May 2021 Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine

HEALTHY LIVING

HEALTHY PLANET

SPECIAL EDITION

Womenʼs Wellness

INTEGRATIVE WOMENʼS HEALTH STAY FIT WITH BODYWORK THERAPY HOLISTIC TIPS FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY ECO-FRIENDLY MAKEUP AND SKINCARE 2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS FREE

MAY 2021 | CHICAGO | NACHICAGO.COM

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If menopause is a “normal” phase of life, why do I feel so far from normal?

Reclaim Your Life…

“I am a family physician who tried to cure myself for a few years, as I was suffering from menopausal symptoms, fatigue and a change in my body weight and composition. It was hard to find a cure. Fortunately, I found this at Heal n Cure with Dr. Meena Malhotra. The practice is very well organized, focused on patient’s needs, and very cost effective in the long run. I went from 146 pounds to 138 in two short months and feel great.” ~Bella

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

18 WORLD-RENOWNED

22

SOUTH AFRICAN ARTIST

and Sculptor Daniel Popper to Exhibit at Morton Arboretum

18

20 PEPTIDE THERAPY Promotes Cellular Healing

22 INTEGRATIVE

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Five Top Health Concerns and What to Do

40 DEVAKI LINDSEY

43

50

46

BERKSON

on Bioidentical Hormones for Long-Term Health

42 HOMEOPATHY TO THE RESCUE

Create a Family First-Aid Kit

43 THREE WAYS

to Say 'Yes' to Self-Care

44 STAY FIT WITH

49

BODYWORK THERAPY

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 847-858-3697 or email info@NAChicago.com. Deadline for complete and finalized ads: the 14th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Amy@NAChicago.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

Enhance Workout Performance and Recovery with Massage

46 BABY BITES

Healthy Homemade Food for Tiny Tummies

49 CELIAC DISEASE

AWARENESS MONTH

Living and Thriving with Celiac Disease

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit online at: NAChicago.com/events/new or email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NAChicago.com. Deadline for calendar: the 8th of the month.

50 NATURAL MAMA

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

Community Scientists Provide Backyard Data for Field Museum Project

4

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Holistic Approaches to a Healthy Pregnancy

52 SAVING THE MONARCHS

52

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from the publisher…

M

ay is an enchanting month, enveloping all of our senses with the lushness of spring. Throughout the year, I eagerly await the warmer May mornings when I can open the windows to birdsong and delight in each new flower and leaf that opens to the season. The freshness we’ve dreamed about through the long Chicago winter is finally here, and it’s time to savor every day. I was delighted to find the robins have already returned to last year’s nest outside my kitchen window, and with any luck, will be busy raising their first brood by the time you read this letter.

This is the most active month of spring bird migration, and with it comes a glorious chorus at dawn and then again just before dusk. As the month progresses, all of our familiar summer birds return while winter avian visitors like juncos and Peggy Malecki red-breasted nuthatches migrate to their more northern summer locales. On that journey, we’re fortunate in the Chicago area to see so many colorful warblers, thrushes, sparrows and other songbirds passing through as they follow their millennia-old migration paths. Whether you live in the city, suburbs or a more rural area, nature’s chorus is one to take delight in!

We’ve dedicated our May issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago to women’s wellness, focusing on whole-body approaches to women’s health in all of its facets. In our lead article, “Integrative Women’s Wellness,” Ronica O’Hara takes a practical look at the top five health issues facing women today and integrative approaches to meet their challenges. As we salute moms of all types this May, we explore holistic approaches to a healthy pregnancy, natural homemade baby food and creating a family first-aid kit with a homeopathic component. And as we also celebrate Mother Earth this month, author Sheryl DeVore updates us on monarch butterfly migration and how we can all help to monitor and support this iconic species.

We’re excited to present a very special 2021 inaugural Women in Wellness feature highlighting some of the incredible integrative and natural health professionals and businesswomen in the Chicagoland area, and celebrating women everywhere that make wellness a priority and a passion in their lives. We hope you enjoy this section in our print issue, and invite you to join us throughout May at NAChicago.com and our social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) for extended content, video podcasts and more.

Before summer is upon us, please make it your priority to take in all the joys that May has to offer and to share that wonder of discovery with others in your life. Enjoy the unmistakable aroma of a warm spring rainstorm, watch for new birds at a feeder or in a local park and visit a natural area to soak up some spring sunshine. Even try to rise a little early on a few May mornings, pour your morning beverage and step outside to greet the birds. You’ll be glad you did.

Happy May! Happy Mother’s Day!

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

CHICAGO EDITION Publisher Peggy Malecki

Sales & Marketing Peggy Malecki

Carrie Jackson Heidi Hetzel Dee Bayro Operations Amy Hass

Kyle Hass Editors Marty Miron Theresa Archer

Randy Kambic Writers Carrie Jackson Megy Karydes Sheryl DeVore

Design & Production Suzzanne Siegel

Martin Friedman

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Chicago P.O. Box 72, Highland Park, IL 60035 Ph: 847-858-3697 • Fax: 888-858-3107 Info@NAChicago.com • NAChicago.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $29 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

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© 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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Improve your tummy health

by way of telehealth.

Is your body telling you it needs help?

Do new symptoms creep up on you too fast?

Have dietary modifications failed to provide relief ?

Help is a phone call away.

into the bloodstream through a condition called “leaky gut syndrome,” which often leads to more serious conditions like Crohn’s Disease, colitis, and other autoimmune disorders.

Environmental irritants also affect digestion.

Reneé Barasch, Certified Digestive Health and Detoxification Specialist, has been helping clients achieve nutritional balance and enhance quality of life for more than 17 years. Reneé’s individualized plans help clients re-boot their digestive tracts and increase absorption of needed nutrients—creating the environment for detoxification of all organs and the pathways between them.

The environment can also produce irritation and inflammation. Everyday, airborne toxins — perfumes, cleaning products, smoke, automotive exhaust, indoor dust, and springtime pollen— find their way into our bloodstream (in less than 20 seconds!) and cause digestive organs to work overtime. A runny nose, itchy eyes, and red and blotchy skin often result in a trip to the allergist, when a digestive imbalance may be contributing.

Working with Reneé, you will:

Stay strong and healthy with a gut ‘reset.’

• Identify digestive triggers. (Some may surprise you!)

• Understand which foods agree with you—

• Effectively and efficiently digest food.

• Reduce inflammation.

• Nourish your gut—and ensure your

and those that don’t.

• Create a detoxification and digestive plan.

Digestion is one of the main ways the body detoxifies and cleanses.

If the food you consume isn’t thoroughly broken down, your body cannot work as efficiently as it should. Poor digestion causes stress for the entire digestive system and leads to gas, bloating, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea—and even insomnia, psoriasis, eczema, chronic pain, and anxiety. Undigested food can seep

Let’s get you feeling better.

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whole body is balanced.

• Regulate the processing and digestion of

food and the elimination of waste by incorporating foods that lead to better absorption and detoxification.

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news briefs

Relieve Stress Without Leaving Home

C

andy Kessler is offering a May special for new clients of $30 off for a variety of professional mobile massage services. She says, “Now that a lot of people are working remotely, they prefer to get their massage in the comfort of their home, avoiding the stress of having to commute.”

Massage therapy helps to increase levels of the positive hormones (endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, etc.) encouraging the body to relax and renew itself and reverse the effects of stress.

“Talking about stress has been a prevalent component of our days during this major historical event (COVID-19). The effects of the current circumstances have taken an emotional and physical toll on a lot of us,” she notes.

For more information and appointments, call 847-420-2345 or visit DulceMobileMassage.com. See ad in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

The Worst is Over – Build Back Fairer

C

hicago Fair Trade is sponsoring Build Back Fairer as part of World Fair Trade Day 2021, to be observed on May 8 with a threepart challenge to educate, activate and celebrate. Participants can complete the challenge by taking at least one action in each area in a three-week period.

This past year upended our lives, but has also inspired many to think more carefully about what is important, what we truly need and where we spend our money. As we venture out to eat and shop, there is a unique opportunity to use our purchasing power to build back fairer.

Think about how good it feels when we have an authentic, personal transaction: grabbing coffee at a locally owned coffee shop or buying produce from a local farmers’ market. Imagine having that feeling every day.

For more information and registration, visit ChicagoFairTrade.org.

Life Changes can be Bumpy, even Turbulent!

You can consciously choose how you want to come out the other side. Call me.

Let’s turn your stress to strength so you can move through in a more confident, kinder, and joyful way!

Coaching and De-stressing – so YOU can Change Your World!

262-745-8362 • www.SarahDKarnes.com 8

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Jessica Montalvo, M.D.

Dementia Is Not Inevitable

M

indwise Healthcare, in Northbrook, takes a functional medicine approach to cognitive decline. They pursue in-depth diagnostic testing and use the information to help clients implement the targeted nutrition, lifestyle and supplement interventions that will optimize their brain health. Health coaching is also a major part of the practice.

Jessica Montalvo, M.D., says, “I have seen many people with end-stage Alzheimer’s dementia in my medical career. It’s heartbreaking. In 2018, I began my training in functional medicine and found Dr. Dale Bredesen’s book The End of Alzheimer’s. I was intrigued by his patient outcomes and completed specialized training in his protocol.

“Most people think that Alzheimer’s dementia is inevitable—you are either going to get it or you won’t. Most physicians learn that once the symptoms start, there is nothing you can do except prepare to lose yourself over time. This is wrong.”

Location: 790 W. Frontage Rd., Ste. 212, in Northfield. For a complimentary discovery call or for more information, visit MindwiseHealthcare.com. See ad in the Women in Wellness Feature and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

IN POSITION TO HELP OTHERS! Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and Parker University’s health and wellness degrees are a great option for anyone wanting to help improve the lives of others through natural, non-invasive health and wellness.

Is a career helping through natural health and wellness for you? Do you want to bring your career and practice to the next level? Check out these degrees Parker University has to offer.

• Master of Science — Functional Nutrition • Master of Science — Strength and Human Performance • Master of Science — Neuroscience • Master of Science — Clinical Neuroscience • Bachelor of Science — Psychology • Bachelor of Science — Integrative Health Parker University has been named the second fastest growing university in North Texas and the fourth fastest in the state of Texas.

For more information on these or other degrees at Parker University or to speak to an advisor today, call us at 800.637.8337 or email us at askparkeradmissions@parker. edu. Ready to apply? Go to Parker.edu today!

Accreditation Parker University is a not-for-profit university and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

news briefs

Fulfill a Longing for Happiness

T

he Holistic Center of Health and Happiness is offering small group meditations and events starting in June in Wheeling, as well as private consultation, shamanic healing and past-life regressions. In November, small groups and personal wellness retreats will be held in Mexico for attendees to restore vitality and balance, and take home knowledge to use in daily life.

Owner Nina Yefimov says, “Deep inside, every person has a longing for happiness. The road to happiness starts with emotional healing. Our souls lived here on Earth for many lives and came to this life with many wounds from our previous lives, Nina Yefimov even though we do not remember it. To add to this, we received even more emotional wounds in this life which need to be healed in order to start living our full creative capacity and enjoy our life.” She notes that emotional health is the key to happiness in all aspects of life.

For more information or to register, call 224-688-0155 or visit EmotionalHealingChicago.com.

See ad on page 11 and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Immune Response Varies by the Individual

A

ntalee Wellness Spa, in Glenview, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Alla Arutcheva, M.D., Ph.D., ND, developed a special personalized protocol to increase immune system resilience and boost anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory immune response. The protocol is highly individualized and depends on a person’s health condition and lifestyle.

Her priority is to help people build up strong immune systems Alla to withstand viral and bacterial infections. “More and more people Arutcheva are getting vaccinated against COVID-19. However, some people developed ‘breakthrough’ cases, which means people got infected or sick despite being vaccinated,” says Arutcheva. “People who have a weak immune system may be at higher risk for breakthrough cases because their bodies might produce a less powerful immune response to the vaccine.”

She further explains, “Immune system tolerance and resilience highly depend on the health of digestive, hormonal, nerve and respiratory systems. First, the doctor evaluates whole body health, then puts all the puzzles together to build a protocol that is unique for each person.”

Location: 1836 Glenview Rd., 2nd flr. For more information or to make an appointment, call 847-486-1130 or visit AntaleeHolistic.com. See ad on page 41, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world. ~Lucille Ball 10

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Healing with Natural Light Therapy

W

ellness Empowered, in Northbrook, offers natural light therapy for all ages. The Photonx Wellness Device employs a sublingual applicator to deliver red, green and blue natural light wavelengths directly to an artery located under the tongue, leading to systemic and far-reaching benefits.

Positive results can include natural anti-microbial, anti-tick-borne disease, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic effects; diminished inflammation and pain; improved circulation and mitochondrial function; increased oxygen absorption, ATP production and energy; inactivation of toxins; stimulation of wound healing and balancing of hormones; neurotransmitters and boosts of endorphins.

Photonx Wellness therapy is a standalone choice for a wide variety of medical conditions including acute and chronic infections, chronic diseases such as fatigue, lack of energy, diabetes, heart disease, neurologic diseases, autoimmune diseases, mold disease, mood disorders or any condition causing pain and/or inflammation such as interstitial cystitis, neck and back pain, headaches, migraines or nerve pain.

Location: 2177 Shermer Rd. For more information or to schedule a Photonx session, call 847-963-6094. See ad on page 11, in the Community Resource Guide and the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

CLICK ON nachicago.com

for the latest updates in health & wellness

Benefits of Optimized Hormones

A

dvanced Women’s Healthcare (AWH) at Northwest Community Hospital (NCH) applies integrated functional medicine optimizing a woman’s hormones with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, thyroid optimization and something as simple as correcting vitamin D deficiency.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a way to replace identical hormones to those the body produces that men and women lose over the course of their lives. This therapy treatment is done for many common and debilitating symptoms that are often overlooked by medical professionals. Some common symptoms include exhaustion, stress, unclear thoughts, weight gain, sleep disturbances and fibromyalgia. Often, people with these common symptoms are suffering from hormonal imbalance.

Getting to the root cause of this imbalance is the first step to returning the patient to a state of hormone balance and feeling relief from their symptoms. AWH uses BHRT to balance bodily hormones and helping patient’s reclaim their health.

Learn more about hormone replacement therapy, extending vitality and Advanced Women’s Healthcare at myawhs.com/bioidentical-hormone.

Location: Busse Medical Bldg., 880 W. Central Rd., Ste. 6200, Arlington Heights.

For more information, visit myawhs.com/ bioidentical-hormone. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ranae Yockey, call 847-618-0730. See ad in the Women in Wellness feature, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

”I started u intestinal sing Photonx for pain and inissues, as well as my should flammation in sessions, to er. After several What life takes out of you, incredibly, mmy amazement , ost of my d PhotoBioModulation can put back. issu igestive es and m Photonx uses Red, Blue and Green wavelengths of joint inflam uch of my shoulder m light to improve ENERGY, manage STRESS, markedly im ation was improve MOBILITY, and sharpens MENTAL ACUITY. added bonu proved! As an energy, ands, I had more What is PhotoBioModulation (PBM)? Put simply, and sinuses my headaches cleared up to - Mon when you are stressed your cells are stressed, which o! leads to increased inflammation. The energy from photons increases cellular energy, which helps repair cells and maintains optimal tissue functionality.

ica A.”

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2021 IS A GREAT TIME TO

Change your job, ! e f i l r u o y e g n a h C

news briefs

Tool Library Provides Level Playing Field for Chicago Gardeners

T

he Chicago Tool Library, a community nonprofit organization with a mission to provide equitable access to tools, equipment and information to allow all Chicagoans to learn, share and create, is open for the spring season.

They even have a large collection of free vegetable, herb, fruit and flower seeds.

Members must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Chicago; fill out a basic application form; and choose an annual payment for the first year.

They note that having the space to store tool collections is a luxury most city dwellers cannot afford. Becoming a member of a tool library provides access to thousands of tools without needing to store them at home. Purchasing and maintaining tools is expensive, but borrowing them is not. Memberships are priced on a sliding scale to ensure everyone is able to access these resources. The tool library is also a space for learning, as well as sharing questions, problems and solutions with the growing community, with access to a growing library of practical information.

Location: 1048 W. 37th St., Ste.102, Chicago. For more information, call 773-242-0923 or visit ChicagoToolLibrary.org.

Pinpoint Root Causes with AO Total Body Scan

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rica Cody, founder of the Northwest Healing Center, in Lake Barrington, uses AO Scan, a cutting-edge, non-invasive, bio-resonance device. She advises, “While traditional medicine is greater today than it has ever been in human history, sometimes even highly skilled medical doctors have difficulty pinpointing and treating certain ailments. That’s where the AO Total Body Scanner comes in.”

The AO Scan Digital Body Analyzer uses infrared and electromagnetic signals to detect frequency imbalances in the subtle energy of organs, tissues, cells and even DNA. It scans more than 80,000 individual points, instantly compares those frequencies with a database of known healthy frequencies and displays the results in minutes.

The AO Vital Scan is the most complete no-blooddrawn blood work assessment available. It covers all major organs, glands and systems of the body for a fraction of the cost. The AO Inner Voice Scan is used to determine the stored frequencies on the vagus nerve to determine emotions that are impacting tissues and organs in the body.

Location: 22000 N. Pepper Rd. For more information and appointments, call 224-600-3216 or visit NorthwestHealingCenter.com.

See ad in the Women in Wellness feature and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

health briefs

Many Dental Issues are Preventable

TAKE A UNIQUE APPROACH TO WELLNESS…

by Bernice Teplitsky There are several factors that could contribute to ideas of “inherited” bad teeth or surprise dental issues. The most common are diet and brushing techniques. These are important to consider because sugar intake is a big contributor of decay. Not removing all of the food on and in-between our teeth can lead to bad breath or places for bacteria to grow. What’s not commonly taken into consideration is the transmission of bacteria and the side effects of constant snacking.

Everyone has both good and bad bacteria present in the mouth, and it can be transmitted via saliva. Someone with dental issues may have more bad bacteria present, harboring tooth decay and periodontal disease. When sharing food using the same spoon, a drink from the same cup/container or a product such as lip balm or lipstick, we may be sharing more than we think, because bacteria can be transmitted in these ways.

Just as humans carry bacteria in the mouth, so do our pets. One strain to consider is spirochetes, which is responsible for destroying the blood vessels of the gums and resulting in periodontitis and other gum disease. Today, we are kissing our pets on the mouth or nose and letting them lick our faces more than ever. We must keep in mind that as we share affection for our pet, they could be, without fault of their own, sharing a bit more.

We also need to consider how constant snacking may be affecting our dental health. We have become a society that doesn’t always have three square meals per day, but instead have added snacking throughout the day. Eating frequent snacks, even healthy ones, such as berries, causes our mouth’s pH levels to drop. A healthy oral pH level is around 7, and cavity-causing bacteria can be found around 5.5. Every time we eat, our pH level decreases, and if we are not allowing it time to rise back up, we are not allowing our teeth to naturally re-mineralize, which makes the teeth prone to decay.

Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, NMD, is the owner of Wrigleyville Dental, located at 3256 N. Ashland, in Chicago. For more information and appointments, call 773-975-6666, email Info@WrigleyvilleDental.com or visit WrigleyvilleDental.com.

See ad in the Women In Wellness Feature, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com

WITH

Whole Mind Body Medicine

David J Zeiger, D.O.

ABOIM, FAAFP ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

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A Wholistic Family Doctor that Cares, Available 24/7 Telemedicine and In-Office Consults BCBS Provider

“Dr. Zeiger takes time to listen to every symptom in detail. He gave me my life back after being extremely sick for almost 3 years with no answers from 3 University hospitals at 95 pounds. His tests showed exactly what he diagnosed.” ~ Annette P. For appointments

312-255-9444

1020 N. Milwaukee Ave, Ste 153 Deerfield 60015 May 2021

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health briefs

People in the “poorest of the poor” communities in which money is not a high value can feel as happy as people in high-income Scandinavian countries, concludes new research from Canada’s McGill University. For the study published in PLOS One, interviewers studied 678 people living in Bangladesh and the Solomon Islands, both extremely low-income countries. People in remote fishing villages with subsistence-level incomes reported very high levels of “subjective well-being”, which they attributed to spending lots of time with family and being in nature. Villagers that had migrated to urban areas for work were more likely to gauge their well-being by economic and social factors, and reported lower feelings of well-being, leading researchers to speculate that monetization, especially in its early stages, may be detrimental to happiness. “When people are comfortable, safe and free to enjoy life within a strong community, they are happy—regardless of whether or not they are making any money,” says Chris Barrington-Leigh, a professor at McGill’s Bieler School of the Environment.

theodore gouta/Unsplash.com

Don’t Rely on Money for Happiness

As convenient as store-bought baby food is, it can pose hidden dangers for infant brains, say U.S. congressional investigators. A report issued by the House of Representatives on February 4 found “dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals,” including arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury, in baby foods made by major companies Hain Foods, Gerber, Beech-Nut and Happy Family Organics. Walmart, Campbell Soup Company and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the investigation. On March 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pledged to enact new standards, increase inspections and testing, and support research to lower baby food contaminants.

Low levels of exposure to heavy metals can cause serious, irreversible damage to children’s brain development, studies show. Naturally present in the environment, they enter baby foods through soil, water and air; companies attempt to minimize this impact through processing. In one example, Hain Celestial, which makes Earth’s Best Organic, says it no longer uses brown rice, which can harbor arsenic.

m studio/AdobeStock.com

Nix Baby Foods that Harbor Toxic Metals

A natural, non-pharmaceutical remedy for anxiety disorders that affect 40 million Americans is as close as our beds, say University of California at Berkeley researchers.

In Nature Human Behaviour, they reported that a sleepless night can trigger up to a 30 percent rise in anxiety levels, but a full night of slumber stabilizes emotions. The type most apt to calm and reset the anxious brain is deep sleep, also known as non-rapid eye movement, slow-wave sleep during which neural oscillations become highly synchronized and heart rate and blood pressure drop.

The researchers used brain scans to identify anxiety levels in 48 volunteers after nights of deep or restless sleep. “Without sleep, it’s almost as if the brain is too heavy on the emotional accelerator pedal without enough brake,” says the study’s senior author Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and psychology. A second survey of 280 people online found that the amount and quality of sleep people experienced from one night to the next predicted how anxious they would feel the next day. Even subtle nightly changes in sleep affected anxiety levels.

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NAChicago.com

vladislav muslakov/Unsplash.com

Sleep Deeply to Reduce Anxiety

global briefs

Ark Park

World’s Largest Wildlife Highway Crossing Opens in San Antonio

photo courtesy of phil hardberger park conservancy

The new Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge connects people with nature in the heart of San Antonio across a sixlane highway at Phil Hardberger Park. Private donations and a five-year bond program approved by voters helped fund the $23 million bridge, the largest wildlife crossing of its kind in the U.S. Wildlife and vehicle collisions are a big problem across the country, increasing by 50 percent in 15 years, with an estimated 1 to 2 million large animals killed by motorists every year, according to National Geographic sources.

In the U.S., 21 threatened and endangered species face extinction partly because of traffic accidents. Wildlife crossings are seen as an effective solution to the problem, with fatality reductions of up to 95 percent, depending on the location. The San Antonio bridge is notable for its size—150 feet wide and 150 feet long—and that it accommodates people, too. Animals in the 330-acre park that benefit from the bridge include ringtails, squirrels, coyotes, lizards, raccoons and deer. They are using it as intended, and it also serves as a habitat for native plants.

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May 2021

15

global briefs

event brief

Fuel Fight

Return of the 60-Second Garden Video Challenge

Gas Utilities Knock Electric Appliances

kelly-sikkema/Unsplash.com

callum hill/AdobeStock.com

As cities phase out the installation of gas lines in new buildings to cut down on methane emissions, gas utilities have been staging adversarial campaigns nationwide. In Santa Barbara, California, residents received warnings that a gas ban would dramatically increase their bills. The Pacific Northwest group Partnership for Energy Progress, funded in part by Washington state’s largest natural gas utility, Puget Sound Energy, has spent at least $1 million opposing heating electrification in Bellingham and Seattle, including $91,000 on bus ads with the slogan, “Reliable. Affordable. Natural Gas. Here for You.” In Oklahoma, Arizona, Louisiana and Tennessee, the industry has worked aggressively with state legislatures to pass laws to prevent cities from passing cleaner building codes.

The American Gas Association even has a website (aga. org) dedicated to promoting cooking with gas. Surveys have found that most people are open to switching water heaters and furnaces from gas to electric versions, so gas company advertising has made gas stoves a symbol of wealth, good taste and status for consumers, builders and realtors. Gas connections in American houses are at an all-time high, but as Americans realize that natural gas is a powerful contributor to climate change and source of air pollution, at least 42 cities have strengthened building codes to discourage expanding gas hookups in new construction.

Take time for self-care.

NAChicago.com can help you access the resources you need for help staying healthy and happy!

16

Chicago

NAChicago.com

T

he Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards (CEGA) is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year by bringing back the second 60-Second Garden Video Challenge. In 2020, with COVID-19 making social distancing the norm, CEGA learned a valuable lesson about gardening awards: “When life hands you a pandemic, make videos!”

Each year since 2017, the nonprofit Chicago Excellence in Gardening Alliance has presented the awards, Chicago’s only citywide gardening honors recognizing the hard work and creativity that make our city a healthier, more beautiful and more sustainable place. In 2019, the CEGA committee honored gardens from 43 wards and 76 Chicago communities. From simple parkways to elegant home gardens, to large and productive urban farms, these gardens exemplify the Chicago motto, adopted in 1837, “Urbs in Horto.”

CEGA’s first 60-Second Garden Video Challenge garnered more than 13,000 views as gardeners from coast-to-coast showcased their efforts. There were two major categories—residential gardens and institutional gardens such as schools, churches, community gardens and businesses, with monthly awards, as well as overall first-, second- and third-place finishes for each category.

This year, the competition is back with a new twist; there are two challenges, in spring and summer. CEGA will have a twomonth spring competition for May and June followed by a separate July and August summer competition.

Gardeners create one-minute videos of their gardens and upload them to the CEGA website. The CEGA team reviews them for social standards and music licensing considerations, and posts the videos on the CEGA YouTube Channel. Viewers then use the “thumbs up” to vote for their favorite videos.

To be eligible for the spring competition, videos will be accepted from May 1 through June 30. Videos for the summer competition will be accepted from July 1 to August 31. Winners in each category will be announced for each month of the competition. In addition, the top three vote-getters for the spring and summer sections in each category will be awarded modest cash prizes. Videos that receive the most votes will be posted on the CEGA website and on its social media pages.

The competition is free and open to anyone that has a garden or belongs to one. Videos can be straightforward, clever, artistic or funny. Entrants need not be from Chicago.

For more information including a full set of rules and to enter the challenge, visit ChicagoGardeningAwards.org. See ad on page 15.

eco tip

Eco-Cosmetics Choosing Sustainable Beauty Products

Sustainability to-do list:

n In certain areas of the country, #1

n Instead of using disposable

and #2 plastic containers commonly used in the beauty industry are not accepted at local recycling centers.

TerraCycle.com offers a mail-in solution with free shipping labels for packages weighing more than 15 pounds. Among the recyclable items accepted through this program are lip balm tubes, soap dispensers, shampoo and conditioner caps, hair spray triggers, lipstick cases, mascara tubes, eye shadow cases, foundation packaging and lip liner pencils.

cleansing wipes, make a reusable, washable alternative using a cut-up T-shirt or ultra-soft baby washcloths.

Online DIY recipes for the liquid solution include water, witch hazel, essential oils and mild soaps.

n Opt for products that eliminate water as the main ingredient, such as shampoo and conditioners that come in paper-wrapped bars, lowering shipping costs, eliminating the need for plastic bottles and conserving water.

gizele/AdobeStock.com

n Say no to single-use sheet masks wrapped in plastic or made of petroleum-based materials. Easier, eco-friendly swaps abound, such as cucumber slices for puffy eyes. n Go with glass packaging instead Beauty is a $49 billion industry in the U.S. That’s a lot of plastic lipstick cases and shampoo tubes buried in landfills and breaking down into microplastics that leach poisonous chemicals into the world’s oceans and our drinking water. As consumers, we can vote with our wallets, sending a clear message to makeup and skincare brands: We want the planet to be beautiful, too.

of plastic. Glass is recycled more easily and doesn’t release harmful toxic chemicals.

n Choose brands that use the least amount of packaging materials as possible, eschewing plastic in favor of biodegradable, paper-wrapped, cartoned or package-less products.

n Look for brands that use less packing material and planetforward shippers.

n Support, applaud and purchase refillable products.

Eco-friendly beauty brands:

n By Humankind (ByHumankind.com) is reducing use of single-use plastics.

n LOLI (LoliBeauty.com) is a zerowaste brand that uses food-grade glass yogurt jars that can be repurposed in the kitchen. n Cadence (KeepYourCadence.com) offers refillable containers as an alternative to wasteful, travel-size products. n Lush (LushUSA.com) champions package-less products. n Beautycounter (Beautycounter.com) has pledged to eliminate unit cartons; decrease its use of virgin plastic; use recycled, recyclable, reused or compostable packaging; and create refillable products.

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May 2021

17

event spotlight

World-Renowned South African Artist and Sculptor Daniel Popper to Exhibit at Morton Arboretum

by Anna Marie Imbordino

18

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Photo courtesy of The Morton Arboretum

F

ollowing the highly successful installation Troll Hunt by structures and large-scale human hands. Made of glass-reinforced Denmark-based recycled artist and environmental activist concrete, fiberglass and steel, each sculpture will weigh several Thomas Dambo, The Morton Arboretum welcomes yet metric tons. The largest ground footprint will be 28 feet wide and another internationally renowned artist to its property in Lisle. The 37 feet long. Popper, who is new to concrete as a design medium, Morton Arboretum’s newest outdoor art is excited at the challenge. Concrete was installation, Human+Nature, will open a practical, as well as artistic choice for this month, after the original June 2020 Popper, as he and his team hope to creopening was delayed due to the coroate somewhat permanent installations navirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This that can withstand Chicagoland winters. will be the first major U.S. exhibition Popper described his upcoming by renowned South African multidisinstallation as playful, sentimental and ciplinary artist and sculptor Daniel at times serious, but ultimately reminds Popper, and his largest exhibition to date audiences that they are just statues. Some anywhere in the world. It will feature may find Popper’s work to be inspiring, five, 15-to-26-foot-tall interactive public while others may find the work unsetart installations created exclusively for tling, but all feedback about his work Ven a la Luz by Daniel Popper-Tulum Mexico 2018 the Arboretum. is celebrated by Popper, who finds the Built to create a sense of awe and wonder, the Human+Nature criticisms just as beautiful as the praise. “There is a lot to be said (pronounced “human nature”) sculptures will be in various locawhen a piece of art makes you feel something, even if that feeling tions across the 1,700-acre Arboretum site to lead guests to areas is uncomfortable. That experience of discomfort can really change they may not otherwise explore. Popper caught the eye of Arboreyour perspective on things.” tum curators on Instagram.

The different perspectives of his work Popper describes as “The space provides a real challenge due to size,” shares Sarah fantastic and exactly what he hopes for. “Some may get freaked Sargent, manager of interpretation and exhibits. “We wanted out, some will love it, some will be in awe, but everyone will something that could hold its own over 16 miles of hiking trails project their own stories onto these sculptures. Enjoy them. Take and over 1,700 acres of property. Troll Hunt was such a success, so your own meaning. There is something interesting about why you we hoped to create something really distinct from trolls that could resonate with it, or don’t like it. What is triggering you there? That inspire new audiences to experience the Arboretum and connect is also beautiful and part of the experience I hope to share with with nature.”

Arboretum guests.”

Works of this scale are not new for Popper, who has spent In addition to his work with the Arboretum, Popper has years sculpting monumental public installations and stages for plans to showcase installations in 2021 at the Bellagio Hotel, in Las numerous music festivals and events from Electric Forest, in MichVegas, this summer, in addition to private property installations in igan, to Modem Festival, in Croatia. His most recent sculpture, Joshua Tree, California, and Miami. titled Thrive, will be a permanent public installation at Society Las Olas, in Fort Lauderdale.

To explore more of Daniel Popper’s monumental works, visit Where installations like Troll Hunt celebrated conservation DanielPopper.com and Instagram @danielpopper. through recycled art, Popper hopes his work can communicate a different message. “I looked at this opportunity as a way to share The Morton Arboretum is located at 4100 Illinois Rte. 53, in Lisle. a different message about conversation. If you create a tree out of Entry is currently by advance registration for timed entry. For more plastic bottles, that certainly sends a message and is wonderful, information and to make reservations, call 630-968-0074 or visit but for me, what was more important was to bring awareness to MortonArb.org. humanity’s deeper relationship to nature. How closely related we are to the natural world around us as a sentient being.”

Anna Marie Imbordino is an award-winning writer, publicist and Audiences will experience a towering interpretation of a environmentalist based in Chicago and Charleston, SC. Connect on female figure, diverse human facial traits interwoven with root social media by following @CHiBuzzMarketing.

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May 2021

19

therapy spotlight

Peptide Therapy

Promotes Cellular Healing

by Carrie Jackson

t

hriveMD, in Schaumburg, has a longstanding reputation for providing innovative and holistic therapies. Their focus on health optimization and functional medicine means that they individualize a proactive healthcare regimen for each patient. Carla Brook, NP-C, is a functional medicine practitioner and family nurse practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in family practice. She says that peptide therapy, a therapy that uses specific amino acids to support regeneration, can play a key role helping a variety of conditions. “Peptide therapy is a safe therapy that potentially enhances the function of the entire body, allowing it to heal itself optimally,” Brook explains.

Peptides are short strings of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, which control many of the fundamental processes in the body. Peptide therapy uses specific combinations of these amino acids that communicate with different parts of the body and aid in cellular repair. “Because peptides are smaller than proteins, they may be easier for the body to absorb and can more easily penetrate the skin and intestines, which helps them enter the bloodstream more quickly. Peptide therapy makes changes on a cellular level and helps the body optimize its own healing,” says Brook.

While peptide use has been around since the 1970s, interest and innovation of the therapy has grown rapidly in recent years. People may be familiar with some commonly used peptides such as collagen for skin health and creatine for enhancing athletic performance. But there are currently more than 7,000 naturally occurring peptides that have been identified as therapies for a variety of conditions. “Peptide therapy 20

Chicago

NAChicago.com

can help with leaky gut, muscle and tendon injuries, sexual dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease, hair regrowth, reducing inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, neuromuscular repair, immune system boost, intracellular infections and even some cancers,” says Brook. It is thought to increase cognitive function, promote wound healing and strengthen the immune system.

One of the biggest advantages of peptide therapy is that there are typically few to no side effects. “Peptide therapy is generally considered a safe, natural and effective therapy for anyone. Since peptide supplements mimic the peptides already in food, the body already knows how to process

them,” says Brook.

Peptides are also relatively easy to administer. Most are taken orally and are easily digested. They also come in a topical form to stimulate hair growth, for example, or as an injection into a joint as a therapy for pain or inflammation. They are typically made in a compounding pharmacy, either derived from food or synthetically, and the patient can take the proper dose home. Most peptide therapies are taken one at a time, but in some cases, it is possible to combine them for varying effects and conditions.

Because there are so many possible combinations, it is easy to customize a dose for a very specific condition. “Certain pep-

tides improve the integrity of gut mucus, which helps to eliminate leaky gut. Others stimulate the production of melanin, a skin pigment, which may improve the skin’s protection against sun damage. HGH peptides interact with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to help stimulate growth hormones. Collagen can help improve skin elasticity and quality,” says Brook. Still others are used as therapies for erectile and other sexual dysfunction, promoting tissue and muscle repair, lowering high blood pressure, killing harmful microbes, preventing the formation of blood clots and acting as antioxidants.

Brook stresses that peptide therapy is one important step to take on the path to overall health, but it works best with other healing modalities and lifestyle modifications. “Peptide therapy helps initiate cellular repair so the body is able to heal itself more effectively. But it is also important to address the root cause of what was causing the disease or distress in the first place. I encourage patients to examine their diet, emotional wellness, activity levels, social interactions and generally take an inventory of their overall wellness. Health optimization also includes hormone regulation, healthy weight management, supplements and other holistic therapies. By taking an active approach, they can regain their optimal health,” says Brook.

ThriveMD is located at 1355 Remington Rd., Ste. F, in Schaumburg. For more information, call 312-600-5070, email Info@ thriveMD.org or visit thriveMD.com. See ad on page 5, in the Community Resource Guide and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com.

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com

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21

INTEGRATIVE

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Five Top Health Concerns and What to Do

by Ronica O’Hara

A

nyone walking into a U.S. hospital today will notice something that was inconceivable 50 years ago—one in three practicing physicians is a woman, and among physicians under age 35, it’s three in five. That compares to one in 14 in 1970. For women needing health care, that fact can change everything. “Research says that female physicians provide better care to female patients than male physicians do,” says Harvard Medical School Associate Professor Alice Domar, Ph.D., a pioneer in women’s mind-body medicine. “They are more likely to listen carefully and take complaints seriously.”

That’s just one factor in how health care is improving for women. Only three decades ago, women were simply considered “small men” in medical research and rarely included as subjects in clinical studies. Today, after a 1993 federal mandate ensured their inclusion, it’s been well established that women metabolize drugs differently than men, respond to health threats with a more robust immune system and are more likely to experience side effects. These findings have helped spur major changes for women in standards, dosages, medications and procedures—resulting in fewer cancer deaths, better treatment of autoimmune disorders and more nuanced cardiac care strategies. Although much has improved about women’s health, much more remains to be done.

