Natural Awakenings, March 2011 issue

natural

G Green L Local O Organic W Wholistic

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

awakenings

Magazine

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

March 2011

DR. DEAN ORNISH

The JOY of HEALTH His Spectrum Lifestyle Program

SPECIAL ISSUE:

Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Preventive Medicine www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

March 2011

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Restore energy

with

natural

detoxification For decades, Americans have increasingly turned to “alternative” forms of medicine and natural treatments.

They have sought help for all kinds of diseases and conditions that were not helped by traditional Western medicine, which is often characterized by surgery and narcotics.

Lemire Clinic focuses on “functional natural medicine,” which does not rely only on invasive procedures or drugs. It combines modern science with ancient healing wisdom from different parts of the world, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

At Lemire Clinic, we combine various natural therapies with safe, proven medical treatment to help remove stress, reduce pain and anxiety, manage symptoms and promote well-being. Using these non-traditional pain management techniques and detoxification therapies, we can cleanse the body of chemical, heavy-metal and environmental toxins. We have successfully reduced pain and symptoms and improved the overall condition for many patients.

• Physician Assisted Heavy Metal Detoxification • Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy • Ionic Foot Bath Detoxification Therapy

• Electrical Dermal Screening • Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy • Prolotherapy • Far Infrared Sauna Therapy • Live Blood Analysis • Occupational Therapy

• Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy • Colon Hydrotherapy • Microdermabrasion Patient Information • Voice Mapping/Emotional Clearing Technique

Call for your free consultation today 1-352-291-9459 11115 SW 93rd Ct Rd, Suite 600, Ocala, Florida 34481

www.lemireclinic.com 2

Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 8 – 5 Tuesday 9-6 Closed everyday from 12-1

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Williams Chiropractic, P.A. & Acupuncture

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March 2011

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North Central Florida's Natural Awakenings Magazine is FOR SALE

Great opportunity to own one of North Central Florida’s most exciting businesses.

Natural Awakenings Healthy Living/Healthy Planet free monthly magazine targets the dramatically expanding marketplace of goods and services focused on natural health, fitness, the environment, personal growth, creative expression and green/sustainable living.

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Natural Awakenings provides thousands of people with the resources they are looking for to assist them along a path of health and transformation.

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COUPON New Patient Special: $25.00 off one-hour massage. www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

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Natural Awakenings is your guide to nutrition, fitness, personal growth, sustainable building, “green” living, organic food, Buy Local, the Slow Food and Slow Money movements, creative expression, wholistic health care, and products and services that support a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages.

~ Features ~

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St. Patrick’s Day Recipe: Colcannon

by Clark Dougherty

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Chelation Therapy: Whole-Body Detox

by Lee Walker

Managing Editor Clark Dougherty

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Editors Sharon Bruckman S. Alison Chabonais Kim Marques Linda Sechrist

Lead Poisoning?

by Dr. James Lemire, M.D.

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Natural Horse: Alternative Therapies for Horses

by Michelle Schoffro Cook

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Diet Detox

by Ann Louise Gittleman

Publisher Carolyn Rose Blakeslee, Ocala

Design + Production Stephen Gray-Blancett Carolyn Rose Blakeslee Contact Us Email: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com Call: 352-629-4000 Mail to: P.O. Box 1140, Anthony, FL 32617 Fax: 352-351-5474 Visit: www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com Subscriptions Mailed subscriptions are available for $36/ year. Digital is free. Pick up the printed version at your local health food stores, area Publix and Sweetbay stores, and other locations—that’s free, too. Locations listed online at www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com.

Natural Awakenings Gainesville/Ocala/ The Villages/Mt. Dora/Leesburg/Clermont is published every month in full color.

20,000 copies are distributed to health food stores, public libraries, Publix and Sweetbay stores, medical offices, restaurants and cafes, and other locations throughout North Central Florida.

Natural Awakenings cannot be responsible for the products or services herein. To determine whether a particular product or service is appropriate for you, consult your family physician or licensed wholistic practitioner.

Copyright ©2011 Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

A good spring cleaning flushes out fat and toxins

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Exercise Detox

by Annie Bond

Six ways to burn calories and clean out your system

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Five Steps to Better Health

by Marco Visscher, Ursula Sautter, Carmel Wroth How integrative medicine can make health care simpler, more effective and more affordable

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The Joy of Health

by April Thompson

A conversation with Dr. Dean Ornish on lifestyle changes that foster well-being

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Consciousness Cleanse: 3 weeks to a better future

by Michelle Schoffro Cook

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Gardening in March

by Jo Leyte-Vidal

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Yin & Tonic: My Heaven

by Melody Murphy

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Qigong and Tumo Breathing: Internal Heat

by Jeff Primack Accelerating metabolism and healing

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~ Featurettes ~ ActionAlert

EcoBrief EcoTip HealthBriefs CommunityResource Guide ClassifiedAds CalendarofEvents

PublisherLetter

8 9 10 16 32 33 34

April Issue: Natural Foods Hello, Dear Reader,

To be a sponsor in this issue, call 352-629-4000 Advertising & Submissions AdvertisING n To advertise with us or request a media kit, please call 352-629-4000 or email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com. n Design services are available, FREE (limited time offer). n Advertisers are included online FREE and receive other significant benefits including FREE “Calendar of Events” listings (normally $15 each).

Editorial AND CALENDAR submissions n For article submission guidelines, please visit www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com/services.htm. n Calendar: visit www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com /news.htm. n Email all items to GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

MATERIALS DUE n Deadline for all materials is the 15th of the month (i.e.

March 15th for April issue).

NATIONAL markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets.

Now serving 88+ communities and printing 3,000,000 copies. To advertise in other markets, call 239-449-8309.

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

We have a winner! Our Internet/Facebook/email contest last month asked, “What do you like best about Natural Awakenings magazine?” Michelle Y. Holder answered, “I love the genuine nature of Natural Awakenings. I appreciate the articles’ real-life value; sometimes I need reminders to live a simpler life. Sometimes I need instruction on my personal well being. I look to your magazine to both learn and find comfort and I enjoy this kind of support.”

Thank you, Michelle!

We’ve decided to run the contest again this month. What do you like best about our magazine? In a brief statement (maybe 25-50 words), tell us what you like about the magazine, articles that have made a difference to you, your favorite ad or advertiser, changes in our look and format, you name it! The winner will receive tickets for two to a show at The Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville.

Send to GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com by March 19th.

[Big breath] ... And now for some personal news. Sometimes in life you’ve just gotta go for the gusto. I’ve decided to sell Natural Awakenings magazine because another opportunity has opened for me. If you’re interested in having our baton passed to you, please call John Voell at 877-530-1377. I’ve learned TONS and have enjoyed the new friendships I’ve made through the magazine. Please be assured that I will be fully involved for as long as it takes to complete a smooth transition to enable the magazine to serve the community even better!

Happy Spring,

Carolyn March 2011

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ActionAlert Take a Stand Against Biotech Bullies

E

T

he Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the first annual Health and Wellness Exposition on Saturday, March 12, 2011, from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Paddock Mall, 3100 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

The purpose of the event is to increase the awareness of all forms of healthcare and healthy living opportunities available in Marion County. From health and wellness providers to nutritionists, fitness experts and insurance carriers, a variety of areas of interest will be showcased at the event.

For more information, contact Miranda Anderson at 352-629-8051, ext. 106.

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

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arly this year, the Obama administration approved three genetically modified organism (GMO) crops— Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa and sugar beets and Syngenta’s amylase corn to produce ethanol. Food Democracy Now, a grassroots community for a sustainable food system, is circulating an online petition objecting to these decisions that support biotech.

Dozens of large food manufacturers and farm, food and agricultural organizations, both conventional and organic, are on board in opposing these lab-engineered food products for a variety of reasons such as unknown health and environmental conse-

quences, including genetic contamination. Instead, the Obama administration should be forging progress in making agriculture more sustainable and encouraging farmers to convert to organic farming practices.

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EcoBriefs

Nature’s Cure Monarch Butterfly Behavior Hints of Self-Medication

A

s with many species, Monarch butterflies’ bright coloring warns predators of the insects’ potential toxicity. Biologists have discovered that female Monarchs infected with a particularly noxious parasite will choose to lay their eggs on a more toxic version of milkweed, their basic food foliage, which works to reduce pass-along parasite infection in their offspring and is harmless to the larvae.

“These experiments provide the best evidence to date that animals use medication,” says Jaap de Roode, the biologist who led the Emory University study. Some scientists theorize that animals’ practice of self-doctoring by using nature’s medicine cabinet may be more widespread than we realize.

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EcoTip Retail Solutions Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle Plastic Bags

S

tudies tell us that plastic grocery bags consume less energy to produce, transport and recycle than paper grocery sacks. The problem is that the vast majority of them do not get recycled. This modern “urban tumbleweed” clogs our gutters, kills wildlife and makes the world less beautiful.

Worldwatch Institute estimates that people in the U.S. throw away 100 billion plastic shopping bags every year. Here are some ways to prevent that.

n Bring reusable totes and plastic bags to stores. n Go through self-checkout to add more items to each bag. n Use a plastic grocery bag to clean up behind the dog and

scoop out the litter box. n Donate bags to a local dog park and animal shelter. n Wrap homemade bread in a clean plastic grocery bag to keep it fresh. n Reuse plastic bags to pack lunches. n Line a cutting board for easy cleanup of messy jobs; collect vegetable shavings. n Use plastic bags as packing material, instead of Styrofoam packing peanuts.

n Line paint trays with plastic bags before pouring in paint for easy cleanup. n Substitute twisted bags for rope or plastic zip ties. n Keep bags in the trunk of the car for emergencies. n Reuse plastic grocery bags as small trash-can liners. n Keep plastic grocery bags in the diaper bag. n Donate bags to local libraries, thrift stores and daycare centers. n For travel, wrap a plastic bag around the toiletry bag to contain spills. n Tie bags around both feet to keep shoes clean when traversing a muddy area. n Protect work surfaces with plastic bags when doing messy crafts. n Make recycled fabric tubes stuffed with plastic bags to block drafts and save energy. n Cut the bags into loops and knot them together into plastic “yarn,” to make braided rugs, woven baskets and crocheted bags. n Support companies that use recycled plastic, from makers of handmade African crafts to designer chairs and composite decking.

Source: Adapted from RusticGirls.com

Ocala Integrated Medical Services “A New Vision in Primary Care”

Do you feel lost in the shuffle when you see your doctor?

Does your doctor really listen to you and identify your needs?

