Natural Awakenings Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona, September 2021 Edition by Natural Awakenings Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona

EE R F HEALTHY LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots & Pans HOW CREATIVIT Y HEAL S US INTEGRATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT

TIPS TO ENCOURAGE KIDSʼ CREATIVIT Y HOW HORSES HELP HEAL HUMANS

September 2021 | Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition | NaturalAZ.com

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THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY: The Scientiﬁc Proof of Spiritual Contact and How That Awareness Will Change Your Life by

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer

75 A NNIVERSARY ! th

World-renowned 4th generation psychic medium and Oxford educated attorney Mark Anthony bridges the divide between faith and science in this fascinating afterlife exploration taking you around the globe, from the cosmic to the subatomic, into the human soul itself. Combining physics, neuroscience and riveting true stories this book: • Reveals how our “Electromagnetic Soul” is pure eternal energy which never dies. • Takes spirit communication, near-death experiences, and deathbed visions out of the shadows of superstition and into The Light of 21st Century Quantum Physics. • Teaches Anthony’s “RAFT Technique” to Recognize contact with spirits, Accept it as real, Feel it without fear, and Trust in the experience. • Provides hope for victims of grief, homicide, suicide, PTSD and survivor’s guilt. • Illuminates how contact with spirits is a powerful instrument of healing and love.

“To put it bluntly, this is an “amazing book that deserves to be enjoyed by millions of readers.” Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health, University of Arizona and author of “The Afterlife Experiments”.

“Mark Anthony shows that while we cannot control death, we can control how we understand and react to it in healthy ways.” Bruce Greyson, MD, co-founder of IANDS and author of “After: A doctor Explores what Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond”

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer author of The Afterlife Frequency and his other best sellers, Never Letting Go and Evidence of Eternity is cohost of The Psychic & the Doc on The Transformation Network and columnist for Best Holistic Magazine. He appears nationwide on TV and radio as an expert in spirit communication, near-death experiences, paranormal phenomena and as a legal expert. ®

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

11 THE POWER OF CREATIVITY IN THE ART OF HEALING

12 ART'S EMBRACE Healing Through Creativity

16 FORAGED FUNGI FARE Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

19 MARTHA BECK on Living with Integrity

20 CREATIVE KIDS

How to Nurture Imagination

22 HEALTHY COOKWARE

How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots and Pans

24 YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA

Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System

26 ALL PAIN IS NOT EQUAL 28 CONQUERING CHRONIC PAIN

How the Body-Mind Connection Works

30 GOT PAIN? PUT A ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please email PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

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Go to NaturalAZ.com/pages/contact to inquire about editorial opportunities. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

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PIN IN IT!

31 THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN NOTE

32 HORSES AS HEALERS Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits

DEPARTMENTS 10 news briefs 11 business spotlight 15 eco tip 16 conscious eating 19 wise words 20 healthy kids 22 green living 24 fit body

28 31 32 34 36 36 37 38

healing ways inspiration natural pet business directory classifieds mark your calendar visit us online farmers' markets September 2021

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

Creativity

PHOENIX & NORTHERN ARIZONA EDITION PUBLISHER Tracy Patterson, BSc, MES DESIGN & PRODUCTION Vegetorium, LLC COPY EDITOR Sara Gurgen DIGITAL PLATFORMS Hass Solutions Locable

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

Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Gabrielle W-Perillo Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Anne-Marie Ryan

he article in this month’s edition on page 20 reminded me of one of the most important aspects of my childhood days—having freedom, especially when it came to being creative. My friends and I were in a constant creative mode, and I don’t actually recall a time that I went to my parents and bugged them for something to do. I could create a barn for my plastic horses out of a cardboard box; fish for oysters in the hallway of our home (a towel for a boat, a twig with string for the fishing line, sunflower seeds for the oysters—doesn’t make sense, I know, but that was my creative license!); make porridge from the seeds of our birch tree in the front yard; build forts of all kinds, on the couch and bed, or in the yard or field at the end of our block; dress up and sing while standing on sawhorses as a stage; and the list goes on! That doesn’t mean we didn’t do things as a family; camping was a popular activity, with a few friends in the mix. Once we were out in the woods or mountains at our campsite, it was a challenge keeping us kids in check! At one lake we frequented, there was a long road with horses in a field near the end of it, and we spent many an hour walking down that road to visit our equine friends. We also spent hours creating miniature fire pits and endeavoring to keep them lit (an amazingly hard task!), and putting on miles around the campsite exploring every nook and cranny nature had to offer. Anything involving water was particularly fun—for example, trying to stand on air mattresses on a lake, another difficult task. I often came back to our camp home soaked to the bone, even after my mom specifically said to me, “Don’t get wet!” I was the poster kid for what now seems to be a “new” concept in the realm of raising children, although I’m not sure that my parents gave me this freedom through design so that my creative juices could flow. It was likely more by default, and due to the fact that I was very independent early on and loved spending time with my friends. Whatever it was, we kids of yesteryear spent endless hours creating almost anything you can imagine, often out of little bits of this and that we found lying around. My hope is that today’s children have the opportunity to stretch their creative wings and experience the essence of what it really means to be a kid.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please contact us to find a location near you. 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.

DEADLINE REMINDER! Please note that all deadlines (advertising and editorial) are the 10th of the month prior to the edition being published. For example, September 10 is the deadline for all October edition submissions.

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

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September 2021

news briefs

Deluxe Edition of Autobiography of a Yogi Coming in October

Dowsing Conference Open to New and Experienced Dowsers

his year marks the 75th anniversary of Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda, and to celebrate it, Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), the spiritual organization founded by Yogananda, will issue a deluxe edition of the book in October. With several million copies in print and having been translated into more than 50 languages, Autobiography made HarperCollins’ list of 100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century. Yogananda, who is widely recognized as playing a major, if not the primary role in introducing the science of yoga to the West, writes of his search for a guru; his 10 years of training with his master, Sri Yukteswar; and his 30 years in America where he established SRF on a stretch of Los Angeles beach. He shares stories of many encounters with spiritual masters, including Mahatma Gandhi and the Catholic stigmatic Therese Neumann. Says Lauren Landress, SRF’s director of public affairs, “The book also provides clear, scientific explanation of the subtle but definite laws by which yogis perform miracles and attain self-mastery.” According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs, Jobs first read Autobiography as a teenager, and at some point forward, then read the book every year. Autobiography was given to everyone who attended Jobs’ memorial service. Also, famously, the four gurus of kriya yoga, including Yogananda, are featured on the cover of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. For more information, visit Yogananda.org. See ad, page 4. Advertorial

hose interested in fine-tuning their intuition; learning how to dowse for and find treasure, missing people, pets and items; and much more, there is a Dowsing Conference from October 6 to 12 at the Little America Hotel, in Flagstaff. The conference will include exclusive vortex tours to Sedona; an all-day beginner dowsing course; and advanced dowsing classes that include creating labyrinths, working with earth acupuncture, and much more. When many think of dowsing, they imagine an old farmer with a Y-shaped stick. Maybe their grandmother or grandfather was a water witch. Finding water is one of the oldest and most important crafts in our collective existence. However, dowsing is not just for finding water. A great definition of dowsing is “focused intuition.” Some dowsers use their abilities to heal, communicate with animals (from mice to whales), improve and repair relationships, dissipate entities, and get rid of bad habits. With dowsing, one can use various tools, like L-rods (sometimes made from metal coat hangers), Y-rods (can be made from a Y-shaped stick or other materials), pendulums (a key on a string) or simply one’s body. For more information, call 978-496-8599 or visit FlagstaffDowsers.com. See ad, page 27.

Check website for service times.

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Advertorial

business spotlight

The Power of Creativity in the Art of Healing

llura Westly has been painting with watercolors and teaching art for more than 30 years in Phoenix, attesting to the fact that creating art is the soul’s desire to bring energy into form. Some of her works are cathartic, meaning an inner barrier breaks loose and creates a way for trauma to express itself, inadvertently healing the artist without words that would otherwise trigger remembrance of old trauma. She begins each class with a clearing meditation, releasing students’ minds of problems and worries during creative time—a time where students release their outside life and participate in a place of grace, inside the sanctuary of the artist/ teacher’s studio, a sacred space that has only ever known the energy of artistic creation. Art making is a multifold process. Paint-

ing can become a way to conduct a spiritual search while working in the world, but not being of it. There are many of us that prefer to isolate—to seek for ourselves within. Solo work is only for those that understand that making a conscious connection to something higher is a spiritual quest that enlightens the artist in the process, creating, through will, a depth of artistic perception that produces in the audience a breathless moment filled with light and magic. Westly teaches this process, instead of blandly providing repetitive recipes that work out the same every time. She understands the deeper meaning of the quest and facilitates her students in making their own connection. Making connection is what drives the artistic journey and is really the true reason for embarking on the journey to begin with. James Redfield, author of The Celestine

Prophecy, wrote, “Where attention goes, energy flows.” Westly teaches her students how to laser focus their entire attention into their creative process, elevating their selfawareness in the process. One definition of inspiration is to draw in spirit, also known as connecting to the muse; it brings the deepest of healings when the artist is able to attain this. It requires being willing to tolerate uncertainty and take a risk, acknowledging that deep within lies the potential of tapping into a powerful, transcendent energy that will accelerate healing in all dimensions and take the artist on a magical mystery tour, opening a space in the mind for miracles to appear. The challenge is as great as the risk, and not easily met. But by using one’s will and occupying a state of allowing, anything is possible. It creates aliveness, accelerates healing in all dimensions, increases well-being, and improves emotional health. In these moments, one does not have to understand the meaning of life because life itself is filled with meaning and purpose. To connect with Allura Westly, call 602469-0524 or email AlluraWaterColor@ cox.net. For more information, visit AlluraWaterColor.com. Advertorial September 2021

ART’S EMBRACE

Healing Through Creativity by Sandra Yeyati

agsandrew/AdobeStock.com

rt can be a powerful force for healing. Its potential manifests in a disabled man’s triumphant dance or cancer patient’s stirring self-portrait. Throughout America, art’s redemption takes center stage at hospitals, nursing homes, jails and homeless shelters. Even an entire city can be transformed when its citizens embrace public art to add beauty, create community and heal its broken places.

searchers are currently investigating whether live music in emergency and trauma care settings can reduce the need for opioids. “When people engage in the arts, they often enter into a flow state, that experience of losing yourself in art where we lose track of time and what we’re doing is intrinsically motivated,” Sonke says. “A flow state can engage a relaxation response, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, which can enhance immune function.”

