Natural Awakenings Boston September 2017 by Natural Awakenings Greater Boston/Rhode Island

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healthy living • healthy planet

THE

REVOLUTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS Lifestyle Event Returns to Boston

Fluoride’s Floating AGING Threat Away Stress with Passion Isolation Tanks to Pets Induce Deep Rest and Purpose How to Safeguard and Healing

Their Health

September 2017 | Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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September 2017

letterfrompublisher Telling Co-incidences

ow in my early 50s and forever trying to master truly living in the moment, I was delighted to read our feature story by Deborah Shouse, “Aging with Passion and Purpose.” Exposure to wise souls demonstrating how life can be recreated and renewed at any stage brings helpful perspective. While elders may question younger generations’ reliance on social media as their primary means of communications, we also admit to many opportunities and advantages of being connected when technology is used responsibly; for example, old friends are getting in touch again and grandparents are cementing bonds with grandchildren. Today’s ability to tap into knowledge faster than anyone dreamed possible when I was growing up is enabling individuals to drive positive change in fresh ways. DoSomething.org reports a community of 5.5 million young people that are supporting causes through using its social media platform to spread good vibes and societal change. From advocating for animals to eliminating bullying to health and the environment, they are activating en masse. With my renewed commitment to live more of life “in the moment,” it’s clicked with me that it’s really about living more consciously. Thoughtfully considering the relationship of cause and effect in our lives helps us make better decisions more easily. We all benefit. Recently, while tending the Natural Awakenings table at the Boston GreenFest, a woman expressed how happy she is to have taken steps to green her lifestyle. She was perplexed about a substitute for plastic wrap. I recalled I’d heard about reusable wraps that are safe for people and the planet, but couldn’t remember the details to help her solve the problem. The next morning I found what I wanted to share with her online before heading off to the last day of the event, hoping I’d see her again. However unlikely, it would feel good to close the loop. Late that day after we packed up, our intern pushed the cart of expo supplies to the curb and I walked to the garage to get the car. As I stood waiting for a light to change, I watched as two women headed away from me, changed their minds and crossed the street in my direction instead. As we passed, I greeted them with a customary smiling hello when I recognized the “plastic wrap woman”. Such outward expression of intention is no accident; she wanted a solution and I wanted to offer one. I believe that’s what happens when we mindfully pay attention to what’s right in front of us. We hope you can join us as The Revolution of Consciousness event returns on September 24 for another uplifting day filled with professionals driven to help others live more healthy and vibrant lives. Visit TheRevolutionOfConsciousness. com for more details and please say hello! To serendipities and co-incidents a plenty!

contact us Publisher Maisie Raftery Managing Editor Nancy Somera Proofreader Randy Kambic Administrative Assistant Allison Roedell Support@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Contributors Karen Becker Judith Fertig • Gary Kracoff Gina McGalliard • Meredith Montgomery Susanna Raeven • Margo Roman Jolene Ross Deborah Shouse • Linda Sechrist Design & Production Courtney Ayers Stephen Blancett Zina Cochran

P.O. Box 1149 Brookline, MA 02446 Phone: 617-906-0232 Fax: 877-907-1406 NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com © 2017 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

Maisie Raftery, Publisher

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

contents

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newsbriefs kudos healthbriefs globalbriefs ecotip product spotlight consciouseating healthykids healingways naturalpet calendar ofevents classifieds resourceguide

advertising & submissions

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers ﬁnd cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, ﬁtness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

18 A DAILY DOSE OF HERBS

Stay Healthy with Anti-Inflammatory and Detoxifying Herbs by Susanna Raeven

20 THE SECRETS YOUR DNA HOLDS: GENETICS 101

by Gary Kracoff

22 AGING WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE

Finding Fulfillment, Creativity and Meaning

by Deborah Shouse

25 IMPROVING ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN CHILDREN THAT STRUGGLE WITH SCHOOL

by Jolene Ross

26 FABULOUS FAN FARE Healthy Tailgating Foods to Cheer For

by Judith Fertig

28 ZAYA AND HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 617-906-0232 or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@ NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Visit NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

MAURIZIO BENAZZO

Joining Science to Spirituality by Linda Sechrist

30 NATURE’S CLASSROOM

Outdoor Learning Engages the Whole Child by Meredith Montgomery

32 FLOATING AWAY STRESS

Isolation Tanks Induce Deep Rest and Healing by Gina McGalliard

34 FLUORIDE ALERT

Excess in Food and Tap Water Harms Pets by Karen Becker

36 PROTECTING OUR

PETS’ GUT HEALTH

Flouride Can Compromise the Microbiome in Humans and Animals by Margo Roman

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September 2017

newsbriefs Learn the Language of Your Own Mind with NLP

n Integrative Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner Certification Training will be held October 19 to 22, at the Crowne Plaza-BostonWoburn. Attendees will learn how to overcome unwanted habits in minutes; feel any emotional state instantly; get into rapport and create instant connection with anyone, anytime and anywhere; and program their unconscious mind to instinctively have any Dr. John Ryan, Trainer empowering belief. “Do you ever find yourself repeatedly falling into the same emotional or behavioral patterns which prevent you from achieving a goal?” asks NLP Master Trainer, Dr. Matt James, president of Empowerment Partnership and presenter for Hay House’s 2017 Annual World Summit. “Your results in life come from your actions, which come from your thoughts and emotions. Your thoughts and your emotions come from your programming.” Participants will learn tools and techniques to free themselves of limiting beliefs so they can achieve their goals. James explains, “You will also learn integrative energy techniques to facilitate balance and improved motivation. This combination will help free you of the baggage that has prevented you from achieving your goals and help you improve your relationship with yourself and others to achieve your desired results.” According to James, neuro refers to neurology, linguistic refers to language and programming refers to how that neural language functions. “In other words, learning NLP is like learning the language of your own mind,” he says. Cost: $194. Location: 15 Middlesex Canal Park, Woburn. For more information and to register, call 800-800-MIND or visit EmpowermentPartnership.com. See ad on page 21.

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Read these stories and more at NABoston.com fitbody Rodney Yee on Yoga as a Way of Life; Simple Strategies for Staying on Track

New Energy Healing Studio Opens

Wellthy You is an energy-based alternative healing practice that treats clients with its unique chakra balancing protocol. Open since June, therapists use muscle testing to uncover ailments and trace them back to the root cause of the issue which is usually an energy imbalance caused by a trapped negative emotion. According to Fyonna McKenzie, a chakra balancing therapist, each of the seven in-body chakras is energetically connected to the nervous and endocrine systems and, therefore, offers access to every cell and organ. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Identifying and releasing the vibrational frequencies of trapped negative emotions that are blocking the flow of vital energy needed for good health and well-being helps you quickly let go of old habits and make profound changes in your life,â&#x20AC;? she says. In addition to chakra balancing sessions, Boston-area locals (this is not available for remote clients) are able to see their energy flow in real-time using their Energy Profiling System (EPS). This system analyzes the vibrational pulse in the organs by way of hand-plate sensors that correspond to the reflex zones of the right palm and reveals the energy flow in the corresponding organs and chakras. Each client is emailed a four-page copy of their energy profile, along with a color picture of their electromagnetic field (aura). Free 15-minute phone sessions are available for anyone that would like to find out more about the energy healing services. If interested, email FreePhoneSession@ AWellthyYou.com.

Renowned yogi and international teacher Rodney Yee, of New York City, has maintained an inspired yoga practice for 37 years while juggling... NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/Rodney-Yee

greenliving Solar Heats Up; Demand Surges as Prices Fall Now is a good time to buy a solar system and get off the grid. Solar photovoltaic prices have fallen 67 percent in the last five years, reports Alexandra Hobson with the Solar Energy Industries... NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/Solar-Heats-Up (Links go live on Thursday, August 31)

Cost: 60-minute in-studio sessions are $135/remote $110. Location: 56 Pickering St., Needham. For more information, call 877-935-5849 or visit AWellthyYou.com. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in natural awakenings

September 2017

newsbriefs The Revolution of Consciousness Expo Features Documentary Film Heal and its Producer Adam Schomer

pend the day with Natural Awakenings Boston at The Revolution of Consciousness, a day-long, consciouslifestyle event from 10 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., September 24, at the Reggie Lewis Center, in Roxbury Crossing. The expo will include exhibitors, a Bodywork Oasis featuring a wide variety of hands-on body and energy workers, a diverse selection of workshops relating to mind-body medicine and higher consciousness, and a 24-foot, seven-circuit labyrinth. Following the expo is an evening screening of the groundbreaking 2017 documentary Heal, a film about the power of the mind and the body’s natural ability to heal. Natural Awakenings Boston Publisher Maisie Raftery says, “Heal is the most important film of our time.” The evening will wrap up with a panel discussion moderated by Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation Senior Editor Linda Sechrist. The panel will include the film’s producer, Adam Schomer, and transformational healer Rob Wergin. For more information, call 617-906-0232 or visit TheRevolutionOfConsciousness. com. For tickets, visit TROC.eventbrite. com. See ads on pages 2 and 3.

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newsbriefs Free Lecture on Genetics, Epigenetics and Methylation

earn what your DNA can tell you and how to use this information at a free discussion with Dr. Gary Kracoff from 7 to 8:30 p.m., September 18, at Johnson Compounding & Wellness. Attendees will discuss what gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are, what they tell us and how to use this information to help with current issues and to help stay healthy as the years roll on. SNPs occur normally throughout a Gary Kracoff person’s DNA and they act as biological markers, helping scientists locate genes that are associated with disease. When SNPs occur within a gene or in a regulatory region near a gene, they may play a more direct role in disease by affecting the gene’s function. According to Kracoff, “We cannot change our genes or treat gene corruption, but we can help our bodies clean up the metabolic mess that has occurred and assist with lifestyle changes and nutritional support.” Cost: Free. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, call 781-8933870 Ext. 3 or visit NaturalCompounder.com. See ad on page 15 and Resource Guide on pages 43 and 45.

Learn about Lyme at Central Mass Lyme Foundation Conference

he Central Mass Lyme Foundation (CMLF) will host its third Lyme Conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., September 23, at Worcester Technical High School. This event will explore the complexities of Lyme and other tickborne diseases and include presentations by International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)-trained physicians regarding treatment, research and testing. Past conference attendees say the CMLF is one of the strongest and best organized state Lyme awareness groups, reaching beyond the Massachusetts borders and showing solid leadership and a clear vision. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Boxed lunches are available for $10. Limited lunches are available the day of the conference. Cost: $10 in advance/$20 at door. Location: 1 Skyline Dr., Worcester. For more information, call 1-888-511-LYME or visit CentralMassLymeConference.com.

Dr. Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi DMD, MS, D.Sc. Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is an accomplished dentist and specialist in Periodontics and Implants. She has a firm belief that our bodies are very intelligent. All the body organs and systems are interconnected and related to each other (the teeth and the mouth are part of and related to the whole body). Our bodies are perfect self-sustainable systems, capable of self-healing and self-regeneration. Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi has expertise in the areas of Biological, Physiological Dentistry and Integrative Periodontal Medicine and Implants, Lasers and Energy Medicine. Miracle Bite Tabs™ (MBT) Miracle Bite Tabs™ (MBT) and and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) are used to treat Dental Distress Syndrome. Your teeth and jaws are an extension of your brain and spinal cord. Any imbalances caused by improper alignment of the jaw can play a major role in pain syndromes and chronic diseases. Head and Neck Pain Management Scenar, a non-invasive treatment device, is the only real time biofeedback device that will find what is wrong with your body and stimulate self-healing through electro stimulation and “conversation” with the control systems of the body (CNS Integrative Periodontal Medicine-Periodontal Spa The majority of the dental and periodontal procedures in Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi’s office are laser assisted. She has Biolase MD, the most versatile laser, which can be utilized to work with the gums and the teeth, implants and root canals. The discomfort is minimal to none and the healing is speededup. The procedures are often combined with a low level laser and Scenar, which give additional boost to the healing and removing discomfort.