About one in three women is diagnosed with cancer in the course of a lifetime, and they have better survival rates than men, of which one in two receives that diagnosis. Between 2001 and 2017, the overall cancer death rate for women declined by 1.4 percent each year as diagnoses and treatments became more refined and targeted. The number one cancer killer for women is 22

Chicago

NAChicago.com

anna shvets/Pexels.com

Cancer

lung cancer, although 19 percent diagnosed have never smoked.

The next most deadly are cancers of the breast, colon/rectum, pancreas and ovaries.

Breast cancer deaths have dropped by 40 percent since 1989, thanks to greater awareness, early detection and better treatments. “Women learned from the AIDS crisis that making noise gets results,” says Domar. “Look at how far breast cancer research and treatment has come in the past 10 to 20 years, how powerful Breast Cancer Awareness Month is, and that everyone recognizes that pink ribbon.”

Common symptoms: Bowel changes, lingering sores, fatigue, lumps, unusual discharge, difficulty digesting or swallowing, nagging cough or hoarseness, belly or back pain.

New research: An international research team has identified a direct molecular link between meat and dairy diets and the development of antibodies in the blood that increases the chances of developing cancer.

Medical advances: Painful, invasive biopsies may become a thing of the past. Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a simple blood test that detects more than 50 types of cancer, as well as their location within the body, with a high degree of accuracy, and the City of Hope Cancer Center, in Los Angeles, has developed a urine test that analyzes cell-free fragments of DNA to detect cancer.

Preventive strategies: Vitamin D supplementation lowers the risk of mortality across all cancers, German researchers found, estimating that if all Germans older than 50 took such supplements, up to 30,000 cancer deaths per year might be avoided. A 10-year study found that people between 55 and 74 that took a low-dose aspirin at least three times each week lowered their risk of all types of cancer by 15 percent and overall mortality by 19 percent.

lionidast akaoishik ama/Pexels.com

Heart Disease

One in three American women die from heart disease, more than all cancers combined. “Unfortunately, awareness that heart disease can and does happen to women remains low, and this results in delay of care,” says cardiologist Nicole Harkin of Whole Heart Cardiology, in San Francisco. “Women tend to seek medical care later in the course of their heart attack and with more risk factors, resulting in poorer outcomes, and they are more likely than men to die of their first heart attack.”

Women have different symptoms of heart disease than men, are often misdiagnosed and have a 20 percent greater risk of dying within five years of a heart attack. Pregnant women that develop hypertension are two to five times more likely to later develop cardiovascular disease.

Common symptoms: Heart pressure, fatigue, breathlessness and pain between the shoulder blades.

New research: Eating more than seven servings per day of refined grains like croissants and white bread increased the risk of heart disease by 33 percent and stroke by 47 percent, concluded a study May 2021

23

fibromyalgia, lupus, celiac disease, Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, are linked to genetics, environmental triggers, some medications, obesity, injuries and stress.

Common symptoms: These vary widely, but may include achy muscles, fatigue, recurring low-grade fever, joint pain and swelling, skin problems, abdominal pain and swelling, hair loss, swollen glands and tingling in hands and feet.

allyson weislogel/Unsplash.com

New research: Eating significantly fewer foods containing the amino acid methionine, found at high levels in meat, fish, dairy and eggs, could slow the onset and progression of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis in high-risk individuals, reports a study in Cell Metabolism.

in The British Medical Journal. In a Stanford study, participants that ate plant-based meat for eight weeks had improved markers of heart health, lower LDL levels and lost two pounds compared to those eating meat.

Medical advance: To successfully fix a floppy mitral valve that’s hampering blood flow in the heart, doctors can guide a catheter up a patient’s leg vein and staple the troubled parts of the valve with a tiny clip, a safer and less invasive procedure than openheart surgery.

Preventive strategies: Eating nuts several times a week lowers by 30 to 50 percent the risk of heart attacks, sudden cardiac death and cardiovascular disease, four large cohort studies have shown.

Older women with high fitness levels have one quarter the risk of dying from heart disease as women that are out of shape, report Spanish researchers.

Autoimmune Diseases The prevalence of autoimmune diseases has grown by one half in two decades, even as medications and targeted therapies have kept more patients active and out of wheelchairs. “Where it used to be the norm for many physicians to consider women with some autoimmune illnesses to be neurotic, that approach is now being recognized as being abusive and unacceptable. This is a critical step towards recovery,” says chronic fatigue expert Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of From Fatigued to Fantastic!

About 80 percent of the 23 million Americans that suffer from debilitating autoimmune diseases are women, and those conditions tend to develop during childbearing years. The eighth-leading cause of death among women, these illnesses shorten lifespan by an average of eight years. The 80-plus diseases, including 24

Chicago

NAChicago.com

Medical advance: Evidence is mounting that low doses of naltrexone, a substance-abuse treatment drug, can treat conditions like lupus, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis by normalizing the immune system and relieving pain with few side effects. “It costs only about 70 cents a day, is made by compounding pharmacists and is remarkably beneficial for a host of autoimmune conditions,” says Teitelbaum.

Preventive strategy: To fight inflammation, take a daily turmeric or curcumin supplement that includes piperine (black pepper) for better absorption. A University of Houston meta-study in Nutrients found that curcumin supplements improved symptoms in 14 osteoarthritis, two ulcerative colitis and eight Type 2 diabetes studies.

Hormonal Imbalances The past 20 years has seen significant improvements in the studies and treatments of female hormonal issues. “There are now treatment options that allow women to transition into menopause, options for prevention of osteoporosis and momentous changes in fertility,” says Stephanie Seitz, a naturopathic family physician in Scottsdale, Arizona. At the same time, she adds, “I have seen environmental toxins rising in my female population. I see young girls coming in with polycystic ovary syndrome, early menarche and painful menstrual cramping; women having trouble getting pregnant for unknown reasons; the rise of fibroids, premature ovarian insufficiency and endometriosis.”

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, regulating processes ranging from hunger to blood pressure to mood and playing a key role in reproduction. They have come under assault from endocrine disrupters, thousands of largely unregulated perand polyfluoroalkyl substances, abbreviated PFAS. These “forever chemicals” are found in everything from plastics to cushions to canned foods, and are in the blood of 98 percent of Americans.

Studies have linked them to girls experiencing puberty one year earlier than 40 years ago; to rising cases of infertility, miscarriages and low birth weight; to menopause occurring two to four years earlier; and to obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and breast cancer.

Common symptoms: Because hormones regulate all of the body’s processes, symptoms of imbalance run the gamut and may

include fatigue, weakness, erratic menstrual cycles and weight gain or loss.

New research: Early menstruation increases the likelihood of hot flashes and night sweats decades later at menopause, according to a University of Queensland study. Eating five teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil daily reduced women’s moderate to severe menstrual cramps by 83 percent in two months, Iranian researchers found.

Medical advance: A major study of 9,000 postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer showed 94 percent that received hormonal therapy, but not chemotherapy, did not have recurrences.

Preventive strategies: To avoid toxic chemicals, buy organics; replace plastic kitchen containers with glass; replace Teflon pans with ceramic or cast-iron; use chemical-free cosmetics and shampoos; nix air fresheners and chemical cleaners; and check out food and care products at the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org).

To help detox the body, consider working with a naturopathic doctor to develop a program that may include cleansing foods, herbs, saunas, elimination diets and chelators such as activated charcoal and algae.

Depression

Common symptoms: Sadness, anxiety, flat feeling, loss of motivation or feelings of pleasure, change of eating or sleeping patterns, low energy, difficulty concentrating or headaches.

New research: Sleeping irregular hours, doing night shifts and working for more than nine hours a day have been shown to put women at higher risk of depression, while eating more dietary fiber in produce, grains and legumes significantly lowers this risk.

Medical advances: For the estimated one in four people with depression that doesn’t respond to medication or therapy, emerging approaches offer fresh hope. Low doses of the anesthetic drug ketamine lifted the depression of 70 percent of hard-to-treat subjects by targeting specific serotonin receptors, Swedish researchers report. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of the prefrontal cortex, lifts symptoms for 50 to 60 percent of subjects, studies show.

Preventive strategies: Eating at least two servings a week of wildcaught, oily fish or a daily 1,000-to-2,000-milligram fish oil supplement with a 60-to-40 EPA to DHA ratio has been shown to be effective for symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and postpartum depression. Taking a brisk daily walk in nature with a friend or dog lowers four factors linked to depression: a “nature deficit”, physical inactivity, low vitamin-D levels and isolation.

Natural health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

anna shvets/Pexels.com

Women are twice as likely as men to develop depression, with one in four having a major episode at some point in life, yet fewer than half seek treatment. “Many women are too busy caring for others and feel guilty about their depression, fearing it could get in the way of their caregiving goals,” says New York psychoanalyst Claudia Luiz. “Many have the fantasy that if they open that door and allow themselves to focus on their feelings, they won’t be able to keep going.”

Depression occurs most frequently in women ages 25 to 44, and one in five teenage girls reports having had a major depressive episode, a number that has exploded due to social media use.

Psychotherapy is effective for 62 percent of adults with depression, antidepressants work for 54 percent and combining the two is helpful for 72 percent.

May 2021

25

2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS Welcome to our inaugural Natural Awakenings Chicago

Thank you to our amazing partners in creating this feature:

Women in Wellness feature, part of our month-long

the talented Evanston photographer and photojournalist

salute to women’s health! We’re highlighting some of the

Karen Kring as well as the team at the Chicago Botanic

incredible integrative and natural health professionals and

Garden for providing the beautiful spring setting where many

businesswomen in the Chicagoland area, and celebrating

of these photos were taken.

women everywhere who make wellness a priority and a passion in their lives.

We invite you to read, share and save this section, follow the Women in Wellness practitioners on social media and

We’re thrilled to showcase their stories and missions in

consider their services when you, your friends and family are

this special multi-platform feature, which begins in our May

seeking a health professional. Please join us in congratulating

print issue, and continues on our website at NAChicago.com

and celebrating all Chicago area Women in Wellness!

and on our social media platforms. We invite you to join us throughout the month of May for special digital features, including YouTube and video interviews and special Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn postings.

Photography Credit: Chicago Botanic Garden

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS Dr. Meena believes an increasing amount of the population is becoming dependent on chronic disease management programs. These are often lifelong medication regimens for illnesses which, in some instances, fail to provide relief or can even lead to harmful side effects. With her structured, comprehensive approach, Dr. Meena helps wean patients from such regimens, focusing on reversal rather than management of common conditions such as obesity, autoimmune diseases, hormonal imbalances, menopause, thyroid, diabetes, sleep apnea, mental health and ED. Dr. Meena expertly works with her patients to determine how and why illnesses occur and restore health by addressing the root causes for each individual. She uses her detailed knowledge of each patient’s genetic, biochemical and lifestyle factors to develop a personalized treatment plan for optimal outcomes.

“My training in Western medicine helps me understand practices

from

unconventional

medicine

modalities

objectively,” shares Dr. Meena. “After careful analysis of Photo taken in Glenview Photo by Karen Kring

both schools of thought, I have designed a structured, comprehensive and highly therapeutic lifestyle program which assimilates best practices from Western and Eastern

MEENA T. MALHOTRA, M.D. Heal n Cure and Dr. Meena

medicine to determine how and why illnesses occur, and restore health. We strive to rejuvenate health and vitality and restore passion and zest in the lives of our patients.”

Empowering patients and providers to collaborate to address the underlying causes of disease.

Dr. Meena encourages women to pay attention to their own

Founder of Heal n Cure, in Glenview, Dr. Meena T. Malhotra is

businesses. She suggests that families can lead a healthier

Double Board Certified, ABOM and ABIM (American Board

lifestyle by getting kids involved in grocery shopping and

of Obesity Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine)

cooking from an early age, and emphasizing eating whole

and is committed to healing disease at the root cause through

foods in their closest, natural form in a family setting.

health right now and take all symptoms seriously. Women are naturally giving in nature, she says, and can sometimes forget to take care of themselves while taking care of families and

an Integrative Functional Medicine approach. This principle mission is Dr. Meena’s guiding light toward a change in

“We cannot change the consequences of our choices, but we

healthcare to a true path of wellness and vitality for each

can change our choices,” says Dr. Meena.

practice member.

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Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

LYNNE C. BELSKY, M.D. AND LISA GOLD CBG Institute for Dance and Health

from Barat College, then taught ballet and modern at the Barat Conservatory of Dance for 16 years. A seasoned business professional, Lisa has owned, managed and taught at her studio for more than 30 years. Recently, Lisa earned a Professional Award in Adult Dance Practice from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Building balance and strength through dance to enrich health and freedom of movement.

As a physician, Lynne says, “There are numerous benefits of dance as we age. Other types of activity may help to ease

Cousins Dr. Lynne Chervony Belsky and Lisa Gold founded

symptoms or slow the need for care, but studies show that

the non-profit CBG Institute for Dance and Health in 2017.

dance is one specific activity that addresses all of these issues

They aim to enrich health and quality of life for older adults

and is socially engaging and fun. We have found our students

via dance education, performance and outreach. Sharing a

experience heightened feelings of joy and connectedness

vision of a community that conquers ageism by encouraging

from our dance classes.”

and supporting adults in their artistic endeavors, they teach dance to those 50+ and up virtually and in Gold’s Highland

“I’ve always called dance the fountain of youth. It helps people

Park studio, located near the Highland Park Metra station.

stay young. The longer they dance, the younger they feel,” adds Lisa. Dance can also build self-esteem and improve quality of

Lynne danced in New York with the Joffrey Ballet from 1975

life. “With graceful exercises, we build balance and strength,

to 1984, then attended Northwestern University, earning a

giving people confidence to move freely through the world,”

B.S. in Physical Therapy before earning her M.D. degree from

she notes.

Rush Medical College. Lisa graduated with a B.A. in Dance

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS On her journey she discovered the book The End of Alzheimer’s,

by Dr. Dale E. Bredesen, which became a foundation of her practice. Impressed with the results she was seeing in clients, Dr. Jessica opened her own clinic, Mindwise Healthcare, in February 2020, in Northfield.

“Using Dr. Bredesen’s protocol as a guide we help clients optimize brain health so that they are living the life that they want for as long as possible. Health coaching is an integral part of the practice because lifestyle changes require specialized support,” she says.

Dr. Jessica is committed to helping motivated individuals avoid the slow loss of life that occurs with dementia, an illness that wrecks families and finances. Too many people, Dr. Jessica states, believe that there is nothing that can be done Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

DR. JESSICA MONTALVO Mindwise Healthcare

Committed to helping motivated individuals avoid the slow loss of life that occurs with dementia.

to help those experiencing symptoms of memory loss and cognitive decline and she intends to change that narrative.

“Alzheimer’s dementia is preventable, and women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia much more often than men. There are many possible causes of dementia that are not looked for in conventional medical practices as well,” Dr. Jessica explains.

Taking a functional medicine approach to care, addressing root causes, and involving nutrition and lifestyle interventions in

Raised on the East Coast, Dr. Jessica Montalvo, M.D., came to

addition to targeted supplements and pharmaceuticals, have

Chicago for her internal medicine training at Northwestern

given her a renewed passion as a medical professional. Dr.

and now proudly calls our area her home. After practicing

Jessica is thankful for the opportunity to share her modalities

hospital-based medicine for a decade, she desired to have

with Chicagoland families, hoping to bring advocacy around

a greater impact on her patients and searched for a more

the true causes and symptoms of cognitive decline.

meaningful way to help others as a physician. She then pursued training through the Institute for Functional

When not taking care of patients, she enjoys Chicago’s food

Medicine (IFM) and the Kresser Institute ADAPT Practitioner

scene, as well as cooking something wonderful in the kitchen.

Training Program, specializing in functional medicine’s unique

In her free time she is also the co-ambassador for the Chicago

approach to the prevention and reversal of cognitive decline,

branch of the Bourbon Women Association.

and received certification in functional medicine from IFM.

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS Ruby Greenberg is a Chicago native, born of Mexican immigrant parents. An award-winning massage therapist, Reiki Master energy healer and a natural intuitive, she has always been drawn to healing; a connection she proudly attributes to the ancestors of her ethnic heritage.

Ruby graduated from the Soma Institute in 2008 and opened Massage Evolved in 2014, a studio in the West Loop of Chicago, with the mission to help people feel better in mind, body and soul. A successful entrepreneur, she has nurtured her business to become one of the top massage spas in Chicago.

Ruby’s life purpose shifted after unexpectedly losing her husband in 2016. This profound experience of losing someone so close ignited an urgency within to appreciate every moment of life while being the best person she can be. This desire includes continuing to help people get what they want out of life by aligning their intentions with their actions, mastering their energy and maintaining a healthy mindset.

Her philosophy is simple: do what you love and do it with love. Ruby encourages women to learn to connect with the wisdom within. “When we listen to our heart’s guidance, we can focus on making decisions for ourselves based on what we truly desire and are passionate about. We need to tap within our heart’s wisdom and stop listening to society and what Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

everyone else thinks is best for us as women,” she says.

Ruby gives back by focusing her time and attention on the

RUBY GREENBERG Massage Evolved

things that matter most to her. She recently organized and fundraised a toy drive, giving away more than 500 toys and coats to the Humboldt Park community. She also volunteered with Hispanic Star to distribute more than 2,500 boxes of food to communities most impacted by COVID-19.

Taking care of ourselves starts with how we treat our mind, body and soul.

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS hensive healthcare to all women throughout their lifespan.

Advanced Women’s Healthcare at NCH and Revive MedSpa, in Arlington Heights, specialize in minimally invasive surgery, high-risk OB care, infertility, pelvic pain, endometriosis, incontinence and hormone optimization. Hormone optimization, through compounding pharmacies, as well as through BioTE, is a bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT) program that is safe and effective for most women.

Dr. Yockey and her team treat the “whole patient”. Her practice offers routine GYN management, pregnancy and infertility, whole-body laser treatment options and chronic pelvic pain management options. Dr. Yockey incorporates PRP injections with laser therapies for chronic pelvic pain and vulvar conditions to include Lichen Sclerosus and Vulvodynia.

Dr. Yockey succeeds as a patient advocate, educating women about new and improved healthcare options, both medically and surgically. She is recognized as a top physician in minimally invasive surgery and served as Director of Robotic Surgical Services. She is driven to pursue groundbreaking Photo credit: Amita Health Foundation

treatments that are at the forefront of medical advancements. Dr. Yockey states, “As medical technologies evolve, I am constantly educating myself and my staff, offering our

DR. RANAE YOCKEY, D.O., FACOG

patients more than just traditional healthcare. Furthermore, I truly believe that no one understands a woman’s healthcare needs more than a woman herself.”

