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publisher's letter As I write this letter, life everywhere is changing seemingly by the minute, but surely by the hour. In these unprecedented times of the unknown, it may be easy to fall under the spell of the news or one political party or the other. The vast majority of all humankind is nearly simultaneously being tipped on its head—held up, shaken out by the ankles. While I may be perceived a bit Pollyannish, I have barely ever felt calmer amid such seeming chaos. What I do know is that, for me, the inner calm has come due to the consistency of a variety of practices. Most notable is a daily affirmative prayer call that I’ve been participating in with two dear friends from the spiritual center I attend, for a little more than a year. Following a regular morning routine of short meditation, a reading from any number of books that lift me up and personal prayer time, this six day-a-week, 15-minute call sets the tone for the day. I actually have to work at having a bad day after this time of intimate and authentic connection. There are lots of things we can do to keep ourselves from getting caught up in the pandemonium of the day. I offer you some suggestions that a dear and wise friend recently shared with me.
BOSTON EDITION PUBLISHER Maisie Raftery MANAGING EDITOR Nancy Somera DESIGN & PRODUCTION Courtney Ayers Zina Cochran PROOFREADER Randy Kambic STAFF WRITER Wendy Fachon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sacha Fossa J. Garnet Tamara Luck Julie Marshall Ronica O’Hara April Thompson
Don’t watch the news 24/7. Keep up to date with short clips. Pick a radio station and listen to the news only once a day. Choose morning or evening, but only listen once. This is a great time to learn to meditate. There are plenty of YouTube videos on all kinds of meditation practices. Learn qigong, tai chi, or yoga. There are countless instructors all over the world offering free classes on many subjects. Play your favorite inspirational and motivational music and watch a few of the most inspiring movies of all time—Forrest Gump, A Beautiful Mind, Dead Poet’s Society, Good Will Hunting, Rudy, Seabiscuit. Find a place in nature to nurture you. Read some of the most inspirational books such as The Alchemist, The Shack or Tuesdays with Morrie. Read inspirational quotes every day: KeepInspiring.me/positiveinspirational-life-quotes. Connect with friends and family over Facetime, Skype, Zoom, etc. Start a watch party of your favorite Facebook Live events. Learn a new language or how to play an instrument. The possibilities are endless. There are many who are not experiencing the sudden abundance of “free” time; those who are working tirelessly to save lives or get food onto the shelves and into our bags. Perhaps finding a way to express gratitude to those who are on the front lines, or maybe creating and handing out care packages for the homeless in your area, if we are able, may lift us up. Expectedly, our distribution has been affected by the temporary closure of businesses throughout the area. In response to this we’ve created a way for you to subscribe to Natural Awakenings Boston online so that you don’t have to leave the house to get your next copy. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/pages/subscription-services to subscribe today. We also invite you to visit our calendar at NaturalAwakeningsBoston. com/calendar for events and workshops that have moved online. With warm regards and hope for an even stronger Boston to rise up out of this time of unrest. Peace,
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SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY WITH OUR FORKS
16 INTIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE
25 25 19 PLANET RESCUE
Grassroots Strategies Combat Climate Crisis
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HEALTHY HOME, HEALTHY KIDS How to Keep Them Safe
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INTRODUCTION: PLANT MEDICINE
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news brief
Johnson Compounding and Wellness Launches its Own Supplement Line
After conducting a survey, Johnson Compounding and Wellness learned that more than half of its customers wanted JCW to carry its own supplement line, vetted by its own experts and perfectly chosen with customers’ needs in mind. As a result, JCW has consciously curated a line of single herbs, herbal blends, essential oils, carrier oils and some vitamins, all at great prices. All products are shipped directly from the store to homes. In addition, JCW serves its customers with unique and personalized medications that treat individual’s specific needs. Services offered include pediatric and ophthalmic compounding, hormone imbalances, migraine treatment, vitamins, adrenals, nutrition and more. Cost: $6-$50. Location: 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information, call 781893-3870 or visit Shop.Natural Compounder.com. See ad on page 27 and Resource Guide on page 31.
Due to the fluidity of the coronavirus situation and massive amounts of cancellations, please visit our website for calendar listings. Please also be sure to confirm events prior to the date of the event. Thank you, Natural Awakenings NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com
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Consume Grape Seed Extract to Improve Cholesterol and Lower Inflammation
Grape seed extract, an antioxidant-rich supplement that is a byproduct of the wine and juice industry, significantly improves both total and LDL cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels, and lowers markers of inflammation, concludes a metareview of 15 randomized trials in the journal Phytotherapy Research. Researchers from Iran, Canada and Croatia concluded that the popular extract also improves fasting glucose levels, but has little effect on HbA1c or HDL cholesterol levels.
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health briefs
Try Pine Bark to Improve Erectile Function and Cholesterol
Erectile dysfunction, an early diabetic indicator, responds to treatment with pine bark extract, Slovakian researchers report. They tested 53 diabetic and non-diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction, giving half of them the extract (marketed as Pycnogenol) and the other half a placebo for three months. The pine bark extract improved erectile function by 45 percent in the diabetes group and 22 percent in the non-diabetes group. It also lowered LDL cholesterol by 21 percent and reduced blood sugar levels in the diabetes group.
Air pollution has long been linked to lung cancer, stroke and respiratory disease, and now research has found that it can lead to osteoporosis, as well. Researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health studied the bone mass and density of 3,717 people living in villages near Hyderabad, India. These were compared to fine particulate air pollution levels, which averaged more than three times the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The researchers also surveyed in-home cooking over wood, coal and other biomass sources. The results showed that exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with lower levels of bone mass, and that cooking over fires did not have that effect. “Inhalation of polluting particles could lead to bone mass loss through the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by air pollution,� says lead author Otavio T. Ranzani. 10
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Breathe Cleaner Air to Help Bone Health
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Take Echinacea to Reduce Anxiety
Get Ahead Before Finals!
Echinacea extract may be helpful for situation-induced anxiety, indicates a new study from Hungary’s Institute of Experimental Medicine, in Budapest. The researchers tested 64 middle-aged people that had scored high on the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. They were given either 80 milligrams Echinacea angustifolia root extract or a placebo every day for seven days, followed by a three-week washout period during which no pills were taken. Those taking the echinacea started experiencing less anxiety than the placebo-takers by day seven, and scored significantly lower in “state anxiety”, marked by arousal connected to specific dangers or threats. Measures of “trait anxiety”, in which anxiety is an ongoing personal characteristic, improved slightly compared to the placebo group. Improvements were maintained even during the washout period.
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Between 2005 and 2016, the shutdown of coal-fired plants in the U.S. saved an estimated 26,610 lives and the equivalent of around 570 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat, reports a new University of California at San Diego (UCSD) study published in Nature Sustainability. The coal plants were typically decommissioned as utilities transitioned from coal to natural gas for electric power generation, thus reducing particulate matter and ozone in the lower atmosphere. “When a coal-fired unit shuts down, local pollution [including particulate matter] levels drop, mortality rates drop and crop yields of major staple crops rise,” writes study author and UCSD associate professor Jennifer Ann Burney. The newer, natural-gas and coal-fired units that have supplanted them are not entirely benign and deserve further study, she notes.
