Natural Awakenings Southeast Texas January 2016 by NA-SETexas

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

feel good • live simply • laugh more

TREATING

AUTISM

NATURALLY Plus Strategies for Prevention

P L A N E T

FREE

The Rise of FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE New Paradigm Gets to the Root Cause of Disease

Good Reasons to Try

Acupuncture

Thousands of Studies Show Healing Results

January 2016 | Southeast Texas Edition | NA-SETexas.com

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CHIROPRACTOR CONFESSION:

“I’ve Never Healed Anyone of Anything.”

eople come to me with their headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, whiplash from car accidents, injuries from accidents on the job, backaches, ear infections, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, just to name a few. Several times a day patients thank me for helping them with their health problems. But I can’t really take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never healed anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve pressure, and the body responds by healing itself. We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that.

You Benefit from an Amazing Offer – Look, it shouldn’t cost

you an arm and a leg to correct your health. You are going to write a check to someone for your health care expenses, you may as well write one for a lesser amount for chiropractic. When you bring in this article (by November 24th, 2015) you will receive my entire new patient exam for $27. That’s with consultation, exam, x-rays, report of findings…the whole ball of wax. This exam could cost you $150 elsewhere.

Great care at a great fee – Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. My qualifications…I’m a Cum Laude graduate from Texas Chiropractic College. I graduated with academic honors from the University of Maryland, with my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. I’ve been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to collegiate athletes. After practicing in Nederland as an associate for two years, I opened my own practice in Galveston. I just have that low fee to help more people who need care.

Here’s what some of my patients had to say:

“Dr. Duchon has made a big impact on my life. I have no more headaches.”– C. Flores - Galveston, TX “No more numbness in my feet!”– K. Smith - Galveston, TX My assistants are Shannon, Barbara and Judy and they are really friendly people. Our office is both friendly and warm and we try our best to make you feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. Our office is called GALVESTON PHYSICAL MEDICINE and it’s located at 2724 61st Street (right behind Island Car Wash). Our phone number is 409-744-9355. Call Shannon, Barbara or Judy today for an appointment. We can help you. Thank you and God Bless. – Dr. Chad Duchon Chiropractor

P.S. When accompanied by the first, I am also offering the second family member this same examination for only $10. P.P.S. I am now an “In-Network” doctor for Cigna, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, American National, as well as being “In-Network” for many other plans.

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contact us Publisher Roxanne Pirooz Editor Cheryl Hynes Design & Production Irene Sankey Accounting Michele Valerio Sales & Marketing Roxanne Pirooz Natural Awakenings of Southeast Texas P.O. Box 3603, Houston, TX 77253 Phone: 409-939-8156 NA-SETexas.com Roxanne@NA-SETexas.com Follow us on: Facebook.com/nasetexas

©2015 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. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. 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. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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Info@NA-SETexas.com Natural Awakenings is printed on recyclable paper with soybased ink.

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appy New Year 2016! It is finally upon us, and wow how time flies! The team here working on the Southeast Texas edition every month are so proud to have moved into the New Year with you. And just like every year, we all have New Year’s resolutions to make, and work to keep! Personally, my primary resolution is to find better ways of providing valuable content and more local services to you, the reader. We are blessed to know that you are looking for our publication every month, and we are seeing you pick it up more and more. In fact, we are slowly adding your local HEB stores to our drop points. At present, you can Roxanne, Publisher find us at HEB’s in Pearland, Friendswood and Alvin. In addition to grabbing it for free at your local participating business, you can also request an electronic version of the magazine sent to your email inbox every month or you can subscribe to receive a printed magazine in your mailbox at home by requesting an annual subscription. We have already had conversations with new and interesting businesses and events happening in the next few months, and look forward to sharing those with you. And when you visit any of the local businesses we spotlight, mention you saw them in Natural Awakenings so they know we are working for you too. Although sharing more great and useful information about local services is high on our list, the other resolution I always have is to get healthier. This month our feature article is on Functional Medicine, a growing segment which crosses natural health and medical science. These doctors can be tough to find, but we have found one in Galveston who is helping women correct thyroid hormone imbalances, lose weight and increase energy. So think about what is happening inside your body, and get those chiropractic adjustments and massages. I visit my chiropractor rather regularly, and my massage therapist as well, so I’m going to pay more attention to my hormone balances this year. Check back in with yourself on February 1st to see if you are sticking to your resolutions. If not, don’t fret, just start over in February and see if you make it to March 1st. If a month at a time is too much, take it a week at a time or a day at a time. Every day we make new choices which impact the future we walk into, and forgive yourself of falling short, because this moment right now is new, and you can make a new choice to go a new direction. Happy New Year!

Roxanne, Bandit, Smokey & Luna

glossy IS NOT green

contents 6 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 10 globalbriefs

8 10

16 herbofthemonth 16 healing ways

12 THE RISE OF

18 therapyspotlight 21 naturalpet

by Lisa Marshall

22 consciouseating

24 healthykids 26 fitbody

MEET THE NEW BREED OF DOCTOR

Focusing On Wellness Care, Not Sickness Care

16 GOOD REASONS TO

TRY ACUPUNCTURE

29 classifieds

Thousands of Studies Show Healing Results

3 1 resourceguide

by Kathleen Barnes

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 409-939-8156 or email Roxanne@NA-SETexas.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Info@NA-SETexas.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Info@NA-SETexas.com. Deadline for calendar: the 5th 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 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

New Paradigm Gets to the Root Cause of Disease

28 calendar

NA-SETexas.com

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers 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.

18 IN ALIGNMENT

WITH GOOD HEALTH

Chad Duchon, DC, of Galveston Physical Medicine

THE RIGHT VET FOR YOUR PET

Animals Thrive with Gentle, Safe and Natural Approaches by Shawn Messonnier

22 SUPER SOUPS

New Twists on Old Favorites Heal, Nourish and Soothe by Judith Fertig

24 TREATING AUTISM NATURALLY

Plus Strategies for Prevention by Meredith Montgomery

26 THE POWER OF

CONSCIOUS DANCE

Creative Movement Connects Body, Mind and Spirit by Gail Condrick

natural awakenings

24 January 2016

newsbriefs Pearland Arbor Day Moves to January

ach year Keep Pearland Beautiful (KPB) celebrates Arbor Day along with the rest of Texas. Several years ago KPB moved Arbor Day to November. For 2016 KPB will move its Arbor Day Tree Giveaway back to JANUARY. The 2016 Arbor Day celebration is on January 23 at the Pearland Farmers Market in Zychlinski Park. At this event KPB will be giving away 2 tree seedlings to Pearland residents (until supplies run out). KPB will announce the January tree selection. Each Pearland household will receive 2 tree seedlings (can be two of the same or two different seedlings). These seedlings should be planted in a gallon or larger container for its first few years. This will allow the seedlings to be nurtured and grow in a safe environment. Trees are important oxygen producers, they help provide energy saving shade and the presence of trees positively impacts our psychological well-being. Location: Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. For more information visit MyKPB.org.

Mardi Gras! Galveston is Back!

ardi Gras! Galveston 2016 will be held January 29 through February 9. The unique experience is expected to draw 350,000 attendees for more than 30 concerts, 22 parades, 20 balcony parties and several elegant balls. Float riders in elaborate parades, including the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius, Krewe Gambrinus and Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade, are expected to throw more than three million strands of beads. Parade-goers can catch those beads, along with a VIP view, from a balcony on the Strand. Balcony Party admission includes cash bar and music, along with admission into the Entertainment District. General Admission tickets provide access to all concerts on the Budweiser Stage and Jagermeister Electric Mardi Gras Stage. The party starts early with the 105th Mardi Gras! Galveston Official 5k Run. The first 300 runners registered will receive a free half-day Balcony Party ticket. Those who register for the 5th Annual Zaniest Golf Cart Parade receive free entry into the Entertainment District, with Best Decorated Golf Cart awarded free Balcony Party passes. For the ultimate Mardi Gras experience, purchase a Ticket to Ride and have float, beads, driver and balcony party provided for your very own Krewe. For more information, visit MardiGrasGalveston.com or email Info@YagasPresents.com.

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Angleton Chamber’s 58th Annual Cirque D’ Heritage Gala

everal years ago, the Angleton Chamber of Commerce converted their annual member banquet into a gala event, providing chamber members, local business leaders and the general public a chance to network and enjoy a fun party. On Friday, January 29th the gala begins at 6pm with hor d’oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by a live auction at 7pm, then a seated dinner. Dancing will also be available for fun late into the evening. The auction is a fundraiser for the Chamber supporting upcoming activities for the year. The theme is Cirque D’ Heritage Gala, inspired by Cirque du Soleil, for an elegant circus event. The Chamber is working with a professional decorator to transport attendees to another place when they arrive. Individual tickets are available for $60 and sponsorship opportunities are available as well. For more information, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit Events@AngletonChamber.org or call 979-849-6443.

Whatever you are, be a good one. ~Abraham Lincoln

Winterfest Celebrates 20th Year

n Saturday, January 30th, Winterfest will be celebrating their 20th year. Winterfest is a one-day event that is held at the Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium and provides a full day of entertainment and activities. These include 200,000 pounds of snow, a carnival, petting zoo and pony rides, interactive games, rock wall, inflatables, educational hands on activities, live entertainment, performing arts and more. The day will start off with the Dawson High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Winter Dash at approximately 8:30 a.m. which will start behind Turner High School. The Dash is a fundraising run in support of the Dawson High School Eagle Band and Color Guard. Tickets are on sale now until January 29th at the Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium during their hours of operation. A discount will be credited to each ticket purchase in the amount of $2 for each canned good brought to the gate. All canned goods will benefit the Pearland Neighborhood Center by restocking their pantry after the holidays. RCN members get a complementary ticket to Winterfest, so they will need to go to the Pearland Recreation Center by January 29th. There will not be any discounts available the day of the event, when tickets are $4 for those 17 & over, and $10 for ages 3-16. All parking is free and will be at Turner High School, 4717 Bailey Road and Pearland Jr. High South, 4719 Bailey Road. A free shuttle service will be available.

