Natural Awakenings Boston January 2021

F

E E R

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

SPECIAL EDITION

HEALTH & WELLNESS TERRY WAHLS

RETHINKING CHRONIC ILLNESS

ON

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE ENTERS HOSPITALS STAY WELL THIS WINTER

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PETS GO HOLISTIC

January 2021 | Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 10 health briefs 11 global briefs 12 eco tip 14 community spotlight 20 business spotlight 24 wise words 25 natural pet 26 healthy kids 28 classifieds 29 resource guide

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Natural Awakenings | Boston | January 2021 issue

14 14 A HEALTHY START TO A NEW YEAR

16 INTEGRATIVE HOSPITAL CARE Medicine Embraces Holistic Modalities

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20 WELLTHIER LIVING Online Healing Resources at KnoWEwell.com

22 STAY WELL THIS WINTER

Steps and Supplements for Immune Support

24 TERRY WAHLS ON TAKING CONTROL OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in

25 HEALING PETS HOLISTICALLY Integrative Vets Treat Root Causes

26 HEALING THE WHOLE CHILD Holistic Pediatricians Go Beyond Meds

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publisher’s blog I love this quote attributed to George Washington, the first president of the United States, “We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”

This quote resonates with me as I am writing to you due to a situation where I missed an opportunity that could have been advantageous to me in some good ways other than as a lesson of what not to do the next time. Although it seems that life lessons aren’t always easy, experiencing them fully is the only way to grow through to an improved quality of life.

Reflecting on what 2020 taught me, I’ve concluded that I’ve learned a lot about how to live more in the present moment as opposed to looking back at or lamenting the past and even anticipating into the future. I’m appreciating adopting a bit more of a balanced approach that keeps me closer to where I am and where I want to go next as a way to stay more grounded and focused.

One past experience I’m happy to remember today relates to our feature article by author Marlana Donato, “Integrative Hospital Care, Medicine Embraces Holistic Modalities.” I recall the time spent as I began this adventure going door to door with sample magazines to establish our distribution in 2010 into early 2011.

Reiki had recently begun spreading more widely into hospitals in Boston and throughout other large U.S. cities. All of our Natural Awakenings family of publishers had determined early on to serve as a bridge between holistic/natural and conventional medicine. Over the years, it’s been wonderful to see how far we’ve come in bringing more attention to ancient and natural healing modalities.

See “Boston Hospitals Using Integrative and Holistic Therapies” for brief descriptions of integrative care being offered at such facilities following the feature article.

With warm wishes for a peaceful winter and new year.

Peace,

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news briefs

2020 Sustainable Business of the Year Awards to Celebrate Local Businesses

The Fifth Annual Sustainable Business of the Year Awards Virtual Celebration, organized by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, will feature WBUR’s award-winning host Robin Young in conversation with leading local businesses in Massachusetts committed to sustainable, equitable and inclusive economy.

The virtual event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., January 28, via Zoom.

With 2020 being a particularly difficult year for local businesses, the event will also discuss ways to better support local businesses and commit to becoming a more fair, equitable and inclusive business community. Attendees will be able to directly engage with the awarded local businesses in learning about their values and best practices, the ways in which they continue to adapt to the COVID-19 health crisis, and how to best support local businesses during this time. The event will include time for networking with others that share the values of local, green and fair.

Other sponsors of the event include Cooperative Fund of New England, Cambridge Trust Company, Longfellow Health Clubs and Massachusetts Health Connector.

Cost: SBN members $15/non-members $25. Location: on Zoom. For more information, call 617-395-0250 or visit SBNMass.org. See ad on page 13.

We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience. ~George Washington

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news briefs NEW Zoom Lectures Check our website for upcoming lectures

Visit Our New Pharmacy: Theatre Pharmacy 1784 Massachusetts Ave. Lexington, MA • 781.862.4480

Elaine Blais Releases 3 Secrets to a Kickass Life Book

Elaine Blais, founder and CEO of Elaine Blais Life Coaching, has released her book, 3 Secrets to a Kickass Life. The book is about empowering women to live their dreams and offers simple practices for personal development and self-leadership.

Blais asks readers to imagine a world where they give themselves permission to live the life they dream of, without feeling shame or guilt for doing it. The book is a primer, a starting point, to step out of the confines of conventional thinking and self-imposed limitations.

Blais shares, “I spent a lot of my life living the life I believed I was supposed to live. It was a good life—family, home, career—the dream. At the same time, I longed for more. There was a deep sense of restlessness, that something was missing.

That something was me. Still, I’d spent so much time caring for everyone else, I had no idea who I was and what I truly wanted.”

This book contains bits of her story interwoven with practices she used to get clear on what her heart and soul desired, to disrupt the limiting stories in her head and to dare to live into her dreams in the present moment.

Cost: $9.99. Available at ElaineBlais.com/books or directly at Amazon.com. Purchase includes access to free audio downloads of the guided meditations within the book.

Community Choice Electricity Holding Informational Webinars

A webinar to introduce the new City of Boston Community Choice Electricity program will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., January 4.

This program will provide Bostonians with greater local control over the electricity that powers their homes and businesses. The webinar will discuss how the program works, how residents and businesses of Boston will benefit, the electric rates and renewable energy content offered by the program and key features of the program.

This event will be hosted online, using Zoom. A questionand-answer session will follow the presentation by city staff.

Attendees must register for the webinar. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.

For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/2Kt0PlI. For questions, email Aidan.Smith@Boston.gov.

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news briefs

Newly Released CDs for Healing

Priscilla Gale, owner of Sacred Song Reiki, has released several CDs of sound healing meditations to aid in relieving anxiety, offering guidance and clarity and creating peace and hope. Sound healing meditations have many profound healing affects for body mind and spirit.

One study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that an hour-long sound meditation helped people reduce tension, anger, fatigue, anxiety and depression while increasing a sense of spiritual well-being.

Choose from World Peace, Invite Spirit into Dreams, A Mid-Winter’s Transformation, Crystal Singing Bowls and Winter Solstice, among others suitable for different times of the year.

Special thanks to Dole & Bailey for supporting us with home delivery in their customer orders.

