Natural Awakenings Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona, September 2020 Edition by Natural Awakenings Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona

EE R HEALTHY LIVING F

HEALTHY

PLANET

Emotional Well-Being

Self-Care for Tough Times

HERBS

that Spice Up Health

Music That Calms Pets

YOGA for

EVERY BODY

September 2020 | Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition | NaturalAZ.com

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of nearly 60 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN THE PANDEMIC AGE

Self-Care Strategies for Tough Times

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

NATURAL ANTIVIRALS

CARS GO VEGAN

SANDRA MARINELLA

Help in Staying Strong and Healthy

Leather Interiors are on the Way Out

on the Healing Power of Writing Our Stories

24 SPICE UP HEALTH

Using Herbs for Flavor and Medicine

THE MAGICAL BLUE LOTUS FLOWER

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YOGA FOR EVERY BODY

Adaptive Ways Ease Pain and Immobility

FINDING THE RIGHT TUNE FOR PETS

Music Calms the Animal Soul

32 RAISING RESILIENT KIDS How to Help Them Bounce Back

DEPARTMENTS 10 news brief 12 health briefs 13 global briefs 15 eco tip 20 healing ways 22 green living 23 wise words

24 28 30 32 34 36 38

conscious eating fit body natural pet healthy kids calendar business directory farmers' markets September 2020

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

Stories of Mountains

PHOENIX & NORTHERN ARIZONA EDITION PUBLISHER Tracy Patterson, BSc, MES DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca COPY EDITOR Sara Gurgen WEBSITE Locable Kyle Hass

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder COO/Franchise Sales National Art Director Art Director Financial Manager Asst. Director of Ops Digital Content Director National Advertising Administrative Assistant

Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Stephen Blancett Josh Pope Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Anne-Marie Ryan

s I read this month’s article on the healing power of writing our stories (see page 23), I started thinking about my recent experiences with creative writing and my draw to one subject in particular. Before the pandemic hit, I took some writing workshops at my local bookstore in an attempt to kickstart my creative writing again. I also liked the idea of meeting like-minded people and spending social time, which of course came to an abrupt halt with COVID-19. I did continue taking the workshops online, and one reoccurring theme I felt moved to write about was mountains, specifically the Rockies. These writings tended to conjure up nostalgic feelings, with perhaps a dash of homesickness thrown in for good measure. I grew up near the Rockies, and they were my playground for many years. I found my love of nature in these majestic peaks as a child, and playing in the ice-cold rivers, horseback riding and hiking carried on well into adulthood. The mountains demanded respect and were humbling, but at the same time they were my safe haven—the place I would go if I was upset and needed perspective or if I had major decisions to make. I’m not sure why the mountain theme keeps coming to mind, but I do feel compelled to explore the possibilities. Whether it’s a compilation of stories I need to express because I miss the "big rocks," or that they are a symbol of something yet to come—a path that’s waiting for me and I need to do some soul searching—putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys!) is a sure way of getting in touch with my inner self and the mountain memories and feelings that reside there. I think we all have stories that want to make an appearance on the page, whether they are stories of pain or anger and for our own eyes only; stories that we create that set us on a new path; or simply stories we would like to share, pulled from our memories of days gone by.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE inspiration HAPPINESS HELPERS Five Ways to Be More Positive by Brad Aronson

By consciously training ourselves to see the positive in everyday life, we become happier and kinder to others. Some easy steps include complimenting at least one person a day, keeping a gratitude journal, performing a daily act of kindness, and being mindful of who and what we expose ourselves to. Train your brain for positivity with a 10-minute exercise, found in this article at NaturalAZ.com.

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September 2020

news brief

Embracing Your Journey Expo

urple Lotus Productions (PLP) is introducing minimarketplaces at its first two-day Embracing Your Journey Expo, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, in Phoenix. Robin Selby and Erin McNamara, of PLP, are happy to share some exciting news regarding the recurring holistic, wellness and metaphysical event. Several adjustments to the expoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structure have been made to allow for social distancing and to meet current safety guidelines, which should help people feel confident about attending. The biggest change is to the layout; instead of one large ballroom, the entire convention center will house the event. Breaking the expo into seven smaller separate

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spaces will allow smaller groups, less than 50 people, to gather in any of the spaces. The second change is allowing for social distancing during lectures, and vendor and attendee check-in times. The eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free lectures will be seating at a 50% reduced capacity, allowing for ample space between attendees. Two check-in lobby areas will provide vendors and attendees more space during that process, and the introduction of staggered attendee check-in times will help avoid crowds in the early morning hours. There will be an abundance of hand sanitizing stations, and mandatory face coverings will be required for all staff, vendors and attendees in accordance with local regulations and the requirements of the venue. These changes are intended to keep everyone safe and help ensure the community is able to share its gifts with everyone once again. Location: 7677 N. 16th St., Phoenix. For more information, visit EmbracingYourJourneyExpo.com/september-19th--20th. html. To purchase tickets, visit Sept1920eyje.Eventbrite.com. See ad, page 31.

NAPUB110

September 2020

Oak Wood Extract Can Lessen Post-Surgical Effects

Try Foot Reflexology After Heart Surgery

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A brief, hands-on reflexology treatment after a major heart operation can have a significant impact, scientists at Iran’s Tabriz University of Medical Sciences report. Immediately following coronary bypass surgery, 60 of 120 male patients received a 15-minute foot reflexology treatment from nurses. The researchers found that foot reflexology decreased patient agitation and reduced the average amount of time spent on a ventilator.

Consider Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis

Hysterectomy surgery is sometimes necessary and may result in postoperative fatigue, headache, nausea, depression or pain. In a study reported in the journal Nutrients, researchers from Slovakia’s Comenius University gave 66 women recovering from a hysterectomy either a placebo or 300 milligrams of oak wood extract. Eight weeks later, those given the oak wood extract had lower oxidative stress, better energy and mood, and a greater ability to perform physical tasks and participate in social activities compared to the placebo group, which mostly saw declines in those areas. chamillew/AdobeStock.com

health briefs

Mindfulness training may help the estimated 1 million Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage their emotions and process information quicker, according to a new study from Ohio State University. Researchers split 62 people with MS into three groups. The mindfulness group learned such practices as focusing on the breath and doing mental “body scans”. A second group underwent adaptive cognitive therapy training with computerized games that focused on skills like paying attention, switching focus and planning. The third group was a control. After four weeks, those in the mindfulness group were more likely to report being better able to handle their emotions than those in the other groups. The mindfulness group also had higher levels of cognitive processing speed, a reduction in the time it takes to complete mental tasks, along with increased understanding and response times.

Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)—“forever chemicals” often found in non-stick cookware, food packaging and contaminated water—may cause menopause to occur two years earlier in women, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Metabolism University of Michigan scientists tracked more than 1,100 women for an average of 17 years and found that those with higher levels of the chemical in their blood experienced menopause an average of two years earlier than those with lower levels. “Even menopause a few years earlier than usual could have a significant impact on cardiovascular and bone health, quality of life and overall health in general among women,” says co-author Sung Kyun Park. 12

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Reduce PFAS Exposure to Help Delay Menopause

Starchy Solution

A Plant-Based Alternative to Plastic

Japanese manufacturer Kuraray has introduced a renewable and sustainable starch-based barrier film called Plantic. The plant-based packaging material can be recycled or composted to achieve a circular product cycle. Conventional packaging made from multiple layers of plastic can cause recovery issues, and perishable food imposes unique demands on wrapping. Plantic packaging washes away or decomposes after use. It includes compostable coffee pouches, as well as a barrier layer to package meat, seafood and poultry products with continuous protection against oxygen and other gases that spoil food. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that one-third of all produced food is wasted in the supply chain.

Plastic Rain

Airborne Particulates Blanket Wilderness

Sea Turtles Attracted to Deadly Ocean Plastic Loggerhead turtles may think they’re biting into a favorite food when they encounter some synthetics, a study of 15 turtles in the journal Current Biology posits. Ocean plastic is often covered with algae and other marine organisms (biofouled), making it smell delicious to them. At least 1,000 die every year because they swallow plastic or get tangled up in it. Exposed to different odors in the lab, the loggerheads responded to the smell of turtle food, distilled water, clean plastic and biofouled plastic. The team found that the turtles had similar responses to biofouled plastic as to their normal food. Kayla Goforth, a Ph.D. student in biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who worked on the study, says, “So they have to come up to breathe. And we know that they can detect airborne odors. So when they find that there’s an odor of interest in the air, they’ll spend an increased amount of time at the surface with their nostrils out of the water. And we found that the turtles spent more time with their nostrils out of the water when there was this biofouled plastic odor or a food odor.”

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Researchers estimate more than 1,000 tons of microplastics, equal to more than 123 million plastic water bottles, are deposited from the air into national parks and wilderness areas each year. Utah State University assistant professor Janice Brahney and her team used high-resolution atmospheric deposition data to identify microplastics and other particulates collected over 14 months in 11 national parks and wilderness areas. In a report in Science, they identified the plastic and polymers composition to track its sources and movement, and found that most of the plastics deposited in both wet and dry samples were microfibers sourced from both clothing and industrial materials. Approximately 30 percent of the particles were brightly colored microbeads likely derived from industrial paints and coatings. Brahney says, “We confirmed through 32 different particle scans that roughly 4 percent of the atmospheric particles analyzed from these remote locations were synthetic polymers.” The same high resilience and longevity that makes plastics useful lead to progressive fragmentation instead of degradation in the environment. Clear and white particles were not included because they did not meet the criteria for visual counting, so estimates of plastic deposition were conservative.

