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Lawns originated as clearings around forts so that no enemy could sneak up and make a surprise attack, then as a display of wealth by French and English landowners, or common areas for grazing animals. Americans spend more than a billion dollars on lawns—the most irrigated crop in the nation.
There are so many options to consider when rethinking our lawns, but our current way of doing things just doesn’t make sense any longer. How much are you spending on your lawn? How healthy is your lawn? What would work for you in the way of a more natural lawn? Maybe look into it this winter to see if you can love your lawn and show some more love for our planet while you’re at it!
You can also use your yard to grow food, whether it is small or large, urban, suburban or rural. There is a movement and book, Food Not Lawns that started in 1999, and I was involved with them in Florida when I lived there. These community groups share seeds, use natural or permaculture growing principles and a gift economy to use their lawns to grow food and pool resources to help others plant food in their yards, as well. They host planting parties and install gardens at people’s homes for free.
What is the point of covering our unnatural grass with toxic chemicals that poison us, our pets and other wildlife, wasting our precious water and expending immeasurable amounts of fossil fuels to cut, trim and even vacuum it. There are many lawns that don’t require any of that nonsense and are still beautiful... or even more beautiful. Nature provides us with everything to keep a beautiful yard. Sure, keep and cut some grass around the house, or even better, let it be clover or thyme or other groundcover plants that make a perfectly beautiful lawn and don’t require chemicals or watering. Let the leaves fall. They are Mother Nature’s way of feeding and rebuilding the soil. I run mine over with the lawn mower to mulch them and spread them around. No need for raking and bagging them up. They are natural fertilizer or can be worked into garden beds or put in a compost pile. The same is true of grass clippings. If you have a large lawn, you can turn some of it into a pollinator garden and wildlife habitat or a wildflower meadow. All of those chemicals we use are killing our pollinators—our bees, butterflies and other insects that insure life on this planet. There are cheap, natural alternatives to the toxic weed killers too, such as a mixture of vinegar and salt. You can find the recipe online.
4 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com letter from publisher Michelle Dalnoky, RN, BA, Publisher CONTACT US Natural Awakenings – Pittsburgh P.O. Box 390 Uledi, PA 15484 Phone: 724-271-8877 Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.comNaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com Publisher Michelle Dalnoky Contributing Editor Sven Hosford Lead Editor Martin Miron Production Assistant Joann Dalnoky Design & Production C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Michelle Dalnoky NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan ©2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive your FREE monthly digital magazine at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink. HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET PITTSBURGH, PA EDITION NaturalAwakeningsMagazineisranked5thNationallyin CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines
Loving Our Planet and Rethinking Lawns
It has been another beautiful and abundant summer in southwest Pennsylvania, and now we are sliding into fall. For me, the explosion of color here is like a beautiful, natural fireworks display and the grand finale before winter sets in.
5September 2022 DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 7 health briefs 8 green living 10 wise words 12 healing ways 14 plant medicine 19 inspiration 20 fit body HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 724-271-8877 or email DeadlinePublisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.forads:the10thofthemonth. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com. Deadline: 15th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Publisher@NaturalAwakenings SWPA.com or visit NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com. ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS 22 healthy kids 24 eatingconscious 26 natural pet 28 calendar 30 resource guide 31 classifieds Contents Natural Awakenings is a family of 55-plus healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet. 8 CONSUMERISMCONSCIOUS The Rise of Sharing and Reselling 10 LISSA RANKIN on the Mysteries of Healing 12 HEADING OFF HEADACHES Natural Strategies Help Halt the Pain 16 GROWING YOUNGER Longevity Strategies that Help Reverse the Aging Process 19 LIVING LIFE IN FULL COLOR 20 AGING GRACEFULLY How a Yoga Practice Keeps Us Young 22 LEARNING TO GRIEVE How to Help Children Navigate Through Loss 24 FOOD DEHYDRATION MADE EASY Best Ways to Preserve the Harvest 26 HEALTHIER PETS Top Supplements for Dogs and Cats 24 16 26 19
6 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com news briefs
Fine Wine Meets Essential Oils
Equine Wellness Education
Free Health Screenings in the Park Celebrate community with a free, fun for the whole family health fair from noon to 6:30 p.m., September 10, at Harold Young, Sr., Parklet. There will food trucks, live music with Coffe’s Love Trane Band from 5 to 7 p.m., Dance Move fitness classes from noon to 4:30 p.m. and Kid Zone activities. Health information and screenings are provided by more than 25 health vendors, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cardiovascular Institute and Health Plan Institute. All ages are welcome. Mammograms screenings are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Location: 739 Penn Ave., Wilkinsburg. To pre register for appointments, call 888-233-6121 (mammograms) or 833-653-0518 (COVID-19 vaccines). For more information, call 412-641-8996 or email mageoutreach@upmc.edu.
DoTerra and the Black Dog Wine Company are sponsoring A Night of Wine and Wellness from 6 to 8 p.m., September 22. The interactive workshop we will pair food-safe essential oils with wine and information about essential oils, how to use them and how to save money by finding natural solutions for health goals or concerns. Tickets include a wine flight and oil samples. Admission is $15. Location: 7425 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale. Get tickets at Tinyurl.com/WineAndWellnessSteubenville.
The veterinarians of Allegh eny Equine and local Puri na representatives will provide a fun and engaging program from 6:30 to 8 p.m., September 7, at Barberry Farm Indoor Arena. They will discuss equine metabolic diseases and how body conditioning can help horses stay healthy. Food and refreshments are provided.
Admission is free. Location: 337 Barberry Rd., Sewickley. RSVP to 724-325-4615.
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Revised Supplement Formula Slows Macular Degeneration
7September 2022 health briefs
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in older Americans, be came less of a threat in 1996 when the national Age-Related Eye Dis ease Study (AREDS) verified that certain nutrients—beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper and zinc—slowed its progression. But after other studies showed a link between beta-carotene and lung cancer, it was removed from the formula. Two carotenoids found in the retina—lu tein and zeaxanthin—were added, and the formula was rebranded as AREDS2. In a new, 10-year, follow-up study by the National Eye Institute (NEI), AREDS2 was found to reduce late AMD symptoms an additional 20 percent com pared to the original formula. “This 10-year data confirms that not only is the new formula safer, it’s actually bet ter at slowing AMD progression,” says Emily Chew, M.D., lead author of the study and director of the NEI Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Application.
Sales of fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir have been steadily rising in the U.S., and a new study from Australia’s Deakin University might accelerate that trend.
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Researchers examined 24 years of nutritional and health data from 2,603 Finnish men between 42 and 60 years old. They found that men that ranked in the top third of consump tion of non-fermented dairy products such as milk and cream had double the risk of depression, while those in the top third of consumption of fermented dairy products like kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and butter milk enjoyed a 45 percent reduced risk of depression.
Fermented Dairy Helps Sidestep Depression
“When you need a pressure washer once a year or decide to put in a garden, you don’t really need to own those tools,” says treasurer Stephanie Kane. People are allowed to take on projects they couldn’t otherwise afford, she says, “or they utilize existing skills to build the life they want, or even get a business off the ground.”
To combat inflation, which is squeezing family budgets, Americans are increasingly exploring shared resources and eco-friend ly alternatives like thrift stores, flea markets
Another way that people share resources is through Little Free Libraries—the charming “library on a stick” boxes on neighborhood posts and fences that give away books to passersby. It began in Hud son, Wisconsin, in 2009, when Todd Bol built a tiny model of a one-room school house as a tribute to his deceased mother, an educator and voracious reader. He stocked it with books and put it on a post in his front yard for neighbors and friends. The concept became so popular that he built more and gave them away. Today, more than 150,000 Little Free Libraries are found in communities worldwide.
T ucked into the Blue Ridge Moun tains of North Carolina, Asheville is a DIY kind of community, attracting artists, musicians, yoginis, homesteaders and other folks looking to live a simpler life. When they garden and undertake home repairs, Ashevillans find it easy to cut expenses: They’ve formed a collective tool shed, the Asheville Tool Library, which offers them the use of 2,000 donated tools ranging from safety goggles to leaf mulchers and circular saws.
AshevilleToolLibrary.orgofcourtesyImage and rummage sales. Often aided by online technology, local shared enterprises and secondhand shops are saving people money and reducing the impact of excess consumerism on the environment.
