Natural Nutmeg December 2010

December 2010

Natural

Free

Nutmeg Connecticut's Resource For Living Naturally

To Be Happy is To Love Bernie Siegel, MD

Healing The Body Through The Inner Mind A. Harris Stone, EdD

Correcting Vision While You Sleep Dr. Jackie Campisi

Raising Children Naturally

Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD

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An Interview with Andrew Weil, MD Karen Rider, MA December 2010

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In this Issue Raising Your Kids Naturally Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD 10 Healing the Body Through the Inner Mind A. Harris Stone, EdD 14

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ur mission is to provide valuable insight, information and resources that will allow our readers to maintain a h e a l t h y, a c t i v e , s u s t a i n a b l e l i f e style. Natural Nutmeg contains timely information on natural health, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, and the products and ser vices that support good health.

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Correcting Your Vision While You Sleep Dr. Jackie Campisi 22

PUBLISHERS Dr. Diane Hindman Chris Hindman Publisher@naturalnutmeg.com

An Interview with Andrew Weil, MD Karen Rider, MA 42

Departments

ADVERTISING SALES Dr. Diane Hindman Chris Hindman advertising@naturalnutmeg.com

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Newsbriefs 6

HARTFORD COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD Deanna M. Cherrone, M.D. Desmond Ebanks, M.D. Ann Aresco, N.D. Richard Duenas, D.C. Tom Moorcroft, D.O.

Prescription for Living 9 Movement as Medicine 18 Supplements 101 30 Know your Herbs 36 Healthy Family 38

Natural Nutmeg Magazine P.O. Box 447, Avon, CT 06001 Ph. (860) 217-1239 Fax (860) 217-1721

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In keeping with our concern for the environment, Natural Nutmeg is proudly printed on recycled paper with soy based inks.

Natural Nutmeg is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers.With wide distribution throughout central Connecticut, the Litchfield Hills, and the shoreline. Please call for a location near you.

Call us at (860) 217-1239 if you would like copies for your place of business. (25 copies min. req.)

Healthy Cooking 39 Community Resources 46

© 2007-10 by Natural Nutmeg, LLC. All rights

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reserved. Parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that permission be obtained in writing. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your feedback.

Natural Planet 54 4

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AS As wh sto Ge De Th &

PUBLISHER'Sletter

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he holidays are here and this month our focus is on guided imagery, meditation and visualization – all great tools to help you find some quiet time and take better care of yourself! Which are two things many of us lose sight of in the midst of holiday parties, gift giving and trying to find a parking spot at the mall.

We hope you’ll find some great information in this issue on how to give back to yourself.

Bud Stone, EdD, reminds us that often times when we are dealing with an illness, we find our true, authentic self and visualization can help us do that. During an illness of his own, he imagined clearing away arterial plaque and months later his cholesterol levels were significantly reduced! And Diane Ingram teaches us that we need to evoke a feeling about what we want to manifest, because “when the heart is involved, the vision comes to life.”

Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD, teaches us how to raise our children naturally and she offers great tips on how to change our home to a natural home, and how to change our diets to include healthier options. And Bernie Siegel, MD reminds us that when someone persists in loving you, you ultimately realize you are worth loving and begin to accept and love yourself.

In our Wisdom for the Journey column, Karen Rider interviews Dr. Andrew Weil who shares his definition of health and describes personal health responsibility. He calls for a change in medical education, which is great information for a nation in the midst of a health crisis.

Instead of rushing around trying to find the perfect gift that probably costs too much, revisit last month’s Natural Planet column with great ideas for eco-friendly gift giving that will allow you to slow down and actually enjoy the holidays. One website I love is www.pristineplanet.com – it has an amazing amount of ideas for green comparison shopping. Or visit www.worldofgood.com, where every purchase makes a positive impact. Then use that extra time to pamper yourself!

You can also find some great holiday gift ideas from our many advertisers throughout the magazine and in our holiday marketplace. Think about these local businesses first when making your buying decisions this year. We’d also like to thank our advertisers and contributors for supporting Natural Nutmeg this holiday season and throughout the year.

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Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday season,

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Newsbriefs Toys for Tots Drop Off at The Coffee Trade of Avon

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o you have a new, unwrapped toy that you can donate to brighten the holidays for a child in need? If so, you can drop off the toys at The Coffee Trade, located at 21 W. Main St. in Avon. The Coffee Trade is accepting donations until December 15th. This is a wonderful way to give back during the holidays and while you’re there, why not enjoy their amazing, freshroasted coffee, exotic teas and gourmet baked goods!

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

To locate other Toys for Tots drop off locations in Connecticut, visit http://www.plainville-ct. toysfortots.org.

Looking For a Toxic Free Facial?

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ould you love to get a facial but you’re concerned about toxins or chemicals in the products most salons or spas use? Do you have skin allergies from artificial colors or fragrances in products? Patricia Miller of Facials by Patricia announces her new services for toxic-free facials using all natural, cutting-edge products. Patricia offers basic and express facials, non-surgical facelift, collagen infusion therapy and all of her products are paraben and propylene glycol free with no artificial colors or fragrances.

Why get a facial? “The benefits of a good facial are essentially beauty and relaxation. The deep relaxation of the nurturing serums massaged into your face, shoulders and decollate can relieve even the most distressed individual, and the massage aspect of the facial has the attribute of bringing the blood flow up to the epidermis to stimulate collagen production,” says Miller. However, many people are concerned about the chemicals in most of the skincare products on the market today. “I only use gentle, natural and safe products, free from harsh chemicals and parabens with your facial and the results are fantastic,” says Miller. “The best make-up is good skin. Having a canvas of healthy skin is the foundation of all other beauty products applied. Using nutritious products which feed the cells will remodel your skin and no matter what your age you can look and feel good.”

Patricia customizes her facials to each individual’s specific skin needs. She is offering a $55 Basic Facial, which is a great gift for yourself or a friend for the holidays.

For more information, call 860-995-4291 or email trishamarie7@yahoo.com. Facials by Patricia is located in Rocky Hill. See as on page 31.

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Prescription for Living

by Bernie Siegel, MD

To Be Happy Is To Love

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ow would you introduce yourself to God? I see this every time I visit because of my position as an outside consultant to the board of directors of Heaven. When you get to the head of the celestial admission line they will ask you that question and if you hesitate, say me, or your profession, or some other role you play they say, “Come back when you know who you are.” Why? Because those answers separate you from the divine. You are made of the same stuff so when you get to Heaven and they ask you to introduce yourself say, “It’s you” or “Your child is here.” The best answer I have ever heard was, “Tell God his replacement is here.” That was from a high school student who undoubtedly has great parents. My wife answered, “Bernie’s wife.” She knows I have connections.

The second question; What can I pray for, for you? I asked this of my 90+ year old mother-in-law while she was sitting in her wheel chair having a tough day. I was thinking it would give her a chance to vent her anger and pain. Instead she paused and said, “World peace.” Wow, she went way up on my list of special people. I have asked that question of thousands of people and have had less than a dozen give that answer. We are so into our own stuff that we do not see the big picture and how it benefits us and how we feel when we care for others and volunteer to help. Volunteers live longer healthier lives than their whining and complaining friends.

Remember the opposite of love is indifference. And how do you get attention when you do not receive love and feel rejected?

You cause trouble so everyone now notices you. From Virginia Tech to the recent article about the teenager who sexually abused a child, he baby sat for, I can tell you they were all reacting to rejection and the feeling of being unloved. In East of Eden John Steinbeck wrote, “The greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt- and there is the story of mankind.” Amen.

I have seen this in our family when one of our five kids said, “I don’t get twenty percent of your time.” I answered, “Your brother is driving us nuts so he gets forty.” I admired his speaking up rather than retiring to his bedroom and feeling unloved. So parents, teachers, clergy, health professionals please love the children of all ages you care for and about. We can reparent the unloved don’t ever forget that. You can become their CM or CD, which is a Chosen Mom or Dad, and literally save their life. Because when someone persists in loving you, you ultimately realize you are worth loving and begin to accept and love yourself.

You have to remember love is a weapon and when you can understand and forgive you give yourself a gift. You want help

getting through the day read my book 365 Prescriptions For The Soul. I know from personal pain that when I remain bitter, hateful and unforgiving about some past event I am still being abused by the person I can’t forgive; be it a criminal or abusive parent. As I have said I prefer to kill with kindness and torment with tenderness. It drives people nuts when they are screaming at you and you say, “I love you.”

One day a teenager was behind me in heavy summer traffic.

He was screaming and cursing at me and there were twenty cars ahead of me which were the problem. A police officer refused to talk to him when I requested his help. So I got out of my car, walked over to his and said, “I want you to know I love you. I am sorry your parents don’t.” The latter was not a nice thing to do but I was not feeling so loving at the moment. He backed up, made a u-turn and drove away. I feel sad for him.

So now let me help you get a little therapy and feel better. I find my way of finding some chocolate ice cream is to go shopping; not to spend money but to meet people. I love being a character and meeting what I call other kids who are innocent also. At the Westville Kosher Market I used to ask, “Do you have anything good today?” The answer was always, “No, we only have excellent food.” So now I say, “I don’t want any good food,” when I go in to order. Other customers stare at me but the owners know I want some of their excellent food.

If you are a bit shy just walk up to clerks, sales people, drive ups, toll takers and say, “How may I help you?” or ask for the senior discount and have some fun with the confused folks you are addressing.

I will close with some words of wisdom from Woody Allen.

“To love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer and to suffer is to suffer.

To be happy is to love, to be happy then is to suffer, but suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love or love to suffer or suffer from too much happiness.”

If you understand that please consult a “psycho” therapist.

Bernie holds a support group in Simsbury at Wisdom of the Ages the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm. Wisdom of the Ages, a special place to nuture your spiritual side. It's filled with items to calm the mind, heal the body & empower your spirit. They also provide massages & monthly meditation classes. Wisdom of the Ages is owned by Bernie's son & daughter- in-law, Keith & Jane Siegel. Located at 1408 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury. Please call for info or to register for Bernie's group. (860) 651-1172, www.wisdomoftheages.biz, berniesiegelmd. com. See ad on page 41.

Bernie also runs a Woodbridge Support Group which meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday evenings of each month at Coachman's Square, Bradley Road, Woodbridge, CT. Contact: Lucille Ranciato at 203-288-2839 or email her at lranciato@yahoo.com.

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Raising Children Naturally

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ecently, while I was shopping at the grocery store, an older woman in front of me peeked in my shopping cart and commented that the food choices I had made were “quite healthy.” My husband was holding our two and a half year old son on his shoulders and he was softly singing to himself. The woman remarked that my son was very lucky to live in such a natural home. The fact that I live near two Whole Foods markets makes it easier.

I remember when all we had for natural options was ‘Cheese n’ Stuff’—a small natural grocery store on Farmington Avenue.

Even then, natural options were available but at much higher prices.

We are living in exciting times! There is so much information available to us today, through the internet, local and national media, our friends, and our community. Often, we find ourselves in situations where we feel like we don’t have any options. Making the choice to raise your child naturally is one thing you have under your control as a parent. In a typical classroom today, there are children with a plethora of illnesses and sensitivities, learning deficits, and behavioral issues.

Many of these children are medicated in some way. Maintaining a natural home helps with prevention, and helps to reduce illness and improve learning and behavior.

Most of the time, we can choose between

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a natural option and a more synthetic one, whether it be related to food and snacks, clothing, detergent or household cleaning materials. In fact, these natural options are widely available even at everyday stores such as Target, Home Depot, Stop & Shop, and more. The fact that these types of stores are ‘consumer driven’, leads us to believe that more and more people are searching for natural options for their family and home.

How to Change Your Home to a Natural Home Making the choice to raise your child naturally can seem like an enormous task.

Tackling one category at a time is a helpful strategy. A good place to start is to create an inventory of what you have in your home that is synthetic; then, slowly replace these products one by one. Almost everything today has a natural substitute.

Some examples: 1. Replace synthetic cleaners and detergents in your home with natural versions such as Seventh Generation brand.

Even a simple change such as this can lead to significant benefits. For my own family, when we changed laundry detergents, the ‘sleep issue’ became easier. My son began to sleep longer through the night, I was less www.naturalnutmeg.com

restless, and my husband, with a history of asthma, had an easier time breathing. I even noticed how I no longer itched at night!

2. Replace your child’s soap and shampoo with a natural version such as Tom’s of Maine or California Baby brand. So often, we take for granted some of the symptoms that we deal with on a day to day basis.

Changing the brand of soap that you use to a more natural one can eliminate previously irresolvable issues such as daily redness or rashes on the face and even residual cradle cap on your child’s head.

3. Make the choice to only buy children’s clothing made mostly with natural fibers such as cotton or wool, rather than polyester or acrylic. This may seem like a more expensive option, but fortunately, there are some less expensive strategies, such as children’s consignment. This is a growing movement. There are many children’s consignment shops in Connecticut that house great quality clothing. Often, these shops are located in trendy shopping areas. Some great options: ‘Just Kids’ in Canton, ‘Best Dressed Kids’ in Bloomfield, and ‘Max and Lily’s closet’ in West Hartford. Additionally, many everyday stores such as Target and Kohl’s sell all-cotton children’s clothing.

4. Buy produce that is organic or natural and free of pesticides and growth hormones. It is true that organic foods are

more expensive. Hopefully, one day, this will change. One option is to search for a local Community Supported Agriculture co-op farm (CSA) that sells memberships.

These farms will provide you with great natural produce through the warm months of the year and often they provide a winter share as well. CSA memberships are typically inexpensive options. One example is ‘Holcomb Farm’s CSA’ in Granby. A great website to search for local CSAs in your area is: www.ctnofa.org/CSAs.htm. Other great options are local farmers markets and farm stands. Farmers markets and farm stands can be a lot of fun for children and they provide you with the opportunity to buy straight from the farmer.

When considering other types of natural foods, there are many ‘regular’ supermarkets that sell natural meats without growth hormones or other synthetic additives.

5. Eliminate soda pop and candy in the house. It may be challenging to avoid sweets altogether but making a rule of no candy in the house is a great way to start.

6. Choose foods that are free of highfructose corn syrup and other added sweeteners, chemicals, partially hydrogenated oils commonly referred to as “trans fats”, and genetic modification (GMO).

Searching for recipes that can be modified

to include natural sweeteners is another helpful strategy. Sugar and other synthetic sweeteners in most recipes can be substituted by natural sweeteners. Some great options for natural sweeteners include: pure maple syrup or maple sugar, pure honey, raw agave, palm sugar, date sugar, coconut syrup and coconut crystals. Some of these sweeteners can be expensive but when buying in bulk, you can find great prices. Maple sugar, as an example, can be ordered in bulk through www.dennisfarmsmaple.com. Searching for these natural ingredients in packaged foods is a great first step. As for GMO foods, there is growing research that is illustrating the negative effects of genetic modification.

In fact, GMO foods are outlawed in most European countries. The challenge in this country is that genetic modification is not listed on labels. Some foods that are typically genetically modified in this country include corn and soy. Currently, buying ‘organic’ means non-GMO. Ultimately, this process comes down to ‘reading labels’. As a parent, this process can seem even more challenging because it begs the question, “Do I need to change my own habits?” For a child, the most important factor is family support. Ideally, to support the child optimally, the whole

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family should adopt these changes. Each family member should be informed of the potential benefits of this major change in their home. In addition to the health benefits to yourself and your family, making the transition to a natural home is a great way to support the environment. There are many websites today that offer information on how a natural home can help the environment.

This is one great way to involve children in the process of change.

Recommendations for Natural Health: 1. Gluten Elimination Diet: Gluten is a ‘pro-inflammatory’ food which means that when ingested, it contributes to more inflammation in the body. Inflammation is at the root of every illness in our body. By eliminating gluten from our diet, we can support greater health and recovery. For children, eliminating gluten can also support quicker recovery from injury as well as a reduction in common issues such as allergies, learning and behavioral deficits, and more. A good resource on gluten sensitivity and implementing a gluten elimination diet is: www.centerimt. com/Gluten-Sensitivity.asp.

2. Avoid refined sugars: Diabetes is on the rise today as documented by many researchers. To avoid this type of illness in adulthood, changes need to be made early on.

3. Avoid peanuts: Consider the recent rise in peanut allergies. Peanuts are clearly allergenic to many people. What is less recognized is how peanuts can affect those that don’t present with severe anaphylactic symptoms. One strategy is to eliminate peanuts for a period of time and catalog the changes over that period of time (recommended 3 months). Very likely, there will be great benefits in skin health, learning and behavior, breathing, and more.

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4. Avoid synthetic additives in our foods: Read labels!

5. Avoid toxic chemical exposure: Always consider how you can reduce toxins in your environment and in your home.

6. Daily essential fatty acids: Every tissue in our body is made up of cells. The wall of each cell is comprised of essential fatty acids or EFAs. With any trauma or infection, at a cellular level, there is a tear in the wall of one or multiple cells that make up a structure such as an organ or vessel. To repair this tissue, the body needs essential fatty acids. But EFAs are not produced in the body—they have to be included in our diet. Unless we eat 2 tins of sardines every day, we are lacking optimal essential fatty acids!

A great way to get the right amount of EFAs in our diet is to supplement with ‘fish oils’. Fish oils house concentrated EFAs. Some options would include daily cod liver oil or fish oil gel caps.

7. Daily probiotics: Probiotics provide our body with healthy bacteria to fight off infection. They provide us with immune strength. Daily probiotics is a helpful way to ward off illness. Probiotics can be taken by capsule and can also be found in yogurt.

8. Daily vegetables and fruit: Vegetables and fruit contain many nutrients and enzymes to support a healthy body. In addition, eating daily vegetables and fruit can support a healthy bowel.

Great Snack Options: 1. Cut vegetables or fruit: Lots of nutrients and enzymes.

2. Hummus and crackers: Good protein and fat source.

3. Sun Butter (nut butter made out of sun flower seeds) and celery or carrot sticks: Good protein and fat source.

4. Apple sauce: Apples are great for digestion and immunity.

5. Roasted seaweed snack pack: Great source of minerals.

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6. Raisins and dried fruit: Good source of enzymes and nutrients.