If not, call Ocala Integrated Medical Services and experience the difference where you are not a number, but a person who comes first.

Ocala Integrated Medical Services brings you the very best in:

u Traditional Primary Care Physicians Services u Pain Management u Chelation Therapy u Chiropractic u Acupuncture u Biofeedback u Clinical Massage Therapy u Nutritional Counseling u Hypnotherapy u Iridology u Herbals and Homeopathics u Naturopathic Physician

Call

352 854-0710 for an appointment today and begin your journey to better health.

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Intuitive Touch Reiki and Massage Therapy

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Mosswood Farm Store 703 NE Cholokka Blvd Micanopy, FL 32667 (352) 466-5002 www.MosswoodFarmStore.com Organic coffee and pastries, sustainable living books and earth friendly supplies, crafts, soaps, homemade bread, much more. Open every day 10-6.

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March 2011

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We don’t just talk about the environment— We respect it.

At Natural Awakenings, we know the cost of glossy coatings on a magazine’s pages: n 33-54% increase in energy consumption, wastewater, air pollution emissions, solid waste n Coated paper is very difficult to recycle (the quantity of waste clay coating removed nearly equals that of the usable paper fiber) n The sealant coating/varnish commonly contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) n Inks that often contain heavy metals and VOCs n Higher costs to print, resulting in higher costs for advertisers —Sources: Buy Recycled Business Alliance; Turning the Page by the PAPER Project partnership; Magazine PAPER Project (CoopAmerica.org/programs/woodwise/publishers/ magazines/index.cfm For more information, visit www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com/WhyRecycled.pdf Join our family of “green” readers and advertisers. Call 352-629-4000.

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Colcannon

by a Cook Named Clark from the Clan of County Cork a.k.a. Clark Dougherty

Contrary to myth, corned beef and cabbage is not the quintessential St. Patrick’s Day meal. Nor does an Irish seven-course meal consist of a boiled potato and a six-pack of stout. Irish food is earthy, using root vegetables, sausages, pork, mutton, fish,soda breads, grains and potatoes. The recipe I’m sharing is for Colcannon, a potato dish that comes in as many forms as there are O’ names from my ancestral land.

This particular recipe uses bacon and scallions, which are not in the original and ancient version. The original dish is intended to be a color contrast of white (clouds), green (grass), and gold (sun) represented by the potatoes, kale and butter. Make it your own. Go vegetarian and omit the bacon/ham. Or go more traditional and use sliced Irish sausages instead of bacon. Substitute green peas for the cabbage/kale. Replace the scallions with lightly sautéed sweet onions.

Halve the cabbage/kale and add fennel for the other half. Add thinly-sliced carrots to the mixture, or thick-sliced, cooked carrots. Use your own imagination and creativity. But most of all, enjoy this tasty and versatile dish, compliments of a cook named Clark from the ancient O’Dougherty clan of County Cork.

Ingredients

D 2 pounds peeled and quartered russet potatoes OR 2 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled and quartered D 4 cups coarse shredded green cabbage or curly kale D 2/3 cup light cream or half & half D 3 scallions (green onions), sliced D 3 pieces thick-sliced bacon OR 1/2 cup ham D 1/4 cup melted butter D Sea salt and cracked pepper to taste

Directions

D Cook thin-sliced bacon; drain; pat dry; dice. OR, chop ham into 1/4” cubes.

D Blanch cabbage/kale in boiling salted water 3-4 min.; drain; pat dry.

D Boil potatoes in salted water until folk-tender. Drain.

D Mash potatoes by hand in large bowl; beat in cream until smooth (not soupy).

D Transfer to large cooking pan; low heat; stir in cabbage/kale, melted butter, scallions; add bacon/ham; blend until hot; salt/papper to taste.

Clark

Serving (6 servings)

D Spoon a mounded portion onto plate; make a well on top, adding a pat of butter in the well. Serve at once.

D Option 2: Plate atop soda bread and add chopped parsley or fresh dill garni.

D Option 3: Go trendy upscale; mound into soup crocks, add a pat of butter to well/indention, crumble Irish cheese on top, drizzle with truffle oil, put the crocks on a baking sheet for 4 minutes in a 325 oven.

D o u g h e rt y

therapeutic Massage Clinic Did you know? therapeutic massage can:

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Relieve tension headaches and eye strain.

Relax spasmodic muscles and prevent atrophy due to illness or injury.

Increase joint flexibility and/or range of motion.

Improve circulation, cleansing the body.

Improve posture by stretching chronically tight muscles.

Promote deep relaxation and stress reduction.

Provide healthier and better nourished skin.

20 % Discount for pre-purchase of five or more sessions PIP, WorkComp, Group and Private Insurance* accepted Physician and Chiropractor referrals accepted

850 NE 36th Terrace, Suite A, Ocala FL 34470 www.ClarkDougherty.com 352-694-7255 By Appointment Only *Group/Private Insurance policies that cover massage therapy

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March 2011

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HealingWays

Chelation Therapy Offers Whole-Body Detox

by Lee Walker

D

For the past 50 years, more than a million patients have undergone chelation therapy for a wide range of circulatory problems. Yet, at present, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only approves the therapy for treatment of heavy metal poisoning. What do these patients know that officials have yet to understand?

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r. Jeffrey Morrison, founder of The Morrison Center in New York, serves on the board of directors of the American Academy for the Advancement of Medicine, or ACAM (formerly American Academy of Medical Preventics). This leading authority and educator of physicians and health care providers on the proper use of chelation therapy first advises, “The accumulation of toxic metals in the body’s tissues can lead to elevated blood pressure, the risk of heart disease and neuro-degenerative conditions.” Then Morrison points to accumulating case studies that prove the relationship.

A family history of heart disease led Gary Gallo, a medical doctor with the Chelation Center of Naples, to use chelation therapy to reduce his own high mercury levels.

“Mercury attacks the nervous system, kidneys and heart,” notes Gallo. He explains that the presence of heavy metals in the body helps free radicals to form. This can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, as well as irregularities in heart rhythm, arthritis-like joint pain, chronic fatigue, motor dysfunction and the decline of mental acuity.

A recommended series of 30 treatments, which can only be administered by a physician, is accompanied by comprehensive testing before, during and after chelation.

“Many people show improvement with 20 treatments,” comments Diana Smith, a registered nurse with the Chelation Center of Naples. “When they feel the difference, patients go on for another 10 or more treatments.”

It’s uplifting for health care practitioners to see patients who formerly had to pop nitro pills to walk from the parking lot to the doctor’s office, undergo treatment and reduce their nitro intake to once a week. Smith has also witnessed the improvement of patients, who prior to chelation, could barely walk because of poor circulation. After treatments, some took up walking one to two miles daily.

Chelation therapy’s long and varied history began in 1893, when French-Swiss chemist Alfred Werner developed the theory of coordination compounds, known today as chelates. Chelation (key-layshun) derives from the Greek chele, meaning to claw. Chelating agents are substances

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that can chemically bond with toxic minerals, metals and chemicals within the body. They encircle and carry away the unwanted matter from the body via excretion. Werner received the Nobel Prize for his work in 1913 and went on to establish the science of chelation chemistry.

Germany put Werner’s discovery to use in the manufacture of industrial paints, which required the elimination of heavy metals. Rather than be dependent upon imported citric acid for their manufacturing process, the German chemists invented a safe amino acid known as ethylenediamine tetraacedic acid (EDTA), now also used in chelation therapy.

Further experimentation and research into this science from the 1940s to the 1980s led to the application of EDTA and chelation therapy in the treatment of individuals who had an accumulation of toxic metals, such as mercury and lead, in their body. It employs an intravenous infusion that may, according to an individual’s needs, include vitamins, magnesium and a saline solution. Remarkably, the only side effects that these early patients experienced were positive: relief from arteriosclerosis, chest pains, arthritis, memory loss and the inability to concentrate.

The news eventually made its way into medical journals. By 1973, ACAM was formed to educate physicians in the uses of EDTA chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Today, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, both components of the National Institutes of

Health, have launched the Chelation Therapy Study. It’s the first large-scale, multi-center study to determine the efficacy of EDTA chelation therapy and/or high-dose vitamin/mineral supplements in the treatment of individuals with coronary artery disease.

Michael Loquasto, a doctor of naturopathy, practices chelation therapy at the Borton Medical Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. “I prefer to call the therapy a vitamin cocktail,” says Loquasto, “because we add vitamins C and B6, along with magnesium and calcium.”

Loquasto, who invented oral chelation, believes that physicians should not limit chelation to detoxification.

Rather, “It can help any health condition,” he says, “since it increases circulation, which naturally offers more healthful oxygen to all parts of the body.”

RESOURCES: n Gainesville Holistic Center, Hanoch Talmor, M.D. 4140 NW 27th Ln., Suite C, Gainesville, 352-377-0015, www. betterw.com. See ad, p 22 and 32. n Lemire Clinic, James Lemire, M.D. 11115 SW 93rd Court Rd, Suite 600, Ocala, 352-291-9459, www.LemireClinic. com. See ad, p 2. n Life Family Practice Center, Nelson Kraucak, M.D., 1501 U.S. Hwy. 441 North, The Villages, 352-750-4333, www.

LifeFamilyPractice.com. See ad, p 12 and 32. n Ocala Integrated Medicine, Gene Serra, M.D. 3301 SW 34th Cir., Suite 203, Ocala, 352-854-0710. See ad, p 10.

Lead Poisoning May be Causing Your Health Problems

by James Lemire, M.D.

W

e are too heavy—and I don’t mean overweight. We’re heavy with metals, not fat. Nearly 40 percent of us have toxic levels of lead in our bodies, and don’t even know it. That doesn’t mean we don’t have symptoms.

You may have headaches, insomnia, irritability, a low sex drive, or tremors. You may have mood problems, nausea, depression, memory difficulties, trouble concentrating, poor coordination, or even constipation. Yet most of us attribute these symptoms to other problems. We don’t recognize that they may be caused by lead poisoning.

In a study published in 2006 in the conservative medical journal Circulation, nearly 40 percent of all Americans are estimated to have blood levels of lead high enough to cause serious health problems.

The researchers found that the risk of death from all causes in people with high levels of lead increased by 25%, deaths from heart disease increased by 55%, risk of heart attacks increased by 151%, and risk of stroke increased by 89%.

High lead may also be responsible for kidney failure as well. A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that using chelation therapy with EDTA to reduce lead levels in patients with kidney failure could prevent further loss of kidney function, save billions in healthcare costs, and eliminate the need for dialysis in millions of people.

