Natural Awakenings Magazine Greater Pittsburgh Edition October 2021 by naturalawakeningsswpa

E R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Fall Fruits Shine in Savory Dishes A WORLD OF WATER WOES HOW WALKING BOOSTS HEALTH

FINDING JOY in a SIMPLER LIFE TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT

CLIMATE CHANGE October 2021 | Pittsburgh, PA Edition | naturalawakeningsswpa.com October 2021

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

PITTSBURGH, PA EDITION Publisher Michelle Dalnoky Editor Martin Miron Calendar Editor Sara Peterson Ad Designer Zina Cochran Design & Production C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Michelle Dalnoky Lisa Doyle

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letter from publisher

Harvest time is here. This is absolutely one of my most favorite times of the year. I haven’t had much time to tend my garden, but it’s still full of abundance. Because life has been so busy, the weeds have overtaken everything, but as I am a natural gardener, I also know that weeds can be beneficial. They bring pollinators and are fresh fodder for the chickens. I had many plants in my garden this year that were volunteers, meaning they sprouted on their own from discarded seeds. The chicken pen is full of tomato plants that just popped. They are still producing, and the chickens love them. They are certainly one of their favorite snacks! I also have an abundance of potatoes this year. I love being frugal and buy bags of organic potatoes that are reduced in price because they have sprouted, and I plant them. Then, voila! I have an abundance of potatoes that are so amazing. I still have several varieties of squash growing in the garden, most of which were also volunteers. I have cushaw, neck pumpkin, and carnival squash. The garlic has cured and now its about time to plant for next year. The corn, which was planted at the last minute, has young cobs on it and most exciting of all are my baby pawpaw trees. I planted them last year and waited and waited, and finally they have sprouted. I am over the moon and plan to transplant them all over my 6.5 acres as I build my food forest to feed humans and wildlife. I also want to share some of them. When I lived in Florida, I shared many fruit trees and I’m always so excited to see photos on Facebook from friends showing me the fruits from their trees. There is still time to plant plenty of things here like lettuce, radishes, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and most greens like kale, collards, spinach, etc. Sure, gardening is dirty and messy, but so worth it. Even if you are short on time you, can still have an abundant harvest if you clean up your harvest and prepare for spring—when the garlic scapes and wild onions are ripe and the ramps are ready!

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Contents 8 WATER SCARCITY WOES

A Global Problem That’s Getting Worse

16 10

10 WALK ABOUT

Simple Steps to Well-Being

12 FALL FRUITS FOR SAVORY DISHES

Fresh Approaches to Autumn Flavors

14 HEALTHY BREAST BASICS

Lifestyle Choices to Lower Disease Risks

16 LESS STUFF, MORE JOY

Ways to Live Simpler and Lighter on Mother Earth

20 TALKING TO KIDS

ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

What They Need to Know from Those They Trust

22 MICHAELEEN DOUCLEFF on Ancient Teachings for Modern Parenting

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23 THE QUIET POWER OF INTUITION

24 CANNABIS AND CANINES

How Cannabidiol Benefits Dogs

DEPARTMENTS 4 news brief 6 health briefs 8 green living 10 fit body 12 conscious eating

23 24 26 30 31

inspiration natural pet calendar resource guide classifieds

14 healing ways 20 healthy kids 22 wise words October 2021

news brief

Fall Cleanse/Detox

teve Manns, the Wellness Warrior coach, will host a five-day online Fall Detox/Cleanse from October 4 through 8. This is not a juice cleanse. Participants will be eating whole foods and Manns will supply delicious recipes to make it easy and fun. He says, “Give yourself a nourishing, detoxifying reset for the fall. Start the adventure to a healthier and happier life.” Cost is $99, including recipes, shopping list, handbook and much more via email, Register at WellnessWarrior.coach/ fall-detox. See Resource Guide listing, page 31.

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October 2021

cover artist

health briefs

Nature’s Pharmacy Awaits

Kay Larch

Raised in Southern California by two artists, Kay Larch says she didn’t follow in their footsteps. She grew up, started a family, moved to South Carolina and built a daycare center that she owned and operated. She filled the center with wall murals and did painting activities and after-school art classes with the kids, but she never considered herself an artist. She found ways to express her creative need for colorful and elaborate surroundings through painting projects she did for fun. One day, Larch decided to create a series of acrylic paintings on canvas. Out of curiosity, she submitted her work to a gallery. It was accepted for a show, which led to being featured in an article about the museum, interviews, commissioned work, more shows and the launching of her career as an artist at age 54. Larch is immersed in the art community, has added oil painting and drawing to her repertoire, and creates in a variety of styles. Her acrylic paintings have a comic-book style, while her oil paintings lean more toward realism. She admits she was influenced by growing up as a California hippie, traveling to Tijuana and seeing the vibrant colors of Mexican folk art and simply being an imaginative person. Her work has been featured in galleries, businesses and magazines and she sells original paintings, prints, greeting cards and a line of coloring books, in addition to commissioned work for people all around the world.

Find Kay Larch on Instagram (@KayLarch-Studio) or connect at Facebook.com/KayLarchStudio. 6

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April Smith is the owner of Native Holistics. For more information, call 1-888-994-3727 or visit NativeHolistics.com. See ad, page 11.

Eat Strawberries to Improve Blood Vessel Health A new study from Chicago’s Illinois Institute of Technology demonstrates that strawberries increase flow in blood vessels and reduce systolic blood pressure. In the randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, overweight and obese adults with moderately high cholesterol were assigned to drink either a beverage containing 25 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder or a similar drink without the strawberry powder twice daily for four weeks, followed by a four-week washout period. An hour after consumption, the strawberry powder improved flow-mediated dilation, indicating healthier blood pressure function; systolic blood pressure was lower even four weeks later. anete lusina/Pexels.com

Monarch

There are a plethora of medicinal and edible plant species right in our backyard. Cattails, (Typha latifolia), can be found dotted along the roadway and are common in wet, marshy areas. The mature flowers are tubular and brown which gives the species’ name. These fascinating plants are one of the top wildcrafted edible species. Indigenous cultures used this plant medicinally to aid internal bleeding, menstrual pain and chest pain. Parts of the plant can be used as an antiseptic to treat stings and blisters. Cattails have a myriad of uses. They are quite versatile, and nearly all parts of the plant are edible. Fire up the oven and find serenity in the warm, delicate taste of cattail biscuits or bread. The flower pollen can be used as a substitute for flour and contains high concentrations of protein. The early shoots and roots can all be consumed and are similar to those of asparagus. As always, make time to explore nature’s bounty.

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green living

Water Scarcity Woes A Global Problem That’s Getting Worse by Jeremiah Castelo

By 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in areas of water stress as people will be unable to access the water they need. Climate change, population growth, agricultural demands and mismanagement of water resources all contribute to the growing water crisis. The world’s population will rise to 9.7 billion by 2050, leaving even more people in water-stressed conditions. An estimated 60 percent of all surface water on Earth comes from river basins shared by separate nations and almost 600 aquifers cross national boundaries. In places where water is already scarce, this can lead to geopolitical conflict. Three in 10 people on Earth currently do not have access to safe and clean water. According to the World Health Organization, 2.1 billion people do not have access to a safely managed water source. An estimated 263 million people must travel over 30 minutes to access water that isn’t clean, and 159 million still drink from untreated surface water sources. 8

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ater scarcity is a legitimate concern. It is true that the hydrologic cycle, the process in which the Earth circulates water throughout its ecosystems, is a closed-loop cycle that neither adds nor takes away water. In theory, the amount of water on Earth will always remain the same. But problems occur when the hydrologic cycle is disrupted, causing some regions to grow arid while others get constant floods. The human activities that disrupt that process include the building of dams, the industrial pollution of waterways, the paving of roads, excessive drilling and bottled water privatization. Here are 10 of the most alarming water scarcity facts that the world is currently facing.

One in three people worldwide does not have access to a toilet. Around 2.3 billion people lack access to even basic sanitation services, forcing them to either practice open defecation or use pit latrines and buckets. Fecal contamination in the water supply is a major cause of deadly waterborne diseases such as hepatitis A, norovirus and E. coli. Annually, 1.6 million people die from waterborne diseases. Of the 5 million people that become ill from bad water, most are children. Water privatization causes harm. When corporations site water bottling operations in developing countries like India and Bolivia, they significantly deplete supplies needed by local farmers. In the U.S., when a struggling public water or electricity utility sells their rights to a private corporation, household water and sewer services typically become, respectively, 59 percent and 63 percent more costly. In the U.S., 2.1 trillion gallons of clean water is lost each year due to poor infrastructure, including old, leaky pipes and broken water mains. David Le France, CEO of the American Water Works Association, estimates that repairing America’s water infrastructure will be a trilliondollar program. Due to divided efforts in governmental decision making, adequate policies and budgeting are often difficult to come by.

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Often, water burdens fall upon women, some of whom walk four miles a day just to fetch water that is likely contaminated. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, it takes about six hours to carry a 44-pound container of water from a source that often has the potential to make them sick, according to the Global Water Institute. One-third of the world’s largest aquifers are water-stressed. Underground aquifers are naturally replenished through rainfall and surface water, but a deficit occurs when more water is pumped out than

replenished. Eight of the biggest aquifers, including those in Saudi Arabia, northwestern India and Pakistan, are not being replenished at all. Meeting the United Nations’ sustainable development goals for the water crisis will cost $114 billion per year. Attaining these critical goals will be timeconsuming, expensive and may face political division. Yet the cost of not doing so is also high. Addressing healthcare needs due to water-related diseases and poor sanitation costs $260 billion globally each year. Water scarcity is real. To ignore it or to assume that it is only a problem of the

developing world is to be blind to the reality that the rest of the world is experiencing. Excessive water consumption and poor water management are factors that can be controlled. Supporting clean water initiatives will certainly help the movement against the global water crisis. Finally, educating ourselves and raising awareness is a task we should all take on. Jeremiah Castelo is the founder of World WaterReserve.com, which publishes information on water scarcity and purification methods. This article is excerpted and reprinted with permission.

Water Scarcity Solutions

1 2

Save Water Limit the use of water and of washing machines. Take short showers instead of full baths. Educate Empower people to help by showing them how to prevent and mitigate water scarcity problems now and in the future.

Recycle Water Learn about and employ available technologies to recycle rainwater and other water used at home.