Art in Medical Settings

Art Therapy for Cancer Patients

According to Jill Sonke, director of the University of Florida (UF) Center for Arts in Medicine, approximately half of U.S. hospitals have art programs that provide positive distraction, enjoyment and connection. To humanize otherwise intimidating environments, visual artists and musicians are employed to install appealing exhibits and play relaxing music. Artists also work at the bedside with patients as part of inter-professional care teams. Serving as an artist-in-residence early in her career, Sonke remembers a young female patient with sickle cell disease whose bouts of extreme pain required hospitalization. Dance sessions eased her suffering and enabled doctors to reduce pain medications. “The way the patient described it was not that the pain was going away, but that she didn’t mind it as much because she was enjoying dancing,” she says. While facilitating Dance for Life classes for Parkinson’s patients, Sonke encountered a man suffering limited mobility and an inability to form facial expressions. After two months of biweekly sessions, he could lift his arms over his head and, to his wife’s delight, smile again. “It’s that multimodal capacity of the arts,” Sonke explains. “All at the same time, he was engaging in music, movement and imagery. He was moving with others and experiencing joy and laughter.” According to Sonke, ongoing research seeks to pinpoint the public health benefits of art. In Britain, they have learned that people over 50 visiting museums or concerts once a month are almost half as likely to develop depression in older age. Other studies suggest that music can unlock memories and improve cognition. UF re-

Board-certified art therapist Mallory Montgomery helps cancer patients in Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital work through symptoms of depression, anxiety or trauma. “Any person seeking a talk therapist or social worker could also consult with an art therapist,” she says. “We have the same training, but use art instead of just words. Evidence suggests that art therapy accesses healing faster because you’re forging a deep mind/body connection.” When counseling a double mastectomy patient that has questions about who they are now that they’re missing a part of their identity, Montgomery might offer a printed body map so that they can pinpoint where they carry feelings of loss, pain or confusion. “By drawing or coloring in those areas, I’m asking them to show how they’re being affected physically, emotionally and spiritually, and to externalize the overwhelming, negative side of their problem,” she explains. Using a second body map, Montgomery might invite the patient to draw or paint in those same areas to transform the pain into something more positive. “Is it going to blossom like a flower or be soothed with water? What imagery can you create that represents the opposite of your pain or an improvement of your concerns? We might also do a portrait to highlight other aspects of you and your personality that still exist, even though you no longer have a body part that was killing you,” she says. Montgomery’s emphasis is never on the quality of the art. “I walk the fine line between allowing patients to problem-solve how to make something look like what’s in their head and providing

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them with comfort and intervention so they don’t get so frustrated that they want to give up,” she notes. Montgomery keeps a visual journal for her own self-expression. “It helps me make sense of the world,” she says. “Art gives my voice and thoughts an outlet, something concrete and representational that reaches into the depth of what I’m experiencing.”

Redemption Songs in Skid Row About 10 years ago, violinist and recording artist Vijay Gupta took a wrong turn and ended up in Skid Row, a disadvantaged downtown Los Angeles neighborhood. “It felt like a gut punch,” he recalls. “I saw the gross inequality between Walt Disney Concert Hall where I performed for the LA Philharmonic and a community of 5,000 people less than two miles away sleeping in tents in extreme poverty.” To uplift and inspire people recovering from homelessness, addiction and incarceration, Gupta founded Street Symphony in 2011 as a series of concert performances by world-class musicians. “One of our first venues was the Department of Mental Health,” he recalls. “After the second movement, the young violist I was performing with turned to the audience with tears in his eyes and said, ‘I’ve loved playing for you because I can feel your hearts.’ He shared that his mother had grappled with schizophrenia, his father was a prison guard and whenever he played for his family, he felt more connected to them. That’s when I began to see him as a human being who was in deep need of this work himself.” Gupta has learned firsthand that healing is a two-way street.

“When I come to Skid Row, I’m the one who feels lifted,” he says. As a result, Street Symphony has morphed into a collection of workshops and conversations that also employs jazz, reggae, hiphop and West African musicians and vocalists from the Skid Row community. “We might play 30 minutes of music and then ask the audience what images, thoughts or memories came up for them,” he explains. In this community, art is neither entertainment nor a commodity, Gupta says. “It’s a lifeline; a way for people that have been devastated by poverty, addiction or trauma to add to their lives in a constructive way. We all have devastated places within ourselves that need healing and attention. Visiting Skid Row is a pilgrimage to the broken place within myself, and in that way, it’s a spiritual place; my temple where I go to worship.”

Creative Care for People with Dementia Drawing from her theater background, Anne Basting, author of Creative Care, has developed an innovative approach to dementia and elder care. “Our current caregiving model envisions one person that’s empty and has lots of needs and the other person that’s full and pours themself into the other person, which leads to burnout,” she says. “Dementia and aging are experiences of increasing separation. People isolate themselves and learn not to trust their own expressive capacities, because their relatives and friends no longer know how to relate with them and often ignore their words.” Basting’s Creative Care changes this depleting dynamic. “In improvisational theater, you observe everything that’s happening

September 2021

on stage and try to figure out how you can add to the performance positively,” she explains. “Applying that idea to a care situation, you observe the person’s facial expressions, what they’re saying, how they’re behaving and then invite them into expression out of that moment with what we call a ‘beautiful question’, one that has no right or wrong answers and draws on the person’s strengths.” A beautiful question might be, “If your feet could talk, what would they say?” This offers people with pain a poetic way to express it. “I invited a gentleman with dementia who had no language—no words left—to show me how water moves. His response was the most beautiful dance I’d ever experienced, performed in the kitchen of his duplex,” Basting recalls, adding that it’s important to acknowledge the person’s expression so they know they’ve been heard. The final step in Creative Care is to accumulate these experiences over time and shape something larger and universally meaningful that can be shared with others—an artistic product. Basting founded the nonprofit TimeSlips to train artists and caregivers worldwide to do this visionary work. Their efforts have resulted in art exhibits, dance and theater productions, books and animations. “My dream is that meaning and beauty will be made every day in nursing homes, creating care settings so interesting that people want to visit them—a new kind of cultural center, integrating health and art,” she says.

Transforming a City with Public Art

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More than 4,000 works of public art grace the city of Philadelphia, three-quarters of which are breathtaking murals that combine world-class paintings and images with provocative words and healing messages. Art permeates virtually every neighborhood on walls, billboards, sidewalks, rooftops, swimming pools and basketball courts, enriching people from all walks of life, even those that don’t have access to galleries and museums. “Public art lifts our spirits, provides us with beauty and inspires us,” says Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP). “It can be evocative, challenging and educational, as well, serving as a barometer of our time—a system of checks and balances and a mirror that we hold up to people and say that your life counts and you matter.” In addition to sponsoring 75 to 100 new works every year, MAP’s $10 million budget funds programs related to criminal justice, art education, housing insecurity, behavioral health, community development and environmental justice. According to Golden, the healing power of art is not just in the mural, but also in its collaborative creation. In addition to artists and educators, hundreds of people work on these projects, including individuals grappling with addiction or homelessness, veterans with PTSD and immigrants and refugees facing isolation and stigma. “The act of creating is a meditative and healing experience, and because you’re part of a larger effort, it connects you to your community,” Golden says. “People start to feel a sense of purpose and value. They start to believe in themselves again.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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eco tip

Shedding Light on Lightbulbs The Ins and Outs of Our Options

Don’t be left in the dark when choosing lightbulbs. Lighting accounts for up to 20 percent of a household’s energy bill, and untold numbers of bulbs end up in landfills. Let’s illuminate some bulb options to increase savings and reduce waste.

led supermarket/pexels.com

INCANDESCENT BULBS, the iconic symbol for a bright idea, were the only option until the early 2000s. They’re hot to the touch and no longer easy to find because governments worldwide have ordered them phased out to lower energy consumption. Energy efficiency: Each bulb lasts one to two years, and 80 percent of the electricity is lost as heat. Cost efficiency: Estimated $4.80 to $7.01 annual cost of operation. Potential health risks: No toxic chemicals. They can cause burns or fires if hot from use. Proper disposal: Not recyclable. Throw away in garbage. COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS (CFL) were a great answer to the incandescent bulbs that came before them as far as energy efficiency, but they have disadvantages, as well.

illuminate the majority of households. To compute old bulb wattage compared to LED wattage, divide roughly by five or six. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 10-watt LED. It’s not an exact equation, but it’s close. Energy efficiency: Up to 83 percent more efficient than incandescent.