In addition to providing women’s healthcare, she is pas-

Advanced Women's Healthcare at NCH

sionate about helping women look and feel their very best

Treating the whole patient at the forefront of medical advancements.

lines of skin care, facials, Microderm abrasion, injections/

Dr. Ranae Yockey, D.O., brings her passion for empowering

through services at her Revive MedSpa. Revive offers full fillers and skin rejuvenation services to make the patient feel and look amazing.

women to make the best decisions about their overall health

After more than 25 years as a physician, Dr. Yockey remains

to all aspects of her medical practice. As the primary physi-

energetic and grateful for her opportunity to serve her

cian, Dr. Yockey and her dedicated staff of advanced practice

patients.

providers and administrative staff strive to provide compre-

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS With a curiosity about health that started in grade school, optimal health and nutrition have always interested Dr. Bernice Teplitsky. Today, she is one of the only dentists in Chicago practicing comprehensive holistic dentistry.

Dr. Bernice graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science. Questioning the conventional teachings of dentistry, she then obtained Naturopathic Medical Doctor Board Certification and a degree in Integrative Biologic Dental Medicine. She bought Wrigleyville Dental, in Chicago, in 2012.

Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

DR. BERNICE TEPLITSKY, DDS, NMD

Dr. Bernice and her team concentrate on patients’ total wellness, educating them in prevention while providing customized treatments for all ages. “By taking care of your teeth and gums through nutrition, proper oral hygiene, nonsurgical gum therapy, proper breathing and using non-toxic, biocompatible materials, we can avoid both expensive future dental procedures and the need to battle illnesses down the road,” she explains.

“Oral health is incredibly important to your overall health,” adds Dr. Bernice, who often works with patients’ other healthcare practitioners, creating an integrative team to optimize their wellness.

Wrigleyville Dental Improving overall health by concentrating on oral health.

WrigleyvilleDental.com

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773-975-6666

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ERICA CODY

Northwest Healing Center, Inc. Helping women identify health issues closer to the start of dysfunction and mitigate medical emergencies.

Certified Thermographer and Herbal Alternative Medicine Practitioner Erica Cody offers women a full mind/body healing experience to help identify body dysfunctions and health issues before they become a medical emergency. Through noninvasive, pain-free thermography and body scans, she helps clients evaluate if the course of action they have chosen is working or if it may be time to go in a new treatment direction.

Erica transitioned from an engineering career to healthcare when she started as a patient liaison in her family's chiropractic practice. Through her personal healing journey, she learned the benefits of maintaining optimal health and in 2015 founded her practice, now called Northwest Healing Center, located in Lake Barrington.

Erica and her team take an engineering approach when

Photo taken in Arlington Heights Photo by Karen Kring

seeking out the root cause of patients’ health issues. “When a woman notices a change in her breasts, thermography can help sort out the cause of that change safely,” shares Erica.

“We are able to identify if the change is hormonal, cyst or suspicious for developing malignant breast disease. This helps my patients avoid unnecessary scans and testing, while also bringing peace of mind and better healthcare decisions.”

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS As a functional medicine and allergen-free lifestyle coach, Tiffany Hinton offers comprehensive nutrition-and lifestylefocused virtual groups, self-study and one-on-one coaching programs to women of all backgrounds and health experiences looking to live a healthier, happier life. Hinton is an Amazon bestselling author, and has written or contributed to more than 16 books on allergy sensitivities.

In addition to traditional nutritional and wellness coaching, Tiffany offers hands-on “how-to” workshops to educate families about growing and nurturing gut healing gardens.

Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

TIFFANY HINTON, FMCHC

Sharing her experiences as a professional influencer, Tiffany has developed upbeat, advocacy-focused content for numerous gluten-free brands on the GF Mom Certified platforms. She is a spokesperson throughout the U.S., including being featured at the award-winning Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Expo, Nourished Festival and Bloom Summit. Tiffany believes each woman’s health experience is unique and works hands-on with clients to understand their lifestyle, health journey and optimal health goals.

GF Mom Certified

Helping wellness seekers heal after an autoimmune disease or food allergy diagnosis.

GFMomCertified.com

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773-234-6636

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MILAN C. PERRY OWNER & FOUNDER SoNaturelleWellness Creating sustainable and enjoyable ‘Healthy Lifestyle Design’ techniques.

Trained Culinary Chef, Herbalist and Holistic Wellness expert Milan C. Perry coaches clients to view self-care as an essential component of growth and success. She teaches a program of lifestyle wellness and being holistically in-tuned with the body. Combining her strengths—herbalist support, culinary nutrition and food therapy, along with mindful-living techniques—she inspires clients to prioritize and develop a sustainable self-care regimen for more vibrant energy; while also learning to cook bold, chic, inspiring food!

Her mission for SoNaturelleWellness is to help women who have experienced stressful transitions in life to improve their emotional well-being around food and eating, uncover and

Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

remove obstacles that cause unhealthy weight gain and banish the constant love-hate relationship with their body to reclaim their chic "joie de vivre" and feel more confident in their skin.

Milan’s mantra is “Chic Women Don’t Diet!” She is passionate about designing strategies to influence her clients towards true transformative change.

“I see delicious foods as a gift of a vibrant life enjoyed, and an experience to be savored regardless of where you are dining,” she says.

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SUSAN CURRY InteriorWerx

Achieving Root Solutions for Health and Happiness.

Susan Curry is the creator and facilitator of InteriorWerx, a unique wellness modality that focuses on releasing various physical pains, diseases and emotional distress in a noninvasive way. She strongly believes in the natural way that life’s uncomfortable issues can be resolved quickly using the power of energy and intuitive analytics. Her coaching approach reorganizes energy, locating the root cause to achieve the goal of comfort in the mind and body.

Susan has a curiosity about human performance, health, quantum energy, higher consciousness and emotional releases, and strives to learn from people that have achieved optimum health. Her interest was inspired by her upbringing. Raised by a Naval Intelligence Officer and University Acquisitions Librarian, good service, fine conduct and intelligence were considered the norm. Her upbringing offered positive examples of individuals who achieved optimal health and goal accomplishment, sparking a life-long interest in human psychology. Later studies at a prominent forensic psychiatrist’s practice convinced her to pursue energetic work as a career.

“Emotions are at the root of all issues. Everything begins with an emotional frequency or agreement. When operating from this premise, the art of healing is more complete because the root is ‘pulled’ and transformed,” Susan explains.

Photo taken at Ladd Arboretum, Evanston Photo by Karen Kring

Susan is the mother of two adult children with whom she shared the gift of energy healing throughout their childhood.

She is building a health and wellness resort in the Arizona mountains called Triple H Ranch.

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS problems, finding short-term relief with various treatments, but never actually got past her symptoms, before she discovered enzyme replacement therapy and the Loomis Institute of Enzyme Nutrition, in Madison, Wisconsin. After experiencing her own health transformation, she knew she had to share this protocol and help others to optimize their own health. Reneé became a Certified Digestive Health Specialist and opened Digestive Health Solutions in 2005.

She offers telehealth services and in-office appointments.

“Too many people aren’t finding the solutions to their health issues and continuing to suffer, and that’s why I am so passionate about this work. They’ve tried various approaches and are confused with conflicting information they find about nutrition and digestive health,” Reneé says. Taking an individualized, science-based approach, she uses diagnostic tools, testing and exams to help clients with a wide variety of health issues, from typical digestive conditions to almost seemingly unrelated issues like allergies, fatigue, rashes and acne. By educating her clients in the right food choices and nutritional support for their body and condition, Reneé helps to rebalance their digestive tract and get them feeling better.

Photo taken at Ladd Arboretum, Evanston Photo by Karen Kring

“Many of my clients have tried various approaches to fix their digestion without success and came to me thinking that

RENEE´ BARASCH, LDHS

this is just the way it is. But we are not meant to live with

Digestive Health Solutions

unique. The diet and supplementation that works for one

those symptoms,” Reneé explains. “In the 17 years I have been practicing, I’ve learned that each body is biochemically person may not work for another. Foods that one person can

Helping people build a strong foundation for good health through good digestion.

eat might not be tolerated by another, and lead to digestive issues, discomfort and even serious health conditions like Crohn’s disease, colitis and other autoimmune disorders.”

Known to her clients as “The Tummy Whisperer”, Reneé Barasch has made helping people to take control of their

“Getting you feeling better and empowering you to make

digestive system and its proper functioning the focus of

choices that will better your well-being is my top priority,”

her practice. She struggled for years with her own digestive

she says.

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS Sarah Karnes is Midwest coordinator for The Way of the Heart, offering training that deepens inner guidance, increases resilience and helps unfold life’s purpose. With 25 years of experience in personal development and the Way of the Heart integration process, Sarah helps participants powerfully and compassionately de-stress and thrive through transitions, so they can move forward with more clarity, courage and confidence.

Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

SARAH D. KARNES

As a life-changes leader and coach for women and creator of the Skillful Self-Care series, she guides women to strengthen their intentionality, voice and impact so they can revel in their next life chapter. Sarah works with women of all ages, cocreating attitude adjustments and a customized mapping of next steps. She is especially gifted in helping parents wanting to bring more kindness and understanding to raising young children, teens getting ready to launch and women navigating the chaos of midlife ups and downs.

Sarah is an advocate for creating more kind and truly nurturing relationships all around—beginning with Self.

Life Changes Coach

A trailblazer for navigating changes with kindness, strength and confidence.

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KARYN PETTIGREW Beyond Blind Spots & ZoeGoes

Inspiring you to live an extraordinary life— on your terms.

Karyn Pettigrew has inspired and transformed dozens of businesses and thousands of lives internationally. JamaicanAmerican born and raised in Chicago, she has always lived a life of diverse interests and experiences. Using her intuition and more than 20 years of corporate marketing and entrepreneurial experience, she developed a proprietary process called the Soul’s Code to Business. Her methodology guides passionate, creative leaders to clearly articulate and leverage their unique strengths to create ideal positioning and highly sought-after businesses. Finding and creating a process for optimizing the energetic link between the entrepreneur and their businesses has been ground-breaking for her.

In March of 2020, using the Soul Code process, she launched the sustainable travel clothing brand for women called ZoeGoes. The six pieces in the collection create more than 10 days of no-repeat, easy-care outfits.

Photo taken at Chicago Botanic Garden Photo by Karen Kring

Pettigrew encourages her clients to see their businesses as a physical manifestation of who they are. “We must honor the idea that we all deserve to be alive on the planet and that we have a contribution to make, even if it does not manifest in traditional ways. What that means is to honor, nurture and celebrate each other, as we are,” she explains

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS With 47 years of lymphatic experience, and 30 years as a licensed practitioner, clinic director and NLC Founder Sharon Vogel is a nationally recognized practitioner of manual lymphatic drainage massage and related modalities. She helps patients with pre- and post-surgical recovery, immune health, swelling, lymphedema, lipedema and other decongestive therapies in her Downers Grove and Joliet offices.

She first learned lymphatic massage at age 5 from her mother, a surgical nurse. “I remember she would come home from work with full, heavy legs and sore feet. She taught me how to ‘squeegee fluid’, aka manual lymphatic drainage. This is my life’s work.” Sharon is BCTMB National board certified, and earned Valedictorian cum laud BS-Biomedical Sciences at the National University of Health Sciences. She is the Illinois Chapter Chair for Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN).

Many plastic surgeons, medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine and some practitioners from Mayo Clinic refer patients specifically to Sharon by way of the clinic’s reputation by name, trusting patients to The Vogel Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage, which she developed over 30 years. Her method is a three-step process of myofascial release, manual lymphatic drainage massage and lymph massage. The manual lymphatic drainage work that the clinic specializes in is endorsed by the American Cancer Society, the Academy of Photo taken in Downers Grove Photo by Karen Kring

SHARON M. VOGEL National Lymphatic Centers, Inc. The Vogel Institute

Lymphatic Studies, Midwest Naturopathic College of Medicine and the National Cancer Institute.

In 2021, she launched The Vogel Institute, teaching Postsurgical Vogel Method Lymphatic Drainage Massage™ to patients, caretakers and CEUs for licensed therapists.

“Being of help to those with lymphedema, oncology or postsurgical motivates me to always do my best work daily.

Helping patients achieve wellness through Lymphatic Drainage Massage.

Educating therapists to work on these patients is a passion of mine, to share what I have learned,” Sharon says.

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2021 WOMEN IN WELLNESS

Photo by Robert E. Potter III

KAREN KRING She’s all about using media to connect people to what they are looking for.

her in person ask her about the times she photographed President Jimmy Carter. Her current labor of love is Media Curious, a series of conversations with journalists which aims to demystify “the media” for news consumers.

A big believer of being of service, Karen is an active member

As a media strategist and president of The Kring Group, she’s

of the Rotary Club of Evanston. She’s partial to white wine

worked with political candidates and a variety of associations

and iced chai lattes, but not at the same time.

and non-profits. Karen excels at telling compelling narratives for diverse audiences, across multiple platforms.

Karen is excited to be featured as a 2021 Women in Wellness with Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine, and thanks the

As a photographer and journalist, she’s worked for the Chicago

health and wellness community for believing in her mission to

Tribune, Associated Press, Sun-Times Media and other news

serve the media needs of healthy-minded businesses.

outlets. She is a powerful storyteller with a natural ability at finding unique angles and informative material. If you meet

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It’s Showtime spring 2021 Binge watch blooms at the Garden

Generously supported by

Additional support by

One of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County

wise words

Devaki Lindsey Berkson on Bioidentical Hormones for Long-Term Health

by Linda Sechrist

H

ormone scholar Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson, a nutrition and gut expert as well as a continuing education professor for medical doctors and pharmacists, frequently lectures at conferences to clarify misinformation about hormones, such as the difference between synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and plant-based bio-identical hormone therapy (BHT).

This peer-reviewed, published researcher is the bestselling author of Safe Hormones Smart Women and Sexy Brain: How Sizzling Intimacy & Balanced Hormones Prevent Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Depression & Divorce and a breast cancer survivor of 26 years.

Why do you refer to hormones as nature’s physiologic internet system?

Hormones send invaluable “email” signals to cells throughout the entire body and brain.

What is the difference between HRT and BHT? Synthetic hormones are altered by pharmaceutical companies to make them profitable. Bioidentical hormones are like those made by the body and designed by Mother Nature. I advise tracking hormone levels every decade throughout life to determine which levels help an individual feel their best. Unfortunately, doctors are still being taught that hormones are mainly important for reproductive or sexy things, addressing issues like peri- or post-menopause, andropause, erectile dysfunction or disease.

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Chicago

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How did the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) affect the use of hormones?

Up until 2002, when WHI prematurely stopped one of its hormone study groups which was prescribed a combination of Premarin plus synthetic progesterone, estrogen therapies were the recommended standard of care for menopausal women and the biggest-selling pharmaceuticals in history. Medical journals, research institutions and expert cancer doctors accepted that estrogen was safe and did not increase the risk of breast cancer.

Carried out by the U.S. National Institutes of Health from 2002 to 2008, WHI conducted a series of 40 group studies following the health of 161,809 postmenopausal women. Studies covered various aspects of aging women’s health from diet, bone health and nutrients to heart health and the risk of hormone-driven cancers, as well as two randomized trials on hormone therapies.

The resulting claims that the HRT combo of Premarin plus synthetic progestin significantly increased the risks of breast cancer, cardiac events, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke alarmed the public and huge numbers of U.S. doctors stopped prescribing hormones.

What has changed?

By 2004, re-analysis of the combo study demonstrated opposite findings, and a 19-year follow-up WHI analysis revealed that estrogen protects against breast cancer while on it and even 10 years after, while progestins do the op-

posite. Dr. Leon Speroff, professor at the University of Oregon and the physician who authored Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, twice concluded after reviewing every statistical nuance of the WHI, “There continues to be good reason to believe that there are benefits associated with treatment, including improvement of quality of life beyond the relief of hot flushes, maximal protection against osteoporotic fractures, a reduction in colorectal cancers, maintenance of skin elasticity and the possibility of primary prevention of coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s.”

Although new science clearly showed that hormones rule body and brain health and are critical for staying healthy, fighting illness long-term rather than

short-term and lowering mortality timing by preventing heart attacks and strokes, CEOs of Big Pharma companies that provided the synthetic hormones used in the WHI trials continued to fight hard against BHT formulated by compounding pharmacists. Now these very same CEOs have released a BHT combination of estradiol and progesterone and are writing in peer review studies about how much better and safer it is. Big Pharma intends be the sole source of supply. They plan to do that by eliminating their competition: compounding pharmacies.

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What is your experience with compounding pharmacists?

The FDA purports that compounding pharmacies are dangerous, unregulated and use items that are too complicated to compound. Not true. Compounding pharmacists are skilled professionals at mixing bioidentical hormones to a doctor’s prescription. I’ve successfully been using compounding pharmacies for more than 30 years. A compounding pharmacist should be part of the health team when natural, bioidentical hormones are prescribed.

Their knowledge can provide a wealth of experience for doctor and the patient.

Furthermore, they provide an invaluable service at manufacturing a safe product that is unique for a particular patient.

Hormones are so critical that even if you’re prescribed HRT, it’s better than losing out for decades on the hormone signals that keep your body younger and less inflamed. To be without healthy hormone signals is an aging and pro-inflammatory process to the body. In other words, get hormones any way you can.

While synthetic is better than nothing, bioidentical trumps synthetic.

DrLindseyBerkson.com offers a podcast archive, blog, newsletter and membership opportunities that include live, monthly, Zoom conversations.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

May 2021

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T

he 200-year-old health system of homeopathy is based on natural sources and is unique in its “like cures like” philosophy that uses extremely diluted substances to trigger the body’s natural defenses.

“The word homeopathy is derived from two words:

Aconitum napellus

homeo—meaning similar, and pathos—meaning suffering. Basically, it means that a substance has the power to cure the same symptoms it can create,” says Kate Birch, a certified classical homeopath at the HippHealth Center for Holistic Healing, in Minneapolis. “Moreover, the more a substance is diluted through homeopathic preparation, the more potent it can be for healing when given upon homeopathic indications.”

For most health conditions, including chronic complaints, homeopaths recommend tailoring remedies to an individual’s constitution, but first-aid applications are relatively universal and simple. Homeopathic first-aid can be administered for muscle strains, splinters, minor burns and even the common cold. Available in health food stores and pharmacies, homeopathic remedies come in various potencies in the form of pellets, tinctures and topical agents.

Gentle Go-To Medicine Whether treating a child’s skinned knee or an athlete with a mild to moderate injury, regular potencies offer benefits without a high risk of unpleasant or dangerous contraindicaLedum palustre tions. “In general, homeopathic remedies are safe for people of all ages because if taken as directed, there are no side effects or drug interactions. This is due to the fact that remedies have been made through a process that renders the substances harmless,” says certified classical homeopath Myra Nissen, in Davis and Walnut Creek, California.

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Soft Tissue Trauma, Burns and Bites Nissen highRhus toxicdendron lights Ruta graveolens and Rhus toxicdendron for soft tissue injury and tendonitis and suggests Symphytum for serious damage to cartilage and ligaments. For puncture wounds or injuries involving nerves, Hypericum perforatum is helpful. She emphasizes the importance of using remedies immediately and properly to maximize the potential for rapid

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by Marlaina Donato

Classical homeopathic treatment is based on a person’s unique physical, emotional and mental nature, and requires deeper study to find the most appropriate remedies, but first-aid applications are most often universally straightforward. “A homeopathic first-aid kit at home is useful for cuts, burns, bumps and bruises, insect bites, poison oak/ivy and minor illnesses,” says Nissen.

