Natural Awakenings Greater Boston/Rhode Island November 2021

E R F

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

DYING WELL

Four Steps to a Good Death

EAT WELL TO FEEL WELL Boost Your Mental Health

FUEL THE DIGESTIVE FIRE

Changing Our Diet to Match the Seasons

November 2021 | Greater Boston / Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

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DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 12 health briefs 13 global briefs 14 eco tip 15 business spotlight 26 wise words 28 natural pet 30 conscious eating 34 resource guide

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Natural Awakenings | Greater Boston/Rhode Island | November 2021 issue

16 15 HOLISTIC HEALTH RHODE ISLAND

16 DYING WELL

Four Steps to a Good Death

20 HOMEOPATHY FOR MIGRAINES AND HEADACHES

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22 FUEL THE DIGESTIVE FIRE Changing Our Diet to Match the Seasons

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28 HONORING THE LOSS OF A PET Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal

FLOATING TO LET GO

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EAT WELL TO FEEL WELL

DAVID CROW

on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

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Thanksgiving Fare that Boosts Mental Health

November 2021

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letter from publisher Only a few years ago, I was enlightened by a friend regarding the history behind what are commonly known as sugar skulls, which are depicted on our cover this month.

Originating in Mexico and celebrated widely in Latin America and within the Hispanic community, Dia de los Muertos – The Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life honoring departed loved ones.

Marked by parties, food and drink, the festivities celebrate the lives of loved ones in a joyous manner aligning with activities the deceased enjoyed while living.

A timely celebration this year, not only because our feature article by Ronica O’Hara, “Dying Well, Four Steps to a Good Death,” offers tips on how to prepare our lives for death while living, but also because of a recent transition within my family this summer.

Our Natural Pet department also deals with death and grieving in “Honoring the Loss of a Pet, Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal” by Marlaina Donato who discusses practical ways to allow the grieving process for the gentle and gradual healing of our hearts following such a loss.

November 26 marks what would be the 69th birthday of my dear sister Donna, (Donna-ReeRee as she is fondly referred due to her middle name, Marie). She is in the far right of the photo accompanying this letter. Never intended for this wide of an audience, this photo is one of my favorites as it authentically portrays her abundant love for laughter and life.

The other sibling you see, Colleen, happened to be my “victim” in this photo. We made a deal to press our noses against the glass for a funny photo at our nephew’s wedding reception back in 1989. Clearly, I didn’t follow through on my end of the bargain, contributing to a silly memory which continues to satisfy with giggles, spurring happy memories.

For me, one of the most painful aspects of losing Donna’s physical presence, has been the years of joyful living that her multiple diagnoses robbed her and her family and friends of for over 30 years. Throughout her illnesses, there were pockets of hopeful times when it felt as if she was “back” and had found the magic pill that would be the cure-all to give her back the life that she so enjoyed.

In the end, that was not meant to be. After, literally, countless hospital admissions these last few years, her body finally succumbed peacefully in the middle of the night on August 22, amid her final conversation with the incredible man she had boldly declared would be her husband (Dennis) when she was 7 years old.

This page isn’t long enough for the tribute that could be paid to Dennis—our dear brother-in-law, father, uncle, brother and Gramps—who stood faithfully beside her, carrying her throughout the indescribably challenging bouts of sickness and despair they faced together. Suffice to say, he’s one-in-a-bazillion and our love and respect for him knows no bounds.

Thank you for allowing me the space for a little more of the gradual healing required to eventually remember Donna without the accompanying tears and heart-tugs of her physical loss. The day after Thanksgiving, on her birthday, our family will be celebrating her life in the manner of Dia de los Muertos, with joy and laughter as she would most surely approve. My faith helps comfort me knowing she’ll be there “with bells on”.

May you have many opportunities this month to share in love and joy with your loved ones as we celebrate this time of thanks-giving!

With peace and deep gratitude,

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news briefs

The Evolution of Patient Care Gain in-depth knowledge of biological medicine and be inspired by its possibilities with a livestreamed, two-day course on November 13 and 14 via Zoom. This is Part I of a threepart course series for medical practitioners providing a model of health care that meets the growing demand for patient-centered practices. Parts II and III will take place in-person at the BioMed Center, in Providence, Rhode Island. Participants that successfully complete all three parts are eligible to receive 56 hours of general Continuing Medical Education credits, thanks to the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine.

In Part I, participants will gain a new perspective on the nature of disease and cures, and learn the defining principles of biological medicine, how individual terrain and toxins affect patients' health and outcomes, and how BioMed Center practitioners are utilizing the latest technologies to optimize patient health.

Each registration includes a free copy of Bioregulatory Medicine: An Innovative Holistic Approach to Self-Healing, access to the online course site, and all course materials.

Location: Livestreamed via Zoom. For more information, call 508-748-0816 x115 or visit https://bit.ly/2XzOq6I. Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in

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news briefs

PBS Launches New Health and Wellness YouTube Channel

PBS is exploring everything viewers ever wanted to know about health, wellness and the human body in VITALS, a new, 30-episode digital series that offers an exhilarating tour of human health and all of its surprises.

Hosted by rising health influencers and practicing medical professionals, Dr. Alok Patel and registered nurse Sheena Williams, this fun and accessible health series will share expert advice, bust health myths, explore the latest science and offer a reality check on the newest treatments.

“There are textbook health recommendations, then there’s what people actually think and do,” says Patel. “No health topic should be taboo or off-the-table. If you ditch the fancy jargon and white coats, medicine is about humans talking to humans. VITALS will bridge that gap in health communication with a relatable voice.”

A co-production and partnership between the Global Health Reporting Center and PBS Digital Studios, the VITALS series advocates a whole-body approach, including mental health as an important component of well-being.

Episodic content will address health issues connected to the news and high-profile events; offer evidence-based tips for healthy living; and serve as a trusted and relatable source for viewers who spend too much time searching their symptoms online. The primary goal of VITALS is to encourage viewers to lead healthier, happier and more confident lives as they take greater control of their health.

“Health care is more than science,” says Williams.

“How we feel about medical science ultimately shapes our view of health care. We want VITALS to serve as a safe place to discuss all aspects of human health.

Whether the topic is funny, unbelievable, embarrassing or taboo, we are here for it all.”

VITALS can be streamed at YouTube.com/PBSVitals, PBS. org and the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. 8

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news briefs

Individualized Care.

Exceptional Service.

Massachusetts End of Life Option Act Awaits Committee Assignment On October 5, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 380, removing major roadblocks to medical aid-in-dying access for the nearly one out of every eight U.S. residents that live in the Golden State.

With this stroke of a pen, the Governor cemented a new precedent for empowering Americans to take charge of their end-of-life care. Now, Massachusetts is hoping to repeat this success with a bill (H.2381/S.1384) currently moving forward.

In 2015, California passed the End of Life Option Act to give mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to request prescription medication they can take to peacefully end unbearable suffering.

But the law required patients to wait 15 days between making two oral requests for the medication—a waiting game that was simply inhumane for people that are terminally ill. SB 380 not only drastically reduces that waiting period to 48 hours, but makes crucial other revisions to the law: • It will extend the sunset date to January 1, 2031, giving the legislature an additional five years to act to make this a permanent option for the people of California.

• And hospitals and hospices will now have to post their medical aidin-dying policies on their websites, increasing transparency for terminally ill Californians desperate for this information.

In Massachusetts, terminally ill residents are still waiting to be granted these same rights. The Massachusetts End of Life Options Act would grant them access to medical aid in dying for the first time.

To support the cause, consider a donation at CompassionAndChoices.org.

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news briefs

Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity Experience a full spectrum of life-changing business opportunities and self-development options at the live Opportunity Talks event, taking place from 9 a.m. to noon, November 30, at District Hall, Boston’s Living Room for Innovation.

