E E HEALTHY LIVING FR
HEALTHY
PLANET
YOGA for TRAUMA RECOVERY WAYS TO NURTURE KIDS’
CREATIVITY
ART & CREATIVITY for HEALING
HORSES are INTUITIVE HEALERS
September 2021 | Grand Traverse Region | HealthyLivingMichigan.com September 2021
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THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY: The Scientific Proof of Spiritual Contact and How That Awareness Will Change Your Life by
Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer
75 th A NNIVERSARY !
®
World-renowned 4th generation psychic medium and Oxford educated attorney Mark Anthony bridges the divide between faith and science in this fascinating afterlife exploration taking you around the globe, from the cosmic to the subatomic, into the human soul itself. Combining physics, neuroscience and riveting true stories this book: • Reveals how our “Electromagnetic Soul” is pure eternal energy which never dies. • Takes spirit communication, near-death experiences, and deathbed visions out of the shadows of superstition and into The Light of 21st Century Quantum Physics. • Teaches Anthony’s “RAFT Technique” to Recognize contact with spirits, Accept it as real, Feel it without fear, and Trust in the experience. • Provides hope for victims of grief, homicide, suicide, PTSD and survivor’s guilt. • Illuminates how contact with spirits is a powerful instrument of healing and love.
“To put it bluntly, this is an “amazing book that deserves to be enjoyed by millions of readers.” Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health, University of Arizona and author of “The Afterlife Experiments”.
“Mark Anthony shows that while we cannot control death, we can control how we understand and react to it in healthy ways.” Bruce Greyson, MD, co-founder of IANDS and author of “After: A doctor Explores what Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond”
Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer author of The Afterlife Frequency and his other best sellers, Never Letting Go and Evidence of Eternity is cohost of The Psychic & the Doc on The Transformation Network and columnist for Best Holistic Magazine. He appears nationwide on TV and radio as an expert in spirit communication, near-death experiences, paranormal phenomena and as a legal expert. ®
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI
The book that has c hanged the lives of millions Paperback, only $8.50 Also available in eBook and audio editions
To get your copy go to: Amazon, fine book stores or ATERLIFEFREQUENCY.com. Also available on audio, narrated by Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer (Psychic Lawyer ) ®
®
www.AfterlifeFrequency.com
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w w w. AYa n n i ve rs a r y. o rg
Healthy living at your fingertips.
HealthyLivingMichigan.com
Find the news, events, cutting-edge articles and products and services that support your healthy lifestyle. The print and digital magazine you’ve come to love and depend on for you and your family’s health since 2006 has a state-of-the-art website to serve you, as well. You will discover exclusive, online-only, healthy living info you won't find in our print version that will help guide you to a healthier, more balanced life. Readers and healthy living, healthy planet practitioners, visit YOUR website today! September 2021
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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
letter from the publishers The Dance of Life
GRAND TRAVERSE REGION
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ngaging in a creative venture gives us the ability to
Publishers John & Trina Voell III
think in new ways, and this issue celebrates the cre-
Design & Production John & Trina Voell III Martin Miron Theresa Archer Randy Kambic
ative spirits among us. Our imagination makes it possible to experience a whole new world inside the mind, with the
A2 Sales & Marketing John & Trina Voell III 734-757-7929
ability to look at any situation from a different point of view.
Detroit Sales & Marketing John & Trina Voell III 734-757-7929
It enables us to mentally explore the past and the future.
TC Sales & Marketing John & Trina Voell III 734-757-7929
CONTACT US P.O. Box 2717, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 734-757-7929 Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com HealthyLivingMichigan.com facebook.com/NaturalAwakeningsAnnArbor https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCRIOgIjWHjdMaHeTDeKgARg
Creative expression can even transform painful reactions and situations, providing strength and understanding to change how we feel and interact with the world. Creativity and art can be a powerful force for healing; we’re inspired by this month’s feature story, “Art’s Embrace: Healing Through Creativity.” Sandra Yeyati informs us about how dance is bringing Parkinson’s patients joy and increased mobility, art therapists are helping cancer patients reconstruct their sense of identity and find expression for painful emotions, and actors and caregivers are joining together to help people with dementia
NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell
perform plays and produce art exhibits and books, thus bringing fresh life to care facilities.
Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
strategies as nurturing kids’ curiosity with open-ended questions and encouraging them
© 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.
In a rapidly changing world, creative thinking is critical to personal and planetary
survival, yet research shows that those skills start declining in children at age 6. Parents can reverse this process by creating an environment in which creativity flows, using such
to follow their bliss by diving into topics that intrigue them. Learn more tips in “Creative Kids: How to Nurture Imagination,” and find out why allowing them to be bored can help new ideas for activity spring forth.
Personal growth and transformation is not new to us; we know that fear is one of the
greatest enemies of an open and creative mind. So do not hide from your true nature, but allow the development of courage, creativity and love to become the light guiding your actions and dreams. Making each moment count and coloring it with kindness is key in creating a life we love to live, for at every stage of life we are daily creating our legacy.
Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.
To conscious living, Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines
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Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue you’ll find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.
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Contents 17
14 ART'S EMBRACE Healing Through Creativity
17 YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA
Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System
18 CREATIVE KIDS
How to Nurture Imagination
20 CONQUERING CHRONIC PAIN
How the Body-Mind Connection Works
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22 FORAGED FUNGI FARE Cooking with Wild Mushrooms
24 HARNESSING THE
POWER OF THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM TO KEEP HEALTH IN BALANCE
26 HORSES AS HEALERS
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Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits
ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings, please contact us at 734-757-7929 or email Publisher@HealthyLiving Michigan.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ HealthyLivingMichigan.com. Deadline for editorial: the 12th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events at: HealthyLiving Michigan.com. Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.
27 THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN NOTE
DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 10 health briefs 11 global briefs 12 eco tips 17 fit body 18 healthy kids 20 healing ways
22 conscious
eating 24 plant medicine 26 natural pet 27 inspiration 28 calendar 29 classifieds 30 resource guide September 2021
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news briefs
GROW YOUR BUSINESS Secure this ad spot! 734-757-7929
Wholistic Approach to the Fall One-Day Conference
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he Naturopathic Community Center is hosting a full-day conference on Saturday, October 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Morey School, in Shepherd. The conference is sponsored by Herbs Etc. and will host guest speakers such as natural health therapists and naturopathic doctors and product vendors, all the information needed to gain optimum health for the fall and winter season. “If you are wondering how to best support your immune system and gain all the natural health tools you need for the approaching flu season, this conference is for you,” says Julie Wagester, chief operations officer of the Naturopathic Community Center. The conference will include topics such as utilizing essential oils for viruses, homeopathic remedies for the pandemic, herbs and minerals that help to build immunity, emotional support techniques and much more. The cost is $50 per person and a healthy, nutritious lunch will be available for purchase. To register, contact the Naturopathic Community Center at 989-317-4787. Morey School is located at 380 W. Blanchard Rd, Shepherd. See ad page 3.
Caramel Walnut Apple Muffins are Back
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eter and Pearl Brown, co-owners of the Old Mission Bakery, have made traditional baked goods made from scratch with many local ingredients since 2009. A customer favorite, Caramel Walnut Apple Muffins, made with locally sourced apples, Saigon cinnamon, housemade bourbon vanilla bean paste and crushed walnuts, all topped with caramel drizzle, is back on the menu. The family has always preferred a healthier, higher fiber bread. After two decades of casually bringing homemade buns to food-focused events, they developed a delicious bread full of minimally processed grains and take pride in their slow rise, 24-hour baking process that makes real, delicious food of the highest quality. The Browns give back to the community by donating extra bread to Food Rescue. Location: 813 S. Garfield Ave., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-421-7018, email Bread@OldMissionBakery.com or visit OldMissionBakery.com and FoodRescueNW. org (Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan).
Help Wanted at Horizon Books Store & Café
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n our nomadic, digital environment, Horizon Books Store & Café is the perfect place to meet a friend for coffee, enjoy a homemade pastry or hunker down with a new novel. Owners Victor Herman, president, and his wife Amy Reynolds, run the establishment that has served Traverse City for nearly 60 years. Now they are looking for dependable, local talent to confidently make and serve espresso drinks. Organizational skills, cleanliness, reading and following directions, computer and telephone skills are required. Previous bookstore experience is helpful.
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“Our goal and our focus was books and to make Horizon Books the greatest bookstore ever,” says Herman. “It’s the community that supported and embraced it to make it what it is today—a community center.” That sense of community, the space where people gather away from their homes or offices for coffee, conversation or entertainment, began at the original location with neighbors and friends bumping into each other and became prominent after Horizon Books relocated to a much larger space, its current home, in 1993. Traverse City location: 243 E. Front St. (also in Cadillac). For more information, call Juan Pineda at 231-946-7290, email Manager@ HorizonBooks.com or visit HorizonBooks.com.
Relieve Unconscious Blockages
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Aria Mae
For centuries, people have used chaga mushrooms for medicinal purposes. Packed with antioxidants, its extract may fight cancer, chronic inflammation, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Order your Immune-Boosting Superfood today! Call 906-282-0787 Now!
ria Mae Everts offers private, one-hour healing sessions to support the awakening of curiosity in the heart, connect to guides or resolve ancestral trauma. The heart can be a portal to expansion into the mystery of
our deepest soul intentions. She says, “My mission is to connect conscious leaders to their hearts, magic and joy.” Sometimes they just need a little support. Everts has three options for some of the most common client needs: Full-of-Wonder Heart Activation; Lion Leadership Heart Activation; and Ancestral Heart Activation. “It’s only by falling in love with our own hearts that we can truly ripple that love into the world. It’s only by believing the ‘impossible’ magic of existence that we can manifest the wildest visions our hearts hold,” she says. Private session rate is $333. For more information or to arrange a session, email Aria@AriaMae.com or visit AriaMae.com/aria-maehealing-sessions. See ad page 15.
