Natural Awakenings Boston January 2017

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

P L A N E T

FREE

Dr. V.A. Shiva and Systems Health ®

A Bold New Educational Technology

5SECRETS Weight-Loss

It’s Not About Calories

The Dark Side of GlutenFree Living Most People Benefit from Gluten

January 2017 | Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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natural awakenings

January 2017

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letterfrompublisher

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s publisher of a healthy living lifestyle magazine, it’s awe-inspiring work endeavoring to keep up with the latest and greatest products, modalities and technologies.

Many are newly developed while others are being resurrected from the past.

One example we’re excited about is the work of Dr. V.A. Shiva, featured in our January Spotlight article, “Dr. V.A. Shiva and Systems Health: A Bold New Educational Technology.” His approach bridges the gap between Western systems theory and Eastern medicine that has roots going back 5,000 years.

Another innovation I recently learned about from Alan Grazioso of Grazioso Integrative Health is biomagnetism.

Biomagnetic Pair Therapy, (not to be confused with Magnet Therapy) developed by Dr. Isaac Goiz Durán in 1988, uses pairs of magnets to neutralize the pH of suspected pathogens in the body. We look forward to sharing more about this in an upcoming issue.

Readers of Natural Awakenings might think that its publisher would already practice a full complement of natural approaches to wellness. While it’s true that I aspire to use more and more holistic and natural products and services as I learn about those that make sense for me, like with most people, it’s a process and making changes comes in phases.

Normally, I opt to make small improvements throughout the year, but this year I’m breaking with my own tradition by resolving to focus on the bigger goal of trying one new natural modality, product or service each month. We’d love to hear about your favorite go-to therapies and answers that work for you, as well as a few you’d be interested in learning more about in these pages this year. We can’t guarantee we’ll fit them all in, but we will share as many winning ideas as we can. Please email yours to Publisher@NABoston.com.

To a healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2017!

contact us Publisher Maisie Raftery Managing Editor Nancy Somera Advertising James Ashton 646-262-3037 Proofreader - Randy Kambic Administrative Assistant Allison Roedell Support@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Contributors Judith Fertig Keri Layton • Shawn Messonnier Sandy C. Newbigging Lisa Marshall • Meredith Montgomery Margo Roman • Rose Siple Design & Production Stephen Blancett Zina Cochran Julee Bode P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com © 2017 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.

Maisie Raftery, Publisher

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.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

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newsbriefs healthbriefs globalbriefs ecotip practitioner spotlight inspiration healingways consciouseating naturalpet calendarof events classifieds community resourceguide

advertising & submissions

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.

17 THE LIGHT POURS IN

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by Keri Layton

18 DR. V.A. SHIVA AND SYSTEMS HEALTH®

A Bold New Educational Technology

20 WEIGHT-LOSS SABOTEURS Tackling Obesity’s Hidden Causes

by Lisa Marshall

23 SKY HIGH

A Simple Gaze Invokes the Infinite

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by Sandy C. Newbigging

24 REALIZING GOALS Transformational Services Can Help Ensure Goals are Met

by Rose Siple

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 617-906-0232 or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@ NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

26 AFFORDABLE

24

COMPLEMENTARY CARE

Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less

by Meredith Montgomery

31 THE DARK SIDE OF

GLUTEN-FREE LIVING

Most People Benefit from Gluten

by Judith Fertig

33 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE 33 FOR PETS

Why the Best Vets Use It

by Shawn Messonnier

35 RESET YOUR PET WITH

RESTORATIVE THERAPIES

Expanding the Toolbox at Main Street Animal Services

by Margo Roman

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January 2017

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newsbriefs Hay House’s Kate Northrup to Headline Local Women’s Retreat

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he Soulopreneur retreat, a day of skill building paired with yoga, meditation, nutrition coaching, sound healing and even Journey Dance with creator Toni Bergins, will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., January 27, at Wellesley College Club, in Wellesley.

The event offers women in business exercises in both stress relief and personal empowerment by building a Kate Northrup supportive community of like-minded, local business collaborators; providing top-level consulting in growth, sales, branding and bookkeeping; and integrating restorative, practical selfcare routines that encourage nutrition, flexibility and happiness.

Bestselling Hay House author Kate Northrup headlines this empowering and energizing business retreat for soulopreneurs of all ages and backgrounds.

“New England is home to thousands of empowered, creative, passionate female entrepreneurs,” says Vanessa Gobes, cofounder of Chrysalis Center for Meditation & Wellness. “While building a business can be thrilling and liberating, it can also be incredibly stressful. The drive and determination required to get a business up and running is often to the detriment of physical and mental health, especially for those women that are caring for families.”

Gobes stresses it is imperative that women of all ages and races make selfcare a priority with intention of reducing stress. This means implementing supportive habits at home, mindfully increasing efficacy at work and nurturing happiness.

Participants are asked to dress in brightly colored athletic/leisure wear to reflect their bright futures.

Cost: $297-$359. Location: 727 Washington St., Wellesley. For more information, visit Soulopreneur.net. See ad on page 3.

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newsbriefs Health and Wellness Practitioner Educator Trainings in Cambridge

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wo one-day Systems Health® Educator Training workshops are planned for January 21 and 28 in Cambridge.

Systems Health is a bold new educational technology that unifies Eastern medicine with Western systems theory, while providing practical tools for health and wellness practitioners to build a vibrant new educational business as an adjunct to their current offerings.

Dr. V. A. Shiva “Attendees discover the interconnections of matter and energy described by modern systems theory,” says workshop presenter, Dr. V. A. Shiva. “Remarkably, these are the same interconnections described by Siddha and ayurveda, which originated in India 50 centuries ago. None of this requires any conventional scientific training. In fact, the laboratory for these investigations is our own body, which is understood as a template for a much larger, all-encompassing reality,” he says.

The result is an integrative, genuinely holistic perspective on health and the human physical self. Attendees also receive a Systems Health Educator certification to use Your Body, Your System®, which enables a certified Systems Health Educator to generate additional revenue. Using the tool, the educator can help others understand in a simple three-step process what kind of system their body is, how their body is “off course”, and what inputs they can use, be it diet, exercise and mindful practices to bring their body back on course.

The educator can charge $50 or more per session. It provides an additional source of educational income for medical professionals as well as those that teach yoga, life skills, weight training, or anyone else that interacts with those that want to improve themselves.

To sign up and receive more information about cost and exact location, visit SystemsHealth.com/Register. See ad on back page.

APRIL 1-2, 2017 • THE 7th ANNUAL

WOMEN’S GETAWAY WEEKEND Hosted by Julie McGrath of The Joy Source

Held right on the ocean at the Ashworth by the Sea, Hampton Beach, NH. Find the keys to relax, connect, grow, dream, take action and rediscover your true self.

To Register: thejoysource.com/womens-weekend-2017/ natural awakenings

January 2017

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newsbriefs A Spring Full of Qigong and Tai Chi Events at Eastover

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astover Estate and Retreat, in Lenox, will present a spring full of qigong and tai chi events with internationally renowned leaders and masters in Eastern philosophy, medicine and practices. The events include a weeklong Healing of the Heart Medical Sheng Zhen Qigong event from March 31 to April 7, and an open house event on April 29 for leaders, teachers and students to celebrate World Qigong Tai Chi Day. Other events include a weeklong symposium in June on Eastern medicine.

“Medical bills are high and insurance is costly today, but through daily practice of qigong and tai chi, and the integration of Eastern medicine with Western methods, people can prevent disease and take control of their own health,” says Eastover founder Yingxing Wang. “Qigong and tai chi are daily tools for spiritual cultivation, aligning the heart and improving balance and physical health.”

A documentary of 2016 symposium masters and a film on qigong healing cancer will be premiered at the 2017 symposium. “We will dive deep into the wisdom of the ancient healing traditions of the East and discuss practical modern applications of such powerful practices as qigong and tai chi,” says Wang, noting that the 2017 events welcome both beginners and seasoned practitioners.

Location: Eastover Estate and Retreat, 430 East St., Lenox. For more information, call 866-264-5139 or visit Eastover.com/upcoming-retreats.html. See ad on page 13.

Cozy Up To Your Natural Match J

oin the largest database of health-conscious and eco-minded, spiritual singles for FREE and manifest an extraordinary relationship!

Join for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com 8

New Book on Music Lessons for the Spirit

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anet Kessenich, owner of Spiral Energies, has published Music Lessons for the Spirit, a book designed to help deepen spiritual connection and inspire more insightful, meaningful and satisfying living through the gateway of music, personal stories and reflective practices.

“Rests, overtones and improvisation might seem unlikely sources of inspiration for spirituality,” says Kessenich, “but in my transition from musician to holistic healer, I’ve discovered that these and other musical concepts are apt metaphors for vital aspects of spirituality, such as incorporating silence into our lives, establishing a spiritual practice and cultivating deep inner listening.”

Each of the eight essays in Music Lessons for the Spirit closes with a Reflections section to help readers personalize spiritual and life lessons on such topics as: deep listening, discovering self-esteem and worthiness, learning the lesson of resting via its importance in music, and using the elements of practicing a musical instrument when developing a spiritual practice.

“Spiritual lessons are offered to us all the time and through all means,” says Kessenich, “and music had been the gateway through which many of my spiritual beliefs and practices had emerged. They’ve been embedded in encounters with my most significant teachers, in music theory itself, and in personal life experiences that inspired the wisdom I share in this book.”

Cost: $15 for the book. For more information, call 617-926-4155 or visit SpiralEnergies.com.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs Talk on Unlocking Your Zodiac Code

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n Thursday, January 12, authors and renowned astrologers Stella Starsky and Quinn Cox will present a talk on the ancient science of interpreting the influence of planetary movements on personal lives from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Marlo Marketing, in Boston.

“As it turns out, the zodiac code is Quinn Cox and much more than it appears,” says Marlo Stella Starsky Marketing Account Executive Emma Wilson. “Stella and Quinn, who’ve been called ‘astrologers to the stars,’ will teach how to unlock the power of the astrological wheel to tap into our own inner wisdom, know which areas of our lives will come into focus and where we can take the best possible actions.”

With a combined 30 years of experience in private consultation, contributions to such magazines as Vogue, Allure and Glamour, and numerous television appearances, Starsky and Cox plan to deliver an entertaining event filled with wisdom and humor. The ticket price includes a copy of their bestselling book, Sextrology.

ATTAIN YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

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$150 (reg. $200) Colon Hydrotherapy • Light & Sound Meditation Ozone Steam • Foot DETOX • Full Body Hydrotherapy

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OTHER SERVICES OFFERED: Private Retreat Center with Personalized Wellness Programs Light and Sound Meditation •Ozone-Oxygen Sauna Bodywork • Personal Training

Between Two Worlds 125 Slater Street • Attleboro, MA

(508) 222-7376 BetweenTwoWorlds.info

Cost: $25. Location: Marlo Marketing, 38 Chauncy St., 3rd Flr., Boston. For more information, call 617-375-9700 or visit MarloMarketing.com/wellness.

Collateral Beauty in Theaters Now

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hen a successful New York advertising executive suffers a great tragedy, he retreats from life. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to love, time and death. It’s not until his notes bring unexpected personal responses that he begins to understand how these constants interlock in a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.

Collateral Beauty stars Will Smith, alongside an all-star ensemble cast that includes Edward Norton, Keira Knightley, Michael Pena, Naomie Harris, Jacob Latimore, Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren. The film is directed by David Frankel, known for his films Marley & Me, The Devil Wears Prada and Hope Springs.

Location: Theaters nationwide. For more information, visit Facebook.com/CollateralBeauty/. natural awakenings

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newsbriefs New President at Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation Announced

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atural Awakenings Publishing Corporation, the leader in local, natural health magazines, announced the promotion of Pat McGroder to company president.

He joined the company this year as Pat McGroder executive vice president in charge of franchise development.

“We’re excited to have Pat with us and are looking forward to the positive impact he can have on our brand,” says Sharon Bruckman, Natural Awakenings’ founder and CEO. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help us take advantage of our position in the market in order to expand our revenue opportunities.”

McGroder joins the Natural Awakenings magazine family having already spent 24 years in the publishing industry.

He began his career with Perfect Wedding Guide from 1992 through 2005, serving as the president and CEO. In 2006 he opened a boutique real estate company and served as vice president through 2011. From 2011 through August 2016, Pat was vice president of market development for The Real Estate Book and Homes & Land magazines.

