Columbia Edition 1216

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

LOVING LARGE Scientists Say We’re All Connected

FREE

Healthy Libations

Restorative Drinks Revive Good Cheer

MERRY MUNCHING Sugar-Free Treats Kids Love

FITNESS

2017

Tips to Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick December 2016 | Columbia Edition | MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

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December 2016

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

15 TAKING THE STRESS AND ANXIETY

Out Of The Holidays

by Odell Williams

16 WHY YOUR PHYSICIAN

Might Recommend Acupuncture

by William D. Skelton, DAc

18 HEALTHY HOLIDAY

18

LIBATIONS

Restorative Drinks Revive Good Cheer

by Judith Fertig

20 MERRY MUNCHING

Sugar-Free Treats Kids Love

by Judith Fertig

23 WINNING THE WAR

Against Holiday Weight Gain

by Tina Wilkerson

20

24 LOVING LARGE

Scientists Say We’re All Connected

by Linda Sechrist

28 FITNESS 2017

New Year’s Resolutions that Stick

24

by Aimee Hughes

30 HEAL ADRENAL

FATIGUE NATURALLY

Practical Ways to Regain Vitality

by Linda Sechrist

32 A GORGEOUSLY

GREENER HOLIDAY

Fresh Thinking About Décor

by Avery Mack

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advertising & submissions

7

7 communitynews

1 3 healthbriefs

14 globalbriefs

18 consciouseating

14 20 healthykids 28 fitbody 30 healingways 41 ecotip 36 calendar

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings please contact us at 803-233-3693 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month.

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December 2016

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letterfrompublisher Unwrapping the Gift of Lift …

H contact us Owner/Publisher Annette Carter Briggs Writer Odell Williams Senior Editor Sara Gurgen Design & Production Kristina Parella Billy Briggs Stephen Gray-Blancett Advertising Sales Annette Carter Briggs Sustainability/ Development Consultant Aloysius Anderson To contact Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition: PO Box # 2812 Columbia, SC 29202 Phone: 803-233-3693 Cell: 803-309-2101 Fax: 877-412-4905 Email: ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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appy holidays and Merry Christmas! Wow … how time flies by ever so quickly as we prepare to welcome in a new year in mere days. As many of you and countless others get ready to celebrate Christmas with family and friends in South Carolina and all around the world, I ask very humbly that you allow me to place, as a gift, this month’s primary editorial theme—Uplifting Humanity—under your Christmas tree or in your gift-filled stockings to be unwrapped by all.

Friends, I love Christmas and all that it represents! But, most importantly, we must remember that Christmas is not so much about what we receive, but more about what and why we give. The dictionary defines the adjective “uplifting” as the moral or spiritual elevation of influence. I agree but take it a step further. I believe that lift is all about action that kicks moral elevation and influence into high gear and life-changing impact. It means to inspire, encourage, to raise up or revive as one that affects the kind of change that can truly make a difference in the life of another. Honestly, this is the secret sauce. Do you really look into and behind the eyes that represent the sea of faces in the world around you? Do you (we) really care about the world? Really???

Well, we can certainly learn a few lessons from one of my favorite mammals—the dolphin. Did you know that dolphins are not only extremely smart but caring? Dolphins have even been observed giving food to people. In one instance, a bottlenose dolphin heeded the SOS calls of two beached whales in New Zealand and led them into safe waters. The whales would have most likely perished if it were not for the guidance of the dolphin. Amazingly, in New Zealand, a group of swimmers were first surprised when a group of dolphins began circling around them. The circle got tighter and the dolphins began splashing in the water making the swimmers nervous by the aggressive behavior. As it turned out, the dolphins were warding off a nearby shark that was moving close to the swimmers—preventing the shark from attacking. What an example of lift.

There are also some pretty amazing people in the world that have unwrapped the gift of “lift” and given it to others, like award-winning chef Narayanan Krishnan. Featured on CNN, Krishnan, to the dismay of his parents, decided to abandon his illustrious career plans to spend his life and professional training looking after those that could not care for themselves. He has provided more than 1.2 million hot meals through his nonprofit organization, Akshaya Trust. Krishnan’s life was changed forever by an unlikely encounter (more like a divine appointment) with a homeless man. The world needs us and the statistics bear witness to this. The homeless and needy walk amongst us every day—largely ignored. One quarter of the world’s population is starving. More than 1.5 billion people don’t have access to clean water, and a child dies every couple of seconds from a disease that could have been prevented.

What great examples of lift in action. Let’s all unwrap this gift of love and compassion in action this holiday season and give it to the world around us. It’s all about giving humanity a lift.

Lifting this season,

Annette Briggs, Publisher

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

communitynews

Travel Opportunities for Educators

Smile Columbia Features Innovative CeraRoot Implant System

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rs. Hahn and their Smile Columbia team place the CeraRoot zirconia implant system as a part of their available treatment. It is an innovative, all-ceramic, nonmetallic implant option for patients seeking a healthier alternative for missing teeth. In early 2014, Hahn began researching nonmetallic implant options available for use and discovered the CeraRoot zirconia implant system to be the most advanced and successful. Hahn contacted co-founder Dr. Xavi Oliva in California and arranged for him to travel to Smile Columbia to assist Hahn as he successfully placed his first CeraRoot implant. Dr. Hahn states: “The outcome from that surgical placement and numerous others has been remarkable. The CeraRoot system has been an absolute winner in my practice. Patients have successfully healed and biologically accepted the implants faster and with reduced complications. The difference is clear.”

The CeraRoot zirconia implant system is an effective choice for many reasons: It improves biocompatibility and optimizes osseointegration; it is hypoallergenic; it promotes better aesthetics; and it is nonconductive (reducing bacteria growth) and resistant to corrosion. In addition, the system is holistic friendly, comfortable and provides increased strength. With the use of the CeraRoot implant system, a patient’s affected tissue heals more rapidly and with much reduced discomfort. The end result is a successful and greatly improved implant experience.

Location: Smile Columbia, 690 Columbiana Dr., Columbia. For more information, call 803-781-9090, or visit CeraRoot.com or SmileColumbia.com. See ad, below.

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alling all teachers! It’s time to get out of the classroom to learn about cutting-edge research and conservation efforts, develop professional skills and make a difference for the environment. There is a diverse selection of travel and learning opportunities available for educators—both within the U.S. and abroad—including the Ranger Teacher Program; Steve Spangler’s Science at Sea Alaska Cruise; the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program; the Ocean Exploration Trust Fellowship; Educational Turtle Tours in Costa Rica and Mexico; the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program; Earth Explore Field Programs in Environmental Education; and many more.

For more information, visit eeInSC.org.

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December 2016

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communitynews Vivint Solar Teaches Solar Energy to Harmony School Students

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he students of Harmony School, a small, affordable nonprofit private preschool, kindergarten and elementary school located in Columbia, had the wonderful opportunity to take an educational “green energy” tour through the warehouse and facilities of Vivint Solar—a solar energy provider that specializes in providing homeowners with simple and affordable for Working for Wildlife Day clean energy through a headache- and hassle-free he Carolina Sandhills Nationprocess. al Wildlife Refuge and the

The students gained understanding in how S.C. Wildlife Federation will host residential solar power works. “Inviting them to our warehouse characterizes a workday for staff, friends and and highlights the commitment that we have to our community outreach provolunteers at the National Wildlife gram—a combination of education and fundraising,” explains Energy Consultant Refuge from 9 a.m. to noon on Joe McClintock. “In the spirit of one of our company’s important core values (Be Saturday, December 10. Those inGood Do Good), Vivint Solar is donating a portion of the revenue generated from terested in volunteering to help are residential installations to Harmony School in an effort to help the school recover encouraged to call in advance to from water damage to its facilities as a result of the flooding that took place in reserve a space. The workday is an October of 2015.” annual project of the S.C. Wildlife

Kindergartners through fifth graders arrived well prepared and ready to learn Federation Refuge featuring work how solar energy works in homes. With eager hands raised, students were able activities, such as raking around to name the various forms of clean energy—including solar, wind and water. As red-cockaded woodpecker trees McClintock explained how Vivint Solar’s panels are constructed and work, stuto exclude them from prescribed dents were eager to learn … ducking down to peer underneath the wires that help burns, trail maintenance, installing to carry the sun’s energy into a residence. After a walk-through of a simulated 10/1 of old, Captain trail signs, and building information solar-powered house, students were introduced to a superhero kiosks. Those joining the team can Planet. They also watched Captain Planet’s episode on solarSEI-Columbia energy and received 540-1235-NA-CareFutureMa-4x3 look forward to a day of learning autographed pictures of Captain Planet.

Natural Awakenings about refuge wildlife while helping 4.75 x 3.25 conserve and protect valuable natuFor more information about Vivint Solar’s Clean Residential PK Solar Program and its ral resources.

Community Outreach Program, contact Darrel Fitch at 803-445-6373 or Darrel.

9/13 Fitch@VivintSolar.com. See ad, page 3.

Participants should plan to wear field clothes; comfortable shoes; and bring work gloves, drinks and a snack. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the headquarters office, located 3.5 miles east of McBee, South Carolina, on U.S. Highway 1, in Chesterfield County. The workday will conclude at noon. Participants are welcome and encouraged to with a career in Medical Assisting picnic at Lake Bee before leaving the refuge. Anyone planning to Additional training programs available: bring a group should call in ad• Pharmacy Technology vance to give notice.

• Professional Clinical Massage Therapy

Volunteers Needed

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Care for your future

• Electronic Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Programs vary by campus

Columbia Main Campus: 1420 Colonial Life Blvd. W.

888.212.7728

SoutheasternInstitute.edu

For information on graduation rates, student debt levels, and other disclosures, visit www.SoutheasternInstitute.edu/ConsumerInfo

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Location: Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, 23734 N. U.S. 1, McBee, SC. To volunteer, contact Sara Green at 803-609-4778 or Sara@ scwf.org. For more information, call the S.C. Wildlife Federation office at 803-256-0670 or visit scwf.org.