We appreciate you very much!

Visit:

DoleAndBailey.com for more information about their products and services.

Cost: $14.95. Purchase online at SacredSongReiki.com.

Breathe

Sign-up for a FREE Phone Consultation!

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health briefs

Try Ashwagandha for Anxiety

Storyblocks.com

In just the first month of the 2020 pandemic, the use of antianxiety medications increased by 34 percent among Americans, according to pharmaceutical surveys. Because select serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in particular tend to lose their effectiveness over time, some sufferers may take heart in a new study in Current Clinical Pharmacology. Iranian researchers gave one gram of ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera) each day for six weeks to 22 patients with generalized anxiety disorder and a placebo to a second group of 18. People in both groups were also put on SSRIs. Anxiety scores for the ashwagandha group improved by week two and kept improving during the study, significantly outperforming the scores of the control group. The extract was considered safe and free of side effects.

Schisandra chinensis, an ornamental, woody vine with pink leaves and bright red berries, has long been used as an adaptogen in China and Russia to lower stress, improve immunity and enhance energy. Korean researchers in a new study in Phytochemical Reviews report it may also be a boon for aging muscles. They tested 45 post-menopausal women that were given 1,000 milligrams of Schisandra chinensis or a placebo for 12 weeks. Compared to the control group, the Schisandra group had significantly increased quadriceps muscle strength and lower lactate levels, indicating greater endurance.

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Improve Muscle Strength with Schisandra

Try Ginger Extract for Hay Fever

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For people suffering from the miseries of allergic rhinitis, better known as hay fever, ginger extract can be just as effective as the popular pharmaceutical product loratadine (Claritin), concludes a study from Thailand’s Thammasat University. Eighty hay fever patients were given either 500 milligrams of ginger extract or loratadine.

After three and six weeks, the ginger group’s improvements in nasal symptoms and quality of life matched those of the loratadine group, but those taking ginger had fewer side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and constipation.

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Vitamin D Important for Reducing Risk of Pre-eclampsia Something as simple as a mother’s vitamin D level can have a future impact on her children, a study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows. Researchers examined 20 years of health data from 754 Boston-area mothers and their children and found that preeclampsia—abnormally high blood pressure during pregnancy—was linked to a higher systolic blood pressure in the children during their early and teen years. However, the effect was minimized or even eliminated among children exposed to higher levels of vitamin D in the womb, as measured by blood levels in the umbilical cord.

I don’t spend any time whatsoever thinking about what might have been. ~Alex Trebec

Microscopic Compass

global briefs

Bacteria Powers Animal Magnetic Sense

Generosity Fosters Increased Longevity kzenon/AdobeStock.com

A new study published in the journal PNAS suggests that people that share more live longer because the act of giving and receiving increases well-being. The recipient benefits directly from the gift, while the giver benefits indirectly through emotional satisfaction. Co-authors Fanny Kluge and Tobias Vogt found a strong relationship between a society’s generosity and the average life expectancy of its members. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, in Rostock, Germany, conclude that people are living longer in societies where members support each other with resources.

Residents of African countries such as Senegal and South Africa share the lowest percentage of their lifetime income and have the highest mortality rate of the countries studied. Western European countries and Japan transfer more to the youngest and oldest, and their mortality rates are lower. Kluge notes that the relationship between generosity and lifetime income doesn’t depend on whether the benefits come from the state or from the wider community.

Techno-Threads

A new paper in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B may explain why some animals, including birds, fish and lobsters, are able to sense the Earth’s magnetic fields. It allows sea turtles to return to the beach where they were born. Researchers hypothesize that this ability comes from a symbiotic relationship with magnetotactic bacteria that are influenced by magnetic fields, including the Earth’s.

In support of this theory, Robert Fitak, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida Department of Biology and co-author of the paper, drew from one of the largest genetic databases of its kind, the Metagenomic Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology, to identify the presence of these magnetotactic bacteria in animal samples. The researchers are working to develop a genetic test to help with further study. They have not yet identified exactly where the bacteria live in the animals, although they theorize that it could be associated with nervous tissue like the eye or brain.

Learning how organisms interact with magnetic fields could facilitate our use of them for navigation, while also understanding how human modifications of magnetism— such as constructing power lines—might be affecting biodiversity. This knowledge may also help develop therapeutic drug delivery systems. petrovich12/AdobeStock.com

Grateful Giving

New Fabric Generates Solar Energy

Winning Grins

Smiling Makes for More Positive Thoughts

According to research from the University of South Australia published in Experimental Psychology, the act of smiling and moving facial muscles can trick our mind into taking a more positive attitude. The study evaluated a real smile as well as an artificial one induced when participants held a pen between their teeth, finding that in either case, this facial muscular activity alters our perception of facial and body expressions and generates more positive emotions.

The research found that the practice of forcefully smiling will stimulate the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, which releases neurotransmitters to encourage an emotionally positive state. By inducing the brain into perceiving stimuli as happy, the mechanism could potentially be used to boost mental health.

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srikalyanexportindiacom

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology have developed a material that works like a luminescent solar concentrator for producing energy directly where needed that can even be applied to textiles. Because people are constantly on the move and dependent on a power supply to recharge smartphones, tablets and laptops, the needed electricity will come from our clothing by means of the new polymer applied on textile fibers, jackets and T-shirts.

Based on amphiphilic polymer co-networks already available on the market in the form of silicone-hydrogel contact lenses, this new material is permeable to air and water vapor, as well as flexible and stable. The luminescent solar concentrators capture and transfer diffuse ambient light to a solar cell that converts it into electrical energy. By adding two different luminescent materials to the gel tissue, the solar concentrator becomes flexible, preventing the textile to which it is attached from becoming brittle or susceptible to cracking, or accumulating water vapor in the form of sweat.

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eco tip

Slow Fashion

Mending to Extend the Life of Clothing Globalization and cheap labor have lowered clothing prices so much that many people view garments as disposable—a phenomenon called “fast fashion”. Magazines and other influencers create demand for trendy items each season, inciting us to overfill our closets and toss last year’s fads, leading to a more than doubling of worldwide consumption since 2000. It’s a vicious cycle with a huge pollution footprint.