Vitamin C electrophoreses is a unique method used in Europe to prevent recession, boost collagen synthesis, support and increase the blood circulation leading to firming the gingiva and discontinuing the signs of aging and bleeding. It is part of the integrative protocol for treatment and prophylaxes of periodontitis. Zirconia Solution to Titanium Implant If you are allergic or sensitive to other metals Bio-ceramic (zirconia) implants might be an option for you. Dr. IontchevaBarehmi is certified to place zirconia implants, you don’t need to travel to Europe anymore. Ozone Treatment Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and kills effectively bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Oxygen ozone therapy can be applied as an adjunctive therapy in treatment of periodontitis (periodontal disease), in arresting and reversing carious lesions in initial stage, reversal of initial pulp inflammation in deep carious lesions, treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. The methods applied are efficacious with no toxicity or side effects. Perio-Protect Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi is certified to use the Perio-protect methodone of the best prophylactic methods for periodontal disease, and subsequently for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some other conditions. Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry Your amalgam fillings contain not only poisonous mercury but they cause cracks in your tooth structure and can lead to tooth loss. Defective amalgam fillings are removed safely following the IAOMT protocol, Including spa treatments for detoxification and the newest form of noninjectable Vitamin C with comparable absorption. Anxiety and dental phobias are rarely experienced in the Dr. Iontcheva-Barehmi’ s practice. Meditation, breathing techniques, homeopathy, EFT technique, hypnotherapy are all used, so you can be comfortable and love coming to your dentist. To schedule your comprehensive exam and share the excitement of a healthy smile call:

617-868-1516

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

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September 2017

newsbriefs Joint Committee on Public Health Hearing on Medical Aid in Dying Legislation

ompassion & Choices urges Massachusetts residents to attend the Joint Committee on Public Health Hearing on September 26, at the State House to show crucial support for the medical aid in dying legislation. The time and hearing room will be announced in early September. Medical aid in dying, known as the end of life options act, gives mentally capable, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live the option to request, obtain and self-ingest medication to die peacefully in their sleep if their suffering becomes unbearable. Seventy percent of Massachusetts voters support medical aid-in-dying, including 64 percent of Catholics, according to a 2014 Purple Insights poll. If enacted into law this upcoming legislative session, it would make Massachusetts the eighth jurisdiction in the nation to authorize medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option. Oregon, where medical aid in dying has been authorized for two decades, has been joined since then by Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado and Washington, D.C. On July 13, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations approved an amendment by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) to repeal the D.C. Death With Dignity Act. Congress had a chance to repeal the law in February 2017 during a 30-day legislative review period, but it failed. Congressman Harris is now misusing the appropriations process to block funding to implement the law, violating the autonomy of Washington, D.C. residents. If this federal power grab succeeds, it would set a dangerous precedent that could embolden congressional opponents to ban medical aid in dying nationwide. Such a ban would invalidate laws in six states representing 18 percent of the nation’s population where medical aid in dying has been practiced safely for more than 40 combined years and threaten its future enactment in Massachusetts. For time and hearing room, call the JCPHH at 617-7222130 or email Marie Manis, Compassion & Choices, at MManis@CompassionAndChoices.org. Compassion & Choices is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end of life. More information is available at CompassionAndChoices.org. 10

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

newsbriefs

Get Ahead this School Year with Brain Training

A New Feminine Sex Education

oin Sacha L. Fossa, sexual empowerment coach, educator and holistic healer, for a cutting-edge sex education class from 1 to 4 p.m., September 24, at Sacred Temple Arts, in Newburyport. Women will learn about female pleasure through the anatomy of arousal and how to connect to their innermost passion and power. “A holistic sex education Sacha L. Fossa is necessary for understanding how much sexuality, psychology, spirituality, healing and empowerment are connected and embodied in women,” says Fossa. “With this new knowledge and awareness, (sexual) awakening and more consciousness is immediately possible.” Attendees will receive a home play program via email after the class to continue their pleasure research. There is no nudity. This class is for women that are ready to expand their sensuality, sexuality and self-expression, and for those that are willing to explore what they might not think they want yet, or think they already know. It is also for women that have had sexual trauma. “It is an opportunity to learn in a safe environment both practical and magical techniques to heal and empower themselves. The keys are within their own bodies,” Fossa says.

Attend Dr. Ross’ workshop at

Call Now for Free Consult

The Revolution of Consciousness on September 24 (see pg 3 for details)

Cost: $100. Location: Sacred Temple Arts, a private residence and office in Newburyport. Class limited to 10 women. To sign up or for more information, call 978-309-9399, email SacredTempleArts@gmail.com or visit SacredTempleArts.com. See ad on page 19 and Resource Guide on page 46.

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September 2017

newsbriefs Improve Your Health at Annual Fall Health and Wellness Show

vents by Walter Perlman will present the 2017 Health and Wellness Fall Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, September 17, at the Doubletree By Hilton, in Danvers. The event will offer visitors the opportunity to experience free health screenings, sample and buy healthy lifestyle products, and connect with local health and wellness professionals. “It’s a chance for people to learn, experience, buy and sample products and services from the best health and wellness businesses in the North Shore,” says Perlman. The event features health coaches, speech therapy experts, health clubs, essential oils, chiropractors, reiki masters, skin care and supplements providers, rehab specialists, lactose-free cheese products, dentistry, yoga, financial health, stay-at-home care for elders, vascular vein care, solar energy, weight loss, specialized nurses, specialty mattresses, a healthy vending machine supplier and much more. Cost: $5. Location: 50 Ferncroft Rd., Danvers. For more information, call 508-460-6656 or visit HealthAndWellnessShow.net. See ad on page 8.

Boston Local Food Festival Returns to Rose F. Kennedy Greenway

he Boston Local Food Festival, taking place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 17, at the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway, is a free outdoor festival that showcases farmers, local restaurants, food trucks, specialty food producers, fisher folks and organizations focusing on healthy food and fitness from New England. The festival also features lively chef and DIY demos, a seafood throwdown competition, diverse music and performances, a family fun zone and more. Festival-goers learn about the benefits of sustainably grown and produced food, shop the market, eat delicious local food, participate in fun, educational activities and exhibits, engage with top local chefs and enjoy local music. Themed Healthy Local Food for All, the festival connects Massachusetts and New England eaters of all backgrounds with the abundance of fresh, nutritious local food choices available close to home. For more information, visit BostonLocalFoodFestival.org. See ad on page 6.

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kudos Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation (NAPC) welcomed three new publishers to a recent training session at their headquarters in Naples, Florida. The NAPC staff (L-R) Linda Palmer, Leslie Cueva, Zack spent several days with Propes, Sharon Bruckman, Simone these entrepreneurs, dis- Anewalt and Tracy Patterson. cussing the ins and outs of publishing a new Natural Awakenings edition in southern Idaho by Simone Anewalt; and taking over publication of two existing magazines, by Karen Propes, in Chattanooga, aided by her son, Zack; and by Tracy Patterson, in Phoenix. A new staff member of the Miami magazine, Leslie Cueva, also attended, accompanied by longtime owner Linda Palmer. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Sharon Bruckman with a single edition in Naples in 1994, Natural Awakenings has grown to become one of the largest, free, local, healthy living publications in the world. For a list of locations where Natural Awakenings is published or to learn more about franchising opportunities, call 239-5301377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. See ad on page 47.

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September 2017

Transformative

Travel Plus: Chiropractic October articles include: Life-Changing Travel Selecting a Chiropractor Bone-Density Exercises and so much more!

new study from West Virginia University, in Morgantown, reveals that listening to music and practicing meditation may help improve memory function for those in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers asked 60 adults experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a common predictor of Alzheimer’s, to engage in kirtan kriya musical meditation or listen to other music for 12 minutes a day for three months, and then consider continuing for an additional three months. Scientists measured the memory and cognitive function of the 53 participants that completed the six-month study and found significant improvements in both measurements at the three-month mark. At six months, the subjects in both groups had maintained or improved upon their initial results.

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Coming Next Month

Meditation and Music Aid Memory in Early Stages of Alzheimer’s

Yoga Eases Eating Disorders

esearchers from Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, have found that regular yoga practice can help reduce anxiety and depression in young women with eating disorders. The scientists followed 20 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 that were enrolled in an outpatient eating disorder clinic that comprised the larger control group. Those selected agreed to participate in a weekly yoga class and complete questionnaires after six and 12 weeks, assessing their anxiety, depression and mood. Of those that started the study, five attended all 12 yoga classes and six completed between seven and 11 classes. Researchers found decreases in anxiety, depression and negative thoughts among those that participated in the yoga classes, with no negative side effects. Another study from the University of Delaware, in Newark, supports these results. Half of the 38 residential eating disorder treatment program participants did one hour of yoga prior to dinner for five days and the other half did not. The yoga group showed significant reductions in pre-meal anxiety compared to the control group.

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OCT

healthbriefs

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617-906-0232

esearchers from Helsinki, Finland, analyzed data from 2,000 people to find out how sleeping patterns affected their food choices. They discovered individuals that wake up early make healthier food choices throughout the day and are more physically active. “Linking what and when people eat to their biological clock type provides a fresh perspective on why certain people are more likely to make unhealthy food decisions,” explains lead author Mirkka Maukonen, from the National Institute for Health and Welfare, in Helsinki.

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EARLY BIRDS EAT BETTER AND EXERCISE MORE

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healthbriefs

Caring for Others Prolongs Life

esearchers from several international universities have found that seniors that provide caregiving services live longer than those that do not. The scientists analyzed survival data and information collected from the Berlin Aging Study on 500 adults over the age of 69 from 1990 to 2009. They compared survival rates from the subjects that provided caregiving for children, grandchildren and friends to those that did not. Of the subjects analyzed, the half that took care of their grandchildren or children were still alive 10 years after their first interview in 1990. Caring for non-family members also produced positive results, with half of the subjects living for seven years after the initial interview. Conversely, 50 percent of those that did not participate in any caregiving had died just four years after their first interview. The researchers warn that caregiving must be done in moderation. Ralph Hertwig, director of the Center for Adaptive Rationality and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, in Berlin, explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A moderate level of caregiving involvement seems to have positive effects on health, but previous studies have shown that more intense involvement causes stress, which has a negative effect on physical and mental health.â&#x20AC;? Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in natural awakenings

September 2017

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

Milk Muddle

Organic Milk Producer Under Pressure

Milkweed Mittens Leene/Shutterstock.com

Common Weed Is Lightweight Insulator The Canadian Coast Guard is testing milkweed pods as a source of potential environmentally friendly insulation in partnership with Encore3, a manufacturing company in Québec, Canada, in prototype parkas, gloves and mittens. The plant is roughly five times lighter than synthetic insulation and hypoallergenic. The Farm Between, in Cambridge, Vermont, harvests the plants and sends the material to Encore3. Co-owner John Hayden says, “Milkweed is grown as an intercrop between the rows in our apple orchard to increase biodiversity and provide a host plant for monarch caterpillars. Monarch populations are in serious decline, and the two things we can do to help on the land we steward are to not use pesticides and provide milkweed habitat.”

Easy Mark kaipadhking/Shutterstock.com

Lasers Stamp Prices on European Produce Food retailers are aiming to cut plastic and cardboard packaging by ditching stickers on fruits and vegetables, instead using high-tech laser “natural branding” and creating huge savings in materials, energy and CO2 emissions. Pilot projects are underway in Europe with organic avocados, sweet potatoes and coconuts. The technique uses a strong light to remove pigment from the skin of produce. The mark is invisible once the skin is removed and doesn’t affect shelf life or produce quality. The laser technology also creates less than 1 percent of the carbon emissions needed to produce a similar-sized sticker. Source: The Guardian 16

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Free Wheeling

Architecture Becomes Portable

Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock.com

The Aurora Organic Dairy pastures and feedlots north of Greeley, Colorado, are home to more than 15,000 cows—more than 100 times the size of a typical organic herd. It is the main facility of the company that supplies milk to Walmart, Costco and other major retailers. They adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations, but critical weaknesses exist in the inspection system the government uses to ensure that food is organic; farmers are allowed to hire their own inspectors to certify them, and thus can fall short of reaching standards without detection. Organic dairies are required to allow the cows to graze daily throughout the growing season rather than be confined to barns and feedlots. Although the USDA National Organic Program allows for a wide range of grazing practices that comply with the rule, Aurora was observed onsite and via satellite imagery by the Washington Post as having only a small percentage of the herd outdoors on any given day. The company disputes the data. U.S. organic dairy sales amounted to $6 billion last year; although it is more expensive to produce, the milk may command a premium price of 100 percent more than regular.

Innovative, moveable mini-houses, tents and wagons are gaining advocates amid a trend toward traveling light with style. Designs range from the functional to the outlandish, and also encompass forms of transport from tugboats to tractors. The four-wheeled Collingwood Shepherd Hut wagon has a shingled exterior and wood-burning stove. Some options can provide ready shelter during a crisis or protection in extreme weather. The Rapid Deployment Module temporary dwelling can be assembled in an hour; DesertSeal’s inflatable, lightweight tent can ward off extreme heat. The experimental Camper Kart turns a shopping cart into a mini-home with a roof, sleeping deck and storage, all of which can be folded right back into the cart. The Portaledge is a small hanging tent that climbers can affix to a rock face and sleep in safely partway up the rock. Golden Gate 2 camper features a rounded timber frame, portholes and a spot for a surfboard. Find fun pictures at AtlasObscura.com/ articles/mobile-architecture-tiny-houses.

ecotip

productspotlight

Elder Force

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Retired Volunteers Keep National Parks Humming Retirees are volunteering at hundreds of nationally protected lands. They staff visitor centers, do maintenance, clean up debris and remind visitors to keep food items secure from wildlife. Last year, volunteers outnumbered National Park Service staff about 20 to one, expanding the financially strapped agency’s ability to serve hundreds of millions of visitors. Nearly a third of them are 54 and up, contributing to the 7.9 million service hours worked in 2015 by all 400,000 volunteers. Volunteer opportunities also exist at National Wildlife Refuge sites, fish hatcheries and endangered species field offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Sallie Gentry, volunteer coordinator for the Southeast Region, based in Atlanta, notes that Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has a dozen designated spots for motor homes in its Volunteer Village. She says most volunteers are local retired residents whose working hours vary while RV volunteers commit to 20 hours a week for at least three months. In return, they get free hookups for electricity, sewage, propane and water. “They have skills they want to contribute, but are also looking for a social outlet,” notes Gentry. Cookouts and potlucks are common. She also cites the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, an important migratory stop especially for songbirds, as a place with great appeal. “We supply uniforms, training, tools and orientations,” says Gentry. “It’s a mutually beneficial investment.” She suggests that individuals apply for specific sites at least a year in advance. Megan Wandag, volunteer coordinator for the USFWS Midwest Region, based in Minneapolis, cites the popular Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, in Bloomington, and the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, near Des Moines, as “oases near urban areas.” USFWS Southwest Region volunteer coordinator Juli Niemann highlights the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, in central New Mexico, that has 18 recreation vehicle spots and an average occupancy duration of five months. “It’s a prime wintering place for sandhill cranes.” Volunteer.gov updates site details and contact information at federal facilities nationwide.