The New Look of Organic
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alon Verve, voted Best Salon in Northern Michigan, provides organic hair, nail, makeup and skin care services. Established in 2007, they carry Neuma, Intelligent Nutrients, Original & Mineral, Oway, Eve Organics mineral makeup, Purple Prairie Botanicals, Gilden Tree pedicure line, Primal Pit Paste (deodorant), Root Essentials, Olivia Garden hair brushes and Eco-Tools brands. They also protect the environment with an extensive recycling program and by using products that are readily biodegradable and/ or compostable. There is a refill program for every bottle of shampoo and conditioner they sell, for a discounted price. Salon Verve is a Simply Organic Beauty Concept Salon. As such, they partner with vendors and local businesses that have
We make 100% all natural products for helping and promoting better health and skin. We have several doctors who not only carry our products but use them as well. We are state certified, state inspected, and THE ONLY Chaga facility licensed in the U.P. MidnightSpcl_59@yahoo.com • UPChagaConnection.com September 2021
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news briefs comprehensive environmental and sustainability practices. Staff members continually research and educate themselves about the newest in organic products and eco-friendly practices. Location: 507 Bay St., Traverse City. For more information, call 231932-8378, email Salon.Verve.TC@gmail.com or visit The NewLookOfOrganic.com.
Experienced Caring Therapy
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orthern Lily Massage Associates offers Swedish relaxation massage, reflexology, therapeutic massage, sports massage, medical massage, pregnancy massage, cranial sacral, essential oil therapy, neuromuscular therapy, trigger point, myofascial, lymphatic drainage, myofascial tool lymphatic drainage and qigong. Co-owners Jennifer Johnson and Laura Metheany Buckler are certified, licensed therapists who specialize in working with chronic pain and stress. Forty-eight combined years of experience allow them to work with a wide range of difficulties—physical, emotional and spiritual. Their passion is to assist clients in achieving a life with less stress and less pain. They can address structural stress, biochemical stress and situational stress, which are interconnected and contribute to anxiety, depression, illness and even death. “Learning how to handle and decrease negative stress should be the main focus when managing our health and wellness. When someone makes the positive choice to better themselves and their general health by any means resulting in diminished stress, they are choosing a better life for themselves and those around them,” they say. Location: CenterPointe Marina, 12935 S. West Bay Shore Dr., Ste. 165, Traverse City, For appointments and more information, call 231-392-1128, email N.LilyMassage@gmail.com or visit NorthernLily.com.
A Restaurant on a Farm
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arm Club is a restaurant, marketplace, brewery and farm, as well as a community gathering place, seven miles from downtown Traverse City and easily accessed by the TART trail. The full-service dining room is open at limited occupancy and patio seating is available year-round using tableside QR codes. No need for reservations, just stop by.
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Co-owner Gary Jonas says, “We really care about where our food comes from.” Farm Club grows their own vegetables, small fruits and herbs. What they don’t use in the restaurant is sold at the marketplace onsite, along with graband-go meals, household items and pantry staples like homemade bread. Their in-house brewery produces five beer varieties. “We concentrate on cider-style beers, lower alcohol beers, more subtle beers,” says Jonas. “We’re really proud of our pilsner. It’s our number one beer right now.” “This is not a farm-to-table restaurant,” he says. “It’s a restaurant on a farm. What’s coming down the pipe in the garden will really drive the menu. The cooking inspiration comes from the fields.” They hired Guy Sidey as head chef. Location: 10051 S. Lake Leelanau Dr., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-252-3079, email Gary@FarmClubTC.com or visit FarmClubTC.com.
Green Mitt Car Wash is Coming
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esigned by Nick Spallone, of Chicago-based Car Wash Pro Designers, construction is almost complete on the high-end, eco-friendly car wash, Green Mitt, which takes the place of the former Hooters restaurant at 1840 U.S. 31, in East Bay Township. The car wash will have space for food trucks and outdoor dining, with a footprint about 25 percent that of a typical car wash, using a belt drive system rather than a track. The company has designed hundreds of car washes nationwide built to resemble a bank, allowing them to be placed in areas that wouldn’t normally permit a car wash.
A typical car wash uses 70 to 80 gallons of water per wash, but Green Mitt would use 15 gallons. With an exterior of limestone and brick, 150 feet long and 35 feet wide, It will use LED lighting and biodegradable, plant-based cleaning products. For updates, visit Facebook.com/greenmitt. For more information, visit GreenMitt.com.
Stream Free Videos from Recent Energy Summit
Wonderful Wine Tour
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he Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail presents Harvest Days all September (weekends excluded) with exclusive benefits from more than 20 wineries. Ticket holders will receive premier access to Wine Club member benefits at each participating winery. Each winery will have a unique experience, as they are all geared toward their respective member program. 2020 saw the highly anticipated debut of the Harvest Days event, including premier wine tastings and product discounts. Tickets are $35 at MyNorthTickets.com/events/havest-days-9-1-2021. For more information, call 231-642-5550 or visit LPWines.com.
Natural Toys for Girls and Boys
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ounded in 2005, Hazelnut Kids finds the safest toys that are not only beautiful and creative, but also sourced from companies that share the values of natural play and environmental stewardship. Owner Tracy Coe says, “Our selection includes natural toys, organic toys, organic stuffed animals, Waldorf toys, wooden toys, natural baby toys, wooden play kitchens, organic dolls, natural art materials, wooden dollhouses and educational toys. We carry only the finest brands of Earth-friendly toys, including Grimm’s, Plan Toys, Holztiger, Stockmar, Glückskäfer, eco-kids, Under the Nile, Sarah’s Silks, and more. Most of our toys are made in the U.S. and Europe.” Location: 120 E. Front St., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-642-6760, email Info@HazelnutKids.com or view the catalog at HazelnutKids.com/collections.
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he virtual Michigan Climate & Clean Energy Summit in May, co-led by Jim Lively, of Groundwork, and Kate Madigan, of Michigan Climate Action Network, was all about making that needed change, with 70 speakers, 400 attendees. Fourteen sessions can now be reviewed online at MiClimateCleanEnergy.org/recordings. For 25 years, Groundwork has empowered people who want to be part of creating a better Michigan with innovative, local-based solutions that create a clean environment, strong economy and healthy community. They envision a state with a strong and diversified economy that offers opportunities for people from all walks of life: new jobs throughout the state in clean energy and agriculture; towns and cities that are vibrant, exciting centers of community, arts, culture and commerce, and more options to get around with a diverse transportation infrastructure that makes it easy to choose walking, biking, public transit, or access to a well-maintained road network. Groundwork is headquartered at 148 E. Front St., Ste. 301, Traverse City. For more information, call 231-941-6584 or visit GroundworkCenter.org.
General and Medical Dermatology
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aurel Leithauser, M.D., FAAD, FACMS, offers comprehensive dermatologic care at the Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center, in Traverse City. Her unique skill set as both a board-certified dermatologist, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon and procedural dermatologist includes extensive training in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment, Mohs surgery and facial reconstructive surgery, as well as procedural dermatology and a variety of cosmetic procedures. She explains, “We have a UVB phototherapy booth in our office. Although UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburn, when carefully controlled, they are extremely effective at treating inflammatory skin conditions, including but not limited to, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and other types of eczema.” Location: 1225 W Front St., Ste. C, Traverse City. For appointments and more information, call 231-486-0230 or visit TCSkinSurgery.com. September 2021
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health briefs
Plant-Based Meals Reduce Severe COVID-19 Risks Eating more plants than meat is not only good for the planet, it might also be protective against COVID-19 severity, reports a new study in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Researchers from Johns Hopkins and other universities analyzed web-based responses from almost 2,900 frontline doctors and nurses in the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK that had been significantly exposed to COVID-19, 95 percent of which were doctors and 70 percent males. Those that ate a plant-based diet, described as high in vegetables, legumes and nuts, and low in poultry and meats, were 73 percent less likely to contract moderate to severe COVID-19. Those with pescatarian diets allowing fish were 59 percent less likely. However, those following low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets had 48 percent greater odds of moderate to severe COVID-19. “Our results suggest that a healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods may be considered for protection Eating two servings of fruit a day lowers the risk of against severe COVID-19,” researchers concluded. developing Type 2 diabetes by 36 percent in five years
Certain Fruits Can Protect Against Diabetes
compared to eating less than half a serving, suggests research from Australia’s Edith Cowan University Institute for Nutrition Research. The study followed 7,676 people and found that higher total fruit intake of apples, bananas, oranges and other citrus fruits was linked to better measures of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The same pattern did not hold for fruit juice. Previous U.S. cohort studies have found that eating three servings per week of certain fruits lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes by the following percentages: blueberries (26 percent), grapes and raisins (12 percent), apples and pears (7 percent) and bananas and grapefruits (5 percent). Three servings of cantaloupe, however, raises the risk by 10 percent.
mikhail nilov/Pexels.com
Healthy Choices Mitigate Cognitive Health Reduction
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A Chinese study of 6,160 adults 80 or older found that a healthy lifestyle cuts the risk of cognitive impairment by half, even if a person carries the APOE ε4 gene that is linked to cognitive loss and Alzheimer’s. Researchers used data from the ongoing Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to determine the eating, exercising and smoking habits of subjects. They found that those with healthy lifestyles were 55 percent less likely to be cognitively impaired and those with intermediately healthy lifestyles lowered their risk 28 percent. This reduction was greater than the increased risk of cognitive impairment resulting from the APOE ε4 gene, which was 17 percent.
