ward off food shortages during World War I and II, is nothing new. While today’s home gardeners have staked out balconies, window boxes and vacant lots in this locavore resurgence, noteworthy pioneers are 12
Washington, D.C.
forging a path to organic urban agriculture on a commercial scale—tapping into new technologies and markets, and turning challenges like dealing with space constraints into fresh opportunities.
A View From the Roofs Take Niraj Ray, whose company Cultivate the City is working to transform urban food deserts in the nation’s capital into thriving local food systems. “We want to get more people interested in growing their own food and show them how they can grow more with less square footage through vertical gardens and sustainable techniques like [soil-less] hydroponic systems,” says Ray. Cultivate the City manages numerous gardens for clients around Washington, D.C.,
NaturalAwakeningsDC.com
Like many other urban farms, Cultivate the City offers a seasonal farm subscription known as a community supported agriculture (CSA) program that allows city dwellers to buy directly from local producers. Ray’s rooftop greenhouse, located on top of a local hardware store that sells his edible plants at retail, offers all the fixings for a healthy, diverse diet: hydroponic towers of leafy greens, trays of microgreens for corporate clients, specialty varieties of hot peppers for the company’s hot sauce and stacking cubes of an albino strawberry variety that Ray crossbred himself. “There are so many ways to contribute to urban farming, from aquaponics to vermicomposting; it’s about finding your niche,” he says.
Growing Up With Vertical Farming By 2050, it’s estimated that 9 billion people will be living on the planet—7 billion in
photo courtesy of LAUrbanFarms.com
City planners need innovative solutions like vertical farming to feed the growing population. We can grow at scale, with minimum space and environmental impact.
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cities. “City planners and adults throughThere are so many need innovative soluways to contribute to urban out South Florida. tions like vertical farmThrough their entity ing to feed the growing farming, from aquaponics The Urban Beekeepto vermicomposting; it’s ers, the Coldwells offer population. We can grow at scale, with about finding your niche. beekeeping classes, minimum space and consult with local gov~Niraj Ray environmental impact,” ernments, sell equipsays Wendy Coleman, ment and rescue “feral who began her California-based business hives” to integrate into managed hives. LA Urban Farms in 2013. Today, Coleman’s They’ve worked successfully with parks, team works with chefs, resorts, hotels, uniairports, golf clubs and country clubs to versities, greenhouses and corporate clients put honeybee habitats on site. like Google and Ikea to set up aeroponic Urban beekeeping works in synergy tower gardens across the U.S. and Europe. with city farms, as honeybees forage up to With aeroponics, nutrient-enriched five miles for food, and in so doing polwater is pumped through a garden tower linate a lot of crops. Seventy of the top 100 to shower the roots of plants suspended in human food crops are pollinated by bees, air. “It actually uses 90 percent less water according to the Food and Agriculture than conventional growing, which is a Organization of the United Nations. “We huge benefit in a place like California, and often hear people say their garden is doing avoids any kind of agricultural runoff,” better than it has in years, thanks to the says Coleman. In conjunction with urban apiaries nearby,” says John Coldwell. farming partners, the business churns out The challenges of growing at scale are 30,000 seedlings a month using aeroponic a recurrent theme among urban farmtechnology to grow for their diverse client ers. Ian Marvy, the U.S. Department of base and working with chefs to plan seaAgriculture (USDA) outreach specialist sonal menus around their produce. for the greater New York City area, ran his Aeroponics and other innovaown urban farm, grossing six figures for 14 tive farm technologies are transforming years. However, Marvy says most farmers spaces in cities across the U.S., reclaiming growing in the city aren’t operating at a peripheral and idle spaces like alleys and profitable scale or producing enough for warehouses to grow herbs and vegetables everyone to eat local. in abundance, using 90 percent less land Even so, locally grown produce is by growing vertically, notes Coleman. a booming market in New York City. “With our gardens, diners can see their Greenmarket, founded in 1976, operates food growing at their table; they get such a more than 50 farmers’ markets, limited personal connection with their food. It’s an to vendors that grow within a 200-mile interactive way for hotels and restaurants radius, some of whom take home five to demonstrate their commitment to local, figures on a good day, says Marvy. Interest sustainable food,” she says. in growing at the community level has also mushroomed, adds Marvy, who estimates Breaking into Hives: that 90 percent of the city’s more than 500 City Beekeepers school gardens weren’t there 15 years ago when he started this work. “The USDA “I had a backyard garden that wasn’t doing so well, and I thought it was the lack of pol- has a huge opportunity here and nationally to make cities more sustainable and feed linators, so I got bees; but then I realized I more people. I’m really excited and comwas just a bad gardener,” quips master beemitted to that,” he says. keeper John Coldwell, of Fort Lauderdale. While urban agriculture efforts are Since this humble beginning in 2012 with a few backyard hives, Coldwell and his sometimes criticized for catering to upper wife Teresa have been leading a movement income residents that can afford to pay top to repurpose public land for “microapiardollar for specialty items like microgreens, ies” and provide apiary education for youth many businesses and organizations are
Tips From the Pioneers
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hose that have never nurtured more than a houseplant shouldn’t be intimidated, says Wendy Coleman, founder of LA Urban Farms. “Growing food is easy and doesn’t require any special background,” says Coleman, who was green to growing when she started her business six years ago. When growing commercially, find a niche, says Niraj Ray, of Cultivate the City. The company grows plants of ethnic or cultural significance to appeal to Asian, African and Latino populations, from the nutrition-packed moringa to okra, a staple of both Indian and African cooking, given it is a growing market for immigrant populations not served by most traditional garden centers. Seek natural allies like sustainability-minded chefs to bolster an urban ag business. The farm-to-fork chef ’s movement has been a boon for beekeepers and farmers, with chefs acting as patrons of the farms, according to beekeeping expert Teresa Coldwell. Sette Bello Ristorante, an Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, funds vertical gardens at a community garden where the Coldwells have hives so its chef can have pure organic food like squash blossoms pollinated by local bees. Urban farming has its pleasures and rewards, but can also bring hardships. Ray struggles with employee turnover when newbie farmers face the realities of working in the heat and rain, even from a sleek, trendy, rooftop garden. July 2019
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AUGUST
Coming Next Month
Children’s Health Plus: Natural Pet Care
