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HOW THE BODY-MIND CONNECTION WORKS
INFLAMMATION: HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?
COPING WITH A RETURN TO THE OFFICE September 2021 | Greater Boston / Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
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DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 10 health briefs 11 global briefs 12 practitioner spotlight 22 conscious eating 24 healing ways 28 fit body 30 resource guide
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Natural Awakenings | Greater Boston/Rhode Island | September 2021 issue
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12 MCARDLE CHIROPRACTIC
INFLAMMATION: HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?
Integrative Care for the Entire Family
14 ART’S EMBRACE
Healing Through Creativity
18 COPING WITH A RETURN TO THE OFFICE
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22 EATING TO DECREASE CHRONIC INFLAMMATION
24 CONQUERING CHRONIC PAIN How the Body-Mind Connection Works
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25 SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT Laser Therapy for Chronic Pain and Injuries
28 YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA
Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System
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letter from publisher Stories about what may have seemed to be a wrong turn or a chance encounter that have changed a person’s life forever never cease to amaze me. I’m sure we all have a story or two and likely more, about a seemingly innocuous decision or even an accident that changed the trajectory of our lives forever. One such story is shared in our feature article, “Art’s Embrace, Healing Through Creativity,” by Sandra Yeyati. Yeyati relays the story of how a wrong turn onto Skid Row by violinist and recording artist, Vijay Gupta, led to the founding of the nonprofit, Street Symphony, in 2011. Still going strong, 10 years later, Street Symphony continues to bring music to homeless and incarcerated communities. Thousands of lives have been impacted in positive and productive ways, all because one man took a wrong turn. Tracing a “wrong turn” I took back in 2009 led me to purchasing the Greater Boston edition of Natural Awakenings in 2010, so I’m happy to say, YAY to “wrong” turns, especially when they were actually the perfect turn after all. As we wind down the last days of summer and start closing in on cooler weather, I hope we get to see you at the Boston Local Food Festival. The Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts hosts the 11th annual event on Sunday, September 19, at the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway, in Boston. Join us at this free event and experience healthy local food, products, workshops and activities from suppliers across New England. Visit BostonLocalFoodFestival.com for more information. We’ll be somewhere on the Greenway so stop by and share one of your “wrong turn” stories. We’d love to meet you. Peace,
Maisie
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news briefs
Yoga Studio Offers Introductory Svaroopa Class
Time for You Yoga is hosting a free Newcomers’ yoga class from 2 to 3:30 p.m., September 25, at its studio in Cumberland, Rhode Island, for students new to the studio. Participants are invited to explore how Svaroopa yoga can help them feel better and learn how this style of yoga is radically different: easy to do and adaptable for every body. This session will introduce Svaroopa yoga through four basic poses known as the Magic Four, a short, guided awareness and time for questions. The Magic Four is a sequence of beginning Svaroopa poses that target specific parts of the spine to unravel tension. The poses are adapted to each student and use chairs, blocks and blankets for support and propping. The class will be taught by the studio’s instructors Maria Sichel, Janice O’Brien and Suzanne Lincoln, offering individualized attention, so the poses effectively ease the body and mind. Sichel explains, “Stress and tension are like boulders in a riverbed blocking the flow of energy. Svaroopa yoga offers people tools to remove those blocks. As tension in the spine is decompressed, inner healing and bliss are unlocked.” No yoga mat or prior yoga experience is needed. Class space is limited, and reservations are required. Reserve a spot by calling the studio. Dress comfortably and plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the class start time. Cost: Free. Location: 2155 Diamond Hill Rd., Cumberland, RI. For more information, call Maria Sichel at 401-305-5319 or visit TimeForYouYoga.com. See Resource Guide on pag 34. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
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news briefs
Martha’s Vineyard Photographer Gives Struggling Musicians Support Martha’s Vineyard photographer Michael Blanchard, dubbed “the Ansel Adams of the recovery world” by Recovery Today Magazine, is donating a share of profits from his award-winning 2019 book, Through A Sober Lens: A Photographer’s Journey, to MusiCares, a charitable organization that gives musicians a support system of services across a spectrum of needs, including physical and mental health, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster, and COVID-19 relief. Blanchard’s message has found resonance with readers around the world since the launch of his Facebook page in 2012 and the publication of his first book, Fighting For My Life, in 2014. Through A Sober Lens won the Gold Medal for Most Inspirational Book at the 2020 Benjamin Franklin Awards, and the reissue of Fighting For My Life has been nominated for Best Art and Photography Book in 2021. Both books blend personal essays with vivid landscape photos taken on Martha’s Vineyard. In Fighting For My Life, Blanchard chronicles his journey from the depths of alcoholism, suicidal despair and a court-mandated rehabilitation program to a new life filled with caring, joy and contribution through his newfound gift of photography. The book is credited with helping thousands of people better understand the disease of addiction and take the first steps towards recovery. He further explores that journey in Through A Sober Lens. “As I looked at life through a sober lens, I began to see the world for the first time,” he writes. “My camera became my transporter to places and people I would have never known. I started chasing light rather than alcohol. I started seeing spiritual energy instead of only darkness. I finally acknowledged that darkness and light are required to make a photograph—and life—beautiful.” Blanchard has raised tens of thousands of dollars through his writing and photography to support mental health and substance abuse treatment on Martha’s Vineyard. His publisher, Genevieve Press, recently released a “jail-friendly,” updated paperback edition of Fighting For My Life that will allow individuals incarcerated for drug and alcohol offenses to obtain copies of it. Both books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For more information, visit BlanchardPhotoMV.com. 8
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news briefs
Spa Paula B. Adds Organic Skincare to Its Newton Spa
One of the lines available for retail and for use in facial treatments at Spa Paula B., in Newton, is Arboretum Skincare, a Newton-based company, that handmakes antiaging facial products from nature’s finest ingredients. These plantbased formulas have been perfected by a skin scientist to give noticeable results. Hands Organics Skincare is also available for sale and for use in facial treatments. Hands Organics Skincare is botanical-infused, organic, small-batch skincare made from minimally processed ingredients that support people’s skin while caring for the planet. Spa Paula B. also offers an organic lash lift service that has a low odor and is gentle on the eyelashes. Location: Inside, My Salon Suites Plaza at 150 California St., Ste. 504, Newton, MA. Online scheduling is available at SpaPaulaB.com/services. For more information, call 877-772-8522. See Resource Guide on page 33.
At-Home Neuro Training with RI Neurofeedback
RI Neurofeedback offers three ways to train the brain to function at peak performance levels: in-office sessions, athome training or monthly rentals. Using the advanced neurotechnology, NeurOptimal, this innovative form of neurofeedback is not a medical treatment, but rather a training for the brain. It doesn’t matter what the starting point is—every brain can benefit and tap into its own unique optimal state. The program is incredibly simple to learn and operate; training is effortless and is also 100 percent non-invasive, which means training can begin at any time. Science is showing us that we have more control over our moods and mental states than we previously thought. When thought processes are disorganized or dysregulated, simple things feel more difficult and life becomes challenging. Having a calmer, more regulated brain and nervous system contributes immensely to the daily felt experience of our lives. Neuro training can teach people the skills to cope with and overcome all types of anxiety, stress, insomnia, ADHD, mood disorders and depression. For more information, call 401-282-0230 or visit RINeuro feedback.com. See ad on page 13 and Resource Guide on page 30.