4 5

Support Water Conservation Allocate money and time to help water conservation efforts around the world. Improve Farming Practices Farming and irrigation practices and technologies need to become more efficient.

Use Fewer Chemicals in Farming To ensure clean water and reduce water shortages, farmers need to decrease their use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to groundwater pollution.

Improve Sewage Systems Improving sewage systems in underserved areas will help to provide clean drinking water and prevent disease and water scarcity.

Better Water Distribution Infrastructure To prevent severe water shortages in times of drought, efforts are needed to connect poor people in developing countries to public water supplies.

Support Clean Water Initiatives Donate money, time and skills to organizations worldwide that are working to bring clean water to areas that don’t have it. Source: Conserve Energy Future at Conserve-Energy-Future.com.

October 2021

fit body

WALK ABOUT Simple Steps to Well-Being by Laura Paisley Beck stead of drive, go for it. If you’re stuck indoors, schedule 15-to-20-minute walks in your calendar.” It’s important to put it in the calendar because, he says, “You have to make it real.” McClerkin recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of brisk walking a day to increase blood flow throughout the entire body, especially the legs.

grigory bruev /AdobeStock.com

Oh, the Places to Go

eople that wear a fitness watch get a little buzz on the wrist as a reminder to get more steps in each hour, but many ignore the simple opportunity that exists to exercise upright for free anytime and anywhere. “Yes, we take walking for granted,” says Alexia McClerkin, a Houston chiropractor whose clients include professional and elite athletes. “Most people only walk as far as it takes to get to their car.”

Sitting is the New Smoking According to On Your Feet America, Americans sit 10 hours or more each day, and that sedentary habit is considered hazardous to our health. It may contribute to climbing obesity rates in the U.S., currently at 44.5 percent among those ages 40 to 59. Today’s most common preventable diseases are directly linked to obesity, the key word being “preventable.” Walking briskly daily has proven to increase metabolism, lower both blood pressure and resting heart rates, and burn calories. Other benefits include improving mobility, equilibrium and stamina. Benjamin Horning, a Laguna Hills, California, chiropractor and author of A Kid’s Guide to a Healthy Spine, says, “I’m a big believer that movement is life. I recommend that if you can move, get moving. Walking is a good starting point. If you can walk in10

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In the U.S., dogs and humans face similar obesity statistics with similar obesityrelated health issues like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Taking dogs out for brisk walks helps prevent and reduce those risks. Horning says that people may not realize how walking a dog conditions their own bodies. With natural surfaces like grassy or gravel trails and dirt paths, “there are so many neurobiological adjustments you’re making,” he says. Every nature walk provides an opportunity for our bodies to practice balance and sharpen its reflexes.

Foundation Fundamentals “Proper shoes make a world of difference,” McClerkin says. They can help prevent plantar fasciitis, hammertoe and many other causes of pain and discomfort. Anya Jensen, of AnyasReviews.com, a shoe review website, suffered painful foot health issues and discovered the lifechanging results of wearing “barefoot” shoes, which have a flat sole and high flexibility. Now she makes it her mission to educate others that fashion doesn’t have to compromise health. “Walking was an important part of my health journey,” she says. “The feet literally are your foundation when you’re walking. Walking in

pointed-toed shoes, you’re missing out on so many benefits for your physical health.” Jensen walks with her kids daily in nature and is proud of their mobility. “With the kids, we need a destination and we pack snacks,” she says. “I like how the world has opened up to us because we’re prepared. We’re wearing the right shoes. We can encounter hills, rocks or the right tree.”

Heads Up McClerkin and Horning both ask patients to be mindful of their limitations when taking on a new physical activity and to be careful to prevent injuries when adding brisk walks to a daily routine for the first time. “Too heavy a walk on cement and other hard surfaces like roads can cause shin splints,” McClerkin says. “Walk on a track to prevent injuries from an uneven surface.” “Just be responsible,” says Horning. “Walking is so beneficial. The basics of health just can’t be ignored or taken for granted.” Humans walk upright on two feet, unlike any other animal on Earth. Walking allows us to connect with our bodies and environment in a very special way, something we can take advantage of instead of taking for granted. Let’s go for a walk. Laura Paisley Beck is a freelance writer in Madison, Wisconsin. Reach out at LauraPaisleyBeck@gmail.com.

Tips for Healthy Walking n Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. n Fuel up with whole foods like fruit

and nuts.

n Stretch before and after walking. n Wear proper shoes with good arch

support and wide toe boxes.

n Wear wicking clothing layers,

reflective for dark hours.

n Invite canine friends. n Have a regular walking buddy to

keep each other committed.

n Keep the pace/heart rate up, perhaps

using a fitness watch to stay on track.

n Consider adding poles for a full

body workout and increased stability. October 2021

green living conscious eating

Fall Fruits for Savory Dishes fresh approaches to autumn flavors

beton studio/AdobeStock.com

by April Thompson

ove over, summer berries and stone fruits—‘tis the season for a cornucopia of fall fruits, including crunchy apples, chewy figs and tart pomegranates. By taking a page from the playbooks of orchard chefs, home cooks can flex the unique flavors and health powers of these autumn delights with savory mains and sides. Fall fruits boast many healthful properties, from the apple’s plentiful soluble fiber and vitamin C to heart-healthy lycopene and beta-carotene found in orange-skinned persimmons. Pears are also loaded with pectin, which helps lower cholesterol, fight diabetes and promote gut health. Opting for light, savory prepara12

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tions of fruit such as seasonal salads and soups over sugary desserts makes them an even healthier choice. Healdsburg, California, restauranteur Kyle Connaughton creates dishes highlighting different fruit varieties for his restaurant’s 11-course menu, which changes daily. “This region was actually known for its heirloom apples and cider-making long before it was known for wine. We have these incredible heirloom fruits, including experimental varietals from the 1800s that no one even knows what they are. So many varietals got lost in the quest to grow fruit bigger and faster,” says Connaughton, who runs SingleThread Farms with his wife Katina. Their 25 acres include an heirloom fruit orchard, olive trees, beehives, grapevines and chicken coops that supply fresh ingredients to their three-Michelin-star restaurant. “Some pear varieties are very crisp and dense, and poach and roast well, whereas other soft-skin varieties are better pureed into drinks or sorbet,” says Connaughton. He creates dishes that celebrate all of the season’s bounty, and in California, fall brings persimmons and Dungeness crab. “Persimmons have a fibrous texture that don’t blend well into sauces and don’t freeze well for things like sorbets, which we like to make with other fall fruits like pomegranate. We prefer to use them in savory dishes, like a first course of cold steamed crab with persimmon.” The orchard also grows Asian pears, which SingleThread Farms tends to use raw, often paired with raw fish. “Asian pears are very crisp, but not incredibly sweet, with an undertone of acidity. It has the watery crunch of a jicama that makes a nice backdrop for raw fish dishes like sashimi,” says Connaughton. While the restaurant’s innovative menu focuses on small bites in curious combinations, the Connaughtons frequently have a simple family meal before the dinner service. In autumn, they will often toss together a salad featuring local goat or blue cheese; bitter chicory, frisee or radicchio greens; roasted fall hazelnuts or walnuts; and figs, persimmons or pomegranates from the orchard, served with a vinaigrette made with pomegranate molasses and macerated shallots. The pink-fleshed, mountain rose apple, an autumn specialty of the Hood River Fruit Loop region of Oregon, often makes its way into salads at the dinner table of Katrina McAlexander, a thirdgeneration farmer and owner of Grateful Vineyard, in Mount Hood. This 51-acre orchard and vineyard, brewery, winery and tasting room boasts more than 500 fruit varieties, including 150

marina gorskaya/AdobeStock.com Image courtesy of USA Pears marina gorskaya/AdobeStock.com Image courtesy of USA Pears marina gorskaya/AdobeStock.com

kinds of apples alone. Grateful Vineyard hosted the cooking competition show Top Chef this year for a Fruit Loop challenge, with competitors coming up with savory dishes such as pear risotto and scallops with an apple shallot relish. McAlexander’s fall salads often feature fennel, herbs and arugula, topped with croutons made from leftover pizza dough. Pears and apples from the orchard also get pickled, a nod to McAlexander’s Swiss heritage. One of the vineyard tasting room’s signature dishes is an orchard pear pizza, with Anjou pears, caramelized onion and other savory ingredients on a base of olive oil and a long-ferment crust. The kitchen also uses pears in a vegan ceviche, tossing them with red onion, tomato, cucumber, cilantro and lime. As the weather starts to shift, fruit adds a nice dimension to warming soups for chilly fall days. Adding cooked apples or pears to classics like puréed carrot or squash soup provides an extra dose of sweetness and fiber; sneak in fall greens like kale for even more nutrients. Fruits also help fill out hearty grain bowls alongside fall veggies like carrots, arugula and sweet potato, particularly paired with nutty grains like farro. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

Pear and Lentil Salad Salad: A few handfuls of arugula A few handfuls of spinach ½ pear, sliced into thin slices 2 Tbsp chopped pecans ¼ cup cooked lentils ¼ cup pomegranate seeds ¼ cup feta or goat cheese Dressing: 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard ¼ cup olive oil 2 Tbsp maple syrup ¼ tsp cinnamon Salt and pepper Pour a desired amount of dressing onto the salad and toss. Store the rest in the fridge.

Pear Barley Salad Salad: ⅓ cup walnuts 1 cup uncooked barley 1 cup cooked chickpeas 2 green Anjou pears, divided ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes ¾ cup crumbled feta ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 1 handful baby arugula Dressing: 3 Tbsp red onion, minced ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ⅓ cup olive oil 2 tsp maple syrup 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp dried oregano ½ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp pepper Cook barley according to package instructions. Drain. Toast walnuts in a small skillet. Let cool. Add minced onion in a small bowl with the vinegar and let marinate while you prep the salad. Chop 1-½ pears and save remaining half for fanning and decorating the salad. Add cooked barley, chickpeas, pear, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, parsley and feta to a large bowl. Mix the remaining dressing ingredients with the vinegar and red onion, and whisk until combined. Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss to coat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Recipe by Brittany Mullins (@eatingbirdfood), courtesy of USA Pears.

Recipe by Maria Roberts (@spinach4breakfast), courtesy of USA Pears.