Throughout the morning, TED-style talks will be given by experts in their fields sharing their own success stories of how they navigated unchartered waters and thrived despite uncertainty. Opportunity Talks is a friendly community format, designed for making it easy and fun for opportunity seekers and individuals to be introduced to exciting new options for business growth and personal discovery to thrive in today’s “new normal”. Informal networking will take place from 8:30 to 9 a.m., and noon to 12:30 p.m.

Cost: $10. Location: District Hall, Boston Seaport, 75 Northern Ave., Boston, MA. For more information, call 401-696-9480 or visit OppTalks.com.

kudos Dr. Margo Roman, DVM CVA, COP, CPT, of Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton, was awarded Holistic Veterinarian of the Year at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) conference in Reno, Nevada, on October 3. With more than 45 years of integrative veterinary education and practice, she has been able to represent the quality of the profession and is proud to be honored by this organization.

Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton (MASH), which was established by Margo Roman Roman in 1983, was the first integrative veterinary clinic in New England. With wide opportunities to utilize many modalities like acupuncture, herbal medicine, ozone therapy, microbiome restorative therapy, ultraviolet light therapy, laser, pulse electromagnetic, chiropractic, functional nutrition and medicine, the doctors and technicians at MASH can bring better health and healing to MASH patients with more holistic and inclusive veterinary medicine.

Roman’s dedication to the practice of her profession has made her a leader as she continues to teach, both nationally and internationally, mentor and stand up for the best veterinary care.

Location: 72 W. Main St., Hopkinton, MA. For more information, call 508-435-4077 or visit MashVet.com. See ad on page 29 and Resource Guide on page 36.

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news briefs

Marcia Lani Zais and Curly

Bi-monthly Animal Bereavement Group Join Marcia Lani Zais from 4 to 5 p.m., November 14 and 28, on Zoom, to work through grief felt from the loss of a beloved pet. Zais is an animal communicator and an end-of-life doula for both people and animals.

She has been a hospice volunteer for nearly 10 years and specializes in energy healing and helping people through the last chapter of their animal’s lives.

“After a death of a person or animal, many people do not know how to grieve, and those around us often want us to get back into life; for example, get another animal, denying the uncomfortable and heartbroken situation,” Zais says. “All of this is due to our culture ignoring the subject of death and dying, but this event is a place where people can express and navigate through their grief with like-minded people and help them find some clarity and direction going forward.”

Cost: Donations welcome, but not required for attendance. For more information, call 508-655-6776 or visit MarciaZais.com.

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November 2021

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health briefs

Research Suggests Botox Works to Treat Depression

Compelling double-blind randomized studies in the PubMed database suggest Botox significantly improves depression symptoms. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections in the forehead. Female participants received 29 units; male participants received 39 units. At week 12, the groups were crossed over. Participants were evaluated at weeks zero, three, six, 12, 15, 18 and 24 for improvement in symptoms. Patients that received BTA at week zero (BTA-first group) and at week 12 (BTA-second group) had a statistically significant reduction in major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms as compared to a placebo. Improvement in MDD continued over 24 weeks in the group that received BTA first even though the cosmetic effects of BTA wore off at 12 to 16 weeks.

The conclusion is a Botulinum toxin A injection in the glabellar region was associated with significant improvement in depressive symptoms and may be a safe and sustainable intervention in the treatment of MDD. One possible reason for the improvement is electromyography studies show that depressed people have hyper-reactive frown muscles and the injections counter this.

Today, Botox is FDA-approved for 11 therapeutic indications and most involve relief of pain including chronic migraines, overactive bladder, leakage of urine (incontinence) due to overactive bladder caused by a neurologic condition, cervical dystonia and spasticity. People think of Botox as a cosmetic intervention when in fact it is primarily used for non-cosmetic medical treatments.

Source: Alithia Monroe, physician assistant and owner of The Beauty Therapist, LLC. For more information, call 617-991-7567 or visit AskBeautyTherapist.com. See ad on page 7 and Resource Guide on page 34.

Eating foods high in flavonoids—the antioxidant-rich plant compounds found in strawberries, oranges, peppers and apples—can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent or more, reports new research published by the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers followed more than 78,000 people in their late 40s and early 50s for 20 years, asking them what they ate and to evaluate their cognitive skills. They found that those foods with more flavones, such as yellow or orange fruits and vegetables and some spices, reduced cognitive decline the most, at 38 percent—the equivalent of being three to four years younger in age.

Anthocyanins, found in blueberries, blackberries and cherries, were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. “The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears,” says study author Walter Willett, M.D., a nutrition and epidemiology professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “And it’s never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago or if they started incorporating them more recently.”

Live Healthfully to Mitigate Genetic Cancer Risk Healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise, proper diet, low body mass index and abstinence from smoking and drinking correlate with decreased cancer incidence, even in those with a high genetic risk, according to a Chinese study published in Cancer Research. The researchers calculated and applied the genetic risks for 16 cancers in men and 18 cancers in women to genotype information from 443,000 citizens from England, Scotland and Wales registered in a databank. Notably, 97 percent of patients in the study had a high genetic risk of at least one cancer type. Among patients with high genetic risk, the five-year cancer incidence was 7.23 percent in men and 5.77 percent in women with an unfavorable lifestyle. That compared with 5.51 percent in men and 3.69 percent in women with a favorable lifestyle, effectively moving them into an intermediate risk category.

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trang doan/Pexels.com

Eat High-Flavonoid Foods to Reduce Cognitive Decline

global briefs

egor kamelev/Pexels.com

Love Bugs

The Food Revolution—Miniaturized It may come as a surprise to most Americans, but people have been eating insects (entomophagy) for thousands of years, and they are part of the diets of more than 2 billion people. The United Nations predicts that this rapidly growing industry could be worth $6.3 billion by 2030, so bug-based products may soon appear in local stores. Although Western food markets have excluded insects in favor of animal-based protein, insect-based foods offer many health and environmental benefits, especially in light of the pressures from climate change.

Insects produce 80 times less methane than cattle and use less space, feed, water, housing and maintenance. One pound of beef requires 1,850 gallons of water, one pound of chicken uses 500 gallons and one pound of crickets requires one gallon. Nestlé and PepsiCo are conducting research and development forays into the field, and smaller, nimble startups are making plans to introduce new products. Names to watch include Mighty Cricket, Illegal Oats, Jiminy’s, Aspire (Exo Bar), BeoBia and FarmInsect. Public acceptance is expected to be gradual.

Wicked Wonders

pornsawan/AdobeStock.com

Banned Invasive Weeds for Sale The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has labeled cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), a native plant of Southeast Asia, as one of the world’s worst invasive weeds. It’s banned as an invasive species by the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, but a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment by the University of Massachusetts Amherst discovered that this and about 1,300 other invasive plants are sold at garden centers, nurseries and other retailers.

Lead author Evelyn M. Beaury, a graduate student in organismic and evolutionary biology at University of Massachusetts, says that she and her fellows found cogongrass was being sold by 33 outlets in 17 states. She notes, “This is a tricky case, because plant breeders are marketing a sterile cultivar, but research shows these plants are not completely sterile and can still become invasive.” According to the USDA, there are no known effective biological control methods. Beaury states, “While patchy state regulations definitely contribute to the widespread availability of invasive plants in the U.S., it’s clear we as a public also lack awareness about which plants are invasive and how they spread to new areas. If we want to continue to protect native ecosystems, regulators and managers need more resources to do so.”

courtesy of Recyclops.com

Sorting Soirée

Renovating the Recycling Stream Americans use a single recycling stream in which everything goes into one bin to be sorted and cleaned at the designated collection point; a system that requires too much labor with less-than-stellar results. A study conducted by the South Korean SK Group asked 1,500 U.S. adults about sustainable packaging and found that 72 percent prefer products with easily recycled or reused packaging, but don’t understand what can actually be recycled. Forty-two percent were not aware that containers such as plastic bottles cannot be recycled without removing the label. When dirty and labeled recyclables are deposited with clean recyclables, they contaminate the whole batch, creating massive amounts of unnecessary waste.