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Certain Fruits Can Protect Against Diabetes Eating two servings of fruit a day lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 36 percent in five years compared to eating less than half a serving, suggests research from Australia’s Edith Cowan University Institute for Nutrition Research. The study followed 7,676 people and found that higher total fruit intake of apples, bananas, oranges and other citrus fruits was linked to better measures of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The same pattern did not hold for fruit juice. Previous U.S. cohort studies have found that eating three servings per week of certain fruits lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes by the following percentages: blueberries (26 percent), grapes and raisins (12 percent), apples and pears (7 percent) and bananas and grapefruits (5 percent). Three servings of cantaloupe, however, raises the risk by 10 percent.
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health briefs
Being an early bird or night owl is more than a matter of preference: A person’s natural rhythms are dictated by 351 genetic variants, scientists have found. New research published in Molecular Psychiatry shows that sleeping out of sync with that inborn body clock makes a person more likely to experience depression, anxiety and reduced well-being. Researchers from the UK University of Exeter used genetic data on more than 450,000 people to determine their natural body clocks, including whether they identified themselves as a morning or evening person. Data from the digital wrist devices of 85,000 people was also used to measure the “social jet lag” of variations in sleep patterns between work and free days—when early birds stay up late to socialize on weekends or night owls wake up early for work. The researchers found that being genetically programmed to be an early riser protects against major depression and improves well-being, perhaps because society’s 9-to-5 working pattern coincides with early risers. Generally, morning people had a lower BMI and were older, more likely to be female, of higher socioeconomic status and less likely to be current smokers than evening people.
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Stay in Tune with Our Body Clock to Sidestep the Blues
A Chinese study of 6,160 adults 80 or older found that a healthy lifestyle cuts the risk of cognitive impairment by half, even if a person carries the APOE ε4 gene that is linked to cognitive loss and Alzheimer’s. Researchers used data from the ongoing Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to determine the eating, exercising and smoking habits of subjects. They found that those with healthy lifestyles were 55 percent less likely to be cognitively impaired and those with intermediately healthy lifestyles lowered their risk 28 percent. This reduction was greater than the increased risk of cognitive impairment resulting from the APOE ε4 gene, which was 17 percent.
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Healthy Choices Mitigate Cognitive Health Reduction
global briefs
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Wealth Distribution Linked to Urban Canopies
It’s not surprising that more urban trees lower the levels of heat and pollution. Although many cities maintain tree-planting programs, not all canopies have equivalent value. A new analysis from the American Forests conservation organization states that the U.S needs to plant more than half a billion trees across 500 metropolitan areas and 150,000 local communities. A new Tree Equity Score data tool (TreeEquityScore. org) allows users to see where urban trees exist and where they don’t. American Forests identified 20 large American cities that are lacking in canopies to protect their populations from hotter temperatures. Tree canopies are particularly effective in reducing health stress associated with urban heat “islands”. It was also found that a pattern of inequitable distribution of trees has deprived many communities of the health and other benefits that sufficient tree cover can deliver. Communities of color have 33 percent less tree canopy on average than majority white communities. Jad Daley, American Forests president and CEO, says, “We need to make sure the trees go where the people are, and more than 70 percent of the people live in cities or suburbs, so it’s a placebased problem with a place-based solution.”
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Farm Waste Doubles as Construction Material Agricultural waste (agro-waste) such as manure, leaf litter and crop residues may not be thought of as likely raw materials for sustainable construction, but with traditional materials like concrete eliciting a negative environmental reputation, implementation of agro-waste is being explored around the world. Recycling, as an important part of agro-waste’s green potential, is making the use of construction materials more organic and sustainable, and helping reduce landfill issues. A 2018 study, Agro-industrial wastes and their utilization using solid state fermentation: a review, notes agrowastes are an eco-friendly means of manufacturing “biofuels, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants, animal feed, antibiotics and other chemicals.” This same study observed, “Many agro-industrial wastes are untreated and underutilized, therefore disposed of either by burning, dumping or unplanned landfilling, which contributes to climate change by increasing greenhouse gases.” Another study found that integrating agro-wastes such as sugarcane bagasse, rice husks and groundnut shells improved the construction materials by enhancing their sustainability properties, boosting their durability and reducing costs.
Penny Pincher
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Electric Vehicles Demand Far Less Maintenance The U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory reports that overall maintenance costs for a light-duty, battery-powered car are around 40 percent less per mile than for a gasoline-powered model. Not only do they not require motor oil, they also have no timing belts, oxygen sensors, fuel filters, spark plugs, multiple-speed transmissions and other parts. The difference is on average for gasoline-powered cars—10 cents per mile; hybrid cars—nine cents per mile; and electric cars (EV)—six cents per mile. EVs may have a higher initial investment cost, but their lower maintenance and increased mileage make them especially attractive to companies or government agencies with large fleets of vehicles. Motor Trend magazine estimates that an all-electric fleet of the federal government’s light-duty vehicles would be $78 million cheaper per year to maintain than if it were entirely gas-powered. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
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practitioner spotlight
McArdle Chiropractic Integrative Care for the Entire Family by Wendy Nadherny Fachon McArdle Chiropractic and Wellness Center, in Cranston, Rhode Island, is run by a husband-andwife team, Dr. Catie McArdle and Dr. Robert Sedlor, who provide holistic care, integrating chiropractic techniques with advice in preventative care, nutritional health, exercise and proper ergonomics. The team offers chiropractic care for all ages. The first visit is an evaluation. The patient articulates his personal goals, and the practitioner assesses the patient’s current condition and starts to develop an individualized treatment plan. McArdle explains, “A goal may be to get off pain medication, or it may be something as simple as being able to garden or do some other activity. Ultimately, we want our patients to be able to continue doing what they love.” The majority of patients seek treatment for neck and back pain, sciatica or headaches. Both McArdle and Sedlor apply various techniques and 12
tools, such as flexion-distraction, trigger point therapy, myofascial release and physiotherapy. Flexion-distraction therapy, for example, is performed on a segmented table that moves. Combined with the movements of the table, chiropractic manipulations stretch and decompress the spine to relieve back, leg, neck or arm pain. Physiotherapies complement manual adjustments and can help to decrease the healing time of an injury, strengthen muscles and reduce muscle spasm, pain and inflammation. McArdle Chiropractic offers different forms of physiotherapies, including electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound therapy, hydrocollator heat therapy and cryotherapy with ice. The patient-tailored treatment plan will include taking good care of the self and spine at home. Ergonomic changes, such as sleeping and sitting positions, are as important as manual manipulations and other
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corrective techniques. Treatment will also include physical and systematic re-evaluations, so adjustments can be made to the treatment plan. The pandemic has led to a tremendous amount of stress for individuals and families. Chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate the stress, which might include muscle knots in the neck, back and shoulders. Adjustments can also influence the immune system by targeting the nerves that may be blocking immune response. McArdle Chiropractic, located at 2220 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, RI, is open six days a week with both early morning and late evening appointments and welcomes new patients. For more information, call 401-383-3400 or visit McArdleChiropractic.com. See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 30. Wendy Nadherny Fachon is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings.
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ART’S EMBRACE Healing Through Creativity by Sandra Yeyati Art can be a powerful force for healing. Its potential manifests in a disabled man’s triumphant dance or cancer patient’s stirring self-portrait. Throughout America, art’s redemption takes center stage at hospitals, nursing homes, jails and homeless shelters. Even an entire city can be transformed when its citizens embrace public art to add beauty, create community and heal its broken places.