The textile industry expels about 1.2 billion tons of CO2 per year.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the fashion industry produces 10 percent of humanity’s carbon emissions and 20 percent of global wastewater. Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is either landfilled or burned. Polyester, a petroleum-based plastic found in about 60 percent of garments, doesn’t break down in the 12

ocean, where half a million tons of microfibers end up every year. It takes about 2,000 gallons of water to manufacture just one pair of jeans, and textile dyeing is the second largest polluter of waterways.

To embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, reject fast fashion; buy good-quality, longer-lasting garments; and mend them to prolong their useful life. Whether it’s reattaching a button, patching a worn sleeve or sewing a hem, mending is a way to love and care for clothing and reject the notion that new is always better.

Another option is to rely on a local seamstress or tailor to take care of mending needs. For the do-ityourselfer, there are many ingenious products available besides needle and thread to help complete simple repairs—iron-on patches, fusible

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interfacing, mending glue and tape— as well as helpful instructional online videos and sewing classes at local fabric stores. SewGuide.com is an excellent resource for step-by-step instructions and creative ideas.

Building upon the vintage-wear market, a new trend has emerged called visible mending. In the past, mended clothes might have been interpreted as exposing a family’s lack of funds or status, but today it’s a concept we proudly embrace. Mending a hole or tear with embroidery is a great way to add whimsy and creative expression. By incorporating colorful threads and fancy stitching techniques, as well as beads, decorative buttons, ribbons and appliqués, we can turn off-the-rack items into unique, wearable art. To cover stains, consider using fabric paint to add a pretty flower or bold political slogan.

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community spotlight

A Healthy Start to a New Year Fresh Start Market Opens in Franklin

by Nancy Somera

It might be Bonnie and Mark Corso steering the ship, but the swell of enthusiasm from the Franklin community has supported their plans to open Fresh Start Market.

With more than 70 combined years of experience in the food industry—Mark in sales, distribution and grocery stores, and Bonnie in restaurants and food warehousing and distribution—an idea that was conceived nearly five years ago is now finally being realized. At first, they believed a stall at the now-popular Boston Public Market would be the right place to sell their curated selection of unique local products, but they were opposed to being in direct competition with the suppliers themselves, so they declined. With busy work lives and childrearing responsibilities to four, the over-extended Corsos decided to put their idea on hold.

Then the pandemic hit and the way of doing business in most industries, including the food industry, was turned upside down. Bonnie quickly realized that smaller local farms had inventory that needed distribution. “I saw that mom-and-pop farmstand sales were increasing, so I started to make calls to farmers directly. Not only was inventory available, but farmers told me they would adjust to meet our needs,” says Bonnie. So, Fresh Start Market took form.

A market study confirmed that the town of Franklin was not only receptive, but had been asking for a farm-to-table-style market with local, healthy, sustainably grown food. Once the Corso’s plans were learned, it soon became a community effort with numerous Franklin residents supporting their ideas. Faith Kaplan and Matthew Cail, of C&K Realty, provided invaluable advice and helped them find the market’s 6,200-square-foot space located in a plaza just outside the newly revamped center of town in high traffic and great visibility of route 140, close to Dean College and other local retailers. Also, Jim Ruzzo of BGood Restaurant sold them greatly discounted equipment that was no longer needed.

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“We have to give credit to the entire community for its help,” Bonnie says, sharing that many people stepped up with recommendations for skilled workers like electricians and selling them infrastructure items at a reduced price. When a call for office furniture went out, furniture was donated, leaving them money for other things to make the storefront better. The experience has been soul-enriching. “People are genuinely good, helpful and supportive,” the Corsos maintain. “It has been wonderful working with like-minded people who are trying to do better and be positive. We all need that right now.”

Other ways to support the project include taking part in the Brick Wall fundraiser and becoming an investor through Mainvest, where investors purchase a revenue-sharing note and Fresh Start Market agrees to share a percentage of its future revenue until investors receive a return on investment. The market will also be participating in the Franklin First gift card program, a program designed specifically to support local businesses in Franklin which allows money to stay local.

When it opens, Fresh Start Market will be stocked with items from more than 3,000 farms and producers covering six New England states and a few key selections from New York. A butcher shop, fish counter (including a lobster tank), a bakery and floral shop are situated alongside aisles and refrigerator walls housing produce, staples and ready-to-eat food made from only clean ingredients. Kitchen protocols are in place to accommodate particular diets, including vegan, keto and gluten-free, where cross-contamination cannot occur. The Corsos have been able to keep prices competitive by negotiating with farms and butchering and packaging its own meat in the on-site commercial kitchen. “Our customers will enjoy better-quality meat and poultry for the price,” Bonnie explains, believing that they will be able to compete with Whole Foods Market, but on a smaller scale. Curbside pickup and delivery will also be available.

With an eye to the future, Bonnie continuously looks for new trending foods and enjoys finding ways to create healthy, marketable products out of all local ingredients. Many local startup food businesses have already found a home at Fresh Start Market. Hiring is currently underway and anyone that is 18+ with experience in the following departments or skills should contact the Corsos: deli counter, commercial baking, health and beauty, butcher, cashier, distribution and food handling.

Despite the long days readying the store for opening, Bonnie shares, “Mark is always telling me that we can’t take ourselves too seriously; that we need to have fun with it.” That’s exactly what they have done and are eager to share their enthusiasm, fun spirit and Fresh Start Market with the community.

Location: 365 W. Central St., Franklin. For more information, call 774-847-1128, email FreshStartMkt@gmail.com or visit FreshStart. market. Follow on social media at @FreshStartMkt. Nancy Somera is the managing editor of Natural Awakenings Boston and Rhode Island editions. Contact at Editor@ NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com.

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Integrative Hospital Care Medicine Embraces Holistic Modalities

by Marlaina Donato

Thirty years ago, hospital patients were treated for symptoms based on the Western medical model, and holistic modalities were excluded, largely due to a lack of reliable scientific studies. More recently, because of promising research, the traditional template is expanding.