7. Yogurt: Probiotics! Also a good source of fat.

8. Coconut water: Great electrolytes (healthier then Gato- rade!) and a lower sugar content then regular fruit juice.

Sustainable Changes: When making the choice to change your home to a natural home, the question of cost is always a consideration. But what is often forgotten is the cost of health. The Centers for Disease Control report that diabetes is one of the leading chronic illnesses in children today. There is an obvious rise in children’s learning and behavioral disorders—just witness today’s rise in autism spectrum disorder. The only way to make ‘sustainable’ changes in our health today is to be proactive in our choices. There is so much that is out of our control—the escalation of global warming, the rising cost of healthcare and education, and ultimately, other people’s choices. But when it comes to our own family, we can support each other in making better choices that will lead to greater health.

Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD, PT, IMT,C is the Practice Manager and Director of Pediatrics for Regional Physical Therapy and Center of Integrative Manual Therapy and Diagnostics (CenterIMT), headquartered in Bloomfield, CT. She is also the Dean of the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy (CSIMT).

Dr. Connell-Giammatteo has taught courses in IMT nationally and internationally for over 15 years. She received her doctoral degree focusing in neuropediatrics, with a concentration in autism. See ad on page 17.

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Healing The Body Through The Inner Mind

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Reflections on Guided Imagery and Visualization

he psychiatrist and physician M. Scott Peck once observed, “The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

His remark rings especially true when considering a health crisis – the ultimate form of discomfort. Often, while we are in the midst of dealing with illness and disease we end up discovering the deepest source of our authentic self. Following the doctor’s orders helps, but in many cases it is the patient’s inner values and resources that enable true healing to occur.

I understand this from my own experience as a survivor of cardiovascular disease. Twenty-five years ago I was recovering from open heart surgery, which required that I inhabit a whole new way of being in the world. I started the Dean Ornish program, began exercising on a regular basis, and engaged in several

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stress-reducing techniques. But one of the most effective tools in my healing was neither prescribed by my physician nor taught to me. It was an instinctual process that my mind pursued while driving or resting or falling asleep.

The scenario is simple: Bruce, my long time carpenter friend, and I are in a vast tunnel, armed with hammers and picks and other instruments for chipping away at the deposits lining its inner walls. We cheerfully whittle at the cave-like structure, humming as we work, and as we travel the tunnel I watch the fragile deposits fall away, leaving a smooth surface. How does this relate to my health? Well the tunnel happens to be my arteries, and the craggy deposits are my arterial plaque, being cleared away as we set about our business.

What I later discovered was that my imagined artery cleanup was more than just a fantasy. As it turns out, after several months of practicing this visualization, my cholesterol was reduced significantly and rapidly. My physician marveled at how it could be possible that a patient with a disease as severe as

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mine could reveal such unexpected progress. Modern medicine attributed my success to dietary changes and exercise regimes, coupled with the introduction of statin drugs. These undoubtedly helped, but I knew that my visualization had played a valuable role in my recovery.

Guided imagery and visualization are extraordinary techniques for healing the body through the power of the mind. Barbara Hoberman Levine’s bestselling book, Your Body Believes Every Word You Say, provides a compelling look at how the language we choose to employ when describing illness and disease has a direct correlation with healing. “Naming the disease with a noun often conveys the impression that the illness is an invasion of our body by an enemy entity rather than an ongoing dis-easing process in which we are fully engaged,” Levine says. “Illness comes from how you talk and what you think and feel, among other causes. An immune system able to withstand the effects of outside forces may well be a function of our underlying thoughts, feelings and attitudes. And whether or not a foreign organism actually makes our bodies ill may be subject to our conscious control.” This is a radically empowering view of healing, for it demands that the patient assume responsibility for the cause as well as the outcome of his or her condition.

So too does the unspoken language of the inner mind play a critical role in recovery. Guided imagery and visualization are two practices that help train the mind to promote healing, which has a direct impact on our physical health. The images that are manifested during these ethereal processes reflect our personal understanding of our body and our illness. They serve as a conceptualization of that which remains unseen. For some people, including me, it is in this process of seeing and visualizing our physical state that we discover the strength and the innate belief in our ability to heal. Without the aid of imagery or visualization, our illness can appear daunting, for it represents some hidden reality concealed within the physical body.

Mind/body techniques, like the one I practiced with my heart condition, allow us to access many of the psychological and emotional symptoms that accompany disease. For instance, Bernie Siegel has taught us, through his pioneering work, how a patient’s drawings can reveal profound insights into their psychological as well as physical well-being. Through an individual’s drawings he is able tap into their unconscious mind and access the in-

ner truth that may either prohibit or foster effective healing. “Inner knowingness speaks a powerful language and can be used for prevention, treatment, diagnosis and prognosis of an illness, as well as emotional problems or decisions an individual or family must make,” Bernie writes. “…I want people to discover their personal mythology and not my interpretation of it, so their soul can speak to them through images and their symbols can lead to transformation.”

What does it mean to speak to your soul? How can we begin to decode the images and symbols that surface in our minds and in our imaginations? Guided imagery and visualization offer ways of tapping into this invisible world of the inner mind. In some cases they may be undertaken with the aid of a facilitator, one who guides the self in manifesting images and dreams. In certain guided visualizations one might imagine the internal body taking form in some concrete, external way.

In other practices one might envision new contexts in which healing can occur. For instance, visualizing one’s self in a peaceful environment such as the oceanfront or atop a secluded mountain, where we are surrounded by nature and all of the sights and sounds that make us most happy is a

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technique used to support healing. These practices can be used in the pre-operating room to improve surgical outcomes, to decrease pain during or after treatments, and to reduce the length of one’s hospital stay, among other applications. The important aspect of guided imagery and visualization are not the specifics of what one envisions but the meaning that it carries for the individual.

Affirmations contribute significantly.

Often the first step in guided imagery or visualization is making that commitment that you are in service to your own healing. Recognizing the enormous impact the mind bears on our physiological reality can be critical to creating the proper environment for healing to occur. This is also true when it comes to general health maintenance and prevention. What the mind believes is expressed in the body, which is why the placebo effect has such an enormous impact on treatment outcomes.

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These practices can even be used as reservoirs for creative expression. A colleague of mine, Robin Moore, is a professional storyteller who teaches his approach to “Awakening the Hidden Storyteller” at schools and wellness centers around the country. The first step in his instruction is helping participants release the constraints that might inhibit their creative potential from flowing freely. He does this by guiding them in a visual meditation. Here they are asked to imagine themselves on a journey to their own personal island. Throughout this process, many participants find themselves awakened to the type of aha! moments that spark innovation and enthusiasm for the creative act. In other cases they find themselves deeply moved by the images and the experiences that deliver them back to their childhood, where the source material for their imagination lives. When we are children we imagine freely and without fear of criticism or judgment. It is in that child-like

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state of innocence and play that the tools for our evolution may find their most powerful expression.

It amazes me that some of the most profound tools for our healing are neither costly nor inaccessible. The body has its own “automatic, built-in survival instincts” that can be equally effective as some of the most sophisticated technological treatments. Learning to draw upon these primary resources is as important as understanding the physiological impact of the prescription drugs that we rely upon so heavily in our healthcare system.

As for my own healing journey, guided imagery and visualization have continued to serve me well. Many years ago I joined a “support group” with some of my male friends. We met weekly to talk about important issues related to our health, our emotional reality, and our families. There were only two rules: 1) we weren’t allowed to talk about sports or politics, and 2) each week one of us was responsible for preparing a healthy dinner. What I discovered through connecting with these friends was that there was so much living in our inner world that was yearning to be expressed. I realized that often, we need a community to help elicit that which needs to be recognized from the inside out. Guided imagery and visualization have continued to serve me as important tools of awareness.

My hope is that by helping others to explore the deeper interconnection of body, mind, and spirit, and by creating learning opportunities where individuals are able to tap into the unseen aspects of their psyche, the culture will continue to

evolve toward greater health awareness.

There will always be disease and there will always be treatment options, ranging from the indigenous to the technological. But without the aid of intense and authentic human intention, and without the type of consciousness that promotes real and lasting changes within the self, all the medical advancements in the world are naught but temporary fixes to an underlying problem.

Guided imagery and visualization are not band-aids. They are powerful mechanisms for addressing the root cause of any imbalance or dis-ease, and they are as fundamental and essential to the health of all humanity as are any prescription medication or technological intervention.

My friend Bernie Siegel will often say to patients, “If you lose your health, I’m here to help you find it.” I would add to that, if you lose touch with your inner self, use your imagination and the implicit power of your mind to help your self find

it. Draw upon guided imagery, visualization, and other meditative techniques to help you elicit the true power of your inner being.

A. Harris (Bud) Stone is the Founder and Chancellor of The Graduate Institute, an institution dedicated to offering holistic, transformative educational experiences for lifelong learners. As a professor, author, researcher, and educational entrepreneur, Bud has dedicated his life to leadership in the cause of educational transformation.

He is responsible for the establishment of more than 15 graduate programs, including a Master of Arts in Experiential Health and Healing, which focuses on complementary, mind-body approaches to health and wellness. For more information, call (203) 874-4252 or visit www.learn.edu.

See ad on page 28.

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December 2010

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Movement as Medicine

Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, Brian St. Pierre, CSCS

What’s the Best Exercise for a Healthy Heart?

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f you ask most doctors what you should do to prevent a heart attack and keep your heart strong, they’ll tell you to do mostly moderate aerobic exercise, like jogging, running or biking.

the lower your risk of being stricken with a heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis or heart failure.

But Why Is This? And Is It Right?

When you exercise at a moderate intensity, your body can use more oxygen from the air (used by your heart and your muscles) because it increases the maximum amount of blood your heart can pump in each minute (called maximal cardiac output) to your entire body.

Exercise increases your cardiac output by increasing the amount of blood that enters your heart (specifically, the left ventricle) and how hard your heart contracts. More blood and harder contractility equals more oxygen-rich blood sent to your working muscles.

For years, the exercise prescription for heart health has been 30 minutes of moderate (50-60% of max heart rate) cardiovascular exercise, 5 days a week.

The reasoning behind this is that past exercise physiology research has told us that moderate aerobic exercise increases the maximum amount of oxygen you can use. You can determine how much oxygen your body can use right now, by engaging in a maximal oxygen consumption test done at a doctor’s clinic or hospital on a bike or a treadmill. Another term for this test is a VO2max test, where V= volume, O2 = oxygen and max=maximal. You breath into a tube that measures all the oxygen you take in and all the carbon dioxide you breathe out while you exercise at increasingly more difficult exercise intensity.

What really matters in all this is that VO2max is inversely correlated to your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In other words, the higher your VO2max,

Making Your Heart Stronger

Lowering Your Resting Heart Rate Moderate aerobic exercise also decreases your heart rate at rest. When you’re lying in bed not doing anything, your heart rate will be lower after 6 weeks of moderate aerobic exercise than it was before.

How? Since your heart can pump more blood with each beat, it doesn’t need to beat as often to keep your body bathed in oxygen. Since an elevated resting heart rate is an independent risk factor for CVD in men and women, lowering this rate with exercise is a preventative measure for heart health. And, it’s a much better measure than resorting to medications like beta-blockers, which have side effects such as fatigue, weight gain and sleep disturbances.

High-Intensity Interval Exercise Is Better For Heart Health

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Since moderate aerobic exercise has been prescribed for so long, you’d December 2010

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think it would be better at increasing heart fitness and lowering your risk of heart disease than other exercises, like high-intensity, interval training (HIIT), but that’s not the case.

Research investigations on heart cells (known as cardiomyocytes) has shown very clearly that as you exercise more intensely, there are more improvements in heart cell size (larger cells are stronger) and heart cell contractility (the heart can pump harder). Recently, Norwegian researchers challenged the age-old recommendations for heart health and looked at the effects of HIIT in patients with coronary heart disease – something most doctors wouldn’t even think of trying.

High-Intensity Research Investigation Seventeen coronary heart disease patients that had at least one diseased vessel (as seen by angiography) were included in this research study. Patients with particular types of bad hearts were excluded (such as patients with left main coronary artery disease, and unstable angina pectoris, as well as others). All the patients were tested to find out their VO2max and this was used to calculate exercise intensities for the exercise program.

Half the patients (9 patients) were placed in a moderate-intensity training group and half were in a HIIT group.

Training was for 10 weeks —two and a half months. The HIIT group exercised for the same amount of time (~40 minutes) as the moderate exercise training group, but instead of just exercising at a moderate, consistent pace (65-75% of max heart rate, 50-60% of VO2max), they exercised in intervals.

First they warmed up for 5 minutes, then they increased their intensity and worked very hard at 85-95% of their max heart rate (80-90% VO2max) for 4 minutes, followed by a 3 minute “active rest” period at 65-75% max heart rate.

They repeated this interval sequence three more times followed by a 10 minute cool down. After the 10 weeks of training both groups improved their aerobic capacity, but the high-intensity group improved more. The HIIT group also had improved relaxation rates (early diastolic myocardial relaxation rate) where the moderate training group did not. The

researchers figured that since high intensity training puts a greater strain on the heart, it causes a greater adaptation.

Basically, your body will take shortcuts if it can. In moderate exercise training, the heart can get by with fewer changes than it can with the high-intensity training, which pushes the heart more.

In conclusion, both moderate and high intensity training increases the maximal amount of oxygen (VO2max) of patients with stable coronary artery disease, but high-intensity training improves it more.

Based on what we’ve been told by our doctors, the idea of having a patient with any sort of heart problems participate in high-intensity interval training would be considered nuts. Shouldn’t they keel over with a heart attack? But they didn’t. In fact, these patients were able to do this high intensity training with no problems (under doctor supervision) and had greater improvement in heart health than with moderate training.

Bottom Line Heart-healthy training doesn’t have to be moderate intensity exercise. It can

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be high-intensity interval training. Highintensity interval training improves your ability to use oxygen even more than moderate intensity. This, in turn, reduces your risk of CVD. And, if this is one way to avoid a heart attack, then exercising with more intense intervals should be just what the doctor orders. Hopefully one day it will be and fewer people will suffer with heart disease.

Cassandra Forsythe holds her PhD in Exercise Science and Nutrition from the University of Connecticut and is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). She works at Alternity Healthcare in West Hartford and also runs her own fitness bootcamps in Manchester, CT. You can learn more about her and her bootcamp classes at www.cassandraforsythe.com.

Brian St. Pierre is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who received his degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Maine, and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the same institution. For more information, you can check out www.brianstpierretraining.com

December 2010

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Where’s the Hair on My Head Going?

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ave you noticed more and more hairs on your pillow or in your comb? Are the hairs thinner than they used to be? Is your part getting wider?

Is your hairline receding?

Male or female, hair loss is probably going to happen at some point, and you shouldn’t brush it off. Whether or not it will grow back is one question – what’s causing it is another.

“Most hair loss is reversible, if acted upon early,” says Donyelle McBride, Trichologist and owner of McBride Hair Replacement LLC. If your strategy is to hope it will fix itself, you could be wasting valuable time.

The key to reversing hair loss is determining and correcting the causes before the follicles die. Once they die, they are, well…dead. Follicles typically die slowly, getting weaker, as evidenced by the hairs getting thinner. “As each year goes by, it becomes more difficult to halt or reverse the trend,” says Donyelle. When there’s no follicle, there’s no hair. Best treatment results are achieved within the first five years of hair loss. Then you’re looking at other alternatives such as cranial prosthesis or transplants.

Is your hair loss caused by stress?

Managing the stress can be difficult, however if successfully done, your hair will likely grow back. Is your loss hereditary?

Heredity is not a death sentence. It can be delayed. Just remember the five year rule – the sooner the better.

The good news is that many causes of hair loss are treatable. Such as yanking that ponytail too tight! No kidding. I thought 20

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my mother made that up. Hair loss can be caused by eating too much fat or it can be the result of rapid weight loss. It could be the sign of a hormone imbalance including high levels of testosterone, or perhaps a health issue is causing nutritional deficiencies. These are just some of the treatable causes.

Some prescription drugs are culprits.

Birth control pills, anti-inflammatory drugs, blood pressure medication, and several other drugs can lead to the loss of your lovely locks.

Pollution can be another problem.

Heavy metals in our food, water and air can cause hair loss. (Think this isn’t you?

So did I, until I got the results of the tests Donyelle ran.) These are things that you want to know about sooner rather than later, because eventually, more than your hair will be affected.

Donyelle is also a client of her own treatment programs. Her hairline was receding. Ask to see her ‘before’ photos. How did she treat it? Naturally. She views drugs and medicine as a last resort.

She’s a detective, determining underlying causes and helping you change course with supplements, lifestyle changes, and eating right. She loves what she does, and talks passionately about the clients she has helped. On she goes, combing through causes and rattling off facts about the body needing 60 trace minerals, 16 vitamins, 12 essential amino acids, and how everything must work in concert.

The analysis is painless. Donyelle performs a digital microscopic analysis on your hair and scalp, checking your PH www.naturalnutmeg.com

levels and conducting a biochemical assessment (health analysis). I placed my hand on a plastic dome that looks like a mini-bike helmet, and after a few minutes, pages of problems flew from the printer.

I have hormonal issues (no surprise, just ask hubby); problems dealing with stress (she recommended lifestyle changes and the herb “wood betony”). I could assimilate my food better (she recommended a supplement that contains capsicum – which is found in pepper plants) – and, as mentioned, I have some heavy metals to deal with. She recommended a capsule for that as well, the key ingredient in which is cilantro. Most of these things can be purchased at a health food store, and she also provides information on an on-line source.

One of the treatment programs she offers is a Propecia alternative with proven results.

Exercise is high on her list of things that will help many of us. Stress (the #1 cause of most health issues) is best managed with exercise. She handed me the card for her trainer…I made a face and she told me her greatest challenge – and her greatest reward – “is getting people to take their health seriously!”

What if your hair loss can’t be treated?

She works with surgeons and offers solutions such as “cranial prosthesis,” aka nonsurgical hair replacement, aka comfortable, breathable, natural-looking human hair systems, for hotties of both genders.