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ICRC Hosts

Santa’s Market Craft Show

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n Saturday, December 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) will host its Santa’s Market Craft Show at Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane, in Columbia. Attendees will have the pleasure of enjoying the sights and delights of the holiday season at this free annual event featuring unique gifts, charming decorations and one-of-akind crafts. Great gift-giving items will be available for purchase, including art prints and paintings, handmade jewelry, ornaments, painted glassware, holiday wreaths and decor. As a note, vendor applications will be accepted until the show is full.

For more information, call 803-7723336 or visit icrc.net.

Christmas in Cayce

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t’s Christmas all month long in Cayce. Christmas in Cayce is a wonderful month-long holiday celebration that has become a popular tradition in the Midlands. Throughout December, visitors can take a ride through the Cayce City Hall complex to enjoy thousands of twinkling lights and music of the season. In addition, residents are invited to the complex for the city’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony taking place on Thursday, December 1, at 6 p.m. Christmas in Cayce is a free event made possible through several corporate sponsor partnerships.

Location: City of Cayce Municipal Complex, 1800 12th St., Cayce. For more information, call 803-796-9020 or visit CityOfCayce-SC.gov.

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About Your Health

Services and products to help you create a health-full life.

Balance for Life

Saluda Shoals Hosts

Holiday Lights on the River

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t’s the most wonderful time of the year! Saluda Shoals Park will continue its popular Holiday Lights on the River throughout the month of December. The park will come alive in a brilliant blaze of more than a million sparkling lights. Drivers can take a journey through colorful lights and more than 400 animated light displays of all shapes and sizes. Other activities include craft-making, an ice skating rink, marshmallow roasting and a laser light show. Attendees can also ride the Hayride shuttle to the Wetland Walking Trail or ride the Saluda Shoals train. Nominal fees may apply for activities. As a special treat, Santa will make his way from the North Pole for a VIP visit and photo-taking opportunities from December 9 through 23.

Fun-filled memories are in store for the entire family to share for years to come!

Gift Certi ficat es Avail able

Special Package Deals 4 Far-Infrared Saunas Or

4 Aqua-Chi Footbaths For $65 Stop in to pick up unique & beneficial stocking stuffers 803-798-8687 aboutyourhealthsc.com

About Your Health, Inc.

Cost: $15 per car; $25 per 15-passenger van; $40 per bus.

Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Location: Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia (Note: Must enter from new St. Andrews access point between Aldi grocery store and Wendy’s). For more information, call 803-772-3903 or visit icrc.net/holiday-lights. See ad, page 41.

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December 2016

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communitynews

Children’s Garden Christmas

PalmettoPride Hosts Litter Art Contest

and Kids’ Walk

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almettoPride has kicked off its 2017 Litter Trashes Everyone Art Contest. The annual art contest is now open for teachers to sign up their respective elementary classes to participate in this fun and educational competition. The winning artwork will become the design for PalmettoPride’s new T-shirt. The contest is open to all S.C. students from grades K through 5.

Submissions may be based on the theme Litter Trashes Everyone or a theme of the student’s choice.

One winner from each participating school will be sent to PalmettoPride for final judging. School winners will be judged by region (Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry and Pee Dee). Regional winners receive the following: student will receive a $250 check and a framed print of his/her artwork; teacher will receive a $250 check for art supplies; and the school will receive a $500 check and a framed print of the winning artwork.

State winners will receive the following: student will receive a $1,000 check; teacher will receive a $500 check for art supplies; and the school will receive a $1,000 check and a framed print of the winning artwork. The winning student’s school (students and faculty) will receive T-shirts featuring the winning design.

In addition, a certificate of appreciation will be given to all participants. Artwork must be postmarked no later than February 17. Regional winners and the state winner will be announced on March 13.

For contest guidelines and details, contact Sandra Bryan at 877-725-7733, 803758-6034 or SBryan@PalmettoPride.org. Also visit PalmettoPride.org/litter-trashes-everyone-art-contest.

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he City of Orangeburg Parks and Recreation Department invites everyone out to experience one of the most breathtaking light displays of the season. The Children’s Garden Christmas display, a drive-through experience in the beautiful Edisto Memorial Gardens, features thousands of lights, both still and animated. The displays featured include such favorites as Old Man Winter, a river boat, Santa and his elves, the nativity scene, and more than 60 decorated cherry trees. Families can also enjoy a stroll through the Kids’ Walk, which features several interactive displays, including a hopping bunny, a squirrel running up a tree, and various colorful Christmas trees.

Cost: Free. Times: Children’s Garden Christmas, 5 to 10 p.m.; Kids’ Walk, 5 to 9 p.m. Location: Edisto Memorial Gardens, 200 Riverside Dr. SW, Orangeburg. For more information, call Shawn Taylor at 803-533-6020.

Look. Feel. Be.

Better!

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Here, weight loss is more than just exercise – we take a holistic approach, including nutrition, metabolism, stress, and motivation. And with our special 30 Day Personal Training Experience for only $59, there’s no better time to start than right now!

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Why Some Kids Grow Up with Fewer Allergies

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Duplass/Shutterstock.com

study in the journal Pediatrics, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has found that the common childhood habits of thumb sucking and nail biting can reduce the risk of adolescent and adult allergies.

Researchers followed more than 1,000 individuals from 5 through 32 years old, monitoring these two habits at ages 5, 7, 9 and 11. The subjects were tested for allergies at 13 using a skin-prick test and again at 32. Of all participants, 31 percent were frequent thumb suckers and nail biters, and those children had a lower incidence of allergic reactions than the others.

These results support a hygiene hypothesis suggesting that early exposure to microbial organisms reduces the risk of developing allergies.

Bright Lights Encourage Healthy Eating

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esearch published in the Journal of Marketing Research links bright light to healthier food choices. The study observed 160 diners at four separate metropolitan locations of a chain dinner restaurant between 6 and 8 p.m. Two of the restaurants used bright lighting (250 lux luminance) and the other two locations had dim lighting (25 lux luminance).

The researchers found that diners at the well-lit locations were more likely to choose healthy options such as baked or grilled fish and chicken than the patrons at the dimly lit restaurants.

These results were replicated in a laboratory test of 700 college students where scientists attributed students’ healthier choices to the alert feelings that being in a bright room elicits.

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December 2016

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Chones/Shutterstock.com

healthbriefs

Somchai Som/Shutterstock.com

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

Vladimir Zhoga/Shutterstock.com

Good Move

Officials Urge Chinese to Cut Meat Consumption

Chinese officials have announced dietary guidelines designed to reduce the country’s meat consumption by 50 percent. The campaign includes a series of billboards and advertisements featuring American celebrities Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron.

“China’s move to cut meat consumption in half would not only have a huge impact on public health, it is also a massive leadership step towards drastically reducing carbon emissions and reaching the goals set out in the Paris agreement,” says Cameron.

Greening Planet

Satellites Reveal Unexpected Plant Growth

Patient Pets

Hospital Allows Cats and Dogs Pet dogs and cats are visiting with their seriously ill owners, reducing stress and improving morale, at the Juravinski Hospital, in Hamilton, Ontario. The Zachary’s Paws for Healing program, the first of its kind in Canada, was founded by Zachary Noble and his aunt, Donna Jenkins.

Before each visit, the animals are thoroughly cleaned so as not to introduce harmful germs, and brought in on covered, wheeled carts away from all other patients during their one-hour weekly visits. The all-volunteer program plans to offer foster care to pet owners that enter the hospital for treatment.

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Source: EcoWatch.com

Learn more at ZacharysPawsForHealing.com.

America Outdone Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

Venezuela Bans GMOs

Venezuela has passed a law that imposes some of the world’s toughest regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMO) and patenting of seeds in order to consolidate national food sovereignty, regulate the production of hybrid seed, reject the production, distribution and import of GMO seeds and ban transgenic seed research. Canada’s Centre for Research on Globalization describes it as one of the most progressive seed laws in the world.

The country intends to establish a national seed system to implement the new law. The group will monitor and sanction any agricultural violations, with a focus on the protection of traditional seeds.

Source: gmwatch.org

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MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

The study Greening of the Earth and its Drivers, published by an international team in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows significant greening of a quarter to one-half of the Earth’s vegetated lands based on satellite data from the past 33 years.

This represents an increase in leaves on plants and trees that produce sugars using sunlight energy to mix atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) with water and nutrients from the soil.

These sugars are the source of food, fiber and fuel for life on Earth.

More sugars are produced when there is more of this greenhouse gas in the air in a process called CO2 fertilization.

About 85 percent of the Earth’s land is free of ice and covered by vegetation, currently encompassing 32 percent of the planet’s total surface area. Lead author Dr. Zaichun Zhu, a researcher from Peking University, in China, states, “The greening over the past 33 years reported in this study is equivalent to adding a green continent about two times the size of mainland USA, and has the ability to fundamentally change the cycling of water and carbon in the climate system.” The effect may serve as a carbon sink to help counter climate change.

Source: Boston University

healthspotlight

iety x n A d n a s s e tr Ta k ing the S

s y a d i l o H e Out of th

by Odell Williams

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illions of people across the country are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with friends and family with great anticipation and enthusiasm.

Without question, the holiday season is one that many look forward to; however, for countless others, this time of year brings with it great stress, anxiety, and even depression.

According to a recent poll conducted by the American Psychological Association, nearly a quarter of Americans reported feeling “extreme stress” due to the holiday season.

Statistics indicate that a large number of individuals feel either stressed and/or anxious as a result of a real or perceived lack of time and money.

So, the question that arises is how can one recapture the peace and joy of the holiday season by relieving the pressure and stress that often characterizes it? Here are few helpful tips that have proven to be effective in that effort.

Incorporating prayer and meditation can be a tremendous stress reliever. Studies indicate that consistent prayer and meditation promote cardiovascular health, improved breathing and deep rest. It also helps to decrease blood pressure.

One can also potentially reduce holiday stress and anxiety by making better dietary choices and resisting the temptation to “binge” or overeat.

Nutrients from healthy foods can help improve blood flow. A healthy diet builds a solid, more enduring foundation for the body by reducing oxidation and inflammation.

Learning to say “no” can be very difficult. But when it is appropriately and wisely used, it is a word that can bring much-needed peace and sanity to one’s world. It can be very difficult and challenging to put one’s needs ahead of others, but in an effort to maintain good health, wellness and peace of mind, it is absolutely necessary to declutter the mind and prioritize

daily to-do lists. Individuals should also work diligently to reduce the urge to overschedule.