Starting a tool-lending library begins by connecting with other people in the com munity, using local online groups and coop bulletin boards to attract volunteers and donations, or hosting a drive for people to clean out their basements, Kane says. As memberships grow, additional tools can be purchased and employees can be hired. Web site design and inventory tracking in Asheville and elsewhere is simplified by the “library of things” software from MyTurn.com.
8 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com
by Sheila Julson
green living Conscious Consumerism
Neighborly Sharing More than 50 tool-lending libraries ex ist in cities like Denver, Seattle, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., allowing people to “cut down on waste and overbuying, while helping out neighbors,” reports The Washington Post. Typically, they are staffed by volunteers and supported by nominal, income-based annual fees.
THE RISE OF SHARING AND RESELLING
n Avoid car seats and booster seats which may have been in volved in an accident. The same is true for bicycle and motorcy cle helmets. Federal safety standards for cribs frequently change, so avoid used pieces if they are more than a few years old.
An influx of online resellers adds even more choices for secondhand items. Although they make shopping more convenient, online sites carry risks: In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission reported more than 173,000 instances of online shopping fraud. When shopping online for secondhand items, experts advise, it’s wise to shop and pay on a trusted website or app, and to avoid using a personal debit card. Be sure there are photos of the product. On sites like Craigslist, eBay and Facebook, check each seller’s rating and thoroughly review all buyers’ comments before making a purchase.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore has more than 900 locations nationwide, offering an ever-changing stock of secondhand furni ture, household items and building materials like doors, windows and lighting fixtures. On the other hand, for-profit thrift stores, even if they claim a link to a worthy cause, often donate a much smaller percentage of profits to charity and are reluctant to release financial figures, reports Salon.com.
Online Pluses and Minuses
Hennepin County, Minnesota, which includes Minneapolis, has resolved to send zero waste to its landfills by 2030. Part of this effort includes the Choose to Reuse campaign, which encour ages people to shop secondhand as a way to save money, help the environment, reduce packaging, support local businesses and find uniqueNonprofititems.thrift stores like Goodwill Industries and The Salva tion Army or those run by longtime charities like the American Cancer Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani mals have well-established reputations and proven track records.
CLOTHING n The condition of items donated to thrift stores or posted by resellers can vary greatly, from brand-new items to well-worn pieces, notes Lifesavvy.com. Carefully check the item, especially under the sleeves and the inseams, for stains, tears, third-hand smoke odors or other defects.
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ELECTRONICS n For those un able to afford or justify the cost of a new $1,000 smartphone, Apple, Best Buy and Walmart sell refurbished phones, computers and TVs on their websites at a reduced cost. If using an E-commerce seller of refurbished electronics, make sure it uses programs such as CheckMEND to be sure the item wasn’t stolen.
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.
CHILDREN’S ITEMS
n When purchasing toys or children’s furniture, parents should check for safety recalls and be sure the product contains no lead paint, recommends WebMD. com. Check for broken or missing parts and make sure the item is stable. Products manufactured many years ago may not have the same safety features as newer items.
With a little enterprise, savvy and flexibility, mass consumerism can be circumvented by sharing community resources and fre quenting quality secondhand stores. As Kane puts it, “The sharing economy is essentially about leading a less consumerist lifestyle.”
Secondhand Thrifting
9September 2022 MarekPhotoDesign.com/AdobeStock.com
FURNITURE n Consumer Reports recommends buying local for large items like furniture to avoid shipping costs and allow for close per sonal inspection.
n Whether shopping for secondhand clothing in person or online, Glamour UK recommends ignoring the size on the label of vintage items, because they can vary greatly. When unable to try a garment on, check the measurements. Many vintage sellers on Etsy.com post them along with the label size.
WARNINGS FOR SECONDHAND SHOPPERS SAFETY AND QUALITY CONTROL TIPS
Whether housed in a local storefront or existing digitally online, resale shops have become big business due to pandemic-inspired decluttering and belt-tightening pursuits. Industry analysts expect thrift store clothing sales to grow globally 11 times faster than fast fashion and to be worth twice as much, at $84 billion, by 2030. Buying secondhand benefits not only shoppers, but also local governments struggling with the expense of operating landfills.
What’s the difference between curing and healing?
For example, if we’re making medical decisions or any significant decision, it’s important to consult all the intelligences.
Linda Sechrist is Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Connect at lysechrist@gmail.com.
M ind-body physician Lissa Rankin, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute in the San Francis co Bay Area, takes readers on her decade-long journey in her latest book, Sacred Medicine: A Doctor’s Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing. She provides a discerning guide to the sometimes perilous paths available to patients when wellness fads, lifestyle changes and doctors have failed them.
Generally, curing is about the elimina tion of all evidence of disease. Healing is a restoration of wholeness, which is what the word “heal” is based upon. When I’ve been present with people during end-of-life care, I’ve witnessed the restoration of wholeness in the tying up of the loose ends of a welllived life or a life not so well-lived, even in the presence of physical decline. Repair, healing and forgiveness in both internal and external relationships in our lives can come from doing deep shadow work. What are our whole health intelligences?
What motivated you to write Sacred Medicine? After 14 years of studying and practicing conventional medicine, I left it at age 37 because I became disillusioned and “mor ally injured” by the limitations of conven tional medicine and the U.S. health care system, which give lip service to a patient’s well-being and ultimately are about the financial bottom line. I never lost respect for the life-saving aspects of conventional medicine. I simply believed it shouldn’t be the only medicine in my medicine bag. It only took me nine months to realize that I could quit my job as an Ob-Gyn, but I couldn’t quit my calling. That which drew me to medicine from age 7 was still alive in me. I began spiritually seek ing to find out what else heals. During my years of studying and practicing everything along the health, wellness, psychology, yoga and spirituality gamut, I tried many things, cherry-picking from various spiritual traditions, Eastern religions and New Age spirituality. None of these quite fit either. I found as much shadow in this camp as I did in the conventional medicine camp. Why use a carefully balanced brew of several healing interventions? Limiting how you approach your health care to one camp or the other could prevent wise words
Consider not only what the mind is telling you about what’s wise and smart and what the science shows, but what intuition is telling you about what might be in your best interests. Or consider what your gut or other aspects of your body are feeling. It’s not only the gut that can give us somatic intelligence. We can tune into various intel ligences all over our body. Some healers I’ve met are finely tuned into this kind of intelligence to the point that they can ask a “yes” or “no” question and feel the answer somatically. They use this as one of the ways to guide themselves and their clients. What part does trauma play in sacred medicine? Although trauma as a cause of physical disease might be disputed by skeptics who resist information that contradicts their worldview, the body of scientific data linking psychological trauma and both pediatric and adult-onset disease is air tight. According to so many sources in the mainstream medical literature, anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of illnesses have stress-related emotional underpinnings. What causes stress? Trauma does.
Lissa Rankin on the Mysteries of Healing by Linda Sechrist you from having the best possible health outcome. There’s light and shadow in both camps. My book helps educate readers so they can practice discernment and make wise choices about which tools from the world’s medicine bag serves them best. It’s meant to help them become more miracleprone and hopefully to embrace the para doxes of healing, one of which is: You can heal yourself and you can’t do it alone.
10 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com
Because healing is a return to wholeness, connecting with your whole health intel ligences—mental, intuitive, emotional and somatic—must be the foundational part of your healing journey to create conditions which make the body miracle-prone. I think of the work of integrating them as I do a symphony that requires a conductor to arrange and harmonize the intelligences. I call the conductor the “inner pilot light”.
A lot of the practices I write about are intended to facilitate the restoration of wholeness. That doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t also seek out potentially cura tive treatments with their conventional medical doctor. But those treatments often don’t cure either, so I really see it that individuals don’t have to choose one or the other. Rather, they can choose conven tional medicine and sacred medicine.
September
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Try Acupuncture or Acupressure
“The best acupressure point for head aches is the soft skin in-between the thumb and pointer finger. Massage it for 20 to 30 seconds at a time to relieve pain or hold it for 10 seconds,” she says. “Mi graines are caused by vascular dilation in the head, so I recommend putting your hands and feet in hot water or taking a bath to stimulate blood flow away from the head to the rest of the body.”
the brain. I use a Constructed Awareness approach with clients and bring curios ity to the pain they are experiencing, including headaches. What thoughts and emotions are coming up when they focus on the pain?” she says. “Physical s ymptoms are often the manifestation or tangible evidence of what is going on in your unconscious mind. Our bodies be come stronger or weaker, depending on our emotional state. Fear, self-criticism and invalidating the self can be the root of a headache.”
