Natural Nutmeg November 2021

November/December 2021

Natural Nutmeg Connecticut’s Resource for Essential Living

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Improves Digestion Kathlene Emond, LAc

Protect Your Immune System Naturally This Holiday Season Marianne Bloxsom

Spiritual Health for Today’s Woman

Michele Hamida Rabinowitz

Reversing Prediabetes to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

Does Bottle Feeding Cause Sleep Apnea in Children?

Krithika Jayaprakash DDS, FAGD, NMD, IBDM

10 Steps to a Healthier and Youthful Brain Adam Breiner, ND

Celebrating 15 Years of Publishing www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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Schedule A Private

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You want to strengthen and heal your personal and work relationships.

You’re seeking the purpose of your life and what you’re here to learn and teach.

You want to understand your karma, heal your wounds, and live your purpose.

Maryanne Costerella MA, LADC Integrative Psychotherapist and Spiritual Scientist

Visit website to book a consultation

www.maryannecosterella.com

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It is our mission and vision to build a more resilient future through transformative holistic education.

Enrolling now for fall: learn.edu

2022 Is Around the Corner!

Here’s What Natural Nutmeg Has in Store

January/February

May/June

November/December

• Virtual/Outdoor Training for Weight Loss • Natural Ways to Boost Fertility

• Remedies for Prevention of Lyme Disease • Hormone and Fertility Health for Men/Women

• Natural Treatment for Diabetes • Remedies for Boosting Immunity

March/April

July/August

• Nutrition for Chronic Conditions

• Natural Remedies to Improve Sleep • Reducing Anxiety in Children

2023 10BEST/ Essential Living Guide

• CBD Therapy

Contact diane@naturalnutmeg.com to feature your business in Natural Nutmeg!

...and Don’t Miss Our 2022 10BEST/ Essential Living Guide

• Alternative Treatments for Stress • Healthy Brain Function

Featuring information on all of our 10BEST Winners as well as articles on: • Stress Reduction • The Future of Sleep

September/October • Healthy Aging Guide • The New Anti-Cancer Treatments

Dr. Aieta & Dr. Hayden Help You Break Through Fat Loss Blocks Who This Ebook is For:

• People who have fought fad diets, only to be disappointed • People who want to learn about holistic medicine and tips for permanent weight loss • People who are ready to take control of their bodies and finally feel good

This Ebook helps you:

• Decipher the culprits that are blocking your progress so you can reach the balance YOUR body needs to drop fat, raise energy levels, and handle stress

Authors Dr. Frank Aieta, ND & Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

Text: WEIGHTLOSSPUZZLE to 44222 and receive our favorite low-carb recipes and meal planner

• Put the power of your mind behind your success

• Piece your own puzzle together without expensive doctor visits that insurance doesn’t cover • Pull all aspects of YOU into your view so you can understand and alter behaviors that are keeping you in a cyclical pattern of weight loss and gain

Buy for $14.95 at http://weightlosspuzzlesolved.com/ www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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PUBLISHER'SLETTER

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ur mission is to provide valuable insight, information, and resources that will allow our readers to maintain a healthy, active, sustainable lifestyle. Natural Nutmeg contains timely information on natural health, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

PUBLISHER Dr. Diane Hayden Diane@naturalnutmeg.com ADVERTISING advertising@naturalnutmeg.com DIR. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Christopher Urso Curso@naturalnutmeg.com MARKETING DIRECTOR Dr. Sonia Manganello sonia@naturalnutmeg.com DESIGN DIRECTOR Ashley Frament layout@naturalnutmeg.com EDITOR Lori Emelander essentialeditorlori@gmail.com ADVISORY BOARD Frank Aieta, ND Adam Breiner, ND Mark Breiner, DDS Deanna M. Cherrone, MD Erika Dworkin, Dip. C.N. Steven R. Frank Kenneth Hoffman, LAc, CCH

DISTRIBUTION Greater Hartford and surrounding counties, please contact Natural Nutmeg.

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Natural Nutmeg Magazine naturalnutmeg.com

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Natural Nutmeg is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers and distributed throughout Connecticut.

Please call for a location near you. (860) 508-0894 or email to publisher@naturalnutmeg.com. © 2007–21 by Natural Nutmeg, LLC. All rights 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 ar ticles and adver tisements, nor are we responsible for the products and ser vices adver tised. We welcome your feedback.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

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f you thought 2020 flew by… I can’t believe we’re only two months away from 2022. We have made it through another difficult and challenging year, but I truly believe we are on the verge of something amazing.

Each November as we enter the holiday season, I encourage each of you to take time to review and reflect on the past year. I believe this year it is more important than ever. I feel as though so many people are focused on the negative and what was lost, and while I’m not suggesting we sweep that away, I am hopeful that you can find the positive in all of the challenges we’ve experienced. I believe that’s the only way we can deal with tragedy and loss and begin the process of healing and moving forward.

Ask yourself: What were your successes, your challenges, your surprises, and most of all, what do you have to be thankful for? What changed positively for you? Did you have more time with family, did you start a new career, did you have more time for yourself, did you find new ways to give back to your community?

