E R F
E
HEALTHY
LIVING
HEALTHY
PLANET
MINDING THE HEART
Why the Heart-Brain Connection Matters
SACRED SEXUALITY Intimacy that Connects and Heals Sprinkling Love Around Fermentation Makes a Comeback
Never miss an issue! SCAN Code to sign up
February 2022 | Greater Boston / Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
2
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
3
DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 10 health briefs 11 global briefs 12 eco tip 18 healing ways 20 practitioner profile 24 wise words 26 conscious eating 31 inspiration 32 natural pet 34 resource guide
ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE: To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a
media kit, please contact us at 617-906-0232 or email Sales@ 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 NA-GBRI.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 NaturalAwakenings.com.
4
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Natural Awakenings | Greater Boston/Rhode Island | February 2022 issue
20
14
31
20 13 FINDING HEALTH IN THE BALANCE
26
22
Preserving Food and Traditions
Sacha Fossa
14 THE HEART-MIND CONNECTION
How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health
18 TRULY MAKING LOVE Sex and Intimacy as a Healing Force
INTIMACY COACH
FERMENTING FOR FOODIES
STRESSED OUT, OVERWHELMED AND ANXIOUS
31
COVID-19 Trauma Explained
LIVING IN THE FREQUENCY OF LOVE
24
32
DAVID PERLMUTTER ON THE ROLE OF URIC ACID IN METABOLIC HEALTH
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
FOSTERING LOVE
Tips for First-Time Pet Foster Parents
February 2022
5
letter from publisher I’ve long found it difficult to fully understand what others mean by, “I can feel it in my gut”. It’s only on rare occasions, when there’s been a deeply disturbing life event, that I’ve felt that type of connection while often witnessing others seeming to experience those feelings readily. These feelings happen in my heart area where I feel joy, and sometimes excruciating pain, fear and sadness or even a warm blanket of yummy heartfelt love. This month’s feature article by Ronica O’Hara, “The Heart-Mind Connection: How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health,” helps unravel some of the mystery around how our hearts play a much greater role in the way thoughts and emotions impact overall health. O’Hara offers great tips on how we can treat ourselves better to reduce the long-term impact of difficult emotions. This winter I’ve been learning more about what it really means to treat myself better. Growing up and living in a world that’s largely controlled by the impulses of instant gratification, it has taken countless bumps and bruises to shock me into a deeper level of understanding and commitment to practicing self-care. Around mid-December 2021, another stint of dieting failure left me questioning nearly everything about my life—not feeling good enough, negative selftalk and an overall feeling of underachievement was plaguing every aspect of life. I was beating myself up for the lifelong habit of procrastination, its negative effects and the toll it takes on my quality of life. It was around this time I started to consider whether dramatic and lasting radical change within me and my experience was possible. As with most things we think about, it wasn’t long before the Universe started to serve me some tools that would challenge me to consider jumping into radical change. I’ve never trusted myself enough to commit to making a concerted effort to make and keep a New Year’s resolution so that was off the table. Then I stumbled upon a free mental toughness program called 75 Hard; my self-doubts nearly scared me away until the pain of reflecting on where I am, versus where I want to be, became so great that there was no way I could not explore it further. This would mean consciously acknowledging and accepting the old, I’m not good enough, strong enough, committed enough, blah, blah, blah, story that I’ve allowed to dominate and hold me back from attempting to reach my potential. On January 2, I retired to bed early telling myself, “I want to wake up at 4 a.m.”. A part of me agreed that if I woke up on time, I was meant to begin the program. Upon waking, I looked at my phone and it was 4 a.m. No time for thinking, I quickly sat up and like ripping off a Band-Aid, I took on the challenge of radical change. Stay tuned for updates. Have a heart-happy and cozy February. Peace, Maisie
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors:
HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
GREATER BOSTON/ RHODE ISLAND EDITION PUBLISHER Maisie Raftery MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Somera DESIGN & PRODUCTION Courtney Ayers Zina Cochran PROOFREADER Randy Kambic CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Karen Shaw Becker Marlaina Donato Tamara Luck Ronica O’Hara Jolene Ross April Thompson Sandra Yeyati
CONTACT US P.O. Box 1149 • Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 NA-GBRI.com Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $29 (for 12 issues) to the above address.
NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder COO/Franchise Sales Layout & Design Financial Manager Asst. Director of Ops Digital Content Director National Advertising Administrative Assistant
Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Gabrielle W-Perillo Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Anne-Marie Ryan
Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.
Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines
Visit: NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/pages/sponsors for special offers. 6
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.
news briefs
The Anasa Personalized Medicine Team Welcomes Dr. Cardarelli
Dr. Noelle Cardarelli, a licensed naturopathic physician, is currently accepting new patients for naturopathic medicine visits and acupuncture services at Anasa Personalized Medicine, in Providence. She Noelle Cardarelli completed her education at the University of Bridgeport where she received a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a master’s degree in acupuncture. Before that, she graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, in Boston, with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. Cardarelli is passionate about the natural intelligence of the human body and uses nutrition, supplements, nature cure, hydrotherapy and acupuncture to treat her patients holistically. She has specific interest in treating patients with chronic pain, autoimmune and digestive disorders. Cardarelli enjoys traveling and spending time in nature which fuels her practice and passion for assisting patients in understanding their health on a fundamental level. “We are thrilled to have another naturopathic physician to support people on their health journey,” says owner, Dr. Chrysanthi Kazantzis. Location: 245 Waterman St., Ste. 308, Providence. To book an appointment, call 401-270-1742 or visit AnasaMedicine.com. See ad on page 8 and Resource Guide on page 37. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
7
news briefs
Yoga and Aging Online Series with Early Pioneers of Yoga A special workshop series, sponsored by Massachusetts-based Artemis Yoga, brings together the combined experiences of four of the nation’s premier instructors, Patricia Walden, Karin Stephan, Roni Brissette and David Goldblatt to showcase the value of Front to back: Roni Brissette, yoga in aging gracefulDavid Goldblatt, Karin Stephan, ly with health, strength Rahel Wasserfall, Patricia Walden and resilience. The kickoff discussion on January 23 is available for free download at YogaAndAging.com. The series continues through May with monthly, live workshops which are timely for both yoga novices as well as enthusiasts. From February to May, these workshops focus on a different aspect of aging led by these instructors each of whom brings 30 to 45 years of experience and specific expertise to the program, including two who are the founders of the first BKS Iyengar Yoga Center in the East Coast. The workshop details are: You’re as Young as Your Spine!, February 27, with Walden; Form and Function: Our Hips as We Age, March 27, with Stephan; Moving from Stability, April 24, with Brissette; and Growing Old with Yoga, May 22, with Goldblatt. As an increasing number of Americans enter their older years and live longer, more are seeking the tools and knowledge for healthy aging. Yoga reduces stress and improves strength and mobility allowing individuals to thrive as they age. This program is an exciting opportunity to tap into the collective insight and wisdom of some of the early pioneers of yoga in the U.S. that embrace yoga as a foundation for healthy living, especially as they have grown older. With a focus on cultivating resilience in the body and in the mind, this program aims to humanize the relationship to getting older so that we can deconstruct our approach to aging and go forth knowing the answers are within us, in the wisdom of our body. Cost: Panel discussion is free. Workshops and labs are $150 or $45 individually. For more information, visit YogaAndAging.com.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. ~Jimi Hendrix 8
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
news briefs
Special Valentine’s Offer from NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com As we approach two full years of dealing with the pandemic, many have taken the opportunity to do some serious soul-searching, and many singles have come to the realization that they desire a deeply connected, conscious and loving relationship. To help in their quests, especially during special days this month that usually provide many face-to-face opportunities for potential romance that the health crisis has inhibited, NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is having a Valentine’s Sale from February 10 through 15 with all subscriptions being offered at 25 percent off of regular prices during this period. The platform, a leading holistic, conscious dating site and a venue for eco-conscious and spiritual singles to meet each other, is not a superficial, “swipedy-swipe” app, but a truly “help singles meet their match” dating site. Each member exerts control over which profiles they view and with whom they choose to initiate contact. The detailed profiles allow members to read and learn about potential matches, which makes meeting someone compatible more probable. Further, its new video dating feature has been well received as it allows members to get to know each other before meeting in person. For more information, visit NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com. See ad on page 8.