global briefs
Happy Homes
Wild Bees Thrive on Forest Deadwood
Fitter Fodder
Scientists from the UniverFarm Waste Doubles as sity of Freiburg surveyed Construction Material the German Black Forest Agricultural waste (agro-waste) such as manure, leaf National Park to determine litter and crop residues may not be thought of as likely the number of tree species, raw materials for sustainable construction, but with how the trees are scattered, traditional materials like concrete eliciting a negative the heights of individual environmental reputation, implementation of agrotree crowns and if there are waste is being explored around the world. Recycling, fallen trees or hollowed-out tree trunks. They found that as an important part of agro-waste’s green potential, is creating deadwood in coniferous forests is a promising making the use of construction materials more organic restoration measure to promote an abundance of aboand sustainable, and helping reduce landfill issues. veground nesting bees. Their findings, “Wild Bees Benefit A 2018 study, Agro-industrial wastes and their utifrom Structural Complexity Enhancement in a Forest Reslization using solid state fermentation: a review, notes toration Experiment,” were published in the journal Forest agro-wastes are an eco-friendly means of manuEcology and Management. facturing “biofuels, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants, As part of an experiment, structural richness was artianimal feed, antibiotics and other chemicals.” This ficially created in 2016 on several sample plots by felling same study observed, “Many agro-industrial wastes and uprooting 20 spruce trees per plot, creating deadare untreated and underutilized, therefore disposed wood and small gaps. Six other plots were left in their natof either by burning, dumping or unplanned landfillural state as a control group. The researchers compared ing, which contributes to climate change by increasing how many wild bees were in the different plots in June greenhouse gases.” Another study found that inte2018 and 2019. Results show that deadwood increases grating agro-wastes such as sugarcane bagasse, rice the abundance and biodiversity of wild bees. Professor Dr. husks and groundnut shells improved the construction Alexandra Klein, head of the Chair of Nature Conservation materials by enhancing their sustainability properties, and Landscape Ecology, says, “In the course of climate boosting their durability and reducing costs. change, forest areas will be increasingly characterized by deadwood and sparse areas caused by storms, droughts or bark beetles. As a result, Wealth Distribution Linked to Urban Canopies forest habitat will increase in It’s not surprising that more urban trees lower the levels of heat and pollution. Although importance for wild bees.” many cities maintain tree-planting programs, not all canopies have equivalent value.
Sweet Shade
A new analysis from the American Forests conservation organization states that the U.S needs to plant more than half a billion trees across 500 metropolitan areas and 150,000 local communities. A new Tree Equity Score data tool (TreeEquityScore.org) allows users to see where urban trees exist and where they don’t. American Forests identified 20 large American cities that are lacking in canopies to protect their populations from hotter temperatures. Tree canopies are particularly effective in reducing health stress associated with urban heat “islands”. It was also found that a pattern of inequitable distribution of trees has deprived many communities of the health and other benefits that sufficient tree cover can deliver. Communities of color have 33 percent less tree canopy on average than majority white communities. Jad Daley, American Forests president and CEO, says, “We need to make sure the trees go where the people are, and more than 70 percent of the people live in cities or suburbs, so it’s a place-based problem with a place-based solution.” September 2021
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coming in the october healthy planet issue
Breast Health and Living a Simpler Life
eco tips
Shedding Light on Lightbulbs The Ins and Outs of Our Options
Don’t be left in the dark when choosing lightbulbs. Lighting accounts for up to 20 percent of a household’s energy bill, and untold numbers of bulbs end up in landfills. Let’s illuminate some bulb options to increase savings and reduce waste. INCANDESCENT BULBS, the iconic symbol for a bright idea, were the only option until the early 2000s. They’re hot to the touch and no longer easy to find because governments worldwide have ordered them phased out to lower energy consumption. Energy efficiency: Each bulb lasts one to two years, and 80 percent of the electricity is lost as heat. Cost efficiency: Estimated $4.80 to $7.01 annual cost of operation. Potential health risks: No toxic chemicals. They can cause burns or fires if hot from use. Proper disposal: Not recyclable. Throw away in garbage. COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS (CFL) were a great answer to the incandescent bulbs that came before them as far as energy efficiency, but they have disadvantages, as well. Energy efficiency: About 65 to 75 percent more efficient than incandescent. Cost efficiency: Estimated $1.25 to $1.75 annual cost of operation. Potential health risks: CFLs contain small traces of mercury and emit puffs of toxic powder when they break. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website epa.gov for safe clean-up instructions. Proper disposal: Go to Earth911.com to search for nearby CFL disposal facilities. LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED) bulbs are here to stay and illuminate the majority of households. To compute old bulb wattage compared to LED wattage, divide roughly by five or six. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 10-watt LED. It’s not an exact equation, but it’s close.
plus: fall fruits walking for health
Energy efficiency: Up to 83 percent more efficient than incandescent. Cost efficiency: Estimated $1.19 annual cost of operation per bulb. Potential health risks: Age-related macular degeneration is more likely with high exposure to low-intensity “blue light”; however, the warmer glow from LEDs typically used in home light fixtures is not the culprit. The “blue light” LEDs are typically glowing from computer screens, mobile phones and other devices or appliances. Proper disposal: Big-box and local hardware stores often offer free or lowcost recycling, as do online recyclers and local facilities because there are no toxins or hard-to-recycle wires.
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with a fingernail or coin, a dark line appears. To reduce exposure, follow these precautions: n Do not allow children to handle receipts. n When the option is available, choose email or electronic receipts. n Keep saved receipts in an envelope or zipped plastic bag. n Wash hands after handling receipts, especially before preparing or eating food. n Do not recycle receipts or other thermal papers. Throw them in the trash, as they will contaminate recyclables. n Avoid using alcohol-based hand sanitizers before or after handling thermal receipts, because they increase absorption of BPA through the skin.
Paperless Shopping
BPA Exposure from Store Receipts
There’s an emerging trend in physical retail stores—the use of email or electronic receipts. One of the principal reasons for this change is that most credit card and U.S. store receipts use thermal paper, which contains bisphenol A (BPA) in a free, unpolymerized form that can be readily rubbed off and ingested orally or absorbed through the skin.
n Cashiers and other workers that handle receipts all day are advised to wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly and frequently.
Beware of BPA Replacements
Responding to consumer complaints, some manufacturers have replaced BPA with bisphenol S (BPS), expecting it to be more resistant to leaching and therefore less likely to be absorbed by people. However, BPS is detectable in human urine and has similar health risks as BPA.
BPA Health Risks
According to the Environmental Working Group, more than 30 years of studies have linked BPA exposure to brain, behavioral, learning and memory impairment; cardiovascular abnormalities; diabetes; obesity; breast and prostate cancer; thyroid and sex hormone disruption; early puberty; changes to egg and sperm development and fertility; and genetic alterations that can be passed on to future generations. Of special concern are pregnant women and children, because BPA appears to disrupt hormone functions integral to growth and development.
Thermal Paper Linked to Higher BPA Levels
Despite health risks, BPA-laden thermal receipts continue to be used widely in the retail industry, exposing us to cumulative levels of the dangerous chemical. Studies have measured it in human blood, urine and breast milk. Workers that handle hundreds of receipts every day have 30 percent more BPA in their bodies than the average U.S. adult, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Steps to Reduce BPA Receipt Exposure
Thermal paper contains a powdery layer of BPA and a special dye to create visible impressions when pressure and/or heat is applied. When thermal paper is scratched September 2021
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A
rt can be a powerful force for healing. Its potential manifests in a disabled man’s triumphant dance or cancer patient’s stirring self-portrait. Throughout America, art’s redemption takes center stage at hospitals, nursing homes, jails and homeless shelters. Even an entire city can be transformed when its citizens embrace public art to add beauty, create community and heal its broken places.
Art in Medical Settings According to Jill Sonke, director of the University of Florida (UF) Center for Arts in Medicine, approximately half of U.S. hospitals have art programs that provide positive distraction, enjoyment and connection. To humanize otherwise intimidating environments, visual artists and musicians are employed to install appealing exhibits and play relaxing music. Artists also work at the bedside with patients as part of inter-professional care teams. Serving as an artist-in-residence early in her career, Sonke remem14
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bers a young female patient with sickle cell disease whose bouts of extreme pain required hospitalization. Dance sessions eased her suffering and enabled doctors to reduce pain medications. “The way the patient described it was not that the pain was going away, but that she didn’t mind it as much because she was enjoying dancing,” she says. While facilitating Dance for Life classes for Parkinson’s patients, Sonke encountered a man suffering limited mobility and an inability to form facial expressions. After two months of biweekly sessions, he could lift his arms over his head and, to his wife’s delight, smile again. “It’s that multimodal capacity of the arts,” Sonke explains. “All at the same time, he was engaging in music, movement and imagery. He was moving with others and experiencing joy and laughter.” According to Sonke, ongoing research seeks to pinpoint the public health benefits of art. In Britain, they have learned that people over 50 visiting museums or concerts once a month are almost half as likely to develop depression in older age. Other studies suggest that music can unlock memories and improve cognition. UF
ART’S EMBRACE Healing Through Creativity by Sandra Yeyati researchers are currently investigating whether live music in emergency and trauma care settings can reduce the need for opioids. “When people engage in the arts, they often enter into a flow state, that experience of losing yourself in art where we lose track of time and what we’re doing is intrinsically motivated,” Sonke says. “A flow state can engage a relaxation response, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, which can enhance immune function.”