working on multiple The USDA has a huge ing projects, senior comfronts, with lucrative opportunity here and munities and schools six days a week. specialty crops helping nationally to make cities Their latest project, to subsidize programs more sustainable and the Public Market, is a serving families lacking retail location on Wheelaccess to healthy affordfeed more people. ing’s Main Street that will able food. ~Ian Marvy serve as a year-round Grow Ohio Valley farmers’ market. The organization is also takes an integrated approach to food sovbuilding alliances between local farmers ereignty in Wheeling, West Virginia, and and healthcare providers through a project the Upper Ohio Valley. “This part of the called The Farmacy. A partnership with a Appalachian Rustbelt has lost much of its local free clinic, it targets people suffering population, jobs and economic base over from diabetes and other diseases linked to the last generation. We want to promote poor diets with a doctor’s prescription for health and wellness through fresh food, organic produce offered free through the while helping to transform the urban landscape from falling-down buildings and organization’s CSA. These urban agriculture pioneers are vacant lots into productive community ashelping to not only grow food, but comsets,” says founder Danny Swan. munity, and are nurturing renewed con The operation’s food hub aggrenections to the Earth. City growing has so gates produce from small local farmers, many benefits: decreasing packaging, costs providing a guaranteed market for their and food miles traveled, making it easier produce and the opportunity to reach a to eat organic seasonal food and a more larger market, usually only served by food diverse diet. “The connection people feel grown thousands of miles away. The prowhen they plant seed and get to harvest the duce is supplemented by four urban farm sites run by the organization, including an mature plant is transformative. Growing food is something we can all do to make a apple orchard on the site of a demolished difference, for our health and the environhousing project. ment,” says Coleman. Grow Ohio Valley also works to reach the “last-mile customers” that lack access Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance to high-quality affordable produce via a writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com. mobile farmers’ market that goes to hous-
LET’S GET GROWING
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or those interested in trying home growing or supporting metro area farmers, here are some resources for eating food grown in and around your zip code. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Toolkit walks prospective city farmers through all of the necessary steps to planning a successful urban agriculture operation, from soil testing to accessing financing. Tinyurl. com/UrbanAgriculturalToolkit. UrbanFarming.org features a clickable map of community gardens in the U.S. and beyond where neighbors can connect and grow together. The FairShare CSA Coalition’s site (CSACoalition.org) offers an interactive Farm Search tool to find community supported agriculture (CSA) programs where city dwellers can subscribe to local farms and receive a share of the seasonal bounty. The American Community Garden Association (CommunityGarden.org) provides resources for finding, starting and managing community gardens. Local Harvest (LocalHarvest.org) has a searchable national directory of farmers’ markets, farms, CSAs and more.
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When we are in alignment, everything flows. There is ease and doors open for us. People, money and resources will show up on our path to help us achieve our goals. Therefore, we must always be awake to our goodness and take inspired actions to manifest our desires into reality.
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inspiration
C = Commitment
The Grace of Abundance Five Practices to Create a More Abundant Life
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by Meriflor Toneatto
Commit to gifting ourselves with an abundant mindset because our mindset is critical to our success. One way to quickly shift our mindset to the positive is to concentrate on our desire and ask ourselves, “What do I have to believe for this to be true?” Our mind will creatively generate many possibilities that can get us excited, which then shifts how we think and feel to what is positive. As we do this, we will also create greater confidence in the knowledge that the universe is always working in our favor.
E = Expression Express our passion by first doing what we love. Then find a way to use our passion, purpose and life to serve others.When we do this, our world, our financial abundance and our joy will expand exponentially. Meriflor Toneatto is the author of Money, Manifestation & Miracles: A Guide to Transforming Women’s Relationships with Money. Connect at Meriflor.co.
bundance means plenty—a flowing of love, vitality, wealth, joy, prosperity, success and more. GRACE is an acronym representing five practices that can magnify abundance in all areas of life, including finances.
G = Gratitude There is tremendous power in being grateful, because what we focus on expands. Gratitude opens our heart to receive and give blessings. This puts us in a space to have more things to be grateful for. Practicing gratitude can be as simple as saying, “I am grateful for…” or “I am thankful for…” If we find ourselves in a negative state, practice gratitude even for as brief a period as 60 seconds. It will positively shift our emotion, thereby allowing us to be open to abundance.
R = Receiving To graciously receive can be as simple as accepting a compliment. Another way to receive is by requesting our heart’s desire. There is nothing wrong with wanting more. The truth is that we can have more—as much as we are willing to receive.
A = Alignment The key way to get into alignment for more abundance is to know our purpose, follow our passion and work on releasing internal fears and doubts.
2019 CSA Season
Celebrating 26 Years of Fresh Local Organic Produce from Spiral Path Farm - Direct from our farm in Loysville, PA Pick up CSA Membership Box, weekly, at our farmers’ market locations in the Silver Spring and Bethesda area
Saturday Market
Downtown Silver Spring - April 27 - December 21
Sunday Market
Baaathesda Central Farm Market - April 28 - December 22
3 CSA Share options to choose from:
JOIN TODAY!
prices are pro-ratedweekly in season
www.SpiralPathFarm.com
717-789-4433
538 Spiral Path Lane, Loysville, PA 17047 • csa@spiralpathfarm.com July 2019
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conscious eating
Summertime herbs are important for dealing with the heat and humidity that the season brings. ~Nathaniel Whitmore
SUMMER EATING
The Herbal Connection by Kajsa Nickels
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ummer is an ideal time to add a healthy dose of fresh, organic herbs to make cool salads, luscious smoothies and other hot-weather eats and treats. Herbs are not only a flavorful addition to any meal, they are also chock-full of health benefits, from lowering blood pressure and improving mineral balance to increasing immune support, hydration, energy and healthy skin. Most people consider using herbs in small amounts as seasonings for recipes such as spaghetti sauce, soups or desserts. However, they are edible plants, just like kale and spinach. Although they tend to have strong flavors when dried, fresh herbs are usually quite mild and can be eaten in large amounts like any other vegetable.