Submitted by Deb Percival. Trichologist Donyelle McBride’s offices are at 674 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT. Call 860985-2081. Visit www.mcbridehair.com for a full list of services. See ad on page 31.

Say Goodbye to Dairy...Say Hello to WayFare

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ouldn’t we all like to wake up at 3am with a flash of inspiration that launched us into developing a national company focused on creating whole foods that families can eat and thrive on? That’s what happened to Kelly Coffin back in 2002 after his father was diagnosed with cancer and his daughter was battling chronic ear infections and gastrointestinal issues. Coming to the realization that what his family was eating was the cause of the numerous health issues was a bitter pill to swallow after being raised on a dairy farm in Cabot, Vermont. But Kelly listened to his intuition and made a 180 degree turn to stop eating all dairy products. “There’s nothing like a crisis to help you change course,” says Coffin. And that’s exactly what happened.

After becoming frustrated with the hundreds of diet plans and misinformation on the internet, Coffin started thinking. He knew that oats and whole grains were nutritious and good for you. He reasoned that if a cow can eat oats and make milk that food manufacturers create dairy products from…then why can’t we use the same step using whole grains but eliminate the dairy? And WayFare was born.

Working with local farmers to produce an old world whole oat that is gluten free, WayFare has created cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, pudding, and ice cream, all 100% dairy free, chemical free, and gluten free. In addition, all of their products are non- GMO and don’t contain any preservatives or additives. “Every ingredient has to stand by itself or I will not put it in the product,” says Coffin.

So, now you’re wondering, “ok, it sounds great, but how does it taste?” I was too. And so was Coffin when he set out to create these healthier versions of non-dairy products. Growing up on a dairy farm, you can bet that Kelly Coffin knows cheese. He knows what it smells like, feels like and most of all what it should taste like. In fact his standards are that all of WayFare’s products have to taste as good as two of the most popular names in cheese and dairy, Cabot Creamery and Ben and Jerry’s! And

he was so determined to do that, he would design blind taste tests side by side with these manufacturers for his family and friends when he was in the developmental stages. Guess what – no one could tell the difference! And neither could I! How is this possible you ask? If you’re like me, most of the non-dairy alternatives out there aren’t exactly appealing. Well, Kelly wouldn’t tell me all of his secrets, but what he did say was that they use whole grains to flavor the cream cheese to get that dairy flavor. He also told me that most non dairy producers remove the fiber component and then add a fat and different texturing agents and flavoring agents with many foreign ingredients. Coffin designed a machine that allows them to leave the whole ingredient of the oat or grain in the processing of all of their products. And I did get him to divulge the ingredients of one of their cheeses! He starts with whole grain oatmeal and adds the following: sesame, sea salt, red pepper and pimento, safflower oil, coconut oil, calcium carbonate, onion powder and nutritional yeast.

Can you imagine that these ingredients

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make some of the best cheese you’ve ever tasted?

Kelly Coffin’s mission for WayFare is a humble one. It’s about other people – helping them lead healthier and happier lives so they can take the blessings they’ve been given and multiply them by giving to others. Not only that, he’s concerned about the environment as well. Being an eco-friendly company they produce almost zero waste.

And their manufacturing plant uses less energy than the corporate offices!

So, now you’re wondering where you can get some of these wonderful products? WayFare’s “We Can’t Say It’s Cheese” and other fine products are distributed throughout the country, but right here in Connecticut you can buy the products at Divine Treasures in Manchester, Garden of Light in Avon, Whole Foods in Glastonbury and West Hartford, Granby Village Health, Thyme & Season in Hamden, The Market in Litchfield, It’s Only Natural in Middletown, Edge of the Woods in New Haven, Fiddleheads Coop in New London, Northville Market in New Milford, LaBonne’s in Salisbury, Natures Grocer in Vernon Rockville, and New Morning in Woodbury. Don’t wait to start enjoying it!

Submitted by Dr. Diane Hindman. For more information, visit www.wayfarefoods.com or call 877-586-5220. See ad on page 43.

December 2010

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Correcting Vision While You Sleep “Braces for the Eyes”

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early 70 Million people in the US are affected by myopia (about 25% of our adult population). It is a significant public health issue that causes 5.6% blindness in school children. Myopic degeneration can cause retinal pathologies like retinal detachments. Myopia or nearsightedness is created when the shape of an eye is too long or when the cornea is too steep resulting in blurred vision in the distance. Since 8.6% of cases lead to disabilities, Orthokeratology offers a therapeutic option for children and adults. Correcting nearsightedness with contacts, spectacles or refractive surgery does not emphasize prevention.

When the FDA approved gas permeable contact lens materials for overnight

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wear, Orthokeratology became a viable option for patients wishing to go “glasses and contact lens-free” during the day.

A company named WAVE CONTACT LENSES, created software enabling practitioners to ‘upload’ patient information to an advanced lens-design program.

Accelerated Orthokeratology or ‘corneal molding’ became the “wave of the future” for Dr. Jacqueline Campisi and her clients.

Jeanna Congdon of Stonington was one of the first patients to experience this technology. Her daughter, Alisha, and 13 year old niece, Crystal Shaw also benefited. Channel 8 News featured their story which can be viewed on www.drcampisi.net.

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The process works as follows: • Uncorrected or “un molded” vision is measured.

• Custom WAVE Lenses are inserted • The patient ‘sleeps’ for 20 minutes in a reclined exam chair.

• The contact “molds” are removed.

• The “molded” vision is measured without the lenses on.

• Patients witness a change in their sight usually in the first ½ hour!

• The patient is asked to put the lenses in at bedtime every night.

As the ‘molds’ are worn nightly (like a retainer), the effect lasts longer each day. If lenses are discontinued, the cornea returns to its original shape. Daily soft contact lenses and spectacles do not produce this outcome. In fact, patients who wear daily contacts have an increased risk of requiring stronger lenses annually. Children benefit most as demonstrated in the CANDY study (Controlling Astigmatism and Nearsightedness in Developing Youth). Molding can ‘freeze frame’ this condition and it is non-invasive. See www.wavecontactlenses.com to view a short video on this procedure.

Rachel Kiefer (13 yrs old) of Clinton, CT visited her optometrist in August. Her father Mark was concerned because, “my wife and I have thick glasses”. Their son Matthew, also myopic, wished to

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If you would like to schedule an eye exam or a free consultation, please call 860 442-5058 or email Dr. Campisi at www.Jackie@ wcnaturalhealing.Com. Her website www.Drcampisi.Net offers links and interviews. She participates in most insurance plans and accepts Care Credit. See ad on page 15.

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prevent a similar fate. Both teens experienced a change in their vision from “un-molded 20/100” to “molded 20/20” after just 20 minutes of wear time. Their mother, Donna, joked at how she described this procedure to her friends and family as “braces for the eyes”.

Julianna Hul from Columbia CT was 15 when she learned of OrthoK in 2008. Now a senior at Windham High School she’s involved with Windham Players Drama Club. Past attempts at inserting soft lenses were unsuccessful. Having no option, she was forced to remove her spectacles for stage performances. “I had to fumble around trying to decipher other actors by their costumes,” she jokes. She now laughs at how easily she inserts the lenses and that her vision has not declined in nearly 3 years! With her new outlook, Julianna hopes to study Anthropology or Archaeology in Boston or Washington, DC next year.

After receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2008, Dr. Jacqueline Campisi decided to make a lifestyle change and pursue a course in natural healing. Although she loved her practice and patients, it was apparent that something had to give. Balancing her immune system through nutrition and education helped restore her health. Along with healing came a passion for teaching others. She returned to practice and opened Wellness Concierge with partners Jamie Lee and Greg Culver.

The center’s objective was to “make wellness visible” in their community. Dr. Campisi’s holistic philosophy is exemplified in the way she practices optometry. By focusing on prevention, she minimizes the need for stronger eyewear, reduces visual stress while increasing efficiency, and can “reverse” some prescriptions with Orthokeratology. Dr. Campisi recently joined Dr. Mary Beaulieu’s group practice, Professional Eye Care, located at 131 Boston Post Road, Waterford so that she could continue working with cases like these. She encourages colleagues to offer OrthoK in their practices because it makes such a difference in a child’s health, self esteem and performance.

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December 2010

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Unleash the Power of Your Imagination

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ne of the most amazing tools in our mental toolbox is our imagination. Imagination is the first step to manifesting the reality that you want to achieve. Today the power of imagination and its value is being recognized and illuminated in much of the culture. Visualization is used in Sports Psychology, Life Coaching and many healing modalities as the centerpiece of work with clients.

Just before the 1980 Olympics, Russian scientists conducted a study on creative visualization in sports. They compared four groups of Olympic athletes in terms of their training schedules: • Group 1 = 100% physical training; • Group 2 - 75% physical training with 25% mental training; • Group 3 - 50% physical training with 50% mental training; • Group 4 - 25% physical training with 75% mental training.

Group 4, with 75% of their time devoted to mental training, performed the best. The Soviets had discovered that mental images can act as a prelude to muscular impulses.

The Genesis The imagination - as well as other right brain activities such as dreaming, creativity, synthesis, and emotions - has in recent history been overlooked and undervalued in much of western

culture, overshadowed by the emphasis on more linear left brain activities such as reason and logic. This was the world view established years ago by Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am,” which ushered in the Age of Reason.

Our dependence on this world view created an educational system which valued reason over imagination, implicitly or explicitly treating imagination as unimportant instead of seeing both the functions of the left and right hemispheres of our brain integral to a whole and balanced person.

Now with such books as Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind, the right brain is being more and more recognized for not only the richness of meaning it brings to our lives, but the essential role it plays in our new world.

How to Strengthen As one grows older, unless the imagination is intentionally cultivated, it often withers on the vine. To strengthen the imagination consciously, in your mind’s eye: • Visualize images such as the ocean waves lapping on shore, the sun rising over the mountain, a goal fully realized.

• Remember auditory sounds such as an inspiring, favorite old song, a loving friend or family member’s voice.

• Physical and emotionally feel yourself doing various activities such as dancing, playing a sport, stroking a cat.

We are Energy We are all made up of energy, along with everything else in the universe. Our thoughts and feelings have their own vibration, which is less dense than matter. When we create anything, we always create it in thought form first. A thought or idea always precedes a manifestation. The idea is like a blueprint that creates the image, which then guides the physical energy to flow into that form and eventually manifests in physical reality.

As You Sow, So Shall You Reap As quantum physicists confirm, the future is a series of possibilities. Our future is determined by the level of vibration we are at and the vibrations we attract to us. We always attract into our lives whatever we think about the most, believe in most strongly, expect on the deepest levels, and/or imagine most vividly.

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When we are negative and fearful, insecure or anxious, we often attract the very experiences, situations, or people we are seeking to avoid. By focusing on positive, healthy thoughts - while processing and clearing the painful experiences of the past - we become a clearer vessel for what we want to flow.

From Imagination to Active Visualization Employing our fertile imaginations, we can help to co-create our future through visualizing that which we desire to manifest. The most important

piece of using visualization is relaxation.

When your body and mind are in deep relaxation, your brain wave patterns slow down and shift into a more receptive, Alpha state, which is much more likely to have effective change than the more active, Beta state responsible for thinking, planning, and trying to manipulate situations. Relaxation can be found using techniques such as deep breathing and consciously scanning your body to relax each set of muscles.

The second -- often overlooked – piece is to include your feelings about what you want to manifest. This is not simply a mental activity; when the heart is in-

volved, the vision comes to life and feels truer. Your unconscious doesn’t know the difference between what is real and what is imagined and will act as though it is real. This supports the possibility of the eventual creation in reality.

Imagine yourself in the situation you want to be in. Include as many details as you can: the physical setting, the feelings you are feeling, the other people in the situation. Enlist as many senses as you can — visual imagining, the smells, the sounds, the feeling of touch. Open to the possibility that this can come to be. Experience it as if it were already happening.

Repeat this process often, as frequently as twice a day. Then release it to the universe and say “This or something better.”

We can’t will things to happen or control the behavior of others. Sometimes there are larger reasons beyond our knowing why something can or cannot come to be. The purpose of visualization is to help us envision what we want for ourselves, to help us reveal, process, and dissolve our own self limitations and barriers to becoming all that we can be—a full potential self.

While many spiritual practices use visualization, it is not necessary to believe in any metaphysical or spiritual ideas in order to have results. It simply involves opening your heart and mind to the possibility of what can be and having the desire to enrich your life experience on this earth in a conscious way. The rest is up to the unknown.

By consciously using the tools we have been given, a whole new world of possibilities opens to us. Just imagine what life could be. . . It’s all available to you if you engage your imagination.

Diane Ingram, PCC is an Author, Professional Speaker and a Certified Life Coach who received her certification through Success Unlimited Network® and credentials from International Coaching Federation.

She publishes in the field of self-development and has recently published a book titled “Listen to Your Heart: A Guide to Living Life On Purpose.” A composer and lyricist of inspirational music, Diane integrates her music into her speaking presentations to inspire and motivate the audience. She resides in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband and two sons. She can be reached at her office in Pawling, NY at 845-855-5387 or online at www.dianeingram.com. Email dei@dianeingram.com.

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December 2010

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Effective Carpal Tunnel Treatment...Without Surgery

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arpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is characterized by numbness, tingling, weakness in grip, and pain in the hands, wrists, and/or fingers. Many people ignore them, but attending to these early warning signs can lead to a speedy recovery and prevent irreversible nerve damage.

CTS is considered to be a Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI), caused by repeatedly making the same movements with your hands or fingers. Repetitive motion is the most common cause of CTS, however many factors can contribute to pain, weakness, or lost sensation in the wrist and hand, such as compromised ergonomics, poor body mechanics, neck injuries, shoulder injuries, thoracic outlet syndrome, nerve entrapment elsewhere in the arm, other wrist injuries, pregnancy, diabetes, and obesity.

The medical solution is to cut and loosen the flexor retinaculum (covers the median nerve which is compressed and causes the numbness). This is a temporary solution. As soon as the person returns to normal activity (computer work), the improper biomechanics that caused the problem to begin with are still operative. Many people have multiple surgeries on the same wrist.

Who Gets Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Treatment With NeuroKinetic Therapy

One conservative estimate documents that CTS affects approximately 2-3% of the general population of the US – that’s between 600,000 and 900,000 people – where women outnumber men three to one. And many people with CTS are never able to return to their original jobs, usually because they waited too long to seek treatment, or have avoided treatment all together.

Because of the repetitive nature of typing, and the number of computer operators with CTS, it is sometimes called a computer related disease, but it is not a new problem. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, computerrelated injuries of all types have soared more than 8,000 percent from 23,800 cases in 1972 to 2 million in 1995, and half of all the workers afflicted by CTS lost 30 days or more from the workplace.

Besides computer operators; dentists, surgeons, musicians, and cashiers are also some of the occupations most at risk.

NeuroKinetic Therapy is a sophisticated bodywork modality that is used both as an assessment technique and a rehabilitative technique to treat low back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel, and other injuries. The NeuroKinetic Therapy protocol employs a system of precise muscle tests that has the ability to change the programming of the Motor Control Center (MCC) in the cerebellum. The MCC coordinates all movement patterns in the body. It learns through failure.

A good example is a baby learning to stand. Through many attempts and failures the baby finally achieves success. But how?

The MCC chooses the most successful attempts until standing happens without "thinking" about it. With each failure the MCC is “lit up” for new learning. The MCC organizes all body movement and patterns. It can also learn new successful routines (e.g. gymnastics), or in response to trauma it can create dysfunctional patterns. Conversely, after an injury, the MCC adapts to a compensation pattern and holds that in its memory forever unless it is convinced to change.

CTS is an excellent example. Computer professionals are simply over-using their finger flexors (muscles in the forearm and palm of the hand), which compress the median nerve. Almost always they have weak finger extensors, where the finger flexors are bracing for the extensors. Massage, stretching and general strengthening exercises, may have little or no effect. Using NeuroKinetic Therapy and assigning the proper rehab exercises can resolve this problem.

Why? The MCC has now stored in its memory the fact that the finger extensors are weak and vulnerable, and it chooses to keep the finger flexors tight. Many people make the mistake of do-

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is defined as compression of the median nerve at the wrist. “Carpal” refers to the wrist bones, and “Tunnel” refers to the small area at the base of the hand that nerves, muscles and tendons squeeze through. These nerves, muscles and tendons control hand, finger and wrist movement.

It’s a tight fit, and if there’s inflammation, the median nerve can be compressed.

When the median nerve is constricted, loss of feeling in the fingers and a loss of strength and coordination at the base of the thumb are usually experienced.

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Is Surgery a Cure?

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ing general strengthening exercises of the hand. This usually exacerbates the problem because the finger flexors will remain locked, working for the weak extensors.

Several other conditions may be the cause of CTS. Compression of the nerves in the neck, shoulder, and elbow can mimic CTS symptoms. For effective, long lasting treatment, it is essential to thoroughly check all of these areas, and ascertain their role in possible nerve impingement. NeuroKinetic Therapy can determine a muscle’s involvement, apply the appropriate treatment and can resolve the problem.

Prevention Is The Key Certain measures can be taken to minimize the risk of CTS. Proper work ergonomics are essential, which includes the chair you sit in and its support and height in relationship to the desk and computer monitor. Proper monitor viewing height as well as proper wrist support and alignment are also important. But perfect ergonomics is only one piece of a larger puzzle in prevention. It is also imperative to be pro-active before symptoms begin to arise. This includes taking frequent breaks

throughout the day and performing preventative stretches in the hands, wrist, and neck. Many people ignore the early signs of CTS. If you begin to experience any of these early signs of CTS, aforementioned in this article, soaking your hands in a slush bucket of ice water can be very helpful.

But many times, preventative measures alone are not enough to prevent CTS, or other repetitive stress injuries. If caught early and treated properly, CTS can be resolved easily and quickly. The longer one waits to seek appropriate treatment, the more difficult it is for quick or effective treatment. It can also cost you your job and the health of your hands. But don’t be alarmed. The good news is that there is an effective treatment in the prevention and treatment of CTS. David Priest, LMT and Nancy Sinchak, LMT are licensed massage therapists and co-owners of West Hartford Massage Clinic located at 45 South Main Street in West Hartford. For more information, call (860) 756-5560 or visit www.westhartfordmassage.com. See ad page 29.