Gentle, but beneficial Arnica montana is perhaps the best-known application, used for acute injury and post-surgery.

In a 2016 review of studies in the American Journal of Therapeutics, a team of international researchers found Arnica to be more effective than a placebo for swelling, bruising and post-surgery pain, and suggested it could be an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Calendula is a heavy hitter for wound care, skin ailments, minor burns including sunburn, diaper rash and post-tooth extraction. It offers antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and is available for topical and internal use.

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Create a Family First-Aid Kit

Arnica montana

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Homeopathy to the Rescue

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healing ways

Fighting the Flu

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When taken at the first sign of a cold or flu, specially combined homeopathic formulas or single remedies can help to lessen severity and duration of certain viruses. Bryonia alba is useful for moderate fever, Gelsemium for general flu-like symptoms, Nux vomica for severe chills and nausea, and Arsenicum album for respiratory and stomach flus.

Homeopathic remedies, like all medications, should be properly stored and kept away from children and pets. Also, not all products labeled as homeopathic may be pure. Some products add homeopathic remedies to other ingredients that are not safe; for example, Arnica gel may have alcohol, preservatives and stabilizers, and be harmful if swallowed.

While homeopathy offers many benefits, Birch clarifies that it is not designed to be a quick fix and is best approached from a broader view or “a philosophy that shapes your day-to-day life. When you understand these things, once you have the right remedy, it produces instantaneous results.”

Marlaina Donato is a body-mindspirit author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

THREE WAYS TO

Say ‘Yes’ to Self-Care

Photo by aspenphoto for stock.adobe.com

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healing and pain reduction.

Birch says that bee stings and allergic responses respond well to Apis mellifica and fevers and headaches to Belladonna. Using Cantharis or Urtica urens for first- and second-degree burns can help to prevent blisters and minimize pain, while Silicea is a good choice for splinters.

In general, for all acute cases and injuries, remedies are often taken every hour and tapered down to every four hours upon signs of improvement or lessening of intensity. If results are not seen with- Hypericum perforatum in two days, it is best to discontinue the remedy.

by Julie M. Gentile

B

ecause nurturers are so busy keeping everyone else happy and well, and everything running smoothly, self-care is not often on the radar, as there are too many other priorities. Saying “yes” to others so frequently can mean sacrificing self-care.

Sometimes years and decades go by like this.

Every day, we make choices that lean toward optimal well-being or away from it: We can’t exercise—too many errands. We can’t go to bed early—too many deadlines.

We’ll meditate when we have more energy.

We’ll clear the clutter when we have more time. Turn “can’t” into “can” and “no” into “yes” with these three tips. Make it a mantra and add “I can” before each of these words.

Indulge. Indulgence doesn’t have to be earned. We can treat ourselves just because— reading a magazine without watching the clock, enjoying a quiet afternoon outdoors without a single device in sight, taking a summer stroll at sunset or eating a threecourse meal al fresco of fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in a home garden. Indulge in something for the pure joy of it. Savor a square of dark chocolate. Linger over a conversation. Pour another cup of soothing tea.

Invigorate. Think beyond coffee. There is a whole world of rejuvenation that can revitalize and replenish the spirit: spending time outside (even five minutes makes a difference), staying committed to an exercise schedule, practicing yoga, meditating, pursuing a passion, expressing creativity or perking up a routine. Find a sweet spot of enthusiasm and keep it going.

Invest. Our health and well-being are the biggest investments we’ll ever make. Although not measured in dollars and cents, there is real value in the time we spend on self-care.

Saying “yes” to ourselves through self-care requires practicing over and

over again so that it becomes etched in our muscles and bones, imprinted in our minds and acknowledged in our hearts that we are worth the effort it takes to indulge, invigorate and invest. We already know how. The thriving starts now.

Julie M. Gentile is the award-winning author of 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas and How to Stay Calm in Chaos: An Everyday Self-Care Guide, and creator of the Stand Up for Your Self-Care YouTube Channel. Get 25 percent off her books by registering for the monthly newsletter Nourish Note at JulieGTheYogi.com.

Connect on Instagram and Facebook @JulieGTheYogi. Sign up for one of her evening yoga classes at BloomingdaleParks.org.

Free Upcoming Yoga Classes and Self-Care Programs Outdoor Yoga Class Class from 2:40 to 3:10 p.m., May 15, at Thorndale Park at the Medinah Park District Health & Wellness Fest. Register at MedinahParkDistrict.org/Programs/ Health_and_Wellness.htm.

Yoga for Self-Care Two virtual classes available as videos in June on the Green Hills Public Library District website. Register at GreenHillsLibrary.evanced.info/signup/calendar.

Yoga and Self-Care to Help You Stay Calm in Chaos In-person program from 10 to 11 a.m., June 26, at the Geneva Public Library District. Register at gpld.org/ event/5026608.

Yoga and Self-Care to Help You Stay Calm in Chaos Virtual program via Zoom from 7 to 8 p.m., July 22, at the Roselle Public Library District. Register at Rosellepld.org.

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Image by whitesession from Image Pixabay by whitesession from Pixabay

fit body

Stay Fit with Bodywork Therapy Enhance Workout Performance and Recovery with Massage

by Marlaina Donato

T

herapeutic massage and other bodywork modalities are well-known stress-busters, but they can also hasten recovery after a workout or injury. A little restorative TLC with a bodywork practitioner before or after exercise can combat post-workout soreness and stiffness, maximizing our fitness investments in and out of the gym.

Approaches such as Swedish, deep tissue and sports massages, and myofascial trigger point release therapy can boost both blood and lymphatic circulation, giving soft tissues a vital shot of cellular nutrition. Massage modalities affect biochemical processes and on the deepest level, mitochondria—the cell’s energy-producing engines. Research from 2015 published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that massage immediately following injury due to resistance training encourages tissue regeneration.

Tailored Tools “In the context of exercise, someone who trains three to five times per week at a high intensity will likely have a higher level of fitness. However, the demand placed on the soft tissue structures will equally be high, and may require more treatment to offset this. This may vary from once a week to once a month,” says Andy Stanbury, head of soft tissue therapy at Pure Sports Medicine, a London clinic for sports injuries.

After working with high performance athletes for 15 years, he always asks, “What do I need to add to improve a patient’s fitness or performance?” For a patient that wants to improve fitness by running, “I would want to optimize their range of movement and stimulate the nervous system in readiness to exercise. I may look to use some myofascial release techniques, active release therapy, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization or muscle energy techniques. This would of course take place before the run.” For post-run recovery, Stanbury suggests more relaxing modalities, such as gentle massage, combined with breathwork.

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The Fascia Factor Fascia, a network of connective tissue, wraps the body in protective layers from the most superficial muscle to the deepest organs and plays a central role in flexibility. This complex netting can become stuck due to inactivity, injury or surgery.

Keeping it supple is vital for everyone.

Bodywork like myofascial release that targets trigger points—knots of tension— can help to ramp up postoperative and overall injury recovery. “Myofascial release is a technique used to reduce the tension in the fascial membrane. Slowly stretching the fascia will unwind and reduce the pressure on the muscles and nerves, reducing pain and creating range of motion and flexibility,” explains Anthony Hansen, a myofascial release therapist at Therapy on the Gulf, in Naples, Florida.

Hansen, who specializes in a “fast release” technique, emphasizes the importance of a gentle approach. “Trigger points are caused by cellular debris

encapsulated by the fascia, so it’s much better to stretch it loose than it is to force it. Normally, it takes about three to five sessions, depending on the condition of the patient, for the fascial system to unwind before the patient will feel relief.”

Active trigger points refer, or radiate, pain elsewhere in the body while latent points tend to be more localized and are sore when compressed. “From a whole-body perspective and when we put this in the context of fascial planes, restoration of efficient movement is key, particularly post-surgery and when progressing training load,” says Stanbury. “However, this is not just movement of the body (muscles), but movement of blood, lymph and energy.”

A supple, tension-free body helps deter and bounce back from injuries. Regular bodywork, especially Swedish and deep tissue massage, fosters muscle recovery and helps prevent future issues. Self-massage using foam rollers and massage balls or canes can also be very helpful.

Bodywork offers full-spectrum perks, points out Stanbury, including “improved tissue mobility and elasticity, more efficient blood circulation and reduced anxiety and stress. This will, in turn, help promote better sleep, which is, of course, where we recover best.”

INSPIRATION . COMMUNITY . HEALING Resources for your spiritual journey, and your physical, mental & emotional well-being Find them at

. Christian Science Reading Rooms . Local events . Online podcasts . Community worship services on Wednesdays and Sundays

CSMetroChicago.org

Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and composer/recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

MODALITIES TO HELP EASE PAIN AND STRAIN Swedish Massage: Gentle, gliding strokes to stimulate circulation, lower blood pressure and reduce muscle tension.

Deep Tissue Massage: Specific, focused massage to break up muscle congestion and reduce restrictions.

Sports Massage: Offered at many gyms, physical therapy facilities and recreational sports events for recovery and prevention.

Muscle Energy Techniques: Stretching and hands-on techniques that enable gentle muscle contraction to improve joint function and lengthen muscles.

Myofascial Release: Modalities that specifically target trigger points in the muscles and fascia to release adhesions, increase oxygen and reduce pain and tightness include the following:

CURBING CANCER in Cats Ways to Keep a Feline Healthy Find out more in the Natural Pet section at NAChicago.com.

Active Release Therapy: May be beneficial for chronic pain due to repetitive movements, especially where muscle weakness, numbness or tingling/burning is experienced in the soft tissues.

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: Also known as the Graston technique, practitioners use an array of hand-held instruments for deep trigger points in the fascia and muscles—beneficial after injuries and conditions such as piriformis, muscle-induced sciatica and back pain.

Myofascial Cupping: A technique that employs cups to create suction on the muscle tissue to move lymph and blood through the area of deep trigger points.

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conscious eating

Baby Bites Healthy Homemade Food for Tiny Tummies

F

or the first year of a baby’s life, breast milk and formula are the main sources of nutrition, but as early as 4 to 6 months, a little one may be suited to try solid foods.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, when a baby consistently holds their head up, has started to sit upright, has doubled their birth weight to a minimum of 13 pounds and exhibits an interest in food, they are ready.

Anjali Shah, a board-certified health coach and author of The Super Easy Baby Food Cookbook, is a proponent of homemade purées and soft finger foods. “A store-bought sweet potato pouch can cost $2.50, whereas one sweet potato is under a dollar, and you can get multiple meals out of it,” says Shah. “So, budget-wise, it’s a lot cheaper. It’s also healthier because you can control what’s in your baby food.”

The process is easy. “If you have a spoon and a fork, that’s a pretty good start, and if you have a blender, that’s really all you need,” says Amy Palanjian, author of Busy Little Hands: Food Play! and blogger at YummyToddlerFood.com. A very basic technique, which both she and Shah employ, involves boiling or steaming vegetables and fruits, puréeing them with a fork or blender to the desired smoothness and freezing one-ounce portions in ice cube trays. Once frozen, the cubes can be popped out, kept in labeled freezer bags and thawed to serve.

They recommend a progression from thin, smooth purées to chunkier blends, and from very mild, single foods to progressively more adventuresome and complex flavors and textures. “Start with a really mild fruit like avocado or a really mild vegetable like carrots, green beans or sweet potato,” Shah advises. “Introduce one food every two or three days to make sure your baby is not allergic and that it suits their digestive system.”

In addition to purées, parents can offer their babies small-cut, softened versions of foods that they can hold in their hands and gnaw, a technique called baby-led weaning. “Your baby will pick it up with their fists, stick it in their mouth and drool all over it and gum it up. It teaches them to chew very early on,” Shah explains.

“Kids need healthy fats for proper brain development,” Palanjian says, suggesting a splash of olive oil in a broccoli purée or a dab of peanut butter in oatmeal. She also favors healthy proteins like a purée made with hard-boiled egg yolk slathered on a piece of toast or a well-blended bit of salmon.

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“At 7 or 8 months, you can add lentils, beans and grains, and around 9 or 10 months you can start introducing mild spices—cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, turmeric, cumin, coriander. For example, if you’re going to make a lentil soup for yourself, you could add a few fresh, aromatic herbs like rosemary, oregano or thyme, and then for your baby, you can mash up that same lentil soup and serve it to them.

The key is to avoid the hot spices like black pepper, cayenne or chili powder,” Shah says, noting that salt should be avoided in the first year because a baby’s kidneys cannot handle it. Added sugar is also a big no-no in her book.

“The best way to feel like you’re feeding your baby safe food is to serve a variety of foods over the course of a week,” Palanjian says. “But most of all, learn to enjoy this phase of your baby’s life. It can be a fun milestone. Let them explore. Trust them if they turn their face, close their mouth or push the spoon away. There’s no reason you need to force another bite. Let them show you and be in charge of what goes into their mouth. That can be a great way to set the foundation for intuitive eating.

We want them as adults to be able to say when they’re hungry and when they’re full, and we often have the tendency to try to override that in our kids. So, if you let that develop as it very clearly does and is present from birth, that can be a great thing to do with little ones.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer.

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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by Sandra Yeyati

Baby Blueberry Smoothie

Put all of the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer until soft. Once soft, purée in a blender, adding additional water if needed for a thinner purée. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze for up to four months.

Anti-Inflammatory, detox and weight control meal plans for a healthy you!

• Meal plans • Family-size portions • Frozen specialties • Health products • Nutrition consultations • Healthy desserts Pickup & Delivery Only

Baby Superfood Purée 16 oz fresh or frozen broccoli 16 oz fresh or frozen cauliflower 4 cups baby spinach ¼ to ½ cup water

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224-223-7133

Put all of the ingredients in a large pot.

Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer until soft. Once soft, purée in a blender, adding additional water if needed for a thinner purée. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze for up to four months.

NEW LOCATION: 364 Lexington Drive, Buffalo Grove Facebook.com/purplesproutcafe • www.purplesprout.com

Find more recipes in the Conscious Eating and Recipe sections at NAChicago.com.

Recipes courtesy of Anjali Shah. For more information, visit PickyEaterBlog.com.

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1 cup frozen wild blueberries 1 pear, cored ½ banana, peeled 1 cup baby spinach ¼ to ½ cup water

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Easy DIY Baby Food Recipes

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

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recipe from a gluten-free kitchen bananas on the side with some water for mom, while Lillie insists mom needs a warm blue milk latte to go with the pancakes. The recipes below are a special creation inspired by sisters Lillie and Josi. Josi suggests making two breakfast trays and adding a few presents and a garden flower to celebrate the day. Lillie and Josi’s final tip is to make the food with lots of Love and Joy. Happy Mother’s Day from the Hinton Family!

Blue Milk Latte Yield: one mug

Photo credit Tiffany Hinton

Using a milk frother, heat and froth: ½ cup oat milk ½ tsp blue spirulina powder ¼ tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp maple syrup

Gluten-Free Mother’s Day

‘Breakfast in Bed’ with the Hinton Girls

M

other’s Day is a special time for families, as it provides an opportunity for children to show their appreciation to Mom, Grandma and other important women in their lives. The gluten-free kitchen is normally created by mom, Tiffany Hinton, of GF Mom Certified. However, this May the Hinton sisters Franki, Lillie and Josi, have decided it is their turn to make brunch for Mom.

The Hinton sisters suggest making your mom allergen-friendly pancakes with strawberry jelly or some fruit, and tons of yummy maple syrup. Franki has become quite the baker in the kitchen, helping her little sisters with the bigger projects. Josi would add

Pour into mug, then make the white froth layer with the milk frother, using: ½ cup oat milk ½ scoop bone broth powder Pour slowly over the blue milk.

Blueberry Pancakes Yield: 16, 3-inch pancakes 1 ¾ cup gluten-free flour 2 eggs or equivalent substitute 1½ cups oat milk 3 Tbsp melted butter 3 Tbsp sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ cup fresh blueberries Mix all ingredients together until there are no lumps with a whisk, then add blueberries. Cook on a griddle. Top with maple syrup or a dusting of powder sugar.

In the spirit of Mother’s Day, this article was lovingly curated by the Hinton Family. Follow GF Mom Certified and the Hinton family @GFMomCertified.

Life began with waking up and loving my mother's face. ~George Eliot

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Celiac Disease Awareness Month

Living and Thriving with Celiac Disease

by Tiffany Hinton

Image by Kurious from Pixabay

L

iving with celiac disease can be difficult and confusing. Leading up to the diagnosis of celiac is a challenging journey for many. According to research, the average patient can take up to 14 years to properly receive a diagnosis. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and include diarrhea, bloated belly, weight loss, malnutrition, skin rashes and in children, even a diagnosis of failure to thrive. Celiac disease, once diagnosed, can cause stress and anxiety for the individual. Upon diagnosis, they must learn to modify their diet to exclude gluten-containing items, change home items (dishes, cutting boards, etc.) and cleaning products, as well as body care products to ensure they are not digesting gluten accidentally.

Celiac disease can affect anyone at any age. Chicago Advocate Children’s Hospital lists celiac disease as an autoimmune disease that is triggered by the gluten protein.

It is estimated that 1 percent, or one in 133 people, have celiac disease. It occurs when the body is unable to process the gluten protein found in wheat, barley and rye. The disease can cause the villi in the intestinal track to become blunted and damaged, limiting the body’s ability to fully absorb the micronutrients from the food, which can result in vitamin deficiency or other medi-

cal concerns. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, while research is continuing to seek treatment assistance. At this point the only treatment is a completely gluten-free diet.

The gluten-free diet has become more popular in the last decade, and

many food manufactures have introduced safe, gluten-free options. Even as national brands adapt to gluten-free diet requests, cross-contamination is a serious concern at restaurants, events and family gatherings where food is shared and utensils could be exchanged while cooking or serving the dishes.

The Americans with Disabilities Act recognizes celiac disease as a disability, and

many corporations and government centers now offer menu assistance in onsite cafeterias for those with celiac disease. The awareness is growing. The Celiac Disease Foundation has hosted conferences empowering food and wellness bloggers to increase awareness and encourage those with symptoms or family members diagnosed to be tested.

Accidental gluten ingestion can cause many symptoms to return and turn on the antibody production again in the body, resulting in increased inflammation, headaches, skin rashes, constipation or diarrhea, among other issues. The human body needs at least 21 days of no exposure to gluten to shut off the antibody production. The villi in the gut can take many years to heal once the disease is confirmed and the patient adopts a gluten-free lifestyle. The consequences of continuing to eat or expose the body to gluten-containing products increases the risk of lymphoma, infertility, nutrition deficiencies, osteoporosis and diagnosis of new autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease, according to Advocate Children’s Hospital's celiac center.

Those that believe they have celiac disease should speak with a doctor and be tested prior to going gluten-free. Individuals with diagnosed celiac disease need to follow up annually with a medically trained nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner to manage an effective, gluten-free lifestyle.