News to Share? Do you have a special event in the community? Are you opening a new office or moving? Recently become certified in a new modality?

Let us know about it!

For more information visit PearlandParks.com or call 281-412-8907.

Friendswood Tree Giveaway

he annual Tree Give Away for Friendswood residents will be held at City Hall, located at 910 S. Friendswood Dr. (FM 518) on the morning of January 16, 2016. This is being organized by Keep Friendwood Beautiful and Friendswood Parks and Recreation. The doors open at 8am and close at 10am, or until all the trees are gone. Over one hundred 15 gallon container trees that are up to 8 feet tall will be given away to residents (only one per family). Residents are asked to come prepared and bring a truck to pick up the tree, as there is no hold or delivery option. Trees provided will be chosen based on their suitability for the area. For more information, visit Facebook.com/KeepFriendswoodBeautiful or contact the Parks and Recreation office at 281-996-3220, or email at Rec@Friendswood.com.

News Briefs We welcome news items relevant to the subject matter of our magazine. We also welcome any suggestions you may have for a news item. Call 409-939-8156 for additional information, or visit NA-SETexas.com

natural awakenings

January 2016

healthbriefs

Feel Young, Live Long

esearch published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found people that feel younger than their years have a lower incidence of earlier mortality. Conducted by scientists from the UK’s University College London, the research analyzed data from 6,489 people and measured their self-perceived age with the question, “How old do you feel you are?” Then, over more than eight years, the scientists tracked the number of deaths from all causes. Almost 70 percent of those that averaged a little over 65 reported feeling at least three years younger than their chronological age. Only a quarter said they felt close to their age and about 5 percent said they felt more than a year older. The research found that deaths among those that felt younger were 14 percent, while more than 18 percent of those who felt their own age and more than 24 percent of people that felt older died during the follow-up period. The research further found that individuals that felt at least three years younger were less likely to die later from heart disease or cancer. These relationships prevailed even when other health and lifestyle factors were eliminated. Co-author Andrew Steptoe, Ph.D., says, “We expected to find an association between self-perceived age and mortality. We didn’t expect that the relationship would still be present even when wealth, other socio-demographic indicators, health, depression, mobility and other factors were taken into account.”

Scientists Urge Ban on Non-Stick Pan Coatings

new paper published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal warns of the continued health risks of chemicals used for non-stick pan coatings and water repellents on clothing. The chemical is being found in some municipalities’ drinking water. More than 200 scientists signed the statement, which presents the dangers of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals are persistently used as pan coatings, despite more than a decade of research showing associations with liver toxicity, neurological disorders, cancers of different organs and types, and heart conditions. The paper noted that many manufacturers have discontinued long-chain PFAS production and substituted shorter-chain PFAS. The scientists caution that these shorter-chain PFAS may not effectively reduce PFAS exposure because more has to be used to achieve the same effectiveness, maintaining PFAS in the environment with exposure levels relatively unchanged. It calls for scientists, governments, chemical manufacturers and consumer product manufacturers to participate in halting all PFAS production.

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Leave Them at the Door: Shoe Soles Harbor Risky Bacteria

esearch from the University of Houston has determined that a species of bacteria that has become resistant to many antibiotics might be tracking into homes on the soles of shoes. More than a third of randomly tested homes were contaminated with Clostridium difficile bacteria, and 40 percent of doorsteps were also infected with the bacteria. Depending upon the strain, C. difficile can cause intestinal infections, inflammation and severe diarrhea. Study author M. Jahangir Alam, Ph.D., comments, “Shoes are contaminated from diverse sources, and we are regularly contaminating our doorsteps by shoes.” The researchers tested three to five household items within 30 houses in Houston, Texas. They collected 127 environmental samples— from 63 shoe bottoms, 15 bathroom surface samples, 12 house floor dusts and 37 other household surfaces They found that 41 of them harbored C. difficile and nearly 40 percent of the shoes were positive for the bacteria. They also found that a third of the bathroom surfaces harbored the bacteria, a third of house dust and 19 percent of other surfaces maintained the bacteria. The cause of many intestinal disorders, this bacteria species has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics and many household cleaning products.

Autism Spurs Creative Thinking

he UK’s University of East Anglia and the University of Stirling conducted a study of individuals with autistic traits among 312 people recruited through social media, including 75 diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Each of the subjects completed a series of creativity tests in which they determined uses of mundane objects. Published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the study found that while the autistic people chose fewer uses for each object, their choices were significantly more original and creative. The subjects developed a greater range of “divergent thinking”. Martin Doherty, Ph.D., co-author of the study, confirms, “People with high autistic traits can have less quantity, but greater quality of creative ideas. They are typically considered to be more rigid in their thinking, so the fact that the ideas they have are more unusual or rare is surprising. This difference may have positive implications for creative problem solving.” The researchers found that while the average person will utilize simple mental strategies to produce more obvious answers first, autistic people tend to first utilize more demanding strategies during their processing, thus producing the more creative result.

Playing Outside Before Lunch Spurs Kids to Eat Healthier

esearchers from Brigham Young University and Cornell University have determined that simply moving recess to precede lunch significantly increases students’ consumption of fruits and vegetables at lunch. The researchers tested first- through sixth-graders from seven schools in Utah for 14 school days. In three schools, recess was switched from after to just before lunch. In the other four schools, recess still followed lunch. Published in the journal Preventative Medicine, research found that when recess was just prior to lunch, students ate 54 percent more fruits and vegetables. Moving recess also resulted in 45 percent more kids eating at least one serving of fruits and vegetables during school-provided lunches. The researchers concluded that results show the benefits of holding recess before lunch and suggest that if more schools did this, there would be significant increases in fruit and vegetable consumption, particularly among students that eat school lunch as part of the National School Lunch Program.

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf. ~Rabindranath Tagore natural awakenings

January 2016

globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Fish Folly

Marine Life Drops by Half since 1970 The nonprofit World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London have jointly determined that industrial-scale overfishing, pollution and climate change have killed half of all marine life over the last 40 years. The Living Blue Planet Report cites that species essential to the global food supply are among the hardest hit, partially due to humans catching them faster than they can reproduce. Large swaths of coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses have also died, further decimating fish populations. Statistics show that the family of fish that includes tuna and mackerel has declined by 75 percent since 1970. The number of species is also declining; a quarter of all shark and ray species face extinction. Half of all coral has already disappeared, and the rest will vanish by 2050 if temperatures continue to rise at current rates. “Coral reefs occupy less than 1 percent of the ocean surface, but they harbor a third of ocean species,” says French biologist Gilles Boeuf. The WWF report argues that protected global ocean area should be tripled by 2020 and fish retailers should source from companies that follow certified best practice standards. Source: Tinyurl.com/WWF2015BluePlanetReport

Drive-Thru Vegan

Amy’s Opens Organic Fast Food Restaurant California now hosts the nation’s first Amy’s Organic Drive-Thru restaurant, in Rohnert Park, with a vegetarian menu sporting veggie burgers, salads and dishes served in both regular and vegan varieties. Ingredients are sustainably grown and GMO-free (no genetically modified ingredients). The company’s signature frozen pizzas have been popular for years in health food and grocery stores nationwide, and now Amy’s first restaurant is serving them hot, with toppings ranging from spinach and diced tomatoes to a choice of mozzarella cheese or vegan “cheeze”. While some other fast food restaurants import almost all of their products from factory farming operations and give nothing back to the community, Amy’s Drive-Thru grows produce sustainably on its own roof. Amy’s Kitchen, a familyowned, privately held organic frozen food company, reportedly pays workers a living wage with health benefits. On the inaugural restaurant’s popularity, Manager Paul Schiefer remarks, “It’s given us a lot of hope that this is a concept that works.”

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OM MBA

Eastern Practices Penetrate U.S. Corporate Culture Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini has introduced free yoga and meditation classes for employees of the health insurance giant, and more than 13,000 are participating. On average, they experienced a 28 percent reduction in their stress levels, 20 percent improvement in sleep quality, 19 percent reduction in pain and 62 minutes per week of extra productivity. “We have this groundswell inside the company of people wanting to take the classes,” says Bertolini. “It’s been pretty magical.” He sells the same classes to businesses that contract with Aetna. Google now offers emotional intelligence courses for employees and General Mills has a meditation room in every building on its Minneapolis corporate campus. Even conservative Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs are teaching meditation on the job. Some programs, from yoga sessions for factory workers to guided meditations for executives, are intended to improve overall well-being; others to increase focus and productivity. Most aim to make employees more present-minded, less prone to make rash decisions and generally nicer people to work with. More than 21 million individuals now practice yoga nationwide, double the number from a decade ago, and nearly as many meditate, according to the National Institutes of Health. Source: MindfulYogaHealth.com

Puppy Cuddles

Doctor’s Orders

Students De-Stress by Petting Dogs At least three universities in England have offered puppy rooms to stressed students. More than 600 students signed up last year in Bristol alone. Gordon Trevett, from the University’s Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, says, “Every year I see students fretting about their exams, and I thought this would be a great way to ease the stress and take their minds off it. People with dogs have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without a dog, and we know that playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.” Jo Woods, from the Bristol Students Union, says, “It’s important to do fun and different things to de-stress during exams, and cuddling a puppy is a perfect way to release some endorphins.” Source: BBC

Sci-Fi Solution

Beaming Solar Power to Earth from Space A great deal of solar power falls on our planet, but a lot more misses us and goes off into space. Scientists at JAXA, Japan’s space administration, have made a major breakthrough in accurate wireless power transmission on Earth that bodes well for solar space technology. The team beamed 1.8 kilowatts of power, enough to power an electric tea kettle, more than 50 meters to a small receiver without any wires whatsoever. The researchers were able to accomplish this task by first converting the electrical energy to microwaves, and then beaming them to a remote receiver before converting them back into electrons. The program’s goal is to harness a constant supply of solar energy directly from space using orbital solar farms, and then beam that energy for use on Earth. Solar power generation in space has many advantages over current technology, including the constant availability of energy regardless of the weather or time of day. Source: Global.jaxa.jp

GMO Labeling Endorsed by Physicians Even as the federal government pursues H.R. 1599, aka the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” (DARK) act, mainstream medicine is urging the government to abandon its resistance to GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling. They are bolstered by a recent announcement by the World Health Organization that glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer) is probably carcinogenic in humans. The genetic engineering ends up making crops resistant to the herbicide so more must be applied. According to contributing doctors from Harvard, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and the University of Wisconsin reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, “GM crops are now the agricultural products most heavily treated with herbicides, and two of these herbicides may pose risks of cancer.” A recent notice in the same journal, “GMOs, Herbicides and Public Health,” reports: “The application of biotechnology to agriculture has been rapid and aggressive. The vast majority of the soy and [feed] corn grown in the United States are now genetically engineered. Foods produced from GM crops have become ubiquitous.” Sixty-four countries, including Russia and China, have already adopted transparency in labeling laws, but U.S. Big Food and Big Ag lobbyists have stonewalled efforts domestically. For more information and petitions, visit OrganicConsumers.org.