ART IN MEDICAL SETTINGS According to Jill Sonke, director of the University of Florida (UF) Center for Arts in Medicine, approximately half of U.S. hospitals have art programs that provide positive distraction, enjoyment and connection. To humanize otherwise intimidating environments, visual artists and musicians are employed to install appealing exhibits and play relaxing music. Artists also work at the bedside with patients as part of inter-professional care teams. Serving as an artist-in-residence early in her career, Sonke remembers a young female patient with sickle cell disease whose bouts of extreme pain required hospitalization. Dance sessions eased her suffering and enabled doctors to reduce pain medications. “The way the patient described it was not that the pain was going away, but that she didn’t mind it as much because she was enjoying dancing,” she says. While facilitating Dance for Life classes for Parkinson’s patients, Sonke encountered a man suffering limited mobility and an inability to form facial expressions. After two months of biweekly sessions, he could lift his arms over his head and, to his wife’s delight, smile again. “It’s that multimodal capacity of the arts,” Sonke explains. “All at the same time, he was engaging in music, movement and imagery. He was moving with others and experiencing joy and laughter.” According to Sonke, ongoing research seeks to pinpoint the public health benefits of art. In Britain, they have learned that people over 50 visiting museums or concerts once a month are almost half as likely to develop depression in older age. Other studies suggest that music can unlock memories and improve cognition. UF researchers are currently investigating whether live music in emergency and trauma care settings can reduce the need for opioids. “When people engage in the arts, they often enter into a flow state, that experience of losing yourself in art where we lose track of time and what we’re doing is
intrinsically motivated,” Sonke says. “A flow state can engage a relaxation response, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, which can enhance immune function.”
ART THERAPY FOR CANCER PATIENTS Board-certified art therapist Mallory Montgomery helps cancer patients in Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital work through symptoms of depression, anxiety or trauma. “Any person seeking a talk therapist or social worker could also consult with an art therapist,” she says. “We have the same training, but use art instead of just words. Evidence suggests that art therapy accesses healing faster because you’re forging a deep mind/body connection.” When counseling a double mastectomy patient that has questions about who they are now that they’re missing a part of their identity, Montgomery might offer a printed body map so that they can pinpoint where they carry feelings of loss, pain or confusion. “By drawing or coloring in those areas, I’m asking them to show how they’re being affected physically, emotionally and spiritually, and to externalize the overwhelming, negative side of their problem,” she explains. Using a second body map, Montgomery might invite the patient to draw or paint in those same areas to transform the pain into something more positive. “Is it going to blossom like a flower or be soothed with water? What imagery can you create that represents the opposite of your pain or an improvement of your concerns? We might also do a portrait to highlight other aspects of you and your personality that still exist, even though you no longer have a body part that was killing you,” she says. Montgomery’s emphasis is never on the quality of the art. “I walk the fine line between allowing patients to problem-solve how to make something look like what’s in their head and providing them with comfort and intervention so they don’t get so frustrated that they want to give up,” she notes. Montgomery keeps a visual journal for her own self-expression. “It helps me make sense of the world,” she says. “Art gives my voice and thoughts an outlet, something concrete and representational that reaches into the depth of what I’m experiencing.”
REDEMPTION SONGS IN SKID ROW About 10 years ago, violinist and recording artist Vijay Gupta took a wrong turn and ended up in Skid Row, a
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disadvantaged downtown Los Angeles neighborhood. “It felt like a gut punch,” he recalls. “I saw the gross inequality between Walt Disney Concert Hall where I performed for the LA Philharmonic and a community of 5,000 people less than two miles away sleeping in tents in extreme poverty.” To uplift and inspire people recovering from homelessness, addiction and incarceration, Gupta founded Street Symphony in 2011 as a series of concert performances by world-class musicians. “One of our first venues was the Department of Mental Health,” he recalls. “After the second movement, the young violist I was performing with turned to the audience with tears in his eyes and said, ‘I’ve loved playing for you because I can feel your hearts.’ He shared that his mother had grappled with schizophrenia, his father was a prison guard and whenever he played for his family, he felt more connected to them. That’s when I began to see him as a human being who was in deep need of this work himself.” Gupta has learned firsthand that healing is a two-way street. “When I come to Skid Row, I’m the one who feels lifted,” he says. As a result, Street Symphony has morphed into a collection of workshops and conversations that also employs jazz, reggae, hip-hop and West African musicians and vocalists from the Skid Row community. “We might play 30 minutes of music and then ask the audience what images, thoughts or memories came up for them,” he explains. In this community, art is neither entertainment nor a commodity, Gupta says. “It’s a lifeline; a way for people that have been devastated by poverty, addiction or trauma to add to their lives in a constructive way. We all have devastated places within ourselves that need healing and attention. Visiting Skid Row is a pilgrimage to the broken place within myself, and in that way, it’s a spiritual place; my temple where I go to worship.”
CREATIVE CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA Drawing from her theater background, Anne Basting, author of Creative Care, has developed an innovative approach to dementia and elder care. “Our current caregiving model envisions one person that’s empty and has lots of needs and the other person that’s full and pours themself into the other person, which leads to burnout,” she says. “Dementia and aging are experiences of increasing separation. People isolate themselves and learn not to trust their own expressive capacities, because their relatives and friends no longer know how to relate with them and often ignore their words.” Basting’s Creative Care changes this depleting dynamic. “In improvisational theater, you observe everything that’s happen-ing on stage and try to figure out how you can add to the performance positively,” she explains. “Applying that idea to a care situation, you observe the person’s facial expressions, what they’re saying, how they’re behaving and then invite them into expression out of that moment with what we call a ‘beautiful question’, one that has no right or wrong answers 16
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and draws on the person’s strengths.” A beautiful question might be, “If your feet could talk, what would they say?” This offers people with pain a poetic way to express it. “I invited a gentleman with dementia who had no language—no words left—to show me how water moves. His response was the most beautiful dance I’d ever experienced, performed in the kitchen of his duplex,” Basting recalls, adding that it’s important to acknowledge the person’s expression so they know they’ve been heard. The final step in Creative Care is to accumulate these experiences over time and shape something larger and universally meaningful that can be shared with others—an artistic product. Basting founded the nonprofit TimeSlips to train artists and caregivers worldwide to do this visionary work. Their efforts have resulted in art exhibits, dance and theater productions, books and animations. “My dream is that meaning and beauty will be made every day in nursing homes, creating care settings so interesting that people want to visit them—a new kind of cultural center, integrating health and art,” she says.