Boston Peer-Run Mental Health Programs The Department of Mental Health in Boston funds five peer-run (all staff identify as having lived experience) Recovery Learning Communities (RLC), one for each of their five catchment areas. Recovery Learning Communities are consumer-run networks of self-help/peer support, information and referral, advocacy and training activities. Training in recovery concepts and tools, advocacy forums and social and recreational events are all part of what goes on in a Recovery Learning Community. The doors are open to all individuals with a serious mental illness. RLCs work collaboratively with mental health providers, other human service agencies and the community at large to forward the mission of community integration and respect for people with mental health conditions. RLC activities are designed to appeal to the range of people in the community, including people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and people of all co-occurring disabilities. RLCs are for everyone. One of its offerings is Opening Doors to the Arts where free and reduced priced tickets to theater, concerts and more are given. Relationships exist with Boston Symphony Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Philharmonic, Berklee School of Music, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Lyric Stage, Wheelock Family Theater and more. Learn more at OpeningDoorsToTheArts.org. The Metro Boston RLC also operates a peer support line (also called a warmline) seven days a week from 4 to 7:45 p.m. A warmline is a compassionate listening and resource line staffed entirely by people with lived experience. The MBRLC peer support line is toll-free 1-877-733-7563 (877 PEER LNE). For a directory of other peer support lines visit Warmline.org. See all Recovery Learning Communities at Mass.gov/service-details/recoverylearning-communities. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
Individualized Care. Exceptional Service. DINNOHEALTH.COM
FOLLOW OUR LATEST NEWS & EVENTS
NEW Zoom Lectures Check our website for upcoming lectures
PLEASE CLIP-N-SAVE
20% OFF
HIGHEST COST SUPPLEMENT ON YOUR NEXT VISIT. Prescriptions not included
OUR LOCATIONS Acton Pharmacy ActonPharmacy.com 978.263.3901 563 Mass, Ave., Acton, MA 01720
Keyes Drug KeyesDrug.com 617.244.2794 2090 Comm. Ave., Newton, MA 02466
Theatre Pharmacy TheatrePharmacy.DinnoHealth.com 781.862.4480 1784 Mass. Ave., Lexington, MA 02420
West Concord Pharmacy WestConcordPharmacy.com 978.369.3100 1212 Main St., Concord, MA 01742 February 2022
9
health briefs
Two new studies suggest that the right probiotics can offer relief for the 85 percent of pregnant women with nausea and for the 25 percent of fussy newborns with colic. In the journal Nutrients, University of California, Davis researchers reported on a study in which 32 pregnant women that had nausea, vomiting and constipation took a probiotic capsule twice a day. The over-thecounter probiotics formula contained 10 billion live cultures, mainly Lactobacillus. After 12 days, the number of hours participants felt nauseated was reduced by 16 percent, and they vomited one-third fewer times. Constipation was also reduced. Quality of life markers such as fatigue, poor appetite and difficulty maintaining normal social activities also improved. Examining biomarkers in fecal samples, the researchers found the probiotics increased vitamin E and a bile salt enzyme that helps prevent vomiting and nausea. In a second study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Naples researchers explored whether a particular probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis BB-12) could help soothe babies with colic, a common gastrointestinal disorder in the first three months of life that studies have linked to maternal postpartum depression, parental guilt and frustration, drug use and long-term behavioral and sleep problems. They found that the probiotic reduced the duration of daily crying by 50 to 80 percent in the 40 infants that received it once daily for 28 days, compared to a 32 percent reduction among 40 babies receiving a placebo. The probiotic also had beneficial effects on sleep duration and on stool frequency and consistency. It increased gut production of butyrate, which positively regulates intestinal transit time, pain perception, the gut-brain axis and inflammation.
alenaorsh/AdobeStock.com
Try Probiotics to Lower Pregnancy Nausea and Soothe Fussy Babies
Improve Sleep and Lower Anxiety with Black Cumin Oil Black cumin seeds that come from the flowering fennel plant (Nigella sativa) flavor cuisines from the Middle East to the Far East and have been used for centuries to treat chronic and infectious diseases. In a new study in the Journal of Herbal Medicine, Indian researchers report that 15 volunteers with insomnia that took 200 milligrams of black cumin oil after dinner for 28 days experienced significantly better sleep. They fell asleep sooner, slept longer and recorded increases of 82 percent in non-rapid eye movement sleep and 29 percent in rapid eye movement sleep. Stress and anxiety levels were also dramatically reduced.
10
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
margo555/AdobeStock.com
Sugary foods and drinks don’t just expand our waistline and hurt our health, they also harm the environment, according to new research from the University of South Australia. Analyzing 20 studies on the environmental impacts of food consumption, researchers found that nutrient-poor foods like sugar-sweetened drinks, alcohol, baked sweets and processed meats account for 27 to 33 percent of food-related greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Meat, grains and dairy contribute the most emissions, while fruit and vegetables are two of the lowest contributors. In New Zealand, the highest greenhouse gas emitters are meat, seafood and eggs at 35 percent, followed by highly processed foods such as pastries and ice cream at 34 percent. “Discretionary foods have a higher cropland, water scarcity and ecological footprint,” says review author Sarah Forbes. “By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion people. There is no way we can feed that amount of people unless we change the way we eat and produce food.”
suns07butterfly/AdobeStock.com
Eat Fewer Sweets to Save the Planet
global briefs
Friendly Flights
Airplanes Soar on the Power of Sunlight Carbon-neutral fuels are crucial for making air and sea transport sustainable. Aldo Steinfeld, professor of renewable energy sources at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, and a team of researchers have been operating a mini solar refinery for two years. He says, “This plant successfully demonstrates the technical feasibility of ... converting sunlight and ambient air into drop-in fuels. The system operates stably under real- world solar conditions and provides a unique platform for further research and development.” The technology is now ready for industrial application. The plant will be used to produce synthetic liquid fuels that release CO2 extracted directly from ambient air during their combustion using solar energy. The process yields syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, that can be processed into kerosene, methanol or other hydrocarbons. Johan Lilliestam, a research group leader at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies and professor of energy policy at the University of Potsdam, explains, “Unlike with biofuels whose potential is limited due to the scarcity of agricultural land, this technology enables us to meet global demand for jet fuel by using less than 1 percent of the world’s arid land, and would not compete with the production of food or livestock feed.” Given the high initial investment cost, solar fuels will need political support while the price of solar kerosene is high and production capacities are low. This would have little impact on the cost of flying, but would promote the construction of production facilities and lead to lower prices.
Super Shader golden sikorka/AdobeStock.com
Solar Canopies Green Urban Parking Lots When large collections of photovoltaic panels are erected as solar farms on undeveloped land, they can harm underlying ecosystems. As an alternative, large parking lots make use of land that is already cleared and produce electricity close to where it’s needed. Plus, they can also shade the cars. A solar parking facility at Rutgers University, in Piscataway, New Jersey, boasts an output of eight megawatts of electricity. If Walmart converted all 3,571 of its U.S. super center lots, the total capacity would be 11.1 gigawatts of solar power, roughly equivalent to a dozen, large, coal-fired power plants. Most solar installation presently occupy croplands, arid lands and grasslands, not rooftops or parking lots, according to a global inventory published in Nature. Building alternative power sources quickly is important to replace fossil fuels and avert catastrophic climate change, and the process is cheaper and easier to manage by building on undeveloped land than on rooftops or in parking lots. Ironically, putting solar facilities on undeveloped land is often not much better than building subdivisions there. Rebecca Hernandez, an ecologist at the University of California at Davis, notes that developers tend to bulldoze sites, removing all of the above-ground vegetation. That’s bad for insects and the birds that feed on them. The trend to cluster solar facilities in buffer zones around protected areas can confuse birds and other wildlife and complicate migratory corridors.
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world. ~Jack Layton
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
11
netrun78/AdobeStock.com
eco tip
Purposeful Shopping How Fair Trade Can Change the World Fair trade is an alternative international business model that puts people and the planet first. It is designed to help growers and producers in developing countries achieve sustainable, fair relationships with exporters and consumers in wealthier parts of the globe. It focuses particularly on commodities like coffee, tea, textiles and seafood, and works to ensure sustainable prices, better working conditions and higher environmental standards. According to the Fair World Project, “The fair trade movement shares a vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices both at home and abroad, so that everyone through their work can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood.” At least five fair trade organizations certify compliance. While the criteria of each varies, certification typically requires companies to allow a third party to audit their business practices and monitor production to ensure standards are met. Fair trade goods can cost slightly or significantly more than conventionally traded purchases, which may explain why ethical and fair trade products make up only 1 percent of the total market. But the trend is growing: In 2018, sales of fair trade produce in the U.S. rose by 30 percent, with 60 products available. International sales of a major German-based certifier, Fairtrade International, increased almost 10-fold between 2004 and 2016, from $939 million to $8.9 billion. 12
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Consider these steps to achieve ethical, sustainable shopping: Protect the rights of produce workers. Fair trade bananas, avocados, coconut products and cashews often come from small growers in Africa, Latin America and Asia, where cooperatives ensure them a living wage and better working conditions. These products may cost marginally more, but are readily available at many supermarkets. Protect sustainable tea and coffee farming. On fair trade tea and coffee farms, agrochemicals and genetically modified organisms are strictly prohibited, sustainable farming methods are encouraged and stringent programs for water conservation and proper waste disposal provide environmental stewardship. Protect the oceans with fair trade cotton. Buying clothing made with fair trade cotton means less synthetic apparel, so washing won’t shed microplastics that make their way into the ocean, fish and then our dinner plates. Help build strong communities with fair trade cosmetics. When the shea butter, cocoa butter, sugar and coconut oil used in many skin-care products comes from fair trade producers, a fair price is paid, decent working conditions without child labor are assured and a portion of the money is returned to infrastructure or community projects. Makers of fair trade cosmetics often use vegan ingredients and animal-free testing, as well.