October 2021

healing ways

Healthy Breast Basics Lifestyle Choices to Lower Disease Risks by Sandra Yeyati

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ne in eight women in the United States develops breast cancer in the course of her lifetime. “Notably, only five to 10 percent can be blamed on inherited gene mutations, and merely 13 percent of women with breast cancer have a first-degree relative with a history of disease,” says Kristi Funk, a board-certified breast surgeon in Santa Monica, California, and medical director of PinkLotus.com. “It’s empowering to realize that the causes for the vast majority of breast cancer are under our control in the choices we make every day.” “Whenever you lift fork to mouth, you move closer to cancer, or farther away,” says the author of Breasts: The Owner’s Manual—a vegan proponent. “Plants, legumes and whole grains provide nutritional armor for your cells, decreasing cancer risk. They release molecules that scavenge free radicals, eliminate carcinogens, prevent and repair DNA damage, identify and destroy harmful cells, inhibit the supply of blood to tumors, stimulate the immune system, regulate hormone metabolism and reduce inflammation.” Funk recommends regular consumption of cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, soy, ground flaxseed, berries, matcha green tea, mushrooms, turmeric, aloe vera, garlic, onion, chives and cacao. Functional doctor Elizabeth Boham, the medical director of Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, proposes a balance of animal and vegetable protein, as long as the animal sources are good, like eggs, salmon or grass-fed beef without antibiotics. “Organic, non-GMO soy like tofu

or edamame may decrease a woman’s risk of breast cancer, but avoid bad soy that’s added to processed food, including soybean oils and soy lecithins,” she advises. “I also suggest cutting back on dairy for women at high risk of breast cancer because it naturally contains growth hormones, which may cause things to grow in our body that we don’t want to grow.” Citing a clear association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk, Boham recommends eliminating or moderating drinks to no more than five a week. She also highlights the importance of seven to nine hours of sleep and relaxation techniques to improve stress response. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important. “Our body fat is where hormones get turned into estrogen, which has been associated with an increase in breast cancer,” Boham says, adding that 35 grams of fiber per day will feed healthy bacteria in the gut which helps eliminate used-up estrogen and other toxins. “Avoid xenoestrogens, too, which can act on the estrogen receptor, such as BPA in plastics and store receipts, parabens in skincare products and pesticides and herbicides on lawns and in non-organic foods.” Boham suggests eliminating refined and processed carbohydrates like bread, white rice and cookies, which cause blood sugar to spike and the body to produce insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar after every meal. “Over time, people develop insulin resistance, causing it to produce even more insulin to do its job. Those high levels of insulin can encourage cancer growth,” she explains. Carlos Garcia, M.D., director of the Utopia Cancer Center (UtopiaCancerCenter.com), in Oldsmar, Florida, and author of Cancer is a Symptom, uses liver and gallbladder flushes, colonic irrigations and coffee enemas to help the body purge toxins. “Gut flora imbalances compromise the immune response and nutritional absorption. Yearly colonic irrigation with recolonization is essential in the prevention of disease,” he explains. Some women experience breast tenderness or pain and lumpy, bumpy breast tissue; having dense breasts can increase breast cancer risk, Boham says, noting that too much caffeine or an iodine deficiency can exacerbate these symptoms. She recommends consuming less coffee and more iodine-rich foods like nori, kelp powder or seafood. According to Boham, there isn’t enough good research to say that we should never wear underwire bras, but good lymphatic flow and circulation to the area is important and can be facilitated with daily movement, exercise and sweating to remove stuck toxins and support the detoxification system. Boham says many women find their breast cancer during a self-exam. “Know your own body. If something looks or feels different, if you feel a lump that shouldn’t be there or see a shift in the skin, a dimpling or a pulling, have it checked. It’s often nothing, but you could find the cancer early, which makes all the difference in the world.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com. October 2021

Less Stuff, More Joy Ways to Live Simpler and Lighter on Mother Earth by Ronica O’Hara

hen holistic wellness coach and personal trainer Sergio Rojas saw his contract with a trucking company terminated by the pandemic, he and his wife Krista turned it into an opportunity to step away from a life of too much stuff and over-scheduled activities. “When life gets too complicated and there’s too much going on, you get stressed and irritated easier,” he says. “You don’t feel connected to yourself.” The couple sold their 4,200-square-foot house in Dubuque, Iowa, along with 85 percent of their belongings and spent eight months living out of suitcases exploring the southeastern United States and Latin America with their 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son. “We wanted our kids to see what it’s like to downsize, to live with less,” says Rojas. After considering Vancouver and Miami, they settled in the Atlanta area in a townhouse half the size of their Iowa home 16

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not far from extended family. “A simpler life lets you focus on what’s important,” he says. “We have deep, deep conversations with our kids, and dinner can be a two-and-a-half-hour experience, with a game of cards and singing songs.” Not everyone moves in such dramatic fashion toward a simpler lifestyle, but thanks in part to the lessons of COVID-19, intentionally living with less is gaining currency across the country. “The pandemic gave us an uninvited sample of a more minimalist and simple life, and we have all become acutely aware of what feels good to let go of and what’s really important to us,” says minimalist blogger Ema Hidlebaugh, of MinimizeMyMess.com. According to research from the multinational consulting firm Accenture, the pandemic made consumers more mindful of purchases, more conscious of food waste and more interested in sustainable, local options. Other polls found that two out of

cups. As one woman told her, “I’ve just realized I’m working my fingers to the bone to provide a home for my furniture!”

three Americans adopted more eco-friendly habits during the pandemic, and that 52 percent are open now to living in a van. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for simpler living; each person crafts what best fits their values and needs. Three common strands have emerged: minimalist simplicity—living with less clutter and busyness; ecological simplicity—living with the sustainability of the planet as the priority; and conscious simplicity—driven by deep personal and spiritual values. The approaches can overlap, yet each has its unique flavor. None has an end stage: All are dynamic explorations and encourage continual experimentation and growth.

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Minimalist Simplicity

With time, they often merge together. In an in-depth study published in the International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, people living long-term minimalist lifestyles reported spending more time with family and friends, volunteering, engaging in pro-ecological behaviors, making sustainable and ethical purchases, and choosing to spend money on experiences rather than material objects. They described their mental space as a feeling of clear-headedness, spaciousness and lightness, and some said that stripping back to minimal possessions enabled them to strip back to their true identity. Moving toward simplicity often starts with a decision—sometimes thrust upon us—to reconsider how to spend our energy. “Whatever you own, owns you,” counselled pacifist, mystic and environmental activist Peace Pilgrim in the 1980s—a sobering thought, given that the average American household is estimated to hold 300,000 separate items, from T-shirts to coffee

Minimalism involves “owning less, practicing sufficiency and improving the quality of life by not indulging in consumerism,” says Aniruddha Pangarkar, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, whose study on the topic appeared in the Journal of Business Research. “By practicing minimalism, consumers can achieve life-goals through experiencing well-being, satisfaction, happiness and peace.” A 2019 YouGov survey reported that 17 percent of Americans describe themselves as minimalists, 23 percent would like to become one and 31 percent have no interest in the idea. Historically, minimalism in America goes back to the Quakers and Henry David Thoreau’s writings, but it gained new life in 2014 with Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She says holding each object and asking, “Does it spark joy?” If it doesn’t, thank it and toss it, she advises. After her Netflix series ran in 2019, thrift stores reported a dramatic upswing in donations. Because research suggests that clutter is linked to depression, fatigue and higher levels of stress, decluttering alone can be lifechanging. Journalist Ellen Pober Rittberg, of Brooklyn, moved into a one-room studio when she downsized from her house. “I could have chosen a one-bedroom apartment, but it would have meant more places to put things that I probably didn’t need to acquire,” she says. Asking if something “sparks joy” can also be applied to everything from friendships to jobs to food and finances, whittling away what is not essential. As millennials are discovering, renting instead of owning a home frees up weekends for fun instead of home repairs. Using Lyft or Uber and mass transit saves money otherwise spent on car loans, repairs and gas. Spurning designer brands opens up funds for trips to Yellowstone or Iceland. “Even though everyone embraces minimalism differently, each path leads to the same place: a life with more time, more money and more freedom to live a more meaningful life,” advise Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus in their top-rated blog TheMinimalists.com, which has 20 million followers. “Getting started is as simple as asking yourself one question: How might your life be better if you owned fewer material possessions?”

Ecological Simplicity This green approach means “to choose ways of living that touch the Earth more lightly and that reduce our ecological impact on the web of life,” writes eco-activist Duane Elgin in his seminal book Voluntary Simplicity. Half a century ago, the Whole Earth Catalog kicked off the movement with its Earth-centered living strategies. Today, thousands of websites and books offer stepby-step ecological advice, recycling has become commonplace, electric cars are the hottest sellers and according to the National Retail Federation, 70 percent of American consumers value sustainability in products. October 2021

“With conscious simplicity, we can seek lives that are rich with experiences, satisfaction and learning, rather than packed with things,” writes Elgin. Sometimes passion is the driver. Alex Honnold, the renowned rock climber profiled in Free Solo, lived in a van for 10 years while scaling Yosemite’s El Capitan and other formidable peaks. He donates one-third of his income to global solar power initiatives. Millennials like him are finding stuff less enticing: The Harris Group reports that 72 percent of them say they would rather spend money on experiences than material things. A study from San Francisco State University found that the happiness of buying something new like a car or a laptop fades over time, while spending money on an experience provides joy long after the experience has ended. Deeply held values can mandate a simpler life. Ross Martinie Eiler found his calling 15 years ago when he read about the voluntary poverty of the Catholic Worker Movement, which offers hospitality to the homeless in 178 centers worldwide. “It struck me as an authentic way of living that’s true to the beauty and goodness of the religion,” he says. Today his life is built around the Bloomington, Indiana, Catholic Worker community. He, his wife Andrea and their four children live communally in four houses with other members and guests, sharing meals, belongings and easy-going conversations with the homeless. He tunes pianos part time for money, half of which he donates to the community. For fun, he pounds the keys in a rollicking boogie-woogie band. The committed communal life isn’t always easy. “Every day there’s a new challenge that needs a new approach. Against my will, I’ve been forced to become a better person,” he chuckles. “I have little money on paper—I’m probably in the bottom 10 percent—but I don’t need anything. And yeah, I feel it’s very right for me.” chinnapong/AdobeStock.com

Lowering our impact on the planet means living more simply with less. Among other strategies, this means going without household plastics or lawn chemicals; gardening and buying local produce in season to lower shipping emissions; choosing equipment and clothes made to last many years; and reducing energy consumption at home, work and on the road. Sustainable living can be as simple as using a personal mug when ordering a latte or as complex as joining a stockholders’ rebellion to force sustainable corporate policies. It also can mean returning to the simpler practices of yesteryear, such as line-drying clothes and bonding more closely with the natural world. For Barbi Gardiner, owner of The Outdoor Apothecary, in Plainfield, Connecticut, embracing a simpler, sustainable

lifestyle after leaving a high-pressure job meant “adopting a do-it-yourself attitude” that included starting a permaculture garden, composting, raising chickens, foraging and cooking wild food, and creating healing remedies from homegrown and foraged herbs. “Nature is the medicine for what ails us,” she says.