There are more than 150 types of headaches, with the most common being tension, mi graine and cluster. Migraine attacks, which according to the Migraine Research Founda tion affect 12 percent of people in the U.S., are about three times more common in women than in men. Classic symptoms, which can be mild to severe, include throbbing or pound ing pain located in the sinuses, forehead, back of the head or one of the temples Triggers Migraine can be triggered by changes in the weather, fatigue, stress, anxiety, insufficient sleep, dehydration and hormonal changes, according to the American Migraine Foun dation. Headaches can also be provoked by certain allergens, such as cigarette smoke, exposure to harsh chemicals in cleaning or beauty products, mold, dust, caffeine, alcohol and fermented foods.
“The mind-body connection is fierce,” says Christina P. Kantzavelos, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in chronic illness and pain at Begin Within Today, in San Diego. “It’s important to keep in mind that pain literally originates in
Don’t Forget Exercise Renee also suggests maintaining a regular exercise routine to ward off headaches.
H eadaches are one of the most common pain conditions in the world. Accord ing to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 75 percent of adults have had a headache in the past year. While symptoms vary in scope and intensity, understanding the underlying cause of a headache can lead to better treatment outcomes. Most headaches can be treated holistically, and lifestyle modifications can be key to lasting relief.
12 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com healing ways
NATURAL STRATEGIES HELP HALT THE PAIN by Carrie Jackson
While not completely understood, mental stress and anxiety can also be a trigger.
“The less active someone is, the tighter their muscles are and the more likely they will experience headaches. Make sure to get out for a walk every day, or try running to keep the body and mind moving. Yoga is another great activity as a mindfulness practice that decreases stress and also keeps the body moving to eliminate tension.”
Heading Off Headaches
The Mind-Body Connection
Supplements Help Nutritional supplements can also be help ful, Renee says. “Increasing nutrients such
Evidence suggests that acupuncture is ef fective in relieving the pain of headaches by changing the flow of energy, increasing blood circulation, releasing endorphins and relaxing muscles. Acupressure and other techniques can be done anywhere, says chiropractor and acupuncturist Michele Renee, director of integrative care at Northwestern Health Sciences University, in Bloomington, Minnesota.
According to Alexander Feoktistov, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the Synergy Integrative Head ache Center, in Chicago, many headaches are caused by some form of stress. “Both physical and emotional stress can manifest with headaches. These are often triggered by changes in a routine or schedule, which throws the body’s regulatory rhythm off. Skipping meals, varying your sleep patterns and exercising inconsistently can all confuse the body and lead to a head ache, varying in intensity from dull and distracting to severe and debilitating,” he explains.
Good Practices Feoktistov recommends that patients experiencing headaches start with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter meds such as ibuprofen. “Practice good sleep hygiene, stay hydrated by drinking water and minimizing caffeine, and introduce meditation as a way of focusing on what’s physically and emotionally going on in your body,” he says. “If headaches disrupt your daily routine, are severe or frequent and/or poorly controlled with over-the-counter medications, it’s time to seek help from a headache specialist or other medical professional who can work with you on a path to healing.”
Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.
Most headaches can be treated holistically, and lifestyle modifications can be key to lasting relief.
13September 2022 as magnesium, coenzyme Q-10 and riboflavin can help minimize pain. Before stocking up on supplements, be sure to consult with a holistic practitioner to make sure you are making the wisest and safest selections for you. Many nutrients can be found in common foods like dark chocolate, leafy greens, seeds and nuts, meat, fatty fish and legumes.”
14 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com green livingplant medicine
On the subject of decriminalization, he shares, “It can always be better, it can always be better. I think if you look it, its probably a little bit better than where it was. But my administration is laser focused on where the ordinance said no more or less for small amounts of marijuana. We want to make sure we’re upholding that.
“There’s no doubt that it helps people in pain. I think people think when I say it removes pain that is supposed to be a fact that you have no pain at all. You can’t go through life without a certain amount of pain. When I say when It removes pain, it alleviates it. It’s better.
On August 14, thousands of cannabis enthusiasts descended on the North Shore for Pittsburgh’s second annual Cannabis Fest. The event featured dozens of vendors, including growers, dispensaries, medical doctors, speakers, music and food trucks, plus sellers of CBD and other hemp products, and even a yoga studio. Many heard Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey give a passionate talk about the need to legalize cannabis and release those still in prison for cannabis convictions. We spoke with him to clarify his position. Gainey says, “We shouldn’t have criminalized the drug at all. When we talk about cannabis and why it’s so important is that there are so many people in jail about a plant who come out with misdemeanors and felonies and their life is messed up over a plant. We’ve destroyed more lives than we save. That’s number one.
As for putting people in jail for things that other people are being paid millions
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Cannabis by Sven Hosford of dollars to do, he responds, “It’s wrong. And there has to be that equity piece that when they pass the legislation, they get to come home. They get to come home with no marks on their records. And they need to come home to some classes that are paid for by us for the time that we took to show them how to regulate or run a cannabis business. I think that’s the way that we give back. Because right now, this whole thing about the war on drugs has destroyed more lives than it has built. I’m saying that for one reason. People go to jail for drugs. We create more harsh drug laws, but we got more drugs on our street than ever before. Something is wrong. So if any social society where they studied this social science, they would change it, and we need to change it. And it begins with cannabis—legalized cannabis.”
YOURGROWBUSINESS Secure your ad 724-271-8877specialContactspot!usforadrates. Crowd at Cannabis Fest, Pittsburgh
“We shouldn’t ever criminalize a plant that has been used since the beginning of time until a certain year when they wanted to criminalize it. I think it’s wrong. Again, you’re talking about a drug that is safer than alcohol, safer than tobacco that I don’t believe is a drug. You know what I mean? I believe that it is a plant that is good for society.”
As a matter of fact, I’m so glad this event took place today, because Monday when I go to work that’s one of the questions I’m going to ask; ‘Are we living up to what they passed in the city council?’”
Legalization
15September 2022
Night stuffiness
Hundreds of studies confirm copper kills viruses and bacteria almost instantly just by touch. That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do. “The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.” National Institutes of Health.Scientists say copper’s high conductance disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys it in seconds.TheEPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.
Longtime users say they haven’t been sick in years. They have less stress, less medical costs, and more time to enjoyCustomerslife. report using copper against:Thehandle is curved and textured to increase contact. Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched.
By Doug Cornell
Statements are not intended as product health claims and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. New research: Copper kills viruses in seconds.
The EPA says copper works just as well when tarnished. Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the science teams. He placed millions of viruses on a copper surface. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it.”
Iyear.coldsgetIhappened.never“Theexclaimed.hecoldusedto2-3badeveryNowusemy device whenever I feel a sign I am about to get sick.” He hasn’t had a cold in 10 years. After his first success with it, he asked relatives and friends to try it. They all said it worked, so he patented CopperZap® and put it on the market. Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.
Users say: “It works! I love it!” “I can’t believe how good my nose feels.” “Is it supposed to work that fast?” “One of the best presents ever.” “Sixteen flights, not a sniffle!” “Cold sores gone!”
Nature’s Virus Killer Copper can stop a virus before it starts
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L ongevity, a human quest through the ages, is now a hot topic among scientific researchers that assert there has never been a better time to maximize our potential for metabolic renewal.
Until recently, age was determined by the year on our birth certificate, but “bio age” is the new number to pay attention to. It might not only predict health outcomes down the road, but also add years to our lives. In groundbreak ing work in 2017, anti-aging researcher Steven Horvath at the University of California, Los Angeles, used algorithms to calculate biological age on the basis of how extensively our genome is modified by a process called DNA methylation. Researchers are now understanding what factors can turn on positive gene expressions and turn off those that may activate life-threatening diseases.