Tiffany Hinton is the founder of GF MomCertified. Connect on social media @GFMomCertified. See ad in the Women in Wellness feature and in the Business Directory at NAChicago.com

Maraes & Oligo safer, nourishing color no ammonia, PPD, SLES, parabens, gluten or added salts Magic Sleek & Cezanne® simply safe straightening Majestic Keratin hair botox Oway healthier color

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ECO SALON

May 2021

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healthy kids

Natural Mama Holistic Approaches to a Healthy Pregnancy

wavebreakmediamicro/AdobeStock.com

by Julie Peterson

D

uring her first pregnancy, Sarah Wallace, a former registered nurse in Atlanta, was chronically anemic. “I was so tired I would fall asleep while I was eating dinner,” she says. That pregnancy resulted in a baby with a low birth weight.

Fortunately, Wallace learned more about nutrition and wellness. Her now 4-year-old has caught up to the growth charts and is thriving, and her next pregnancy went smoothly.

No matter how pregnancy is counted—280 days, 40 weeks or three trimesters— mama and baby share blood, nutrition and air for the duration. “Taking a holistic path before and during pregnancy is about embracing the nature of our bodies and committing to maintaining all aspects of wellness during this journey,” says Nancy Peplinsky, founder of the Holistic Moms Network, based in Caldwell, New Jersey.

Nutrition for Two The right foods nourish the growing baby, the placenta and the mother’s increasing blood volume, maintaining the mother’s body during the complex mission. Whole foods rather than processed are best. The Whole 9 Months: A Week-By-Week Pregnancy Nutrition Guide with Recipes for a Healthy Start, by integrative obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) Jennifer Lang and dietitian Dana Angelo White, makes it easier to select the proper nutrients along the way and provides ways to deal with nausea and cravings.

Choose organic foods when possible to reduce exposures to pesticides. If organic isn’t an option for every food, The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, from the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org), can be downloaded and taken to the market.

Either avoid foods on the “Dirty Dozen” list or go organic for those items.

A high-quality prenatal vitamin fills nutrition gaps. Wallace saw a difference between her first and second pregnancy by switching brands. “The first time, I took generic prenatal vitamins. With the second pregnancy, I found whole-food supplements. I never got that exhaustion, and my second baby was a healthy weight,” she says.

“Research has shown that healthy nutrition during pregnancy improves outcomes for mom and baby, while unhealthy food choices can lead to premature childbirth, high-risk pregnancies and poor developmental outcomes in children,” says Peplinsky.

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In addition to clean food, it’s important to reevaluate body care products and household cleaners for toxicity. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has linked personal care and cleaning product ingredients to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive disorders, neurotoxicity and cancer.

Body Love Kristen Burgess, in Fife Lake, Michigan, creator of the website NaturalBirthAnd BabyCare.com, teaches classes for momsto-be. “[Exercise] helps your blood volume increase, brings plenty of oxygen to your baby, increases your stamina and endurance for labor (which is an athletic event), and perhaps best of all, keeps you feeling great,” she writes in her blog.

Options such as stretching, walking and prenatal yoga can be soothing for mom and baby. Burgess also advocates prenatal belly dancing to raise the heart rate “while bonding with your baby and relishing your beautiful pregnant form.”

Peplinsky notes, “A holistic approach to pregnancy also embraces integrative therapies such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture and chiropractic, which may assist

in reducing stress, minimizing physical discomfort and joint pain, while improving overall life quality for mom and baby.”

Support Along the Way

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A healthy pregnancy includes assistance. In the U.S., most women choose an OB-GYN, with just over 9 percent of 2017 births incorporating a midwife to support the mother before, during and sometimes after birth. A midwife is medically trained and, depending on state law, may offer gynecological examinations, birth control counseling and prescriptions. On her own or as an assistant to a doctor, she coaches the mother during labor and assists with the delivery, which may be in a home, birthing center or hospital. The American College of Nurse-Midwives, in Silver Spring, Maryland, offers a midwife locator.

Another option is engaging a doula that focuses on emotional support for mom, her partner and the family during pregnancy and birth. During labor, she may offer massage, encouragement and breathing coaching. While doulas only provide non-medical care, they can offer evidence-based resources to inform decision-making. There is a database to find one at DoulaMatch.net.

There are also books and apps to provide week-to-week details on pregnancy.

Genevieve Howland, a childbirth educator in Destin, Florida, and author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, offers a weekly article at MamaNatural.com about what’s going on with the developing baby and mother.

“Being a holistic mom is about connecting the mind, body and spirit, and approaching wellness with all three in mind,” adds Peplinsky. “The more we listen to our instincts and our needs, the more our health improves during childbearing and afterwards.”

Pregnancy Apps

Julie Peterson writes about health and wellness. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

Tracking exercise, nutrition, baby bump images, the joys of the journey and the baby’s development are available options in a variety of apps. There are even apps for dads.

Ovia has many features that expand based on the data entered. It answers questions about food safety and medications, and even has a community feature to connect with other moms.

Hello Belly offers practical tips and a good dose of silliness with pregnancy jokes and memes. There are also yoga videos.

Glow Nurture can be customized, has community spaces, symptom trackers, reminders for appointments and a boatload of articles.

Expectful Pregnancy gives reminders to focus on joy by taking a moment to breathe or meditate. With guided sessions for pregnancy, moms-to-be can put regular meditation practices in place.

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Sprout Pregnancy has a pregnancy timeline, weight tracker and journal. The 3-D images showing development of the baby are really cool, as well.

Who’s Your Daddy gives Dad a to-do list, weekly updates, a development timeline, suggestions for taking care of Mom and helps him pick baby names.

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natural chicago

Saving the Monarchs Community Scientists Provide Backyard Data for Field Museum Project

by Sheryl DeVore

A

Field Museum community scientist project may help determine if gardens like the one Judith Rice tends in her Skokie yard provide what monarch butterflies need to thrive. In two years of participation, she’s documented the iconic black-and-orange butterfly’s eggs and caterpillars munching on milkweed leaves in her yard. She’s also given away milkweeds to family and friends to grow in their yards.

“I had been reading about the decline in the population of monarchs,” Rice says. “I thought it was cool The Field Museum had this community science project. I feel like I’m doing something for the environment. Monarchs are just so fascinating. If what I’m doing helps increase their population, that makes me happy.”

Monarchs require nutrition during migration, as well as places to lay their eggs to keep the species thriving. That means they need blooming plants with nectar to provide them energy as well as milkweed, the specific plant upon which their young will feed as they grow and become adults.

Monarch egg on milkweed at the Field Museum.

Photo by Urusla Avarado-Miller

“We are working to understand what a successful urban monarch butterfly garden looks like,” says Erika Hasle, a conservation ecologist with The Field Museum (FieldMuseum.org). She is guiding the community science monarch project, now in its third year. Last summer, Rice and 178 other volunteers in Chicago, the northern and southern suburbs and parts of Indiana documented the number of monarch eggs and caterpillars found in their gardens and the number of milkweed stems in their yards. Anyone with a milkweed plant can participate. It doesn’t matter if it’s on a balcony, rooftop, in a huge garden or small garden. All the data gathered is helpful.

“There are two monarch populations in the United States; those west of the Rockies, and those east of the Rockies,” Hasle says. “The western population, measured at around 1.2 million butterflies in 1997, has fallen to only 1,914 individuals in 2020, as measured by the Xerces Society (Xerces.org).” Hasle says. “That’s very serious.”

“The eastern population has declined by about 80 percent,” she continues. “Recent modeling shows that under current conditions, eastern monarch populations could expePhoto by Steven D. Bailey

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LEFT: Monarch caterpillar on butterfly weed.

rience significant declines in the next 20 years. However, there is still time to reverse the tide.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) declined to list the monarch as an endangered species in December, but is still considering that action, according to Hasle.

Meanwhile, legislation has been introduced in Congress to appropriate funding for monarch conservation.

Many reasons exist for the decline of the monarchs, including climate change, use of pesticides and loss of habitat in its wintering and summer grounds. Monarchs have lost an estimated 165 million acres of breeding habitat in the United States to herbicide spraying and development in recent decades, according to the Center for Biological Diversity (BiologicalDiversity.org). The caterpillars eat only milkweed, but the plant has been devastated by increased herbicide spraying.

In addition, neonicotinoid insecticides, fungicides and other chemicals are toxic to young caterpillars. according to the center.

Reintroducing milkweed in the urban

The group is also studying what other plants in urban and suburban landscapes help monarchs. “The kinds of plants and the shape of the garden, even where the milkweed is located, could be important to the monarch,” Hasle explains.

Judith Rice’s Skokie yard not only contains milkweeds, but also native plants such as cardinal flower, blazing star, purple coneflower, bee balm and black-eyed Susan.

She also plants annuals, including zinnias, which offer nectar to monarchs. as well as to other insects.

She monitors weekly—counting eggs, caterpillars and the number of milkweed stems from about the beginning of June to the beginning of September—peak time for monarchs to be laying eggs before journeying south to Mexico. In her second year, while standing quietly in her garden, she observed a monarch lay an egg on a milkweed.

Now she knows how to find the eggs and watch for them to hatch into caterpillars that grow quickly before entering the pupa stage, in which they form a chrysalis. “I never

Monarch chrysalis ready to emerge as an adult in Chicago region.

Monarch adult after emerging from chrysalis.

Photo by Janelle Kheshgi

landscape and avoiding the use of pesticides can help, according to Hasle. “In order to stabilize the eastern population, we need 1.8 billion stems of milkweed added to the eastern landscape,” she says.

Even with just two years of gathering data, The Field Museum project is revealing some preliminary information. One is that “common milkweed is definitely a powerhouse for monarch reproduction,” Hasle says.

Many types of milkweeds grow in the region, including butterfly weed and swamp or rose milkweed, which also attract monarchs to lay eggs, she says. They’ll continue to monitor which milkweeds best suit the monarch.

Salina, head of the World Wildlife Fund Mexico Monarch Butterfly Program (WorldWildlife.org), recently spoke to the volunteers, saying, “The most important step in animal conservation is that you are producing the habitat. ”

Growing milkweeds in the United States and establishing nectaring gardens throughout the monarch’s migration pathway, including in Mexico, will help, he says. In addition, a protected area has been set aside in Mexico where the monarchs overwinter.

Hasle says she’s happy about the connection between Mexico and the United States when it comes to conserving monarchs. Here in Chicago, she says, “The Field Museum project is such a clear representation of something an individual can do to help monarchs.”

Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and nature, as well as nature, health and environment stories for national and regional publications.

Monarchs on purple coneflowers on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

Photo by Vincent Willas

realized all the life in your garden,” she says.

“It’s amazing. You hunt for eggs, then you hunt for the instars—which are the stages of the caterpillar as it grows. Last year, I had so many eggs, but not nearly as many instars.”

“Variable climates each season can affect the number of eggs laid and caterpillars that reach adulthood,” Hasle says.

“A monarch female lays about 300 eggs in her lifetime. Fewer than 10 percent of eggs survive to adulthood.”

Volunteers for The Field Museum project are learning how their work connects with what’s being done in Mexico to conserve the monarch. Eduardo Rendon

Ways to Help

Photo by Abigail Derby Lewis

Anyone with a milkweed plant in their yard can monitor monarchs through the Field Museum project. The museum also will supply one free milkweed plant to individuals this spring. Monitors attend a training session, then complete a survey about their garden and commit to monitoring their plants weekly from late May to early September, entering data on a website.

Monitoring also can be done at local parks, schools and churches. Free training sessions are offered online May 12, 15, 19 and 27. To register and learn more, visit Tinyurl.com/FieldMonarchTraining.

May 2021

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calendar of events CALENDAR DEADLINE: All listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Calendar events must be submitted online at NAChicago.com/Calendar.

Call First: Events or services may be cancelled, postponed or are now offered online.

Call and check websites for up-to-date information.

Asian American Heritage Month

FRIDAY, MAY 7

SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY, MAY 1

May Day/Int’l Workers Day Beltane (Wiccan)

SUNDAY, MAY 2

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

MONDAY, MAY 3

World Press Freedom Day ONLINE: A Walk Around Glacial Park – 7pm.

With Tom Simpson, Research Field Station Ecologist for McHenry County Conservation District. Glacial Park in McHenry County is a product of 18,000 yrs of geologic history, 12,000 yrs of inhabitance by native peoples, 120 yrs of agriculture and 50 yrs of conservation. As we travel around the park we will explore an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems, plant and animal life and birds. Free. Via Zoom.

Register: LakeCountyAudubon.org.

ONLINE: Beginning Astrology Level 2 – Mondays, May 3-June 14 (no class May 31). 7:309:30pm. Providing a working knowledge and a deeper understanding of different techniques in astrology. $180, $150 by Apr 26. Via Zoom. Life Force Arts Center: 773-327-7224. LifeForceArts.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 4

10th Anniversary Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference Weekend: Healing the Earth, the People and the Plants – May 7-9. Keynote speaker Rosemary Gladstar and many other amazing herbalists and healers. Enjoy a healing community and rich learning environments as well as an artisan marketplace and more. Early registration discount available until Apr 1.

MidwestWomensHerbal.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 8 World Fair Trade Day

Build Back Fairer – Sponsored by Chicago Fair Trade. 3-part challenge that participants can complete by taking at least 1 action in each area over 3 wks.

For more info & to register: ChicagoFairTrade.org.

ONLINE: Chicago IANDS – 2pm. Support/study/ resource forum for near-death, out-of-body and spiritual experiences, losses. Guest Speaker: Virginia Jablonski, NDEr, animal communicator, healer.

Stunning horse and animal stories. $20 tax-deductible donation requested (see website). For more info & to register: 847-251-5758 or ChicagoIANDS.org.

Meeting – 7pm. 1st Tues. Join GGHP for our monthly meeting and share your ideas. Find out how you can get involved in event planning or help with other group activities. For more info: GoGreenHP.org.

Numerology – May 8-9. 4-7pm, Sat; 2-5pm, Sun. Philip Clark offers 2 healing modalities: Numerology and Birth Angels. It’s your choice. Bring your date and time of birth for in-depth information. $30. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines. 847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5

SUNDAY, MAY 9

ONLINE: Finding Your Space Meditation – May

ONLINE: The Kindness of Mothers: A Buddhist Perspective – 11am-12:15pm. Mother’s Day talk & guided meditation. Learn how to view mothers in the most meaningful and profound way. KMC Chicago’s principal teacher, Gen Zamling, will share unique Buddhist insights and practical methods that will help us to deeply appreciate the great kindness of our mothers. Register yourself for $12 and share with your mom for free. Available online for 72 hrs afterward. Info & register: 312-767-1898 or MeditateInChicago.org.

ONLINE: Go Green Highland Park Monthly

Mother’s Day

Cinco de Mayo

5 & 19. 7-8pm. Join Larry Freson of the Edgar Cayce Holistic Center in a guided meditation the 1st & 3rd Wed each month. Energetically ground to Mother Earth, center yourself in your aura, balance your 7 major chakras. Free. Via Zoom. 847-299-6535.

Register: HolisticCenterChicago.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 6

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

The best kind of parent you can be is to lead by example. ~Drew Barrymore 54

Chicago

NAChicago.com

MONDAY, MAY 10 Green Dreamer Day

TUESDAY, MAY 11

International Migratory Bird Day Ohyaihgo-nah: Moon of Great Ripening Berries

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12

Eid-Ul-Fitr begins at sundown (Islam)

SAVE THE DATE ONLINE: The Adoption Process from A to

Z – 4-5:30pm. Sally Wildman, a Chicago and Northbrook attorney with over 15 years of experience in adoption practice, helps you explore the world of adoption. She describes adoption fundamentals, shares key resources to develop an adoption plan, and highlights new developments in adoption practice. Offered by New Trier Extension Community Education. Course # 211754 under “ONE OF A KIND” in the catalogue.

Via Zoom. $18/person. Via Zoom. Register: Tinyurl.com/12dheybm.

THURSDAY, MAY 13 Free Shiatsu Intro – 7-9:30pm. Learn the fundamental techniques and philosophies of Zen Shiatsu, and chat with current students and instructors.

Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 818 Lake St, Evanston.

847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 14 ONLINE: Theta Healing Basic Certification – May 14-16. With Christine Sonnen. A mind-body technique that uses the energy that flows through all things to produce instantaneous and permanent change at the cellular level. CEUs available. $440. Via Zoom. For more info & registration: 847-831-8828 or InfinityFoundation.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 15 Reiki Training Class Level 2 – 10am-3pm. Class builds on the education learned in level 1. Receive an attunement, learn level 2 symbols, and review hand positions for reiki self-care and for others. Plenty of time to practice and fine tune skills. With Jean Heer, RN and Reiki Master. $160. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines.

847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

Outdoor Yoga Class – 2:40-3:10pm. With Julie Gentile. Free. Thorndale Park at the Medinah Park District Health & Wellness Fest, 22W130 Thorndale Ave, Medinah. Pre-registration required: MedinahParkDistrict.org/Programs/Health_and_Wellness.htm.

SUNDAY, MAY 16 Tails on the Trails – 7am-sunset; 9am-4pm, vendor expo. Enjoy a “paw”fect day out with your pup, meandering down the Arboretum’s 16 miles of hiking trails. Shop from local businesses and organizations in the pet expo. Regular admission applies, $5/dog. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte 53, Lisle. 630-968-0074. Registration required: MortonArb.org.

JOIN THE LARGEST HOLISTIC, CONSCIOUS SINGLES SITE ONLINE

WE CATER TO SINGLES WHO VALUE:

Authentic & Loving Relationships Natural Health & Sustainable Living Living a Conscious Life Honoring Diversity

Try for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

May 2021

55

The Ascendant and the Midheaven in the Horoscope – 1-4pm. The Midheaven is the horoscope’s most visible point of who we are and represents the pinnacle of our achievements and what we bring to the world and society. The Ascendant/Rising Sign is a filter through which we present ourselves to the world, giving us a persona or mask with which to enter the physical world through birth. $55, $45 by May 9. Via Zoom. Life Force Arts Center: 773-327-7224. LifeForceArts.org.

ONLINE: Clear Sky Mind Day Retreat – 10am12:30pm. Enjoy the powerful, relaxing, and empowering meditation called “clarity of the mind.” 2 sessions each including practical instruction, guided meditation, and time to ask questions to improve your ability to meditate. All levels of experience welcome. With KMC Chicago’s principal teacher, Gen Kelsang Zamling. $20. Available online for 72 hrs afterward. Info & register: 312-767-1898 or MeditateInChicago.org.