TRANSFORMING A CITY WITH PUBLIC ART More than 4,000 works of public art grace the city of Philadelphia, three-quarters of which are breathtaking murals that combine world-class paintings and images with provocative words and healing messages. Art permeates virtually every neighborhood on walls, billboards, sidewalks, rooftops, swimming pools and basketball courts, enriching people from all walks of life, even those that don’t have access to galleries and museums. “Public art lifts our spirits, provides us with beauty and inspires us,” says Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP). “It can be evocative, challenging and educational, as well, serving as a barometer of our time—a system of checks and balances and a mirror that we hold up to people and say that your life counts and you matter.” In addition to sponsoring 75 to 100 new works every year, MAP’s $10 million budget funds programs related to criminal justice, art education, housing insecurity, behavioral health, community development and environmental justice. According to Golden, the healing power of art is not just in the mural, but also in its collaborative creation. In addition to artists and educators, hundreds of people work on these projects, including individuals grappling with addiction or homelessness, veterans with PTSD and immigrants and refugees facing isolation and stigma. “The act of creating is a meditative and healing experience, and because you’re part of a larger effort, it connects you to your community,” Golden says. “People start to feel a sense of purpose and value. They start to believe in themselves again.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
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Coping with a Return to the Office by Jolene Ross As people return to working in an office, many are feeling anxious and overwhelmed. For some, after many months of isolation, they may be feeling anxious about returning to a social environment. For people that are not ordinarily social, it has taken years of practicing social skills to get to where they were before COVID-19 started. Now, after a year and a half of not practicing these skills, the muscle has weakened, making socializing even more difficult than it was at the start of the pandemic. For other individuals, they may find themselves uncomfortable in their own skin and feeling self-conscious. For example, weight gain has been a common occurrence due to the more home-bound lifestyle people adopted during the pandemic. Under ordinary circumstances, social anxiety is eased by getting back to interacting with people little by little; however, because of the Delta variant, now is not the time to start going to public places. Try staying to oneself initially at the office, and then bit by bit, behind a mask, ease into socializing to become reaccustomed to the experience. It will get easier in time. Catching COVID-19 in the office is also a real concern. Everyone became used to the physical distancing and some people are much more comfortable with those rules in place. Now, having people back in their physical space is especially anxiety-inducing. Along with worrying about catching the virus themselves, people may be trying to protect unvaccinated loved ones at home, such as children and those that are not eligible for vaccination. 18
While working from home, people often worked longer hours than they would normally in the office. Now transitioning back to where the hours are more set, the expectation is for people to be equally as productive as they were during the pandemic in fewer hours. In office, employees are constantly being interrupted due to all the activity happening around them and are often unable to focus for the full eight hours. Keeping up with the workload may become a problem. Adjusting back to commuting may be another challenge as it may feel like losing time. Everyone returning to their old lifestyle must become accustomed to juggling work, chores and other commitments on a stricter timeline. Working from home, the flexibility gave people more freedom to shuffle their hours to fit the needs of their families. Additionally, another big issue is childcare. Because children are unable to be vaccinated at this time, many childcare services are not operating. To stay on track throughout all these transitions, people need to prioritize their mental health. Make sure to exercise regularly, going on walks, when possible, to get adequate sunlight and fresh air. Eat healthy, meaning a whole-food diet. Get enough sleep and do not over-caffeinate, as it can stimulate feelings of anxiety. Reward yourself for all the hard work with healthy incentives. If struggling emotionally, reach out for support from a mental health professional that can help guide you through the
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transition. Stress management is key. Everyone, especially parents, need to build self-care time into their new schedule. Use commuting time to practice relaxation by listening to calming music to set the tone for the day. Take up meditation. There are many meditation apps and YouTube videos that make it easy to meditate if you are unsure where to start. If the family has private self-care time, try setting aside time to do something healthy like taking the whole family for a walk. Always remember to be patient and gentle with oneself during this transition time. Remember, it took time to adjust to the new way of life during the height of COVID-19; it’s going to take time to adjust back as well. Expect to feel more tired, stressed, and/or more agitated than usual; it’s all a natural part of the returning process. It will take time, but eventually the office will return to a sense of normalcy. Dr. Jolene Ross, Ph.D., is the founder and director of Advanced Neurotherapy, PC, located at 145 Rosemary St., in Needham. She is a neurobehavioral psychologist with extensive experience in neurobiofeedback treatment, cognitive and behavioral therapy and behavioral medicine. For more information, call 781-444-9115 or visit Advanced Neurotherapy.com. See ad on page 7 and Resource Guide on page 30.
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Inflammation: Helpful or Harmful? by Gary Kracoff
Inflammation is a vital part of our body’s defense mechanism to protect us from bacteria, viruses, a foreign body such as allergens, splinters or bug bites, and to help us heal an injury. When an injury occurs, the body releases chemical mediators to cause short-term inflammation. This is the first step for healing. Acute inflammation (helpful inflammation) includes: • Pain: this helps us not overuse the injured body part. • Redness: This is due to an increase in blood flow to the capillaries in the injured area. • Loss of mobility/function: There may be difficulty moving a joint; this is to protect the joint from overuse before it is healed. • Swelling: This is due to fluid buildup. • Heat: This is from the increased blood flow and may leave the area warm to the touch. 20
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These symptoms are all normal, may occur to different degrees and are part of a healthy healing process. Chronic inflammation (harmful inflammation) can develop due to: • Sensitivities: Inflammation can be due to the body sensing something that should not be there, such as an allergen. • Exposure: Toxins from our diet and environment can be a long-term irritant that can result in long-term inflammation. • Autoimmune disorders: This is when our immune system attacks normal, healthy tissue by mistake. Some examples are psoriasis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, Chron’s, ulcerative colitis and sinusitis. • Autoinflammatory diseases: Genetics can affect our immune response in a negative way.
•
Persistent acute inflammation: If the body does not recover from the acute inflammation, or signals in the body do not shut down acute inflammation at the appropriate time, this can lead to chronic inflammation. There has been a lot of work done by researchers and practitioners, and they have learned many new pathways that can contribute to chronic (harmful) inflammation. Research has shown that genetics, nutrition and exposure to toxins can be a big contributor to chronic inflammation. (For an in-depth chart of these pathways, please see this article online at qrs.ly/e8cv0m3 or scan the QR code to the right.) During the Covid pandemic, there has been a lot of research into the IL-6 pathway and its effect on inflammatory cytokines. Covid and overactive IL-6 has been shown to be a contributor to the “cytokine storm” that is a major problem in severe Covid cases. Research has found many things that can stimulate IL-6 and inflammatory cytokines to be over-released, leading to chronic, systemic inflammation. Studying a person’s genetics, labs and history can lead to uncovering some of the underlying imbalances that can lead to chronic inflammation. IL-6 and inflammatory cytokines are important to fight infections, help with injuries and promote healing. Toxicity, genetics and lack of nutrients can cause this delicate balance to overreact or not turn off at the appropriate time, leading to chronic inflammation. There are many factors that can overstimulate IL-6 and inflammatory cytokine release (see sidebar). This list illustrates that due to our environmental exposures, this can lead to or exacerbate chronic inflammation. Working with a practitioner that understands the link between genetics and exposures, and the effect they have on the body’s metabolic function and response, is a good first step to unraveling many of the contributing factors leading to chronic inflammation.
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Dr. Gary Kracoff is a naturopathic doctor and registered pharmacist at the Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, located at 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information, call 781-8933870 ext. 2 or visit NaturalCompounder.com. See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 31 and 33.