Cool Benefits “Summertime herbs are important for dealing with the heat and humidity that the season brings,” says Nathaniel Whitmore, a Chinese medicine herbalist and shiatsu massage practitioner in Milford, Pennsylvania. An herb that he recommends for this time of year is American ginseng, which, unlike its Chinese namesake, is considered a “cooling” herb and helps keep the body moist. When combined with fresh chrysanthemum flowers, the result is a powerful elixir that both hydrates and energizes. “A piece of American ginseng root and a few chrysanthemums placed in a jar of water and set on a windowsill for a few days makes a great cold infusion,” says Whitmore. “You can store it in the fridge for a few days and drink it in small amounts at a time to benefit from its energizing and hydrating properties.” 16
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Soft-stemmed herbs such as parsley and dill can be used in large amounts in salads and summer sandwiches. Other heat-tolerant herbs that are easy to grow include lemon balm, rosemary, lavender, mint and basil. “Lemon balm is great for headaches and insomnia that are common during summer heat waves,” says Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D., an herbalist and doctor of natural medicine, in Ontario, Canada. “Basil can help reduce summer achiness, while lavender serves as a relaxant and an excellent bug repellant.” In addition to relieving headaches and restlessness, lemon balm is also beneficial for those that suffer from high blood pressure. A study in the Journal of Herbal Medicine reports that it is helpful in reducing blood pressure in patients with chronic stable angina. Rosemary, another herb used for sleep disorders, was found to also help improve memory and decrease anxiety in a study conducted in Iran at the Kerman University of Medical Sciences. One study in 2009 by researchers in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Allahbad, in India, revealed that polyphenols found in herbs and plants harbor antioxidant properties that can help reduce the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
Fresh Is Best While herbs can be used in their extracted and dried forms, the most significant health benefits are often found in the raw, organic plant. “Fresh is better,” says Whitmore. “This is especially true when it comes to the more aromatic plants such as basil and lavender. A lot of the more volatile constituents are lost during the drying process.” Most herbs grow best in dry garden areas that receive at least eight hours of sun each day. Although some herbs can grow in partially shaded locations, they won’t be as flavorful. Many herbs can also be grown in containers or pots. Maria Noël Groves, a clinical herbalist in Allenstown, New Hampshire, and author of Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies: How to Create a Customized Herb Garden to Support Your Health & Well-Being, lists lemon balm, Korean mint, anise hyssop and purple basil as among her favorite summer culinary and beverage herbs that are easy to grow in pots. These make easy pickings for wraps, salads, sandwiches and more. “Lemon balm can also be used to make infused water,” says Groves. “With lemon verbena, lemon grass or holy basil, the result is refreshing and calming.” Just take a few sprigs and place them in either plain or seltzer water. The result is a delicately flavored beverage that’s also healthy and hydrating. Kajsa Nickels is a freelance writer and a music composer. She resides in northeastern Pennsylvania. Contact her at Fideleterna45@gmail.com.
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Herbal Chill-Outs Lemon Balm Vinegar This infusion can be used in place of plain vinegar in summer salad dressings. According to the Journal of Medicine, lemon balm is helpful in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Combining it with apple cider vinegar adds extra health benefits to the mix, including digestion enhancement, detoxing and inflammation reduction. 2-3 cups fresh lemon balm, washed 1 qt apple cider vinegar Add coarsely chopped lemon balm leaves and stems to a 32-ounce mason jar. Add vinegar until lemon balm is completely covered. Allow to sit in a cool, dark place for two to four weeks before straining.
photos by Stacey Cramp Used with permission from New World Library.
From the book Be Your Own Herbalist by Michelle Schoffro Cook. Used with permission from New World Library.
Dandelion and Violet Greens Pesto 1 bunch dandelion leaves 1-2 handfuls violet leaves 1-3 garlic cloves 1-3 oz Parmesan cheese 1 cup toasted, salted/tamari pepitas (pumpkin seeds) Juice of ½ lemon ¼ cup olive oil Coarsely chop the herbs and the garlic. Combine with a mortar and pestle, food processor or blender and blend until minced. Add the liquids and blend to a puree. Serve with organic tortilla chips, crackers or veggie sticks.
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Will keep for a few days in a tightly sealed container or frozen. From the book Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies by Maria Noël Groves. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.
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Toning the Vagus Nerve Relief for Pain, Anxiety and Inflammation
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by Marlaina Donato
esearch is helping life for individuals sufThe vagus nerve doctors connect fering from numerous stems from the brain the dots between conditions. One type to the abdomen like seemingly unrelated is a device that can be a communication conditions like irritable implanted by a neurobowel syndrome, rheusuperhighway between surgeon, which sends matoid arthritis, postelectrical impulses to your gut and brain. traumatic stress disorder the vagus nerve in chil~Hannah Aylward (PTSD), chronic fatigue dren that suffer from syndrome and fibromyseizures and adults with algia, revealing a common denominator: the depression as a supplemental treatment multitasking vagus nerve, the longest in the when surgery or medications are not posautonomic nervous system. sible or effective. The superpower of this double There is also a handheld, non-invasive branched cranial nerve lies in transporting VNS option called gammaCore, a U.S. Food major neurotransmitters along what is and Drug Administration-approved device known as the brain-gut axis. “The vagus that offers hope for sufferers of cluster and nerve stems from the brain to the abdomigraine headaches. Its effectiveness for men like a communication superhighway chronic pain management, as well as in cases between your gut and brain,” says Hanof epilepsy and depression, was published in nah Aylward, an Orlando-based certified the Neuromodulation Journal in 2015. holistic health coach and gut health expert. PTSD researcher Imanuel Lerman, “Studies show that the vagus nerve reguM.D., and his colleagues with the Veterlates inflammation throughout the body.” ans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, found that VNS affects areas of the brain Promising Research responsible for processing emotional pain. Recent studies have shown that vagus nerve The findings, published in the journal stimulation (VNS) can improve quality of PLOS ONE earlier this year, also show that
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healing ways
VNS delays the brain’s response to pain signals in individuals with PTSD.
Mental Health, Trauma and the Gut When it comes to the vagus nerve, anxiety is physical. Post-traumatic stress is rooted in neurobiology and experienced in the body, not just the mind, says Arielle Schwartz, Ph.D., a Boulder, Colorado-based clinical psychologist and author of The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole. “This is why you can’t simply think or talk your way out of your trauma reactions.” According to Schwartz, “Disruptions in the gut flora, which often occur with overuse of antibiotics, can have a significant impact on mental health. An imbalance in the gut can lead to an inflammatory response in the immune system and a wide range of disruptive symptoms.” Aylward notes that 95 percent of the body’s mood-boosting chemical serotonin resides in the enteric nervous system, which governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. “The brain-gut axis is becoming increasingly important as a therapeutic target for psychiatric and GI disorders,” she says. Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and founding co-director of UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, explains the trauma loop. “Developmental trauma impairs the integrative circuits of the brain and nervous system—the prefrontal cortex. When this happens, the brain will be hyperalert, interpreting some non-threatening situations as threatening.
“Learning to be aware of our internal state and learning calming techniques helps to regulate the autonomic nervous system and can go a long way,” says Siegel. “High ventral vagal tone means having a state of calm.”