“Bio age is how fast our bodies are aging, and aging is the main risk factor for all diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, de
GROWING YOUNGER L ONGEVITY STRATEGIES THAT HELP REVERSE THE AGING PROCESS by Marlaina Donato
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Biological age—the state of our health at the cellular level—is in the spotlight, as are the anti-aging benefits of science-supported phyto nutrients, cell-rejuvenating foods and safe, non-surgical, stem cell procedures. Functional medicine, with its focus on the biologybased root causes of disease, is also a rising star in the arena of ageNoreversal.matter which path we follow to aging vibrantly, the most inspiring takeaway is that lifestyle, not genes, deter mines destiny. “On average in the United States, the last 16 years of life are spent with multiple diagnoses and on multiple medications. We are giving our hard-earned money to phar macies, hospitals and nursing facilities,” says Kara Fitzgerald, a naturopathic doctor in Newtown, Connecticut, and the author of Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better. She and other researchers contrast “lifespan”, the years from birth to death, to “healthspan”, the years spent in good health free of age-related disease and disability. “Lifespan is not necessarily healthspan, and we can change that,” she says. Age Is Not Just a Number
Chronic systemic inflammation is now understood to be the physi ological springboard for most diseases ranging from cancer to de pression, but its connection to uric acid is critical in producing free radicals that accelerate aging. “Unfortunately, most doctors look upon uric acid solely as a risk marker for gout. We now recognize that uric acid serves as a powerful signal in the body to prepare for food and water scarcity,” says neurologist David Perlmutter, author of The New York Times bestseller Grain Brain and the recent Drop Acid, a guide to lowering uric acid in the body. “Uric acid levels above 5.5 milligrams per decilitre trigger the body to raise the blood pressure, increase the blood sugar, become insulin-resistant and increase the formation and storage of body fat,” he says. “Cen tral to regaining metabolic health and reducing risk for metabolic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery disease and Type 2 diabetes is reining in uric acid.”
Fitzgerald and her team drove this point home with the first randomized, controlled study on the power of lifestyle and diet to turn back the biological age clock. Based upon functional medicine, the program enrolled 18 healthy men between ages 50 and 72 in a target group and 20 in a control group. Those in the target group ate a nutrient-rich diet, slept seven hours a night, practiced relaxation techniques and took supplemental probiot ics and phytonutrients. They ate only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., exercised for at least 30 minutes five days a week, avoided sweets and consumed two cups of dark, leafy, greens and three cups each of cruciferous vegetables and colorful vegetables daily, as well as six ounces of animal protein.
Chronic, unmanaged stress is a major factor in physical and mental decline due to elevated levels of cortisol. “Stress threatens
flavonoid found in certain foods like strawberries, peaches, apples, persimmons, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers, rivals ever-beneficial quercetin. Research published
is good news when we look at the grim statistics. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society, approximately 610,000 people die of heart disease in this country each year and more than 600,000 Americans are predicted to succumb to cancer this year alone.
last year in the European Journal of Pharmacology cites fisetin’s nu merous potential benefits for neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and vascular dementia.
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The Trifecta of Acid, Inflammation and Stress
The results, published last year in the journal Aging, showed that three years of bio age were reduced in the target group in just eight weeks compared to the control group. “What we eat, our stress load and our response to it, the quality of the air we breathe and if we exercise are all drivers or reducers of our bio age. Know ing this, we absolutely need to take responsibility for our lives,” saysThisFitzgerald.bioagereversal
Molecular Magic Harvard genetics professor David Sinclair, author of the seminal Lifespan: Why We Age—And Why We Don’t Have To, discovered antioxidant-rich resveratrol in grapes in 2003. Since then, he and other researchers have found additional compounds with the ability to activate longevity pathways. Nicotinamide adenine di nucleotide (NAD, or B3), a coenzyme involved in many metabolic processes essential to life, has been shown to rejuvenate aging mice, increasing energy-producing mitochondria in the cells and fortifying muscle mass. The body makes less NAD as we age, but research suggests that intermittent fasting, exercise and heat sau nas can stimulate this youth-preserving molecule. NAD-boosting supplements are also on the market, but consuming foods like naturally fermented sauerkraut, raw milk, nutritional yeast and pumpkin seeds is also a good strategy.
SIRT6, an enzyme in close relationship with NAD and respon sible for many molecular anti-aging processes, including DNA repair, is abundant in seaweeds, especially the strain Fucus vesi culosus, commonly known as bladder wrack. Research published in the journal Marine Drugs in 2017 indicates bladder wrack’s anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral properties, as well as its potential to protect the liver and normalize high blood sugar and bloodFisetin,pressure.apowerful
mentia and neurodegenerative disorders,” says Fitzgerald, noting that only 10 to 20 percent of longevity outcomes are genetic.
18 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com
Fitzgerald concurs, “Excessive inflammation—an imbalanced immune response—accelerates the aging process, and it increases with stress. Stress is the gasoline on the fire of aging.”
Even with exciting advances in the promotion of long life, ex perts are unanimous in stressing that going into our golden years disease-free begins and ends with individual lifestyle choices, starting with what we put in our mouths. “Diet is the most critical variable in terms of our metabolic destiny. It’s been said that a person can’t exercise away a poor diet, and there’s great wisdom in this statement,” says Perlmutter.
the health and diversity of our gut bacteria, leading to increased gut permeability, a central mechanism underlying widespread inflammation, which is the cornerstone of all chronic degenera tive conditions,” says Perlmutter. “Those conditions as a category are ranked by the World Health Organization as the number one cause of death on our planet today.”
In the daily survival game, the body’s stem cells generate special ized cells to replace those throughout the body that are damaged and dying. This ongoing repair process slows down as we advance in years, but cutting-edge procedures offer new hope for condi tions ranging from arthritis to age-related brain fog.
“Stem cells improve DNA methylation and telomere length, and result in a reduced physiologic age compared to your chronologic age,” says Chadwick Prodromos, a Chicago-based, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the founder of the Prodromos Stem Cell Institute, in Antigua. “Joint replacements are offered quite liber ally nowadays, but most of our patients with severe arthritis who were offered joint replacements do well in our care without them for virtually any joint in the body.” Prodromos and his team com bine umbilical cord-derived stem cell treatment (non-embryonic/ fetal) with specially selected nutritional supplements and in some patients, platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid injections.
“While stem cell treatment has been quite effective, it is important to remember that avoiding chemicals in the environment, exercising vigorously and maintaining a low BMI [body mass index] are clearly the most important factors in good health,” advises Prodromos.
Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
No matter which path we follow to aging vibrantly, the most inspiring takeaway is that lifestyle, not genes, determines destiny.
Eating to reduce inflammation is key, and there is power on our plates when we add some of Fitzgerald’s longevity boosters like turmeric, green tea, shitake mushrooms, wild-caught salmon, eggs, liver and sunflower seeds. A study last year in Experimental Gerontology reported that the amino acid L-theanine, found par ticularly in green tea, reduced oxidative stress, liver degeneration and inflammatory responses in aging rats.
Radical Renewal Without Surgery
As children, it was in our nature to live out loud. We sang offkey, belly-laughed and showed off our blueberry-stained tongues. Somewhere between grade school and adolescence, we learned to swim with the social current, content to blend in for comfort.
As adults, too often we are barely aware of our lives stuck in grayscale, but if we look deep inside, we long to be the brave red rose in a black-and-white world. Sometimes it takes something drastic, like being faced with a terminal illness, to throw off the shackles of, “What would they think?” and follow our own brand of bliss. Hopefully, most of us can make that decision without such a drastic wake-up call. In many parts of the world, nature saves her best for last and pulls out all the stops. She dresses the trees in unapologetic glory, Mohite/Pexels.comMadhuri
N ature concludes each day with a fiery mural, never again to be exactly duplicated and missed if we look away for a moment too long. “What color is in a picture, enthu siasm is in life,” said Vincent van Gogh, and to live with passion is to live life in full color.
19September 2022
inviting us to live more boldly before it’s too late, and to express the passions we’ve held in for dear life. If we are wise, we will fol low our bliss, whether it’s painting that wall in a color that might compromise resale value or dusting off the violin we set aside after high school. Autumn gives us much-needed permission to let our hair down, let our locks go silver or feisty red, let our souls blow in the wind and come in for dinner a little late and disheveled. What parts of ourselves do we hold inside for fear of stand ing out a little too much? What would we wear if we defied fickle trends? How would we love if we realized that there is nothing more important than embodying love? Here’s to living in full color, come what may. Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
inspiration Life in Full Color by Marlaina Donato
Living
The Breath of Now
n 1967, Tao Porchon-Lynch left a successful Hollywood career as a model and actress to become a full-time yogi in her 50s. At age 87, she added ballroom dancing to her list of passions and at 93, she landed in the Guinness World Records as the oldest yoga teacher on the planet. She continued to teach a weekly yoga class just days before her death at age 101. “I love seeing students realize what is possible,” Porchon-Lynch said in an interview, and her words are an added incentive to reap the many benefits of a regular yoga practice at any age.