“What an exciting time to be here to lead the Natural Awakenings team,” says McGroder. “This company is poised to create new and innovative value for our readers, advertisers and franchise owners.

I could not be more thrilled to accept this position and apply my decades of experience to position the company for significant growth. I look forward to working side by side with the many people that comprise the backbone of the organization as together we grow new opportunities in the coming years.”

For more information, visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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newsbriefs

Find the root cause of your health problems and their solutions!

Seeing the Heart as a Gateway to Quantum Healing

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von Dubé, a healer, teacher and founder of the School of Love Energetics, will offer three Boston-area events in January to deliver his life-changing modality through workshops, a lecture and a free webinar entitled, Discover How to Use Heart Power to Attract Your Desires!

“Recent research proposes that the heart is a point of access to a field of intuition and healing that is beyond our traditional paradigms,” says Dubé. “Researchers hypotheYvon Dubé size that the heart may be a gateway to the quantum field and unity consciousness. Not only is science moving in the right direction, but accessing this level is possible and easy.”

Almost a decade ago, Dubé intuitively stumbled upon a technique that allowed him to instantly heal his patient’s sciatic nerve. His breakthrough led to the creation of a powerful energy healing technique and protocol capable of shifting the root causes of disease. After two years of cultivating and refining his approach, Dubé launched the Love Energetics modality.

The three upcoming events include the free online webinar on January 5, a lecture entitled Discovering the Quantum Healing Power of the Heart on January 19, and a Foundation Workshop from January 20 to 22.

Kristine was able to assess my health on many levels and come up with a treatment plan especially for me. I have never felt better!

~ Heather M., Cambridge

Using a unique blend of healing modalities to create a treatment plan for all kinds of physical, chemical & emotional issues, Kristine will help you find relief from:

Back/Neck Pain - Migraines - Food/Pet/ Environmental Allergies - Gastrointestinal Issues Hormone Imbalances - Autoimmune Challenges

KRISTINE CMFT, CBK, LMT JELSTRUP NATURAL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER

617-833-3407

Central Square

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

126 PROSPECT ST #5 - CAMBRIDGE

Location: Online and at Courtyard Boston Woburn/Boston North, 700 Unicorn Park Dr., Woburn. For more information, call 514-357-2320 or visit LoveEnergetics.com/en/. See ad on page 7.

CentralSquareHealthandWellness.com

Digital Thermography of Body & Breast

Screening of Film About Finding Peace in Prison

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n Tuesday, January 10, the Prem Rawat Foundation will show a screening of Inside Peace from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Brookline High School.

“This movie shows an approach that is currently reducing recidivism rates in prisons, improving the quality of lives and making positive changes for society by starting at the personal level,” says foundation volunteer Leah Becker. “Inside Peace shows an innovative approach to a deep social problem that’s uplifting and hopeful.”

The film is based on the foundation’s Peace Class, offered to criminal offenders in a Texas prison whose lives are marked by generations of violence, addiction and poor social conditions. Four years in the making, Inside Peace depicts how the inmates struggle to discover their humanity, improve their outlook and rebuild their lives from the inside out by enrolling in the class. With a supporting cast of fellow inmates, prison officials, experts and family members, the film takes viewers down these men’s difficult roads as they reintegrate with life on the outside relying on the personal peace, self-worth and dignity discovered in the Peace Class.

elf ours h t i Y e n g r G m o o f o d o S Do Y!

SCREEN TODA

Early Detection of Disease Allows for Early Intervention and Optimal Health Affordable • Painless • Safe

Waltham, MA (781) 899-2121 Shrewsbury, MA (508) 425-3300

Hopkinton, MA (508) 425-3300

Cost: $6. Location: Brookline High School, MLK room, 115 Greenough St., Brookline. For more information, call 617-730-2700 or visit InsidePeaceMovie.com. natural awakenings

January 2017

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healthbriefs

Exercise in Midlife Helps Preserve Mental Sharpness

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Early-to-Bed Kids at Less Risk of Obesity

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esearch from the Ohio State University College of Public Health, in Columbus, suggests that the risk of childhood obesity, a growing concern in the U.S., can be reduced by putting children to bed before 8 p.m.

The researchers examined reports from mothers of 977 4-and-a-half-year-old children born in 1991 regarding their typical weekday bedtimes. The answers were divided into three categories: 8 p.m. or earlier, between 8 and 9 p.m. and later. Responses were compared to the obesity levels of the same children at an average age of 15. Of the group with the earliest bedtime, comprising about 25 percent of the subjects, only one in 10 were obese, compared to 16 percent of those with childhood bedtimes between 8 and 9 p.m., representing 50 percent of the subjects. The youngsters that went to bed the latest reported a 23 percent obesity rate, the highest overall.

Dr. Meena Khan, a sleep medicine specialist at the university’s Wexner Medical Study Center, comments about the challenge of maintaining proper bedtimes: “Kids do well with a schedule and a routine.”

Parents Use Complementary Health Care for Kids

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pittawut/Shutterstock.com Yuriy Chertok/Shutterstock.com

pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/Shutterstock.com

study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in July confirms that physical activity in midlife can help reduce the chances of developing cognitive impairment in old age. Scientists studied data on the physical activity levels from 3,050 twins in Finland given questionnaires in 1975 and 1981.

A phone interview more than 25 years later served as a follow-up cognitive evaluation, and the subjects were divided into three categories: cognitively impaired, suffering mild cognitive impairment or cognitively healthy. Individuals that participated in vigorous physical activity when they were middle-aged displayed lower levels of cognitive impairment compared to those that did less vigorous exercise.

Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

he 2012 National Health Interview Survey, published in 2015, included a survey on the use of complementary medicine practices. Nearly 45,000 Americans were questioned, including more than 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 17.

The survey found that nearly 12 percent of children had used complementary medicine, either in a practice or product, during the year studied. The most common form of alternative medicine among children was natural supplements, such as fish oil, probiotics and melatonin. Chiropractic care and yoga were also popular choices.

Researchers found that parents sought complementary approaches most often for children due to back or neck pain, musculoskeletal conditions, colds, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or insomnia.

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Ayurvedic Program Improves Blood Chemistry

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clinical trial from the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine found that participants in a six-day, ayurvedic-based, well-being program showed metabolic improvements in blood tests for inflammation, cardiovascular disease risk (CDR) and cholesterol levels.

Study participants consisted of 119 healthy men and women between the ages of 30 and 80. Sixty-five experienced a panchakarma program, a detox and rejuvenation protocol involving a vegetarian diet, meditation, yoga, massage, herbal therapy and other healing therapies. The other 54 served as a control group. Blood was analyzed before and after the test period.

The researchers, led by Dr. Deepak Chopra, found measurable decreases in 12 phosphatidycholines (cell-membrane chemicals) associated with cholesterol, inflammation, CDR and Type 2 diabetes risk. They acknowledge that due to the short duration of the trial, the immediate changes were likely attributable to the vegetarian diet; more research is needed to determine the complementary role of the other therapies.

“It appears that a one-week panchakarma program can significantly alter the metabolic profile of the person undergoing it,” remarks Chopra.

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Conscious Dying Plus: Children’s Dental Health Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Estate Planning, Hospice, Eco-Burial Advice plus Holistic Dental Care & Pediatric Dentists

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

Reforesting India

Massive Tree-Planting Against Climate Change Indian officials report that volunteers planted more than 49 million trees on a single day in 2016, surpassing the 2013 world record of 850,000 in Pakistan. An estimated 800,000 volunteers worked for 24 hours planting 80 species of saplings raised in local nurseries along roads, railways and other public land.

The effort is part of the commitment India made at the Paris Climate Conference in December 2015. The country agreed to spend $6 billion to reforest 12 percent of its land and bring the total forest cover to 235 million acres by 2030, or about 29 percent of its territory.

Trees sequester carbon dioxide from the air and reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. India has experienced substantial loss of its forest cover in recent centuries as people cut down trees for firewood, pasture and development. Still, saplings need water and care and are susceptible to disease. Mortality rates can reach 40 percent after such massive tree plantings.

Other countries are also replanting trees. Last December, African nations pledged to reforest 100 million hectares (386 square miles). A wide range of stakeholders from countries to companies also signed on to the non-binding New York Declaration of Forests that month, with the goal of halving deforestation by 2020 and ending it by 2030. szefei/Shutterstock.com

FEB

globalbriefs

Protecting Pollinators

Maryland Bans Bee-Killing Pesticides

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

646-262-3037

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StudioSmart/Shutterstock.com

Source: National Geographic

Maryland is the first state in the nation to pass strict restrictions on pesticides thought to be responsible for significant reductions in bee populations with enactment of its Pollinator Protection Act. Maryland lost more than 60 percent of its hives in 2015, each containing up to 20,000 honeybees, making it one of the states with the highest recorded declines. The national average is about 42 percent, yet across the country, farmers and gardeners are still using pesticides linked to colony collapse disorder. Globally, more than one-third of the world’s food supply could be at risk if these and other pollinators are lost.

Neonicotinoids are one potent class of systemic pesticides introduced to agriculture in the 1990s that have been linked to bees’ demise. In recent years, pesticides such as Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon, and All-In-One Rose & Flower Care have been made available to consumers and beekeepers have noticed a corresponding increase in bee deaths.

The Maryland law bans the use of neonicotinoids by everyday consumers that have been spraying home gardens and trees with these deadly pesticides. Farmers and professional gardeners are exempt from the law. A similar law is awaiting the governor’s signature in Connecticut. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not officially recognized the well-researched link, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing it.

Source: BeyondPesticides.org

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

A handful of monks from the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society living on Canada’s Prince Edward Island spent a day buying up all the live lobsters they could find at the local fish market, and then chartered a boat. Once out to sea, they recited a brief prayer over their writhing cargo and set them loose in the Atlantic.

“The whole purpose for us is to cultivate this compassion toward others,” says one of the monks. “It doesn’t have to be lobsters, it can be worms, flies, any animals; it can also be driving slower, so we don’t run over little critters on the street.”

One participant, Victoria Fan, says, “It’s rethinking the way you normally see these creatures. Their happiness is as important as your happiness, their suffering is as important as your suffering.”

Source: TheDodo.com

Eat Safer

Website Screens Packaging for Toxin Although food manufacturers have pledged to voluntarily eliminate bisphenol A (BPA)—an endocrine disruptor linked to developmental problems in fetuses, infants and children—in their packaging materials, it’s still found in the lining of many canned goods.

Recent testing by an advocacy group found BPA in 70 percent of nearly 200 samples, including products from Campbell and Kroger, which have joined the pledge.

“It’s in beer, coffee, tea, energy drinks and aerosol cans for whipped cream... it’s everywhere,” says Samara Geller, a database and research analyst with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, BPA is safe at the levels people are exposed to via canned foods, but many consumers would rather not take the risk.

Consequently, EWG created a new tool to help consumers avoid the 16,000 products that may have BPA in their packaging. The numbers listed on package UPC codes can be compared against the database at Tinyurl.com/EWG-BPA-Lookup.

“Our main goal was to get this out quickly to as many people as possible,” says Geller. “The UPC code is really your best defense to finding out what they’re talking about,” because product names can change.

NathaliaGuausPatricio/Shutterstock.com

Monks Free Creatures from Certain Doom

JONGSUK/Shutterstock.com

Lobster Liberation

Everything is going to be okay in the end, and if it’s not okay it’s not the end. ~Paulo Coelho

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Miracle Bite Tabs™ (MBT) Miracle Bite Tabs™ (MBT) and and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) are used to treat Dental Distress Syndrome. Your teeth and jaws are an extension of your brain and spinal cord. Any imbalances caused by improper alignment of the jaw can play a major role in pain syndromes and chronic diseases.

Head and Neck Pain Management Scenar, a non-invasive treatment device, is the only real time biofeedback device that will find what is wrong with your body and stimulate self-healing through electro stimulation and “conversation” with the control systems of the body (CNS Integrative Periodontal Medicine-Periodontal Spa The majority of the dental and periodontal procedures in Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi’s office are laser assisted. She has Biolase MD, the most versatile laser, which can be utilized to work with the gums and the teeth, implants and root canals. The discomfort is minimal to none and the healing is speededup. The procedures are often combined with a low level laser and Scenar, which give additional boost to the healing and removing discomfort.