Financial pressure and constrained budgets can also kick stress and anxiety into overdrive. For this reason, it is very important to work within a disciplined budget and to practice financial discipline and responsibility. It is better to plan and start a purchase strategy well in advance—possibly by starting a holiday gift account.

Depression can also arise over the holidays due to personal loss and/ or emotional hurt. One should acknowledge those feelings. If someone has suffered the loss of a loved one or experienced a broken relationship, it is normal to feel sadness and grief and to cry or express those feelings. If an individual feels lonely or isolated, he or she should seek out community support and companionship. Volunteering one’s time to help others also is a very good way to lift one’s spirits and broaden friendships, which helps to eradicate depression.

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy can also help to combat depression, relieve stress and help the body recharge. A personalized wellness plan that empowers an individual through good nutrition, body detox, stress management and fitness can be very instrumental in recapturing the joy and peace of the holiday season. Dr. Rachel Hall and her Expect Wellness team provide these services with great care and professionalism. A health coach is also on staff to personally walk every patient through each step of the process.

For more information, call Dr. Rachel Hall, owner of Expect Wellness (located at 130 Suber Rd., Ste. D, in Columbia), at 803-796-1702 or visit DrRachelHall. com. See ad, page 10.

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therapyspotlight

Why Your Physician Might Recommend

ACUPUNCTURE

by William D. Skelton, DAc

A

cupuncture has become a vibrant part of our nation’s healthcare system by demonstrating its effectiveness with its current utilization in most areas of traditional medical care.

Research by respected institutions, such as the World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic and others, validate its use as a form of treatment for a wide range of health conditions in tandem with conventional medical treatment.

Over the past 42 years of practicing acupuncture, I have witnessed the impressive way acupuncture has emerged as an integral part of our healthcare system. Acupuncture earned its place by merit and by recognizing and adhering to the standards of care that this nation’s medical system demands with regard to health care.

Hospitals and specialty clinics are increasingly adding acupuncture as an

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important part of their respective lists of services.

The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest accrediting body in health care with nearly 21,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States, now lists acupuncture as a standard nonpharmacological treatment option for pain and behavioral health.

Pain remains the most common reason patients seek acupuncture treatment. Research indicates its effective use for a wide variety of pain conditions, including back pain, migraines, neuropathy, arthritis, neuralgia, tendonitis, sciatica and many others.

There are also new and exciting areas of treatment for functional, difficult-to-treat, medically undiagnosed and mood- and stress-related conditions emerging. The Veterans Health Administration system, for example, uses acupuncture to treat anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and pain. A Mayo Clinic study on the use of acu-

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

puncture to treat fibromyalgia found it beneficial for the condition. The report also cited improvement in the areas of fatigue, anxiety and other symptoms.

Major oncology centers typically offer acupuncture for fatigue, nausea, malaise, neuropathy and mood fluctuations.

Through advancements in research technology and medical imaging, a better understanding of how acupuncture promotes positive health change is becoming clearer than ever. Specific activities and changes are being discovered and identified in both the body and brain with regard to acupuncture treatment.

This understanding has made it easier for physicians to identify when to appropriately refer their patients for acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture has been so effective that other health specialties are exploring variations of acupuncture-like treatment.

These options typically involve electricity, lasers or dry-needles, and have vastly different educational and practice standards than that of the standard acupuncture profession—oftentimes resulting in varied clinical outcomes. Current studies reveal that acupuncture treatment, when utilized by a board-certified practitioner with comprehensive professional-level acupuncture training, can be very beneficial.

There is no doubt as to why physicians are increasingly becoming more and more comfortable referring patients to acupuncturists. They understand that it works, is effective, and they know that board-certified acupuncturists have met the nation’s highest education, safety and examination standards. It works, it is safe and it can greatly enhance a person’s quality of medical care.

Those interested in learning more about the effectiveness of acupuncture as a potential treatment option should locate a practitioner that has been licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners and maintains national board certification through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

For more information, call William D. Skelton, LAc, owner of The Acupuncture Clinic (located at 620 Sims Ave., in Columbia), at 803-256-1000. Also visit SCAcupuncture.com. See ad, page 10.

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consciouseating

Healthy Holiday Restorative Drinks Revive Good Cheer

by Judith Fertig

D

uring jam-packed special occasions like holidays, our drinks should multitask, too. We need festive tipples to refresh us without overdoing it, restore equilibrium if we overeat or drink or revive us when we’re feeling low from a seasonal cold or flu.

In addition to traditional offerings that family and friends might expect, why not add a new and improved signature drink to everyone’s repertoire? These feel-good beverages, featuring winter fruits high in vitamin C, anthocyanins, therapeutic herbs and fresh ginger, deliver delicious boosts to help us feel our best.

Refresh

The season of hospitality is happily also the season of pomegranates, blood oranges and Meyer lemons (a sweeter, thinskinned, aromatic variety). These vibrant fruits give a taste of good cheer to anything we can pour, shake, muddle or simmer.

Whether we offer fresh-squeezed blood orange juice in the morning, a non-alcoholic cocktail of pomegranate juice and sparkling water, or a squeeze of Meyer lemon juice in a hot toddy or tea, the tart flavor is a sure pick-me-up. The red color in antioxidant-rich blood oranges and pomegranates indicates the presence of anthocyanins, compounds that might help prevent cancer and heart disease, as well as treat eye disorders, according to an article published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. Meyer lemons are a good source of vitamin C, essential for producing collagen needed to support the formation of new bone, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

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Restore

After an evening of over-imbibing, our systems need to reboot. The stomach needs help in processing alcohol, plus we may be dehydrated and feeling a little queasy. Filtered water, coconut water or a sweet, caffeine-free coffee or carbonated beverage of the lemon-lime variety rehydrate, as well as help our digestive system break down and flush out the alcohol.

According to Registered Dietitian Aicacia Young, in Austin, Texas, founder of ClimbHealthy.com, the simple act of drinking water before we go to bed can assist in the recovery process.

Research published in the Food & Function journal found that lemon-lime soda helps the body metabolize alcohol better by speeding up its ability to process the compound aldehyde dehydrogenase, the main cause of hangover symptoms. For nausea and motion sickness, ginger or peppermint tea can help, according to studies in the American Journal of Physiology and the French Prescrire International.

Revive

Sometimes the stress of holiday to-dos, often combined with travel, can lower the resilience of our immune system.

When we feel symptoms of a cold or flu coming on, the classic hot toddy can help us feel human again. The alcohol in whiskey is a natural decongestant; plus, it helps get us to sleep. Honey soothes and perky lemon juice gives us hope that we’ll feel better the next day.

Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS. Connect at JudithFertig.com.

nadianb/Shutterstock.com

LIBATIONS

Perk-Me-Ups

Seasonal Drinks that Revitalize

and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain out the ginger slices and serve in a mug.

Blood Orange French 75

Courtesy of Judith Fertig, Alfresco FoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

Holiday Sangria Yields: 8 servings Combine 1 liter of cabernet sauvignon, a quart of pomegranate juice, ¼ cup agave nectar, 1 thinly sliced Meyer lemon and 1 thinly sliced pear in a pitcher. Add ice and stir. Pour into glasses to serve.

Meyer Lemon Hot Toddy Yields: 1 serving Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Stir in the juice of half a Meyer lemon, a tablespoon or two of honey and a jigger of whiskey. Serve hot in a mug.

Courtesy of Judith Fertig, Alfresco FoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

Yields: 1 serving In a champagne flute, pour a jigger of gin, the juice of half a blood orange and a squeeze of Meyer lemon juice.

Top up with champagne.

Courtesy of Kathryne Taylor, a whole foods and vegetarian blogger; Search CookieAndKate.com.

Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com

Dokmaihaeng/Shutterstock.com

The best holiday drinks are festive and taste great. They should also be easy to fix. Here are five to get us started.

Fresh Hot Peppermint Tea Yields: 1 serving Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. While it’s boiling, place 7 to 10 fresh organic mint leaves in a tea cup. Pour the hot water over the mint leaves and let them steep in the cup for 5 minutes. Strain out leaves as desired, and enjoy.

Courtesy of Heather Crosby, author of YumUniverse: Infinite Possibilities for a Gluten-Free, Plant-Powerful, WholeFood Lifestyle; YumUniverse.com/ fresh-peppermint-tea.

Yields: 2 servings Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, and then add 1 small knob of fresh ginger, precut into thin slices. Reduce the heat

JL-Pfeifer/Shutterstock.com

Fresh Hot Ginger Tea

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healthykids

inspired by The Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairy.

MERRY MUNCHING Sugar-Free Treats Kids Love

by Judith Fertig

W

hen sugar was a commodity only the wealthy could afford, “visions of sugarplums” danced in the heads of children ensconced in Clement Moore’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Now, cheap candy is everywhere and not all that special. What is special is making memories aligned with contemporary traditions while enjoying naturally sweet, healthy treats that kids will remember helping to create.

“It’s important to limit sugary snacks, even during the holidays,” says Claire McCarthy, a Boston Children’s Hospital pediatrician, Harvard Medical School assistant professor of pediatrics and senior editor for Harvard Health Publications. She is also a mother of elementary school kids. “We need to use the opportunity—any opportunity these days—to teach children and families about eating healthy.”

Healthier Holiday Snacks Mothers Amy Roskelley and Natalie Monson, of Provo, Utah, agree that raising healthy kids is a challenge. Dealing with picky eaters, getting family members to exercise and sourcing organic baby care products are all in a day’s work for them. It’s why they founded SuperHealthyKids.com. Subscribers have access to meal plans, recipes and healthy parenting tips. Recent advice includes ditching prepackaged popcorn (listing unpronounceable ingredients) and instead making the treat at home— popping kernels in coconut oil and topping the result with maple snickerdoodle flavorings.

Many moms turn to online boards for party ideas. Fun photos posted there guide kids in creating naturally sweet treats, such as fresh fruit skewers shaped like elves or magic wands

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible.