Plastics Adios
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has clarified its standards regarding organic crop container systems such as hydroponics and aquaponics, requiring that those operations stop using synthetic chemicals not approved for organic crop production in the soil underneath, as well as in containers, for three years prior to achieving certification. The clarification arose after soil-based farmers reported that hydroponics operations were spraying the soil to clear weeds with Monsanto’s glyphosate shortly before building a greenhouse and applying for quick organic certification. The World Health Organization classified glyphosate as a Group 2A carcinogen, and it is absolutely prohibited on organic farms. The Real Organic Project, a family farmer-driven organization, is lobbying for an add-on label to USDA Certified Organic to provide more transparency on whether organic crops are grown in soil or hydroponic greenhouses.
Mexicans Return to Old Ways After Ban A new law bans popular plastic bags in the Mexican capital, and grocery stores are poised to sell reusable synthetic fiber bags. The same law will ban handing out plastic straws, spoons, coffee capsules and other single-use items by 2021. Claudia Hernández, the city’s director of environmental awareness, says, “We are finding that people are returning to baskets, to cucuruchos [cone-shaped rolls of paper].” The old ways are present in other aspects, too. Many residents still use wheeled, folding shopping baskets and some vendors still measure out bulk goods in discarded sardine cans. Grocery stores that give out plastic bags will be fined, so most will opt for reusable shopping bags made of thick plastic fiber for about 75 cents. For hygienic reasons, the law leaves the door open to using plastic bags for such items as perishable deli meats or cheese.
Nutty News
Eco-Sunscreen Made from Cashew Shells A “green” sunscreen has been synthesized from discarded cashew-nut shells by a team of scientists from South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania and Germany, reports the European Journal of Organic Chemistry. Using xylochemistry (wood chemistry), the scientists produced new aromatic compounds that show good UVA and UVB absorbance, which can protect humans, as well as polymers and coatings, from harmful rays from the sun. The research was published in the European Journal of Organic Chemistry. UV rays can lead to sunburn, premature aging and the development of lethal melanomas in humans and animals, and are also damaging to most materials, causing the discoloration of dyes and pigments, weathering, yellowing of plastics and the loss of gloss and mechanical properties.
I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another. ~Thomas Jefferson 12
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Closing Plants Saves Lives and Crops
Organic Standards Clarified for Hydroponics
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Coal Costs
Roundup Redux
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eco tip
Think Outside the House Expanding Spring Cleaning Spring cleaning traditionally heralds a new beginning, an opportunity to take stock of hearth and home and a time of renewal regardless of the season. Clearing figurative cobwebs is as important as sweeping away real ones, and while most folks focus on giving their abode a thorough airing and scrubbing, there’s plenty to tend to outside before the heat of summer sets in. Clear out potentially dead grass and leaves and other organic matter near the sides of the house to prevent termites and other insect infestations. Collect the organic matter, add in food scraps and compost it all to benefit the garden. Composting sends the nutrients of loose ingredients into the soil as a natural fertilizer. EarthEasy.com/ grow_compost.html reports it can help divert as much as 30 percent of household waste from the garbage can. Make sure to check the top and outer walls of the house. Upraised nails in a shingled roof or deteriorated shingles or gaps where plumbing vent pipes penetrate the surface—possibly due to high winds, falling branches or ice thawing in colder climes—can produce small breaks and holes for water to seep through onto tops of ceilings. That 14
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can possibly lead to mold as summer temperatures rise and water leaks into the interior of the house. OldHouseWeb.com says collars of vent pipes should be tight, as “some older [ones] can loosen over time and even some newer rubber collars crack and leak long before the shingles fail.” Also, check the gutters to make sure they are clear of packed leaves and tree branches. Don’t forget the family car, which may need its own spring cleanup. Go green with a natural soap to remove slush and grime, and then take a close look at the toll the past year has taken. Pebbles and rocks may have been kicked onto the sides of the car, resulting in small chips and abrasions of the paint from which rust might spread. The nonprofit Car Care Council (CarCare.org) recommends covering the areas as quickly as possible and if necessary to use a little clear nail polish—nontoxic, of course—as a quick fix for minor paint damage until a proper touch-up can be scheduled. Then there’s the undercarriage. Salt particles that may have been used in treating roads and highways in icy regions may be lodged into crevices which can corrode metal and functional parts. Make sure the hose sprayer also reaches these areas.
Supporting Sustainability with Our Forks by Tamara Luck In a sea of daunting statistics about climate change, it may seem insignificant to look to our own plates as part of the solution. But how we choose the food on our plate does impact our food system and can have a dramatic effect on the environment. Even better, eating for the planet means eating a nourishing diet. When making food choices we should ask ourselves some questions. Is the food that we are choosing ultra-processed? Did it travel across the world to get to our grocery store? Is it wrapped in layers of plastic? Extra processing, travel and packaging increases the amount of energy, water and gasoline needed to get the food to us. Local and in season foods decrease resources while supporting local farmers. Not only will this promote eating whole foods, like fruits and vegetables, but it will also reduce the amount of resources used to grow and transport the food. It’s a win for everyone involved, including the Earth. Veganism and climate change have become intertwined, and going plant-based is often revered as the superior diet to support the planet. However, it is important to consider if a vegetarian or vegan diet is appropriate for your body. Prioritizing quality over quantity, meat can be a great addition to a plant-focused, whole foods diet. In fact, regenerative farmers consider cows an essential part of the farm ecosystem. Cows can help fertilize soil, ensuring more nutrients in our fruits and vegetables. When choosing produce, opt for meats, eggs and dairy products that are local and organic, such as grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken and eggs and wild-caught salmon. Another important step is to limit food waste. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 30 to 40 percent of our food is wasted. Food waste happens at many different stages along the food supply chain, including in our own homes. Buy-
ing appropriate amounts of food, freezing leftovers and using glass storage containers can also decrease our personal food waste. Additionally, composting allows us to repurpose food scraps and spoiled food for soil. If your town does not provide composting services, there are several companies throughout Massachusetts that facilitate compost pickup at your home. This prevents food from rotting in landfills, where it cannot properly be broken down. Farther up in the food supply chain, challenge the practice of grocery stores prioritizing fruit and vegetables that are pretty by subscribing to produce delivery boxes, like Misfit Markets or Imperfect Foods, that collect reject fruits and vegetables that are still perfectly delicious. Alternatively, buying from farmers markets or participating in a local community supported agriculture (CSA) allow “ugly� produce to go unwasted. Supporting sustainability with our forks means focusing on local, in season plants to make up the majority of our diet. These changes benefit our own health and help change the food system for the better. Tamara Luck, RDN, LDN, is an integrative and functional dietitian in Waltham, MA. She works to uncover root causes of imbalances in the body and takes an individualized approach to wellness with her one-on-one clients. She is currently accepting new patients at Johnson Compounding and Wellness. Appointments can be made at Calendly.com/TamaraLuck. See ad on page 27.
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Intimate Climate Change by Sacha Fossa
Erotic Blueprints and Sexuality Stages
When intimacy falters in relationships with others and/or in our own body, such a sudden change in climate can have serious implications and rippling effects in our lives. By recognizing that intimate climate change is an indicator of generally more deeply rooted challenges, an approach can be taken to find the underlying cause(s) and solutions and new possibilities. Awareness is the first step to creating real and lasting change.