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December 2010

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NutmegNuggets

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t’s that time of year again. What should be a time of happiness and joy often turns to weeks of rushing, coming and going, planning for gifts and parties - all on top of the normal everyday family and work schedules that many people keep. The added stress can be burdensome at best. For quick relief, consider aromatherapy. Below, are some scents that may be able to help with the stress: • Clary Sage: Is used for its relaxing benefits. It helps to relieve stress and bring emotional balance.

• Chamomile: Relaxes the mind and body, and reduces skin inflammations.

• Eucalyptus: Stimulates the mind helping to improve concentration. Also used as a nasal and lung decongestant.

• Lavender: Due to its relaxing and tension relieving benefits, it's used to relieve stress, anxiety and headaches.

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f you are installing holiday lights, consider purchasing more energy efficient Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). They have an average life span of 100,000 hours (vs. 1,500) and reduce energy consumption by up to 80-90%. Up to 25 strings can be connected end-to-end without overloading the typical household circuit. The sturdy epoxy lenses are nearly indestructible and their cool-burning personality makes combustion nearly impossible no matter how long they are left on.

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December 2010

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‘Tis the Season for Cranberries

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ating more cranberries this holiday season? Rich in Vitamins C & A, cranberries contain a substance that affects the acidity of the urine and acts as a bactericide. A daily glass of cranberry juice will help prevent and treat cystitis, and discourage kidney stones.

Fresh cranberries and cranberry juice are used in the treatment of prostate problems and urinary tract infections.

Crushed cranberries, boiled in distilled water and skinned, can be added to a cup of warm water to help overcome an asthma attack.

Be careful, though, cranberries contain large amounts of oxalic acid, and should not be eaten raw.

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December 2010

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Supplements 101

Michael Dworkin, P.D., M.S. Erika Dworkin, Dip. C.N. (Pend.)

What Condition Is Found In All Diseases?

Combatting Inflammation with Curcumin, Fatty Acids & A Healthy Diet

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re you in pain? Have you been diagnosed with a chronic condition or disease? Would you prefer to avoid the potential side effects of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) anti- inflammatory drugs?

Learning about inflammation and how to address it naturally can be one of the best ways for you to become proactive in your healing process.

What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is an acute or chronic response to damage caused to the body.

Many factors contribute to the complex course of inflammatory reactions and the pain associated with it results from the overworking of the body’s normal defense system. The release of the hormone-like prostaglandin PGE2 triggers inflammatory response. Certain cytokines, proteins secreted by immune cells that increase with aging, contribute to it, and the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX2) and lipooxygenase (5-LOX) sustain it.

Especially high levels of the inflamma-

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tory indicators C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, and other cytokines indicate significantly greater risks of contracting or dying from specific diseases. In fact, chronic inflammation is the key element common in all diseases, including cancer, heart disease (heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke), diabetes, osteo/rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer’s, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, dermatitis (psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer), bowel disorders, and obesity.

The Conventional Approach While a wide variety of prescription and OTC drugs address the symptoms caused by inflammation, none actually prevent it and they all have potential side effects, including: (1) Corticosteroids (Cortisone, Prednisone): can cause long-term pain (The Lancet, 10/22/10), glaucoma, cataracts, hypertension, weight gain, increased risk of infections, and high blood sugar; and (2) NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, Celebrex): kidney and liver failure, stomach ulcers,

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edema, prolonged bleeding, and serious cardiovascular risk (Celebrex).

Anti-inflammatory drugs may be indicated in certain cases. Ultimately, when deciding whether to use one, each patient should review his condition with his medical practitioner and weigh the risks against the benefits.

Key Alternative Approaches: If you prefer to avoid anti-inflammatory medications, curcumin, essential fatty acids, and an anti-inflammatory diet can help ease your pain and even protect you from age-related and other diseases. Keep in mind, however, that not all nutritional supplements are equal.

Quality and dosages impact results.

Curcumin Curcumin is a polyphenol in the spice turmeric, a member of the ginger family, which has been used in traditional Indian medicine for more than 3000 years. Studies have shown that this potent antioxidant combats inflammation, bacteria (including H. pylori), fungus/ yeast, and viruses. It targets a wide range of diseases, including arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer, including tumors, and breast and cervical cancers. With respect to curcumin and cancer data she reviewed, Razelle Kurzrock, M.D., professor at the well-respected University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, stated, “It was clear that this agent was just as potent at killing tumor cells in the lab as any experimental drug I’d seen from pharmaceutical companies.”

Studies indicate that curcumin safely combats inflammation principally by inhibiting the cytokine NF-kappaB, which acts like a switch to turn on the

genes that produce the body’s inflammatory responses. Gene expression of NF-kappaB increases in aging adults, thus causing numerous degenerative diseases and those related to compromised immunity. Curcumin also reduces inflammation by inhibiting other cytokines and COX-2 and 5-LOX activity.

Human clinical studies have shown that a patent-pending curcumin formulation (BCM-95) greatly enhances the bioavailability of this spice, which is generally difficult to absorb. This form not only delivers up to 7 times better absorption than ordinary 95% standardized curcumin, but also remains in the bloodstream for 8-12 hours, almost twice as long as conventional supplements. Those with sensitive digestive systems should note that high doses of curcumin can cause diarrhea and mild nausea.

Fish Oil (EPA/DHA) Fish oil (ideally enteric coated, molecularly distilled or pharmaceutical grade, and cholesterol-free) is a critical part of every child’s and adult’s nutritional supplement regimen. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition (2002) has reported that EPA and DHA, two of the key omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the oil of fatty fish (e.g., anchovies, sardines, salmon, herring, white albacore tuna, haddock, and mackerel), are “essential for normal growth and development and may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease, hypertension, arthritis, other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and cancer.”

(Vegetarian flax oil is an inferior source of EFAs since it contains only ALA, which must convert to EPA in the body.) More specifically, reliable and consistent scientific data supports the use of fish oil to address Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, elevated triglycerides, and excessive blood clotting. Some studies also support its use to treat Raynaud’s disease, psoriasis, eczema, and diabetes.

The imbalance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids causes inflammation, which is exacerbated by psychological stress. The correct doses of EPA and DHA help balance the omega-6 fatty acids that are found mainly in vegetable oils and are the predomi-

Dr. Richard Duenas Dr. Christina Bjorklund

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(860) 523-5833

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December 2010

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nant polyunsaturated fats in Western diets. Omega-3 fatty acids produce anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting, hormone-like prostaglandins (PGE1 and PGE3). In this writer’s clinical practice, 1,000 mg/day of EPA has proven to be the effective baseline therapeutic dose.

Most researchers have administered at least 3,000 mg/day of the total of EPA plus DHA in studying the impact of fish oil on humans with various health conditions.

Studies show that DHA is essential for infants’ proper brain function (especially if premature) and visual and nervous system development. The effects of DHA on the nervous system are also thought to extend beyond infancy. In one double-blind trial, young adults given 1.5–1.8 grams/day of DHA displayed less aggression in response to mental stress compared to the control group.

Evening Primrose oil/Borage oil Black Currant Seed Oil (GLA) GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that converts to the prostaglandin PGE1. For

Herbs & Gift Shop

this reason, some authorities maintain that this EFA, found in evening primrose, borage, and black currant seed oils, is a potent anti-inflammatory. Those with diabetes, eczema, PMS, scleroderma, and Sjogren’s syndrome have benefited from its use in preliminary research. There also is evidence that GLA may facilitate alcohol withdrawal in alcoholics.

The optimal intake of GLA is unknown, but researchers often use 270540 mg/day in studying its efficacy as a treatment for numerous chronic inflammatory conditions.

Conclusion

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Submitted by Michael Dworkin, P.D., M.S., a Registered Pharmacist and State Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CT Certification #00203), with J. Erika Dworkin, Dip.C.N./ Board Cert. Holistic Nutrition (pending).

Owner of the Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe (860.646.8178, 378 West Middle Turnpike, Manchester), Pharmacist Dworkin has been guiding patients since 1956 and is available for consultation by appointment. Erika is available to speak to groups. References are available upon request. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the natural remedies discussed herein are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

See ad on page 13.

While anti-inflammatory nutritional supplements are useful in the treatment of disease, a diet consisting of proinflammatory foods hinders their full impact. It is thus critical to wellness to maintain a healthy diet.

A “healthy diet” in this context: (1) excludes saturated, hydrogenated, or trans fats (beef, pork, lamb, or duck); (2) minimizes simple carbohydrates (foods with a high glycemic index that quickly convert to sugar in the body: sweets; pasta; bread; potatoes; rice); and (3) includes fish and as many raw foods as possible, such as low-sugar fruits (berries and apples), nuts and seeds (especially almonds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds), legumes (especially black and navy beans), and a large variety of dark green and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower).

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While anti-inflammatory supplements can be used safely in a preventive regimen, it is best to seek the advice of an expert in alternative medicine when attempting to change the course of disease. Since nutritional supplements can interact with prescription drugs, advise your doctor of your desire to incorporate alternative medicine into your health program and do your own research before mixing natural remedies with any medications prescribed.

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December 2010

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10 Ways to “Feed Your Soul” During the Holidays

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uring the season of holiday celebrations, it’s easy to get caught up in all the wonder to be seen around us.

It is a time for giving to others but also time to give to our inner selves. Remember to save time to honor your inner light during this time of celebration. Here are some special ways you can nurture and expand your connection to your spirit. As we approach the winter solstice, many faith communities celebrate the time with festivities and with light, also creating opportunity to go within.

1. Light a candle daily or often. Create your own ritual and meaning for this. Dedicate the moment to your inner light and the self-same light in everyone. Breathe in the light, close your eyes and bring it inside you and all around you.

2. Honor those who have gone before you. Your ancestors or loved ones. Open your heart and acknowledge the special place they hold in your life. Offer a toast to them at a family gathering. Create a special memorial moment that feels right for you.

3. Reflect on Peace. We speak and write this word so much at this time of year. What does it really mean to you? How can you create more of it in your own life? Put yourself in a state of mind or a place that will bring you peace. Create a mini-self –guided meditation: close your eyes and go in your mind to an actual place where you felt great peace (either indoors or outdoors). Explore the location and recall the feelings you had there. Relax there. Express gratitude for this before you bring

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yourself back. This will create an oasis of calm you can turn to when you need it, reminding you of peace.

4. Do something nurturing. Whatever it is that works for you personally, such as… A walk somewhere in the beauty of nature. An evening by the fire.

A candlelight bath. A yoga class. A massage to let go of tension. An inspirational evening event. A service of whatever religion you practice or are drawn to. A favorite self-help or relaxation CD that you love.

5. Take a cleansing bath or shower.

Decide to ritually and symbolically wash off all the old that you wish to let go of.

Cleanse and then renew. Invite spirit, love and inspiration back into your life by calling it forth.

6. Be mindful and stay in the present moment. If you are overwhelmed or distracted, come back to the NOW. Remind yourself of this as often as you need. Some people like wearing a special bracelet or wristband to remind them to be present whenever they look at it.

7. Help someone in need. Volunteer in a community project, write a letter to someone overseas, or donate food or clothing. Reach out and connect with someone you know who would appreciate it. A phone call, an invitation or a visit can make someone happy and will bring you happiness as well.

8. Bring special music into your life. During the holidays when you can choose what you listen to, select what uplifts, calms or inspires you. This could be separate from or include the holiday music. Let music raise your vibrations and bring the spirit of harmony into the moment.

9. Dedicate the day (or what you are engaged in) to something special. For example: I dedicate this (process, day, prayer, undertaking) to something like: happiness, world peace, joy, light, love, spirit, prosperity. It can bring a deeper meaning to your endeavor.

10. Tell the people in your life that you love them. Appreciation is always welcome. Tell them why you love them and what they mean to you!

Lila Taylor, LMFT, is an Integrative Holistic Psychotherapist with a private practice in Westport Ct. Caring for your psychological, emotional and soul needs, Lila facilitates breakthroughs and healing in your personal and spiritual growth. www.lilataylor.com.

See Resource Guide listing on page 38.

Dr. Helene Pulnik, ND, LAc Is a naturopathic physician with more than 25 years of experience as a healthcare professional

Naturopathic Medicine & Acupuncture

are effective in treating allergies, digestive disorders, infertility and diabetes to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more. If you are tired or frustrated by conventional physicians or are simply seeking an alternative method of healing and wellness, naturopathic medicine may change your life.

$10 Off Your Next Single Session Acupuncture Visit Offer expires December 31st, 2010 Limit one per person.

Dr. Helene A. Pulnik, ND, is a Board Certified, Licensed Naturopathic Physician and Licensed Acupuncturist.

She participates with Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Connecticare and is now accepting new patients.

www.naturopathicwellness.com

Glastonbury Naturopathic Center 18 School St., Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 657-4105 www.naturalnutmeg.com

December 2010

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Know your Herbs

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH(AHG)

Clove Bud

(Syzygium aromaticum seu Eugenia aromaticum, E. caryophyllata)

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love, a commonly known and easily recognized spice is the dried, unopened flower bud of an evergreen tree from the Myrtle (Myrtaceae) family that is native to Indonesia and grown throughout the Middle East. The tree must be at least five years old before it produces the bright pinkish-red flower buds, which are carefully hand-harvested and dried. When one considers the insubstantial weight of a flower bud, it is impressive to consider that a mature tree can produce up to forty pounds of flower buds in a single harvest! Talk about abundance!!

Like all aromatic herbs and spices, Clove has a long and rich history as an ally of humanity. Originally found on the “Spice Islands” of Indonesia, the indigenous people there once planted the tree to venerate the birth of their children. Each soul was then linked to the health and longevity of the Clove tree, in this way the tree was an honored member of their community. In the 1600’s, the Dutch seized control over the spice trade and began to burn down clove trees that were out of their sphere of direct command. Imagine the devastation of discovering that the sacred tree that was linked to your spirit or that of a loved one had been unceremoniously burned to the ground.

At that time in history, Cloves were worth their weight in gold; the high value

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placed on the spice was ample temptation for greedy traders to disregard all but their own monetary advantage. However, by the 1800s, the trees were so widely planted that the price came down and Cloves became commonly available. Today, the fact that we can easily obtain an abundance of

Photo by Lisl Huebner

Clove Bud is testament to the widespread wealth that many westerners enjoy on a regular basis.

The name is derived from the Latin “clavus” which means nail, of which the whole spice bears a striking similarity.

The intense flavor of Cloves is as distinct and precise as its namesake and is used in small amounts to enhance cuisines

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throughout the world. In Mexico, the sweet, hot flavor of “clavos de olor” is blended with cumin, cinnamon and other exotic spices in Abuela’s secret molé recipe. In Germany, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Cloves for the pfeffernuesse, and the Dutch speculaas and the Greek kourambiedes cookies wouldn’t have the same appeal either.

In France, it is traditional for some cooks to stud an onion with a clove or two and add it to a simmering stock.

Of course we can all relate to the holiday ham bedazzled with Cloves and where would pumpkin pie be without Clove’s distinctive pizzazz? Cloves are integral in Indian curries, Chinese five-spice blend, mulling and pickling spices and is a surprising ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. Cloves are best enjoyed in the autumn and winter; the energetic coziness of this toasty spice brings thermal heat to the core of our body, thereby cooling the surface and harmonizing with colder temperatures.

Medicinally, Cloves have a myriad of uses and have been incorporated in traditional medicines for thousands of years.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ding xiang is used as a carminative, especially for Cold-type digestion characterized by nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, with cold extremities and pallor. In the same way, its spiciness can transform a cold deep in the chest with an unproductive cough, so long as the mucous is white or clear and there is no fever or signs of heat. Sometimes it is used for morning sickness when combined with ginseng and patchouli; this combination concurrently warms the center, aromatically transforms damp-heavy congestion and nourishes the body.

Cloves are antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic. In West Africa they are called Ogun Jedi-jedi, and traditionally have worked quite effectively in the treatment of scabies, cholera, tuberculosis, and malaria. As a vermifuge, cloves having the added benefit of promoting peristalsis can be combined with walnut hulls, various Artemesias and other herbs during a casespecific parasite-purge regimen.

Current scientific studies indicate that cloves may help inhibit the herpes virus and shingles. Some practitioners are now incorporating the use of Clove in the treatment of diabetes, as early scientific data suggests that the herb may reduce blood sugar. Some cautions should be taken when working with Clove bud; because it thins the blood, it is contraindicated with blood thinning medications and prior to surgery. Due to its powerfully warming nature, it is not to be given to people with inflammation, or other signs of internal heat.

There is some concern about the potential poisonous properties of this pungent prescription, but its toxicity is very low, one would need to consume about a ½ lb of Clove in order to get a lethal dose.

As an aphrodisiac, Cloves can stimulate the fire of passion; putting a few drops in a small amount of carrier oil and then sharing the pleasure of massaging this romantic oil on your partner can enhance ardor and excitement. The mildly numbing oil can also be diluted a bit more and applied in small amounts to overly sensitive areas in order to dull amorous sensations and prolong intimate encounters. One old folk remedy for headaches calls for Cloves combined with milk and salt to be applied to the temples, so if your partner is willing, this spicy friend can even take care of “Not tonight, Honey.”

Clove’s numbing effect was once considered an invaluable asset in dentistry before Novocain was commonly used. Clove oil continues to be helpful for toothaches and gum abscess, and due to its efficacy is still very popular for treating dry socket. A rubifacient, Clove can help stimulate circulation of blood, not just to heal problems with the teeth and gums, but also as a helpful addition to liniments for traumatic injury, healing salves for sores, and muscle rubs for cramps, aches and spasms.

The spicy fragrance of Cloves is a de-

sirable commodity even beyond the scope of food and medicine. Cloves, blended with up to 80% tobacco, are smoked in cigarettes called “kretak” in Indonesia.