For me, I am so thankful for our readers, our dedicated writers and advertisers, our advisory board, our distribution company, and those places that continue to allow us to drop magazines when many locations closed or refused to allow free publications. I’m thankful for the wonderful team here at Natural Nutmeg who keep producing amazing and inspiring magazines—a huge thank you to Ashley Frament, Lori Emelander, Dr. Sonia Manganello, and Chris Urso.

This year, an exciting opportunity for me was launching my internet radio show—The Dr. Diane Show on Transformation Talk Radio! This was a project I’d been dreaming of for years.

I love interviewing people, and this show is a blast. We reach thousands of people nationally and internationally who listen live and download the recordings. We’re helping so many practitioners and businesses in their shift to virtual patient visits and online offerings by letting our readers know how to take advantage of these opportunities through email, social, and our new podcast/ internet radio shows. I believe in order to truly master the art of manifestation and send a message out to the Universe to bring us what we want, we must first be thankful for what we have.

Don’t miss our additional special issue coming this December with the announcement of all of our 10BEST Awards winners as well as great content, holistic business spotlights, and an Essential Living Resource Guide that you can keep and use throughout all of 2022.

We wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season and peace and light in 2022!

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Publisher & Owner, ELM Publishing

In This Issue 10

Soups: The Ultimate Comfort Food

19

Terry Walters

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Low Levels of Vitamin D Increase Risk of Breast Cancer Protect Your Immune System Naturally This Holiday Season

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Does Bottle Feeding Cause Sleep Apnea in Children?

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25

Krithika Jayaprakash DDS, FAGD, NMD, IBDM

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The Art of Patience Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT, CAR

Spiritual Health for Today’s Woman

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Improves Digestion

Michele Hamida Rabinowitz

31

A Metaphysical Dive into the Dynamics of the Pandemic

Kathlene Emond, LAc

Marianne Bloxsom

15

29

Lauri Ingram

April Beaman, RDH, CTT

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Mindful Wandering in Nature

Ask Dana! A Column Where Personal Finance and Life Intersect

Mary Anne Costerella, MA, LADC

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Reversing Prediabetes to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

Dana R. Mascalo, CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(k)P®

36

Are You Touch Deprived?

Massage Therapy as Treatment for Fibromyalgia

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10 Steps to a Healthier and Youthful Brain

Elisabeth Johnson

Adam Breiner, ND

Kristina Mozzicato, LMT, BCTMB

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Give Yourself the Gift of Being Heard Caroline Wetzel, CFP®, CDFA®, AWMA®

In Every Issue 6 40 42

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BUZZ RESOURCES HAPPENINGS

Find more articles and search our web archive at naturalnutmeg.com www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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THE BUZZ

Explore Your Spirit with Soul Play

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ur souls are playful! The divine offers us so many ways to connect with our higher selves, angels, ancestors, and divine energy. Are you curious about various spiritual topics and modalities? Perhaps you are seeking a safe and open place to learn about meditation, oracle card readings, crystals, color therapy, and more.

Join Rev. Lauri Ingram and Rev. Marie Wallace for a weekly Soul Play group. We are live on Zoom every Monday night, and all weekly recordings are available for replay to group members.

Each month we explore a new topic and offer special addons. During the month of October, we are exploring ways to connect and heal with our ancestors, including celebrating the end-of-October holidays. November and December are all about crystals and aligning with our future selves—a perfect way to end the year. Group members have access to our recordings on meditation, oracle card readings, spiritual writing, and add-ons.

Ordained by One Spirit Interfaith Seminary and as a certified Interspiritual Counselor, Lauri currently offers sessions in person in her North Haven office, as well as by phone and Zoom. You can learn more about Lauri at www.lauriingram.com, or contact her at lauri@lauriingram.com or 203.435.5650. Learn more about Soul Play group at www.lauriingram.com/live-events.

Sacred Rivers Yoga Center 28 Main Street East Hartford, CT 06118 Phone: 860.657.9545 Fax: 860.657.3161 www.sacredriversyoga.com Paula Scopino ~ Owner/Director Yoga Alliance 200 & 500 Hour Teacher Training Yoga Therapy Workshops

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

The Art of Embracing Simple

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hat can I do to help?” Some days when you’re struggling hard, more questions can seem to make everything harder. That constant sense of analyzing and being analyzed can add to your overwhelming sense of struggle. Sometimes what we need is a peaceful escape from the pressures of everyday life. Imagine for a moment feeling solace from all the talking, life’s overwhelming responsibilities, and the swirling that takes over your mind.

Imagine Float, an award-winning, woman-owned wellness center in Avon, CT, is a place of inner peace and a respite from the chaotic world in which we live. Specifically, our six-week program, Embracing Simple, is designed to naturally combat anxiety, chronic stress, and depression that has built up over time with a consistent Floatation Therapy practice.