Art Therapy for Cancer Patients Board-certified art therapist Mallory Montgomery helps cancer patients in Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital work through symptoms of depression, anxiety or trauma. “Any person seeking a talk therapist or social worker could also consult with an art therapist,” she says. “We have the same training, but use art instead of just words. Evidence suggests that art therapy accesses healing faster because you’re forging a deep mind/body connection.” When counseling a double mastectomy patient that has questions about who they are now that they’re missing a part of their identity, Montgomery might offer a printed body map so that they can pinpoint where they carry feelings of loss, pain or confusion. “By drawing or coloring in those areas, I’m asking them to show how they’re being affected physically, emotionally and spiritually, and to externalize the overwhelming, negative side of their problem,” she explains. Using a second body map, Montgomery might invite the patient to draw or paint in those same areas to transform the pain into
something more positive. “Is it going to blossom like a flower or be soothed with water? What imagery can you create that represents the opposite of your pain or an improvement of your concerns? We might also do a portrait to highlight other aspects of you and your personality that still exist, even though you no longer have a body part that was killing you,” she says. Montgomery’s emphasis is never on the quality of the art. “I walk the fine line between allowing patients to problem-solve how to make something look like what’s in their head and providing them with comfort and intervention so they don’t get so frustrated that they want to give up,” she notes. Montgomery keeps a visual journal for her own self-expression. “It helps me make sense of the world,” she says. “Art gives my voice and thoughts an outlet, something concrete and representational that reaches into the depth of what I’m experiencing.”
Redemption Songs in Skid Row About 10 years ago, violinist and recording artist Vijay Gupta took a wrong turn and ended up in Skid Row, a disadvantaged downtown Los Angeles neighborhood. “It felt like a gut punch,” he recalls. “I saw the gross inequality between Walt Disney Concert Hall where I performed for the LA Philharmonic and a community of 5,000 people less than two miles away sleeping in tents in extreme poverty.” To uplift and inspire people recovering from homelessness, addiction and incarceration, Gupta founded Street Symphony in
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2011 as a series of concert performances by world-class musicians. “One of our first venues was the Department of Mental Health,” he recalls. “After the second movement, the young violist I was performing with turned to the audience with tears in his eyes and said, ‘I’ve loved playing for you because I can feel your hearts.’ He shared that his mother had grappled with schizophrenia, his father was a prison guard and whenever he played for his family, he felt more connected to them. That’s when I began to see him as a human being who was in deep need of this work himself.”
“My dream is that meaning and beauty will be made every day in nursing homes, creating care settings so interesting that people want to visit them—a new kind of cultural center, integrating health and art.” Gupta has learned firsthand that healing is a two-way street. “When I come to Skid Row, I’m the one who feels lifted,” he says. As a result, Street Symphony has morphed into a collection of workshops and conversations that also employs jazz, reggae, hip-hop and West African musicians and vocalists from the Skid Row community. “We might play 30 minutes of music and then ask the audience what images, thoughts or memories came up for them,” he explains. In this community, art is neither entertainment nor a commodity, Gupta says. “It’s a lifeline; a way for people that have been devastated by poverty, addiction or trauma to add to their lives in a constructive way. We all have devastated places within ourselves that need healing and attention. Visiting Skid Row is a pilgrim16
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age to the broken place within myself, and in that way, it’s a spiritual place; my temple where I go to worship.”
Creative Care for People with Dementia Drawing from her theater background, Anne Basting, author of Creative Care, has developed an innovative approach to dementia and elder care. “Our current caregiving model envisions one person that’s empty and has lots of needs and the other person that’s full and pours themself into the other person, which leads to burnout,” she says. “Dementia and aging are experiences of increasing separation. People isolate themselves and learn not to trust their own expressive capacities, because their relatives and friends no longer know how to relate with them and often ignore their words.” Basting’s Creative Care changes this depleting dynamic. “In improvisational theater, you observe everything that’s happening on stage and try to figure out how you can add to the performance positively,” she explains. “Applying that idea to a care situation, you observe the person’s facial expressions, what they’re saying, how they’re behaving and then invite them into expression out of that moment with what we call a ‘beautiful question’, one that has no right or wrong answers and draws on the person’s strengths.” A beautiful question might be, “If your feet could talk, what would they say?” This offers people with pain a poetic way to express it. “I invited a gentleman with dementia who had no language—no words left—to show me how water moves. His response was the most beautiful dance I’d ever experienced, performed in the kitchen of his duplex,” Basting recalls, adding that it’s important to acknowledge the person’s expression so they know they’ve been heard. The final step in Creative Care is to accumulate these experiences over time and shape something larger and universally meaningful that can be shared with others—an artistic product. Basting founded the nonprofit TimeSlips to train artists and caregivers worldwide to do this visionary work. Their efforts have resulted
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in art exhibits, dance and theater productions, books and animations. “My dream is that meaning and beauty will be made every day in nursing homes, creating care settings so interesting that people want to visit them—a new kind of cultural center, integrating health and art,” she says.
Transforming a City with Public Art More than 4,000 works of public art grace the city of Philadelphia, three-quarters of which are breathtaking murals that combine world-class paintings and images with provocative words and healing messages. Art permeates virtually every neighborhood on walls, billboards, sidewalks, rooftops, swimming pools and basketball courts, enriching people from all walks of life, even those that don’t have access to galleries and museums. “Public art lifts our spirits, provides us with beauty and inspires us,” says Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP). “It can be evocative, challenging and educational, as well, serving as a barometer of our time—a system of checks and balances and a mirror that we hold up to people and say that your life counts and you matter.” In addition to sponsoring 75 to 100 new works every year, MAP’s $10 million budget funds programs related to criminal justice, art education, housing insecurity, behavioral health, community development and environmental justice. According to Golden, the healing power of art is not just in the mural, but also in its collaborative creation. In addition to artists and educators, hundreds of people work on these projects, including individuals grappling with addiction or homelessness, veterans with PTSD and immigrants and refugees facing isolation and stigma. “The act of creating is a meditative and healing experience, and because you’re part of a larger effort, it connects you to your community,” Golden says. “People start to feel a sense of purpose and value. They start to believe in themselves again.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.
fit body
YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System by Marlaina Donato
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etting on the yoga mat can be a powerful stress-buster that lowers blood pressure and excessive cortisol, but yoga can offer an added boon for those living with the lasting effects of traumatic events. Trauma-informed yoga (also called trauma-sensitive yoga) is a promising therapeutic branch of the yogic system designed to quell the body’s programmed “fight-or-flight” responses. Founded on yoga, psychology and neurobiology principles, the approach is in harmony with the ancient yogic concept of samskaras, or memories imprinted on our cellular consciousness. People from many walks of life can benefit from trauma-sensitive yoga including bullied teens, women rebounding from abuse and anyone impacted by pandemic turmoil. Research published in the journal Military Medicine in 2018 reports that U.S. veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that participated in a one-hour vinyasa-style yoga session for six weeks showed significantly lowered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as less insomnia, depression and anxiety.
Trauma-Intelligent Fitness. Yoga performed with trauma sensitivity can pick up where talk therapy leaves off, targeting the amygdala, the danger detector in the brain, and the vagus nerve that runs from the brain to the abdomen, which plays a vital role in processing trauma. “Somatic processing and treatment methodologies like yoga are now being used to help repair and rebuild distressed nervous systems, which in turn helps the brain integrate and ‘file’ distressing
memories,” says Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide, the largest yoga teacher training school in North America, and the author of Healing Trauma with Yoga: Go From Surviving to Thriving with Mind-Body Techniques. The Fort Lauderdale-based yoga therapist and entrepreneur highlights the body’s role in trauma and stress. “The brain rewires itself around the traumatic event and memories stored in the tissues throughout the body. Yoga can help to free those memories, alleviating troubling emotions and thought patterns, as well as chronic somatic tension and hypervigilance.” Shaw draws upon new psychological and neurological discoveries, including polyvagal theory, that help explain the full impact of trauma and most importantly, how and why yoga helps to lessen these impacts. Trauma-informed yoga keeps the nervous system in mind, excluding poses and breathing techniques that might provoke a sense of vulnerability or overstimulation. Trained teachers adhere to nontouch assistance methods and often opt for well-lit studios to avoid a possible triggering atmosphere. A trauma-informed yoga teacher knows the inner workings of the nervous system,” explains Mandy Eubanks, a trauma-trained yoga educator and certified yoga instructor in Tulsa. “We have respect for the variety of responses that our clients have to yoga, meditation and breathwork practices. For example, we understand deep breathing will be calming to one person and agitating to another. We normalize clients’ responses and work with them to find an effective technique for that individual.” Teachers with specialized training and access to props can also support people on a yoga journey that are limited physically. Eubanks emphasizes, “Yoga truly is for everyone and every body.”