Tasty Trap

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global briefs

September 2020

global briefs

Shocking Discovery Not All Hydroelectric Generators are Created Equal A new study by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) analyzed the climate impacts of 1,500 facilities across the globe that account for about half of hydropower generation worldwide. Many release almost no greenhouse gases, but some can

be worse than burning fossil fuels. The team looked at whether the facilities behave as a greenhouse gas sink or as a source by investigating the components that determine emissions such as the reservoir itself, when vegetation and soils are submerged underwater in the dam used to generate power. Ilissa Ocko, a senior climate scientist at EDF and co-author of the study in Environmental Science & Technology, notes that as the submerged

vegetation decays, it releases methane or carbon dioxide. “The larger the surface area of the reservoir, the more greenhouse gases are going to be emitted from that reservoir. Also, the temperature plays a role, as well; how warm the reservoir is will affect how much greenhouse gases are produced and emitted from the reservoir.” Some facilities perform just as well as do wind and solar, but shockingly, more than 100 facilities turned out to be worse for the climate than fossil fuels.

Drawdown Direction Nurses Stand Up Against Climate Change

Nurses, the most numerous and trusted health profession in the world, have organized the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and partnered with Project Drawdown to significantly impact climate change. Together, they are working to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and create a healthier future for humans and the planet. Nurses from all specialties and in all practice settings are encouraged to take action in four key areas. Energy: Supporting a clean energy future by promoting energy efficiency and advocating for a transition to renewable energy. Food: Committing to a plant-based diet, use of clean cook stoves and reduced food waste. Mobility: Supporting bike infrastructure, walkable cities and mass transit. Gender equity: Educating girls and family planning. Nature-based solutions: Planting trees, protecting tropical forests and forest protection. Founded in 2014, nonprofit Project Drawdown seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”, the point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. For upcoming events, visit Drawdown.org. 14

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eco tip

What Not to Recycle

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Recycling, the go-to strategy for environmentally conscious citizens, is unfortunately not a good option. Even in ordinary times, local recyclers wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accept surgical masks and latex gloves because they jam machinery. Some dedicated providers box up used face masks and gloves and send them to TerraCycle.com, where they are sorted manually and sustainably recycled. The cost for a small box is a hefty $148; MindBodyGreen. com suggests asking grocery stores or retailers to stock some for the community to use. Instead of recycling, the World Health Organization recommends throwing single-use masks, gloves and wipes into a covered trash can or bin immediately after use so they are handled as regular trash. Ideally, they should be put in a resealable plastic bag first in consideration of frontline sanitation workers that can become ill from handling virus-infected materials. No mask, glove or wipe should be flushed down a toilet.

Mask Eco-Disposal

How to Dispose of Antiviral Wear Discarded face masks and gloves littering streets, beaches, parks and parking lots are a sad sight of the times, creating eyesores and more importantly, major contamination risks to pick up and discard. With 88 percent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population living in countries that have required or advised use of face coverings, disposable face masks number in the billions, especially the commonplace, single-use polypropylene variety. Along with disposable gloves and sanitary wipes, they are clogging sewers and waterways worldwide and showing up in fish bellies and on ocean floors.

Homemade Solutions

For masks, the eco-solution that harbors the lowest carbon dioxide footprint is one made of cloth that is machine-washed and dried after each use at a high temperature or washed by hand in a bleach solution (five tablespoons per gallon of water). University of Chicago researchers found certain fabrics filter out viral aerosol particles almost as effectively as the medical N-95 mask: a layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon, natural silk or flannel, or simply a cotton quilt with cotton-polyester batting . See cdc.gov for instructions for using sew and no-sew masks, and many DIY videos can be found on YouTube using T-shirts, socks and napkins. Another good eco-strategy is to buy sustainable face masks made from recycled or organic materials (GoodOnYou.eco). In lieu of recycling to help the planet, a donation can be made to an eco-organization that deals with plastic waste, such as PlasticPollutionCoalition.org or OceanConservancy.org.

September 2020

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Emotional Well-Being in the Pandemic Age Self-Care Strategies for Tough Times

s the pandemic ravages our country, we are engulfed by a sea of challenging emotions, including fear, loss, anger, disappointment and grief. Compounding the suffering, past emotional traumas and pent-up desires are surfacing and crying for attention. One way to navigate these treacherous waters is by first enveloping ourselves in self-compassion. Next, we can gather the courage to face our fears and experience unpleasant feelings in order to heal them and let them go. Then, we search for and internalize positive emotional states to rewire our brains for positivity. This noble voyage promises immense rewards along the way.

by Sandra Yeyati

The Cocoon of Self-Compassion

Some of us chase self-esteem like the Holy Grail, yet it eludes us when we need it most. Faced with a failing grade or cruel insult, our self-worth withers. We can’t understand why we lost it or how to get it back. When we attach our self-worth to achievements or comparisons with other people, self-esteem becomes unstable and unreliable. Enter self-compassion, the life-changing perspective of showing kindness to ourselves in any and all situations—a supportive best friend that lives within us and can be accessed any time, every day. A pioneer and expert in this topic, Kristin Neff believes

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that self-compassion has three components: a decision to be kind to ourselves, a mindful awareness when we are in pain so that we can seek some relief and a sense of common humanity or connectedness. We already know how to be compassionate, says Neff, an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and co-author of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. “It’s linked to the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a natural part of our organism. We’re tapping into this way of feeling safe, which is through care, bonding and connectedness.” Encouraging our friends when they’re feeling down or hugging our moms in the

Finding Confidence Through Unpleasant Feelings

Nobody likes to feel sad or embarrassed. We’d rather have an ice cream cone or turn on the TV. But for Dr. Joan Rosenberg, a prominent psychologist and speaker, uncomfortable feelings present an invaluable opportunity for people to transform into confident individuals that relate to the world around them with authenticity and resilience. In her book 90 Seconds to a Life You Love, Rosenberg offers a formula—one choice, eight feelings, 90 seconds—to experience and move through eight of the most common unpleasant feelings: sadness, shame, helplessness, anger, embarrassment, disappointment, frustration and vulnerability. “The choice is to stay aware of and in touch with as much of your moment-to-

moment experience as possible and not get lost in avoidance,” she explains, adding that there are more than 30 behaviors, thoughts and emotions that we employ as distractions, including substance abuse, social media, pornography, exercise, obsessive thoughts about body image, humor and denial. “Be aware of what you’re aware of,” she advises. “If we know that we don’t like feelings, and we know we’ve been engaged in using ways to distract ourselves, then our challenge is to be more awake and aware of those times we do it, and as soon as we start to do the thing and become aware, that’s when we make the decision to stop and ask, ‘What’s really going on?’” Discoveries in neuroscience suggest that most of us come to know what we’re feeling emotionally through bodily sensations. We might feel heat in the neck and face when embarrassed or a sinking feeling in the chest when disappointed. As feelings get triggered in the body, a rush of biochemicals in the bloodstream activate these sensations and are flushed out of the bloodstream in roughly 90 seconds. “Most people have the impression that feelings linger a whole lot longer and that they’re going to be overwhelmed by it and never come out of it if they start. But when they understand that what they’re trying to avoid are uncomfortable bodily sensations that help you know what you’re feeling emotionally, and that these are short-lived, most people will start to lean into them, and once they do,

their life changes,” Rosenberg says. To move through bodily sensations, which may come in multiple waves, take deep, slow breaths. Try not to tighten up or clench the jaw and swallow. Notice the location and nature of the bodily sensations to help identify which of the eight unpleasant feelings it might be, and be curious as to what might have triggered it. All of this will take a few moments. With practice, identification will become faster, easier and more accurate. “If I have more time, then I can think about whether this is connected to anything else. Is it just one thing that triggered it, or is it like something else that’s happened before?” Rosenberg says. This level of awareness leads to a calming effect, clearer fizkes/AdobeStock.com

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morning is hardwired into us. When we decide to be kind to ourselves, it’s easy to think of what we would say: “I’m sorry you failed that test. You’ll do better next time. How can I help you?” To lend perspective, add a statement about our common humanity, counsels Neff. “This is hard for everybody. You’re not alone.” We must be aware of our pain before we can comfort it, and many of us try to suppress or resist pain, choosing to numb it with distractions like alcohol addiction or compulsive shopping. Others may get lost in the storyline of what’s happening and succumb to suffering with no apparent way to obtain relief. Self-pity or self-criticism may creep in. Mindful awareness is the antidote to these emotional extremes, because it helps us become aware that we are experiencing pain and to stay with that pain long enough to make a conscious decision to take care of ourselves. “One easy thing is physical touch,” says Neff. “The first few years of life you have no words, so the body is programmed to respond to touch as a signal of care. Put your hand on your heart or your stomach, or hold your hand. This changes your physiology, activates your parasympathetic nervous system, helps you calm down and helps you feel physically supported. Sometimes, that’s an entryway for people.”

Making Courage a Habit In her book The Courage Habit, life coach Kate Swoboda presents a four-part method for people to face their fears, release the past and live their most courageous life. Access the body. Practice any body-centric activity like mindful meditation, exercise or dancing every single day to release stress and anxiety, become centered and more present, and clear the mind. Listen without attachment. When your self-critic offers a warning or criticism, hear the words, understanding that this is fear trying to protect you and deciding that it’s misguided and not true. Reframe limiting stories or beliefs. Amend your internalized self-critic’s messages to be more respectful and supportive. If it says, “You’re stupid to try that,” revise it to, “I’m smart because I’m willing to try.” Create community. Reach out to likeminded individuals that are supportive of the changes you are trying to make. September 2020

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Building Up Our Happiness Quotient These exercises are recommended by psychologist Rick Hanson: Slow down, breathe and see the big picture. This simple practice brings us into the present moment, reduces the stress activation in the body, disengages us from verbal chatter and negative reactivity, and buys us time to see more clearly. Take three breaths, making the exhalation longer than the inhalation. Five-Minute Challenge Take in the good. It could be a flower blooming, birds singing or a nice exchange with another person. Slow down, take a few breaths and let it sink in for a minute or two. Focus on something to cultivate. Perhaps it’s patience or gratitude. Look for opportunities to have an experience of this quality and internalize it for another minute. Marinate in pleasant feelings. Cultivate a sense of calm, contentment or warmheartedness for a couple of minutes. 18

thinking, improved decision making and, perhaps most importantly, an ability to speak authentically. “If we don’t handle the eight feelings, we don’t feel capable in the world,” she says. The ability to speak adds to that empowerment. “From asking someone to stop a behavior so that you feel safer to telling someone you love them, asking your boss for a raise or letting people know about yourself and your work to garner opportunities and desired experiences—it cuts across every aspect of our lives and is absolutely crucial to our sense of well-being.”