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“Building a gingerbread house is a time-honored tradition for many families,” says Jacquie Fisher, a Kansas City, Missouri, mom who masterminds the educational blog and kid-friendly adventure postings at KCEdventures. com. Learning to construct the edible structure is intriguing fun.

“Testing out how to balance the walls, construct a roof and put together a fun little structure is the perfect intro to some basic physics principles,” she notes. Because she’s not a fan of sugar icing and candy add-ons, Fisher’s kids connect over how to make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s stable with whole-wheat graham crackers “glued” together with a homemade maple caramel mixed with coconut milk. They decorate using dried fruit, nuts, dry cereal and flaked coconut.

Christmas Stocking Stuffer and Hanukkah Gelt For healthy alternatives to sugary candy, savvy parents source sweet treats made with 100 percent fruit juice and fair trade chocolate available at health food stores and markets.

Registered Dietitian Abbie Gellman, in New York City, reinvents the Hanukkah gelt, or foil-wrapped chocolate coins, that Jewish children traditionally receive. She flattens dried apricots with a kitchen mallet, dips them in melted dark chocolate and then sprinkles the treats with sea salt.

We can always make wonderful memories true to the spirit of holiday traditions, and do it today in a healthier way.

Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

Gina Smith/Shutterstock.com

Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

Gingerbread House Update

Sugarplums Update Healthy Sweets for Kids Apricot Gelt Yields: 12 servings (6 pieces per person) 1½ lb dried apricots 1 lb dark chocolate chips 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt Using a heavy skillet or mallet, flatten apricots to ¼-inch thickness and set aside.

Maple Snickerdoodle Popcorn

Place chocolate in the top of a double-boiler over simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted.

Yields: About 5 cups Popcorn: 1 tsp coconut oil, melted ½ cup popcorn kernels

Dip each apricot in chocolate, coating ½ to ¾ of the apricot. Place on wire racks set over parchment or wax paper and sprinkle with sea salt. Let stand until set.

Maple Snickerdoodle Topping: 1 Tbsp coconut oil 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup ½ tsp cinnamon Sea salt to taste

Transfer apricots to baking sheets lined with parchment or wax paper and refrigerate until firm. The gelt may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.

Heat the coconut oil in a medium saucepan, with a lid, over medium heat. Add 3 kernels of popcorn and wait for them to pop. Once the test kernels start to pop, add the rest, cover and allow to pop, shaking occasionally until popping slows to a near stop.

Adapted from a recipe by Abbie Gellman, SPECertified.com/blog/view/ apricot-gelt-recipe.

Pour the popcorn into a large bowl and set aside.

Serve immediately making additional sea salt available.

Courtesy of Amy Roskelley and Natalie Monson, SuperHealthyKids.com/ maple-snickerdoodle-popcorn.

iuliia_n/Shutterstock.com

For the topping, whisk together the coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon, until well combined. Pour over the popcorn and mix well. Sprinkle the top with a few pinches of sea salt, mix again and taste.

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photo by Stephen Blancett

Fruit Skewer Elves

Rudolph the Reindeer’s Stable

12 cocktail sticks or short bamboo skewers 12 seedless green grapes 12 strawberries, hulled 1 firm banana, peeled and cut into 12 thin rounds 1 mozzarella stick, cut into 12 rounds

Yields: 1 stable

Yields: 12 servings

Graham crackers Small paintbrushes Assorted fresh and dried fruits for decoration, such as blackberries, pomegranate arils and kiwi fruit Dry cereal, such as Rice Chex, and flaked coconut for decoration Pecan halves for roof shingles

For each skewer, thread a green grape to the bottom of the skewer to create the elf face. Top with a round banana slice to make the pale trim around the hat, then an upside-down hulled strawberry to form the pointy hat. Add a mozzarella round to make the pompom at the point of the hat. Serve right away.

photo by Stephen Blancett

Vegan Maple Caramel “Glue”: 1 cup canned coconut milk (shake the can well before opening and measuring) 3 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract Pinch sea salt

Holiday Fairy Wands Yields: 12 servings

12 long bamboo skewers 24 seedless green grapes 12 chunks of fresh pineapple 12 strawberries, hulled 2 starfruit (carambola), cut into 12 slices For each skewer, thread a green grape 3 inches from the bottom of the skewer, leaving room to hold the wand. Next, thread a chunk of pineapple, then another grape. Thread a strawberry, pointed end up. Add a slice of starfruit to make the star on the end of the wand.

Serve immediately.

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For the vegan maple caramel, place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Keep cooking until the caramel thickens and darkens to a caramel color, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from the heat and let cool until just warm to the touch, then use for glue. If you like, make the caramel mixture ahead, store in the refrigerator and then microwave until just warm.

Dab the bottom of 1 double graham cracker with the maple caramel glue; then attach it to a dinner plate to make the stable floor. Glue on three walls, a fence and a roof. When the structure is solid, use more warm caramel mix to attach the desired decorations on the stable, fence and perhaps a courtyard out front. If necessary, reheat the edible glue in the microwave. Let dry for 1 hour.

Courtesy of Jacquie Fisher, KCEdventures.com/blog/healthygingerbread-house-ideas.

fitnessspotlight

WINNING THE WAR Against Holiday Weight Gain

by Tina Wilkerson

T

he holidays are here! It’s a time to enjoy family and friends, to give thanks and to exchange presents. It’s also a time for parties, fun and celebrations galore, which can, unfortunately, lead to tighter pants! Yep, all those cookie swaps; office parties; pumpkin spiced lattes; and plates of stuffing, turkey and pecan pies can lead to the dreaded and traditional “holiday weight gain.” Statistics show that many Americans will gain as much as 8 pounds during the holiday months. Studies also indicate that most of the weight gained will not be lost.

In the face of these sobering facts, what is one to do?

Should an individual skip the holidays and take up permanent residence at a local gym during the holiday months or forego the sweet potato casserole or ham and enjoy a protein smoothie for Christmas dinner instead? Well, as a lover of a good ole plate of turkey and gravy over a scoop of mashed potatoes, I consider this to be unrealistic. I intend to enjoy my plate of holiday favorites, a good meal of leftovers and at least one holiday party. I also fully intend to stay within my fitness goals and not gain one extra pound going into the new year.

Is this even possible one might ask?

Well, over the years, my clients and I have found some successful ground rules that help us to win the battle of “the bulge” over the holidays. They will work for you, too!

Simply use these simple but effective tools and enjoy the holidays without the regret.

First, drink a large glass of water before taking one bite of that turkey. One should partially fill the stomach with a healthy liquid before eating and while the

food cools to a safe temperature. Water is good for the body anyway, and it helps to take up some space in the stomach before devouring high-calorie goodies.

Second, it is better to eat something raw before eating anything cooked. A brightly colored raw salad is a perfect way to activate the digestive enzymes and to project to the body’s hormones the sensation of fullness. This is a great way to eat something healthy and filling prior to enjoying the rest of a calorie-laden meal.

Third, before departing for a neighborhood Christmas party or get-together, one should eat something substantial and healthy, like a plant-based protein drink. A protein drink before a party is a perfect low-calorie way to begin satisfying the appetite. This will also deter an individual from over-stuffing at the sight of food due to a “starving” predisposition.

These simple tools can prove to be game changers in the battle of the bulge. Of course, sticking to a regular exercise routine is also a must. If you don’t exercise regularly, or think your exercise regimen needs some accountability or coaching, I can help you! In fact, from the month of December through January, all first-time clients will get an absolutely FREE trial experience in my semi-private training program: a movement and health assessment, personalized program design, nutritional coaching and four training sessions—all for free. Elite Personal Training would love to help you change your life and give you the gift of fitness for the holidays!

For more information and for a list of services, contact Tina Wilkerson, owner of Elite Personal Training (located at 1186 Columbia Ave., Ste. 101, Irmo), at 803-749-4279 or visit ElitePersonalTrainingStudio.com. Wilkerson is a certified trainer and corrective exercise specialist.

See ad, page 12. natural awakenings

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by medical doctors Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini and Richard Lannon. These authors explore the brain science that’s related to love and awareness.

Although trying to grasp love intellectually may be like eating soup with a fork, the authors of A General Theory of Love cite feelings as a good starting point. Fredrickson describes love as “the momentary upwelling of three tightly interwoven events: a sharing of one or more positive emotions between you and another; a biochemical synchrony between your and the other person’s biochemistry and behaviors; and a reflected motive to invest in each other’s well-being that brings mutual care.”

LOVING LARGE Scientists Say We’re All Connected

by Linda Sechrist

T

rue love is not something reserved exclusively for soulmates, couples, children, friends or family. Observations by sages for millennia and by enlightened scientists more recently are increasingly aligned with the point of view articulated by renowned meditation teacher Jack Kornfield that true love and awareness—a sense of universal connectivity and the idea that divinity, or the sacred, is found in all things—are indistinguishable.

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Scientific View

This state of being, generally denoted by strong feelings of love or acceptance toward others, brings us into contact with universal energy which connects all of humanity with the natural world.

Clues to our united commonality are explored in two 21st-century books, Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become, by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., and A General Theory of Love,

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

Fredrickson, director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, believes love is a complex physiological response; a “positivity resonance.” She describes key factors in love’s ability to biologically transform us as oxytocin, a hormone active in social bonding and attachments, and the vagus nerve deep within the brain stem that connects with numerous organs, including the lead “character” in this relation-

ship, the heart.

The neural synchrony of positivity resonance between the brains of two individuals is a connected oneness that Fredrickson notes is far more ubiquitous than previously thought possible.

Her research shows that it requires only connection, not the intimacy or shared history that comes with any special bonds.

Micro-moments of the connected oneness we feel as life-giving reverberations occur via shared smiles or laughter, a common compassion or an engaging story. Humans all hunger for such moments. The prerequisites are perceived safety and authentic sensory connection with another, even if it’s fleeting. In Fredrickson’s perspective, such neural coupling is a biological manifestation of oneness in which a habitual focus on “me” expands to a life-expanding “we”.

If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. ~William Blake

Cosmic View

During their 30-year friendship, Bob Staretz collaborated with astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D., the lunar module pilot on Apollo 14 and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, to research and write “The Quantum Hologram and the Nature of Consciousness,” published in the Journal of Cosmology. Their scientific theory explains how all of creation learns, self-corrects and evolves as a selforganizing, interconnected holistic system through love.