The Power of Choice and Individuality. Lisa Danylchuk, the Oakland-based author of Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Theory, Philosophy, and Practice, underscores that in a trauma-informed environment, everything a teacher instructs is an offering or invitation. “This is important because people who have endured trauma have often not had a say over what happens to their bodies. A good trauma-informed class cultivates somatic and psychological resources, and focuses, above all, on cultivating a sense of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual safety.” The founder of The Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery believes it’s important to be responsive to individual needs. “Trauma affects so many different individuals and groups of people and in such a variety of ways that it is impossible to give one prescription. Some people might benefit from a weekly, 60- to 90-minute vinyasa-style class. Others might benefit from a short, five-minute daily restorative practice.” Shaw also stresses a tailored approach. “How one wishes to practice is up to the individual, but I suggest a combination of both one-on-one instruction and class format. If someone is in the throes of trauma, they will need a private session to start.” Eubanks adds the importance of consistency. “In my experience, it is about finding which yoga practices work best for the client and then encouraging them to find time to practice every day. Yoga for PTSD is not a one-and-done deal. It takes time, effort and belief in oneself.” Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com. September 2021
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healthy kids
Creative Kids
How to Nurture Imagination by Ronica O’Hara
Y
oung children are naturally curious and inventive, yet research shows that their creative thinking skills peak at around age 6 and start to decline once they start formal schooling—a trend that’s accelerating in recent years with kids’ heavy digital use. This doesn’t bode well for their future on our rapidly changing planet. “Our world continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate. It’s estimated that many of the jobs we will need in 10 or 20 or 30 years haven’t yet been invented,” says children’s education psychologist Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D., author of The Power of Your Child’s Imagination. “Kids of today need to stretch their creative juices to come up with these new jobs and prepare for an ever-challenging and changing world.” Parents are integral in nourishing creativity, but according to research from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, the role of parents is less about “teaching” creativity and more about creating a fertile environment in which creativity will take root, grow and flourish. Establishing that rich forum involves some simple strategies.
Encourage their curiosity
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says Reznick. That means not only being responsive to kids’ questions like, “Why do strawberries have seeds on the outside?” but also engaging their imagination to explore the world and to solve everyday problems. “Ask them, ‘What would it take to finish this project?’ Make it fun, brainstorm and mind-map, rather than make linear lists,” she suggests. “Ask open-ended questions, perhaps a bit out of the norm. ‘How did you feel when you were writing that short story? What colors crossed your mind as you were singing? What music was flowing through your body as you were painting?’ The idea is to mix things up a bit to allow a new take on your child’s emerging creativity.”
Having lots of paper, paints, pens and other craft items on hand in a place where a child can easily access them enables creativity to flow when the mood hits.
Let them follow their bliss.
Make creativity easy.
“The biggest mistake I see parents making in wanting to encourage creativity is leading their children and telling them what to do,” says Jen Lumanlan, host and founder of the research-based parenting podcast YourParenting Mojo.com. “When we instead see our role not as being the Sage on the Stage but rather the Guide on the Side, we don’t have to drag the child through a curriculum kicking and screaming; instead, the child asks us for more opportunities to follow their interest. They will ask insightful questions, read books, watch videos, draw their ideas, consult with experts, put on plays,
develop an understanding of the world with their whole bodies (not just their heads) and teach others. It’s truly incredible to see.”
Having lots of paper, paints, pens and other craft items on hand in a place where a child can easily access them enables creativity to flow when the mood hits. “You don’t have to have a huge budget for supplies. Save old cardboard boxes, empty paper towel rolls, cereal boxes and scrap paper. Give your child some markers and masking tape. I bet you’ll be amazed at what can be created from the simplest materials,” says Liam Davies, a Berkeley dad of two who blogs about sustainable family fishing at FishingCommand.com. “Have plenty of loose parts available. Loose parts can be anything your child
turns into something else,” suggests Maria Kemery, of Philadelphia, who blogs at the parenting website PlacesWeCallHome.com. “Bottlecaps become money, scarves become a doll’s dress, clean recycle bin items become robot parts or a collection of acorns becomes a bowl of soup. Having an assortment of loose parts encourages your child to engage in symbolic play (substituting one item for another), which builds creativity.”
Allow them to be bored.
“Kids often complain they are bored. I love that, because bored is also where new ideas come from,” says Reznick. “Our mind abhors a vacuum, so sooner or later, a creative spark will ignite.” That’s what Lorton, Virginia, mom Lauren Schmitz, who blogs at The SimpleHomeschooler.com, witnessed. “I turned off the screens and stopped trying to provide entertainment for my children and the results were amazing. My middle child, who is the most screen-obsessed kid that I know, started doing things like making her own magazine, building dioramas and putting on plays. She suddenly wanted to paint, build a robot and learn about aerial dancing. Boredom is the best way to give a child space to think, create, imagine and build.” Natural health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
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healing ways
Conquering Chronic Pain How the Body-Mind Connection Works by Ronica O’Hara
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or three decades, David Hanscom was a top-ranked orthopedic surgeon in Seattle who daily put the scalpel to injured, deformed and twisted spines. Privately, he writhed in pain himself. He was beset over 15 years with burning feet, insomnia, tinnitus, anxiety, skin rashes, crushing chest pain, depression, sweats, heart palpitations and tension headaches, among other symptoms. That put him among the estimated 50 million American adults afflicted with chronic pain for which relief is hard to come by and often short-lived. The standard medical
approaches of surgery and injections often don’t work well or last long for many patients, research shows. Opioids, once a standby, are now prescribed sparingly after being implicated in half a million overdose deaths. Treatment is especially elusive for the one in six adults and 30 to 40 percent of primary care patients with pain or chronic conditions considered “medically unexplained”. As a result, integrative pain management, which focuses on both mind and body and incorporates medical and holistic approaches, is growing in importance. Major medical centers such as the Mount Sinai Health System and Cleveland Clinic, as well as practitioners such as chiropractors and homeopaths, offer dozens of modalities to turn around painful conditions. Sometimes a single simple method works quickly for a patient with a straightforward symptom; more often, it takes a combination of approaches over time to reverse pain, especially if it is complex, sustained or recurring. Launching on his own healing path, Hanscom came to a critical understanding: The abuse he had suffered as a child from a rage-filled mother, coupled with emotional repression and a fierce drive to excel as a surgeon, produced his high levels of anxiety. It turbocharged his
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central nervous system and set off a cascade of reactions that fed ever-rising levels of pain. “Your mind and body function as a unit with no separation,” he says. “Chronic pain results when your body is exposed to sustained levels of stress hormones, excitatory neurotransmitters and inflammatory protein. Your brain is sensitized and the nerve conduction speed is faster, so you physically feel more pain. It’s not ‘all in your mind’—it’s a normal physio-logical process.” After six months of intense inner work focused on his rage, Hanscom calmed his overwrought nervous system and his symptoms “essentially disappeared.” He began applying his experience to hundreds of spine patients, helping the great majority of them to avoid surgery altogether. In the book Back in Control, he describes his approach, which is designed for people with pain that is not caused by underlying structural or organ issues. He recommends these initial steps.
n Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, which may require sleeping pills or natural methods.
n Doing expressive writing twice a day, which involves writing
down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language for 10 to 30 minutes, and then promptly tearing it up. Neurological research shows that this simple practice rewires the brain. “Some people experience remarkable pain relief right away,” he says.
n Practicing “active meditation” throughout the day by mindfully focusing each time on a sight, sound or sensation for five to 10 seconds.
For deep, sustained healing, he stresses the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, self-discovery, exploring a spiritual path, relearning playfulness and connecting with others. Medication may be necessary initially, he says, and as pain levels recede, most people become ready to improve their diet and exercise more. Understanding the mind/body connection is key in pain management, concurs gastroenterologist David D. Clarke, M.D., author of They Can’t Find Anything Wrong! and president of the Portland, Oregon-based Psychophysiologic Disorders Association. “When medical evaluation shows no problems with organs or structures, then the pain is being generated by the brain, similar to what happens in phantom limb pain, where people feel pain in the location of an amputated arm or leg,” he says. “Chronic pain generated by the brain generally occurs due to stress, an emotional/psychological trauma or strong negative emotions (often toward people the patient cares about) that are not fully recognized. Often, these issues began due to adverse childhood experiences, which can be anything you would not want a child of your own to endure. I recommend people explore these possibilities on their own, with a loved one or with a therapist.” That process might sound daunting, but so is suffering crippling pain. “The most important thing for people to know is that pain can be successfully treated, relieved and often cured with the right techniques,” says Clarke. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com. September 2021
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conscious eating
Foraged Fungi Fare Cooking with Wild Mushrooms by April Thompson
W Liberate yourself from suffering. Gnosis is the practical, fact-based knowledge of consciousness that guides us to our full potential and innate happiness.