Rewiring the Brain for Positivity

Discoveries in neuroplasticity have revealed that the brain changes throughout life well into adulthood. It’s designed to learn not just ideas and information, but skills, attitudes, feelings and moods. Rick Hanson, a clinical psychologist and author of several books, including Hardwiring Happiness and Resilient, contends that we can develop greater happiness, just like we can develop greater depression. “There’s a lot of research that shows that through deliberate little practices spread out through the day or sometimes more formal practices like psychotherapy or meditation, we can actually produce

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physical changes in the brain that are now measurable with things like MRIs,” he remarks. Hardwiring happiness is easy, pleasurable and doesn’t take a lot of time. “If you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves,” says Hanson. “Little steps gradually move us forward a breath at a time, a minute at a time, a synapse at a time. Bit by bit, we grow the good inside while gradually releasing the bad.” “Our power to positively influence who we are in small, genuine ways every day is really important to compensate for the brain’s negativity bias, which makes it like Velcro for bad experiences, but Teflon for good ones,” he says. “We evolved a negativity bias over the 600-million-year evolution of the nervous system. Learning from negative experiences and mistakes was a critical survival skill, so we have a brain that is designed to scan for bad news, overreact to it and fast-track it into memory. It’s not our fault, but it is our responsibility to deal with it by first, feeling the negative without reinforcing it and second, focusing on the positive and taking it in. Gradually, you can give yourself a brain that’s like Velcro for the good and Teflon for the bad.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

123rf.com/ Olena Kachmar

A Holistic Approach to Emotional Wellness by Ann Charlotte Valentin

eeling emotionally unwell can stem from many different sources, such as hormones, the endocrine system, trauma and gut health, and can cause a variety of symptoms, many of which can be interrelated, including tiredness, stress, anxiety, heart palpitations, insomnia, weight gain and indigestion. Your hormones, including cortisol, and thyroid communicate with each other, and there is a delicate balance between them. If you are feeling anxious or stressed, you may be experiencing an increase in cortisol, which, in turn, affects your thyroid and other hormones. As a result of having too much cortisol, you may have too little progesterone. On the other hand, too much progesterone can contribute to an increase in blood sugar, while too much estrogen can cause a decrease in blood sugar. Think of it as having several scales in your body that are trying to balance between each other. If you put too much weight on one scale, the other scale may go up, creating an imbalance in your endocrine system. Estrogen alone controls more

than 400 functions in your body, and when you experience a hormonal imbalance, you may feel weepy, anxious or angry, along with many other symptoms. However, hormones and your endocrine system are not the only factors that affect your emotional well-being. Trauma that occurs in your own life or that is inherited through DNA can cause emotional upset. In an article published in the Biological Psychiatry journal, titled “Holocaust Exposure Induced Intergenerational Effects on FKBP5 Methylation,” researchers concluded that trauma can be passed down from earlier generations via DNA. It is important to understand where your stress and/or trauma is coming from. The endocrine system, emotional inheritance and predisposition to mental health concerns, and the microbiota in your gut all contribute to your emotional health. We know that many of our neurotransmitters, such as GABA, serotonin and dopamine, are also created in the gut by gut bacteria; therefore, emotional wellbeing starts with making sure the gut flora

and diet are optimal. By eating a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, preferably organic, as well as wild-caught fish and organic foul, you nourish your body. Stay away from empty carbs and prepackaged foods, as they are often not nutritious and end up spiking your blood sugar and causing a blood sugar crash. It is important to keep your blood sugar on an even keel to optimize your emotional health. Also, by drinking a lot of caffeinated products, you are only creating a roller coaster of emotions where you are typically on either end of the spectrum—highly caffeinated and jittery or experiencing a caffeine crash, causing you to feel tired and wanting more caffeine to keep going. In addition to these factors, we also have to consider that we live in a fairly toxic world where many toxins can creep into our body unknowingly and cause a multitude of symptoms and wreak havoc with our gut flora, killing the good bacteria and keeping the bad bacteria. There are easy tests to check for your hormones, gut health, heavy metals and environmental toxins by using a home collection kit for saliva, urine or stool. Dr. Ann Charlotte Valentin is a family physician and also has post-graduate education in bioidentical hormones, Koren Specific Technique, CranioSacral Therapy, Emotional Release Technique and BodyTalk. She also works as an evidential medium and spiritual educator. Valentin is currently offering telemedicine to patients that do not want to venture out to a clinic setting, and test kits are sent directly to patients’ homes. Her book Med School After Menopause, The Journey of My Soul is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For more information, call 602-888-2320 or visit DrLotte.com. See ad, page 15. Advertorial September 2020

healing ways

Natural Antivirals

Help in Staying Strong and Healthy

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by Ronica O’Hara

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Baseline Protectors Scientists report that some vitamin and mineral deficiencies appear to be linked to poor COVID-19 outcomes, while adequate levels help combat other viruses. ConsumerLab.com, which provides comprehensive research overviews and information on nutritional products, lists these natural supplements as potential aids against COVID-19, although at this early stage, none have been proven to work: Vitamin D: According to Galland, vitamin D “stimulates your immune system to produce factors called defensins and cathelicidins that kill viruses.” People with levels below 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ mL) were 45 percent more likely to test positive for the coronavirus and 95 percent more likely to be hospitalized, Israeli researchers found. Getting three 30-minute sessions of sun exposure a week and eating D-fortified foods raise levels, and supplementing with up to 2,000 international units daily is generally considered safe.

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n these sobering times, we must use every weapon in our arsenal against invasive viruses, including often-overlooked natural remedies with antiviral properties. As is also the case with pharmaceutical agents, natural approaches have not been shown to stop an aggressive virus in its tracks, but they may ameliorate symptoms. “Nutrition and supplementation are unlikely to prevent an infection, but they may help prevent the infection from becoming symptomatic or severe,” explains Leo Galland, M.D., a global leader in functional medicine and author of Power Healing: Use the New Integrated Medicine to Heal Yourself. Eating healthy foods, sleeping seven to nine hours a night and exercising at least 150 minutes a week are also key in fortifying our natural defenses against viruses. Steps still necessary for COVID-19 protection include hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and sterilizing objects and surfaces.

Zinc: “Zinc throws a wrench in the viral replication machine and helps fight infections by boosting the production of antibodies,” says Nicole DeMasi, an integrative dietitian nutritionist in Los Angeles. Zinc lozenges may ward off the coronavirus in the upper respiratory tract. The recommended dosage is 15 to 30 milligrams (mg) a day for up to two weeks. Vitamin C: A cup of orange juice, tomato juice or a kiwi supplies most of the minimum recommended intake of vitamin C, a vital supplement for white blood cells that fight viral infections. Supplementing with 1,000 mg daily is also safe. Intravenous megadoses are being studied for critically ill COVID-19 patients, but no evidence exists so far that higher levels prevent infections, reports ConsumerLab.com. Potassium: A critical antiviral mineral and electrolyte, low levels of potassium were found in 61 percent of 175 Chinese patients hospitalized with COVID-19, making them more prone to heart damage, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. Foods that boost levels include potatoes, squash, lentils, spinach, avocados, bananas and raisins.

Supplemental Supporters When choosing supplements proven to be effective, “Much of what we know and can apply is based on our previous research on viruses of the past,” says Monisha Bhanote, M.D., an integrative physician in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Here are some good choices.

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Melatonin: Known best as the hormone that regulates sleep, melatonin also supports antiviral immunity and helps control inflammation in viral infections. A study of 11,672 people tested for COVID-19 found that those taking supplemental melatonin were less likely to test positive, and a clinical study is underway to see if 2 mg a day helps protect healthcare workers. Typical dosages range from 0.3 to 3 mg. Licorice Root Extract: This herb contains a substance called glycyrrhizin that makes it hard for a virus to attach to and invade a cell and hinders its ability to replicate, slowing the spread from one cell to another. Chinese doctors used it with other traditional herbs to combat COVID-19, and studies have shown it effective against an earlier coronavirus, as well as against HIV, herpes, viral hepatitis and respiratory infections. For dosage, follow package directions. People with high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease or low potassium levels are advised against its use.

Astragalus: Known as huang qi, astragalus “is one of the most powerful herbs used in Chinese medicine for people with weakened immune systems,” says Tsao-Lin Moy, a New York City acupuncturist and herbalist. It’s best taken as a hot or cold tea using tea bags or the root itself. Andrographis: This herb has long been used for colds and throat infections in China and India, and may prevent flu viruses from binding to cells. In a Swedish study, flu patients that took an andrographis extract along with Siberian ginseng recovered more quickly with fewer complications than those given a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved flu medication. Because of its potency, it’s best to consult a health practitioner to avoid interactions. The recommended dosage is 400 mg twice a day.