Vagus Power Everyone can benefit from increased vagal tone, which goes hand-in-hand with engaging the parasympathetic nervous system for optimum equilibrium at the cellular level. Acupuncture, chiropractic—with a focus on the cranial nerves—massage, meditation, singing, laughing loudly, chanting mantras, gentle yoga and exercise, positive social interactions, belly breathing and chanting all make the vagus nerve a happy camper. These activities promote relaxation and help to decrease inflammation. “As a certified yoga instructor, I can attest to a wide range of natural vagus nerve stimulation techniques, especially using the breath,” says Schwartz. “Diaphragmatic breathing creates a gentle massage across your digestive organs, releases the diaphragm and stimulates nerve fibers within the lungs. Heart rate is reduced.” Brief exposure to cold water or cold air improves vagal tone and is a good option when anxiety is high. Eating cold-water fish like wild salmon or other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts, seaweed, hemp, flax or chia seeds provides vagal nourishment. Marlaina Donato is the author of several books, including Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.
Vagus-Nourishing Diet Tips Advice from gut health expert Hannah Aylward: 4 Eat plenty of vegetables, high-quality proteins, fiber and healthy fats. 4 A diet low in sugar and processed carbohydrates supports healthy vagus nerve function by maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. 4 Practice intermittent fasting, which stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (not recommended for people suffering from adrenal fatigue or high stress). 4 Take probiotics. Lactobacillus has been shown to increase GABA via stimulation of the vagus nerve. Bifidobacterium longum has demonstrated it can normalize anxietylike behavior in mice by acting through the vagus nerve. July 2019
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wise words
Alice Robb on the
Transformative Power of Dreams photo courtesy Don Razniewski
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by Randy Kambic
e know and your study that sleep of them? is good for It was where it all got mental and physical started for me and health, but whether even though it was dreams can play a role eight years ago, I still is a fascinating topic. remember my first luWhen we journey cid dream as if it was into that state, science yesterday. If I hadn’t journalist Alice Robb had that experience feels we can reap even of doing the exercises more benefits and make to elicit lucid dreamour waking lives more ing, I don’t know if I productive, healthier would’ve written the and happier. book—although I’ve Her recent book always been fascinated Why We Dream: The Knowing you are by my regular dreams, Transformative Power lying in bed, but also which have been of Our Nightly Journey, feeling, physically, that vivid, and have often which blossomed from you are in another place, wondered what was a trip to Peru, posits a going on in my brain new way to look at our is very powerful. to produce them—esdreams including how pecially when I felt ~Alice Robb to recall and even influthey were affecting my ence them, and how doing so benefits us moods or my daily life. when awake. Rich with recent studies and evoking famous artists, thinkers and othHow is lucid dreaming different ers over centuries, she traces the intricate than normal dreaming? links between dreaming and creativity, and offers tips on how we can relish the intense In lucid dreams, you are aware that you adventure of lucid dreaming. are dreaming. A lot of people will be in Robb was a staff writer for The New a nightmare; it’s really scary, and you say Republic and has also written for New York to yourself, “This can’t be real, this must Magazine, The Atlantic, Elle, The Washbe a dream,” and then maybe you can get ington Post, the BBC and British Vogue. A yourself out of it. You can train yourself to graduate of Oxford with Bachelor of Arts prolong those lucid moments. Some people degrees in both Archaeology and Anthrodo it naturally while others can do different pology, she resides in Brooklyn, New York. meditation exercises to learn to gain awareness within their dreams. Before you start trying to have lucid How did your experience in dreams, it’s important to have very good
Peru shape both your dreams
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recall of your regular dreams. We’re all dreaming every night, every time we have a REM cycle, about every 90 minutes that we are asleep, even if you don’t remember your dreams. It’s easier for most people to improve their dream recall. It’s as simple as saying to yourself before bed, “I want to remember my dreams tonight.” The more intention you have, the more you think about your dreams during the day, can be enough to trigger you to better remember your dreams. If you pay close attention to your environment, looking and examining it and asking yourself whether it’s real, you will then ask yourself the same question in a dream.
How do you feel lucid dreaming can improve our overall well-being?
You can practice a speech you are worried about. If you are an athlete, you can mentally prepare. It can help with your mental health. You can use lucid dreams to confront your demons; you can summon someone that you want to have a conversation with and practice talking with them. They are awe-inspiring. Knowing you are lying in bed, but also feeling, physically, that you are in another place, is very powerful.
What steps can we take to improve our ability to recall dreams?
Keep a dream journal. It doesn’t have to be pen and paper; you can speak your dreams into your phone in the morning or in the middle of the night if you wake up… whatever you can do to train yourself to hold onto them because if you don’t remember them when you wake up, then they will fade pretty quickly. As soon as I started keeping a dream journal, I was amazed at how many I was remembering. When getting started, make sure to write something every morning, even “I don’t remember anything.” The habits will become ingrained and you’ll start to remember dreams. Randy Kambic, of Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer.
leading edge
Welcome to
Your Digestive System Healing Your Gut Naturally
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by Allan Tomson
ach year, more and more people are turning to a holistic approach in healing the body. One area of interest is the history of treating the gut and the implications of having “dysbiosis”, a term used to describe an imbalance in the bacterial environment within the large intestine. Decades ago, the goal was to eat just three meals a day, along with some snacks and you were all set. No more. Today, the digestive system, also known as the “gut”, is everywhere in the media. Now we know that you can get a bacterial imbalance and that you have a multitude of options to bring you back into homeostasis. There is a long list of probiotics and prebiotics, gut-healing phytonutrients, supplements and elmental protein meal replacements. It’s long been known that we have so-called “friendly” bacteria in the large intestine and these do good things for us— like keep the harmful ones at a low-enough level that we stay in good health. Nearly 70 percent of a person’s entire immune cells and liver detox enzymes are in the lungs and the digestive system. This is because these two organs are open to the outside environment. Here is where you want a
very strong immune and detox system ready at all times. Imagine all of the chemicals we breathe in and that come into our gut through our food supply. These are rendered harmless and are eliminated through the colon, kidneys and bile. Science has shown us that there are over 400 different species of bacteria in your gut. Species like acidophilus and bifidus are health-giving and when they maintain a balance in the gut, everything works smoothly. However, now we know that some people, when little babies, never really populate their intestines with as many different species as is optimal. It is known that this low diversity weakens the gut and makes it less resilient to the onslaught of harmful viruses, bacteria and parasites that can come in from the outside environment. When considering gut health, the most important thing to remember is this: a good healthy diet is critical to healing the gut. It’s not worth spending money on supplements or probiotics if you’re eating fried and or processed foods, with high amounts of sugar and oxidized fats. Edgar Cayce, in his readings during the 1920s and 30s always recommended
an alkaline diet. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of the diet should be fruit and vegetables. Some meats and nuts are allowed, along with plenty of water. This will alkalinize your system and the body will thrive. You may have to modify this approach if you have food allergies or other restrictions. There have also been some important advancements in the clinical management of gut problems. Labs such as Genova Diagnostics, Metametrics, Spectracell and Salveo offer cutting-edge testing to identify the general health of the small and large intestine, liver, gall bladder and pancreas. These tests allow the clinician to look at the digestive efficiency of fats, carbs and proteins; how triggered the immune system is within the intestines (for infections) and the health of the colonic cells, among many other parameters. These tests give clinicians and doctors a great view of our internal environment and help the patient understand the health of their own digestive system. 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. Tomson is a chiropractor and has skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, CranioSacral Therapy and Cayce protocols. To learn more on this topic, contact Dr. Tomson at 703-865-5690 or visit NeckBackAndBeyond.com. See ad, page 11.