Zensense: The Self-Extinguishing Incense Burner

he Zensense self-extinguishing incense burner uses an innovative, sliding block feature to control the perfect amount of incense fragrance without having to extinguish the stick manually before its ember reaches the bamboo core many stick incense brands are constructed around. “After creating such a pleasant atmosphere—to end with the smell of burnt bamboo was an ongoing frustration,” says John Carlile, who invented Zensense along with Rae Randall. By adding a sliding block with a metal grommet to an incense tray, Carlile and Randall conquered their dilemma and created a new way to burn the perfect amount of fragrance for any size room. Incense as a form of air freshening and aromatherapy is still very popular, perhaps because of the immemorial roots we share in human spirituality. Incense has been found in fossil records of civilizations dating back to 3300 BCE. Sandalwood, frankincense, lavender and patchouli are blended and constructed today as they were in ancient Egypt, yet only recently has someone figured out how to control when it extinguishes. Zensense incense burners are handmade by Zenburner Enterprises, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Burner trays come in a variety of hardwood species, including mahogany, walnut, white oak, cypress, red cedar, North Carolina poplar, American cherry, and 100 percent recycled burners, garnered from the remnants of boats, barns, homes and floor boards. For more information and product details, visit ZenBurner.com.

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September 2017

and nourishing tonic with detoxing diuretic action. Enjoy fresh nettle soup in the spring, drink a cup of nettle tea daily or take the tincture.

Red Clover

Lymphatic Support  Red clover Trifolium pratense – The beautiful abundant summer blossoms are cooling and soothing to dry tissue and heal swollen congested glands. Red clover tea or tincture reduces puffiness, helps to carry waste out of the blood stream and can help to dissolve cysts.

A DAILY DOSE OF HERBS Stay Healthy with Anti-Inﬂammatory and Detoxifying Herbs by Susanna Raeven

healthy diet of organic whole foods combined with anti-inflammatory and detoxifying herbs helps the immune system to recognize and eliminate microbial invasions and cell mutations. Given that the body eliminates toxins through the digestive tract, kidneys, skin and the lymphatic system, adding herbs to one’s daily diet to support these body systems is a great way to stay healthy and combat the aging process.

Detoxifying Liver Herbs  Burdock Arctium lappa – The sweet, nourishing and slightly bitter roots invigorate the liver’s metabolism, feed healthy gut bacteria and aid the rapid elimination of toxins. The earthy broth from fresh burdock root can be frozen in small portions and added to daily cooking. Make a decoction from the dried root or use the tincture.  Milk thistle Silybum marianum – Silymarin in milk thistle seeds creates a protective coating around liver cells, preventing toxins from entering. Milk 18

thistle helps speed up regeneration of liver cells and helps heal the liver trauma of alcoholism, infections, chemo and radiation therapy. Since silymarin is not water soluble, take capsules or a tincture. Kidney-Supporting Herbs  Dandelion leaf Taraxacum officinale – The bitter leaf of dandelion lowers blood pressure by reducing the volume of fluids present in the body through urination. It is rich in potassium Marshmallow and does not deplete the body of electrolytes. Dandelion leaf helps to move digestion and can be consumed fresh in salads, as tea, or in tincture form.  Stinging nettle Urtica dioica – Nettle leaf is high in iron, silica and potassium and a blood building

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Digestive Bitters  Angelica Angelica archangelica – Angelica’s sweet and bitter root is a warming carminative that stimulates digestion and increases bile production to help digest fats. It can help break up accumulations of water, blood and phlegm in the body and opens up the skin to sweat out toxins. Enjoy as tea or tincture.  Oregon grape root Mahonia spp. – The bitter component berberis is a broadband antibiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria and aids in the proper assimilation of food. Oregon grape stimulates the liver, gallbladder and the lymphatic system and removes waste from connective tissue. The tincture of the root soothes achy and inflamed joints. Anti-Inﬂammatories  Turmeric Curcuma longa – Turmeric is a potent and powerful anti-inflammatory by removing waste products from the body. It a blood cleanser,

Stinging Nettle

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 Ginger Zingiber officinale – Eat fresh ginger root or drink fresh ginger tea to improve digestion, reduce heat and stiffness in achy joints and open up the skin to release perspiration. Ginger also works wonders on stiff muscles in a liniment or oil.  Marshmallow Althaea officinalis – The root of this pretty garden plant is moistening, softening and anti-inflammatory, soothes all mucus membranes in the body and has a lubricating effect on joints. An overnight cold infusion of the root is the most effective way to enjoy all its benefits. Susanna Raeven is an herbalist and owner of Raven Crest Botanicals, a small-scale organic herb farm and herbal apothecary. Raeven teaches classes and workshops in herbalism and Earth-centered healing practices, leads herb walks and creates a line of artisan skin care products and plant medicines. Learn more at RavenCrest.MyShopify.com. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in natural awakenings

September 2017

The Secrets Your DNA Holds: Genetics 101

idative stress. These free radicals are superoxide and peroxynitrite. There are other harmful substances such as ammonia and glutamate. These are natural products produced by the body, but genetic variations can cause individuals to have too much of them. When out of balance, these free radicals can cause cellular damage and inflammation, leading to slower rebuilding and repair of cells and ultimately faster aging and more opportunity for disease. To compensate for these free radicals, the body makes antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione, and uses folate to rebuild and repair damaged cells. Our inherited genetic issues may inhibit us from making enough antioxidants, cause us to produce too many oxidants, and suppress our ability to create enough folate for cell repair, which can negatively impact our health. Through genetic saliva testing, the ability to make and use enzymes that are critical components of one’s health can be studied. Additionally, studying the combination of genes, nutrients, oxidants and antioxidants can lead to a customized nutritional protocol to help the body clean up the imbalances, and help support a more normal function right down to the mitochondrial level. Some of the more significant enzymes that need to be looked at include: • Glutathione – detoxifies the body and controls inflammation •

SOD – neutralizes the superoxide free radical

•

BH4 – supports the neurotransmitters and helps the body detox ammonia

by Gary Kracoff

hanks to the advances in technology, a simple saliva test can measure 602,000 pieces of a person’s DNA. This is important because everyone has some level of genetic variation in their DNA. Because variants can impact an individual’s ability to make and use different nutrients critical for circulatory, immune and even emotional health, everyone is susceptible, in their own unique way, to potential health implications. Genes are passed from parent to child—one copy from the mother and one copy from the father—with each cell containing a set of genetic instructions. When an existing cell divides to make a new cell, it copies the set of genetic instructions. However, sometimes these instructions are copied incorrectly, like a typo, which leads to variations in the DNA sequence. This is called a single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP. Most SNPs do not cause any observable differences. But the location and total number of SNPs a person has may influence their susceptibility to disease or impact how they react to certain drugs or even specific foods. DNA researchers have discovered that the root cause of most illness is the presence of free radicals and ox20

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Learn More

r. Gary Kracoff will be giving a lecture on what our DNA can tell us and how to use this information from 7 to 8:30 p.m., September 18, at Johnson Compounding, in Waltham. He will explain what gene SNPS are, what they tell us and how to use this information to help with current issues and to help stay healthy as the years roll on. Genetics, epigenetics and methylation will be discussed. “We cannot change our genes or treat gene corruption, but we can help our bodies clean up the metabolic mess that has occurred and assist with lifestyle changes and nutritional support,” he says. For more information on lecture, see News Brief on page 9, ad on page 15 and Resource Guide on pages 43 and 45.

•

Neurotransmitters – aids emotional health

•

Choline – enhances liver health

•

Folate – stimulates cell and neurotransmitter health

•

SAMe – supports many bodily functions

•

B12 – makes blood cells and supports a healthy nervous system

When in balance, these enzymes can control free radicals, keep cells healthy, and rebuild new cells effectively. As a result, individuals may look and feel younger and remain healthy and vibrant as they age. We are never too young or old to optimize our nutritional and antioxidant status. Working with a practitioner that understands how to interpret the SNPs, enzyme function, metabolism, health issues, symptoms and lifestyle is essential to helping the body work efficiently and improving overall health. Only looking at certain SNPs and taking nutrients based on SNPs alone often times leads to little benefit, or even an increase in symptoms. To help understand how your DNA impacts your health, watch the introductory video at GetToKnowYourDNA.com. Dr. Gary Kracoff is a naturopathic doctor and registered pharmacist at Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, located at 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information, call 781-893-3870 ext. 2 or visit NaturalCompounder.com. See ad on page 15 and Resource Guide on pages 43 and 45.

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Aging with Passion and Purpose Finding Fulfillment, Creativity and Meaning by Deborah Shouse

ant to age well? The answer isn’t in your 401k. Self-acceptance, a positive attitude, creative expression, purposeful living and spiritual connections all anchor successful and meaningful aging. In fact, these kinds of preparations are just as important as saving money for retirement, according to Ron Pevny, director of the Center for Conscious Eldering, in Durango, Colorado, and author of Conscious Living, Conscious Aging.

Savor Self-Acceptance

While most people believe adulthood is the final stage of life, Dr. Bill Thomas is among the creative aging experts that identify another life chapter: elderhood. “Elders possess novel ways of approaching time, money, faith and relationships,” says Thomas, an Ithaca, New York geriatrician and fierce advocate for the value of aging. “The best chapters may be near the end of the book,” Thomas continues. “Once you appreciate yourself and your years, you can relinquish outdated expectations and seek to discover your true self. Then the world can open up to you,” says Thomas. “Living a rewarding life means we are willing to say, ‘These chapters now are the most interesting.’” During this time, rather than feeling consumed by what we have to do, we can focus on what we want to do. 22

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Fill the Funnel of Friends

For older people, relationships offer foundational connections; but as we age, friends may drift away, relocate or die. “Successful aging requires refilling our funnel of friends,” says Thomas, who considers socially engaged elders with friends wealthier than a socially isolated millionaire. “Notice opportunities for interacting and connecting,” advises Shae Hadden, co-founder of The Eldering Institute in Vancouver, Canada. Talk with the checkout person at the grocery store or smile at a stranger walking her dog.

Cultivate a Positive Attitude

Our beliefs about aging shape our experiences. A Yale University study found that older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those less so inclined. Connecting with positive role models helps us release limiting beliefs and embrace an attitude of gratitude instead. Other life lessons can be gleaned from observing how negativity affects people physically, emotionally, and socially. Holding onto regrets traps us in the past zapping energy and self-worth; it also keeps the best in us from shining out says Pevny. He suggests a simple letting-go ceremony, with friends as witnesses. If possible, hold it in a natural outdoor setting.

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At one of his conscious aging retreats, Pevny created a fire circle. Mike, 70, had been a dedicated long-distance runner for most of his life. Now plagued with mobility issues, Mike decided to let go of regrets. He brought a pair of running shorts into the circle and talked about what the sport had meant to him—its joys, challenges and camaraderie. Then he tossed the shorts into the fire, telling his friends, “I am letting go so I can find a new purpose and passion.”

Understand Our Life Stories

Creating our own life review helps us acknowledge and understand our most significant experiences and reminds us of all we’re bringing to our elder journey. Pevny offers these approaches: n Develop a timeline, dividing life into seven-year sections. For each, write about the strongest memories and most influential people. n Consider what matters most, from people and values to challenges and dreams. n Write to children and grandchildren, sharing tales of our life’s most significant events and lessons. n Record key stories on audio or video.

Explore the Arts

The changes that aging brings can mire elders in depression and isolation. “Older people need to be brave and resilient,” says Susan Perlstein, of Brooklyn, New York, founder emeritus of the National Center for Creative Aging, in Washington, D.C., and founder of Elders Share the Arts, in New York City. “To age creatively, we need a flow of varied experiences, exploring new activities or reframing longtime interests from a fresh perspective.” Expressive arts can engage people’s minds, bodies and spirits. A George Washington University study shows that people engaged in the arts are happier and healthier. Perlstein understands this firsthand, having begun taking guitar lessons in her 70s. Motivated to play simple songs for her new granddaughter, she subsequently learned to play jazz and blues tunes and joined a band. “I’m doing something I love,” says Perlstein. “I’m meeting diverse people, learning new things and enjoying a rich life.”

The answers can lead to fresh settings, including local community centers and places of worship. Many universities have extension classes for lifelong learners. State arts councils support programs, and museums and libraries host helpful activities. Shepherd Centers encourage community learning and Road Scholar caters to elders that prefer to travel and study.