Unique Character

Sesame Street Addresses Autism After working with organizations such as Autism Speaks and the Autism Self Advocacy Network, Sesame Street has been aiming to help reduce the stigma associated with autism spectrum disorder. A new autistic character, Julia, already has her own digital storybook, We’re Amazing, 1,2,3 as part of the campaign See Amazing in All Children. According to Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president of U.S. social impact at Sesame Workshop, Sesame Street producers are waiting to hear back from the autism community before introducing Julia to the TV show. For more information, visit Autism.SesameStreet.org/storybook-we-are-amazing and Tinyurl.com/MeetJuliaVideo.

natural awakenings

January 2016

Make your community a little GREENER … Support our advertisers For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community source: the350project.net

The Rise of Functional Medicine New Paradigm Gets to the Root Cause of Disease

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished. ~Francis Bacon

Southeast Texas

by Lisa Marshall

NA-SETexas.com

y the end of 2014, Trina Mills, of Parker, Arizona, had given up on conventional medicine. She’d been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder 17 years earlier and taken medication ever since without feeling her symptoms of fatigue, muscle aches and stomach problems ever fully subside. She’d visited endocrinologists, gastroenterologists and a half-dozen other specialists, each of which offered a different diagnosis and prescribed a different drug. At one point, she had her gallbladder removed. At another, her doctor suspected she had bleeding in her brain and sent her for a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan. Some thought she was a hypochondriac; others said she was depressed. “I would tell them, ‘I’m just depressed that you can’t figure out why I’m so sick,’” she says.

Weighing a skeletal 82 pounds, the 54-year-old mother of three finally wrote out a living will and braced for the inevitable. Then she heard of a new Center for Functional Medicine opening at the prestigious, century-old Cleveland Clinic. As the first clinic of its kind to open at an academic medical center, it promised to look at the underlying causes of disease, while focusing on the whole person, rather than isolated symptoms. Intrigued, Mills caught a flight to Ohio and soon was offering up 30 tubes of blood, stool and saliva samples, as well as an exhaustive life history. One year later, thanks to a series of personalized diet and lifestyle changes, she’s 10 pounds heavier and feels better than she has in decades. “I spent a lot of years and money in the traditional

medical system and got nothing,” says Mills. With functional medicine, “In a very short time, they had me feeling nearly 100 percent.”

to the patient’s story in a different way, where the objective is not simply about arriving at a diagnosis,” explains Bland.

Distinctive Characteristics

Key to discovering the underlying origins of a health issue are a host of new gene, blood and gut health tests. “They allow us to look under the patient’s ‘metabolic hood’ at the genetic and biochemical factors influencing health,” says Naturopathic Doctor Kara Fitzgerald, who heads up a functional medicine clinic in Newtown, Connecticut. For instance, certain genes influence how a person burns and stores fat. Depending on which variant a patient has, based on a genetic test, they might be guided toward a higheror lower-fat diet. Those genetically prone to difficulty in metabolizing the amino acid homocysteine (an excess of which can raise the risk of heart disease) might be advised to take folic acid supplements. If a patient displays intractable gut problems, rather than simply look for blood or pathogens in the stool, Fitzgerald also looks at the DNA of their gut microbiome, mapping out which strains of good bacteria are present or absent and prescribing prebiotics, probiotics or whole foods to promote a healthful balance. For another patient with thinning hair and aching joints, she might use specialized blood tests to look for micronutrient deficiencies, signs of allergies or certain autoantibodies—proteins produced by the immune system that mistakenly attack one’s own tissues—

In the 25 years since nutritional biochemist Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., of Gig Harbor, Washington, coined the term, this science-based, whole-body approach to addressing chronic disease has gained widespread traction. More than 100,000 physicians—60 percent of them medical doctors—have trained with the Institute for Functional Medicine he founded in Washington and New Mexico, and numerous medical schools have added its tenets to their curricula. More naturopaths and chiropractors are also distinguishing themselves with a functional medicine emphasis. “It is not alternative medicine at all,” stresses Bland, whose latest book, The Disease Delusion, details how functional medicine can curb chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes, dementia, and heart disease, which constitute 78 percent of U.S. health care costs. “It’s the basis of 21st-century health care,” he says. For most of the 20th century, conventional medicine centered on a singular objective: Arrive at a diagnosis and treat it with drugs or surgery. Then, the alternative medicine movement proffered a toolbox of more natural therapies, including acupuncture, herbs and massage to address these same diagnoses. The 1990s brought integrative medicine, a best-of-both-worlds approach. “While all of the above have merit, they lack the necessary guidance to help practitioners determine which tools work best for which patient,” says Dr. Mark Hyman, director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine. “Alternative therapies and conventional treatments are tools. We need a new map that can teach us how to skillfully use those tools,” maintains Hyman. “That map is functional medicine.” Because one chronic disease such as diabetes can have dozens of underlying causes, or one culprit such as a genetic predisposition or exposure to toxins can lead to multiple chronic conditions, functional medicine focuses on systems, rather than organs, and origins, rather than diseases. “It’s about listening

Ferreting Out Key Clues

that might herald a brewing autoimmune disorder. “Research shows that predictive autoantibodies can show up in the blood 10 or even 20 years before an autoimmune disease such as Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis makes itself known,” says Fitzgerald, pointing to a seminal review published in 2007 in Scientific American: “If a patient with mild, early-stage symptoms is proactive with diet and lifestyle changes, they may be able to fend it off.” High-tech tests aside, Bland stresses that what’s most important is “a tool that has been largely lost in medicine today: Knowing how to listen to the patient.” In a typical exam, Fitzgerald thoroughly inspects often neglected body parts, including the tongue and fingernails, which can hold important clues to underlying health. She asks about past emotional trauma which might trigger chronic disease, and inquires about what environmental toxins and harmful chemicals both the patient and their birth parents may have been exposed to. One example might be a patient exposed to cigarette smoking in utero having a bias toward an allergic disease. If their parents grew up in a period of famine, they might have inherited a genetic disposition for rapid weight gain. “She spent two-and-a-half hours with me,” in her initial consultation, recalls 52-year-old Lauren Zambrelli, of Long Island, New York, who credits Fitzgerald for helping her tame her multiple sclerosis into remission. “It was like having a sister for a doctor.”

Lobby for Change To lobby for consistent insurance coverage of more complementary therapies, check out these resources. CoverMyCare (CoverMyCare.org). This national grassroots advocacy campaign, a project of the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium, aims to support the proper full implementation of Section 2706 of the Affordable Care Act, which states that insurers cannot leave licensed practitioners like naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists or Oriental medicine practitioners out of their provider networks. It still lacks enforcement at the state level, although Oregon and Rhode Island recently passed legislation to fix the existing loophole; California, Hawaii, Minnesota and New Mexico are working to do the same. American Sustainable Business Council (Tinyurl.com/Integrative Reimbursement). The organization recently launched a campaign to urge insurers to cover integrative practices. natural awakenings

January 2016

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Who Pays

Functional medicine doctors don’t shy away from prescription drugs when necessary, but they do lean decidedly toward the lower-tech modalities, using dietary supplements, allergen-free diets, exercise, mind-body practices and toxin avoidance as their primary tools. “We basically take out the bad stuff from the body and put in the good stuff,” says Hyman. Maintaining good health is priceless, but without conventional insurance coverage, it can be expensive. While Mills’ doctor visits were covered by insurance (which is rare), she spends roughly $1,000 a month on supplements to address her diagnosed leaky gut syndrome, nutrient deficiencies and mercury poisoning. Zambrelli has paid thousands out of her own pocket, too. Some people worry that, like most conventional physicians, some functional medicine practitioners place too much emphasis on expensive tests and too little on the most crucial and affordable remedy—self-care. “Functional medicine as a concept is an important step forward,” says integrative medicine pioneer Dr. James Gordon, founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. “However, some practitioners do a lot of tests and prescribe a lot of supplements and work on cleaning out the gut, but neglect the psychological, spiritual and social issues. That concerns me.” Bland and Hyman concede that some practitioners over-test, but say that will fade over time as they learn to better discriminate which ones are useful for specific patients. Several efforts also are underway to get more functional medicine providers and the acupuncturists,

Learn More Online Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine Tinyurl.com/Center4 FunctionalMedicine Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s blog DrKaraFitzgerald.com/blog Functional Forum FunctionalForum.com Dr. Mark Hyman’s blog DrHyman.com/blog Institute for Functional Medicine FunctionalMedicine.org massage therapists and nutritionists they work with covered under the Affordable Care Act, which expressly emphasizes a need for more preventive medicine. Viewing the big picture, Bland believes that functional medicine is just what the country needs to save on exploding healthcare costs. Rather than spending dollars on extraordinary measures to save heart attack victims or diabetics in emergencies, we can prevent such dire situations by identifying underlying problems sooner and halting their progression. In the meantime, some patients are finding priceless relief. “Am I poorer right now? Yes,” says Mills. “Am I healthier? Way. It’s been so worth it.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO, who specializes in health care. Connect at LisaAnn Marshall.com.