Fightin’ Foods To lower the inflammation linked to poor viral outcomes, integrative physician Monisha Bhanote, M.D., recommends a predominantly whole foods diet with at least five to seven servings of vegetables and two to three servings of fruit a day. Quercetin-rich foods, such as apples, onions, broccoli, raspberries, parsley and celery are especially important, she says, because the bioflavonoid enhances zinc’s antiviral actions: “It functions as a zinc ionophore, chelating zinc and transporting it into the cell cytoplasm.” Quercetin can also be taken as a supplement in doses ranging between 500 and 1,000 mg daily. Garlic has potent antiviral and antibacterial properties, and can be cooked into food, eaten raw in salads and dressings or obtained from capsules of allicin, the active component. Green tea has epigallocatechin gallate, a compound with “a wide range of antiviral activity, especially in the early stages of infection, by preventing viral attachment and entry into the cell,” says Bhanote. Aim for three to five cups a day. Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Learn More Coronavirus Handbook by Leo Galland, M.D.: A comprehensive look from an integrative physician at coronavirus mechanisms, nutritional strategies and supplements. DrGalland.com/coronavirusprotection-protocol Coronavirus Information Center: Up-to-date information on natural remedies and nutritional supplements. ConsumerLab.com/coronavirus

September 2020

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green living

Cars Go Vegan Leather Interiors are on the Way Out

by Yvette C. Hammett

onsumers are becoming more conscious about their purchases in light of the ongoing climate crisis exacerbated by animal-based agriculture. As they begin to make better choices in what they consume, wear and drive, vegan car interiors are becoming more popular. The environmental impact of producing leather, foam and other materials is being replaced in some instances by alternatives that are becoming more readily available to environmentally conscious consumers. The Toyota Prius line uses Sof-Tex synthetic leather or other synthetic cloth upholstery which bolsters its reputation as a sustainable automaker. Mercedes Benz and BMW are offering customers plantbased alternatives and Tesla has been dropping leather from its upholstery choices for a while now, with the Model 3 and Model Y already sporting vegan-only interiors. The Volvo Polestar 2 also comes standard with vegan upholstery, along with recycled wood. And the 2020 Range Rover Evoque, Velar and Jaguar I-Pace SUVs all offer consumers vegan interiors. Research and development is ongoing in this realm to create faux leather that

not only looks good, but is actually more durable and easier to maintain than leather. Vegan “leather” is being produced from cork, glazed cotton and even bark cloth, so it’s not just a matter of replacing animalbased products with unsustainable plastic. With funding from Honda and Ford, Bharat Bhushan, Ph.D., director of the Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio- & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs of Ohio State University, Columbus, developed a faux leather that has the potential to be used on both seats and dashboards. “I work in technology to repel water and oil from a variety of surfaces,” Bhushan says. “Leather gets very sticky when it is hot, so we thought it would be great to repel water or any other contaminant to avoid that stickiness and help it remain clean.” The side benefit, he further notes, is that it’s an alternative to animal hide. Audi Head of Design Marc Lichte, whose twin daughters are both vegan, says vegan leather is a huge selling point for customers and that both the Audi e-tron GT and Q4 will be animal-free. Faux leather will replace the traditional leather,

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and all cushions, window trim, armrests, headliners and center consoles will be manufactured with recycled materials. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) made a major push in the past few years to increase production of vegan-based car interiors. In 2016, PETA conducted an investigation into JBS, the world’s largest leather supplier, which sells to car companies from GM to VW and more. “What it found was that the supplier severely mistreats the cattle being raised for the leather with hot irons on the face, electrocution, beatings and cutting their throats while they are still conscious,” says Jennifer Behr, corporate responsibility officer for PETA. “When consumers are shopping, they should take that into consideration. Those interiors came from a cow that lived a miserable life and died a painful one.” Beyond that, cattle represent a climate risk. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published a study showing that knowledge of the environmental ramifications from cattle is not well known by the average consumer. “The livestock industry is the source of a broad spectrum of environmental impacts,” the study states. “The first and most important is climate change.” It’s estimated that 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the livestock industry. Enlightened consumers are using that information to determine what they purchase, from food to cars. BMW spokesperson Oleg Satanovsky says vegan options are not new for his company; they’ve been around for decades, but options have been updated. BMW uses a material called SensaTec, a new brand name for its non-animal-sourced upholstery “to reflect the more upscale design and feel of the materials,” he contends. “We look to nature for clues” to develop alternatives, Bhushan says. His research was based on the lotus leaf and its resiliency—it’s both water and oil repellant. “A single species like that can be used for many things,” with little or no environmental impact. Yvette C. Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, FL. Connect with her at YvetteHammettHull49@gmail.com.

wise words

Sandra Marinella on the Healing Power of Writing Our Stories by Sandra Yeyati

n awardwinning teacher and author of The Story You Need to Tell: Writing to Heal from Trauma, Illness, or Loss, Sandra Marinella has empowered thousands of people to use stories, poems and journal writing to find greater well-being and resilience in their lives. Prompted by a breast cancer diagnosis and her own journal, she helps people connect with their truth and move beyond entrenched negative emotions and thoughts.

What is the power of story and personal writing?

We all have stories in our minds that play over and over again. They define who we are. In recent years, neuroscience has led us to this powerful understanding that we are quite flexible as human beings. After we become conscious of our stories and how we’re using them in our lives, we can rework and reframe them, and choose to see them in a positive or better light. We can change and grow our stories to become better people with greater well-being.

How do we get unstuck from playing out stories in our minds?

A story that keeps looping, one that you are obsessed with, is generally being replayed in the emotional centers, or right side, of your brain, and you don’t have much control over it. To get unstuck, you need to voice this story and complete it. Writing it down and sifting through it later can help. Once you do this, you can be logical and choose how you’re going to interpret, frame and live with it. In the book, I talk about Chris, whose sister was homeless and died. He was struggling with that story. It was going around in his mind, over and over, all the time. He was in pain and grieving from the loss of his sister. It took him a while before he decided to rewrite the story as fiction, telling it in the way he wished it had come out. In the process, he was able to better understand his loss, make peace with it and set it free.

How do we edit our stories while remaining grounded in reality?

We do not want to lie to ourselves. We want to know our truth, but there is so much wisdom in what we call “positive illusions”. If we can choose to take a hard story and see it in a very positive way, we can find threads of it that we can

weave through our truth, and let that help us grow and make our vision of our story better.

If we don’t tell others or write our stories, can they harm us?

Yes. I think they can, but I don’t want to underestimate the value of silence. When we are facing trauma, we need space and time and silence to be able to wrap our heads around the hard things that are happening to us. But then, breaking the silence is cathartic. It releases the pain. It helps us establish not only that we have the pain, but how we can bear it. Later, we can come back to those words and reflect on them—that’s when we come to understand more about where we are, what we think, what we feel and how we can move forward and rewrite and regrow our stories in positive ways.

Do you have any recommendations for those suffering in these trying times?

I’ve interviewed many war veterans, and they said that when they were out in the midst of warfare, they had to put their thoughts and emotions on hold so that they could move forward and be strong. That’s why many of them were falling apart with PTSD afterwards. I also interviewed a few soldiers who carried journals into war and found it extremely helpful to be able to scream, yell and release their words into them. We should be giving all healthcare workers journals and online support on how to write and how to take care of themselves. Counseling and therapy are wonderful, and I wish we could provide it to everybody all the time, but we can’t; and journal writing, or any kind of therapeutic writing, is such a wonderful backup for a human being to have when they are struggling. Keeping a pandemic journal might prove to be not only a healthy choice for our times, but a treasure historically for our grandchildren. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a freelance writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com. September 2020

conscious eating

Vinegars are one of Bellebuono’s go-to methods to incorporate herbs into a diet, infusing fresh or dried herbs into red wine or apple cider vinegar for salad dressings and other uses. “Vinegar is great at extracting minerals from herbs and making them more bioavailable,” she says. Drying herbs does not diminish their medicinal properties, but rather concentrates their essence, as it removes excess water, according to Bellebuono. “Dried and powdered herbs are a great way to preserve the garden harvest and add herbs into everyday dishes. You can throw a teaspoon of turmeric, a wonderful anti-inflammatory herb, in spaghetti sauce or oatmeal, and you won’t even notice it,” she says.

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Best Herbal Buddies

SPICE UP HEALTH Using Herbs for Flavor and Medicine

by April Thompson

erbs add lush flavor to all kinds of dishes, and they are culinary friends that bring the benefits of helping to restore and maintain health. “Food is medicine, and herbs bring out the medicinal properties of food,” says Kami McBride, of Sebastopol, California, author of The Herbal Kitchen: Bring Lasting Health to You and Your Family with 50 Easy-to-Find Common Herbs and Over 250 Recipes. “The spice rack is a relic from another time when we knew how to use herbs and spices to optimize health and to digest our food.” To get a medicinal dose of an herb, consider making teas, vinegar extracts or pestos, says Brittany Wood Nickerson, the Conway, Massachusetts, author of The Herbalist’s Kitchen: Delicious, Nourishing Food for Lifelong Health and Well-Being. “Parsley, for example, is a nutrient- and vitamin-rich herb. If you garnish with parsley, you won’t get a significant amount of vitamin C, as you would if you make a pesto from it.” Salads can also pack a healthy dose of herbs into a meal, says Martha’s Vineyard resident Holly Bellebuono, an herbalist and author of The Healing Kitchen: Cooking with Nourishing Herbs for Health, Wellness, and Vitality. “So many herbs, including violets, mints and red clover, can just be tossed fresh into a salad, offering both fiber and minerals.”