Floatation Therapy is a private saltwater bath that gently floats away tension and stress and neutralizes the ill effects of our overstimulated environments. While a single float therapy session provides some relief, the effect of multiple sessions is cumulative. The practice of floating regularly provides maximum and lasting benefits.

After years of counseling and various therapies to help manage anxiety, childhood trauma, and chronic stress, Sarah Y. from the Farmington Valley visited Imagine Float.

She enrolled in our Embracing Simple Program, and shared this upon completion of the program: “This space and floating gave me a different type of relief and sense of processing that I have never had before. A comfort. A place to process thoughts without feedback to get to a state of neutrality. I remember thinking, this is how normal people experience life and not in a constant heightened state of anxiety.”

Stop “struggling hard”—extend yourself grace, just show up.

Call to book your complimentary consultation. Contact Michele Beaule, owner of Imagine Float, at 860.255.7771 or visit our website at https://imaginefloat.com. See ad on page 18.

THE BUZZ

Book Your Appointment Online at abundanthealthct.com Gift certificates available online

Healing at Home for You and Your Pet

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he Love of Pearl is a mobile animal healing and teaching practice in Connecticut. The owner, MaryJeanne, embraces the ideal that as humans we are stewards of this earth and those who reside here. Her desire to improve the human–animal and human–nature bond as well as to improve the lives of animals and their caretakers led her to opening an alternative healing practice. The practice is mobile so she can reach more animals and reduce their stress.

The Love of Pearl offers Reiki therapy and attunements for animals and their caretakers as well as Reiki training to enable everyone to help in healing—both their own and with their animals. Recently, there has been a significant influx of ill animals in veterinary clinics across the country. MaryJeanne sees the correlation between the increased levels of stress in people and the increased levels of illness in other animals. Reiki therapy at home strengthens the animals’ healing and gives the person more balance and ability to manage their stress, thus ending the perpetual cycle and improving both lives.

MaryJeanne also offers Equine Craniosacral Therapy and teaches Yoga and meditation. You can contact MaryJeanne at Theloveofpearl@gmail.com. See ad on page 8.

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Kristina E. Mozzicato, LMT, BCTMB Certified Cupping & MedicuppingTM Therapist Board Certified, Licensed Massage Therapist and Owner

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Recapture Your Health With A Therapeutic Lifestyle Change Program • • • • •

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• Longer Life

Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

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Tues., Wed., Fri. 10-6, Thurs. 10-7, and Sat. 10-5

• Voted a Natural Nutmeg 10Best in 2019 & 2020

Former Owner of Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe

Contact me for personalized, compassionate help with a wide range of health issues: edworkin@cthealthshop.com | (860) 646-8178 www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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THE BUZZ

Cupping Therapy at The Spa at Litchfield Hills

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upping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist places special cups on the skin for a few minutes to create suction. People use cupping therapy for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. Cupping therapy might be trendy now, but it’s not new. It dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. In fact, ancient Egyptians used cupping therapy in 1550 BCE. Nowadays, therapists use silicone cups they can move from place to place on your skin for a massage-like effect.

Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This may relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It may also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue. Localized circulation is improved and vascular dilation helps draw out toxins and inflammation. Scar tissue and adhesions are softened and released, soft tissue is lifted and stretched, and range of motion is improved. Cupping helps to move lymph stagnation and relieve inflammation as well. Conditions that respond to this type of bodywork include fibromyalgia,

Animal Reiki, Reiki Teacher, Equine Craniosacral Therapy, Yoga/Mounted Yoga Instruction 860.245.9922 theloveofpearl.com

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@loveofpearl

Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

tendonitis, edema, sciatica, lung inflammation and congestion, and plantar fasciitis.

Lymphatic drainage achieved via cupping is beneficial for pre-operative clients and may assist in their healing process postsurgery. Additionally, cupping can help improve athletic performance and movement restrictions by softening and lifting muscle attachments at the joint.

Dr. Diane Hayden has this to say about her visit: “I’ve had this ongoing knot in my muscle next to my right shoulder blade for months and regular massage was not working to loosen it. My therapist at the Litchfield Spa suggested cupping and after just one treatment, the knot was gone!”

The Spa at Litchfield Hills truly has something for every guest whether it be relaxation, results, or both. They strive to offer organic product lines that are impactful and results oriented. Online bookings available at: www.litchfield-spa. com, 860.567.8575, frontdesk@litchfieldspa.com. 407A Bantam Rd., Litchfield CT. See ad on page 11.

THE BUZZ Nuts About Health Goes Hollywood to Slay the Childhood Obesity Monster!

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uts About Health, Inc., is making an animated children’s film called Nutsville: The Movie, to increase its worldwide presence in the battle against childhood obesity.

Nutsville: The Movie follows the adventures of a young nut and his friends as they tackle the Obesity Monster and his poorhealth-eating agents, Mr. Fry and Little Chip, on their journey to self-discovery and optimal health. “We recognize that little kids watch their favorite movies over and over again, and enlist their parents in watching them too,” explains Dawn M. Slade, Executive Director of Nuts About Health, Inc.