Gut health is the key to overall health. ~Kris Carr
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natural health
You Are What You Digest Stomach Acid and Other Digestion Problems by Elizabeth McMillan
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he old saying, “You are what you eat.” is commonly thrown around to suggest that your dietary choices will reflect your waistline, which is partially true. The old saying should be, “You are what you digest.” Digestion is truly the beginning of every process in the body. Without digesting and absorbing the nutrients from the foods we eat, we are not able to sustain life. The Webster’s Dictionary defines digestion as the process of making food absorbable by mechanically and enzymatically breaking it down into simpler chemical compounds within the digestive tract. This process starts with the mechanical action of breaking down food in the mouth. Then after the 22
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food bolus travels to the stomach via the esophagus, stomach acid breaks the food down further into more absorbable units. The food substances are absorbed as nutrients in the intestines. When this process does not happen efficiently, poor gut health symptoms arise like bloating, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is when feelings of indigestion and heartburn become daily instances, and not just after a night of pizza and wings. In fact, anti-acids and proton-pump-inhibitor medications (i.e., Prilosec) are among the top 10 most prescribed drugs in the U.S., with more than 53 million prescriptions written yearly.
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GERD begins at the connection point of the esophagus and the stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter. If this sphincter does not remain controlled, symptoms of acid reflux become apparent. In the last 25 years, Western medicine started to look beyond the sphincter control and started to decrease the amount of acid secreted in the stomach—therefore improving symptoms of acid reflux. In the short term, this is beneficial and drugs like Prilosec were only prescribed for no more than three months. Blocking acid production for a longer period could lead to low stomach acid called achlorhydria and eventually stomach cancer. Stomach acid is a crucial component of proper digestion and gut health, and there are two perspectives regarding acid reflux. The traditional model believes that too much acid secretion and poor lower esophageal sphincter control causes acid reflux symptoms—hence acid reducing medications will reduce the acid and improve symptoms. However, after much research, a new model is coming to light and offers the belief that GERD is caused by too little stomach acid. Large quantities of stomach acid are required to initiate the digestion and absorption process. Without acid, undigested food sits in the stomach and begins to ferment—causing symptoms of indigestion, gas, bloating and other altered gut motility symptoms. Many things arise when there is too little stomach acid. First, any protein eaten will not be broken down into usable parts. This is especially important since diets high in protein are very popular. Further, pepsin, an enzyme used for protein digestion, also needs acid to be activated. With too little stomach acid, protein cannot be digested and absorbed at two stages. Thirdly, vitamin B-12 is not cleaved from proteins and not transported to the small intestine by intrinsic factor without stomach acid. Finally, the acidic juices in the stomach are required to be at a certain acidity to be secreted into the small intestine. To conclude, without sufficient stomach acid
and chronic use of anti-acids, the body cannot break down and absorb food, plus the deficiency of protein, magnesium and vitamin B-12 is likely. There are many holistic interventions for symptoms related to GERD. It is important to discuss whether it is too much or too little stomach acid, or if it is lower esophageal sphincter weakness. Discussion with an integrative nutritionist or practitioner specializing in digestive health should provide insight as to what the real problem is to your indigestion symptoms. Improving digestion starts with eating slower and completely chewing your food. Foods that are naturally bitter like arugula, parsley, kale, endive, radish, red wine, kale, broccoli, cranberry and citrus, among others, will help to secrete proper stomach acid. Digestive enzymes and taking betaine HCL are lifesavers for those with poor digestion and low stomach acid. Improving digestion is the first start in improving all physiological pathways, since without proper digestion, the food we eat does not get utilized but only adds to the waistline. Remember—we are what we digest! Elizabeth McMillan, CNS, LDN, is a clinical nutritionist at the Rose Wellness Center, specializing in gut health. For more information, visit RoseWellness. com. See ad, page 7.
Happiness: a good bank account, a good cook, and a good digestion. ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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of American boys and 47 percent of girls are participating on organized sport teams, but three out of four kids quit sports by age 13—one major reason being, “I was not having fun.” Play, on the other hand, is based on pure enjoyment and spontaneous collaboration among kids, minus overanxious adult “sidelining”. “When children play in their own ways, they generally play cooperatively. We adults impose competition, unfortunately. Yet even in our competitive society, the really successful and happy people are the ones who are oriented toward cooperation,” says PeterGray, Ph.D., a Boston College psychology professor and author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com
healthy kids
The Pure Joy of Play
Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun
N
by Ronica O’Hara
imaginative makeot so long ago, Play is how children believe, experimenting kids would be learn to create and and risk-taking. It cites shooed out the 147 studies showing door to play and told govern their own that play builds skills to return home at meal activities and solve critical for adult suctime. But the rising use their own problem cess such as problem of digital devices and independently solving, collaboration kids’ highly scheduled of adults. and creativity; decreassports and school activies stress, fatigue, injury ties, as well as parental ~Peter Gray and depression; and fears about safety, has increases range of momade that kind of tion, agility, coordinaunstructured play tion, balance and flexibility. rare—with resulting drops in children’s Here are some ways to up the play in independence, resilience and creativity, children’s lives: experts say. In fact, play has been shown to be so critical to children’s development Give them lots of free time that an American Academy of Pediatrics away from devices. Yes, they 2018 clinical report, “The Power of Play,” might be bored at first—but boredom recommends that doctors write prescripenhances creativity, partly by allowing for tions for it. daydreaming, concludes a study from the “Play is not frivolous; it is brain UK’s University of Central Lancashire. building,” concludes the report. It defines play as voluntary, fun and spontaneous Encourage fun, rather than activities that engross a child, often re competition. By age 6, 60 percent sulting in joyous discovery, and includes
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Washington, D.C.
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Encourage them to take the lead. Let kids decide whether they
want to play with friends, siblings or alone. They will happily make up their own games with lots of raw materials that are on hand—blocks, balls, puzzles, crayons, boxes, wooden spoons, old costumes and hats, sand, water, tarps and shovels. “Play is how children learn to create and govern their own activities and solve their own problems independently of adults,” says Gray. “Stated differently, it is how children learn to become adults. This value is destroyed when adults take charge of children’s activities.”