Conscious Simplicity Deeply held values, not money and possessions, shape this form of simpler living, sometimes called soulful or conscious simplicity. Its focus is on life-enhancing experiences, inner growth, spirituality, natural health, creativity, nurturing relationships and social action. Owning bling has little allure. 18

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Denver-based health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Advertorial

A RAY OF HOPE IN CHAOTIC TIMES By Monte Leach and Marc Gregory

ven in these chaotic and perilous times, there is reason for hope. Humanity finds itself at a major crossroads: Do we choose the path of selfish separatism and inequality based on greed and competition, leading to the destruction of ourselves and planet Earth; or the path of cooperation and sharing leading to global peace and prosperity? Here to help us make the correct choice stands a group of Teachers unparalleled in their enlightenment and wisdom, unequaled in their ability to love and to serve. They are the Masters of Wisdom. At their head stands a being of the most extraordinary compassion and insight: Maitreya, the World Teacher. As the one awaited under various names by all major religious traditions, and as a Teacher for all humanity, Maitreya is here — along with the Masters of Wisdom — to guide us safely into the future. The existence of these great Teachers was first made known in the West in the late 1800s by Helena Blavatsky, who lived among the Masters of Wisdom in the Himalayas for three years. In the early 20th century, Blavatsky’s work was continued by Alice A. Bailey, and, more recently, by British esotericist and artist Benjamin Creme. All three of these authors and educators were trained by, and worked directly with, the Masters of Wisdom. According to the Ageless Wisdom tradition, as it is known, these highly advanced Teachers have lived in the remote areas of the world through the ages, helping and guiding humanity from behind the scenes. Through his work over many years, Benjamin Creme made it known that at this critical time for humanity and the planet, the Masters of Wisdom,

headed by Maitreya, are coming forward now to live among us and teach us directly.

The path to peace and justice Maitreya and the Masters of Wisdom are teachers in the broadest sense of the word. They have attained mastery over themselves, and as enlightened individuals devote all their time and energy in loving service to humanity. They are not here to establish a new religion, but to show us how to live together in peace. This is simpler than we imagine, Maitreya has said. The key is an equitable sharing of the Earth’s resources among all the world’s people. Through sharing we lessen global tensions, generate greater trust and cooperation among the nations — and begin to build a world where all have the basic necessities of life and live in balance with the environment. Unless we share the world’s resources, there will never be economic and social justice in the world. Without justice, no peace. Without peace, little hope for the future, as we have weapons that can destroy all life on Earth — weapons that almost surely would be used in any future widescale conflict. With the future of the planet at stake, what will it take for us to abandon competition, conflict and division, and begin to manifest the grand ideals of sharing, justice and peace? What’s needed is a change of attitude, a change of consciousness — above all a change of heart in humanity. It is that which Maitreya and the Masters of Wisdom can inspire.

It is a monumental task to be sure. Fortunately, we have the help of monumental figures living among us now — a circumstance, according to the Ageless Wisdom tradition, that has never before taken place in recorded history. This group of enlightened teachers, as they touch the hearts of people everywhere, will galvanize us into action, helping us to lead our leaders toward the creation of a just and peaceful world. In the millions across the globe who are increasingly voicing their concerns for the health of our planet and demanding change in our political, economic and social systems, we see this needed change of mind and heart already beginning to take place. At this crossroads for humanity, the path ahead is up to us. Maitreya has said, “Sharing and Justice, Brotherhood and Freedom are not new concepts. From the dawn of time mankind has linked his aspiration to these beckoning stars. Now, my friends, shall we anchor them in the world.” For free information: Share-International.us 888-242-8272 info@share-international.us

FREE

DOWNLOAD! In The World Teacher for All Humanity, Benjamin Creme discusses the extraordinary ramifications of Maitreya’s appearance and teachings. Awaken to a world of infinite possibility if we’re all willing to share! bit.ly/world-teacher 19 October 2021

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healthy kids

Talking to Kids About Climate Change What They Need to Know from Those They Trust by Sandra Yeyati

s scientists have been predicting, climate-related fires, floods and drought are becoming commonplace. Our children are seeing and hearing about them on social media and the news or living through them in their own neighborhoods. Kids have questions. They’re afraid, anxious and angry about inheriting these problems. “We’re living a climate emergency, so we should talk about it honestly with our children whenever they ask us. They deserve to hear it from trusted messengers, the people they know and love, such as parents, guardians and teachers,” says Harriet Shugarman, the New York City author of How to Talk to Your Kids About 20

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Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action, who trained with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and founded the online community ClimateMama.com.

Fostering a Love of Nature For our youngest children, “You want to be calming and reassuring, engendering a sense of safety and love of nature. This is the time to go outside and connect with the many delights of our world,” says integrative psychotherapist Leslie Davenport, the San Francisco author of All the Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal with Climate Change, an illustrated book for 8-to-12-year-olds published by the American Psychological Association.

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United Kingdom-based children’s book author Catherine Barr offers a gentle and enjoyable way to develop love and concern for nature in her 10 Reasons to Love picture book series that showcases endangered animals. “When talking to children that young, it’s important to present climate issues in positive ways, encouraging kindness, inclusivity, empathy and understanding,” says the former Greenpeace campaigner. “Young children are so impressionable. It’s best to empower them with hope than scare them unnecessarily.” Still, Shugarman notes, “It’s not too young to say that we turn off lights when we leave a room to save energy. Sometimes our kids think that fruit comes

from the grocery store. We should remind them where it really grows.”

Learning the Facts Together According to Davenport, as kids reach 9 and beyond, they tend to be mentally and emotionally capable of processing more complex concepts and emotions. This is the time for parents to present vetted, science-based facts as objectively as possible. “There’s a tendency to want to either sugarcoat or over-dramatize. We flip from ‘It’s not so bad; it’ll be fine’, to ‘It’s too late; there’s nothing I can do.’ Neither of those views are helpful or accurate,” she explains. Barr recommends that parents stick to the facts and encourage curiosity. “Parents shouldn’t feel that they have to have all the answers. It can be a journey of learning with your children to look something up together,” the author of The Story of Climate Change advises. “It’s also a good idea to empower kids to challenge grownups. A child can start a conversation at the dinner table by ask-

ing, ‘Where did this fish come from?’ or ‘Could we grow our own carrots?’ or ‘Are we recycling?’”

Building Resiliency Davenport’s book toggles between the presentation of environmentally triggered realities and calming, reflective exercises such as journaling or deep breathing. “The idea is that when you hear difficult news or have a difficult experience, you go back and forth between talking about or processing it and something that helps you regulate or calm your nervous system,” she explains. This approach helps to build resiliency, which Davenport defines as the capacity to stay present, openminded, open-hearted and clear in the face of life’s challenges.

Finding Hope in Action “We can give our kids hope by pointing to people that are working to address the climate crisis, including the uprise of youth voices, as well as efforts to save animal species, build resiliency in cities and

reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Shugarman. “It’s also critical that parents show their kids that they care about the crisis and are doing things like reducing energy use, driving electric cars, voting for pro-climate candidates and supporting climate education in schools.” “People think you have to talk about how awful the world is going to be, but I think you can turn that upside-down and offer a strong, positive message of hope,” says Barr. “We need to help kids understand that the choices they make and the things they do can lead to a more sustainable, fairer way of living.” “According to climate scientists, if we don’t do anything, we’re in big trouble, and if we intervene and make significant changes, we’re still going to feel impacts, but it’s not too late,” says Davenport. “Encourage kids to become part of meaningful change. Our actions make a difference.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

October 2021

wise words

Michaeleen Doucleff on Ancient Teachings for Modern Parenting by Julie Peterson We’ve lost this social support and structure. Parents have to look for guidance from parenting “experts” online and in books. Unfortunately, these experts offer a narrow view of parenting styles, tools and methods.

photo by Simone Anne

What was the catalyst that led you to travel the world with a toddler to research parenting methods?

ational Public Radio (NPR) science correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff literally searched the world to learn how to be a better parent. She learned how to raise kind and helpful children, and detailed the journey in a book, Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans. Doucleff learned the basics of parenting from experiences gathered with her 3-yearold daughter among the Maya in the Yucatan, the Inuit above the Arctic Circle and the Hadzabe in Tanzania. The huntergatherer parents that she encountered convinced Doucleff that modern parenting needs to be overhauled and that there is a path to healthier families. 22

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What is wrong with 21st-century parenting?

Western parents have, in many ways, forgotten how to relate to children in a way that’s calm, peaceful and cooperative. We don’t really know how to cooperate with them or teach them how to cooperate with us. Instead, our relationship with kids centers around control. I think this is a major reason for the epidemic of depression and anxiety among American children. They have little autonomy, but they also feel disconnected from the parents because they don’t know how to cooperate with them. At the end of the day, kids are lonely. For tens of thousands of years, parents learned how to be moms and dads from older people who lived in their homes or nearby.

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When my daughter Rosy was 2 years old, my husband and I were really struggling as parents. Rosy was having a lot of tantrums, which often included hitting and biting. I read a ton of books and blogs, and everything I tried seemed to make her tantrums worse. Then NPR sent me to a tiny Maya village in the Yucatan for a story about children’s attention. While I was there, the moms and dads showed me this whole other approach to parenting and relating to children, which is super gentle, calm and peaceful. There’s no yelling, arguing, bickering or even nagging. The children are respectful to their parents, kind to their siblings and very helpful. I tried out a few of the elements with Rosy and I was stunned at how well they worked.