SKC Inc. has introduced Ecolabel, the first shrink sleeve label that doesn’t need to be removed from plastic bottles to be recycled. This removes the burden from the consumer and recyclers while making the process easier. Recyclops uses independent drivers to service recycling routes, creating income for locals and sustainable living options for residents. They’re innovating the recycling pickup process by using an Uber Eats-type phone app to enable the pickup of recyclables from areas that aren’t being serviced.

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eco tip

cover

Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure

Blue Sugar Skull Raised in Southern California by two artists, Kay Larch says she didn’t follow in their footsteps. She grew up, started a family, moved to South Carolina and built a daycare center that she owned and operated.

She filled the center with wall murals and did painting activities and after-school art classes with the kids, but she never considered herself an artist. She found ways to express her creative need for colorful and elaborate surroundings through painting projects she did for fun.

One day, Larch decided to create a series of acrylic paintings on canvas.

Out of curiosity, she submitted her work to a gallery. It was accepted for a show, which led to being featured in an article about the museum, interviews, commissioned work, more shows and the launching of her career as an artist at age 54.

Larch is immersed in the art community, has added oil painting and drawing to her repertoire, and creates in a variety of styles. Her acrylic paintings have a comic-book style, while her oil paintings lean more toward realism.

She admits she was influenced by growing up as a California hippie, traveling to Tijuana and seeing the vibrant colors of Mexican folk art and simply being an imaginative person. Her work has been featured in galleries, businesses and magazines and she sells original paintings, prints, greeting cards and a line of coloring books, in addition to commissioned work for people all around the world.

Find Kay Larch on Instagram (@KayLarch-Studio) or connect at Facebook.com/KayLarchStudio.

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Kay Larch

Plastic is a petrochemical-based, non-biodegradable pollution nightmare. As discarded water bottles and shampoo containers pile up for hundreds of years in landfills, we continue to produce more and more of the stuff. Meanwhile, plastic breaks down into microparticles that contaminate waterways, air, soil and even snow. They show up in foods and beverages we consume. While more research is needed to understand the human health impacts of microplastics, here are some ways to avoid ingesting these tiny particles.

DON’T DRINK PLASTIC-BOTTLED WATER. Plastic-bottled water has approximately double the microplastics of tap water, studies have found. Ditch single-use, plastic-bottled water. Instead, fill reusable stainless steel or glass containers with filtered tap water, chill and enjoy. Filtering tap water can help improve the taste and reduce other undesirable elements, and most carbon block filters with a micron rating of two or less will remove microplastics.

AVOID BEAUTY PRODUCTS WITH MICROBEADS. To reduce exposure to microplastics and dissuade manufacturers from using plastic, avoid any beauty products with microbeads, including certain toothpastes and facial scrubs.

Some words on product labels that indicate microbeads are polypropylene, polyethylene and polylactic acid (PLA).

WEAR NATURAL, NON-SYNTHETIC FABRICS. Synthetic fabrics shed microplastic fibers in the wash and as we wear them. Clothing made with natural fibers such as cotton is preferable.

WASH AND DRY SYNTHETIC CLOTHES DIFFERENTLY. When we wash and dry synthetic fabrics, significant levels of microplastics are released into the environment. To lessen this effect, air dry clothes or decrease their time in the dryer. Products are emerging to help filter and collect small synthetic fibers before they wash down the drain and into our waterways or get released into the air. Among the most promising are a washing bag (GuppyFriend.us), laundry ball (CoraBall.com) and in-machine filtration devices (XerosTech.com).

REDUCE MEAT AND FISH CONSUMPTION. As microplastics proliferate and marine and land animals eat them, they are finding their way into our food supply. We can limit our exposure by eating less meat and fish.

VACUUM AND DUST REGULARLY. Our homes are filled with microplastics.

Regularly dusting surfaces and vacuuming with a HEPA filter that traps dust is a great way to reduce these particles in the indoor air environment.

DRIVE LESS. As we drive our cars, microplastic flies off the tires and becomes airborne pollution. Find ways to drive less; opt instead for carpooling or public transportation.

Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

business spotlight

Holistic Health Rhode Island

by Wendy Nadherny Fachon

With more than 20 years of clinical experience,

While people typically seek acupuncture Jewel Sommerville, DAOM, founder of Holistic for treatment of pain conditions and musculoHealth Rhode Island, practices Japanese and skeletal injuries, it is highly effective for menChinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medtal disorders, addictions and immune dysicine to effectively assess, diagnose and treat function. Coronavirus pandemic management many conditions. Acupuncture and Chinese measures spawned a related pandemic of herbal medicine have been an integral part of depression, anxiety and stress, along with a East Asian Medicine (EAM) for more than 5,000 greater need to keep immune systems strong. years. Diagnosis in EAM is based on the move“The spiritual, physical and mental-emotional ment of qi, the life force or energy of the individaspects of our health are interwoven,” says Jewel Sommerville ual. Qi travels throughout the body along pathSommerville, “and this became more evident ways, called meridians, that generally correspond to our over the past year.” internal organ systems.

She adds, “I was drawn to East Asian medicine be EAM works to remove blockages and replenish decause it allows me to treat the whole person, and it placficiencies that cause pain and physiological disorders. es importance on the patient-practitioner relationship.

While the Western medical community continues to Each case is personalized and empowering. Treatment try to decipher how EAM works from a biomedical perwill be individualized. I may use only acupuncture with spective, both the World Health Organization and the some patients, while I may integrate acupuncture and National Institutes of Health support its efficacy. Chiherbs or adjunct therapies with others.” nese herbal medicine is plant and mineral-based. The formulas can be used safely and with little to no side Holistic Health Rhode Island is located at 990 Main St., effects. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can Ste. #4, East Greenwich. For more information, call be integrated with Western medicine for a more holistic 401-398-2933 or visit HolisticHealthRI.com. See ad on treatment. page 10.

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Four Steps to a Good Death

nikkizalewski/AdobeStock.com

by Ronica O’Hara

On his deathbed, Apple founder Steve Jobs looked for a long time at his children, his sister and his wife, then moved his gaze to the space behind them. “Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!” he gasped. No one can know for certain what he was experiencing, but his words point to the deep, mysterious potential of our final hours—the awareness of which can transform our life long before its end.

“An awareness of dying, of death, can wake us up to life. It helps us live a life that’s rich and full and meaningful. When we deny the truth of dying, we live less wholeheartedly, less completely,” says Frank Ostaseski, founder of the pioneering San Francisco Zen Hospice Project and author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.

The pandemic has 51 percent of us thinking more about our own mortality, a survey shows. The subject of death has been slowly opening up in America: TV programs like Six Feet Under and Alternative Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America present dying and grief more realistically; thousands of small conversational gatherings called “death cafes” are being held each year; people are designing their own funerals and choosing green burial sites; and the field of “death doulas” is emerging to help families navigate the legal and emotional shoals. Half a century after the release of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ seminal book On Death and Dying, palliative care to ease pain is offered by two-thirds of American hospitals, and Medicare funding for end-of-life hospice care has grown tenfold over the last two decades.

Yet for many, death remains the last taboo—85 percent of us have not discussed our last wishes yet with loved ones. Thousands of studies in the emerging field of experimental existential psychology have found that when reminded subconsciously of death, people tend to drive faster, drink harder, smoke more and get meaner to out-groups in attempts to lower their anxiety.

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But when we look death squarely in the face, that anxiety recedes, the research concludes. Gratitude, self-honesty and the humility of recognizing our place in the larger whole are also proven antidotes. With less fear, we are better able to take the proactive, concrete steps that ease our passage—getting clear on our values and desires, having important conversations, attending to final decisions and opening to our spiritual process. Although death has its own ways and means, these four processes can make it more likely we will die as we would like to.