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Back off from hovering supervision. It can rob them of a
sense of ownership and accomplishment. Leigh Ellen Magness, a clinical social worker and registered play therapist in Athens, Georgia, grappled with anxiety as she watched her 5-year-old son clamber up a roadside sculpture designed for climbing. “He climbed so high that my stomach flip-flopped to see him so far from me. But I knew there was no better way for him to learn the limits of his own body than to test them,” she says. Mariana Brussoni, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of pediatrics and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Canada, concurs: “When they’re
given the chance, even very young children show clear abilities to manage risks and figure out their own limits. The potential for learning is enormous.”
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Don’t worry. “The data show that children are far more likely to get injured in adult-directed sports, where they are pushed to compete, than in free play,” says Gray. “Moreover, the kinds of injuries that occur in free play are relatively easy to recover from.” As for the fear of kidnapping by strangers, the odds are very small—one in a million, according to the latest U.S. Department of Justice data. “Weigh the effect of the limits you place on your kids to prevent that very, very, very unlikely possibility versus the fundamental importance for their own health and development of exploring freedom,” advises Brussoni. Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based freelance health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
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“The Power of Play”: Tinyurl.com/ThePowerOf-
Play-AAP This study by the American Academy of Pediatrics lays out the body of research on the benefits of unstructured play for children.
“Say Yes to Play”: A Psychology Today online article offers 12 strategies to encourage play, as well as additional references. Tinyurl.com/SayYesToPlay-PT.
KICK OFF SUMMER WITH A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com July 2019
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green living
HELP FOR HOME GARDENERS Extension Agents at Your Service by Yvette C. Hammett
M
any home gardeners readily list flies, wasps and beetles among the “pests” in their gardens. However, many of these are actually pollinators that help boost production of fruits and vegetables; others are beneficial insects that keep the real plant-killers at bay. A quick call to the local cooperative extension service can help sort out friend from foe— and that’s just the beginning of what this valuable, underutilized resource can offer. Each year, millions in federal taxpayer dollars help fund county agricultural extension programs administered through the 108 colleges and universities that comprise the nation’s land grant university system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which supplies the money, also helps fund science-based research meant to reach not only farmers, but home
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gardeners seeking advice on best practices. The USDA is trying to do a better job of raising public awareness of assistance that’s readily available, free of charge, especially now that it’s getting more funding.
Organic on the Rise
“The good news is that the 2018 Farm Bill provided increases for many of our programs, including the organic agriculture research and extension initiative program for which we received significant funding,” says Mathieu Ngouajio, program leader for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The USDA is eager to see the connections their constituents are making with the research. “We want to identify the needs of organic gardeners, and the best way to meet those needs to get our
NaturalAwakeningsDC.com
research into their hands,” Ngouajio says. County extension agents are on the front lines of this effort, offering low- or no-cost soil testing, handbooks on a variety of local gardening topics and workshops on everything from making rain barrels and creating rain gardens to implementing eco-friendly pest control, cultivating native plants and employing best practices for organic gardening. Master gardeners that volunteer their expertise are central to supporting extension outreach activities. “We would love more business from the public,” says Weston Miller, an associate professor with Oregon State University’s extension service. “The public service of the master gardener program is to answer questions,” including what and when to plant and how much irrigation is required. In Oregon, there are 3,500 master gardeners, with 650 volunteers in Portland alone. “We train master gardeners in how to use our resources and interpret the research to the public,” Miller says. “There are trained volunteers in pretty much every county in the country ready and willing to answer any gardening question,” Miller says. For example, a new organic gardener might not know the correct soil amendments to use or how to start a composting pile to supplement the soil in an organic garden. There is also a nationwide network called Ask the Expert (USDA.gov/askexpert) and questions will automatically go to an extension staff person or master gardener in the area where the inquiring gardener lives.
Reducing Confusion
Many of those getting into organic gardening might feel confused as to what connotes organic, Miller says. “Organic gardening is using a naturally formed material for fertilizer and pesticide, from plant, animal or mineral sources.” The biggest area of confusion is that many people think organic means pesticide-free. But that is not always true. There is organic pest control, Miller says. “In terms of gardening, there are certified organic products you can use and still be organic.” One thing to look for on a label is the seal of the Organic Materials Review
The good news is that the 2018 Farm Bill provided increases for many of our programs, including an organic program for which we received significant funding. ~Mathieu Ngouajio Institute, which indicates the product is suitable for organic gardening. However, there aren’t many good options for weed management, he adds. “You have to do weeding by hand or use an herbicide that isn’t organic.” Another issue that extension programs can help with is making sure organic gardeners receive only scientifically researched information, says Nicole Pinson, an urban horticulture agent with the Hillsborough County Extension Service, in Tampa, Florida. “Gardening information is available on websites and on social media. Some information that pops up is not researchbased, or they are selling a product and are not unbiased,” Pinson says.“We generally stick to recommendations we have been able to vet through research. When we make a recommendation, we give folks all of the options of what they can do.” To find a nearby extension office, visit Tinyurl.com/ExtensionFinder.
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calendar of events
MONDAY, JULY 15
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. Good Vibrations – 6:30-8pm. With Jameson Freeman, founder of FABUM, Inc. and Robert Lee, sound frequency specialist at Human Activation. Enjoy this uniquely designed sound and meditation program, as we allow the ancient frequencies of Tibetan signing bowls to wash over us and nourish mind, body and spirit. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.
MONDAY, JULY 1 Chinese Energetic Medicine for Oncology Support – 6:30-8pm. With Andrei Stoica. This lecture will discuss how qigong is used in a medical setting. It will also explore how qigong can work as a medical intuitive reading to get a more tangible feel for the deeper layers leading to any disease process, as well as provide a road map to healing. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 11
special event 5 Signs Your Body Is Giving You That You Are Stressed Out
In this webinar, we will discuss how stress shows up in your body and how this affects your hormones, weight, sleep and sex drive. We will also discuss common mistakes with exercise and eating. We will talk about what you can do.
Thursday, July 11 • 6:30pm
Regenasyst Wellness and Health RSVP for the link. Register: Info@TreatYourselfToHealth.com.
FRIDAY, JULY 12 Mini Tarot Friday – 12-2pm. With Robyn Wolf. Highly intuitive 15-minute reading. A fun lunchbreak opportunity. $20. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509. Dance Magic – 7-8:30pm. With Karen King. Tap into your inner wild. A delicious dance experience with free dance and guided practices. $15. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/ Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
special event Illuminate Annapolis 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.$6 at the door or save $1 by purchasing online.
Saturday, July 13 • 11am-6pm
Anne Arundel Community College Student Union, 101 College Pkwy, Arnold, MD. Info: IlluminateFestivals.com/Annapolis.