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While Mediterranean herbs like oregano and basil are often at the front of the spice rack, Nickerson also suggests lesser-used herbs such as sour sumac, anise-accented tarragon and versatile, yet often discarded orange peels, which can be added to soups along with fennel seed and bay leaves for a complex flavor. Thyme is another of Nickerson’s favorites, a hearty herb for fall dishes that’s also a powerful antifungal and aids with digestion, lung health and detoxification. While some may think of parsley as a garnish, “It offers incredible freshness and livens up almost anything,” says Nickerson. “I use it as a vegetable and make a salad of its leaves or add handfuls of it into a quiche. Parsley is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and has detoxification properties.” Adding it near the end of cooking maintains its vibrant flavor and color, she notes. McBride loves versatile herbs like mint and coriander that can be used in sweet and savory dishes with antimicrobial properties that help fight colds and flu. She also keeps salt shakers on the table filled with spices like cardamom, an antibacterial, anti-spasmotic and expectorant, to sprinkle onto beverages and dishes. Bellebuono also recommends infusing honey with herbs such as sage or oregano that support the immune system.

Some Herbal-Aided Delights

Herbal-Aided Digestion All herbs, whether leafy, green culinary herbs or spices like coriander and clove, are carminative, meaning they help digest food, McBride says. “Digestion can use up to 40 percent of your day’s energy, which is why you often get a nap attack after a big meal. Every meal needs a carminative, even if it’s just black pepper, which is one of the problems with most fast food.” Pungent and bitter herbs, in particular, support digestion and absorption of nutrients and make them more bioavailable, says Nickerson: “Activating the taste buds dedicated to sensing bitter stimulates the digestive system.” A salad of bitter greens, for example, can help prepare digestion of a heavier meal to come, whereas a post-meal aperitif can help with digesting the food afterward. “It absolutely adds up when you add small doses of herbs to your meals every day,” McBride advises. “Many Americans suffer from gastrointestinal inflammation from modern diets and lifestyles, and herbs can help reverse that. Your gut gets a little healing every day.”

of the fruit, just inside the membranes. Leave the sections whole or cut them into bite-size pieces. Toast the pumpkin seeds in a skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until they are lightly browned, have puffed up and begin to pop—4 to 7 minutes. Combine the oil, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, shallot, tarragon and salt in a bowl and whisk together. Stir in any grapefruit juice that may have puddled on the cutting board while sectioning the fruit. Pour the dressing over the spinach. If any dressing is left over, it will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Toss the spinach well, then add the grapefruit and pumpkin seeds and toss gently again to combine.

Spinach & Grapefruit Salad with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Recipe and photo from Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen by Brittany Wood Nickerson.

The floral notes of tarragon in the dressing and the juicy, sour grapefruit invigorate the senses and wake up the digestive processes. Yields: 4 to 6 servings

April Thompson is a Washington, D.C., freelance writer. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

8 oz spinach (about 4 packed cups) 1 large or 2 medium-size grapefruits ½ cup pumpkin seeds Dressing ½ cup olive oil 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp finely minced shallot 1 tsp finely chopped tarragon Pinch of salt

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Tear the spinach into bite-size pieces, if necessary, and place in a large bowl. Cut the top and bottom off the grapefruit so that the flesh of the fruit is exposed so it sits flat on a cutting board. Cut the peel and pith from the fruit using a sharp knife or vegetable peeler. Set the grapefruit on one of its flat ends on a cutting board. The sections of the fruit will face up. Cut out the sections, slicing from the outside toward the center

Mint and Feta Bruschetta with Chive Blossoms Yields: 4 servings as an appetizer ½ cup fresh chive blossoms (can be substituted with other edible flowers or left out) 1 French baguette ½ lb feta cheese, crumbled, or a vegan alternative 1 cup chopped fresh mint ½ cup minced chives (can be substituted with scallions) 2-4 Tbsp olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper September 2020

Track your health from the comfort of your own home

Preheat the oven to 325° F. While the oven is heating, pull apart the chive blossoms, removing the central stem and plucking the tiny purple florets. Set the baguette in the hot oven and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until the edges are crispy, but not browned.

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Meanwhile, combine the feta in a bowl with the mint, minced chives and chive florets. Add enough of the oil to moisten then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cilantro Pesto Yields: about ½ cup

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Mix well.

2 Tbsp (heaping) walnuts 2 cups packed cilantro leaves and stems (one large bunch) 2 garlic cloves 2 Tbsp olive oil Salt and freshly ground pepper Soak the walnuts overnight in enough water to cover them. (This makes them easier to digest and helps remove some of the bitterness in the skin.) Drain and rinse the walnuts. Combine them with the cilantro, garlic, oil and salt to taste, and a few grinds of pepper in a food processor. Blend until smooth.

Remove the baguette from the oven and slice along the diagonal. Arrange on a platter with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the bruschetta mixture on each slice. Drizzle with a little more oil and serve. Note: For the bread to be crisp throughout rather than soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, slice it on the diagonal to start with, brush each piece with olive oil and bake on a baking sheet at 325° F for 5 to 7 minutes until crispy. Recipe and photos from Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen by Brittany Wood Nickerson. 26

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Taste and adjust the seasonings as necessary. The pesto will keep for 5 to 7 days in the fridge or for 6 months or more in the freezer. Recipe and photo from Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen by Brittany Wood Nickerson.

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

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The Magical Blue Lotus Flower by Kathleen Gould and Madalyn Johnson

lue lotus flower is an herb that has recently been making its way into the collective consciousness, and for good reason. Blue lotus is the blue/white energy of the third eye and crown chakras. It offers a deep feeling of trust, loyalty and honesty. Many therapists use the color blue with their clients to give confidence and security in the deepest depth of self. It provides a mild sense of tranquility and euphoria as well as an enhanced sense of awareness—perfect for these chaotic times. The majority of people use blue lotus as a tea, but it can also be taken as a liquid extract (tincture) or smoked to enjoy its effects. When using blue lotus flower, most note a feeling of warmth around the head and upper body—a dreamy-like feeling that helps them gain the aforementioned expanded state of awareness. Many people are using blue lotus in their dream work and to help take them into peaceful sleep, while others are finding it very helpful to reduce anxiety and stress. The flower contains nuciferine, a natural anti-spasmodic that may be the reason for the feelings of calming euphoria. In addition, the blue lotus flower acts as a mild analgesic. Symbolism: The flower’s blue color connects to the spirit of the water. Each day, the beautiful blue lotus flower emerges from the muddied water as the sun rises and descends back into the water as the sun sets. The Egyptians thought of this as a metaphor for rebirth and creation. They also felt the flower

was of “divine essence” because of the feelings of euphoria and tranquility it provides. The Buddhists believe it represents common sense and pure wisdom. In China and Japan, the blue lotus offers patience with yourself, others and life’s hardest lessons. In the teachings of Hinduism, it is regarded as a symbol of eternity, fertility and natural beauty. To make blue lotus flower tea: Put about 5 grams (about 4 or 5 whole flowers) in a cup and cover with boiling water. Cover and steep about 15-20 minutes or so. Strain and enjoy. Note: First effects are felt about 15 minutes after drinking. People also state that no negative or comedown effects are felt, making blue lotus a very safe herb to use. Although the tea can be drunk anytime of the day or evening, many drink it before bed to help move them into a peaceful sleep state that often enhances their dreams. The blue lotus flower by itself makes for a pleasurable tea; but if you are looking to enrich its abilities, it is a good idea to pair it with skullcap and passionflower, herbs commonly used to enhance sleep. And if you are looking to heighten your romantic side, try adding a little damiana—an herb used to increase sexual desire, ease depression, and maintain mental and physical stamina. Rosebuds are always a good addition when wanting to tap into self-love, and they just make the tea absolutely beautiful! To make a multi-ingredient tea: 2 parts blue lotus, 1 part skullcap, 1 part passionflower, and ½ part damiana or rosebuds. A part may be a Tbsp or an oz, depending on how much you want to make. When adding boiling water to your bowl of dried herbs, try placing your face close to the pot and inhale the aromatic oils/ steam with long deep breaths. This deep breathing is relaxing and quite meditative (when done with a 5-second in, 2-second hold, and 7-second release), and invigorates all your senses. Message from the blue lotus flower: I am the sacred flower of the Nile. I make my way back into your collective consciousness to help guide you from fear and back into your true self as creator spirit. Children of the Earth, listen as I guide you back to your roots. Settle your hearts and your spirits; fear not. Hold my essence in your hearts. Allow me to be your gentle guide as we move together to higher realms. Together, hand in hand, we will leave this dimension and walk the path to your true self, walking in the spirit of the divine feminine. Kathleen Gould, registered herbalist, and Madalyn Johnson are proprietors of SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place. Gould has been an herbalist for 30-plus years and has extensive experience in herbal medicine. For more information, Madalyn Johnson (left) and call 480-694-9931, or visit SWHerb.com or Store.SWHerb.com. Kathleen Gould (right) See ad, page 31. Advertorial September 2020

fit body

of modification I do with them is endless,” says Ramat, who underscores the importance of listening to the body. “I learned the hard way 17 years ago when I first became a teacher. I am gentle with myself if I am unable to do a pose and embrace the modification. I go deeper in my poses now than when I was younger.”

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Freedom Through Support

Yoga for Every Body Adaptive Ways Ease Pain and Immobility

by Marlaina Donato

aming chronic pain, restoring energy reserves, improving heart health and relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety are only a few of the science-backed perks of spending time on a yoga mat. However, misconceptions about this ancient practice can make yoga seem intimidating for individuals that could benefit the most from it. Adaptive yoga, designed for people challenged by injury, chronic pain, autoimmune disease or debilitating conditions like multiple sclerosis, can foster perhaps unexpected gains through the use of props, chairs, wall space and even countertops. From wheelchair-bound veterans to seniors with compromised balance, adaptive yoga offers new horizons for achieving well-being. Yoga’s gentle influence goes beyond physical benefits. A 2017 British study published in the Journal of Pain Research found people with spinal cord injuries that took sitting yoga classes twice a week for six weeks were less depressed, more self-

compassionate and more mindfully in the moment than those in a control group.