Another helpful way of restoring intimate climate balance is to discover what our intimacy languages are (aka Erotic Blueprints) and what sexuality stage we are in currently, along with our partner. The sexologist Jaiya, founder of the Erotic Blueprint system, provides a comprehensive map to intimate well-being and empowerment and includes her defined five stages of sexuality.
Erotic Detective Work
The Resting Stage
Taking a holistic or integrative approach to discovering what has caused intimate relationship issues and/or sexual disharmony with another or in one’s own body can be highly effective. We can start by asking ourselves and/or our partner(s): What physical, energetic and/or bio-chemical, emotional, psychological, and/ or relational changes have taken place in my body and/or in my relationship? Write down all the possibilities for what could be contributing to the overall intimate climate change. Ask questions and come up with ways to address each. For example, if there has been physical changes and/or traumas or injuries to the body, a massage, chiropractic adjustment, pelvic floor specialist and/or a doctor could be helpful in supporting physical healing. If there has been hormonal (bio-chemical) changes, getting one’s hormones checked and addressed could be helpful. A skilled intimacy coach or therapist can help with finding positive solutions for restoring intimacy harmony and health.
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If someone is in this stage, they may be in a sexless relationship, taking a break from sex by choice, may have never had sex, or may be craving sexual satisfaction but have cut off all sexual activity. They may find themselves wondering what happened to their sexuality. They are most likely seeking a greater sense of connection, intimacy and passion. Or perhaps they want to take a break from sexual activity, which could improve sex when they are ready to indulge.
The Healing Stage
If someone has experienced a physical injury, or emotional or psychological trauma, the Healing Stage may be their current need. This may require time to understand how the trauma is affecting their sexual health and vitality and their ability to connect with themselves and others. If it is a physical injury or trauma, scar tissue, hormonal imbalances and recovery from surgery all have pathways to recovery. If the trauma is emotional or psycho-
The Curious Stage
If someone is in this stage, they are out to learn as much as they can about the things that interest them. They may be asking a lot of questions, reading books, attending workshops or simply looking at the wide world of eroticism with newly opened and receptive eyes.
The Adventurous Stage
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logical, seek out a sex-positive therapist familiar with trauma, find a healthy sex-positive community for support and/ or find a skilled coach.
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Usually following the Curious Stage, people in the Adventurous Stage are claiming what they desire and taking steps to get it. This stage is all about taking action.
The Transformational Stage
When someone is in Transformational, they are seeking what is more to sex. They may be desiring ecstatic, transformational and spiritual experiences so sex is about transcendence, meaningful intimacy and connecting to the divine. Great opportunities for people in this stage would be studying the sacred sexual arts like tantra or Taoist sexuality. These stages of sexuality are not hierarchical and each has powerful rewards and benefits. By determining our current stage, we can additionally decide what stage we would like to be in, as often they are not the same. A stage can change because of the partner we are with, and/or it can change due to shifts in age or hormones. There are endless factors that can affect what stage we are in. In fact, we could be in every stage in the course of a single day or a single sexual interlude. Intimate health is essential for overall health and well-being. Intimacy is complex and ever-changing, so when there is an intimate climate change, restoring it is possible with the right inquiry, commitment, tools and protocols.
Sacha Fossa is a holistic sex, intimacy and relationship coach, educator and healing arts practitioner offering sessions and programs for individuals and couples, in-person and virtually. For more information and to sign up for a complimentary consultation, call 978-309-9399 or visit SacredTempleArts.com. See ad on page 29 and Resource Guide on page 33.
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feature
PLANET RESCUE Grassroots Strategies Combat Climate Crisis by Julie Marshall I love to see what young people are doing, because if we collectively use our voice to amplify the facts about climate change, we can work to find solutions. –Elan Strait
Like most kids, Azalea Morgan loves polar bears. “They’re fluffy and cute,” the 8-year-old says, and after watching a documentary on how climate change is affecting these Arctic apex predators, she badly wanted to help. Her mom, Molly Morgan, suggested she do something big, because the problem of global warming is monumental. For nearly three weeks last September, Azalea pedaled her bike alongside her mom and 9-year-old sister, Ember, setting out from their hometown of Andover, New Hampshire, en route to New York City to attend the United Nations (UN) Climate Action Summit, where Greta Thunberg and other global youth leaders marched for change. The trip was a fundraiser to put solar panels on their school and for future projects under KidsCare4PolarBears, a Facebook page that documents their ongoing efforts. While not everyone has the time or inclination to ride 250 miles and camp—some of it in the rain—or as Thunberg did, sail across the Atlantic in a zero-emissions yacht, there are steps individuals can take to combat climate change on a grassroots level, experts say, because the crisis is undeniable, as seen most recently in the catastrophic bushfires across Australia. There are peaceful protests taking place worldwide scheduled throughout 2020 at FridaysForFuture.org and other organizations, but a growing number of individuals that want to do more are using their imaginations and creative endeavors, inspiring others to take unique action.
Reversing course may seem insurmountable, but individuals have a lot of power, says Dan Shepard, UN global communications officer: “The choices we make, the things we do, collectively matter and can have a huge impact on the world.” STEPPING UP FOR BIODIVERSITY “I wanted to inspire other kids,” Ember says of her bicycle trek for polar bears. “I love animals and they deserve to not die.”
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Students at a school in Spain wrote and performed a play and illustrated a book to raise climate change awareness, while a teen from California used her artistic skills to raise thousands of dollars for wildlife. On March 28, people around the world participated in the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour by collectively turning off lights at 8:30 p.m. while holding eco-events, and others are joining in the global tree-planting campaign of The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
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According to a 2019 UN Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, more than 1 million species are threatened with extinction, and one of the main reasons is climate change, say experts, including Nikhil Advani, director of Climate Communities and Wildlife at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Protecting large predators is one key to enriching biodiversity, Advani says. “The top of the food chain has a significant impact on prey species and the ecosystem.” But predators are suffering because of humans that are feeling the impacts of climate change, Advani says. Long droughts have forced many Kenyan pastoralists to enter protected parks and compete with wildlife for water and grazing land, resulting in lion deaths as retaliation for killing livestock. In the Himalayas, as the Earth warms, snow leopard habitat is being encroached for pastureland. In Zimbabwe, farmers have turned to chopping down trees for wood as an alternative economic opportunity. “Everybody is stressed and competing for resources,” Advani says. “It is a very severe result of climate change.”
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Advani and researchers are working in tandem with local societies in 30 countries across Africa, Central America and Asia to fund novel projects under the Wildlife Adaptation Innovation Fund. For instance, they are piloting a rainwater harvesting project to help farmers get through the dry seasons and are constructing concrete and mudbrick nests to help albatross breed better in Tasmania. These special projects are based on available levels of donations that are sometimes crowd-sourced. Raising funds for innovative projects, as well as increasing awareness of what’s happening, is an important grassroots strategy, says Elan Strait, WWF director of U.S. climate campaigns. It can be as simple as sharing updates, tagging social media influencers and instigating a rallying cry. WWF has its own program called Panda Ambassadors in which conservation activists of all ages can get tips and tools to promote specific projects they feel most passionate about. “I love to see what young people are doing, because if we collectively use our voice to amplify the facts about climate change, we can work to find solutions,” Strait says. “And we need facts to get out there because, at least in the U.S., some people think climate change is still a controversy and are afraid to talk about it, but we should have that conversation with friends and family so we can find solutions.”