Meet the New Breed of Doctor focusing on

wellness care, not sickness care

sk Pedro Lozano, D.C., B.Sc., founder and director of Galveston Wellness Center about his approach to health, and he will enthusiastically respond, “We practice what we preach: wellness care, not sickness care. Our prevention practice includes anti-aging, nutrition, hormone balancing, permanent weight control, wellness chiropractic and fitness as it applies to health and rejuvenation.” While conventional allopathic medicine typically only addresses symptoms, functional medicine seeks and treats the root cause of illness. In practice since 1997, Lozano has postgraduate specialty training including functional endocrinology, functional neurology, applied clinical nutrition, kinesiology, sports medicine and rehabilitation – all of which are incorporated into his comprehensive Optimized Living Programs. Lozano is also a PMA Diplomat of Pastoral Science, and is a certified acupuncturist and electro diagnostician. He utilizes a wide array of diagnostic tools to determine the underlying cause of patients’ conditions, beginning with a comprehensive evaluation and review of medical history, followed by lab studies that typically include complete blood chemistry, stool and saliva analysis. “These provide us with an accurate picture of how the body is actually functioning, eliminating guess-work, and giving us a true baseline from which to begin treatment,” Lozano says. Two of the main issues Lozano treats are diabetes and thyroid disorders. Lozano sees many patients who are on thyroid medication and have normal lab results, yet still feel unwell. He main-

tains that most conventional physicians fail to run all the lab tests needed to check for the underlying cause of thyroid dysfunction, instead relying only on a very basic blood panel that consists of TSH. Lozano measures TSH, plus T3, T4 and six other components to gauge complete thyroid function. He orders comprehensive tests for diabetes patients, as well, including blood glucose, fasting and nonfasting salivary insulin, and hemoglobin A1C. Most important, says Lozano, is that patients are provided an easy-tofollow, systematic approach that has been proven to work. He believes that optimal health requires addressing each of the five pillars of health included in his curriculum: nutrition, proper exercise, detoxification, and nervous system and hormone balance, adding that “ignoring any component would be like flying in a plane with a pilot who never learned how to land.” Lozano stresses that functional medicine is a partnership between doctor and patient, requiring commitment by the patient to play an active role in healing. He views functional medicine as a complement to traditional medicine and not simply an alternative, and believes that systems of health care providers should work together wherever possible. “A single approach cannot serve everyone,” he says, “Yet, at the end day, the proof is in the pudding. We see all types of patients get better who follow our curriculum and learn how to live a pro-active healthier lifestyle.” Galveston Wellness Center is located at 520 20th St. in Galveston. For more information, visit GalvestonWellnessCenter.com or call 409-621-2225. See ad, page 19.

In a universe

made out of energy, everything is entangled; everything is one. ~Bruce Lipton

All great achievements require time. ~Maya Angelou

natural awakenings

January 2016

HERB

healingways

of the month by Susie Lyons

Nettle – Urtica dioica, U. urens

n ancient plant that grows wild throughout the United States and Canada, nettle was prized by both the ancient Greeks and Romans for its medicinal uses as well as for weaving a highly prized cloth. Nettle can be used to help the body heal from gout, rheumatism, anemia, exhaustion, skin problems, hay fever and much more. Known for its painful sting when touched, nettle is full of vitamins and minerals and makes a wonderfully nourishing tea. To use nettle, add the leaves to soups, take it in a tincture or drink nettle leaf tea. For more information, call 832-2024391, visit TheHerbalistJournal.com or see me at the Old South Essentials booth, Clear Lake Shores Farmers Market, 1st and 3rd Saturday, 10 am - 2 pm.

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf. ~Rabindranath Tagore

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Good Reasons to Try Acupuncture Thousands of Studies Show Healing Results by Kathleen Barnes

he ancient Chinese art of acuchemical serotonin and relieving inflampuncture is gaining popularity mation, as well as bringing many other in modern Western medicine for body processes into normal function. many reasons. “There’s lots of research Brevard, North Carolina, licensed to support the effectiveness of acupuncmaster acupuncturist Paul Buchman, ture for a wide variety of conditions,” adds, “Acupuncture differs from consays Thomas Burgoon, a medical doctor ventional Western medicine in many who practices internal medicine in West ways, primarily in that when it treats Chester, Pennsylvania, and is president a disease on the physical level, it also of the American Academy of Medical has far-reaching effects on our mental, Acupuncture, an asemotional and spiriThe U.S. Library of sociation of doctors of tual aspects.” medicine and osteoChronic back Medicine database pathic medicine that pain: Chronic low back lists more than 23,000 pain affects 80 percent use acupuncture in conjunction with conus at some time and studies on acupuncture. of ventional treatments. is the second-most Acupuncture treatments typically common cause of disability in Ameriinvolve the nearly painless insertion of can adults, according to a University very thin needles to stimulate the body’s of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study natural repair and regulation mechanisms published in the Journal of the American based on the fundamental Chinese medi- Medical Association. cine principle that the inside of the body A recent study of Australian can often be treated from the outside. patients arriving in Melbourne hospital Burgoon explains that acupuncture works emergency rooms complaining of low by stimulating and releasing the body’s back pain found that those treated with natural pain relievers, including endoracupuncture experienced as much pain phins, producing the feel-good brain relief in an hour as those given drugs.

“When I treat a person for low back pain, I always take pulses in several parts of the body, and then take into account many factors, including age, gender and life situation,” says Buchman. “The underlying causes of the pain may be different in a 20-something student with a stressful academic load than a 50-something woman that’s a recent empty nester redefining her future,” he explains. When researchers at China’s Central South University reviewed 13 studies on acupuncture and low back pain, they concluded that comprehensive treatment plans that involve acupuncture are urgently needed. Headache: Acupuncture has long been used to relieve the pain of migraines and tension headaches. Australian research published in EvidenceBased Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that 16 acupuncture sessions cut in half the number of days that patients experienced migraines, significantly reducing pain. “Acupuncture is a must-try therapy for anyone with migraines or chronic or tension-type headaches,” says Burgoon. He notes that Aetna Insurance Company policy considers acupuncture among accepted, medically necessary treatments for migraines, chronic low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, postoperative dental pain and nausea associated with surgery, pregnancy and chemotherapy. Asthma and allergies: More than 25 million Americans have asthma, including 6.8 million children. Danish research published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed that 10 acupuncture sessions given over a three-month period reduced asthma symptoms and use of inhaled steroids, but only when acupuncture was ongoing. Benefits diminished when treatments were discontinued. German researchers at Berlin’s Charité University Medical Center found similar effects for seasonal allergies by comparing it with the effects of antihistamines and sham acupuncture. “Patterns of bad health get more ingrained in our body systems as we get older,” says Melanie Katin, a licensed acupuncturist specializing in treating children in New York City and professor at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. “If we can catch an illness in a child’s first seven or eight years, we may be able to prevent it from becoming

chronic in adulthood.” Digestive problems: Acupuncture has been found to be effective for treating colic in babies, irritable bowel syndrome, morning sickness and postoperative nausea caused by anesthesia and chemotherapy treatments, verified in research from Australia’s University of Sydney on patients after surgery for metastatic liver cancer. Several other studies, including one from the Milwaukee’s Medical College of Wisconsin, show that acupuncture rebalances the nervous system and restores proper digestive function, while relieving pain. The World Health Organization review of research notes how acupuncture relieved gastrointestinal (GI) spasms better than atropine injections, and also recommends acupuncture for relief of nausea. “Acupuncture helps calm down an overactive GI tract and stimulates an underactive one,” explains Burgoon. Acupuncture is a non-pharmaceutical remedy for many health problems, Burgoon says. “I fell in love with acupuncture when I discovered I could use it to treat some problems that nothing else helped. I almost never prescribe any medications. Instead, I help people get off pharmaceuticals.” Kathleen Barnes is author of many natural health books, including The Calcium Lie 2: What Your Doctor Still Doesn’t Know, with Dr. Robert Thompson. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

No Needles Needed for Kids by Kathleen Barnes

cupuncture can be helpful for children, especially in treating asthma, allergies and childhood digestive disorders, including colic, says Melanie Katin, a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in treating children in New York City. “Acupuncture for children rarely involves the use of needles. Since their qi (life force) flows very close to the surface of their skin, it doesn’t require a lot of movement to get things flowing in the right direction,” she explains. Acupuncture for kids typically involves light, fast brushing of the skin to encourage a healing circulation of energy. Katin teaches parents to continue treatments at home. She explains that it’s still technically acupuncture, not acupressure, which would involve prolonged stimulation of the body’s energy meridian sites. Sometimes she includes the use of small instruments for tapping or brushing the skin and tuning forks to stimulate the meridian points. She remarks, “The kids love it.”