Sweet 2 The Soul: Striving to Empower the Mind, Body, and Spirit

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weet 2 The Soul is Branford’s only holistic cultural arts center and event space with a contemporary theatre and film program, catering to all ages. Currently, we offer in-person and virtual courses in our new 1600+ square foot studio at 249 W. Main Street, Suite 9, Branford, CT. For over 20 years, our company has created safe spaces for the artiste to grow and learn. Across the nation and beyond, we've trained performers who have gone on to work with such studios as Dreamworks, WarnerBros, Lionsgate, and Telemundo.

Our Branford location carries on the same tradition. Here, we focus on empowering the mind, body, and spirit of the BIPOC community with innovative programming. Currently, we are excited about the work we are doing for fall 2021, including introducing “A Taste of Theatre” for the senior community, a theatre arts enrichment program for teens, “Sunday Fundays” for families, and “Girls Night Out” events.

Our primary goal is to nourish the soul as we present a safe place to re-imagine the present and future through the arts.

Register for our virtual courses and in-person classes at www. sweet2thesoul.org.

“When we live for today, everything else will make sense tomorrow.”

—SC Murray, Co-Founder and Artistic Director We specialize in birthday parties, book signings, baby showers, and paint parties! To have your event hosted by us, contact SC Murray at 203.481.1915 or info@sweet2thesoul.org.

Veronica B. Chandler wrote the screenplay for Nutsville: The Movie with Summer Martin and Gregory Smith, two talented screenwriters. “It has been an immense privilege for us to bring Nutsville to life. I am excited to see how audiences will react to the world we have created,” says Chandler. Gregory Smith is also a voiceover artist who will be providing the voices for the main characters. The original music will be created and produced by Colon Hayward, a renowned musician, and Donijah Collier serves as the visual consultant.

Since 2005, Nuts About Health, Inc., has been on a mission to slay the obesity monster to prevent it from destroying the health of the next generation. The organization offers free community programs and activities that educate and inspire low-income families and youth to commit to health, fitness, and wellness. Founded by the late Ruby H. Slade—New Haven resident, mother of four, diabetes-prevention advocate, and early childhood education expert—the organization offers information, tools, research, and strategies to empower people to embrace and practice healthy lifestyle habits. “We teach youth that to halt obesity, decrease chronic disease, and improve health, they must change what they eat by moving away from the refined, processed, commercial-driven and obesity-causing standard american diet (SAD). Slade notes that in order for people to replace SAD with a natural, plant-based diet, they “must change their taste buds, and as Andrew Almonds says, ‘to change your taste buds, you have to educate your taste buds.’ ” “Nutsville: The Movie captures the attention of young viewers and teaches them about healthy eating and living while enjoying a lively and engaging storyline that includes catchy musical numbers.

I wish I’d had something like this when I was a child,” says Slade.

Nutsville is being funded through donations and other funding sources. “We are raising funds to complete a 2D animated short for Nutsville, which will serve as a pilot to pitch to investors for a full-length movie. “We are searching for an animator for the short, and interested individuals can contact us at nutsabouthealthinc@ gmail.com for consideration. We will review all submissions,” says Slade. Follow this link for a sneak preview: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=o-terXd3CV0&ab_channel=NutsvilleTheMovie.

Those who wish to support Nutsville: The Movie can make donations at https://gofund.me/ba80f8b5 or via mail to Nuts About Health, Inc., 566 Winthrop Ave., New Haven, CT, 06511.

Nuts About Health, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, based in New Haven, CT. Nuts About Health, Inc., is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information, contact Dawn Slade at 203.675.8157. www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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Soups: The Ultimate Comfort Food

By Terry Walters

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f your eyes aren’t welling up and your nose isn’t running, you’re simply not getting your money’s worth from winter cooking. This is the season we go from buying individual onions to buying bags of onions. The season we use the big pot, eat with the big spoon, and noisily slurp what’s left in the bottom of the mug. This is the season of soup, and in New England, it is as essential to winter as snow falling from the sky and crack-of-dawn school cancellations.

Soups are perfect one-dish meals, quintessential heartwarming bowls of goodness, and so much more. They are an opportunity, an invitation, even a prescription where all of your needs can be met in one big pot. Fill them with anti-inflammatory prebiotics like garlic and onions, high protein legumes, high fiber and nutritionally packed root vegetables, and alkalinizing cruciferous vegetables. And then, perhaps most important of all, the stock.

A great vegetable stock can be a meal in and of itself, so before I share a delicious soup recipe, here are three approaches to making nutrient-dense delicious vegetable stock.

1. Scrap Soup requires no trip to the grocery store and won’t increase your budget even a dime. Simply wash your produce and as you trim off ends, skins, and stalks, place them in a sealable 4-cup container in the freezer. When the container is full, place the contents in a pot over high heat, add just enough water to barely cover the solids, and simmer 1 hour. Cool, strain, and freeze stock until ready to use.

2. Kombu Broth is a simple, mineral-rich broth made by placing a stick of kombu seaweed (found in the macrobiotic section of your natural food store) in hot water and letting it soak and reconstitute. In less than an hour, you’ll have an umami-rich broth you can use as stock in a variety of soups and stews.

