E R F
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HEALTHY
LIVING
HEALTHY
PLANET
HEALING POWER of
Medicinal Plants
SCHOOL
PROGRAMS Teach Healthy Coping Skills
PREVENT
Cognitive Decline
ECO-DECOR
for the Home
November 2021 | Columbia Edition | ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com
November 2021
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Columbia Edition
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November 2021
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Contents 13 GARDENER’S OUTPOST Opening New Location in Columbia
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17 EAT WELL TO FEEL WELL Thanksgiving Fare that Boosts Mental Health
20 DYING WELL
Four Steps to a Good Death
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22 HEALTHY BRAIN STRATEGIES
How to Prevent Cognitive Decline
24 SACRED DANCE Moving into Divine Energy
26 ECO-DECOR FOR THE HOME
How to Buy Sustainable Furnishings
28 MINDFULNESS FOR STRESSED TEENS
School Programs Teach Healthy Coping Skills
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30 HONORING THE LOSS OF A PET
Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal
32 DAVID CROW on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants
DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 12 health briefs 14 global briefs 17 conscious eating 22 healing ways 24 fit body 4
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25 eco tip 26 green living 28 healthy kids 30 natural pet 32 wise words 36 calendar 37 natural directory
Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.
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ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings, please contact us at 803-309-2101 or email ColaPublisher@ NaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for ads: the 12th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to ColaPublisher@ NaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events at ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings. com or email to ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 803-309-2101. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com. November 2021
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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
COLUMBIA EDITION
letter from publisher
Dinner Tables of Gratitude …
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PUBLISHER Annette Carter Briggs EDITOR Sara Gurgen DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kristina Parella Billy Briggs
merican author Melody Beattie wisely reflected on gratitude by saying: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Odell Williams and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, Kristi Antley SALES & MARKETING Annette Carter Briggs confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” Wow … that’s heavy WEBSITE Kristina Parella and fully loaded with lots to digest as we feverishly prepare Billy Briggs for the day of Thanksgiving. Here’s a question for you: Is gratitude the main dish on your Thanksgiving menu … CONTACT US honestly? I certainly hope so. PO Box # 2812 The dictionary defines gratitude “as the quality of Columbia, SC 29202 Email being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” And as we ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com usher in this holiday season, I pray that your heart is filled with such genuine gratitude Annette Briggs Ph: 803-309-2101 that the emotional poisons of selfishness, greed, contempt and prejudice find themWebsite ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com selves with no place to sit at your dinner table. As for individuals, families and society in general, we should be more thankful for SUBSCRIPTIONS what we do have (on our plates and in life) rather than fixating on things just beyond Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address. our reach. We should be more appreciative of one another (celebrating differences and diversity) rather than finding (as many often do) petty, manufactured reasons to isolate, NATIONAL TEAM persecute and treat one another unfairly without cause. Is there room at your Thanksgiv CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman ing table for others—individuals that don’t necessarily walk, talk, think or look like you? I COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo pray yes. Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Gratitude opens the heart to kindness, and as Beattie remarked, “unlocks the Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs fullness of life.” And studies have confirmed this truth. Research reveals that when an Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy individual welcomes gratitude into his or her heart, the resulting life-enhancing benefits National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell include improved mental and physical health, better sleep, and improved immunity. And Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan just as importantly, heartfelt thankfulness can help one “bounce back” from life’s twists, Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation turns, setbacks and challenges, which tend to drive us into the unloving arms of bitterness 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 and ingratitude. Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 Friends … add it to the menu and lots of it! Gratitude is the secret sauce and relaNaturalAwakeningsMag.com tionship-building superfood that needs to be served at every Thanksgiving table. Let it turn your meal into a feast and your house into a home. Expand your relationships and © 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be return kindness by finding a stranger in need to help and possibly turn into a lifelong reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior friend. Lift your eyes from your bubble of business to see a world filled with people that permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed need you. Beattie has it right—she nailed it. Let’s do the same. Save a seat at your dinner locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please table … I am. 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. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.
In gratitude,
Annette Carter Briggs, Publisher
Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines
Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.
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community news
About Your Health Now Offering More Appointments!
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n 2003, Lois Bradley, RN, FNP, opened About Your Health, a natural health and wellness business in Columbia, with the most basic of goals: to educate customers so they could be proactive in their health choices. It didn’t take long to realize that more than education was needed. Soon, personalized health plans were developed utilizing natural therapies that enhance nutrition, detoxify, rejuvenate and rebuild—thus offering better health and a balanced life. Lois began her own health journey 30 years ago. Through her experiences and studies, she has developed applicable and progressive strategies for reviving and maintaining health and wellness. In October, Lois retired from her 48-year career in nursing. This means she will have more appointment times available to see clients at About Your Health for personalized one-on-one education, as well as sharing her vast knowledge in group settings around town. As a local natural wellness resource for supplements and therapies, About Your Health offers Standard Process and other whole food supplements, Individual Consultations, Reams Testing, Live/Dried Blood Observation, Thermography, Heart Sound Recorder, Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, Aqua-chi Foot Bath and Far-infrared Sauna. About Your Health has also partnered with multiple practitioners at its location that offer Colonics, Chiropractic, Myofascial Release, Lymphatic Massage, Energy Work, Facials and more to enhance your health and well-being. When it comes to good health, Lois encourages everyone to take what’s rightfully theirs! Location: About Your Health, 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy., Ste. J, Columbia. For more information, call 803-798-8687 or visit AboutYourHealthSC.com. See ad, page 33.
RCSM Is Looking for a New Watershed Program Coordinator
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he Richland County Stormwater Management (RCSM) Division is now accepting applications for a watershed program coordinator. The purpose of the program coordinator is to develop, coordinate, plan and implement environmental- and water-quality programs associated with watershed plans, implementation and outreach programs for RCSM. The program coordinator should have a working knowledge of water-quality issues, non-point source pollution remediation strategies, stakeholder engagement, and stormwater management. The program coordinator will work closely with government, nonprofits, other county departments, and citizens. For more information, visit RichlandCountySC.gov/Home/Careers.
DOE Sponsors Communities LEAP Pilot Program
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he Department of Energy (DOE) Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) pilot program is designed to facilitate sustained community-wide economic and environmental benefits primarily through DOE’s clean energy deployment work. This opportunity is specifically open to low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. Under the Communities LEAP pilot program, DOE will provide supportive services valued at up to $16 million for community-driven clean energy transitions. The application deadline is Friday, December 17. For more information, visit Energy.gov/CommunitiesLEAP/Communities-Leap. November 2021
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community news
Preorder Christmas Trees from Gardener’s Outpost Now!
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he holiday season is approaching, and soon enough, Midlands area residents will be shopping for Christmas trees. Gardener’s Outpost, a popular local and sustainable garden center conveniently located just off Devine Street, is selling grade-A Christmas trees to the community. Customers can put in their Christmas tree preorders from a beautiful, high-quality line of Fraser fir trees, starting this month. These classic trees are cut on the same day that they are to be shipped to ensure quality and freshness. States Randall Isherwood, owner of Gardener’s Outpost, “My trees can be ready and available for customers to take home within eight hours of being cut at the farm and shipped to my location.” Coming in various sizes, the trees can be preordered to guarantee the best-looking tree for one’s home. Due to their popularity, shoppers are encouraged to preorder in advance. Gardener’s Outpost will also carry a beautiful and fresh line of poinsettias and wreaths. Cost: Varies; call for details. Location: Gardener’s Outpost, 709 Woodrow St., Columbia. Times: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday by appointment only. For more information or to preorder, call 803-252-0041 or visit GardenersOutpost.com. See ad, page 38.
ICRC Hosts Holiday Market at Crooked Creek Park
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n Saturday, November 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) will host its Holiday Market event at Crooked Creek Park, located at 1098 Old Lexington Highway, in Chapin. Local area artists, crafters and business owners are invited to participate as event vendors. Shoppers can purchase one-of-a-kind items, including paintings, handmade jewelry, home decor pieces, and much more. Those interested in selling items must complete and submit an event application form. Admission is free to the public. This event is open to all ages. For more information, including COVID-19 event safety guidelines, call 803-345-6181 or visit icrc.net/ event/holiday-market-2. See ad, page 31.
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S.C. DHEC/DERA Providing Grant Funding
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he South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is providing grant funding for the replacement (or upgrade) of older diesel engines in an effort to help reduce diesel emissions across the state. Diesel emissions make up a significant portion of the mobile source air pollution in South Carolina. The roughly $294,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2021 State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant will help South Carolina support clean diesel projects. “Recent data shows that diesel engines account for a majority of harmful emissions from both on-road and off-road equipment,” says S.C. DHEC’s Bureau of Air Quality Chief Rhonda Thompson. “This funding will support projects that target older diesel engines and will reduce their harmful effects on public health and the environment.” DERA funding is intended for county, city or other local government entities; private organizations; businesses; and universities. Grants are awarded to eligible applicants for the implementation of diesel emissions reduction projects that achieve public health and air quality goals. Previously allocated DERA grant funding has been used to replace school buses, repower a marine vessel, and retrofit emergency response vehicles. For more information, visit scdhec.gov.
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community news
ICRC Hosts Holiday Lights on the River
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t’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) will host its popular Holiday Lights on the River, starting on Wednesday, November 24, through Friday, December 31, at Saluda Shoals Park. The popular Midlands recreation park will come alive in a brilliant blaze of more than a million sparkling lights. The hallmark drive-through experience will take guests through more than 400 animated light displays and customized scenery of all shapes and sizes. Event activities include a slide down the Winter Wonder Tube Slide, hay or train rides through the dazzling lights, a laser light show on the Wetland Trail, and a holiday movie featured at the Environmental Center. In addition, Santa will be visiting holiday guests from Friday, December 10, through Thursday, December 23. Professional photos with Jolly Saint Nick will be available for purchase. Fun-filled memories are in store for the entire family to share for years to come! Cost: $25 per car; $50 per 12- to 15-passenger vans, trucks with trailers, and limos; $75 per bus. Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Location: Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia (Note: Must enter at 6071 St. Andrews Rd.—between Aldi grocery store and Wendy’s). For more information, call 803-772-1228. Also visit icrc.net/event/holiday-lights-river. See ad, page 31.