Zirconia Solution to Titanium Implant If you are allergic or sensitive to other metals Bio-ceramic (zirconia) implants might be an option for you. Dr. IontchevaBarehmi is certified to place zirconia implants, you don’t need to travel to Europe anymore.

Ozone Treatment Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and kills effectively bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites.

Oxygen ozone therapy can be applied as an adjunctive therapy in treatment of periodontitis (periodontal disease), in arresting and reversing carious lesions in initial stage, reversal of initial pulp inflammation in deep carious lesions, treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. The methods applied are efficacious with no toxicity or side effects.

Perio-Protect Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is certified to use the Perio-protect methodone of the best prophylactic methods for periodontal disease, and subsequently for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some other conditions.

Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry Your amalgam fillings contain not only poisonous mercury but they cause cracks in your tooth structure and can lead to tooth loss. Defective amalgam fillings are removed safely following the IAOMT protocol, Including spa treatments for detoxification and the newest form of noninjectable Vitamin C with comparable absorption.

Anxiety and dental phobias are rarely experienced in the Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi’ s practice.

Meditation, breathing techniques, homeopathy, EFT technique, hypnotherapy are all used, so you can be comfortable and love coming to your dentist.

To schedule your comprehensive exam and share the excitement of a healthy smile call:

617-868-1516

Vitamin C gum rejuvenation 1842 Beacon St. Suite 305, Just like skin, gums can be Brookline MA rejuvenated for health and youth. www.bostondentalwellness.com

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

ecotip Bird Buffet

Making Feeders Safe for Wild Birds Feeding wild birds helps fuel them and provides viewing pleasure, yet a communal feeder may hold hidden risks, reports a recent study in Ecology Letters.

In reviewing 20 published research papers on host/pathogen interactions in human-fed wild populations, researchers at the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology, in Athens, found that intentional feeding changed their behavior and diet enough to foster potentially harmful growth of parasites and viruses.

“Feeders can bring unexpected species and more birds together more frequently than normal, facilitating conditions for parasites and other contaminates,” says lead researcher Daniel Becker. Birds crowding into tight spaces to reach tasty morsels also makes it easier for pathogens like house finch eye disease and respiratory ailments to be passed among them.

Maintain cleanliness. Stephen Kress, director of the National Audubon Society’s Project Puffin, advises that safe bird feeding includes completely scrubbing out feeders with a 10 percent non-chlorinated bleach solution at least a few times a year, and certainly between seasons.

Be food-specific. While using bird seed mixtures to attract a wide range of species is cheaper, such food usually includes fillers like milo that most birds quickly pass through, making a mess under the feeder that can make birds sick. Kress suggests, “Buy specific seeds for specific feeders—like cracked corn and millet in one and only sunflowers in another. This decreases interactions between species that eat the different seeds and dramatically cuts waste.”

Creative option. Try some peanut butter and other healthful ingredients, suggests Julie Craves, supervisor of avian research at the Rogue River Bird Observatory at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, in a recent edition of BirdWatching magazine. “It’s high in fat, protein and calories.” Avoid nut butter made with the artificial sweetener xylitol, as it can kill birds.

She recommends mixing one part organic peanut butter with four or five parts plain, non-GMO (genetically modified) cornmeal and add oats and raisins. Plain or chunky works. “The dough can then be shaped into portions that will fit in suet feeders or logs, or just placed in feeding trays.”

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Dr. Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi DMD, MS, D.Sc. Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is an accomplished dentist and specialist in Periodontics and Implants. She has a firm belief that our bodies are very intelligent. All the body organs and systems are interconnected and related to each other (the teeth and the mouth are part of and related to the whole body).

Our bodies are perfect self-sustainable systems, capable of self-healing and self-regeneration.

Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi has expertise in the areas of Biological, Physiological Dentistry and Integrative Periodontal Medicine and Implants, Lasers and Energy Medicine.

Vitamin C electrophoreses is a unique method used in Europe to prevent recession, boost collagen synthesis, support and increase the blood circulation leading to firming the gingiva and discontinuing the signs of aging and bleeding. It is part of the integrative protocol for treatment and prophylaxes of periodontitis.

THE LIGHT POURS IN

by Keri Layton

L

eonard Cohen, the hugely influential singer and songwriter whose work spanned nearly 50 years, conceded his battle with leukemia in November. His death inevitably left us poring over his poetry; his words framing our reflections. The most resounding echo, an excerpt from his song Anthem, reads: I can’t run no more with the lawless crowd While killers in high places say their prayers out loud But they’ve summoned up a thundercloud And they’re going to hear from me Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in

cleared of environmental chemicals from the food industry; or children who develop headaches and fatigue in despair over bullying.

We are waking up to the task ahead, and the reality of our role in protecting the people in our community and the values we hold dear. Finding our way to a strong and inclusive future will not play out exclusively in the halls of government. Change will come through food choices, intentional kindness and participation in our local

communities. Our health itself is now a vehicle for change.

Naturopathic medicine is not yet licensed in many states, including Massachusetts, but the landscape has changed dramatically. Patients look for naturopathic medicine because they see it for what it is—empowerment medicine. This atmosphere didn’t change overnight. The change came one conversation at a time, with patients and lawmakers recognizing that our lives create our health and the vibrancy of the Earth, and that our community dictates the capacity for each person to thrive.

We must ring the bells that can still ring. The world will change and we will guide a gentler course. We don’t need to stand on a national stage, but we do need to stand up. Be present. Be mindful. Listen.

Take the opportunity to connect with neighbors. Refuse to accept intolerance, injustice and inaction in our own lives. Choose health.

There are so many cracks in everything. And the light is going to pour in through every single one of them.

Keri Layton is a naturopathic doctor practicing at Winchester Natural Health Associates, 10 Converse Pl., Winchester. For more information, call 781-721-4585 or visit WinchesterNaturalHealth.com. See Resource Guide on page 42.

Indeed, there is a crack in everything. Every day the connection between community and individual health can be seen. It’s seen in women whose skin conditions or gastrointestinal problems can’t clear up until they leave abusive relationships or work conditions; men whose blood pressure normalizes once they quit high pressure jobs or see their kids through stressful times; fertility that improves when the diet is natural awakenings

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practitionerspotlight

Dr. V.A. Shiva and Systems Health

®

A Bold New Educational Technology

W

hen Dr. V. A. Shiva’s parents fled India’s rigid caste system in search of better educational opportunities for their gifted son, not even they imagined he would end up changing the world. Certainly not at the age of 14, at least, as reported in Time magazine in 2011 as “The Man Who Invented Email,” when he created a revolutionary new office communication system called email—the system we all know and experience today.

Forty years later, in The Science of Everything (General Interactive, paperback, $19.95), the brilliant systems scientist now turns to a slightly less modest goal: revealing the science that interconnects everything. This book is one in the Systems Health trilogy. Systems Health is also the name of his revolutionary educational program, now being offered as a one-day workshop, twice each month in Cambridge, where anyone can learn directly from this scientist, inventor and technologist the ultimate knowledge that unifies East and West.

“Everything in the world—and beyond—is composed of systems,” explains the still boyish scientist from his office down the road from MIT, where he researched the origin of the Indian caste system with Noam Chomsky while an undergraduate at MIT, and where he earned four degrees including his Ph.D. in systems biology.

“Once you understand how systems per se work, you can understand how anything works,” explains Shiva. “More importantly, you can put that knowledge to work to achieve any systems-related goal, from growing an organization to managing stress, finding optimal health or creating wealth.”

Of the latter, creating wealth, Shiva knows a thing or two. His 18

Dr. V. A. Shiva

latest invention, CytoSolve, that enables the digital modeling of processes within cells, fuels a very successful company that promises to do for health care what his email invention did for communications. CytoSolve is discovering new medicines and validating ancient formulations through the computer while eliminating the need for animal testing.

What Is Systems Health?

Systems Health is fundamentally an education technology that embodies what

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Shiva wanted to achieve as an ambitious child nearly 50 years ago.

“It had to do with my grandmother,” he says with a smile. “She was a Siddhar, a practitioner of a 5,000-year-old system of healing. I used to watch her treat and heal people who lined up outside her home in her small village in South India.

I was awestruck how this woman with no degrees was able to observe people’s faces, and deliver a personalized program of herbs, mantra and massage, uniquely suited for the person. Four degrees and decades later, during my Fulbright research, it struck me that there was profound similarity between the ancient Indian healing methods she practiced and modern engineering controls systems theory. That was the ‘aha’ moment.”

That ‘aha’ led to Shiva publishing a seminal research paper in an international systems engineering journal. He had realized that the ancient yogis and sages of India were not just men in saffron robes, but systems scientists, who had created a core science for understanding all systems: our body, the trees, the world, the cosmos and beyond.

What Shiva discovered and organized into Systems Health is a profound educational program that provides the bridge between Western engineering controls systems theory and Eastern systems of medicine such as Siddha and ayurveda.

Systems Health makes the ancient knowledge not only accessible to all, but also credible to the Western scientific audience by providing the scientific foundation that takes it beyond “woo woo” medicine to something tangible.

The One-Day Workshop

“The gurus make it a business of creating followers and never real-

ly teaching them the fundamental teachings, because many of them really don’t know what they are talking about,” says Shiva. “They mislead people to follow them for years—a great recurring business model.”

With Systems Health’s one-day workshop, Shiva has removed all the “fat” and distilled the essence to a set of finite principles, thus he can teach anyone the foundational principles in one day.

Attendees discover the interconnections of matter and energy described by modern systems theory. Remarkably, these are the same interconnections described by Siddha and ayurveda, which originated in India 50 centuries ago.

None of this requires any conventional scientific training. In fact, the laboratory for these investigations is our own body, which is understood as a template for a much larger, all-encompassing reality.

The result is an integrative, genuinely holistic perspective on health and the human physical self. Attendees also receive a Systems Health Educator certification to use Your Body, Your System®.

Your Body, Your System: A New Source of Income

Your Body, Your System enables a certified Systems Health Educator to generate additional revenue. Using the tool, the educator can help others understand in a simple three-step process what kind of system their body is, how their body is “off course”, and what inputs they can use, be it diet, exercise and mindful practices to bring their body back on course. It’s fundamentally an education tool to teach them their body is a system, no different than an airplane which has a destination—a goal, and that it is through constant adjustment and changes in a dynamic world, we maintain health and well-being. The educator can charge $50 or more per session. It provides an additional source of educational income for those that teach yoga, life skills, weight training, or anyone that interacts with consumers dedicated to improving themselves.

Who Should Take the Workshop?

Almost anyone can benefit from Systems Health. On the one hand, while valuable to Western-trained scientists, engineers, medical professionals, M.D.s, Ph.D.s, MPHs, RNs and physical therapists, it is

equally, if not more applicable and beneficial, to complementary and alternative practitioners, be they yoga teachers, acupuncturists, chiropractors, holistic practitioners, naturopaths and ayurveda practitioners, among others. In addition, coaches and trainers, professionals, personal trainers, life, wellness and executive coaches and business owners—basically anyone interested in finding and/or teaching a holistic systems approach to life, health and

well-being—will benefit.

Two upcoming Systems Health workshops will take place in Cambridge on January 21 and January 28. To sign up, visit SystemsHealth.com/Register.

To learn more about Dr. V.A. Shiva, visit VAShiva.com. For more information about Systems Health, visit SystemsHealth.com/Register. See ad on back page.

Step One: Knowing What Kind of System YOU Are By understanding the changes in your environment such as weather, your location and by answering a few questions, you will get a visual display of what kind of system you are, denoted by the “red dot,” relative to the forces of Transport, Conversion and Storage that are unique to YOU.

Step Two: Knowing When You Are “Off Course” By answering a different set of questions and tracking where you are based on the weather and any other environmental changes, Your Body, Your System® will track using the “black dot”, how much you are off course from your goal, the “red dot.”

Step Three: Adjusting InputsFood, Exercise and Activities Based on how much you are off course, Your Body, Your System® will provide you, via email and notifications, new inputs of food, activities and exercise that you can adjust to get you back to your Natural System State (the “red dot.”)

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SABOTEURS Tackling Obesity’s Hidden Causes

by Lisa Marshall

E

at less, move more. These words have been the cornerstone of diet advice for decades, leading millions of Americans to greet the new year with vows to cut calories and hit the gym. In all, one in five U.S. adults are dieting at any given time, according to the international market research firm The NPD Group, and 57 percent would like to lose 20 pounds or more.