3. Immune Boosting Stock is as easy as soaking a slice of dried astragalus root in hot water and then using that water as stock.

For added immune support, simmer astragalus with a handful of goji berries, a quartered onion (skin and all), a couple of dried shiitake mushrooms, and a few generous grinds of Himalayan salt and black pepper.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

4. The Quick and Easy is essential in every winter pantry, because sometimes we don’t have the time or energy to even think about the great options previously mentioned. Set yourself up for success by keeping your favorite shelf-stable vegetable stock in your pantry at all times. This isn’t cheating, it’s enabling you to make a delicious and healthy meal with whatever you have on hand—a chopped onion, a variety of vegetables and herbs, a can of beans, and there it is—a hearty, healthy, meal in a pot, made in just minutes.

Drink your soup slowly, let it warm your heart and soul, and make extra, because this is one leftover that will taste even better tomorrow!

Terry Walters is the best-selling cookbook author of Clean Food, Clean Start and Eat Clean Live Well. She is a James Beard Foundation Award finalist, recipient of the Nautilus Gold and Silver Book Awards, and recipient of the World Gourmand “Second Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the World” and “Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the United States” Awards. Her new book, Nourish, is soon to be released.

Terry is at the forefront of the clean eating lifestyle movement. She is a highly sought-after educator, consultant, health coach, and speaker who shares her clean food approach through virtual and in-person cooking classes with students all over the world. Her work inspires and empowers positive change for our health and the health of our environment.

Terry is an avid runner, skier and hiker—living what she teaches; doing her best to embrace good health for herself, her family, her community, and the environment. Follow her on Instagram at @TerryWaltersCooks or on Facebook at CLEAN FOOD. www.terrywalters.net.

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Parsnip, Kale, and Apple Soup

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hen it’s 5:00 pm and I’m just starting to think about making dinner, I long for a meal I can make out of ingredients that I always have on hand, and this recipe qualifies. For heartier appetites, try adding a can of cooked adzuki or cannellini beans.

• ½ cup pumpkin seeds • 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil • 1 cup shallots, chopped • 2 tablespoons grated fresh turmeric root (or 1 tablespoon ground turmeric)

Are concerned about YOU - Mercury free dental treatment - Mercury safe dental conditions - Mercury removal and detoxification - Biocompatible dental materials - Minimally invasive procedures - Implant tooth replacement - Same day non-metal crowns We want to help YOU get healthy - Financial Flexibility Steven F Hinchey, DMD

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• 2 cloves garlic, minced

M A K E

• 2 tablespoons mirin

SPALIDAY

• 1 tart apple (such as Macoun or Granny Smith), peeled and grated

I T

A

• 3 small parsnips, peeled and sliced into thin rounds (1/8– 1/4-inch thick) • 2 carrots, sliced into thin rounds • 6 cups vegetable stock • ½ teaspoon sea salt • Lots of freshly ground black pepper • 2 cups packed chopped kale Preheat oven to 300°F. Place pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, melt coconut oil and sauté shallots 2 minutes (or until just soft). Add turmeric, garlic, and mirin and sauté 3 minutes. Add apple, parsnips, and carrots and sauté 3 minutes longer (parsnips will start to soften and turn yellow from turmeric). Add stock, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Tear or chop kale into bite-size pieces, add to soup, and stir until wilted (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat and serve topped with toasted pumpkin seeds.

SERVES 4

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Low Levels of Vitamin D Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

By April Beaman, RDH, CTT

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hen you think of breast health, do you think of vitamin D? Well, you should! Research has found that women with low levels of vitamin D are at a higher risk for breast cancer. Here’s what you need to know.

The 411 on Vitamin D Vitamin D is not a vitamin—technically, it’s a steroid hormone that affects over 200 genes and is necessary for the health of every cell in the body. Vitamin D has to be “activated” for it to be effective and most tissues in the body have cellular receptor sites where this happens. It affects a number of major functions in the body, including the reduction of inflammation, calcium absorption, and bone development. Deficiency has been linked to depression, weight gain, and many kinds of cancer including colon, prostate, and breast cancer. According to the Vitamin D Council, vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for autoimmune disease, high blood pressure, and possibly for preventing autism. An optimal vitamin D level can also support heart and lung function, regulate insulin, reduce chronic pain conditions, and even improve mood. This is a pretty powerful “vitamin”! As important as this is, most individuals are vitamin D deficient. In U.S. women, the average vitamin D level is 29 ng/mL, well below the recommended 40 ng/mL. Typically, vitamin deficiency goes unnoticed as symptoms are subtle and are often attributed to other conditions.