The Lemire Clinic can test for lead toxicity. They can be reached at 352-291-9459.

References * Mark Hyman, M.D., Menke, A., Muntner, .P, Batumen, V., et al. (2006). Blood lead below 0.48 micromol/L (10 microg/dL) and mortality among US adults. Circulation. 114(13):1388-94. * Lin, J.L., Lin-Tan, D.T.,Hsu, K.H., and C.C. Yu (2003) Environmental lead exposure and progression of chronic renal diseases in patients without diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 348(4):277-86. www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

March 2011

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NaturalHorse

Alternative Therapies for Horses

by Alycin Hayes

H

orses are extremely sensitive creatures. Whether we listen or not, they are always talking to us, occasionally with their voice, but primarily through body language and touch. The next time you groom your horse, watch and listen.

If your horse flattens his ears to his head, bares his teeth, angrily stamps his feet, swishes his tail or tries to walk away,

your horse is telling you something is wrong. It may be you are simply applying too much pressure or using the wrong brush, or he may be telling you he has an injury or tight muscle.

On the other hand, if your horse quietly lowers his head, dozes off, licks, chews, yawns, sighs, rests a leg, passes gas, or you hear rumbling in his stomach, these are signs that your horse is enjoying your grooming.

We all want our horses to be pain-free and relaxed. A relaxed horse performs better and is less spooky. There are several integrative and preventive methods of alternative therapy that can be used on horses to achieve these goals. Many of the alternative therapy methods we use on humans also work well for our equine friends. n ACUPRESSURE/SHIATSU is an ancient Asian method that works on the same principle as acupuncture, but without the use of needles. Instead, the pressure points are stimulated with your fingertips by gently touching specific points on the Equine Meridian System.

Acupressure on horses promotes health and can be used as a preventive method to relieve muscle spasms and strengthen muscles, tendons, joints and bones. Acupressure can also help the horse to naturally release endorphins and innate cortisone which can increase energy, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and increase blood flow to an injury to promote healing.

Arguably a horse’s weakest link, the foot can reveal tremendously valuable clues about the entire horse. Here, Alycin is assessing certain aspects of her patient’s condition. Photo by Wendy Webb.

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n CRYSTALS are a noninvasive method of therapy that produce excellent results with horses and have been used since time immemorial for healing. For centuries, crystal pendulum dowsing has been used to locate health problems and to find

As Alycin massages her patient, notice the many signs of relaxation: lowered head, calm and nearly drowsy eyes, mildly interested ears, and chewing.

Photo by Wendy Webb.

correct remedies for horses. Even the Royal Veterinary College of Veterinary Medicine acknowledges the validity of the use of dowsing. Naturally occurring healing crystals, like all matter, have energy and are constantly vibrating. Each molecular mass creates its own constant vibrating frequency.

For example, if you play an E on a piano, the E string on a guitar in the same room will vibrate in response.

Not every crystal has the same effect, because each crystal has its own unique vibration. An experienced Equine Crystal Healer will know what crystals to use, and for how long, based on what the horse tells her through its body language. For example, rose quartz is good for healing injuries and reducing stress, but if the horse reacts with any of the negative responses I mentioned earlier, it may have had enough—and one should slow down or stop the process.

If the horse reacts with a positive response, you will know the healing is working and you may continue. n HOMEOPATHY is based on the use of specially prepared, refined

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high dilutions of natural substances that stimulate a healing response and enhance the horse’s own natural defenses. It is especially useful in treating bruises, skin reactions, colic, trauma and fright, as well as long-term equine health care problems.

Homeopathic remedies are quite specific. For this reason, crystal dowsing is often combined with homeopathy to choose the correct remedy. Homeopathic treatment is sometimes more subtle or slower than other conventional medicines, but a horse’s response can also be rapid in many conditions. n HORSE YOGA/STRETCHING is used all over the world to help horses release tension. The horse is gently manipulated into a number of different positions and an experienced practitioner can get an immediate release response and subsequently improved mobility and relaxation.

therapies depending on what you tell me about your horse and what your horse tells me that it needs and enjoys through its own distinct body language. Always listen to what your horse tells you, and consult with your veterinarian before using any alternative therapy.

Alycin Hayes is a certified practitioner of equine body work. She travels extensively doing body work on horses in Canada, Kentucky, Texas and Florida. She has worked on horses on the Canadian and U.S. Endurance equestrian teams. Visit www.

AlycinHayes.com.

Homegrown Organics Organic buying club.

Start eating right today! n Fresh organic fruit and veggies n Organic and free-roaming poultry n Grass-feed beef Doreen, 352-598-4184 HomeGrownOrganics.vpweb.com

n MASSAGE can improve a horse’s performance and efficiency by increasing mobility and range of motion. Rhythmic massage causes the muscles to re-oxygenate and increases circulation to the area being massaged, which will speed up the elimination of toxic wastes from tired muscles and alleviate muscle tension. Gentle massage can be very effective on the poll and other parts of the horse that are inclined to hold tension. Again, your horse will tell you via body language if you are working on the right spot with the correct pressure. n REIKI is a noninvasive technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Certified Reiki healers have been trained and attuned to use the Reiki method of energy healing. Reiki can help horses who have behavioral issues such as nervousness by helping horses to relax and reduce their stress and anxiety.

Reiki can also help a sick or injured horse heal more quickly and is often a great complement to traditional veterinary care.

In my Equine Bodywork practice, I use an integrated mix of alternative www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

March 2011

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Diet Detox

A Good Spring Cleaning Flushes Out Fats and Toxins

by Ann Louise Gittleman

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pring—when the natural world reawakens and bursts with renewed energy—is an ideal season to clean up our act. A cleansing diet to eliminate toxins from our body is as much a rite of spring as sweeping debris from our home. In my nutrition practice, I have often seen how after a sedentary winter of consuming heavier foods, our bodies may be carrying around as much as five to 10 pounds of toxic wastes.

While a properly functioning human body has its own built-in detoxification system, it can be easily overwhelmed by today’s proliferation of environmental toxins. The newest environmental assault on the body’s detox system is electro-pollution, according to research highlighted in the 2007 BioIniative Report, a metastudy of 2,000 peer-reviewed studies compiled by an international group of researchers, scientists and health policy officials.

Compounding the problem, Paula Baillie-Hamilton, a British medical doctor specializing in human metabolism, reported in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine that environmental toxins also play havoc with our body’s built-in weight regulation system. In short, the more toxic our body becomes, the harder it is to lose weight.

Detox Equals Weight Loss Clinical research from the University of Quebec as far back as 2002 suggests that toxins slow metabolism.

It is widely held that because many

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toxins are fat-soluble and stored in body fat, as the fat melts away, the toxins are released into the bloodstream; this inhibits the production of thyroid hormone, with a resulting metabolic meltdown.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is the season to support the prime organs of detoxification—the liver and gallbladder. The liver alone impacts some 400 bodily functions, so it deserves support. The following symptoms recommend giving these organs some special care: ■ Chronic tension in neck and shoulders ■ Sensitivity beneath the rib cage (particularly the right side) ■ Feeling tired and sleepy after eating ■ Nausea, especially after eating fatty foods ■ Hormonal imbalances with hot flashes due to perimenopause or menopause ■ Premenstrual irritability and bloating ■ Light-colored stools ■ Waking between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Detox Diet Basics Start off each morning for two weeks (or up to a maximum of two months), with hot lemon water, perhaps spiced with cinnamon and ginger, for an added metabolic boost. The antioxidant D-limonine in lemon thins bile and is helpful in breaking down fat-trapping toxins. Use the juice of one small lemon to eight ounces of warm water.

Then, sip a total of 64 ounces of

cran-water between meals throughout the day. Mix one ounce of unsweetened cranberry juice per seven ounces of pure water. Cranberry helps to balance pH, suppress hunger and combat cellulite and water retention, while drawing out fatty wastes by targeting lymph (a secondary circulatory system beneath the skin that works to rid the body of toxic wastes, bacteria, heavy metals, dead cells, trapped proteins and fat). Sipped daily, this antioxidant- and phenol-rich elixir works to help reduce bloating and melt fat from hips, waist and thighs.

Nutrient-rich spring greens like arugula, collard or dandelion greens, lettuce, parsley, spinach, Swiss chard and watercress are classic foods used in a spring detox. Other good choices are antioxidant foods that supply the body with glutathione, the liver’s premier antioxidant, also known as, “the toxic waste neutralizer,” which is vital to organ detoxification. Broccoli sprouts are one of the best sources of glutathione; so is asparagus. Eating lightly steamed kale, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage can also support the liver’s ability to detoxify the body.

Finally, eating adequate protein is essential to ensure that the liver can produce the enzymes it needs to break down toxins into water-soluble substances for excretion. Protein plays a crucial role in tissue growth and healing, strengthening the immune system and burning fat. Eat at least 4 to 6 ounces of wild salmon, free-range organic poultry or hemp protein each day during detox.

Choosing a daily dose of highquality glutathione-boosting whey protein powder or a brown rice/yellow pea protein powder is another way to pump up the detox process.

Such spring cleaning can help purge our body of toxins and give our whole system the cleansing boost it needs, simultaneously preparing it for even more healthy weight loss in coming months.

Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D. and certified nutrition specialist, is an awardwinning New York Times bestselling author and media expert. Fat Flush for Life is the latest in her book series on body detoxification and weight loss.

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EXERCISE

DETOX Six Ways to Burn Calories and Clean Out Your System

by Annie B. Bond

Life is a song—sing it. Life is a game— play it. Life is a challenge—meet it.

Life is a dream—realize it. Life is a sacrifice—offer it. Life is love—enjoy it. ~ Sai Baba My mother always used to say, “The older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana.” ~ Betty White

Alternative Wholistic Health Care Michael Badanek, BS, DC, CNS, DACBN, DCBCN, Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition, Certified in Applied Kinesiology, and Promoter of Alternative Complementary Medicine.

30 Years of Clinical Practice

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here are as many different types of exercise as there are ways to move. Although all types of exercise will help to detoxify your body, some are more beneficial than others.

Try one of these; feel better right away.

Walk This Way Generally speaking, aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are the most detoxifying. Walking is hands-down the most popular. It is something almost everyone can do to get a daily dose of healthy detoxification.

Jump for Joy Bouncing on a trampoline, such as a mini-tramp or rebounder, is one of the best exercises for cleansing and strengthening every cell of the body.

Experts point out that it is also one of the best workouts for activating the lymphatic system.