Finding Health in the Balance by Tamara Luck
Each new year brings a slew of health-related resolutions that fall flat by mid-January. Let's explore why well-intended resolutions tend to fizzle out after barely a month. First, most have similar health goals—to lose weight, tone up muscles and have more energy. Oftentimes, reaching those goals only seem achievable by using harsh restrictions that don’t support whole-body wellness. After a period of restrictive diets and intense workout plans, it is inevitable to swing to the opposite side and “fall off the wagon”. This does not have to do with a lack of willpower. Rather, going to extremes to reach goals creates an unsustainable lifestyle. Unfortunately, long-lasting health does not lie on either end of extremes. While medically supervised therapeutic diets have an important role in healing, long-term success is found in the middle, undefined zone. The popularity of dieting is fed by an industry the thrives by selling these extremes. Some individuals crave the structure that diets and resolutions provide. Moreover, the pervasive diet culture and abundance of crappy food have detached people from their bodies. For example, it is taught early on that to be an “appropriate” weight, one should consume the calorie requirements for a small child (1,2001,300 calories). If following these recommendations, one will likely feel hungry, retain weight and lose energy and focus. This is a frustrating dieting cycle where following the directions leaves one feeling worse, especially in the long run. These resolutions override the body’s natural cues and create frustration with one’s own body. Truthfully, when it comes to health, the middle ground seems scariest of all. At least dieting and then throwing all caution to the wind still has some sense of structure. But unless one can take a leap of faith, one will never experience the freedom of soaring to better health. Here are three practices to start to be mindful of when working towards a balanced resolution that avoids restrictive extremes. The first, and perhaps most difficult practice, is to work on getting familiar with the body’s hunger and fullness cues. After overriding the body’s signals, it may take some time to listen and re-learn the signs. For example, hunger
may not feel like a rumbling stomach; sometimes hunger feels like dizziness, mood swings, trouble focusing, headaches or nausea. Others may be so stressed throughout the day, none of these signs are apparent until sitting down for dinner and suddenly feeling ravenous and insatiable the whole night. When noticing these physical and mental symptoms, there is no judgment involved. They are simply messages from the body signaling its needs. It takes practice to decipher these messages. Next, prioritize eating three balanced meals throughout the day. Each meal should include carbohydrates, protein, fat and fiber. This combination of food should feel nourishing and satiating without feeling uncomfortable. Despite new trends of intermittent fasting, when re-establishing eating foundations, it’s best to include three filling meals to rebalance blood sugar, strengthen trust in the body and understand the body’s signals. Lastly, when building nutritious meals, aim for incorporating as many whole foods as possible. Highly processed foods can make it harder for the body to identify its needs. Processed foods are much less nutrient dense, despite being very calorie dense. They leave the body confused and wanting more nutrition. The right nutritional balance will vary from person to person. However, these basic principles will lead to greater food freedom and breaking the cycle of unhealthy resolutions made in the name of health. Commit this year to exploring the middle ground without food and diet labels to find true health and healing. Tamara Luck, RDN, LDN, is an integrative and functional dietitian in Waltham, MA. She is currently accepting new patients at Johnson Compounding and Wellness for virtual nutrition appointments. Schedule a free, 15-minute introductory call at NaturalCompounder.com/Tamara. See ad on page 21 and Resource Guide on pages 35 and 36.
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
13
The Heart-Mind Connection How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health by Ronica O’Hara
14
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
wayhome studio/AdobeStock.com
Does your wife show you her love?” In a study of 10,000 married men, this question turned out to be revelatory. Among men with high levels of anxiety, a whopping 93 percent that answered “No” developed angina-related chest pains within five years—nearly twice the rate of those answering “Yes.” This 1976 Israeli study was one of the first to clearly document how emotions affect the physical heart. Today, the research is so vast and compelling that last year, the American Heart Association issued a statement urging that psychological factors be taken into account in cardiovascular care—which may result in doctors asking patients about depression and anxiety as well as testing for blood pressure and cholesterol levels. “What’s on your mind really does affect your heart,” says leading researcher and cardiologist Michael Miller, M.D., author of Heal Your Heart and director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical System. “Our hearts require emotional health in order to maintain cardiovascular health.” Two emerging fields are probing the mind-heart connection: neurocardiology, which studies their neurological interplay; and behavioral cardiology, which examines how psychological and social factors lead to heart disease. Increasingly, researchers are documenting that the brain and the heart form an intricate feedback loop that works neurologically, biochemically and electromagnetically to optimize well-being. What hurts one—be it artery-clogging foods or angry outbursts—can hurt the other. What heals one—be it exercising or a good belly laugh—can heal the other. There’s good news in that, says Miller: “You can heal your heart by actively engaging in positive emotions each and every day.”
Unveiling the Heart’s Role
In Western medicine, the heart has been downplayed historically as a pump mechanistically taking orders from a bossy brain, but recently, the heart’s role is being reexamined: With 40,000 neurons, it sends more signals to the brain than it receives. As integrative cardiologist Mimi Guarneri, author of The Heart Speaks, puts it, “The heart is a multilayered, complex organ, possessing intelligence, memory and decision-making abilities independent from the mind.”
The electromagnetic field it generates is about 100 times stronger than the brain’s magnetic range and can be detected up to three feet away from the body, report researchers at the pioneering HeartMath Institute, in Boulder Creek, California. They found that one person’s brain waves can synchronize to another person’s heart and two hearts can synchronize to each other, which may help explain why people are drawn to or repelled by each other. When the heart’s rhythm pattern becomes erratic and disordered during stress and negative emotions, they report, the neural signals traveling to the brain’s emotional centers also get disrupted, hindering clear thinking and reasoning—which may help explain why we make dubious decisions under stress.
The High Toll of Tough Emotions Although scientists debate whether emotions start in the brain, heart or from physical sensations elsewhere in the body, it’s clear through magnetic imaging technology that it’s the brain’s task to process and regulate emotions via the flow of neurotransmitters through the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and other brain regions. Emotions like anger, fear, grief and anxiety set off a cascade of reactions involving the hormone cortisol and proteins called cytokines, creating an inflammatory response that, if it becomes chronic, can promote the accumulation of plaque in the arteries that can become unstable and rupture, triggering blood clots that lead to strokes and heart attacks. Surveying 25,000 participants in 52 countries, the landmark Interheart Study in 2004 concluded that about 30 percent of heart attacks and strokes are due to psychological factors, and ongoing research supports this finding. DEPRESSION. Adults that are depressed are twice as likely to develop heart disease. In one study, moderate to severe depression quadrupled the death rate in heart failure patients. ANXIETY. Researchers have linked chronic anxiety with a 48 percent increased risk of cardiac-related death over 11 years. It has also been shown to be a risk factor for angina, heart attacks and ventricular arrhythmia. SHOCK. A sudden emotional or physical shock, like a death in the family or an earthquake, can trigger stress cardiomyopathy, known as broken heart syndrome, which resembles a heart attack. ANGER. An episode of intense fury—described as “body tense, clenching fists or teeth, ready to burst”—increases by 8.5 times the risk of a heart attack within the next two hours. LONELINESS. Being socially isolated and lonely is linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular death than hypertension and obesity—alarming information since more than 60 percent of Americans report feeling lonely, left out, poorly understood and lacking companionship, according to a 2020 survey.
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
15
“There’s no damage caused by negative emotions that positive emotions can’t heal,” says Miller. A large body of research has shown that cardiovascular disease risk can be reduced by up to half with optimism, a sense of humor, forgiveness, social support, religious faith, vitality, gratitude, altruistic behavior, emotional flexibility and coping flexibility. People that are optimistic are less likely to be rehospitalized or die from heart disease, Finnish researchers report. “For optimal health, maximize the health of both brain and heart. For example, if you eat well and exercise, but are still stressed out, your heart will suffer. Conversely, if you are not stressed out, but overeat and do not exercise, your brain will suffer,” says Miller. Some heartand-mind-healthy strategies include: DOING THE BASICS. Exercising a half-hour daily and eating a largely plant-based, Mediterranean-type diet that’s low in saturated fats has been found in numerous studies to lower the risk of both cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Working with health practitioners to get blood pressure, blood sugar and inflammation levels under control, perhaps using supplements or medications, is also a key preventive step. GIVING AND GETTING HUGS. Oxytocin, the “love hormone” released from the pituitary gland during touching and hugging, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and regenerates new heart tissue in animal studies. Proactively reaching out to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers can nurture affectionate ties, but if a human isn’t nearby, even hugging a teddy bear has been shown to release oxytocin—which may explain why 40 percent of U.S. adults sleep with stuffed animals. Owning a dog, but not necessarily a cat, makes us more likely to survive a heart attack, report researchers. MINDFULLY LETTING GO. As studies with police officers, healthcare workers and firefighters have demonstrated, mindfulness training effectively lowers anxiety and depression, even for those in life-threatening situations. “To be present, ever acutely aware of our thoughts, emotions, feelings and how we are choosing to react is critical,” says cardiologist Cynthia Thaik, author of Your Vibrant Heart and the founder of the Holistic Heart Healing Center, in Los Angeles. “Once we are aware of our reaction, the ability to let go—of judgment, doubt, anger, resentment, fear, all our negative thoughts, emotions and feelings—is crucial to our healing process.” 16
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
LAUGHING A LOT. Many of us have a chuckle deficit in our lives: The average 5-year-old laughs up to 300 times a day, the average adult only four. To lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, find ways to laugh long and hard—such as watching hilarious films or videos on YouTube or TikTok. Physiologically, the endorphins released by a hearty belly laugh bind to receptors that release nitric oxide, relaxing blood vessels. BREATHWORK. To bring the mind and heart into a healthy, coherent rhythmic pattern, the HeartMath Institute suggests heart-focused breathing, which involves imagining that we are breathing in through the heart as we inhale in a smooth, comfortable manner to the count of five or six, then breathing out for five or six counts while visualizing that the breath is flowing out of the heart. MEDITATION. People that practice meditation are significantly less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, perhaps because it has been shown to lower heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen consumption and cortisol levels. Alzheimer’s expert Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of Meditation as Medicine, advocates kirtan kriya, a 12-minute, daily meditation that includes chanting, finger movements and visualization. Research has demonstrated that it slows cognitive decline, eases depression and increases anti-aging telomerase activity at a cellular level by 43 percent in eight weeks. YOGA OR TAI CHI. In studies, yoga has been shown to lower inflammation and metabolic syndrome markers linked to heart disease and reduce atrial fibrillation episodes. The slow, graceful movements of tai chi reportedly lower blood pressure and strengthen the hearts of people with heart failure. MUSIC. Whether it involves listening, playing an instrument or singing, music has been shown to lower heart rate, reduce inflammation, enable longer exercise periods, ease anxiety after heart surgery and heart attacks, and help stroke victims regain the ability to speak. Choose music of whatever genre inspires joy and sing along for extra benefit, advises Miller. “If your partner is flummoxed by your enthusiasm for yodeling or your neighbor doesn’t exactly approve of your attempts at arias, kindly inform him or her it’s doctor’s orders,” he jokes in Heal Your Heart. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
prostockstudioo/AdobeStock.com
Boosting Both Brain and Heart
Sign-up for a FREE Phone Consultation!