Why Vitamin D Is a Must for Breast Health When it comes to preventing breast cancer, the evidence about vitamin D is crystal clear. There are over 1,000 studies that show the connection between vitamin D and breast cancer prevention. In fact, it’s been found that the higher the serum vitamin D, the better at preventing cancer. In addition, much research shows that it is extremely important for regulating cell growth. Adequate levels in women appear to reduce the risk of breast cancer up to 83%, and some studies suggest that vitamin D may reduce the progression of cancer. This happens by slowing the growth of blood vessels within the cancer cells, thus causing cancer cell death and reducing the chance of cancer spreading (known as metastasis). Even more exciting is the fact that vitamin D is associated with better survival rates among breast cancer patients.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

How to Increase Your Vitamin D Levels The most common and easiest way to increase vitamin D is to spend more time outside in the sun. Short bursts of sun exposure, 15–30 minutes a few times a week, can easily give you the daily dose needed. For the skin to synthesize vitamin D from the sun it needs to be exposed directly to sunlight, with no sunscreen or clothing barriers. A form of vitamin D called D3 (cholecalciferol) is produced inside the body as a result of exposure to sunlight, and close to 90% of the usable vitamin D in the body comes in the form of D3. Spending time in the sun will support your health in many ways by increasing your vitamin D production and decreasing your risk of breast cancer. However, if you are extremely deficient, you may need to supplement with a quality product.

Many individuals have such low levels that supplementation is needed, especially those who take medications with contraindications to sun exposure, those with darker skin, third-shift workers, and those who live in climates where there is less direct sunlight.

Your physician can test your serum levels and let you know how many IUs (international units) are needed for supplementation.

Make sure to use a high-quality vitamin D3 that includes vitamin K; too much vitamin D without proper amounts of vitamin K will increase calcium deposits in the soft tissue instead of the bone, where it belongs.

You can also increase vitamin D levels through your diet. Foods rich in vitamin D include eggs; wild mushrooms like maitake; fatty fish such as sardines, herring, and salmon to name a few. Dark, leafy greens like kale, collard greens, and spinach are also great choices.

If you’re looking to be proactive with your breast health, have breast cancer, or are a survivor, don’t be in the dark about your vitamin D levels. Get tested by your physician so an optimal level of vitamin D can be achieved. To protect breast health, the idea is to maintain a therapeutic level between 50–70 ng/mL. Vitamin D: Your breast health depends on it!

April Beaman, RDH, CTT, is a medical thermographer, certified by the Professional Academy of Clinical Thermology, and a professional member of Breast Thermography International. Beaman has worked in the wellness industry for over 15 years and provides thermography screenings and wellness support for both men and women. She is the owner of CT Thermography, located in Farmington. Connect at 860.415.1150 or CTThermography.com.

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Protect Your Immune System Naturally This Holiday Season

By Marianne Bloxsom

T

he glorious fall days are upon us, along with their promises of pumpkinpicking excursions, Thanksgiving, and all the special holidays, including ringing in the New Year! Along with these enjoyable anticipations there is, somewhere in the background, the uneasy awareness that the winter months are almost here. For some, winter is a gift—winter sports, brisk walks, bonfires, and the pristine beauty of snow. For many of us, however, the challenge of keeping our immune system functioning well in the face of the many stresses that comes with winter and the holiday season looms large.

Not to worry! With a few considerations and a small amount of effort, you can strengthen your immune system so it is in the best shape it can be, to help you better navigate through the demands of winter.

Here are some guidelines to help you stay healthy this holiday season.

Eat Right There is so much you can do to aid your immune system simply by consuming the right foods. This is the time of year when sweets abound, but just one teaspoon of refined sugar suppresses your immune system for about four hours! It is of great

benefit to reduce or even eliminate refined sugar from your diet as much as possible, even during the holidays. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or a piece of pumpkin pie but save those treats for special times, rather than on a regular basis. Instead, indulge in fresh, organic fruits, crack open some nuts, roast pumpkin seeds, or enjoy fruitor stevia-sweetened smoothies or protein shakes. You will feel better, cope better, and—dare I say it—look better! Good nutrition can reduce your cravings for sweets and empty calorie snacks, so adding more fresh produce to your meals, both raw and steamed, can up your nutrient supply in a big way. Adding a high-quality multivitamin and daily green drink can fulfill those needs when we are less than mindful of our food intake as well.

Keep Your Colon Healthy Since your colon comprises over 60% of your immune system, it’s important to take steps to keep it in good working order; in particular, avoiding constipation. Herbal blends such as triphala, an Ayurvedic blend of three medicinal fruits native to India, keep the bowel toned and functioning beautifully and can be taken daily with no

adverse effects. Adding magnesium in the form of a supplement to your intake brings water to the colon, aiding the cleansing process and helping to keep you regular.

Fiber-rich foods such as avocados, apples, broccoli, carrots, beets, raspberries, pears, and Brussels sprouts can help your colon a great deal, and the addition of a good probiotic not only aids in colon health but boosts your immune system as well. If you’re living with IBS or other colon challenges, there are herbal options, such as marshmallow herb, to help soothe and heal the colon.

Reduce Stress There are wonderful, effective herbs, aptly called adaptogens, that help us cope with stress and give our bodies the ability to better adapt to the various challenges—physical, mental, and emotional—that we face daily. Medicinal mushrooms such as reishi and shiitake and herbs such as Siberian ginseng, Ashwagandha, Schizandra (which also protects and repairs the liver), and holy basil are wonderful examples of adaptogens.