natural awakenings

January 2016

Therapyspotlight

In Alignment with Good Health

Chad Duchon, DC, of Galveston Physical Medicine

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had Duchon, DC, and founder of Galveston Physical Medicine says “Everyone thinks of a chiropractic doctor when they have back or neck pain, but few people think of them when they are suffering from allergies, disc problems, headaches or fibromyalgia.” Misaligned vertebrae in the spine can impinge on nerves, compromising the nervous system and causing the immune system to malfunction. By correcting misalignment issues, quality chiropractic care allows the body to function optimally. Unlike drugs, chiropractic care gives the body strength to fight allergies and ward off germs by enhancing the immune system. Galveston Physical Medicine offers proven options for some of today’s most prevalent health issues, including back and neck pain, headaches, arthritis, neuropathy, chronic pain management, and weight loss. In practice since 1998, and in Galveston since 2001, Duchon expanded his practice in 2012 to include a nurse practitioner, allowing him to offer additional treatment options. He is trained in Active Release Therapy (ART), a nonsurgical soft tissue system/movement-based technique useful for carpal tunnel and rotator cuff pain. Chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy are two issues Duchon deals with regularly. His peripheral neuropathy treatments attack the problem at its source using a combination of breakthrough technology and advanced treatments. “The majority of patients notice an improvement in their symptoms within their first few treatments,” he says. “In many cases the results go beyond neuropathy and have been helpful for conditions such as chronic pain, arthritis, and MS.” Approximately 50 percent of the population over age 65 suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that typically results from excessive wear and tear on joints. Studies indicate

that bones not in their proper positions are more likely to degenerate and are more prone to the development of osteoarthritis. Duchon works to restore the normal alignment of joints throughout the body. Treatment programs generally include various forms of physical therapy along with nutritional and supplemental advice. Interventional Pain Management is a specialized type of medicine used to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from chronic severe pain. Along with other treatment modalities, Duchon finds that injections of Supartz, a sterile mixture made of highly purified sodium hyaluronate, can often provide relief. Sciatica and lower back and neck pain can be relieved using spinal decompression, a gentle, non-surgical procedure that works on bulging, herniated or degenerative disc disease in the neck and lumbar regions. Therapy sessions typically last less than 20 minutes, three times a week for one month, transitioning from passive to active treatments, with most patients feeling pain relief with as few as six to 10 treatments, and released from treatment after eight weeks. “At Galveston Physical Medicine we recognize that each patient is an individual,” says Duchon. “Our multi-disciplinary approach allows us to custom fit treatment to each patient. We want our patients to be able to live life to the fullest.” Galveston Physical Medicine is located at 2724 61st St., Ste. 5, Galveston, with a satellite location in Webster. For more information, visit GalvestonSpine.com or call 409-744-9355. See ad, page 3.

ecotip Tree Houses

Wildlife Thrives in Dead and Fallen Trees Gathering winter firewood or felling dead trees may be a necessary chore, but it’s best to avoid fallen or snag trees (still upright and decomposing naturally) because they are home to woodland and backyard wildlife. Many types of birds, including woodpeckers, chickadees, bluebirds, nuthatches, owls, wrens and tree swallows and small mammals like raccoons, squirrels, opossums and porcupines use the cavities and crevices for shelter, food (in some cases, dining on congregating invertebrates like millipedes, beetles, spiders, worms and ants), mating, nesting and resting. The U.S. Forest Service says that some 1,200 forms of flora, including mosses, lichens and fungi, rely on dead, dying or rotted-hollow trees and serve to refresh habitat by returning vital nutrients to the soil via the nitrogen cycle. Decaying logs on the forest floor also act as “nurse logs” for new seedlings. Likewise, it’s good to respect brush piles of mainly fallen limbs and sticks. “These are wonderful hiding places for squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks,” reports Woodrow Nelson, a vice president with the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation (Arbor Day.org), in Lincoln, Nebraska, which serves to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. It’s best to identify existing and future snags prior to gathering firewood or timber to spare their accidental destruction. Long-dead trees are fairly easy to spot, with their bony limbs bereft of leaves. Snags-tobe require more review. Look for signs of disease or misshapen form: bracket fungi, rotting branch stubs, beetles, carpenter ants or broken main limbs. Nelson further advises, “Proper pruning can turn around a tree’s health.” He encourages consulting with a local certified arborist or the foundation’s Backyard Woods program. Keeping one or more snags in a yard can create wildlife refuges. According to the National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org), hardwood trees tend to make better nesting habitats, while softer woods are more suited for food foraging. As long as the wood is kept a reasonable distance from a home, termites and other pests won’t find their way between the two dwellings. natural awakenings

January 2016

2016

editorial calendar JANUARY

health & wellness plus: dance power FEBRUARY

friendship

plus: dental health MARCH

food matters

plus: eye health APRIL

everyday sustainability plus: freshwater scarcity MAY

womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wellness plus: thyroid health JUNE

happiness

plus: balanced man JULY

independent media

plus: summer harvest AUGUST

empowering youth plus: creativity SEPTEMBER

healing music plus: yoga OCTOBER

community game changers

plus: chiropractic NOVEMBER

mental wellness plus: beauty DECEMBER

uplifting humanity

plus: holiday themes

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naturalpet

The Right Vet for Your Pet

Animals Thrive with Gentle, Safe and Natural Approaches

A team approach is expected. A holistic practice is a team effort, and the family doctor will suggest options for care, helping an owner decide on the best therapies for each pet. A fuller range of options is available. While holistic vets prefer a more natural approach, they know that if necessary, conventional therapies can sometimes be an appropriate complement if they follow holistic principles, which means infrequent use of low-dose medications and only when absolutely needed. In general, most conditions can be treated successfully without drug therapy, extending the health and life of the patient and reducing medical costs. Gentler anesthesia means quicker recovery. A naturally balanced and gentler approach means less drugging if anesthesia becomes necessary, close monitoring of an anesthetized pet, a smooth and quick recovery for prompt discharge from the hospital and natural forms of follow-up treatment to control post-operative pain and inflammation. New hope rises for the hopeless. Many pets are brought to holistic doctors after conventional care has failed to help them. Some have been turned away by practitioners of conventional medicine because their cases are diagnosed as “hopeless”. Holistic vets and pet parents alike experience considerable satisfaction in helping to give a joyful pet a whole new lease on life. Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information, visit PetCareNaturally.com.

by Shawn Messonnier

et parents have many criteria to consider when choosing a healthcare provider for their prized pet, and among the most vital is trying to find a doctor that uses holistic therapies, because the advantages are many. Wellness care is more than vaccines. While many conventional vets consider giving vaccines and flea medications to all of their patients to be their best form of wellness care, holistic vets know these aren’t always necessary and can potentially be harmful. Instead, true wellness care involves careful consideration of proper diet, blood titer testing instead of vaccines, natural parasite control when appropriate and a heavy dose of diagnostic testing (blood, urine, fecal) to monitor organ function, check for parasites, screen for disorders of the urogenital system, liver and pancreas and early screening for cancer and other inflammatory conditions. There’s also a full physical check for common diseases like dental and heart disease and tumors. Individualized prescriptions for a proper diet and supplements to maintain health are big reasons many owners prefer a holistic vet. Natural treatments include disease prevention. Many pets treated via a more natural approach have an easier experience with occasional illness than those that don’t enjoy this specialized care. Natural therapies can quickly restore an ill pet to his homeostatic balance without the side effects often associated with multiple drug doses. natural awakenings

January 2016

SUPER SOUPS New Twists on Old Favorites Heal, Nourish and Soothe by Judith Fertig

inter season soups on chilly days can warm us, both body and soul. Whatever our food preferences or time constraints, some new twists on traditional favorites will satisfy everyone’s taste buds—with an accent on healthy pleasure. Here’s where to start. Reinventing the past. From her Colorado mountain home, Jenny McGruther, author of The Nourished Kitchen, celebrates the wisdom of traditional foodways, making nutrientdense, healing soup broth from bones, water, vegetables and seasonings. McGruther’s twist is to make it in a six-quart slow cooker. Once her family has dined on organic roast or rotisserie chicken, she simmers the bones with purified water, a bay leaf or two, a few whole peppercorns and a few chopped organic vegetables like onion, carrot and celery

on the low setting for 24 hours. Then she ladles the broth through a coffee strainer into another container, refreshes the slow cooker with more water and simmers the bones and seasonings for another 24 hours. Eventually, the broth will have less flavor and color, and that’s when McGruther starts all over again. “I call this perpetual soup,” she says. She blogs at NourishedKitchen.com. Slowing it down. With homemade broth on hand, it’s easy to make the Italian winter staple of Tuscan Vegetable Bean Soup. Cookbook authors and slow cooker experts Kathy Moore and Roxanne Wyss, from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, love to make this when they’re working on a cookbook deadline. They simply use what they have in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry. “With a soup like this you can always substitute one vegetable for

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

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Photo by Stephen Blancett

consciouseating

another, adjusting the recipe to what you enjoy and have on hand,” advises Moore. The pair blogs at PluggedInto Cooking.com. Speeding it up. Sometimes, we need a single serving of homemade soup fast. Award-winning recipe developer and cookbook author Camilla Saulsbury, of Nacogdoches, Texas, whips up a Pumpkin Sage Soup that can simmer in a saucepan within minutes, ready to be enjoyed in a mug. Saulsbury uses organic canned pumpkin, full of vitamins, which can vary in sweetness. “If needed,” she suggests, “add a drizzle of maple syrup to enhance the flavor of the soup.” Making “bisque” in a high-speed blender. Karen Adler is an avid grower of organic tomatoes in her Kansas City garden. When the seasonal harvest comes to an end, Adler grills or oven roasts the tomatoes, along with organic peppers and onions, and then freezes them, ready to make Roasted Tomato Bisque any time of the year. “My secret to a light bisque without using cream is to blend all the roasted vegetables together with a high-speed blender to give it body. A swirl of extra-virgin olive oil at the end finishes ensuring the satisfying flavor,” she says. Going cold. Douglas McNish, head chef at Toronto’s raw and vegan restaurant Raw Aura, serves a popular Lemon, Cucumber and Dill Soup, which is easy to make in a food processor. “This soup is amazing this time of year, when most of our diets may be lacking in healthy fats and trace minerals,” says McNish. Warming up. Two cookbook authors teamed up across many miles to write 300 Sensational Soups. Meredith Deeds lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, while Carla Snyder resides in Cleveland, Ohio. They’ve mutually discovered the naturally warming properties of curry powder in Curried Coconut Chickpea Soup. Snyder observes, “A good soup nourishes the heart, as well as the stomach, spreading a feeling of satisfaction and contentment.” Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

SOUP’S ON! Tasty Recipes for Winter Meals Lemon, Cucumber and Dill Soup Yields: 2 servings 2 cups chopped peeled, seeded cucumber ½ cup chopped romaine lettuce ¼ cup filtered water ¼ cup chopped fresh dill fronds 1 clove garlic 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil ½ tsp fine sea salt