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
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. Crossword on page 39
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
17
healing ways
Truly Making Love Sex and Intimacy as a Healing Force
deagreez/AdobeStock.com
by Marlaina Donato
18
JessBaileyDesigns /Pexels.com
Intimately connecting with a loved one is one of life’s most precious gifts, but it’s easy to lose sight of our innate sensual energy in the maze of the mundane. Through lovemaking, we can harness our life force, and according to abundant research, reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, manage pain and improve brain health. A significant correlation also exists between higher ejaculation frequency and a reduced risk for prostate cancer later in life, Boston University researchers report in European Urology. Making love is also good for boosting our natural immunity. College students that engaged in amorous activity once or twice a week—especially with long-term partners—had 30 percent higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A in their saliva, concluded research by Wilkes University, in Pennsylvania.
they’re missing because they’ve never had an emotionally intimate relationship without the negative influence of porn. Porn makes sex self-focused, rather than what it’s supposed to be, which is the intimate connection of two people. Porn is selfish, rather than loving, giving and sharing with a partner.” Thompson attests that lovemaking can help us align with the divine, especially “when people have reverence for the power of their erotic life force. When people open their view of what sex is, it can become an act of worship.” Love prompts us to become more ourselves. “When erotic life force is flowing freely, the body is vital and the system is turned on. When channeled properly, this energy is highly creative,” muses Thompson. “It’s the fuel of your vehicle, the charge of your battery, and when you are full on life force, it organically overflows into service.”
Stripping Down to Basics
Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
A few lifestyle adjustments can do wonders for worn-out romance. Quality sleep itself can be a potent aphrodisiac. Women are more likely to be “in the mood” after a good night’s sleep, even with just an extra hour of shut-eye, according to a 2015 pilot study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Therapist Kurt Smith, clinical director of Guy Stuff Counseling and Coaching, in Roseville, California, advocates limiting phone use and engaging in non-technological activities. “Phones have moved from being used as a communication device to becoming many people’s connection to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, when used as such, they pose a threat to the emotional connection with our partners,” he says. “With all distractions removed, sit on the sofa, face each other and talk. This suggestion can make many people very uncomfortable, because they have no idea what they’d say to their partner. Actually, talking to your partner without a purpose other than to just listen and connect with each other has become rare.” An element of fun can go a long way in the quest to stay connected. “Approach your sex life like a science experiment or an art project instead of a math problem,” says Jamie Elizabeth Thompson, a holistic intimacy expert in Austin. “It’s an exploration with no one right answer. Attitude is important when it comes to sex because people can take it so seriously and place crippling pressure on having this fantasy Hollywood sex life.”
Aphrodite’s Plate Feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin all contribute to the pleasure response, and sharing luscious food with a lover can be sensuous, as well as endorphin-friendly. Nutritious foods such as almonds, walnuts, asparagus and avocados support reproductive health, and a dessert of dark chocolate and honey-drizzled fruits like berries, figs and cherries can support libido in both women and men. Nixing excessive alcohol and sugar is also a good romantic investment.
Partnership as Sacred Deep relationship is only possible when we are willing to be vulnerable. “Porn is a drug that people unknowingly use to self-medicate and manage uncomfortable thoughts and emotions,” explains Smith. “Many men have no idea what
Fun Homework for Couples From Kurt Smith: Remain connected by having “no-tech nights”. Try turning all devices off for an evening and find something to do together that doesn’t require them. This could be watching a movie, playing board games (yes, they still exist), going out for dessert, etc. It can be fun to brainstorm creative, low-cost ideas. From Jamie Elizabeth Thompson: Journal about why sex and intimacy are important to you, how it serves the rest of your life and what you see available through having a consistent, potent, deep, hot erotic life. Share this vision with your partner and keep it somewhere you see it often. Knowing why something is a priority makes you far more likely to follow through. Flirt with each other. Couples who flirt their way through their communication fight much less. Flirting creates a playful, fun flow of energy between you. It’s a way of keeping the fire stoked so you’re not completely restarting from cold coals every time you want to heat up the house.
Visit our website below for more information and Special Events Local Honey Local Maple Syrup Whole Food Vitamins Bulk Herbs, Teas & Spices Remedies: Herbal and Homeopathic Gift Certificates More!
Since 2006
Reflexology Reiki Homeopathic Consultants Classes: Yoga Tai Chi Pilates Book Studies Energy Classes
1099 Mendon Rd.|Cumberland, RI|401-305-3585|its-my-health.com
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
19
practitioner profile
Intimacy Coach Sacha Fossa In intimacy coach Sacha Fossa’s experience, the greatest threat and issue to intimacy is the severe lack of any proper sex and relationship education. Parents, society and culture simply do not offer this. Finding an intimacy coach that can guide and provide more of each can be crucial to creating and having the sex and love one really wants. We asked her to tell us more about intimacy and how she assists her clients.
If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then how do couples manage the pandemicforced, constant togetherness (working from home, no business travel, etc.)?
Those who are in intimate relationships and having to navigate spending more homebound time together, pandemic-forced or not, will generally benefit from communicating more fully their individual needs and desires for this experience. Every individual, relationship and circumstance is so unique that it is best to find out what you and what your partner would most like solo and together. Knowing each other’s love languages, as well as Erotic Blueprints (aka the Intimacy/Sex Languages), provides highly valuable information as to how to not just manage, but also 20
create, greater ease and intimate expansion, in and out of the bedroom, during such times and ongoing.
cy coaches’ training and approaches vary greatly, and finding the best fit is important.
What gets in the way of true intimacy?
Can you give one or two samples of homework assignments that you give couples?
There are so many issues and factors that block true intimacy. Two main reasons are, first, not being intimate with oneself, meaning that an individual does not truly like themselves nor their body, and therefore they really can’t be intimate with others when it is not within their being. Second, not prioritizing intimacy. Intimacy dies when not prioritized. There are so many intimate-less relationships where clients expect intimacy to just appear without effort. Intimacy must be prioritized, scheduled and cultivated, ongoing, for it to not only survive but thrive.
How can an intimacy coach help partners reconnect?
A reputable intimacy coach can help individuals and their partners to recognize, release and shift conscious and subconscious barriers to intimacy in their bodies, relationships and lives. They can assist in helping their clients reconnect and connect in new ways with one another through coaching, practices and techniques to guide them individually and together. Intima-
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
I custom-design all my home play assignments. Common examples would be specific solo self-pleasure practices that are educational as well as sexually healing and awakening. They are for expanding and cultivating sexual energy and vitality. I often provide home play practices for couples in which they create erotic play in new and different ways that feeds arousal and connection, to bring more expansion into their sex lives.
Sacha Fossa, MA, provides in-person and/or virtual custom-designed sex, intimacy, relationship and wellness coaching, education and healing arts programs at Sacred Temple Arts. Private, customized sessions are designed to quickly get to, address and relieve the source of the challenges, as well as assist with the design and implementation of an intimacy plan that fits for the individual(s). For more information, visit Sacred TempleArts.com and sign up for a complimentary consultation. See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 38.
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
21
Stressed Out, Overwhelmed and Anxious COVID-19 Trauma Explained by Jolene Ross COVID-19 has been traumatic to people in many ways, creating major imbalances in the lives of so many. People are feeling more overwhelmed and burnt out because everything in life feels like a stressful mess with no end in sight. The demands of life have become more difficult to manage as things get increasingly overwhelming, and as a result, anxiety is at an all-time high. This is not helped by the uncertainty of when things will get back to normal, resulting in mental health professionals reporting more patients struggling to function normally. The feelings people have about the changes COVID-19 has made in their lives can be attributed to the brain’s response to trauma. Trauma changes a person due to feelings of helplessness and lack of control of their situation. As a result, things that would have 22
normally made a person anxious are now magnified and seem completely unmanageable. New symptoms not initially experienced at the beginning of the pandemic are now beginning to appear because of the brain’s wiring for survival. The brain fights to simply stay afloat and make it through major trauma as it is happening. Then, a while after the initial trauma, as a person begins to let their guard down, the reality of everything that has happened starts to hit and symptoms begin to appear.
Effects of Trauma Trauma can present itself in a multitude of ways with a spectrum of severity. A person may experience confusion, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, anger, irritability, stress, depression, disconnection from the
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
world, exhaustion, overwhelm, numbness, mood swings, sadness, discouragement, hopelessness, self-blame, sleep disturbances, somatic issues such as stomach aches and nausea, fearfulness, and just a general feeling of being unwell. Moreover, social anxiety is worse than ever because in addition to worrying about becoming ill, people are not used to social interaction anymore. People do not want to be around other people, but they are forced to for one reason or another, causing immense mental stress. On top of not wanting to go out, people are feeling other unpleasantries like guilt because they feel as though they should want to go out and socialize, but the desire is just not there. These self-deprecating thoughts only worsen the already fragile mental state.
Those that may not recognize the appearance of these symptoms may not seek help from professionals and may feel completely alone in their experience. It is important to remember that everyone is going through these unpleasant experiences in their own way and to be gentle with oneself as we navigate through it.