Empowerment, Not Perfection “Yoga is for any body, no matter the size, shape or color. It’s not about designer clothing, athletic ability, talents or perfection in the pose. Adaptive yoga is a movement to change this misconception and mitigate the anxiety to try yoga,” says Mindy Eisenberg, a Detroit-area certified yoga therapist and author of Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body: Created for Individuals with MS and Neuromuscular Condition and the accompanying Adaptive Yoga Cards. For Eisenberg, the focus is about the internal experience, healing and most of all, “the sense of joy that comes from a regular practice.” Ora Ramat, owner of the Wagging Tail Yoga Studio, in Bethel, New York, witnesses remarkable, everyday mastery in her students through adapted poses. “Many of my students are 40 to 95 years young, and the range

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“Our students have a wide range of health conditions including spina bifida, arthritis, MS, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, paraplegia, epiphyseal dysplasia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, chronic back pain and more,” says Miranda McCarthy, CEO of Wavelength VR (WavelengthVR.com), a healthcare company that produces a library of sciencesupported content for pain management without medication. The London-based creator of Adaptive Yoga LIVE, which offers seated online classes, knows firsthand how yoga can change lives. “Until I found adaptive yoga, I felt like I was constantly at war with my body,” she says. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 2 and the youngest recipient of bilateral hip replacement surgery in the U.S., McCarthy thought she knew her body inside and out. After 40 surgeries and decades of rehabilitation and medication, she went through a radical shift in perspective. “When I discovered adaptive yoga, I soon realized my relationship with my body had only just begun.” Eisenberg highlights the internal process that adaptive yoga can catalyze: “The energy and sensation that yoga students feel on the inside is much more important than what the pose looks like on the outside.” Items such as chairs, blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters are used to make traditional postures more accessible to those with physical challenges and to ensure safety. “Using props is not a sign of weakness or inferiority. We even use ambulatory devices such as a cane as a prop. Those who require assistive devices cease to see them as a hindrance. In fact, they become an accessory,” says Eisenberg. For McCarthy, the biggest takeaway is simple, yet profound self-acceptance. “I no longer judge myself or compare myself to

able-bodied people. I gained a newfound love for my body and a love for myself.” Eisenberg affirms, “It’s exciting to realize that our bodies are so much more capable than we thought, and we learn that we are not defined by our individual disease or limitations. As my teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn says, ‘As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong.’” Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Online Yoga Resources Free adaptive yoga classes online from Miranda McCarthy. AdaptiveYogaLive.com YogaJP, YouTube chair yoga classes for people in wheelchairs. Tinyurl.com/WheelchairYogaClasses Yoga and MS, book from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. omsyoga.org

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September 2020

natural pet

Finding the Right Tune for Pets Music Calms the Animal Soul

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by Julie Peterson

ometimes it takes a little dog to bring about a big truth, as Cheryl Christine, a professional musician and composer in Ridgeland, South Carolina, learned. “I was playing the piano at a party and the owners had a hyper little dog. After a while, I started playing some of the music from my CD and the dog stopped, turned around and came up to me, and just sat there and listened. The owners were shocked.” The mood of dogs and cats can be improved by hearing the right kind of tunes, but it’s important to choose their music wisely, because they are more highly attuned to sensory cues than humans.

Resounding Research

The nicest notes for animals have been well studied, especially dogs. Colorado State University researchers found that auditory stimulation with music can be helpful or detrimental. Results of a study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior 30

suggest that dogs sleep more and bark less when they listen to classical music; and they shake more and rise to their feet when exposed to heavy metal music, possibly from nervousness. Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a zoologist and certified applied animal behaviorist in Wisconsin, wrote her dissertation on the effect of different types of sounds upon working domestic animals. “What is important is not whether the music is ‘classical’ or ‘heavy metal’, but whether it includes a set of acoustic features that appear to be universally associated with soothing or stimulating internal states,” states McConnell in her blog, TheOtherEndOfTheLeash.com. McConnell explains that, “Pure tones and regular rhythms are associated with positive states.” On the other hand, harsh, noisy tones and irregular rhythms are linked with negative ones. She adds, “A tempo matching an animal’s resting heart rate (or respiration) tends to be calming.”

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Composers and musicians are currently writing music specifically for animals with the aim of reducing stress from noise or separation, assisting with healing, controlling overeating and soothing irritability.

Compositions for Cats

Christine was volunteering at a local animal shelter that played country music for the cats. “I wondered what their reaction would be if I wrote some meditative music with different tones—beta/alpha waves—to present to them alternative sounds,” she says. She composed some music and experimented with it in the cat room, noticing that the animals reacted positively to certain tones. That eventually led to a CD for cats, and then one for dogs, with the proceeds donated to the ASPCA and the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, in New York City.

Harmonies for Hounds

The Rescue Animal MP3 Project, an organization that has donated free MP3 players filled with music to more than 1,420 animal shelters and sanctuaries, was founded by Pamela Fisher, a holistic veterinarian in North Canton, Ohio. Calmer animals are more likely to be adopted, and the music is designed to provide a relaxed environment for animals so they can better cope with stressful housing conditions. The MP3s contain a variety of music and artists, including selections like Canine Lullabies, by Terry Woodford, therapeutic music expert; Pet Calm, Pet Healing, by hypnotherapist Rick Collingwood; and Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast, by Alianna Boone, who states, “The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instrument next to the human voice.” Pet owners may need to listen more closely. “We so often focus on other aspects of their environment—Is their dog bed comfy? Does it look pretty to us?—and fail to attend to the impact of sound on our dog’s environment (not to mention our own),” writes McConnell about new animal-music studies. There are many melodic medleys for pet parents, but buyer beware. “If you’re to spend your money on this, make sure you are looking at music backed by research,” advises Christine. For more information, visit Cheryl Christine.com. Julie Peterson writes about wellness for people, animals and the environment. Reach her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

New & Improved, hands-on

Herbal Certification Class

starting October 10th, 5 Saturdays • 9 am to 2 pm Yes, updated information, new herbs, new recipes ... come get certified! $100 deposit holds your seat Call today to RSVP ... bring a friend!

Coming January 29-31, 2021:

3-Day Weekend Intensive

Our 5 week herbal class condensed to 2-1/2 days. Seats limited, RSVP soon 2 FREE ‘Intro to Herbal Healing’ seminars Sept. 13th 1-2:30 or Sept. 19th 11-12:30 Call today to RSVP! Everyone gets a FREE goodie bag!

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September 2020

for the Developing Child. This can be particularly important for children raised in less-than-ideal circumstances. “It is absolutely critical for African-American children to learn resilience due to the current climate of hostility and racism, the inherent disadvantages in education and household income they are born into and hostile, crime-infested neighborhoods where they live,” says Damon Nailer, a Monroe, Louisiana, motivational speaker and author of Living, Loving, Leading. For children in all circumstances, he says, it’s important to “teach them that setbacks, failures, losses and adversity help you to learn, grow and become stronger.”

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healthy kids

Raising Resilient Kids How to Help Them Bounce Back by Ronica O’Hara

n these turbulent times, children need to know how to confidently weather and deal with changes no matter what life hands them, say many psychologists. Studies show that when kids are resilient—having the ability to recover quickly from difficulties—they are less fearful and anxious, more confident and empathetic, and better able to handle cataclysmic events like 9/11. Resilience can help them deal creatively with everything from cyberbullying to societal change. A Florida Atlantic University study of 1,204 children found that those that agreed with such statements as, “I can deal with whatever comes my way,” “I am not easily discouraged by failure,” and, “Having to cope with stress makes me stronger,” were less likely to be bullied in person or online and better able to cope when it occurred. Resilience can be taught and learned at any stage in a child’s life, studies suggest. Some useful strategies include:

1 32

Let them know they’re loved and supported. One stable, committed relationship with a supportive adult such as a parent, grandparent, aunt, teacher or coach is what a child needs to be resilient, according to research from Harvard’s Center Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

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Make resilience a household word. When San Diego child psychologist Bruce Thiessen’s daughter Kassidy was 4, he’d pretend to be the wolf in The Three Little Pigs, howling, “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!” She would reply, “Go ahead! I’ll rebuild it tougher and stronger!” It was his way of embedding resilience in her, which he and his wife Roxie have reinforced with books, movies and songs. “Making the theme of resilience dominant in multiple activities will make an enduring, indelible impression on your child,” he says.

Be a good example. “The most important thing to cultivate resilience, mindfulness and any other emotions really, is for parents to practice and model these things themselves,” says Christopher Willard, Ph.D., a Harvard lecturer and author of Raising Resilience: The Wisdom and Science of Happy Families and Thriving Children. Adults need to bounce back from setbacks, whether it’s a social media mistake or a lost job, and find ways to reframe what happened in a positive light. To convey that attitude to a child, ask at dinner or bedtime, “What was the rose in your day? The thorn? What did you learn? What would you do differently next time?” The parent can model responses to these questions by sharing their own rose and thorn.

Teach thankfulness. Feelings of gratitude bolster resilience, studies show. For example, college students that performed gratitude-inducing exercises reported feeling better able to handle academic challenges. “Teach your child to look for the gift within every problem,” advises C.J. Scarlet, author of Heroic Parenting: An Essential Guide to Raising Safe, Savvy, Confident Kids. “That’s often hard to do in the midst of challenges, but just knowing there will be a gift found at some point can help your child to ride out the storm with greater patience and confidence.” Ronica O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Resilience is Just a Deep Breath Away

Mindful Means to Resilience BounceBack Breathing

fizkes/AdobeStock.com

Let them figure things out. “As tempting as it may be to step in every time you see your children struggling, allowing them to figure things out on their own builds resilience,” says Katie Lear, a Davidson, North Carolina, therapist specializing in childhood anxiety. “On the flip side, when a parent hovers or immediately steps in to solve a child’s problem, the child may interpret that behavior as, ‘I don’t trust you to be able to do this without help.’” Asking a child how they plan to solve a problem rather than questioning why the problem happened in the first place is a way to teach them creative problem-solving, advises Lynn Lyons, a Concord, New Hampshire, psychotherapist and co-author of Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents.