“Without exception, everything in nature exists and works together in total balance, resonance and harmony, interacting as one. From this perspective, Edgar and I reached the obvious conclusion—the organizing principle of the cosmos is agape love, an ultimate form of unconditional love that accepts all things existing in nature without regard to conditions, expectations, shortcomings, flaws or faults,” explains Staretz.

The former executive director of Eternea, an organization focused on spiritually transformative experiences and the study of consciousness, Staretz says individuals that undergo such an experi-

ence attest that loving one another and all of nature, of which we are a part, is the central reason for our existence.

Anita Moorjani’s latest book, What If This Is Heaven? reiterates the life lesson she learned from her dramatic near-death experience in which she identified herself as a state of pure consciousness connected with everything in the cosmos. She clearly heard: “Your only work is to love yourself, value yourself and embody this truth of self-worth and self-love so that you can be love in action. That is true service, to yourself and to those who surround you.”

This message continues with her, and she explains that by not loving ourselves, we are denying the part of God that expresses itself through us. An overarching insight from her life-changing journey is, “Uncondi-

tional love is a state of being, not an emotion. It’s not just one side of the coin—it’s the whole coin.”

How-to Resources Interest in this deeper perspective led The Shift Network, which offers online transformative education, to host a recent Advanced Teachings for Truly Loving Yourself with Margaret Paul, P.h.D., co-author of Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved By You? Many others are working to spread the word about a larger sense of life-giving love, including Cleveland, Ohio, intuitive psychologist Debra L. Reble, Ph.D., author of Being Love: How Loving Yourself Creates Ripples of Transformation in Your Relationships and the World. She says, “Our soul’s purpose is to be and express love. We dream of love, yearn for love and make love, but rarely do we realize that we are love, a source of divine energy.”

Reba Linker, a New York City life coach and author, hosts a Leaders in Self-Love Facebook page and the Paint Yourself into The Picture online coaching show. Linker’s philosophy on love resembles that of New Thought leader Michael Beckwith, minister, author and founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, in Culver City, California—to discern that our true nature is love is to know that we are created in the very image and likeness of love, the essence of life itself.

Gary Sinclair, author of Healing Memories in Seconds, views his life from an altitude of oceanic oneness.

His 35 years of study in a field that uses energy to heal spirit, mind and body led him to develop Soul Link, a memory energy therapy. His work is changing the face of therapy for those with post-traumatic stress disorder and led to the revelation, “Love pulls whatever it touches to its highest potential.”

Teaching what he knows “beyond a shadow of a doubt” helps to shift his students’ worldview. “All of creation is made up of electromagnetic energy vibrating at different frequencies. We

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are energy beings who can learn to manage our energy to heal ourselves.

We are all connected by omnipresence, the energy of love, a heart connection of life. Consciously choosing this awareness allows us to be ‘love living life.’”

Kamini Desai, director of education for the Amrit Yoga Institute, in Salt Springs, Florida, lends her yogic perspective to love. “We are each a wave on the ocean of existence. Even though we are separate waves, we carry the essence of the same ocean.

When that essence manifests in us as spirit, its quality is a healing force of love surrounding our cells, causing our heart to beat and regenerating our organs. This intelligence guides and directs the universe in the same manner that it heals and maintains our body.

In yoga, we learn to listen to its subtle voice so that we can follow its urges and energetic impulses to the source from which it springs.”

The perceptions of California’s HeartMath Institute founder Doc Childre, dedicated to helping people

access their intuitive insight and heart intelligence, are generally aligned with those of Fredrickson. Both approaches recognize how order and balance in the nervous system and smooth, harmonious and coherent heart rhythms enhance our ability to clearly perceive a far larger universe of experience.

The ensuing connections widen the windows of perception to view ourselves as no longer separate, but part of a unified whole. Accumulated micro-moments of love communicated through synchronized gazes, touches and vocalizations forge a shared subjective appreciation of connection and oneness. We feel ourselves embodying positive resonance and experience easier and more immediate rapport in familial, familiar and even new relationships. We discover abundant opportunities to feel love, loved and loving as we make ourselves available to them.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

Includes all Exams, Consultations, and X-Rays (if necessary)

Expires 01/31/2017 Family Practice of Chiropractic 203 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin, SC (803) 932-9399

-Nutrition Counseling and Supplements -Ionic Footbath Detox -Custom Orthotics -Orthopedic Pillows, Lumbar Supports, etc.

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FITNESS 2017 New Year’s Resolutions that Stick

by Aimee Hughes

E

very January, we rally our hopes, vowing that this time our New Year’s resolutions will finally stick.

However, “If you don’t have a plan, plan to fail,” says Kansas City, Missouri, personal trainer Jake Albracht.

We can make our health and fitness goals for 2017 a reality instead of just wishful thinking.

Find a good trainer. “A personal trainer provides a helpful base of knowledge because the hardest part for most people is a lack of planning and diligence in following up. Trainers can step in to help a client achieve their goals,” says Albracht.

Jeanne Rankin, assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington, adds, “A personal trainer can also help you set lofty goals that you wouldn’t have considered on your own due to fear of failure in achieving them.”

Secure personal attention. Individual attention is invaluable. Albracht notes, “There’s nothing like the instant feedback with technique, information and support that one-on-one training provides.”

Rankin adds, “In ongoing individual evaluation, a personal trainer can see exactly what’s going well and what

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isn’t, providing a better assessment than in a group.”

“Group settings can also be positive and mimic a team environment, but a one-on-one relationship allows for a deeper bond of trust. Sometimes that can make all the difference in the world,” Albracht explains.

Ask questions. If engaging a personal trainer isn’t in our available budget, they are often willing to answer a few burning fitness questions. Most of us have had volunteer teachers at some point in our lives that expected nothing in return because they loved sharing what they know. It’s a slower process, but can be a viable option.

Set realistic goals. “I tell clients that structuring a program of specific goals will always trump a non-structured program,” says Albracht. “They need to fill out a goals sheet and develop a personal model that is repeatable, sustainable and successful. We use the SMART acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely.” Sometimes writing things down is just what’s needed to make them actually happen.

“When you look at pictures of famous people in magazines, realize

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fitbody

that the images have been Photoshopped. They also have access to the best and most expensive resources in the world, and looking good is their job,” reminds Rankin. “Set a goal, and then set a bunch of small, achievable, measurable and quantifiable steps along the way that’ll push you towards that bigger goal.”

For example, If the goal is to lose 50 pounds in a year, then maybe shoot to lose 30 pounds in the first six months and 20 in the second six months.

“Breaking it up into what feels doable for you is key,” says Rankin.

Establish intentions. Krysten Clark, a Los Angeles personal trainer, yoga teacher and founder of Yogva Nutrition, uses the SMART elements along with establishing an intention for each session. She states, “It’s important to recognize what ‘being healthy’ means to you. I always have my clients set an intention for their workout in the moment, which allows them to be fully present with what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Connecting with their ‘why’ proves powerful in a day-to-day practice.”

She also strives to bring mindfulness into any fitness workout that evolves from a mind-body connection.

The accompanying sense of self-compassion furthers progress in the never-ending process of personal growth and healthy living.

Acquire a fitness posse. An accountability partner can be a friend or a personal trainer—someone that’s only a phone call away. Rankin observes, “If you know that you are letting someone down by not working out, then you are more likely to stick to a plan, especially if you’re paying that person.”

Hit the reset button if needed.

“Set a deadline to attain a goal and work backwards from there to achieve it,” advises Albracht. “If the goal is missed, reassess and plan again.” Be patient and forgive yourself as often as necessary if slip-ups occur. The ultimate results of feeling good and healthier provide their own payoff.

Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy and consultant for the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@ gmail.com. natural awakenings

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healingways

Heal Adrenal Fatigue

NATURALLY Practical Ways to Regain Vitality

by Linda Sechrist

F

atigue due to physical or mental exertion is common in those beleaguered by stress, poor eating habits and insomnia, struggling to balance the needs of family and career and too often using caffeine and other stimulants to artificially rebound energy. James L. Wilson, Ph.D., a doctor of chiropractic and naturopathy, educates medical professionals about an even more serious health issue he identifies as “adrenal fatigue”; it’s characterized by below-optimal adrenal function induced by an overload of such stressors. Our two walnut-sized adrenal glands, one atop each kidney, produce vital hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and many other functions, including how the body deals with stress.

Identifying the Core Issue

In his book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, Wilson sheds light on the scope of the problem.

“The fact that adrenal fatigue is unrecognized by conventional medicine has left millions of people suffering from an untreated problem that interferes with their ability to function normally and capacity to enjoy life. For those whose adrenal glands are ‘running on empty’, even something as basic as happiness seems almost out of reach,” comments Wilson, who resides in Tucson, Arizona.

Individuals suffering from adrenal fatigue are most concerned about their low moods, energy, mental acuity and libido, for which conventional medicine typically prescribes antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs. These medications do nothing to revive adrenal functioning.

This faulty condition also affects weight gain and a propensity toward the development of some diseases, including

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fibromyalgia. “Your resiliency, energy, endurance and very life depend on the proper functioning of the adrenals,” Wilson says.

We’ve inherited our sympathetic nervous system and its stress response of fight-or-flight from our prehistoric ancestors. It hasn’t evolved to differentiate between an acute threat to survival and the chronic threats from looming deadlines, financial pressures and other modern-day worries.

“The adrenal stress response to physical danger or any perceived psychological threat is identical—the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine responsible for cascading physiological reactions,” explains Dr. Vijay Jain, who treats fatigue from an integrative perspective at his Mind Body Wellness Center, in Palm Coast, Florida.

Suggested Treatments

Adrenal fatigue is mainly a self-induced health problem that doesn’t just appear. It results from an accumulation of ongoing choices that we can change.

Jain applies ayurvedic principles to reestablish balance in the body’s three prominent mind-body types that influence personal well-being. These are known as vata, pitta and kapha. For people primarily characterized by vata and pitta typology, fatigue is the result of being overactive and burning the candle at both ends. For those with kapha constitutions, fatigue is the outcome of a sedentary lifestyle with insufficient movement and eating the wrong foods for them.