PalmettoPride Sponsors Litter-Free Games Program
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re you ready for some litter-free fun?! PalmettoPride is sponsoring litter-free games as an opportunity for high school clubs and organizations to make their athletic events litter-free while gaining a chance to earn money for their clubs and organizations. Each participating high school will receive free banners to promote their school’s event, along with litter bags to hand out and trash bags to help with the cleanup. The goal of this program is to encourage fans to discard of their waste properly and provide leadership skills for the students organizing the events. PalmettoPride has helped more than 640,000 volunteers remove more than 73 million pounds of litter from roads and other natural areas in South Carolina. For more information, call 803-758-6034 or visit PalmettoPride.org/Education/ School-Programs.
In today’s rush, we all think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy of just being. ~Eckhart Tolle
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The South Carolina Arts Commission Hosts S.C. Autumn Faire
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n Saturday, November 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The South Carolina Arts Commission is hosting its 2021 S.C. Autumn Faire at the Robert Mills House and Gardens, located at 1616 Blanding Street, in Columbia. Midlands area residents are welcome to come out and celebrate South Carolina’s diverse and eclectic art industry by a walk-through tour featuring more than 50 fine art makers, crafters, potters, jewelers, photographers, sculptures and painters. Other event highlights include tasty food and drink, live music and dancing. For more information, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com.
Richland County Hosts November Hazardous Waste Recycle Event
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n Saturday, November 13, from 8 a.m. to noon, Richland County is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste recycling collection event at Columbia Place Mall, located at 7201 Two Notch Road. Open to Richland County residents only, the list of acceptable items includes household cleaners and chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, fire extinguishers, paints, solvents, sealers and much more. Participants must show proof of residency (photo ID). For more information (including a complete list of acceptable items and guidelines), call 803576-2440. Also visit RichlandCountySC.gov.
KMB Hosts Spotless Service Saturday in December
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n Saturday, December 4, from 9 a.m. to noon, Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) is hosting its Spotless Service Saturday event. The KMB team and its volunteers will host its cleanup effort in the Lower Richland Boulevard area, in Richland County. KMB started the Spotless Service Saturday initiative to address highly littered areas in Columbia, with monthly cleanups hosted by its teams of volunteers. Cleanup locations rotate each month in the three regions that KMB serves: Richland and Lexington counties and the city of Columbia. All supplies, including trash bags, litter grabbers, safety vests and gloves, will be provided. KMB’s staff will be on-site to supervise and participate. Richland county residents are encouraged to participate. Groups are welcome.
KMB Is Looking for New Onsite Director
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eep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB), which serves Lexington and Richland counties, is currently searching for a new full-time onsite executive director. The application deadline was Friday, October 15; however, applications will continue to be accepted until the right candidate is found. Resumes and inquiries should be sent to Info@KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org. Feel free to share this information with interested and qualified individuals. For more information, call 803-733-1139 or visit kmbsc.org.
For more information, call 803-733-1139 or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org.
Rain Barrels and Compost Bins for Sale
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olumbia Water and Richland County Stormwater are currently selling rain barrels and compost bins for a limited time at discounted prices. Classic black 50-gallon Ivy rain barrels are on sale for just $75 and 65-gallon backyard compost bins are on sale for just $59. Supplies are limited and preorders are required. Purchased bins and barrels will be available for pickup on Saturday, November 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Edisto Discovery Park, located at 1914 Wiley Street, in Columbia. For more information and details, call 803545-3300 or 803-576-2400. Bins and barrels can be preordered at RainWaterSolutions. com/Products/Columbia-SC. November 2021
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r.f ._.studio/Pexels.com
Healthy lifestyle factors such as exercise, proper diet, low body mass index and abstinence from smoking and drinking correlate with decreased cancer incidence, even in those with a high genetic risk, according to a Chinese study published in Cancer Research. The researchers calculated and applied the genetic risks for 16 cancers in men and 18 cancers in women to genotype information from 443,000 citizens from England, Scotland and Wales registered in a databank. Notably, 97 percent of patients in the study had a high genetic risk of at least one cancer type. Among patients with high genetic risk, the five-year cancer incidence was 7.23 percent in men and 5.77 percent in women with an unfavorable lifestyle. That compared with 5.51 percent in men and 3.69 percent in women with a favorable lifestyle, effectively moving them into an intermediate risk category.
Boost Kids’ Learning Abilities with Exercise yulianto poitier/Pexels.com
The right kind of exercise can help kids learn vocabulary better, suggests research from the University of Delaware. An article published in the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research reports that when 48 children between 6 and 12 years of age were taught new words before swimming, they scored 13 percent higher on a test of the words than children that did CrossFit-like exercises or colored pictures. Lead researcher Maddy Pruitt says that exercise is known to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein she describes as the “Miracle-Gro of the brain.” Swimming made a difference, she says, because it is an automatic movement, while the CrossFit exercises were new to them and required mental energy.
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A single dose of 100 milligrams of the compound L-theanine—the amount found in four cups of green tea—improved reaction times and working memory of men and women in new research from Japan’s Central Research Institute, in Shizuoka. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 69 adults that self-reported cognitive decline reacted more quickly to computer-generated promptings and answered more questions correctly after ingesting the compound compared to the placebo. anna pyshniuk/Pexels.com
Live Healthfully to Mitigate Genetic Cancer Risk
Boost Cognition with Green Tea Compound
Eat High-Flavonoid Foods to Reduce Cognitive Decline Eating foods high in flavonoids—the antioxidant-rich plant compounds found in strawberries, oranges, peppers and apples—can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent or more, reports new research published by the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers followed more than 78,000 people in their late 40s and early 50s for 20 years, asking them what they ate and to evaluate their cognitive skills. They found that those foods with more flavones, such as yellow or orange fruits and vegetables and some spices, reduced cognitive decline the most, at 38 percent—the equivalent of being three to four years younger in age. Anthocyanins, found in blueberries, blackberries and cherries, were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. “The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears,” says study author Walter Willett, M.D., a nutrition and epidemiology professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “And it’s never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago or if they started incorporating them more recently.” trang doan/Pexels.com
health briefs
business spotlight
Gardener’s OUTPOST Opening New Location in Columbia by Kristi Antley
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andall and Carol Isherwood, owners of Gardener’s Outpost on Woodrow Street in Columbia, are excited to announce the launch of an additional location at 1211 Franklin Street, also in Columbia. The new location will officially open on Friday, November 26. More than three times the size of the original store, the new space will accommodate even more customers while offering an abundance of new resources, educational programs, and classes for the local community that will provide great handson activities. The new site will also offer a wider selection of plants, products, live demonstrations and events. The opening of the new establishment has been made possible largely due to the loyalty and encouragement of faithful customers and dedicated staff. As many locals know, Gardener’s Outpost is a popular urban garden center that has focused on sustainable practices and organic products that promote beauty and functionality naturally for the last nine years. Just like the Isherwoods’ original location, the new garden center will feature knowledgeable staff; personalized care; and a warm, friendly environment. Customers can expect excellent service underscored by compassion and care. Whether starting a tiny kitchen herb garden or a 1-acre lawn project, patrons are encouraged to define their goals, ask questions, and (with staff assistance) create a project plan of realistic solutions that correctly addresses existing issues or future endeavors. Perhaps someone’s birthday or anniversary is coming up—browse through the wide inventory of artistic and eclectic gift items not easily found in the Midlands.
Other highlights offered by Gardener’s Outpost’s new location include: • A workshop area for classes, such as plant parenting, fertilizer basics, and potentially yoga instruction in the future. • Events on Fridays and Saturdays that will coincide with established community block events. • A spacious wine and beer bar featuring indoor and outdoor seating. • Even more Christmas tree inventory and gifts to choose from this year. • A more extensive selection of specimen trees and shrubs, along with the standard commonly known plants. • A gift shop area with gardening gifts and tools, backyard gifts, plant-lover gifts, nature-inspired art, terrarium supplies, and gift certificates. Gardener’s Outpost’s expert staff recommends only the highest-quality plants, soils and amendments for indoor or outdoor beautification—all designed to reduce water waste and protect fragile ecosystems. The natural techniques; GMO-free seeds; compost aids; low-maintenance plants; and gentle, battery-operated equipment not only guarantee visual appeal, but also ensure the health and vitality of surrounding plants and wildlife. On Friday, November 26, make plans to check out the new location and meet owners Randall and Carol. Come explore and discover the gentle and budget-friendly alternative options, products and gifts on display. Team up with Gardener’s Outpost in making the effort to find gardening success while respecting and protecting the Earth, its wildlife, and livable spaces for children and adults. Visit Gardener’s Outpost today at 709 Woodrow Street, in Columbia. For more information, pricing and package options, call 803-252-0041. Also visit GardenersOutpost.com. See ad, page 38.
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Sorting Soirée
global briefs
A Swedish method of building using cross-laminated timber (CLT) is emerging as a climate-friendly alternative to traditional, concrete-based construction. The foundation is cement, but multistory wooden structures of 13 floors and higher are possible. Using timber has environmental benefits in the form of lowered carbon emissions. Mathias Fridholm, director of Svenskt Tra (Swedish Wood), an industry organization, says, “Wood is in many ways an excellent material for building in dense cities, because we can prefabricate all the elements in factories instead of onsite.” Prefabrication speeds construction and reduces truck traffic. CLT is not only strong and light, it is breathable; it holds heat, but doesn’t need plastic layers to manage moisture like concrete, which also requires sand, a non-renewable resource that requires drudging seabeds. Managed forests are renewable and serve as a carbon storage facility. Anna Ervast Oberg, a project manager at Swedish real estate developer Folkhem, advises that just changing the structure of a building to wood from concrete would result in an immediate 50 percent reduction in emissions. “What we have to do now is to stop the emissions, very fast. This gives us a hint of where we should be focusing; where we can make the biggest difference.”