Importance of Self-Care Self-care is defined as mindfully doing activities to take care of one’s body and mind to enrich a person’s sense of well-being and promote healthy daily functioning. This may include things such as regular exercise, eating healthy foods, taking relaxing bubble baths, seeing a therapist, working with a neurofeedback practitioner, meditation, and/or whatever makes a person feel a stronger sense of positive well-being. Self-care is essential to living a happy, healthy life. Often when people are in the throes of negative emotions or are feeling overstressed, self-care is the first thing dropped from a person’s schedule because people feel they do not have the time. However, these compromises can make a person feel as though they are losing themselves in the struggle. Self-care must be prioritized. Unfortunately, life is going to continue operating in this strange and difficult way for the foreseeable future. The only way to make it through these challenging times is to acknowledge the trauma response caused by the pandemic and to address it with coping mechanisms and strategies to help ease anxiety and other uncomfortable feelings. The importance of taking action to help oneself cannot be understated. Reach out to a mental health professional and seek treatment as soon as any worrisome symptoms are recognized. Dr. Jolene Ross is a licensed psychologist and the founder and director of Advanced Neurotherapy, a wellness clinic that utilizes behavioral medicine applications such as quantitative EEG analysis and neurofeedback to improve quality of life for both children and adults. She works with individuals and families challenged with neuro-cognitive, neuro-emotional and neurodevelopmental disorders. See ad on page 7 and Resource Guide on page 34. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
23
wise words
David Perlmutter on the
Role of Uric Acid in Metabolic Health photo by Peter Russell
by Sandra Yeyati
Board-certified neurologist David Perlmutter, M.D., has written five New York Times bestsellers, including Brain Wash, Grain Brain and Brain Maker. His latest book is Drop Acid: The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid—The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health. A recipient of the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to neurological disorders and the National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year award, he has appeared on 20/20, CNN, Fox News, The Today Show, Oprah and CBS This Morning.
What is the basic premise of Drop Acid?
What is the most significant threat to our health and longevity today?
Having elevated uric acid was a survival mechanism for our hunter/gatherer, Paleolithic and primate ancestors because it allowed their bodies to make more fat to protect them during times of food scarcity. Today, high levels of uric acid are leading to elevated blood sugar, increased production and storage of fat, and high blood pressure. Everything we do that raises our uric acid puts us at risk for these profound metabolic threats to our health.
Metabolic issues like high blood pressure, increased body fat and high blood sugar are at the root of our most pervasive health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, the number one cause of death on planet Earth are chronic degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, coronary artery disease, diabetes and cancer, all of which are fundamentally metabolic problems. Astoundingly, 88 percent of American adults have at least one component of what is called the metabolic syndrome, which means only 12 percent of Americans are metabolically healthy. 24
The book shows how uric acid elevation, previously thought of only in terms of gout, is the centerpiece for metabolic dysfunction and how you can easily bring your uric acid under control and regain metabolic health. You can test uric acid levels at your doctor’s office or with a home monitor that you can buy online, so this is a powerful new tool to help you be healthier.
What is the role of uric acid in our body?
What foods and beverages should we reduce to control uric acid levels? Alcohol, purines (the breakdown product of DNA and RNA in certain
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
foods) and most importantly, fructose. In the 1900s, we consumed 10 to 15 grams of fructose per day, as opposed to over 70 grams today. The average American consumes 55 pounds of sugar each year. It’s absurd. High-fructose items like sodas, sauces and desserts are absolutely off the table, as is fruit juice, a powerful initiator of high uric acid. Fruit isn’t an issue. There may be five grams of fructose in an apple, and fruit contains vitamin C, which dramatically lowers uric acid, and fiber, which slows fructose release. High-purine foods are organ meats, shellfish and small fish like anchovies and sardines. There are modest amounts of purines in red meat and chicken. I’m not saying these foods should be avoided; we want people to limit their consumption of chicken, fish and red meat to six ounces a day. With alcohol, the big issues are hard liquor and beer. Beer contains a very concentrated source of purines because it’s made with brewer’s yeast. Though wine contains alcohol, it has polyphenols that help to reduce uric acid, possibly by nurturing the gut bacteria. Research demonstrates that a glass or two of wine is associated with either no change or a minimal decrease in uric acid. Coffee seems to lower uric acid.
Will these lifestyle choices really make a difference?
Patients are confronted with a mentality from marketing that you can do whatever the heck you want with your food and lifestyle, and then take a pill. I’ve been to dinner with diabetics who eat the creme brûlée then pop a pill. But pills don’t treat diabetes. They may lower blood sugar, but they won’t treat the underlying problem, which is that the body isn’t responding to insulin. The moment patients stop the drug, much to the joy of the drug maker, their blood sugars go right back up. You’ve only treated the smoke. You haven’t looked at the fire. This approach of lowering uric acid puts the fire out.
Are you hopeful that more people will make better lifestyle choices?
I see a bit of a trend where people are looking for more empowerment. They have greater access to data with wearable devices like continuous glucose monitors or an Oura Ring to tell you how you sleep. By better understanding moment-to-moment how our choices affect certain measurable factors, we’re slowly getting into the driver’s seat and becoming empowered to keep ourselves healthy. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
25
conscious eating
Fermenting for Foodies Preserving Food and Traditions
If fermented food is a trend, it’s the oldest one on the planet. More and more people are rediscovering the time-honored foodways of fermentation to promote health, boost flavor and preserve the bounty of the seasons. “There is huge potential to use high-quality fermented foods to enhance our health and well-being,” says Sandor Katz, a so-called “fermentation revivalist”, in Liberty, Tennessee, and the author of several bestselling books on fermentation, including the newly released Sandor Katz’s Fermentation Journeys: Recipes, Techniques, and Traditions from Around the World. Katz caught the fermentation bug after moving from New York City to rural Tennessee in the 1990s and being faced with the “positive problem” of an overly plentiful garden to preserve. He’s since wandered the globe teaching and learning about fermentation traditions, from Korea’s spicy kimchi to Mexico’s funky pineapple tepache drink. Fermentation is defined as the chemical breakdown of a food by bacteria, yeasts or other microorganisms. An estimated one-third of all foods are fermented, including coffee, cured meats, cheese, condiments and chocolate. Pickles and yogurt are traditionally fermented through lactic acid bacteria, while beer and bread are typically fermented through yeast. Kombucha, an ancient tea drink, is made using a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. Pascal Baudar, a Los Angeles writer, instructor and self-proclaimed “culinary alchemist,” turned to fermentation techniques to preserve 26
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
pixelshot/AdobeStock.com
by April Thompson
the precious wild ingredients of the fleeting seasons. His books and workshops cover unusual culinary territory, like fermented and aged vegan cheeses from acorns and “seaweed” made from fermented broadleaf plantain, a common weed, using methods he’s studied and perfected. “I investigate new and lost flavors, and conserve them as gourmet foods through preservation,” he says.
photo provided by Tayler Silfverduk RDN
Fermentation with Benefits Fermentation transforms the nutrients in food in several ways, Katz explains. In a process known as predigestion, it breaks macronutrients down into more digestible forms (think proteins turned into amino acids) and renders minerals more bioavailable. Gluten, too, is broken down by fermentation, he says, as are potentially toxic compounds in foods such as cyanide and oxalic acid. The process also releases vitamins B and K and other micronutrients as metabolic byproducts. Fermentation reduces the short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and are prone to absorb water and ferment in the colon, causing gas and bloating. Found in wheat, beans and other foods, they can pose digestive problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions, says Tayler Silfverduk, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in celiac disease. “The most profound nutritional benefit of fermentation is the live bacteria itself. You are ingesting a rich biodiversity of beneficial bacteria that can potentially improve immune function,” says Katz, an AIDS survivor who considers fermentation an important part of his healing process.
nataliya vaitkevich/Pexels.com
No Starter Required
“That means regularly burping it, then shaking or stirring to promote the acidity that prevents bad bacteria from taking hold.” “If it looks or tastes bad, throw it away,” he adds. “Some of my early experiments tasted horrible, but I just took my failures as learning and kept experimenting. The more you understand the fermentation process, the more you can play with it creatively and push the envelope.” Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.
Fermented Pickled Carrot Sticks yield: 1 quart-size jar of pickles 2 sprigs fresh dill 1-2 cloves garlic 2 lb whole carrots 1 Tbsp sea salt 1-2 cups distilled water Wash and peel the skins of the whole carrots. Cut the peeled and washed carrots into carrot sticks. Peel and finely slice the garlic cloves. Wash and dry 2 sprigs of dill. In a wide-mouth, quart-size jar, pack in the carrot sticks. (Tilt the jar to locate more places to squeeze in the sticks.) Add in the sea salt, then the sliced garlic and sprigs of dill. Cover the ingredients with distilled water (Be sure to leave about an inch of free space from the waterline to the opening of the jar.)