Discover a Purpose Older people are our Upon retirement some people feel greatest resource. We need purposeless and lost. They yearn for to nurture them and give something that offers up excitement, energy and joy. Hadden invites people to them a chance to share be curious and explore options. “We’re designing our future around who we are what they know. ~Susan Perlstein, founder, National Center for Creative Aging and Elders Share the Arts Musician John Blegen, of Kansas City, Missouri, was 73 when he realized his lifelong secret desire to tap dance. When Blegen met the then 87-year-old Billie Mahoney, Kansas City’s “Queen of Tap,” he blurted out his wish and fear of being “too old.” She just laughed and urged him to sign up for her adult beginner class. He asked for tap shoes for Christmas and happily shuffle-stepped his way through three class sessions. “Tap class inspired me, encouraged me and gave me hope,” he says. “Now I can shim sham and soft shoe. It’s a dream come true.” To unearth the inner artist, ask: n Which senses do I most like to engage? n Do I enjoy looking at art or listening to music? Do I like sharing feelings and experiences? If so, a thrill may come from writing stories or plays, acting or storytelling. n As a child, what did I yearn to do; maybe play the piano, paint or engineer a train set? Now is the time to turn those dreams into reality. n How can I reframe my life in a positive way when I can no longer do activities I love? If dancing was my focus before, how do I rechannel that energy and passion? If puttering in the garden is too strenuous, what other outdoor interests can I pursue?

and what we care about now,” she says. Try keeping a journal for several weeks. Jot down issues and ideas that intrigue, aggravate and haunt. After several weeks, reflect on the links between concerns that compel and those that irritate. Perhaps we’re intrigued by a certain group of people or a compelling issue. “A concern points to problems and people you want to help,” Hadden observes. This can range from lending a hand to struggling family members, maintaining our own health, volunteering for a literacy project or working to reduce world hunger. “Choose what inspires you to get out of bed each day, eager to move into action.”

Develop Inner Frontiers

People in their elder years may still be measured by midlife standards, which include physical power, productivity and achievement. “They come up short in the eyes of younger people,” dharma practitioner Kathleen Dowling Singh remarks. “But those standards do not define a human life.” Rather, aging allows us to disengage from the pressures of appearances and accomplishments. As we release judgments and unwanted habits, we can increase our feelings of spirituality and peace. “When doors in the outer world seem to be closing, it’s time to cultivate inner resources that offer us joy and meaning. We have the beautiful privilege of slowing down and hearing what our heart is saying,” says Singh, of Sarasota, Florida. Meditation is one way to deepen

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Acknowledge Our Shelf Life

“We cannot speak about aging and awakening without speaking about death and dying,” Singh believes. “We need to confront our mortality.” Meditating on the coming transition opens us up to the blessings of life. We can ask ourselves deep questions such as, “What am I doing? What do I want? What does this all mean? What is spirit?” Singh believes such searching questions are vital. None of us knows how much Earth time we have to awaken to a deeper, fuller experience of the sacred.

Help the World In today’s world of chaos and crisis, the wisdom of elders is more important than ever. “Older people need to be engaged, using their insights to help the Earth, community and world,” Pevny says. Creative aging is about improving the future for subsequent generations. In 2008, longtime educator Nora Ellen Richard, 70, of Overland Park, Kansas, wanted to be of greater service. She asked herself, “What if I housed a

Nearly three-quarters of America’s adults believe they are lifelong learners. It helps them make new friends and community connections and prompts volunteerism. ~Pew Research Center foreign student?” and found the International Student Homestay Program. She embarked upon an exploration of cultures from around the world without leaving home. Today, Richard has hosted more than a dozen female students and each relationship has expanded and enriched her life. “We talk about politics, food, religion and cultures; we even pray together,” Richard says. She points to memorable moments of bonding and

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Creative Aging Resources Center for Conscious Eldering CenterForConsciousEldering.com Changing Aging ChangingAging.org Dr. Bill Thomas DrBillThomas.org The Eldering Institute Eldering.org Elders Share the Arts Estanyc.org From Aging to Sageing Sage-ing.org Kathleen Dowling Singh KathleenDowlingSingh.com National Center for Creative Aging CreativeAging.org Shepherd’s Centers of America ShepherdCenters.org

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respect, appreciation and celebration, and says, “As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned how vital it is to nurture the world I am in.” Deborah Shouse is a writer, speaker, editor and dementia advocate. Her newest book is Connecting in the Land of Dementia: Creative Activities to Explore Together. Connect at DementiaJourney.org.

spiritually as we age. “Sit in solitude, gather your scattered thoughts and set an intention,” Singh suggests. “A daily practice shows what peace, silence and contentment feel like. As you become more comfortable, add time until you’re sitting for 20 to 40 minutes.”

Improving Academic Success in Children that Struggle with School by Jolene Ross

s children return to school this fall, parents often ask about what can be done to help their child achieve academic success. Taking note of your child’s behavior both in school and while working on homework at home is crucial to identifying if a child needs some extra assistance. Do you notice your child has trouble paying attention and gets distracted easily from the task at hand? Does your child have trouble sitting in a seat for periods of time, needing breaks for physical movement? Is initiating homework difficult in addition to completing the assignments? These are all signs of executive function struggles. Executive functions are all mental processes related to achieving a goal including attention, focus, task initiation, working memory, organization and more. If a child struggles with ex-

ecutive functions, the child may read below their grade level, have poor reading comprehension, struggle with written composition, make frequent math errors, and/or have trouble understanding math concepts. Because of the struggle to understand major academic concepts and trouble completing assignments, many children even experience anxiety related to school. This anxiety leads to avoidance of academics, excuses to do anything but homework, and even full blown meltdowns about school work. Sometimes children even experience physical symptoms of anxiety, including stomach aches, headaches and trouble falling asleep on school nights, all of which negatively impact academic performance. In fact, children often start exhibiting signs of academic anxiety up to two

weeks prior to the beginning of school. The anticipatory anxiety leads to deterioration of behavior at home that continues throughout the year. Some examples of such behavior pertain to the morning routine. Children have trouble waking up for school on time, but wake up at the same time on weekends without any problem. Leaving the house in a timely manner in the morning can be very difficult. There are many ways parents can help ensure academic success for their child. Children need structure, so develop a solid routine for each day. Help your child get organized by developing checklists to ensure they have done their homework and have all of the materials they will need for their school day. Make sure your child is getting a well-balanced diet, as brain function is heavily dependent upon nutrients in food. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep each night. This also means making sure your child is getting enough exercise each day so by bedtime the child is ready to sleep. Additionally, limiting media use is crucial, not only to ensure your child completes homework assignments and chores, but also to help your child get to sleep in a timely manner. The light from the screens of devices will keep the brain active, so media should not be allowed for at least an hour prior to bedtime. Looking to improve your child’s executive functions for better academic success without the use of medication? Neurofeedback is a safe and effective form of training to enhance brain function, resulting in improved executive functions, improved mood and reduced anxiety. Many students consider neurofeedback their secret weapon as it improves a student’s ability to maintain attention in the classroom, to start and complete assignments efficiently, to focus on studying for major exams, and to eliminate testing anxiety, all of which positively impact a student’s report card. Dr. Jolene Ross, Ph.D., is the founder and director of Advanced Neurotherapy, PC, located at 145 Rosemary St., in Needham. For more information, call 781-444-9115 or visit Advanced Neurotherapy.com. See ad on page 11 and Resource Guide on page 42.

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September 2017

photos by Stephen Blancett

consciouseating

FABULOUS FAN FARE Healthy Tailgating Foods to Cheer For by Judith Fertig

at, play, party… and repeat. We may call it tailgating, fangating, homegating, a watch party or simply eating with friends before a big game. According to the American Tailgaters Association, in St. Paul, Minnesota, an estimated 50 million Americans tailgate annually. Whether we’re on the road or at home, making the menu healthy is a winning strategy for hosts and guests. Here, two experts divulge their winning ways. Says Debbie Moose, author of Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game

at Home, Ivy League schools like Princeton and Yale claim credit for pregame picnics that 19th-century sports fans packed into their horse and buggy for local road trips. Moose lives in the tailgate trifecta of the North Carolina triangle, home to Duke, North Carolina and Wake Forest universities. She enjoyed discovering that University of Washington sports fans from the Seattle area like to sail to their chosen picnic spots, while University of Hawaii folks grill fish on hibachis in Honolulu. Moose naturally prefers healthy, Southern-style fare such as deviled

eggs and marinated green bean salad, which can be served hot, cold or at room temperature. “At the game or at home, your guests will be moving around, so go for foods that can be eaten with one hand,” she suggests. She also plans her menu around color, universal appeal and variety because it’s healthier than just serving a mound of barbecued chicken wings and a big bowl of potato chips. She likes recipes that can do double duty; her black bean summer salad with cherry tomatoes and corn can function as a colorful side dish or as a salsa for non-GMO blue corn chips. “Recipes that you can do ahead of time make things easier on game day; just pull them from the fridge and go,” says Moose. Daina Falk, of New York City, grew up around professional athletes because her father, David Falk, is a well-known sports agent. Excitement-generating sports are in her blood and inspired her to write The Hungry Fan’s Game Day Cookbook. She knows that most of the tailgating in her area takes place for football and baseball games and NASCAR races. On HungryFan.com, Falk serves up tips for every fangating/homegating occasion, from the Kentucky Derby to the Super Bowl. “Keep your menu interesting,” says Falk. “I always like to feature a dish for each team. For instance, if you’re hosting an Alabama versus Washington watch party, you could feature an Alabama barbecue dish with white sauce and oysters or other fresh seafood. Both dishes are characteristic of the local foods in the universities’ respective hometowns.” Falk recommends buying more local beer than needed to make sure not to run out. Game day guests can get hot and thirsty, indoors or out. Supply lots of filtered water in non-breakable containers. For easy entertaining, Falk recommends biodegradable dishes and cups. “Whenever there are a lot of people in one room, especially when they’re drinking, a glass will likely be broken,” she says. “Save yourself cleanup and the risk of glass shards by committing to temporary cups and plates that are Earth-friendly and compostable.” Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

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Healthy Tailgating Recipes Chilled Red Bell Pepper Soup Yields: 4 small servings

Black Bean Summer Salad Yields: 8 side dishes or 4 light meals This salad is easily doubled to feed a crowd. 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and well drained 5 or 6 green onions, white and green parts, chopped 1 large sweet banana pepper, seeded and chopped 1½ cups halved cherry tomatoes 6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp lime juice 2½ Tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tsp chili powder Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 /3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves In a large bowl, toss together the corn, black beans, green onions, banana pepper and tomatoes. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, chili powder, salt and pepper.

Quadruple this recipe to make soup for a larger gathering. Serve in small sipping cups—cold for games in hot weather or hot for games in cold weather. 1 red bell pepper, stemmed ½ cup low-fat Greek or dairy-free yogurt ¼ yellow onion 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 small/mini-cucumber ¼ cup rice vinegar 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 4 large garlic cloves 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil Garnish: Flat leaf (Italian) parsley (minced optional) Roasted and salted pumpkin seeds Blend all main ingredients, except garnish, in a high-speed blender into purée. Serve topped with the parsley and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds. Adapted from Daina Falk’s HungryFan.com.

Vegetarian-Friendly Barbecue Cauliflower Nuggets Yields: 8 appetizer servings Plant-based barbecue is a home run or touchdown. 1 head of cauliflower 1 cup all-purpose or gluten-free flour 1 Tbsp barbecue spice blend 1 cup nut milk of choice 1 cup tomato-based barbecue sauce Accompaniment: Dipping sauce of choice Preheat the oven to 450° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rinse and separate cauliflower florets into small- to medium-sized pieces. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the barbecue spice, flour and nut milk until smooth.

Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat them all. Then stir in the cilantro.

Dredge each piece of cauliflower in the batter before placing it on the baking sheet.

Refrigerate from 1 to 3 hours to let the flavors come together.

Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the cauliflower with barbecue sauce and return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes.

Note: If using frozen corn, drain it well and lightly sauté in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil before adding it to the salad. This removes moisture that may make the salad watery. Courtesy of Debbie Moose, Southern Holidays: A Savor the South Cookbook.

Remove the cauliflower from the baking sheet and plate alongside a dipping sauce of your choice. Adapted from Daina Falk’s HungryFan.com.

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Transformative Travel

by Linda Sechrist

n 2008, the Sebastopol, California, filmmaking team of Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo created Science and Nonduality (SAND), which later became a nonprofit organization aimed at fostering a new relationship with spirituality that is free from religious dogma, based on timeless wisdom traditions, informed by cutting-edge science and grounded in direct experience. The next year, they organized the first SAND conference, exploring nonduality and the nature of consciousness. Since then, the duo has been producing short films that contribute to the expansion of human awareness, and hosting annual conferences in the U.S. and Europe involving leading scientists, academics and other pioneering thinkers. Thousands of participants from around the world interact in forums and respectful dialogues with luminaries such as Menas Kafatos, Ph.D., a professor of computational physics at Chapman University, in Orange, California; Peter Russell, a theoretical physicist and author of From Science to God: A Physicist’s Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness; Robert Thurman, Ph.D., professor of Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University, in New York City; evolutionary biologist Elisabet Sahtouris, author of EarthDance: Living Systems in Evolution; and Robert Lanza, physician, scientist and co-author of Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the

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Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe.