Americans use a single recycling stream in which everything goes into one bin to be sorted and cleaned at the designated collection point; a system that requires too much labor with less-thanstellar results. A study conducted by the South Korean SK Group asked 1,500 U.S. adults about sustainable packaging and found that 72 percent prefer products with easily recycled or reused packaging, but don’t understand what can actually be recycled. Forty-two percent were not aware that containers such as plastic bottles cannot be recycled without removing the label. When dirty and labeled recyclables are deposited with clean recyclables, they contaminate the whole batch, creating massive amounts of unnecessary waste. SKC Inc. has introduced Ecolabel, the first shrink sleeve label that doesn’t need to be removed from plastic bottles to be recycled. This removes the burden from the consumer and recyclers while making the process easier. Recyclops uses independent drivers to service recycling routes, creating income for locals and sustainable living options for residents. They’re innovating the recycling pickup process by using an Uber Eatstype phone app to enable the pickup of recyclables from areas that aren’t being serviced.
Kid Safe
Bye-Bye to a Nasty Pesticide After a multiyear effort, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to neurological damage in children, including reduced IQ, loss of working memory and attention deficit disorders, can no longer be used on food. EPA Administrator Michael Regan cites the action as an overdue step to protect children and farmworkers from dangerous consequences of the pesticide. “EPA will follow the science and put health and safety first.” The ruling will take effect in February 2022. Patti Goldman, an attorney for Earthjustice, says, “Chlorpyrifos will finally be out of our fruits and vegetables.” The pesticide has been sprayed on crops such as strawberries, apples, citrus, broccoli and corn since 1965. Up until 2000, it was used to kill ants, roaches and mosquitos. The Natural Resources Defense Council notes that it will still be allowed for other uses such as cattle ear tags. aquir/AdobeStock.com
courtesy of Svenskt Tra
Knock On Wood
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courtesy of Recyclops.com
Renovating the Recycling Stream
Tree House
Holiday GIFT GUIDE
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conscious eating
Eat Well to Feel Well
thanksgiving fare that boosts mental health
photo by Christy Ratliff
by Christy Ratliff
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cross America, people of all ages are struggling with mental health issues. Nearly one in five people is living with a mental health condition, and the number of people seeking help for anxiety and depression is skyrocketing, reports Mental Health America. According to the organization’s 2021 State of Mental Health in America Report, suicidal thoughts are increasing among both adults and children, and 9.7 percent of youth is experiencing severe major depression compared to 9.2 percent last year. The highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant has only exacerbated these mental health challenges. The hope and help we seek may be as close as our own kitchen. Accumulating research shows that a diet rich in highly processed foods may increase the risk of developing or worsening various mental health conditions. But a nutrient-based diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables; omega-3 fatty acids; nuts, seeds and legumes; whole grains, fresh herbs and spices; fish and olive oil, may help to support and enhance mental health. We can start this Thanksgiving by serving up healthier, nutrient-rich options to alleviate anxiety and depression, stabilize mood and promote mental health and wellness. “The gut/brain connection helps us understand the food/mood connection,” explains Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutrition specialist and author of the national bestseller This is Your Brain on Food. “The enteric nervous system—that is, the nerves supplying the gastrointestinal tract—totals over 100 million neurons and communicates directly with the brain, or central nervous system, by way of the vagus nerve, which is
responsible for our ‘rest-and-digest’ response. “It’s also vital to note that the gut contains the highest number of serotonin receptors, and the gut itself produces all the neurotransmitters that are also made in the brain, including serotonin, often called the happiness hormone. In turn, these neurotransmitters are implicated in sound mental health or potential problems when they are deficient.” “What we eat affects mental health in many ways,” adds Amy Spindel, a functional holistic nutritionist in Plano, Texas, and founder of FoodWithThoughtNutrition.com. “Nutrient deficiencies can cause poor neurotransmitter production. Insufficient vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 can be implicated in depression and anxiety symptoms, as they are all needed for various stages of neurotransmitter production, especially serotonin, dopamine and GABA.” “Traditional sugary, high-carbohydrate foods promote unstable blood sugar and selectively feed inflammatory gut microbes,” Spindel says, suggesting that we skip the typical foods many of us associate with the holidays such as pecan pie, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole and canned cranberry sauce. “Blood sugar fluctuations cause the body to scramble in an attempt to re-regulate glucose, which may mean spikes of cortisol or adrenaline, as well as insulin. The end result can be depression and anxiety from excessive stress hormones and a glucose-starved brain.” But making such changes, particularly during the holidays, isn’t easy. “If the thought of changing up the traditional Thanksgiving menu gives you pause, you are not alone—and this is why I believe in adding in habits (and in this case, dishes) which have a positive ripple effect on our bodies and our brain, allowing for a self-sustaining cycle in our lifestyle,” advises Naidoo. “As a nutritional psychiatrist, I feel that we are more emotionally nurtured by a feeling of abundance in ‘adding’ new Thanksgiving dishes than thinking about this as ‘excluding’ foods,” she notes. “For example, tossing a fresh, folate-rich spinach and arugula salad with bits of antioxidant-rich strawberries, crisp roasted chickpeas and omega-3-rich olive oil adds color, flavor and a plethora of mood-nourishing ingredients to the dinner table. Even adding extra veggies to existing dishes, such as allicin-rich garlic to green beans or extra celery and fresh herbs to stuffing, adds in powerful phytonutrients with gut-loving fiber.” “Thanksgiving favorites that are ample in neurotransmitter-producing nutrients include turkey, shellfish, sweet potatoes and acorn squash, asparagus, leafy greens, oranges and green beans,” Spindel adds. While it’s true that we cannot control a global pandemic or solve the mental health crisis in America with positive thinking alone, we can minimize our feelings of powerlessness and despair by making small but significant dietary changes—not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year. Christy Ratliff is a professional health and wellness writer based in Central Florida.
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Feel-Good Recipe Ingredients
n Pistachios. These tree nuts, which are actually
seeds, are rich in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. According to a Pennsylvania State University study, eating pistachios may reduce the body’s response to daily stress. n Honey. A National Institutes of Health study
shows that the nutrients in raw honey may enhance mood and help with insomnia. It’s also rich in antioxidants, which contain anti-inflammatory properties that help protect the brain. n Fresh herbs. Sage provides natural anti-anx-
iety properties, while thyme and rosemary are rich sources of micronutrients and flavonoids, shown to protect against inflammation in the brain, a key factor in major depressive disorder. n Apples. Nutrient-rich apples are a good source of
quercetin, a plant flavonoid, which studies suggest may be beneficial for mental health.
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n Green beans. An excellent source of vitamin A, green beans
help fight inflammation and support the nervous and immune systems. They are high in folic acid, a B vitamin that studies have shown to potentially lower the risk of depression.
n Tomatoes. Several studies show that regular con-
sumption of tomatoes may help ward off depression.
n Olive oil. Multiple studies show that low levels of olive
oil, in conjunction with a Mediterranean-style diet, has a positive impact on mental health and brain function.
n Cornmeal. Naturally gluten-free, cornmeal is an
excellent source of folate, an important B vitamin. Research from the National Institutes of Health suggests that those with low levels of folate are more likely to experience depression.
n Raisins. A great source of vitamin B, raisins can help the
brain produce serotonin, an important neurotransmitter for reducing many anxiety-related symptoms.
all images via AdobeStock.com
Some study-proven foods to enhance mood found in the following recipes include:
all photos by Christy Ratliff
Greek-Style Green Beans (Fasolakia Lathera)
Buzz’s Fresh Herb and Apple Sage Stuffing
⅓ cup olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 lb green beans 1 medium potato, sliced (¼-inch thickness, cut in half) 3 medium tomatoes, grated, or 12 to 15 oz chopped tomatoes ¼ cup parsley, chopped 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp salt Fresh pepper
1 loaf bread, toasted (whole wheat (WW) or half WW, half French bread) ¼ cup unsalted butter 2 cups celery, chopped 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped (to taste) 3 Granny Smith apples, chopped, with skin on ¼ cup sage leaves, chopped ¼ cup fresh rosemary, chopped 1 to 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped 2½ cups reduced sodium vegetable or chicken broth 2 eggs 1 to 2 tsp salt to taste (may substitute nutritional yeast or fresh dill)
In a medium pot, heat olive oil on low to medium heat. Sauté onion until softened. Add potatoes and heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add beans and mix with olive oil until coated. Add tomatoes, parsley, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add just enough hot water to cover the beans halfway. Cover and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until beans are soft and most of the liquid is absorbed. May be served as a side dish for four people or a vegetarian/vegan entrée for two. Courtesy of Elena Paravantes, RDN. For more information and Mediterranean recipes, visit OliveTomato.com.
Seluisauganasda Cherokee Cornmeal Cookies Here’s a creative, nutritious way to celebrate indigenous tradition during the holidays while also being mindful of mental health. ¾ cup softened butter ½ cup organic brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 1½ cups flour ½ cup cornmeal 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ½ cup raisins (Other versions of this recipe include nuts and dark chocolate pieces.)
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a large, 2-to-3-inch-deep casserole or baking dish. Toast bread and cut into 1-inch cubes. Set aside. Melt butter in a large pan. Add celery, onion, garlic, apples and fresh herbs. Stir to mix and cook until softened, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add bread cubes and apple/vegetable/fresh herb mixture into the egg mixture. Add broth and salt (or nutritional yeast or fresh dill) and mix well. Spoon stuffing into prepared casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes more or until golden-brown crust forms. Remove from oven, uncover and cool. Courtesy of Buzz Spence. For more information on fresh herbs for emotional health, visit MotherEarthLiving.com.