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“What I learned is that we need four essential physical skills to navigate through life as we age—strength, flexibility, balance and agility—and we get that from yoga. We can find independence in our everyday life, and we don’t need a vigorous yoga class to do that,” says Ruth Pipitone, a gentle yoga instructor at various stu dios and senior centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. For those that only associate the practice with youthful bodies and hip yoga gear, yoga is a full-spectrum practice. “Anyone can do yoga—gen tle yoga, chair yoga and even wheelchair yoga.”
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Whether it involves getting down on a mat or practicing modi fied poses with the use of a chair, yoga helps us to stay nimble, manage stress, reduce symptoms of depression and tame high blood pressure. Yoga has been around for thousands of years for good reason, and health organizations like the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center are now recommending the healing modality for a better quality of life.
HOW A YOGA PRACTICE KEEPS US YOUNG by Maya Whitman
20 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com fit body Aging Gracefully
For Terecita “Ti” Blair, yoga offered a new way of life after a catastrophic automobile accident in 2009. The Denver-based trauma and resilience educator and 2017 SilverSneakers Instruc tor of the Year says, “Virtually any style or type of yoga can appeal and work well for you today, but not tomorrow. Therefore real ‘yoga’ is about adaptability, and yes, those of us with compromised joints, immune systems, pain, disability and illness can absolutely benefit from yoga.”
Ancient Moves for Modern Life
T he keystone of all yoga practice is working with the breath, an action that is naturally compromised by just getting out of bed and into the day’s challenges. “Most adults breathe from their chest. That’s where we activate the stress response of fight, flight or freeze. We need to use the lower lungs, too, so we can activate the parasympathetic ne rvous system to find calm,” says Pipitone.
According to a 2016 study of 227 participants reported in the journal Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, just 12 minutes of daily gentle yoga over 10 years improved bone mineral density in the spine and upper legs. About four in five participants had osteo porosis or osteopenia (low bone density), indicating that yoga is a good strategy for the 10 million Americans over the age of 50 with osteoporosis and the 44 million with osteopenia.
Those with conditions ranging from cancer to Parkinson’s dis ease can reap benefits from an appropriate yoga environment. In 2021, a meta-analysis of 12 studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that yoga can increase muscle strength, mobility, balance and lower body flexibility in mature adults. An older study from Temple University showed that Iyengar yoga can improve balance and prevent falls in women over 65 years old.
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September 2022 Blair, who specializes in helping others to find emotional equilibrium after trauma, concurs: “The nervous system is symbiotic with the breath, and vice versa. A long, deep inhale and a long, slow exhale c an act as an immediate elixir for the nervous system to recognize that, in that mo ment, we are okay.” She has taught groups of p eople, some in wheelchairs and hospital beds, and she “still ex perienced the entire room shift when breathing together. As long as we are able to consciously notice breath, we can do yoga.” No matter how many trips we take around the sun, tapping into the life force can give us a new perspective. “I use asana (yoga poses) to exam ine my thoughts and feelings and to find introspection to examine what is happening with myself physically, as well as mentally and emotionally,” says Pipitone. “You become more mindful of what you need to carry with you and what you don’t need to carry with you.” In essence, we deepen as we age, and yoga can meet us on a multidimensional level. “Yoga does not have to mean poses. Possibilities are infinite, and adaptations are unlimited, based upon our needs,” says Blair. Connect with Maya Whitman at ekstasis28@gmail.com.
In My Yellow Balloon, an award-winning children’s picture book, a little boy named Joey comes to love the lemon-colored balloon he receives at a carnival. Tied to his wrist, it isn’t just Joey’s favorite toy, it also becomes a loyal companion through many fun adventures. One day, the string slips off his wrist and Joey’s best friend flies away, catapulting him on a journey through grief.
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Learning to Grieve
According to Papageorge, her book is intended to serve as a roadmap through grief that parents and kids can read together.
When we lose a loved one, we lose what psychologists call hidden regulators—sensory facets that subconsciously make us feel that things are okay in the world. It could be the sound of a parent’s car pulling into the driveway after work or the smell of a loved one’s cologne. Collins says that teachers and parents can
22 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com healthy kids
HOW TO HELP CHILDREN NAVIGATE THROUGH LOSS by Sandra Yeyati
Expressive writing (journaling using emotion words) promotes regulation of the nervous system, which in turn lowers that stress response and creates physiological relief, Collins notes, adding, “Scientific data suggests that the metacognition involved in identifying feelings and writing feeling-based words in narratives improves immune and liver function, elicits higher quality-of-life scores and improves psychological well-being.”
According to Brittany Collins, an educator, curriculum designer and author of Learning from Loss: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Supporting Grieving Students, “Grief elicits a fightor-flight stress response, and chronic exposure to high levels of stress hormones can have deleterious effects on development, especially in adolescents when the prefrontal cortex is still in development. At the same time, neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to grow, change and adapt at any point in life, is also at play. So, adolescence is a wonderful moment to introduce teens to coping strategies they can use throughout their life, whether that’s mindfulness, different types of emotional regulations, storytelling activities, meditation, journaling or yoga.”
“It’s important to acknowledge and validate the pain a child is experiencing,” she says. “When a toddler throws a tantrum at the store, instead of ignoring them or telling them to stop it, say ‘I know you’re disappointed and sad. I understand that; it doesn’t feel good. I’m here with you.’ Something magical happens when anyone at any age is acknowledged and understood.”
“The yellow balloon is a metaphor for all kinds of losses—divorce, death, grade school graduation,” explains the book’s author and certified grief worker Tiffany Papageorge. “We think of loss as the death of a person, but loss can also be any change, transition or disappointment—big or small. The older we get, the more we shake them off, but some disappointments can feel big in the moment, especially for little kids.”
The beginning pages of My Yellow Balloon are rendered in full color to illustrate Joey’s innocence. He has never known pain. After he loses the balloon, the ensuing pages turn black-and-white. “Loss is disorienting. I wanted to give kids that visceral understanding that it feels like the whole world turns upside-down and you just have to sit there helpless and watch your balloon float away—watch your life as you knew it getting away from you,” Papageorge says. “At first, Joey misses his yellow balloon all of the time, then he misses it most of the time, then a lot of the time and then just some of the time, and the color slowly comes back into his world. At the end, when he says, ‘I still miss you, but whenever I see the sun, I’ll feel you with me,’ that’s when the color has shadow, light and range, because when you go through a profound loss and feel your feelings, you can see the world with greater depth and empathy for those around you.”
A dults often want to shield children from suffering, but that isn’t always possible or advisable. Loss and grief are natural parts of life. Acknowledging and expressing uncomfortable feelings are necessary lessons in being human, and while there is no right way to grieve, adults can provide gentle guideposts. Most importantly, kids need to know that they aren’t alone as they process complicated emotions and integrate lessons of empathy and acceptance.
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Collins suggests that we ask kids how they’d like to memorialize a loss, preferably in community. Maybe they want to plant a tree in honor of someone’s memory or create a fundraiser for a cause that the loved one cared about.
Ultimately, the greatest gift we can give grieving children is our presence. According to Collins, one of the best predictors of adjustment is a psychological concept called “perceived support availability.” Letting young people know that we’re thinking about them and that we’re there if and when they need us can go a long way.
“Ask open-ended questions like, ‘What would be most helpful to you in this moment?’ or, ‘What makes you feel calm or connected?’ Find ways to inspire introspection and reflection without telling young people that we know the answer.”
Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
“Think about what form of outlet might resonate with young people and shift the onus away from one adult being the person that says and does the right thing, and instead wrapping a community around them for support,” she says. Helpful resources include mental health professionals; youth engagement programs where kids experiencing loss can share and learn from each other; and activities that offer release and friendship, such as theater, dance, sports or music.
Adults should resist the temptation to jump in and assume they know what’s best for a grieving child, Collins counsels.
Making space to remember a lost loved one or to honor something we’ve lost can be healing for both kids and adults.
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Collins suggests that caring adults shift their mindset away from being a savior, because grief is not something to be fixed or solved, and instead serve as a facilitator of connection.
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starting class the same way every day with a five-minute free-write, or scheduling regular visits with a special mentor or relative every Saturday. Kids come to rely on such anchors in times of stress, upheaval and loss.
When done correctly, dehydrating food is a safe method for maintaining its original state, says Tracey Brigman, NCHFP associate director and University of Georgia clinical assistant professor. “Dehydrators remove the water content in foods, resulting in a low risk of bacteria and spoilage.”
conscious eating Food
Sliced strawberries, chopped onions or celery are good foods for beginners.