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YOUTH RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
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Getting involved in grassroots-level strategies is empowering not only for kids, but for adults that need their resiliency and inspiration, says Janet Stringer, manager of donor relations at Polar Bears International, in Bozeman, Montana. “In my work, I hear from so many people who are feeling deep despair about the climate crisis. I draw hope from the children who write to us, sharing stories and pictures about their dreams for a future that includes polar bears,” says Stringer. “I think
One of her favorite examples comes from students at the Daina-Isard school, in Olesa de Montserrat, Spain, and their climate-driven projects with teacher Connie Da r il e k , w h o as ke d th e Aq ua r i u m of Barcelona to help them grow plankton, an organism threatened by warming seas. “They gave us plankton and jellyfish, and it was really amazing for the students to learn the [Arctic] food chain and how serious it would be losing the polar bear on top,” Darilek says. Students recently published the book Nanuc , a story about a polar bear that they also illustrated, now in its second printing. Josie Martin, 13, of Solana Beach, California, has raised $8,700 for conservation of rhinos, elephants, pangolins, gorillas and polar bears by giving watercolor paintings to those that donate to charities through her PayPal Giving page at Chuffed.org/project/ peace-love-hope-for-rhinos. “Each year, I think I’m getting a little bit better at creating art which sends a strong message,” she says. “The message I try to express is that some of our best-known wild animals might in my lifetime no longer be on the planet. I think the difference I make through art is that I am helping to raise awareness for important animal conservation work.”
Planting trees emerged in the study as the most significant among 21 strategies to mitigate global warming. One good way to get started is join the TNC Plant a Billion Trees program, Macdonald says; details are at Tinyurl.com/TNCPlantABillionTrees. “Climate change is definitely a growing concern that we are facing, and as more people understand there is a problem and what the solutions are, the more influence we can have on the big decision-makers, whether that’s government or corporations that make our products,” she says. “And being aware informs voters to advance climate action.” While Josie, Ember, Azalea and the students at Daina-Isard aren’t old enough to vote, their message is strong. “I’m worried about the impact climate change will have on our future,” Josie says. “I think people should protest peacefully for the things they believe in and that more people should exercise their right to vote for leaders who care about the youth in our world and the generations to come. I also think people should try to spend a little bit of their time taking action for what they want to see changed in our world.”
Julie Marshall is a Colorado-based writer and author of Making Burros Fly: Cleveland Amory, Animal Rescue Pioneer. Connect with her at FlyingBurros@gmail.com.
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we owe it to the next generation to work as hard as we can to come together and make the necessary changes to ensure that polar bears—and all wildlife—are not a species we learn about in the pages of a book, but a wild species that we can see with our own eyes, reminding us of how special our planet is and why it deserves our respect.”
EVERY ACTION COUNTS There’s no one solution to climate change, says Catherine Macdonald, TNC director of natural climate solutions for North America. “We really have to try, all of us. It’s important that everyone feel they can contribute, because everything does make a difference, and no action is too small.” For those that are not art-inclined, one of the best things people can do is to plant trees, Macdonald says, whether it’s replanting forests or increasing their numbers in urban areas. According to a 2018 study by TNC published in Science Advances, nature-driven land management could sequester 21 percent of America’s annual greenhouse gas pollution—the equivalent of emissions from all cars and trucks on the roads today. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
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conscious eating
FLOWER POWER Botanical Libations Pack Healthy Punch by April Thompson Flowers are endless fun to experiment with, especially when added to everyday drinks and dishes. It brings life to the kitchen. –Cassie Winslow Flowers and other budding botanical elements this spring aren’t just eye candy to dress the table; they can bless an everyday beverage with intoxicating new scents, flavors and colors. “It’s such a joy to see a beautiful flower or plant, smell it and then add it to a delightful beverage or meal. Plants have so much medicine to share, and it’s fun to play with that,” says Myra Sinnott, an aromatherapist and owner of Essential Botany, in Washington, D.C.
While many botanical drink recipes call for simple sugar syrup, Winslow suggests honey with a splash of water as a substitute. Other drinks are naturally sweet, like jasmine tea steeped in apple cider. Sinnott likes to fuse the power of flowers with other botanical elements such as rose petals in a light raspberry drink. “I also use rosewater in a warm elixir with a base of reishi mushroom tea, goji berries, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger, cacao, pearl powder and honey. Rose is a heart-opener and vitalizes the body with the immune-boosting reishi and the other tonifying ingredients,” says Sinnott. Winslow stresses the importance of buying organic ingredients, as many flowers are sprayed with toxic pesticides—or better yet, home-grown. She suggests the tea aisle of natural food stores is a good place for procuring organic floral ingredients such as chamomile and jasmine, which often come unblended in whole form.
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Many beverage favorites can be given a floral twist with little effort, says Cassie Winslow, author of Floral Libations: 41 Drinks + Ingredients and founder of the blog DecoTartelette. com, in Santa Cruz, California. Winslow’s go-to drinks include lavender-infused lemonade and rose petal almond milk, which can be served hot or cold. “I also love an iced lavender café au lait. If I’m feeling extra fancy, I’ll use fresh flower ice cubes, too.” Dried hibiscus is another favorite of Winslow’s, as even a few petals of the concentrated dark magenta flower will
brighten and beautify any beverage—even a yogurt-based drink.
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Marie Viljoen, Brooklyn-based author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine , suggests using cold infusions rather than heat or boiling flowers to retain their flavors and aromas. She also recommends picking flowers early in the morning or late afternoon, when their scent peaks.
A Cup of Wildflowers
SOOTHING BOTANICAL SIPS Unconditional Love Here’s an Indian-inspired herbal infusion featuring classic Ayurvedic herbs that help spread unconditional love that is so needed in the world right now. It’s recommended that you serve the infusion on heated rose quartz crystals; this will continue to emanate the love. This recipe is best made in larger quantities and stored for use throughout the year or whenever you need to spread or share more love with friends and family.
While botanical ingredients can be obtained commercially, it can be more fun—and frugal—to forage for them, suggests Viljoen, founder of the blog 66SquareFeet.blogspot. com. “It’s a lot of fun to go out to collect ingredients you cannot find in the store. You can experience unique textures, flavors and perfumes, and play with wild ingredients that have been all but forgotten,” she says.
Yields: 3½ oz beverage
Some of Viljoen’s seasonal foraged favorites include the fragrant elderflower, honeysuckle and common milkweed flower. “I like to capture milkweed’s fragrance and deep pink color in a wild soda or a sweet cordial.”