Energy efficiency: About 65 to 75 percent more efficient than incandescent.

Cost efficiency: Estimated $1.19 annual cost of operation per bulb.

Cost efficiency: Estimated $1.25 to $1.75 annual cost of operation.

Potential health risks: Age-related macular degeneration is more likely with high exposure to low-intensity “blue light”; however, the warmer glow from LEDs typically used in home light fixtures is not the culprit. The “blue light” LEDs are typically glowing from computer screens, mobile phones and other devices or appliances.

Potential health risks: CFLs contain small traces of mercury and emit puffs of toxic powder when they break. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website epa.gov for safe clean-up instructions. Proper disposal: Go to Earth911.com to search for nearby CFL disposal facilities. LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED) bulbs are here to stay and

Proper disposal: Big-box and local hardware stores often offer free or low-cost recycling, as do online recyclers and local facilities because there are no toxins or hard-torecycle wires.

September 2021

conscious eating

FORAGED FUNGI FARE

Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

ild mushrooms can infuse exciting new flavors and textures into familiar dishes, along with a taste of the local terroir, the natural habitat, from woods to plate. “I first encountered wild mushrooms through local foragers, then later from specialty food purveyors who would fly mushrooms from around the world into our kitchen. They were the most unique ingredients I could find, offering colors, flavors and textures I had never experienced … pure catnip for a chef,” says Alan Bergo, a Minnesota chef and author of The Forager Chef ’s Book of Flora. Recipes at ForagerChef.com feature more than 60 species of wild edible fungi, from common deer mushrooms to prized porcinis. The intriguing flavors of wild mushrooms in part come from their diets, akin to the difference between grain- and grass-fed meats. “For fungi, their food is their habitat. Culti-

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vated mushrooms have less variety of the micronutrients and secondary metabolites that can add flavor to a wild mushroom,” says Eugenia Bone, a New York City food journalist and editor of Fantastic Fungi: The Community Cookbook. Foraged fungi also offer a host of nutritional benefits surpassing commercially grown mushrooms. Wild mushrooms like chanterelles and morels can contain up to 1,200 international units (IU) of vitamin D

Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com

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by April Thompson

per serving, whereas commercial mushrooms, typically grown in dark conditions, contain less than 40 IU, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. While foraging is the most satisfying way to procure wild mushrooms, they are becoming increasingly available through farmers’ markets, online purveyors and gourmet stores. Some species that grow wild throughout North America such as oysters, maitake (hen of the woods) and lion’s mane are also grown commercially; these can be suitable for transitioning from buying to hunting. Sam Fitz, owner of ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room, a neighborhood taproom in Washington, D.C., picked up mushrooming when COVID-19 hit, in part mentored by the restaurant’s wild food purveyor. Fitz started ANXO making hyperlocal ciders from crabapples foraged on bike rides through the nation’s capital, salvaging fruit that otherwise would go to waste. Today, the seasonally focused menu often features wild fungi and other foraged ingredients from savory tartelettes made with beech and hedgehog mushrooms to cocktails

made from bitter boletes. One of ANXO’s signature dishes is a vegan “chicken of the woods” sandwich, served hot, Nashville-style. This orange-colored tree mushroom, also known as sulphur shelf, has a taste, texture and color that so closely resembles chicken that many recipes use it as a meat substitute. “People are so blown away by its meaty texture they can’t believe they are being served mushrooms,” says Fitz. When preparing mushrooms, “Forget what you know about cooking vegetables,” says Bone. “Also forget the notion that mushrooms are too delicate to take washing or high heat. Mushrooms are extremely hardy because of the chitin in their cell walls, a compound that is more like fingernails than the cellulose of plants. You can cook mushrooms twice and they will still retain their integrity.” Because the amino acids in mushrooms respond to heat more like meat than vegetables, Bone suggests searing mushrooms on the grill or under the broiler. “A slice of maitake will cook beautifully on the grill,” she says.

When cooking a particular species for the first time, Bone recommends oven-roasting the mushrooms wrapped in parchment paper. “When you open up the parchment, you can really smell the mushroom. It’s a wonderful way to pick up subtle flavor differences and see how the mushroom handles,” she says. Since fungi take on all sorts of shapes and sizes, Bergo suggests letting a mushroom’s morphology inform how to cook it. Lion’s mane, for example, has a texture that mimics crabmeat, so faux crab cakes make a fun dish that honors its form. “Chefs tend to chop things up, but I prefer to cook many mushrooms whole, especially when they have interesting shapes,” says Bergo. One of the chef ’s goto preparations of oyster mushrooms is to toss large pieces in seasoned flour or brush them with mustard, then bake until crispy. “They turn into cool-looking, crispy croutons you can put on a salad or eat as a snack,” he says. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

Wild mushrooms are a culinary delight, but beginning foragers should harvest with caution. The forager’s rule of thumb is to be 100 percent sure of an identification 100 percent of the time given that toxic lookalikes can exist. It’s also important to try a small amount of a mushroom the first time around, as some individuals can respond adversely to a particular species despite its general edibility.

Hen of the Woods Steaks 4-oz pieces of hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms, broken into large clusters Kosher salt Cooking oil as needed, about ¼ cup Clean the hens by swishing them in cool water, gently peering inside the caps to make sure they are cleaned, trimming with a paring knife as needed, then allowing to drain on paper towels. Heat the oil in a pan or on a griddle until hot, but not smoking. Add the mushroom clump and season with salt, placing a weight—like a rock, log, crumbly wood or cinder block wrapped in foil or a pan—on top, then cook until the underside is deeply caramelized, then flip and repeat.

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Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com

yield: 1 serving per 4 ounces mushrooms

If the pan gets dry, add a little more oil. When both sides of the mushrooms are deeply caramelized and browned, serve immediately, with extra finishing salt on the side.

Recipe from Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com. September 2021

FENG SHUI

Warm Endive and Oyster Mushroom Salad

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2 Tbsp olive oil ½ cup minced shallots 1 tsp sliced garlic 1 to 2 tsp grated ginger Freshly ground black pepper 6 oz oyster mushrooms 1 Tbsp white or black sesame seeds 2 marinated white anchovy fillets, chopped 2 Belgian endives, leaves separated and cut into 2-inch sections ½ Meyer or regular lemon Pinch of kosher salt ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leafed parsley for garnish 2 whole scallions, chopped diagonally for garnish Drizzle of high-quality white truffle oil for garnish (optional) Grated Parmigiano cheese for garnish (optional) In a wide skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and sauté until golden, a few minutes. Stir in the ginger and pepper to taste. Tear the oyster mushrooms into bite-sized pieces and add. Cook for about 5 minutes, flipping the mushrooms over, until they release their liquid. Add the sesame seeds and toast them in a bald spot in the pan for a minute or so. Turn the heat down to medium, add the anchovies and endives, and cook until the endives wilt, a few more minutes. Take off the heat, add the lemon juice and season with salt. Garnish with the cilantro and scallions, and optionally, white truffle oil and a sprinkle of the cheese.

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Recipe by Annaliese Bischoff from Fantastic Fungi: The Community Cookbook, edited by Eugenia Bone.

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

wise words

Martha Beck on Living with Integrity by Sandra Yeyati

monthly contributor to O, The Oprah Magazine, for the last 17 years, Martha Beck, Ph.D., is a Harvard-trained sociologist and New York Times bestselling author of nine nonfiction books, one novel and more than 200 magazine articles. Her most recent book is The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self.

of meaning in your life. Without a sense of purpose, our lives start to feel dull, and then we start to experience anger, sadness, grief, irritability, anxiety and depression. If we don’t pay attention, our bodies start to give out because we’re deeply biologically programmed to tell the truth. Our career and relationships start to fall apart, and often we end up being addicted to cope with the pain.

Why did you write this new book? They say the truth will set you free, so 30 years ago, I decided I wouldn’t lie once for an entire calendar year, and it completely changed my life. Ever since, I’ve done integrity cleanses: If anything doesn’t feel like my real self, if it isn’t what I really want to do or what I truly believe, I just won’t do. I started my last integrity cleanse seven years ago, and I’m still in the middle of it because it’s so liberating, dramatically improving my health, business and relationships. After 30 years, I have a method, so I decided to share it with people.

How do you define integrity? The word comes from the Latin integer, meaning whole or undivided. In engineering, if an airplane is in perfect structural integrity, it can do amazing things. But if its parts aren’t all working in harmony with each other, it may not take off, it may be impossible to steer, it may crash. Being in harmony with your true self enables you to do all the things that will most fulfill you and to realize your destiny if you believe you have one—and I believe we do.