He further recommends getting more sleep with regular bedtimes, practices such as yoga nidra meditation, pranayama (yogic breathing) and a slower-paced yoga practice with longer-held meditative poses, as well as massage and a diet designed to restore our biological energies, or doshas, to a balanced state. “Depending on a patient’s constitution I advise some to slow down and burn 50 percent less of their candle, while I tell others to increase their physical activity and improve their diet.”

Jain also recommends a type of ayurvedic purification and detoxification treatment that involves a series of five therapies including massage and herbal treatments. Performed in sequence, these allow the body and mind to drop into a state of peacefulness. Acupuncture treatments are also helpful, along with a regimen of adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng, schisandra and ashwagandha, according to Jain.

In Happy Healthy Thyroid: The Essential Steps to Healing Naturally, author Andrea Beaman writes about how she recovered naturally from adrenal fatigue. To restore energy and vitality to the body, she further recommends the healing practices of hatha yoga, qigong and tai chi. “These modalities build energy, whereas power yoga, and cardiovascular exercises drain energy in fatigued individuals,” advises Beaman. She notes that it can take six months to two years to restore desired energy levels.

Beaman counsels individuals with behavioral characteristics that make it more challenging to burn less of their candle. She grabs their attention with the critical nature of their situation. “‘You are in and out of life in a blink. If you’re exhausted at age 48, how are you going to live a vibrant, happy and exuberant life right up to the finish line?’

That generally works,” she says.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com. natural awakenings

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greenliving

Fresh Thinking About Décor

by Avery Mack

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ature’s holiday decorations can transcend cliché pine wreaths or farmed trees to make highly personalized indoor décor that supersedes traditional greenery. Yet mistletoe, holly leaves and berries, eucalyptus, poinsettias, tree needles, acorns and a cut tree’s water reservoir can be harmful to both pets and children. Here are some better choices.

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Galina Grebenyuk/Shutterstock.com

A Gorgeously Greener Holiday

The Tree

For smaller spaces or to make a statement, try grouping topiary trees of varying heights draped with solar twinkle lights and small ornaments or fresh flowers to create a focal point in a bay window.

“A lemon-lime cypress lends another burst of unexpected color on an entry hall table,” says freelance floral designer Janet Corrao, in Nutley, New Jersey. “It smells good, too.”

Plants six inches tall work well. Corrao suggests setting the pots in colorful, inexpensive metal buckets from craft stores for added glamour.

Unless deemed a hazard to active kids or pets, set up a mid-sized stepstool on a table or open a six-foot ladder in a corner and hang ornaments down the center space; add garlands and lights and set potted flowers and small gift boxes on the steps. Search “alternative Christmas trees” at Pinterest.com for more ideas.

Another option uses hedge-like plants in lieu of a tree.

Consider an English or Japanese boxwood plant or evergreen lilly pilly, and then trim to the desired size and shape. Plant it outdoors as weather and climate permit.

The Table

“While we were working on a photo shoot, the photographer decided to include a Christmas scene. I was able to add fresh greenery from the property to the red ornaments and white orchids that I’d brought along. It made a striking centerpiece running the entire length of the table,” says florist Angie Zimmerman, of Angie Zimmerman Designs, in El Dorado Hills, California. “For the fireplace mantel I used branches with red berries to add height on either side of the central mirror and then duplicated the centerpiece design between them.”

A festive table can be dressed with appealing edibles.

Use a bread wreath as a base and stud it with skewered basil leaves, cherry tomatoes and small balls of fresh mozzarella cheese for an easy, self-serve, Caprese appetizer. A

colorful dish of balsamic dressing or another dip in the center, along with small plates and holiday napkins, completes the offering.

For a sit-down dinner variant, place a few Caprese skewers in small, clear, glass vases along the table with individual finger bowls of dip. Flat-leafed green parsley sprigs add another special touch. Zimmerman further suggests using deep-red Roma apples, cored, as candle holders.

Make living place cards with small pots of herbs.

Chalkboard paint identifies the plant and guest seating. Also consider colorful painted pots sporting a small cactus.

Transform oranges into aromatic pomanders by scoring the rinds with a citrus stripper in a spiral, circle or other pattern. Use a small nail to make holes and stud the fruits with whole cloves. Adding seasonal greenery and sterilized pine cones makes a beautiful and fragrant centerpiece.

The Front Door

“I love to use pine cones for centerpieces,” Corrao says.

“Our weather is cold enough that I don’t have to worry about bugs when collecting cones in the neighborhood.” For warmer climates, bake the pine cones for 30 minutes in a 200-degree oven to melt excess sap, kill insects and fully open them.

Sold online or in kitchenware stores, a bay leaf wreath offers cheer at the door. After the holidays, hang it in the kitchen for easy access. “Kumquats, lemons, tangerines, small oranges and crabapples add color to green wreaths,” notes Corrao.

Garlands

For many, Christmas demands the smell of fresh pine boughs. Spice up the traditional greenery with carnations or other light-hued flowers colored with the juices of fresh, canned or frozen fruits and veggies—red from cranberries, beets and cherries; yellow and orange from yellow photo courtesy of Angie Zimmerman Designs onions and carrots; purple from blackberries; green from spinach; pink from strawberries; and blue from red cabbage or blueberries. Freshly cut the flower stems and put them in the liquid from crushed produce or the can to absorb color. Hang garlands out of reach of young children and pets.

Navjot Kaur, of Navjot Designs, in Chicago, says, “We all have greenery in our yard or patio gardens that can be used for the holidays. It’s fun to alter the design based upon what is available.”

Imagination and inspiration can spark new, greener traditions.

Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

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MONDAYS DECEMBER 5 & 19

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

doTERRA Essential Oils Holiday Scent Workshop–6:30pm. Learn how to use doTERRA oils for all of your holiday gift giving. Free gift. Cost: Free.

Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Ste A, Columbia.

Info/register: 803-726-2310.

Santa’s Market Craft Show–8:30am-2:30pm.

Complete your holiday shopping with art prints and paintings, handmade jewelry, ornaments, painted glassware, holiday wreaths and décor available for purchase. Free admission for shoppers. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info/vendor applications: 803-772-3336, icrc.net.

DECEMBER 1-31 Holiday Lights on the River–6-10pm. A journey through Holiday Lights on the River and over 400 animated light displays of all shapes and sizes. All Holiday Lights traffic will enter at the brand new Saluda Shoals Park entrance, located at 6071 St. Andrews Rd, Columbia (between Wendy’s and Aldi grocery store), and exit onto Bush River Rd. Cost: $15/car; $25/15-passenger van; $40/bus. Info: 803772-1228, icrc.net.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 Dances of Universal Peace–7-9pm–w/Marguerite Frongillo. The dances lift our spirits and open us to awareness of the divine in each other. Cost: Free; donations accepted. Near Midtown Mall in Forest Acres, Columbia. Info/directions: Contact Frongillo at 803-743-0731 or Mff426@gmail.com.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2-4 Elf the Musical Jr–Fri, 7:30pm; Sat 3 and 7:30pm; and Sun, 3pm. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag and is transported to the North Pole. Come join us to see Buddy’s adventures.

Cost: $7/seat. Irmo High School Center for Performing Arts, 6671 St. Andrews Rd, Columbia. Visit icrc. net to purchase tickets. Info: 803-772-1228.

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Columbia Edition

Story Time with Santa–10-noon. Santa reads his favorite holiday book. Cookie decorating, hot cocoa, create a holiday craft and a candy cane hunt. Ages 2-8. Cost: $6. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: 803-772-3336, icrc.net.

Stress, Hormone Health Seminar–Presented by Dr. Rachel Hall. Cost: Free. Due to limited capacity, call immediately to preregister and reserve a space.

Only those preregistered will be allowed to attend.

Expect Wellness, 130 Suber Rd, Ste D, Columbia.

Info/registration: 803-796-1702, DrRachelHall.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 doTERRA Essential Oils Pet Workshop–6:30pm.

Learn how to give your pets nature’s best defense against anxiety, stress, allergies, car sickness, fleas and ticks, respiratory issues, upset stomach, oral health, arthritis and much more. Free gift. Cost: Free.

Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Ste A, Columbia.

Info/register: 803-726-2310.

The Catalyst of Candle Magic–Noon-2pm–w/Dkr. Khozmiq NeWage. Cost: $20. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-404-4519.

Candy Cane Hunt–3:30pm. Santa and his elves will be hiding candy canes along the trail. Children should bring a basket or bag for their candy canes.

Ages 2-8. Cost: $2. Donate a new unwrapped toy.

Each donor gets the opportunity to decorate a festive cupcake! Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin. Info: 803-345-6181, icrc.net.

SATURDAYS DECEMBER 3 & 10

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9

Introductory Practical Spirituality Course–1011:30am. Cost: Four classes/$100. Space limited.

Kealey’s Counseling, 2214 Devine St, Columbia.

Info: Call P. Kandis at 803-606-0621.

Gala for a Greener Midlands–6pm. An event to support the beautification efforts in the Midlands.

Silent auction, dinner, music and dancing. Holiday Inn and Suites, 110 McSwain Dr, W Columbia.

Cost/table sponsorship/ticket purchasing: Call Keep the Midlands Beautiful at 803-733-1139, or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org or Eventbrite.com.

SUNDAYS DECEMBER 4 & 18 Sunday Meditation–6pm–w/Victoria Keeton. Cost: donation. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia.

Info: 803-404-4519.

MONDAYS DECEMBER 5-JANUARY 9 Grief Support Group–2-3:30pm. Address the physical impact of grief with the Feldenkrais Method of Awareness Through Movements. Sharing stories and journeys. Sponsored by Palmetto Health. The

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

DECEMBER 9, 22 & 23 Discount Days at Rosewood–8am-8pm. 20% off purchase price; mention this listing. Deli sale items not included. Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr, Columbia. Info: 803-530-3270, RosewoodMarket.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

Breaking Through with Spiritual Baths–Noon2pm–w/Dkr. Khozmiq NeWage. Cost: $20. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-4044519.