Where do revelations about a deeper reality begin? MB: Individual and communal explorations often occur around life’s big questions, such as what it means to be conscious and to seek meaning and purpose; the possible place of intuition as the edge where knowledge meets the unknown and unknowable; and how crucial individual awakening is to social transformation.

What is meant by nonduality? ZB: Nonduality is the philosophical, spiritual and scientific understanding of fundamental oneness in which there is no separation. Through quantum mechanics, Western science has reached an understanding of what Eastern mystics have long understood. Duality, generally determined in terms of opposites such as self and other, conscious and unconscious, illusion and reality, as well as separation between the observer and the observed, is an illusion. Nonduality is the understanding that our identifying with common dualisms avoids recognition of a deeper reality. Until recently, human sciences have ignored the problem of consciousness by calling it the “hard problem”. This has led to our present fragmented

worldview rife with chaos, conflict and crises. It may be time for scientists to accept the discoveries of the mystics and consider consciousness intrinsic to every observed scientific phenomenon. Understanding that consciousness is the key to the universe, reality and ourselves may be the missing link in bridging science and spirituality.

What difference can exploring the nature of consciousness make? ZB: Understanding the new science that points to consciousness as allpervasive and the fundamental building block of reality—that we are all made of the same essence, like drops in the ocean—can change how we approach and harmonize day-to-day living. We can be far more open, peaceful and accepting of others. Absurd violence, as well as economic, social and political crises, could all be things of the past, based on a new quantum understanding of our interconnectedness and oneness.

How has the nonduality movement evolved? MB: SAND has evolved into something we never imagined when we began discussing the ideas that the true spirit of science and spirituality is best supported by an open mind and a non-dogmatic inquiry; while sci-

ence seeks to understand our external reality and spiritual thinkers seek to understand our inner, personal experience of consciousness, these seemingly different disciplines rarely come together in open dialogue. It became more evident that we weren’t looking for scientific answers or proof of what spiritual wisdom traditions teach, but rather to expand the questions asked of both science and spirituality. Open-ended questions arise such as: What if space and time are just useful maps and quantum mechanics is pointing us to a deeper reality more mysterious than we can ever imagine? What if science and spirituality, while responding to our collective aspiration to grow and progress, would no longer need to carry the burden of having all the answers? What if we considered our search open-ended, rather then having to arrive at a grand theory of life or final state of enlightenment? What if, while we probe deeper into reality and who we are, we realize that knowledge gathered will always be just a stepping-stone? For information about the 2017 conference in San Jose from Oct. 18 to 22, visit ScienceAndNonduality.com. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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September 2017

Public School Programs

NATURE’S CLASSROOM Outdoor Learning Engages the Whole Child by Meredith Montgomery

Nature-based schools provide a child-centered, guided discovery approach to early learning that appeals to kids, parents and teachers and offers far-ranging benefits.

or youngsters at Tiny Trees Preschool, in Seattle, nature is their classroom— rain or shine; tuition even includes a rain suit and insulated rubber boots. At Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool, in Milwaukee, children use downed wood to build forts and fires. Students of Vermont’s Educating Children Outdoors (ECO) program use spray bottles of colored water to spell words in the snow.

Forest Schools Based on the publicly funded forest kindergarten model used by Scandinavian countries since 1995, Tiny Trees encompasses seven urban park locations throughout the city, ranging from 15 to 160 acres. With no buildings, playgrounds or commercially produced furniture and 30 percent less overhead, “We can make exceptional education affordable,” remarks CEO Andrew Jay. “Most of the day is spent exploring the forest. If children see salmon in the 30

stream, we observe them from a bridge, and then search out the headwaters to see where they’re coming from,” explains Jay.

Nature Preschools The launch of Earth Day in 1970 and America’s nature center movement in the 1960s yielded another immersive nature-based model that includes indoor learning. The preschool at the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified Schlitz Audubon Nature Center includes three nature-focused indoor classrooms and three outdoor areas— two with manmade structures like a slide and picnic tables, and one left completely natural. Founding Director Patti Bailie says the children spend most of their day outside and teachers can take them beyond the play areas to explore 185 acres of prairie, forest, wetlands and lakefront beach habitats.

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ECO currently collaborates with seven Vermont public schools from preschool to high school, offering year-long programs for students in inquiry-based outdoor learning for up to four hours a week. “We immerse ourselves in nature with a 10-minute hike into the forest,” says program coordinator Melissa Purdy. Students first learn safety protocols and how to set up camp. Introducing skill-appropriate tools, preschoolers whittle sticks, third-graders build teepees and lean-tos, and high school students build bridges across streams.

Building Resiliency Sharing space with insects and plants requires special safety protocols and preparation, but the injury rate of outdoor learning is no higher than that of indoor schools. “Children are building risk literacy—they climb trees, but only to safe heights; they step on wet rocks, but learn how to do so without falling,” says Jay. Classrooms without walls work because students have a sense of freedom within reasonable boundaries. “In winter, we dress warmly and do more hiking to generate body heat. We use picnic shelters in heavy rains. Children don’t have anxiety about the future—rain means puddles to splash in and snow means building snowmen,” says Jay.

Developing the Whole Child Outdoor learning naturally creates knowledge of local ecosystems, environmental stewards and a sense of place, but teachers also observe many other developmental benefits. At the Magnolia Nature School, at Camp McDowell, in Nauvoo, Alabama, Madeleine Pearce’s agile and surefooted preschoolers can hike three miles. Located in a rural county with

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Kindergarten means “children’s garden” and originally took place outdoors. It’s commonplace today in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

healthykids

a 67 percent poverty rate, the school partners with Head Start to secure tuition-free opportunities for families. Pearce attests how exploring the 1,100-acre property fosters language skills. “With less teacher instruction, children have more time to talk freely with each other.” Instead of loudly calling kids in, Purdy uses bird calls or a drum, which fosters a sense of peace and respect. During daily sit time students observe themselves as a part of nature. “As birds sing and wildlife appears, children see the rewards of quiet and stillness, so self-regulation becomes natural,” agrees Bailie. Bailie sees how children in forest kindergartens express better motor skills, physical development and cognitive abilities than those restricted to traditional playgrounds. Natural playscapes change with the season, are sensory-rich and provide extra oxygen to the brain—all factors that correlate to brain development. Such benefits are reported in Brain-Based Learning by Eric Jensen, Brain Rules by John J. Medina and the Early Childhood Education Journal.

Parents and teachers often describe nature preschool students as being more observant, confident, inquisitive and engaged. Outdoor preschools also foster microbial exposure, essential for healthy immune system development. “Without this exposure, children are at increased risk for developing allergies, asthma, irritable bowel disease, obesity and diabetes later in life,” says B. Brett Finlay, Ph.D., author of Let Them Eat Dirt, which cites supporting science. Kindergarten readiness is a goal of all preschools, but Pearce doesn’t believe a traditional academic focus is required. “By putting nature first, children are socially and emotionally ready for kindergarten,” she says. “They know how to conquer challenges and are ready to take on academics.” Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi (HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com).

OUTDOOR PLAY “We are innately connected to nature, but need to provide opportunities to make that connection,” says Patti Bailie, former assistant director of Antioch University’s nature-based Early Childhood certificate program, in Keene, New Hampshire. Here’s how. Get wild at home. Hang bird feeders, grow wildlife-attracting plants, start a compost pile and designate an area of the yard for natural play where kids can dig and the grass isn’t mowed. Explore a forest instead of a playground. Without swing sets and toys, children create imaginative play, build forts and climb trees. Incorporate active transportation into the family routine. Walk, bike or paddle. Rain gear and flashlights enable rainy and after-dark explorations. Join a family nature club. At ChildrenAndNature.org, connect with other families that value and use the natural world for playing, growing and learning via their Natural Families Forum.

NATURE JOURNALING TIPS by Meredith Montgomery

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ature journal content is highly personal, ranging from scientific species accounts to wildlife-inspired stories. With just a notebook, pencil and fully engaged senses, nature enthusiasts of all ages can foster observation skills, creativity and outdoor exploration. Prompt open-ended questions. “Nature journals encourage children to ask questions and search for answers,” says Tiny Trees Preschool CEO Andrew Jay, of Seattle. Ask why flowers are blooming, how slugs suddenly appeared and what type of tree a leaf came from. Build upon findings with drawings and notes. Make a sound map. Project Learning Tree, a nationwide environmental education program funded by the American Forest Association, suggests drawing an “X” in the middle of the page to represent where the child is sitting. Then use pictures, shapes or words to show the relative

locations of surrounding sounds. Consider the macro perspective. Vermont’s Outdoor Education Coordinator Melissa Purdy shows students close-up shots of moss or sticks without revealing what the abstract image is. Students note what they observe and wonder as they try to solve the mystery. Alternatively, challenge children to draw their own macro images by looking at an object with a magnifying glass. Find a sit spot. Give children the time and space to write and draw freely in their journal as they sit quietly in nature. “Return to the same spot regularly and see how things have changed,” advises Patti Bailie, a professor of early childhood education at the University of Maine, in Farmington. If kids are too busy exploring and learning while outside, reflections can be captured once they’re back inside, too.

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September 2017

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healingways

FLOATING AWAY STRESS Isolation Tanks Induce Deep Rest and Healing by Gina McGalliard

ensory isolation in a floatation tank is known for inducing deep relaxation with subsequent improved health. A 2014 study published in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry investigating the effects of a series of flotation tank treatments for 65 participants, showed it to be an effective measure in decreasing stress, depression, anxiety and pain, while enhancing a sense of optimism and quality of sleep. The Book of Floating: Exploring the Private Sea, by Michael Hutchison, reports on 20th-century research suggesting the therapy can help allay ailments like chronic pain, migraines and sore muscles. There’s also evidence for enhanced meditation, creativity and spiritual experiences. Float therapy was invented by Dr. John C. Lilly, a neurophysiology specialist. The individual enters an enclosed tank containing 11 inches of water heated to 93.5 degrees—a normal temperature for human skin— and some 1,000 pounds of dissolved

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Epsom salt. The effect is like buoyantly floating in the Dead Sea, but in a clean, quiet, private realm. The water is typically filtered three to five times between each session and sanitized using UV light; some also use peroxide and ozone gas to purify the water. Without any sensory input—no sight, sound or tactile sensations—the floater typically enters a profound deeply calm state of theta brain waves that tends to bring the subconscious to the surface. It can take experienced meditators years to learn to consistently achieve this condition, remarks Bryan Gray, of Float North County, a spa in Solana Beach, California.

Ultimate Meditation Venue Scientific research has shown that floating can release the feel-good neurotransmitters endorphins and dopamine, and lower the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Studies performed by the Laureate Institute of Brain Research, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which maintains a float

clinic, have found the therapy is an effective treatment for patients with anxiety disorders. “It frees your mind of distraction and puts it in a zone,” explains Gray. “It removes the need for fight or flight, so those hormones are reduced. That part of the brain mellows out.”

Marvelous Magnesium

Lying for an hour in water infused with Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, the body receives a huge infusion of magnesium, a mineral essential to optimal health. While calcium and vitamin D deficiencies get more attention, it’s even more likely most of us are low on this element due to magnesium-depleting drugs and inadequate farm soils. Many ailments shown by research to be helped by floating have also been linked to magnesium deficiency.The mineral is also essential for heart health, strong bones and central nervous system function, as reported in The Magnesium Miracle, by Dr. Carolyn Dean, a physician and naturopath in Kihei, Hawaii.

Wide-Ranging Healings

arie Aspling, founder and owner of Balans, says floating clients “usually come out in awe, having experienced a deep sense of relaxation and stress relief.” Repeat customers use it to reduce anxiety, stress and pain, and it also helps with sleep and hormonal balancing. In addition to floatation therapy, Balans offers postural therapy, massage, movement, nutrition, organic skincare and more. “We live and share a lifestyle that supports health and well-being, which has a significant impact on people’s lives, both in their work and in their home. By living this way ourselves, we share our own experience in the most genuine, educated and knowledgeable way,” she says. Balans Organic Spa & Wellness Studio is located at 376 Boylston St., Boston. For more information, call 617-450-8333 or visit BostonBalans.com.

Let Go at FLOAT Boston

t FLOAT Boston, in Somerville, clients “are amazed at how good they feel,” says CoFounder Sara Garvin, LMT. She maintains that after floating, people experience less pain, and are more relaxed, refreshed, centered and grounded. Research is finding that floating helps the brain regulate the system for whatever is needed: either relaxation or invigoration. Everyone can benefit from floating, and Garvin and the rest of the staff are deeply committed to making floating available to everyone that needs it. FLOAT has donated dozens of floatation therapy sessions to local raffles and fundraisers since opening. Programs are available to help people that might not be able to afford the regular prices, and Garvin is looking for potential sponsors for special interest groups, like veterans with PTSD. Location: 515 Medford St (Magoun Square), Somerville. For more information, call 844-44-FLOAT or visit FloatBoston.com. See ad, page 32.