Why, when and how do we lose sight of our true selves? From the moment we’re born, we start

How do we regain our integrity?

getting messages from people about how they’d like us to behave. We try to do it to fit in, to belong. When someone tries to get us to do something that isn’t true for us, we abandon ourselves and decide to do what pleases them. Every person I’ve worked with, including psychopaths and murderers, has at some point said, “I need to please people. I need to be admired. I need to be liked. I need to be accepted.” It’s such a deep part of the psyche that we will abandon our own comfort to satisfy it, and we won’t even know that we’re out of integrity.

How does this inner conflict manifest itself? When you stray from your integrity, it’s an abandonment of self. You’ll feel a deep but sometimes subtle unease. Most of us are trained not to notice, but if you’re not paying attention to your own truth and what you really want, you eventually develop symptoms. The most painful is loss

You feel what you’re feeling and notice any place you’re uncomfortable, which is information that’s always available to you. Many of us are frightened to do that and maybe haven’t done it for many years, but once you find out you’re not comfortable, I advise making a series of one-degree turns away from the things that aren’t right for you, nudging yourself gently toward things that make you happy every day. As you edge your life in that direction with small changes, enormous things can happen.

What are the benefits of living with integrity? Any time we yearn for something in a very deep, intense way, it’s always immediately given to us, but it’s sent to the place that is our real home, which is peace. It waits for you there. When you get into your integrity, you find incredible peace. And at that point, everything you’ve wanted in your whole life seems to be waiting for you. Peace is your home. Integrity is the way to it, and everything you have ever longed for will meet you there. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com. September 2021

healthy kids

Creative Kids

How to Nurture Imagination

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by Ronica O’Hara

oung children are naturally curious and inventive, yet research shows that their creative thinking skills peak at around age 6 and start to decline once they start formal schooling—a trend that’s accelerating in recent years with kids’ heavy digital use. This doesn’t bode well for their future on our rapidly changing planet. “Our world continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate. It’s estimated that many of the jobs we will need in 10 or 20 or 30 years haven’t yet been invented,” says children’s education psychologist Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D., author of The Power of Your Child’s Imagination. “Kids of today need to stretch their creative juices to come up with these new jobs and prepare for an everchallenging and changing world.” Parents are integral in nourishing creativity, but according to research from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, the role of parents is less about “teaching” creativity and more about creating a fertile environment in which creativity will take root, grow and flourish. Establishing that rich forum involves some simple strategies.

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Encourage their curiosity. “An attitude of curiosity connected to wonder, acceptance, flexibility and openness can bring out innovation and novelty,” says Reznick. That means not only being responsive to kids’ questions like, “Why do strawberries have seeds on the outside?” but also engaging their imagination to explore the world and to solve everyday problems. “Ask them, ‘What would it take to finish this project?’ Make it fun, brainstorm and mind-map, rather than make linear lists,” she suggests. “Ask open-ended questions, perhaps a bit out of the norm. ‘How did you feel when

you were writing that short story? What colors crossed your mind as you were singing? What music was flowing through your body as you were painting?’ The idea is to mix things up a bit to allow a new take on your child’s emerging creativity.” Let them follow their bliss. “The biggest mistake I see parents making in wanting to encourage creativity is leading their children and telling them what to do,” says Jen Lumanlan, host and founder of the research-based parenting podcast YourParenting Mojo.com. “When we instead see our role not as being the Sage on the Stage but rather the Guide on the Side, we don’t have to drag the child through a curriculum kicking and screaming; instead, the child asks us for more opportunities to follow their interest. They will ask insightful questions, read books, watch videos, draw their ideas, consult with experts, put on plays, develop an understanding of the world with their whole bodies (not just their heads) and teach others. It’s truly incredible to see.” Make creativity easy. Having lots of paper, paints, pens and other craft items on hand in a place where a child can easily access them enables creativity to flow when the mood hits. “You don’t have to have a huge budget for supplies. Save old cardboard boxes, empty paper towel rolls, cereal boxes and scrap paper. Give your child some markers and masking tape. I bet you’ll be amazed at what can be created from the simplest materials,” says Liam Davies, a Berkeley dad of two who blogs about sustainable family fishing at FishingCommand.com.

I turned off the screens and stopped trying to provide entertainment for my children and the results were amazing. “Have plenty of loose parts available. Loose parts can be anything your child turns into something else,” suggests Maria Kemery, of Philadelphia, who blogs at the parenting website PlacesWeCallHome.com. “Bottlecaps become money, scarves become a doll’s dress, clean recycle bin items become robot parts or a collection of acorns becomes a bowl of soup. Having an assortment of loose parts encourages your child to engage in symbolic play (substituting one item for another), which builds creativity.” Allow them to be bored. “Kids often complain they are bored. I love that, because bored is also where new ideas come from,” says Reznick. “Our mind abhors a vacuum, so sooner or later, a creative spark will ignite.” That’s what Lorton, Virginia, mom Lauren Schmitz, who blogs at TheSimpleHomeschooler.com, witnessed. “I turned off the screens and stopped trying to provide entertainment for my children and the results were amazing. My middle child, who is the most screen-obsessed kid that I know, started doing things like making her own magazine, building dioramas and putting on plays. She suddenly wanted to paint, build a robot and learn about aerial dancing. Boredom is the best way to give a child space to think, create, imagine and build.”

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September 2021

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green living

Healthy Cookware How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots and Pans by Amy Coyle

rganic and locally sourced foods are eco-friendly and contribute to better health, a greener world and thriving communities. However, once the food is cooked, it may no longer be as healthy, depending on the cookware used. The myriad options, from classic pots and pans to the latest modern synthetic materials, can be confusing, but there are some basic factors to watch for in choosing environmentally sound and chemical-free cookware.

Pots and crocks derived from pure, uncontaminated clay are excellent for slow-cooking stews and sauces, particularly recipes containing acidic foods like tomato or cabbage. Cooking foods in earthenware dates back 15,000 years.

Ceramic

Cast Iron

Pure ceramic cookware is made with clay and baked in a kiln. If made in Latin America, including Mexico, such items may contain high lead levels. It’s recommended that these pieces not be used to cook, serve or store food. A kit is available to test for contaminants, if desired.

For classic, durable and versatile cookware, cast iron, although heavy, will last a lifetime. While some iron can transfer to food, it’s difficult to measure and depends

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on the pan and the food. Naturopathic doctor Kara Fitzgerald, in Newtown, Connecticut, suggests caution. “If you have a history of iron overload (hemochromatosis), you should avoid cast iron cookware, especially for acidic foods.” Enameled cast iron has a nonstick, porcelain coating and is unaffected by acidity. Research published in the Japanese Journal of Hygiene suggests that the risk of acute or chronic toxicity associated with the use of this cookware under normal circumstances is extremely low.

Stainless Steel Stainless steel cookware is easy to clean and durable. It releases low levels of nickel and chromium if used to cook acidic foods, which is only a concern for those with corresponding sensitivities or allergies.

Copper High-quality copper pots and pans have a long lifespan and heat foods evenly. They are usually lined with stainless steel or tin to prevent toxicity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends staying away from unlined copper cookware because copper can leach into acidic foods like tomatoes, fish, processed meats, grains and citrus fruits. When the coating starts to wear off lined copper, it’s time to replace the pot or pan.

Ceramic-Coated Aluminum Aluminum dipped in a ceramic mixture is safe to use, but wears away over time. To

preserve the surface longer, refrain from using metal utensils or scouring pads or putting it in the dishwasher. Once the coating is compromised, the cookware may be unsafe due to aluminum toxicity. Look for ceramic-coated pans that are PFA-, PFOA-, lead- and cadmium-free.

Glass Glass cookware is a healthy option if it’s new and handled carefully. Glass is an inert material, so nothing reacts with it or leaches from it. However, it can break easily if exposed to extreme temperature changes. If any chips or cracks develop, discard it.

Nonstick Teflon coating, made from polytetrafluoroethylene, is for many consumers the go-to coating for nonstick cookware, but studies show that the chemical leaks into food at high temperatures or when scratched. Prior to 2013, the “forever chemical” perfluorooctanoic acid was used in the manufacturing process. Although discontinued after studies showed a possible link to cancer, older Teflon pans and those

made in foreign countries still may pose a risk. Overall, the American Cancer Society considers Teflon safe. Caution should be used; however, once Teflon reaches 464° F, according to the Environmental Working Group, it begins to deteriorate. At 680° F, at least six toxic gases are released which may cause flu-like symptoms. Still, some cooks find nonstick cookware to be convenient because the surface works for most foods. “As long as the coating on your nonstick pots and pans is intact without scratches, then they should be safe to use. Nonstick cookware is budget-friendly and easy to clean,” says San Luis Obispo County, California, nutritionist and cookbook author Carrie Forrest of CleanEatingKitchen.com.