The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health encompasses 75 university health centers and health systems that offer integrative approaches—a remarkable seven-fold increase in 21 years. America’s top hospitals, including the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, the Duke University Medical Center and the Yale New Haven Hospital, now offer therapies such as acupuncture, reiki, homeopathy, touch therapy, yoga, clinical aromatherapy and chiropractic.

According to a report in Advances in Medical Education and Practice, nearly half of Americans receiving medical care use alternative medicine (although 80 percent don’t inform their doctors) and physicians agree on the importance of further research and training in such modalities. A 2017 University of California survey published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that hospital patients of all ages

were willing to pay out of pocket for healthier food, therapeutic massage and energy work.

DISEASE: THE BIG PICTURE “Research has repeatedly shown that even with full medical access and optimal medical treatments, a population’s health improves by only about 15 to 20 percent. The rest comes from lifestyle, environment and the social and personal determinants of health. Even factors like emotional health, what you feel is your purpose in life and what motivates you to be healthy plays a role,” says physician Wayne Jonas, in Alexandria, Virginia, a clinical professor of family medicine at Georgetown University and former director of the World Health Organization Center for Traditional Medicine. As executive director of Samueli Integrative Health Programs, which aims to make integrative health regular and routine, Jonas emphasizes that patients become healthier and medical costs are reduced when they are engaged in the healing process.

For Jonas, the shift toward integrative health care has become most evident during the current opioid crisis

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and the search for non-pharmacological approaches like acupuncture and therapeutic massage therapy for pain management. “The evidence body for many of these approaches has grown tremendously over just the past five years, and has shown a spotlight on what works and what doesn’t. These approaches are now recommended in national guidelines as mainstream for chronic pain.”

Denise Millstine, integrative physician and internal medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, concurs: “The opiate crisis is an example of the need to broaden our clinical toolbox to incorporate care strategies that are less risky. I believe this change has been multifactorial, based on patient demand and more awareness of the importance of lifestyle management.”

Patient demand is also fueled by a desire to avoid medication side effects.

In 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that 106,000 hospital deaths take place each year from adverse reactions to prescription drugs. With more than half of Americans already taking a pharmaceutical drug, and three being the average, adverse side effects can easily mount in a hospital setting.

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For Millstine, integrative medicine offers many solutions. “We might recommend the best medication or provide cutting-edge therapies, but without considering stress management, resilience, movement and what people ingest, it’s hard to get optimal results.

Integrative medicine expanded my approach to include nutrition, exercise, mind-body (connection), spirituality and other medical philosophies like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the patient’s therapeutic plan.”

WHOLE-PATIENT CANCER CARE A 2016 meta-analysis by Taipei Medical University published in the journal PLOS ONE concluded that certain applications of acupuncture reduce pain and opioid use on the first day after surgery. Acupuncture—an ancient modality based on the concept of energy meridians in the body—is also offered in many major hospitals to offset the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Acupuncture treatments at the Mayo Clinic are given in a calming atmosphere of soft lighting and music, and performed by trained doctors, as well as licensed acupuncturists with a firm TCM foundation.

Integrative health care addresses

the emotions that accompany a cancer diagnosis, and patients undergoing conventional treatment now have access to not only acupuncture but therapeutic massage, meditation, movement therapy, clinical aromatherapy, herbal applications, biofeedback and yoga.

Millstine says of theMayo Clinic, “We have oncology-trained massage providers who are comfortable with what is and what isn’t safe after someone has had a cancer diagnosis and/or treatment.”

Jonas highlights that when given under the supervision of a doctor and with conventional cancer care, complementary therapies may help people to manage cancer symptoms, boost overall well-being, better handle side effects of treatment and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. “Integrative cancer care can help by activating one’s ability to heal

and feel better physically and emotionally,” he says. “Lectures on nutrition, yoga classes and support groups for cancer patients are now common.”

The Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program, launched by American fashion designer Donna Karan in 2009 after her husband died from cancer, partners with heavy hitters such as the American Cancer Society and the Beth Israel Medical Center, in New York City. In many hospital settings, Urban Zen is creating “Zen dens”, calming nooks where staff can discuss cases with colleagues, take a break for self-care or talk to their patients in a nurturing environment. Urban Zen’s dedication to healthcare integration is international and promotes therapeutic applications of reiki, essential oil therapy, nutrition and other contemplative care.

Boston Hospitals Using Integrative and Holistic Therapies Here is a limited list of local hospitals providing holistic therapies. Wherever treatment is received, be sure to ask if holistic treatments and therapies are available to complement one’s care.

Medical Center can help patients cope with acupuncture, yoga and music therapy, are available for patients and their families, as their symptoms so that they can focus on their fight against the disease. well as past patients.

The Katherine A. Gallagher Integrative Therapies Program at Mass General HospiThe Osher Center for Integrative Medtal provides clinical interventions that recicine, a collaboration between Harvard ognize the whole person by increasing paMedical School and Brigham and Women’s tient self-awareness and self-care to enhance Hospital, is an integrated treatment model well-being. Free wellness services, such as connecting gaps in patient care and offering additional healing modalities to complete primary medical care. The clinic brings together a team of the region’s top clinicians to serve a common mission—to enhance the body’s natural ability to heal and to maintain good health. Services include acupuncture, chiropractic care, craniosacral therapy, therapeutic massage, tai chi, yoga, dietary herbs, vitamins and supplements and nutrition counseling, among others.

By integrating reiki therapy and other complementary services into traditional cancer treatments, the Cancer Center team at Tufts 18

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The Integrative Therapies Team at Boston Children’s Hospital provides a wide range of holistic therapies designed to complement a child’s medical care. The focus is on restoring a child’s mental balance, emotional vitality and sense of creativity using massage therapy, guided imagery, reiki, acupuncture, expressive arts, yoga and therapeutic touch.

Integrative health approaches can be used in combination with conventional rehabilitation medicine at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network to maximize health, quality of life and function. No matter one’s injury or ability, techniques such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, tai chi, reiki and massage therapy can help individuals access their body’s own inner healing resources, find their strength and harness the power of the body, mind and spirit to improve recovery, manage stress and find peace of mind.