½ oz rose petals (Rosa spp), dried
For newbie foragers, drink ingredients can be sourced as easily as herbs from a window box, like the antiviral thyme, which makes for a delicious wild soda made from a handful of herbs, sweetener and water left on the countertop a few days to lightly ferment and fizz. Another spring favorite, tender young spruce tips, has a sour flavor that ferments well with strawberries and rhubarb, says Viljoen. The same recipe can also be used to make vinegar, a longer process resulting in a more enduring product with great botanical properties. “You can create a sipping vinegar, which is good to mix with seltzer or slowcook with,” says Viljoen. Whether botanical ingredients are foraged, bought or brought in from the backyard garden to be put in a hot tea, a cocktail or a cold brew, the magic is in the making. “Flowers are endless fun to experiment with, especially when added to everyday drinks and dishes. It brings life to the kitchen,” says Winslow.
April Thompson, a freelance writer in Washington, D.C ., can be reached at AprilWrites.com.
.7 oz cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) ½ oz ginger root (Zingiber officinalis), dried .2 oz ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera), dried .2 oz rhatavari root (Asparagus racemosus), dried .4 oz rose hips (Rosa canina), dried
photo by Doan Ly
Dried flowers are easier to source and are often more potent than fresh, she says. “Fresh is pretty, but can be more subtle in flavor.” Her rose salt recipe, which can be used to rim drinks or seasonal dishes, calls for dried roses, which have a longer shelf life and won’t clump up like fresh petals.
1 oz tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), dried For the warm rose quartz: 3-4 Rough pieces of rose quartz crystal Mix all the herbs together in a large bowl, then decant into a sealable pouch or jar, being sure to store away from direct sunlight. Cleanse the crystals, by first rinsing and gently scrubbing them under running water, then place in the sun for a few hours and whisper some love poetry to them. Place the crystals in the oven on a low heat (158 to 170° F) for 15 minutes, or until hot. Place the crystals in the teacups. For a pot for 3 to 4 people, take 6 heaping teaspoons of the blend, pour over freshly boiled water, infuse with the lid on for 5 to 6 minutes, then fine strain and serve in cups over the warm pieces of rose quartz crystal. Recipe courtesy of Michael Isted, the Herball.
Dandelion Honey Bowl of Soul “I love to make a bowl of soul when I need to unwind, as this beverage is quite soothing,” says Cassie Winslow. “Dandelions have a subtle spice that pairs so nicely with other warming spices
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such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Steeped in your favorite nutty milk, this’ll be your new go-to goodie when you want to sit with your thoughts, gaze out the window and sip on something warm.” Yields: one beverage 1 cup, unsweetened, almond milk or hazelnut milk 1 Tbsp honey (or agave sweetener) 1 dandelion tea bag Freshly ground nutmeg for garnish In a small saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat until it just begins to simmer. Whisk the milk, then slowly add the honey or agave sweetener and whisk together. Pour the milk mixture into a large mug. Add the tea bag and allow to steep for five minutes. Discard the tea bag. Sprinkle the nutmeg on top. Recipe courtesy of Cassie Winslow, Floral Libations: 41 Drinks + Ingredients. April 2020
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healthy kids
HEALTHY HOME, HEALTHY KIDS How to Keep Them Safe by Ronica O’Hara
A healthy home for kids looks much like what’s needed for a healthy planet: clean air, clean water and clean food, all of which create a space in which our children can be well and thrive. This means taking active steps to eliminate everyday contaminants that can harm their developing organs and brains. “Children are not mini-adults. Their bodies cannot filter out toxins and chemicals as effectively as a full-grown adult body can,” says Kimberly Button, author of The Everything Guide to a Healthy Home: All You Need to Know to Protect You and Your Family from Hidden Dangers. Here are some practical steps to take.
CLEAN AIR CLEAN “GREEN”. The chemicals in popular disinfectants alter children’s gut microbes and heavy use leads to higher body mass index by age 3, reports Canadian researchers; eco-friendly cleaning agents do not harm kids’ health, they found. A solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water can be used to clean counters, floors and toilets. The acetic acid in vinegar can deactivate even the flu and tuberculosis viruses, recent studies have shown. GET RID OF MOLD. Mold, especially if it’s black, is highly toxic to children: a Polish study found it lowered IQs in children under 6. “When the mycotoxins in
mold affect children’s developing nervous systems we may see fatigue, difficulty learning, and attention issues,” says naturopath Jill Crista of Janesville, Wisconsin, author of Break The Mold: 5 Tools to Conquer Mold and Take Back Your Health. She recommends mixing in a glass (not plastic) spray bottle essential oils, such as rosemary, holy basil, tea tree or eucalyptus, spraying the mold, and using a disposable cloth to wipe it off. The essential oils “not only kill mold, but neutralize the toxins,” she says. “It won’t fix mold on porous surfaces, which require professional remediation.” BAN SMOKING. Children that breathe secondhand smoke are more prone to ear infections, coughs and colds, tooth decay and respiratory problems like asthma and pneumonia, and they miss more days of school, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. Even smoke residue that clings to clothes, furniture, bedding and other surfaces can harm a child when this third-hand smoke is inhaled, absorbed or ingested.
CLEAN WATER GET A WATER TEST. Because children drink more water per pound than adults, even low levels of contaminants can impact their IQ and behavior. Check with the local health department to see if it offers free test kits, buy one at a hardware store or find a local lab by calling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. Purify it. Several types of water purification systems, including tap-mounted, under-sink and pitchers, are effective and affordable, ranging from $20 to $300. Seek filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation testing agency that address contaminants identified by the water test.
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CLEAN FOOD BUY ORGANIC WHEN POSSIBLE. “Swapping to mostly organic foods is a good way to reduce your child’s daily toxic burden and reduce their risk of developing gut issues, autoimmune diseases, and food sensitivities and allergies,” says Caitlin Self, a licensed dietitian and functional nutritionist in Baltimore who blogs at FrugalNutrition.com. Using the list of the Dirty Dozen pesticide-laden produce compiled by the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org/ foodnews) as well as its recommended Clean 15 makes shopping organic easier. Clean produce of pesticides. Simply rinsing produce under cold water for 30 seconds reduces pesticide residues for nine of 12 pesticides, a study by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station found. Saltwater or vinegar rinses also remove pesticides effectively, and in a recent Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study, soaking apples in one ounce of baking soda to 100 ounces of water for 15 minutes removed 80 and 96 percent of two pesticides, respectively, even under the skin of the fruit. STOCK UP ON HEALTHY SNACKS. After-school munchies are not only natural, but healthy. “Kids’ little tummies tend to need more frequent feedings than fully formed adults to ensure they have stable blood sugar,” says Self. Rather than highly processed crackers, pudding and most granola bars, offer combos like grapes with cheese, celery with peanut butter or hummus on wholewheat bread. “Some parents will need to rely on some more packaged snacks to get through,” says Self, who recommends trail mix, fresh fruit or crispy chickpeas.
Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
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PLANT MEDICINE begins absorbing into the body almost immediately, making it the quickest way to feel the effects of the THC. The American Lung Association warns of the effects that smoke has on the lungs and is encouraging more research into different ways to consume the drug. Vaporization is an alternative to smoking the flower, yet it’s still inhaled and has the same speedy delivery as smoking. With vaporization, known as vaping, the flowers of the plant are heated to a point that releases the beneficial chemicals, but are not heated to the point of catching fire and producing the harmful smoke that affects the lungs. Vaping is also used to consume pure THC oils and in a solid concentration called “wax” or “shatter”. This delivery method also limits most of the smell that is associated with marijuana smoke. For those who are still skeptical about inhaling these chemicals, there are still more ways to receive the benefits that cannabis has to offer.