MadeDehydrationEasy
Unlike other food preservation methods such as canning or fermenting, dehydrating food does not require lots of special equipment, tools or skill. “Dehydrating food is super easy to do,” says Carole Cancler, the Hawaii-based author of the Complete Dehydrator Cookbook. “Drying food is more forgiving. You can’t make a lot of mistakes. Canning, if you do it wrong, can make everyone in your family sick.” The only caveat, Cancler says, is that food not thoroughly dried will get moldy. In humid environments, dehydrated foods must be kept tightly sealed to keep out moisture and prevent mold from forming.
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by Sheila Julson
Julia Skinner, founder and director of Root-Kitchens.com, an online fermentation and food history company, adds that when foods theydehydrated,areshrink and therefore take up less storage space. “They’re great to pack for traveling or for small tomatoes.”asfltratealsoDehydratingkitchens.canconcen-someavors,suchwithdried
Almost Anything Can be Dehydrated Many types of food can be dehydrated, including fruit, veggies, meat, fish, herbs and nuts. “It’s easier to say what can’t be dehydrated,” Cancler says. “The general rule is you don’t want to dehydrate food that has a high fat content, such as fatty meats or avocados.” They go rancid quickly during storage. While there are dehydrated, highfat foods sold commercially such as cheese, peanut butter and eggs, these are processed using special equipment and techniques that can’t be copied in a home kitchen.
“People tend to throw those foods away a lot. They buy them and don’t use it all up before they spoil. Dehydrate leftover strawberries for snacks and dehydrate vegetables to use in soups or stews,” Cancler suggests.
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rying food is the oldest known method of food preservation. Middle and Far Eastern cultures have used the sun and wind to dry foods since 12,000 B.C., according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP). Today, the easy availability of food dehydrators offers a convenient way to preserve the fall harvest.
BEST WAYS TO PRESERVE THE HARVEST
1 cup clover honey ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp ground cloves
Source: National Center for Home Food Preservation
When purchased new, most food dehydrators include recipeWhenbooklets.usinga dehydrator, Skinner advises, turn it on to the appropriate set ting and lay the food in a single layer on the trays provided, then let the dehydrator run for a few hours. She usually turns food halfway through to prevent sticking.
MANGO LEATHER YIELD: 8 FRUIT ROLLS FROM ABOUT 2, 14-INCHDIAMETER DRYER TRAYS
25September 2022 LiliGraphie/AdobeStock.comyuriygolub/AdobeStock.com
Getting Started Starter model home food dehy drators, often found at resale stores or rummage sales, can be purchased for about $50. Some have adjustable temperature settings for different kinds of foods.
Lightly spray two fruit roll tray liners from an electric dehydrator with vegetable oil cook ing spray. Spread mango mixture evenly to ¼-inch thickness on the trays. Position fruit roll liners on dryer trays and place in dehydrator. Dry continuously for about 10 hours. Main tain dehydrator air temperature steadily at 140° F. (Monitor the dehydrator air temperature periodically with a thermometer.)
Cancler says that in some cases an oven can be used to dehydrate food, but it isn’t the most cost-effective method. “I don’t recommend continued use of the oven, because depending on where you live and the type or size of food being dried, drying can take anywhere from eight to 36 hours. Running an electric or gas range for that long uses a lot of energy.”
AIR-DRYING FRESH HERBS
She says that ideal temperatures are 125 to 135 degrees, but most standard ov ens only go as low as 170 degrees, which is too warm to dehydrate fruits or veg etables. “Then you must do wacky things like prop the door open to cool down the oven.” The exception, she says, is jerky: “It must be dried at a higher temperature, and lower-end food dehydrator models don’t get hot Sun-dryingenough.”foodsoutdoors is risky, Brigman cautions, due to varied weather conditions. In addition, insects and air pollution have to be considered. “For safety reasons, consumers should really purchase a food dehydrator. While it may be a high cost when you begin dehydrat ing, if you are a serious food preserver, it will save you money in the long term,” she says.
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.
Fresh herbs of choice (basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and dill are all good candidates)
Peel leather from trays while still warm. Leave the second tray on the dehydrator while peeling the first leather, or re-warm leathers slightly in the dehydrator if they cool too much prior to peeling. Cut into quarters, lay on a piece of clean parchment paper about 1 to 2 inches longer at each end of the leather and roll into fruit leather rolls. When cool, twist the ends of the parchment paper tightly to close. Store fruit rolls in an airtight container for short-term storage, up to about 1 month. Leathers should be stored in a cool, dark dry place. For longer storage up to one year, place tightly wrapped rolls in the freezer.
Remove trays from dehydrator when purée is dry, with no sticky areas (about 10 hours— this will be highly dependent on the relative humidity of the drying room). Test for dryness by touching gently in several places near the center of leather; no indentation should be evident.
String (such as cotton baker’s twine) Rinse off the fresh herbs and pat them dry. Tie the herbs by the stems in small bunches. Hang them upside-down indoors and out of direct sunlight. Depending on the type of herb, they will take several days to a week or longer to dry. When dry, crush herbs with a mortar and pestle or in a clean coffee grinder. Store in glass jars with tight-fitting lids.
4 cups mango purée (from about 4 large, unripe mangoes)
Preheat electric dehydrator to 140° F. Wash and peel mangoes, chop roughly into chunks. Purée in blender until smooth. Pass purée through a food mill or sieve; discard any coarse fiber extracted in food mill. Add honey and spices to the purée and mix thoroughly.
Enzymes and Probiotics
Digestive enzymes are used in supplemental form to improve or increase digestion and nutrient absorption. They can be derived from pancreatic, plant or microbial sources such as bacteria or fungi. Enzymes are important especially when the animal’s digestive processes become exhausted or inefficient, such as during periods of stress or such gastrointestinal diseases as acute gastroenteritis, pancreatitis or either liver or inflammatory bowel disease. Enzymes may also be helpful for cancer, allergies andProbioticsarthritis. are living, healthy bacteria and yeasts, many of which are a part of a dog’s or cat’s microbiome. They can assist with healing in a variety of ways, including producing healthy fatty acids; decreasing the attachment of harmful bacteria and yeasts to the intestinal walls; increasing antibody production; supporting immunity; restoring healthy GI flora; and reducing inflammation.
TOP SUPPLEMENTS FOR DOGS AND CATS
he market for pet products is awash with supplements, so it’s not surprising that it can be challenging to figure out what a dog or cat really needs. The foundation of any healthcare program for dogs and cats, regardless of age and breed, is a healthy diet, well-chosen and appropriate supplements, minimal vaccines and medications, and veterinary check-ups. Basic helpful additions to a pet diet include a vitamin-mineral product, an enzyme and probiotic combination, and a fatty acid. For older animals, a choline supplement may delay the onset of cognitive disorder. Any tweaking of diet and supplements should follow regular testing that may diagnose a disease in its early stages. Here’s an overview of the top basic supplements every dog or cat should have.
As a result, probiotics are useful for treating dogs and cats with a variety of medical problems, including leaky gut syndrome, acute non-specific gastroenteritis, antibiotic or other medication-induced diarrhea, allergies, stress, obesity, neurodegenerative disorders, high cholesterol
by Shawn Messonnier natural pet
Vitamins, Minerals and Joint Support
26 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com Healthier Pets
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To provide immune and antioxidant support, and to bolster digestion, skin and coat health and overall wellness, a basic supplement should contain vitamins and minerals as well as small amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
For dogs and cats 5 years old and up, a choline (phosphatidylcholine) supplement addresses aging changes that affect the brain and can lead to cognitive disorder. Choline is a component of several major phospholipids that are critical for normal cell membrane structure and function. The body uses it to maintain water balance; to control cell growth and gene expression; as a component of lung surfactant; and most importantly, to produce the major nerve transmitter acetylcholine. It may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering homocysteine levels.
Shawn Messonnier, DVM, owner of Paws & Claws Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Center, in Plano, Texas, is the author of several books on veterinary medicine. Under the guidance of a holistic or integrative veterinarian, supplements can add to a dog’s or cat’s health and longevity.
Choline is used to treat high cholesterol, improve memory and protect the liver. It may prevent fatty liver syndrome (especially in diabetics), help prevent or treat cognitive disorder and support liver function. It may reduce insulin requirements in diabetics and can reduce seizure frequency.