ENERGY MEDICINE GOES MAINSTREAM “Alternative therapies are no longer considered ‘alternative’ when conventional medicine adopts them—for example, using calcium and vitamin D supplements, which are a standard consideration,” says Millstine. “With high-deductible plans, many patients are accustomed to paying out of pocket for care, thus making payment for alternative providers possibly more palatable.”

Reiki, a Japanese form of energy medicine once considered alternative, is now offered at major hospitals like Yale New Haven, where it’s given free of charge to cancer patients. Many hospitals are also offering classes in energy work to families of patients, hospital staff and the community.

“A medical doctor introduced me to the practice when my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer,” says Denise Baron, a Philadelphia-based reiki practitioner who works with referrals from clients and wellness professionals. “A hospital does not hire me directly, but the staff know I am available. I’ve worked on patients post-surgery, during and after births, people with cancer and people in hospice. I would say 96 percent of clients walk away with a deep experience of peace, harmony and lower stress levels.”

Most recently, she has seen an increase in nurses asking for support during stressful times, with many wanting to learn how to practice reiki themselves.

According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, reiki is more effective than a placebo and activates the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve. Results include lower blood pressure and less anxiety and depression. Other research shows that the modality also reduces nausea, improves appetite and lessens fatigue.

says Erickson. “She believed in the mind-body-spirit-emotion connections and that all aspects need to be nurtured in order for people to heal.”

Due to increased demand, more nursing schools are creating educational programs grounded in holistic philosophy, she says. “What makes a nurse holistic is not the skills or alternative therapies she/he/they do, but rather how they show up in their interactions with others. They value and recognize that they are gifted with sharing a person’s most vulnerable moments, and that this shared space is sacred.”

Some holistic nurses may use healing therapies such as guided imagery, aromatherapy, energy work, bodywork,

deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation to help both their clients and other healthcare providers.

Those in the field of integrative medicine agree that the future of medicine is now. “People are becoming more selfaware and taking responsibility for their health and life. Consciousness is growing [by] leaps and bounds,” says Baron.

Jonas, drawing on 40 years of experience, agrees. “By working as partners with our patients to help find the care that works for them, we can help them achieve better health and quality of life.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

HOLISTIC NURSING’S ROLE Collaborating with physicians and holistic practitioners, nurses play a key role in integrative hospital care. “We all work together to facilitate the client towards a higher level of well-being. Each profession brings something to the table,” says Margaret Erickson, in Cedar Park, Texas, CEO of the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation.

The nurse’s role in a patient’s healing journey is an intimate one, and holistic nurses ensure that the whole patient is tended to. “The roots of holistic nursing, grounded in holism, were verbalized over 150 years ago by Florence Nightingale,” Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in

January 2021

19

business spotlight

WELLthier Living Online Healing Resources at KnoWEwell.com

by Patti Trenchak

Kimberly B. Whittle

20

Imagine a one-stop, online site for healing, health and well-being information, resources and screened providers in a caring, supportive environment.

KnoWEwell has launched a personalized, private and secure online community and marketplace to transform health care.

KnoWEwell’s mission is to proactively prevent harm, address chronic diseases and inspire and empower individuals to achieve WELLthier Living.

Driven by a series of healthcare challenges in her family that began more than a decade ago, founder and CEO Kimberly B. Whittle embarked on a journey to search for solutions. She immersed herself in research, attended conferences and joined several nonprofit provider organizations along the way. Using a multitude of Regenerative Whole Health (RWH) approaches—including natural, integrative and functional medicine, as well as lifestyle wellness practices—and collaborating with caring practitioners, Whittle created a personalized, inte-

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grated wellness approach to prevent and heal chronic conditions.

Motivated to share this transformative knowledge, she started KnoWEwell to help people easily connect with global healing approaches, therapies, providers and organizations that together can cultivate and regenerate humanity, other living species and our planet.

Whittle’s personal healing journey wasn’t easy, but she is determined to make the path easier for others. She also wants to acknowledge and thank the many health and well-being providers and professional organizations that assisted, guided and educated her in this process. Whittle designed KnoWEwell to serve as a role model for using business as a force for good, not just profits. In recognition of her innovative approach and leadership, Whittle was honored as one of Industry Era magazine’s 10 Best CEOs of 2020.

Research is proving the effectiveness of ancient healing therapies and confirm-

Natural Awakenings is proud to be a collaborative partner with KnoWEwell. With gratitude for 27 years of sharing its mission, the magazine is pleased to provide its readers with the gift of a free, basic, annual KnoWEwell membership for individuals and providers. The new platform can be found at KnoWEwell.com. To begin a WELLthier Living journey, see the back cover, which includes free membership codes.

Message and data rates may apply.

ing that our lifestyle can modify the way our DNA is expressed, pushing us toward or away from chronic diseases. Studies also reveal that there is about a 17-year lag between new scientific discoveries and their adoption into medical practice and patient care.

KnoWEwell is bridging that knowledge gap by creating a centralized online destination with the latest evidence-based research and connecting the dots between soil, food, lifestyle choices, people’s health and the health of the planet. KnoWEwell received the Top 50 Healthcare Companies award in 2019 from the International Forum for Advancements in Healthcare for its contributions to health care, industry impact and spirit of innovation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the focus on chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity and respiratory diseases because they increase the risk of serious and deadly consequences of the virus. As an online platform, KnoWEwell provides a new community outlet for like-minded individuals to share their experiences, challenges and triumphs. It is empowering its members to navigate today’s RWH knowledge and resources, as well as find their best-matched, vetted providers to help prevent and address the root causes of their chronic diseases. Members can engage in immersive learning from thought-leading professional organizations and these trusted providers.

“Our DNA may be our ancestry, but it does not have to be our destiny. We are building a global healing community, rooted and united through love of humanity and our planet. We are sharing healing success stories to inspire hope, foster meaningful connections and ensure that mission-aligned organizations prosper,” says Whittle. “KnoWEwell brings an unparalleled depth of health and well-being benefits to individuals and families and the entire Regenerative Whole Health ecosystem. Together, WE inspire and empower WELLthier living— happy, healthy, abundant and purposefilled living.”