Mindfulness—being in the moment without judgment—has been linked to youthful resilience, numerous studies show, perhaps because it allows a child to take a deep, calming breath in the midst of a trying event. “Mindfulness training really does create new brain connections that boost resilience to stress,” says Christopher Willard, a Harvard lecturer and author of Growing Up Mindful. When children learn mindfulness, he says, they “can better self-regulate their emotions, and stress is less likely to overwhelm them and lead to mental health issues like anxiety or depression.” Getting a child started on mindfulness can be as simple as teaching them a breathing exercise.

Chocolate breathing: Imagine you are holding up a mug of hot chocolate. Breathe

in through your nose like you are smelling it, then exhale through your mouth like you are cooling it off. Repeat for a minute or two.

Bumblebee breathing: Sitting comfortably, breathe in through your nose for a

count of four. Exhale, making a buzzing or humming sound. Repeat 10 or more times.

Mountain breathing: While inhaling through your nose, raise your arms high

above your head and bring your palms together, imagining you are as high as a mountain. Then ground your feet into the floor, imagining roots going deep into the earth. Exhale through your mouth while lowering your palms together in front of your chest. Repeat several times.

Count breathing: Closing your eyes and sitting quietly, count “one” to yourself as you exhale. With the next exhale, count “two” and so on up to “five,” start back at one again, and repeat for at least five minutes.

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Click “Calendar” NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted online at NaturalAZ.com by the 10th of the month, and adhere to the guidelines that can be found on the submission pages. No phone calls please. Due to COVID-19 concerns, we continue to have very limited events. Please visit the website at NaturalAZ.com, as new events may be added throughout the month, and check ahead of time to make sure they are still running as planned.

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Massage Therapy Program – Morning classes begin. For those seeking a new, purposeful career or a part-time job for rewarding extra income. Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, 1538 E Southern Ave, Tempe. 480-994-9244. Info@ swiha.edu. swiha.edu.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Unity World Day of Prayer – 6:30-9:30am & 5:30-7:30pm. Join Unity of Mesa for World Day of Prayer. During this time of affirmation and prayer, we invite you to light a candle and take time for prayer, silence and self-reflection. Our theme “From Fear to Faith” gives us the opportunity to see our experiences through a spiritual lens. In this way, we re-envision ourselves and our lives. Standing in truth, I move from fear to faith. Check our website for details and registration. Donation. 480-892-2700. UnityOfMesa.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 DECEMBER

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Intro to Herbal Healing Seminar – 1-2:30pm. Everyone gets a free goodie bag. Free. RSVP: 480694-9931. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. SWHerb.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Embracing Your Journey Expo – Sept 19 & 20. 9am-5pm. Connect with people in a social distancing safe environment while allowing yourself a renewed focus on your mind, body and spirit journey. $6/advance, $8/door; featured event, $20/advance, $30/door—per day. Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, 7767 N 16th St, Phoenix. Info and tickets: EmbracingYourJourneyExpo. com/september-19th--20th.html. Intro to Herbal Healing Seminar – 11am12:30pm. Everyone gets a free goodie bag. Free. RSVP: 480-694-9931. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. SWHerb.com.

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plan ahead SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Herbal Certiﬁcation Class – 9am-2pm. Five Saturdays. Updated information, new herbs and new recipes. $100 deposit holds your seat. RSVP: 480-694-9931. SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place, 148 N Center St, Mesa. SWHerb.com.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 Massage Therapy Program – Evening classes begin. For those seeking a new, purposeful career or a part-time job for rewarding extra income. Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, 1538 E Southern Ave, Tempe. 480-994-9244. Info@ swiha.edu. swiha.edu.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat – Nov 13, 4pm - Nov 16, noon. With cookbook author Melanie Albert. Enjoy three days of plant-based cooking and self-care, yoga, hiking, massage, and Sedona ceremonial experiences in Sedona and our beautiful eco-retreat house. Perfect weekend for a group of friends, corporate wellness, or moms/ daughters. Since we cancelled our September Retreat due to the Coronavirus, if you’d like to schedule a private retreat for a small group “when the time is right,” please contact Melanie Albert. Contact for price/info: 602-615-2486, Mel@ MelanieAlbert.com, ExperienceNutrition.com/ sedona-retreats.

ongoing events

sunday Sunday Services at Unity of Mesa – 10:1511am. Services are streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Join us there for music, meditation and message. Free. 480892-2700. UnityOfMesa.org.

classifieds Classifieds: $59/month (50 word max. including title and contact info.). Print magazine only. Email listings by 10th of month prior to publication to PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com HELP WANTED

thursday Alchemy of the Heart – 7pm. Sept 3 & 17. By Elizabeth Clare Prophet. Jump into the current book study. Free. Zoom.us/j/84920149474. Passcode 267445. 480-442-5020. Info@ SummitLighthousePhoenix.org. Facebook. com/tslofphoenix. Creative Abundance – 7-8pm. Oct 1 & 15. Be part of an exciting book discussion on giving and receiving more wealth. Free. Zoom. us/j/84920149474. Passcode 267445. 480442-5020. Info@SummitLighthousePhoenix. org. Facebook.com/tslofphoenix.

friday 5-Minute Bible Talks – 10-10:10am. Unity calls the Bible a textbook, but what does that mean? Rev. Kathy, from Unity of Mesa, hosts these five-minute talks, exploring, questioning and reclaiming meaning from the text historically, socially and spiritually. This is not designed to be a scholarly discourse but a genuine search for meaning and understanding. Watch on the Unity of Mesa Facebook page or YouTube channel. Free. UnityOfMesa.org.

ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople in the Phoenix area to help others grow their business. Commissionbased. Full- or part-time. Unlimited potential. Tracy@NaturalAZ.com. OPPORTUNITIES TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE PESTICIDES IN SCOTTSDALE – Help to make Scottsdale the first city in Arizona that restricts the use of toxic pesticides. Details on how to sign the petition, collect signatures on your own, or volunteer for a signature collection event can be found at ScottsdaleBelieve.com. Full petition at ScottsdaleBelieve.com/petition. OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE HERE – Are you hiring, renting office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your business needs in the Natural Awakenings classified ads section.

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September 2020

business directory

MILLENNIUM DENTAL ASSOCIATES

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Business Directory, email PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com or visit NaturalAZ.com and download our media kit.

CLEANING SERVICES

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE NATURAL PAIN TREATMENT AND DETOX

MacKenzie Kalt, Owner 23425 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste A-110 Scottsdale 480-594-5052 • NatPainTreat.com Providing some of the most advanced natural technologies for those struggling with chronic pain, injuries, stress, migraine headaches, PTSD, insomnia, Lyme disease, autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, and much more. Visit our website to learn more. See ad, inside front cover.

SALT CHALET ARIZONA

Pavel Gershkovich, CHP, CRP 5011 N Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale 480-621-6041 SaltChaletArizona.com ArizonaLeechTherapy.com Our rooms are coated from floor to ceiling with multiple layers of pure, untreated salt from the Dead Sea. Providing relief for many health conditions. See ad, page 14.

SW HERB SHOP & GATHERING PLACE

148 N Center St, Mesa 480-694-9931 • SWHerb.com Store.SWHerb.com

Valleywide Service • 480-994-4988 BennettsCarpetCleaningAz.com Eco-friendlycarpet and upholstery cleaning. Featuring org-anic cleaners and odor removal products derived from renewable seed and vegetable sources. No perfumes, solvents or other hazardous products. No phosphates. Products also available for in-home use. Licensed and owner operated since 1974.

COACHING

Millennium Dental offers more than 40 years’ experience in holistic dentistry, including advanced general dentistry and an extraordinary knowledge of services found in complementary medicine. See ad, page 9.

MY DENTIST

Dr. Michael Margolis and Dr. Stephen Kovar 2045 S Vineyard Rd, Ste 153, Mesa 480-833-2232 • MyDentistAZ.com A holistic and biological approach to your dental needs and overall health. Bio-compatible dentistry, esthetic dentistry lumineers/veneers, family dentistry and much more. See ad, page 3.

WHITE STAR

Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Medicine Woman 617-697-8924 (Scottsdale) DivineLightMinistries.com White Star is a Spiritual Elder, Mystic, Medium and Master Psychic and Healer with 40 years' experience. She offers profound clairvoyant readings covering any subject. She can heal serious conditions and restore emotional and spiritual wellness. Classes and trainings on psychic development and many healing modalities are available in person and online.

DENTISTS INTEGRATIVE DENTAL ASSOCIATES Lisa M. Butler, DMD 4202 N 32nd St, Ste A, Phoenix 602-956-4807 • IntegrativeDental.com

Providing biologic dentistry personalized to fit your needs in a caring and supportive environment. Offering many holistic procedures using the latest in modern technology. Dr. Butler is a member of the Holistic Dental Association and the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology. See ad, page 4.

NATURAL DENTAL ARTISTRY

Daniel Marinic, DDS 1835 W State Rte 89A, Ste 1, Sedona 928-554-4247 NaturalDentalArtistry.com Dr. Marinic offers a holistic approach to dentistry, with the latest and safest technologies available, such as metal-free zirconia implants and one-visit, all-porcelain onlays, inlays and crowns. He has been at the forefront of dental technology throughout his career and regularly increases his knowledge of technological developments in the dental industry. See ad, inside back cover.