How did you choose the Maya, Inuit and Hadzabe communities? In general, these three cultures excel in aspects of parenting with which Western culture really struggles. The Maya parents are incredibly skilled at raising helpful and cooperative children. Inuit parents have these wonderful and sophisticated tools for teaching children … how to control their

When did you notice a positive change in your parenting and relationship with your daughter? Many of the tips and ideas in Hunt, Gather, Parent changed Rosy and our relationship right away. For example, when I started including Rosy in household chores and cut back on the “child-centered” activities, her behavior improved essentially overnight. She needed more connection, more responsibility and more ways to contribute. Other parts of the book involve mind shifts or changes in my own behavior. Those took longer to have an impact on Rosy. But I was the slow one. Once I changed, she immediately followed.

Why will ancient methods of parenting from huntergatherer families, what you coined “TEAM parenting,” work for parents everywhere? These methods are about the parent-child relationship, which is the same around the world, especially when children are young. The TEAM [Togetherness, Encouragement, Autonomy and Minimal interference] parenting method is a way of relating to children that’s independent of the surroundings or environment. For example, in Tanzania, a 5-year-old girl learns to cooperate by helping her mom gather baobab pods or carrying a jug of water back from the river. In San Francisco, Rosy is learning to cooperate and be helpful in the same way by being included in household chores. She rinses dishes, scrambles the eggs, carries a small bag of groceries to the car at the supermarket. The details are different from place to place, but the concept is the same. Julie Peterson writes about health and wellness from rural Wisconsin. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

inspiration

The Quiet Power of Intuition

by Marlaina Donato

lbert Einstein considered knowledge secondary to intuition and inspiration, and modern visionaries like Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg have all endorsed the practical magic of gut feelings. The rest of us that have had that unexpected hunch to take a chance in business or get off the highway via a different exit than we first planned are in good company. Intuition—once a key factor in our ancestors’ ability to survive and later reduced to a New Age curiosity—is now a subject of research in the military, which has renamed it “sensemaking”. Beneath the clatter of modern living, the quiet voice within each of us is alive and well, an often-ignored superpower. Intuition gives us the opportunity to leave the comfortable shore of left-brain reasoning to dive into immediate somatic response. This sixth sense in our everyday toolbox can enable us to not only endure, but prosper. Research has shown that believing in the value of intuition and trusting gut feelings in business pays off. In the 1970s, parapsychologist Douglas Dean and John Mihalasky, an engineering professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, tested 385 American CEOs on their intuitive capacities. Eighty percent of the individuals with the highest scores had previously increased company profits twofold within five years. Out-of-the-blue flashes of “knowing” usually come without warning and can dissolve like a flake of snow under the glare of too much analysis. This sense can also warp and prove unreliable during extreme emotional states like anger or fear. Being aware of subtleties and trusting the energetic current beneath the surface invites more accurate and fruitful results. Cultivating internal knowing is a wise investment that can also quell frazzled nervous systems in the process. Adopting simple habits and activities can dial down the fight-or-flight stress response and make room for the inner voice. We might wonder how we know if it’s our fear or our desire talking, and the answer is simple: Listen to feelings, not thoughts. Other suggestions include:

n Meditation or meditative movement like dancing or repetitive, mindful activities like n n n n

kneading bread or painting Creative projects like scrapbooking or journaling Spending quality time in nature Dialing into our everyday senses Taking a social media sabbatical for more unplugged downtime

Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and a visionary recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com. October 2021

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anger and other types of emotional regulation. And the Hadzabe families are world experts at raising confident, self-sufficient kids. The childhood anxiety and depression common in the United States is essentially nonexistent in these communities.

natural pet

Cannabis and Canines How Cannabidiol Benefits Dogs by Caroline Coile

Topper is among the thousands of furry family members that have found relief with CBD, one of 113 cannabinoids found in cannabis (hemp) plants. Success stories abound of how CBD has helped dogs overcome anxiety, reduce seizures and even beat cancer. Cannabinoids, including CBD and the psychoactive compound THC, are substances that mimic the naturally occurring chemicals produced in all vertebrates. Receptors for these endocannabinoids are

found throughout the body, especially in the brain, nervous system and immune system, as well as the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, intestinal tract, muscles, bones and both the reproductive and circulatory systems. They act as master regulators that signal other systems when to speed up or slow down, working to stabilize the body and return it to homeostasis. Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant affect these same receptors, each in slightly different ways.

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truck with severe arthritis, Topper, a 7-year-old Ibizan Hound, was in such pain he could hardly walk. He had to be carried outside to eat or use the bathroom, and medication wasn’t working. On a friend’s recommendation, his owner, Christy Moore, of Florence, Arizona, gave him cannabidiol (CBD). “Within three days, he could walk on all four legs and I was crying tears of joy,” she recalls. “It was the miracle we needed.”

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Unlike THC, which is toxic for dogs at prescribed human dosages, the most significant, documented side effects of CBD are diarrhea and changes in some liver enzyme values after several weeks. The main concern with CBD is that it inhibits cytochrome P450, a chemical in the body responsible for metabolizing most drugs. That means CBD could affect the effective potency of a prescribed drug.

What Research Shows

drug commonly prescribed for anxiety). A University of Western Australia study found shelter dogs with aggressive tendencies exhibited less aggression toward humans after two weeks of taking CBD. SEIZURES: Many anecdotal reports hail CBD’s success in combatting seizures in dogs, but the single controlled study delivered only moderate results. A Colorado State University study found CBD only worked with some dogs, and it reduced, but didn’t eliminate, seizures.

While thousands of reports on CBD’s effect on laboratory animals and humans have been published, only a few have been conducted with dogs or cats. Still, CBD seems promising for arthritis, anxiety, itchiness and possibly seizures, cancer and other maladies.

OTHER: Evidence from laboratory animals supports CBD’s effectiveness in promoting bone healing, fighting infection, treating inflammatory bowel disease, slowing degenerative myelopathy, quelling nausea and relieving pain.

ARTHRITIS: In a Cornell University study, some dogs were initially so decrepit that their owners considered euthanasia, but after just days on CBD they were trotting around and even climbing stairs. A Baylor University study found similar improvement.

Choosing Wisely

ITCHINESS: An Australian study found CBD reduced itchiness, inflammation and skin lesions by 51 percent after eight weeks of treatment. An American study also found CBD significantly reduced reports of itchiness. CANCER: Cannabinoids are reported to induce cancer cell death and prevent metastasis. A Cornell University study found that CBD along with a standard chemotherapy drug reduced cancer cell proliferation in vitro more than the chemotherapy drug alone. Anecdotal reports from veterinarians have claimed CBD shrunk cancer cells or put dogs into remission. BEHAVIOR: Despite those reports, no controlled study has shown CBD to be more effective than prescription medications in reducing anxiety. A University of Kentucky study found physiological measurements of anxiety in response to noise were not significantly different for CBD versus a placebo, and were worse compared to trazodone (a

coming in the november mental health issue

Brain Health

plus Conscious Dying

Broad-spectrum products work better than isolated CBD because they use the whole cannabis plant. Choose those with third-party certificates of analysis of potency and testing for heavy metals, mycotoxins or pesticides. Avoid human edible products that often contain ingredients such as xylitol that are toxic to pets. Aim for about 0.1 to 0.2 milligram per kilogram of a dog’s weight, given twice daily by mouth. Work up gradually, but beware that more is not always better with CBD, because sometimes the response is biphasic—it doesn’t work if they get too little or too much. Discuss CBD with a veterinarian, but realize that not all of them are familiar or comfortable with the subject. CBD, like many supplements and drugs designed for humans and used on canines, is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Overall, the evidence is compelling that CBD can help some conditions. The endocannabinoid system is the largest system in the body and the least explored. CBD is not a miracle drug, but it may be the miracle our four-footed friends need. Caroline Coile, Ph.D., is an award-winning writer of 34 books, thousands of magazine and web articles, and an app, All About Dogs. Learn more at CarolineCoile.com. October 2021

calendar of events

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10

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.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1 Moon Park Family Fun Nights: Hocus Pocus – 7:15-9pm. Free event by Moon Parks & Recreation. Bring a chair or blanket to watch the movie Hocus Pocus! Wear a costume for the pre-movie costume contest! List of events, workshops and classes for youth, teens, adults, and seniors at MoonPark.org. Movie night at 1350 Joe Denardo Way, Moon Township.

Rainbow Basket Class Part I – 1-3pm. (Part 2: Oct 9). Class includes materials and instruction. $35. Appalachian Creativity Center, 139 W Crawford Ave, Connellsville. Reservations required: 724-208-1746. Fourth Bi-annual Fall Night Market – 7-11pm. By Allentown PGH Night Market and The Weeping Glass. Spooky season shopping at three artisan markets housing 50 vendors of the unusual – all in the 800 block of Warrington Ave. East End Brewing beer tent; Onion Maiden; Dos Reyes Pittsburgh; Music; Kabarett Vulgare Sideshow; Pittsburgh Circus Arts Collaborative – and more. Masks required indoors. Allentown, Pittsburgh. Info: MoroseAndMacabre@gmail.com. Earthjustice’s Virtual 50th Anniversary Celebration – 7-9pm. Free online event by Earthjustice. Celebrate 50 years of partnership, landmark legal victories, and fighting for the future of our planet. Link will be posted at Earthjustice.org when it goes live.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4 Local Solutions to the Climate Crisis – 7-8:30pm. Online event by ReImagine the Turtle Creek Watershed & Airshed Communities. Online panel discussion about local solutions, local responses, actions, and projects. Moderated by Larry Schweiger of Climate Realty Project. Reimaginetcwac@gmail.com.

savethedate MONDAY, OCTOBER 4 Fall Five-Day Cleanse/Detox – Oct 4-8. Steve, the Wellness Warrior Coach, will provide all the delicious recipes to make this "whole food" detox/cleanse fun and easy. Recipes, shopping list, handbook and more for your nourishing, detoxifying fall reset. $99. Register: WellnessWarrior.coach/fall-detox.html.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6 Mommy and Me Owl Canvas Duo – 5-7pm. Each painted canvas connects with the other creating a fun family masterpiece. Class includes all materials for

Pittsburgh, PA

Herbal Tincture and Elixir Making – 2-4pm. By Blue Heron Nature Skills and Southwest PA Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants Group. Creation and benefits of herbal tinctures, infusions, decoctions, and more. $25. Register by October 3 by sending payment to Paypal.me/JDalke or venmo@Jen-Dalke. Leave contact method in payment note, receive location info in return. BlueHeronNatureSkills@ gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13 Science of Spiders Webinar – 5-5:45pm. Online event by Allegheny Land Trust. Do all spiders build webs, and are the webs really stronger than steel? Spider facts, fiction, and biology. Allegheny Land Trust: 412-741-2750.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2 2021 Mt. Lebanon Artists’ Market – Oct 2-3. 10am-5pm. By Mt. Lebbanon Artists’ Market. Meet and discover local artists, get a bite at food trucks. In the Academy Ave parking lot behind PNC Bank and The Saloon. Info@mtlebanonartistsmarket.com.