Healthiest Choice “Stainless steel, cast iron and ceramiccoated pans don’t fully match the old-style nonstick ease, but are much better for you,” says kitchenware product researcher and designer Adam Heck, creator of TheGood LifeDesigns.com, in Toms River, New Jersey. “Grab a nonstick ceramic pan and use it only for busy days or super-delicate foods …. with proper care, you can enjoy years of use. Then, grab cast iron or stainless steel for everything else,” suggests Forrest. In the final analysis, the best cookware choice may be a variety of pots and pans for different meals and varied health concerns. Amy Coyle is a freelance writer in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

www.EckankarArizona.org September 2021

fit body

YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System by Marlaina Donato

hour vinyasa-style yoga session for six weeks showed significantly lowered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as less insomnia, depression and anxiety.

etting on the yoga mat can be a powerful stress-buster that lowers blood pressure and excessive cortisol, but yoga can offer an added boon for those living with the lasting effects of traumatic events. Trauma-informed yoga (also called trauma-sensitive yoga) is a promising therapeutic branch of the yogic system designed to quell the body’s programmed “fight-or-flight” responses. Founded on yoga, psychology and neurobiology principles, the approach is in harmony with the ancient yogic concept of samskaras, or memories imprinted on our cellular consciousness. People from many walks of life can benefit from trauma-sensitive yoga including bullied teens, women rebounding from abuse and anyone impacted by pandemic turmoil. Research published in the journal Military Medicine in 2018 reports that U.S. veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that participated in a one-

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Yoga performed with trauma sensitivity can pick up where talk therapy leaves off, targeting the amygdala, the danger detector in the brain, and the vagus nerve that runs from the brain to the abdomen, which plays a vital role in processing trauma. “Somatic processing and treatment methodologies like yoga are now being used to help repair and rebuild distressed nervous systems, which in turn helps the brain integrate and ‘file’ distressing memories,” says Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide, the largest yoga teacher training school in North America, and the author of Healing Trauma with Yoga: Go From Surviving to Thriving with Mind-Body Techniques. The Fort Lauderdale-based yoga therapist and entrepreneur highlights the body’s role in trauma and stress. “The brain rewires itself around the traumatic event and memories stored in the tissues throughout the body. Yoga can help to free those memories, alleviating troubling emotions and thought patterns, as well as chronic somatic tension and hypervigilance.” Shaw draws upon new psychological and neurological discoveries, including polyvagal theory, that help explain the full impact of trauma and most importantly, how and why yoga helps to lessen these impacts. Trauma-informed yoga keeps the nervous system in mind, excluding poses and breathing techniques that might provoke

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Trauma-Intelligent Fitness

a sense of vulnerability or overstimulation. Trained teachers adhere to non-touch assistance methods and often opt for well-lit studios to avoid a possible triggering atmosphere. A trauma-informed yoga teacher knows the inner workings of the nervous system,” explains Mandy Eubanks, a trauma-trained yoga educator and certified yoga instructor in Tulsa. “We have respect for the variety of responses that our clients have to yoga, meditation and breathwork practices. For example, we understand deep breathing will be calming to one person and agitating to another. We normalize clients’ responses and work with them to find an effective technique for that individual.” Teachers with specialized training and access to props can also support people on a yoga journey that are limited physically. Eubanks emphasizes, “Yoga truly is for everyone and every body.”

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The Power of Choice and Individuality Lisa Danylchuk, the Oakland-based author of Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Theory, Philosophy, and Practice, underscores that in a trauma-informed environment, everything a teacher instructs is an offering or invitation. “This is important because people who have endured trauma have often not had a say over what happens to their bodies. A good trauma-informed class cultivates somatic and psychological resources, and focuses, above all, on cultivating a sense of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual safety.” The founder of The Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery believes it’s important to be responsive to individual needs. “Trauma affects so many different individuals and groups of people and in such a variety of ways that it is impossible to give one prescription. Some people might benefit from a weekly, 60- to 90-minute vinyasa-style class. Others might benefit from a short, five-minute daily restorative practice.” Shaw also stresses a tailored approach. “How one wishes to practice is up to the individual, but I suggest a combination of both one-on-one instruction and class format. If someone is in the throes of trauma, they will need a private session to start.” Eubanks adds the importance of consistency. “In my experience, it is about finding which yoga practices work best for the client and then encouraging them to find time to practice every day. Yoga for PTSD is not a one-and-done deal. It takes time, effort and belief in oneself.” Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

September 2021

All Pain Is Not Equal ody pain is definitely not a one-sizefits-all thing, especially when working with herbs. As herbalists, we look to find the underlying reason for the pain and not just cover up the symptoms. Symptoms are not the problem; they are our body’s way of letting us know it needs something. Pain helps us to identify the location, severity and type of problem so we can treat the correct area. The intention is to identify the cause of the pain and thereby reduce it so the body no longer needs to get our attention with that particular symptom. The beautiful thing about working with whole plants is you can mix and match herbs to get all (or many) of the healing properties you need within one formula. You might want pain-relieving herbs (analgesic), like white willow bark or passion flower; anti-inflammatories, like white willow bark or chamomile; nervine or calming herbs, like valerian root or passion flower; muscle-relaxing herbs, like valerian root or kava; or antispasmodic herbs, like cramp bark, passion flower or valerian root—and the list goes on. Let’s say you’re having lower back pain. Depending on your unique physiology and pain tolerance, you might want musclerelaxing herbs, antispasmodic herbs and analgesic herbs. Your herbal formula might look something like this:

from a dull, nagging throb to a full-blown, lights-out migraine. Try something like this:

2 parts ginger (great for tension-related headaches) 2 parts chamomile flowers (anti-inflammatory, analgesic) 2 parts feverfew (for prevention and relieving migraines, nausea, and light or noise sensitivities) 1 part peppermint (vasodilator, antispasmodic) ½ part lemon balm (nervine and mildly sedative) *If you have a fever, you might add 1 handful of meadowsweet. Another common complaint is joint/arthritis pain. CBD (cannabidiol) is wonderful for inflammatory conditions, but that is a topic for another article—stay tuned! The herb or herb blend you use will likely depend on what type of arthritis you have, but here is a basic inflammatory blend that might help with several types of joint pain:

Arthritis Pain Formula

Now, let’s look at what a headache formula might contain. Of course, all headaches aren’t the same either and can range 26

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Lower Back Pain Formula 3 parts valerian root (nervine, muscle relaxing, antispasmodic) 2 parts passion flower (nervine, analgesic, antispasmodic) 2 parts St. John’s wort (nervine, analgesic) 1 part hops (nervine, analgesic) 1 part white willow bark (analgesic, antiinflammatory) ¼ part ginger root (circulatory)

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Headache Formula

4 parts turmeric (anti-inflammatory) 3 parts ginger (nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory) 1 part devil’s claw (antiinflammatory and may reduce uric acid in gout, analgesic) 1 part white willow bark (analgesic, antiinflammatory) Lemon juice and honey to taste These formulas can be made into a tea. Mix all herbs together and steep 1 teaspoon of herb blend with 1 cup of water. Drink 3 to 4 cups a day until pain subsides. If you find one of these blends works great for you, maybe consider making a tincture for long-term use.

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by Kathleen Gould and Madalyn Johnson

There are additional easy, inexpensive, athome ideas that we should always consider when experiencing pain. Diet and exercise, stretching and yoga could help. Reducing inflammatory foods in our diet, like dairy and red meat products, could assist as well. Any of these aforementioned formulas could be used in a bath. Steep 3 to 4 cups of tea and let cool slightly, and then pour in your prepared bath. Slide deep down in the tub to get all of your body immersed and soak for 25 to 30 minutes. This done right before bed might lead to a good night’s sleep. Essential oils are a great option as well. They are very condensed and work wonders on pain. Oils include marjoram (antispasmodic and used for chronic neck/back pain), lavender (mildly sedative and analgesic), eucalyptus (warming and comforts aches and pains), clary sage (used for menstrual cramps and abdominal pain), clove (mildly numbing, and great for tooth pain and teething babies), and the list goes on. Always use a good carrier oil when applying these essential oils to the body. When two or more of these are blended together, their strength is multiplied and powerful. A drop or two in your bathtub is an easy and quick way to get relief. Remember, these are highly concentrated, so always be sure to stir them around in the water before stepping in. Let’s not forget to look in our kitchen for help. Garlic, garlic, garlic. It can be consumed, applied topically, can be found in capsules, and combined with extra-virgin olive oil for a great toddler ear oil. Skip the side effects of pharmaceuticals and unleash the power of plant medicine. Your aches and pains will be a thing of the past! Kathleen Gould, registered herbalist, and Madalyn Johnson are proprietors of SW Herb Madalyn Johnson (left) and Shop and Kathleen Gould (right) Gathering Place. Gould has been an herbalist for 30-plus years and has extensive experience in herbal medicine. For more information, call 480-694-9931, or visit SWHerb.com or Store.SWHerb.com. See ad, page 18. Advertorial

September 2021

healing ways

Conquering Chronic Pain How the Body-Mind Connection Works

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by Ronica O’Hara

or three decades, David Hanscom was a top-ranked orthopedic surgeon in Seattle who daily put the scalpel to injured, deformed and twisted spines. Privately, he writhed in pain himself. He was beset over 15 years with burning feet, insomnia, tinnitus, anxiety, skin rashes, crushing chest pain, depression, sweats, heart palpitations and tension headaches, among other symptoms. That put him among the estimated 50 million American adults afflicted with chronic pain for which relief is hard to come by and often short-lived. The standard medical approaches of surgery and injections often don’t work well or last long for many patients, research shows. Opioids, once a standby, are now prescribed sparingly after being implicated in half a million overdose deaths. Treatment is especially elusive for the one in six adults and 30 to 40 percent of primary care patients with pain or chronic conditions considered “medically unexplained”. As a result, integrative pain management, which focuses on both mind and body and incorporates medical and holistic approaches, is growing in importance. Major medical centers such as the Mount Sinai Health System and Cleveland Clinic, as well as practitioners such as chi-

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ropractors and homeopaths, offer dozens of modalities to turn around painful conditions. Sometimes a single simple method works quickly for a patient with a straightforward symptom; more often, it takes a combination of approaches over time to reverse pain, especially if it is complex, sustained or recurring. Launching on his own healing path, Hanscom came to a critical understanding: The abuse he had suffered as a child from a rage-filled mother, coupled with emotional repression and a fierce drive to excel as a surgeon, produced his high levels of anxiety. It turbocharged his central nervous system and set off a cascade of reactions that fed ever-rising levels of pain. “Your mind and body function as a unit with no separation,” he says. “Chronic pain results when your body is exposed to sustained levels of stress hormones, excitatory neurotransmitters and inflammatory protein. Your brain is sensitized and the nerve conduction speed is faster, so you physically feel more pain. It’s not ‘all in your mind’— it’s a normal physio-logical process.” After six months of intense inner work focused on his rage, Hanscom calmed his overwrought nervous system and his symptoms “essentially disappeared.” He began applying his experience to hundreds of spine patients, helping the great majority of them to avoid surgery altogether. In the book Back in Control, he describes his approach, which is designed for people with pain that is not caused by underlying structural or organ issues. He recommends these initial steps.

■ Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, which may require sleeping pills or natural methods.

■ Doing expressive writing twice a day, which involves writing down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language for 10 to 30 minutes, and then promptly tearing it up. Neurological research shows that this simple practice rewires the brain. “Some people experience remarkable pain relief right away,” he says. ■ Practicing “active meditation” throughout the day by mindfully focusing each time on a sight, sound or sensation for five to 10 seconds. For deep, sustained healing, he stresses the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, self-discovery, exploring a spiritual path, relearning playfulness and connecting with others. Medication may be necessary initially, he says, and as pain levels recede, most people become ready to improve their diet and exercise more. Understanding the mind/body connection is key in pain management, concurs gastroenterologist David D. Clarke, M.D., author of They Can’t Find Anything Wrong! and president of the Portland, Oregon-based Psychophysiologic Disorders Association. “When medical evaluation shows no problems with organs or structures, then the pain is being generated by the brain, similar to what happens in phantom limb pain, where people feel pain in the location of an amputated arm or leg,” he says. “Chronic pain generated by the brain generally occurs due to stress, an emotional/psychological trauma or strong negative emotions (often toward people the patient cares about) that are not fully recognized. Often, these issues began due to adverse childhood experiences, which can be anything you would not want a child of your own to endure. I recommend people explore these possibilities on their own, with a loved one or with a therapist.” That process might sound daunting, but so is suffering crippling pain. “The most important thing for people to know is that pain can be successfully treated, relieved and often cured with the right techniques,” says Clarke.

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Learn More Direct Your Own Care Journey is a free, online course for healing chronic pain. Designed by David Hanscom, M.D., it includes an experiential app, group sessions, video tutorials and webinars at TheDocJourney.com. Stress-Disease Information, including videos, a webinar-based course, recent research and a list of practitioners, can be found at ppdassociation.org, the website of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association, founded by stress-disease expert David Clarke, M.D. American Chronic Pain Association, at theacpa.org, lists treatments, clinical trials, support groups and other resources.

PROMISING PAIN RELIEF THERAPIES In the offices of holistic practitioners and in some medical centers, a wide range of integrative modalities to treat chronic pain are healing the afflicted. Some commonly used options, which can be part of a multipronged approach or effective individually, include:

■ CBD. Studies show this cannabis-derived substance, the

non-mind-altering form of marijuana, acts on multiple pain targets in the central and peripheral nervous systems. It has demonstrated pain-relieving effects for neuropathy, some cancers, arthritis and irritable bowel disease, among other conditions. A University of Michigan study of 878 people with fibromyalgia that had used cannabidiol (CBD) products found that more than 70 percent had substituted it for opioids or other pain medications, with many stopping them altogether as a result. With research mounting, almost every state now allows CBD use in some form.

■ TURMERIC/CURCUMIN. The Indian spice that makes

curry yellow has potent anti-inflammatory properties, especially in formulations that combine it with piperine (black pepper) to enhance bioavailability. A meta-analysis in Oxford Pain Medicine of eight randomized controlled trials of curcumin involving 800 patients with muscle pain, osteoarthritis or postoperative pain found that it effectively lowered pain levels without adverse reactions, outperforming nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol (ibuprofen) for knee osteoarthritis pain.

■ HYPNOSIS. By lowering the fear and anxiety that

aggravate pain sensations, hypnosis reduces pain as effectively as many other approaches at a relatively low cost. A meta-analysis of 18 studies found that 75 percent of people, including those with both acute and chronic pain, received substantial relief from hypnotic techniques without side effects. In a University of Washington study, patients kept practicing self-hypnosis after completing the study even if it had not relieved their pain, saying it gave them better sleep, lower stress and a greater sense of calm and well-being. Hypnotherapy treatment usually involves four to 10 sessions and is often covered in full or in part by insurance companies or Medicare.

■ LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE. When taken at levels of 50 to

100 milligrams (mg) daily, this medication weans people off opioids and alcohol, but when used at low doses of less than 2 mg, research suggests it can ease the pain of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Stanford School of Medicine researchers reported it significantly reduced pain for 32 percent of fibromyalgia patients and also improved mood and life satisfaction, noting, “The medication is widely available, inexpensive, safe and well-tolerated.”

September 2021

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Got Pain? Put a Pin in It! by M. Fontes and Marjan Klaassen

ain is a condition many people across the globe deal with daily. While a lot of people turn to conventional Western medicine for a solution, this often creates another more serious problem, which is addiction to pain medication. For this reason, more people and institutions, like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), have started integrating therapies, such as acupuncture, for pain management with great success. This started a new trend of some of the bigger insurance companies, like Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, including acupuncture in their list of covered benefits. Medicaid programs expanded coverage after an opioid task force urged officials to explore alternative pain therapies. In 2020, Medicare began covering acupuncture as a treatment for lower back pain. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers up to 12 acupuncture visits in 90 days for chronic low back pain. If the patient shows improvement, eight additional sessions can be granted. Many people are discovering alternatives to opioids with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Within CAM, one will find the 2,200-year-old practice of

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)—a practice becoming so popular and replacing older pain therapies so effectively, even VA hospitals are starting to use this almost exclusively for pain patients. So, what is TCM? This is a broad term that covers many different modalities, including (but not limited to) acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha, tui na, qigong, moxibustion and therapeutic bleeding. TCM practitioners can use the many tools in their toolbox to assist patients with not only chronic pain but also acute conditions. TCM practitioners come in all forms, from straight herbalists or acupuncturists to both combined, with varying education levels, from a master’s degree to a doctorate. To ensure one sees a board-certified licensed practitioner, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s website, nccaom.org, has a search tool where one can find a reliable list of these in their area. The most common pain an acupuncturist will deal with is back pain—more specifically, lower back pain. Studies have shown that acupuncture can be great for nerve pain and

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can even help to restore damaged nerves, ending pain for good rather than masking it with a “pain reliever.” This is done via acupuncture needles stimulating blood flow to damaged areas, and thusly restoring nerves. So, a patient can come in with pain anywhere, and a TCM doctor can provide respite without any of the unwanted side effects that come with either over-the-counter, opioid or benzodiazepine medications. Every treatment has expected side effects, so what are the side effects of TCM? This depends on the modality used to bring relief. If acupuncture is utilized, soreness at the insertion site can take place and sometimes bruising; however, the number one side effect of acupuncture is drowsiness and a good night’s sleep, which leads many patients to also know that acupuncture is a great remedy for chronic insomnia and other sleep-related issues. If herbs are used as directed for patients, there should be minimal issues besides the herbs’ desired effect, and sometimes this means detoxification, or, in other words, extra elimination of waste from the body. Cupping, as the world witnessed with former U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and other stars, can create purple circular bruises (though they are more like hickeys) on the area that has been cupped. Most often there will be no negative side effects. What are the other uses for TCM? A better question would be, “What can TCM not do?” Sleep and pain have already been discussed, but the intake for most practitioners is so thorough, nearly all patient issues can be addressed (though not always cured) in a single visit. A well-versed acupuncturist can wield needles like an extension of his or her own body. A wise herbalist can predict what a patient’s tongue or pulse might be like just from hearing the patient’s chief complaints and can match an herb or formula to them before the intake is complete. From allergies and asthma to urinary tract infections and everything in between, TCM has something for everyone. So, if TCM is so versatile for so many issues across the board, why do most people not know about it from their doctors? This is the unfortunate rub in the United States: The gold standard for practices here is the placebo-controlled double-blind study, which is difficult to do with acupuncture, specifically as it is truly an individualized treatment.

M. Fontes, DAChM, LAc, CCH, is the clinic director at Natural Medicine & Detox, where he supervises doctorate students from the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA). Marjan Klaassen is a 2021 fall doctoral candidate at PIHMA. For more information call 602-307-0888 or visit NaturalMedicineAndDetox.com. See ad, page 15. Advertorial

inspiration

The Power of the Written Note by Julie Peterson

irthdays, weddings, holidays and other momentous occasions have long been celebrated with cards and letters. The rise of emailing, texting and social media has made writing letters a forgotten treasure as many of us have instead come to use quick but fleeting messages via technology. Perhaps it’s time to bring back the nostalgia, the handwriting and a box full of stationary for all occasions. A handwritten note ensures someone will know we took the time to think, write and send. Here’s how to get started.