Yet few will reach that goal.

One survey of 14,000 dieters published in the International Journal of Obesity found that only one in six had ever been able to lose 10 percent of their body weight and keep it off for a year. Another study, published in the last year in Obesity, followed up with 14 contestants from the 2009 TV reality show The Biggest Loser and found that despite efforts to keep their eating and exercise habits on track, 13 had regained significant weight since the competition. Four are heavier now than before participating on the show.

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Diet experts say the battle of the bulge has been exceedingly hard to win for one clear reason: We’re oversimplifying the solution and underestimating the saboteurs. “We’re learning that it’s not as simple as calories-in and calories-out,” says Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, physician specializing in functional and nutritional medicine and author of Why You Can’t Lose Weight.

Research reveals that everything from food allergies to hormone imbalances and disruptions in gut bacteria can subtly undermine the best-laid weight management plans. Working out too much or eating too little can also backfire. Even a mean boss or a cold workplace cubicle can factor in.

Certainly, diet and exercise are key, experts emphasize. Yet, if we’re doing all the right things and still seeing disappointing numbers on the scale, there’s still more we can do. Here are some common weight-loss saboteurs and what to do about them.

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Yuriy Rachenkov/Shutterstock.com

WEIGHT-LOSS

Bite into a food we’re sensitive to and our body switches into “fight-or-flight” mode. It stores fat and water, releases histamines that widen blood vessels and inflame tissue, and cranks out stress hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine that make us want to eat more of that food.

“You literally get a high so that you crave more,” says Smith. She notes that unlike true allergies, which can prompt an immediate reaction, food intolerances often manifest subtly over several days.

When we are repeatedly exposed to a food we’re sensitive to, we feel bloated and sluggish, regardless of the calorie count.

Allergy medications can also prompt weight gain, in part by boosting appetite. One study by Yale researchers found people that regularly ingested antihistamines like Zyrtec and Allegra were far more likely to be overweight than those not using them.

What to do: First, cut out the most-craved foods.

“If someone tells me they just cannot live without cheese, I assume they are allergic to it,” says Smith. Or, try an elimination diet. Ban common allergens like milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and gluten (if possible, try sticking to only rice and lamb— two hypoallergenic foods—for four days). Then reintroduce other foods slowly and monitor the results. To combat seasonal allergies naturally, try vitamin C, quercetin and butterbur supplements.

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Food Sensitivity/Allergy

Underperforming Thyroid

The thyroid serves as a key metabolism regulator, dictating how efficiently the heart beats and muscles contract, how quickly the body turns nutrients into energy, and how well we burn off stored fat. When thyroid hormone production falls, metabolism can also decrease by as much as 40 percent.

Yet as many as four in 13 women suffer from a thyroid hormone deficiency, says Toronto naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner, author of the new book The Hormone Boost. “You can diet and exercise until you are blue in the face, but if your thyroid is out of balance, you won’t achieve the body you’re looking for,” she says. “It’s a common cause of weight gain.”

What to do: Get tested for levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and, if possible, T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) also. TSH signals the thyroid to make more T4, the inactive form of thyroid hormone that is converted into T3, the form the body is able to use.

Abnormal blood levels of any of these can impact metabolism adversely, and a TSH test alone may be unable to identify a problem, caution Smith and Turner.

In some cases, medication may be required. Otherwise, move to embrace lifestyle habits that reduce stress levels, because the stress hormone cortisol can inhibit thyroid function. Get eight hours of sleep; sleep deprivation also impairs thyroid function.

Eat lots of fiber, which helps the body eliminate excess estrogen and other thyroid-damaging metabolic byproducts. Also, stock up on foods containing tyrosine (almonds and avocadoes), and selenium (Brazil nuts).

In some cases, if an iodine deficiency is at play, a doctor may suggest iodine supplements or iodine-rich foods like kelp and sea bass.

Imbalanced Gut

The trillions of microorganisms in our gut have a profound impact on our ability to maintain a healthy weight, says Dr. Raphael Kellman, a New York City physician

practicing functional medicine and author of The Microbiome Diet.

“The gut bacteria are the gatekeepers of the calories that enter our body,” he explains.

Research shows that certain species of bacteria aid in the metabolizing of carbohydrates, while others help break down fats and protein.

Some turn on genes that fight inflammation; others influence how well the body responds to insulin. Diversity and balance of helpful bacteria species are keys to health.

“If changes in the percentages of certain bacteria occur, the microbiome loses its ability to help us maintain a healthy weight,” says Kellman. In one landmark 21st-century study by University of Colorado researchers, swapping the gut bacteria of a skinny mouse with that of an obese one made the skinny mouse gain weight.

What to do: Go easy on antibiotics, which can wipe out gut bacteria diversity. Load up on fermented foods like kim chi, sauerkraut, kefir and yogurt. Eat lots of inulin-containing plant fiber to give desirable bacteria something to chew on, and consider taking a probiotic supplement until weight loss and health goals are achieved.

Overdoing Diets

As The Biggest Loser contestants learned, losing too much weight too fast can bring metabolism to a screeching halt; the body, coaxed into starvation mode, moves to conserve fuel and store fat.

“If you try to lose weight by drastically slashing calorie intake and going crazy on the cardio machines, you’ll do more harm than good,” says Turner. Performing intense cardiovascular exercise such as running, cycling or swimming for more than 45 minutes can make cortisol levels surge, accelerating muscle loss and impairing the

immune system. That’s counterproductive because muscles burn calories at rest, too. Consistent over-exercise can also prompt the stressed body to respond in a fight-or-flight fashion, storing more belly fat and leading to the “skinny but fat” body composition common among models and marathon runners, she says.

Skipping meals can prompt the key thyroid hormone T3 to fall off too, further slowing metabolism. Plus, six weeks into a restrictive weight-loss program, levels of the feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin also start to decline, killing motivation and fueling cravings. The result is a weight plateau or even weight gain.

What to do: Unless walking, limit workouts to 40 minutes, advises Turner.

Instead of slogging away at a steady pace on the treadmill, try intervals (short, high-intensity efforts separated by brief rest periods), which have been shown to boost both fat burning and cardiovascular fitness. For example: five-minute warm-up, one-minute run at fast pace, one-minute run at moderate pace, repeat 10 times, five-minute cool-down. Also, incorporate strength training into three workouts each week.

Include some fat, protein and carbohydrates with every meal. If insisting on counting calories, shoot for 450 to 500 per meal and 150 per snack for women; 500 to 600 per meal and 200 to 300 per snack for men. Every week to 10 days, enjoy a carb-loaded “cheat meal” such as pancakes or pasta; it supports any languishing thyroid and feel-good hormones, gives associated neurotransmitters a jump-start and keeps us from feeling deprived.

Dark, Cold, Stressful Workplaces

Alan Hedge, Ph.D., a workplace design researcher with Cornell University, in New York, says women, who tend to have less muscle and body hair to provide natural warmth, are at particular risk of packing on pounds due to an overly cold environment.

“When the body is cold, it adapts by laying down insulation, which is fat,” he says. Even without eating extra calories, if we’re constantly cold at work, as 31 percent of women are according

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Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer in Boulder, CO. Connect at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

Failure is success if we learn from it. ~Malcolm Forbes

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to a recent CareerBuilder survey, we tend to gain about a pound or two per year, says Hedge.

Other research, conducted at Northwestern University, in Illinois, shows that workers exposed to more light in the morning weigh about 1.4 pounds less on average than those toiling in windowless cubicles. The suspected reason is that morning light triggers a cascade of hormones that positively impact appetite and metabolism. Another study, by Ohio State University researchers, found women that experienced a stressful event at work or elsewhere and then ate a fatand calorie-laden meal the next day burned 100 fewer calories from that meal than non-stressed workers.

What to do: At work, move the desk toward a window or at least take a walk every morning. Bring a space heater, extra sweater or hot tea fixings.

After an ultra-stressful workday, eat especially healthfully that night.

Natural Slimming Supplements Ashwaghanda root: While research is scarce, this Indian herb is traditionally believed to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol (which can boost belly fat storage). It’s also believed to boost conversion of the thyroid hormone T4 to the more metabolically active thyroid hormone T3. Doctor of Naturopathy Natasha Turner recommends 500 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) twice daily.

Chromium: This mineral plays a key role in enhancing insulin’s action in the body. Numerous studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers and others suggest that taking chromium supplements can stabilize blood sugar, potentially reducing the cravings and energy slumps that come with glucose spikes and dips. Research on chromium’s impact on body composition and weight has been mixed. Turner recommends 200 to 400 micrograms (mcg) daily.

Curcumin: This golden spice, found in turmeric, curbs painful joint inflammation from over-exercising, and has been shown by Tufts University and Columbia University researchers to improve fat metabolism in mice.

L-carnitine: Helps the body use fat for fuel more efficiently and also can be used as an energy booster before cardio or strength training. Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith recommends 500 to 1,000 mg daily.

Omega-3 fatty acids: In addition to being potent anti-inflammatory agents, the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have been associated with greater weight and fat loss when added to a diet and exercise program, according to studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the International Journal of Obesity.

Prebiotics: These undigested fibers provide food for good gut bacteria to keep the digestive system and metabolism on track.

Probiotics: These are generally believed to promote healthy gut bacteria so that the body metabolizes food more efficiently. One recent study in the British Journal of Nutrition followed 125 obese men and women throughout a 12week diet, followed by a 12-week maintenance period, and found that the women taking probiotics containing the bacterial strain Lactobacillus rhamnosis lost significantly more weight during the diet than women that didn’t; plus, they continued to lose weight during the maintenance period. The men studied did not show similar results.

Selenium: Selenium is critical for the conversion of inactive T4 to active T3 that the body can make use of. Smith recommends 100 to 200 mcg daily.

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inspiration

SKY HIGH A Simple Gaze Invokes the Infinite

by Sandy C. Newbigging

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magine being outside on a sunny day, looking at a clear, blue sky. It’s natural to feel calm and wonderful while contemplating this expansive view.

Then a solitary bird flies across our field of vision. Noticing it takes our attention away from the stillness of the sky to instead track its movement as it flies by. Then we start thinking about the bird: “I wonder where it’s coming from and going? Why is it alone? Has it lost its mate?” At that point, we are no longer feeling calm, but concerned.

Inside of each of us, right now, there is a “big blue sky” of awareness with all kinds of “birds” flying around, including thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and anything in the external world that catches our attention.

Attaining a consistent inner calm is possible by learning to be more interested in and attentive to the conscious awareness that is calmly observing what’s going on in our thinking, emotions, bodily sensations and life.

We can live permanently engaged with this awareness and the inner dominion it contains instead of being helplessly

caught up in the content of our own or others’ thinking or emotion, which are often conditioned by the world to be more negative than positive.

As we mature in this skill, we discover that such awareness is always still, silent, peaceful, powerful, unlimited and infinite. It reflects who we really are as opposed to who we think we are. Through practice, it becomes our natural way of being and we awake to an excellent way of living

To experience this, try the Gently Alert Attention Wide Open (GAAWO)

technique. Look at something that’s straight ahead while simultaneously letting the gaze gently open up wider, looking neither left nor right, using passive peripheral vision. Now do the same with up and down, so gentle alertness encompasses an even greater scope. As we do this, we will likely notice that our thoughts are stilled and we feel more present, calm and quiet than a moment earlier.

This simple technique works for everyone. By playing with it regularly, we can discover that a sense of peace never leaves us; rather, we leave our innate, peaceful center when we focus on and feel the to and fro movements of our mind. Exchanging typical thinking for staying in a conscious state of awareness helps us to unchain our being from limiting views and perspectives, so that we live more freely.

Sandy C. Newbigging is the creator of Calmology principles and techniques, including the transformative GAAWO. He offers a 12-week Calmology foundation course at CalmClan.com.

Connect at SandyNewbigging.com.

You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind. ~Joyce Meyer

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The most important thing that contributes to success in achieving goals is attitude, knowledge and experience.

REALIZING GOALS Transformational Services Can Help Ensure Goals are Met

by Rose Siple

I

t’s that time of year readily tripped by a when people set their perceived obstacle that new year’s goals and the subconscious mind then strive to achieve feels must be defended them. The health and against. And before the wellness industry reaches person realizes it, their its business peak now. old reliable, yet no lonThen time goes by and ger useful pattern of subthe resolve wanes with mission to the status quo, so many well-intentioned has returned.