Defining What We Value “Deeply

"There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

consider what your priorities in life are,” says Tarron Estes, founder and CEO of The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, which has trained more than 6,500 doulas since 2013. “Ask yourself, if I had only three months to live, what’s important to me spiritually, emotionally, physically? What do I still need to do or say?”

She recommends Stephen Levine’s book, A Year to Live, for exercises and meditations for that process.

“Don’t wait until the time of your dying to discover what it has to teach you,” advises Ostaseski, who has sat beside more than 2,000 hospice patients in their last hours. “When I’m with dying people, the things that are important to them are not their spiritual beliefs, but are more about relationships—‘Am I loved? Did I love well?’

Those two questions are useful inquiries now. They help us to discover where value and meaning can be found.”

By applying our values to the dying process, we can start sorting through options. Do we want to die at home or in a hospital? What medical procedures will we accept or decline? What measures do we want to be taken to sustain our life? Who do we want to be at our side? And what do we need to say before that time?

Having Important Conversations As daunting

as the prospect of an end-of-life talk with family and friends may seem, it can start with simple words like “I want to talk with you about something important to me.” Without spelling out our desires, death can become inadvertently medicalized: Nine in 10 of us say we want to die in our homes, but only two in 10 do.

“The default systems are all to treat, treat, treat, until someone finally says, ‘No,’ so many people end up on a high-tech conveyor belt to the ICU,” says award-winning journalist Katy Butler, author of The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life. Among people that undertake such talks, 73 percent describe the experience as positive, reassuring and productive.

A downloadable Conversation Starter Guide (TheConversationProject.org) provides practical guidance for these critical conversations.

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Attending to Medical and Burial Decisions

Taking care of business—the paperwork aspects of death known as advance directives—spares loved ones from having to make tough decisions later. A last will and testament precludes pain and infighting among family and friends. A living will specifies what treatments are wanted under what conditions. A medical power of attorney designates a trusted person to make medical decisions if a patient is not capable. A Do Not Resuscitate order approved by a doctor means emergency medical workers are less likely to give CPR, which frequently causes trauma and broken ribs in elderly or frail patients. Either cremation or a burial can be decided upon; environmental options such as a forest burial in a wooden casket can be explored. Local hospice options can be surveyed in advance; nonprofits generally are rated better than profit-making groups.

Opening to the Spiritual Process Whether or not we have religious beliefs to carry us through waves of loss and sorrow, death can spur spiritual insight. “In dying, we withdraw from our outer circles and come into the inner circles of our lives—the relationships that matter most to us,” says Ostaseski, who has worked four decades with hospice patients. “There’s a growing silence that has us becoming more contemplative and reflective. Our sense of time and space changes and we enter into a kind of free flow. The boundaries we have lived by begin to dissolve, and we start to feel ourselves as part of something larger—not as a belief, but as a natural occurrence. Often people realize themselves to be more than the small, separate self they had thought themselves to be.”

Joan Tollifson, a Zen-trained spiritual teacher and author of Death: The End of Self-Improvement, concurs: “When the future disappears, we are brought home to the immediacy that we may have avoided all our lives.

With no future left to fantasize about, the focus of attention may finally be fully on right Now, the only place where our life ever actually is. Really getting that ‘This is it,’ there may be a sudden recognition of the absolute preciousness and wonder of every simple ordinary thing and of the people around us, just as they are, with all their flaws and foibles. Old grudges and resentments often melt away, and love shines through.

“All the things which may have been part of our self-image—independence, physical strength, cognitive sharpness, good appearance and so on—have either disappeared or are rapidly collapsing, which invites the discovery that none of that really mattered, that what we truly or more fundamentally are is not

dependent on any of that.

“The greatest gift we can give to a loved one who is dying,” says Tollifson, is to “simply be present, listen, follow your heart, trust the process.

Everything else will follow from that.

There’s no right or wrong way.”

It can be difficult to know what to say to a loved one near the end, but hospice workers recommend five phrases that have deep healing potential, even if a person seems unconscious: “I love you,” “Thank you,” “Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” and “Goodbye” or “Until we meet again.” As Butler points out, the first four phrases can be said any time in our lives.

Increasingly in hospice care, loved ones are encouraged to sit with the body after the death, touching it, sharing stories, perhaps gently bathing it and dressing it in favorite clothes. “Touching the body, feeling the coolness, makes the death real to the family,” Ostaseski says. “Research shows that people that went through that process still grieved, but they were able to be with the emotion and not be overwhelmed by it.”

Facing the reality of death—as hard and heartbreaking as that can be—can free us to truly live life, said Jobs. After his terminal cancer diagnosis, he told Stanford students in a commencement address, “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.

You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Local End of Life Doulas JUDITH ARASI NEDA Proficient, Certified in Dementia Care and Bereavement, Certified Reiki l and ll Judi.Doula@Gmail.com JudiArasi.com 508-517-0236 As a natural caregiver, I continue my passion for providing emotional, physical, and spiritual care. My training allows me to educate and support patients and their loved ones beginning with the initial diagnosis and continuing through end of life stages. I provide recommendations for physical comfort, advocate with your medical/ hospice care team, and guide patients to their “next place”. A wonderful Chaplin once told me that “people will die the way they lived” and so to honor each individual with dignity and love.

BONNIE EVANS, MS, RN, GNP-BC NEDA Proficient Bristol, RI Bonnie@BonnieEvansDoula.com BonnieEvansDoula.com 401-835-5624 With experience as a nurse practitioner in hospice and palliative care, I offer an additional layer of non-medical support to help guide, educate and comfort clients and their families as they navigate issues around illness, death and dying. My vision is to create the expectation that there is continued growth, connection and beauty until our last breath. This support can begin with diagnosis and extend to assist caregivers with grief and loss following a death.

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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Homeopathy for Migraines and Headaches

by Vandana Pitke Homeopathy, a holistic and individualized natural medicine, offers many remedies for the treatment of migraines and headaches. Each case is studied in detail and a treatment plan is tailored according to an individual’s symptoms. Lifestyle habits, food and eating habits, sensitivities and affinities and weaknesses all are studied and considered while choosing a right remedy for the given disease condition. Here are a few remedies which can be considered in the treatment of migraines.

BELLADONNA

Violent, throbbing kind of pain with redness/plethora of the face is the typical symptoms picture of belladonna.

Pain can be made worse by light, noise and lying down mostly in afternoon, and feels better with pressure.

BRYONIA

This remedy can be helpful if a person has a heavy or “splitting” headache, with a constant pain which settles mostly over one eye or even spreads to entire head. Pain is worse from slightest motion, even from moving the eyes, and the person wants to lie completely still and not be talked to or disturbed at all. Nausea with a heavy feeling in the stomach and vomiting may occur. The person can have a very dry mouth, throat and lips and usually is very thirsty.

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NUX VOMICA

The nux patient is quick, active, nervous and irritable.

Typically, they do a good deal of mental work and are very zealous and impatient and fiery with mental strains.

They spend much of their time in prolonged office work and overstudy, with its cares and anxieties. This sedentary, indoor life and mental strain seeks stimulants, teas, coffee, wine, possibly in excess.

GELSEMIUM

Damp weather, thunderstorms and alcohol are the factors that can trigger the headaches. Pain begins at the back of the head, extending upward or to the forehead.

Headaches preceded by dimness of vision or other visual disturbances. There can be a sensation of a band or hood bound tightly around the head, heaviness of head and the eyelids. They may experience depressing emotions, such as fright or anger from bad news.

NATRUM MURIATICUM

Migraines (often on the right) that are worse from grief or emotional upsets, worse from sun, during summer, sunstrokes, or occur just before or after the menstrual period, in young girls. The headache feels like “a thousand little hammers are knocking on the brain” and is often worse from straining the eyes or with more screen

time. Aura can start with feeling numb or tingling in the lips or face before the headache starts, and the eyes are very sensitive to light. The person often feels better lying in the dark and after sleeping.