Factors that can overstimulate IL-6 and inflammatory cytokine release include: • High blood sugar • Super Oxide (a helpful free radical but, can be harmful if at too high a level) • Mast cell imbalances • Histamine • Dopamine • Testosterone • Mold/mycotoxins • Lyme disease • EMF radiation • Smoking • Lead, mercury, aluminum • Glyphosate
• High Omega-6 • Pesticides • Angiotensin II • NOX enzyme elevation (NADPH Oxidase) • Obesity • High homocysteine • Oxalates • Estriol (estrogen) • High levels of hydrogen peroxide • Overexertion • Anxiety • Glutamate Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in
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conscious eating
Eating to Decrease Chronic Inflammation by Tamara Luck Chronic inflammation precedes many health conditions, ranging from heart disease to obesity to hormonal imbalances. However, all individuals have a great opportunity to quell chronic inflammation through diet by 1) decreasing intake of foods that can stimulate, or turn on, chronic inflammatory pathways and 2) increasing intake of foods containing inflammation-quenching nutrients. This two-fold approach allows for control over health conditions while also experiencing the freedom and nourishment from enjoying delicious and nutritious food. Unfortunately, some of the most pro-inflammatory foods are also the most ubiquitous. Turn over almost 22
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any packaged food and one will likely see various forms of added sugar, hidden under names like fructose, maltose, cane sugar, etc. Sugar sneaks onto plates in the form of salad dressings, protein bars, breakfast sausages, yogurts and more. High intake of these refined sugars can raise blood sugar and contribute to weight gain, both of which can add to the overall body inflammation burden. Additionally, high blood sugar can also create hormonal imbalances, promoting increased testosterone in women, increased estrogen in men and weight gain for both. Instead, focus on foods that contain naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, and when possible, opt to
add your own sweetness to foods. For example, pair unsweetened yogurt with fresh fruit or a touch of honey for sweetness. Next, some foods have known toxins in them that should be avoided. For example, many crops are heavily sprayed with chemical pesticides. Among the most heavily sprayed crops are wheat, oats, spinach and berries. Pesticides like glyphosate, have been linked to changes in the gut microbiome and immune system. When possible, opt for organic over conventional produce, prioritizing the foods most heavily sprayed. When shopping at local farmers’ markets, take a moment to ask farmers about their pesticide usage. Some small farms may not have the organic certification but may be free of chemical pesticides and even exceed certified organic standards. Although there are some foods to eat in moderation when eating an anti-inflammatory diet, there are many more foods to incorporate in abundance. Many Individuals eat an anti-inflammatory diet rely on the same foods repeatedly, for example, blueberries, sweet potatoes and salmon are quite popular. While these foods are certainly nutritious, important nutrients from other foods are excluded. Each food is unique in its nutritional content and health benefits. Rotating through different fruits provides an array of antioxidants; different grains and legumes feed the gut microbiome with rich fibers; different protein sources help deliver our tissues a range of amino acids and vitamins and minerals. Not
only will eating a large variety of diverse foods maximize our nutrient intake potential, but it will also keep healthy eating interesting. Another factor to consider when eating an anti-inflammatory diet is to include anti-inflammatory fats. Healthy monounsaturated fats from salmon, nuts and seeds, egg yolk and olive oil should routinely be incorporated into the diet to calm inflammation. Higher quality meats, such as grassfed beef will contain more “healthy” fats, such as omega-3’s, compared to conventionally raised, grain-fed beef, which contains more pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats. Fats to always avoid are highly processed oils like canola and soybean oil, as well as trans fat, commonly found in packaged baked goods. Living an anti-inflammatory lifestyle can seem overwhelming and restrictive. However, not all changes need to be made at once. Start to be mindful about just one of the mentioned topics at a time. With time, each anti-inflammatory principle applied will lead to an overall decrease in inflammation and merit a more balanced and nourishing diet. Tamara Luck, RDN, LDN, is an integrative and functional dietitian in Waltham, MA. She is currently accepting new patients at Johnson Compounding and Wellness for virtual nutrition appointments. Schedule a free, 15-minute introductory call at NaturalCompounder.com/Tamara. See ad on page 17 and Resource Guide on page 32.
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healing ways
Conquering Chronic Pain How the Body-Mind Connection Works by Ronica O’Hara For three decades, David Hanscom was a top-ranked orthopedic surgeon in Seattle who daily put the scalpel to injured, deformed and twisted spines. Privately, he writhed in pain himself. He was beset over 15 years with burning feet, insomnia, tinnitus, anxiety, skin rashes, crushing chest pain, depression, sweats, heart palpitations and tension headaches, among other symptoms. That put him among the estimated 50 million American adults afflicted with chronic pain for which relief is hard to come by and often short-lived. The standard medical approaches of surgery and injections 24
often don’t work well or last long for many patients, research shows. Opioids, once a standby, are now prescribed sparingly after being implicated in half a million overdose deaths. Treatment is especially elusive for the one in six adults and 30 to 40 percent of primary care patients with pain or chronic conditions considered “medically unexplained”. As a result, integrative pain management, which focuses on both mind and body and incorporates medical and holistic approaches, is growing in importance. Major medical centers such as the Mount Sinai Health System and Cleveland Clin-
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ic, as well as practitioners such as chiropractors and homeopaths, offer dozens of modalities to turn around painful conditions. Sometimes a single simple method works quickly for a patient with a straightforward symptom; more often, it takes a combination of approaches over time to reverse pain, especially if it is complex, sustained or recurring. Launching on his own healing path, Hanscom came to a critical understanding: The abuse he had suffered as a child from a rage-filled mother, coupled with emotional repression and a fierce drive to excel as a surgeon, produced his high
levels of anxiety. It turbocharged his central nervous system and set off a cascade of reactions that fed ever-rising levels of pain. “Your mind and body function as a unit with no separation,” he says. “Chronic pain results when your body is exposed to sustained levels of stress hormones, excitatory neurotransmitters and inflammatory protein. Your brain is sensitized and the nerve conduction speed is faster, so you physically feel more pain. It’s not ‘all in your mind’—it’s a normal physio-logical process.” After six months of intense inner work focused on his rage, Hanscom calmed his overwrought nervous system and his symptoms “essentially disappeared.” He began applying his experience to hundreds of spine patients, helping the great majority of them to avoid surgery altogether. In the book Back in Control, he describes his approach, which is designed for people with pain that is not caused by underlying structural or organ issues. He recommends these initial steps. ◆ Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, which may require sleeping pills or natural methods. ◆ Doing expressive writing twice a day, which involves writing down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language for 10 to 30 minutes, and then promptly tearing it up. Neurological research shows that this simple practice rewires the brain. “Some people experience remarkable pain relief right away,” he says. ◆ Practicing “active meditation” throughout the day by mindfully focusing each time on a sight, sound or sensation for five to 10 seconds. For deep, sustained healing, he stresses the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, self-discovery, exploring a spiritual path, relearning playfulness and connecting with others. Medication may be necessary initially, he says, and as pain levels recede, most people become ready to improve their diet and exercise more. Understanding the mind/body connection is key in pain management,
SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT Laser Therapy for Chronic Pain and Injuries by Laney DeFeo Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is highly effective and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved for reducing pain and inflammation. It is backed by years of research, has zero side effects and is also painless and safe for all ages. It is beneficial for the following: muscle, tendon and ligament pain; arthritic joint pain; bruises; fractures and bone breaks; carpal tunnel and tennis elbow; fibromyalgia pain; plantar fasciitis; wounds (post-surgical and injuries); burns and skin ulcers; TMJ and dental pain. LLLT is also known as cold laser therapy because it produces no heat. It uses light energy and works by utilizing the acupoint meridian system to stimulate the same acupoints as done in acupuncture. In addition to stimulating the body’s natural endorphins to lessen pain, low level laser therapy stimulates (ATP) energy that our cells use as fuel to function and operate more efficiently. This process is done through photobiomodulation, which is essentially using specific wavelengths of light energy to influence the flow of energy between acupoints to facilitate healing. This promotes cell regeneration and tissue healing, while improving blood and lymph flow so oxygen and nutrients can better circulate throughout the body. This is how it reduces pain and inflammation and why it is helpful for a variety of conditions. LLLT helps the body repair and heal itself rather than masking or just reducing pain temporarily. Low level laser therapy has mainly been used in Europe and Asia and is just starting to gain popularity in the U.S. Fortunately, thousands of studies have shown how beneficial LLLT has been on a wide variety of conditions. Also, this light therapy is only utilized by cells and tissues that are not functioning normally. It has no effect on healthy cells. It gives what is called a natural physiological dose of care, which means the body only takes what it needs. People cannot get too much of it and there are no side effects. This makes it a safe, complementary therapy for those managing both short term and chronic pain. Brain imaging studies on this type of laser acupuncture have also measured various physiological affects locally and simultaneously in the brain, similar to needle acupuncture. Measurable effects on the brain have been detected when the laser was turned on and no effects detected when the laser was turned off. LLLT has also been proven to inhibit the growth of most known infection-causing bacteria when using a laser that utilizes a 635-nanometer laser light. In addition to providing pain relief from its analgesic effects, it reduces swelling, redness, heat and speeds healing time. Laser therapy is cumulative, and most sessions take under 30 minutes. Most people begin to see results after one to three sessions. Laney DeFeo is a certified integrative health coach who received low level laser therapy (LLLT) training in 2018. She has witnessed remarkable improvements with this complementary therapy ever since. For more information, call 603-233-2887 or see website at EssentiaWellness.com. See ad on page 21 and Resource Guide on pages 32 and 33.