Semi-Annual Body, Mind, and Spirit Fair – 11am-4pm. Psychic mediums, crystal shops, holistic health practitioners and more! $5 at the door or free with food donation. 495 Country Club Dr, Indiana, PA. 412-519-8199.

one adult and one child. $30 (limit of four guests). Available for private groups. Appalachian Creativity Center, 139 W Crawford Ave, Connellsville. Registration required: 724-208-1746.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 2021 Annual Garden Get Down – 6-9pm. Fundraising event by Grow Pittsburgh at the Sherwood Event Center. Enjoy a taste of the fall harvest, local drinks, and music. Reflect upon and celebrate the impact on our community of growing and sharing fresh local foods, especially in this prolonged time of challenges. Sliding scale tickets: $20-$75 at Eventbrite. Sherwood Event Center, 400 Sherwood Way. Grow Pittsburgh: 412-362-4769.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 Summit Inn Art Show – Oct 9-10. 10am-7pm, Sat; 10am-5pm, Sun. By Uniontown Art Club at Historic Summit Inn. Arts and Fine Craft show and sale. Free admission. Chinese auction, live artist demonstrations and more. Summit Inn, 101 Skyline Dr, Hopwood. Uniontown Art Club, 724-562-9517. Dormont Street and Music Festival – 1-8pm. By Borough of Dormont, Arsenal Cider Tap House and five others. Music at three venues - Arsenal Cider Main Stage; Gold Mountain Music Festival Tent at Potomac and West Liberty Ave; Arsenal Cider Brew Garden. KidZone on Glenmore Ave; 30’ rock wall, Dormont Fire truck; variety of local food and craft vendors. Potomac Ave. Info @ Borough of Dormont: 412-561-8900. Paws for Miracles – 5-8pm. By Senior Hearts Rescue & Renewal at Shannopin Country Club. Celebrate our 5th Anniversary of saving the lives of senior dogs. Sponsorship and ticketing info at SeniorHearts.org/paws-for-miracles. Shannopin Country Club, 1 Windmere Rd. Enchanted Creature Ball: Into the Woods – 7pm. By 3rd Street Belly Dance. Channel your inner fairies, goblins and more for this extraordinary immersive event. Live music, incredible dance performances. An event for the senses. Magic and other-worldly wonder. Dress is formal. VIP Tickets $75+fees. Admission $55+ fees. VIP includes private music and dance performances, champagne toast and hor d’ oeuvres. 3rd St Belly Dance, 223 3rd Ave, Carnegie. 412-708-8838.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 Multi-Artist Live Online Sale – 6:30-8pm. Hosted by Uniontown Art Club. Join the Facebook page for a unique art and handcraft sale featuring a variety of our artist members. Invoice via email and payment via Square, or in person at the gallery when you pick up. Shipping at the discretion of the artist. Gallery 86, 86 W Main St, Uniontown. 724-562-9517.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15 Vino and Vinyasa – 5:15-7:15pm. By Jenny Dayton Yoga at Christian Klay Winery. $20 tickets at Schedulicity.com. Christian Clay Winery, 412 Fayette Springs Rd, Chalk Hill. 724-439-3424.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 Solar 101 for Boondocking and Camping Workshop – 2-4pm. By Blue Heron Nature Skills. The basics of solar – what equipment you need for what you intend to power. On-site example of complete set-up; take-home info sheet; tips and tricks. $15-$20 sliding scale – pay what you can. Register by sending payment to Paypal.me/JDalke or venmo@Jen-Dalke. Leave contact method in payment note, receive location info in return. BlueHeronNatureSkills@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20 Mommy and Me Pumpkin, Bat, Cat, Broom, or Witches Hat Canvas Duo – 5-7pm. By Appalachian Creativity Center. Designed so each canvas connects with the other creating a family masterpiece. Class includes materials and instruction for one adult and one child. $30 (additional cost for more children). Appalachian Creativity Center, 139 W Crawford Ave, Connellsville. Reservations required: 724-208-1746.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 ZooBoo – Pittsburgh – Oct 23-24. 9am-3pm. By Zach Tyke and The Events Compactor. Annual kidfriendly Halloween trick-or-treat through the zoo. Show off your Spooktacular costume in our parade, dance, and costume contest. Pittsburgh Zoo, 7370 Baker St. Register at Starkillergarrison.com. Pittsburgh Taco, Beer, Tequila Festival – 11:30am-9pm. Hosted by Pittsburgh Taco, Beer, Tequila Festival, TasteUSA at Sandcastle Water

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.

monday Park. Adult 21+. The region’s best Taquerias and Taco Trucks showcase 30 different tacos. Wine, beer, cider, tequila sampling included in price. $39- $69. Tickets at Eventbrite. Sandcastle Waterpark, 1000 Sandcastle Dr, W Homestead. Info: TacoBeerTequila.com. Crafting with Cats – Kids Edition! – 5:30-6:30pm. Hang out with the kitties and make a Halloween themed succulent holder. Limited spots. $10+ fees. Tickets at Eventbrite. Kitty Queen Cat Rescue, 4552 McKnight Rd. KittyQueenCatRescue@gmail.com. Not So Spooky Starlight Stroll – 6-7:30pm. Hosted by Allegheny Land Trust at Dead Man’s Hollow. Explore the science and stories behind fall creatures, myths, and legends. Rain or shine. Reservations required. Tickets: $10/adult, $5/child. Under 2/ free at AlleghenyLandTrust.org/event/. Dead Man’s Hollow, 3301 Liberty Way, McKeesport. Allegheny Land Trust: 412-741-2750.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24 Westmoreland Craft & Vendor Show – 10am4pm. At the Youngwood Volunteer Fire Dept. Variety of quality crafts and goods from all over Westmoreland. Support local artisans. Bring the family and find some great treasures. 104 S 2nd St, Youngwood. 724-925-6200.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

savethedate

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training – 11am. By Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh. Certification in yogic techniques for body, breath, mind and spirit in our 200-hour program. Apply now for 2021-22 training at Pittsburgh location. $2,999. Payment plan available. Info@hipyoga.org.

ongoing events

sunday Heartfulness Meditation – 11am-noon. 1st Sun. Hosted by Heartfulness Pittsburgh. Age 15+. Guided relaxation and meditation for ages 15 and up. Learn the basics of heartfulness and how it can benefit you. Be casual. Free. Winchester Thurston Lower School in Shadyside, Rm 202. Info: Heartfulness.org. Sacred Sounds – 1-2:30pm. 3rd Sun. Hosted by Sacred Centered You and Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. $25. Join Leza for a relaxing, powerful meditative experience, sound immersion with crystal bowls, and individual healing vibrations through the gong. Tickets at Eventbrite. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga – 10-11am. With Jill Sansome, hosted by Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. Vinyasa connects the breath with movement with focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance. $15/ dropins, $40/four-class pass. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785. Military Share Pittsburgh Food Distribution – Noon-2pm. 1st Mon. Hosted by Veterans Leadership Program in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Food distribution for Veterans and Military Families in need. Fresh produce, shelf stable goods. No-contact pickup. No sign-up or RSVP. 2934 Smallman St. 412-481-8200 ext 221. Children’s Fine Art Classes – 5:30-6:30pm. Hosted by Arty by April Ryan, Thistledown Boutique. Kids learn basic art techniques starting in charcoal and progressing to acrylic painting. Get kids off the screen and into hands-on creativity. $20/ class plus supplies. 151 S Main St, Washington, PA. 724-470-3775. Yoga for Wellbeing – 5:30-6:30pm. Wellbeing Solutions hosts in-person (limit 4) or online to harmonize body, mind, spirit, and breath with your dedication to attendance. Colleen Harshbarger, ERYT-500 and MS in Exercise Science Biomechanics, provides alignment-based instruction. All levels. $8. 304-508-2398. Wellbeingwv.com. African Dance Class – 6:30-7:30pm. Online class hosted by Hayti Heritage Center and St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation Inc, Durham, NC. Energetic and culturally rich dance exploration taught by seasoned dance professionals Toni Hall and Ivy Burch. Tickets: $5 at Eventbrite. 919-683-1709. Info: hayti.org. Guiding Light: An Empath Assembly – 6:30-8pm. Free online event hosted by Sacred Centered You. Calling all lightworkers, empaths, and high vibrating souls. Join their monthly assembly to share space. Register: SacredCenteredYou.com/events. 1 Hood Power Hour – 7-8pm. A virtual forum hosted by 1 Hood Power to discuss all things political in SWPA and beyond. A virtual public affairs forum featuring elected officials, policymakers and thought leaders. 617-517-7600. Facebook. com/1HoodPower.