MONDAY, MAY 17

ONLINE: The Soul’s Journey Between Death

Bike to Work Day Endangered Species Day

TUESDAY, MAY 18

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19 Buddha Day (Buddhism)

ONLINE: Julian of Norwich – 7-9pm. Matthew

Fox, a renowned author, theologian, and activist priest speaks about Julian of Norwich (1349-1415) a profound thinker and lived through the bubonic plague. $35. Via Zoom. For more info & registration: 847-831-8828 or InfinityFoundation.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 20

ONLINE: Midewin NTP: Pollinating America’s Prairie – 6pm. World Bee Day and American Wetlands Month. A special focus on “pollinating” prairie restoration now and in the future, with a look at the roles of Youth Conservation Corps programs and more. Free. To register: 815-423-6370 or sm.fs.Midewin_RSVP@usda.gov. For more info: fs.usda.gov/midewin.

and Rebirth – 2:30-5:30pm. With David Birr and Susan Wisehart. Experience a guided journey to meet your spirit guides, loved ones and Higher Self. Experience a group past life regression to gain insight into a major spiritual lesson you are focused on in this incarnation. Learn how an astrology chart can provide insights about your planetary sojourns between incarnations and your current spiritual lesson. $45. Via Zoom. 630-668-1571. Register by May 21: Theosophical.org.

Amazing Gong Journey – 6-7:30pm. With Sound Healer Andre Peraza. The gong is a powerful instrument that works on many levels to heal the listener. It can help release deep emotional energy and feelings to better ground yourself. Bring yoga mat, pillow, blanket and an open mind. $25. The Edgar Cayce Holistic Center, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines.

847-299-6535. HolisticCenterChicago.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 23 World Turtle Day

MONDAY, MAY 24

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

TUESDAY, MAY 25

FRIDAY, MAY 21

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

ONLINE & IN PERSON: Yin Yoga Training

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26

– Fridays, May 21-June 18. 2-5pm. In this 5-class series take a deep dive into Chinese medicine’s theory and application of the yin yoga meridian stretches through the lineage of Masunaga through present day Yin Yoga masters. $375. Via Zoom or Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 818 Lake St, Evanston.

847-864-1130. ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 22 World Biodiversity Day

ONLINE: Clear Your Money Blocks with EFT Tapping – 9am-12pm. If you feel stuck in a cycle of frustrating patterns that even your best intentions can’t seem to break, this workshop will give you helpful clarity about what is really holding you back, and techniques to break through the patterns. $75.

Via Zoom. Zen Shiatsu Chicago: 847-864-1130 or ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

Traditional Japanese Shoden Reiki Level 1 for Acupuncturists – May 22 & 23. 9am-5pm. Whether you are new to reiki, or already certified in other reiki styles, this lineage of Shoden Japanese Reiki helps you on a path to self-discovery. Learn the tools and meditations unique to Reiki. Open to acupuncturists only. NCCAOM Certified. $375, $300/ early bird. Calandra Center for Health and Wellness, 47 W Polk St, Ste M-5, Chicago. 312-796-3965.

CalandraAcupuncture.com.

Vesak Day (Buddhism)

VIRTUAL: Reiki Relaxation Hour – 7-8pm.

Shake off the stress of the day in a natural and healthy way with reiki. Relax even deeper with a guided reiki meditation (which you can use at home to bring peace to your daily life). Experience distance reiki along with the meditation. A great opportunity to check out what a reiki distance session is like. Time afterwards for sharing and Q&A. Free.

Via Zoom. CalandraAcupuncture.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 27

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

FRIDAY, MAY 28

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

NAChicago.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 5 Birds of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (West Side Tours) – 8:30-10:30am. You might see loggerhead shrikes, Henslow’s sparrows, bobolinks, grasshopper sparrows, meadowlarks, blue grosbeaks, orioles, warblers, vireos and more. Free.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, 30239 S State Rte 53, Wilmington. To register: 815-423-6370 or sm.fs.Midewin_RSVP@usda.gov. For more info: fs.usda.gov/midewin.

SATURDAY, JUNE 12

SAVE THE DATE Traditional Japanese Shoden Reiki Level I – June 12-13. 9am-5pm. Whether you are new to reiki, or already certified in other reiki styles, this lineage of Shoden Japanese Reiki helps you on a path to self-discovery.

Learn the tools and meditations unique to Reiki. $300. Calandra Center for Health and Wellness, 47 W Polk St, Ste M-5, Chicago.

312-796-3965. CalandraAcupuncture.com.

SAVE THE DATE ONLINE: Chicago IANDS – 2pm. Support/ study/resource forum for near-death, out-of-body and spiritual experiences, losses. Guest Speaker: Brian Sackett, PhD, NDEr, Shared-Death Experiencer, Spiritual Emergency Experiencer. This meeting is part of a fabulous free 2-day conference. For more info & to register: 847-251-5758 or ChicagoIANDS.org.

change

can do you good Join the Natural Awakenings Franchise Family

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

SUNDAY, MAY 30

See NAChicago.com for latest events.

MONDAY, MAY 31 Memorial Day

~Rudolf Steiner Chicago

ONLINE: Birds of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: Part 1 – 7-8pm. Learn all about the birds that call Midewin NTP home. Presenters: Will County Audubon Society Vice President and Midewin NTP volunteer Greg Dubois. Free. To register: 815-423-6370 or sm.fs.Midewin_RSVP@usda.gov.

For more info: fs.usda.gov/midewin.

SATURDAY, MAY 29

May my soul bloom in love for all existence.

56

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2

For more info, visit: NaturalAwakenings.com

ongoing events To ensure we keep our community calendar current, ongoing events must be resubmitted each month.

DEADLINE: All listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Calendar events must be submitted online at NAChicago.com/Calendar.

Check Online: Check the NA Online Calendar and Directory for many updates and new online events and workshops.

MONTHLY SPECIAL OFFERS

ONLINE: Let’s Talk Hemp Health – 7pm. A short

presentation by hemp advocates and educators on the basics of CBD oil. Learn the benefits and science of how and why cannabis works in the body. Learn exactly what CBD and other cannabinoids are and what function they play in the body. Different guests each week. Free. On Zoom. Details: 630-309-3409 or HempHealthTalks.com.

Shiatsu Student Clinic – 7-9pm. Receive a 45-min session from an advanced Zen Shiatsu student. Sessions are performed in a group setting with instructor observation. $35/45-min or $90/3 treatments. Zen Shiatsu Chicago, 825A Chicago Ave, Evanston.

Availability limited; for appts: 847-864-1130.

ZenShiatsuChicago.org.

WEDNESDAY

Glowing Wellness Spa Special – Thru May. First-time clients can receive their first Red Light Treatment for fat loss and more for $39.

213 W Jefferson Ave, Naperville. For appt: 815-603-1166, Contact@GlowingWellnessSpa. com or GlowingWellnessSpa.com.

Spring Allergy Special – Thru May. Save $10 on treatment. New clients save $30 on initial visit.

Midwest Allergy Relief Center, 3365 N Arlington Hts Rd, Ste D, Arlington Heights. 847-392-7901.

MidwestAllergyRelief.com.

ONLINE: Christian Science Lectures – During

Dulce Mobile Massage Special – Thru May. 9am-7pm. $30 off on all massage services.

847-420-2345. DulceMobileMassage@gmail.com.

DulceMobileMassage.com.

SUNDAY

ONLINE: Mindset Mondays – 10am. 30-min

Ruck the Work Week – 8am. Rucking effectively allows you to combine aerobic training and strength training while slicing your workout to a fraction of the time. With Get Fit EGV. Free. Busse Forest South Grove 17, Elk Grove Village. Must register by 7pm the night before: Linktr.ee/getfitegv_coachro.

Uber conference to begin your week in a positive, supportive group environment. To register: Debi@ DebiKiddleHealthCoaching.com.

Green Drinks McHenry County – 5-7pm. 1st Wed. Check website for updates. GreenDrinks.org/ IL/Crystal Lake.

ONLINE: Yoga Basics with Jenny – 11am.

ONLINE: Prayer Meeting – 6-7pm. Informal

COVID-19, all Christian Science lectures have moved online. Every day you’ll find several events happening live as well pre-recorded presentations you can watch anytime. Cultivate your spiritual practice and get ideas and inspiration to stay calm, safe and healthy. CSMetroChicago.org.

ONLINE: The Mike Nowak Show Radio Pro-

gram – 9-11am. Live weekly online local talk show focused on gardening and the environment, with lots of humor to wake us up. Author and master gardener Mike Nowak and cohost Peggy Malecki feature a variety of guests and weather/climate scientist Rick DiMaio in a live show on Facebook @The Mike Nowak Show, YouTube and streaming live at MikeNowak.net. Also available in podcast on MikeNowak.net, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and podcast apps,. Free. MikeNowak.net.

Logan Square Farmers’ Market – May 9-Oct. 9am-3pm. Logan Blvd between Milwaukee & Whipple, Chicago. LoganSquareFarmersMarket.org.

ONLINE: Time to Dance: Ballet – 10:30am.

Also 1:30pm, Tues & 5:30pm, Thurs. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org.

MONDAY Sentinel Watch Podcast – 7am. Weekly audio podcasts filled with thought-provoking ideas posted each Mon. Contributors tackle topics relevant to daily life and inspiring prayers for the world. New programs are posted every Mon and available 24/7 throughout the week. Tune in any time. CSMetroChicago.org.

Also held 9:30am, Wed & Fri. Heaven Meets Earth, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500.

HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com.

TUESDAY ONLINE: Yoga with Lisa – 10am. Heaven Meets Earth, 2746 Central St, Evanston. 847-475-1500.

HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com.

ONLINE: Time to Dance: Ballet – 1:30pm. Also 10:30am, Sun & 5:30pm, Thurs. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org.

Green Drinks Libertyville – 6:30pm. 2nd Tues.

Check our Facebook page for updates. Facebook. com/greendrinkslibertyville.

ONLINE: Hacking Your Health Meetup – 6:308pm. 3rd Tues. With Tiffany Hinton. Let’s get together to expand our knowledge of living a healthy life, using integrative wellness. Features an expert speaker on topics current to our health landscape.

We can share recipes, have events at local health restaurants and learn more to raise healthier children.

Free. Purple Sprout Cafe and Juice Bar: Meetup. com/Hacking-Your-Health-Meetup.

ONLINE: Guided Meditation for Inner Balance & Quieting the Mind – 6:50-8:10pm. 3rd Tue. With Ellen Radha Katz. Donation. Via Zoom. Register: Meetup.com/Inner-Balance-Meditation.

Green City Market: Lincoln Park – May-Oct. 7am-1pm. 1817 N Clark, South end of Lincoln Park, Chicago. GreenCityMarket.org.

ONLINE: Body & Brain Tai Chi Class – 7:308:30am; 10-11am; 6-7pm. Additional classes held daily; see website for times. After a short set of warm up exercises, get into meridian stretching (to improve circulation, strength and flexibility, and relax the mind) and then go into Body & Brain-style tai chi called DahnMuDo. We stream all classes live on Zoom. Info & to register: 847-362-2724, Libertyville@BodyNBrain.com, BodyNBrain.com/ libertyville.

weekly gatherings with inspirational readings, song, prayer and time to share healings and inspiration.

Meetings being held remotely during COVID-19.

More than a dozen different online groups hold mid-week online meetings; times vary, but all groups meet on Wed evenings. Free. Log-on info & times: CSMetroChicago.org.

THURSDAY ONLINE: Time to Dance: Fitness – 9:30am.

Emphasizes low-impact, high-intensity, cardio dance and fitness routines accompanied by music.

Alternate dance with resistance routines to build and maintain muscle and bone density. Via Zoom.

To register: CBG-Institute.org.

ONLINE: Small Farm Winter Webinar Series – 12-1pm. A weekly educational series for the small farm community. These online presentations will give small farm producers a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing can improve profitability and sustainability. Free.

Go.Illinois.edu/SFWW. ONLINE: Time to Dance: Modern – 1:30pm.

Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org.

May 2021

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CLASSIFIEDS AKASHIC CONSULTATION AKASHIC RECORD READING – Open the record of your soul’s journey to find information to support you in your life right now, heal your past and help you into your future. Heal. Grow. Investigate. Find direction. Lin Ewing: 847-609-0034.

AstrologicalDetails.com.

ASTROLOGY ASTROLOGY – Understand yourself, your motivations, your feelings. Recognize your talents, strengths, successes. Overcome difficulties and confusion. Astrology can help pull it all together.

Relationships. Career. Plan the future. Serious astrology for serious seekers. Private, personal consultations. Lin Ewing: 847-609-0034.

AstrologicalDetails.com.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES YOUR LISTING CAN BE HERE – Visit NAChicago.com/classifieds.

HELP WANTED ARE YOU HIRING? – Find your next team member. Call 847-858-3697 or submit online at NAChicago.com/classifieds.

HIRING ACUPUNCTURIST ASSOCIATE IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – Busy, fully staffed, beautiful clinic. 4-day work week. Great pay. Acupuncture & Holistic Health Associates. Email resume: Careers@MilwaukeeAcu.com. More info: HolisticAcupuncture.net/career-opportunities.

PRODUCTS TRY TERRA POWER GREENS – 46 grasses, leaves, vegetables, sprouts & herbs.

No fillers. Get free samples/just pay shipping.

954-459-1134. Buy at TerraLifeStore.com or Amazon.

ONLINE: Time to Dance: Ballet – 5:30pm. Also

10:30am, Sun & 1:30pm, Tues. Although not beginner classes, dancers of all levels of experience welcome. Via Zoom. To register: CBG-Institute.org.

ONLINE: Healy Introduction – 6:30pm. Have

you heard of frequency medicine? Learn about a new personal device called Healy. A short presentation on what the frequency medicine is and how to purchase one. This is the next level in well-being and balance. RSVP: 630-309-3409. Meeting ID: 630-309-3409. Zoom.US.

FRIDAY Achieving Solutions for Health and Happiness – In-person sessions in a healthy and safe environment achieving root solutions for health, happiness and action steps on your life projects. With Susan Curry, of InteriorWerx. Complimentary 15-min phone consultation, use promo code MYFIRSTSESSION. 1420 Renaissance Dr, Ste 411, Park Ridge. 312-4797893. Susan@InteriorWerx.us. InteriorWerx.us.

Mindfulness & Wellness: Managing Stress, Creating Health, Encouraging Balance – 1:152:30pm. With Archana Lal-Tabak, MD, and Jim Lal-Tabak. Learn about mind-body connection and variety of mindfulness exercises. Experience natural stress reduction strategies and tools. Each class is self-contained and a new wellness-educational topic and mindfulness technique presented every week. Series of 4 classes or individual class.

Scholarships and work study available. Drop-ins welcome. Heart of Transformation Wellness Institute, 1618 Orrington Ave, Ste 206, Evanston. Details: BodyMindMedicine.com.

SATURDAY Green City Market: Lincoln Park – May-Oct. 7am-1pm. 1817 N Clark, South end of Lincoln Park, Chicago. GreenCityMarket.org.

Palatine Farmers’ Market – May-Oct. 7am-1pm.

Palatine Train Station parking lot, 137 W Wood St, Palatine. Palatine.il.us/663/Farmers-Market.

Downtown Evanston Farmers’ Market – MayNov 6. 7:30am-1pm; open 7-7:30am, senior & disabled shoppers. University Ave at Oak St (behind Hilton Garden Inn), Evanston. CityOfEvanston.org/ residents/farmers-market.

Oak Park Farmers’ Market – May 22-Oct. 7:30am-1pm. Pilgrim Church parking lot, 460 Lake St, Oak Park. Oak-Park.us/our-community/ oak-park-farmers-market Green City Market: West Loop – June-Oct. 8am1pm. Mary Bartleme Park, 115 S Sangamon St, Chicago. GreenCityMarket.org.

Mt Prospect Indoor Winter Farmers’ Market – Thru May. 9am-12:30pm. 2nd & 4th Sat. St. Mark Lutheran Church, 200 S Wille St, Mt Prospect.

Check for changes before attending: Tinyurl.com/ yxwdatu6.

Advanced Allergy Therapeutic Treatment – 9am1pm. Offering holistic, non-invasive, drug-free treatments to calm the sympathetic nervous system.

Taking all precautions to protect from COVID-19.

For an appt: 847-392-7901, MWAllergyRelief@ gmail.com or MidwestAllergyRelief.com.

61st Street Farmers’ Market – May 15-Oct 30.

9am-2pm. 61st & Dorchester, Chicago. ExperimentalStation.org/market.

ONLINE: Body & Brain Basic Yoga Class –

9:30-10:30am & 2-3pm. After a short set of warm up exercises, get into meridian stretching, followed by core strengthening and breathing postures to accumulate energy. Then be guided in the practice of energy meditation. $20/class. Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi, 860 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville.

847-362-2724. BodyNBrain.com/libertyville.

JUNE

SERVICES FASTEREFT EUTAPTICS PRACTITIONER-NEUROPLASTICIAN AT YOUR SERVICE – Let me help you to think better thoughts, so you can feel better and act better.

Redecorate your mind! BeliefRedesign.com.

CLICK ON nachicago.com

for the latest updates in health & wellness 58

Chicago

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Plus: Treating Depression Naturally Travel for the Planet Tips for Eating Vegan on Vacation

community resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community.

ACUPUNCTURE AND TRADITIONAL ORIENTAL MEDICINE LANA MOSHKOVICH, LAC, ND, MSOM Nirvana Naturopathics 707 Lake Cook Rd, Ste 100, Deerfield 60015 847-715-9044 NirvanaNaturopathics.com

We use acupuncture to help you get immediate relief from acute or chronic pain. Combining Western and Chinese Medicine, we can treat and resolve insomnia, anxiety and women’s health issues, plus chronic conditions. Certified NAET. Preferred MeiZen Provider. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Major insurances accepted.

Schedule your initial appointment on Nirvana Naturopathics.com. Get a healthier and alternative approach to your chronic health conditions. See ad on page 21.

ALLERGIES CALANDRA CENTER FOR HEALTH & WELLNESS

Acupuncture, NAET Allergy Elimination, Reiki, Classes/CEU Located in Chicago’s South Loop & Schaumburg 312-796-3965 CalandraAcupuncture.com CCHW offers: acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, NAET Allergy Elimination, reiki, Access Consciousness Bars and a variety of classes. Classes are available for adults, children and CEU for acupuncturists. We believe that when someone has the tools to help themselves that the possibilities are endless.

MIDWEST ALLERGY RELIEF CENTER 3365 N Arlington Hts Rd, Ste D, Arlington Hts 60004 847-392-7901 MidwestAllergyRelief.com

Dr. Amanda Thiry, DC, BSN, uses Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT), a non-invasive alternative technology that’s effective and safe for all ages, to identify and treat specific allergen elements that affect your quality of life. Discover how you can eat foods, be near pets and use products again that you now avoid, and experience a new lease on life.

BODYWORK NATIONAL LYMPHATIC CENTERS

Sharon M Vogel, LMT, CLT, BCTMB, MFR 5002a Main St, Downers Grove 3100 Theodore St, Ste 202, Joliet 630-241-4100 • Lymphatics.net Sharon Vogel is referred to by Mayo Clinic practitioners, national surgeons and physicians. She offers 46 years hands-on experience, 29 years as a licensed practitioner, and is Nationally Board Certified, specializing in oncology massage, lymph drainage MLD and myofascial release JFB MFR, all to help assist clients in regaining health. Free consult with RSVP. See ad in the Women in Wellness Feature.