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concurs gastroenterologist David D. Clarke, M.D., author of They Can’t Find Anything Wrong! and president of the Portland, Oregon-based Psychophysiologic Disorders Association. “When medical evaluation shows no problems with organs or structures, then the pain is being generated by the brain, similar to what happens in phantom limb pain, where people feel pain in the location of an amputated arm or leg,” he says. “Chronic pain generated by the brain generally occurs due to stress, an emotional/psychological trauma or strong negative emotions (often toward people the patient cares about) that are not fully recognized. Often, these issues began due to adverse childhood experiences, which can be anything you would not want a child of your own to endure. I recommend people explore these possibilities on their own, with a loved one or with a therapist.” That process might sound daunting, but so is suffering crippling pain. “The most important thing for people to know is that pain can be successfully treated, relieved and often cured with the right techniques,” says Clarke. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.
Promising Pain Relief Therapies In the offices of holistic practitioners and in some medical centers, a wide range of integrative modalities to treat chronic pain are healing the afflicted. Some commonly used options, which can be part of a multipronged approach or effective individually, include:
• CBD. Studies show this cannabis-derived substance, the non-mind-altering
form of marijuana, acts on multiple pain targets in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It has demonstrated pain-relieving effects for neuropathy, some cancers, arthritis and irritable bowel disease, among other conditions. A University of Michigan study of 878 people with fibromyalgia that had used cannabidiol (CBD) products found that more than 70 percent had substituted it for opioids or other pain medications, with many stopping them altogether as a result. With research mounting, almost every state now allows CBD use in some form.
• TURMERIC/CURCUMIN. The Indian spice that makes curry yellow has
potent anti-inflammatory properties, especially in formulations that combine it with piperine (black pepper) to enhance bioavailability. A meta-analysis in Oxford Pain Medicine of eight randomized controlled trials of curcumin involving 800 patients with muscle pain, osteoarthritis or postoperative pain found that it effectively lowered pain levels without adverse reactions, outperforming nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol (ibuprofen) for knee osteoarthritis pain.
• HYPNOSIS. By lowering the fear and anxiety that aggravate pain sensations,
hypnosis reduces pain as effectively as many other approaches at a relatively low cost. A meta-analysis of 18 studies found that 75 percent of people, including those with both acute and chronic pain, received substantial relief from hypnotic techniques without side effects. In a University of Washington study, patients kept practicing self-hypnosis after completing the study even if it had not relieved their pain, saying it gave them better sleep, lower stress and a greater sense of calm and well-being. Hypnotherapy treatment usually involves four to 10 sessions and is often covered in full or in part by insurance companies or Medicare.
• LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE. When taken at levels of 50 to 100 milligrams
(mg) daily, this medication weans people off opioids and alcohol, but when used at low doses of less than 2 mg, research suggests it can ease the pain of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Stanford School of Medicine researchers reported it significantly reduced pain for 32 percent of fibromyalgia patients and also improved mood and life satisfaction, noting, “The medication is widely available, inexpensive, safe and well-tolerated.”
Learn More Direct Your Own Care Journey is a free, online course for healing chronic pain. Designed by David Hanscom, M.D., it includes an experiential app, group sessions, video tutorials and webinars at TheDocJourney.com. Stress-Disease Information, including videos, a webinar-based course, recent research and a list of practitioners, can be found at ppdassociation.org, the website of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association, founded by stress-disease expert David Clarke, M.D. American Chronic Pain Association, at theacpa.org, lists treatments, clinical trials, support groups and other resources. 26
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fit body
Yoga to Heal Trauma Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System by Marlaina Donato
Getting on the yoga mat can be a powerful stress-buster that lowers blood pressure and excessive cortisol, but yoga can offer an added boon for those living with the lasting effects of traumatic events. Trauma-informed yoga (also called trauma-sensitive yoga) is a promising therapeutic branch of the yogic system designed to quell the body’s programmed “fight-or-flight” responses. Founded on yoga, psychology and neurobiology principles, the approach is in harmony with the ancient yogic concept of samskaras, or memories imprinted on our cellular consciousness. People from many walks of life can benefit from trauma-sensitive yoga including bullied teens, women rebounding from abuse and anyone impacted by pandemic turmoil. Research published in the journal Military Medicine in 2018 reports that U.S. veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that participated in a one-hour vinyasa-style yoga session for six weeks showed significantly lowered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as less insomnia, depression and anxiety. 28
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Yoga performed with trauma sensitivity can pick up where talk therapy leaves off, targeting the amygdala, the danger detector in the brain, and the vagus nerve that runs from the brain to the abdomen, which plays a vital role in processing trauma. “Somatic processing and treatment methodologies like yoga are now being used to help repair and rebuild distressed nervous systems, which in turn helps the brain integrate and ‘file’ distressing memories,” says Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide, the largest yoga teacher training school in North America, and the author of Healing Trauma with Yoga: Go From Surviving to Thriving with Mind-Body Techniques. The Fort Lauderdale-based yoga therapist and entrepreneur highlights the body’s role in trauma and stress. “The brain rewires itself around the traumatic event and memories stored in the tissues throughout the body. Yoga can help to free those memories, alleviating troubling emotions and thought patterns, as well as chronic somatic tension and hypervigilance.” Shaw draws upon new psychological and neurological discoveries, including polyvagal theory, that help explain the full impact of trauma and most importantly, how and why yoga helps to lessen these impacts. Trauma-informed yoga keeps the nervous system in mind, excluding poses and breathing techniques that might provoke a sense of vulnerability or overstimulation. Trained teachers adhere to non-touch assistance methods and often opt for well-lit studios to avoid a possible triggering atmosphere. A trauma-informed yoga teacher knows the inner workings of the nervous system,” explains Mandy Eubanks, a trauma-trained yoga educator and certified yoga instructor in Tulsa. “We have respect for the variety of responses that our clients have to yoga, meditation and breathwork practices. For example, we understand deep breathing will be calming to one person and agitating to another. We normalize clients’ responses and work with
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Trauma-Intelligent Fitness
them to find an effective technique for that individual.” Teachers with specialized training and access to props can also support people on a yoga journey that are limited physically. Eubanks emphasizes, “Yoga truly is for everyone and every body.”
The Power of Choice and Individuality Lisa Danylchuk, the Oakland-based author of Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Theory, Philosophy, and Practice, underscores that in a trauma-informed environment, everything a teacher instructs is an offering or invitation. “This is important because people who have endured trauma have often not had a say over what happens to their bodies. A good trauma-informed class cultivates somatic and psychological resources, and focuses, above all, on cultivating a sense of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual safety.” The founder of The Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery believes it’s important to be responsive to individ-
ual needs. “Trauma affects so many different individuals and groups of people and in such a variety of ways that it is impossible to give one prescription. Some people might benefit from a weekly, 60- to 90-minute vinyasa-style class. Others might benefit from a short, five-minute daily restorative practice.” Shaw also stresses a tailored approach. “How one wishes to practice is up to the individual, but I suggest a combination of both one-on-one instruction and class format. If someone is in the throes of trauma, they will need a private session to start.” Eubanks adds the importance of consistency. “In my experience, it is about finding which yoga practices work best for the client and then encouraging them to find time to practice every day. Yoga for PTSD is not a one-and-done deal. It takes time, effort and belief in oneself.”
coming in the october healthy planet issue
LIVING A SIMPLER LIFE and
Breast Health
Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.
plus: water scarcity talking to kids about climate change
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COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Sales@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com to request our media kit.