GREEN IS SEEN when you advertise with us. 724-271-8877

tuesday Managing Career Transition and Life During Uncertain Times – Noon-1pm. Online event by The Salon – a Female-Forward Space to Gather and Grow. $10. Tickets at Eventbrite. TheSalonPGH.com. Family Night at the Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh – 6-9pm. 2nd Tue. Hosted by Hofbrauhaus. Kids eat free with each adult entrée purchase. 2705 S Water St. 412-224-2328. Online Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Hosted by WVU Collegiate Recovery. All skill-levels welcome. A

October 2021

password is required, but anyone can join! Free. Email Olivia.pape@mail.wvu.edu to get the code. Yoga in the Garden – 6:30-7:30pm. West Virginia Botanic Garden. All-levels vinyasa flow inspired by natural surroundings. All ages. Bring a mat. $12/ members, $15/nonmembers. Class pack of 10: $100/ members, $130/nonmembers. Class size limited. 1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV. WVBG.org Preregistration required at Forms.donorsnap.com. The Salty Core – 7-8pm. 4th Tue. Hosted by Salt of the Earth and Valleybrook Pilates & Fitness. Pilates in the Cave to lengthen and expand muscles for a leaner, stronger you. Incorporate breath, stretch, and strengthening. Open to all levels. 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray, PA. Tickets: SaltOfTheEarthpgh.com.

wednesday Yoga for Wellbeing – 8:30-9:30am. Wellbeing Solutions hosts in-person (limit 4) or online to harmonize body, mind, spirit, and breath with your dedication to attendance. Colleen Harshbarger, ERYT-500 and MS in Exercise Science Biomechanics, provides alignment-based instruction. All levels. $8. 304-508-2398. Wellbeingwv.com. Vinyasa Flow Yoga – 10-11am. With Jill Sansome, hosted by Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. Vinyasa connects the breath with movement with focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance. $15/dropins, $40/ four-class pass. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-7451785. Register; VisionsReikiSoulAndSpa.com/yoga. Wild Wednesday: Virtual Live Animal Encounter – 1:30-2pm. Online event hosted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Join museum educators via Zoom to meet members of the museum’s living collection. Each week is unique! $10/household ($5/ members). 412-622-3131. Register at Carnegiemnh. org/explore/live-animal-encounters/. Mindfulness Training – 4-5:15pm. By Laughlin Children’s Center. Ages 5-18. Teaches awareness of thoughts, feelings, and environment. Aids in reducing stress and emotional reactivity, increasing focus, cognitive flexibility, and social-emotional skills. Sarah Rea, MSEd, pre-doctoral psychology intern, provides the Mindful Schools curriculum. In person or virtual. 16-week course $120/$140 by age group. Register: Laughlin Children’s Center: 412-741-4087. Gentle Flow Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm With Jill Sansome, hosted by Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. Gentle Flow is slow yoga that is great for all levels. Encourages movement, mindfulness, breath control, and holding poses. $15/dropins, $40/four-class pass. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785. Register: VisionsReikiSoulAndSpa.com/yoga. Listen to Black Women: What’s it like to be a Black Woman in Pittsburgh? – 6:30-8pm. Online event hosted by Black Women’s Policy Agenda. Join for a virtual community conversation. Free. 412-245-6771. Register: Eventbrite. BlackWomensPolicyAgenda.org. Learn to Draw Zentangle – 6:30-8pm. 1st & 3rd Wed. Online hosted by Monroeville Public Library. Zentangle is a meditative, relaxing, fun method of pattern drawing. Classes are in conjunction with Zentanglers in Pittsburgh meet-up group. To participate, go to Meetup. com, register to become a member, then RSVP to the class you want to attend. Zoom link provided upon RSVP. Monroeville Public Library: 412-372-0500. Reiki Share – Thru Dec. 6:30-9pm. 2nd Wed. Hosted by Visons Reiki and Soul Spa. Donations from the heart accepted when you register at Event-

Pittsburgh, PA

brite. All levels welcome. Experience the healing, high vibrations, joy and fellowship of this informal event. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785.

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, West Virginia. 304-292-3359. Little Leaves at Forbes State Forest – Thru Oct. 10-11:30am. 1st & 4th Thurs. Free outdoor play and exploration time for children 0 to 4 years and their caregivers. Each week has a theme and an activity for adults (18+) and their children to explore outdoors. Registration required at Events.dcnr.pa.gov/ event/little_leaves. Forbes State Forest, Route 30 East, Laughlintown, PA. Zoom Family Storytime – 10:30-11am. Free online event hosted by C.C. Mellor Memorial Library. 1 Pennwood Ave. 412-731-0909. Tickets via Eventbrite. Yoga – 10-11:30am. With Nancy Micheals. A series designed to focus on specific areas of the body to strengthen and stretch muscles. Classes will help participants build strength, balance the body’s system, increase body awareness, and increase energy while learning specific postures. CDC guidelines observed. YWCA Westmoreland County, 424 N Main St, Greensburg. 724-834-9390. Info@ywcawestmoreland.org. ywcawestmoreland. org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/YWCA-Fall2020-Classes-and-Workshop-Insert.pdf. Wellbeing Solutions Webinars – Noon-1pm. 2nd & 4th Thur. Self-Care as Healthcare with Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Yoga teacher Colleen Harshbarger and Natalie Geary, MD and Ayurveda Therapist. COVID rate: $25 1st (trial class); $40/ thereafter. 4-pack: $150; 8-pack: $280. 12-pack: $399 includes one-year Wellness Inventory subscription ($49.95 value). On-demand times for groups. 304508-2398. Info/register: Wellbingwv.com/webinars. Gentle Flow Yoga – 4-5pm. With Jill Sansome, hosted by Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. Gentle Flow is slow yoga - great for all levels. Encourages movement, mindfulness, breath control, and holding poses. $15/drop-in, $40/four-class pass. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane. 724-745-1785. VisionsReikiSoulAndSpa.com/yoga. Group Meditation and Reiki Virtual Healing – 7-9pm. Last Thurs of the month. Online event by Prana-Veda Studio and Victoria Zaitz. Virtual group energy healing with reiki and shamanic techniques. In-depth guided meditation followed by distance work. $25. 412-390-5245. Tickets: Vagaro.com/ pranaveda/classes.

friday Friday Family Walk – 10am-noon. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. First Friday of every 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. Preregistration required: wvbg.org or Forms.donorsnap. com/form.

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Write Now! – 10am-noon. Zoom Writer’s Group hosted by Sewickley Public Library. Participants enjoy writing from prompts in an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. Register: us02web.zoom. us. SewickleyLibrary.org. Bakery Square Toastmasters Weekly Meeting – Noon. Online event hosted by Bakery Square Toastmasters. Practice public speaking, improve communications, and build leadership skills. People from diverse backgrounds find a warm, supportive group that shares your goals. Visit BakerySquareToastmasters.com for login info. Friday 101 - Carnegie Science Center Fab Lab Public Workshops – 1-2pm. Hosted by BNY Mellon 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: CarnegieScienceCenter.org.

saturday Gentle Flow Yoga – 8:30-9:30am. With Jill Sansome, hosted by Visions Reiki & Soul Spa at Chartiers Park. Gentle Flow is slow yoga that is great for all levels. Encourages movement, mindfulness, breath control, and holding poses. $15/dropins, $40/four-class pass. 724-745-1785. Register: VisionsReikiSoulAndSpa.com/yoga. Loving Myself First: Personal Development Series – 10-11am. 2nd Sat. Free online event hosted by Visions 2020 LLC. Learn real life principles to improve and maximize your personal and professional life. Tickets at Eventbrite. 412-376-2110. Watercolor Workshops – 10-11am. 1st and 3rd Sat. Hosted by April Ryan and Thistledown Boutique. $25 includes materials, $20 bring your own. Learn basic drawing and watercolor techniques. 151 S Main St, Washington, PA. 724-470-3775. Tickets: Paypal.com/paypalme/ArtbyAprilRyan. Community Market Days – Thru Dec 18. 10am2pm. Hosted by Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse. Variety of family activities with local goods, guest vendors, food trucks, live music, U-pick, wine and beer tastings, cooking workshops, gardening workshops, DIY and children’s’ activities. Rain or shine. Ryan Smith: Ryan@BednersGreenhouse.com. Morgantown Farmer’s Market – Thru Nov 13. 8:30am-noon. Hosted by WVU Monongalia County Extension Service. Seasonal produce, honey, jams, flours, meats, eggs, bread, baked goods, plants, and more within a 50-mile radius of Morgantown. SNAP, Apple Pay, Credit cards. COVID precautions, please! Well behaved, leashed dogs welcome. Some vendors offering pre-ordering at MorgantownFarmersMarket. org/shop.htm. 400 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. SocietyX: Therapeutic Art Workshop – Thru Oct. 11am-noon. Free online event hosted by The SocietyX Community and Sarah Serrano-Esquilin. This creative workshop balances mind, body, & soul through an artistic lens. Tickets at Eventbrite. SocietyX Community; a planet-wide digital collective of creators. TheSocietyX.com.

Nature’s Virus Killer

not a sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. “The kids had crud going round and round, but not me.” Attorney Donna Blight tried copper for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said. By Doug Cornell “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.” cientists have discovered a cold never got going. That was A man with trouble breathing natural way to kill germs fast. September 2012. I use copper in the through his nose at night tried copper Now thousands of people nose every time and I have not had a just before bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in are using it against viruses and bacteria single cold since then.” years!” he said. in the nose and on “We can’t In a lab test, technicians placed 25 the skin. make product million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. Colds start health claims,” he No viruses were found surviving soon when cold viruses said, “so I can’t after. get in your nose. say cause and Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the teams Viruses multiply effect. But we confirming the research. He placed fast. If you don’t know copper is millions of disease germs on copper. stop them early, antimicrobial.” “They started to die literally as soon as they spread and He asked they touched the surface,” he said. cause misery. relatives and Some people press copper on a lip New device puts copper right In hundreds friends to try it. right away if a warning tingle suggests where you need it. of studies, EPA and They reported unwanted germs gathering there. university researchers have confirmed the same thing, so he patented The handle is curved that viruses and bacteria die almost CopperZap® and put it on the and textured to increase instantly when touched by copper. market. contact. Copper can That’s why ancient Greeks and Soon hundreds of people had kill germs picked up on Egyptians used copper to purify water tried it. The feedback was 99% fingers and hands after and heal wounds. They didn’t know positive if they used the copper you touch things other about microbes, but now we do. within 3 hours after the first sign people have touched. Scientists say the high conductance of unwanted germs, like a tickle The EPA says copper of copper disrupts the electrical balance in the nose or a scratchy throat. still works even when Dr. Bill Keevil: in a microbe cell and destroys the cell in Early user Mary Pickrell tarnished. Copper quickly kills seconds. said, “I can’t believe how good CopperZap is made cold viruses. Tests by the EPA (Environmental my nose feels.” in the U.S. of pure Protection Agency) show germs die “What a wonderful thing!” copper. It has a 90-day full money back fast on copper. So some hospitals tried exclaimed Physician’s Assistant Julie. guarantee. It is available for $79.95. Get copper for touch surfaces like faucets Another customer asked, “Is it supposed $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA22. and doorknobs. This cut the spread of to work that fast?” Go to www.CopperZap.com or call MRSA and other illnesses by over half, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for toll-free 1-888-411-6114. and saved lives. Christmas and called it “one of the best Buy once, use forever. The strong scientific evidence gave presents ever. This little jewel really Statements are not intended as inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When works.” product health claims and have not been he felt a cold about to start he fashioned Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to a smooth copper probe and rubbed it suffering after crowded flights. Though diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gently in his nose for 60 seconds. skeptical, she tried copper on travel disease. “It worked!” he exclaimed. “The days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and ADVERTORIAL 29 October 2021

Copper can stop a cold before it starts

community resource guide

HEALTH FOOD

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our Pittsburgh community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com to request our media kit.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES

305 Jefferson Ave, Moundsville, WV 304-506-3585 • Dr.Carol@Remedies.com AlternativeRemediesOnline.com Dr. Carol offers a personalized holistic approach to your health concerns through nutrition, supplements, exercise, cellular spa treatments, homeopathy and self-help classes. Twenty years of experience in naturally supporting the body, her specialties are digestive health, women and children, and gluten-free living. Health memberships and video conferencing available.