Let Your Body Flow For centuries, yoga has been prescribed as moving medicine for the immune system. Yoga has been reported to lower stress hormones that compromise immunity, while stimulating the lymphatic system to purge toxins and bring fresh, nutrient-oxygenated blood to each organ to help ensure optimum functioning.

Pick Up the Pace There’s a longstanding myth

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among participants that exercising at a lower intensity for a longer duration maximizes the burning of fat and releases toxins. Not entirely true. To really rev up metabolism, burn more calories, and keep the fat-burning switch turned on longer after an exercise session, try picking up the pace for one or more short bursts.

Make Some Muscle Strength training is known to boost natural muscle-making chemicals such as human growth hormone and preserve the muscle we have, while also replacing the muscle tissue we’ve lost.

Lifting weights also helps us shed fat by simply burning calories. As a bonus, a calorie-burning metabolism can stay elevated for up to 48 hours after we’ve finished lifting.

Take It Outside When possible, infuse an exercise routine with fresh air by doing it outdoors. When exercising outside, it’s important that we not add to our toxic burden by walking or jogging along busy roads or highways, because breathing in chemical-laced exhaust nullifies the benefits.

Annie B. Bond is an internationally renowned expert on personal detoxification and past executive editor of Care2. com/greenliving, which sourced all health claims in The Purification Plan, by the editors of Rodale Health Books.

Autoimmune disorders, Lyme disease, Autism, ADD/ADHD, Musculoskeletal conditions, Heavy metal toxicity, Cardiovascular and endocrine conditions, Nutritional deficiencies/testing.

Courtesy consultations available (352) 622-1151 3391 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite B Ocala, FL 34470 www.alternativewholistichealth.com www.ocalaalternativemedicine.com

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March 2011

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Five Steps to

Better Health How integrative medicine can make health care simpler, more effective and more affordable.

by Marco Visscher, Ursula Sautter and Carmel Wroth

Suffering from headaches and depression? Don’t let a doctor put you on drugs; instead, look for the underlying causes. High cholesterol? Try the Mediterranean diet, with a glass of organic red wine a day. The best way to win the war on cancer? Eat healthy, exercise and develop an active social life. An increasing number of physicians are realizing that this type of approach, geared to prevention and a conservative use of medications and technology, not only increases patients’ vitality, but saves lots of money.

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n the words of Dr. Dean Ornish, founder and chairman of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, in Sausalito, California, “It is time to change not only who is covered, but also what is covered.” There is an overemphasis, he says, on treating symptoms and on the idea that caring for our health is primarily the responsibility of medical experts, rather than of individuals themselves.

Zhaoming Chen, a neurologist and chairman of the American Association of Integrative Medicine, describes the way things currently work. “We only treat the disease after it occurs.” With figures showing that 95 cents out of every dollar spent on health care goes toward treating illness, he notes that “The best way to reduce the costs is prevention.”

Integrative medicine puts the patient, not the doctor or the insurance company, at the center of attention, and it puts the focus on the sources of illness and not the symptoms.

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Health care costs are continually rising, but people are not getting any healthier. Here is a five-point prescription for the future of health care that applies the tenets of integrative medicine to make today’s health care simpler, more effective and more affordable.

1. Emphasize Illness Prevention

About half of all American adults have a chronic illness, according to the Partnership for Solutions, a John Hopkins University-led initiative to improve care for Americans with chronic health conditions. Ornish claims that three-quarters of the more than $2 trillion recently spent on health care in a single year went to treat these kinds of conditions, including obesity. “All of these can be not only prevented, but even reversed through diet and lifestyle intervention,” he says. “It just seems so obvious to me that this is where we should be putting our focus.”

There is a long way to go before prevention is on the national agenda. While prevention is indeed better than cure, we tend to reward those who find solutions for existing problems rather than those who ensure that those problems don’t occur. “Prevention is boring,” Ornish complains.

Rather, “We need to focus on living better.”

2. Promote Healthy Foods

Roberta Lee, a pioneer of integrative health care and

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primary care physician at the Beth Israel Medical Center Department of Integrative Medicine, in New York City, believes the first prescription any doctor should write should be about diet and lifestyle. “You can never lose by maximizing lifestyle management,” says Lee, pointing out that many conditions not easily diagnosed or cured in a conventional framework can be improved by dietary and lifestyle changes. “There are specific diets that promote wellness,” she says. “They reduce inflammation, [and] increase fiber, vitamins and minerals that come in the form of a lot of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”

even replace conventional methods.

Such complementary treatments work to nourish, nurture and augment the body’s own defenses. One alternative healing method that’s now beginning to find its way into hospitals is acupuncture, which has been shown, among other benefits, to help relieve pain, stress and nausea during pre- and post-operative care.

Beth Israel’s Department of Integrative Medicine is bringing acupuncture into the hospital free of charge as part of a fellowship program for Chinese medicine practitioners. “The future of acupuncture is to be a part of best practices in the conventional setting,” says Arya Nielsen, a nationally board3. Focus on Lifestyle Changes certified acupuncture specialist who

The majority of health problems Another way to reduce leads the program. “The research is and risk factors for illnesses stem from just too good.” the choices we make: how much time costs is to use alterna The goal is to train both acupuncwe invest working, exercising and relaxtive and complementary turists and conventional doctors in ing; time spent with friends and outtherapies such as homethe benefits of this technique so that it doors; and whether we consistently take can be incorporated into Beth Israel’s the stairs or the elevator. opathy, naturopathy, yoga best practices. “Even if physicians have

The Sanoviv Medical Institute, in and herbal medicine that time to read the acupuncture studRosarito, Mexico, is located on a beautican supplement and even ies, what really makes it gel is when ful stretch of the Pacific coast, an hour south of San Diego. The recommended replace conventional meth- they see the results on the patient they treat,” says Nielsen. “The proof is in stay for most patients is two weeks. ods. Such complementary practitioners working side-by-side and While there, they learn about and extreatments work to nourpeople being able to experience what perience a lifestyle based around stress this therapy can do.” reduction, emotional well-being, healthy ish, nurture and augment Chen points out that chemotheraeating and exercise. Many patients come the body’s own defenses. py, surgery and radiation dramatically in with cancer or multiple sclerosis; change a patient’s life, and people others come just to detoxify and clear need strong support from family and friends to adapt to out the accumulated effects of stress. The program includes these changes. Chen believes that treating cancer should indietary changes, supplements, daily exercise and a stress volve both conventional and alternative medicine. “Patients management plan supported by psychological counseling also need some lifestyle changes: smoking cessation, miniand daily meditation. mizing alcohol intake, adopting a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

A 2004 study in The Lancet showed that lifestyle Besides that, because [conventional] treatment may cause changes—quitting smoking, healthier eating habits, modernausea and pain, patients may benefit from acupuncture, ate alcohol consumption and regular exercise—can prevent meditation, yoga and Tai chi. This will help them cope with 90 percent of today’s cases of heart disease, which currently pain better.” accounts for more premature deaths and higher health care costs than any other illness, according to Ornish.

“When lifestyle is offered as a treatment, it’s as effec5. Treat People, Not Diseases tive and often more effective than what we’re now doing,

As Nurse Béatrice Fleury pours a steaming infusion of at a fraction of the cost,” says Ornish. “We pay for all these yarrow over a piece of cotton and then wrings it out, the interventions that are dangerous, invasive, expensive and aroma of the medicinal herb wafts over to the hospital bed largely ineffective, and yet interventions that have been where Eliane Perrot is waiting for her body wrap. When the scientifically proven to reverse disease, are a simple change compress and a hot water bottle have been gingerly applied of lifestyle.” to her lower back and secured by a soft cloth sash, she leans back with a contented sigh. The compress will help her liver better metabolize the toxins that have accumu4. Use Alternative Therapies lated in it after months of breast cancer therapy. The wrap’s

Another way to reduce costs is to use alternative and warmth will also create a sense of temporary well-being, a complementary therapies such as homeopathy, naturopaprecious feeling for the frail, exhausted, 65-year-old. thy, yoga and herbal medicine that can supplement and

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March 2011

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Yoga

Gentle Yoga Studio Gentle Yoga Chair Yoga

Alternative treatments like the yarrow wrap are the order of the day at the Paracelsus Spital, in Richterswil, outside of Zurich. Founded in 1994, the clinic is one of a handful of hospitals in Europe devoted to complementary healing. In addition to orthodox treatments and drugs, the conventionally schooled doctors here also use therapies and medications based on the holistic approach to medicine.

“If you want to understand a person’s disease and support his selfhealing powers, it’s of central importance to look at the human being as a whole—body, spirit and soul,” says Paracelsus Medical Director Erich Skala. “This may require more time and effort, but it’s how you treat the causes, and not just the symptoms.”

Dr. Daniel Dunphy, of the San Francisco Preventive Medical Group, believes the Paracelsus approach is what the United States needs. “You have to take time to get to know the patients and listen to their stories,” he counsels. “I want to know their personal history, their traumas, how they do at work, what they eat and at what times of the day—and then I know what to do about their problem.”

dized gym memberships and smoking cessation classes, to biometric screenings. Pelletier found that companies with such programs in place realized healthier, more productive workforces, fewer sick days and less staff turnover.

He estimates that it takes, on average, three years before firms see a financial return on this kind of investment. “These reviews clearly indicate that comprehensive interventions do evidence both clinical- and cost-effectiveness,” says Pelletier. “There’s a very good payback. It makes us think about health as an investment.”

More money, more pills and more technology don’t necessarily lead to better health. Advocates of integrative medicine generally take a “less is more” approach—less needless medications and medical procedures and more prevention and healthy personal lifestyle changes can add up to big financial savings and big improvements in an individual’s quality of life.

Marco Visscher is the managing editor of Ode, Ursula Sautter and Carmel Wroth are contributors. Adapted from an article that first appeared in Ode, the magazine about positive change.

The Bottom Line

Claudia Saldarriaga Certified Yoga Instructor

www.gentleyogabyclaudia.com

352-362-2791

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Of course, the bottom line in the debate about health care is cost.

Proponents of integrative health argue that the promotion of preventive steps such as eating healthy food and making positive lifestyle changes, as well as using complementary methods to treat the whole person and not just the disease, will result in “… the biggest return on investment this nation could ever have,” in the words of William Novelli, a professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and the former CEO of AARP.

Kenneth R. Pelletier, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine and the University of California School of Medicine, has been putting numbers behind the arguments for integrative health. Pelletier has studied the costeffectiveness of corporate programs to promote health and manage disease among employees. The programs encompassed everything from subsi-

“What we now have is not a health care system; it’s a medical delivery system.”