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Ayurveda is the time-proven, holistic science of longevity, self-healing from the East. We offer this ancient wisdom for modern times as a comprehensive form of life coaching certification including massage, nutrition, medical astrology, mantra, yoga and energy medicine. Discover your dosha and become a Certified Ayurveda Health Counselor. 7-mo and 12-mo programs. Financing available. Start anytime online. Self-paced. Put your health in your hands and become the healer you were meant to be. “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” –Thomas Edison. See ad on page 13.
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Jolene Ross, PhD 781-444-9115 RetrainYourBrain.com
Specializing in Neurotherapy, an effective, drug-free treatment for: attention, behavior, emotional, and executive function problems, autistic spectrum, anxiety, depression, post-concussion, peak performance and more. See ad, page 7.
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Most of us don’t realize how much we can benefit from training our brains. Like our bodies, our brains benefit from healthy exertion and positive attention. Many of us suffer from symptoms of brain dysregulation that vary from lethargy to mania, ADD to OCD, depression to anxiety. Training the brain can strengthen its response to these symptoms and provide a clarity, ease and peacefulness that is hard to describe until you experience it. Call today for a free discovery conversation. See ad, page 13.
Patricia Hogan-Casey, DC Wholistic Chiropractic Center 215 Cottage St, Pawtucket, RI 401-725-4380 DrPatOnTheBack.com
Dr. Patricia Hogan-Casey, using Network Spinal Analysis, has witnessed profound effects on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels of her patients. The gentle precise touches to the spine initiate the removal of interference to the nervous system’s tension and function—essential cueing of the brain to develop new strategies to experience greater well-being. See ad on page 27.
MCARDLE CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER Catherine McArdle, DC Robert Sedlor, DC
2220 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, RI 02921 401-383-3400 McArdleChiropractic.com Family chiropractic practice offering holistic care to patients of all ages. Based on the initial evaluation, patients will be given a treatment plan which addresses ergonomics, exercise, stretching and nutrition in addition to their spinal alignment. See ad on page 17.
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Benjamin Blackett is a multi-certified, International Life Mastery Consultant and motivational speaker. He helps people pull their dreams into their lives. His clients experience better health, deeper and more meaningful relationships, more satisfying careers, and expanded time and money freedom. You are invited to get to know him through his livestream “mindset book studies” on his Facebook page, A Creative Healing Place, Mon-Fri, 9:05-9:25am. See ad on page 19.
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401 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492 781-449-0550 Pharmacist@BirdsHillPharmacy.com BirdsHillPharmacy.com Familyowned and -operated since 1960, we have evolved from a traditional pharmacy to a worldwide compounding and nutritional resource. Our unique one-on-one patient consultations produce a full understanding of your health needs. You, your physician, and one of our compounding pharmacists work as partners to ensure that you will receive the best care possible.
DINNO HEALTH
Acton Pharmacy 563 Massachusetts Ave, Acton, MA 01721 978-263-3901 Keyes Drug 2090 Commonwealth Ave Newton, MA 02466 617-244-2794 Theatre Pharmacy 1784 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 781.862.4480 West Concord Pharmacy 1212 Main St, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-3100 DinnoHealth.com For more than a quarter of a century, Dinno Health has been a trusted provider of pharmacy services and is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized care for each customer. At our four independent pharmacies, we offer prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and vaccines. See ad, page 13.
JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS
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 8.
577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 John@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad on page 17.
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Dentist DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID Amparo M. David, DMD 563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888 BoltonDental.com
We look beyond our patients’ teeth in order to improve both their smiles and their quality of life. Our practice offers full preventive services: biological, holistic, functional dentistry, ozone therapy, reconstructive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, dental sleep medicine, implant dentistry, in addition to TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders) therapy. See ad, page 29.
Flotation FLOAT BOSTON
515 Medford St, Somerville, MA 844-443-5628 FloatBoston.com A float tank is a small shallow pool filled with water nearly saturated with Epsom salt. You float completely effortlessly. It’s completely dark and quiet: your own private world. It’s utterly relaxing. See ad, page 8.
Frenectomy (Tongue/Lip Tie Release) DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID Martin Kaplan, DDS 563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888 BoltonDental.com
Specializing in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Kaplan uses the latest technology available to diagnose and treat infants as well as children and adults. In 2015, he was instrumental in developing the first-in-the-country “Infant Laser Frenectomy” training class through the continuing education department at Tufts Dental School and is an international leader in the field of dental laser surgery. See ad, page 29.
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Functional Dietitian
Health Food Store
Light Therapy
ALORA FREDERICK, RDN
NATURE’S GOODNESS
HEALING LIGHT JOURNEY
Since 1984 we have been providing the finest quality Natural & Organic Whole Foods including many gluten-free products, natural body care, athletic supplements & protein powders, incense, smudging supplies and candles made with essential oils. Natural pet care food & supplements. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Visit website for more information.
The healing powers of light & sound are well documented. It is now possible to travel through amazing lightscapes and absorb beautiful sound energies to facilitate beneficial states of trance, healing and even psychedelic experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience something truly out of this world (or your body)! Call today for a free discovery session to determine if this technology is for you.
Johnson Compounding & Wellness 781-893-3870 x 149 Alora@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com Integrative and Functional Registered Dietitian who strives to motivate individuals on their health journey. Alora loves to help people feel their best and has a special interest in GI health and mental health (depression & anxiety). See ad on page 17.
TAMARA LUCK, RDN, LDN
Johnson Compounding & Wellness 781-893-3870 x 104 Tamara@NaturalCompounder.com Tamara Luck, RDN, LDN, is excited to help you along your wellness journey. She uses a whole body and functional nutrition approach to help you reach your goals related to gut health, anti-inflammatory lifestyles, weight loss and optimizing your overall wellness. See ad on page 17.
Handmade Soaps & Skin Care NEW BEDFORD SOAP COMPANY NewBedfordSoapCompany.com
We have been making soap for over 10 yrs and have over 60 blends. We have scrubs, face, hand and foot creams, fragrance stones, along with perfume sticks, lip and cuticle balms. We also have dog shampoo and balms. Open M-F, 11am-4pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm.
Health Coach LANEY DEFEO
Essentia Wellness Harvard, MA LaneyEssentiaWellness@gmail.com EssentiaWellness.com
510 East Main Rd, Middletown, RI 401-847-7480 Facebook.com/NaturesGoodness NaturesGoodnessRI.com
Homeopathy VANDANA PITKE
Om Homeopathy, It’s My Health Cumberland, RI 401-573-3757 OmHomeopathy.com With 16+ yrs experience in classical homeopathy, Vandana Pitke has helped many clients restore and achieve health. A certified classical homeopath, she looks at the clients from a holistic perspective focusing on mind, body and spirit. She also incorporates many other holistic modalities in her practice, which makes healing faster, better and from within when combined with homeopathy.
Integrative Veterinary Medical Care MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON Margo Roman, DVM 72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-4077 MASHVet.com
A full-service integrative veterinary clinic offering caring and healthful options and modalities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad, page 27.
Integrative nutrition for boosting the immune system, improving the bio-chemistry of those with AD(H)D & ASD thru gutbrain support, uncovering food sensitivities, reducing inflammation and an individual’s toxic load, ect. See ad, page 21.