Yields: 1 serving ¾ cup ready-to-use chicken or vegetable broth 2 /3 cup pumpkin purée (not pie filling) ¼ tsp dried rubbed sage 3 Tbsp half-and-half, whole milk or coconut creamer Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Yields: 6 servings

In a food processor fitted with its metal blade, process cucumber, lettuce, water, dill, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours. Serve garnished with a dollop of vegan sour cream, if preferred, and additional dill. Adapted from Eat Raw, Eat Well, by Douglas McNish

In a saucepan, bring the broth, pumpkin and sage to a simmer over medium-high heat. In the mug, stir broth, pumpkin and sage until blended. Stir in cream and heat for 1 minute more. Season it to taste with salt and pepper before pouring into a mug. Garnish with roasted pumpkin seeds. Adapted from 250 Best Meals in a Mug, by Camilla V. Saulsbury

Soup is a lot like a family. Each ingredient enhances the others; each batch has its own characteristics; and it needs time to simmer to reach full flavor. ~Marge Kennedy

Photo by Stephen Blancett

Pumpkin Sage Soup

Coconut Curried Chickpea Soup 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp curry powder 1 lb small, red-skinned potatoes, ½-inch diced 4 cups vegetable stock 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk ½ tsp salt 2 cans (each 14 to 19 oz, BPA-free) chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 zucchini, ½-inch diced 1 Tbsp packed light brown or date sugar 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice 2 cups (about 3 oz) packed baby spinach Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Toasted shredded coconut for garnish In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add curry powder and sauté another 10 seconds. Add potatoes and stir to coat. Add stock and coconut milk; cook for 10 minutes. Add chickpeas and zucchini; cook another 10 minutes, or until potatoes and zucchini are tender. Stir in brown sugar and lime juice. Add spinach and stir until wilted. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into heated bowls and garnish with coconut. Adapted from 300 Sensational Soups, by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds natural awakenings

January 2016

healthykids

Treating Autism

NATURALLY Plus Strategies for Prevention by Meredith Montgomery

n The Autism Revolution, Pediatric Technology and Massachusetts General Neurologist and Neuroscientist Hospital Medical Imaging facility. Martha Herbert approaches autism “While autism is often thought of as as a whole-body condition that can a genetic disorder, it’s the result of a geneimprove, rather than be a static, lifelong environment interaction where genes are genetic brain disorder. corrupted,” explains Psychiatrist Robert “It’s the way the brain is shifted Hendren, who is currently partnering in into acting when faced developing the Center with a combination of Experts agree that a for Autism Spectrum stressors—some, but Disorder and Neurodenatural foundation velopmental Disorders not all of which are genetic—at a vulnerable for health begins with at the University of Calipoint in development,” fornia, San Francisco. breastfeeding infants says Herbert. NonAccording to the genetic challenges can U.S. Centers for Disease to support natural come from the immune Control and Prevention, immunity, and then autism is the fastestsystem, nutrition, the environment and ensuring children’s growing developmental stress. “Addressing disability, now affecting diets are rich in them can make a one in 68 children and profound difference in nutrients at all ages. one in 42 boys. Autism the condition; maybe Speaks (AutismSpeaks. even turning it around.” org) defines autism spectrum disorder Herbert directs the Treatment Re(ASD) as a group of complex brain search and Neuroscience Evaluation of development disorders characterized by Neurodevelopmental Disorders (TRAN- difficulties in social interaction, verbal SCEND) program at a joint Harvard and nonverbal communication and University, Massachusetts Institute of repetitive behaviors.

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Prevention

Many experts agree that in some cases, autism can be prevented. “Prevention needs to start early—preconception is ideal,” says Dr. Kenneth A. Bock, of Bock Integrative Medicine, in New York, and author of Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies. Emphasizing omega-3 essential fatty acids, folic acid and probiotics during pregnancy can be beneficial, and it’s important to avoid iron deficiency, which has been tied to higher rates of autism, Hendren counsels. Results from a recent University of California, Davis study published in Environmental Health Perspectives reveals increased rates of autism among children of women that live close to pesticide-treated fields during pregnancy, particularly during the second and third trimesters. Hendren says, “Living near heavily sprayed fields can be very detrimental. Living close to freeways or downwind of coal-fired power plants is also associated with autism.” If heavy metal toxicity in blood is confirmed, chelation therapy is often used to remove metals, although Hendren advises against using it for the general treatment of ASD. “Chelators pull out mercury, along with other metals, a process that can be harmful. Instead, think about diet and nutritional supplements that can help detoxify the body more safely,” he explains. Bock says, “It’s not enough to detoxify, we have to remove and prevent exposure to neurodevelopmental toxins.” Herbert suggests avoiding toxic household products, electromagnetic exposure from devices such as cell phones and baby monitors, which can lead to stress, sleep disruption and cell health problems, as well as antibiotic overuse, which can disrupt the gut microbiome, increasing vulnerability to exposure to other harmful chemicals. Herbert notes some parents observe that their child became autistic after a vaccination but there are also autistic children that are vaccine-free; still others become so after facing other stresses such as illness or trauma. “We need to focus on the underlying vulnerabilities and keep children strong and resilient so they can handle life’s

Relax your attachment to expectations and realize that your child sees, hears and feels the world differently than you. Broaden your perspective and make every choice a healthy choice. ~Martha Herbert challenges to their health and immune systems,” she says.

Safeguard Resilience

Currently, the only treatment that has been proven to consistently improve the core symptoms of ASD is behavioral therapy designed to foster language, socialization and academic skills. While effective, this approach is time- and staff-intensive. With the rise and prevalence of autism in the past decade, more parents are turning to complementary and alternative treatments (CAM). Hendren reports that the best researched and safest CAM therapies for treating autism include melatonin to improve sleep, omega-3 fatty acids to ease hyperactivity and possibly improve socialization, multivitamins to supplement a limited diet or poor appetite and methyl B12

injections to protect against oxidative stress. Massage therapy has also proven effective in increasing connectivity with others and reducing over-arousal, while reducing ASD symptoms. Research remains in its infancy, but other CAMs deemed acceptable for a professionally monitored trial include B6 and magnesium supplements to correct metabolic aberration, folic acid for improvements in core symptoms, probiotics to ease gastrointestinal distress and iron supplementation for a deficiency. Although clear benefits have yet to be backed by scientific evidence, many parents of children with ASD report that behavior improves with a diet free of the proteins gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye) and casein (found in dairy). Other parent-endorsed diets include anti-yeast, anti-hyperglycemia, specific carbohydrate, low-oxalate and specific food reaction regimens. A review article in the journal Autism Research and Treatment notes that acupuncture, exercise, and musicand animal-assisted therapy have all been reported as helping to reduce a variety of ASD functional and behavioral symptoms. From sound-dampening headphones that offset loud noises to structuring the environment to anticipate transitions, removing stressors can help reduce the debilitating characteristics of ASD. “This improves abilities to learn and interact with others, but we also don’t want to

Creating Calm Islands by Carolyn Dalgliesh

ensory kids, like those living with autism spectrum, sensory processing, anxiety or attention deficit disorders, are often highly affected by the design of their physical environments. Here are some tips for removing daily stressors for a more supportive home environment. Identify the common sensory challenges for the child so the family can create spaces that support them. Kids may struggle with regulating their emotions, initiating tasks, maintaining focus, rigid rules, lack of flexibility or being consistently overwhelmed. Less is more because these kids

are often more sensitive to environmental stimuli. Tone down the color scheme of their bedroom and playroom, and maintain uncluttered spaces. Clearly defined and labeled areas in certain rooms can help them know what to expect and how to use each space appropriately. Define areas and tasks with visual aids to foster more focused, calm and flexible interactions. Consider creating a designated dressing area with hooks that hold the next day’s clothes and a laundry hamper. This provides a visual routine to follow and structural aids to help complete the task successfully.

Easy-on-Kids Cooking Beyond Gluten-Free, Casein-Free by Melody Handley The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook by Pamela Compart and Dana Laake The SCD for Autism and ADHD: A Reference and Dairy-Free Cookbook for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet by Pamela Ferro and Raman Prasad Special Diets for Special Kids by Lisa Lewis shelter them from having a chance to learn the rules of social interaction in real-world situations,” advises Hendren. Because autism is a heterogeneous disorder with numerous subtypes, the best individualized combination of treatments can be challenging to identify and can often change throughout one’s life. Bock reminds families that even with a successful treatment plan, “A parent’s love is the final element that brings these recovering children out of darkness into light.” Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com). Create a space to escape and regulate when they return home anxious, overwhelmed or ready to explode; a zone to help them feel calm and connected again. Dark and quiet spots are best, like the corner of a closet, bottom bunk, under a desk or even a cardboard box “cabin”. Add a flashlight, favorite books, beanbags, heavy or weighted blankets, handheld sensory toys and something that taps into the child’s current fascination. Carolyn Dalgliesh is the founder of Systems for Sensory Kids & Simple Organizing Strategies in North Kingstown, RI, and author of The Sensory Child Gets Organized. Connect at CarolynDalgliesh.com.

natural awakenings

January 2016

Connecting “within” through free and inspired body movement is the power of conscious dance.

fitbody

The Power of Conscious Dance Creative Movement Connects Body, Mind and Spirit by Gail Condrick

A growing tribe of movers and shakers are discovering and unleashing their power in conscious dance, a combination of moving meditation, soul-stirring music, self-expression and sweat.

“

ost are familiar with the performance or competitive dance world of learned steps. Conscious dance is a non-competitive, body-based way of raising consciousness. There’s no wrong way to move and your shape and measurements don’t matter,” says Mark Metz, of Berkley, California, founder and executive director of the Dance First Association (DFA) and publisher of the Conscious Dancer Magazine and UpShift Guide. The group identifies more than 100 forms of conscious dance, ranging from ecstatic dance to somatic movement therapy. Commonalities include body awareness, barefoot movement, inspiring global music and minimal structure facilitated by leaders. With 1,000 DFA studio locations, many are finding the power of

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conscious dance suits their search for movement with purpose beyond improved fitness as it’s practiced in drug- and alcohol-free club-style events and ecstatic dance experiences, as well as dance fitness programs. “It’s about honoring body intelligence and paying attention to the body and mind-body connection,” says Metz. “The modalities mentioned most often are 5Rhythms, Soul Motion, Open Floor, JourneyDance, and the Nia Technique,” says Metz. A brief look at three of them shows how each has its own style.