Dr. Daniel Dunphy, San Francisco Preventive Medical Group

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are enough to accomplish your goals, great; and if not, you can do more.

THE JOY OF HEALTH

Who seems to benefit most from this approach, and to what degree?

A conversation with Dr. Dean Ornish on lifestyle changes that foster well-being

by April Thompson

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or more than 30 years, renowned medical doctor Dean Ornish has led pioneering clinical research proving that making simple changes in the way we eat and live can radically transform our health. He directed the first randomized, controlled trials demonstrating that lifestyle changes may halt or reverse the progression of even severe coronary heart disease, as well as early-stage prostate cancer. In collaboration with Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D., Ornish showed that healthy lifestyle changes can increase telomerase, and thus lengthen telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that control how long we live.

Ornish is the founder and president of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, and a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He is the author of six bestselling books, including Eat More, Weigh Less and The Spectrum.

What sparked your interest in preventive medicine?

I got interested in this work when I was learning how to do bypass surgery as a medical student. We’d cut people open, bypass their blocked arteries and tell them they were cured; then they‘d go home and continue to do the same things that caused the problem in the first place—smoke, overeat, drink too much, work too hard and so on.

More often than not, their bypasses would get clogged up again, and we’d www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

cut them open again and bypass the bypass, sometimes multiple times. That became a metaphor for an incomplete approach for me. Sometimes you need to use drugs and surgery in a crisis, but ultimately, you must address the underlying cause.

What is the concept behind The Spectrum and how does it differ from other lifestyle programs?

The problem with most lifestyle-oriented health programs is that they are restrictive, all-or-nothing, fear-based approaches. If you go on a diet or exercise program, sooner or later you’re going to go off of it. Then people feel like they’ve failed; it makes it hard to maintain.

Sustainable changes, on the other hand, are based on joy, pleasure and freedom. In our research, we found that the more you change your lifestyle, the more you improve and the better you feel. The better you feel, the more likely you are to continue.

The Spectrum is not a diet; it’s an overall way of living. If you overindulge one day, then you eat healthier the next.

Let’s say, for example, that you want to lower your cholesterol or get your diabetes under control. You begin by making moderate changes that you choose. There’s no pushback because you set the pace. We’ll help track your progress, and if the changes

One of our most interesting research findings was that the primary determinant of improvement wasn’t how old or sick people were, it was how much they’d changed their diet and lifestyle.

The body has a remarkable capacity to heal itself if we simply stop doing what’s causing the problem. We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of patients slow or reverse the progress of life-threatening diseases when they make good changes.

Such lifestyle changes can work not only as well as drugs and surgery, but oftentimes better, and at a fraction of the cost. Plus, the side effects are all good ones.

You stress the importance of individual lifestyle changes, but what about changing our sick health care system?

We do need to look at the politics of health care and hold our leaders responsible for some of decisions that have created the mess we’re in.

For example, after 16 years of lobbying, working with Medicare and members of Congress, we learned a few months ago that Medicare is finally covering our program for reversing heart disease. It’s game changing. If Medicare covers it, all the other insurance companies will follow their lead, and we can make these sorts of programs available to people who most need them, rather than just those who can afford it.

If we change reimbursement, we change medical practice, and also medical education. Otherwise, I could do a thousand studies with a million patients and it would always remain on the fringes of medical practice.

For more information visit pmri.org or OrnishSpectrum.com. April Thompson is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. See AprilWrites.com

March 2011

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Consciousness Cleanse

Three Weeks to a Better Future

by Debbie Ford

n Begin an ongoing present-moment awareness practice today. Set an hourly alarm; then, each time it reminds you, become present for five minutes to nature, to your body and breath or to the present moment itself. n Surprise yourself by challenging preconceptions of yourself; take measured risks and do something differently today.

In this enhanced sense of the present, you can listen more deeply to the calling of your soul.

Week Three: The Future.

In this final phase, you have the opportunity to look into the future and see who you want to be from this day forward.

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his month is a powerful time to assess where we’ve been, acknowledge where we are right now and dream our most beautiful life into being. Starting now, we can move from the outdated modes of our limited thinking mind to tune into our eternal divine mind. Acting on these three recommended cleansing phases—one a week for the next three weeks—will work to lift us out of resignation and mediocrity into hope and excitement, and connect us with a future filled with surprises, possibility and deep purpose.

Week One: The Past.

The first seven days of what I call The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse are dedicated to creating a powerful magnet of desire and cleaning out the turbulent emotions, outdated beliefs, unresolved incidents and restricting thoughts that have taken root in our minds and hearts.

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n Write a list of the grudges and resentments you have been carrying around that you are ready to let go.

Release them by tearing up the paper into tiny little pieces. n Understanding that your outer world is a reflection of your inner world, release 100 pieces of clutter from your past that now occupy your home, office and surroundings.

Liberated from the confusion, fear, guilt and self-doubt of the past, you will naturally open up to new realms of awareness, emotional freedom and spiritual liberation.

Week Two: The Present.

Having released everything that has depleted your vitality and held you back, stand firmly in the present moment. Take an honest look at where and who you are today, observing what is and is not working in your life.

n Choose a sacred value that can serve as the foundation for your future, such as abundance, compassion, grace or integrity, and surround yourself with images, prayers, songs and scents that invoke it for you. Identify and act on choices that allow you to express that value. n Spend time each morning, afternoon and evening checking in with your natural divine GPS. See if you made wrong turns and find out where that still, small voice wants you to go next.

Reconnecting with your highest self, you will experience more love, contentment and compassion as you step into the brilliance of your soul’s purpose. Why not seize this extraordinary opportunity to till the soil of your consciousness and plant the seeds of a whole new future?

Debbie Ford is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including The Shadow Effect, co-authored with Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson, and The 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse. Visit DebbieFord.com.

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Gardening in February

by Jo Leyte-Vidal, UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardener

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ur gardens are waking up from a cold winter sleep.

The hydrangeas are pushing out leaves, Loropetalums have bloomed, and Daffodils are finishing bloom. And, now that it is warmer, we gardeners are ready to go out to do the work of spring.

Now that daffodils are just about finished, we need to fertilize them. The bulbs need food for their dormant period and next year’s flowers. Fertilize with a 5-10-15 mix with trace elements. In addition, it is beneficial to cover the bulb area with ½ inch of ashes from your fireplace. Don’t forget to leave the foliage to dry and hibernate naturally.

Then, continue with your spring gardening chores: n Fertilize lawns with 15-0-15 using a well-calibrated spreader. The first fertilization of the season works best as an application of half slow-release, which will feed the turf for three to six months, and half water-soluble, which will give the turf a jump start in growth. The addition of a preemergent will prevent most weed seeds in the ground from germinating. Read the bag’s label for proper application and the correct pre-emergent that is compatible with your type of grass. n Treat gladiolus and knock out roses for thrips and other diseases. n All lily bulbs do well if planted now. n Consider planting a ground cover in the shady areas of your yard that will not support a lawn. Good choices for our area are Algerian ivy, liriope, mondo grass, dwarf Confederate jasmine, and ajuga. Peacock ginger is lovely but will die down in winter. n Plant new citrus trees now. They do best when planted as they are coming out of dormancy. This is visible when branches show new growth. Fertilize your other citrus with 6-6-6. Wait until next season to fertilize your new tree. It needs this time to establish a good root system before putting on lush top growth.

For gardener’s recreation, go out and cruise the flats of colorful annuals and perennials at the Marion County Master Gardener’s Spring Festival, Saturday and Sunday March 12-13. Attend some classes and see what is new in gardening. Stop by the Mobile Plant Clinic and say “Hi.” Studies have shown that some house plants act as air cleaners for your home. The peace lily, gerbera daisy, and English ivy have been known to absorb benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. All plants use carbon dioxide for growth and release oxygen. They not only look good, they are good for you. Find some at the Festival.

Call UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners at 352-6718400.

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Ecological Preserve Feminist Retreat Organic Farm presents

Farm Stead Saturday Every Saturday 9am-3pm

Free Workshops

April 2011 is

Marion County

Farmland Preservation month

http://farmlandmarioncounty.com Land, Water, and Farmers are Eternal Partners

Spring Gala Saturday, April 2, 2011 • 9am - 3pm Natural Organic Food • Live Music Mini-Workshops • Tours & Exploration Pioneer Demonstrations • Vendors & Crafts Sustainability & Recycling

pXq Admission only $1

Cash or checks only. We do not accept credit cards.

Please do not bring pets. No smoking on farm.

Store Hours 9am-3pm • Open 7 days/week

6411 NE 217th Place Citra, FL Email catcrone@aol.com

Call 352-595-3377 for more information www.cronescradleconserve.com March 2011

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by Melody Murphy

My Blue (and Green, White, Gold and Orange) Heaven

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arch is my favorite month in Florida. Warmer weather returns, but it is still cool enough to be pleasant. In a good year, the sun and rain are in pleasing proportion. Everything is green and colorful and lovely.

Everyone is cheerful once it is clear that winter is gone, but summer is still far enough away not to dread the heat too much. But mostly, it is the flowers I love. You can be poor in all else, but take a walk in March when the world is in bloom, and you’ll feel richer than a lord.

Springtime arrives in Valentine colors. First come the camellias: red, pink, white, a welcome contrast to cold grey days. Then the redbuds begin, and the Japanese magnolias: rosy shades of lilac, lavender, orchid, blush, in hues of a winter sunset. Next, the wild plum and cherry trees, in lacy white.

Then March comes to call, and the world is suddenly green in the warm sunlight. New leaves cast a fresh green haze on the oak trees overnight. Grass is green again. Even the ivory blossoms of the dogwoods are tinged with pale green. Against this backdrop of vibrant

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spring green and newly blue skies, the azaleas burst into bloom, in riotous banks of fuchsia, magenta, coral, white, and pink. It is unmistakably Spring.

Then the fragrance begins. So far spring has been colorful but not overly fragrant, except for the whiffs of apricot-scented tea olives here and there.

Dogwood blossoms have a soft, clean scent, as do most of the other blooming trees. Later in the spring will come richly perfumed honeysuckle, jasmine, gardenias, wisteria, and lemony-scented magnolias ... but nothing compares to an orange tree in bloom.

If heaven doesn’t have orange groves, I’m not sure I want to go. My heavenly “mansion” only needs to be a little white house with green shutters and a red brick chimney, a fireplace and hardwood floors, a porch and French doors and lots of windows, much like what I have now, only located atop a gently sloping hill in

the middle of about 24 acres of orange groves, with a view of water on all sides. The soil has some red clay in it, a creek winds across one corner of the land, and I have a tame raccoon which I can pet without fear of contracting rabies, because we are both dead already.