Stock Supplies

Nothing inspires writing notes more than a box or drawer full of inviting cards and paper. Cards that are blank inside are multi-purpose. Stickers and beautiful postage stamps can make an envelope look like a gift. Get a few good pens in a variety of colors and start writing.

Be Thankful After receiving a gift or an act of kindness, send a thank-you card or letter. Do it soon after the event, so that the memory is fresh and the note will contain specifics. But even if it’s for something that took place farther in the past, “better late than never” certainly applies.

Talk-Write Don’t get stuck when pen hits paper, just imagine what would be said out loud and write those words. Our words won’t sound like the poem in a store-bought card, but words from the heart are better because they are personal and likely more meaningful to the recipient. The reader will hear the writer’s voice in the note. Be honest and sincere.

Write and Repeat Make writing a habit by sending three notes each week. If nothing spurs a thank-you, then send a card just to say hello or give appreciation. Perhaps it’s a “remember when” or an “I miss you” note. Browse through contact lists to get inspiration. If nobody strikes a chord for a note, write a self-praise letter. Be sure to list your best and most lovable qualities and put it in the mail. It will be a nice warm-fuzzy surprise when it arrives. These kinds of letters and cards are like loving hugs. For some, a sweet note via mail or tucked somewhere to be discovered may be a much needed joyful spark. Julie Peterson writes from Wisconsin. Reach her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com. September 2021

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Acupuncture gets to play the poster child for TCM practices in the way that it is likely the most common modality used with patients, and therein is the sticky wicket. Patients likely will not receive all the same points prescription as one another, and even if they were to receive them as such, there is no guarantee their bodies would respond 100 percent the same way to the needles. Much like the side effects, some may feel very drowsy, some might have soreness at the insertion site, and some may feel no side effect at all. If even the side effects can vary so dramatically from person to person, how does one expect the same results to occur when being needled as the next person? The U.S. standard for studies also involves understanding or pinpointing a mechanism of action of the modality being used. While this may be more possible with herbs, acupuncture still is somewhat of a mystery to current scientific standards. This is likely why one may not hear about how great acupuncture can be from their doctor (even when it is!) just because they cannot prove how or why it is. In the estimation of many TCM practitioners, this is equivalent to not understanding Spanish and thusly believing all Spanish speakers to be speaking gibberish because they do not understand this different language. So, the next time stress, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, depression, hypertension, arthritis or a host of other conditions start to get the better of us, hopefully we will know to whom we can turn for some quick relief: our nearest TCM practitioner.

natural pet

Horses as Healers Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits by Julie Peterson

establish routines, structure and a sense of responsibility—all skills that are transferable to daily life.

Equine Psychotherapists Equine-assisted psychotherapy involves counseling with a mental health professional and time riding or caring for a horse. The horse is considered a co-therapist. Forming a relationship with an animal that weighs 1,000 pounds or more may be intimidating, but the required vulnerability and trust is part of the process.

“Horses show us how to live together in harmony. They teach us about acceptance of others and of ourselves,” says Marcy Tocker, clinical mental health counselor and founder and executive director of Grey Muzzle Manor Sanctuary, in Mohrsville, Pennsylvania. “In some cases, I see results more quickly using equine therapy than solely with office therapy. I also see more motivation from typically resistant clients because this can actually be fun, too,” says Meagan Good, a counselor and owner of Take Heart

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orses are being increasingly used to help people work through emotional and physical challenges, and for good reason: Numerous studies have shown that equine-assisted therapy helps with anger, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociative or other emotional problems. It works whether the therapy involves riding or simply feeding and grooming. Building the relationship increases people’s self-confidence, social skills, trust, empathy and emotional regulation, and helps them

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Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy, in Wernersville, Pennsylvania. “Horses are relationship-oriented and intuitively sense and honestly respond to the emotions of those around them, which makes the horse-human bond a powerful healing mechanism.” “Horses have similar emotions to humans—they get stressed out, happy, impatient. That’s why equine-assisted services are so popular,” says Traci Leigh, equine manager and instructor at Dream Riders TLC, in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

clients who may or may not have any horse background.” There are certifications and advanced courses that ensure appropriate training of the therapists and instructors, the safety of the people receiving services and the training and well-being of the horses. Reputable organizations include the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (eagala.org), the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (pathintl.org) and Natural Lifemanship (NaturalLifemanship.com). “In addition to requiring that the horses Therapeutic Riding are quiet, gentle animals and physically and Beyond working as co-therapists for mentally sound, they are trained to be deemotional issues, horses are excellent for sensitized to noise, wheelchairs, walkers and occupational, speech and physical therapy. different types of therapeutic equipment that “Riding a horse rhythmically moves the riders may need for safety or postural assisrider’s body in a manner similar to a hutance,” says Leigh. Her horses get four weeks man gait. Their pelvic movement is the off every year and work a schedule that same as ours, so ensures ample time riders with physical to rest and recharge Horses are relationshipneeds often show during the day. oriented and intuitively improvement in “The horse is a sense and honestly respond co-therapist. They flexibility, balance, muscle strength, to the emotions of those are doing a job, and circulation and it’s a not an easy around them, which makes breathing,” says job,” says Tocker. the horse-human bond a Pamela J. Rogan, powerful healing mechanism. “To ensure the wellfounder, execubeing of our equine tive director and therapists, they get certified therapeutic riding instructor at ample time off and massages. They’re taking Harmony Farms, in Cocoa, Florida. “It will on a lot, so we want to make sure they don’t also enhance a rider’s quality of life, build burn out.” confidence, independence and self-esteem. “I have horses that seem to step in and This is particularly true of riders with emo‘protect’ clients when they are feeling tional or behavioral disabilities.” vulnerable. I have horses who try to help Research shows that children and adults regulate the anxious client by breathing or with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke yawning or nuzzling,” says Good. “For the and other conditions that affect motor conmost part, we trust the horses to just be trol saw improvements in balance, gait, gross themselves, and what they bring is always motor function and posture after several helpful for the client.” weeks of equine-assisted treatment. “Horses are able to be present and focus solely on what is going on around them. Horses at Work They do not think about the future or the “I look for horses who are not afraid of new past or judge people based on what they look things, but curious about them … a horse like or what experiences they may have had,” that thinks through a new situation, that says Tocker. “I feel like I witness miracles expresses himself freely and that enjoys every time I do a session at the barn.” interacting with humans,” says Good. “From there, my professional team works on buildJulie Peterson writes about health and ing a relationship with that horse so that the wellness from rural Wisconsin. Reach out at horse feels safe to build relationships with JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com. September 2021

business directory

COACHING

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.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE MYSTICAL MEDICINALS

ALTERNATIVE THERAPY MINDFUL INNERCHANGE

Mackenzie Dickson 14045 N 7th St, Ste 4, Phoenix 602-918-3791 • MysticalMedicinalsAZ.com MysticalMedicinalsAZ@gmail.com

Mecca Wagner-Brown, CHt, CYT Alternative Therapy Practitioner 3100 W Ray Rd, Ste 261, Chandler 480-482-8925 • MindfulInnerChange.com

Mackenzie is a certified herbalist and certified crystal healing practitioner. She practices the ancient art of Laying On of Stones in which crystals are placed on and around your body during a guided meditation. This practice results in profound energetic shifts that initiate and support your body’s natural healing process. See ad, page 23.

Mecca can help you change thoughts and behaviors so you may live your best life. Services include hypnotherapy and cognitive/behavioral modification as well as a possible combination of meditation, yoga and qigong. Complete program packages for smoking cessation and weight management offered. In-person and zoom options available. See ad, page 25.

NATURAL MEDICINE & DETOX

2701 N 7th St, Phoenix 602-307-0888 NaturalMedicineDetox.com

We offer professional medical assistance with one of our Doctors of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, MD(H), or Classical Homeopaths. We also have several self-elect options for our many detox services. Please call to schedule a free 15-minute consult to learn what service might be the best option. See ad, page 15.

ART CLASSES WATERCOLOR ART CLASSES

Allura Westly 3611 E Sunnyside Dr, Phoenix AlluraWatercolor@cox.net 602-469-0524 • AlluraWaterColor.com

Allura Westly, master teacher, opens her sanctuary studio to all levels, beginner to advanced. Learn fluid color technique, drawing and composition. Small class of eight students. No talent required, just a desire to create. Must have COVID-19 vaccination.

NATURAL PAIN TREATMENT AND DETOX

MacKenzie Kalt, Owner 4050 E Greenway Rd, Ste 5, Phoenix 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.

SW HERB SHOP & GATHERING PLACE

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

CLEANING SERVICES BENNETT’S CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

Valleywide Service • 480-994-4988 BennettsCarpetCleaningAZ.com

Eco-friendlycarpet and upholstery cleaning. Featuring organic 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.

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 18.

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WHITE STAR

Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Healer, Life Coach 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 many conditions and restore emotional and spiritual wellness. Classes and trainings on psychic development and many healing modalities are available in person and online.

DENTISTS MILLENNIUM DENTAL ASSOCIATES

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

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.