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January 2021

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22

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Stay Well This Winter Steps and Supplements for Immune Support

by Gary Kracoff

We are now at a critical time in the pandemic. The holidays have come and gone; many people may have been exposed to viruses unknowingly.

We need to be prepared as we move through the winter months.

Winter brings shorter days, more inside time, less ability to socialize outside and socially distancing is harder to accomplish. There are some actions that people can take to lessen the chances of catching an illness and supplements that can be taken to boost our immune system, especially during the pandemic.

The first line of defense is prevention. Everyone should be practicing these easy steps every day to help prevent the spread of colds, flu and the coronavirus.

WASH HANDS PROPERLY

Most of us wash our hands often during cold and flu season, but many do not wash properly. The CDC states that proper washing of our hands is more effective than hand sanitizers. Wash hands often, properly and especially before touching our face, nose, eyes, food or food preparation surfaces. The CDC has provided a video on the proper way to wash hands: YouTu.be/IisgnbMfKvI.

THINK BEFORE TOUCHING

Some of the most common contaminated surfaces are:  Doorknobs  Elevator buttons and escalator handrails  Bathroom door handles  Light switches  Airplanes-seat belts, tray tables, TV screens  Money  Cell phones

THINGS TO DO DAILY

 Eat healthy food; limit prepared foods and fast food  Stay hydrated  Get a good night’s sleep  Decrease stress  Do not have the TV or radio on all day long listening to the same news cycle over and over  Enjoy each day. This stressful time will pass.

SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

There have been many months of trial and error in the medical community, trying different treatments and preventive measures. There have been successes and failures. Now the Eastern Virginia Medical School has come up with some guidelines (evms.edu/covidcare) for their physicians and patients which contain supplement recommendations.

Prophylaxis:

 Vitamin C 500mg two times a day  Quercetin 250mg daily

 B complex vitamins  Zinc 30-50mg daily  Melatonin (slow release): Start with 0.3mg and increase as tolerated to 2mg at night  Vitamin D3 1000-3000 iu daily

Mildly Symptomatic Patients (at home):

 Vitamin C 500mg twice a day  Quercetin 250mg-500mg twice a day  Vitamin D3 2000-4000iu daily  B complex vitamins  Zinc 75-1000mg daily  Melatonin 6-10mg at night  Aspirin 81-325 mg /day (unless contraindicated)

In symptomatic patients, monitoring with home pulse oximetry is recommended. Those with levels below 94 percent should call their physician or go to the hospital.

Vitamin C is critical to the proper functioning of the immune cells. Vitamin C has been used for years to reduce the symptoms of colds, and studies have shown it also reduces the risk of contracting colds/viruses. A study published last February demonstrated that vitamin C reduced symptoms in patients with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by other viruses.

Quercetin has shown preclinical benefits as an antiviral, and a study found that it bounds with the spike protein in the novel Coronavirus, reducing its ability to infect cells.

Zinc is essential for the development of immune cells, and studies have found zinc reduces the risk of contracting respiratory infections.

Melatonin can be used for sleep and to help reduce anxiety, and this improves the immune system. It also blocks inflammasome activity, reducing inflammation in the lungs.

Vitamin D3 levels in countries which the general population had low levels were more likely to have serious outbreaks and higher mortality rates.

Aspirin reduces fever and aches associated with COVID-19. It may also reduce the risk of blood clots which is a serious problem in COVID-19 patients.

Although this is a challenging time for everyone, following some simple steps can help our body and immune system fight off threatening infections.

Dr. Gary Kracoff is a naturopathic doctor and registered pharmacist at the Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, located at 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information, call 781-893-3870 ext. 2 or visit NaturalCompounder.com. See ad on page 7 and Resource Guide on page 30.

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January 2021

23

wise words

Terry Wahls on Taking Control of Chronic Conditions

by Sandra Yeyati

Twenty years ago, University of Iowa Clinical Professor of Medicine Terry Wahls was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Conventional treatments didn’t work, and her health deteriorated to the point where she was wheelchair-bound and facing a progressively grim future. Through rigorous scientific study and clinical trials, she developed a groundbreaking diet and lifestyle protocol that allows people to take control of their health, reversing many chronic disease states, including her own. She is the author of The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles, as well as an accompanying cookbook, The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life.

What is your personal journey with multiple sclerosis?

In 2000, I had problems walking, which led to the MS diagnosis. After consulting the best doctors and taking the newest drugs, I went downhill anyway. At my lowest point, already in a tilt-recline wheelchair, I realized that conventional medicine wasn’t going to stop my decline into a bedridden, possibly demented state with intractable face pain due to trigeminal neuralgia.

My physicians introduced me to the work of Loren Cordain, who developed the paleo diet, so after 20 years of being 24

a vegetarian, I went back to eating meat; gave up grains, legumes and dairy. I also studied the basic science for animal models of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS, and decided that mitochondria—the organelles that generate the energy that cells use to run the chemistry of life—were leading to my early loss of myelin and brain cells. I also discovered The Institute for Functional Medicine and took their course in neuroprotection. Based on the science, I devised a supplement program to support my mitochondria. My decline slowed.

Then came my “Aha!” moment: What if I redesigned my paleo diet, combining ancestral health with functional medicine principles, relying less on supplements and more on food to support my mitochondria? I did that, and my pain, brain fog and fatigue resolved.

I began to get stronger, started walking. In three months, I was able to go for a bike ride with my family around the block for the first time in six years. It felt miraculous.

It changed the way I think about disease and how I practice medicine. I now talk to patients about diet, lifestyle, exercise, toxics exposures and stress management, and I’m able to stabilize, reverse and greatly improve their blood pressure, blood sugar, pain and chronic diseases that I was struggling to manage using the latest drugs.

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What have you learned about resilience?

People who maintain a sense of control have more robust immune function and are generally healthier. Many of my patients say that their diagnosis ended up being a tremendous gift because it allowed them to take stock of their lives and understand their priorities. That’s true for me. If I eat gluten, dairy or eggs, or I’m exposed to too much stress or toxins, my trigeminal neuralgia will turn on and I’ll have horrific facial pain, but I consider it to be a tremendous gift, because that’s my barometer for the inflammation levels in my brain, which reminds me to look at my triggers and recommit to my self-care. We teach patients how to track their biosensors.