Clove cigarettes, increasingly popular in the west, were recently banned in the U.S., but a loophole currently allows them to be sold as “filtered clove cigars.” The smooth and warmly scented smoke is an even lovelier element in much of the incense burned for religious offerings throughout Asia. Other uses for the spice are even more diverse; Japanese katana swords are polished with mineral oil enhanced by a drop of clove oil. In oil paintings, a tiny bit is used to prevent oxidation of seed oils in the paint during drying.

Pomanders are a popular holiday craft these days but were once used to ward off insects and disease, or to mask unpleasant odors. This simple bit of folk art makes a festive decoration and a cheerful homemade gift.

Holiday Pomander You will need: Citrus Fruit (apples and pomegranates also work).

A thin skewer or knitting needle About a cup of Cloves (with head and “nail” intact) Powdered spice mixture (cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, etc) If you wish to hang your pomander, apply masking tape around the fruit where you will tie the ribbon later. Carefully pierce fruit with skewer in a pattern that pleases you, keeping each hole about 1/8-1/4 inch apart; the fruit will shrink as it dries and the holes will get smaller and closer together. Insert Clove buds into each hole, being careful not to crush the delicate crown. Gently roll each decorated fruit in the spice mixture to help preserve it, leave in a dry area and allow it

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to desiccate. Once it dries, you can tie it with ribbon. If mold forms, compost the pomander, and chalk it up to a learning experience!

Valuable and useful on so many levels, Clove bud naturally has a message not just for the body, but for the soul and the mind.

The shape of a Clove bud may remind us of our brainstem; its piquant aroma and fiery flavor seems to pierce our very consciousness, sharpening our collective memories.

As we breathe in its penetrating warmth, its heat spreads through our chest, infusing our heart with tenderness and compassion.

From this heart-centered perspective we may then C-LOVE as it exists all around us and allow this abundance and generosity to flow through us to our community. The wealth of Cloves available to us is without a doubt something to savor and appreciate as a symbol of great prosperity, health, endurance and of course, Love. ”HerbaLisl” Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.

CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG) is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal Aromatherapist, a Reiki Master an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a photographer, a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published writer who has enjoyed a successful private practice for fifteen years. Please call 860-480-0115 or 860-673-6863 email lislmeredith@hotmail. com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment or are interested in participating in classes or retreats.

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Healthy Family

Dr. Lauren Gouin, N.D.

How Drugs and Herbs Interact

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edications and supplements are a common part of many people’s lives. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately half the population is on at least one prescription medication. Another survey from the CDC reported an estimated 62% of Americans use some form of alternative medicine, including taking supplements, following specialized diets and consulting with natural medicine practitioners. With many people on prescription medications and/or self medicating with supplements and medical diets, an area of important concern in healthcare is the interactions of medications and supplements. Though an estimated hundred million Americans take herbal supplements, only eighteen percent mention these supplements to their doctors. There are many ways in which supplements and medications can interact with each other and being aware of the complexity and strength of these interactions can reduce risk of toxicity or of rendering a medication or supplement less effective.

Enhancement

Many medications require nutrients to be completely effective or otherwise are made stronger when supported with nutrients.

For example, some drugs used to support bone density require an adequate intake of calcium. The supplements and medications do not have the same specific action, but work together toward the same end. Adequate supplementation of supporting nutrients may enhance the function of some medications or herbs.

Depletion

Everything the body consumes requires nutrients to process it, to make it active as well as to aid in clearing it from the body.

These requirements for medications and botanicals, as well as specific nutrients are known by physicians and should be accounted for when considering the nutritional needs of each individual. Taking supplements or medications can create deficiencies which may cause side effects as well as potentially making other medicines less effective.

Agonists

Many medications were first discovered from plant and herb sources. Red yeast rice and white willow bark are two examples of natural substances that were used to create what are now pharmaceuticals such as statin drugs and aspirin. Because they work on the same pathways with the same actions, taking supplements or medications with the same mechanism of action can increase the response to a toxic level.

Antagonist

Some substances may work on the same receptors and pathways, but instead of supporting each other, they compete. This competition often renders one or both substances less effective.

Clearance

The liver, kidneys and colon are responsible for the removal of medications and supplements from the body. The liver utilizes two phases, appropriately named phases one and two, to package up substances to be removed from the body. These phases rely on a set of enzymes and biochemical pathways that can be dramatically affected by many substances. Certain medications and supplements, such as St. John’s Wort, speed up these pathways, increasing the clearance and decreasing the effectiveness of other medicines. Other herbs and even foods, such as grapefruit, slow down these pathways and keep some drugs and supplements in the body longer, posing a risk of toxicity. The kidney’s and colon’s abilities to clear substances also can be altered. The amount of time a supplement or medication stays in the body can vary substantially when other substances are taken along with it.

Absorption

Anything we consume must compete to assimilate and absorb into our bodies. Foods, supplements and medications alike need to pass through the digestive tract to have their effect on the body. Many times these can inhibit each other and therefore the dose ingested is not the dose absorbed. For example, soy as well as black tea can inhibit the absorption of iron. Understanding how to effectively take supplements and medications will ensure they are assimilated into the body properly.

Everyday researchers are finding new medications, natural substances and foods that can promote wellness, however, appreciating their interactions will allow them to work optimally and affect their goal, improving health.

Dr. Lauren Gouin is a board certified naturopathic physician with a family practice in Manchester, CT. She is currently accepting new patients and is in-network with most insurance companies.

To make an appointment, call (860)533-0179 or visit www.ctnaturalhealth.com. See ad on page 23.

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Healthy Cooking

By Margaret Sylvester

RUSTIC WINTER SOUP This is a stew-like soup - you can add more broth if you wish.

Add a crisp green salad and warm whole-grain rolls for a weekday meal.

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 large onions, thinly sliced 3 or more cloves garlic, thinly sliced 3 cups ¾-inch peeled and cubed butternut squash 1 ½ lbs. broccoli crowns, tough ends peeled, roughly chopped 8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, homemade or boxed 2 cups cooked cannellini beans, or 19 oz canned, rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon, if using dried Parmesan cheese and extra-virgin olive oil, for garnish

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nowing a bowl of homemade soup awaits me at home takes the edge off the winter chill. It’s true; soups made ahead and warmed over taste better after the flavors meld.

It’s a cinch to prepare soup after dinner while cleaning up the kitchen. Have all ingredients cleaned, chopped, and sliced before you start and both the dishes and soup will be done at the same time!

This simple, soothing soup blends broccoli and winter squash for an unexpected combination. The beans add that comfort feeling, making this soup substantial enough to be part of your coldweather menu.

Broccoli is high in vitamins C, K, and A, as well as dietary fiber. A half-cup provides 52 mg of vitamin C. Butternut squash is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, magnesium and potassium. It also is an excellent source of vitamin A. Cannellini beans are an excellent source of iron, magnesium and folate and are merely white kidney beans.

Using your favorite herb in place of, or in addition to, parsley, rosemary, marjoram or dill works nicely.

1. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and add onions; cook over medium-low heat until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Add squash and cook about 8 minutes.

Add broccoli and cook 3 minutes. Add broth and bring to a simmer; cook about 10 minutes.

2. Once flavors blend, add cannellini beans and parsley. Return to a simmer and remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Either serve now or refrigerate when cool. After rewarming, ladle into bowls and serve, garnished with parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

Serves 8 as a first course or 4 as a main course.

Margaret Sylvester has spent years traveling and experimenting with foods, flavors, and learning about living healthy. This experience has culminated in the hosting one-of-a-kind vacations that include freshly-prepared meals. Our small groups explore the stunning southwestern U.S., tour local sites and partake in yoga classes and massages. Each day starts and ends with my recipes that include seasonal, local and organic ingredients. For more information go to www.blissfultravelswithmargaret.com.

See ad on page 5.

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A Flexible Mind

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n "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!" Dr. Seuss wrote all about our "thinker-upper machine." He saw that our minds were marvelous, miraculous machines.

Amazingly, we can even think about the fact that we are capable of thought production. How's that for a mind bender?

In truth, we are capable of thinking of anything: the wintry weather, our nieces or nephews, last night's delectable dinner, our neighbor's lovely lawn. Our moment to moment experience depends upon where we choose to put our attention and how much importance we place on what we think.

We create with our minds. We have the ability to create pictures, stories, song lyrics, love letters, model airplanes, skyscrapers, arguments, weapons, and poems. There is no limit because our minds are flexible. Sometimes our minds flit from one thing to another like a bee from an aster to a chrysanthemum. Sometimes our minds land in the present moment and we stay there for a while. Sometimes our minds bring us into the past in the form of memories, or we might spend some time imagining our future. Sometimes we create bad feelings with our minds. At other times, we create good feelings. Sometimes we ponder a problem and become so analytical that we lose touch with ourselves.

Sometimes we forget a problem and a creative solution appears out of nowhere, long after we’ve tried to find it.

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We are fortunate to have the ability to do so many things with our minds, yet we often forget just how flexible a mind can be. We can change our minds if that is what we really want. As we drift into a "poor me" song we can decide: no, I don't want to go there, no use in that.

We can turn our mind on a dime and decide to think about the things for which we are grateful, and then we feel appreciative. Each dip and turn will bring us a different experience. Our minds are so flexible that we can even use them to let go of what we're thinking, just as an author at a typewriter crumples page after page of unacceptable drivel. We can use our minds to look for more pleasant experiences, too.

At times our mind will play tricks on us, throwing up the same old thought we just let go of, to see if we're paying attention, perhaps. And once again, we can laugh and say no, no, I'm in charge and I can decide what is not worth thinking about. The more we realize how flexible our mind is the more flexible it becomes. The more we change our minds, the easier it gets. Just like our body on a yoga mat. The more we do it, the more flexible our body becomes regardless of how inflexible it was initially.

We have all experienced forgetfulness. Whenever I pack for a trip I realize how easy it is to forget something. Each time I studied for a test, I realized how easy it was to forget what didn't interest

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me. In fact, that's how our minds work everyday. The things we’re bothered by seem to stick with us like flypaper; such as a nasty comment made by a boss, partner or child, negative gossip we hear, or perhaps something that turned out badly because we weren’t heard correctly. These are examples of thoughts that we may find very hard to let go. In these moments, our minds might as well be made of stone; there’s no flexibility there. However, when we can wake up to the fact that we’ve cemented an idea in our minds, we’re already closer to being free of it.

All of us are resilient; some more than others and some at certain times, but not other times. Have you noticed just such a difference in the people around you? Some seem to bounce back from the most difficult situations; others seem to take much longer. The variable is the degree to which a person takes his or her own thinking seriously.

For those who realize that thoughts are not made of solid mass (they are not even composed of smoke), thinking seems to flow more easily; thoughts come and go readily. If you practice meditation, you know what I mean. Thoughts drift. Seeing your thoughts come and go is like sitting at a river bank watching a leaf float down the river; first it is in view and then it is out of view, replaced by another leaf, twig, or branch. It is the same with our ability to create thought.

If we don’t like what we’re thinking, or the experience we are getting, we can switch gears, because the experience is coming from our own mind. We can wait for and allow another thought to come along and take the place of the previous thought. Isn’t it wonderful that we are wired this way?

Now, I don’t mean that you should put a thought under the rug, or simply try to will yourself to replace that thought with one more positive. What I am saying is that it is good for your heart and soul to decide whether something you’re thinking is causing you heartache. If you become aware that it is, then you

can change course and go in a different direction. All that is required is to look for a nicer feeling. To do so, you can say to yourself - I’d like to see this in a different light that will be good for me and those around me. Then let it go and see what comes to mind. Allow yourself to be open to a fresh, new, more productive line of thinking.

When you stretch your muscles, you gain flexibility which creates a healthier body less prone to injury or disease.

When you open up your mind, you gain resiliency and allow for a new way of seeing things, which flows forth naturally. You have the capacity to create a flow of thoughts that could be healthier and even helpful. Take a moment--think about it!

Lori Carpenos, LMFT and her associates offer talks, seminars and retreats for couples and individuals interested in learning more about the Principles behind the experience of life. www.3Principlestherapy.com. See ad on page 11.

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An Interview with Dr. Andrew Weil

by Karen Rider, MA

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I

ntegrative medicine is the nation's best hope for raising the quality and lowering the cost of health care,” Andrew Weil, M.D explained to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions at a hearing titled "Integrative Care: A Pathway to a Healthier Nation".

Dr. Weil is a world-renowned pioneer in the field of integrative medicine who has twice appeared on the cover of TIME magazine.

Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM) at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He is an internationally recognized expert for his views on healthy lifestyle, his philosophy of healthy aging, and his critique of the future of medicine and health care. For the past 30 years, Weil has devoted himself to developing, practicing, and teaching others about the principles of integrative medicine. Weil has an inexhaustible network that supports his mission to provide valuable information and insight on how to incorporate conventional and complementary medicine practices in one's life to optimize the body's natural healing power.

A prolific author, Dr. Weil is a columnist for Prevention magazine, offers health tips at drweilblog.com and is the editorial director of drweil.com, a leading web resource for healthy living based on the philosophy of integrative medicine.

Approximately 10 million copies of Dr. Weil's books—including five consecutive New York Times bestsellers—have sold, including Spontaneous Healing, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Eating Well for Optimum Health, The Healthy Kitchen, and Healthy Aging.

In our interview, Weil shares his definition of health, describes personal health responsibility and calls for change in medical education. He talks about the future of integrative medicine for a nation in the midst of a health crisis. His latest book, Why Our Health Matters: A Vision of Medicine That Can Transform Our Future (Hudson Street Press, 2009) illuminates how we have let healthcare in America become overpriced and ineffective - and what we can all do to fix it.

Karen: We hear that Integrative Medicine is the way of the future.

Is there agreement among holistic practitioners as to what this looks like? What’s your vision for IM America?

Dr. Weil: Our current system of healthcare in the United States is ineffective at promoting the health of its citizens, far too expensive, and unsustainable. The healthcare “debate” has focused primarily on insurance reform, but discussion on the content of optimal healthcare has yet to begin in earnest. Many experts have weighed in, but I believe that integrative medicine, with its emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion, is the only practical way to transform our healthcare system.

I define integrative medicine as healing oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind and spirit), including all aspects of diet and lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between patient and healthcare practitioner, and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.

My partners at AzCIM and I are working to ensure that doctors of the future will recognize their primary role to be supporting the optimal functioning of their patients’ innate healing systems, not the management of disease. They will do this by focusing on the individual nature of patients, appropriately using inexpensive and non-invasive means like diet and lifestyle changes first to both prevent and treat the root causes of disease, resorting to invasive and drug therapies to treat illness and suppress symptoms only when absolutely necessary.

Karen: Many integrative physicians are not able to accept insurance, as they can't adhere to seeing ‘x’ number of patients per hour. They tend to spend much more time with each patient. What can we, ‘the average, holistic minded citizens,’ do to educate our lawmakers and insurance companies that we need broader access to the services provided by all forms of integrative physicians?

Dr. Weil: In the future, the time necessary to support the healing relationship between patient and any licensed practitioner will be honored and reimbursed accordingly, but we will each be asked to accept greater responsibility for our own health. To get to that place more quickly, patients and practitioners need to work together and call for the opportunity to discuss with representatives of the insurance industry and our elected officials the looming healthcare crisis. Whether these discussions take place in community forums, think tanks, or seminars they will ultimately contribute to taking back our health. In "Why Our Health Matters", I list a number of actions each of us can take to promote the change we need in our healthcare system.

Karen: In many parts of the country, conventional physicians remain closed-minded towards natural health care. How do we change attitudes, such as these?

Dr. Weil: Physician perspectives towards healthcare are largely formed during medical school, internship and residency trainwww.naturalnutmeg.com

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ing, where disease is well defined but health is not. As a starting point, no future doctor should leave training without a working definition of health. I define health as a positive state of wholeness, balance and resilience that allows us to move through our environments without being injured by all the things out there with the potential to cause us harm. Practicing physicians should likewise be armed with this definition of health.

In addition, there needs to be greater emphasis placed on training in and personal time allotted for the personal health and wellbeing of people entering the healing arts. When a practitioner can easily define what good health means for themselves, and actively participates in dietary and lifestyle measures to help optimize their own health, they can more authentically offer appropriate recommendations to their patients. My partners at AzCIM and I have developed a model integrative medicine curriculum that meets these needs and that is now being used at medical centers across the nation.

Karen: There are many changes needed in our healthcare system that will take years to initiate and implement entirely. What do you feel will create the largest impact in the interim?

Dr. Weil: A shift in perceived responsibility of the individual and the role of the healthcare practitioner is mandatory. Each of us needs to understand that it is our own responsibility, and not that of our doctors or the healthcare system, to support our innate healing capacity. Our doctors can help facilitate the optimal functioning of our healing systems, first and foremost through the creation of a healing relationship with us, and then by recommending healthy diet and lifestyle measures and a blend of carefully considered conventional and alternative therapies to help us stay well. The ultimate responsibility for staying healthy, however, rests with us as individuals.

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Karen: Since you wrote "Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-being", what would you add to your chapter on Thoughts, Emotions, Attitude? What new research do you see happening in this area?

Dr. Weil: When I wrote "Healthy Aging," troubles were on the horizon but the Great Recession had yet to begin. Now our country is beset with rising unemployment, war continues, and recent natural disasters have shaken us to the core; but the central tenets of my second chapter on the mind still hold true.

Our habitual ways of thinking color how we see not only the world but ourselves as well. All too often our thinking is negative, which promotes a sense of being out of control, belief that we are unworthy or unlovable and rampant fear, anxiety and depression. Negative patterns of thought, however, can be changed for the better. Optimism can be learned; a positive framing of circumstances can defeat fear and encourage productive action. Some useful techniques for improving our thought processes include meditation, laughter, yoga and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I anticipate that during these challenging times researchers will further explore the benefits of mind / body therapies, and that health benefits beyond those already accepted will be identified.

Karen: Is there a place for intuition in the educational system?

What are some ways we can inform people about, and teach them how to tap this amazing resource within each of us?

Dr. Weil: Many people believe that intuition is a “gift” that you either have or don’t. I disagree. Intuition is an important aid in self-healing, as well as an invaluable part of the healer’s art (albeit one that conventional medicine doctors typically distrust in favor of elaborate and expensive testing), and it can

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be taught. Just as there is the potential for learned optimism one can learn to be more intuitive, to trust your “gut” instincts.