SPI-RITUAL-ity–Noon-2pm–w/Dkr. Khozmiq NeWage. Cost: $20. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-404-4519.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 Understanding Life Energetics Using the Tarot–2-4pm–w/Elizabeth Ferrara. An introduction to basic energetics using the tarot. Understanding how our life works energetically clears the way to higher self-awareness. Suggested donation: $15.

Chi Energy Balance, 6310 Landmark Dr, Ste D, Forest Acres. Info/register: Call Elizabeth Ferrara at 917-288-6162.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14 Stress, Hormone Health Seminar–Presented by Dr. Rachel Hall. Cost: Free. Due to limited capacity, call immediately to preregister and reserve a space.

Only those preregistered will be allowed to attend.

Expect Wellness, 130 Suber Rd, Ste D, Columbia.

Info/registration: 803-796-1702, DrRachelHall.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 Emotional Technology: The Seven Mirrors of the Soul–Noon-2pm–w/Dkr. Khozmiq NeWage. Cost: $20. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-404-4519.

Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

-Dalai Lama

Connect with us naturally!

sunday

tuesday

thursday

Eckankar Spiritual Discussions and Community HU–10am. Free. Every 2nd Sunday. An esoteric approach to God realization without dogma or judgment. 7 Oaks Rec Center, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: Call Steve Fischer at 803-318-1887, or visit Eck-SC.org or Meetup.com/Columbia-Spiritual-Seekers.

doTERRA Essential Oils Class–7pm. Every 2nd Tuesday. Wellness in the workplace. Free. Chiropractic Care Center, 7245 St Andrews Rd, Columbia.

Info: Call Patty Kranendonk at 803-730-9083.

First Thursdays on Main–7-9pm. Live music with Palmetto Latin Orchestra. Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-726-2310.

ongoingevents

monday Columbia Resilience Integrated Health–6-8pm.

4th Monday. Energy-balance modalities offered through trained practitioners for chronic stress and post-trauma relief. Recommended fee $10/session.

St. Mark United Methodist Church, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/to sign up as a practitioner: Call Pamila Lorentz, of Chi Energy Balance, at 803749-1576.

Infant Massage Classes–4-week series on Mondays. Parents and caregivers learn how to build confidence, develop a nurturing touch, and a massage routine for their babies. Cost: $75, person; $100, couple. The Balance Institute, 1905 Sunset Blvd, Ste C, W Columbia. Info/times: Call Liana Marconyak at 803-386-7261 or visit tbiHealth.net.

Infertility Support Group–7-8:30pm. Every 2nd Monday. Free and confidential. Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Richland Library, 1431 Assembly St, Columbia. Info: Email Andrena King at ResolveColumbia@gmail.com.

Poetry Night at Good Life Café–7-9pm. Every 3rd Monday. Magnify Magnolias Poetry & Live Music Night/Open Mic. Good Life Café, 1614 Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-726-2310.

Prenatal Massage Consultations–10am-4pm.

Every Monday. Free. Learn the benefits of massage during your pregnancy and how it will help prepare your body for delivery. A Knead for Nurturing, 2908 Devine St, Columbia. Info/to schedule an appointment: 803-851-4563.

Healing Through the Senses–10-11:15am New classes beginning Jan 3. A women’s group exploration of healing trauma and chronic stress through reconnecting and grounding one’s sense of self.

Class is free to Richland County residents. St. Mark UMC, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/registration: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Homeopathic Remedies Webinar–7:30-8:30pm.

Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday. Learn about homeopathic and holistic remedies for you and your pet from the comfort of your home. Live Q&A after the webinar. Info/register: Call Brenda M Tobin-Flood at 803-712-4522 or sign up and get the webinar link by emailing Info@WellnessMattersOnline.com.

Gentle Yoga & Energy Balance–10-11:15am.

New classes beginning Jan 3. Easy yoga stretches and postures for calming the nervous system and accessing “stress reset” points through self-care techniques and coping with chronic stress, anxiety and post-trauma injury. Class provided through Columbia Resilience and the Richland County Discretionary Grant for women for trauma relief.

Preregistration required. Chi Energy Balance, St. Mark United Methodist Church, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/registration: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Private Spiritual Readings–2-6pm–w/Dkr. Khozmiq Newage. Cost: $30 for 20 minutes. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-404-4519.

Private Spiritual Readings–2-6pm–w/Dkr. Khozmiq Newage. Cost: $30 for 20 minutes. Seven Rays, 3701 N Main St, Columbia. Info: 803-404-4519.

friday

wednesday

Rosewood Sidewalk Farmers’ Market–4-7pm.

Every Friday. Meet your SC growers. Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr, Columbia. Info: 803530-3270, RosewoodMarket.com.

Awaken Your Energy, Awaken Your Life–7pm. 2nd Wednesday. Align your energy to feel better, manage your life goals, and have better relationships. Cost: $30. 6 Cupola Ct, Blythewood. Info/registration: 803530-6199, http://bit.do/awakenyourenergy.

Biergarten at Gardener’s Outpost–5:30-7:30pm.

Every 1st Wednesday. Live entertainment and refreshments. Browse Biergarten’s unique garden gifts. Gardener’s Outpost, 709 Woodrow St, Columbia. Info: 803-252-0041, GardenersOutpost.com.

Holistic Practitioners Networking Group–7pm.

4th Wednesday. Come join a fun, informative group designed to help practitioners connect, learn and grow their businesses. Free. 108 Netherland Dr, Irmo. Info: Call Julie Bradshaw at 803-800-9211.

Come By and Check Out Rosewood Market’s New Produce Department!

natural awakenings

December 2016

37

CLASSIFIEDS

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CLASSIFIEDS

To place a classified listing, email content of listing to ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or mail with payment to Natural Awakenings, P.O. Box 2812, Columbia, SC 29202. $20 for 35 words each month.

Additional .50 per word over 30 words. Please include billing contact information. Deadline is the 12th of the month prior.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Own a Healthy and Fun Fitness Business – Established Curves for sale, Irmo. Top fitness franchise, turnkey opportunity and low investment.

Info: Call 203-561-6353 or visit BuyCurves.com.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY LMTCPT Is Hiring Contract Personal Trainers – Hiring for the am hours. Compensation, $14 per hour. Need current national certification, CPR certification and liability insurance. Email resume, along with availability, to Info@lmtcpt.com.

The Balance Institute Is Looking for PT/FT Practitioners – We’re looking for self-starters, team members, contributors to client health and able to do community service. Email resume to Info@ tbiHealth.net.

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38

Columbia Edition

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

ROOM FOR PROFESSIONAL Room for Rent at About Your Health – Perfect for massage therapists, reflexologists or energy workers. $10 an hour. Call About Your Health at 803-798-8687 for more information.

SERVICES Integrative Health Clinic – Experience multiple modalities at your church or community organization. Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Columbia Resilience has been awarded the 2016 Richland County disbursement grant to create the Hands for Peace Women’s Trauma Clinic.

Any experienced alternative health practitioners interested in volunteering (training available for volunteers on Trauma Clinic protocols) one day a week, please contact community health chair Pamila Lorentz at the Center for Health Integration at 803-749-1576.

naturaldirectory 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 Natural Directory, call 803-233-3693 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

ACUPUNCTURE THE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

William D. Skelton, DAc 620 Sims Ave, Columbia 803-256-1000 • SCAcupuncture.com

Bill Skelton is dedicated to helping people live happier, healthier, active lives with safe, gentle and effective techniques.

He has 38 years’ experience and trained in the Republic of China.

Call to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 10.

AROMATHERAPY GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15-A, Columbia Trenholm Plaza, in Forest Acres 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

Improve your level of stress, depression and mood with natural products from a locally owned family business. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you using aromatherapy for pain, anxiety, energy enhancement and more. We carry several brands of essential oils, including doTERRA. See ads, pages 13, 17 and back page.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC.

Dr. Shelly Jones, DC 5209 Forest Dr, Ste C, Columbia 803-771-9990 • DrShellyJones.com

Webster Technique certified, Dr. Jones provides family chiropractic care, health information and wellness resources to support the body’s natural ability to heal, allowing one to feel better and enjoy living a more active lifestyle! Call to schedule your appointment or discuss bringing our onsite chiropractic care and health-education services to your business, school or athletic team.

FAMILY PRACTICE OF CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Jim Minico, DC 203 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin 803-932-9399 • DrMinico.com PatientServices.fpc@gmail.com

It is our mission to provide the community with the highestquality chiropractic care possible.

Exceeding your expectations in a caring, modern and positive environment. Restoring the body’s natural healing process.

A holistic approach to health utilizing chiropractic, massage therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition, weight management and homeopathy. See ad, page 26.

COLLABORATIVE LAW LAW OFFICE OF SHANNON K. BURNETT

109 N Main St, Blythewood 803-786-1758 • Shannon.skblaw@gmail.com

Shannon Burnett helps families through legal issues that normally tend to tear families apart. She works in a collaborative fashion with other trained professionals to minimize the damage done to your family; it is her goal for your family to achieve a successful outcome and healthy resolution.

COLON HEALTH SPRING RAIN HYDROTHERAPY

Linda Salyer 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste H, Columbia 803-361-2620 • LSalyer@ymail.com

All disease begins in the colon.

Constipation; slow, sluggish bowel; gas and bloating? A colonic will help to rid you of these problems. Colonics promote good digestion, help speed metabolism, help lower cholesterol, and help relieve joint pain. Linda Salyer is IACN certified and a retired nurse. Special pricing every third week of the month. See ad, page 21.

CPA CHRISTINA A. BOSWELL, CPA, LLC Quick Books Pro Advisor CBoswell@CABCPASC.com 803-233-9303 • CABCPASC.com

Christina A. Boswell has more than 25 years accounting and bookkeeping experience.

Boswell is a member of the SCACPA (SC Association of CPAs) and the AICPA (American Institute for CPAs). Her customized services include general ledger review and adjustments, bank reconciliations, light payroll services, quarterly/ annual payroll tax filings (including preparation of W-2s and 1099s), monthly tax filings and more.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Dr. Gregory J. Wych, DDS 7505 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo 803-781-1600 • IrmoCosmeticDentistry.com

Dr. Wych and his staff are committed to giving each patient the quality care and attention each desire and deserve. He believes that in dentistry, discovering the cause of the problem is the key to resolving it and to preventing its recurrence. Something he has done successfully for his patients for more than 28 years. Call today to schedule your appointment.