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 5.

DOCTORS BUTTERFLY HOLISTIC CENTER

Melanie Icard, NMD 1430 E Missouri Ave, Ste B127, Phoenix 480-599-8370 • PhoenixAntiAging.com

Dr. Icard specializes in holistic anti-aging medicine, pain reversal, natural and traditional aesthetics, ozone therapy, and sexual health regeneration. She has extensive training in biological medicine, peptides, PRP, aesthetics and ozone therapy. See ad, page 25.

ENERGY HEALING ALORALOTUS AWAKENINGS SOUL HEALING STUDIO

4310 N 75th St, Ste 115, Scottsdale 917-202-3289 • AloraOrganic.com

Lorina Quigley is a psychic clairvoyant healer, teacher and empath who has honed her skills over many years. Sessions usually consist of energy reading, clearing and healing with past-life information about wounds and gifts and life purpose. She also helps to create a greater connection to higher self, guides and soul reconnection. See ad, page 15.

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

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

Vern Lang, Owner 10880 N 32nd St, Ste 39, Phoenix 602-626-7458 • GFCBakery.com

Delicious 100% gluten-free products. Many other food allergens and choices available, i.e., vegan, dairy free and grain free. Over 18 years of serving people with medical conditions or enjoying various food lifestyles. See ad, page 33.

OCTOBER

HEALTHY PLANET Avoid being exposed to dangerous chemicals when all-natural and safer alternatives work just as well and last longer. See ad, page 25.

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.

PRODUCTS STANDARD PROCESS

Michael Smith Sr. Account Manager MSmith@StandardProcess.com StandardProcess.com

Standard Process is a Wisconsin-based, family-owned company that has been a leader in making whole food-based nutritional supplements since 1929, and is committed to changing lives by partnering with healthcare practitioners to support optimal health through nutrition. See ad, page 6.

GLUTEN FREE GLUTEN FREE CREATIONS BAKERY

MONTHLY PLANNER

REAL ESTATE

LIVING A SIMPLER LIFE NOVEMBER

MENTAL HEALTH

CONSCIOUS DYING DECEMBER HOLIDAY

UPLIFTING HUMANITY

FENG SHUI REAL ESTATE

Jennie Richau, Associate Broker, CFSP Brokers Hub Realty, Phoenix 720-975-7070 • JennieRichau.com

As a Certified Feng Shui Practitioner, Jennie utilizes principles of Classical Feng Shui to find you a home where you will thrive, or sell your home quickly for the highest value. A truly unique way to buy or sell real estate! See ad, page 18.

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September 2021

RETREATS SOUL HEART COLLABORATION

Jamie Allen Bishop and Shary Fromm Private Retreat Center, Sedona Info@SoulHeartCollaboration.com SoulHeartCollaboration.com

Are you looking for lasting peace and happiness? At Soul Heart Collaboration, we believe living a joyful, legacy lifestyle creates a global impact of value, gratitude and love. We offer hybrid retreats with virtual content and in-person speakers to support the butterﬂy effect of your personal transformation journey. See ad, page 14.

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 33.

UNITY OF MESA

2700 E Southern Ave, Mesa 480-892-2700 • UnityOfMesa.org

SCHOOLS SOUTHWEST INSTITUTE OF HEALING ARTS

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

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.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS ECKANKAR

The Path of Spiritual Freedom 1-877-300-4949 • EckankarArizona.org Eckankar.org • HearHU.org Facebook.com/EckankarArizona

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Eckankar is an active, individual, creative spiritual practice. A companion and roadmap for your journey home—to the heights of SelfDiscovery and God-Discovery, and beyond. Come along and discover the most secret part of yourself. The key to spiritual freedom lies within you. Explore life as a Soul Adventure. See ad, page 23.

THE SUMMIT LIGHTHOUSE® OF PHOENIX

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 10.

SPIRITUAL HEALING STRESS CLEARING

Traumatic Incident Clearing AllphaOmega@yahoo.com StressClearing.com

classifieds Classifieds: $39/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 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. 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. SERVICES/CLASSES EMPOWERED LIVING – Live your life in a way that you choose by joining our team of professionals that equip you with the tools to live life to the fullest with ﬂexibility to work from anywhere. Text 904-310-8243 to receive free information with zero obligation. ~Sabrina

Psychic healer with more than 30 years’ experience will psychically remove your traumas permanently—all by phone. Normal session duration is one hour. Cost is $60 an hour. Guaranteed results. No payment for no results. Contact AllphaOmega@yahoo.com and include your phone number and time available for call. Free consultation. Free introductory session.

FENG SHUI – Judith Longo, World-Certified Feng Shui Consultant featured in the New York Times, activates home and business spaces to create harmony, success, empowerment, health, relationships, prosperity and well-being. To schedule a professional 2021 consultation, contact Judith at JudiLongo88@gmail.com or visit JudithLongo.com/feng-shui.

mark your calendar

Flagstaff Dowsers Conference October 6-12

I.AM.READY. ELEVATE TO WELLNESS

Want to learn how to improve your intuition, find gold, missing items and more? Register for the Flagstaff Dowsers Conference being held at the Little America Hotel.

1 Day Women’s Workshop October 9, 8am to 6pm

Beginner and Advanced classes, Youth Program, Labyrinths, Field Trips and more. Call 978-496-8599 for more information. FlagstaffDowsers.com

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This workshop will provoke meaningful conversations and provide a place where you can realize you possess all the necessary tools to trust in your healing. $488 per person 6207 N Cattletrack Rd, #7, Scottsdale 480-280-9911 Info: FengShuiByJen.com

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HEALTHY PLANET

RECIPE: SICILIAN CHICKEN OF THE WOODS

in FORAGE FUNGI FARE Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots & Pans HOW CREATIVIT Y HEALS US INTEGRATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT

TIPS TO ENCOURAGE KIDSʼ CREATIVIT Y HOW HORSES HELP HEAL HUMANS

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September 2021

Tempe Meadows Farmers’ Market 1490 E Weber Dr Saturdays & Sundays 8am-2pm TempeMeadows.com

Local Farmers’ Markets

The Barn at Power Ranch 3685 E Autumn Dr, Gilbert Wednesdays 4-8pm RaysMarket.com

123rf.com/lola1960

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

Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

NaturalAZ.com

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

Copper Stops Germs Before They Spread

presents ever. This little jewel really works.” Frequent flier Karen Gauci had been suffering after crowded flights. Though skeptical, she tried copper on travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” she exclaimed. Businesswoman Rosaleen says when people around her show signs of cold or flu, she uses copper morning and night. cientists have discovered a illnesses by over half and saved lives. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. natural way to kill germs fast. The strong scientific evidence gave “The kids had crud going round and Now thousands of people are using it inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made round, but not me.” against unwanted viruses and bacteria in a smooth copper probe with a tip to fit in Attorney Donna Blight tried copper the nose and on skin. the bottom of his nose. for her sinus. “I am shocked!” she said. Germs, such The next time “My head cleared, no more headache, no as viruses and he felt a tickle in more congestion.” bacteria, can his nose that felt A man with trouble breathing though multiply fast. like a cold about his nose at night tried copper just before When disease to start, he rubbed bed. “Best sleep I’ve had in years!” he germs get in your the copper gently said. nose they can in his nose for 60 In a lab test, technicians placed 25 spread and cause seconds. million live flu viruses on a CopperZap. misery unless you “I didn’t No viruses were found surviving soon stop them early. get sick,” he after. New device puts copper right where you need it. Hundreds exclaimed. Some people press of studies in the last 20 years by “Due to regulation we don’t copper on a lip right government and university scientists make health claims, so I can’t away if a warning tingle show that copper, a natural element, say if it is cause and effect.” suggests unwanted germs kills germs just by touch. “That was September 2012,” gathering there. The EPA officially declared copper he continued. “I have been using The handle is curved to be “antimicrobial”, meaning it kills it every time and have not had a and textured to increase microbes, including viruses, bacteria, single cold since then.” contact. Copper can and fungus. He asked relatives and kill germs picked up on The National Institutes of Health friends to try it. They reported fingers and hands after Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper kills viruses you touch things other says, “The antimicrobial activity of the same thing, so he patented on contact. copper is now well established.” CopperZap® and put it on the people have touched. Copper’s power to kill germs has market. The EPA says copper still works even been used for thousands of years. Soon hundreds of people had tried it. when tarnished. Buy once, use forever. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians used The feedback was 99% positive if they Made in America of pure copper. copper to purify water and heal wounds. used the copper within 3 hours after 90-day full money back guarantee. Price They didn’t know about microbes, but the first sign of unwanted germs, like a $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap now we do. tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat. with code NATA21. Scientists say the high conductance Early user Mary Pickrell said, “I Go to www.CopperZap.com or call of copper disrupts the electrical balance can’t believe how good my nose feels.” toll-free 1-888-411-6114. in a microbe cell by touch and destroys “What a wonderful thing!” exclaimed Statements herein are not intended it in seconds. Physician’s Assistant Julie. Another and should not be interpreted as product Some hospitals tried copper for touch customer asked, “Is it supposed to work health claims, and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. that fast?” diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any They say this cut the spread of MRSA, Pat McAllister, 70, received one for disease. which is antibiotic resistant, and other Christmas and called it “one of the best ADVERTORIAL