Are you cured of MS? No. I still have the genetic vulnerability and lesions in my spinal cord, and will always be sensitive to gluten, dairy and eggs. If I become severely stressed or don’t sleep, I’ll probably have a problem again. I caution all of my patients: If you go back to your previous diet and lifestyle, your disease states will return.

Isn’t it easier to just take a prescription drug for symptoms?

It’s a smaller level of effort, but they’re not cures, either. The underlying disease state progresses, so people typically need higher doses of their medications.

They also develop co-morbid diagnoses that require new medications. Conventional medicine is effective for some symptom improvements, but it has never been evaluated for improving global health, whereas studies have shown that improving diet quality and incorporating exercise and meditation will improve multiple chemical pathways in the body, gene expression and your microbiome, and dramatically improve health outcomes across many disease states.

For more information, including diet protocol guidelines and online courses, visit TerryWahls.com.

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

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

natural pet

degree and then may pursue optional holistic training. Following this path can take a great deal of time.

firn/AdobeStock.com

NATURAL NUTRITION

Healing Pets Holistically Integrative Vets Treat Root Causes

by Julie Peterson Emma, a mini-schnauzer mix, was 4 years old when she started acting like a senior lacking zest for running or playing. After being treated by an integrative veterinarian for one month, she regained vibrancy. “She’s 6 years old now, and she’s her normal, barky, running, zig-zagging self,” says Yvonnda Agent, a volunteer with animal transport rescue operations, near Rockvale, Tennessee.

Agent’s practitioner determined Emma had kidney issues that were slowing her down. Upon deeper investigation, these problems were found to be the only visible symptom of a tickborne illness. Once given immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory and liver-detox herbs, the dog made a full recovery.

EXPANDED OPTIONS Getting to the root cause of the condition is what integrative veterinarians are known for. They combine both conventional and holistic medicine, may use fewer drugs and limit vaccinations.

“With conventional medicine, we tend to treat the symptoms, versus treating the root cause of disease, which is why a majority of the time, the symptoms return when the drug is finished,” says veterinarian Katie Woodley, in Fort Collins, Colorado, who blogs at TheNaturalPetDoctor.com. “With a holistic approach, we look at the nutrition, gut health and how all the systems are connected … and resolve the imbalance.”

Holistic veterinarians may specialize in acupuncture, herbal medicine, kinesiology, chiropractic, laser therapy or any of many other natural modalities as an adjunct to conventional medicine. They first must earn a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM)

At the Franklin Road Animal Hospital, in Brentwood, Tennessee, Mark C. Ingram, DVM, has found inadequate nutrition from low-quality foods at the root of most health problems.

High-quality food helps animals absorb nutrients needed for optimal well-being. “The first ingredient should always be meat, and we like limited-ingredient foods due to the numerous allergies we see,” says Ingram. “Every case of cancer that we have seen in the last 20 years has food allergies. Every torn cruciate and every paralyzed dog with disc problems has food allergies. It is also the most underlying cause for ear infections and cystitis.”

This was the case with Gabby, a 3-year-old mini-schnauzer that Agent rescued about a year ago. “She came to us with a bottle of ear solution and a history of green pus in her ears,” says Agent. Gabby’s medical history indicated that the ears, in addition to digestive problems, had been unsuccessfully treated with antibiotics and changes in diet.

“Our holistic vet recommended a raw diet with no grains and no starchy vegetables. Gabby hasn’t had a single instance of ear irritation since,” says Agent, who believes that whole foods served as medicine and now serve as prevention for her pets.

VEXING VACCINATIONS There is ongoing debate whether pet vaccination boosters that may be required by law or strongly recommended by vets provide increased protection or are harmful. Mounting evidence says that they are often overdone: for example, both five-pound and 100-pound dogs receive the same dosage. Yet vaccinations do prevent some serious diseases. “We do not like to over-vaccinate, but provide appropriate protection by minimal vaccination and encourage titers,” says Ingram. Titers are blood tests used to determine if a pet’s antibodies are high enough from a previous vaccination to warrant a booster shot for the specific disease.

“Many of the core vaccines that your pet needs to be protected from diseases like parvovirus and distemper actually provide lifelong immunity with one vaccine,” says Woodley.

CHOOSING A VETERINARIAN Commonly, people seek holistic veterinarians after they have had success with human integrative medicine. But finding such a provider isn’t simple. “My clientele regularly travels one to four hours for a consultation,” says Ingram, who fully understands that demand is outstripping supply for integrative veterinary care.

The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, which has 1,500 members, has a search-by-state feature that also lists the modalities practiced by each veterinarian at ahvma. org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian. In addition, Woodley, Ingram and others offer telehealth or long-distance consults. In lieu of finding a vet that is listed as holistic, pet parents can call clinics to ask questions about alternative treatments. Some facilities are more flexible than others.

Choosing a veterinarian is a personal decision for owners. “I feel that traditional versus holistic care is simply sick care versus well care,” says Agent. “Their quality of life is so important to me and they’re solely dependent on the choices I make for them. I’m going to choose well care.”

Julie Peterson writes from rural Wisconsin and has contributed to Natural Awakenings for more than a decade. Contact her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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healthy kids

Healing the Whole Child Holistic Pediatricians Go Beyond Meds

by Ronica O’Hara When Jackie Jones’ 4-year-old daughter had a persistent runny nose and cough, three visits to the pediatrician proved fruitless. “He would see us for two minutes, listen to her chest, saying she had ‘a cold’, and yet still prescribe an antibiotic and steroid that would just trash her immune system,” the Atlanta mom says.

“She ended up developing pneumonia in both lungs that landed her in the hospital.”

This propelled Jones to switch her children’s care to a holistic pediatrician.

“He actually listens to me and takes time with his patients, and recommends 26

vitamins and supplements to keep them healthy, in comparison to just handing out antibiotics,” she says. On the first visit, he queried Jones about family use of shampoos, soaps and cleaning products that might contain chemicals.

“Definitely not a conversation I had with my old pediatrician!” she related.