SANGUINARIA

Right-sided migraines with tension in the neck and shoulder, extending to the forehead with a bursting feeling in the eye. Jarring, light and noise aggravate the pain which is sharp, splitting, knife-like or throbbing like a flash of lightning. The headaches improve after vomiting, from burping or passing gas and are mostly better after sleep. A person who needs this remedy often comes down with migraines after missing meals and can also have digestive problems and allergies.

SEPIA

Left-sided migraines with dizziness and nausea, worse from missing meals and worse near menstrual periods or during menopause, often responds to this remedy. Pain may come in shocks or jerks, and the person feels worse indoors and from lying on the painful side. They may feel indifferent to those loved best and cry when telling of symptoms.

CIMICIFUGA

Cimicifuga or actea racemosa is indicated for migraines with throb-

bing pains as if waves or opening and shutting sensation in the brain is being felt. Brain feels too large along with shooting pains in the eyes. Headaches are often associated with the menstrual period or uterine/ovarian pathology or come on after long-term study or worrying. The muscles of the neck feel very stiff and painful. The person feels mentally dull and gloomy, or even fearful, during a migraine.

Pain is worse from motion, more/ heavy bleeding and improved by eating.

SPIGELIA

Stitching, like electric sparks, burning or pulsating pains, usually on the frontal part of the head.

Pain, as if the head is about to burst, when coughing and speaking loudly.

Shaking in brain at every step and at every movement of the head is characteristic of this remedy. Stiff neck and shoulders accompany the headache that makes the motion painful.

Headaches get worse from stooping, motion and cold stormy weather and can feel better by lying with the head propped up.

Vandana Pitke is a board-certified homeopath with Om Homeopathy. She holds in-person and online consulations. For more information, call 401573-3757 or visit OmHomeopathy.com.

See Resource Guide Lising on page 36.

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CROSSWORD SOLUTION

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Fuel the Digestive Fire Changing Our Diet to Match the Seasons

by Tamara Luck As the seasons change, cravings for comfort foods, often synonymous with cozy cold weather, seem to rise. These changes in eating habits are perfectly normal, reflecting the different nutrient and energetic needs of each season. In the hot summer, our bodies require more water, asking for more hydrating foods, like fresh fruit and vegetables. As the weather cools down, our bodies require more warming and grounding properties, found in foods like root vegetables. Changing our diet to match the seasons helps to fuel the internal digestive fire during harsh New England winters.

This concept of warming digestive fire is described in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.

This digestive fire has been characterized as the fuel for the gastrointestinal tract and beyond, fueling the whole body. This digestive fire is naturally dampened in the winter months by the intense cold weather. A variety of foods and spices can be used to sustain internal warmth, balancing out our entire bodily systems, such as digestions, energy production and mood.

During the winter, ditch the raw salads and cold smoothies for warmer meals. Fully cooked meals, like soups and stews, are easier to digest, requiring less effort from the digestive organs to break food down, 22

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promoting regularity and decreasing gas and bloating.

In cold weather, the body utilizes a significant amount of energy just to stay warm. Cooked meals will save the body energy by helping to warm it from the inside out.

One meal that is often overlooked as the seasons change is breakfast. During the colder months, prioritize eating cooked foods for a morning meal. For example, try cooked vegetables with eggs, oatmeal or lentil porridge for a warm and well-balanced breakfast. Other grounding foods include root vegetables, ghee and spices such as cinnamon, ginger and turmeric. Get creative in the kitchen by adding turmeric to rice or cinnamon to coffee for extra warming action.

As usual, mother nature knows best. These grounding foods are locally in season during the winter. Root vegetables, like potatoes, squash and pumpkins are abundant throughout the winter. Eating in-season produce not only balances the body’s energetics, but also provides more nutrient density than out-of-season produce.

These intuitive cravings for comforting foods do not need to be associated with winter weight gain. We can feed our digestive fire while still eating a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet. Focus on incorporating whole foods and eliminating ready-to-eat processed foods.

These whole foods can also be incorporated easily into comfort foods. For example, use chickpea pasta mixed with non-dairy milk, ghee and cooked butternut squash for a creamy, protein-packed version of macaroni and cheese. Or use organic bone broth for homemade chicken soup to avoid high amounts of sodium. Lastly, focus on drinking teas or sipping on warm water throughout the day instead of relying on sugary lattes.

Eating seasonally will not only greatly improve digestion, but also provide the necessary nutrients to keep the body balanced throughout the winter.

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.

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coming in the december holiday issue

Boosting Immune System

plus: Uplifting Humanity

Floating to Let Go

by Sara Garvin

The pressures of modern life are continual. Work deadlines, traffic, the daily grind and being connected all day, every day, along with the state of the world, contribute to our everyday stress and anxiety levels. Fortunately, with floating, a decades-old trend has come around again, and new research is carrying it to a new audience.

Floating involves lying on one’s back in a small shallow pool supersaturated with Epsom salt so it is dense like the Dead Sea making floating effortless. The tank is kept warm, at body temperature, dark and quiet, and most people find it very relaxing.

FLOATING FOR ANXIETY

Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in this country.

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, an estimated 31 percent of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives—and this research was done prior to a worldwide pandemic.

But recent research from the Laureate Institute of Brain Research (LIBR), in Tulsa, Oklahoma, shows real promise for floating as a treatment for anxiety.

During the study, 50 participants 24

Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

reported significant improvements in serenity, happiness, relaxation and overall well-being after only one hour-long float session. The participants were divided into anxious and non-anxious groups; half floated, while the other half settled into a comfy recliner and watched a nature documentary. After a week, the groups switched.

The study participants reported much higher levels of serenity and relaxation after floating and much lower levels of muscle tension and in-themoment anxiety, compared to the nature documentary experience. And the effects persisted about 20 hours after floating, which is about four times the length of many anti-anxiety medications. One participant, identified as Subject 14, reported, “It was amazing.

It was like floating on air. No cares in the world. No worries.”

The brain dedicates 30 to 40 percent to processing what we see, and taking all of the other senses into account; a full 50 percent of our gray matter is always handling what it gets from the outside world. Dialing down that load allows the brain to rest. In another study published this

year, functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after floating suggests that floating allows the brain to let go of the hard work of constantly keeping track of our current states. Letting go is a theme that crops up in float enthusiasts’ anecdotes.

Interestingly, while the brain may be relaxing away from its tight control over bodily perception, the LIBR study participants reported increased awareness of their heartbeats and their breathing. “I really felt I was one with my heartbeat, and I could hear it,” said one subject, “but it wasn’t like when I’m having an anxiety or panic attack. So, it wasn’t a negative thing. It was a very in-tune-with-myself kind of feeling.”

Ever-increasing digital connectivity might hinder a strong body-mind connection, but there are ways to reclaim it. A complicated problem, and a complicated environment, requires a full and varied toolbox. Floating is an excellent tool. Some float to feel grounded and to strengthen their connection to their bodies. For many, that sense of connection expands outward, encompassing their communities, the environment and the well-being of the world around them. That’s a lot of positivity and light for a box of darkness and salty water.

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Sara Garvin is a co-founder of FLOAT Boston, located at 515 Medford St., Somerville, MA. For more information on the benefits of floating, call 844-44-FLOAT or visit FLOATBoston.com. See ad on page 27 and Resource Guide on page 35.

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David Crow on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants

by Randy Kambic

David Crow, author of In Search of the Medicine Buddha, among other books, is a foremost expert in botanical medicine and other natural health applications. As a teacher, telemedicine consultant, researcher, certified master herbalist, aromatherapist and acupuncturist, he has studied Chinese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic and Western herbal medicine for more than 30 years. He is a strong advocate of the safe use of herbs and essential oils, and installing gardens in public and private spaces. As one of the first medical pioneers to use essential oils and aromatherapy in clinical practice, integrating them into comprehensive treatments, he is also the founder of Floracopeia Aromatic Treasures.

Why do you feel humanity needs to reconnect a sacred relationship with plants?