“There is nothing you can eat that can’t be fermented, Place an airtight lid on the jar and let it sit for a week or until but the easiest and safest place to begin is with vegethe carrots have reached desired taste. Make sure to burp the tables,” which need no special equipment or a starter jar at least every two days while fermenting. like sourdough, kefir or kombucha, says Katz. To make Once the carrot sticks have reached their desired taste, place sauerkraut, for example, simply shred cabbage, lightly the jar in the fridge for storage. Enjoy. salt and season it, and submerge it in a jar under its own juices, “burping” it daily for a week to 10 days to release Notes: If using organic carrots, leave the skin on and just wash the fermentation gases. the carrots very well before chopping into snacking sticks. Katz and Baudar both like to debunk myths that ferWhen burping the jar, use this time menting foods is difficult or dangerous. “You don’t have to check on fermentation to make to sterilize everything or have precise laboratory control sure it’s growing healthy. Look conditions. People have been practicing fermentation for for bubbles on top of the water years, and they began before they knew bacteria was a and along the water line. Seething. To the contrary, fermentation is a strategy ing mold is a sign for food safety,” says Katz. that good bacteria While yeast or mold can grow on the top layer is struggling to that is exposed to oxygen, Katz says “a lot of saustart a culture erkraut is needlessly discarded. Most such growth and we may need to try is harmless and normal, and can be skimmed off again. the top.” Baudar, a University of California Master Food Courtesy of Scan this QR code Preserver, has kept foods he’s fermented for up with your camera app Tayler Silfverduk, to three years and only once encountered mold. to visit our website registered dietitian for more recipes. “You need to work with the ferment,” he says. nutritionist. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
27
Yield: 1 quart
Country Club for Dogs & Cats Our Mission Statement: Our primary goal is to give your pet a happy and safe boarding experience, this will enable you, our most valued client, to enjoy your time away from home, content that your pet is receiving the best care possible. In providing such top quality boarding and grooming this facility will be his/ her “HOME AWAY FROM HOME”.
Young or Old…Big or Small…. We love them All! 191 Ten Rod Road (Route 102), Exeter
Delmyra.com 401-294-3247
where healthy is an option...
Mention this ad for a FREE consultation and examination
Offering chiropractic care with a holistic approach
2 lb organic cabbage head 2 Tbsp sea salt ½ cup organic yellow onion, thinly sliced ½ cup shredded carrot 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp fresh, grated ginger (1 Tbsp ground powder alternative) ½ Tbsp ground coriander ½ Tbsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper ½ tsp ground turmeric ½ tsp curry powder ¼ tsp black pepper ¼ tsp cinnamon First, rinse all of the produce. Then peel the outer layers off the cabbage, saving a couple of the cabbage leaves. Cut the cabbage in half (through the core), then in half again, then core the cabbage by placing wedges up vertically on a cutting board with the core touching the board and holding it at the tip. Position the knife at the start of the core and slice downward, cutting off the hard portion. Place the cabbage on a flat side and slice shreds to desired thickness (about ¼ inch). Start at the tip and work down. Thinly slice the onion and then shred carrots using a cheese grater. Place it all into one very large or two non-reactive bowls (not metal). Pour the spices on top. Massage the mixture of veggies and spices until a lot of brine has been created and the mixture has shrunk down to about half its original size. Take the massaged veggies and spices, and start packing them into a 1-quart fermenting jar with an airtight lid. (The
We look forward to joining you on your path to a healthy lifestyle!
McArdle Chiropractic and Wellness Center 2220 Plainfield Pike, Cranston
(401) 383-3400
drcatie@mcardlechiropractic.com
www.mcardlechiropractic.com 28
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
packing will help bring the brine to the surface.) After every scoop that’s put into the jar, pack it down with a fist. Leave several inches at the top of the jar. Fold up the saved cabbage leaves and put them on top of the cabbage in the jar. (Make sure the brine goes over the top of the cabbage leaves.) Place the weight—either a fermenting weight or rocks inside of a bag—on top of the cabbage leaves. Leave about 1 to 2 inches at the top of the jar. Close the jar’s lid and put it in some sort of basin (I use a casserole dish) to catch the brine that comes out. The brine will come out of the jar because the cabbage will swell during the fermentation process, and the basin will catch the brine instead of it spilling onto counters. Notes: Over the next few days, the mixture will turn into curry kraut through a lacto fermentation process. Bubbles and the bright green cabbage will become yellow. How long to wait depends on the level of sourness desired and how warm the house is kept. Check the curry kraut for taste. It’s good to check after about three to five days to see if it’s sour enough. It’s also good to do a quick check for mold. It’s likely a white, scummy-type substance will form at the top of the brine; this is okay and part of the process. It can be scraped off or left there. When curry kraut reaches desired taste, take out the cabbage leaves and the weight, close the lid and put it in the fridge. Make sure to start with a clean surface and utensils. Dirty supplies can mess with the bacteria in the fermentation. Courtesy of Kyrie Luke, Healthfully Rooted Home.
photo provided by Tayler Silfverduk RDN
Curry Kraut
Vinagre de Piña (Mexican Pineapple Vinegar)
siriwan/AdobeStock.com
Pineapple vinegar, vinagre de piña, is delicious and super-acidic. Many Mexican recipes call for pineapple vinegar, although it can be used in place of any kind of vinegar. Since this uses only the skin of the pineapple, we are eating the pineapple flesh. This recipe was inspired by a recipe in The Cuisines of Mexico, by Diana Kennedy. Yield: 2 cups/500 milliliters 2 Tbsp sugar Peel of 1 pineapple (organic, because the skin is used; overripe fruits are fine) Combine the sugar with 2 cups/500 milliliters of water in a jar or bowl. Stir to dissolve. Coarsely chop and add the pineapple peel. Use a small plate to weigh down the pineapple and keep it submerged. Cover with a cloth to keep flies out. Ferment at room temperature. Stir daily while the pineapple peels are in it. Strain out the pineapple peels and discard after about one week when the liquid is darkening. Ferment the liquid for an additional two to three weeks, stirring or agitating periodically. Bottle and enjoy. From Sandor Katz’s book, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016).
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
29
Rosy Raspberry Soda Yield: 2, resealable, 1-quart-size and 1-liter plastic bottles
Combine and blend. Place all the ingredients except the yeast in a bowl with a bit of water and mash together with a fork, or put them all in the blender. Divide between two, 1-quart/1-liter bottles. Top off with warm water. Add yeast. Sprinkle about ¼ tsp bread or champagne yeast into each bottle. Let it sit for a few minutes, then shake the bottles to dissolve and distribute the yeast. Let ferment on the counter. Check the carbonation after a few hours. Bleed carbonation by gently and slowly opening the bottles. Refrigerate when they seem strongly carbonated, generally within six to eight hours.
coming in the march issue
From Sandor Katz’s book, Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of LiveCulture Foods (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2016).
Food & Nutrition
30
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Perhaps the biggest mistake I made in the past was that I believed love was about finding the right person. In reality, love is about becoming the right person. ~Neil Strauss
maria medvedeva/AdobeStock.com
½ cup/70 grams raspberries Juice from ½ lemon 2–4 Tbsp honey 1 tsp rose water Yeast
inspiration
Benjavisa Ruangvaree/AdobeStock.com
First, Do No Harm Allergies? Scalp Sensitivity? Help is here! Full Service Salon
100% NON-TOXIC & NON-CARCINOGENIC s a l o n
Elaine Hewitt
s y s t e m s
Holistic Hair Care
CRUELTY-FREE
MASTER COLORIST / STYLIST / RIVERSIDE
401-273-7005
Living in the Frequency of Love by Marlaina Donato Most of us refer to love as an emotion, but in essence, love is a verb, a powerful call to action. When we remember its true nature, we can answer its call with our unique signature. Some brave souls like Martin Luther King, Jr. leap into uncharted territory with authentic truths, while others sprinkle their quiet corner of the world with small gestures of kindness. Telling someone how much they mean to us, holding the door for a stranger, asking a cashier how their day is going or welcoming a new neighbor is like handing out a piece of light. Added up at the end of the day or a lifetime, we create a mural of stars against the darkness. The frequency of love not only inspires, but heals. The energy of giving and receiving is literally wired into our neurochemistry, flooding our bloodstream with endorphins that combat systemic inflammation, influence mood, accelerate recovery and raise the pain threshold. We can freely stream waters of genuine kindness, love and affection, but if there is no waiting vessel for love’s outpouring, the potential of its power is diminished and incomplete. Our willingness and that of others to receive activates kindness, awakens what is dormant inside of us and quickens our capacity to thrive. Mother Teresa once said, “We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love.” With our willingness to gift one another with our full and authentic presence, all else is possible. Marlaina Donato is an author and visionary composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
31
Fostering Love Tips for First-Time Pet Foster Parents by Karen Shaw Becker For people that love cats and dogs but can’t adopt one—or one more—a heartwarming solution is to foster pets without homes that need a place to temporarily lay their heads and be loved until a forever home comes along. Fosters are needed when a shelter is filled to capacity or has too many large or old dogs, or orphaned puppies and kitties, for example, or when a rescue operation needs to quickly place shelter dogs that would otherwise be euthanized. As important and rewarding as the task of fostering is, it also comes with responsibilities and pitfalls worth considering in advance. Check Out The Possibilities. In addition to Googling local animal shelters and rescue operations, online groups like PetFinder.com and PoorPawsRescue.com provide links to fostering options locally and nationwide. Visit local shelters to observe both how they treat their animals and how they interact with the fostering volunteers. Staff members can help with finding compatible pets and offer support when a foster situation doesn’t work for whatever reason. Also find out if the organization is involved every step of the way, including providing 32
onsite veterinary care, or whether it relies heavily on the dedication and resources of foster parents. Think About Short-Term Fostering. To give it a try, volunteer for a short-term commitment—a few days or weeks. Vacation time is one big reason rescue organizations look for people willing to provide short-term fostering because they need volunteers to fill in while their “regulars” are away. Be Fair To Other Pets At Home. Don’t get caught up in the needs of a new kitten or puppy so much that the needs of other pets go unnoticed. Forever pets may even help out with newcomers. “In my home, puppies work well, as my dogs mother them and show them the ropes on how to be a good dog,” says Stasia Thompson, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a volunteer with Almost Home Dog Rescue and Poor Paws Rescue. Don’t Stress About Cost. Food, litter, toys and even veterinary care is often offered to foster pet parents. In other cases, rescue centers may be struggling for support or getting slammed with natural disasters that create an influx of homeless pets,
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Don’t Stress About Placement. Possibly the most-asked question about fostering a puppy or kitty is, “What if they never find a home for her?” Never fear; shelters and rescue groups are constantly putting out feelers. Foster parents can get in on the action by posting sweet, winsome or funny photos of the animal on social media and extolling its virtues to others when out in public with it. Thompson found new owners for her foster dogs by walking them around town wearing bright yellow “Adopt Me” vests. It’s Okay to Fall in Love With a Foster Pet. Many people hesitate to foster pets because they’re afraid they’ll fall in love with a small ball of fur or a big pair of liquid eyes just begging to be adored. But that’s one of the risks of loving a creature with an open heart. “There is an amazing rush and deep sense of relief when you hear from the person who adopted your foster and you know the people found their true love in your foster,” says Winkler. “They know I helped save them. You can see it in their eyes.” It’s Even Fine to Adopt a Foster. It does happen sometimes; foster parents discover that the dog or cat that came into their home supposedly for a while happened to fit in perfectly, and no one can imagine living without it. While that’s been called a “foster failure”, it’s anything but. Any time an animal with no home finds one filled with love and caring, even if it’s their so-called temporary foster placement, it’s a success. Pet parents know when the animal they love is forever. Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals. For more information, visit DrKarenBecker.com.