Rose Siple people, and their goals The truth is, not evnever become a reality as eryone can do anything business goes back to usual. Why does simply by setting their mind to it. Some energy and enthusiasm so commonly goals go against the grain of who we dissipate? Most of the lost resolve ocinherently are. However, could a percurs because of self-limiting, negative son overcome a fear of making it as an self-talk. People simply talk themselves artist? Can a smoker, quit smoking? Or right out of what is in their own best can a person lose the 100 pounds that interest. is life-threatening? They most certainly

While the rational mind is busy can. The most important thing that conmaking excuses such as, “It’s just not tributes to success in achieving goals is the right time,” or “I’m really not the attitude, knowledge and experience. type of person to…”, the reality is this negative self-talk is just a way of makThe Brain Can Be Rewired ing excuses for not moving past fears What the field of neuroscience has that lurk as stored defensive patterns proven is that the wiring of the brain 24

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changes as new knowledge is learned and greater experience is acquired.

Therefore, within reason, the goals that we set are completely achievable.

Most negative self-talk is inaccurate

and unrealistic, and leads to self-limiting behavior. Negative self-talk is a voice that robs people of the possibilities that their lives offer. Powerful transformational tools such as hypnosis, coaching, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), among others, can, however, create a shift. These services all help create a more reasoned voice within, a voice that will champion and fight for a person’s goals and put a halt to the negative self-talk. Through these types of services, performed by reputable professionals, individuals can begin to see what their capabilities truly are and feel more resolved when taking on new challenges.

Professionals in these fields are experienced with helping people to alter those subconscious patterns that get tripped when obstacles are presented.

Individuals begin to see more things as within their capabilities, and feel happier taking on new challenges. They often find themselves looking forward to situations that before might be avoided.

Professionals can be found through organizations such as National Guild of Hypnotists (ngh.net), The Association for NLP (anlp.org) and International Coaching Federation (CoachFederation.org), to name a few.

Rose Siple is the founder of Thought Alchemy’s Transformation Center and is a certified professional hypnotherapist, NLP practioner, coach and spiritual teacher. She works with clients privately and in small groups, as well as teaches a curriculum of studies that facilitate personal transformation. Thought Alchemy is located in Rehoboth, MA, and also offers on-line services. For more information, call 774-991-0574 or visit ThoughtAlchemy.guru. See ad on page 27 and Resource Guide on page 41.

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urgent care at minimal costs.

The U.S. mainstream fee-for-service approach, whether paid by insurance or cash, has been criticized for encouraging unnecessary tests and procedures because doctors are paid for services performed. To maintain income, they typically shorten appointments to increase the number of patients they see.

Lewis emphasizes, “Time is the valuable factor in DPC—healthy lifestyle changes, which can prevent or reverse 70 percent of health concerns, cannot be communicated in 10 minutes.”

Medical Cost-Sharing

AFFORDABLE

For generations, Christian communities have operated health care sharing ministries (HCSM) to collectively share the cost of each other’s medical bills as an alternative to outside insurance. Members are exempt from current Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) mandates.

Liberty HealthShare, a nonprofit HCSM chartered by the Mennonite church, believes that everyone has the right to practice religion as they see fit. Their members share a commitment to personal health and sharing in the burden of health expenses with others that have these values.

“Many in the functional and integrative medical arenas also believe in these principles,” says Tom Blue, of Richmond, Virginia, a director with The Institute for Functional Medicine. “Cost sharing feels very familiar; you present your card to your provider, but there’s no set network of providers, which is favorable for those seeking more progressive forms of care.”

Expanding upon this model, Blue worked with the company to create its Liberty Direct program (LibertyDirect.org).

Individuals pay an annual membership fee plus a monthly share amount. After fulfilling their annual unshared amount of out-of-pocket expenses (similar to a deductible), participants’ healthcare costs—including approved naturopathic and alternative treatments—can be submitted as expenses to be shared by the group.

Liberty Direct provides financial advantages to DPC practitioners and patients by subsidizing membership fees; it favors nutrition over chronic prescription dependence by reimbursing physician-prescribed nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical expenses under the same terms.

Members must be in good health with a lifestyle that helps sustain wellness, including good nutrition, exercise and abstinence from tobacco use and drug and alcohol abuse. The program also accepts approximately 7 percent of applicants on provisional terms when pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes can be improved through lifestyle changes. They pay an extra fee per month to cover the cost of a health coach; when they achieve their goals, they become full members paying regular rates.

“The economics are staggering,” says Blue, who used to pay $760 a month for insurance with a $12,400 deductible and now pays a monthly share of $449 with a family unshared amount of $1,500. HCSMs are affordable because of restricted

Complementary Care Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less

by Meredith Montgomery

T

he latest National Health Interview Survey available, from 2012, shows an annual expenditure of $30.2 billion in out-of-pocket costs for complementary health approaches, benefiting 33 percent of adults and 12 percent of children, and representing about 10 percent of out-of-pocket U.S. healthcare costs. Insurance rarely covers complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in full. As provider networks shrink, premiums rise and the future of healthcare reform remains uncertain, health-conscious consumers yearn for innovative ways to afford this kind of care.

Membership-Based Care

When Dr. Chad Krisel worked at an urgent care center, he saw up to 55 patients a day. Since opening Integrative Family Medicine of Asheville (IntegrativeAsheville.org), in North Carolina, with Dr. Brian Lewis, he averages 12 patients a day. His team provides a membership-based practice in a payment model known as direct primary care (DPC).

Endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, DPC is broadly accessible. By applying simplicity, sustainability, quality and collaboration, their integrative practice provides comprehensive care for less than what many pay for phone service. “DPC removes traditional financial incentives and conflicts of interest because membership fees fund us. Our only incentive is to help and heal patients,” Krisel explains.

Paying for memberships out-of-pocket (often electing high-deductible plans) or via a health-sharing plan, clients value coverage that includes annual wellness exams, phone or virtual appointments and educational classes, plus follow-ups and 26

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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healingways

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overhead budgets. Plus, they appeal to natural-health conscious clients and can decline unsuitable applicants. “This concept of communal cost sharing works—Liberty’s share amounts decreased in 2013 and have not changed since,” comments Blue.

GreenSurance

Told she was past medical hope, Kari Gray, of Kahului, Hawaii, sought to heal from cancer using natural medicine. “When thousands of dollars spent for natural protocols were denied reimbursement by my insurance company, I saw that the system needs to change,” Gray recalls.

CAM therapies still deemed “unproven” by traditional insurance companies gave Gray a second chance at life. Following remission, she began a 20-year search for alternative medicine insurance. Finding none, in 2014, she created GreenSurance (MyGreenSurance.com).

Serving people that proactively care for their health and prefer natural medicine as primary care, GreenSurance developed an evidence-based and science-backed list of 40-plus covered CAM modalities, including thermography, energy therapy, biofeedback, essential oils and homeopathy. It also covers conventional medical and emergency care.

Enrollees of the member-owned organization are supplied third-party payer information for provider direct billing once the member’s out-of-pocket amount is met.

They use any state-licensed provider and the program is often more affordable than traditional insurance.

GreenSurance is currently investing resources to broaden consumer access to the tax advantages of a health spending account (HSA). H.R. 1752 would allow enrollees in any healthcare-sharing program to open an HSA. “Simply, we’re a co-op whose members empower us to create an exempt program that protects members from ACA penalties and traditional health insurance,” says Gray. “More, we’re a grassroots movement for change.”

Krisel notes, “Doctors too, are livid about the current status of America’s healthcare system. Be vocal about what’s important to you. The more voices heard in Washington, the more change we’ll see.”

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

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Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

THE DARK SIDE OF GLUTEN-FREE LIVING

Most People Benefit from Gluten

by Judith Fertig

S

ales of gluten-free products reached $973 million in 2014 and are projected to grow to $2.34 billion in 2019, according to Packaged Facts, a market research publisher. Many such products cost more than their gluten-based counterparts.

Gluten Sufferers

The latest study, published in the American Medical Association publication JAMA Internal Medicine, found that the number of Americans with celiac disease remained relatively stable from 2009 through 2014 at about 2.7 million. Meanwhile, marketers for gluten-free products report about 40 million consumers.

Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder in which ingesting gluten causes issues such as intestinal damage, anemia and fatigue. Those afflicted improve when gluten is removed from their diets and their intestinal tracts heal, according to the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston.

Those with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity or wheat allergy also experience a range of symptoms, including bloating, brain fog and joint pain, when they ingest gluten. According to the Center, as many as 7 percent of Americans, or 18 million people, fall into this vague category, due to a far less understood immune response distinct from what’s linked to celiac disease.

Gluten Beneficiaries

The many Americans unaffected by gluten may want to avoid gluten-free products,

says Dr. Michael Greger, a Washington, D.C., physician specializing in clinical nutrition. The bestselling author of How Not to Die, Greger founded the educational nonprofit NutritionFacts.org and is a founding fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

“Just because some people have a peanut allergy doesn’t mean everyone should avoid peanuts,” says Greger.

“Some evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet may adversely affect gut health in people without celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or wheat allergy.” He cites a small study published in Gut Microbes which found that a one-month, gluten-free diet may hurt gut flora and immune function, potentially precipitating an overgrowth of harmful intestinal bacteria for those on gluten-free diets.

The gluten components that cause problems for the wheat-sensitive may act as prebiotics and feed good bacteria for the rest of us, says Greger.

“Wheat bran contains the important wheat-based prebiotic arabino-xylan-oligosaccharide,” explains Case Adams, a Morro Bay, California, naturopath and author of The Gluten Cure: Scientifically Proven Natural Solutions to Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivities. “It feeds the probiotics that produce enzymes which help break down gluten and gliadin proteins.”

Researchers from Pennsylvania’s University of Reading conducted multiple studies showing that arabino-xylan-oligosaccharide derived from wheat bran increases beneficial bifidobacteria populations in the guts of humans.

Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

consciouseating

It is disappointing that a number of highly publicized studies done on celiac patients have been inappropriately applied to the general population, notes Adams.

Gluten may also boost immune function. In a study published in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, researchers found that after less than a week on a diet with added gluten protein, subjects experienced significantly increased natural killer cell activity, which could improve their ability to fight cancer and viral infections. An earlier study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that high-gluten bread improved triglyceride levels better than regular gluten bread.

Plus, Greger says, avoiding gluten means missing out on all the fiber, B vitamins, trace minerals and other nutrients from whole grains like wheat, barley and rye. A whole-grain-rich diet has been repeatedly shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and some forms of cancer in studies from such institutions as the University of Minnesota and Lund University, in Sweden.

“Most gluten-free processed foods are not made with nutrient-rich, health-protecting whole grains,” adds Katherine Tallmadge, a Washington, D.C., registered dietitian, nutrition coach and author of Diet Simple. Ingredients such as potato starch and cornstarch with little nutritional value typically help take the place of wheat flour. “The gluten-free label has little to do with nutritional value.” French fries and many candies, for example, are naturally gluten-free.

Impact of Self-Diagnosis

Self-diagnosing a gluten issue can delay a doctor’s accurate assessment, cautions Greger. “We diagnose celiac by looking for the inflammation caused by gluten in celiac sufferers. If they haven’t been eating a lot of gluten, we might miss diagnosing the disease. Thus, instead of being on a gluten-free diet, we want celiac suspects to be on a gluten-loaded diet, such as four to six slices of gluten-packed bread daily for at least a month before they come in for a diagnostic exam.”

Studies are ongoing and information continues to evolve regarding the pluses and minuses of a gluten-free diet.

Judith Fertig writes food health articles and cookbooks from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

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Why Not ADOPT a Pet? CitySide Subaru proudly supports our local Animal Shelter & Rescue Groups!

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PAWS New England

(508) 867-5525 SecondChanceAnimals.org

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GLOUCESTER

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(978) 283-6055 CapeAnnAnimalAid.org

Ellen M. Gifford Shelter (617) 787-8872 GiffordCatShelter.org

Cape Ann Animal Aid

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Baypath Humane Society (508) 435-6938 BayPathHumane.org

Milton Animal League, Inc.