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ild mushrooms can infuse exciting new flavors and textures into familiar dishes, along with a taste of the local terroir, the natural habitat, from woods to plate. “I first encountered wild mushrooms through local foragers, then later from specialty food purveyors who would fly mushrooms from around the world into our kitchen. They were the most unique ingredients I could find, offering colors, flavors and textures I had never experienced … pure catnip for a chef,” says Alan Bergo, a Minnesota chef and author of The Forager Chef ’s Book of Flora. Recipes at ForagerChef.com feature more than 60 species of wild edible fungi, from common deer mushrooms to prized porcinis. The intriguing flavors of wild mushrooms in part come from their diets, akin to the difference between grain- and grass-fed meats. “For fungi, their food is their habitat. Cultivated mushrooms have less variety of the micronutrients and secondary metabolites that can add flavor to a wild mushroom,” says Eugenia Bone, a New York City food journalist and editor of Fantastic Fungi: The Community Cookbook. Foraged fungi also offer a host of nutritional benefits surpassing commercially grown mushrooms. Wild mushrooms like chanterelles and morels can contain up to 1,200 international units (IU) of vitamin D per serving, whereas commercial mushrooms, typically grown in dark conditions, contain less than 40 IU, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. While foraging is the most satisfying way to procure wild mushrooms, they are becoming increasingly available through farmers’ markets, online purveyors and gourmet stores. Some species that grow wild throughout North America such as oysters, maitake (hen of the woods) and lion’s mane are also grown commercially; these can be suitable for transitioning from buying to hunting. Sam Fitz, owner of ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room, a neighborhood taproom in Washington, D.C., picked up mushrooming when COVID-19 hit, in part mentored by the restaurant’s wild food purveyor. Fitz started ANXO making hyperlocal ciders from crabapples foraged on bike rides through the nation’s capital, salvaging fruit that otherwise would go to waste. Today, the seasonally focused menu often features wild fungi and other
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foraged ingredients from savory tartelettes made with beech and hedgehog mushrooms to cocktails made from bitter boletes. One of ANXO’s signature dishes is a vegan “chicken of the woods” sandwich, served hot, Nashville-style. This orange-colored tree mushroom, also known as sulphur shelf, has a taste, texture and color that so closely resembles chicken that many recipes use it as a meat substitute. “People are so blown away by its meaty texture they can’t believe they are being served mushrooms,” says Fitz. When preparing mushrooms, “Forget what you know about cooking vegetables,” says Bone. “Also forget the notion that mushrooms are too delicate to take washing or high heat. Mushrooms are extremely hardy because of the chitin in their cell walls, a compound that is more like fingernails than the cellulose of plants. You can cook mushrooms twice and they will still retain their integrity.” Because the amino acids in mushrooms respond to heat more like meat than vegetables, Bone suggests searing mushrooms on the grill or under the broiler. “A slice of maitake will cook beautifully on the grill,” she says. When cooking a particular species for the first time, Bone recommends oven-roasting the mushrooms wrapped in parchment paper. “When you open up the parchment, you can really smell the mushroom. It’s a wonderful way to pick up subtle flavor differences and see how the mushroom handles,” she says. Since fungi take on all sorts of shapes and sizes, Bergo suggests letting a mushroom’s morphology inform how to cook it. Lion’s mane, for example, has a texture that mimics crabmeat, so faux crab cakes make a fun dish that honors its form. “Chefs tend to chop things up, but I prefer to cook many mushrooms whole, especially when they have interesting shapes,” says Bergo. One of the chef ’s go-to preparations of oyster mushrooms is to toss large pieces in seasoned flour or brush them with mustard, then bake until crispy. “They turn into cool-looking, crispy croutons you can put on a salad or eat as a snack,” he says. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.
Hen of the Woods Steaks yield: 1 serving per 4 ounces mushrooms 4-oz pieces of hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms, broken into large clusters Kosher salt Cooking oil as needed, about ¼ cup Clean the hens by swishing them in cool water, gently peering inside the caps to make sure they are cleaned, trimming with a paring knife as needed, then allowing to drain on paper towels. Heat the oil in a pan or on a griddle until hot, but not smoking. Add the mushroom clump and season with salt, placing a weight—like a rock, log, crumbly wood or cinder block wrapped in foil or a pan—on top, then cook until the underside is deeply caramelized, then flip and repeat. If the pan gets dry, add a little more oil. When both sides of the mushrooms are deeply caramelized and browned, serve immediately, with extra finishing salt on the side. Recipe from Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com.
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INGREDIENTS Makes 2 quarts 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar 1 Tablespoon Mulling Spices 2 Oranges, sliced 2 Lemons, sliced 2 Quarts Apple Cider
DIRECTIONS Set slow cooker to low and add brown sugar. When sugar melts, add Mulling Spice and cook for 2 minutes. Add fruit and cider to slow cooker and bring to a simmer. Serve cider warm with additional fruit.
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plant medicine
Harnessing the Power of the Endocannabinoid System to Keep Health in Balance
“A
by Nick Sandberg
lthough the medical community has known about the endocannabinoid system (ECS) for decades, it has only recently reached the consciousness of the average physician,” comments Dr. Norman Relkin, Ph.D., M.D., the CEO of Brilliant Health. “The concept of the ECS came with study of other endogenous systems, but because of prohibition, research on cannabinoids was handcuffed; thus, a body of literature on the subject is really only now beginning to emerge.” Similar sentiment to Relkin’s is shared by many clinicians practicing allelopathic medicine. Federal prohibition of cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic has effectively prohibited most clinical research for the last 75-plus years. Medical schools have incorporated very little training in cannabis as part of the standard curriculum—and the information is usually limited to cannabis addiction. Only recently has the discovery of the value of cannabis as a therapeutic tool in the arsenal of medicine entered the
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mainstream, and yet many physicians practicing Western medicine continue to refute its clinical efficacy. First observed in Israel in 1992, the discovery of the ECS rightfully should have rocked the world of medicine. But, largely due to prohibition of cannabis, the breakthrough went mostly unnoticed by the scientific community until recently. Research has shown the ECS serves a biological function as a molecular signaling system for other functional systems, such as metabolic regulation. “The most valuable feature of the ECS seems to be neuromodulatory, helping the body to maintain homeostasis,” says Relkin, a noted neurologist. “We are in the early stages of research. While there appears to be a multitude of immune, endocrine, antimicrobial and antifungal properties of cannabinoids, more research is needed, but the ECS certainly helps keep our body’s systems in balance.”
Only recently has the discovery of the value of cannabis as a therapeutic tool in the arsenal of medicine entered the mainstream. Understanding how the ECS works in the body is a major component to unleashing the optimal biological potential of the cannabinoids (CBD, CBG and THC are just a few of hundreds in the cannabis plant) and terpenes (the molecules that give each cannabis cultivar its unique taste and smell profile) within the cannabis plant. Terpenes and cannabinoids work synergistically within the body to produce an ensemble effect to achieve maximum molecular potential, much in the way a symphony works in concert to produce melodies. When choosing cannabis/CBD products, it is important to know how our body will react to the cannabinoids and terpenes therein. Knowing that cannabinoids can work within a complex system of receptors naturally occurring in our body can help to select the most appropriate products for a particular set of needs. Many people find relief through micro-doses of cannabis products. Always start with small doses until familiar with the effect before scaling up the dose. Many users find that when they unlock the power of the ECS, they can eliminate some of the prescription or over-the-counter medications they were previously relying on to maintain health. It always helps to do research. One major component of research involves the certificate of analysis (COA). Always ask to see the COA, which will tell the customer exactly what cannabinoids and terpenes are present in the product. With the combination of a little knowledge and the right products, we can unlock the potential of one very powerful system within our own body. For more information, visit SativaBasics.com.
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natural pet
Horses as Healers
Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits
says Traci Leigh, equine manager and instructor at Dream Riders TLC, in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Therapeutic Riding. Beyond working as co-therapists for emotional issues, horses are excellent for occupational, speech and physical therapy. “Riding a horse rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait. Their pelvic movement is the same as ours, so riders with physical needs often show improvement in flexibility, balance, muscle strength, circulation and breathing,” says Pamela J. Rogan, founder, executive director and certified therapeutic riding instructor at Harmony Farms, in Cocoa, Florida. “It will also enhance a rider’s quality of life, build confidence, independence and self-esteem. This is particularly true of riders with emotional or behavioral disabilities.” Research shows that children and adults with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke and other conditions that affect motor control saw improvements in balance, gait, gross motor function and posture after several weeks of equine-assisted treatment.
H
by Julie Peterson
orses are being increasingly used to help people work through emotional and physical challenges, and for good reason: Numerous studies have shown that equine-assisted therapy helps with anger, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative or other emotional problems. It works whether the therapy involves riding or simply feeding and grooming. Building the relationship increases people’s self-confidence, social skills, trust, empathy and emotional regulation, and helps them establish routines, structure and a sense of responsibility—all skills that are transferable to daily life.
Equine Psychotherapists. Equine-assisted psychotherapy
involves counseling with a mental health professional and time riding or caring for a horse. The horse is considered a co-therapist. Forming a relationship with an animal that weighs 1,000 pounds or more may be intimidating, but the required vulnerability and trust is part of the process.
“Horses show us how to live together in harmony. They teach us about acceptance of others and of ourselves,” says Marcy Tocker, clinical mental health counselor and founder and executive director of Grey Muzzle Manor Sanctuary, in Mohrsville, Pennsylvania. “In some cases, I see results more quickly using equine therapy than solely with office therapy. I also see more motivation from typically resistant clients because this can actually be fun, too,” says Meagan Good, a counselor and owner of Take Heart Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy, in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. “Horses are relationship-oriented and intuitively sense and honestly respond to the emotions of those around them, which makes the horse-human bond a powerful healing mechanism.” “Horses have similar emotions to humans—they get stressed out, happy, impatient. That’s why equine-assisted services are so popular,” 26
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Horses at Work. “I look for horses who are not afraid of new things, but curious about them … a horse that thinks through a new situation, that expresses himself freely and that enjoys interacting with humans,” says Good. “From there, my professional team works on building a relationship with that horse so that the horse feels safe to build relationships with clients who may or may not have any horse background.” There are certifications and advanced courses that ensure appropriate training of the therapists and instructors, the safety of the people receiving services and the training and well-being of the horses. Reputable organizations include the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (eagala.org), the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (pathintl.org) and Natural Lifemanship (NaturalLifemanship.com). “In addition to requiring that the horses are quiet, gentle animals and physically and mentally sound, they are trained to be desensitized to noise, wheelchairs, walkers and different types of therapeutic equipment that riders may need for safety or postural assistance,” says Leigh. Her horses get four weeks off every year and work a schedule that ensures ample time to rest and recharge during the day. “The horse is a co-therapist. They are doing a job, and it’s a not an easy job,” says Tocker. “To ensure the well-being of our equine therapists, they get ample time off and massages. They’re taking on a lot, so we want to make sure they don’t burn out.” “I have horses that seem to step in and ‘protect’ clients when they are feeling vulnerable. I have horses who try to help regulate the anxious client by breathing or yawning or nuzzling,” says Good. “For the most part, we trust the horses to just be themselves, and what they bring is always helpful for the client.” “Horses are able to be present and focus solely on what is going on around them. They do not think about the future or the past or judge people based on what they look like or what experiences they may have had,” says Tocker. “I feel like I witness miracles every time I do a session at the barn.” Julie Peterson writes about health and wellness from rural Wisconsin. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.
inspiration
The Power of the Written Note by Julie Peterson
B
irthdays, weddings, holidays and other momentous occasions have long been celebrated with cards and letters. The rise of emailing, texting and social media has made writing letters a forgotten treasure as many of us have instead come to use quick but fleeting messages via technology. Perhaps it’s time to bring back the nostalgia, the handwriting and a box full of stationery for all occasions. A handwritten note ensures someone will know we took the time to think, write and send. Here’s how to get started.