Sacred Fusion Drum Circle – 7-9pm. With Brenda Paradiso. Every 2nd Sat: experiential fusion of drumming, chant, ritual and storytelling inspired by the cycles of the season. Instruction included. $20. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Info: 703-429-1509. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events.
Medical Qigong – 6-7pm. Bi-monthly. With Andrei Stoica. This is an all-levels introduction to the practice of medical qigong. You will learn about the human energy system or subtle body through lecture movement and an energetic transmission and mediation. $10 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.
TUESDAY, JULY 16
special event 5 Signs Your Body Is Giving You That You Are Stressed Out
In this webinar, we will discuss how stress shows up in your body and how this affects your hormones, weight, sleep and sex drive. We will also discuss common mistakes with exercise and eating. We will talk about what you can do.
Thursday, July 16 • 7pm
Regenasyst Wellness and Health RSVP for the link. Register: Info@TreatYourselfToHealth.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 18 Osteoporosis Support Group – 6-7pm. We offer 4 meetings per year, run by one of our physical therapists and one of our trainers. A registered dietitian will join us to discuss nutrition for bone health. The group is free but we ask that you sign up so we know to expect you as sometimes the office doors are locked. Elements Center, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Register: FrontDesk@ElementsCenter.com or 202-333-5252. Info: ElementsCenter.com.
FRIDAY, JULY 19 A Medicine Music Meditation Concert – 7:30-9pm. with Sahffi Lynn and Shelly Work. A unique concert experience. Meditation during the performance of live music, poetry and channeled messages allows the listener to absorb the vibration of the sound and meanings of the words in a more profound, deeper way. $20. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.
SUNDAY, JULY 14 Demystifying Plant-Based Protein – 11am1:30pm. With Chef Kara Garrett. Cancer-fighting diets utilize nutrients found in plant-based protein sources, but it can be confusing to know how to integrate them into your meals. Join Chef Kara to sample a variety of protein sources, learn new preparation tips and participate in preparing a delicious vegan lunch to enjoy together. $25 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.
July 2019
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Calendar A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
SUNDAY, JULY 28
Yoga Nidra – 4:45-5:30pm. With Cathrine Nelson, RYT 200. You are invited to rest while being guided into a state of deep relaxation, which can quiet the mind, relieve mental and physical stress and guide you to come home to yourself. $10 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.
LOLA Live Circles 2019 – 2-4pm. These circles are perfect for those with no previous exposure to meditation, mindfulness, breathing and gratitude practices. The topic for July is Wellness for the Mind. $57. Bold Center Tenleytown, 4000 Chesapeake St, NW. Register: Eventbrite.com/e/Lola-Live-Circles2019-Tickets-53334046569.
FRIDAY, JULY 26 Dance Magic – 7-8:30pm. With Karen King. See July 12 for details. $15. Rise Well-Being Center, 11130 Sunrise Valley Dr, Ste 150, Reston, VA. Register: RiseWellbeing.Center/Special-Events. Info: 703-429-1509.
SATURDAY, JULY 27 Houndstooth Non-Anesthetic Dentistry Clinic – 9am-6pm. Also July 28 and 29. Qualified dental hygienists perform routine dental cleanings without anesthesia. Pets who require extractions are then referred to the clinic’s veterinarian. $220$250. Holistic Veterinary Healing, 12627 Wisteria Dr, Ste C and D, Germantown, MD. Register: 240715-6570. Info: HolisticVeterinaryHealing.com.
special event Illuminate Ocean City 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. $6 at the door or save $1 by purchasing online.
Two styles available: n Calendar of Dated Events:
Designed for events on a specific date of the month.
n Calendar of Ongoing Events:
Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week.
Contact us for guidelines so we can assist you through the process. We’re here to help!
202-505-4835 NaturalAwakeningsDC.com 30
Washington, D.C.
Saturday, July 27 • 11am-6pm
Ocean City Convention Center 4001 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD. Info: IlluminateFestivals.com/OceanCity.
SUNDAY, JULY 28
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. $6 at the door or save $1 by purchasing online
Sunday, July 28 • 11am-6pm
Westfield Marriott Washington Dulles 14579 Conference Center Dr, Chantilly, VA. Info: IlluminateFestivals.com/Fairfax.
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plan ahead MONDAY, AUGUST 5 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 Yoga En Blanc – 10am. A unique, half-day, community-driven outdoor yoga session where participants practice yoga while wearing white. Bringing people of diverse backgrounds who love yoga, good company and community through motivational talks, live music and conscious conversations. Participants are required to wear all white attire. Location to be disclosed to participants 7 days prior to the event. Bikram Yoga Wellness. Info: Info @BikramYogaWorks.com.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: Arlington LaughterYoga@yahoo.com.
ongoing events
sunday Sunday Morning Meditation Class – 10:30am12:30pm. With Hugh Byrne. An oasis in a busy week, including 30-minute guided meditations, a 10-minute walking meditation and 30-minute discussion. A mini-retreat. Drop-ins welcome. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Mindfulness in Recovery – 6:30-8pm. This group is open to new meditators and seasoned practitioners alike with a common interest in the intersection of Buddhist teachings and 12 Step recovery. All 12 Steppers are welcome and we ask that participants have at least 90 days of continuous recovery and a working relationship with a home 12 Step recovery group be established before attending your first meeting. This group is not a replacement for our individual 12 Step programs. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.
monday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. A beautiful way to start your day, with a 30-minute meditation and optional 15-minute discussion following. Drop-ins welcome. A project of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.
tuesday Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga – 6:30-7:30am. With Anie Turchi. Awaken your body, find balance within, ease into your day with greater clarity, peace and mindfulness. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: TheMindfulnessCenter.org/Classes. 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.
wednesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Yoga Nidra Meditation – 7:30-8:30am. Yoga Nidra will help you rest, restore, de-stress, increase awareness, undo bad habits and eventually understand your true calling and higher purpose. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: Clients.MindBody
Online.com/Classic/ws?studioid=8687& stype=-7&sView=week&sLoc=0. Morning Qigong – 8:30-9:30am. Senior citizens, yogis and athletes, all can benefit from this gentle and profound practice of aligning breath, movement and awareness for exercise, healing and meditation. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: Clients.MindBody Online.com/Classic/ws?studioid=8687& stype=-7&sView=week&sLoc=0.
AUGUST
Children’s Health plus: Natural Pet Care
thursday Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga – 6:30-7:30am. With Anie Turchi. See Tues for details. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: TheMindfulnessCenter.org/Classes. Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Gentle Therapeutic Yoga: Viniyoga – 10:4511:45am. With Robin Glantz. Ease pain and tension through movement and stress reduction techniques. Cultivate strength, flexibility, balance and awareness. $20.The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: Clients.MindBody Online.com/Classic/ws?studioid=8687&stype =-7&sView=week&sLoc=0.