While intuition originates in the unconscious mind, many of the same techniques used to elicit optimism are applicable: meditation, breathing exercises and yoga can quiet the mind enough to both dispel negative thoughts and open us up to images from the unconscious.

Karen: With all that you do, I wonder how you keep up with yourself! What is your favorite self-care practice?

Dr. Weil: I am fortunate to be engaged in fulfilling and important works, and I take good care of myself so I can continue these efforts. There are many self-care practices that I enjoy, but my favorite is breath work. Simple breathing exercises help me to stay calm, upbeat, and energized. You can find sample breathing exercises on my web site (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ ART02039/the-art-and-science-of-breathing.html).

Karen: What’s next?

Dr. Weil: I will continue writing, advocating and teaching. I am developing more True Food restaurants. True Food Kitchen (TFK) features dishes that adhere to the principles of the anti-inflammatory diet. TFK brings together delicious flavors, healthy nutrients, environmental awareness and an inviting atmosphere to create an unforgettable dining experience.

Dr. Weil was interviewed by Karen M. Rider, M.A., a freelance writer who covers stories and subjects that educate, enlighten and entertain. She also writes fiction that explores human and spiritual potential. She may be reached at 860-638-8140 or at karenmrider@comcast.net.

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CommunityResources Acupuncture Stan Baker, L. Ac., Dipl. Ac.

35 Nod Road, Suite 106, Menla Holistic Health, Avon, CT. • (860) 836-1068 Stan Baker is a fully licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine practitioner with offices in Avon, CT and Springfield, MA. He has been a practitioner in the Oriental healing arts for 25 years. He specializes in difficult cases including back pain/sciatica, headache/migraine, allergies, and arthritis. He is also a teacher of advanced Chen Tai Chi, Aikido and Sun Do Mt. Yoga.

See ad on pg 31.

Glastonbury Naturopathic Center

Dr.Helene Pulnik, ND LAc. 18 School St., Glastonbury,Ct 6033 (860) 657- 4105, naturopathicwellness.com Dr. Pulnik is a licensed, board certified Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician with over 25 years experience as a healthcare professional. She specializes in acupuncture for infertility, womens' health, migraines, anxiety/ stress/insomnia, arthritis, back & neck pain, sciatica, allergies, chronic sinusitis, and more.

See our ad on page 35.

Allergy Treatment Advanced Allergy Relief CT Anne Mitchell, ND (203) 239-3400 • www.aarct.com North Haven & W. Hartford Eliminate your allergic reactions using a technologically advanced treatment that corrects the body’s response to the offending food, pollen, mold, perfume, pets, etc. No medications. Non-invasive. Childfriendly. See ad on page 21.

Chiropractic Phys.

Westside Chiropractic

557 Prospect Avenue, West Hartford,CT (860) 523-5833, westsidechiropractors.com Our mission is to provide chiropractic care, naturally based generalist, primary or specialty health care, for persons of all ages. We are committed to educating our patients about their health and wellness and providing them with tools for self improvement.

We seek to work in partnership with you to achieve good health and well being in a way consistent with your way of life. Visit our location in West Hartford See ad on page 31.

Colon Hydrotherapy Glastonbury Naturopathic Center

18 School St., Glastonbury, Ct. 06033 (860) 657- 4105, naturopathicwellness.com Constance Jones is New England’s senior Colon Hydrotherapist. During her 30 years of practice, she has performed nearly 50,000 colonics. Connie is certified through both the International Association of Colon Hydrotherapists (I-ACT) and The National Board for Colon Hydrotherapy. She creates a nurturing, serene, and safe environment, and maintains your utmost privacy and comfort. www. cleanmycolon.com. See our ad on page 35.

Peaceful Balance

780R Farmington Ave. Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 284-0107 Peacefulbalance.com Peaceful Balance is a quiet welcoming environment.

Whether you are looking for one service or a combination of services you are sure to emerge refreshed and feeling more alive. Melody Gibbs has been practicing colon hydrotherapy for 6 years. Her certifications are International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) and The National Board for Colon Hydrotherapy. See ad on page 22.

Creative Copywriting Karen M. Rider, M.A. Glastonbury Naturopathic Center

860-638-8140 Karenmrider@comcast.net.

Dr. Helene Pulnik, ND is a certified Advanced Allergy Therapeutics Practitioner. Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT) is a clinically proven treatment that is highly effective in relieving the many symptoms associated with allergies, food sensitivities, environmental sensitivies, IBS, headaches, skin problems and more. The AAT treatment does not rely on the use of medications, herbal remedies or supplements. The treatment is safe, painless and available to all ages including infants. See ad on page 35.

Does your promotional copy align who you are and what you do with the needs of potential clients? Professionally written copy makes all the difference in getting a response from your target audience. Karen Rider, crafts custom copy for print ads, websites, brochures, e-newsletters, press releases and book jackets. Ghostwriting and cowriting services available for articles, interviews and books. Her work appears in local, regional and national publications. View Portfolio at: http:// KarenMRider.writersresidence.com.

18 School St., Glastonbury, Ct. 06033 (860) 657- 4105, naturopathicwellness.com

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Dentist Dr. Steven Hinchey

2249 New London Turnpike South Glastonbury, CT. (860) 633-6518 www.dentistryfordiabetics.com/drhinchey See ad on page 15.

Dr. Kevin Norige, D.M.D.

112 Deming St., South Windsor, CT. (860) 644-0113 See ad on page 45.

The Canaan Gentle Dentle & Implant Center

Dr. Thomas Livingstone 3-5 Railroad St. North Canaan, CT (860) 824-0751 livingstonedentalexcellence.com See ad on page 41.

Hair Replacement Donyelle McBride, Trichologist

674 Prospect St, Hartford CT 06105, 3rd FL 860.985.2081 • www.mcbridehair.com Donyelle McBride is a licensed Cosmetologist, Trichologist, and Hair Replacement Specialist treating male and female hair loss. We use follicle stimulation and DHT blockers to promote hair growth along with a health and wellness approach using nature’s remedies such as vitamin supplements and herbs. Ask about our “Risk Free” 30 day trial for non-surgical hair replacement. Call for consultation! See ad on page 31.

Health Food Stores Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe The Manchester Parkade 378 West Middle Tpke, Manchester, CT M-SAT 8am-9pm • SUN 9am-6pm 860.646.8178

The Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe is an information- and service-oriented health food store that has served its community since 1956. We are a true oasis for learning and achieving optimal wellness. The owner, Michael Dworkin, P.D., M.S., a Registered Pharmacist and State Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CT Cert. #00203), is available for consultation by appointment. Our other staff nutrition consultants provide customers with in-store guidance in choosing vitamins, herbs, sports nutrition products, natural body care, natural and allergen-free foods, and life style changes. Many of our products are discounted every day. Ask us about our gym and other special discounts. See ad on page 13.

Holistic Health

Life Coaching

Natural Products

Monika Benoit BA Psy, CH, HHP, EFT-ADV

Lori Carpenos & Associates

Earth Turns

566 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 www.3PrinciplesTherapy.com • 860-561-1919

All Natural Health & Beauty Products www.EarthTurns.com. 1-800-507-3604

As a certified holistic health practitioner, Monika specializes in providing holistic solutions for women, children & families. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about her fully customized therapeutic programs, including stress-management for parents, specialized support for childbirth, relief from prenatal discomfort, post-partum healing, help with PMS and relief from menopausal discomfort. Schedule a free consultation on-line at www.healingwithmonika.com & download a free gift! See ad on page 18.

We provide retreats, seminars, and trainings for Executives, Leaders, Couples, and Individuals who are interested in moving beyond their current level of consciousness in work and life, with less stress, and more enjoyment. If you would like to enjoy more creativity, productivity, satisfaction and less stress in life, whether alone or with others, please call to discuss a program that will meet your needs. People who invest time and energy in learning how to use their minds, thoughts and consciousness in the healthiest manner have found the return on their efforts well worth their investment. See ad on page 11.

EarthTurns.com prides itself on exceptional customer service. All natural, chemical free health and beauty products at great prices. All of our products are made in America to assure quality. Ships SAME DAY, Monday-Saturday. See ad on page 11.

CT Wellness Connection LLC 82 Salem Turnpike, 2nd Floor, Norwich, CT 06360.

1-888-446-2338 • healingwithmonika@live.com www.healingwithmonika.com

Holistic Health Centers

Martial Arts

Copper Mountain Aikido

21 Copper Hill Road, Granby, CT 06035 (860)986-3617, cpprmtnaikido@gmail.com

Enlightened Way Wellness Center 2 Tunxis Road Suite 208, Tarrifville, CT 06081. 860.217.0340 www.enlightenedway.com wisdom@enlightenedway.com

Enlightened Way is a tranquil wellness center dedicated to inspiring transformation, providing knowledge, restoring balance, and creating joy and fulfillment in peoples’ lives. We’ve developed an array of programs and services designed to foster and support a life of vitality and balance for everyone. Our services include daily yoga classes, therapeutic and Ayurvedic massages, free group meditations, and Kids’ yoga. We also offer programs such as Children’s Relaxation, Perfect Health/Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Primordial Sound Meditation. See ad on back cover.

In-Home Health Care

New England Nightingales, LLC Assisted Living in the Home 406 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032 PH. 860.676.7786, Fax 860.676.7704 New England Nightingales, LLC was founded by Cynthia Ebanks, a registered nurse with more than twenty-five years experience in patient care. We make living at home the right choice for you and your loved ones by helping with the activities of daily living. From our coaching and mentoring services for family caregivers to hourly assistance or 24/7 care, we provide the services you need to manage the various stages of illness, trauma, or dementia. Whatever you need . . .whenever you need it. . we’ll be there. See ad on page 30.

Copper Mountain Aikido is a member of Birankai International (North America) under the direction of T. K. Chiba, Shihan. Birankai International is recognized by the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan.

Copper Mountain Aikido is a traditional Japanese “country-style” dojo offering Aikido, Aikido Weapons, Internal Aiki Training, Iaido (Japanese Sword Art), and Zazen (Zen Meditation). All instruction is conducted by the Certified Chief Instructor licensed under Birankai International (North America). All are welcome!

Massage Wholistic Spa

18 School Street, Glastonbury 06033.

(860) 657-4105, www.wholisticspa.com.

Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, LAc, Med. Director Wholistic Spa™ is a haven of total wellness. From the moment you step into our quiet space, we are focused on your complete wellness. Our treatments at Wholistic Spa™ use the purest natural and organic ingredients, with no toxic synthetic ingredients.

We offer organic facials, hand & foot treatments and signature massage services for women, men and couples, featuring EMINENCE Organic Skin Care from Hungary. Inner Health. Outer Beauty™.

See ad on page 5.

Natural Products Designs For Health

2 North Road, East Windsor, CT 06088 1-800-367-4325 • www.designsforhealth.com info@designsforhealth.com For 20 years, Designs for Health has been the health care professional's trusted source for research-backed nutritional products of superior quality. Driven by our "Science First" philosophy, our team of nutritionists and clinical experts utilize both clinical feedback from leading industry pioneers, and sound, scientifically researched literature as the basis for designing our products; all Designs for Health nutritional therapies are designed by health care professionals for health care professionals. See ad on page 3. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Naturopathic Phys.

Connecticut Natural Health Specialists Lauren Gouin, ND 135 Center St., Manchester, CT (860) 533-0179 • www.ctnaturalhhealth.com Dr. Lauren Gouin is a naturopathic physician with a family practice in Manchester and South Windsor. Dr. Gouin is accepting new patients and is in network with most insurance companies.

For more information, contact her at (860)644-2437 or visit www.ctnhs.com. See ad on page 23.

Glastonbury Naturopathic Center 18 School Street, Glastonbury Dr. Helene Pulnik. (860) 657-4105 www.naturopathicwellness.com

Glastonbury Naturopathic Ctr. is a multi-disciplinary healthcare center focusing on natural alternatives for individuals to achieve and maintain optimal health.

Dr. Helene Pulnik, ND, LAc. is a board-certified licensed Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncturist with over 25 years experience as a healthcare professional. Offering Naturopathic Medicine, Colon Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture, Cleansing & Detoxification Programs, Weight Management Programs. See ad on page 35.

Kensington Naturopathic Medical Ctr. Dr. Ann Aresco 355 New Britain Rd, Kensington, CT (860) 829-0707 drannaresco@comcast.net kensingtonnaturopathic.com

Centrally located in Connecticut, Kensington Naturopathic Medical Center provides comprehensive family healthcare. Our team of specialized health professionals is dedicated to facilitating our patients’ optimal health, and offers a wide range of services, including supplementation, homeopathy, acupuncture and Chinese herbs as well as nutrition, holistic health counseling and weight loss/life style changes.

See ad on page 23.

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CommunityResources Naturopathic Phys.

Physicians, M.D. Alternity Healthcare, LLC Desmond Ebanks, MD

William Nager, ND, DC

639 Park Rd, 2nd Floor, West Hartford, CT (860)748-4064 or (860)561-2294 Alternityhealthcare.com

William Nager is a 1985 Graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, in Portland Oregon. He also earned a second degree in chiropratic medicine from Western State Chiropractic College. For the past 25 years Dr. Nager has practiced family medicine using non-toxic therapies for digestive disorders, anxiety, and depression, fatigue, back pain, eczema, allergies, hypertension, high cholesterol and pain management as well as other conditions within the scope of a general family medicine practice.

See ad on page 45.

Dr. Desmond Ebanks, founder of Alternity Healthcare, is a board certified Internal Medicine specialist with more than 22 years of experience treating patients.

Dr. Ebanks uses a comprehensive evaluation and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to expose a patient’s total health picture and develop a customized program incorporating bioidentical hormone balancing, clinical nutrition and exercise counseling and lifestyle modifications. He is the first physician in CT to offer the HeartSmartIMTplus; a non-invasive diagnostic scan endorsed by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. See ad on page 2.

11 Mountain Ave., Ste. 201, Bloomfield, CT (860) 242-8277

West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine 301 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT (860) 232-9662 • www.DRAIETA.com

Dr. Frank Aieta, founder of West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine, is a board certified licensed Naturopathic Physician who specializes in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease utilizing the most advanced natural therapeutics. He offers a wide range of natural, non-toxic treatments which include: Acupuncture, Spinal Manipulation, Clinical Nutrition, Detoxification, Pain Management, Herbal Medicine and Natural Hormone Balancing. See ad on page 16.

Whole Health Associates, LLC

Dr. Jennifer J. Stagg, Dr. Mark S. Stagg 100 Simsbury Rd., Suite 209, Avon, CT. (860) 674-0111, www.wholehealthllc.com frontdesk@wholehealthllc.com Whole Health Associates, LLC is an integrative family practice offering naturopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy services.

Every person is addressed on an individualized level, tailoring treatment plans to meet the specific needs of each patient. Consideration of all aspects of the patient’s life is taken into account. Unique services include comprehensive food allergy and neurotransmitter testing, stomach acid analysis, body composition testing and gentle chiropractic techniques. See ad on page 36.

Organic / Gluten free Divine Treasures

404 Middle Tpk. West, Manchester, CT. (860) 643-2552

Center for Integrative Healthcare & Healing

533 Cottage Grove Rd, Bloomfield, CT (860) 243-2224 • www.cmgmds.com/cihh.html The first of its kind in the country, Connecticut Multispecialty Group (CMG) is a large multispecialty group with its own Integrative Medicine Department. The physician-directed model uniquely blends conventional medicine with complementary therapies. Over 70 physicians work collaboratively with licensed massage therapists, licensed acupuncturists, certified energy workers, and registered dieticians. The end result is comprehensive model of healthcare delivery that focuses on whole person wellness and optimal health. CMG also features an electronic health record that interconnects all providers and offers portable flash drives with personal health information to all its clients. See ad on page 8.

December 2010

Origins Of Health, LLC

Jill Moorcroft, DO, Tom Moorcroft, DO 844 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury, CT 860-430-9790 • www.OriginsOfHealth.com Origins Of Health is a holistic medical center that specializes in Osteopathic Manipulation,including Cranial Osteopathy, Integrative Medicine and Nutrition. Founders Drs. Tom and Jill Moorcroft integrate their personal passion and extensive training as Family Medicine Physicians while working with you to develop a personalized approach to health that stimulates the self-healing forces within. Our goal is to assist you in realizing optimum health while being free to enjoy life and all it has to offer. See ad on page 44.

Psychotherapist Dori L. Gatter, Psy.D., LPC

17 S Highland St., West Hartford, CT 06119 203.258.4113 Dori Gatter,Psy.D., LPC is trained in a broad palette of therapies, which include: Body Centered Psychotherapy, Reiki, and Mindfulness. She has co-written two books and runs training programs and workshops nationally on Bonding and Attachment. Also an Image Consultant, she started her image consulting business knowing that in addition to needing support for our inner process, we need support to integrate our image with our growth. She has created an entire program for developing the self from the inside out. For more information please check out her website at www.drdorigatter.com or contact her directly either by phone at 860.258.4113 or email dori@drdorigatter.com. See ad on pg. 45.

Health & Healing, LLC Deanna M. Cherrone, MD

12 West Main Street, Avon, CT. (860) 677-4600 • naturalhealthandhealing.net D r. D e a n n a C h e r r o n e , founder of Natural Health & Healing, is a board certified Internal Medicine physician who has changed the focus of her practice from traditional Internal Medicine to Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine is a science based approach to health care that involves looking at each patient as a whole being with interconnected systems that function best when they are all in balance.

See ad on page 55.

Specializing in artisan organic chocolate made with luxuriously healthful ingredients. Explore vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free selections along with Greater Hartford’s only dairy-free holiday ice cream cakes. See ad on page 16.

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Osteopathic Phys.

www.naturalnutmeg.com

Soul Support Counseling

Nancy M Brockett, PhD, LPC West Hartford, CT 860.223.2232 www.soul-support.org Feeling stressed, confused, anxious or depressed? Imagine yourself breaking free from worries and fear and then confidently doing what you haven't been able to before! We work together from the perspective of the whole self to get to the heart of what’s troubling you. Using painless, drug-free treatments, Dr Brockett helps you uncover and build on your own inner strengths so you can free yourself from negativity and live with more joy in your life.