Alan/AdobeStock.com
and foster parents may be asked to help with such items as crates and carriers, food and water bowls, collars, leashes and treats. “Homeowners who purchase items for their fosters can write them off as tax-deductible donations to the rescue organization, which is a great way to put your donation dollars to work,” says Karen Winkler, a volunteer with the Bucks County SPCA and the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia.
natural pet
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
33
COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE 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 Sales@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com to request our media kit.
Alternative Treatment for Depression THE BEAUTY THERAPIST
Alithia Monroe PA-C, Physician Assistant 137 Newbury St, Ste 605, Boston, MA 02116 617-991-7567 AskBeautyTherapist.com Not just a vanity treatment, Botox relieves medical conditions such as chronic migraines and over- active bladder. While not FDA approved, robust medical research shows Botox significantly reduces depression symptoms of sadness. Depression treatments are more conservative than cosmetic and the results experienced are more than beauty. See ad on page 23.
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 Through Muscle Response Testing Kristine is able to communicate with the nervous system and get to the root cause of your physical, emotional or chemical issues. Your body will indicate, through a binary feedback mechanism in the nervous system, which body systems are not functioning optimally and why. Is there an immune challenge, toxicity or does your body just need nutritional support? When you ask the body what it needs you can get clear answers and achieve optimal health.
34
Biomagnetism
Cannabis Dispensary
AYAMAMA
FULL HARVEST MOONZ
Biomagnetic Pair Therapy and Herbalist Sessions with Alida Alidamm82@gmail.com Facebook.com/biomagnetismpairtherapyalida AyaMama.org Biomagnetism is a therapy that helps to restore, maintain and prevent physical, emotional and mental health. It works by balancing the acid and alkaline levels (pH) of the body, destroying viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi See ad, page 7.
Brain Training ADVANCED NEUROTHERAPY, PC Jolene Ross, PhD 781-444-9115 RetrainYourBrain.com
Specializing in Neurotherapy, an effective, drug-free treatment for: attention, behavior, emotional, and executive function problems, autistic spectrum, anxiety, depression, post-concussion, peak performance and more. See ad, page 7.
RI NEUROFEEDBACK | ZEN BRAIN TRAINING 401-282-0230 RINeurofeedback.com
Most of us don’t realize how much we can benefit from training our brains. Like our bodies, our brains benefit from healthy exertion and positive attention. Many of us suffer from symptoms of brain dysregulation that vary from lethargy to mania, ADD to OCD, depression to anxiety. Training the brain can strengthen its response to these symptoms and provide a clarity, ease and peacefulness that is hard to describe until you experience it. Call today for a free discovery conversation. See ad, page 29.
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
101 Plaistow Rd, Haverhill, MA 01830 978-702-4160 FullHarvestMoonz.com A woman-owned, adult-use Cannabis Dispensary in Haverhill, MA. At FHM, we use cannabis to clear and raise the vibration of the energy body to bridge wellness from within mentally, emotionally and spiritually. See ad on page 23.
Chiropractic MCARDLE CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER Catherine McArdle, DC Robert Sedlor, DC
2220 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, RI 02921 401-383-3400 McArdleChiropractic.com Family chiropractic practice offering holistic care to patients of all ages. Based on the initial evaluation, patients will be given a treatment plan which addresses ergonomics, exercise, stretching and nutrition in addition to their spinal alignment. See ad on page 28.
Coaching A CREATIVE HEALING PLACE Benjamin B. Blackett 401-855-2008 BBB3pips@gmail.com Facebook.com/BenjaminBBlackett TikTok: @benjaminblackett
Benjamin Blackett is a multi-certified, International Life Mastery Consultant and motivational speaker. He helps people pull their dreams into their lives. His clients experience better health, deeper and more meaningful relationships, more satisfying careers, and expanded time and money freedom. You are invited to get to know him through his livestream “Morning Mindset Book Studies” on his Facebook page, A Creative Healing Place, Mon-Fri, 9:05-9:25am. See ad on pages 30 & 33.
Compounding & Wellness Pharmacy
JAMISON JACOBS COACHING Jamison@JamisonJacobs.com Linkedin.com/in/jamisonjacobs
I am a graduate of Accomplishment Coaching and I am currently a Program Coach, coaching other coaches, in New York City. I work with executives, leaders and those in career transition. See ad, page 31.
LIFE COACH DAVID
David Scott Bartky, Law of Attraction Life Coach 973-444-7301 LifeCoachDavid.com Find out how to attract what you want, feel happier, and become the best version of yourself with Law of Attraction coaching. You have the ability; you just have to know how to use it.
TAKE THE LEAP COACHING
Kim Childs 1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com Need help clarifying and realizing your desires? Asking “What’s next?” or “How do I get started?” Kim is a certified life and career coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and midlife transitions, to help clients create more personally fulfilling, meaningful and empowered lives. Initial consultations are free.
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 29.
BIRD’S HILL COMPOUNDING PHARMACY
401 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492 781-449-0550 Pharmacist@BirdsHillPharmacy.com BirdsHillPharmacy.com Familyowned and -operated since 1960, we have evolved from a traditional pharmacy to a worldwide compounding and nutritional resource. Our unique one-on-one patient consultations produce a full understanding of your health needs. You, your physician, and one of our compounding pharmacists work as partners to ensure that you will receive the best care possible.
DINNO HEALTH
Acton Pharmacy 563 Massachusetts Ave, Acton, MA 01721 978-263-3901 Keyes Drug 2090 Commonwealth Ave Newton, MA 02466 617-244-2794 Theatre Pharmacy 1784 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 781.862.4480 West Concord Pharmacy 1212 Main St, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-3100 DinnoHealth.com For more than a quarter of a century, Dinno Health has been a trusted provider of pharmacy services and is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized care for each customer. At our four independent pharmacies, we offer prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and vaccines. See ad, page 9.
JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS
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 21.
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
Dentist DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID Amparo M. David, DMD 563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888 BoltonDental.com
We look beyond our patients’ teeth in order to improve both their smiles and their quality of life. Our practice offers full preventive services: biological, holistic, functional dentistry, ozone therapy, reconstructive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, dental sleep medicine, implant dentistry, in addition to TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders) therapy. See ad, page 25.
Flotation FLOAT BOSTON
515 Medford St, Somerville, MA 844-443-5628 FloatBoston.com A float tank is a small shallow pool filled with water nearly saturated with Epsom salt. You float completely effortlessly. It’s completely dark and quiet: your own private world. It’s utterly relaxing. See ads, pages 17 and 29.
Frenectomy (Tongue/Lip Tie Release) DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID Martin Kaplan, DDS 563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888 BoltonDental.com
Specializing in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Kaplan uses the latest technology available to diagnose and treat infants as well as children and adults. In 2015, he was instrumental in developing the first-in-the-country “Infant Laser Frenectomy” training class through the continuing education department at Tufts Dental School and is an international leader in the field of dental laser surgery. See ad, page 25.
February 2022
35
Functional Dietitian
Health Food Store
ALORA FREDERICK, RDN
NATURE’S GOODNESS
Johnson Compounding & Wellness 781-893-3870 x 149 Alora@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com Integrative and Functional Registered Dietitian who strives to motivate individuals on their health journey. Alora loves to help people feel their best and has a special interest in GI health and mental health (depression & anxiety). See ad on page 21.
TAMARA LUCK, RDN, LDN
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 21.
Handmade Soaps & Skin Care NEW BEDFORD SOAP COMPANY NewBedfordSoapCompany.com
We have been making soap for over 10 yrs and have over 60 blends. We have scrubs, face, hand and foot creams, fragrance stones, along with perfume sticks, lip and cuticle balms. We also have dog shampoo and balms. Open M-F, 11am-4pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm.
36
510 East Main Rd, Middletown, RI 401-847-7480 Facebook.com/NaturesGoodness NaturesGoodnessRI.com Since 1984 we have been providing the finest quality Natural & Organic Whole Foods including many gluten-free products, natural body care, athletic supplements & protein powders, incense, smudging supplies and candles made with essential oils. Natural pet care food & supplements. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Visit website for more information.