Stock Supplies. Nothing inspires writing notes more than a box or drawer full
of inviting cards and paper. Cards that are blank inside are multi-purpose. Stickers and beautiful postage stamps can make an envelope look like a gift. Get a few good pens in a variety of colors and start writing.
Be Thankful. After receiving a gift or an act of kindness, send a thank-you card or letter. Do it soon after the event, so that the memory is fresh and the note will contain
specifics. But even if it’s for something that took place farther in the past, “better late than never” certainly applies.
Talk-Write. Don’t get stuck when pen hits paper, just imagine what would be said out loud and write those words. Our words won’t sound like the poem in a storebought card, but words from the heart are better because they are personal and likely more meaningful to the recipient. The reader will hear the writer’s voice in the note. Be honest and sincere. Write and Repeat. Make writing a habit by sending three notes each week. If nothing spurs a thank-you, then send a card just to say hello or give appreciation. Perhaps it’s a “remember when” or an “I miss you” note. Browse through contact lists to get inspiration. If nobody strikes a chord for a note, write a self-praise letter. Be sure to list your best and most lovable qualities and put it in the mail. It will be a nice warm-fuzzy surprise when it arrives. These kinds of letters and cards are like loving hugs. For some, a sweet note via mail or tucked somewhere to be discovered may be a much needed joyful spark. Julie Peterson writes from Wisconsin. Reach her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.
Here at Square Deal we feel pets are part of the family. Our Knowledgeable staff is here to help you find food, treats, and products that
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(231) 946-5030 • SquareDealCountryStore.com • Square Deal Country Store • 900 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City • Local Family Owned since 1982 September 2021
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calendar of events
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Online: Pressure Canning – 6-7:30pm. Learn all the steps for pressure canning and remove the fear factor so you feel confident operating a pressure canner and preserving fresh foods that you can enjoy all year long. Instructor: Kara Lynch. Free. Register: Oryana.coop.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Watercolor Workshop – 10am-12pm. In this beginner Watercolor Farmers’ Market Flowers workshop, artist Megan Swoyer will teach students how to create a sweet bouquet of farmers’ market flowers that features sunflowers, dahlias, zinnias, greenery and other blooms. Explore organic contours and shapes as well as light, medium and dark values as they play with pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and more. Charlevoix Circle of Arts, 109 Clinton St, Charlevoix. CharlevoixCircle.org.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 24-Hr Virtual Fundraiser for Suicide Prevention – 11am. Hosted by Garrett’s Space. Includes Senator Debbie Stabenow and Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Golden Globe Award-winning songwriter Benj Pasek, CNN Senior Political Correspondent David Axelrod, among many others. There will also be a silent auction with goods and services available from many businesses. More info: GarrettsSpace.org.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Houdek Dunes Natural Area Hike – 10am. Nature’s Circular Waste-free Economy. Enjoy a leisurely guided hike with Leelanau Conservancy docents, as they share some of Houdek’s diverse, self-sustaining yet always evolving ecology. Free. Houdek Dunes, Leland. Register: LeelanauConservancy.org. Elk Rapids Arts & Crafts Show – 10am-4pm. Over 50 vendors. Free. River St, downtown Elk Rapids. ElkRapidsChamber.org/arts-crafts-show.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Little but Mighty Bridge Walk – 1-1:15pm. Gather in front of Townhouse Bar at 12:30pm. At 1pm everyone will walk to the north side of the bridge after it is raised and lowered for boats. T-shirts for sale beginning at 11am outside of Townhouse Bar, 231 Bridge St, Charlevoix. For more info: 231-675-5993 or Charlevoix.org.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Hike for Healing – 4-5pm. Join GRNA, National Writer’s Series, and Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center for this hike with award-winning environmental author Pam Houston. Space limited. Reception at Cellar 152 in Elk Rapids after the hike. $10/person. Grass River Natural Area, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. GrassRiver.org.
Online: Give Your Pantry a Makeover – 121pm. Whether it’s been a long-term goal of yours or a more recent, pandemic-inspired one to figure out how to meal plan and cook from scratch on a
Grand Traverse Region
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Foot Reflexology Sessions – 11am-6pm. Pat McGhan combines reiki energy balancing with reflexology and application of therapeutic-grade essential oils. $35/30 mins, $70/hr. Higher Self Bookstore, 313 E Front St, Traverse City. 231-9415805. HigherSelfBookstore.com.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Pottery Painting – 5:30-7:30pm. Once a month Sept-Dec. Perfect opportunity to get creative throughout the season. Fun for families, friends or and evening to yourself. All items make wonderful gifts, too. All classes include colored glazes, brushes, supplies, step-by-step instructions and professional glaze and firing. Acrylic painting available by request. See website for project details. $40-$60. Charlevoix Circle of Arts, 109 Clinton St, Charlevoix. Pre-registration required: CharlevoixCircle.org.
Online: Vegan Harvest – 6-7pm. Learn how to make the best of the autumn harvest with easy basic recipes and techniques. All techniques/recipes will be strictly plant-based. Instructor: Ali Lopez. $10. Register: Oryana.coop.
PLAN AHEAD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 Dream Catcher and Gaia Totem Workshop – 10am2pm. Integrate elements from nature into your own spiritual art piece. Start collecting rocks, crystals, wood, feathers, shells, bones, leather; anything that you find in nature that speaks to you. Learn how to bring the energy and the materials together to create a unique Earth-blessings art piece. Children 10 & up welcome. $20. Location TBD. Shama Arial’s Lightworks Facebook; 231-383-0803; Lightworks@aye.net.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Online: Vegan for Beginners – 5-6pm. Workshop and live cooking (2 separate events on 2 separate dates). Learn the basics, then watch it in action. $3. Via Zoom. Register: Tinyurl.com/4yhw7ss7. Cacao Ceremony and Ecstatic Dance – 7-9pm. An evening of exploration in body and spirit. Begin in circle with ceremonial cacao. Then journey into movement through our Ecstatic Dance practice. No prior experience needed. $30. Yoga Roots Petoskey, 444 E Mitchell St, Petoskey. 231-838-8992. YogaRootsPetoskey.com.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Online: Let’s Get Saucy – 6-7pm. Join Chef Loghan of Planted Cuisine for a deep dive into the world of sauces through the lens of the plant kingdom. Explore how vegetables can be the base of delicious sauces from savory, to zesty, to cheesy. All sauces will be vegan and gluten-free. $10. Register: Oryana.coop.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Fall Women’s Circles – 7-9pm. Explore our connection with the Divine Feminine that is within us all. No prior experience is needed. All spiritual practices are honored. Today working with the Maiden Archetype of Abundance, Romance, and Joy. Also held Oct 20 & Nov 17. $33 or save $20 and register for all 3 for $79 by Sept 15. Yoga Bellaire, 106 W Cayuga St, Bellaire. Details & to register: YogaBellaire.com/events.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
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regular basis, it all starts with what’s in your pantry. FWW team member Liza Baker, we’ll take a look at how to stock your kitchen with the best-choice foods—whatever your current eating style. $12/ person. Register: Tinyurl.com/uubyjy96.
Designing Landscapes with Native Plants – 12:30pm. Will focus on the key elements of beneficial landscape including the combination of plants in rain gardens and shoreline buffers to create a habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Elk Rapids Memorial Harbor Pavilion, Cedar St, Elk Rapids. ElkRapidsGardenClub.com.
Native Seed Collecting – 5-6:30pm. Learn to ID native plants and their seeds, and how to collect, store. and plant them. Everyone will go home with a bag of native seeds that they collected. $10. Grass River Natural Area, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. GrassRiver.org.