For our survival as a species. Plants created the biosphere over hundreds of millions of years, including the ozone layer, the oxygen in the atmosphere, the fertility of the soil, the regulation of the seasons and the foundation of the food chain. From those conditions, higher life was able to emerge and evolve: Humans emerged from conditions created by plants. Since we cannot live directly on soil and sunlight as plants do, the structure and function of the human body are designed so that we can extract those energies in forms that plants provide; our physiology, respiration and metabolism is a mirror image of photosynthesis. We have complete biological dependency on plants in every moment; understanding this is the basis of reverence for nature, which is ecological spirituality, the only long-term solution to the environmental crisis we have created through lack of sensitivity and appreciation of our place in the biosphere.

cines and awareness of the limitations and dangers of pharmaceutical drugs. The availability of nutraceuticals and herbal products from around the world has created a golden age of natural medicine, but has also brought widespread confusion from the overwhelming amount of information combined with marketing of products.

People are asking more about drugs and prescribed procedures; they are seeking natural alternatives, and in many cases, either reducing or eliminating their need for pharmaceutical drugs. This change is an important step toward greater health consciousness, which is linked directly to other aspects of creating a healthier society, like the increased demand for organic food that’s driving more organic agriculture.

Why are cultural medical systems inseparable from spiritual and meditative practices?

Classical medical systems such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, along with indigenous and shamanic uses of plants for healing, have evolved and are inseparable from the spiritual practices of their cultures. For example, Chinese medicine evolved from and with the same philosophical roots and practices as qigong and Taoist alchemy, and Ayurveda emerged from and in turn influenced yoga, tantra and Vedic philosophy.

The significance of this is that medical practices were used both for healing the body and to support yogic and spiritual practices, and vice versa. Now we have modern scientific research confirming the health benefits of spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer, but more importantly, traditional medical systems remind us that there is an ultimate spiritual goal that is higher than mere physical health.

How is self-care changing to empower people?

What is your view on the resurgence of psychedelic plant medicines for healing?

The doctor/patient paradigm is changing in many ways as a result of the internet, availability of natural medi-

All plants have healing properties and also have potential dangers and toxicity, depending on how they are used.

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photo by Simone Anne

wise words

The psychoactive plants, specifically the entheogens (those that awaken the perception of divinity) have been used in ceremonies and mystery cults throughout history for healing conditions of body, mind and spirit, but those traditions have always been under the care of highly trained and experienced priests, priestesses and shamans. The experiences while under the influence of these plants are highly dependent on the container of the environment, the cultural mythologies, the ritual, its leaders and the other people present in the ceremony, and it can be highly unpredictable with both good and bad outcomes.

The use of these medicines at higher doses is an excellent opportunity for deep inner transformation, exploration of consciousness and appreciation of the visionary realms that are available to us, but like all intensive spiritual endeavors, requires preparation, orientation and guidance. Using these plants at lower doses, like microdosing daily with psilocybin mushrooms for treating depression and anxiety, offers great benefits for some people without the risks of the psychological, mental or emotional disruptions that can occur at higher doses.

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Randy Kambic, in Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer.

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natural pet

Honoring the Loss of a Pet Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal

by Marlaina Donato French novelist Anatole France’s sentiment, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened,” rings true for anyone that shares a love story with a beloved pet. Whether we lose a cat, dog, horse, bird or lizard, the final parting can be quite emotional. Society supports us with empathy and rituals of closure when we suffer the loss of a human love, but grieving an animal companion can be a uniquely silent passage. Surrendering fully to the mourning process, creating a joyful ceremony and celebrating the life of a loved one invites healing and solace.

SACRED GRIEF The animal-human alliance is hallmarked by the absence of emotional baggage, and is therefore capable of provoking grief that equals or exceeds losing a close relative. “This is a deep bond that is never judgmental on how we look, spend money or what we do for a living, as long as we love and nurture. And, in return, we receive undying, unconditional love,” says Pam Baren Kaplan, a pet loss grief counselor and life coach in Chicago.

Diane Stout, a pet parent and retired dog groomer in Paupack, Pennsylvania, knows the impact of this unconditional love, especially through life’s changes. “Long after a spouse has died and family have moved away to other lives and preoccupations, the family pet remains the faithful Be sure to let our advertisers know you found them in

dinner or TV time companion,” she says. “A cherished pet is often the last true companion.”

Cancelling appointments or taking time off from work after a pet’s passing does not connote emotional weakness. “Treat yourself with the same kindness you would show another person going through this difficult time,” advises Cheryl Wyatt, a certified grief companion at Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a national network of veterinarians that provides compassionate end-of-life care. “Allow yourself the time to do your mourning work.

Tears are cleansing. If they happen to come 10 hours or 10 years from now, you have permission to shed them.”

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COMPASSIONATE TRANSITIONS Loving an animal until the last goodbye includes relieving their suffering to the best of our ability. In-home euthanasia can make a heartbreaking time more bearable for both pet and owner. “Providing beloved pets euthanasia at home differs from a clinical setting because it allows them to remain in their safe, happy place. At home, the veterinarian can greet the pet family and provide the loved one’s peaceful passing wherever they are most comfortable—a favorite bed or spot on the couch—surrounded by all those who love them most,” explains Wyatt.

Pet funerals are becoming more common, and ceremonies are as unique as the animal remembered.

Stories, poetry and memories can be shared by family and they can include a living memorial such as a tree planted in the animal’s name.

Stout, also an accomplished artist, finds joy in painting her pets that have gone and suggests “a scrapbook of pictures and memories, because a look back at puppy or kitten pictures can bring an instant smile.”

Kaplan agrees, “Creating what I refer to as ‘a legacy of love’ can be done by the entire family or by one person. This is a book that you put together with favorite photos of your pet and journal the story around the photo. This is a great way to include family member’s memories from their perspective.”

Choosing a unique, handmade vessel for ashes can honor an animal.

Mary Jane Panebianco, owner of SpiritpetShop on Etsy.com, was inspired by the passing of a co-worker’s dog.

“At the time, I worked in a mixed media art gallery, and she had one of our ceramic artists create her dog Sandy’s memorial urn. It was beautiful and so well done. I did some research on the pet industry, and everything I found was so commercial and mass-produced. I knew pets and their owners deserved another option.”

Panebianco works with a small number of award-winning American artisans and accepts custom orders for handcrafted urns. “Many of my

pet parents have told me how having a beautiful memorial for their beloved pet helps them make peace with their pet’s passing. It’s the last thing you will do for them.”

In the beginning and in the end, it’s all about the love. For Stout, it’s what animals teach us. “To play and dance

often, to give unconditional love, loyalty and friendship, to find joy in the little things, and that life is too often short.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Advice for the Bereaved Cheryl Wyatt, of the Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, recommends:  Write out your emotions freely in a journal; compose a poem or letter to your pet.  Light commemorative candles in his/her honor.  Continue to speak to your loved one, sing to him/her whatever brought you joy in being together.  Join an online group or meet in person with other people that are going through the mourning process.  Don’t let people that don’t grasp the depth of the human-animal bond tell you how you should feel.

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conscious eating

Eat Well to Feel Well Thanksgiving Fare that Boosts Mental Health

by Christy Ratliff

Scan this QR code with your camera app to visit our website for more recipes.

Across America, people of all ages are struggling with mental health issues. Nearly one in five people is living with a mental health condition, and the number of people seeking help for anxiety and depression is skyrocketing, reports Mental Health America. According to the organization’s 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report, suicidal thoughts are increasing among both adults and children, and 9.7 percent of youth is experiencing severe major depression compared to 9.2 percent last year. The highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant has only exacerbated these mental health challenges.

The hope and help we seek may be as close as our own kitchen. Accumulating research shows that a diet rich in highly processed foods may increase the risk of developing or worsening various mental health conditions.