ASTROLOGY SUN CONFLICT SOLUTIONS

Pittsburgh, PA and Online 412-897-0809 • Anjalisoi.com/astrology Evolutionary Astrology allows you to uncover your deep unconscious desires and align with the cycle of death and rebirth in your life. Ensure your correct karma and life lessons manifest in an abundant way and find meaning and perspective of the experiences in your life.

BIOLOGIC DENTISTRY JANET LAZARUS – BIOLOGIC DENTIST Dr Janet Lazarus, DMD, NMD Mail: 4313 Walnut St, Ste 178 Office: Olympia Shopping Ctr Arcade, McKeesport • 412-754-2020 • Dr.Lazlo@hotmail.com

Dr. Lazarus practices compassionate biologic dentistry by looking at the whole body to offer preventative care and health maintenance. She offers compatibility testing on dental material, safe mercury removal, extraction and a host of other treatments including ozone therapy. She has been practicing for 28 years. See ad, page 4.

CHIROPRACTIC PANTHER FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CHIROPRACTIC Dr Danielle Marra, DC Murrysville • Greensburg 724-387-1014 • PittsburghHealthPro.com

Dr. Danielle Marra has nearly 20 years’ experience helping patients regain their health through conservative and holistic approaches utilizing functional medicine, chiropractic, diet modifications, and nutritional support. The practice provides advanced lab testing, allergy relief, spinal decompression, CDL physicals, massage therapy, thermography and more. Their philosophy is treating the root of your symptoms, naturally. See ad, page 15.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PANTHER FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Danielle Mara, DC Murrysville • Greensburg 724-387-1014 • PittsburghHealthPro.com

Dr. Danielle Mara has nearly 20 years’ experience helping patients regain their health through conservative and holistic approaches utilizing functional medicine, chiropractic, diet modifications and nutritional support. Plus advanced lab testing, allergy relief, spinal decompression, CDL physicals, massage therapy, thermography and more. Their philosophy is treating the root of your symptoms, naturally. See ad, page 15.

HEALTH COACH COTERIE

Calli Tony, CPT 139 W Crawford Ave, Connellsville 724-562-0682 • CalliTonycpt.com Calli is the founder of Coterie and Calli Tony CPT. She is an intuitive healer, specializing in mindset and movement. At her foundation she is a Certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Health Coach, who is deeply passionate about embodiment practices.

Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your modus operandi and change your world. ~Annie Lennox

Pittsburgh, PA

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

EVEREST EATS

EverestEats.com Orders@everesteats.com A local Pittsburgh plant-based meal delivery service providing, sourced, sustainable, flavorful, and nutritious meals to the Pittsburgh community.

THE KEFIR CHICKS

Connellsville, PA TheKefirChicks.com TheKefirChicks@gmail.com Facebook.com/TheKefirChicks Kathy and Haley, The Kefir Chicks, are two chicks on a mission to bring awareness to everyone about whole foods and gut health through whole, probiotic-packed food medicine – water kefir. See ad, page 4.

HERBS OLD THYME HERB SHOP, LLC Lisa Cunningham Old-Fashioned Family Herbalist 308 Liberty St, Perryopolis, PA 724-736-2400

Nothing fancy here; just hundreds of organic bulk medicinal herbs at your beck and call. Heal yourself ~ help others. In service and gratitude always. No Facebook, no website, no social media. Not enough thyme! Just you and I and your blessed healing herbs.

HOMEOPATHY MELANIE KRNETA

DIP HOM. ACH, Reiki Master Facebook: Melanie Krneta Homoeopathy Plus Classical homoeopathic consultations providing individualized care for t h e e n t i r e f a m i l y. Migraines, hormonal imbalances, PTSD, grief, arthritis, digestive imbalance. Reiki sessions are beneficial for relaxation and pain management. Other services provided are far infrared sauna with medical grade color therapy and Himalayan salt and ear candling.

NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS NAPTURAL BEAUTY SUPPLY 724-307-8487 NapturalBeautySupply.com

Naptural Beauty Supply was created to end the stigma around natural hair by empowering men and women to love themselves naturally. We do this by instilling confidence in our community and increasing convenience by having the tools and services in one place, such as hair and body butters, beard care and apparel. We are beauty supply with naturals in mind! See ad, page 15.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE APPALACHIA CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS, PC

Travis D Horne, DC • Gi Ming ‘‘Lili’’ Chan, ND 20120 Route 19, Ste 202, Cranberry Twp, PA 724-553-5312 • AppalachiaChiropractic.com

WELLNESS 360 CAFÉ LLC

Tyleda Worou Pittsburgh 724-374-8089 • 360CafeLLC.com

Best of natural medicine – combining both chiropractic and naturopathic care. We provide integrative and individualized care to the community where patients feel heard and truly cared for. We offer manipulation, sports medicine, nutrition, herbal, homeopathy and hydrotherapy.

360 Café LLC is an alternative health and wellness business with the goal of helping others to heal from the inside out while taking a holistic approach to healing by offering distance reiki, and crystal healing sessions to help our consumers restore physical and emotional balance. See ad, page 11.

DR. ARETI, LLC

VISIONS REIKI AND SOUL SPA

Dr. Areti is a board-certified naturopathic physician who implements manual therapy, lifestyle medicine, nutritional analysis, and non-invasive methods to address functional and structural imbalances – services are 100% grounded in evidence-based science. She goes the extra mile to identify and address root causes of conditions and to provide ongoing support.

As a full-service energy-health and wellness center, our goal is to empower people to be the best version of themselves. With the understanding that all wellness begins with a healthy energy system, Visions Reiki and Soul Spa offers holistic services, workshops, and coaching to help you establish a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.

Dr. Areti Fitsioris 421 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh 412-419-1537 (call/text) • Facebook.com/Dr.Areti

SPIRITUAL SACRED, CENTERED, YOU, LLC 412-258-0766 SacredCenteredYou.com

Leza is known widely for her abilities as a sound healer, inspirational speaker and interfaith spiritual counselor. Healing arts services include vibrational sound healing, past life and soul regression, journey work counseling and conscious relationships counseling. Private and group services offered. Lesa Vivio, MS, LPC, CMHIMP, DDiv, DSM.

URBAN FARMING GROW PITTSBURGH

Raqueeb Bey, Garden Resource Coordinator 6587 Hamilton Ave, Ste 2W, Pittsburgh 412-362-4769 ext 215 • GrowPittsburgh.org Raqueeb@GrowPittsburgh.org Grow Pittsburgh is an urban, agriculture nonprofit that teaches people how to grow food. They envision the day when everyone grows and eats fresh, local and healthy food. Get involved. Take a tour, become a member, learn, volunteer! Visit their website for workshops and events.

VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE SACRED, CENTERED, YOU, LLC 412-258-0766 SacredCenteredYou.com

Offering individual and group experiences that promote healing through self-discovery and personal acceptance. Special focus on sound healing, life coaching, qigong, and vibrational medicine.

206 Alexander Ave, Strabane 724-745-1785 VisionsReikiAndSoulSpa.com

WELLNESS WARRIOR COACH

Steve Manns, PHC2, CPT Monroeville and Online 724-516-2244 • WellnessWarrior.Coach Steve offers guidance for a healthy body, a clear and focused brain, and a sense of true wellbeing, even in midlife. We work on optimizing deep nutrition, sleep, movement and play. He is passionate about helping you to reconnect with a better you through education, coaching and accountability.

YOGA AND MEDITATION JENNY DAYTON YOGA

Jenny Dayton, E-RYT, YACEP MountainYogaShala@gmail.com 724-550-3661 Jenny offers indoor and outdoor yoga throughout the Laurel Highlands. She also offers private therapeutic yoga lessons, Ayurveda and aromatherapy sessions by appointment. Virtual options are also available. For more information and to view the class schedule and locations, visit JennyDaytonYoga.com.

THE HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH 300 Beverly Rd, Pittsburgh 412-344-7434 • HipYoga.org

The Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh is committed to creating and supporting programs for wellness in body, mind and spirit. Their purpose is to promote personal peace and global unity. Offering a daily schedule of yoga and meditation classes and healing services including massage, reiki and Ayurvedic health consultations. They are a leader in education, providing authentic yoga and Ayurveda certification programs.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople covering the Greater Pittsburgh area, SW Pennsylvania and Morgantown WV to help others grow their natural health & wellness and sustainable living or green businesses. Commission-based. Full- or part-time. Paying 25% commission. Unlimited potential income. Be a part of something magical! Send resume to Michelle: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

PRODUCTS McCORMICK FAMILY FARM – 100% grass-fed/finished beef, pasture-raised chicken, and pure maple syrup following beyond organic, regenerative farming practices. 293 McCormic Rd, Portage, PA. 814-472-7259. Facebook: @ TheMcCormickFamilyFarm

SERVICES READING POETRY RELAXES – Inquire at: wewuvpoetry@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 4725, Pittsburgh, PA 15206-0725.

Natural Awakenings Client Testimonial I have been advertising since the beginning of Natural Awakenings and I have to say. that it has been a great choice! I have gotten a lot of new patients from her magazine. The covers are always colorful and fun! Michelle has been very helpful and she is always available when I need to talk to her. I would highly recommend this magazine if you are considering advertising. ~Dr Janet Lazarus

October 2021

Natural Awakenings Magazine Greater Pittsburgh Edition October 2021

Articles inside

TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

LESS STUFF, MORE JOY

MICHAELEEN DOUCLEFF

THE QUIET POWER OF INTUITION

HEALTHY BREAST BASICS

WALK ABOUT

WATER SCARCITY WOES

FALL FRUITS FOR SAVORY DISHES