See ad on page 32.

Schools Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies

Thermography, Breast X to Rays, LLC

LauraMignosa, NCCH Nationally certified Chinese Herbologist 900 Wells Road (RT. 175) Wethersfield, (860) 6665064, www.ctherbschool.com.

Suzanne Pyle, MS, CCT 35 Boston Street, Guilford, CT 06437 866 xtorays(986-7297) or 203 331-2878 www.xtorays.com

Founded in 1992, the CT Institute of Herbal Studies focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine and offers a Certified Herbology Program with a foundation in both theory and clinical diagnosis as practiced in China today. See ad on page 40.

Suzanne is a board certified clinical thermographer. She offers totally safe (no radiation), painless (no compression), 97% accurate FDA approved breast cancer screening. With a masters in Nutrition, Suzanne also advises on breast and body health. Scans for thyroid, lung, liver, gall bladder, pancreas and ovaries are also available. Call for locations throughout CT.

The Graduate Institute

Leslie Cahill, Director of Admissions, Recruitment (203) 874-4252 • www.learn.edu.

The Graduate Institute is an accredited institution of higher education that offers Master of Arts degrees in emerging fields of inquiry. Degree programs include: Experiential Health and Healing, Peace Studies, Oral Traditions, Holistic Thinking, and Conscious Evolution. Classes meet one weekend per month and programs are offered in Hartford, Bethany, New Milford, and Stamford, CT. For more information or to find an Information Session near you, call (203) 874-4252 or visit www.learn. edu. See ad on page 28.

Vibrational/Energy Healing Simply Fitness for the spirit, mind and body

Anew You Skincare & Wellness Center

Priscilla Bengtson, ATP® 122A Naubuc Avenue, Ste 210, Glastonbury, CT (860)632-8434 simplyfitnessonline.com

We are committed to strengthening your overall wellbeing and skin health through the use of excellent quality products and extraordinary services that produce amazing results. Only natural ingredients are used, including plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential oils! We want you to be "WOWED"! See ad on page 27.

Simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body offers programs and services that help spiritual beings get unstuck in their human experience. Owner Priscilla Bengtson is dedicated to helping people live a joyous and fulfilled life and offers classes and workshops that help people achieve this. Private sessions are offered for intuitive and angel readings, hypnosis, reiki, mandala healing, and health coaching. Psychic parties are also offered in your home or at the center. See ad on page 14.

Skincare Melissa Martin, 16A Ensign Drive, Avon.

(860)284-9730, www.anewyouskincare.net Melissa@anewyouskincare.net

Spas / Day Spas

Wholistic Spa

18 School St., Glastonbury, CT (860) 657-4105, www.wholisticspa.com.

Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, LAc, Med. Director Wholistic Spa™ is a haven of total wellness.

From the moment you step into our quiet space, we are focused on your complete wellness. Our treatments use the purest natural and organic ingredients, with no toxic synthetic ingredients. We offer organic facials, hand & foot treatments and signature massage services for women, men and couples, featuring EMINENCE Organic Skin Care from Hungary. We also offer an array of deeply therapeutic and purifying services to help you achieve optimal health from the inside out! Inner Health. Outer Beauty™. See ad on page 5.

L.O.V.E. Lightworker of Vibrational Energy LLC

Gayle Franceschetti Med,CHt. 36 Cheshire Rd., Wallingford,CT 203-265-2927 www.return2love.net Gayle Franceschetti is the founder of the L.O.V.E. Institute and is an acclaimed intuitive counselor and healer, Reiki Master, certified Hypnotherapist and past life regressionist. As an open channel for Divine Energy, Gayle integrates the power of universal love, compassion and understanding in all her workshops and healing sessions. Gayle conducts healing and mentoring sessions in person, by phone and hosts a variety of workshops and power journeys throughout the U.S. and around the world.

See ad on page 37. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Vibrational/Energy Healing Robin Clare

Inner Wisdom Guide 10 Crossroads Plaza, West Hartford, CT. 860-232-3331, info@clare-ity.com Clare-ity Brings Peace of Mind! We all want a more balanced and centered life. We want to know what is in our best interest regarding our relationships, our health or the focus of our work. Robin Clare teaches people from all walks of life how to find balance in their lives. With offerings that include The Clare-ity Method, Akashic Record Reading, Energy Healing and Pineal Gland Activation, Robin will help you to reach “clare-ity” in your life based on where you are currently in your life and where you aspire to be. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Robin at 860-232-3331 or Robin@clare-ity.com. See ad on page 35.

Weave Your Life LLC Audrey Bennett, LCSW, LADC 100 Queen Street Southington, CT 06489 Integrative Psychotherapy, Shamanic Arts, Flower Essences, Ceremonial Supplies, Special Events. http://audreybennett.vpweb.com. (860) 819-8570.

Yoga Centers Fuller Yoga Pilates and Massage 860-951-9642 info@fulleryoga.com www.fulleryoga.com

Hartford’s largest yoga/pilates/massage studio provides a serene and vibrant space to experience personal growth and awareness. We promote a non-competitive, friendly environment for every individual to journey physically and mentally towards their true self. Give yourself the gift of complete presence. We have classes for everyone at all levels. All modalities of massage available. Private yoga/pilates sessions are also available. See ad on page 11

Merriman Woods Yoga & Life Coaching, LLC Migdalia Merriman Burlington, CT 06013 (860) 675-3684

Offers on going Yoga & Wellness classes, workshops & retreats in Art, Chinese Medicine, Aruveda, Yoga, Meditation and Chakra Balancing with Migdalia Merriman and guest teachers. Visit merrimanwoodsyoga.com for a complete listing of offerings. See ad on page 38.

Sacred Rivers Yoga

Paula Scopino LMT, E-RYT 500 IAYT Owner / Director 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033 PH. 860.657.9545 • FAX. 860.657.3161 www.sacredriversyoga.com. See ad on page 6.

December 2010

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CommunityCalendar Wednesday, December 1st Open House at The Graduate Institute. 5pm.

Learn about unique Masters degree and certificate programs in emerging fields of inquiry. 171 Amity Road, Bethany, CT. Call (203) 874-4252 or visit www.learn.edu for more information.

Shamanic Journeying. 7:00 - 8:45 pm. $12.

Dr. Marian Vitali, DC facilitates (www.wholelifewellnessshaman.com). Call your spirit teachers, angels, power animals or helping guides to join your journeying experience.

These sessions help you access spiritual wisdom for your own transformational growth and health. This is for those with some journeying experience. Please bring a drum or rattle, eye cover, and notebook. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Call Marian at 860-918-8703 to register.

Thursday, December 2nd Sound healing with the Tibetan Singing Bowls, Gongs and Instruments. 7:30p.m.

This is a harmonic attunement, a sound healing for your physical, emotional and spiritual being. The healing sounds of a Tibetan bowl healing is a rich and unique experience that will alter your consciousness in a wonderful way. Jitters Cafe, 1273 Queen St., Southington, CT. 860.989.0033 (Cellular) http://www. shirleysList.com. $20.00 donation.

Cancer: What Every Patient Needs to Know.

Thursday, 7pm, free, no reservation . With EDIE MOGRIDGE, a 22 year survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Edie will share her journey and what she has learned along the way. At Thyme & Season Natural Market, 3040 Whitney Ave., Hamden. www.ThymeAndSeasonNaturalMarket.com 20% Supplement Coupon to all attendees.

Relaxation Therapy Class. Instructor: Sharon Giammatteo, PhD, PT, IMTC. 1:15pm1:45pm. No Cost. This class will walk the student through a series of techniques to aide in relaxation and letting go of stress. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please contact Matt ConnellGiammatteo at mattconnell@centerimt.com or by calling (860) 243-5220 x 128. CenterIMT, 800 Cottage Grove Road, Building 2.

Blomfield, CT 06002.

Friday, December 3rd The Graduate Institute hosts renowned author and healer Caroline Myss in a special evening presentation, 7 to 9 pm. Yale Uni50 December 2010

versity, SSS Room 114. Pre-paid registration required, call (203) 874-4252 or visit www. learn.edu/myss to register.

Crystal Bowls Sound Healing. 7 - 8:30 pm. $15. Edie Jemiola, RMT, facilitates. Everything in and about our bodies resonates to sound. Sound used with intention can shift the energy in and around the body to help reestablish physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Experience the purity and passion of Edie's voice and quartz crystal bowls. Bring a mat, pillow and blanket.

Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/ Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct. com. Register with Edie: (860) 933-8145 by December 1. Walk-ins as space allows.

Beginner’s Guide to Cultivating Qi (Life Force Energy). 6-8:30pm. Standing, walking and seated Qi Gong exercises are simple techniques for building and cultivating Qi (life force energy) which can produce profound benefits in our overall health and well being. Karate Spirit 1159 Main St (Rte 31) in Coventry – Presented by George Hoffman, Silver Dragon Tai Chi & Qi Gong. Fee: $35.

Call (860) 742-5892 by Dec 1 to register.

Saturday, December 4th.

Dickens of a Weekend. Join the shopkeepers of Somers, CT as they present a unique shopping experience. Shop the wide selection of holiday gifts and a participate in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win a Gift Certificate.

Bring a friend and enjoy light refreshments.

Sat and Sun. For information call Kassy at (860) 749-0839 or Judy at (860) 749-9281.

Yoga and Meditation Workshop. Presented

by Iris and Roy Maurer. 1:30pm-5:30pm.

This half-day workshop integrates Buddhist Vipassana Meditation into Hatha Yoga practice. Instruction is designed for those both new to meditation and yoga; students of all levels are welcome. The half-day format allows sufficient time to quiet the mind and body and encourage a deepening of the practice. $50.00 if registered by 11/24, After 11/24,$60. Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Suite 208, Tariffville (Simsbury) CT, 06081. Call (860) 217-0340 to register. www.enlightenedway.com.

TCM Tongue & Pulse Clinical Training (CEU Approrved by NCBTMB). 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Drew DiVittorio, Dipl. CH. $189.00.

Also Dec. 5th. Learn the fundamental theory of pulse-taking & tongue diagnosis. This hands-on training will teach how to use these two pillars of Chinese Medicine as a confirmation of your treatment strategy after a differential diagnosis has been made. It is part of our 1 Year Certification course in Chiwww.naturalnutmeg.com

nese Herbal Therapy. Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies900 Wells Road (RT 175) Wethersfield, CT 06109. 860-666-5064. www.CTherbschool.com.

BioFrequency; Using Medicinal Grade Essential Oils to Balance Your Chakras and Your Life. 9:00am – 12:00 pm. $55 (includes oil samples). This workshop is an experiential adventure, exploring the use of oils combined with yoga asana (postures). Working with certain oils on certain points of the body can bring pain relief, deep relaxation and a physical and an emotional sense of well being. Visit www.sacredriversyoga.com for more information. Pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545.

Sunday, December 5th Lunar Flow Yoga with Erika Halford. 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Pre-register/pre-pay for $20 or $25 at the door.. Celebrate the full moon with a candle-lit, restorative practice that includes gentle backbends and hip-opening, forward bends and twists, inversions and special lunar meditation and ritual offering. Visit www. sacredriversyoga.com for more information.

Space is limited so please pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545 Let’s Meet-Up on the Path to Oneness. 9:3011:30am. $20 suggested donation. Are you on a path to becoming an enlightened human being or do you desire to find your way?

Gather with other like-minded friends to share experiences and teachings from their journeys. Private office – 10 Crossroads Plaza, W. Hartford. To register call Enlightened Professionals at 860-232-3331 or www.epllc.org.

Monday, December 6th Meditating with the Masters. 6:30pm-8:30pm $20 Enhance your meditation practice by meditating in the vibration of the Archangels and Ascended Masters. These Divine beings will be guiding and supporting you on your quest in discovering you true authentic self.

36 Cheshire Road Wallingford. No previous experience necessary. To register or for more information please contact Gayle Franceschetti @203-265-2927, email sunnispirit@ sbcglobal.net, or visit www.return2love.net.

Simplify the Law of Attraction. 7:15-9:15 pm. $25. Cathy Ewing-Rinker, LCSW, MDiv facilitates. Many people are confused about the Law of Attraction and how to apply it effectively. This class will explain the LOA in simple terms and give participants clear tools for using the LOA and beginning to create more of what they want and less of what they

don't want in their lives. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Register by December 3: 860-871-9295 x1.

How To Tap Into Your Intuition. 7-9 pm. $25.

Gloria Amendola. Learn the basics of the Tarot deck and how to do a Celtic Cross Spread.

Learn how to clarify questions and pull cards accordingly. Learn to use a pendulum to scan 7 major chakras for answers. Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Register with Gloria at chalice4444@yahoo.com, or 203876-9936.

Wednesday, December 8th Janet Hulme – Back. Instructor: Marilyn Gross, PT, IMTC. 1:15pm-1:45pm, No Cost.

This one hour class is structured to provide individuals suffering from back pain with an easy set of functional exercises. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please contact Matt Connell-Giammatteo at mattconnell@centerimt.com or by calling (860) 243-5220 x 128. CenterIMT, 800 Cottage Grove Road, Building 2. Blomfield, CT 06002.

Healing in Harmony Night. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. FREE. This is a drop-in healing service.

Participants will sit individually with Priscilla Bengtson and receive a healing. Each healing will be approximately 8 – 10 minutes.

You will be served in the order in which you enter the center. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. For more information, please contact Priscilla at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Thursday, December 9th Astral Travel. 6:30pm-8:30pm $20 Learn to safely travel the mental and ethereal realms to free yourself from the limitations of the earth's plane and the laws of time and space.

36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. For more information please contact Gayle @203-2652927, email sunnispirit@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.return2love.net Vibrational Healing Meditation. 7-8:30 pm. $15. Lisa Burch, LCSW, RMT & Marna Walter, RN, RMT, facilitate. Relax with this blend of guided imagery and sound healing with the Tibetan singing bowls, drum and tingshas, releasing what no longer serves you.

Bring a mat, pillow and blanket if you wish to lie down. Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/ Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct. com. Register with Lisa: 860-871-9295 x2.

Walk-ins as space allows.

Friday, December 10th Stress Management with Chinese Qi Gong 6:00-7:30pm. Conquer your stress with relaxed breathing techniques, optimized body posture and focused intention that can help you rebalance your body's energy and release stagnant energy, stress and tension.

Breathe…more, 68 Hartford Turnpike (Rte 30) in Tolland, CT. Presented by George Hoffman, Silver Dragon Tai Chi & Qi Gong. Fee: $25. Call 860-875-9642 by Dec 8 to register.

Yoga Nidra. 7pm-8:30pm. w/ Leslie Gordon.

Yoga Nidra or "Yogic Sleep" is an ancient practice combining relaxation, breathing, visualization and affirmation to relax and integrate the body, mind and spirit profoundly. The session begins with a gentle asana (postures) practice and continues with deep relaxation. No experience is necessary.

Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Tariffville (Simsbury) CT, 06081. www. enlightenedway.com. Drop-in $16.00 or use your yoga card. Space is limited, so please call to register 860.217.0340 Private Appointments with Pat Caffrey, Master Channel. Also Dec. 11th. 9-5 PM. $125 for 1 hr / $85 for ½ hr. The Healers of Light (channeled through Pat) are able to clear blocks and assist with healing in many ways.

You can choose either a channeled reading or the Spectral Light Healing. Come discover the energy healing of the future being presented to us today. Private Office – 10 Crossroads Plaza, W. Hartford. To book an appointment, please call Enlightened Professionals at 860-232-3331 or www.epllc.org.

Saturday, December 11th Spirited Holiday Re-Connections. 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM. $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Spend an evening with your friends at Enlightened Professionals as we usher in the Holiday Season with a festive dessert buffet and two special performances by Pat Caffrey and Patti Sinclair. WHSC – 15 Starkel Road, W. Hartford. To register call Enlightened Professionals at 860-232-3331 or www.epllc.org.

Yoga Therapy Training with Tom Moorcroft, DO. 9am – 12:30 pm. $55. Topic: An Osteopathic perspective on Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Lyme Disease. Open to Health Care Professionals (OT’s, PT’s, RYT’s, LMT’s, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, etc.). Visit www.sacredriversyoga.com for more information. Pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545.

Yoga of the Heart™. 1:30 – 5:00pm $45.

A Dr. Dean Ornish Cardiac Yoga Program www.naturalnutmeg.com

for reversing Heart Disease. Taught by Paula Scopino, LMT, E-RYT, IAYT. This is part of an ongoing Holistic Yoga Therapy Training.

Workshop is open to all Registered Yoga Teachers and Licensed Health Care Practitioners. Visit www.sacredriversyoga.com for more information. Pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545 Giving Purely and Receiving Happily. 10am12pm. $15 or free for Practitioner or Kadampa Friends. We all want to experience a happy, peaceful holiday, but we often end up tired and disillusioned. Learn to experience the wealth of giving purely and let this season be one that is full of joy for us and our family. The Cafe will open at 9:30am, refreshments will be available. Odiyana Meditation Center, 297 Oakland Rd., South Windsor. www.meditationinconnecticut.org. email info@odiyana.org for more info or call 860-798-3207.

Usui Reiki One Certification. 12noon – 6 pm. $ 120. (special price) Lauren Mas, RMT, teaches. You will be introduced to the history, theory and practice of Reiki and receive your attunement as a Level I Practitioner, allowing you to give healing to yourself and others.

Includes materials for follow-up practice. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com.

Contact Lauren to register, www.morningsunreiki.com, at 860-202-9981 by Monday, December 6.

Laughter Yoga. 10-11am. Free will donation.

Mylene Poitras, certified Laughter Yoga Instructor facilitates. Release stress and feel " la Joie de vivre." Laughter produces endorphins which counteract the production of stress hormones, appears to optimize the immune system, boosts self-confidence, relaxes muscles, and helps fight chronic pain associated with muscle tensions. This playshop includes deep breathing, stretching, laughtercises and relaxation. Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney St., Rt. 286, Ellington. www.spiritmattersct.com. Register with Mylene: 860-538-4724 by December 8.