NATURAL DENTAL PARTNERS

Dr. Ingo Mahn 3134 W Carefree Hwy, Ste 9, Phoenix 602-775-5120 • MyNaturalDentist.com Dr. Mahn takes the time to listen to your concerns and uses his extensive experience to help you achieve better health. Author of A Healthy Mouth—The Missing Link to Optimal Health, he utilizes the latest advances in dentistry (low dose digital x-rays and single visit biocompatible restorations) to deliver the highest level of holistic dental care. Check the calendar of events page on his website for upcoming seminars. See ad, page 6. 123rf.com/thug1747

Kathy Gould and Madalyn Johnson, herbalists and proprietors, offer medicinal bulk herbs and specialty tea blends, herbal extracts, certification classes, community and therapist rental space, medicine-making supplies, and more. See ad, page 31.

BENNETT’S CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

Nicholas J. Meyer, DDS, DNM Dr. Jay Valiyaparambil, DMD 5705 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste D-110, Scottsdale 480-948-0560 MillDental.com

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PURE SMILES

Jason A. Jones, DMD 7231 E Princess Blvd, Ste 207, Scottsdale 480-585-1612 • PureSmilesAz.com Exceptional dental service with dedication to comfort and compassion. We carefully assist each procedure and select the products to help preserve and protect your overall well-being. See ad, page 10.

DOCTORS ANN CHARLOTTE VALENTIN, NMD Center for Integrative Medicine 16421 N Tatum Blvd, Ste 129, Phoenix 602-888-2320 • DrLotte.com

Dr. Valentin specializes in Integrative Medicine and is trained in Botanical Medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition and Pharmaceuticals. She treats many conditions, such as Menopause, Menstrual issues, Thyroid, Digestion, Allergies, Anxiety, Depression, Heavy Metal Toxicity, and many chronic and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Valentin has post-graduate training in Bioidentical Hormones and sees patients of all different age groups. See ad, page 15.

ENERGY HEALING KIM CARTER, MA, HTCP

15215 S 48th St, Ste 154, Phoenix Kim@IntuitiveKim.com IntuitiveKim.com Kim Carter is a Psychic and Healing Touch Certified Practitioner providing grounded, down-toearth guidance to those in transition or needing some clarity. Her intuitive readings offer insight into innate strengths, as well as challenges in moving forward. Her compassionate, practical approach helps clients step into their authentic power to create balance and harmony in body, mind and spirit.

PEST CONTROL ARIZONA ORGANIC PEST & TERMITE CONTROL

SOUTHWEST INSTITUTE OF HEALING ARTS

Avoid being exposed to dangerous chemicals when all-natural and safer alternatives work just as well and last longer. See ad, page 15.

Nationally accredited college offers holistic health and wellness degrees, diplomas, certificates of excellence, continuing education and personal development, oncampus and online. Financial aid available. See ad, outside back cover.

Organic Pest Control 602-923-1457 • ArizonaOrganic.com

PET CARE ANDREA SOBOTKA, AKA “CRITTER DOC”

ASAM, Sh. Reiki, HTAP Animal Communicator and Counselor 602-317-1543 • CritterDoc1@cox.net SpiritAnimalWisdom.com With a gentle healing touch, Andrea provides earth medicine and energy healing, animal communication, and intuitive counsel for pets and their people.

RETREATS/WORKSHOPS EXPERIENCE NUTRITION GROUP LLC Melanie A. Albert Phoenix • 602-615-2486 ExperienceNutrition.com Facebook.com/NewViewHealthyEating

Plant-Based Farm-to-Table Experiences. Founded in 2010. Hands-on intuitive interactive cooking workshops, classes, team building events, corporate wellness, and retreats for organizations. Artisan plant-based catering, snacks, and gift baskets.

SALONS A LOR A ORGANIC STUDIO

HOLISTIC HEALTH ANAHATA YOGA, SOUND AND ENERGY HEALING

A Community of Conscious Connection 14148 N 100th St, Ste C-130, Scottsdale 480-699-9600 • AnahataYogaAZ.com Crystal singing bowl sales, meditations, sound immersions, gong, yoga, special events, workshops and trainings. See our schedule for more info!

SCHOOLS

7329 E Stetson Dr, Ste 11, Scottsdale 917-202-3289 • AloraOrganic.com An organic eco-friendly hair salon where beautiful cuts and color coexist with the best natural hair care. No harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances – just beautiful healthy hair. Energy healing and past life regression is also available. See ad, page 33.

1538 E Southern Ave, Tempe 480-994-9244 Info@swiha.edu • swiha.edu

SPIRITUAL CENTERS THE SUMMIT LIGHTHOUSE® OF PHOENIX

4105 N 20th St, Ste 115, Phoenix 480-442-5020 SummitLighthousePhoenix@gmail.com SummitLighthousePhoenix.org Dedicated to sharing Saint Germain’s Violet Flame. All faiths welcome. Learn how you can become a modern day mystic. We are dedicated to sharing the Teachings of the Ascended Masters® to help you bring in joy and peace to the world. Learn what the requirements are to make your ascension. See ad, page 20.

UNITY OF MESA

2700 E Southern Ave, Mesa 480-892-2700 • UnityOfMesa.org We are a progressive, New Thought, spiritual community, exploring universal principles and practices. We offer practical spiritual teachings for meaningful and prosperous living. Sunday services, youth programs and a wide variety of classes are available each week. ALL are welcome here. See ad, page 35.

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September 2020

Tempe Meadows Farmers’ Market 1490 E Weber Dr Saturdays & Sundays 8am-2pm TempeMeadows.com The Barn at Power Ranch 3685 E Autumn Dr, Gilbert Wednesdays 4-8pm RaysMarket.com The Capitol Farmers’ Market 1700 Adams St, Phoenix Thursdays late Nov-Apr 10:30am-1:30pm ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com

NOTE: Please check market websites and ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com for more information on days and hours, and any restrictions.

Ahwatukee Farmers’ Market 4700 E Warner Rd, Phoenix Sundays Oct-May 9am-1pm Jun-Sep 8am-11am Facebook.com/AhwatukeeFarmersMarket Anthem Farmers’ Market 41703 N Gavilan Peak Pkwy Sundays Oct-May 9am-1pm Facebook.com/AnthemFarmersMarket Care 1st Farmers’ Market 328 W Western Ave, Avondale Tuesdays Jul-Oct 8am-noon ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com Carefree Farmers’ Market 1 Sundial Circle Fridays Oct-May 9am-1pm Jun-Sep 8am-11am Facebook.com/CarefreeFarmersMarket Downtown Chandler Farmers’ Market 3 S Arizona Ave Saturdays Oct-May 9am-1pm Jun-Sep 7am-10:30am Facebook.com/ChandlerFarmersMarket Gilbert Farmers’ Market 222 N Ash St Saturdays Oct-Mar/Apr 8am-noon Apr/May-Sep 7am-11am GilbertMarket.com Goodyear Farmers’ Market 3151 N Litchfield Rd Saturdays Oct-May 8am-noon ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com

High Street Farmers’ Market 5415 E High St, Phoenix Sundays Oct-May 10am-1pm Facebook.com/Farmers-Market-on-HighStreet-2244771575799425

Uptown Farmers’ Market 5757 N Central Ave, Phoenix Wednesdays Oct-Apr 9am-1pm & May-Jun 8am-noon Saturdays Nov-Apr 9am-1pm & May-Oct 8am-noon UptownMarketAZ.com Verrado Community Farmers’ Market N Market Pl & W Main St, Buckeye Sundays Oct-Jun 10am-1pm Facebook.com/VerradoCommunityFarmersMarket

Mesa Farmers’ Market and Flea 526 E Main St Saturdays 8am-1pm (winter hrs) 7am-noon (summer hrs) MesaFarmersMarketAndFlea.com

Vincent’s Saturday Market 3930 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix Saturdays late Oct-early May 9am-1pm VincentsOnCamelback.com

Momma’s Organic Market Park West, 9744 W Northern Ave, Peoria Saturdays 9am-2pm MommasOrganicMarket.com

NORTHERN ARIZONA

Old Town Scottsdale Farmers’ Market 3806 N Brown Ave Saturdays 7am-11am ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com Phoenix Public Market 721 N Central Ave Saturdays Oct-Apr 8am-1pm May-Sep 8am-noon PhxPublicMarket.com Power Road Farmers’ Market 4011 S Power Rd, Mesa Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm | Sunday 9am-4pm PowerrdFarmersMarket.com Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market 3502 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix Saturdays Oct-May 9am-1pm | Jun-Sep 7am-11am Facebook.com/RoadrunnerParkFarmersMarket Sun City Farmers’ Market 16820 N 99th Ave Thursdays Oct-May 9am-1pm Facebook.com/Sun-City-Farmers-Market631299790224049

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Flagstaff Community Farmers’ Market 211 W Aspen Ave, City Hall Parking Lot Sundays May-Oct 8am-noon FlagstaffMarket.com Prescott Summer Farmers’ Market Yavapai College, Parking Lot D 1100 E Sheldon St Saturdays May-Oct 7:30am-noon PrescottFarmersMarket.org Prescott Winter Farmers’ Market Prescott High School, 1050 Ruth St Saturdays Nov-May 10am-1pm PrescottFarmersMarket.org Sedona Summer Community Farmers’ Market Tlaquepaque/Creekside, 336 Hwy 179 Fridays May-Oct 8-11:30am Sedona-Farmers-Market.com Sedona Winter Community Farmers’ Market Wells Fargo Bank Parking Lot 2201 W State Rte 89A, West Sedona Sundays Oct-May noon-4pm Sedona-Farmers-Market.com

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Local Farmers’ Markets

September 2020