Goat Cheese Appetizer with Honey, Fig and Pistachios 1 medium, fresh goat cheese log (about 11 oz) ¼ cup roasted pistachios, chopped ¼ cup honey (this recipe calls for 2 Tbsp; others call for ¼ cup) 1 to 2 Tbsp fig spread Healthy selection of whole-wheat crackers, vegetable chips, etc.
Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Using a wooden spoon, mix butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add egg and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Add flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Add raisins. Mix well. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful onto baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until slightly golden. Makes about 2 dozen small cookies.
Spread chopped pistachios on a small plate. Roll goat cheese in pistachios to coat sides and top. Transfer to a serving tray and sprinkle whole pistachios on top and around the cheese. Drizzle honey over and around cheese log. Warm fig spread for 5 to 10 seconds in a microwave. Drizzle spread over cheese log or half of cheese log, as desired. Serve with whole-wheat crackers or chips.
Courtesy of La Potosina. For more information, visit IndigenousFoods.wordpress.com.
Courtesy of Susan Randall. For more information, visit SimpleHealthyKitchen.com.
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by Ronica O’Hara
O
n his deathbed, Apple founder Steve Jobs looked for a long time at his children, his sister and his wife, then moved his gaze to the space behind them. “Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!” he gasped. No one can know for certain what he was experiencing, but his words point to the deep, mysterious potential of our final hours—the awareness of which can transform our life long before its end. “An awareness of dying, of death, can wake us up to life. It helps us live a life that’s rich and full and meaningful. When we deny the truth of dying, we live less wholeheartedly, less completely,” says Frank Ostaseski, founder of the pioneering San Francisco Zen Hospice Project and author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully. The pandemic has 51 percent of us thinking more about our own mortality, a survey shows. The subject of death has been slowly opening up in America: TV programs like Six Feet Under and Alternative Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America present dying and grief more realistically; thousands of small conversational gatherings called “death cafes” are being held each year; people are designing their own funerals and choosing green burial sites; and the field of “death doulas” is emerging to help families navigate the legal and emotional shoals. Half a century after the release of
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Elisabeth KüblerRoss’ seminal book On Death and Dying, palliative care to ease pain is offered by two-thirds of American hospitals, and Medicare funding for end-of-life hospice care has grown tenfold over the last two decades. Yet for many, death remains the last taboo—85 percent of us have not discussed our last wishes yet with loved ones. Thousands of studies in the emerging field of experimental existential psychology have found that when reminded subconsciously of death, people tend to drive faster, drink harder, smoke more and get meaner to outgroups in attempts to lower their anxiety. But when we look death squarely in the face, that anxiety recedes, the research concludes. Gratitude, self-honesty and the humility of recognizing our place in the larger whole are also proven antidotes. With less fear, we are better able to take the proactive, concrete steps that ease our passage—getting clear on our values and desires, having important conversations, attending to final decisions and opening to our spiritual process. Although death has its own ways and means, these four processes can make it more likely we will die as we would like to.
Defining What We Value “Deeply consider what your priorities in life are,” says Tarron Estes, founder and CEO of The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, which has trained more than 6,500 doulas since 2013. “Ask yourself, if I had only three
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months to live, what’s important to me spiritually, emotionally, physically? What do I still need to do or say?” She recommends Stephen Levine’s book, A Year to Live, for exercises and meditations for that process. “Don’t wait until the time of your dying to discover what it has to teach you,” advises Ostaseski, who has sat beside more than 2,000 hospice patients in their last hours. “When I’m with dying people, the things that are important to them are not their spiritual beliefs, but are more about relationships—‘Am I loved? Did I love well?’ Those two questions are useful inquiries now. They help us to discover where value and meaning can be found.” By applying our values to the dying process, we can start sorting through options. Do we want to die at home or in a hospital? What medical procedures will we accept or decline? What measures do we want to be taken to sustain our life? Who do we want to be at our side? And what do we need to say before that time?
Having Important Conversations As daunting as the prospect of an end-of-life talk with family and friends may seem, it can start with simple words like “I want to talk with you about something important to me.” Without spelling out our desires, death can become inadvertently medicalized: Nine in 10 of us say we want to die in our homes, but only two in 10 do. “The default systems are all to treat, treat, treat, until someone finally says, ‘No,’ so many people end up on a high-tech conveyor belt to the ICU,” says award-winning journalist
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Four Steps to a Good Death
Katy Butler, author of The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life. Among people that undertake such talks, 73 percent describe the experience as positive, reassuring and productive. A downloadable Conversation Starter Guide (TheConversationProject.org) provides practical guidance for these critical conversations.
Attending to Medical and Burial Decisions Taking care of business—the
paperwork aspects of death known as advance directives—spares loved ones from having to make tough decisions later. A last will and testament precludes pain and infighting among family and friends. A living will specifies what treatments are wanted under what conditions. A medical power of attorney designates a trusted person to make medical decisions if a patient is not capable. A Do Not Resuscitate order approved by a doctor means emergency medical workers are less likely to give CPR, which frequently causes trauma and broken ribs in elderly or frail patients. Either cremation or a burial can be decided upon; environmental options such as a forest burial in a wooden casket can be explored. Local hospice options can be surveyed in advance; nonprofits generally are rated better than profit-making groups.
Opening to the Spiritual Process
Whether or not we have religious beliefs to carry us through waves of loss and sorrow, death can spur spiritual insight. “In dying, we withdraw from our outer circles and come into the inner circles of our lives—the relationships that matter most to us,” says Ostaseski, who has worked four decades with hospice patients. “There’s a growing silence that has us becoming more contemplative and reflective. Our sense of time and space changes and we enter into a kind of free flow. The boundaries we have lived by begin to dissolve, and we start to feel ourselves as part of something larger—not as a belief, but as a natural occurrence. Often people realize themselves to be more than the small, separate self they had thought themselves to be.” Joan Tollifson, a Zen-trained spiritual teacher and author of Death: The End of Self-Improvement, concurs: “When the future disappears, we are brought home to the immediacy that we may have avoided all our lives. With no future left to fantasize about, the focus of attention may finally be fully on right Now, the only place where our life ever actually is. Really getting that ‘This is it,’ there may be a sudden
recognition of the absolute preciousness and wonder of every simple ordinary thing and of the people around us, just as they are, with all their flaws and foibles. Old grudges and resentments often melt away, and love shines through. “All the things which may have been part of our self-image—independence, physical strength, cognitive sharpness, good appearance and so on—have either disappeared or are rapidly collapsing, which invites the discovery that none of that really mattered, that what we truly or more fundamentally are is not dependent on any of that. “The greatest gift we can give to a loved one who is dying,” says Tollifson, is to “simply be present, listen, follow your heart, trust the process. Everything else will follow from that. There’s no right or wrong way.” It can be difficult to know what to say to a loved one near the end, but hospice workers recommend five phrases that have deep healing potential, even if a person seems unconscious: “I love you,” “Thank you,” “Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” and “Goodbye” or “Until we meet again.” As Butler points out, the first four phrases can be said any time in our lives. Increasingly in hospice care, loved ones are encouraged to sit with the body after the death, touching it, sharing stories, perhaps gently bathing it and dressing it in favorite clothes. “Touching the body, feeling the coolness, makes the death real to the family,” Ostaseski says. “Research shows that people that went through that process still grieved, but they were able to be with the emotion and not be overwhelmed by it.” Facing the reality of death—as hard and heartbreaking as that can be—can free us to truly live life, said Jobs. After his terminal cancer diagnosis, he told Stanford students in a commencement address, “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com. November 2021
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healing ways
Healthy Brain Strategies How to Prevent Cognitive Decline
A
healthy brain performs mental processes known as cognition, which is the acquiring of knowledge and understanding by means of thought, experience and the senses. This includes functions and systems such as memory, learning, language, problem solving, decision making, reasoning and intelligence. The aging process, a stroke or a brain injury can cause a mild to severe reduction in healthy brain functioning resulting in impaired memory and concentration, and difficulty in learning new things or making decisions that impact daily living. Functional medicine experts focused on preventive health care agree on the ABC’s for optimizing the brain and protecting
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against decline: eating a healthy diet, exercising, reducing inflammation and stress levels, balancing hormone levels, cultivating healthy relationships and getting enough restorative sleep. With their expertise, they are helping to shift the old paradigm of inevitable aging and cognitive decline into a new one based on the brain’s neuroplasticity. Harvard-trained neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, author of the bestseller My Stroke of Insight and the recent Whole Brain Living, is a true poster child for demonstrating the brain’s neuroplasticity and ability to recover from a massive stroke. She writes about the congenital neurological brain disorder that became a problem when an arteriovenous malformation exploded in her brain’s left hemisphere. For four hours, she observed her brain functions systemically shutting down one by one. On the afternoon of her stroke, she could not walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. Eight years later, she was not only slalom waterskiing again, but also explaining to the world, “We are the life-force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. We have the power to choose, moment to moment, who and how we want to be in the world.” Devaki Lindsey Berkson, author of Sexy Brain, a hormone formulator and former researcher at Tulane University’s estrogen think tank, advises, “Most people think hormones are sexy, reproductive things and when they get older, they’re relieved that they don’t have to think about them. Not true. The body has a virtual physiological internet system. Hormones are the email signals to most cells. While the robustness of hormones and their signals affects lungs, gut, kidney and vocal cord health, it especially affects the brain. Balancing hormones with bioidentical hormones is one solution.” David Perlmutter, neurologist and co-author of Brain Wash, cites food as the biggest player in both brain and overall health in his books and PBS workshops. “Eating inappropriately causes intestinal permeability, resulting in inflammation, which in the brain, threatens good decision making—from deciding on the foods we eat to turning off our televisions at night, getting a good night’s rest, making sure that we exercise regularly and connecting with other people. Not good for the gut are dairy products, alcohol, highly processed foods that are low in fiber, high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, as well as antibiotics,” he says, adding that meditation and exposure to nature are powerful ways of reducing inflammation in the body and brain. As explained by neurologist Dale E. Bredesen, author of The
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by Linda Sechrist
End of Alzheimer’s, stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels that can be toxic to our brains—in particular the memory—consolidating the hippocampus, one of the first structures affected by Alzheimer’s. Studies show that high stress levels can also contribute to brain fog, involving difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and mental fatigue. The Bredesen Protocol, available from health practitioners and online, includes exercising, eating a plant-based diet, supplementing to reduce insulin sensitivity and optimize cognitive function, reducing both gut inflammation and exposure to toxins, treating pathogens and optimizing sleep. HealthyBrains.org, Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Brains Initiative, is an online resource center with information on how to manage brain health and create a brain span that matches a life span. It offers six pillars of brain health as explained by brain health experts, including exercise, sleep, relaxation, mental fitness and social interaction. Supplementing for brain health should be done wisely, says Mark Hyman, author of Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and director of functional medicine at Cleveland Clinic. He recommends at the very least taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement, omega-3, extra vitamins B3, B6 and B12, folate and a good probiotic that enhances the brain-gut relationship. Mastery of the ABC’s in kindergarten is required as the foundation of language and a lifetime of learning. Living the fundamentals for a healthy brain can result in a brain span that equals our life span. Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Connect at LindaSechrist.com.