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All Dog Rescue

(617) 507-9193 AllDogRescue.org

NORTH BILLERICA Billerica Cat Care Coalition

BillericaCatCareCoalition.org

QUINCY

Quincy Animal Shelter (617) 376-1349 QuincyAnimalShelter.org

Animal Umbrella

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Northeast Animal Shelter (978) 745-9888 NortheastAnimalShelter.org

SALISBURY

Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (978) 462-0760 MRFRS.org

STERLING

Sterling Animal Shelter SterlingShelter.org

SUDBURY

Buddy Dog Humane Society, Inc (978) 443-6990 BuddyDogHS.com

Save A Dog, Inc (978) 443-7282 SaveADog.org

WALTHAM

Cat Connection of Waltham (781) 899-4610 TheCatConnection.org

WOBURN

House Rabbit Network (781) 431-1211 RabbitNetwork.org

What Are You Waiting For? 32

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naturalpet

Functional Medicine for Pets

Why the Best Vets Use It

by Shawn Messonnier

M

any pet owners have chosen functional medicine for their own care, so they logically turn to it for their four-legged family members, as well. Most veterinarians are still unfamiliar with this approach to pet health care and may even discourage its use because they see it as being out of synch with conventional ideology.

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging patients and doctors in a partnership designed to improve health. This evolved practice better addresses individual needs than a traditional approach that focuses on illness and treating disease rather than restoring overall health. By shifting from an allopathic platform to a more holistic, patient-centered one, functional medicine addresses the whole pet, not just a set of symptoms.

Why Functional Medicine

The system of medicine practiced by most vets is geared toward acute care of a severe trauma or a climax in illness that necessitates urgent diagnosis and treatment. They typically apply specific, prescribed treatments such as drugs or perform surgery to treat the immediate problem or symptom. This approach works well for pets experiencing a crisis, but isn’t appropriate for restoring health when animals have chronic disorders. It also doesn’t help them to at least live comfortably with incurable problems without the side effects often caused by extensive administration of medications.

Conventional veterinary science lacks the proper tools for preventing and treating complex, chronic disease. In most cases, it doesn’t take into account an individual’s unique genetic makeup or exposure to toxins such as too many vaccines, drugs or environmental chemicals.

Functional medicine always focuses on the unique nature of the patient; there is no “one treatment fits all” mentality. Functional medicine vets are specifically trained to assess the underlying causes of complex, chronic disease and

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VETERINARY EMERGENCY SERVICES Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital 781-932-5802 IVGHospitals.com MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center 617-522-7282 Angell.org Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England 781-684-8387 VESCONE.com Woburn Animal Hospital 781-933-0170 WoburnAnimalHospital.com

RESCUE EMERGENCY SERVICES Animal Rescue League of Boston 617-426-9170 ARLBoston.org

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to apply strategies such as nutrition, diet and naturopathic remedies to both treat and prevent these illnesses. They can ably help the increasing number of pets suffering from complex, chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, allergies, arthritis, seizures, bowel and bladder problems and immune system disorders.

Functional medicine best addresses these concerns because it involves understanding the origins, prevention and treatment of ailments and emphasizes customized care. The goal is to promote health as a positive force well beyond the absence of disease.

It’s possible for many pets to appear to be healthy while specialized, noninvasive testing shows underlying issues that must be addressed if illness is to be prevented. Conventional medicine either doesn’t offer such testing or ignores minor abnormalities, placing the pet at risk for developing serious and potentially irreversible problems.

Integrative Approach

An integrative, science-based healthcare approach considers interactions in the pet’s history, physiology and lifestyle that might lead to problems. All of the diagnostic and treatment modalities are based upon proven scientific principles and follow evidence-based medicine to yield the best results in terms of total function.

Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what are sometimes considered “holistic”

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

or “complementary” healing methods.

The focus is on prevention through nutrition, diet and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets and detoxification programs, using drugs only when necessary as a last, rather than a first, resort. This whole-pet approach allows doctors to choose whichever therapies are best for each patient.

Holistic vets see many patients for which conventional medicine has proven ineffective. Sometimes conventional doctors back away from offering treatment, either because the pet is “too old,” the treatment is “too expensive” or the results are unlikely to be “satisfactory.”

Functional medicine can help many of these so-called hopeless cases, return pets to health and often heal disease after principles of functional medicine have been consistently applied to the pet’s everyday lifestyle.

Finding a functional medicine vet is challenging, but worth the effort. Focusing on the individual needs of a pet ensures the optimum chance for achieving and sustaining proper health.

Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information, visit PetCareNaturally.com.

Reset Your Pet with Restorative Therapies Expanding the Toolbox at Main Street Animal Services

by Margo Roman

A key consideration when choosing care for an animal companion today is access to the wide variety of modalities in functional medicine that can help a pet get healthier.

A

s more is learned about how to establish wellness and increase health in humans, treatment options continue to advance and have become available to include and utilize in caring for pets. This has enabled veterinarians to have a much larger and more diverse toolbox to help their patients; including acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, functional nutrition, chiropractic, microbiome restorative therapy, myofascial work, ozone therapy, biophotonics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cold laser therapy, and pulse electromagnetic therapy to name only a few.

Why is this diverse toolbox so essential in animal care?

The environment has become more toxic over the years with pesticides, herbicides and other challenges. Cancer is now the most common cause of chronic illness affecting approximately 50 percent of dogs and 40 percent

of cats, and autoimmune disease continues to rise. Autoimmune problems can lead to other ailments such as cancer, allergies, infections, Lyme and co-infections, organ failures and other serious medical issues.

Animals that have been through many conventional therapies, including antibiotics, require time to rebuild again. The need for diverse alternative approaches to help these animals become healthy and stay healthy has become a necessity. Bringing in functional medicine can give the body a chance to reboot itself and rebalance itself. Doctors should be looking to have support from one’s own body to care for itself.

Helping the body reset A strong immune system is critical for an animal to fight infections and overcome medical challenges affecting them. Since 80 percent of the immune system comes from the

gut, it is imperative for an animal to have functioning microbiome. It is important to nurture the microbiome by replacing a diet of foods exposed to pesticides or herbicides (like glyphosate) with a natural organic diet.

Antibiotics and other drugs that focus on killing microbes weaken the microbiome, thereby becoming critical that the body be allowed to “reset” to reduce the risk of further immune compromising issues.

Ozone therapy and microbiome restorative therapy (MBRT) have been shown to help the body reset. Ozone therapy helps give more oxygen to the mitochondria (the batteries of cells) and that in turn supports the immune system. Cells need more oxygen to allow their mitochondria to work, and ozone therapy directly affects the oxygen utilization of the cells. This is a very important aspect of functional medicine.

This exploration of the internal “garden” in the gastrointestinal tract is the new frontier of health care.

Doctors in human medicine are treating a lot of autoimmune problems with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT or MBRT). The National Institute of Health is spending millions of dollars studying the genome of the microbiome.

Dogs have been eating feces forever. Making sure they get a healthy replacement to help rebalance the imbalanced microbiome is a great place to start, just be sure its a healthy microbe from a healthy donor.

Family animals deserve to have an opportunity to heal. For proper health care, seek out a veterinarian that understands this commitment to allow the body to balance itself. Look for veterinarians broadly trained in these alternative modalities. Ahvma. org provides access to local practitioners across the country.

Margo Roman, DVM, CVA, COT ,CPT, FAAO, is a veterinarian at MASH Vet (Main St. Animal Services of Hopkinton).

She has practiced integrative and functional veterinary medicine for almost 40 years. For more information, visit MASH Vet.com. See ad on page 34 and Resource Guide on page 42.

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calendarofevents All Calendar events for the February issue must be received by January 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 First Night Boston – Thru Jan 1. The oldest New Year’s Eve event of this type in the U.S. Fun, alcohol free and designed for the whole family Entertainment, ice sculptures, People’s Parade, family fireworks, ice show, ice skating, music, dancing, midnight fireworks and more. Free.

Copley Square, Boston Common and Boston Harbor. FirstNightBoston.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1 Annual Plunge of the L Street Brownies – 9:30am. Every year since 1904, the L Street Brownies celebrate the New Year by plunging into the icy waters of Dorchester Bay and raising money for local charities. Free. L Street Bathhouse at Curley Community Center, 1663 Columbia Rd, Carson Beach, South Boston.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7

markyourcalendar Aromatherapy Certification Course First Sat of every month thru Apr 1. Learn how essential oils work to heal the body, mind and spirit. This 4-month program addresses the body systems, their common ailments and the essential oils most helpful for each condition. Three different methods of blending will be introduced with demonstrations of how to use essential oils in our everyday lives. We will also be making our own natural cosmetics and learning how to use essential oils to trigger memory, mood and attraction.

Meets: Jan 7, Feb 4, Mar 4, Apr 1.

Sat., Jan. 7 • 10am - 5pm

MONDAY, JANUARY 2 Boston Baroque Community Concert – 2pm.

Program features Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks and two works by J.S. Bach. Obtain tickets online or from the theater to ensure seating.

Free. Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Rd, Boston.

617-987-8600. BostonBaroque.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3 World Hypnotism Day – 6:30-8pm. Create lasting changes in your behavior patterns by understanding how easy it is to use hypnosis to “change your mind and keep the change.” Donation. The Tam Center for Healing, 15 Cottage Ave, 5th Fl, Quincy. 781340-2146. Hypnosis.ws.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5 Attract Your Desires Webinar – 7-9pm. Healer Yvon Dubé introduces Love Energetics. It enables the listener to feel their heart energy, teaches them how to use it to align with their desires and helps them manifest that which they most desire. Free.

Register: LoveEnergetics.com/en.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

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$450. Boston School of Herbal Studies, 12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington. 781-646-6319.

BostonHerbalStudies.com.

Snowflake Festival – 1-3:30pm. Art activities for all ages, hot chocolate, student exhibit and more. Free.

Brookline Arts Center, 86 Monmouth St, Brookline.

617-566-5715. BrooklineArtsCenter.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 Free Introduction to Reiki – 10am-12pm. An overview of reiki, an ancient hands-on healing method for reducing stress, relieving pain and facilitating healing and personal growth. Free.

Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 304, Arlington Pre-registration required: 781-648-9334. ArlingtonReiki.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 Natural Solutions for Executive Function Struggles and ADHD – 5:45-7:45pm. Finally, a drug-free approach to cognitive health. Dr. Ross discusses a researched and effective method for achieving brain wellness and executive function success. Emotional control, initiation, working memory, planning, organization, and task completion are only a few areas that make up executive functioning. Free. Sharon Public Library, 11 N Main St, Sharon. 781-444-9115.

AdvancedNeurotherapy.com.

Inside Peace Documentary Movie – 6:308pm. Acclaimed documentary, Inside Peace, follows the struggles of prisoners, inspired by a peace class, choosing to break their cycle of crime. $6. Brookline High School, MLK Room, 115 Greenough St, Brookline. 617-359-5558.

InsidePeaceMovie.com.

The Incredible Dr. You Workshop – 7:158:15pm. This first of two workshop breaks down the basics of Network Spinal Analysis, the method

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

of chiropractic used at Newton Chiropractic.

Get more out of your adjustments and enlighten yourself on just how incredible your body is at healing itself. Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton.

RSVP: 617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 Deepening Relationships with Plant Allies: Yarrow – 6:30-9:30pm. An experiential exploration of yarrow’s many facets: tea, tincture, infused and essential oils and flower essence.

Learn medicinal properties, historic and present day use. $25. The Boston School of Herbal Studies, 17 Robbins Rd, Arlington. 781-6466319. BostonHerbalStudies.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 Unlocking the Zodiac Code – 6-7:30pm. Join Marlo Marketing and celebrity astrologers Stella Starsky and Quinn Cox to learn how to tap into your own inner wisdom in the New Year. $25. marlo marketing, 38 Chauncy St, Fl 3, Boston.

617-375-9700. MarloMarketing.com/wellness.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 Reiki Clinic – 1:30-4:30pm. A community service project where clients can receive a halfhour treatment by a team of practitioners. Reiki practitioners volunteer at the clinic and receive a free treatment. Free for practitioners. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. Pre-registration required: 617-8359963. ArlingtonReiki.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 16 MFA: Free Open House – Free admission and special exhibitions to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.

Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave, Fenway, Boston. 617-267-9300. MFA.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 Just Breathe: Somato-Respiratory Integration Workshop – 7:30-8:30pm. Learn breathing exercises to help release tension and calm your mind. Somato-Respiratory Integration (SRI) helps enhance your chiropractic care as well as free up energy in your body. $20. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton.