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Chronic pain sufferers often find relief through floating because the lessened gravity allows the body to fully relax. The accompanying serenity releases the brain’s natural endorphins, which act as natural painkillers, into the bloodstream, reports Hutchison. The sheer tranquility of floating can alleviate some mental health issues. “We’ve treated several people with post-traumatic stress disorder. One man has returned six times and says he’s advanced more in the last three months while floating than he did in the prior five to 10 years,” says Andy Larson, owner of Float Milwaukee.

Float Out the Door at Balans Organic Spa and Wellness Studio

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September 2017

Fluoride Alert Excess in Food and Tap Water Harms Pets by Karen Becker

n 2009, an Environmental Working Group (EWG) study found that bone meal and animal byproducts in eight of 10 major national dog food brands contain fluoride in amounts between 1.6 and 2.5 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended maximum dose in drinking water. Some fluoride from tap water used in the manufacturing of pet food contributes to this. Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., lead researcher of the study, remarks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A failed regulatory system and suspect practices by some in the pet food industry puts countless dogs at risk of ingesting excessive fluoride.â&#x20AC;? Fluoride occurs naturally in rocks, soil and thus some food plants and water supplies. More enters food via use of fluoride-based pesticides and commercial processing facilities. The EWG advises that two-thirds of all Americans, along with pets and farm animals, are exposed to artificially fluoridated tap water.

Fluoride Dangers to Humans While fluoride exposure hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been studied in dogs or cats, according to 34

Dr. Joseph Mercola, ample research points to the dangers of fluoride to human health, including: n Arthritis n Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) n Bone fractures n Brain damage and lowered IQ n Damaged sperm and increased infertility n Deactivation of 62 enzymes n Dementia n Disrupted immune system n Disrupted synthesis of collagen n Genetic damage and cell death n Hyperactivity and/or lethargy n Impaired sleep (inhibits melatonin produced by the pineal gland) n Increased lead absorption n Increased tumor and cancer rate n Inhibited formation of antibodies n Lowered thyroid function n Muscle disorders

Fluoride Dangers to Canines Dogs are at substantial long-term risk for exposure to unacceptably high levels of fluoride. They are, for example,

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at significantly higher probability for bone cancer than humans, with more than 8,000 cases diagnosed each year in the U.S., compared with about 900 human cases. According to the EWG, a dog drinking normal amounts of tap water would be exposed to 0.05 to 0.1 milligram (mg) of fluoride per kilogram (kg) of body weight daily. A 10-pound puppy that daily eats about a cup of dog food would ingest approximately 0.25 mg fluoride per kg body weight a day, based on average fluoride content in the eight contaminated brands it tested. Altogether, the puppy could be exposed to 3.5 times more fluoride than the EPA allows in drinking water. Large breed puppies may be exposed to even more fluoride due to higher water intake. Whatever the size and the appetite of a dog, combined fluoride exposure from food and water can easily become unsafe. Eating the same food every day, they may be constantly consuming more fluoride than is healthy for normal growth, leading to health problems and higher veterinary bills later in life.

Prevent High Ingestion of Fluoride

The EWG recommends owners purchase pet foods free of bone meal and other meals made from animal byproducts. It also suggests that government set fluoride limits in pet food that protect both puppies and large breeds most at risk for bone cancer. Dr. Michael W. Fox, an internationally recognized veterinarian and former vice president of the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, recommends providing pets with fluoride-free water; spring water or reverse osmosis filtered water also works well. In preparing homemade food for a pet, make sure any added

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naturalpet

bone meal is free of fluoride and lead. Ethical bone meal producers will test for these contaminants; verify with the source. Fox suggests a good bone meal substitute might be fossilized oyster shell, dolomite or a synthesized or refined calcium supplement like calcium citrate, ascorbate, stearate or gluconate. Or, consider a pure tricalcium and dicalcium phosphate, blended with magnesium. Fox attests that bones from longer-lived food animals such as dairy cows, laying hens and breeding stock likely contain higher levels of fluoride than shorter-lived animals like chickens, calves and lambs. In his article “Fluoride in Pet Food: A Serious Health Risk for Both Dogs and Cats?” he writes: “Fluorides accumulate in farmed animals over time from phosphate fertilizers, phosphate supplements, bone meal and fish meal supplements and pesticide and industrial-pollution-contaminated pastures and animal feed. The bones, fins, gills and scales of fish are often high in fluoride.” He recommends raw food diets that avoid ground bone from older animals like beef cattle and adult sheep. Dr. Karen Becker is a proactive and integrative veterinarian in the Chicago area, consults internationally and writes Mercola Healthy Pets (HealthyPets. Mercola.com).

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Woburn Animal Hospital 781-933-0170 WoburnAnimalHospital.com

Fluoride-Free Feeding Tips n In homemade food preparation, avoid Teflon-coated pans, which may increase the fluoride levels in food. n Avoid cooking with fluoridated water, which concentrates fluoride in the food. n Avoid toothpaste or oral rinses intended for humans, to brush canine teeth. Dental health products made for pets are fluoride-free.

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September 2017

Protecting Our Pets’ Gut Health Fluoride Can Compromise the Microbiome in Humans and Animals by Margo Roman

luoride accumulates in all living things and can have a harmful effect on all aspects of the body’s systems. Additionally, it can have a powerful effect on other chemicals inside and outside the body, making them more potent and potentially more dangerous. In part, because of this, fluoride may be a big contributor to gut microbiome dysbiosis. Chemicals like fluoride, chlorine, pesticides, herbicides (e.g. glyphosate/ Roundup), preservatives, fluorinated and non-fluorinated antibiotics, as examples, can damage the microbiome, which is the community of microbes in the gut. In humans and animals, a normal gut contains 500 species and 1,000 subspecies of microbes, totaling many trillions. It is now estimated that 75 to 85 percent of our immune system comes from the gut microbiome so it is vital to nurture and strengthen it. Our pets are the “canaries in the coal mine.” They are

exposed at higher concentrations to the same chemicals that we are. Along with their smaller body size and faster aging, this has resulted in mounting cases of cancers and autoimmune diseases over a 20-year period, through many generations of animals. Many more animals now have chronic gastrointestinal and immune problems, and it is believed that the loss of microbiome balance is a major contributor to this problem. To avoid pervasive fluoride and other chemicals, a fully organic, holistic approach is advised. Because of elevation of fluoride in bone meals and animal products, should we be thinking more about feeding carnivorous animals more of a plant-based diet? Ultimately, raising animals to feed our pets may also be environmentally non-sustainable. In the fourth edition of Dr. Richard and Susan Pitcairn’s book The Natural Health of Dogs and Cats, they have presented information on feeding a more plant-based diet to dogs and some cats. The book has recipes and nutritional values for each species. Other adjustments should be considered as well. A rule of thumb to keep in mind: An environment that is good for us is also good for our companion animals, and vice versa. This includes raising and eating food in a way that is conducive to a more sustainable planet and a healthier microbiome for us all. For more information on fluoride’s toxic effects, visit SLweb.org and FluorideAlert.org. Margo Roman, DVM, CVA, COT ,CPT, FAAO, is a veterinarian at MASH Vet (Main St. Animal Services of Hopkinton). She has practiced integrative and functional veterinary medicine for almost 40 years. For more information, visit MASHVet.com. See ad on page 35 and Resource Guide on page 44.

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W h y G r o w Yo u r O w n ? B e c a u s e Yo u C a n !

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September 2017

calendarofevents All Calendar events for the October issue must be received by September 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.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Flying Phoenix Qigong: Part 2 – Sept 1-3. With Terence Dunn, PhD. A qigong workshop teaching the essential practice of Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations, an extraordinarily powerful medical qigong system created more than 400 years ago by Taoist Feng Teh. Eastover Estate & Retreat Center, 430 East St, Lenox. 866-2645139. Details: Eastover.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Free Introduction to Shiatsu – 1-4pm. Learn the basics of Zen Shiatsu. This offers a great introduction for those interested in further studies. No previous experience is necessary. Shiatsu School of Vermont, 24 High St, Brattleboro, VT. 802-246-0877. ShiatsuVT.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Opera Night at the BPL: Tosca – 6-7:30pm. Get a sneak peek of this fall’s all new BLO production and hear selections of the unforgettable, intense music performed by BLO. Free. Rabb Hall, Central Library in Copley Sq, 700 Boylston St, Boston. bpl.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Mayor Walsh’s Movie Night – 7:30pm. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Free. Frog Pond, 38 Beacon St, Boston. 617-635-4505. Boston.gov/Events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

savethedate Hands of Light Workshop Designed to provide an understanding of the healing and transformational work of Brennan Healing Science. All are welcome.

Saturday, September 9

7 am - 4 pm

$325. The Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood. 617-524-7628. CenterAtWestwoods.com Crystal Bowl Sound Immersion – 6pm. With Laura Hackel. Sit or lay in a meditative state while the bowls are played, allowing the beautiful sounds and vibrations to work their magic in your energy field. $25. Revolution Community Yoga, 537 Massachusetts Ave, Acton. 978-274-5596. YogaActon.com. Free Orientation: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program – 6-8pm. Cindy Gittleman, Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher, leads a free orientation about the MBSR program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Registration required. Free. Roots & Wings, 317 N Main St, Natick. 978-657-7730. SunriseMindfulness.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

markyourcalendar 19th Annual 5K Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer Join us for our largest awareness and fundraising event. Flat, fast course along the bay, good for all levels. Help us Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer.

Sunday, September 10

8 am - 12 pm

$45/day of, $40/advance, $15/kids ages 6-12. DCR Mother’s Rest Area, Carson Beach, 125 William J Day Blvd, South Boston. More info & to register: RunWalk.Ovarian.org/Massachusetts. Reiki Clinic – 1:30-4:30pm. A community service project where clients receive a half-hour reiki treatment by a team of practitioners. Reiki practitioners are invited to volunteer at the clinics and receive a free treatment. Pre-registration required. $15/person, free/practitioners. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. 617-835-9963. ArlingtonReiki.com. Awakening the Spiritual Heart – 3-5pm. Learn new tools to help cultivate the heart as an emotional and spiritual center including aromatherapy, flower essences, plant allies, mantras and guided meditations. $25 before Sept 3, $40 after. Bodywise Wellness Center, 1111 Washington St, Newton. 617-448-6077. GreenAromatics.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Free Orientation to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program – 6:30-8pm. Attend an evening of mindful practices and an introduction to the MBSR program which will start Sept 19. Confirm attendance by email. Free. The Center at Westwoods, 590 Gay St, Westwood. 617524-7628. pmchoward@hotmail.com. CenterAt Westwoods.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Let’s Dance Boston – Sept 13-17. 6-8:30pm, WedSat; 3-5:30pm, Sun. Dancers of all ages and abilities are invited. Each night begins with 45 mins of a free dance lesson taught by professional teachers followed by a live band performing for 90-min sets to accompany the dancing. Free. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Atlantic Ave and High St, Boston. CelebritySeries.org/blog/LetsDanceBoston. Free Orientation to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program – 6:30-8:30pm. Also Sept 20. Cindy Gittleman, certified MBSR teacher, leads a free orientation session about the MBSR program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Registration required. Free. Skin to Soul, 800 W

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Cummings Pk, Ste 3950, Woburn. 978-657-7730. SunriseMindfulness.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 First Treatment Free Day – 9am-1pm. Relax, find relief, and rest with Community Acupuncture in a quiet environment, group setting with affordable prices. For further treatment: taking insurance, if covered. 18+ years’ experienced practitioner. Free. Joy Community Acupuncture, 335 Boylston St, Suite J3, Newton. 617-510-0559. JoyCommunityAcupuncture.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Booty Body Detox Cleanse – 7am-9pm. Thru Sept 29. Reboot your body 4 Better Health. It’s time to commit and get back on track. This cleanse focuses on maximizing your nutrients to help your body lose weight, reduce aches and headaches, improve sleep and reduce chronic conditions. $185. 508625-1807. 4BetterHealthMedicine.com. Reiki Level 1 Training & Certification – 9am7pm. Learn how to care for yourself and others with reiki practice. Your training includes the Japanese reiki meditations, how to practice hands-on healing of self and others, the reiki principles, reiki history, and how reiki promotes mindfulness and resiliency on all levels of your being. Comprehensive course manual, CEUs for nurses, social workers and LMTs. $150. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-2448856. BrennerReikiHealing.org. Free Introduction to Reiki – 10am-12pm. An overview of reiki, an ancient hands-on healing method for reducing stress, relieving pain and facilitating healing and personal growth. Preregistration required. Free. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. 781-648-9334. ArlingtonReiki.com. Health and Wellness Fall 2017 Show – 10am-3pm. Learn, experience, get free mini-treatments, buy and sample products from the best local health and wellness businesses in the North Shore. $5/person. Doubletree by Hilton, 50 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers. 508-460-6656. HealthAndWellnessShow.net. Boston Local Food Festival – 11am-5pm. One of the top food events in Boston, the festival is New England’s premier event for food producers and eaters alike, seeking to support local food. Free. Rose F. Kennedy Greenway, Boston. BostonLocalFoodFestival.com. Integrative Therapies Expo – 1-5pm. Take this opportunity to try different modalities and listen to lectures and demonstrations. There will be a section dedicated to services for cancer patients, survivors and their families. A select number of vendors featuring natural body care, healthy foods and inspirational gifts will also be participating. Free. Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, 366 Main St, Sturbridge. 508-987-3310. PinkHippy.org.