5Rhythms In St. Petersburg, Florida, 22 women have gathered to seek the bliss promised by 5Rhythms, one of the original conscious dance forms, founded by

the late Gabrielle Roth. “Find your flow. Feel your connection to the Earth through your feet and release your head,” guides facilitator Amber Ryan, of New York City, who travels the world for dance sessions. “Use your body as a gateway into the now.” For two hours, dancers move freely and individually, swaying, sensing and interacting in an experience called “the wave”, intended to move energy through the body, release emotions and heal the psyche. It’s based on Roth’s premise that, “Each of us is a moving center, a space of divine mystery. Though we spend most of our time on the surface in daily ordinary existence, most of us hunger to connect to this space within, to break through to bliss, to be swept into something bigger.”

JourneyDance Toni Bergins, from the Massachusetts Berkshires, is a frequent presenter at the Kripalu Center and Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. After years of studying and teaching movement, drama, creative visualization and gestalt techniques, she combined them in creating JourneyDance. More than 400 trained facilitators now offer it in 60- or 90-minute classes worldwide based on the philosophy, “Move into a new story!” Every class includes visualization, creative movement, affirmations and evocative music, all working together to release emotions and connect with spirit. “You learn to love your body, expand your emotional intelligence, clear your mind and connect with your inner source,” explains Bergins. “You express yourself, infuse life with creativity and connect with a dancing community.” Participants engage in a ritual journey of physical transformation, cleansing the body through breath, sweat and expression. In this safe space, “Dancers discover their power and personal heart medicine, their true essence,” says Bergins.

Nia Technique For those that prefer more structure, the Nia Technique is the original barefoot mind-body-spirit fitness practice, activating sensation and awareness in a workout adaptable for everybody. More than 2,600 instructors in 51 countries offer 60-minute classes where enthusiasts move the way the body is built to move, reaping cardiovascular fitness and therapeutic benefits while having joyful fun. Dancers, guided by instructor’s moves, feel the rhythm of the music and ground themselves in spirit, equipping themselves to take the selfhealing experience into everyday life. “Nia has always blended form and freedom,” says Debbie Rosas, of Portland, Oregon, co-founder and creator of the technique. “We are now introducing new FreeDance classes to bring what we have learned through Nia to embody consciousness in new ways, conditioning the whole body and nervous system. It’s an invitation to move in free, unbound, unstructured ways to offset the tendency we have to move less as we age.” Dancers move to music designed to animate each chakra through an eight-stage process via a Nia DJ. They’re guided to listen to body feedback through sensation, release emotions and relish being in the present moment. “Regardless of how you act, dress or think, the way you feel inside reveals the most accurate truth of oneself and this is reflected in dance,” says Rosas. “Moving without interference allows your unconscious creative self to shine. You can connect to the sacred artist within; the one that holds a palette with endless colors, shapes and possibilities.” She sees life as ultimately a free-style dance into the self that supports a philosophy of “Love your body, love your life”. “Dance is in everyone’s family tree, a universal message,” says Metz. “In conscious dance, you disconnect from gadgets and reconnect with yourself and others around you. People need that.” Gail Condrick is a Nia faculty member, retreat leader and archetypal soul coach in Sarasota, FL. Connect at GaelaVisions.com.

Dance Sites DanceFirst.com 5Rhythms.com JourneyDance.com NiaNow.com OneDanceTribe.com OpenFloor.org SoulMotion.com natural awakenings

January 2016

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Info@NA-SETexas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 Heavenly Night Hike – 5:30-6:30pm. Join Ranger Lisa on a cool evening night hike and learn about our connection to the stars overhead. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston. Lisa.Reznicek@tpwd.texas.gov. 409-737-1222. Galveston.com/GalvestonIslandStatePark.

Bay Tower Hike – 3:30-4:30pm. Hike begins at the Nature Center, then a short drive to the bay. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston. 409-737-1222. Lisa. Reznicek@tpwd.texas.gov. Galveston.com/ GalvestonIslandStatePark.

5 & 10K Fun Run/Walk – 8:30-11am. 7th Annual 5K/10K/Walk Fun Run presented by Friends of Galveston Island State Park and Fit TRI Run. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston. FoGISP@aol.com.

Galveston ArtWalk – 6-9pm. For over 20 years, the Galveston Arts Center has organized and produced ArtWalk every six to eight weeks on Saturday nights in the heart of the historic district. Enjoy a coordinated evening of opening receptions and art-related events that are hosted in existing commercial galleries, nonprofit arts spaces and “other walls”–retail stores and restaurants. Galveston. 409763-2403. GalvestonArtsCenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6

MONDAY, JANUARY 11

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2

12th Night of Christmas – 6pm. Annual event including King Cake, wassail and music in the traditional finale to the Christmas season. Public invited. Free. Moody Mansion, 2618 Broadway, Galveston. 409-762-7668. MoodyMansion.org. Stress Hormones & Health – 6:30pm. Learn about managing your stress hormones and overall health to maintain a balanced life and optimal weight. Free with reservation. Location TBD, Friendswood. 409621-2225. GalvestonWellnessCenter.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 Restart Class – 6:30-8pm. With Jennifer Steakley, NTP. Five-week class. Lose weight, balance hormones, boost immunity, feel energized, sleep better and fall in love with real food. Part education, part detox, part support group. $119. Free gift with paid registration. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood. 713714-3700. ThatWellnessPlace.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8 Restart Class – 1-2:30pm. With Jennifer Steakley, NTP. Five-week class. Lose weight, balance hormones, boost immunity, feel energized, sleep better and fall in love with real food. Part education, part detox, part support group. $119. Free gift with paid registration. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood. 713714-3700. ThatWellnessPlace.com. Heavenly Night Hike – 5:30-6:30pm. Ranger Lisa leads a cool evening night hike while teaching about the stars. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston. 409-737-1222. Lisa.Reznicek@tpwd.texas.gov. Galveston.com/ GalvestonIslandStatePark.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 Pearland Old Townsite Farmers’ Market – 8am-Noon. 2nd & 4th Saturday. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. PearlandOldTownSiteFarmersMarket.com. Pet Microchip Clinic – 1-4pm. $10, includes 1-year free registration with Home Again National Pet Recovery Database. Animal Control & Adoption Center, 2002 Old Alvin Road, Pearland. PearlandTX.gov.

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Evening Tea & Book Study Group – 7pm. Join an intimate discussion group meeting weekly for 6 weeks to discuss the book Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, MD., led by nutritional therapist Jennifer Steakley. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr. Ste C4, Friendswood. Call 713-714-3700 to reserve a space. ThatWellnessPlace.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 Stress Hormones & Health – 6:30pm. Learn about managing your stress hormones and overall health to maintain a balanced life and optimal weight. Free with reservation. Location TBD, Galveston. 409621-2225. GalvestonWellnessCenter.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 Reversing Diabetes – 6:30pm. Learn about how to not just manage diabetes, but learn about how to actually REVERSE the condition. Free with reservation. Location TBD, Friendswood. 409621-2225. GalvestonWellnessCenter.com. Garden Lecture – 7pm. Pearland Recreation Center, 4141 Bailey Rd, Pearland. PearlandTX.gov.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 Heavenly Night Hike – 5:30-6:30pm. Ranger Lisa leads a cool evening night hike while teaching about the stars. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston. 409-737-1222. Lisa.Reznicek@tpwd.texas.gov. Galveston.com/ GalvestonIslandStatePark.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 Bridal Show – 10am-4pm. A one-stop shopping opportunity to plan the complete wedding day. Runway Show at 1pm. Free. Columbia Lakes Country Club, 188 Freeman Blvd, West Columbia. Contact Esther Lara 979-345-6161 x2. ColumbiaLakesEvents@gmail.com. Camera Phone Hike – 1-2pm. Join Ranger Lisa as we explore the tips for taking better camera phone pictures to capture those special moments. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston. 409-737-1222. Lisa.Reznicek@tpwd.texas.gov. Galveston.com/GalvestonIslandStatePark.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 Thyroid Hormone Imbalances – 6:30pm. Your thyroid impacts your energy and weight, learn how it controls hormones and how to correct any imbalances. Free with reservation. Location TBD, Friendswood. 409-621-2225. GalvestonWellnessCenter.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 Pearland Arbor Day Celebration Noon. KPB will be giving away 2 to Pearland residents (until supplies Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, KeepPearlandBeautiful.org.

– 8amseedlings run out). Pearland.

Pearland Old Townsite Farmers’ Market – 8am-Noon. 2nd & 4th Saturday. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. PearlandOldTownSiteFarmersMarket.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 Galveston Vegan Meetup – 6:30-8:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring a vegan dish share. RSVP requested. Oasis Juice Bar, 2501 Market Street, Galveston. Meetup.com/Galveston-Vegan-Meetup.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 Mardi Gras! Galveston – Jan 29-Feb 9. A unique Mardi Gras experience expected to draw 350K+ attendees for 30+ concerts, 22 parades, 20 balcony parties and several elegant balls. Galveston. MardiGrasGalveston.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 6th Annual Dawson Winter Dash – 8:30am 1-Mile Fun Run. 9am 5K. Fundraising run in support of the Dawson High School Eagle Band and Color Guard, part of Pearland’s Winterfest. Turner High School, 4719 Bailey Rd, Pearland. Facebook.com/DawsonWinterDash.

plan ahead SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Friendswood Farmers’ Market Local vendors selling produce, goods and more. Stevenson area, 1100 S Friendswood Dr, FriendswoodMarket.com.