RSVP: 617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18 Natural Solutions for Executive Function Struggles and ADHD – 6:30-8:30pm. Finally, a drug-free approach to cognitive health. Dr. Ross discusses a researched and effective method for achieving brain wellness and executive function success. Emotional control, initiation, working memory, planning, organization, and task completion are only a few areas that make up executive functioning. Free. Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant St, Marblehead. 781-444-9115.

AdvancedNeurotherapy.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19 Love Energetics Lecture – 7-9pm. Healer Yvon Dubé explains how Love Energetics addresses issues at source. Learn how “non-energy” quickly transforms lives and volunteer for live demonstrations. Scientific findings will be presented. $20. Marriott Courtyard, 700 Unicorn Park Dr, Woburn. LoveEnergetics.com/en.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

markyourcalendar Quantum Healing Made Easy: Foundation Workshop This 3-day Foundation Workshop teaches the Love Energetics technique. Participants connect to the quantum field through a heart meditation and learn how to direct “non-energy” to heal in a heartbeat. They learn how to apply the Love Energetics protocol through multiple practices for fast-tracking emotional, physical, mental and spiritual healing.

Jan. 20-22 • 9am - 6pm $450. Marriott Courtyard, 700 Unicorn Park Dr, Woburn. Register: NABoston.com/LE.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

markyourcalendar Systems Health® One-Day Teacher Training Certification Workshop Dr. V.A. Shiva, the MIT engineer who invented email, will run a 1-day Teacher Training Certification Workshop on Systems Health for health & wellness practitioners. Attendees will learn how to build a profitable educational business delivering the ancient science of Siddha & ayurveda to anyone seeking a holistic systems approach to health and well-being. All those completing the workshop will be certified to use the Your Body, Your System® tool, allowing them to perform a systems analysis, charge, and generate new income.

Sat., Jan. 21 • 8am - 4:30pm $250. 701 Concord Ave, Cambridge.

617-830-1936. SystemsHealth.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 Reiki Level 1 Training and Certification – 9am7pm. Learn the reiki meditations, how to practice hands-on healing of self and others, the reiki principles, reiki history and how reiki promotes mindfulness and wellness on all levels of being. A comprehensive course manual, as well as ongoing support in your practice of reiki, is provided.

CEUs for nurses and LMTs. $150. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856.

BrennerReikiHealing.org.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Orientation/Information Session – 6:30-8:30pm.

Join Cindy Gittleman, Certified MBSR teacher, for a free orientation/information session about the world-renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed by JonKabat-Zinn. Free. Roots & Wings, 317 N Main St, Natick. 978-657-7730. SunriseMindfulness.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 Breast Wellness & Nurturing Self Kore HealingSM with Kristi – 7-8pm. Healing and clearing/release for physical concerns with breasts.

Messages from higher realms and divinelyguided intuitive energy healing to release the underlying roots (if any) of the physical symptoms.

Reprogramming beliefs and releasing denser energies which may be preventing you from loving, honoring and nurturing yourself. $45. 401466-4901. More info: HealingResonance4.me/ Natural-Awakenings.html.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

markyourcalendar Systems Health® One-Day Teacher Training Certification Workshop Dr. V.A. Shiva, the MIT engineer who invented email, will run a one-day Teacher Training Certification Workshop on Systems Health for health & wellness practitioners. Attendees will learn how to build a profitable educational business delivering the ancient science of Siddha & ayurveda to anyone seeking a holistic systems approach to health and well-being. All those completing the workshop will be certified to use the Your Body, Your System® tool, allowing them to perform a systems analysis, charge, and generate new income.

Sat., Jan. 28 • 8am - 4:30pm

markyourcalendar Soulopreneur: Balance Your Life. Boost Your Bottom Line Bestselling Hay House author Kate Northrup headlines this retreat-style business conference for empowered women. Think Mass Women meets Kripalu. Includes coaching on growth strategies, sales, and branding; power yoga paired with crystal bowl sound healing; guided meditation; practical nutrition plans that help you outsmart stress; Journey Dance with creator Toni Bergins; breakout happiness workshops; and Q&A-style lunch & learn focused on bookkeeping. Would you love to join our speaker lineup?

Register today and submit a short essay/video telling us how you inspire women through your work. One woman wins 15 minutes in the spotlight! Get ready to feel inspired, uplifted, and supported by a sisterhood of passionate, heart-focused professionals just like yourself!

Can’t wait to see you at Soulopreneur!

Fri., Jan. 27 • 8am - 5pm $297-$359. Wellesley College Club, 727 Washington St, Wellesley. 781-729-2000.

VanessaGobes@gmail.com. Soulopreneur.net.

$250. 701 Concord Ave, Cambridge. 617-8301936. SystemsHealth.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 Reiki Level 2 Training – 9am-7pm. Discover deeper teachings and practices within the system of reiki. Learn to practice with three symbols and mantras, as well as specific healing processes.

CEUs for nurses and LMTs. Comprehensive Course Manual and ongoing support in your practice provided. Inquire regarding tuition discounts that may be available. $300. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-2448856. BrennerReikiHealing.org.

Be happy for this moment.

This moment is your life. ~Omar Khayyam

Happy New Year!

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37

ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the February issue must be received by January 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com.

daily Quincy Market History Tour – 11am, daily; 6pm, Wed; 2pm, Sat. Learn about Quincy Market’s central and ever-evolving role in Boston’s history.

Meet guide by Pulse Café on South Market St. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 S Market, Boston.

617-523-1300. FaneuilHallMarketplace.com.

Restorative Yoga – 4-6:30pm. Anyone needing to chill out and rest body, mind and spirit. Props used to support total relaxation, giving you a chance to catch up with yourself. Open to beginners and experienced yogis, people with injuries and other precautions. $40/session. Art & Soul, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. 617-594-1794. For specific dates: ArtSoulYoga.com.

Blink! Light and Music Show – Thru Jan 3.

4:30-9:30pm, running every half hour. Light and music show at Faneuil Marketplace. Free.

Faneuil Marketplace, 4 S Market St, Boston.

FaneuilHallMarketplace.com.

weekly Weekly Relax and Rejuvenate Retreats at Discounted Rates for Healers and Teachers – Thru Mar. Winter is a great season to recharge for yoga teachers and healers. Whether it’s a time to reflect and restore, or to gently reverse the “burnout” that can result from your dedication to this special line of work, we offer an all-inclusive package designed to meet your needs and budget.

Eastover Estate & Retreat Center, 430 East St, Lenox. 866 264 5139. For pricing: Eastover.com.

sunday SoWa Vintage Market – 10am-4pm. Designers, collectors, appreciators of the beautiful and unusual love this market. A cool, urban, vintage flea market featuring fresh vintage and designer finds every week. Free. SoWa Vintage Market, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston. SoWaVintageMarket.com.

Vinyl Sundays at Short Path Distillery – 1-6pm.

Bring your favorite LP and we’d be happy to spin it on the tasting room stereo system. Or choose from our selection. Free. Short Path Distillery, 71 Kelvin St, Unit 2, Everett. ShortPathDistillery.com.

monday Open P-Knotting at Noon – 12-12:45pm.

Also Tues, Wed & Thurs. Individualized guided instruction on how to use the P-Knot. No P-Knot required. Free. P-Knot Industries, Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main St, Rm 1217, Pawtucket. 401753-2099. P-Knot.com.

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EasYoga – Thru Jan. 6-7:30pm. Also Thurs.

Relax, re-energize and revitalize. Walk-ins welcome. First session free. The Well Street Station, 62 Mt Auburn St, Watertown. 617-9231440. WellStreetStation.com.

Nia-Somatic Fitness Classes – 7:30-8:30pm.

Nia technique is a blend of dance martial arts and healing arts set to music to fit your personal experience. All levels welcome. Discount cards available. $15. Om Namo Center, 21 Belmont St, Cambridge. 617-620-7654. OmNamoCenter.com.

tuesday Noon Concerts on the Freedom Trail – 12:15pm.

Stop by to hear a 30-40-min concert. Performers vary each week and perform a wide variety of music ranging from jazz to folk, medieval to modern. $3 suggested donation. King’s Chapel, 64 Beacon St, Boston. 617-227-2155. Kings-Chapel.org.

Anxiety and Panic Support Group – 6:30pm.

1st Tues. Designed to offer a place where people with common interests and experience can meet. You are not alone in your experience, and knowledge is the key to living a symptom-free life. Free. Washington St, Newton. 617-849-3198.

UCanBFearFree.com.

wednesday Nia-Somatic Fitness Classes – 7:30-8:30am.

Nia technique is a blend of dance martial arts and healing arts set to music to fit your personal experience. All levels welcome. Discount cards available. $15. Studio 550, 550 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. StudioAt550.org.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Free Tour of Symphony Hall – 4pm select Wed. Also 2pm select Sat. Join volunteers on a behindthe-scenes tour and hear about the hall and the history and traditions of the famed musicians and conductors. Boston Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston. For available dates & times: 617-638-9390. BSO.org.

Museum of Fine Arts Free Wednesdays – 6-9pm. An opportunity to sketch from live models and/or from objects in their collections. A drawing instructor provides insights on drawing technique and the artist-model relationship as it informs the creation of artwork. MFA, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston. 617-267-9300. MFA.org.

Active Stretch for EveryBODY – 6:30pm. Also Mon, 7:30am & Thurs, 9:30am. Everybody from elite athletes to couch potatoes welcomed. See “classes” on website. $12/drop-in, $100/10 classes with Budget Stretcher Card. STAR Tech Healing and Learning Center, 14 Nason St, Ste 202, Maynard. 978-897-0110. StarTechHealing.com.

Public Open Night at the Observatory – 7:30pm, Fall/Winter; 8:30pm, Spring/Summer. A chance to come observe the night sky through telescopes and binoculars and see things you otherwise might not get to see. Held most Wed evenings throughout the year, weather permitting. Free. Coit Observatory at Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. 617-353-2630. BU.edu.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 7:308:30pm. 1st Wed. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. Free. Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut St, Franklin. 508-660-2223.

LetsLaughToday.com.

thursday Free Night at the ICA – 5-9pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston.

ICABoston.org.

SRR Thursday Night 4.06 Miler – 7:15-8:15pm.

It may be raining. It may be hot or cold. The SRR Thursday night run will happen every week, no matter what. Free. Casey’s Bar, 171 Broadway, Somerville. SRR.org/Events/Thursday-Night-Race.

Observatory Night – 7:30-9:30pm. 3rd Thurs.

A non-technical lecture and telescopic observing from the observatory roof if weather permits. Free.

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge. 617-495-7461.

CFA.Harvard.edu.

friday Health Lecture Series – 10am. 1st Fri. An informative discussion for parents and caregivers on a variety of parent- and child-related topics such as nutrition, behavior, community resources and more. Held in the Old Country Buffet, Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968.

Watertown-Mall.com.

Blood Pressure Screenings – 10am-12pm. 1st Fri. Free blood pressure screenings in front of the Old Country Buffet. Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968. Watertown-Mall.com.

Second Fridays – 5-8pm. Free with admission at the MIT Museum on the 2nd Fri each month.

Mingle with friends in the unique galleries and see some of the latest research coming out of MIT. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge.

617-253-5927. MIT.edu/Museum.

Yoga, Wine and Chocolate – 5:30-7pm. An hour of yoga followed by complimentary yoga, wine and chocolate. $15. embodyFitness 18 Adams St, Burlington. 781-999-2503. EmbodyFitness.net.

Monthly Community Reiki Clinic – 7-8:45pm.

1st Fri. Make an appointment for a 30-min reiki session. Appointment times are 7-7:30pm, 7:358:05pm & 8:10-8:40pm. $10. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856.

BrennerReikiHealing.org.

classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsmag.com/MyMagazine.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

saturday The Marketplace at Simpson Spring – 10am-2pm.

Includes farmers, bakers, artisans and local entrepreneurs. Stop in to browse or take in our featured entertainment, local authors, educational seminars and lecturers. 719 Washington St, South Easton. SimpsonSpringMarketplace.com.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 11am12pm. 2nd Sat. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. Free.

Unitarian Church of Sharon, 4 N Main St, Sharon.

508-660-2223. LetsLaughToday.com.

ACIM TALKS – Talks based on A Course in Miracles streaming live every Wednesday night with ongoing access if you can’t listen live. Hosted by Marianne Williamson. Marianne.com.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS SINGLES READY TO MEET THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE? – Dip into our pool of conscious, awake singles and meet someone that you would have never met without us! Free to join. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com.