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Sheldon, a seasoned ecstatic dancer and licensed counselor in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. “Your spirit knows what to do when it hears and feels the rhythms. You just need to allow your body to follow.”
Belly of Bliss, Heart of Light
SACRED DANCE Moving into Divine Energy by Marlaina Donato
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eart-healthy dancing of all types is known to promote overall physical and mental health. When they are spirit-infused, forms like African, Middle Eastern, ecstatic and yoga-inspired kundalini dance offer us the opportunity to stay in shape while also fortifying the body’s intrinsic life force. Classes in these styles of dance, which are most often conducted barefoot, draw upon a deep cultural well and include the infectious heartbeat of live accompaniment. Just about anyone can find their own blissful groove when going with the flow is the focus. “In class, I choose to emphasize the feeling more than the step itself. The goal is always to get a spiritual release,” says Darian Parker, a Brooklyn-based West African dance teacher, professor and choreographer. “I always encourage my students to privilege ‘having a good time’ over succumbing to self-criticism from not perfecting a step.”
Modern Moves, Ancient Roots
There are more than 3,000 ethnic groups on the continent of Africa, and each dance style has a purpose that is defined by its unique history. In the West African tradition, dances are designed to heal the individual and from the broader perspective, restore community. Parker, a faculty member of Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, in Brooklyn, celebrates the culture and art of the Mande people. “In short, Mande dance trains your spirit just as much as it trains your body,” says Parker. “In many Mande cultures, the ground is thought to be the habitation of our ancestors, who are thought to animate our bodies when we dance. In this way, you can think of dance as a ritual technology that renews our connections with those who came before us.” While an African dance class encourages high energy and joyous expression, ecstatic dance can be a portal to self-discovery and connectedness. Springboarding from ancient societies worldwide, modern ecstatic dance is freeform and hallmarked by trance or tribal beats. “Ecstatic dance has offered me a portal to my subconscious, my spirit, my deep knowing. It’s a way to, as Gabrielle Roth, the creator of 5Rhythms, put it, ‘Get out of my head and into my body,’ and in my body there is wonderful wisdom,” explains Heidi 24
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Middle Eastern dance is comprised of many dance styles—folk and tribal, classical and most widely known, belly dancing. In ancient times, the latter was practiced in rituals for fertile harvests and women’s fertility, including physical preparation for childbirth. In 2017, a pilot study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies showed that belly dance improves depressive symptoms, fatigue and quality of life in women with breast cancer. “Belly dancing is a tantric form of dance that empowers women to release shame and accept and love themselves and their bodies just as they are. The movements open us to pleasure and sensual bliss in our very own skin. In this way, it is very healing and therapeutic,” says Banafsheh Sayyad, a Persian dance artist and founder of the Dance of Oneness Academy, in Los Angeles. Sayyad’s movement, a fusion of Persian and Middle Eastern dance, flamenco, contemporary dance and meditative whirling, is deeply connected to an ancient feminine ethos. As a teacher, she brings the Sama—the dervish (pronounced “darvish” in Persian) dance of the Sufis historically reserved for men—into the hands of women.“In the traditional Sama, the right arm is extended up toward the sky with the palm facing up,” she says. “The left arm is extended out with the palm facing down toward the Earth. In so doing, you transmit and emanate the light you’ve received into the world through your heart. So, this dance is about becoming a channel for light and love in the world.” In essence, stepping into any dance class can be good for the soul. Sayyad reminds us, “Every movement and dance style, if done with the intention of surrendering one’s sense of separateness into an experience of the greater or dissolving one’s identity as a drop of water into the greater ocean of oneness, can be sacred.” Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
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fit body
eco tip
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Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure Plastic is a petrochemical-based, non-biodegradable pollution nightmare. As discarded water bottles and shampoo containers pile up for hundreds of years in landfills, we continue to produce more and more of the stuff. Meanwhile, plastic breaks down into microparticles that contaminate waterways, air, soil and even snow. They show up in foods and beverages we consume. While more research is needed to understand the human health impacts of microplastics, here are some ways to avoid ingesting these tiny particles.
DON’T DRINK PLASTIC-BOTTLED WATER. Plastic-bottled water has approximately double the microplastics of tap water, studies have found. Ditch single-use, plastic-bottled water. Instead, fill reusable stainless steel or glass containers with filtered tap water, chill and enjoy. Filtering tap water can help improve the taste and reduce other undesirable elements, and most carbon block filters with a micron rating of two or less will remove microplastics. AVOID BEAUTY PRODUCTS WITH MICROBEADS. To reduce exposure to microplastics and dissuade manufacturers from using plastic, avoid any beauty products with microbeads, including certain toothpastes and facial scrubs. Some words on product labels that indicate microbeads are polypropylene, polyethylene and polylactic acid (PLA). WEAR NATURAL, NON-SYNTHETIC FABRICS. Synthetic fabrics shed microplastic fibers in the wash and as we wear them. Clothing made with natural fibers such as cotton is preferable. WASH AND DRY SYNTHETIC CLOTHES DIFFERENTLY. When we wash and dry synthetic fabrics, significant levels of microplastics are released into the environment. To lessen this effect, air dry clothes or decrease their time in the dryer. Products are emerging to help filter and collect small synthetic fibers before they wash down the drain and into our waterways or get released into the air. Among the most promising are a washing bag (GuppyFriend.us), laundry ball (CoraBall.com) and in-machine filtration devices (XerosTech.com). REDUCE MEAT AND FISH CONSUMPTION. As microplastics proliferate and marine and land animals eat them, they are finding their way into our food supply. We can limit our exposure by eating less meat and fish. VACUUM AND DUST REGULARLY. Our homes are filled with microplastics. Regularly dusting surfaces and vacuuming with a HEPA filter that traps dust is a great way to reduce these particles in the indoor air environment. DRIVE LESS. As we drive our cars, microplastic flies off the tires and becomes airborne pollution. Find ways to drive less; opt instead for carpooling or public transportation. November 2021
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Non-Toxic Textiles
Eco-Decor for the Home How to Buy Sustainable Furnishings by Sandra Yeyati
W
hile comfort and beauty are clear priorities when shopping for furnishings, sustainability and health should be, too. By asking the right questions and doing a little up-front research, consumers have the power to appoint their sanctuaries with non-toxic, ecologically responsible items that are built to last and won’t pollute the environment. According to the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) (SustainableFurnishings.org), 80 percent of the environmental impact of any product comes from the materials used to make it, so it’s vital to ask about all of the material components in a piece of furniture.
Sustainably Harvested Wood
Because it is long-lasting and sturdy, wood can be an excellent, eco-friendly material. The most important consideration is that it hasn’t contributed to deforestation. SFC Executive Director Susan Inglis recommends third-party certification to confirm that wood was sustainably harvested in ways that preserve the forest’s ecosystem and benefit nearby communities. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC.org) issues one of the industry’s most coveted independent certifications. Reclaimed wood is another Earth-friendly option. “Perhaps the tree was cut down decades or centuries ago and made into a building, and now it’s being used to make a 26
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According to Inglis, the most environmentally sound textiles are made of natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, hemp and wool, which are long-lasting and can be recycled into new textiles. Synthetic fibers are petroleum-based and much less desirable. Textile manufacturing practices can also be environmentally problematic. “Look for certification that they’re not polluting waters or using toxic dyes,” says Aimee Robinson, owner of EcoBalanza, an organic furniture boutique in Seattle. She points to the Global Organic Textile Standard (Global-Standard.org) as a reliable organization which identifies producers of natural fibers that are organically grown without pesticides, while also considering the social and environmental impacts of their production systems.
Volatile Compounds and Unhealthy Chemicals
The SFC has identified five classes of chemicals commonly found in furniture that have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and immune impairment: volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde found in paints and finishes; flame retardants; fluoridated chemicals used in performance fabrics; antimicrobials; and polyvinyl chloride, known as PVC or vinyl. Inglis recommends that consumers ask about the potential presence of these chemicals when shopping for furniture and avoid them if possible.
Recycled Plastic
Recycling plastic to make furniture is trending, and that’s a plus, according to Inglis. “The best thing would be to avoid making anything out of plastic,” she says. “Plastic is a huge environmental problem, and our use of it continues to go up, especially in the COVID era. Only a small percentage of it is being recycled, leaving a lot of it to break down into microparticles, unfortunately. So, making things out of our
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piece of furniture,” explains Inglis. A third sustainable choice is wood from a plantation that was established more than 25 years ago. “While it is not sustainable to convert natural forests to plantations today because you’re losing biodiversity, wood from long-established plantations is considered sustainable,” she says, adding that in those settings, new trees are planted to replace those harvested.
green living
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plastic waste is good.” Robinson, on the other hand, refuses to use any plastic in her handmade, all-natural furniture. “Plastics are a non-biodegradable, petrochemical product,” she says. “They’re polluting everything. The plastics industry is so insidious. Anything we can do on any front to pull away from petrochemicals in every aspect is good.”