Free Orientation: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program – 6-8pm. Cindy Gittleman, certified MBSR teacher, leads a free orientation about the MBSR program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Registration required. Free. Roots & Wings, 317 N Main St, Natick. 978-6577730. SnriseMindfulness.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 The Incredible Dr. You Workshop – 7:158:15pm. This first of 2 workshops breaks down the basics of Network Spinal Analysis, the method of chiropractic used at Newton Chiropractic. Get more out of your adjustments and enlighten yourself on just how incredible your body is at healing itself. Please RSVP. Free. Newton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre, 383 Elliot St, Ste 250, Newton. 617-964-3332. WellAdjusted.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Neurofeedback: Brain Training at its Best Psychological, Neurological, Cognitive Correction – 6:30-8pm. Come learn how neurofeedback works, what improving your brain can do for you, and what the research says. Free. Lincoln Public Library, 3 Bedford Rd, Lincoln. 781-444-9115. AdvancedNeurotherapy.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Skin Deep: Loving Herbal Care for Inner and Outer Beauty – Sept 22-24. 3-6pm. Beautiful radiant skin is the expression of a well-cared for healthy body and a quiet balanced mind. The plants are here to help us. $350-$395. Raven Crest Botanicals, 842 Canaday Hill Rd, Berne. 347866-0447. WeTravel.com/trips/skin-deep-lovingherbal-care-for-inner-and-outer-beauty-susannaraeven-berne-49219094. Mayor Walsh’s Movie Night – 7:30pm. Top Gun. Free. Frog Pond, 38 Beacon St, Boston. 617-6354505. Boston.gov/Events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Open House – 9:30am-1pm. Join us for a complimentary Yoga Barre with Heather and/ or stop by our lobby between 10:30am-1pm for raffles, giveaways, promotions, snacks and beverages and the opportunity to meet some of our instructors and therapists. Please sign in for the class. Free. Embody Fitness, 18 Adams St, Burlington. 781-999-2503. EmbodyFitness.net. Paws at the Beach Pet Festival and Walk – 10am-4pm. Our family-friendly festival will have vendors of all types, 1-mile beach walk, pet contests, music and more. Free. 997 Craigville Beach Rd, Craigville Beach, Centerville. 508-6489115. ColdNosesFoundation.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Reiki Level II Training & Certification – 9am7pm. Discover deeper teachings and practices within the system of reiki. Learn to practice with 3 symbols and mantras, as well as specific healing processes. CEUs for social workers, nurses and LMTs. Comprehensive course manual and ongoing support provided. Inquire regarding tuition discounts that may be available. $300. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856. BrennerReikiHealing.org.

The Keys to Women’s Sensual & Sexual Awakening, Healing & Pleasure – 1-4pm. The education about female anatomy and arousal that you always wished you had. Cutting-edge sex education plus tantra practices presented, and a homeplay program will be given for self-pleasure investigative practices. $100 includes a homeplay program. Sacred Temple Arts, private residence in downtown, Newburyport. 978-309-9399. SacredTempleArts.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Introduction to Fertility Awareness – 6:307:30pm. Are you interested in natural birth control or are you planning to conceive? We’ll talk about the benefits of charting your cycles. Free. The Democracy Center, 45 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge. 617-899-7624. ACFertilityAwareness.com. How to Speak So Your Legislators Will Listen – 7-8pm. Learn the most effective ways to reach your state legislators with Nancy Brumback, chair of the League of Women Voters of MA’s Legislative Action Committee. Free. Winchester Public Library, 80 Washington St, Winchester. 781-721-7171. WinPubLib.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

savethedate Free Meditation Classes Thru Oct 20. Ideal for beginners. Deepens your experience for those who already meditate. 4-wk series: guided visualizations, breathing and chanting, music for meditation and daily practice.

Friday, September 29

7:30 - 8:45 pm

Free. Easy Does It Movement Studio, 19 Mystic St, behind 493 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington. 727-657-9981. FreeMeditationBoston.org. Provincetown Inspiration Weekend – Sept 29Oct 1. Join us to fill your inner well, open your heart and tend to your spirit. Using music and spoken word, art and dance, this weekend is sure to help you access the fierce love that lives within. Register now. Sliding scale $30-$100 for the weekend. Fishermen Hall, 12 Winslow St, Provincetown. 650-743-0953. InspirationGatherings.org.

One-Year Shiatsu Certification Program – 9am-6pm. Become a Certified Practitioner of Zen Shiatsu, a form of Asian Bodywork Therapy. Classes meet one 4-day weekend per month. Affordable accommodations available. $8,000. Shiatsu School of Vermont, 24 High St, Brattleboro, VT. 802-246-0877. ShiatsuVT.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Free Introduction to Reiki – 10am-12pm. An overview of reiki, an ancient hands-on healing method for reducing stress, relieving pain and facilitating healing and personal growth. Preregistration required. Free. Arlington Reiki Associates, 366 Massachusetts Ave, Ste 304, Arlington. 781-648-9334. ArlingtonReiki.com. Lantern Festival in Chinatown – 10am-6pm. A day of festivities, lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, folk dances, games and special mooncakes to celebrate the traditional Chinese mid-Autumn festival. Chinatown park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway as well as throughout the neighborhood, Boston. Boston-Discovery-Guide. com/Boston-Events-September. Warriors and Yinjas Intensive – 11am-1pm. With Jacqui Bonwell. Uplift and deeply relax in this intensive workshop that includes both dynamic vinyasa and soulful yin yoga. Explore your edge by becoming still and holding poses, and discover how vinyasa encourages you to become an efficient, sophisticated, and organized mover, thinker and breather. $35. Revolution Community Yoga, 537 Massachusetts Ave, Acton. 978-2745596. YogaActon.com. Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival – 12-6pm. Takes place on 3 stages along a 6-block stretch. Also food, arts, crafts and an instrument “petting zoo” for kids. Free. Columbus Ave between Burke St & Massachusetts Ave, Boston. More info: Berklee.edu/BeanTownJazz.

savethedate Free Concert for Peace Experience deep peace at a concert of meditative music. East-West sounds, vocal and instrumental music composed by Sri Chinmoy and performed by his students.

Saturday, September 30

7:30 - 9 pm

Free. Cambridge/Arlington. 727-657-9981. FreeMeditationBoston.org.

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September 2017

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

daily Quincy Market History Tour – 11am, daily; 6pm, Wed; 2pm, Sat. Learn about Quincy Market’s central and ever-evolving role in Boston’s history. Meet guide by Pulse Café on South Market St. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 S Market, Boston. 617-523-1300. FaneuilHallMarketplace.com. Frog Pond Spray Pool – Thru Labor Day. 11am6pm. For 12 and under. Frog Pond turns into a spray pond for the summer. Lifeguards on duty during open hours. Free. Frog Pond at Boston Common. BostonFrogPond.com. Restorative Yoga – 4-6:30pm. With Billie Jo Joy. Anyone needing to chill out and rest body, mind and spirit. Props used to support total relaxation, giving you a chance to catch up with yourself. Open to beginners and experienced yogis, people with injuries and other precautions. $40/session. Art & Soul, 91 Hampshire St, Cambridge. 617594-1794. For specific dates: ArtSoulYoga.com.

sunday Celebration Service – 10-11:15am. Meditation, 9:45am. Service followed by fellowship. Free. Center for Spiritual Living of Greater Boston, 50 Dudley St, Cambridge. 617-947-2743. CSLBoston.org. SoWa Vintage Market – 10am-4pm. Designers, collectors, appreciators of the beautiful and unusual love this market. A cool, urban, vintage flea market featuring fresh vintage and designer finds every week. Free. SoWa Vintage Market, 450 Harrison Ave, Boston. SoWaVintageMarket.com. Vinyl Sundays at Short Path Distillery – 1-6pm. Bring your favorite LP and we’d be happy to spin it on the tasting room stereo system, or choose from our selection. Free. Short Path Distillery, 71 Kelvin St, Unit 2, Everett. ShortPathDistillery.com. Kirtan: The Music of Spirituality with Charlie Braun – 7-9pm. 2nd Sun. Charlie’s music is a creative outpouring of reflective melodies, sweet harmonies, in the groove rhythms and the space in between. Suggested donation: $15-$25. Eastover Estate and Retreat Center, 430 East St, Lenox. 866264-5139. Eastover.com.

monday Open P-Knotting at Noon – 12-12:45pm. Also Tues, Wed & Thurs. Individualized guided instruction on how to use the P-Knot. No P-Knot required. Free. P-Knot Industries, Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main St, Rm 1217, Pawtucket. 401753-2099. P-Knot.com.

Nia-Somatic Fitness Classes – 7:30-8:30pm. Nia technique is a blend of dance martial arts and healing arts set to music to fit your personal experience. All levels welcome. Discount cards available. $15. Om Namo Center, 21 Belmont St, Cambridge. 617-620-7654. OmNamoCenter.com.

a brief inspirational video. Free. Rigpa Boston, 24 Crescent St, Ste 308, Waltham. 619-906-4291. RigpaBoston.org.

tuesday

Shiatsu Community Clinic – 2pm. Enjoy a 30min shiatsu treatment in the classroom space. Book in advance or walk in. $20. Shiatsu School of Vermont, 24 High St, Brattleboro. 802-246-0877. ShiatsuVT.org.

Noon Concerts on the Freedom Trail – 12:15pm. Stop by to hear a 30-40-min concert. Performers vary each week and perform a wide variety of music ranging from jazz to folk, medieval to modern. $3 suggested donation. King’s Chapel, 64 Beacon St, Boston. 617-227-2155. Kings-Chapel.org. Stretch and Core Class – 4-4:30pm. Designed to help achy shoulders and necks, hips and lower backs with mostly stretches and some strengthening exercises. Core and balance is incorporated into this 30-min class. Appropriate for all fitness levels. $9/drop-in, $30/5 pack, $50/10 pack. Embody Fitness, 18 Adams St, Burlington. 781-999-2503. EmbodyFitness.net. Anxiety and Panic Support Group – 6:30pm. 1st Tues. Designed to offer a place where people with common interests and experience can meet. You are not alone in your experience, and knowledge is the key to living a symptom-free life. Free. Washington St, Newton. 617-849-3198. UCanBFearFree.com. Open Meditation – 7-8:15pm. A supportive environment with 45 mins of shamatha sitting. Appropriate for all levels with several breaks and

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

wednesday

Free Tour of Symphony Hall – 4pm select Wed. Also 2pm select Sat. Join volunteers on a behindthe-scenes tour and hear about the hall and the history and traditions of the famed musicians and conductors. Boston Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston. For available dates & times: 617-638-9390. BSO.org. Museum of Fine Arts Free Wednesdays – 6-9pm. An opportunity to sketch from live models and/or from objects in their collections. A drawing instructor provides insights on drawing technique and the artist-model relationship as it informs the creation of artwork. MFA, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston. 617-267-9300. MFA.org. Support Group for Spouses and Family Members of Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors – 6:30pm. 3rd Wed. Do you keep your questions, concerns or fears to yourself? Have you wished there were others you could talk with who have been in your shoes? Please join us for our monthly support group led by the husband of a breast cancer survivor. Free. Generations Healing Center, 250 Main St, Oxford. PinkHippy.org.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 7:308:30pm. 1st Wed. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. Free. Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut St, Franklin. 508-660-2223. LetsLaughToday.com. Public Open Night at the Observatory – 8:30pm, Spring/Summer; 7:30pm, Fall/Winter. A chance to come observe the night sky through telescopes and binoculars and see things you otherwise might not get to see. Held most Wed evenings throughout the year, weather permitting. Free. Coit Observatory at Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. 617-353-2630. BU.edu.

thursday Free Night at the ICA – 5-9pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave, Boston. ICABoston.org. Assabet Valley Holistic Mom’s Group – 7-8:30pm. 2nd Thurs. A non-profit organization that is gender neutral, open to the public. LGBT, singles, couples, marriages, teachers, professionals and individuals are welcome. Free. Maynard Public Library, 77 Nason St, Maynard. More info: 978-908-7870. SRR Thursday Night 4.06 Miler – 7:15-8:15pm. It may be raining. It may be hot or cold. The SRR Thursday night run will happen every week, no matter what. Free. Casey’s Bar, 171 Broadway, Somerville. SRR.org/Events/Thursday-Night-Race. Shift from Dis-Ease to Ease – 7:30-9pm. 2nd Thurs. Cancer? Be supported in how to manage your anxiety and explore how the interactions of your beliefs and feelings can have profound effects on your health and well-being. Presented by, Sonny Rose, MA, Founding Director of The Healing Beyond Cancer. Bring pen and paper. Free. Roots and Wings Healing Center, 317 N Main St, Natick. 978-369-7733. TheHealingBeyondCancer.com. Observatory Night – 7:30-9:30pm. 3rd Thurs. A non-technical lecture and telescopic observing from the observatory roof if weather permits. Free. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge. 617-495-7461. CFA.Harvard.edu.

friday Belmont Youth Running Club – 7-7:30am. The goal of this free club is to show your passion for running and to help youth and beginner runners learn to enjoy the sport in a safe and fun environment. We will stretch, run, laugh and plank. Bring a bottle of water. Belmont Reservoir, corner of Payson Rd & Oak St, Belmont. 617-4384467. Facebook.com/Belmont-Youth-RunningClub-198154413907597. Health Lecture Series – 10am. 1st Fri. An informative discussion for parents and caregivers on a variety of parent- and child-related topics such as nutrition, behavior, community resources and more. Held in the Old Country Buffet, Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968. Watertown-Mall.com.