HealthyLivingMichigan.com
ongoing events
daily Virtual & In-Person Yoga Sessions – 9am-7pm, Mon-Fri; varied times on weekends. For adults and kids. Private, family and group offerings available for private sessions or at a scheduled time on our site. Our wellness professional will assist you on your journey. Details: GoodVibzYoga.com.
mondays Virtual Pilates with Gwyn – 9:30-10am. Build a better understanding of your mind & body connections through alignment, posture and natural movement awareness. $5/class. GwynJonesPilates.com. Cancer Care Support Discovery Call – 6-6:30pm. For those looking to incorporate a holistic, function-
al element of care into their cancer treatment plan by working in conjunction with your oncologists, surgeons, primary care physician and physical medicine practitioners. More info: MIHolisticMed.com. Magickal Community Q&A – 7:15-8:15pm. With Kafi, Merrie and Rodasi. Do you feel drawn to nature spirituality and don’t know where to start? This is a safe place to ask questions from those that have been practicing and have knowledge to share. Different topic each week which will announced via Facebook. Free. Online and in person at Higher Self Bookstore, 313 E Front St, Traverse City. Register: 231-941-5805. Facebook.com/higherself.
tuesdays Blooms and Birds: A Wildflower Walk – Thru Sept 21. 10am-12pm. A relaxing stroll on the trails with Grass River Natural Area docents, Julie Hurd and Phil Jarvi, each week to find and identify the beautiful and unique wildflowers. Free. Grass River Natural Area, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. GrassRiver.org.
wednesdays Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers’ Market – 8am12pm. Lot B, SW corner of Cass & Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City. dda.downtowntc.com/farmers-market. Online: Conscious Leaders Group Coaching – Thru Dec. 3-4pm. A place to receive continuous guidance for leading with compassion and flow. Includes 2 monthly calls, where you can bring questions or issues to be coached around. Learn about your blind spots, tackle your growth edges, and build resilience for your leadership. $222/mo. AmbrosialAnimals. MyKajabi.com/offers/Fcot2cjT/checkout.
fridays Bellaire Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct. 8am-12pm. ASI Community Center & Park, 102 Maple St, Bellaire. BellaireChamber.org. Elk Rapids Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 8. 8am12pm. Rotary Park, U.S. 31, Elk Rapids. 231-2648202. ElkRapidsChamber.org/farmers-market. Sacred Drumming Circle – 7-9pm. 2nd Fri. No experience necessary. No drum necessary but feel to bring an acoustic item of your making. Earth Blessing will start each event. Free, but donations accepted. The House of Bear, 4242 Co Rd 633, Grawn. Tinyurl.com/dzpvap92.
If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.
saturdays Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers’ Market – 7:30am-12pm. Lot B, SW corner of Cass & Grandview Pkwy, Traverse City. dda.downtowntc.com/ farmers-market. Harbor Springs Farmers’ Market – Thru Oct 16. 9am-1pm. W Main St, Harbor Springs. 231-8811863. HarborSpringsFarmersMarket.org. InterPlay: Dive Deep into Creative Self-Expression – 3-5:30pm. 3rd Sat. An active, creative way to unlock the wisdom of the body. Through simple improvisational forms, it uses movement, sound, storytelling, stillness and contact to provide a powerful forum for creative expression, self-exploration, connection and play. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City. 231-421-3120. SoulWaysHealing.com.
Wine Down Wednesdays – Thru Oct. 6-8pm. Join 1918 Cellars for live music, food, wine and more. Check website to see who’s performing. Castle Farms, 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. CastleFarms. com/events/wine-down-wednesdays.
thursdays Yoga in East Park – 8:30-9:30am. With Charlevoix Yoga. Weather permitting. $20. East Park 400 Bridge St, Charlevoix. CharlevoixYoga.com. Weekly Facebook Live with Dr. McSwain – 5:306pm. More info: MIHolisticMed.com. Mindfulness and Meditation Circle – Thru Dec. 5:30-6:30pm. Every week is different as we learn about the art and science of mindfulness. Co-led by Aria Everts and Eric McDonald. Donation. Yoga Bellaire, 106 W Cayuga St, Bellaire. YogaBellaire.com.
classifieds
Sacred Drum Circle – 7-9pm. 2nd Thur. No drum necessary but feel to bring an acoustic item of your making. Earth Blessing will start each evening. Dress for outside. Children must be in control of adults; advantageous if kids are old enough to join in on the rhythm that evolves. RSVP nice but not required. Love offering. Take H 633 south of US 31 2.9 miles; turn in at the Bear sign on the right. House of Bear, 4242 County Rd 633, Grawn. Shama Arial’s Lightworks: 231-383-0803. Lightworks@aye.net. Facebook.com/ Shama-Arials-Lightworks-579284359208041.
LOOKING FOR DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE DISTRIBUTOR / SALES OF ALLNATURAL PRODUCTS. This is not a MLM, this is based on product sales of retail and sales to the public. This will include contacting the public as well as outdoor and indoor events. Calling on stores and businesses. Must be passionate about healthy living and helping others be healthy. Michiganmade products. We are a licensed, insured, certified Company. Please contact U.P. Chaga Connection 906-282-0787 (Serious inquiries only).
HELP WANTED
Contact us today and start doing more business.
734-757-7929 Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com September 2021
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coming in the october healthy planet issue
LIVING A SIMPLER LIFE and
Breast Health
community resource guide ADVANCED WELLNESS EARTH LABS
317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490 EarthLabsHeals.com Subtle modalities including sound, light, frequency and thermogenic therapies to enhance and transform your quality of life. Our techno-therapy will reduce pain and restore energy. See ads pages 21 and back cover.
CBD PRODUCTS MY CBD
All-Natural CBD products. We source from only organic, environmentally socially responsible companies that believe in cruelty-free testing. Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best. Ask about our distributor options where you can be your own boss. See ad page24.
PURELY CBD
1112 E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1070 PurelyCBD-TraverseCity.com At Purely CBD Traverse City, we strive to provide our customers with top-quality products that help serve their personal needs. As a locally owned business, we are dedicated to caring for our community and prioritize your overall well-being. See ad page 25.
CHAGA PRODUCTS U.P. CHAGA CONNECTION
906-282-0787 MidnightSpcl_59@yahoo.com UPChagaConnection.com
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ARIA MAE EVERTS
Coach, Facilitator, Healer Aria@AriaMae.com AriaMae.com Spiritually integrative coaching, healing and retreats for Conscious Leaders. In-person and virtual personal development for those who envision a world where all life is honored. See ad page 15.
COOKING & TEA BREWING SPICE & TEA MERCHANTS
Kelly Young MyTCBD.com
plus: fall fruits walking for health
COACHING & COUNSELING
Freshest, cleanest, wildest organic Chaga available in the Upper Peninsula. State certified. Immune-Boosting Superfood. For centuries, people have used chaga mushrooms for medicinal purposes. Packed with antioxidants, its extract may fight cancer, chronic inflammation, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. See ad page 7.
HealthyLivingMichigan.com
145 E Front St, Traverse City 231-947-7423 SpiceMerchants.biz/traverse-cityspice-store Providingthe world’s best herbs, spices and teas for your kitchen. We carry over 200 spices from everyday use to the most exotic as well as over 120 different teas. See ad page 23.
FRESH MILK HERD SHARES SHARED BLESSINGS FARM
7291 18 Mile Rd, Marion 231-743-2286
We are a family farm focused on healthy soils to produce healthy animals so they can produce healthy raw milk for your good. Taste to know the difference. See ad page 18.
GRASS-FINISHED BEEF SHARED BLESSINGS FARM
7291 18 Mile Rd, Marion 231-743-2286
We are a family farm focused on healthy soils to produce healthy grass-finished animals rich in minerals and omega-3s and omega-6s with real fat that is good for you. See ad page 18.
HALOTHERAPY
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
URBAN OASIS SALT SPA
13709 S. West Bayshore Dr, Traverse City 231-938-6020 UrbanOasisSaltSpa.com
Dry salt therapy, massage, detox, organic facial services, exclusive salt room made from 15,000 pounds of Himalayan pink salt supports overall health and wellness. See ad page 19.
HEALTHY PET SQUARE DEAL COUNTRY STORE
900 Woodmere Ave, Traverse City 231-946-5030 SquareDealCountryStore.com
products for your pets. See ad page 27.
Our knowledgeable staff is here to help you find the best food, treats and
HYDROPONICS & ORGANIC GARDENING PRODUCTS THE GROW STORE
90 N U.S. Hwy 31 S, Traverse City 231-421-5191 Facebook: The Grow Store Traverse City Serving Traverse City and the Northern Michigan region since 2009. Specilizing in organics, hydroponics and lighting systems for the indoor grower. A locally owned, service-oriented company. See ad page 25.
LESS ANXIETY NATURALLY
NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION
503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info
Educational programs offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad page 3.
PAIN RELIEF AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY
Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 Info@AlbertasPainRelief.com AlbertasPainRelief.com Need Relief from Arthritis? Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy with all-natural ingredients to ease muscular aches and joint pain. Her Remedy is a homeopathic pain relief cream that penetrates deep into the skin and muscle tissues.
PERMACULTURE & EDIBLE LANDSCAPES MOON BLOSSOM GARDENS
MoonBlossomGardens@gmail.com 231-709-5597 • Traverse City MoonBlossomGardens.com Providing custom garden consulting services, specializing in biodynamics, permaculture, edible landscapes. Donating 10% off profits to the procurement and distribution of free, organic, cotton pads and tampons. See ad page 13.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THE SCHOOL OF AMBROSIAL ANIMALS
Aria@AriaMae.com 774-578-2762 AmbrosialAnimals.com
Ambrosial Animals is a Spiritual Development Program for Conscious Leaders - an initiation for those ready to step into their missions more powerfully. See ad page 15.
SCHOOL / EDUCATION NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION
503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info
Educational programs offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad page 3.
WOMEN'S HEALTH MOON BLOSSOM
MoonBlossomGardens@gmail.com 231-709-5597 • Traverse City MoonBlossomGardens.com Committed to providing free organic cotton pads and tampons everywhere possible! Custom garden consulting services, call or email to find out more. See ad page 13.
EARTH LABS
317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490 EarthLabsHeals.com Advanced technologies in the sound and light lab ease anxiety and relieve chronic pain. Enhance your mood and bring balance to the limbic system. See ads pages 21 and back cover.
LIST YOUR BIZ HERE. Call or Text Now! 734-757-7929
September 2021
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