A good fatty acid fish oil supplement is also important. There are many brands on the market; some offer the flexibility of being administered either as a liquid (pump) or gel capsule. Phytoplankton, which serves as a food source for fish, is the source of the active ingredients docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Fish oil tends to be derived from cold-water fish rich in EPA and DHA such as wild (not farmed) salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring.
Choline
Fatty Acids
Supplements other than these can be used as needed, based on the results of diagnostic testing and regular veterinary health exams. Under the guidance of a holistic or integrative veterinarian, supplements can add to a dog’s or cat’s health and longevity.
27September 2022 levels, inflammatory and irritable bowel disorders, and GI and parasite infestations. Probiotics may also be helpful for middleaged and older dogs and cats, because GI microbial diversity diminishes with aging.
This is beneficial for the treatment of heart disease and may reduce atherosclerosis, thrombosis (blood clots), coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden cardiac death and stroke. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, fish oil is often used for dogs and cats for the treatment of skin problems, arthritis and cancer, along with heart, inflammatory bowel, autoimmune and kidney diseases. It may reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in cancer patients, decrease cancer growth and metastasis, and reduce wasting in undernourished animals.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Healing Forest Bathing Four Week Series –9-10:30am. Thursdays through 6 Oct. Hosted by 10.27 Healing Partnership and Frick Environmen tal Center. Coined in 1890s Japan when people were grappling with the stress and disconnect of the technology boom, forest bathing proved ben eficial to health. Gentle reflective walks through Frick Park are meant to nurture connection to the natural world leaving us refreshed, calmer, and spiritually centered. Free. Registration required at 1027HealingPartnership.org/Forest-Bathing. Info at 412-697-3534.
NOTE: Events were accurate at the time the magazine went to press – please call ahead to check for date or time changes. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review submissions guidelines at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com for more information. calendar of events
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Hilltop Harvest Fest Mt. Oliver – 3-6pm. Hosted by Hilltop Urban Farm, Hilltop Alliance, and Mt. Oliver Borough. Celebrate the harvest with farm fresh produce, Bee Boy honey, Brown Girl Eggs, Sol Patch Garden flowers, Soil Sisters, and live Blue grass. Enjoy food and beer vendors, a community art project led by Maria’s Ideas, and family-friendly activities by Sisters Place. 150 Brownsville Rd. Info HilltopUrbanFarm.org.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Webinar: Fall Wild Edibles – 5-5:45pm. Free webinar hosted by Allegheny Land Trust (Alt). Join Julie, ALT Senior Director of Education and Cur riculum, to look at common backyard edible wild plants. Register at Webinar.ForGood.com/Events/44103-Fall-Wild-Edibles-AlleghenyLandTrust.NetworkInfoAlleghenyLandTrust.org.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 HIIT, Yin Yoga, & Myofascial Release for the Over 30 Crowd with Richard Gartner – 10:30am12:15pm. As we age we lose muscle mass, bone density, elasticity and lymphatic flow. Yin Yoga releases tight connective tissue. Myofascial releases prep joints and connective tissue and primes the lymphatic system. HIIT increases cardiac fitness and blood health. Richard designed this program to slow the aging process and support affected body systems. Tickets $25 at SchoolHouseYoga. com/Workshops. 2239 Railroad St. Info School HouseYoga.com. Summer Drum Circle – 4-6pm. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. Learn about the healing qualities of drumming. No experience, percussion instruments provided. All ages. Donations welcome.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Summer Concert Series: Sugar Maple – 6:30pm. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. The band Sugar Maple plays Americana-based tunes. Bring a blanket or chair for an evening of music on the Event Lawn. $5/members, $15/non-members. Register at bit.ly/3OxQtgg. West Virginia Botanic Garden, 1061 Tyrone Road, Morgantown, WV.
Meditation & Breathwork with Gabrielle –6:15-7:15pm. Hosted by Gritstone Climbing and Fitness. Tap into your body’s innate ability to relax, restore, and heal. Member/nonmember and package pricing. Tickets and info at ClimbGritstone.com/ Yoga-classes. 1901 Eljadid St, Morgantown, WV.
28 Pittsburgh, PA NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com
Yoga for the Wise Body – 11am-noon. Hosted by YHL The Mind & Body Boutique. Youghiogheny Holistic Living specializes in massage, yoga, herbalism, and reiki. The boutique offers herbal teas, jewelry, clothing, and more. This Wise Body & Soul practice brings has stretching, vinyasa flow, gentle heat & meditation. $12 at the door. 110 South Pittsburgh St, Connellsville. Info at HolisticLiving.com/events-workshops.Youghiogheny Fall Bird Walk – 7:30am. Hosted by West Vir ginia Botanic Garden. Bring binoculars in search of late breeding birds and early fall migrants. Free/members, $15/non-members. Register at bit. ly/3NoJuWc. West Virginia Botanic Garden, 1061 Tyrone Road, Morgantown, WV.
Tea Tasting 101 – 6-7:30pm. Hosted by The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center. Learn about produc tion, preparation, and health benefits of the five types of true teas, and herbal and tisane teas. Light refreshments. $12:50. Reservations and info at TheTeaShoppeWV.com/events. 709 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 12th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival – Friday, Sept 16-Sunday, Sept 18. Noon9pm. Curated by Janis Burley Wilson of the August Wilson African American Culture Center. Tickets $45-$80. Details on performers, venues and tickets for this signature program and international tourism event at PittsburghJazzFest.org. Mushroom ID Hike with Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club – 10am-noon. Hosted by Al legheny Land Trust. Join in a mushroom hike and view a mushroom ID table at Audubon Greenway Conservation Area. No foraging on this walk. No walk-ins. Tickets $5 at andTrust.org.Area,hike-with-wpmc.workForGood.com/events/44099-mushroom-id-AlleghenyLandTrust.NetAudubonGreenwayConservationMageeRd,Sewickley.InfoAlleghenyL
Village Postpartum: A Sacred Passage – 11am2pm. Hosted by Nikole Grace, LMT CYT. Prenatal and Postpartum Women’s Circles rotate monthly. Mothers and babies in the postpartum year. Prac tice self-care such as womb massage, dance/yoga therapy, infant massage. Discuss common postpar tum emotions and milestones, connect with other new moms. $40 includes light lunch. Mothers and newborns only. Contact Nikole for info and to enroll: 304-376-8662.
Literary Tea-vent: Jane Austen – 6-7:30pm. Hosted by The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center. New monthly series of Literary Tea-vents focusing on an author or genre. Includes readings from Austin’s works with discussion of literary style and themes. You are invited to dress in vintage clothing and en joy food from the time period. Wine menu available. $30. Registration and info at TheTeaShoppeWV. com/events. 709 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Salted Restorative with Laura – 10-10:45am. Hosted by Sterling Yoga. Practice presence and mindfulness in the Himalayan salt cave. Tickets $25 at SterlingYoga.PunchPass.com/Timeslot. 393 Vanadium Rd. SterlingYoga.com. Walk with a Doc – 2-3pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Children’s Hospital of Pitts burgh at Schenley Plaza. Join a doctor-led, familyfriendly walk. Learn healthy habits and meet new friends. Free. Register at Support.PittsburghParks. org/site/Calendar. 4100 Forbes Ave. Vegan Fall Party (Castle Shannon) – 5-9pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Vegan Expo. Join the party Not just for vegans. Shopping, wellness, vendors, food. Family friendly, free admission at Sound Institution Wellness & Massage, 3857 Willow Ave. PittsburghVegan.com.
Nature Play Date – 1-3pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Frick Environmental Cen ter. Bring your family to the Nature Play Space. Best for children 10 and under. Free. RSVP at Support. PittsburghParks.org/site/Calendar. 2005 Beechwood Blvd. Info PittsburghParks.org.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Tea with Mary Poppins – 10-11am. Hosted by The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center. Mary Poppins will stop by for tea and a magical time, entertaining with activities and a craft. Lunch provided. Age 3+ and must be accompanied by adult. $25. Reservations and info at TheTeaShoppeWV.com/events. 709 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV. Ayurvedic Wisdom for Women’s Health –1-3pm. Hosted by Turiya Holistic Health and Una Biologicals. The oldest know medical system has a unique approach to women’s health with a ho listic understanding of monthly cycle, hormones, menopause, and common disorders. $35, zoom available. Tickets at St.ayurvedic-wisdom-for-womens-health.UnaBiologicals.com/products/3707ButlerUnaBiologicals.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Beechview Community Clean-up – 10am-noon. Hosted by Pretty Up Beechview. Gloves, bags, drinking water provided. Do good with the folks who make our neighborhood a better place. Meet at the corner of Broadway and Beechview Ave. PrettyUpBeechview.org.