Price and Durability
“Well-made furniture can get expensive, but you’ll have to replace cheap furniture because it’s not built to last. What’s cheap in the beginning is expensive in the end, because it’s not taking into account the cost of having to replace it or the cost of cleaning up an environment that gets more and more filled with junk,” says Robinson, who also recommends looking for well-made vintage pieces that can be restored and brought back to life. “I recommend that you spend the most budget you have on a quality product, because that sofa, if it’s made well, can be reupholstered over and over again,” says Robin Wilson, a New York City designer and founder of Robin Wilson Home. “By keeping that sofa, you’re being eco-friendly to the world because it is not going into a landfill.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
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healthy kids
Mindfulness for Stressed Teens School Programs Teach Healthy Coping Skills by Erin Lehn
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een stress levels often rival those of adults, concludes data collected by the American Psychological Association in 2017. This is especially true these days with the influx of social media expectations, political unrest and a global pandemic to contend with. Other daily pressures—such as relationship turmoil, bullying, academic challenges, unstable home lives and mood disorders—can add to the stressors. With all of these pressures, it’s no wonder many teens often tune out and turn toward their devices, getting fixated on other people’s lives or compulsively recording their own experiences, but not fully living them. A wealth of research has demonstrated that one of the most beneficial ways to help teens navigate the ups and downs of these tumultuous years is through mind-
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fulness education. A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 2009 was one of the first studies that provided evidence of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment of adolescents. Since then, there has been no shortage of research findings proving its benefits. “In a nutshell, mindfulness is about being keenly aware of your life, in the present, versus the automatic tendency to ruminate about the past or worry about the future,” says Gina Biegel, CEO and founder of Stressed Teens, a Campbell, California, business that has been disseminating mindfulness-based programs tailored to adolescents since 2004. “It’s noticing your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in the present moment without harmful judgment.” “Mindfulness is a practice in the art of
10 Mindfulness Tips for Teens 1. Stop what you’re doing and count your breaths to 10. 2. Devote your awareness to more of
the pleasant and beneficial moments in your day.
3. Accomplish only one task at a time. You will be more productive than if you split your attention to multiple tasks. 4. Start a daily gratitude journal. Each day, consider the big things you’re grateful for, like your family, friends, health or home. Also, don’t forget the little things you’re thankful for, such as a cup of coffee or a hug. 5. Get some form of exercise every day. Even a 15-minute walk can do wonders for the mind. 6. Spend time outdoors enjoying nature.
Notice the power of grounding by paying attention to your feet on the ground.
7. Begin a daily mindfulness practice.
Start with 10 minutes and work your way up.
8. Commit to a nourishing self-care routine with a caveat to set incremental goals you can accomplish. You do not have to overdo it. 9. Acknowledge the positive qualities of your family, friends and others in your inner circle. Let them know how much they mean to you. Let them know you see them and hear them. 10. Carve out daily enrichment time
such as learning an instrument or creating artwork. Bring mindful attention, paying notice to your five senses, to anything you do in your daily life. Tips courtesy of Gina Biegel, CEO and founder of Stressed Teens; Jem Shackleford, head of curricula for Mindfulness in Schools Project; and Tris Thorp, author and coach. For more helpful mindfulness tips, click on the Stressed Teens Toolbox link at StressedTeens.com, visit MindfulnessInSchools.org/freeresources/ and TrisThorp.com/blog/.
aligning your energy, mindset and emotions,” says Tris Thorp, the San Diego-based author of Healing Your Heart and a Chopra Center-trained leadership coach. “When teens acquire the skills to better navigate what’s happening in the moment, they’ll have more opportunity available to them because they’re calm, centered and grounded.” “The best moments come when a teen realizes their own wisdom, sees it emerge and is able to grow stronger as a result,” says Jem Shackleford, head of curricula for Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP), a leading nonprofit provider of mindfulness training for schools in the U.K. and internationally. According to Biegel, a regular mindfulness-based practice helps rewire the brain when people focus on pleasant, beneficial and positive experiences. “For survival purposes, our brains are naturally wired to the negative, aka ‘negative selection bias’,” she says. “Thankfully, we can train our brains to be more tilted to the positive. In fact, just thinking of a positive memory for 12 seconds can create a benefit for your well-being.” While there are multiple approaches to weaving mindfulness practices into a school setting, here are two highly effective practices. n Certify teachers in mindfulness training so they can deliver the materials directly to their students. “MiSP curricula are produced by educators that have many years of experience of what works in the classroom. They are also long-term mindfulness practitioners, giving them a unique perspective of how mindfulness can be used and taught effectively in school,” says Shackleford. n Implement a school-wide approach. Stressed Teens offers online mindfulness-based groups and one-on-one therapy and coaching sessions for teens, as well as professional instructor certifications and the Whole-School Mindfulness-Centered Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program. This approach, in which an entire school participates for a calendar year, is especially beneficial because everyone is going through the program at the same time. “Typically, schools complete two lessons per week to fit the curriculum into one semester or one lesson per week to spread
learning over two semesters,” Biegel says. While teens can learn and practice these techniques alone, a whole systems approach that involves the family, school and community has been shown to have the biggest impact. “A teenager with a mindfulness practice can have a beneficial effect on other members of the household. However, there needs to be support from every angle in a teen’s environment for it to be sustainable,” says Thorp. “There’s so much evidence-based research and measurables that demonstrate how impactful these programs are in schools and communities. There’s a clear reduction in acting out, reduced conflict, and more participation and engagement.” “Think of the ripple effect of possible benefits if the whole community and systems a teen are in are also learning and practicing mindfulness,” says Biegel. “Mindfulness-based methods also include and affect positive human values like gratitude, kindness, generosity, self-care, compassion and acceptance. Youth, parents and educators can all benefit from that.” For more information, including free mindfulness-based resources, visit Stressed Teens. com, MindfulnessInSchools.org and TrisThorp.com. Erin Lehn is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.
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natural pet
work. Tears are cleansing. If they happen to come 10 hours or 10 years from now, you have permission to shed them.”
Honoring the Loss of a Pet Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal by Marlaina Donato
F
rench novelist Anatole France’s sentiment, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened,” rings true for anyone that shares a love story with a beloved pet. Whether we lose a cat, dog, horse, bird or lizard, the final parting can be quite emotional. Society supports us with empathy and rituals of closure when we suffer the loss of a human love, but grieving an animal companion can be a uniquely silent passage. Surrendering fully to the mourning process, creating a joyful ceremony and celebrating the life of a loved one invites healing and solace.
Sacred Grief
The animal-human alliance is hallmarked by the absence of emotional baggage, and is therefore capable of provoking grief that equals or exceeds losing a close relative. “This is a deep bond that is never judgmental on how we look, spend money or what we do for a living, as long as we love and nurture. And, in return, we receive undying, unconditional love,” says Pam Baren Kaplan, a pet loss grief counselor and life coach in Chicago. Diane Stout, a pet parent and retired dog groomer in Paupack, Pennsylvania, knows the impact of this unconditional love, especially through life’s changes. “Long after a spouse has died and family have moved away to other lives and preoccupations, the family pet remains the faithful dinner or TV time companion,” she says. “A cherished pet is often the last true companion.” Cancelling appointments or taking time off from work after a pet’s passing does not connote emotional weakness. “Treat yourself with the same kindness you would show another person going through this difficult time,” advises Cheryl Wyatt, a certified grief companion at Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a national network of veterinarians that provides compassionate end-of-life care. “Allow yourself the time to do your mourning 30
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ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com
Loving an animal until the last goodbye includes relieving their suffering to the best of our ability. In-home euthanasia can make a heartbreaking time more bearable for both pet and owner. “Providing beloved pets euthanasia at home differs from a clinical setting because it allows them to remain in their safe, happy place. At home, the veterinarian can greet the pet family and provide the loved one’s peaceful passing wherever they are most comfortable—a favorite bed or spot on the couch—surrounded by all those who love them most,” explains Wyatt. Pet funerals are becoming more common, and ceremonies are as unique as the animal remembered. Stories, poetry and memories can be shared by family and they can include a living memorial such as a tree planted in the animal’s name. Stout, also an accomplished artist, finds joy in painting her pets that have gone and suggests “a scrapbook of pictures and memories, because a look back at puppy or kitten pictures can bring an instant smile.” Kaplan agrees, “Creating what I refer to as ‘a legacy of love’ can be done by the entire family or by one person. This is a book that you put together with favorite photos of your pet and journal the story around the photo. This is a great way to include family member’s memories from their perspective.” Choosing a unique, handmade vessel for ashes can honor an animal. Mary Jane Panebianco, owner of SpiritpetShop on Etsy.com, was inspired by the passing of a co-worker’s dog. “At the time, I worked in a mixed media art gallery, and she had one of our ceramic artists create her dog Sandy’s memorial urn. It was beautiful and so well done. I did some research on the pet industry, and everything I found was so commercial and mass-produced. I knew pets and their owners deserved another option.” Panebianco works with a small number of award-winning American artisans and accepts custom orders for handcrafted urns. “Many of my pet parents have told me how having a beautiful memorial for their beloved pet helps them make peace with their pet’s passing. It’s the last thing you will do for them.”
kerkezz/AdobeStock.com
Compassionate Transitions
In the beginning and in the end, it’s all about the love. For Stout, it’s what animals teach us. “To play and dance often, to give unconditional love, loyalty and friendship, to find joy in the little things, and that life is too often short.” Marlaina Donato is an author and recording artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Advice for the Bereaved Cheryl Wyatt, of the Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, recommends: n Set aside some time each day to be alone in a quiet place to give yourself space to grieve. n Honor the memories. n Write out your emotions freely in a journal; compose a poem or letter to your pet. n Light commemorative candles in his/her honor. n Create a memory table—include all of the things that remind you of your beloved pet. Leave it up for as long as you like.