But a nutrient-based diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables; omega-3 fatty acids; nuts, seeds and legumes; whole grains, fresh herbs and spices; fish and olive oil, may help to support and enhance mental health. We can start this Thanksgiving by serving up healthier, nutrient-rich options to alleviate anxiety and depression, stabilize mood and promote mental health and wellness.

“The gut/brain connection helps us understand the food/mood connection,” explains Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutrition specialist and author of the national bestseller This is Your Brain on Food. “The enteric nervous system—that is, the nerves supplying the gastrointestinal tract—totals over 100 million neurons and communicates directly with the brain, or central nervous system, by way of the vagus nerve, which is responsible for our ‘rest-and-digest’ response.

“It’s also vital to note that the gut contains the highest number of serotonin receptors, and the gut itself produces all the neurotransmitters that are also made in the brain, including serotonin, often called the happiness hormone. In turn, these neurotransmitters are implicated in sound mental health or potential problems when they are deficient.”

“What we eat affects mental health in many ways,” adds Amy Spindel, a functional holistic nutritionist in Plano, Texas, and founder of FoodWithThoughtNutrition. com. “Nutrient deficiencies can cause poor neurotransBe sure to let our advertisers know you found them in

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mitter production. Insufficient vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 can be implicated in depression and anxiety symptoms, as they are all needed for various stages of neurotransmitter production, especially serotonin, dopamine and GABA.” “Traditional sugary, high-carbohydrate foods promote unstable blood sugar and selectively feed inflammatory gut microbes,” Spindel says, suggesting that we skip the typical foods many of us associate with the holidays such as pecan pie, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole and canned cranberry sauce. “Blood sugar fluctuations cause the body to scramble in an attempt to re-regulate glucose, which may mean spikes of cortisol or adrenaline, as well as insulin. The end result can be depression and anxiety from excessive stress hormones and a glucose-starved brain.”

But making such changes, particularly during the holidays, isn’t easy. “If the thought of changing up the traditional Thanksgiving menu gives you pause, you are not alone—and this is why I believe in adding in habits (and in this case, dishes) which have a positive ripple effect on our bodies and our brain, allowing for a self-sustaining cycle in our lifestyle,” advises Naidoo.

“As a nutritional psychiatrist, I feel that we are more

emotionally nurtured by a feeling of abundance in ‘adding’ new Thanksgiving dishes than thinking about this as ‘excluding’ foods,” she notes. “For example, tossing a fresh, folate-rich spinach and arugula salad with bits of antioxidant-rich strawberries, crisp roasted chickpeas and omega-3-rich olive oil adds color, flavor and a plethora of mood-nourishing ingredients to the dinner table. Even adding extra veggies to existing dishes, such as allicin-rich garlic to green beans or extra celery and fresh herbs to stuffing, adds in powerful phytonutrients with gut-loving fiber.”

“Thanksgiving favorites that are ample in neurotransmitter-producing nutrients include turkey, shellfish, sweet potatoes and acorn squash, asparagus, leafy greens, oranges and green beans,” Spindel adds.

While it’s true that we cannot control a global pandemic or solve the mental health crisis in America with positive thinking alone, we can minimize our feelings of powerlessness and despair by making small but significant dietary changes—not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.

Christy Ratliff is a professional health and wellness writer based in Central Florida.

Goat Cheese Appetizer with Honey, Fig and Pistachios

photo by Christy Ratliff

1 medium, fresh goat cheese log (about 11 oz) ¼ cup roasted pistachios, chopped ¼ cup honey (this recipe calls for 2 Tbsp; others call for ¼ cup) 1 to 2 Tbsp fig spread Healthy selection of whole-wheat crackers, vegetable chips, etc.

Spread chopped pistachios on a small plate. Roll goat cheese in pistachios to coat sides and top. Transfer to a serving tray and sprinkle whole pistachios on top and around the cheese.

Drizzle honey over and around cheese log. Warm fig spread for 5 to 10 seconds in a microwave. Drizzle spread over cheese log or half of cheese log, as desired. Serve with whole-wheat crackers or chips.

Courtesy of Susan Randall. For more information, visit SimpleHealthyKitchen.com.

Greek-Style Green Beans (Fasolakia Lathera)

photo by Christy Ratliff

⅓ cup olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 lb green beans 1 medium potato, sliced (¼-inch thickness, cut in half) 3 medium tomatoes, grated, or 12 to 15 oz chopped tomatoes

¼ cup parsley, chopped 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp salt Fresh pepper

In a medium pot, heat olive oil on low to medium heat. Sauté onion until softened. Add potatoes and heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add beans and mix with olive oil until coated. Add tomatoes, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add just enough hot water to cover the beans halfway. Cover and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until beans are soft and most of the liquid is absorbed. May be served as a side dish for four people or a vegetarian/vegan entrée for two.

Courtesy of Elena Paravantes, RDN. For more information and Mediterranean recipes, visit OliveTomato.com.

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Seluisauganasda Cherokee Cornmeal Cookies

1 loaf bread, toasted (whole wheat (WW) or half WW and half French bread) ¼ cup unsalted butter 2 cups celery, chopped 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped (to taste) 3 Granny Smith apples, chopped, with skin on ¼ cup sage leaves, chopped ¼ cup fresh rosemary, chopped 1 to 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped 2½ cups reduced sodium vegetable or chicken broth 2 eggs 1 to 2 tsp salt to taste (may substitute nutritional yeast or fresh dill) Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a large, 2-to-3-inch-deep casserole or baking dish. Toast bread and cut into 1-inch cubes.

Set aside. Melt butter in a large pan. Add celery, onion, garlic, apples and fresh herbs. Stir to mix and cook until softened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add bread cubes and apple/vegetable/ fresh herb mixture into the egg mixture. Add broth and salt (or nutritional yeast or fresh dill) and mix well. Spoon stuffing into prepared casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Uncover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes more or until golden-brown crust forms. Remove from oven, uncover and cool.

Courtesy of Buzz Spence. For more information on fresh herbs for emotional health, visit MotherEarthLiving.com.

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Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Using a wooden spoon, mix butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add egg and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Add flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt.

Add raisins. Mix well. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful onto baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until slightly golden. Makes about 2 dozen small cookies.

Courtesy of La Potosina. For more information, visit IndigenousFoods.wordpress.com.

photo by Christy Ratliff

Buzz’s Fresh Herb and Apple Sage Stuffing

¾ cup softened butter ½ cup organic brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 1½ cups flour ½ cup cornmeal 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ½ cup raisins (Other versions of this recipe include nuts and dark chocolate pieces.)

photo by Christy Ratliff

Here’s a creative, nutritious way to celebrate indigenous tradition during the holidays while also being mindful of mental health.

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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.

Alternative Treatment for Depression THE BEAUTY THERAPIST

Alithia Monroe PA-C, Physician Assistant 137 Newbury St, Ste 605, Boston, MA 02116 617-991-7567 Not just a vanity treatment, Botox relieves medical conditions such as chronic migraines and overactive bladder. While not FDA approved, robust medical research shows Botox significantly reduces depression symptoms of sadness.

Depression treatments are more conservative than cosmetic and the results experienced are more than beauty. See ad on page 7.

Applied Kinesiology CENTRAL SQUARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Kristine Jelstrup, CMFT, CBK, LMT 126 Prospect St, Ste 5, Cambridge, 02139 617-833-3407 Kristine@CentralSquareHealthAnd Wellness.com CentralSquareHealthAndWellness.com Through Muscle Response Testing Kristine is able to communicate with the nervous system and get to the root cause of your physical, emotional or chemical issues. Your body will indicate, through a binary feedback mechanism in the nervous system, which body systems are not functioning optimally and why. Is there an immune challenge, toxicity or does your body just need nutritional support? When you ask the body what it needs you can get clear answers and achieve optimal health.

Ayurveda Health Counselor Online Certification Course SACRED STONE SCHOOL ONLINE 401-680-3934 Karyn@KarynChabot.com SacredStoneHealing.com

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 25.