Homeopathy VANDANA PITKE
Om Homeopathy, It’s My Health Cumberland, RI 401-573-3757 OmHomeopathy.com With 16+ yrs experience in classical homeopathy, Vandana Pitke has helped many clients restore and achieve health. A certified classical homeopath, she looks at the clients from a holistic perspective focusing on mind, body and spirit. She also incorporates many other holistic modalities in her practice, which makes healing faster, better and from within when combined with homeopathy.
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 modalities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad, page 7.
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Integrative Wellness Center IT’S MY HEALTH
Marie Bouvier-Newman 1099 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI 401-305-3585 Its-My-Health.com We provide much more than products, services and education. We provide the tools you need to optimize your health in a comfortable environment. We care. See ad on page 19.
QUANTUM HEALING UNIVERSE
Cileimmar Oliveira, MEd, CAGS, Founder 999 Broadway, Ste 303, Saugus, MA 781-558-1561 QuantumHealingUniverse@gmail.com QuantumHealingUniverse.com An integrative wellness center (on-site and virtual) for self-care and health practitioners. Biocommunication scanning and treatments, energy work and reiki, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, therapeutic counseling, coaching, Access Bars and Access Energetic Facelift, feng shui and more. See ad on page 21.
Light Therapy HEALING LIGHT JOURNEY By appointment only 401-282-0230 Raff@RINeurofeedback.com HealingLightJourney.com
The healing powers of light & sound are well documented. It is now possible to travel through amazing lightscapes and absorb beautiful sound energies to facilitate beneficial states of trance, healing and even psychedelic experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience something truly out of this world (or your body)! Call today for a free discovery session to determine if this technology is for you.
Massage
Naturopathic Medicine
Organic Hair Care
WEST SHORE WELLNESS
CHRYSANTHI KAZANTZIS, ND, MS
ELAYNE HEWITT
Massage Therapy & Transformational Breath Jane McGinn, LCMT, CTBF 459 Sandy Ln, Warwick, RI 02889 401-450-4172 WestShoreWellness.com
Anasa Personalized Medicine 245 Waterman St., Suite 308 Providence, RI 02906 401-484-1882 AnasaMedicine.com
Massage therapy relieves muscle tension, improves sleep, supports feelings of well-being. Transformational Breath helps to eliminate restrictive breathing patterns, clear the subconscious, and access higher levels of awareness. Live more joyfully. Call today.
Mind-Body Integration CÉCILE’S WISE WAYS
Owner and founder of Anasa Personalized Medicine, Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist and Reiki Master. Specializing in digestive disorders, thyroid disorders, diabetes, Lyme disease and chronic pain. Addressing these conditions by treating the underlying cause through herbal medicine, supplements, homeopathy, clinical nutrition and lifestyle counseling. Book an appointment to start your journey to optimal health. See ad on page 8.
DELONNAY HOLISTICS
857-245-9488 Contact@CecileRaynor.com CecileRaynor.com Chronic tension or pain? Joint issues or headaches? Coping with poor posture? Tendency to live in your mind? Using the Alexander Technique, reclaim ease of movement, natural good posture and well-being with Cécile’s Wise Ways.
Mind-Body Medicine
Martine Delonnay, ND 182 Gano St, Providence, RI 774-425-9519 DelonnayHolistics.com
An integrative medical practice combining naturopathic medicine with an allopathic medical background. Special interest in skin issues, nutrition and supplements, detox and cleanse cures, men’s and women’s health, and mental and emotional challenges. Currently seeing patients on Zoom and in-office for bodywork.
BODYMIND REPATTERNING
Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 109 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 02420 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindRepatterning.com BodymindRepatterning.com
GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD
Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com
An innovative blend of bodycentered counseling, integrative bodywork and energy medicine to uncover and release bodymind patterns that limit your life and health. See ad, page 30.
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 21.
Master Colorist/Stylist Riverside, RI 401-273-7005 ElayneOrganic@gmail.com A full-service green salon that’s Certified Organic for hair color, straightening/relaxing and permanent wave. No ammonia, parabens, plastics or thioglycolates. Call today for an appointment. 50% off all new clients only. See ad, page 31.
FLIPP SALON APOTHECARY 38 Transit St Providence, RI 02903 401-274-1981 FlippSalon.com
A small boutique salon promoting a holistic approach to beauty, herbalism, art and music. Offering a full range of hair services using organic, plantbased products, full apothecary of loose herbs, blends and organic self-care items and accessories. Herbalist on staff. Gallery walls featuring local artisans; all mediums welcome. Live music in semi-acoustic for Music Nights. We believe that all these mediums are symbiotic in promoting joy and wellness in the individual and the community.
Pilates BODY DYNAMICS RI
Peggy Normandin 1099 Mendon Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864 401-333-8550 BodyDynamicsRI@icloud.com BodyDynamicsRI.com We are a small boutique studio specializing in Pilates-based classes for women and men. Our highly trained instructors offer personal attention to our students to help them meet their fitness goals and improve their ability to enjoy activities. Free 30-min. consultation or lesson for new students. See ad, page 31.
BOSTON COMMUNITY
CALENDAR OF EVENTS All Calendar events for the March issue must be received by February 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NA-GBRI.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NA-GBRI.com/calendar.
Please visit our website for calendar listings and be sure to confirm events prior to the date of the event.
Submit events at: NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/events/new Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
February 2022
37
Reiki ANGELHAWK REIKI
Janice Sutton, BSRN West Shore Wellness 459 Sandy Lane Rd, Warwick, RI 02889 Additional locales 401-298-0306 Stressed? Overwhelmed? In need of a reprieve? Treat yourself to a relaxing reiki treatment. While you are relaxing, your own body wisdom is kicking in to heal itself on many levels. As a Registered Nurse, I know that stress can and does contribute to many physical as well as emotional ailments. Introductory pricing, $50 first visit.
BOSTON REIKI MASTER
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.
Shamanic Practitioner ENERGY-N-ELEMENTS Paul A. DiSegna 401-736-6500 Energy-N-Elements.com
Are you feeling stuck, stressed or disconnected? I will assist you in releasing energy blocks and guide you to experience the comfort and peace that comes with power and soul retrieval. “My intention is to improve my client’s health and well-being.” Call for your appointment today.
Spa SPA PAULA B., INC.
150 California St, Ste 504, Newton, MA 877-772-8522 SpaPaulaB.com
Spiritual HealingTeaching JANET STRAIGHTARROW Be The Medicine Shaman, Healer, Sage 973-647-2500 Janet@BeTheMedicine.com BeTheMedicine.com
40 years helping people help themselves. The Healers Healer. Deep energy healing-clearing worldwide. Profound results. Transformation. Coaching. Relieve anxiety, heal past now. Professional trainings. Shamanism. Reiki. Astrology. Land clearing. Ceremonies. Retreats.
Tantra/Sacred Sexuality SACRED TEMPLE ARTS
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 17.
Wellness Resources
TIME FOR YOU YOGA
Maria Sichel, RYT, CSYT 2155 Diamond Hill Rd Cumberland, RI 02864 401-305-5319 Maria@TimeForYouYoga.com TimeForYouYoga.com Private Svaroopa® yoga therapy sessions are tailored to meet your needs. Specially trained in treating pain, including back pain and neck and shoulder issues. Yoga therapy is more powerful than weekly yoga classes and moves you more quickly toward health and well-being. Experience pain relief, greater mobility, improved sleep, easier breathing, deep relaxation, increased flexibility and a deep sense of peace.
classifieds BOOKS ......................................... THE TRUE SCHOOL IS LIFE – Free brochures: You Live Eternally: There is No Death; A Fulfilled Life into Old Age; You are Not Alone; Comfort in Need and Suffering and much more. 844576-0937. Gabriele-PublishingHouse.com.
PRODUCTS .........................................
Acton Pharmacy Keyes Drug West Concord Pharmacy BGardner@DinnoHealth.com 508-259-7851
EMPOWERED GIFTS FROM THE QUANTUM HEALING UNIVERSE – Give or keep: empowered, highvibe gifts come ready for intentions. Essential oils, supplements, crystals, jewelry, candles, incense and more. Cileimmar: 617-501-8008. 781-5581561. QuantumHealingUniverse.com.
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 9.
HIGH-VIBE EMPOWERMENT CRYSTALS & HEALING JEWELRY – The crystals in our QHU Crystal Collection are high-quality, ethically sourced, cleansed and ready for your programming with intention. Cileimmar: 617-501-8008. 781-5581561. QuantumHealingUniverse.com.
BETH GARDNER
Spa Paula B. provides spa services in Newton, MA. Natural, organic and clean skin care products are used in facial treatments and are also available for purchase. Receive 20% off your first service.
38
Yoga
Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
Love yourself unconditionally. Love yourself so much that you will grant your heart feelings of love and kindness for others. ~Avijeet Das
Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
(Answers: page 17) February 2022
39
YOUR ONE TRUSTED GLOBAL ONLINE DESTINATION FOR
Regenerative Whole Health™ Benefits 24/7 ACCESS
KnoWEwell is a One-Of-A-Kind Platform that centralizes today’s trusted global knowledge, resources and community to Prevent and Address the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases. Find best-matched Vetted Practitioners. Learn from Top Educators and Experts. Access Evidence-Based Resources. Make Meaningful Connections in Community Topic Groups. Explore Funding Help for Outof-Pocket Costs of Practitioner Services.
Invest in Your Optimal Health & Well-Being.
Visit KnoWEwell.com Today and receive 50% Off your first year.
Practitioners Apply: NAMA10221P | Individuals Apply: NAMA 10221