PRODUCTS SPRINGHILL STATUARY - HOME OF THE $10 STATUE – Pet memorials, Angels, Buddha statues, bird baths.

Many dog breeds. Shipping worldwide.

Open year round. 75 Laura St, Tiverton.

401-314-6752. SpringhillStatuary.com.

FIND US! Visit Us At NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Like Us At NaturalAwakeningsBoston and Natural Pet Boston Follow Us At NAGreaterBoston Follow Us At @nagreaterboston

SELF-STUDY A COURSE IN MIRACLES – A unique, universal, self-study, spiritual thought system that teaches that the way to love and inner peace is through forgiveness. ACIM.org.

SERVICES CUPPING MASSAGE – Speeds recovery from new or old injuries, permanently improve surgery scarring, increase mobility, relief from sciatica pain, and more. Norwood office hrs. 508-369-5750. Cupswork.com

SPACE AVAILABLE 25-YEAR OLD HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER – In lovely Victorian in downtown Rockland Maine looking for another practitioner to round out offerings. Sunny room with bay window and closet. Plenty of parking. If you’ve been thinking about relocating, and want to check out mid-coast Maine, contact Abi Morrison: 207-5944766 or Abi@RedBirdAcupuncture.com

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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 Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com to request our media kit.

ACTIVE ISOLATED STRETCHING THE A.I.S. INSTITUTE

103 Morse St, Watertown 617-905-3038 TheAISInstitute.com TheAISInstitute@gmail.com

BIOMAGNETIC THERAPY GRAZIOSO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

Alan Grazioso, BMT Lyme Disease Specialist Lexington Medical Building, Lexington, MA 339-970-8375 GraziosoIntegrativeHealth.com Specializing in alleviating symptoms of Lyme disease, it’s co-infections and other autoimmune health issues. Lyme Magnetic Protocol trained. Goiz BioMagnetic Pair Therapy certified. See ad, page 6.

Specializing in Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) that works with the body’s natural physiological makeup to bolster flexibility, improve circulation and increase the elasticity of muscle, joints and fascia. See ad, page 6. .

ACUPUNCTURE LIFE GATE ACUPUNCTURE Karina Beleno Carney 78 Main Street, Pepperell 978-294-9291 LifeGateAcu@gmail.com LifeGateAcu.com

BRAIN TRAINING ADVANCED NEUROTHERAPY, PC Jolene Ross, PhD 781-444-9115 RetrainYourBain.com

Specializing in Neurotherapy, an effective, drug-free treatment for: attention, behavior, emotional, and executive function problems, autistic spectrum, anxiety, depression, postconcussion, peak performance and more. See ad, page 13.

Karina Beleno Carney, Lic.Ac., brings over 10 years experience of effective and compassionate acupuncture, Chinese herbs and TuiNa treatments. Serving Nashoba Valley. See ad, page 15.

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APPLIED KINESIOLOGY CENTRAL SQUARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Kristine Jelstrup, CMFT, CBK, LMT 126 Prospect St, Ste 5, Cambridge, 02139 617-833-3407 Kristine@CentralSquareHealthAnd Wellness.com CentralSquareHealthAndWellness.com Achieve optimal health physically, emotionally, nutritionally.

Kristine uses a form of muscle response testing to identify and clear nervous system interference, facilitating optimal health.

See ad, page 11.

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BRAINCORE NEUROFEEDBACK 132 Central St, Ste 205A, Foxboro 844-272-4666 BrainCore.Dianne@gmail.com

We offer state-ofthe-art brain training technology. Drug-free, non-invasive treatment. Emphasis on quality care with flexible payment options. Scholarships available. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

CHIROPRACTIC NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTRE Julie Burke, DC 617-964-3332 Info@WellAdjusted.com

We are an integrative holistic center, with a caring team of Network Spinal Analysis chiropractors, massage therapists, Shiatsu and reiki practitioners and a Wellness Coach. See ad, page 7.

COACHING MONEY & $UCCESS COACHING Virtual Coaching & Workshops 207-592-0377 Tam@ChooseBigChange.com

Tired of being sad, stressed and broke and ready for a rich, rewarding life? Learn #The MoneyFix for personal power and bigger paydays.

TAKE THE LEAP COACHING

Kim Childs 1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com Need help clarifying and manifesting your desires? Asking “What’s next?” or “What do I really, really want?” Kim is a certified life and career coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and spiritual living to help clients create more joyful and fulfilling lives. Consultations are free via phone/Skype or in person.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY INTERNAL WELLNESS CENTER

Liz Marcano-Pucillo 150 Wood Rd, Ste 403, Braintree, MA 02184 781-228-6915 Liz@InternalWellnessCtr.com InternalWellnessCtr.com Receive professional colon hydrotherapy by a national board-certified therapist using the Angel of Water system. The most comfortable and private system in the industry. See ad, page 33.

COMPOUNDING & WELLNESS PHARMACY JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS

Stephen Bernardi 577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 Steve@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad, page 28.

CORPORATE WELLNESS YOUR WELLNESS SCOUT Kirsten Wright-Cirit 919-593-2943 YourWellnessScout@gmail.com YourWellnessScout.com

Your Wellness Scout provides coaching, resources, and tips to set wellness goals and integrate sustainable solutions and practices without tipping the work, life, family balance.

DENTIST

HERBAL STUDIES

DR. IVETA IONTCHEVA-BAREHMI DMD, MS, D.SC.

THE BOSTON SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES

1842 Beacon St, Ste 305, Brookline, MA 617-868-1516 BostonDentalWellness.com

12 Pelham Terrace, Arlington, MA 781-646-6319 BostonHerbalStudies.com

Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is an accomplished dentist and specialist in Periodontics and Implants with a holistic approach to medicine and dentistry. To schedule your comprehensive exam and share the excitement of a healthy smile, call: 617-868-1516. See ad, page 16.

We offer two Herbal Apprenticeship Programs, Advanced Training, Aromatherapy Certification and a series of Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon classes. Please visit our website. See ad, page 10.

COMMONWEALTH CENTER FOR HOLISTIC HERBALISM

GROTON WELLNESS – FAMILY DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS, MEDICAL, SPA, CAFÉ

Katja Swift & Ryn Midura 25 Saint Mary’s Court, Brookline, MA 617-750-5274 CommonWealthHerbs.com

493-495 Main St (Off Rte 119) Groton, MA 01450 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com

Groton Wellness is a vibrant center for health and healing consisting of Holistic Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, an Integrative Medical Practice, a pampering and detoxifying Therapeutic Spa, and a clean food, farm-to-table Café—all working together to provide exceptional community health care. We also offer exciting talks, cleanses, classes and events, many of which are free to the community. Groton Wellness uses IV Therapy, Nutrition Management, Herbal Medicine, Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing, EAV Testing, Integrative Chiropractic, Acupuncture and many other Holistic Therapies to treat patients from head-to-toe. We have enormous success treating chronic health issues such as Lyme disease, cancer, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, mold, internal toxicity and more. See ad, page 2.

NEWTON DENTAL WELLNESS 93 Union St, Ste 408 Newton Center, MA 617-244-4997 NewtonDW.com

We are the healing dentist. We take a holistic approach to general and pediatric dentistry.

We make it easy to see a dentist. New patients receive free comprehensive exam and full set of X-rays. Blog at TheHealingDentist.info.

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. ~Ernest Hemingway

Personalized, comprehensive consultations with experienced herbalists. Whether it’s the flu or a chronic illness, or simply to build greater vitality, herbal medicine can help. See ad, page 22.

HORMONE BALANCING BELLA NATURAL HEALTH Dawna Jones, MD, FACOG 99 Longwater Cir, Ste 100 Norwell, MA 02061 781-829-0930 BellaNaturalHealth.com

Board-certified MD in gynecology and integrative medicine.

Hormone balancing, nutrition and detoxification are keys to optimal health. See ad, page 9.

HYPNOTHERAPY THOUGHT ALCHEMY

Rose Siple, Certified Hypnotherapist 774-991-0574 Info@ThoughtAlchemy.guru Transform yourself and achieve your goals through the transformative healing process of hypnotherapy. Aren’t you tired of talking about it and thinking about it? We specialize in Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis for weight loss. Call today. See ad on page 27.

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INTEGRATIVE VETERINARY MEDICAL CARE MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON Margo Roman, DVM 72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-4077 MASHVet.com

A full-service integrative veterinary clinic offering caring and healthful options and mod- alities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad, page 34.

MASSAGE NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE

BOSTON BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE 1371 Beacon St, Ste 304-305 Brookline, MA 02446 617-232-2435 Ext 0 BostonBMed.com

Boston Behavioral Medicine promotes a holistic view of health using integrative mindbody psychotherapy, stress management, and nutritional services, and strives for the balance of mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being.

MIND-BODY MEDICINE BODYMIND REPATTERNING

Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 109 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 02420 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindRepatterning.com BodymindRepatterning.com An innovative blend of body-centered counseling, integrative bodywork and energy medicine to uncover and release body-mind patterns that limit your life and health. See ad, page 6.

KERI LAYTON, ND

Whole Family Wellness, LLC 29 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116 781-721-4585 Naturopathic Medicine since 2006. Dr. Layton provide safe, effective complementary and alternative natural therapies to achieve vibrant health in people of all ages.

222 Newbury St, 3rd Fl, Boston 617-459-7474 KimberlyBruno.com What’s in your hair color? How does pharmaceutical-grade Certified Organic Aloe Vera sound? Call today to experience the difference Certified Organic ingredients make in your hair care products.

REIKI BRENNER REIKI HEALING

324 Central St, Newton 02466 617-244-8856 Elise@BrennerReikiHealing.org BrennerReikiHealing.org Providing you with reiki healing sessions, reiki meditation, and reiki training to support you in reaching your goals of mind-body-spirit wellness and wholeness.

GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD

Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery See ad, page 28.

Change is the end result of all true learning. ~Leo Buscaglia

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ORGANIC HAIR CARE KIMBERLY BRUNO

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

383 Elliot St, Ste 250 617-964-3332 WellAdjusted.com

Deep-tissue, medical, sports, Swedish and therapeutic massage, shiatsu, Reiki & HydroMassage in a full-service Wellness Center also featuring chiropractic, acupuncture, Facial Rejuvenation, Facelift Acupuncture and detox footbath. See ad, page 7.

ORGANIC HAIR CARE

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

BRIANA PIAZZA, REIKI MASTER 228 Central St, Saugus, MA 01906 781-629-9659 Briana.Piazza@gmail.com BrianaPiazza.com

Reiki Master healer and teacher offering healing treatment sessions and training at all levels. Call, email or visit BrianaPiazza.com to schedule your session.

REIKI OF GREATER BOSTON

160 School St, Ste 1-1, Waltham, MA 508-335-3814 ReikiOfGreaterBoston@gmail.com ReikiOfGreaterBoston.com Healing for body, mind and spirit. Yoga, reiki, meditation, crystal healing and life coaching are used to activate your body’s natural healing response.

THERMOGRAPHY METROWEST THERMAL IMAGING

Susan Shaw Saari, Lic.Ac., CCT, MEd, MAOM, Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM) 781-899-2121 Sue@Thpclinic.com, MyThermography.com A clinical imaging technique that records thermal patterns of the body to help diagnose and monitor pain or pathology in any part of the body. See ad, page 11.

WANT TO CONNECT WITH OUR READERS? THR E E -MONT H E DIT OR IAL CALEN DAR AND MAR KE T ING PLANNER

F E B

Conscious Dying plus: Children’s Dental Health Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Hospice, Estate Planning, Burial Advice & Holistic Dental Care

Food Sensitivities YOGA CECILE RAYNOR

Certified Alexander Technique Teacher; Certified Thai Yoga Therapist 33A Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 617-359-7841 OffTheMatYogaBlog.com Your yoga can release or create tension depending on the quality of your daily movements. Learn to let your postural mechanism work for you and notice excess body tension ease away on-and-off the mat.

plus: Holistic Eye Care

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Addressing Dietary Concerns & Natural Vision Care

A P R

M A R

Eco Yards

plus: Medical Massage Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Gardening/Lawn Care Supplies Massage Therapy Xeriscapes & Other EarthFriendly Landscaping

Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at: CONTACT JAMES ASHTON 646-262-3037 James@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com natural awakenings

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