On this hilltop, it is always a perfectly temperate 72 degrees, rain or shine, with a perpetual gentle breeze, like a central Florida afternoon in early spring.

There needs to be a good number of ancient live oaks, too, enough to form a canopy of giant branches dripping Spanish moss through which I can look up and see patches of blue sky, worthy of a panoramic silhouette with a sunset backdrop like the shot in Gone With the Wind where Gerald O’Hara’s voiceover tells Katie Scarlett there’s no getting away from it, this love of the land, if you’re Irish. Irishmen may tell tall tales, but that one at least never said a truer word, fictional character or not. (I would be very excited if my favorite fictional characters were also in heaven, but that may be asking too much.)

For celestial springtime glory, there must be Southern magnolias, wild plums and Japanese magnolias, dogwoods both pink and white. Red maples and sweetgums and hickories, too, for autumn color. Sycamores for climbing, and pecan trees, for a ready supply of nuts. And at least two peach

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trees, one with white peaches, one with yellow. A crab-apple would not be at all amiss, nor a pear tree; a mango tree, and a loquat. A persimmon, a tabebuia, a golden raintree. There must be trees for fruit and flowers, scent, shade and color in every season.

But above all, there must be orange trees. And tangerine. And grapefruit. Some lemon, and kumquat, too, and enough Key limes to keep us all in pie. Just so there are citrus trees as far as my heavenly eye can see. I want sunlight glinting off shiny dark green leaves like polished jade year-round, a gold-and-green vista before me when my trees are bearing fruit, and a lacy white landscape when they are in blossom. In the springtime, I want the air to be so thickly perfumed with the fragrance of blooming citrus trees that it makes the angels swoon. Bees will pray that they get to go to my corner of heaven when they die, for there is no greater reward for a bee than to make honey from orange blossoms.

It seems obvious, to me, that in Biblical references to “the land of milk and honey,” it is orange blossom honey specifically to which Scripture refers.

This may not be fact, but in my mental Promised Land, it is so. I have tried many varieties of honey, being a fond connoisseur of it. Although I have enjoyed them all, from the tupelo of north Florida to the dark tropical blends of south Florida, the blackberry of Tennessee to the acacia of Italy, to the clover and wildflower of just about anywhere, my heart belongs to the orange blossom honey of central Florida. To what else could “nectar of the gods” refer?

I believe a mockingbird sings more sweetly when he is performing from the boughs of a blooming orange tree.

Even songbirds appreciate the proper ambiance, and reward the world for it. I cannot imagine a better setting for almost anything than an orange grove in bloom. It would seem a good omen to be be born near one. I could die happy there with my windows open.

It is a lovely spot for rest and refreshment: a picnic, a prayer, a nap in the shade. It is a fine place to sit and read, to wander with one’s thoughts, to sing, www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

to stroll aimlessly and whistle. It is an excellent place to run and play, barefoot in the sun-warmed sandy soil. And what better place to kiss someone?

Everything good about my childhood is distilled into the scent of orange blossoms and the taste of orange blossom honey. There is no fragrance or flavor more personally evocative.

Proust had his madeleine; I have my

orange blossoms. The first whiff of orange blossoms in springtime can make me cry. Few things are more nostalgic, more gloriously bittersweet. Especially now that the reality of my groves is fading, and what used to be a whole beautiful world is now a memory.

I was born a Polk County girl, ... Continued on the next page

March 2011

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with generations of family from there. I grew up running through the groves, picking oranges off the backyard trees to squeeze for juice, throwing fallen grapefruits like baseballs, tricking unsuspecting friends into trying kumquats. As a little girl, I had a swing in my grandparents’ grapefruit tree and a slide under the orange tree, and I climbed up into the perfectly crooked bough of the tangerine tree when I wanted to read.

Even as a small child, I ate lemons like some children eat apples. I am a snob about fresh-squeezed juice and will not touch concentrate. I have a history of attending citrus festivals.

There is nothing unusual to me about streets named for citrus fruits. I sat down the other afternoon and read, in one sitting, an entire book on the history of citrus: Oranges, by John McPhee. It was the best book I’ve read in a long time.

Nothing breaks my heart more than to go home and drive through what used to be miles of orange groves and see cookie-cutter rows of horrid little stucco houses crammed right up against each other. It is a terrible, sickening feeling to come to the crest of a hill and look down and see soulless housing developments where there once were groves and Cracker farmhouses, ponds and cow pastures. I hate how the old Florida is disappearing, how interlopers are coming in and destroying it, with no regard for our intrinsic culture. I would give much to be able, in the blink of an eye and with a snap of my fingers, to send it all back like it was. Sometimes I wish I could have lived a lifetime ago, when the heartland of Florida was groves and citrus was king. As I grow older, I understand more why people wage wars over their land. There are some things too precious to let go without a fight.

But change comes, as surely as the seasons. Which is why I savor a little more each spring the first whiff of orange blossoms, a little more each morning the orange blossom honey I stir into my tea and spread on my toast. Though I have learned that time and the world around us are fleeting, like orange blossoms themselves, I am thankful for a childhood rich in beauty and memories, and for the gift of recapturing them in words. Nothing is ever really gone if you can still write about it.

And I hope that, at the sunset of my life, the celestial train is called “The Orange Blossom Special” and takes me to my particular corner of the grovelands in the sweet-scented by-and-by, which, like the most precious of memories, will never fade away. Come see me there. Just follow the fragrance of orange blossoms and the sound of a gospel piano until you see the little white house on the hilltop. You’ll find me and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings rocking on the front porch, peeling tangerines. I’ll have enough fresh-squeezed juice and Key lime pie for everybody. Pull up a chair and sit a spell. The raccoon doesn’t bite. But he might snatch your pie when you’re not looking, so watch yourself.

Melody Murphy is proud to be one of the last half-dozen Florida natives left in the state. She has lived here all the seasons of her life and will throw a grapefruit at you if you tell her how y’all did it elsewhere. She bleeds citric acid and is confident that she will never get scurvy. The raccoon, by the way, is named Ambrose.

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Tumo Breathing Mastering Circulation of Blood & Qi

by Jeff Primack

An essay on generating internal heat & accelerating metabolic rate for healing Jeff Primack has studied with many Qigong masters from all over the world and has taught more than 20,000 people in live seminars. He also maintains the Qigong. com website.

T

he first time I saw Wim Hof was on the Today Show with Matt Lauer. He was immersed in a tub of ice up to his neck in New York’s Times Square.

Matt asked Wim, “Are you cold?”

Wim made no response—he was visibly deep in meditation. Matt turned instead to the doctor on site monitoring Wim’s progress, asking, “How does Wim stay in the ice for 90 minutes and not get frostbite?” The doctor replied, “See Wim’s cheeks? They are red. Wim has control of his blood circulation.”

Lauer was in utter disbelief. He demanded, “Wim, how are you doing this?” Wim turned, not toward Matt, but looked directly into the camera and said, “I am using Tumo breathing to stay warm.”

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Immediately after seeing the show, I sent Wim Hof an email. At that time, I had been teaching Tumo practices for 10 years and never had I seen a Westerner demonstrate its mastery to that degree. In the email, I asked him to come to Miami and teach me and a small group of advanced Qigong instructors his technique. When we spoke, Wim Hof was thrilled at the idea of people wanting to attain this discipline and agreed to come to Miami and share his knowledge with us.

On the first day of our training with Wim, we were blown away by how similar his breathing technique was to our 9-Breath Method—a use of breath I had created years before that has in turn become the institution for Supreme Science Qigong. The next few days were extremely intense. On

Taking the physical body on the journey to enlightenment is what Qigong is all about. day five, our training was put to the test inside a -20 degree walk-in freezer, and concluded as we, one by one, immersed ourselves in a tub of wet ice for 15 minutes. Every instructor, including myself, was able to stay warm using the breathing method.

How did we do it? Well, when a person absorbs enough Qi, in this case through breath, the body pulsates with stronger blood flow—and this, in its simplicity, is what causes people to stay warm, even when immersed in a tub of

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ice. The medical and healing implications of controlling blood flow to this degree are quite profound.

Most people are not interested in this particular type of “Ice Training,” but the concept is extremely important because mastering blood circulation is really the heart of Qigong and all true healing modalities. Chinese medicine teaches that “Qi moves the Blood.”

It maintains that nearly all diseases are a result of impaired blood circulation. When the human body pulsates with blood and Qi at high enough levels, inflammation is reduced, hormones are increased, bliss is experienced, and physical pain is reduced and/or eliminated altogether.

One does not have to enter the ice to benefit from Tumo breathing. It can be performed in meditation right from your living room.

More than 4,000 years ago Chinese medicine said, “Blood is the mother of Qi.” The Old Testament Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the Blood.”

In Chinese medicine, a Qi blockage is simply a small area in which the blood cannot flow; an area where disease may occur. For example, people who may experience “knots” in the stomach or bad digestion usually find improved results of these symptoms with Qigong.

Blood can work itself through closed-off capillaries when a person is relaxed and increasing Qi in that area.

Wherever Qi goes, blood follows.

Normal healthy people use about 60 percent of their circulatory system.

When our Qi increases, this percentage also increases. Microcirculation to the brain and organs, when improved, greatly benefits our health. The electric effect of Qigong on the nervous system also plays a role.

Using breathing techniques like the 9-breath Method, we can create a full-body vibration within minutes.

These electrical impulses travel along the nervous system and rejuvenate us.

Tumo breathing can be used in large groups of 500 or more people to permanently activate the central nervous system. When people hold hands during these breathing techniques, an electrical impulse travels through the www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

“Qi Revolution” comes to Orlando Convention Center on World Qigong Day April 30th - May 3rd Jeff Primack, Ice Man Wim Hof, and 100 Qigong instructors will teach advanced breathing techniques and 4 days of Qigong for $99.

To reserve tickets or for more info, call 1-800-298-8970 or visit Qigong.com

“For the life of the flesh is in the Blood.”

— Leviticus 17:11

arm and out the palm, enabling people who normally don’t feel energy to feel it strongly. By training our nervous system through continued exposure

to this high level of Qi-energy, we can move beyond healing our bodies and actually begin the process of biological enlightenment. Let me explain.

Most Qigong masters believe that enlightenment is a biological process.