Introduction: Plant Medicine by J. Garnet Since 1965, 40 percent of adults who have ever smoked have quit. In fact, 1.3 million people quit smoking each year in the U.S. Many people who want to transition from prescription medications to natural medicine can’t imagine moving toward medicinal marijuana. For many, the idea of using this alternative medicine conjures visions of smoke-filled rooms with joints, pipes and water bongs. Rest assured that if marijuana is being considered as a replacement for other types of medication, there are numerous choices that do not include the inhalation of smoke. Because marijuana has been under the microscope and broken down to its chemical value and worth, horticulturists are able to identify the most useful compounds of the plant. Combinations of different strain plants are common when developing the medicinal properties into products that deliver the medicine. The medicinal agents can be delivered in many different ways. Smoking the flower of the plant is widely popular, but does carry its own set of risks. The smoke is inhaled into the lungs and
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There are dozens of edibles to choose from. Many dispensaries have their own brand of good-eats. Many dessert items are available, but there are also vegan options, teas, honey and beverages. Because the medicine is eaten and must be absorbed into the body through the digestive tract, the effects of cannabis are slow acting, and they can take up to an hour and a half for maximum benefit. Also, the medicine is being absorbed slowly and the benefits last longer than inhaling the drug. Like doctors determining the dosage of medications for optimum benefit, marijuana dosages must be experimented with as well. Although a small four-ounce chocolate ice cream may not seem like a lot, some contain up to 40mg per container and is much too high of a dose for beginners who haven’t determined the best working dosage. Many pharmaceutical companies include warnings of possible side effects in their advertising. Even as rare as they may be, death, different types of cancers or paralysis are just a few of the many dangerous and scary interactions and side effects that can occur with prescription drugs. People do not have to risk their lives and fear of having the embarrassing possible side effects, however, when trying marijuana as an alternative to prescriptions, even if they consume too much. CBD oil is also an option for consuming the medicine. Coming in a variety of dosages, the oil is easily managed. It can be taken sublingually and has a rapid absorption rate. CBD oil doesn’t contain any THC, so it poses no risk and has no side effects. When treating a disease, illness or condition, risks are taken. There must be a trial-and-error period when determining what dosage, and what product, has the best and highest good with the least number of side effects. A doctor may prescribe too little of a medication for a specific ailment only to find that the dosage was wrong for the patient. The doctor changes the dose and continues doing this until it’s been determined that the
drug is working optimally for each specific individual. People can react differently to chemical compounds, and medicine being prescribed for a treatment could actually do more harm to the body than good. Just like prescription drugs, the dosing of marijuana must be an individual tri-
al-and-error process. The good news is that there are numerous options on how to take, or consume, the medicine in cannabis. The risks taken with marijuana aren’t the same as those read at high speed through the duration of a pharmaceutical commer-
cial, some of which are just plain nasty. Thank goodness that nature is medicine. J. Garnet is a writer, teacher, speaker and healer living in Tucson, AZ. Garnet’s passion is helping the public see that nature is medicine. Contact Garnet at 520-4378855 or at Jeffrey@JGarnet.com.
With the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation causing uncertainty for citizens worldwide, Natural Awakenings is more committed than ever in supporting your health and well-being. For the latest updates, visit the CDC online at: mass.gov/resource/ information-on-the-outbreakof-coronavirus-disease2019-covid-19
EXPIRES 5/31/20
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BOSTON COMMUNITY All Calendar events for the May issue must be received by April 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/calendar.
Due to the fluidity of the coronavirus and mass cancellations of live events, please visit our website for online classes, workshops and events. If you are offering these types of events, please feel free to submit your listings for free and we will do our best to share them on our social networks for you as well as promote them on our website.
Thank you, Natural Awakenings. NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/calendar
classifieds BOOKS ........................................... The Great Cosmic Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The one who does not live in God lives in his self-made world of sensations, thoughts, words and deeds - the small world of the human ego. Gabriele-Publishing-House.com. Tollfree: 844-576-0937.
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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.
Acupuncture
Applied Kinesiology
GROTON WELLNESS
CENTRAL SQUARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Quan Zhou, LicAc, Nutritionist 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com Helping patients return to health with acupuncture, ear therapy, cupping, guasha and acupressure, Quan’s expertise lies in the areas of chronic and acute pain, allergy, digestive conditions, stress-related problems, headaches, migraines, anxiety, depression, neurological disorders, respiratory issues, supportive treatment for cancer, fertility, reproductive health, women’s health and difficult-to-treat conditions in conventional medicine. See ad, page 4.
KARINA BELENO CARNEY, LAC, FABORM
Well-Being Acupuncture Center 16 Main St, Groton, MA 01450 978-448-3940 Well-BeingAcupuncture.com Effective and compassionate acupuncture, herbal medicine, TuiNa, cupping and holistic therapeutic treatment. Relief for acute and chronic pain, stress and anxiety, headaches, insomnia, digestive issues, allergies and more. Clinical specialty in women’s health, male and female infertility, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause.
ALANA P. HAMMER
Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre 383 Elliot St, Ste F 250 Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 617-964-3332, Fax: 617-332-7601 WellAdjusted.com Alana is a certified acupuncturist providing acupuncture, herbal medicine and adjunctive therapies to treat acute and chronic pain, orthopedic conditions, digestive disorders, stress and anxiety, sleep and cosmetic facial rejuvenations for over 10 years. See ads, pages 3 and 9.
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Kristine Jelstrup, CMFT, CBK, LMT 126 Prospect St, Ste 5, Cambridge, 02139 617-833-3407 Kristine@CentralSquareHealthAnd Wellness.com CentralSquareHealthAndWellness.com Achieve optimal health physically, emotionally, nutritionally. Kristine uses a form of muscle response testing to identify and clear nervous system interference, facilitating optimal health.
SYMMETRY NEURO-PATHWAY TRAINING Dianne Kosto, Founder & CEO 132 Central St, Ste 205A, Foxboro 844-272-4666 Dianne@SymmetryNeuroPT.com SymmetryNeuroPt.com
Natural solutions to ADHD, autism, migraines, memory loss and mental fatigue do exist. SYMMETRY is helping families increase grades in school, become more productive at work, manage emotions with calmness and security, and regain their health. Book a free consultation at MeetMe.so/DianneKosto.
Chiropractic Beauty ELEMENTAL ESSENCE
Trinity Lounge 1314 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-819-4372 ElementalEssence.org Licensed esthetician, certified aromatherapist and practicing herbalist, Angelica offers an array of wellness therapies. From organic and advanced skincare services, henna adornment, natural cosmetic solutions, vibrational sound therapy sessions, herbal medicine and aromatherapy consultations.
Brain Training ADVANCED NEUROTHERAPY, PC Jolene Ross, PhD 781-444-9115 RetrainYourBrain.com
Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.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 11.
NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTRE Julie Burke, DC 617-964-3332 Info@WellAdjusted.com WellAdjusted.com
We are a total wellness center open 7 days a week. We specialize in Gentle Non-Force Chiropractic (NSA), an assortment of massage modalities, HydroMassage, “Super Comfortable” custom orthotics, physical therapy, detoxifying ionic foot baths, and our latest wellness tool, BEMER (designed to improve circulation supporting the body’s natural self- regulating processes). See ads, pages 3 and 9.
Coaching LOVE CREATES MIRACLES 857-753-6819 ProsperityPrincess@gmail.com EdieBlue.com
Edie provides unique, boutique coaching tailored to help you create more love in your life. Courses by Edie: The ABC’s of Love, The “Write” Way to Love, Soulmate Bootcamp, Knotty Minds: Knotty Bodies. Call Edie for a free 10-min session to see if you are ready to make changes that last. See ad, page 10.
Compounding & Wellness Pharmacy
TAKE THE LEAP COACHING
Kim Childs 1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com
BIRD’S HILL COMPOUNDING PHARMACY
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 GROTON WELLNESS Katryn Miller, MEd, LMT, Colon Hydrotherapist 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com
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
Katryn has always held a deep desire to learn about the body and how it works. After many years of running her own business, Katryn joined Groton Wellness to help others with Colon Hydrotherapy. She holds a training certificate on the Libbe Colon Hydrotherapy Device. See ad, page 4.
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 10.
Acton Pharmacy 563 Massachusetts Ave, Acton, MA 01721 978-263-3901 Keyes Drug 2090 Commonwealth Ave Newton, MA 02466 617-244-2794 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 three independent pharmacies, we offer prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and vaccines. See ad, page 10.
JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS
John Walczyk 577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 John@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com
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 9.
BOSTON DENTAL WELLNESS
Dr. Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi DMD, MS, D.SC. 1842 Beacon St, Ste 305, Brookline, MA 617-868-1516 BostonDentalWellness.com Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is an accomplished dentist and specialist in Periodontics and Implants with a holistic approach to medicine and dentistry. To schedule your comprehensive exam and share the excitement of a healthy smile, call: 617-868-1516. See ad, page 17.
GROTON WELLNESS
Dr. Jean Marie Nordin, DDS, IBDM, ND 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com Health-focused general dentist, integrative biologic dental medicine and naturopathic dentist specializing in biological dentistry, oral surgery, sleep solutions, chelation therapy and safe mercury removal. Certified trainer of Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) developed by the Benson-Henry Institute in conjunction with Harvard Medical School. Dr. Nordin now teaches staff and other healthcare providers. See ad, page 4.
JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad, page 27.
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DR. YASMIN CHEBBI
284 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446 617-684-1883 YasminChebbiDMD.com Our mission is to treat people, not teeth, by focusing on total body health. Dr. Yasmin Chebbi takes over 200 hours of continuing education each year to make sure our team is providing the best care for our patients. We take a proactive and preventative approach to your health to reduce the need for extra dental treatment. We focus on prevention, re-mineralization and minimal dentist intervention. We are also proud offer personalized, concierge care with no wait times. Ask us about: saving plan if no dental insurance, cavity prevention, teeth straightening, implants, child dental care and snoring relief. See ad, page 13.
Eco-Friendly Hair Salon
Functional Dietitian BRIDGITTE CARROLL, MS, RDN Johnson Compounding & Wellness Bridgitte@NaturalCompounder.com 781-893-3870 x 149
Bridgitte is experienced and passionate about helping individuals improve their well-being with food and lifestyle changes. Specialties include gastrointestinal issues, inflammatory conditions, anti-aging and weight management although she has worked with people of all ages with many diseases. See ad, page 27.
NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE
A boutique eco-friendly hair salon created out of love for our planet and animals. This Certified Green Circle Salon is committed to offering services using high-quality products. Experience cruelty-free, vegan products containing organic ingredients, keeping you and the planet beautiful. See ad, page 13.
Frenectomy (Tongue/Lip Tie Release)
Functional Orthodontics
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 9.
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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 11.
GROTON WELLNESS
Functional medicine doctor and clinical director of Groton Wellness. Specializes in functional medicine, chronic and infectious disease, autoimmune disorders, functional nutrition, pulmonary disorders, sleep issues, cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction, natural hormone replacement and preventative medicine. Mindfulness and meditation are at the foundation of his core values. See ad, page 4.
Martin Kaplan, DDS 563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888 BoltonDental.com
Margo Roman, DVM 72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-4077 MASHVet.com
Massage
KIMBERLY BRUNO SALON
DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID
MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON
Functional Medcine Dr. Henri Balaguera, MD 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com
689 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176 781-779-8333 KimberlyBruno.com
Integrative Veterinary Medical Care
GROTON WELLNESS
Dr. Samantha Bogle, DMD, MDS 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com Functional orthodontist specializing in orthodontics, dentofacial orthopedics, braces and Invisalign. Dr. Bogle loves creating beautiful smiles for her patients with a specific emphasis on early treatment in children to improve facial growth and development. She believes focusing on the airway, proper breathing and early structural intervention can reduce the need for orthodontic treatment later in life. Prevention is key. See ad, page 4.
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383 Elliot St, Ste 250 617-964-3332 WellAdjusted.com
Deep-tissue, medical, sports, Swedish and therapeutic massage, shiatsu, reiki & hydro-massage in a full-service Wellness Centre, also featuring chiropractic, acupuncture, Facial Rejuvenation, Facelift Acupuncture and detox footbath. See ads, pages 3 and 9.
Mind-Body Medicine BODYMIND REPATTERNING
Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 109 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 02420 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindRepatterning.com BodymindRepatterning.com An innovative blend of bodycentered counseling, integrative bodywork and energy medicine to uncover and release bodymind patterns that limit your life and health. See ad, page 21.
Naturopathic Medicine
Reiki
Spiritual Energy Healing
GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD
BOSTON REIKI MASTER
KRISTI BORST, PHD
Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery. See ad, page 27.
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.
34 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands 617-633-3654 BostonReikiMaster.com
Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com
GROTON WELLNESS Darrow Hand, ND 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com
Dr. Darrow Hand, a naturopathic doctor with 20 years of experience, enjoys seeing patients of all ages, finding effective ways of helping to heal his patients. Dr. Hand treats a wide range of health issues. See ad, page 4.
Physical Therapy NEWTON PHYSICAL THERAPY 383 Elliot St, Door F, Ste 250 Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 617-916-1655 NewtonPT.com
Manual physical therapy which includes craniosacral therapy incorporates the mind-body connection for holistic healing which is essential for effective treatment of chronic pain and/or stress. Effective manual therapy treatment for acute or chronic pain or injury enables therapeutic exercise to be significantly more effective for rehabilitation. See ads, pages 3 and 9.
BRENNER REIKI HEALING
324 Central St, Newton 02466 617-244-8856 Elise@BrennerReikiHealing.org BrennerReikiHealing.org Providing you with reiki healing sessions, reiki meditation and reiki training to support you in reaching your goals of mind-body-spirit wellness and wholeness.