Blood Pressure Screenings – 10am-12pm. 1st Fri. Free blood pressure screenings in front of the Old Country Buffet. Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St, Watertown. 617-926-4968. Watertown-Mall.com. Second Fridays – 5-8pm. Free with admission at the MIT Museum on the 2nd Fri each month. Mingle with friends in the unique galleries and see some of the latest research coming out of MIT. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 617-253-5927. MIT.edu/Museum. SoWa First Fridays – 5-9pm. 1st Fri. Over 60 galleries south of Washington St and at the Artist’s Guild, nearby businesses and restaurants open their doors to give you a chance to experience the vibrant South End arts community. Free. Start at 450 Harrison Ave, follow gallery lights around the neighborhood. Monthly Community Reiki Clinic – 7-8:45pm. 1st Fri. Make an appointment for a 30-min reiki session. Appointment times are 7-7:30pm, 7:358:05pm & 8:10-8:40pm. $10. Brenner Reiki Healing, 324 Central St, Newton. 617-244-8856. BrennerReikiHealing.org.

saturday Intuitive Training for Your Business – 9-11am. Find that place where your business is in support of your soul. Your soul feeds your intuition. Your intuition tells you what to do next. $300. Center for Psychic Healing and Online Training, 248 Main St, Harwich. 707-849-7793. CenterFor PsychicHealing.com.

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

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

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

PRODUCTS

The Marketplace at Simpson Spring – 10am2pm. Includes farmers, bakers, artisans and local entrepreneurs. Stop in to browse or take in our featured entertainment, local authors, educational seminars and lecturers. 719 Washington St, South Easton. SimpsonSpringMarketplace.com.

SPRINGHILL STATUARY - HOME OF THE $10 STATUE – Pet memorials, Angels, Buddha statues, bird baths. Many dog breeds. Shipping worldwide. Open year round. 75 Laura St, Tiverton. 401-314-6752. SpringhillStatuary.com.

Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga – 11am12pm. 2nd Sat. Any age and any level of physical ability can enjoy this unique exercise of laughter and clapping combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body’s cells. Free. Unitarian Church of Sharon, 4 N Main St, Sharon. 508-660-2223. LetsLaughToday.com.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN MINDFULNESS USING CHI-ENERGY AWARENESS – Learn to: Connect to your brain’s “Peaceful Spot.” Create 3-dimensional holograms inside your brain, so you can consciously explore your past, present and future experiences. Connect to your Internal Intelligence that activates deeper abilities within you. For more info, see the website of Energy Awareness Teacher Walter Ness: InteractiveMindfulness.com/videos/adee.php.

Greenway Open Market – Thru Oct. 11am-5pm. An eclectic mix of crafts, art, music and locally produced products from Boston. Gourmet food trucks. Different mix of vendors every week. Rose Kennedy Greenway, near Rings Fountain along the Wharf District parks. Boston-DiscoveryGuide.com. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Meeting – 4:30pm. Are you having trouble controlling what you eat? Attend this meeting and hear experience, strength and hope from members who have found this solution and are recovering from food addiction. Learn more about the FA programs and how it may help you or someone you know and love. Free. Christ Church, 33 Central St, Andover. 617-610-3748. FoodAddicts.org. Neutrality Night with Stephen Dupre – 8pm. Have some fun and learn simple techniques to get neutral to experience real-time energy shifts. Register online: first 10 will get issues addressed on the call. Free. Online event. 401-405-1669. ThePowerOfNeutrality.com/events.

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

SERVICES TRANSFORMATIONAL ASTROLOGY READINGS WITH AYURVEDIC CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS – Aura read. Yoga therapy, body-centered therapy to resolve issues. Free Triple Reiki with each reading. Email for appt: LiliesOfTheField6.25@gmail.com.

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September 2017

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

ACTIVE ISOLATED STRETCHING THE A.I.S. INSTITUTE

80 School St, Watertown 617-905-3038 TheAISInstitute.com TheAISInstitute@gmail.com Specializing in Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) that works with the body’s natural physiological makeup to bolster flexibility, improve circulation and increase the elasticity of muscle, joints and fascia. See ad, page 26.

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY CENTRAL SQUARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Kristine Jelstrup, CMFT, CBK, LMT 126 Prospect St, Ste 5, Cambridge, 02139 617-833-3407 Kristine@CentralSquareHealthAnd Wellness.com CentralSquareHealthAndWellness.com Achieve optimal health physically, emotionally, nutritionally. Kristine uses a form of muscle response testing to identify and clear nervous system interference, facilitating optimal health. See ad, page 12.

ACUPUNCTURE

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, back page.

LIFE GATE ACUPUNCTURE

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, postconcussion, peak performance and more. See ad, page 11.

BRAINCORE NEUROFEEDBACK 132 Central St, Ste 205A, Foxboro 844-272-4666 Info@BrainCoreUSA.com BrainCoreUSA.com

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

Karina Beleno Carney, Lic.Ac., brings over 10 years experience of effective and compassionate acupuncture, Chinese herbs and TuiNa treatments. Serving Nashoba Valley. See ad, page 29.

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

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

COACHING A COMMON THREAD COACHING

GROTON WELLNESS

Quan Zhou, LicAc, Nutritionist 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com

CHIROPRACTIC

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

Natural solutions to ADHD, autism, migraines, memory loss and mental fatigue do exist. BrainCore is helping families increase grades in school, become more productive at work, manage emotions with calmness and security, and regain their health.

James Ashton 646-262-3037 ACommonThread99@gmail.com

Looking to improve an area of your life or to heal a personal/ business relationship? I can assist you in discovering a new path forward. My specialties: family dynamics, personal/work relationships and career development.

JANINE GILARDE, RN

617-610-0734 Janine@Coach4HealthyLiving.com Looking for ways to better manage stress, improve health or lose weight? Want support in moving beyond old patterns that are holding you back? Health and Wellness Coaching and reiki can help. See ad, page 10.

TAKE THE LEAP COACHING

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

COLON HYDROTHERAPY GROTON WELLNESS

Katryn Miller, MEd, LMT, Colon Hydrotherapist 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com 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, back page.

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 36.

COMPOSTING CITY COMPOST

978-378-3048 Info@CityCompost.com CityCompost.com An at-home collection service that turns food scraps into soil to grow more fresh food. Meat and dairy acceptable. Call today to learn more. See ad, page 6.

COMPOUNDING & WELLNESS PHARMACY DINNO HEALTH

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

Stephen Bernardi 577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 Steve@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com

GROTON WELLNESS – FAMILY DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS, MEDICAL, SPA, CAFÉ 493-495 Main St (Off Rte 119) Groton, MA 01450 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com

Groton Wellness is a vibrant center for health and healing consisting of Holistic Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, an Integrative Medical Practice, a therapeutic detoxification spa, and a clean food, farm-to-table café—all working together to provide exceptional community health care. We also offer exciting talks, cleanses, classes and events, many of which are free to the community. Groton Wellness uses IV therapy, nutrition management, herbal medicine, bio-identical hormone balancing, EAV testing, colon hydrotherapy, acupuncture and many other holistic therapies to treat patients from head-to-toe. We have enormous success treating chronic health issues such as Lyme disease, cancer, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, mold, internal toxicity and more. See ad, back page.

DIVINE HEALING BHVANA’S WELLNESS GROUP

512 Main St, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 Bhavnasrivastava@BhWellnessGroup.com BhWellnessGroup.com Call now to receive Divine healing energy to release pain from your heart, soul, body and allow for love and joy to enter your life. See ad, page 6.

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 15.

HEALTH COACH DENTIST DR. IVETA IONTCHEVA-BAREHMI DMD, MS, D.SC.

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

YOUR WELLNESS SCOUT Kirsten Wright-Cirit 919-593-2943 YourWellnessScout@gmail.com YourWellnessScout.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 9.

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

September 2017

HERBAL STUDIES THE BOSTON SCHOOL OF HERBAL STUDIES

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

HYPNOTHERAPY THOUGHT ALCHEMY

Rose Siple, Certified Hypnotherapist 774-991-0574 Info@ThoughtAlchemy.guru Transform yourself and achieve your goals through the transformative healing process of hypnotherapy. Aren’t you tired of talking about it and thinking about it? We specialize in Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis for weight loss. Call today. See ad on page 13 .

We offer two Herbal Apprenticeship Programs, Advanced Training, Aromatherapy Certification and a series of Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon classes. Please visit our website. See ad, page 8.

LYME SPECIALIST PETER HOWE

98 Parmenter Rd, Framingham, MA 01701 508-838-1101 Info@PeterHoweHealer.com Lyme requires a mutli-dimensional approach. With the use of Quantum Reflex Analysis, Zyto, and nutritional support we can identify the Lyme, its supporting bacteria and remediate them. Returning the person to one’s health. See ad, page 11.

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

Board-certified MD in gynecology and integrative medicine. Hormone balancing, nutrition and detoxification are keys to optimal health. See ad, page 12.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 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.

Irina is trained in holistic modalities such as weight management, whole body detoxification, nutraceuticals, essential oils, spiritual medical intuition and kinesiology. Irina’s training extends to endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, depression, anxiety and sex hormone deficiencies. She also practices holistic gynecology, bio-identical hormone restoration, neurotherapy, endocrine disorders and ozone therapy. See ad, back page.

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

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

MIND-BODY MEDICINE BODYMIND REPATTERNING

GROTON WELLNESS

Irina Serebryakova, Holistic, NP 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com

NEWTON CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS CENTRE

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 35.

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 35.

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

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

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

GROTON WELLNESS

Grace Ramsey-Coolidge, LMHC 493-495 Main St, Groton 978-449-9919 GrotonWellness.com Grace Ramsey-Coolidge is a Heart- and Energy-Based Psychotherapist who practices process-oriented care that focuses on the interactions between the mind, body and spirit to target the root cause of issues using kinesiology and energetic medicine. A Reiki Master, she teaches meditation techniques, energetic medicine classes and chakra seminars. See ad, back page.

NUTRITION COACHING Olivia Napoli Boston, MA 917-576-4078 Olivia@OliviaNapoli.com OliviaNapoli.ccom

What if you could look and feel your best every single day? It’s possible. As an Integrative Nutrition Coach, I specialize in healthy eating and lifestyle, including one-on-one nutrition coaching, corporate wellness, group health programs, weight loss, cooking demos and more.

NATURAL HEALTH 98 Parmenter Rd, Framingham, MA 01701 508-838-1101 Info@PeterHoweHealer.com Through a mutli-modatlity approach, Peter’s practice utilizes the wisdom of ancient knowledge with the science of modern day. Addressing the person’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs that will support the client’s health or return to health. See ad, page 11.

GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD

Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery See ad, page 15.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE KERI LAYTON, ND

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

“You don’t really expect

a magazine to change your life, but that’s flipping through

exactly what happened to me with Natural Awakenings! I saw an ad for the Boston

REIKI

PETER HOWE

Our Readers Speak Out

OLIVIA NAPOLI WELLNESS

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.

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.

School of Herbal Studies that caught my eye. It felt

exactly what I had been looking for both personally like

and professionally so I quickly enrolled in the apprenticeship program and upon graduation started my herbal body care product line. I’m

glad I picked up that issue – I can’t imagine my life if I hadn’t!” so

~ Natalia K., Sweet & Sacred

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

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

To participate in our next issue, contact us today!

617-906-0232 Publisher@Natural AwakeningsBoston.com

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September 2017

JANINE GILARDE, RN

FIND US WHEREVER YOU ARE! Visit Us At NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

REIKI OF GREATER BOSTON

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

SPIRITUALITY Like Us At NaturalAwakeningsBoston and Natural Pet Boston

PETER HOWE

98 Parmenter Rd, Framingham, MA 01701 508-838-1101 Info@PeterHoweHealer.com

Peter offers every 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening meditation at 7pm. Once a month Peter offers sweat lodge. Both are for those who seek to find awareness for the heart and soul. See ad, page 11.

TANTRA/SACRED SEXUALITY SACRED TEMPLE ARTS Sacha L. Fossa, MA, ACTE 978-309-9399 SacredTempleArts.com

Ready to radically improve your sex and love life, with or without a partner? Cutting-edge holistic sex, relationship and intimacy coaching, energy and bodywork for your sexual healing and empowerment. In person and/or Skype. See ad, page 19.

THERMOGRAPHY METROWEST THERMAL IMAGING

Susan Shaw Saari, Lic.Ac., CCT, MEd, MAOM, Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM) 781-899-2121 Sue@Thpclinic.com, MyThermography.com A clinical imaging technique that records thermal patterns of the body to help diagnose and monitor pain or pathology in any part of the body. See ad, page 29.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT JANINE GILARDE, RN

YOGA If you can be content right now, then you’ll always be content, because it’s always right now. ~Willie Nelson

Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

CECILE RAYNOR

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

Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in natural awakenings

September 2017