It begins within the physical body where it manifests as a warm pleasant humming in the abdomen throughout the day. Older Qigong masters are often sexually active into their 90s.

Taking the physical body on the journey to enlightenment is what Qigong is all about. Only after health problems have been removed or greatly lessened is it possible to enter states of consciousness that otherwise were unattainable. In Qigong, these states of consciousness are referred to as “gates.”

Passing through these gates allow our mind and body to merge with what I call the “True Source” or what many call God, Tao, etc. It is the white light that some have seen in meditation. The light is healing, euphoric and many experience it while practicing advanced breathing techniques.

Your body is the vehicle to enlightenment and entering higher states of consciousness. Qigong at its highest levels will help people enter these gates and heal the physical, emotional and mental levels of their being.

Part 2 of this article will appear next month.

Yoga Teacher Training at the Amrit Yoga Institute

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March 2011

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CommunityResourceGuide ... Connecting readers to leaders in holistic health care and green living services in our community.

To be included here, visit www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com, call 352-629-4000, or email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

These attractive, full-color ads include two FREE Calendar listings per month (a $30 value).

Biologic Dentistry

Holistic Medicine

Fitness

Cornelius A. Link, DDS 352-629-0700 / Ocala / www.drlinkdds.com There must be a biologic balance in the mouth as part of total body health. This means being concerned about infections in the teeth and gums, the relationship of the teeth to the jaws, the teeth to each other, saliva ph and metal toxicity. As a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, we follow a recommended safety protocol for removal of amalgam fillings, if necessary.

Dental materials compatibility testing available.

Michael J. Badanek, BS,DC,CNS,DACBN,DCBCN 3391 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite #B Ocala, FL 34470 / 352-622-1151 www.alternativewholistichealth.com 30+ years in clinical practice with alternative wholistic complementary health services. Treating the body to support all health challenges with Wholistic Integrative Medicine. Treatments include Autoimmune disorders, Lyme disease, Autism, ADD/ ADHD, Musculoskeletal conditions, Heavy metal toxicity, Cardiovascular and endocrine conditions, Nutritional deficiencies/testing.

Hip Moves Fitness Studio Rona Bennett, BS, CPT Holistic Health, Personal Fitness Coaching 708 N.W. 23rd Ave., Gainesville www.hipmoves.com / 352-692-0132 An intimate fitness studio focusing on creativity and holistic health. Classes and private lessons in Belly Dance, Yoga, Pilates, and Personal Training.

Rental space available.

Colonics Gentle Waters Healing Center 352-374-0600, Gainesville info@gentlewatershealing.com The therapists at Gentle Waters Healing Center will assist each individual with detoxing using colon hydrotherapy, Far Infrared Sauna, and/or Aqua Chi Lymphatic Drainage. We also carry probiotics, digestive enzymes, and other products for overall health. Proud sponsors of Barley Life Nutritional Products. Call Dawn Brower for more information or visit www.gentlewatershealing.com. MA41024, MM15426.

Gainesville Branch, 352-215-1078 GIGgainesville@gmail.com / www.gluten.net The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America proudly announces a new branch in Gainesville. First meeting: Saturday, April16, 1:00-3:00, Gainesville Health & Fitness, Newberry Rd. Share your stories, or give/get support!

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James F. Coy, M.D. Life Family Practice Center 1501 U.S. Hwy. 441 North, The Villages 352-750-4333 / www.LifeFamilyPractice.com More than 20 years in the General Practice of medicine, with a focus on allergies, and treatments using environmental bio-nutrition and other natural methods including N.A.E.T. and acupuncture.

Providing detox therapies including chelation, anti-aging treatments, natural hormone replacement, and alternative testing.

Nelson Kraucak, M.D., ABCMT, ACAM Life Family Practice Center 1501 U.S. Hwy. 441 North, The Villages 352-750-4333 / www.LifeFamilyPractice.com For 15 years in The Villages, Dr. Kraucak has been committed to bridging the gap between clinical medicine and complementary therapies to promote the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Embracing a medical approach to alternative treatment and by using cutting-edge technologies, he is able to treat chronic auto-immune and degenerative disorders. Providing treatments such as Immune Biomodulation, Chelation, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement, PRP, Prolozone and much more.

Hanoch Talmor, M.D. Gainesville Holistic Center 352-377-0015 www.betterw.com We support all health challenges and the unlimited healing potential of God’s miracle: your body.

Chelation, Nutrition, Cleansing, Homeopathy, Natural Energy Healing, Detoxification, Wellness Education and more.

Holistic Psychotherapy Diane Alther, LCSW, RN, CHt Traditional and Karuna Reiki Master/Teacher Ocala and Dunnellon locations / 352-425-1992 www.emdrtherapistnetwork.com Combining conventional counseling with body, mind, energy therapies including EMDR, EFT, hypnosis, full wave breathwork, meditation and Reiki to facilitate change and mental and emotional balance.

Hypnotherapy Christine Green CHt Hypnotherapy Gainesville Hypnotherapy 1212 NW 12th Ave., Suite C-3 Gainesville FL 32601 / 352-339-6078 www.OneStepDeeper.com Invite amazing changes into your life through Hypnosis.

The powerful process of Hypnotherapy guides you naturally and easily to the life you truly deserve. Free consultation: www.onestepdeeper.com and 352-339-6078.

Life Coaches Cynthia Christianson, M.A., CCC ThetaHealing™ Advanced Practitioner 352-374-7982 or 352-284-1107 www.thetahealingworks.net ThetaHealing™ coaching is using the Belief and Feeling Work to empower people with the ability to remove and replace negative emotions, feelings and thoughts with positive, beneficial ones. Change your negative beliefs and you will heal on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels thus really seeing this relief show up in your life.

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Massage

Piano Services

Tiara L. Catey, LMT Center for Balance 1705 N.W. 6th St., Gainesville 352-642-4545 / www.tiaracatey.com Relieve pain, manage stress and cultivate joyful relaxation and balance by including massage as an essential part of your self-care practices. Therapeutic massage, relaxation massage and lomilomi. Includes aromatherapy. Holistic approach. Some insurance accepted. Visa/MC. See www.tiaracatey.com for details. MA41831.

Hendrix Piano Service 352-895-5412 Serving north central Florida Tuning, repairs, cleaning, fine custom maintenance of your acoustic piano. Playing services including accompaniment, weddings, other church services, concerts. Experience: churches, cabarets, Marion Chorale, Duelling Divas, much more. Fine used pianos available. Call today!

Clark Dougherty Therapeutic Massage Clinic 850 N.E. 36th Terr., Ocala 352-694-7255 / www.ClarkDougherty.com Offering a variety of therapeutic massage techniques for pain relief, improved flexibility, and other wonderful benefits. PIP and WorkComp always accepted, also group/private insurance in some instances. All credit cards accepted.

Gift certificates are available now for Valentine’s Day and birthdays with 25% discount on a second session. MA27082, MM9718.

Reiki

Traditional Thai massage Ariela Grodner LMT 900 N.W. 8th Ave., Gainesville arielasthaimassage.com / 352-336-7835 Ariela offers an ancient massage modality known in the west as Thai Massage, sometimes referred to as “lazy man’s yoga.”

It is a fusion of yoga and the martial arts in a massage modality. Call to reserve an appointment or to find out about classes held locally.

MTT Sandra Wilson, EFT-ADV Meridian Tapping Techniques Practitioner 352-454-8959, www.SandraWilson.org A positive change is a tap away!

What’s keeping you from the life you want? Meridian Tapping is the painless, drug-free method to bring positive change! Remove negative emotions and blocks to success. Sessions in Ocala and The Villages.

Phone sessions also available.

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

Kim Marques, CHt, Reiki Master Teacher www.ItsAllPerfect.com 352-804-9006 in Ocala Change your vibe, change your life!

Free Info and Spiritual Energy by appointment. Embrace the mind, body and spirit with hypnosis, energy sessions and training, spiritual guidance, Life Wise workshops and support groups, meditation, Goddess Weight Loss, attraction power kits and more.

Rolfing Carol L. Short / Certified Advanced Rolfer™, Craniosacral Therapist, Gainesville and North Central FL / 352-318-0509 Rolfing® is a system of body restructuring through systematic manipulation of muscle and fascial tissues. It promotes the release and realignment of long standing patterns of tension and dysfunction, bringing the body to greater balance, mobility, vitality, and ease.

A holistic approach to mobility, vitality and balance. MA16337/MM18921.

Veterinary Care Medicine Wheel Veterinary Services Shauna Cantwell DVM, Ocala, FL www.shaunacantwell.com / 352-538-3021 Holistic veterinary medicine for small animals and horses.

Preventative health, arthritis, neurologic and hormonal dysfunction, skin, allergies, cancer, pain, immune and chronic disease, more. Certified Veterinary Acupuncture, certified cAVCA animal chiropractic, herbal therapy, tui na medical massage, functional neurology, postural rehabilitation, ozone therapy, homotoxicology, nutrition. Available for workshops.

Classifieds Business Opportunities Are you looking for the BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME WITH A LEADER IN THE WELLNESS INDUSTRY??

The TRUMP NETWORK WANTS YOU. Join the fastest growing business in the Marketing Industry today with great flexibility, residual rewards, long term growth, a famous and successful business icon owner, amazing training and support, popular and proven products, and all of this still in the blossoming stages of growth! See www.edina.todayisyourtime. com/trump for more information or call Edina, 352-208-2612, today.

CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES - For sale in Birmingham, AL; Lexington, KY; Manhattan, NY; North Central FL; Pensacola, FL; Tulsa, OK and Southwest, VA. Call for details 239-530-1377.

Intimacy Product Topical ointment guaranteed to increase a woman’s sexual responsiveness and sensation. Woman-invented and womanmade. All natural, safe, and beautifully scented. $29.95 + $5 shipping. Call 352286-1779.

Professional Advanced Continuing Education Abdonimal Massage: The Therapeutic Value. April 10, 9am-2pm. 5 credit hours. Hands-on instruction. Massage set-up. Linda, 352-625-1665, wildseed@ embarqmail.com; FL and National provider. Ocala Inner Center.

Natural Skin Care Saundra’s Soaps and Natural Treasures.

Natural and organic skin care: Lotions, oils, soaps in many popular scents.

Arthritis rubs, burn-relief salves also available. Visit www.HumbleSkinCare. com or call 352-236-2003. Store opening March 21st—call for information.