Sunday, December 12th Healthy Holiday Treats Demo And Vegan Potluck. 4:30pm. Mary specializes in vegan nutrition and is the owner of Well on Wheels, Connecticut's premier personal chef service which provides organic gluten-free vegan whole foods meals prepared in clients’ homes. Bring a healthy vegan dish to share along with your recipe and place setting. A donation of $9 per adult is requested. Children are free. The Carniglia Senior Center, 41 Oak Street, Windsor Locks, CT. For more information, see www.northctveg.org or (860) 623-8082, email at veggyharry@aol.com.

December 2010 51

CommunityCalendar

Thursday, December 16th.

Sunday, December 12th

YogaKids. 4:30pm-5:30pm. Girls/Boys Ages 6-12 years. Yoga for children teaches techniques of self-awareness, relaxation and inner and outer strength. The poses and activities are fun and allow kids to explore their own sense of power, balance, focus and peace.

YogaKids is adjusted to accommodate the age of the children. Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Tariffville (Simsbury) CT, 06081. (860) 217-0340. Drop-in $14.00 or 3-class youth card for $36.00 (3rd Thursday of each month). www.enlightenedway.com.

Usui Reiki Level I. 10am - 4pm. Facilitated

by Carleen Wells, RMT. The Conduit Center, 1227 Burnside Ave, Suite #1, East Hartford, CT. Special Holiday Price: $125 - give the gift of Reiki to yourself or a loved one. Call Carleen to register or for more information at 860.884.3125. Deposit required.

Monday, December 13th Usui Reiki One Certification. 11 am – 5 pm. $ 120. (special price) Lauren Mas, RMT, teaches. You will be introduced to the history, theory and practice of Reiki and receive your attunement as a Level I Practitioner, allowing you to give healing to yourself and others. Includes materials for follow-up practice. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Contact Lauren to register, www. morningsunreiki.com, at 860-202-9981 by Wednesday, December 8.

Tuesday, December 14th Restorative Yoga Workshop. 7 – 8:30 pm.

Pre-register/pre-pay for $20 or $25 at the door. With Tammy Villamizar. This class offers the time to settle into yoga poses using props (blankets, blocks, and straps) to move into a more relaxed state, calming the nervous system. Open to all levels. Visit www.sacredriversyoga.com for more information. Space is limited so please pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545 .

Group Past Life Regression. 6:30pm-8:30pm $20. Through exploration of your past lives, you can learn some of the reasons you are repeating patterns, why you were born into your particular family or why you have certain behaviors. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford.

No previous experience necessary. To register or for more information or to register please contact Gayle Franceschetti @203265-2927, email sunnispirit@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.return2love.net.

Wednesday, December 15th Meet your Angels and Spirit Guides. 6:30 pm. – 8:30 pm. $45.00. During this workshop you will learn about your inner band of spiritual guides and angels. Through meditation, we will meet them and receive guidance. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. For more information, please contact Priscilla at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

52 December 2010

Qi Gong Intensive I, Part 3 - Qi Gong for Organ Cleansing and Clearing Toxins.

6-8:30pm. This workshop uses the 12 primary channels and Five Element Theory to aid in understanding how movement, breath, healing sounds and intention can be used to tonify and detoxify our body’s organs. The Lodge at Patriot’s Park, 174 Lake St Coventry, CT. Presented by George Hoffman, Silver Dragon Tai Chi & Qi Gong. Fee: $45. Call Coventry Park & Recreation at 860-742-4068

by December 15 to register.

Sunday, December 19th

Core Stabilization & Strengthening Class.

Carol Gordon, PT, IMTC. 1:15pm-2:00pm.

This free class offers the student basic core stabilization and strengthening techniques that can be performed easily at home or hotel room. Perfect for the busy individual with little time to hit the gym. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please contact Matt Connell-Giammatteo at mattconnell@centerimt.com or by calling (860) 243-5220 x 128. CenterIMT, 800 Cottage Grove Road, Building 2. Blomfield, CT 06002.

Embracing and Integrating the Winter Solstice and Full Moon Eclipse. 4– 6:00pm. $20.00. In preparation for the Winter Solstice and a Full Moon Eclipse, we will celebrate the season by coming together in a community circle. Please bring your drum, rattle or voice! Facilitated by Agneta Borstein, graduate with Advanced Initiations in Shamanism and Shamanic Healing, Professional Astrologer. WHSC – 15 Starkel Road, W. Hartford.

To register call Enlightened Professionals at 860-232-3331 or www.epllc.org.

Friday, December 17th

Tuesday, December 21st

Transformational Bliss w/ Singing Bowls & Gongs. 7:30pm-8:30pm. w/ Heidi Laura.

Sink into your blankets and pillows while drifting off to the peaceful sounds of Himalayan singing bowls and gongs. This lie down concert will gift you with much needed rejuvenation and deep meditation. Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Tariffville (Simsbury) CT, 06081. www.enlightenedway.com. Drop-in $16.00 or use your yoga card. Space is limited, so please call to register 860.217.0340

Winter Solstice Celebration-FULL MOON YOGA. 6pm-7:30pm, w/ Leslie Gordon.

Journey inward during this full moon practice as we welcome winter together with asana, breathing and meditation to quiet the mind, soothe the body and enliven the spirit.

Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Tariffville (Simsbury) CT, 06081. www. enlightenedway.com. Drop-in $16.00 or use your yoga card. Space is limited, pre-registration required. 860.217.0340.

Tea Tasting... with Pies and Cider too! Doors open at 7:00. $20. Taste and learn about gourmet teas from The Green Teahouse of West Hartford. Listen to live acoustic music.

Browse our meditation bookstore and giftshop. Odiyana Meditation Center, 297 Oakland Road, South Windsor. www.meditationinconnecticut.org. email info@odiyana.org for more info or call 860-798-3207.

Gallery Night. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $45.00.

Enjoy an intimate evening of learning about angels and guides and experiencing intuitive readings with medium and certified Angel Therapy Practitioner®, Priscilla Bengtson.

Everyone in attendance will receive a message. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. To register, please call Priscilla at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Wednesday, December 22nd Healing in Harmony Night. 5–7pm. FREE. This is a drop-in healing service. Participants will sit individually with Priscilla Bengtson and receive a healing. Each healing will be approximately 8 – 10 minutes. You will be served in the order in which you enter the center. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. For more information, please contact Priscilla at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Ongoing Events sunday Women's Temple In Her Name. 10:30-11:45, Collinsville, CT. Suggested Donation $5-10.

(860) 693-9540. www.womenstemple.net.

monday Intro to Yoga. 6:15pm-7:30pm, Learn Basic Yoga Postures, Breathing Exercises and Stress Reduction techniques for a healthy lifestyle. $10-$15 Fuller Yoga Pilates and Massage, 1477 Park St., Hartford, www.fulleryoga.com, 860951-9642 Intro to Fuller Yoga (FREE First Monday of the Month). 7:30pm-8:45pm, Learn the principles of breath and movement that will open your joints to deep flexibility and range of movement. $10-$15 Fuller Yoga Pilates and Massage, 1477 Park St., Hartford, www.fulleryoga. com, 860-951-9642 Fitness Bootcamp for Men and Women.

515am-615am and 530pm-630pm. Taught by Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, RD. Located in Manchester, CT. Get a great full-body workout using effective, safe exercises and equipment including kettlebells, medicine balls, and battle ropes.

Visit www.cassandraforsythe.com for more information. First class is FREE.

tuesday Tai Chi for health. Glastonbury. 12pm - 1:00.

Information call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese holistic exercise system with its roots in the martial arts. It consists of slow, relaxed movements for the improvement of body and mind. It's unique qualities make it beneficial for all. The Tai Chi for Health program was designed by Health care professionals and Tai Chi experts to improve the health of those with Arthritis and Osteoporosis. The exercises can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual; most can even be done while sitting down.

1 month $80/twice a week or $45/once a week.

Tai Chi for health. Wethersfield. 3:30pm - 4:30.

Information call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664.

See description on previous listing. 1 month $80/twice a week or $45/once a week.

Tai Chi for health. Windsor. 7:30 pm - 8:30.

Information call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664. 1 month $80/twice a week or $45/once a week.

See description on previous listing.

Yoga for Tight People. 7:30pm-8:45pm Yoga for tight people is for the absolute beginner and super stiff. No need to feel out of place in this basic class. Simple postures will be taught to gain flexibility and relieve stress and pain in the body. $10-$15 Fuller Yoga Pilates and Massage, 1477 Park St., Hartford, www.fulleryoga.com, 860-951-9642.

tuesday FREE Group Meditations! Enlightened Way Wellness Center is offering free on-going meditation sessions every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30am and 5:30pm. Each session is 30 minutes and it is great if you are new to meditation or just want a tranquil place to practice. Visit www.enlightenedway.com for more information or call (860) 217-0340. Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Suite 208, Tariffville (Simsbury), CT 06081 (junction of RTE 315 and RTE 189.

wednesday Fitness Bootcamp for Men and Women.

515am-615am and 530pm-630pm. Taught by Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, RD. Located in Manchester, CT. Get a great full-body workout using effective, safe exercises and equipment including kettlebells, medicine balls, and battle ropes.

Visit www.cassandraforsythe.com for more information. First class is FREE. Yoga For Abs. 7am-8am. Strengthen your core with an hour of abdominal work and strong yoga postures to start your day. $10-$15 Fuller Yoga Pilates and Massage, 1477 Park St., Hartford, www.fulleryoga.com, 860-951-9642 Yin Yoga. 7:30pm-8:45pm Release long held tensions with passive yoga postures held for 3-5 min. $10-$15 Fuller Yoga Pilates and Massage, 1477 Park St., Hartford, www.fulleryoga.com, 860-951-9642 Stress relief! Free sessions of Reflexology, TT, CST, Reiki, Guided Imagery, and more during EPIPHANY. Ist Wednesday of the month except January and July. 6-8:30pm. 225 Commerce Drive in Canton. Also in Southington from 1-3pm at 232 Bristol Street. 2/3, 3/3, 4/7. Children welcome. Sessions may enhance learning skills.

thursday Tai Chi for health. Windsor. 7:30 pm - 8:30.

Information call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-5457664. 1 month $80/twice a week or $45/once a week. See description on previous listing.

Qi Gong/Tai Chi. 9:30 a.m. 9/30-11/18 (excluding 10/7)... Learn the asian secrets and tools you can use the rest of your life for your well being. Well being is your birthright! One hour class. First class free to try. First Church of Christ, Congregational 81 High Street SuffieldSuffield, CT area. 860-844-8535.

Qi Gong/Tai Chi. 9:30 a.m. December 2nd to January 13th. Learn the asian secrets and tools you can use the rest of your life for your well being. Well being is your birthright! One hour class. First class free to try. $42.00 for the session. Walk ins $10.00 First Church of Christ, Congregational 81 High Street, Suffield, CT. 860-844-8535. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Tai Chi for health. Wethersfield. 3:30pm - 4:30.

Information call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664.

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese holistic exercise system with its roots in the martial arts. It consists of slow, relaxed movements for the improvement of body and mind. It's unique qualities make it beneficial for all. The Tai Chi for Health program was designed by Health care professionals and Tai Chi experts to improve the health of those with Arthritis and Osteoporosis.

The exercises can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual; most can even be done while sitting down.1 month $80/twice a week or $45/ once a week. week or $45/once a week FREE Group Meditations! Enlightened Way Wellness Center is offering free on-going meditation sessions every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30am and 5:30pm. Each session is 30 minutes and it is great if you are new to meditation or just want a tranquil place to practice. Visit www.enlightenedway.com for more information or call (860) 217-0340. Enlightened Way Wellness Center, 2 Tunxis Road, Suite 208, Tariffville (Simsbury), CT 06081 (junction of RTE 315 and RTE 189.

Fitness Bootcamp for Men and Women. 615pm715pm. Taught by Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, RD. Located in Manchester, CT. Get a great fullbody workout using effective, safe exercises and equipment including kettlebells, medicine balls, and battle ropes. Visit www.cassandraforsythe. com for more information. First class is FREE.

Friday Tai Chi for health. Glastonbury. 12pm - 1:00.

Information call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese holistic exercise system with its roots in the martial arts. It consists of slow, relaxed movements for the improvement of body and mind. It's unique qualities make it beneficial for all. The Tai Chi for Health program was designed by Health care professionals and Tai Chi experts to improve the health of those with Arthritis and Osteoporosis. The exercises can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual; most can even be done while sitting down.

1 month $80/twice a week or $45/once a week.

Fitness Bootcamp for Men and Women. 515am615am. Taught by Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, RD. Located in Manchester, CT. Get a great fullbody workout using effective, safe exercises and equipment including kettlebells, medicine balls, and battle ropes. Visit www.cassandraforsythe. com for more information. First class is FREE.

saturday Fitness Bootcamp for Men and Women. 9am10am, 1010am-1110am. Taught by Cassandra Forsythe, PhD, RD. Located in Manchester, CT. Get a great full-body workout using effective, safe exercises and equipment including kettlebells, medicine balls, and battle ropes. Visit www.cassandraforsythe.com for more information. First class is FREE. December 2010

53

Natural Planet

by Deb Percival

A monthly compendium of tips, thoughts, and updates about our shared home.

A Letter from Mother Earth: Living One Green Year

H

ello my dears, It’s hard, as a mother, to reach the right balance of warm fuzzies and tough love. I’ve spoiled you with beauty, diversity and abundance. We’ve had such fun! Giraffes, meercats, fireflies, dolphins, venus flytraps, kangaroos, walking sticks, hummingbirds, sunsets, snowflakes, rainbows, ocean waves, and mysteries too numerous to mention. But perhaps I was too liberal. Did you really think it was limitless? You didn’t get that idea from me. That must be from your father’s side.

I shudder warnings, I weep rain, I spew fire. Too subtle?

Let’s work together to make 2011 a turning point! Is 1/1/11 not the PERFECT day to start?! If we start with the hard stuff, by the end of the year we can coast. Or, if you prefer to build up to the hard stuff, start with December and work backwards. It’s all good. We can do this!

January – Population Overpopulation is the elephant in the room. Most environmental problems are due to overpopulation and yet the population continues to mushroom. In the 1970s people calmly discussed the virtue of having two or fewer children. For some reason, even though the world’s population has nearly doubled since then, it’s less talked about. Why not start the conversation again. Consider that we may sadly be at the point where we need to decide if we love our children or our grandchildren more.

February – Reduce The things you come up with! So many resources are required to create all this STUFF, and then package it, and then maintain it! Perhaps 2011 could be a year of buying only what you need, and only using as much as you need. This would be a great month to revisit the idea of “The Compact” and buy nothing new for a year. (Some of you are so dedicated. Kiss kiss.)

March – Food I’m your mother and I’ve said repeatedly, EAT YOUR VEGGIES! You’ve listened!

We’ve made bushels of progress. Keep going! Study health, as well as industrial farming and fishing. I love it when you pause before a meal to give thanks. I re54 December 2010

joice when you buy from local sources and support organic methods. You can feel good about your choices three times a day.

April - Water Flush flush. Wash wash. Slather slather.

Can I tell you how happy I am about duel flushing and low-flowing gadgets? Drip irrigation, rain barrels, xeriscapes – excellent!

Water is a finite resource and conserving is smart. Your move to natural detergents, lotions and cosmetics helps keep water clean, since your lotions and potions wash off or through you and into the environment. I know you don’t want aquatic life to pay for your smooth elbows, rosy cheeks and close shaves. Say no to parabens, phthalates, artificial colors, artificial fragrances, and petrochemicals!

May – Manicured Lawns Overrated, grass is. So many more magnificent things can live in a more diversified environment. Plant a vegetable garden, intermingled with flowers and herbs. Use organic methods so you don’t harm the songbirds and butterflies you attract! Get a birdhouse and birdbath, and leave an undisturbed pile of sticks and leaves somewhere. You’ll soon have yourself a little Garden of Eden. Oh my delightful children, don’t TELL me about peer pressure and the neighbors’ lawns. If the neighbors jumped off a bridge…

June – Volunteer The future of this planet is in your hands.

Learn what you can and share what you learn! Every bit helps. And what a wonderful month to go on a green-volunteer vacation. Thedailygreen.com is just one place that makes finding an adventure easy.

July – Conserve Energy I see so many elders – even the wealthiest of them – wearing hats indoors in the winter, using air conditioning on only the hottest days of the summer, and turning lights off when they leave a room. I know some of that’s because they lived through a depression far worse than the current downturn.

Don’t tempt me!

August – Transportation I applaud your attempts to drive less! More www.naturalnutmeg.com

of that, please. Here’s an organization you can join to make it increasingly easy for you to walk, ride, or use mass transit - join forces with completestreets.org.

September - Get involved Write to your congress people and tell them what you want them to do. Support restaurant owners who use local and sustainable food. Support businesses that act in responsible ways. Thank those who do a good job, and suggest improvements to those who are still learning. When you don’t have time to write/email/comment, vote with your feet.

October – Air The best way to reduce air pollution is to use less energy across the board. Also, use safer products (without chemicals and artificial colors and fragrances) and plant more trees! Love them.

At home: Take your shoes off at the door, put a plant in each room, use natural cleaners, use real wood vs. particle board, eliminate carpets or choose wool, and breathe easier.

If you’re still dry-cleaning and your cleaner uses perchloroethylene or hydrocarbon solvents, hang clothes outside for a bit before bringing them in.

November – Recycle Remember, reduce, reuse, recycle is in priority order! Using less is best. Recycling uses resources. That said, please recycle vs. throwing things away. There is no ‘away.’

December - Ask Are there environmental issues you’d like to know more about? Send your ideas and questions to the editor of this column and she’ll try to find and publish the information you are looking for. If you email your ideas or tell her which month’s mission motivated you most, she’ll send you an Echo Naturals bracelet from Garden of Light Natural Foods in Avon!

Love ya. Mean it.

Mom

Deb Percival is a freelance writer in Connecticut. E-mail dpercival@comcast.net.

www.naturalnutmeg.com

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