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Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com
By appointment only 401-282-0230 Raff@RINeurofeedback.com HealingLightJourney.com
Mind-Body Medicine BODYMIND REPATTERNING
Alison Shaw APRN, LMT, CEH 109 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 02420 781-646-0686 Alison@BodymindRepatterning.com BodymindRepatterning.com An innovative blend of bodycentered counseling, integrative bodywork and energy medicine to uncover and release bodymind patterns that limit your life and health. See ad, page 7.
Naturopathic Medicine CHRYSANTHI KAZANTZIS, ND, MS Anasa Personalized Medicine 245 Waterman St., Suite 308 Providence, RI 02906 401-484-1882 AnasaMedicine.com
Owner and founder of Anasa Personalized Medicine, Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist and Reiki Master. Specializing in digestive disorders, thyroid disorders, diabetes, Lyme disease and chronic pain. Addressing these conditions by treating the underlying cause through herbal medicine, supplements, homeopathy, clinical nutrition and lifestyle counseling. Book an appointment to start your journey to optimal health. See ad on page 8.
GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD
Pain Reduction/ Elimination
BOSTON REIKI MASTER
Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery. See ad on page 17.
ESSENTIA WELLNESS
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.
Johnson Compounding and Wellness 781-893-3870 Gary@NaturalCompounder.com
Organic Hair Care ELAYNE HEWITT
Master Colorist/Stylist Riverside, RI 401-273-7005 ElayneOrganic@gmail.com
Laney DeFeo Harvard, MA & Amherst, NH 603-233-2887 EssentiaWellness.com Utilizing low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT), Laney uses this fast-growing technology for a variety of conditions to relieve pain, inflammation, stimulate healing and restore function. LLLT is FDA approved, safe and highly effective. Many see results in the first 1-3 sessions. See ad, page 21.
34 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands 617-633-3654 BostonReikiMaster.com
Shamanic Practitioner ENERGY-N-ELEMENTS Paul A. DiSegna 401-736-6500 Energy-N-Elements.com
Are you feeling stuck, stressed or disconnected? I will assist you in releasing energy blocks and guide you to experience the comfort and peace that comes with power and soul retrieval. “My intention is to improve my client’s health and well-being.” Call for your appointment today.
Pilates
A full-service green salon that’s Certified Organic for hair color, straightening/relaxing and permanent wave. No ammonia, parabens, plastics or thioglycolates. Call today for an appointment. 50% off all new clients only.
FLIPP SALON APOTHECARY 38 Transit St Providence, RI 02903 401-274-1981 FlippSalon.com
A small boutique salon promoting a holistic approach to beauty, herbalism, art and music. Offering a full range of hair services using organic, plantbased products, full apothecary of loose herbs, blends and organic self-care items and accessories. Herbalist on staff. Gallery walls featuring local artisans; all mediums welcome. Live music in semi-acoustic for Music Nights. We believe that all these mediums are symbiotic in promoting joy and wellness in the individual and the community.
BODY DYNAMICS RI
Peggy Normandin 1099 Mendon Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864 401-333-8550 BodyDynamicsRI@icloud.com BodyDynamicsRI.com We are a small boutique studio specializing in Pilates-based classes for women and men. Our highly trained instructors offer personal attention to our students to help them meet their fitness goals and improve their ability to enjoy activities. Free 30-min consultation or lesson for new students. See ad, page 13.
Reiki ANGELHAWK REIKI & DESIGNS OF RI West Shore Wellness 459 Sandy Ln, Warwick, RI 02889 Additional locales 401-298-0306
As a Registered Nurse, I have a unique perspective on health and stress within the body. Stress equals illness and reiki decreases stress causing a relaxation response, therefore improving health. Put yourself first. Call today.
Spa SPA PAULA B., INC.
150 California St, Ste 504, Newton, MA 877-772-8522 SpaPaulaB.com Spa Paula B. provides spa services in Newton, MA. Natural, organic and clean skin care products are used in facial treatments and are also available for purchase. Receive 20% off your first service.
Spiritual HealingTeaching BE THE MEDICINE
Janet StraightArrow, Master Healer-Teacher 973-647-2500 Janet@BeTheMedicine.com BeTheMedicine.com Spiritual Life-Health Coach Guide, Master Healer. Training; Soul Shamanism, reiki all levels to Master, medical intuition. Get unstuck, discover true selfpurpose, home, business, land clearings, past-this life healing, astrology, Zoom and phone.
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September 2021
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Tantra/Sacred Sexuality
Wellness Resources
SACRED TEMPLE ARTS
BETH GARDNER
Sacha L. Fossa, Masters Health Arts & Sciences, Certified Sex & Tantric Educator, Licensed Erotic Blueprint Coach, Healing Arts Practitioner 978-309-9399 SacredTempleArts.com Ready to have better sex and love your life more, partnered or not? Holistic, cutting-edge sex, intimacy and relationship coaching, energy and bodywork, for your sexual healing and empowerment. In-person and/or virtual sessions and programs. See ad, page 27.
Acton Pharmacy Keyes Drug West Concord Pharmacy BGardner@DinnoHealth.com 508-259-7851
Certified Alexander Technique Teacher; Certified Thai Yoga Therapist 33A Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02445 617-359-7841 CecileRaynor.com Your yoga can release or create tension depending on the quality of your daily movements. Learn to let your postural mechanism work for you and notice excess body tension ease away on-and-off the mat.
TIME FOR YOU YOGA Marie Bouvier-Newman 1099 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI 401-305-3585 Its-My-Health.com
BOOKS ..........................................
CECILE RAYNOR
Certified lifestyle educator and the director of health and wellness at Acton Pharmacy, Keyes Drug and West Concord Pharmacy. Beth Gardner works one-on-one with patients to help create ways to improve diet and overall health as a means for disease and illness prevention. See ad, page 13.
IT’S MY HEALTH
classified
Yoga
We provide much more than products, services and education. We provide the tools you need to optimize your health in a comfortable environment. We care. See ad on page 21.
MESSAGE FROM THE ALL – The Prophecy of God Today - Not the Word of the Bible Contents; The world talks about peace - Where is the Peace? God breathes back the Fall, The true life opens up and much more. Toll-free: 844-576-0937. GabrielePublishing-House.com.
Maria Sichel, RYT, CSYT 2155 Diamond Hill Rd Cumberland, RI 02864 401-305-5319 Maria@TimeForYouYoga.com TimeForYouYoga.com Private Svaroopa® yoga therapy sessions are tailored to meet your needs. Specially trained in treating pain, including back pain and neck and shoulder issues. Yoga therapy is more powerful than weekly yoga classes and moves you more quickly toward health and well-being. Experience pain relief, greater mobility, improved sleep, easier breathing, deep relaxation, increased flexibility and a deep sense of peace.
BOSTON COMMUNITY
CALENDAR OF EVENTS All Calendar events for the October issue must be received by September 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NA-GBRI.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NA-GBRI.com/calendar.
Please visit our website for calendar listings and be sure to confirm events prior to the date of the event. Submit events at:
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September 2021
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Dr. Tom O'Bryan Chief Health Off icer, KnoWEwell
"WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE" Personalized. Diverse. Inclusive. Regenerative Whole-Health and Well-Being Benefits. It’s how KnoWEwell is transforming the future of healthcare. Award-winning. One global online destination for today’s trusted Regenerative Whole Health knowledge, resources, and ecosystem collaborating to inspire and empower individuals to prevent harm, address chronic diseases and achieve WELLthier Living – Happy. Healthy. Abundant. PurposeFilled. Join the movement as we share knowledge and healing success stories, access to evidence-based resources, immersive learning opportunities from the experts, and help create meaningful connections.. Take control and optimize your health and well-being by visiting: KnoWEwell.com As a Natural Awakenings reader, receive 50% off your first year of membership. Individuals apply:
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