CRYSTAL SOUND HEALING/ SACRED SONG REIKI 978-897-8846 SacredSongReiki@yahoo.com SacredSongReiki.com
Services include: (John of God) Crystal Bed Healing with Crystal Singing Bowls; Sound Healing; Sound Healing with Reiki; reiki. Release stress, reduce pain, boost your immune system, lower blood pressure, more energy, clarity of thought. sessions and appropriate referrals where necessary.
Sleep Apnea (Snoring) DR. YASMIN’S HOLISTIC DENTAL 284 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446 617-684-1883 YasminChebbiDMD.com
Kristi Borst Wells, ME; 207-216-0473 Phone/Skype worldwide ReleaseItAll.US Inner child healing/reconnection, getting unstuck from trauma/abuse, energy balancing, pain release. Healing Resonance LLC with Kristi Borst spiritual healer/medical-emotional intuitive. Support for healing: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically. All ages; private, couples, groups.
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 29.
Thermography METROWEST THERMAL IMAGING Susan Shaw Saari, LAc, CCT, MEd, MAOM, Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM) 781-899-2121 Sue@Thpclinic.com MyThermography.com
A clinical imaging technique that records thermal patterns of the body to help diagnose and monitor pain or pathology in any part of the body. See ad, page 13.
Do you have sleep apnea but hate your CPAP? Instead you could be wearing an Oral Sleep Appliance that stops sleep apnea without wires, machines or electricity. It is approved by the FDA and is covered by most medical insurances. Stop snoring and start sleeping better. Ask us how. See ad, page 13.
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MAY
WOMEN’S WELLNESS ISSUE
Coming Next Month
The Collagen Connection Plus: Autoimmune Breakthroughs
Wellness Center
Wellness Resources
NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTRE
BETH GARDNER
Julie Burke, DC 617-964-3332 Info@WellAdjusted.com
We are a total wellness center open 7 days a week. We specialize in Gentle Non-Force Chiropractic (NSA), an assortment of massage modalities, HydroMassage, “Super Comfortable” custom orthotics, physical therapy, detoxifying ionic foot baths, and our latest wellness tool, BEMER (designed to improve circulation supporting the body’s natural self-regulating processes). See ads, pages 3 and 9.
Acton Pharmacy Keyes Drug West Concord Pharmacy BGardner@DinnoHealth.com 508-259-7851 Certified lifestyle educator and the director of health and wellness at Acton Pharmacy, Keyes Drug and West Concord Pharmacy. Beth Gardner works one-on-one with patients to help create ways to improve diet and overall health as a means for disease and illness prevention. See ad, page 10.
Yoga CECILE RAYNOR
There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt. ~Erma Bombeck
Certified Alexander Technique Teacher; Certified Thai Yoga Therapist 33A Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 617-359-7841 OffTheMatYogaBlog.com Your yoga can release or create tension depending on the quality of your daily movements. Learn to let your postural mechanism work for you and notice excess body tension ease away on-and-off the mat.
We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy during these stressful times. Clean your hands often especially after you have been in a public place Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with hands Avoid close contact especially with people who are sick
Put distance between yourself and other people especially if you are at a higher risk
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Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow, then immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Wear a facemask if you are sick Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
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all compatible. Tours of the facility show visitors the production process, explain the science-based approach to flavor development and conclude with a guided tasting. ShortPathDistillery.com. Grand Ten Distilling, a small distiller in Boston, produces three types of gin. Wire Works American Gin has tasting notes juniper berry, spruce tip, kumquat and angelica root. Hints of sweetness and bright citrus are paired with earthy richness and white pepper. This gin is made with nine botanicals, including juniper, angelica root, coriander and Massachusetts cranberries.
Local Botanical Gin Infusions by Wendy Fachon
Wendy Fachon
If you enjoy a really good gin cocktail, Massachusetts has some fun destinations where you can learn more about how these botanical infusions are crafted. Gin is defined as any distilled alcohol that has been flavored with juniper, the bright blue, fragrant berries that grow in clusters on Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginia), which happens to be the most common type of juniper growing in Massachusetts. More specifically, unlike liqueurs, where flavorings are added to the distilled spirits, gin is made by re-distilling the spirit with the flavoring ingredients in the still and by passing the vapor through the flavoring agents during distillation.
Laura Killingbeck, food systems consultant at Round the Bend Farm, in Dartmouth, explains, “Gin was originally crafted as a medicine and sold in pharmacies. However, this medicine was so delicious that people started drinking it just for fun. Juniper acts as a diuretic and is used to treat gastrointestinal issues and urinary tract infections, but it’s also tasty as a gin and tonic.” Round the Bend Farm, a Center for Restorative Community, is a working farm and educational nonprofit. Killingbeck says, “You can make your own gin by infusing juniper and other spices into vodka. There are really endless combinations of herbs and spices that you can use to make a delicious, and medicinal, gin.” She shares one of her favorite botanical gin recipes on the farm website, with a cautionary note: Like many spices, juniper is edible and medicinal in small quantities, but toxic in large quantities. Consume in moderation. RoundTheBendFarm.org/2020/01/10/how-to-make-botanical-gin-infusions. Short Path Distillery is a craft distillery in Everett specializing in gin. The infusion is made in a pot still fitted with a gin basket. Above the boil kettle, a copper basket sits in the column where organic botanicals are placed. As the alcoholic steam rises up the column, it extracts the flavors of the juniper and accompanying botanicals, which are then condensed along with the ethanol. The company’s Spring Gin has a flavor profile centered with juniper and coriander and surrounded by a suite of botanicals to bring out the best of the season: elderflower, chamomile, lemongrass, lemon peel, lemon balm, jasmine, myrtle and dandelion root. Mixing this infused spirit with mild flavors lets the floral subtleties shine through. Ingredients like wildflower honey, cucumber, fruit-tinged seltzers, citrus bitters or a squeeze of lemon are Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
Wire Works Rosé Gin is a gorgeous spirit that lends itself to a myriad of summertime cocktails, from a gin and tonic to a martini with lemon. The spice is toned down in favor of a brighter citrus flavor. Notes of lemon are balanced by earthy angelica root which complement the hints of grape provided by City Winery. Wire Works Special Reserve is aged in used American bourbon barrels and blended to produce a gin that possesses the distinctively soft textures and caramel-vanilla flavors of bourbon. This spirit bridges the gap between the citrus brightness of the signature gin and the soft, sweet notes of whiskey. The name Wire Works comes from the fact that the company’s space used to be a foundry that crafted wire. Grand Ten offers free tours on Saturdays, as well as tastings and bottle sales during bar hours. GrandTen.com. Nashoba Valley Spirits, in Bolton, produces and sells fine whiskies, brandies, eau de vie, cordials and vodka, distilled from 100 percent apples, grown in its own orchards. The distiller’s gin, The Perfect 10, combines ten botanicals: juniper berries, elderberry, lemon, orange peel, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, anise and fennel. The gin is made by re-distilling a neutral base spirit through a gin basket loaded with juniper berries. The distiller then creates a geist with the other nine botanicals to create the hand crafted Perfect 10 gin. Nashoba Valley hosts year round tastings and tours, special events and apple picking at its stunning hilltop venue. NashobaDistillery.com. Wendy Fachon is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings and host of the Story Walking Radio Hour on the Dream Visions 7 Radio Network. Visit DreamVisions7Radio.com and search out her podcasts on sustainable living.
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