ROTH STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

Diane Roth, BCSI Highland Park, 60035 847-533-3213 • RothSI.com Structural Integration (SI) realigns, rebalances and re-educates the body through manual therapy and movement education. Chronic pain, bad posture, tired and achy bodies are signs that the body is out of balance. SI benefits include decreased pain, injury rehabilitation, improved posture, ease in movement, and increased flexibility and stamina.

ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO 825 Chicago Ave, Evanston 60202 847-864-1130 ZenShiatsuChicago.org

You’ll feel the stress melt away like the snow in spring through our relaxation-focused shiatsu massage practice, which offers the same energizing benefits as acupuncture combined with the restorative power of yoga poses. Dress in cozy threads, shiatsu is performed on fully clothed clients. Professional and student therapists available.

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can do you good Join the Natural Awakenings Franchise Family

CBD / HEMP OIL NATURAL REMEDEE HEALTH SOLUTIONS Dee Bayro, CHHC NaturalRemedee.com HempHealthTalks.com

Your hemp health coach. Too many people are living with daily pain and chronic conditions, without much support. Many have not heard or know how cannabis works in the body, and that it is essential to maintain homeostasis (balance of all the body systems) or that it is involved in a number of physiological processes, including pain sensation, mood, memory and appetite, and more. As your health advisor, I will help guide you and find answers. We get to the root cause and see if cannabinoid therapy is right for you. Over thousands of studies support the therapeutic benefits for over 250 health conditions. Visit our website or attend an online free informational zoom (register on website) to learn more. See ad on page 21.

CBD / HEMP FOR PETS ResQ ORGANICS FOR PETS CBD & Treats for Dogs, Cats & Horses Hope Black 424-781-7377 ResQOrganics.com & Amazon

Say goodbye to pain, anxiety, stress and more.

Founder Hope Black, a holistic pet consultant & animal intuitive, is committed to offering the finest HEMP products you can trust. Her company ResQ Organics CBD line for pets are full-spectrum hemp extract that are pesticide-free, organically grown, non-GMO and pet approved. With every purchase, ResQ Organics donates a product to animal rescues.

COACHING & COUNSELING SUSAN CURRY

InteriorWerx 312-479-7893 Info@InteriorWerx.us InteriorWerx.us Feeling anxious or scared? Are you seeking solutions to regain emotional balance and clarity? Susan Curry of InteriorWerx can assist, using her intuitive energy coaching skills. 15-min complimentary phone consult available using promo MYFIRSTSESSION. See ad in the Women in Wellness Feature.

A great hallmark of mental wellness is the ability to be in the present moment, fully and with no thoughts of being elsewhere. ~Wayne Dyer May 2021

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DANCE FOR HEALTH

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

TIME TO DANCE WITH CBG INSTITUTE FOR DANCE & HEALTH

HEAL N CURE MEDICAL WELLNESS

Discover the healing art of dance through ballet, modern and tap for adults 50+.

Dance is proven to have both physical and psychological benefits. Taught by dancer teachers Lisa Gold, Lynne Chervony Belsky, MD, and Lorraine Chase. See ad on page 21 and in the Women in Wellness Feature.

Specializing in medical wellness, weight loss, hormone balancing, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and anti-aging using integrative and functional medicine. We find and resolve the root cause of medical conditions and achieve outstanding, lasting results for our patients, many of which had almost given up on wellness goals. Free educational seminars. PPO insurance and Medicare accepted for covered services.

See ad on page 3 and in the Women in Wellness Feature.

North Shore School of Dance 505 Laurel Ave, Highland Park 60035 DanceForJoy16@gmail.com CBG-Institute.org

DIGESTIVE HEALTH SPECIALIST RENEÉ S. BARASCH, LDHS

316 Peterson Rd, Libertyville 60048 847-207-2034 DigestiveHealthSolutions.com Digestive problems? Acid Reflux/ GERD, IBS, Crohn’s, colitis? Let us help you naturally achieve nutritional balance, feel better and enhance the quality of your life. Improve digestion while reducing discomfort and bloating so you can eat the foods you love again.

Certified digestive health specialist/enzyme therapist. See ad on page 7 and in the Women in Wellness Feature.

FLOAT THERAPY FLOTSTONE

57 E Scranton Ave, Lake Bluff 60044 847-482-1700 Flotstone.com Floatation therapy is quickly being recognized as a very safe and effective way to shift into the parasympathetic state of total relaxation. Floating cradles you in its graceful healing waters optimizing your body’s ability to do what it does best, heal! Float effortlessly in over 1,250 lbs of Epsom salt.

FREQUENCY MEDICINE

Meena Malhotra, MD, ABIM, ABOM 2420 Ravine Way, Ste 400, Glenview 60025 847-686-4444 • HealNCure.com

GYMS, FITNESS & ONLINE WORKOUTS GET FIT EGV

Rowena Dziubla, Owner 773-819-7459 • CoachRo@GetFitEGV.com Facebook | Instagram RX your workout at GET FIT EGV located at 1100 Nerge Rd, Ste 206 in Elk Grove Village. Semi-private classes available 7 days a week: barbell/Olympic training, HIIT, bootcamp and more. We also offer ONLINE virtual coaching options for home workouts; see website for more info.

HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING DEBI KIDDLE

Debi Kiddle Health Coaching Debi@DebiKiddleHealthCoaching.com DebiKiddleHealthCoaching.com Health coaching focusing on optimal aging. Debi is passionate about helping people age optimally and providing the resources, tools and support needed for you to make the best health choices possible. Offering a complimentary health history, individual and group sessions, grocery store tours, In-Home Product Makeovers, and like-minded community support.

EPIGENETIC SIGNATURE MAPPING Wellness Empowered 2177 Shermer Rd, Northbrook 60062 847-963-6094 YourWellnessEmpowered.com

Every hair on our head contains valuable genetic information coded in DNA biomarkers. The Cell Well-Being hair profiler assesses for nutritional deficiencies, immune health and environmental toxins. Becoming aware of healthier lifestyle choices is crucial to repair damaged DNA. The scan includes a 1-hr consultation with a holistic practitioner to review your results and assist you on your wellness journey. See ad on page 11.

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HOLISTIC DENTISTRY

K. BOEHM, DDS, & ASSOCIATES

1585 N Barrington Rd, Ste 106, Hoffman Estates 60069 847-884-1220 1440 Maple Ave, Ste 2A Lisle 60532 630-810-1280 • KBoehmDDS.com

Offering state-of-the-art holistic dental care in a relaxed environment, Dr. Boehm and his staff are ready to meet all your dental needs in either of his two locations. Bio-compatible materials and an extensive knowledge of the correlation between oral and overall health are his specialties. Services include safe mercury removal, electrodermal screening for materials compatibility and tooth viability, crowns, bridges, dentures, zirconia implants, homeopathy, cranial osteopathy, orthodontics, ozone therapy, CT/3D imaging, and laser treatment for both gum disease and decay.

WRIGLEYVILLE DENTAL

Dr. Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, PC 3256 N Ashland, Chicago 60657 773-975-6666 WrigleyvilleDental.com In addition to state-of-the-art technology and methods offered by most holistic dentists (microscopes, ozone therapy, etc.), we treat you as a partner. We thoroughly explain your unique situation, provide treatment options and keep you comfortable with Netflix, music and paraffin wax treatments. Now offering reiki treatments. Located off the Brown line. Free garage parking. See ad in the Women in Wellness Feature.

HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER BIO-ENERGY CENTER

Kankakee Natural Foods BioEnergy Center 815-933-6236 KankakeeNaturalFoods.com Our BioEnergy Center brings together state-ofthe-art machines in one location for an integrative wellness experience. Our approach to healing meets each client’s unique needs through personalized testing and therapies. Come as you are, no appointment needed.

Kankakee Natural Foods Wellness under One Roof.

DR. ALLA AVER, DDS

2400 Ravine Way, Suite 400, Glenview 60025 847-998-5100 GlenviewSmiles.com Our office uses whole-body, preventive dental care. We utilize non-fluoridated ozonated water, herbal periodontal treatments, and gluten-free herbal paste. We offer: safe amalgam removal; BPA-free fillings and sealants; non-metal crowns; sleep apnea and TMJ appliances; ozone therapy; microscopic plaque analysis; material reactivity testing kits; and non-acrylic night guards, partials.

WHOLE LIFE SPINE & SOFT TISSUE Christopher Codina, DC 33 W Higgins Rd, Ste 735 South Barrington 60010 WholeLifeChiroHE.com

Constantly foam rolling or taking meds to get through the day, just for it to come back?

Learn how something that is easily treated and commonly found in the body may be the reason for your pain. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more. Conveniently located and insurance accepted.

HOLISTIC SKINCARE HOLISTIC SKIN EXPERT: PAULINA IANNOTTA

24W788 75th St, Naperville 60565 (within Estuary Center for Living and Healing Arts) 708-769-5351 HolisticSkinExpert.com Paulina has been a holistic-licensed esthetician since 2010. She believes in balance and treats the body as a whole, and that the skin should be nourished and nurtured with love and not abused with harsh chemicals and treatments. Every treatment is about 2 hours and it’s customized to meet the needs of every individual.

NEFERTEM HOLISTIC SKINCARE Info@NefertemNaturals.com NefertemNaturals.com FB: NefertemNaturals IG: @NefertemNaturals

Imagine skincare made with all-natural ingredients, purposefully formulated to support your spiritual journey.

Offering soaps to cleanse your aura, moisturizers to cultivate confidence and aromatherapy sprays to inspire growth. Create an opportunity to reflect and evolve daily with Nefertem. 100% Natural. 90% Organic.

0% Artificial. 10% off code: NATURAL10.

INTUITIVE CONSULTATION AKASHIC COUNSEL

Eunice Marchman AkashicCounsel@gmail.com AkashicCounsel.org Curious about your soul’s purpose?

Think about where you would like insight and healing information.

Let’s open the records insightfully to receive, heal and enrich your current situation. An Akashic reading can help you reconnect to your deeper self and enable you to move on with a clearer sense of purpose.

MICHELE HEATHER

847-509-8289 MicheleHeather1@yahoo.com

Using IV therapies, PRP, weight management and other natural programs, we help conditions like fatigue, brain fog, hormone imbalance, pain, injury, weight gain, decreased performance, tickborn disease and more. After an initial consultation, we design your custom program to obtain true optimal health, which includes living a healthy lifestyle and being committed to yourself. See ad on page 5.

INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY ELLEN KATZ, MS, LMFT

Clinical Director, Inner Balance Northbrook, Chicago, Palm Springs 847-224-0244 EllenKatz.net Ellen’s 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist integrates a conscious approach to healing old patterns through a mix of trauma and mindfulness-based psychotherapies, HMR, Lifeline, The Work (Byron Katie), energy medicine and somatic awareness. Join Meetup.com “Inner Balance Meditation” for updates on her events, and visit her at EllenKatz.net.

All courses now on Zoom, many are recorded to watch later. CEUs available. ThetaHealing Certification Training, May 14-16; Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in Time of a Pandemic with Matthew Fox, May 19. Call for free course guide.

MEDITATION CENTER KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER CHICAGO

13 Harrison St, Oak Park 60304 2010 W Pierce Ave, Chicago 60622 708-763-0132 • MeditateInChicago.org Meditation and modern Buddhism. Everyone welcome. We offer an array of drop-in classes, weekend events, and retreats open to everyone and suitable for all levels of experience. A nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, we’re dedicated to sharing the practical wisdom of Buddha’s teachings with Chicagoland through meditation and mindfulness practices.

LIFELONG LEARNING & PERSONAL GROWTH

MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPY

CSMetroChicago.org

thriveMD – OPTIMAL HEALTH

Dr. Greg Seaman 1355 Remington Rd, Ste I, Schaumburg IL 60173 312-600-5070 Info@thriveMD.org

1280 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park 60035 847-831-8828 • InfinityFoundation.org

Get clarity, direction and empowerment as we release old patterns and blockages that keep you feeling stuck in life. Using Soul Memory Discovery, Michele helps you work with your angels and guides to practice new inner processes and expand into your highest good and true self. Michele is also intuitive and a Reiki Master Teacher.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN METRO CHICAGO

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

INFINITY FOUNDATION

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Resources for your spiritual journey … events, weekly online podcasts, community worship services, Christian Science Reading Rooms. Explore our website and connect with us at more than 24 locations around Chicago. See

THE EDGAR CAYCE HOLISTIC CENTER AND BOOKSTORE

At Unity Northwest Church 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines 60016 847-299-6535 • AREChicagoCenter@gmail.com Full-service bookstore, Cayce remedies, spiritual growth study groups, monthly programs, workshops and holistic fairs, intuitive skills development training, knowledgeable seekers, intuitives, healers and more. Call for hours. See ad on page 17.

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

DULCE MOBILE MASSAGE

847-420-2345 DulceMobileMassage@gmail.com DulceMobileMassage.com Candy Kessler will travel to your residence to provide excellent Therapeutic Massage service with the best possible care tailoring your massage to your specific needs. May Special: $30 off any massage.

NATUROPATHIC CONSULTATION DR. ALLA ARUTCHEVA, MD, PHD, ND

Associate Professor, Rush University Med. School Antalee Wellness 1836 Glenview Rd, 2nd Fl, Glenview 60025 847-486-1130 • AntaleeHolistic.com Have gut problems? Suspect leaky gut? Do not give up! We have a solution for you! Our key strategies are “DetermineRemoveRepairRestore” that address the gut health and integrity of the intestinal wall. Special individual program will be created and help your gut be happy again. Learn more about leaky gut and our therapeutic strategy at AntaleeHolistic.com. See ad on page 41.

~Dr. Seuss May 2021

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OBGYN/BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT)

NUTRACEUTICALS & SUPPLEMENTS STANDARD PROCESS

Kathy Kiss Sr Account Manager KKiss@StandardProcess.com

ADVANCED WOMAN’S HEALTHCARE AT NCH

Ranae L. Yockey, DO, FACOG Northwest Community Hospital Busse Medical Building 880 W Central Rd, Ste 6200, Arlington Hts 847-618-0730 myawhs.com

Standard Process is a Wisconsin-based, family-owned, whole foodbased nutritional supplement company that partners with healthcare practitioners to address issues related to health conditions. See ad on page 19.

Dr. Yockey and her team treat the “full patient” by offering a variety of services including: hormone optimization through compounding pharmacies as well as through BioTE, a bio-identical hormone replacement program that is safe and effective for almost all women and men. The practice also provides routine GYN management, pregnancy and infertility, whole body laser treatment options and chronic pelvic pain management options. See ad in the Women in Wellness Feature.

NUTRITIONAL IV THERAPY thriveMD

1355 Remington Rd, Ste I Schaumburg IL 60173 312-600-5070 • thriveMD.com Thrive MD offers a way to deliver vital fluids, vitamins, electrolytes and nutrients directly into the bloodstream which can restore hydration, support the immune system and aid in faster recovery. Offerings include nutritional immune support, weight loss, vitality and stress relief.

See ad on page 5.

RED LIGHT THERAPY GLOWING WELLNESS SPA

SKIN • BODY • MIND 213 W Jefferson Ave, 2nd Fl, Downtown Naperville 815-603-1166 Facebook @glowingwellnessspa GlowingWellnesSpa.com

t r o p p Su Our Local ! s r e m r a F

Ali Malina is an organic skincare specialist and offers unique facials and mind-body energy treatments infused with healing RED light. Red lights treatments offer a low cost, non-invasive, safe option for fat loss and body sculpting. They also reduce pain and inflammation, rejuvenate the skin, accelerate healing, boost hormonal health and much more. See ad on page 15.

SOUND THERAPY

SHOP CSAs, ONLINE & VIRTUAL FARMERS’ MARKETS AND CO-OPS

HEALING WAVES SOUND THERAPY

Photo by Burst from Pexels

1733 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago 60647 773-485-2935 Info@HealingWavesSoundTherapy.com HealingWavesSoundTherapy.com

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Alternative emotional therapy using applied specific sound frequencies to release you from the weight of unwanted emotional burdens. Common emotions worked with are anxiety, fear, anger, depression, grief, worry, suicidal thoughts, stress and much more.

In-person and remote sessions are available.

SOUL ENERGY

Mary Ellen Azzi 3323 N Pulaski, Chicago 60641 773-609-3466 SoulEnergyWeb.com Life is full of challenges but we can learn to flow with the continual changes.

Receive a combination of vibrational sound therapy, meditation, reiki and other energy modalities to release the charged energies of these times. Offering private sessions, group sound journeys and reiki classes by creating a virtual space that is kind, caring, supportive and safe.

THERMOGRAPHY, THERMOMETRY AND BIOENERGETIC SCANNING NORTHWEST HEALING CENTER

22000 N Pepper Rd, Lake Barrington 224-600-3216 Facebook: @northwesthealingcenter NorthwestHealingCenter.com Erica Cody is a Certified Thermographer and Herbal Alternative Medicine Practitioner, offering a full mind-body healing experiece. The Healing Center offers thermal imagining along with bioenergetic scanning to dive deep into the source of cellular dysfunction. Thermography is the study of change over time. Women with dense breast tissue and breast implants are great candidates to see what is really going on. Full-body scans can also detect inflammation in body and provides clues for further investigation. See ad in the Women in Wellness Feature.

WELLNESS EMPOWERED

2177 Shermer Rd, Northbrook 60062 847-963-6094 YourWellnessEmpowered.com Whole Body Thermometry (WBT) is a gentle, painless, testing method utilizing a radiation-free, infrared-scanning device which assesses and identifies which organs are struggling to regulate. Knowing which organ systems are stressed, enables us to take preventive actions to restore and maintain balanced organ function. This remarkable adjunct diagnostic device, enables us to see the contributing factors that often manifest long before symptoms of chronic illness appear. See ad on page 11.

CLICK ON nachicago.com

CELEBRATING 27 years in THE business of

May 2021

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NEW: Federal Financial Aid available for full and part-time students.

Get the support you need to start a rewarding new career!

Beginning Zen Shiatsu 10 Week Sessions June 24 - August 26, Thursdays 7-10pm September 14 - November 16, Tuesdays 10am-1pm September 15 - November 17, Wednesdays 7-10pm 2-Weekend Intensive October 15-17 & 22-24, Fri 7-10pm, Sat/Sun 9:30-4:30

Rooted in universal principles of change and balance, the study of Zen Shiatsu enriches your life while you learn to help others.

Learn to relieve aches and pains through acupressure and assisted stretching while also listening to the deeper messages our bodies have to tell us. Try an entry-level class and decide if our program is the one you’ve been looking for.

or try one of our

Free Introductory Workshops May 13, Thursday, 7:00-9:30pm June 10, Thursday, 7:00-9:30pm To view more class times visit zenshiatsuchicago.org/schedule/

E-mail info@zenshiatsuchicago.org or call 847-864-1130 to sign up today!

www.zenshiatsuchicago.org CEs Available

Approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education

818 Lake Street, Evanston, IL