NASleigh Bell21.pdf 1 10/22/2021 10:15:37 AM
n Continue to speak to your loved one, sing to him/her whatever brought you joy in being together. n Wear a piece of jewelry that bears your pet’s name or contains a small amount of his/her remains. n Join an online group or meet in person with other people that are going through the mourning process. n Don’t let people that don’t grasp the depth of the human-animal bond tell you how you should feel.
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David Crow on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants by Randy Kambic
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Columbia Edition
How is self-care changing to empower people? The doctor/patient paradigm is changing in many ways as a result of the internet, availability of natural medicines and awareness of the limitations and dangers of pharmaceutical drugs. The availability of nutraceuticals and herbal products from around the world has created a golden age of natural medicine, but has also brought widespread confusion from the overwhelming amount of information combined with marketing of products. People are asking more about drugs and prescribed procedures; they are seeking natural alternatives, and in many cases, either reducing or eliminating their need for pharmaceutical drugs. This change is an important step toward greater health consciousness, which is linked directly to other aspects of creating a healthier society, like the increased demand for organic food that’s driving more organic agriculture.
avid Crow, author of In Search of the Medicine Buddha, among other books, is a foremost expert in botanical medicine and other natural health applications. As a teacher, telemedicine consultant, researcher, certified master herbalist, aromatherapist and acupuncturist, he has studied Chinese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic and Western herbal medicine for more than 30 years. He is a strong advocate of the safe use of herbs and essential oils, and installing gardens in public and private spaces. As one of the first medical pioneers to use essential oils and aromatherapy in clinical practice, integrating them into comprehensive treatments, he is also the founder of Floracopeia Aromatic Treasures. 32
that plants provide; our physiology, respiration and metabolism is a mirror image of photosynthesis. We have complete biological dependency on plants in every moment; understanding this is the basis of reverence for nature, which is ecological spirituality, the only long-term solution to the environmental crisis we have created through lack of sensitivity and appreciation of our place in the biosphere.
Why do you feel humanity needs to reconnect a sacred relationship with plants? For our survival as a species. Plants created the biosphere over hundreds of millions of years, including the ozone layer, the oxygen in the atmosphere, the fertility of the soil, the regulation of the seasons and the foundation of the food chain. From those conditions, higher life was able to emerge and evolve: Humans emerged from conditions created by plants. Since we cannot live directly on soil and sunlight as plants do, the structure and function of the human body are designed so that we can extract those energies in forms
ColumbiaNaturalAwakenings.com
Why are cultural medical systems inseparable from spiritual and meditative practices? Classical medical systems such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, along with indigenous and shamanic uses of plants for healing, have evolved and are inseparable from the spiritual practices of their cultures. For example, Chinese medicine evolved from and with the same philosophical roots and practices as qigong and Taoist alchemy, and Ayurveda emerged from and in turn influenced yoga, tantra and Vedic philosophy. The significance of this is that medical
photo by Simone Anne
wise words
practices were used both for healing the body and to support yogic and spiritual practices, and vice versa. Now we have modern scientific research confirming the health benefits of spiritual practices such as meditation and prayer, but more importantly, traditional medical systems remind us that there is an ultimate spiritual goal that is higher than mere physical health.
What is your view on the resurgence of psychedelic plant medicines for healing? All plants have healing properties and also have potential dangers and toxicity, depending on how they are used. The psychoactive plants, specifically the entheogens (those that awaken the perception of divinity) have been used in ceremonies and mystery cults throughout history for healing conditions of body, mind and spirit, but those traditions have always been under the care of highly trained and experienced priests, priestesses and shamans. The experiences while under the influence of these plants are highly dependent on the container of the environment, the cultural mythologies, the ritual, its leaders and the other people present in the ceremony, and it can be highly unpredictable with both good and bad outcomes. The use of these medicines at higher doses is an excellent opportunity for deep inner transformation, exploration of consciousness and appreciation of the visionary realms that are available to us, but like all intensive spiritual endeavors, requires preparation, orientation and guidance. Using these plants at lower doses, like microdosing daily with psilocybin mushrooms for treating depression and anxiety, offers great benefits for some people without the risks of the psychological, mental or emotional disruptions that can occur at higher doses.
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Nature’s Virus Killer
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calendarofevents To place a calendar/ongoing/classified event, email content to ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com. Entries must adhere to our guidelines and be submitted by November 12 (for December issue). Costs $20 for 35 words each month. Call ahead before attending events to avoid any cancellations or changes. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic–We are open and spacing appointments consciously. We are sanitizing our office and waiting areas throughout the day and wearing personal protective gear. Call 803-376-6293 to schedule an appointment.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 & 6 Reiki Certification–10am-3pm. Six-month program begins with Reiki 1 on Nov 5-6. With Joy Lee Connor, LMT, who has 30 years of experience in reiki and is a teacher of A Course in Miracles (ACIM). Cost: $2,200, includes training in Reiki 1, 2, 3/Mastership and ACIM principles. Watch introduction on YouTube with Connor. Info: Contact Connor at 803-447-6499 or JoyLeeConnor@ BellSouth.net.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Lamaze Childbirth Class–9am-4:30pm. With Jordan Black Peacock. Cost: $200. Location TBD. Info: 803-630-3454, ParentAndBabyServices@ gmail.com, ParentAndBabysvcs.com.
SATURDAYS NOVEMBER 6, 13, 20 & 27 Murraywood Health Foods 20% off Saturdays–10am-6pm. 20% off all grocery items, excluding local honey. Murraywood Shopping Center, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-732-3847.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Vo l u n t e e r D r i v e r I n f o r m a t i o n We b i nar–11am-noon. Learn what it means to be a Feonix volunteer driver. Drivers provide much needed transportation for seniors and those in need. We’ll show you how it works, what the benefits are for you, and what it means to give back within your own community—all without commitment. Free. Info: Contact Melanie@FeonixMobilityRising.org for the Zoom link.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Infant CPR Class–10am-noon. With Jordan Black Peacock. Cost: $80. Location TBD. Info: 803630-3454, ParentAndBabyServices@gmail.com, ParentAndBabysvcs.com. Newborn Care Class–1-3pm. With Jordan Black Peacock. Cost: $80. Location TBD. Info: 803630-3454, ParentAndBabyServices@gmail.com, ParentAndBabysvcs.com.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Miracles Retreat–10am-2pm. Bring your own lunch or a dish to share. Outdoors, weather permitting. Immerse yourself in a day of presence of the divine through nature and the teachings of A Course in Miracles. Beginners welcome. Cost: $55 or a donation. Near Chapin. Info: Contact Joy Lee Connor at 803-447-6499 or JoyLeeConnor@BellSouth.net.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Holiday Market–8:30am-2pm. Shoppers can purchase paintings, handmade jewelry, home decor pieces, and much more. Admission is free. Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin. Info/ vendor interest: 803-345-6181, icrc.net. Pumping 101 Class–10am-noon. With Jordan Black Peacock. Cost: $80. Location TBD. Info: 803-630-3454, ParentAndBabyServices@gmail. com, ParentAndBabysvcs.com. Breastfeeding/Lactation Basics–1-3pm. With Jordan Black Peacock. Cost: $80. Location TBD. Info: 803-630-3454, ParentAndBabyServices@ gmail.com, ParentAndBabysvcs.com.
planahead DECEMBER 1–DECEMBER 31 Holiday Lights on the River–6-10pm. Journey through colorful lights and more than 400 animated displays. Activities such as a Winter Wonder Tube Slide, a hayride, roasting marshmallows, photos with Santa, and more. Nominal fees for activities. Cost: $25 car; $50 passenger van. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info: 803772-1228, icrc.net.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 Lights and Lager–6-7pm. Craft beer tasting at Holiday Lights on the River. Includes beer tasting with Columbia Craft Beer, souvenir pint glass, one s’mores packet, light refreshments, and admission to Holiday Lights on the River the evening of the event. Ages 21 and older. Cost: $45. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info: 803772-1228, icrc.net.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 Jubilee! Circle’s Coffee House and Open Mic– 7pm. Open mic at 8pm. Open mic participants are welcome to bring their own microphone for sanitary purposes. Cost: Suggested $10 donation covers food and beverages. Jubilee! Circle, 6729 Two Notch Rd, Columbia. Info: Info@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Santa’s Market Craft Show–8:30am-2pm. Complete your holiday shopping at this annual craft show featuring unique gifts, charming decorations, one-of-a-kind crafts, art prints and paintings, handmade jewelry, ornaments, painted glassware, holiday wreaths, and more. Admission is free. All ages. Vendor applications will be accepted until the show is full. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info/vendor: 803-772-3336, icrc.net. Cooking with Santa–10:30-11:30am ages 5-8, and 12:15-1:15pm ages 9-12. Bring your child into the kitchen with Flavored Fork to cook alongside the jolly old elf himself making his favorite snacks and other Santa-approved recipes. Cost: $30. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: 803772-3336, icrc.net.
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ongoing events
sunday
A Course in Miracles–Original Edition (ACIMOE)–4:30-6pm. Every Sunday. Study group via Zoom/phone. ACIM-OE is unedited and available as a free phone app. Donations are accepted. Watch introduction on YouTube with Joy Lee Connor, LMT. Info: Contact Connor at 803-447-6499 or JoyLeeConnor@BellSouth.net. Zoom Trance Healing Group–5pm. Every Sunday. Want a different energy experience? Want to focus on specific areas? Group session with discussion afterward. Cost: 60-minute session $40. Info/to book session: Contact Joy Stagg at 803-575-0811 or ReikiByJoy.com.
monday COVID-19: Self-Defense Beyond the Vaccine, Part 1–6:30pm. Every Monday. Virtual class via Zoom. Cost: $20. Info: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.
tuesday Original Origins Healthy Living Virtual Support Group–6:30pm. First Tuesday. Free. Must register to attend. Info: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833-678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.
saturday COVID-19: Self-Defense Beyond the Vaccine, Part 1–11am. Every Saturday. Virtual class via Zoom. Cost: $20. Info: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com. Trance Healing–Every Saturday. A holistic healing approach for PTSD, chronic illness or cancer. Cost: In-person 30-minute session $55, or 60-minute session for $90. Holistic Wellness and Counseling Center, 519 East Main St, Lexington. Info/to book session: Contact Joy Stagg at 803-575-0811 or ReikiByJoy.com.