Jones, who dispenses pregnancy advice at PisforPregnant.com, benefitted from a growing trend among pediatricians. The number of doctors that self-identify as holistic by joining the integrative medicine section of the American Academy of Pediatrics has grown

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from a dozen in the early 1990s to more than 400 today, says Kathi Kemper, M.D., an Ohio State University pediatrics professor who founded the section and authored The Holistic Pediatrician.

“Holistic pediatricians are interested in helping children and families meet their health goals, not just diagnosing and dispensing drugs,” she says. “We use an evidence-informed approach, including all appropriate therapies and therapists, with a strong emphasis on healthy lifestyle behaviors such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, social and emotional skills, spirituality

and a healthy environment.”

Many pediatricians report they want to know more about integrative approaches because of their frustration in treating the chronic conditions in one-quarter to one-half of the children they see, as well as to answer questions posed by Google-savvy parents. Yet most pediatricians have limited training in natural health and are wary to suggest such approaches, and parents are often reluctant to disclose their use of natural methods.

Holistic pediatricians, on the other hand, typically get additional training in healing modalities that allows them to integrate natural options into mainstream methods. Unlike many pediatricians in busy clinics that can see a child only briefly, holistic pediatricians typically take longer. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all conventional approach,” says holistic pediatrician Elisa Song, of Belmont, California, who blogs at HealthyKidsHappyKids.com.

For a child with asthma, for example, Song checks for environmental, dietary or social triggers, including mold, food allergies or sensitivities and stress. She looks for underlying biomedical imbalances such as nutritional deficiencies, abnormal gut microbes and signs of a leaky gut. “Based upon clinical and laboratory findings, an initial treatment plan may include elimination of food sensitivities, supplementation with a 3-6-9 fish oil and magnesium, and mindfulness exercises that incorporate diaphragmatic breathing,” she says.

Pediatric naturopaths are another option for parents.

These doctors typically start from a natural medicine perspective, are trained in herbs and nutrition, and collaborate with bodyworkers, physical therapists and counselors. “Really, anything that helps a child thrive,” says pediatric naturopath Kathryn Purvis, of Tempe, Arizona. “We use treatments that are gentle and safe, but are also trained to use conventional treatments if necessary.”

Naturopaths undergo a four-year post-graduate medical education like pediatricians, but do not complete an additional three years of pediatric residency, although they can do internships and take courses for certification. In 26 states, they can prescribe pharmaceuticals and administer vaccines.

Purvis is the primary care provider for about 75 percent of the children she sees and provides adjunctive care for specific conditions with the rest. For example, one child with chronic ear infections was facing ear tube surgery on the advice of a pediatrician; after his parents followed her advice to take him off dairy and give him certain supplements and a homeopathic remedy, the condition cleared up.

Chiropractors that specialize in pediatrics, although not usually a child’s primary doctor, correct misalignments of the cranium, spine and pelvis using extra-low force, “like checking the ripeness of a tomato,” says pediatric chiropractor Kaleb Scroggin, of Savannah, author of the children’s book C is for Chiropractor. For example, treating a constipated, breast-fed baby usually produces immediate results, he says, adding that adjustments can also help infants with latching issues, painful gas, reflux and general irritability.

“My goal is to see how healthy I can help your child become,” he advises.

Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY

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BOSTON COMMUNITY 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/events/new.

Due to the fluidity of the coronavirus situation and massive amounts of event cancellations, please visit our website for calendar listings. Please also be sure to confirm events prior to the date of the event. Thank you, Natural Awakenings.

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John Walczyk 577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 John@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 on page 7.

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Dr. Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi DMD, MS, D.SC. 1842 Beacon St, Ste 305, Brookline, MA 617-868-1516 BostonDentalWellness.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 21.

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page 7.

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Naturopathic Medicine GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD

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Johnson Compounding & Wellness 781-893-3870 x 104 Tamara@NaturalCompounder.com Tamara Luck, RDN, LDN, is excited to help you along your wellness journey. She uses a whole body and functional nutrition approach to help you reach your goals related to gut health, anti-inflammatory lifestyles, weight loss and optimizing your overall wellness. See ad on page 7.

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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 on page 7.

Reiki

Tantra/Sacred Sexuality

Yoga

BOSTON REIKI MASTER

SACRED TEMPLE ARTS

CECILE RAYNOR

34 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands 617-633-3654 BostonReikiMaster.com Are you stressed from the pressure of your job, home life, kids or an illness? Do you want to feel calm and relaxed?

Experience reiki. Certified Reiki Master/Teacher with over 20 years’ experience in energy medicine providing pure Usui Reiki healing/relaxation sessions.

Spiritual HealingTeaching

Sacha L. Fossa, Masters Health Arts & Sciences, Certified Sex & Tantric Educator, Licensed Erotic Blueprint Coach, Healing Arts Practitioner 978-309-9399 SacredTempleArts.com Ready to have better sex and love your life more, partnered or not? Holistic, cutting-edge sex, intimacy and relationship coaching, energy and bodywork, for your sexual healing and empowerment. In-person and/or virtual sessions and programs.

See ad, page 9.

Certified Alexander Technique Teacher; Certified Thai Yoga Therapist 33A Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 617-359-7841 CecileRaynor.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.

Wellness Resources

BE THE MEDICINE

BETH GARDNER

Janet StraightArrow, Master Healer-Teacher 973-647-2500 Janet@BeTheMedicine.com BeTheMedicine.com Spiritual Life-Health Coach Guide, Master Healer. Training; Soul Shamanism, reiki all levels to Master, medical intuition. Get unstuck, discover true selfpurpose, home, business, land clearings, past-this life healing, astrology, Zoom and phone.

Acton Pharmacy Keyes Drug West Concord Pharmacy BGardner@DinnoHealth.com 508-259-7851 Certified lifestyle educator and the director of health and wellness at Acton Pharmacy, Keyes Drug and West Concord Pharmacy. Beth Gardner works one-on-one with patients to help create ways to improve diet and overall health as a means for disease and illness prevention. See ad, page 8.

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ~E. M. Forster

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January 2021

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INDIVIDUAL: USE CODE: NAMA160 PROVIDER: USE CODE: NAMA1300