Brain Training ADVANCED NEUROTHERAPY, PC Jolene Ross, PhD 781-444-9115 RetrainYourBrain.com

Specializing in Neurotherapy, an effective, drug-free treatment for: attention, behavior, emotional, and executive function problems, autistic spectrum, anxiety, depression, post-concussion, peak performance and more. See ad, page 7.

In Loving Memory of and Gratitude for Dr. Patricia Hogan-Casey Donations in Dr. Pat's memory can be made to: PawsWatch, P.O. Box 7005, Warwick, RI 02887 and The American Diabetes Association, PO BOX 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116.

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Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

RI NEUROFEEDBACK | ZEN BRAIN TRAINING 401-282-0230 RINeurofeedback.com

Most of us don’t realize how much we can benefit from training our brains. Like our bodies, our brains benefit from healthy exertion and positive attention. Many of us suffer from symptoms of brain dysregulation that vary from lethargy to mania, ADD to OCD, depression to anxiety.

Training the brain can strengthen its response to these symptoms and provide a clarity, ease and peacefulness that is hard to describe until you experience it. Call today for a free discovery conversation. See ad, page 23.

Cannabis Dispensary FULL HARVEST MOONZ

101 Plaistow Rd, Haverhill, MA 01830 978-702-4160 FullHarvestMoonz.com A woman-owned, adult-use Cannabis Dispensary in Haverhill, MA. At FHM, we use cannabis to clear and raise the vibration of the energy body to bridge wellness from within mentally, emotionally and spiritually. See ad on page 11.

Chiropractic MCARDLE CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER Catherine McArdle, DC Robert Sedlor, DC

2220 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, RI 02921 401-383-3400 McArdleChiropractic.com Family chiropractic practice offering holistic care to patients of all ages. Based on the initial evaluation, patients will be given a treatment plan which addresses ergonomics, exercise, stretching and nutrition in addition to their spinal alignment. See ad on page 10.

Coaching

Colon Hydrotherapy

A CREATIVE HEALING PLACE

INTERNAL WELLNESS CENTER

Benjamin B. Blackett 401-855-2008 BBB3pips@gmail.com Facebook.com/BenjaminBBlackett TikTok: @benjaminblackett

Liz Marcano-Pucillo 150 Wood Rd, Ste 403, Braintree, MA 02184 781-228-6915 Liz@InternalWellnessCtr.com InternalWellnessCtr.com

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 21.

JAMISON JACOBS COACHING

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 32.

Compounding & Wellness Pharmacy BIRD’S HILL COMPOUNDING PHARMACY

Jamison@JamisonJacobs.com Linkedin.com/in/jamisonjacobs

I am a graduate of Accomplishment Coaching and I am currently a Program Coach, coaching other coaches, in New York City. I work with executives, leaders and those in career transition. See ad, page 8.

LIFE COACH DAVID

David Scott Bartky, Law of Attraction Life Coach 973-444-7301 LifeCoachDavid.com

401 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492 781-449-0550 Pharmacist@BirdsHillPharmacy.com BirdsHillPharmacy.com Familyowned and -operated since 1960, we have evolved from a traditional pharmacy to a worldwide compounding and nutritional resource.

Our unique one-on-one patient consultations produce a full understanding of your health needs.

You, your physician, and one of our compounding pharmacists work as partners to ensure that you will receive the best care possible.

JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS

577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452 781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172 John@NaturalCompounder.com NaturalCompounder.com JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad on page 3.

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 19.

Flotation FLOAT BOSTON

Find out how to attract what you want, feel happier, and become the best version of yourself with Law of Attraction coaching. You have the ability; you just have to know how to use it.

TAKE THE LEAP COACHING

Kim Childs 1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813 Kim@KimChilds.com KimChilds.com Need help clarifying and realizing your desires? Asking “What’s next?” or “How do I get started?” Kim is a certified life and career coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity, and midlife transitions, to help clients create more personally fulfilling, meaningful and empowered lives. Initial consultations are free.

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

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 27.

For more than a quarter of a century, Dinno Health has been a trusted provider of pharmacy services and is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized care for each customer. At our four independent pharmacies, we offer prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and vaccines. See ad, page 9.

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Frenectomy (Tongue/Lip Tie Release)

Handmade Soaps & Skin Care

Integrative Veterinary Medical Care

DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID

NEW BEDFORD SOAP COMPANY

MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON

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 19.

Functional Dietitian ALORA FREDERICK, RDN

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 3.

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 3.

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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 Food Store NATURE’S GOODNESS

510 East Main Rd, Middletown, RI 401-847-7480 Facebook.com/NaturesGoodness NaturesGoodnessRI.com

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 29.

Light Therapy HEALING LIGHT JOURNEY By appointment only 401-282-0230 Raff@RINeurofeedback.com HealingLightJourney.com

Since 1984 we have been providing the finest quality Natural & Organic Whole Foods including many gluten-free products, natural body care, athletic supplements & protein powders, incense, smudging supplies and candles made with essential oils.

Natural pet care food & supplements. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Visit website for more information.

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.

Homeopathy

Mind-Body Medicine

VANDANA PITKE

BODYMIND REPATTERNING

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.

Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

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.

FLIPP SALON APOTHECARY 38 Transit St Providence, RI 02903 401-274-1981 FlippSalon.com

A small boutique salon promoting a holistic approach to beauty, herbalism, art and music.

Offering a full range of hair services using organic, plantbased products, full apothecary of loose herbs, blends and organic self-care items and accessories.

Herbalist on staff. Gallery walls featuring local artisans; all mediums welcome. Live music in semi-acoustic for Music Nights. We believe that all these mediums are symbiotic in promoting joy and wellness in the individual and the community.

Pilates

BOSTON REIKI MASTER

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

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

Shamanic Practitioner ENERGY-N-ELEMENTS Paul A. DiSegna 401-736-6500 Energy-N-Elements.com

BODY DYNAMICS RI

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.

Peggy Normandin 1099 Mendon Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864 401-333-8550 BodyDynamicsRI@icloud.com BodyDynamicsRI.com

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 on page 3.

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 32.

Reiki

Organic Hair Care

ANGELHAWK REIKI & DESIGNS OF RI West Shore Wellness 459 Sandy Ln, Warwick, RI 02889 Additional locales 401-298-0306

ELAYNE HEWITT

Master Colorist/Stylist Riverside, RI 401-273-7005 ElayneOrganic@gmail.com A full-service green salon that’s Certified Organic for hair color, straightening/relaxing and permanent wave. No ammonia, parabens, plastics or thioglycolates. Call today for an appointment. 50% off all new clients only. See ad, page 27.

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 JANET STRAIGHTARROW Be The Medicine Shaman, Healer, Sage 973-647-2500 Janet@BeTheMedicine.com BeTheMedicine.com

40 years helping people help themselves. The Healers Healer. Deep energy healing-clearing worldwide.

Profound results. Transformation. Coaching. Relieve anxiety, heal past now. Professional trainings.

Shamanism. Reiki. Astrology. Land clearing.

Ceremonies. Retreats.

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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 9.

Acton Pharmacy Keyes Drug West Concord Pharmacy BGardner@DinnoHealth.com 508-259-7851

THE TRUE SCHOOL IS LIFE – Books for Conscious Living such as: Recognize and Heal Yourself through the Power of the Spirit; Living and Dying to Keep on Living; Cause and Development of All Illness; The Life I Chose Myself and much more. 20% off with coupon code: OFF20. 844-576-0937.

Gabriele-Publishing-House.com.

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 9.

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 25.

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 December issue must be received by November 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NA-GBRI.com for guidelines and to submit entries. For extended event descriptions and additional listings, visit NA-GBRI.com/calendar.

Please visit our website for calendar listings and be sure to confirm events prior to the date of the event.

Submit events at:

NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/events/new Thank you, Natural Awakenings.

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Greater Boston/Rhode Island Edition | NA-GBRI.com

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