– 8am-Noon. spices, baked Park, gazebo Friendswood.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11 RESTART Class – 6:30-8pm. See January 7th listing. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood. 713-7143700. ThatWellnessPlace.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Daddy Daughter Date Night – 6-8pm. Dinner, dancing, a keepsake photo and visit from Anna, Elisa and Olaf from Frozen. $30/couple. Pearland Junior High, 4719 Bailey Rd., Pearland. 281-412-8930. Contact Nicole Bowen for details at NBowen@pearlandtx.gov.

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Info@NA-SETexas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

Calendar

sunday

A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.

Galveston’s Own Farmers’ Market – 9am1pm. Offering locally grown produce, prepared foods and edible farm products. 2508 Postoffice St, Galveston. 832-819-1561. Facebook.com/ GalvestonsOwnFarmersMarket. Yoga Nidra – 7pm. Opening with a soft flow of yoga asanas to prepare the body and mind for the deep, guided meditation of yoga nidra (yogic sleep), this practice serves to calm the restless mind and deepen conscious awareness. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.

monday Yoga 101 – 5:30-6:45pm. With Kathleen. Foundational hatha yoga for students new to yoga or returning to practice. Fine tune basic skills that will deepen your understanding and enjoyment of the practice of yoga. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.

tuesday Senior Tuesday – All day. On Tuesdays, anyone 65 years and up can visit Moody Gardens for $5/ attraction per senior. Restrictions may apply. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 800-582-4673. MoodyGardens.com. Meditation – 9:30-10:30am. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org.

wednesday Oneness Blessing Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Visit for a unique experience that brings each person into a closer connection with one another and God. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org. Small Dog Socialization – 7:30-8:15pm. Bring in small dogs to have fun and socialize. Gimmie a Bark, 101 E Edgewood Dr, Friendswood. 281-482-1911. GimmieABark.com.

saturday Clear Lake Shores Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. A nonprofit outlet operated by volunteers offering locally grown fruit, vegetables and other homemade products. Texas certified farmers’ market. 1020 Marina Bay Dr, Clear Lake Shores. FarmersMarketAtCLS.com.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Info@NA-SETexas.com. ADVERTISING ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings’ classified ad section. To place an ad, email Info@ NA-SETexas.com.

OPPORTUNITIES LIKE TO DRIVE? – We are looking for you to drop off copies of Natural Awakenings once a month to various locations in your area. Must have a driver’s license, car and valid insurance. Email your name, phone number and your experience to Info@ NA-SETexas.com.

SERVICES HOLISTIC BODY WORK – Bayou Rolfing can re-align the body to ease pain or correct posture. Rolfing smooths connective tissue for better movement. 281-910-4782.

GOT EVENTS? GET NOTICED! Advertise in our calendar.

Two styles available: n Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month. n Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week. Contact us for guidelines so we can assist you through the process. We’re here to help!

Info@ NA-SETexas.com natural awakenings

January 2016

Turn Your Passion Into a Business

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As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love!

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• Meaningful New Career • Low Initial Investment • Proven Business System • Home-Based Business • Exceptional Franchise Support & Training

Natural Awakenings is now expanding into new markets across the U.S. Contact us about starting a magazine in a community of your choice or acquiring an existing publication for sale highlighted in red below.

Natural Awakenings publishes in over 95 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. • • • • • • • • • • •

Huntsville, AL Gulf Coast AL/MS* Phoenix, AZ* Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Boulder, CO* Denver, CO Fairfield County, CT Hartford, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT • Washington, DC • Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL • NW FL Emerald Coast • Ft. Lauderdale, FL • Jacksonville/ St. Augustine, FL • Melbourne/Vero, FL • Miami & the Florida Keys • Naples/Ft. Myers, FL • North Central FL • Orlando, FL • Palm Beach, FL • Peace River, FL • Sarasota, FL • Tampa/St. Pete., FL • FL’s Treasure Coast • Atlanta, GA • Hawaiian Islands • Chicago, IL • Chicago Western Suburbs, IL • Indianapolis, IN • Baton Rouge, LA • Lafayette, LA • New Orleans, LA • Portland, ME • Boston, MA • Ann Arbor, MI • East Michigan • Wayne County, MI* • Western MI* • Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN • Charlotte, NC* • Lake Norman, NC* • Triangle, NC • Bergen/Passiac, NJ* • Central, NJ

• Hudson County, NJ • Mercer County, NJ • Monmouth/ Ocean, NJ • North Central NJ • South NJ • Santa Fe/Abq., NM • Las Vegas, NV • Albany, NY • Buffalo, NY • Central NY • Long Island, NY • Lower Hudson Valley West, NY • Manhattan, NY* • Queens, NY • Rochester, NY • Westchester/ Putnam Co’s., NY • Central OH • Cincinnati, OH • Toledo, OH • Oklahoma City, OK • Portland, OR* • Bucks/Montgomery Counties, PA • Harrisburg/York, PA • Lancaster/Berks, PA • Lehigh Valley, PA • Pocono, PA/ Warren Co., NJ • Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre, PA • Rhode Island • Charleston, SC* • Columbia, SC • Grand Strand, SC* • Greenville, SC • Chattanooga, TN • Knoxville, TN* • Memphis, TN • Austin, TX • Dallas Metroplex, TX • Dallas/FW Metro N • Houston, TX • San Antonio, TX* • SE Texas • Richmond, VA • VA’s Blue Ridge • Seattle, WA • Madison, WI • Milwaukee, WI • Puerto Rico

* Existing magazines for sale

For more information, visit our website NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/mymagazine or call 239-530-1377 30

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Natural Awakenings recently won the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review. To learn more, visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Info@NA-SETexas.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

HOOKED ON ACUPUNCTURE

GALVESTON WELLNESS CENTER

Clint McCallum, LAc 2505 Market St, Galveston 409-241-3199 HookedOnAcupuncture.com

Hooked on Acupuncture community clinic in Galveston is a healing place that is affordable, welcoming, nurturing, inspiring and educational. We heal with acupuncture and herbs. See ad, page 17.

CHIROPRACTIC

The team here serves the people of Galveston with the best in medical and alternative care. Call today to schedule a consultation. See ad, page 3.

HAPPY PRETTY YOU! Reiki Salon & Spa 1615 23rd St, Galveston 409-765-5502 HappyPrettyYou.com

Oasis in the heart of downtown Galveston offers freshly made juices, smoothies, coffee, tea and healthy breakfast options. Lunch options include sandwiches and creative salads. We also offer an organic products market. See ad, page 18.

HERBALIST

From the city to the beach, where you live, work and play. Let me help you buy, sell or lease your Peace of Paradise on beautiful Galveston Island. I will be there every step of the way. See ad, page 27.

YOGA

THE HERBALIST JOURNAL

THE YOGA HAVEN

Susie Lyons Pearland 832-202-4391 TheHerbalistJournal.com

2507 Market St, Galveston 409-770-9995 TheYogaHaven.net

Natural health and skin care products (Old South Essentials), classes on herbs, plant medicine and essential oils. Get your body in balance – naturally. See column, page 16.

For 10 years offering the path of yoga for vibrant body, awakened mind and open heart, the studio provides an inspiring environment for yoga classes. Daily classes for students of all levels; special workshops and events offered. See ad, page 21.

HOLISTIC CENTER ISLAND BRAINWORKS, LLC Brainwave Optimization® 2220 Post Office St, Galveston 713-299-2277/409-599-7268 IslandBrainWorks.com

Brainwave Optimization ® (BWO) is science-based, effective and holistic; a noninvasive method of achieving brain balance and harmony. By es acting like a mirror to brain t to n , isla n d patterns, BWO allows the brain to auto-correct itself with individually tailored realtime methodology for brainwave activity using EEG technology. Appointments only. See ad, page 20. c.

l.l.

rainwork s db

g al

A full service salon and day spa in a private and relaxing environment. We combine personal attention with a healing touch for naturally beautiful hair & skin in an oasis of peace. See ad, pages 15.

Dee Richmond, Realtor, CNE The House Company 409-370-4572 YourPeaceOfParadise.com

409 25th St, Galveston 409-762-8446 OasisJuiceBar.com

DAY SPA

YOUR PEACE OF PARADISE

OASIS JUICE BAR & MARKET

Specializing in reducing symptoms of many disorders by improving the brain & body’s ability to relax utilizing neurofeedback and Christian counseling. Our goal is to help our clients achieve improved physical, emotional, and spiritual health. See ad, pages 9.

Individualized nutrition counseling for clients dealing with chronic health issues. Group nutrition classes using the RESTART Program. Let me show you how to eat your way to wellness! See ad, pages 18.

REAL ESTATE

HEALTHY DINING

isla n

Dr. Stephanie McClung 3607 Broadway Ave, Galveston 409-300-3117 GalvestonBrainChangers.com

Jennifer Steakley, LMT, NTP 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood 713-714-3700 ThatWellnessPlace.com

Attend one of our FREE DINNER talks to learn about what you can do to REVERSE DIABETES, manage stress hormones & health, learn the TRUE cause of belly fat and IMPROVE thyroid hormone imbalances. See ad page 19.

COUNSELING GALVESTON BRAIN CHANGERS

WELLNESS NUTRITION & BODYWORK

Dr. Pedro Lozano D.C., PSc, B.Sc. 520 20th Street, Galveston 409-621-2225 GalvestonWellnessCenter.com

GALVESTON PHYSICAL MEDICINE Dr. Chad Duchon 2724 61st St, Galveston 409-744-9355 GalvestonSpine.com

NUTRITION

Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it. ~Charles R. Swindoll

natural awakenings

January 2016

WE’LL HAVE YOU SMILING IN NO TIME

Trust Natural Awakenings to polish up your marketing. Advertise in our February Dental Health Issue Our readers seek specialists offering products and services like: • Amalgam Removal • Biological Dentistry • Bridgework/Dentures • Caps/Crowns/Implants • Cosmetic Dentistry

• Holistic Dentistry • Laser Gum Surgery • Mercury-Free Filings • Oral Health Practitioners • Orthodontists

• Ozone Cavity Treatment • Peridontists • Restorative Dentistry • Total Body Health ... and this is just a partial list