You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf. ~Jon Kabat-Zinn
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 803-309-2101 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com.
ACUPUNCTURE
CHIROPRACTIC
THE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC
CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC
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 31.
AESTHETICS EXPECT CLARITY AESTHETICS
Angie Jewell 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste G, Columbia 803-348-8962
Our carefully crafted and customized holistic care plans include Environ skin care products, which utilize science to deliver real skin benefits, paired with treatment room modalities, such as PBM, LFS, RF, microcurrent, facial/ear reflexology, facial sculpting massage, and gua sha, to help our clients reach their skin goals. Consistent and positive results include luminous, smooth, taut skin with even skin pigmentation. It’s time to expect clarity! See ad, page 25.
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 3, 9, 15 and back page.
BODY SCULPTING BODIED BEAUTY LOUNGE
3201 Broad River Rd, Columbia 803-479-3351 • BodiedBeautyLounge.com
A premier body-sculpting lounge with luxe services to build a baddie body naturally with no downtime. The expert staff members at Bodied Beauty Lounge are very knowledgeable and friendly—specializing in the areas of nonsurgical/non-invasive body sculpting, certified laser lipo, ultrasonic cavitation, radio frequency skin tightening, non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts, wood therapy, yoni steaming and much more. We are here and ready to help you achieve your body goals in less time and at affordable pricing. Come #GetBodied today!
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.
DOWDY RUDOLPH CHIROPRACTIC LLC Dr. Dowdy Rudolph, DC 1444 Barnwell St, Columbia 803-376-6293 • DowdyRudolphChiro.com
Dr. Gerald Rudolph, DC, focuses on finding the root cause of your problems and not just treating your pain. He utilizes digital X-rays to help diagnose problems, spinal adjustments to stimulate proper movement of spinal and extremity joints, active therapeutic movement exercises to correct movement disorders, and spinal decompression to help relieve numbness and tingling down your arms and legs. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic also offers a state-of-the-art full-body lounge hydromassage table that can help you feel more rejuvenated and relaxed. See ad, page 31.
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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. Saturday appointments available with an additional small convenience fee. See ad, page 8.
Connect with us naturally!
November 2021
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ECO-RICH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS JUST WANNA MELT LLC Misty Rawls • 803-331-0063 Info@JustWannaMelt.com JustWannaMelt.com
HEALTH & WELLNESS
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.
ENDOMETRIOSIS HAYLI’S HERBS LLC
Master Herbalist HaylisHerbs.com Online Herbal Consultations for the Symptoms of Endometriosis
Living with endometriosis can be stressful, confusing and overwhelming. I put together herbal combinations specific to your individual needs to help combat and potentially eliminate the symptoms of endometriosis. Please visit HaylisHerbs.com for more information and to schedule a free 15-minute pre-consultation.
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,
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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. See ad, page 17.
ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC
120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com
Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. 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 33.
INVODRIP VITAMIN BAR
160 Medical Cir, Ste C, W Columbia Book@INVODrip.com 803-830-7212
At INVODrip, we care about your overall wellness. Our goal is to increase your energy levels, help meet your weight-loss goals, and ensure you’re well hydrated— not just with water, but also by incorporating the vitamins, minerals and electrolytes your body craves. The absorption rate of our vitamins and minerals surpasses any oral supplements you may have taken. Give us a call today to book your drip now. See ad, page 14.
ORIGINAL ORIGINS HEALTH AND WELLNESS Tracy R. Jacox • 833-678-7229 OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com OriginalOriginshw.com
Ms. Tracy has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. The mission of Original Origins Health and Wellness is to educate, equip and empower the community to adopt a predominately whole food, plant-based lifestyle, which
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will improve and optimize your quality of life, health and wellness while preventing, delaying, reversing or eliminating chronic illnesses. Original Origins can assist you with maximizing your health and wellness holistically! Our wide range of services include health coach partnering, comprehensive health evaluations, comprehensive cooking experiences, and a comprehensive kitchen evaluation. Your health is your wealth! See ad, page 18.
HOLISTIC FOOT CARE ELEVATE FOOTCARE
Geneva Holiday, MSN, WCC, RN-Bc 160 Medical Cir, Ste C, W Columbia ElevateFootCare.com 803-373-2299
Elevate FootCare recognizes the importance of caring for your feet. All services are provided by a board-certified and registered foot care and wound care nurse who cares about the health of your feet. “My goal is to help those with diabetes, thick toe nails, poor circulation, or anyone who is unable to complete the basic maintenance of their feet. We come to your home or you can visit us in West Columbia,” says Geneva Holiday.
INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE EXPECT WELLNESS
Dr. Rachel Hall 130 Suber Rd, Columbia 803-796-1702 • DrRachelHall.com ExpectWellness@sc.rr.com Find us on Facebook for great health tips.
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. In-house diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 4.
INSPIRED HEALTH
Dana Nairn, MD, FIAHM 3700 Forest Dr, Ste 200, Columbia 803-676-1030
Are you ready to take charge of your health? Dr. Dana Nairn is a fellow of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine and board certified in integrative holistic medicine and internal medicine. Dr. Nairn is excited and looking forward to partnering with you on your journey to becoming the best version of yourself. Call today to schedule a consultation! See ad, page 21.
PROHEALTH CENTER
500 Plaza Cir, Ste J, Clinton, SC 864-681-0555 MyProHealthCenter.com
Our integrative approach offers traditional and holistic health and wellness services. We don’t believe in just treating symptoms, but rather getting to the root of the problem. Our practitioners customize patient care through functional medicine specifically tailored to each individual. At our clinic, you are not just a patient number … you become part of our ProHealth Center family. We serve all of South Carolina. See ad, page 5.
LOCAL RETREAT JOY LEE CONNOR, LMT (SC#1229) Healing Minster at Springhill AtONEment Center 803-447-6499
Retreat to the trees! Come and experience 100 beautiful acres near Chapin, South Carolina. Joy Lee Connor invites you to bathe in the forest and “ground” in the peaceful fields of Earth. Breathe in love, heal your mind, and nurture your spirit. We are often overwhelmed by body pains and emotions. Experience mind and body transformation while being loved, forgiven and released. Your energy field will be restored and balanced, allowing you to feel lighter and burdenfree. Joy offers instruction in reiki, Touch for Health, meditation, yoga, meridian movement, and selfcare—both online and in person. Private or small groups are available. Call Joy today!
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
ORGANIC FARM
Justin Williams 803-467-8322 Justin.Williams2@gmail.com
ASYA’S ORGANIC FARM Sumter, SC 803-463-2968 SCFOrganicFarms.com
Asya’s Organic Farm is owned by young entrepreneur Asya Harris. Harris began working on her parents’ farm at the age of 6. This driven young business woman currently markets herbal teas, supplements and essential oils. Her product lineup also includes gemstones, natural minerals and healing crystals. Products can be purchased online from Etsy @SCFOrganicFarms and on her business Instagram account @Asya_Organic_ Farm. See ad, page 23.
PREGNANCY/LACTATION CAPITAL PARENT AND BABY SPECIALTY SERVICES
J. Black-Peacock, BS, IBCLC, LCCE, CPST, CBD 1421 Calhoun St, Columbia 803-630-3454 • ParentAndBabysvcs.com
Columbia’s premier pregnancy, birth and postpartum service provider. Our pregnancy services include classes/education, birth preference planning, and prenatal lactation consultations. Our birth services include birth doula services (with traditional, last-minute or virtual services available). Our postpartum services include newborn/postpartum doula services, lactation services, and education/ classes. Car seat checks, installations and education are also available. See ad, page 28.
SPIRITUAL ECKANKAR THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL FREEDOM
803-749-2459 • ECK-SC.org Meetup.com/Columbia-spiritual-seekers
Eckankar is the path of spiritual freedom. It is an active, creative practice to help you unlock a deeper level of spirituality. The ECK teachings can help you find answers and give you the tools to prove spiritual truths to yourself while experiencing life as a spiritual adventure. Join us at 10 a.m. every second Sunday at Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane, in Columbia. Call Dee at 803-749-2459.
Justin is an intuitive counselor and energy worker. He power cycles, overhauls and unblocks energy fields from afar to remove negativity from your life while jumpstarting your career, relationships, money and general blessings. Justin also provides distance house cleansings to produce a peaceful home and comfortable environment tailormade for abundance and success.
THERMOGRAPHY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC
120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com
O u r m a i n f o c u s is h e a lth education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aquachi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hardto-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 33.
PALMETTO THERMAL IMAGING
Mobile Thermography Unit Heather Terry, Certified Thermographer 864-681-0555 • 803-924-0813
Thermography is a noninvasive, radiation-FREE and pain-FREE thermal scan of the body. This exclusive technology uses a clinical imaging procedure to create a map of the body’s infrared patterns. It is a valuable tool for alerting your healthcare provider to changes that could indicate early stages of disease. Heather Terry travels to multiple locations in South Carolina. Call today to schedule your session. See ad, page 5.
VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE
4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15a, Columbia 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com
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At Garner’s Natural Life, we offer the purest, most innovative highquality natural products. With more than 130 collective years of wellness experience! Allows us to encourage your healthy choices. See ads, pages 3,9,15
When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. ~Willie Nelson
November 2021
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