Ads: Per-issue cost is $25/up to 30 words, $1/each additional. Fax ad with credit/ debit card info to 352-351-5474, or email to GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

March 2011

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CalendarofEvents Wednesday, March 2

HGC weight loss. Safe homeopathic solution targets hard-to-lose stored fat. Detox coaching and support. Free consultation; call for appointment. Reesers Nutrition Center, 3243 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352-732-0718.

Monday, March 7

Meet the Doctor evening, hosted by Dr. James Lemire.

Free, 6 pm, call to reserve a seat. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Court Rd, Suite 600, Ocala, 352-291-9459, www.

LemireClinic.com.

Saturday, March 5

Autism Spectrum Informational. Presented by S. Echeles, T. Ecker, and other parent and support speakers. 2-3:30 pm. Free. Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, 321-759-4224, tecker2@aol.com.

Crystal Healing with Fran Oppenheimer, RN, LMT. 1-5 pm, $30. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, 386-454-8657, www.highspringsemporium.net.

Wednesday, March 9

Metabolic balance. All natural weight loss; “Your food shall be your medicine.” Free consultation; call for appointment. Reesers Nutrition Center, 3243 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352-732-0718, 351-1298.

Sunday, March 6

Sacred Meditation Seminar and Demonstration, with Rev. Scott Sherman, 11:45-1:15, love offering. Spirituallybased healing process uses touch or near-touch, unconditional love, guided meditation and prayer to connect the energy centers of participants’ minds and bodies. 40-minute individual sessions available afterward as well as Monday (Suggested love offering of $60, but no one turned away).

Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, (off Maricamp), Ocala, 352-687-2113, www.unityocala.org.

March 11-13

Ayurveda, Yoga and Recovery, weekend retreat. Amrit Yoga Institute, Salt Springs, FL, 352-685-3001, www.amrityoga.org.

Thai Foot Reflexology and Henna Retreat, Melrose, FL, featuring artist Genevieve Levin and Ariela Grodner. $300.

18 CEUs for LMTs, 9 CEUs for Yoga Allliance. 813-4176745, www.ArielasThaiMassage.com.

Saturday, March 12

Experience the Beauty of Crystal Singing Bowls, workshop with Sharron Britton. 1-4 pm, $20. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, 386-4548657, www.highspringsemporium.net.

Rock and Mineral Sale, 11-4. Rock ‘n Glass at Wild Iris Books, 802 W University Avenue, Gainesville, 352-375-7477.

Tuesday, March 15

Meet the Doctors. Talk with our doctors in an informal setting. 5:30 pm, free. Life Family Practice Center, Genesis Heart MedSpa, 3365 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages. RSVP to 352-750-4333, www.lifefamilypractice.com.

Wednesday, March 16

Cleanse your body of toxic buildup, repair G.I. tract, support immune system, weight loss, anti-aging nutrition.

Free consultation; call for appointment. Reesers Nutrition Center, 3243 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352-732-0718, 351-1298.

Friday, March 18

Developing and Using Psychic Awareness, workshop with Melissa Harris. 6:30-8:30 pm, $15. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, 386 4548657, www.highspringsemporium.net.

March 18-25

Spirit Essence Portraits by Melissa Harris. Reading followed by an original watercolor painting of what is revealed. By appointment, $195. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, 386-454-8657, www. highspringsemporium.net.

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Saturday, March 19

Full Moon Drumming Circle. 7 pm. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, (off Maricamp), Ocala, 352-687-2113, www.unityocala.org.

Spiritual Wisdom on Relationships, open discussion with free book, 1 pm. HU Chant at 2:15 pm. Refreshments follow. Courtyard

By Marriott, 3700 SW 42nd St (near Butler Plaza). Eckankar in Gainesville, 352-378-3504.

Sunday, March 20

Passion Test Workshop with Elaine Silver, 1-4 pm, suggested $30 love offering. Discover what your passions are. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, (off Maricamp), Ocala, 352-687-2113, www.elainesilver.com.

help you heal physically and emotionally while deepening connection to vital life force. Amrit Yoga Institute, Salt Springs, FL, 352-685-3001, www. amrityoga.org.

Sunday, March 27

Eckankar Worship Service (Living With Divine Love: Soul’s Unselfish Giving). 11 am, Courtyard By Marriott, 3700 SW 42nd St. (near Butler Plaza). Eckankar in Gainesville, 352378-3504.

Wednesday, March 30

Wellness Consultation on hair analysis, BMI analysis, 24-hour urinalysis, saliva test for hormone imbalance. Free. Call for appointment. Reesers Nutrition Center, 3243 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352-732-0718.

March 28-29

Auditions, “The King & I” musical. Performance dates May 19-June 12. Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352-236-2274, www.OcalaCivicTheatre.com.

Monday, March 21

The Dis-Ease Behind the Diagnosis, hosted by Paula Koger. Free, 6 pm, call to reserve a seat. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Court Rd, Suite 600, Ocala, 352-291-9459, www.LemireClinic.com.

Wednesday, March 23

Wellness Consultation on Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Free. Call for appointment. Reesers Nutrition Center, 3243 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 352732-0718.

Thursday, March 24

The Direct Effect of What you Eat, free lecture in recognition of National Nutrition Month. 6 pm, Life Family Practice Center, 1501 US Hwy 441 North, The Villages. RSVP to 352-7504333, www.lifefamilypractice.com.

Saturday, March 26

Healing Sessions with ZaKa and AzKa, facilitated by Jeff Wheeler, Shamanic Healer. Free talk 12-1 pm, healing sessions 1-5:30 pm, $15. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, 386-454-8657, www.highspringsemporium.net.

March 26–April 2

Ayurvedic Detoxification (Panchakarma) and Yoga. This program can www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

March 2011

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CalendarofEvents Saturday, April 2

Annual Organic Foods Gala, 9-3. $1 admission. $1 per sample.

Free recipes, demonstrations, music.

Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra.

352-595-3377, www.cronescradleconserve.com.

8801 NW 39th Ave. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge, www.ifsk.org , 407-673-9776.

Monday, April 4

Meet the Doctor evening, hosted

by Dr. James Lemire. Free, 6 pm, call to reserve a seat. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Court Rd, Suite 600, Ocala, 352-291-9459, www.LemireClinic. com.

Monday, April 18

Stress Management, hosted by Nuris Lemire. Free, 6 pm, call to reserve a seat. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Court Rd, Suite 600, Ocala, 352291-9459, www.LemireClinic.com.

Now through April 22

Art show, “From the Center: Inside Out,” artist Harimandir Khalsa. Center for Balance, 1705 NW 6th St, Gainesville, 352-378-4848.

Saturday, April 9

Mediumship Spiritual Development Class. $25, 2-4:30pm. Class includes meditation, lesson, handson practice to develop your personal skills. Held at Unity of Gainesville,

May 21-22

Raymon Grace workshop. Dr. Hanoch Talmor, Gainesville Holistic Center, Gainesville, 352-377-0015, talmor@msn.com, www.betterw.com, www.ramongrace.us.

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ONGOING EVENTS Sundays

Farmers Market, 12-4. Mosswood Farm Store, 703 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy, 352-466-5002, www.mosswoodfarmstore.com.

Master Mind Prayer Circle, 9:30; Healing Hands Circle, 10; Sunday Service and Youth Education, 11; NGU, 12:30. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., 352-373-1030, www. unityofgainesvillefl.org.

Meditation and Spiritual Lesson, 10 am. Unity of Ocala, Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd., Ocala, 352-687-2113, www.unityocala.org.

Science of Mind and Spirit Meditation 9:45am, Celebration / Message 10:30am, Youth and Children’s Celebration 10:30am. Love offering. OakBrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 N.E. 28 Ave, Ocala, FL 352-629-3897, www.oakbrookcsl.org.

Printed on recycled paper to protect the environment

Monday-Friday

Organic Food Pickups. Monday, Ocala; Tuesday, Eustis and Mt. Dora; Wednesday, Ocala and Gainesville; Friday, Oxford/The Villages. Homegrown Organics by Doreen, 352-5984184, http://www.homegrownorganics. vpweb.com. Recipes: http://homegrowngainesville.wordpress.com/

Yoga with Joe Ferrara. Monday, 7-8:30 pm, Amrit Yoga Institute. Tuesday, 12-12:45 pm, Serenity of Central Florida, 301 Skyline Dr., Ste 1, Lady Lake. Wednesday, 8:30-10 am, Ocala Inner Center, 205 S. Magnolia; and 5-6 pm, Serenity of Central Florida, Lady Lake. Thursday, 6-7:30 pm, Ocala Inner Center. Friday, 7-8 am, Premier Medical Center of Ocala, 7960 SW 60th Ave. prakash@amrityoga.org.

Tuesdays

A Course in Miracles, 12 noon and 7 pm. Unity of Ocala, Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd., Ocala, 352-687-2113, www.unityocala.org.

Wednesdays

A Course in Miracles, 7-8:30pm.

Amrit Yoga, Salt Springs, 352-6853001, ganga@amrityoga.org.

Meditation and Visioning, 6pm, followed at 7:15 with Speaker, Spiritual Craft, Drumming, or Spiritual Film, depending on the week. Love offering.

OakBrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 N.E. 28 Ave, Ocala, FL 352-6293897, www.oakbrookcsl.org.

Thursdays

Healing Yoga with Marque. Movement class combining yoga, Pilates, body alignment, breathing. Bring a mat. $25/4 weeks, Feb. 3-24 every Thursday, 12:30-1:30 pm. To register: Sheila, 352-867-9660. Class held at Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd., Ocala, 352-687-2113.

Rd, (off Maricamp), Ocala, 352-687-2113, www.unityocala.org.

Seven days/week

Abraham, yoga, breathwork, reiki, much more—something every day. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., 352-373-1030, www. unityofgainesvillefl.org.

Bellydancing, fitness, yoga classes, personal training as early as 5:30 am, as late as 7:30 pm. Hip Moves, 708 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, 352-6920132, www.hipmoves.com.

Yoga classes as early as 5:30 am, as late as 8:30 pm, beginners (including “Stiff Guys”) to experienced Hot Yoga. Big Ron’s Yoga College, Gainesville, 352-367-8434, www. bigronsyoga.com.

Saturdays

Farmstead Saturdays. Free, 9-3 pm. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www. cronescradleconserve.com.

The 2012 Preparation Program w/ Marque G. Kolack. Every Saturday in March, 10 am-12 noon. $20/class love offering. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar

British Medium Jan Marshall at Unity of Gainesville in March n Demonstration of Mediumship: March 11, 7:30-9pm n Workshop in Mediumship: March 12, 10am-4pm n Private readings available Check Web for complete 2011 program

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March 2011

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