See ad, page 2.

FOREST DRIVE DENTAL CARE

Dr. Joanna Silver Dover, DMD 5101 Forest Dr, Ste A, Columbia 803-782-8786 • ForestDriveDental.com

Dr. Dover provides comprehensive, and compassionate dental care. BPA- and Bis-GMA-free composites, BPA-free occlusal guards, natural periodontal therapy, fluoride-alternatives for tooth remineralization, and mercuryfilling removal following IAOMT standards using supplemental oxygen, special filters and amalgam separators to keep toxic metals out of our waterways.

See ad, page 5.

PALMER DISTINCTIVE DENTISTRY Dr. Joe Palmer; Dr. Daniel Knause 134 Milestone Way, Greenville, SC 864-438-0903 • PalmerDMD.com

Biological Dentistry using the highest standards of biocompatible dentistry as defined by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. One-visit crowns, laser-assisted periodontal therapy and ozone therapy; fluoride-free office. See ad, page 42.

ECO-RICH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS JUST WANNA MELT LLC

CHI ENERGY BALANCE

Pamila Lorentz, MSW, RN, LMBT 6136 Old Bush River Rd & 3610 Landmark Dr Columbia • 803-749-1576 CenterForHealthIntegration.com

DENTISTRY ART OF DENTISTRY

Misty Rawls • 803-331-0063 Info@JustWannaMelt.com JustWannaMelt.com

Feeling scattered, disconnected, achy or fatigued? The CHI Energy Balance’s essential touch therapies help to restore, renew and revitalize the well-being experience. Services include CranioSacral Therapy, lymphatic drainage, directional healing, sound/vibrational therapies and integrative massage. Pamila Lorentz is also a Veriditas Trained Labyrinth Facilitator.

CHI also offers acupressure for emotions and Young Living therapeutic essential oils. See ad, page 32.

A green skin care company that creates high-quality, non-GMO, all-natural products that are gentle to the skin and safer for the environment. Our brands include ingredients such as organic oils, butters, flowers, herbs, botanicals, local grains, beeswax and honey. Find our products at such stores as Garner’s Natural Life, Four Oaks Farm, Wingard’s Nursery, Whole Foods and more.

For a complete list of retail locations, visit our website.

FUNCTIONAL &

natural awakenings

December 2016

39

naturaldirectory HEALTH FOOD STORE MURRAYWOOD HEALTH FOODS

Richard Beale, Owner • 803-732-3847 7001 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo In Murraywood Shopping Centre Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm

Locally owned and proudly serving Irmo and the Midlands area for more than 25 years, Murraywood Health Foods is a health and specialty food store featuring the very best natural product brands, vitamins and minerals, herbs and homeopathic remedies. The store also carries natural and organic gluten-free foods and health and beauty products. Call today for more information or to schedule a special appointment.

HOMEOPATHY WELLNESS MATTERS

Brenda M. Tobin-Flood, DVetHom, Cert CN 803-712-4522 WellnessMatters4U@yahoo.com

Brenda M. Tobin-Flood holds her degrees in veterinary homeopathy and canine nutrition from the British Institute of Homeopathy.

Brenda uses her extensive knowledge of human-grade essential oils, herbs and reiki for healing modalities, treating all types of animals, including farm and exotic. Phone consultations, home visits, barn visits, K-Kal requirements for canines, and nutritional consultations are also available. See ad, page 33.

INTEGRATED HEALING PHOENIX RISING

Katz Delauney-Leija, MSW, EFT-CC, TAEE Psych-K, Health & Wellness Intuitive 803-530-6199 • Katz-PhoenixRising.com

Are you unhappy in your relationships, current job or career choice? Are you frustrated with not feeling well or being in pain? Katz can guide you to greater health and a better life by combining her traditional and intuitive skills to help you. Call Katz Delauney-Leija today to schedule an appointment.

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CENTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE

CENTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE

Preventative and Personalized Health Care w/more than 75 years of combined medical practice. Board-Certified Environmental, Functional and Integrative Medicine. We get to the root cause of your illness.

Allergy Testing. Autoimmune Diseases. Women’s Health. See ads, pages 9 and 43.

Dr. Bettina Herbert, M.D., has 25 years of osteopathic experience and is board certified in Physical Medicine. Treatment uses gentle manipulation primarily using cranial osteopathy to relieve pain, improve performance and promote healing. See ads, pages 9 and 43.

Drs. Lieberman, Weirs & Herbert 843-572-1600 • coem.com

MASSAGE THERAPY A KNEAD FOR NURTURING Jenny Sepulveda 2908 Devine St, Columbia 803-851-4563

Jenny Sepulveda is a licensed massage therapist with more than 14 years’ experience. She also has a degree in occupational studies from The Swedish Institute of Manhattan. Sepulveda is certified in prenatal, craniosacral, reflexology, and hot and cold stones treatment. She is dedicated to providing stress and pain relief through massage for people of all walks of life. Come and experience the relaxation massage therapy has to offer you. See ad, page 22.

ORGANIC MOLD AND PEST REMOVAL HOME RENEWAL INVESTORS LLC DJ Brown • 803-509-1980 djaredbrown@gmail.com HomeRenewalInvestors.com

Home Renewal uses the newest technology to kill indoor mold, odors and pests in about a day.

Results are guaranteed! Our oneof-a-kind process breaks down oxygen molecules and helps remedy 200 health issues. This nonchemical service saves as much as 99% less than the usual costs associated with wall demolition treatment methods.

It is utilized by hospitals, government agencies, schools, medical facilities, historic buildings, museums and hundreds of residents. Contact the indoor air quality experts of Home Renewal for at FREE evaluation. See ad, page 31.

Columbia Edition

SOLAR ENERGY VIVINT SOLAR

Joe McClintock, Energy Consultant 803-553-7865 Joseph.McClintock@VivintSolar.com

We, of Vivint Solar, are powering people by helping our customers s a v e m o n e y, c h o o s e t h e i r power source and shrink their environmental carbon footprint.

See ad, page 3.

SOUL CONTRACT READING THE SOURCE WITHIN YOU

Julie Bradshaw 803-800-9211 • Juleseck@aol.com TheSourceWithinYou.com

Before you came into this lifetime, you agreed to meet certain people and experience particular life lessons in order to further your soul’s growth and development. Contact Julie for a Soul Contract Reading to discover what contracts (agreements) you made and how they are impacting your life today.

SPIRITUAL HAVE YOU HAD A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE? Contact Steve 803-318-1887 • ECK-SC.org Meetup.com/Columbia-Spiritual-Seekers

Eckankar hosts free, informal, non-dogmatic spiritual discussions.

All are welcome. Topics include dreams, coincidences, past lives, God’s creative life force, and more. Call ahead. Times and dates may vary.

ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

Dr. Rachel Hall 130 Suber Rd, Columbia 803-796-1702 • DrRachelHall.com ExpectWellness@sc.rr.com Find us on Facebook for great health tips.

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Dr. Bettina Herbert 843-572-1600 • coem.com

THERMOGRAPHY

EXPECT WELLNESS

Integrative/Holistic medicine consults for anyone wanting to approach their health more naturally. Dr. Rachel Hall is board certified in both family medicine and integrative holistic medicine.

Together we will focus on finding the root of the problem, not just treating symptoms. Call today for a consult if you are looking to achieve balance. Inhouse diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 10.

OSTEOPATHY

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

and to All a Good Night!

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

About Your Health Inc.’s main focus is health education and health-enhancing services.

Including one-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aqua-chi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 11.

GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15a, Columbia Trenholm Plaza 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

At Garner’s Natural Life, we offer the purest, most innovative highquality natural products. With more than 130 collective years of wellness experience! We are proud to say that our knowledge allows us to encourage choices that will positively impact the heath and future of our community and environment. See ads, page 13, 17 and back page.

WATER/HYDRATION INCREDIBLE WATER

Eddie and Nilah Gann 803-404-1378 • KangenDemo.com

Every functional process that takes place within the human body is dependent upon water in some way. With this foundational element correct, all other body processes function properly.

Incredible Water represents a Japanese company that has been changing lives for over 40 years. Individuals interested in alkaline, antioxidant and cellular hydration are encouraged to call.

ecotip Eco-Toy Story

Safe, Fun Gifts for Kids During the holiday gift buying season, it’s good to recall the days of old-fashioned toys. Simple, wooden toys made with non-toxic paints are far safer than those sprayed with varnishes and paints containing lead and volatile organic compounds.

Plastics can emit unhealthy chemicals used during manufacturing, which also produces environmental pollution. Pieces can break off, possibly injuring soft skin, or be consumed by toddlers with dangerous results. A recent report by Environment California, a research and policy center, found that products designed for babies and young children, such as soft plastic teethers, bath accessories and others, contain phthalates. Many toys require batteries containing heavy metals like mercury and cadmium.

ChasingGreen.org recommends eco-conscious makers of toys available at GreatGreenBaby.com, including organic cotton stuffed animals; BabyBunz.com, featuring sustainably harvested cherry wood rattles and organic Egyptian cotton animals; and GreenToys.com, with play meal cookware and serving pieces made from bioplastic, consisting of a corn and starch resin. Here are other factors to consider.

Educational toys can “enhance language, conceptual understanding and numerical and spatial cognition,” according to a study in the journal Mind, Brain and Education. Six-to-8-year-olds can gain an appreciation for archaeology playing with Smithsonian toys available at Barnes & Noble and BarnesAndNoble.com.

PristinePlanet.com sells wood puzzles, solar-powered robots and board games from the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy. The Discovery Channel Store has safe toys and books for kids.

Follow age guidelines in choosing gifts, advises Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Toy Industry Association. “Age-grading has nothing to do with how smart a child is—it’s based on the developmental skills and abilities at a given age and the specific features of a toy.”

Practice conservation while saving money by canvassing thrift and consignment shops for classic card and board games.

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natural awakenings

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kavring/Shutterstock.com

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

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natural awakenings

December 2016

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