First Friday Walk/Hike 10-11:30am. Hosted by Allegheny Land Trust at various interesting parks and green areas around greater Pittsburgh. For info on location, focus, and cost go to 412-741-2750.leghenyLandTrust.networkforgood.com/events.Al
Guided Meditation with Energy Healing – 6-7pm. Hosted by Salt of the Earth. Fully relax physically and mentally in the salt cave, lying in an anti-gravity recliner while Kara Anthony guides you through meditation. Tickets $55 at Clients.MindBodyOn line.com/classic/ws. Salt of the Earth, 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray. 724-260-0472.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Restorative Yoga in the Salt Cave – 6:457:45pm. Through Dec. Hosted by Salt of the Earth. Revive and restore with awesome and unique combination of restorative yoga and de toxifying salt. Tickets Valleycom/classic/MainClass.clients.MindBodyOnline.SaltoftheEarth,504BrookRd,McMurray.
Friday Family Walk – 10am-Noon. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. First Friday of ev ery month. Enjoy a short story followed by a walk around the Garden, conclude with a simple craft. Trail accommodates off road strollers. Members/ free, $15/donation per family suggested. Prereg istration required: wvbg.org or Forms.donorsnap. com/form.
friday
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
THRIVE Carmichaels Community Garden Proj ect Meeting – 6-7pm every second Wed. Hosted by Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA. Attend in person or via Zoom. Fellowship Hall, 101 W South St, Carmichaels. Info 724-223-547.7 Evening Yoga in the Garden – 6:30-7:30pm at West Virginia Botanic Garden. Use breathing tech niques to relax, postures to strengthen muscles, and guided meditation to calm the mind, body, and spirit. $12/members, $15/nonmembers. Tickets and info at WVBG.org. 1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV. thursday Yoga Classes – 9:30-10:30am. 1st & 2nd Thurs. Hosted by Spruce Street United Methodist Church. All ages and abilities with variations to accommodate health and movement issues, with students sitting or standing next to a chair. Emphasis on meditative practices. Wear comfortable clothing. 386 Spruce St, Morgantown, W Virginia. 304-292-3359.
Nourish the Body Mind & Soul Expo – Saturday, Sept 24-Sunday, Sept 25. 10am-5pm. Hosted by Gratzie Ventures. Exhibits, mini-lectures, and pre sentations Tickets at the door: $10/one day, $15/two days. Children under 10 free. Monroeville Conven tion Center, 209 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville. Info 412-580-2486.
Loving Thy Neighbor Summer Block Party – 3-11pm. Hosted by The Society House. A day of family, friends, & fun under the sun. Live performances, vendors, food trucks, arts & crafts. Admission $0 Food and Table Vendors slots $40. Performer slots $0. 832 Freeland St. Info theEmotionlessSociety@gmail.com.
29September 2022 Register at bit.ly/3Og3PxT. West Virginia Botanic Garden, 1061 Tyrone Road, Morgantown, WV.
tuesday
Table-Top Tuesday – 11am-2pm. Hosted by Pitts burgh Parks Conservancy at Schenley Plaza. Enjoy a selection of free, classic table-top games through October. Games are available on a first-come basis. Schenley Plaza, 4011 Forbes Ave. Laser Cutting Workshop – Thru Nov. 7-9pm. Meets once a month. Hosted by Prototype PGH. Learn to use the Full Spectrum Muse CO2 Laser at Prototype PGH for etching and cutting. This laser cutter can cut acrylic, fabric, leather, paper, rubber and wood. It can also etch coated metals, glass, and stone. $10 at Eventbrite. 460 Melwood Ave, Oakland. Info: PrototypePGH.com. wednesday Yoga and Sound Bath 7-8:15pm. 1st Wed. With Susannah Azzaro. $25. Himalayan Institute of Pitts burgh, 300 Beverly Rd. 412-344-7434.
Sound Bath Thursdays – 7-8pm. Hosted by Har monic Egg Wellness and Rooted in Sound. Visit us in The Strip’s newest Wellness Center. Gongs and therapy grade Himalayan singing bowls create space for deep meditation and relaxation. $30. Tickets at boardman.WellnessLiving.com/schedule/harmonic_egg_412-609-8999.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Vegan Autumn Equinox Party (J&D Cellars Winery, Washington PA) – 6-9pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Vegan Expo and J&D Cellars Winery at the Street at the Meadows. Family friendly, free admission. Small business vendors: food, goods & wearables, live music. 100 Adios Dr, Washington, PA. PittsburghVegan.com. Messages from the Other Side – 7-9pm. Hosted by Peace, Love, & Zen Wellness Center. Relax in and benefiting from the Salt Cave while experienc ing evidential mediumship with local, well-known spiritual medium, teacher, and author Carole Obley. $60. Registration required at St.BodyOnline.com/Classic/Mainclass.Clients.Mind6023Broad412-661-0777.
Friday 101 – Carnegie Science Center Fab Lab Public Workshops – 1-2pm. Hosted by BNY Mel lon Fab Lab Carnegie Science Center. Take a crash course in maker technology – learn the basics of 3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, and more. $30/nonmembers, $25/members. One Allegheny Ave. 412-237-3400. Register: CarnegieScience Center.org. saturday Morgantown Farmers Market – 8:30-Noon. Sat urdays through October. Wide variety of food and farm products grown and made by vendors within 50 miles of the market. 400 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Info mfmgamanager@gmail.com. All-Levels Vinyasa Flow with Sarah – 10-11am. Hosted by Gritstone Climbing and Fitness. Get your Zen on and bliss out with this gentle yet challenging flow. Member/nonmember pricing and packages available. Tickets at ClimbGritstone.com. 1901 Eljadid St, Morgantown, WV. 3D Printer Workshop – Noon-2pm. Hosted by Prototype PGH. Learn to use the Elegoo UV Photocuring 3D resin printer. $10 at Eventbrite. 460 Melwood Ave, Oakland. Info: PrototypePGH.com. Prototype PGH – Monthly Open House – Noon2pm Second Sat of the month. Meet with members of our team to ask questions about Prototype and the events, workshops and services offered. Donations appreciated to cover free events and workshops. 460 Melwood Ave #208. RSVP on our Facebook page. ongoing events sunday Sunday’s Restorative Rejuvenation – 5-6:30pm. 3rd Sun. Hosted by Morgantown Power Yoga. All levels welcome. Learn to use breath, props, and focused awareness to decrease stress and anxiety in the body and the mind. Compliment your power yoga practice with restorative rejuvenation. $25. 235 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Tickets: Clients. MindBodyOnline.com.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 For the Love of Polkas – Judy Stringhill’s Retirement Party – 2-7pm. Hosted by Judy E. Stringhill at the Slovenian Hall. Judy is going out in style, retiring after promoting Polka dances for the last 54 years. Not to worry, hosting duties will be taken up by Linda Pocratsky. Judy hopes to see everyone at her retirement party featuring Ray Jay and the Carousels. Donation $14. Slovenian Hall, 137 Yukon Ave, Yukon.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Focused Tea Tasting – 6-7:30pm. Hosted by The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center. Learn about production, preparation, and health benefits of the somewhat rare White Tea and Pu-erh (aged) Tea. Light refreshments. $12:50. Reservations and info at TheTeaShoppeWV.com/events. 709 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV.
6th Annual Yoga in the Park Series – 10-11am at Allegheny Commons Park, May 28-August 27. Hosted by Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Free. Meet at Allegheny Commons West near Brighton & Ridge. CounselingWellnessPGH.com.
The Seventh Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Fes tival – 11am-7pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center. Celebrate the rich culture of China with music, art, food and exhibits at Mellon Park. The 40th anniversary of the union of Wuhan, China and sister city Pittsburgh and will also be grandly celebrated. Info 724-888-3166. Mellon Park, 1047 Shady Ave.
monday Monday Evening with the Wellness Warrior 6:30-7:15pm. Learn about a different health and wellness topic every week. Zoom in at Zoom. us/j/92446493853. Meeting ID: 924 4649. Steve@ WellnessWarrior.coach. 1 Hood Power Hour 7-8pm. A virtual forum hosted by 1 Hood Power to discuss all things politi cal in SWPA and beyond. A virtual public affairs forum featuring elected officials, policymakers and thought leaders. 617-517-7600. Facebook. com/1HoodPower.
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