Holy basil is a calming herb that helps promote the mental balance so needed in our daily lives. These herbs can be taken daily in capsule or tincture or tea form. www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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One of my favorite de-stressors is Rescue Remedy, a combination of five flowers in tincture form discovered by Dr. Edward Bach almost a century ago. These drops contain alcohol, but there is a non-alcohol form for children, pets, and those wishing to abstain from even minute amounts. They also come in a gummy-like pastille.

Cleanse Your Liver Doing a short live cleanse in the fall does wonders for your immune system. Such a cleanse helps our poor, toxin-overloaded livers to gently release toxins so they can be eliminated from the body. Some herbs that help this cleanse are milk thistle, burdock, artichoke, dandelion, and yellow dock. Be sure to drink plenty of water when doing any kind of cleanse.

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There are herbs and supplements that boost the immune system and can be taken seasonally as prevention or when we begin to feel the onset of illness. These include Echinacea, Astragalus, Andrographis, elderberry, garlic, ginger, and vitamins A, C, and D. The popular N.A.C. is an amino acid that is not only an antioxidant, but an eliminator of free radicals and toxins from the liver and lungs. Black seed (also known as black cumin) and green tea are beneficial as well.

Remember, following these suggestions can help you enjoy the festivities of this season while getting your body and mind ready for the cold, damp season to come:

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1. Watch your diet. Reduce or eliminate sugar as much as possible and add fresh fruit and vegetables as much as possible.

2. Cleanse your colon. Keep it toned and functioning well.

3. Use herbs and supplements. Take daily or as needed to reduce stress.

4. Have mercy on your liver. Do your best to detox and rebuild this wonderful, lifesustaining organ.

5. Take immune-supporting herbs. Use these herbs and supplements as both preventives and curatives.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

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Remember to take care of yourself— you are the greatest gift you can give to your family and friends this holiday season!

Marianne Bloxsom is an herbalist and Supplement Manager at Edge of the Woods Market in New Haven, CT. The knowledgeable team at Edge of the Woods would be pleased to help you choose vitamins and supplements for all your needs. Please stop by and say hello, call 203.787.1055, and visit eotwm.com. See ad on page 2.

Does Bottle Feeding Cause Sleep Apnea in Children?

By Krithika Jayaprakash DDS, FAGD, NMD, IBDM

A

s parents, we always try to do the best for our kids. We believe in breastfeeding; many health-conscious parents go out of their way to find organic, natural, non-GMO food to provide their kids with the best, safest nutrition. And though we put in that extra effort, there are times we are unable to provide the best for our children. We all know that nutrition and an active lifestyle play a significant role in raising healthy children. However, many of us are unaware of a significant issue our kids may face—being able to breath regularly.

We can live without food for more than a week and without water for up to three days, but we cannot live without breathing for more than four minutes.

Being a dentist, I was urged to send my patients to an orthodontist whenever I notice crowded or crooked teeth in 7–8-yearold kids. So why am I seeing so many adult patients in their 30s and 40s with crowded teeth? Many of these patients have told me that as kids, they had braces for 2–4 years.

This information led me to research this phenomenon further, as I have kids and also have many children as patients. Do I want the same thing happening to them?

As I delved deeper, I realized this journey was leading me to look at the source of crowded/crooked teeth.

Early intervention in oral health and proper growth can help your kids breathe easier and live healthier.

Why Breastfeeding Matters in Dental Health When a baby is breastfed, it is not only about the nutrition, it is also about how their muscles are activated. Their muscles of their cheeks, tongue, and lips are all engaged, and the tongue presses firmly against the palate as well. The tongue is constantly at work, helping babies’ upper jaws grow and expand, which leads to the lower jaw expanding as well. Unfortunately, the same is not true for bottle feeding. In bottle feeding, babies are using the muscles differently, the tongue is not in the roof of the mouth, and the mouth is almost like “fish mouth,” causing negative pressure. In such a situation, the palate is not expanding as significantly as with breastfeeding, leaving less space for teeth. Many children in this situation grow adults with narrow jaws.

When the jaw becomes narrow and grows upward rather than growing wide

and sideways, the nasal bone has less space to grow downward and results in a deviated septum and associated airway issues. Children with this condition are not able to breathe properly at night; they are sleeping restlessly and waking up numerous times at night, causing them to be cranky and difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Some children may respond to this poor sleep by being hyperactive as a means of staying awake during the day.

When we as adults are sleep deprived, we may be grumpy, lethargic, and unable to function, and the same is true for children.

When kids are not sleeping properly, however, they are often misdiagnosed, labeled, and put on medications they don’t need, when the real solution is ensuring they are getting the sleep they need.

Early Intervention in Kids to Produce Healthy Adults By age 4, children have about 60% of the facial skeleton growth they will have as adults; by age 12, they have reached 90% growth. Early intervention is the best thing we can do for our children—when they get early treatment, we can facilitate the growth instead of fighting against it.