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. Yoga Nidra Meditation – 7:30-8:30am. See Wed for details. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ws?studioid=8687& stype=-7&sView=week&sLoc=0.
Readers are Seeking These Providers & Services:
Art/Dance/Alternative Education Facilities Nurturing Day Care Centers Parenting Resources • Pet Food Vendors ... and this is just a partial list!
VIBRANT AT ANY AGE ISSUE
SEPTEMBER
Age-Defying Bodywork plus: Yoga Therapy
Vinyasa Yoga, All Levels – 8:30-9:45am. With Maria Garcia-Borreguero. All-levels Vinyasa Flow class taught at a moderate pace, invite yourself to become aware of the mind/body/spirit connection and set an intention for each class. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: Clients.Mind BodyOnline.com/Classic/ws?studioid=8687& stype=-7&sView=Week&sLoc=0.
plus: Chiropractic Care
saturday
CONNECT WITH OUR READERS
Meditation – 10:15-11:15am. With Sharon Jentzer. A guided practice, including techniques for breathe awareness, relaxation and development of nonjudgmental awareness inviting calmness and promote feelings of wellbeing, clarity, relaxation and balance. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: Clients.MindBody Online.com/Classic/ws?studioid=8687& stype=-7&sView=Week&sLoc=0.
THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL
OCTOBER
Oral Health
CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER
Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at:
202-505-4835 July 2019
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community resource guide
protocols. See ad, page 11.
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 VIRGINIA MITCHELL, L.AC
See ad, page 7.
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 23.
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 CHI HEALTH CARE
15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste.200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI CHI Health Care’s integrative primary 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.
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
BEDROOM FURNITURE SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM
258 Maple Ave East, Vienna, VA and 12242 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 703-255-7040 (VA) or 301-770-7040 (MD) Maddie@SavvyRest.com • SRNB.com Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom is the premier retailer of Savvy Rest organic mattresses and bedding, a Virginia manufacturer and retailer of fine bedroom furniture.
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Washington, D.C.
The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway. ~Michael Pollan
NaturalAwakeningsDC.com
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 27.
CONSULTING 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 11.
DENTAL – HOLISTIC DENTAL EXCELLENCE INTEGRATIVE CENTER
Dr. Sheri Salartash, DDS, FAGD, FICOI, FAAP Certified Holistic Mouth Doctor 3116 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 703-745-5496 • DentalExcellenceVA.com Dr. Salartash offers comprehensive integrative care for the mouth, including general and preventative family dentistry, cosmetic smile design and implants, orthodontics and clear aligners, Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Therapy, mercury-safe removal, TMJ, sleep apnea and snoring treatment. From her green office, using sustainable practices and materials, Dr. Salartash treats both adults and children.
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!
HOLISTIC PARENTING 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 LIFE
571-358-8645 • 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.
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 11.
HEALTH COACHING 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 23.
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.
DIANE RHODES HYPNOTHERAPY AND DREAM INTERPRETER
HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK
ESSENTIAL OILS
HYPNOTHERAPIST Neck Back & Beyond Wellness Center 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com
Diane Rhodes is a NGH Certified Hypnotherapy Practitioner and a Certified Projective Dreamworker. For five years, she has been using a client-centered approach to help people make positive behavior changes utilizing the powerful tool of hypnotherapy. She guides people to overcome issues such as: overweight, fears/anxiety, stress, chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, sadness/depression and lack of confidence, fear of public speaking, nail biting, poor academic/sports performance and clutter/hoarding. See ad, page 11.
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
HOMEOPATHY
SUSHMA HIRANI, MD
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.
HYPNOSIS FREE YOURSELF HYPNOSIS Michelle DeStefano 301-744-0200 • FreeYourselfHypnosis.com FreeYourselfHypnosis@gmail.com Life strategies and techniques to rewrite the software of your mind and change the printout of your life — become stress-free, stop smoking, manage pain, or lose weight. We work with PSTD, birthing, peak performance, PSYCH-K, Graphology, meditation and qigong. See ad, page 23.
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 emphasize s nut r it i on , preventive care and lifestyle changes. Dr. Hirani specializes in the treatment of chronic issues such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, menopause and women’s health issues. Patients love her compassionate care and personalized attention. See ad, page 7.
INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC The Waterfront Center 1010 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 660, NW 202-298-9131 • IndigoHealthClinic.com Facebook.com/Izzy Indigo
Are you living with a health problem which you aren’t sure how to handle? Give yourself the opportunity to describe your symptoms in detail, how those symptoms make you feel and how having them affects your life. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can be restored to vibrant health. See ad, page 36.
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. ~Alfred Austin
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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 23.
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!
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 CHI Health Care’s integrative primary 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.
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 15.
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.
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.
POLARITY THERAPY NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER
HOLISTIC HEALTHY NATUROPATHIC
D r. T i m S a l o t t o o f f e r s naturopathic treatment for all your medical conditions, treating the cause and not just the symptoms. See ad, page 27.
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 11.
1331 H St. NW, Ste 200, D.C. 717-728-4546 DrSalotto.com
15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste.200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI
Washington, D.C.
717-789-4433 • Csa@SpiralPathFarm.com SpiralPathFarm.com
Janice M Johnson 10195 Main St, Ste D, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690
CHI HEALTH CARE
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SPIRAL PATH FARM
PHYSICAL THERAPY
CHIROPRACTOR
CHI Health Care’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.
ORGANIC PRODUCE - CSA
NUTRITION CHI HEALTH CARE
15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 200, Rockville, MD • 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org • FB /healthcare.CHI CHI Health Care’s integrative primary 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.
NaturalAwakeningsDC.com
A good garden may have some weeds. ~Thomas Fuller
PRIMARY CARE CHI HEALTH CARE
15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 200, Rockville, MD 301-664-6464 CHIHealthCare.org FB /healthcare.CHI CHI Health Care’s integrative primary 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.
STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION MaxAlignment Bodywork Max Rosenberg, L.M.T. 240-893-6209 Chevy Chase, DC 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.
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!
nings! e k a w a atural n h t i tise w adver
I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ~C. Z. Guest
ReaCh ouR 3 MILLIon ReadeRs eaCh Month! Natural Awakenings has been a leader in the naturally healthy, green-living marketplace for the past 25 years. Each magazine is locally and independently published, allowing for a deep connection to every community we touch.
Regional & national advertising opportunities available Contact Your Local Publisher For More Information
202-505-4835
July 2019
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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
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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