Straightening teeth will not help with breathing issues in the long term, as we www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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are not treating the issue that caused these crooked teeth in the first place.

Teaching kids myofunctional therapy— exercising the tongue so the pressure exerted by the tongue is balanced by the lips and cheeks—is a very effective way to treat the issue. Teaching them to use their own muscles to expand their jaws will facilitate the growth to help them achieve better breathing.

In this process, we are evaluating children’s facial skeleton growth and airway and treating them accordingly—we are not forcing their body into something unnatural, but helping them grow to have healthy lives. We treat kids so that when they become adults they could avoid being on CPAP machines and having other health issues.

Sleep-disordered breathing is very common in children. Some signs your kids may have disordered breathing are mouth-breathing, snoring, lips open at rest, forward head posture to facilitate breathing, restless sleep, hyperactivity, lethargy, crowding of teeth, and dark circles under their eyes. Early intervention in oral health and proper growth can help your kids breathe easier and live healthier.

At our office, we use Myobrace and ALF, which are gentle devices to achieve this kind of growth and development in children. Check out our case gallery to see some of the patient’s changes after treatment: https://www.drjaydental.com/case-gallery.

Dr. Krithika Jayaprakash DDS, FAGD, NMD, IBDM. Naturopathic dentist specializing in ceramic implants and all your dental needs. Dr. Jay Dental, 170 Union St., Vernon, CT 06066. 860.875.3349. drjaydental.com. See ad on page 24.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

The Art of Patience

By Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT, CAR

W

e, as a society, are impatient. We want everything NOW, if not sooner. I am guilty of this myself, and as I grow older and as our world speeds up, it has become clearer to me that patience truly is a virtue and a learned behavior. We all need to learn to flex that muscle and keep it fluid in our lives.

The Waiting Game Last April, I decided that I very much wanted a new door to my home, and very much needed a new door for my office entrance. I jumped right on it—beautifying my surroundings has always been important to me and I was ready for change. It took five weeks to get someone to come to my home to measure for the doors. Upon ordering, I was told that my walls were extra thick (I think that’s a good thing!), which would require special custom-made door jambs. I was quoted a six- to eight-week time frame and was assured they were running on time.

The due date was July 8, which came and went. The new due date was July 27, then August 10, then…well, I stopped trying to figure it out. The realization that I had no control over this became somewhat of a metaphor for life. I had to be patient.

I was told the installation process was quick—it wasn’t. I had to wait over two more months for that appointment. I was now getting used to the way it was, with no influence or control—just acceptance.

There is no rushing the process of getting back to a neutral state through release, change, growth, and shift in integral balance.

A miracle occurred and I was called with an earlier time slot. At the time of this writing, I am days away from this transformation. Update: That appointment ended up being cancelled the morning of, because it was raining. Now scheduled, yet again, for a couple of weeks out.

I am seeing all the lessons involved— hurry up and wait, stay calm, be patient, and be thankful. Patience is a virtue—one I do not naturally have, but a skill set I can and will continue to practice, acquire, and one at which I wish to become an expert!

Transformation Doesn’t Happen Overnight As a Rolfer, working with people and their own transformations for the last forty years, I have always seen that all things take time and personal transformations are worth the wait, time, expense, and effort. To restructure a body is an event that has no presumed schedule, no guarantee, and is largely out of anyone’s control. We all have a history with traumas, injuries, and dramas in both the physical and emotional realm. There is no rushing the process of getting back to a neutral state

through release, change, growth, and shift in integral balance.

It may take up to six months from the moment a person contacts me until our work together is completed. I ask people to be patient and trust the process, which is difficult if they are in pain and have been for a while. I ask my clients to ride the wave of the journey and to accept a new understanding of how their body works to avoid the same pitfalls and eventually the same outcome. I continue to be in awe of the resilience of the human body and how it wants to heal, be freer, and maintain itself.

I recently finished working with a client in his thirties who, as a father, farmer, physical laborer, martial artist, and alwayson-the-go kind of guy, could not tolerate the pain he was in. There was not one specific thing that happened to him, but a series of events over time that shifted his body out of whack, which then caused enough physical imbalance that he was left in chronic pain. He had tried nearly everything to get better, had limited his activity and reduced the impact of the physical stress from his job. Nothing was working.

He began the Rolfing process of ten sessions and somewhere around session 5, he began to be out of the constant pain he had been in and was able to experience his full life again. We finished our sessions in late www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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September and he is even better than he was before the physical breakdown! Success was not overnight, but it was achieved with our hands-on work, re-organization, time, re-education, and patience.

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The process of Rolfing, as I see it, is a time when the physical and learned behavior shifts can be made to get the body into balance and keep it there. These changes become what we call “permanent, progressive” changes because not only does the body release old patterns, but the person learns new ways to prevent the same issues from occurring. It’s the difference between figuring out why you have the headache, rather than simply taking an aspirin because you have a headache. Does it make more sense for you to release the spasm in your back as a temporary, quick fix, or do you find out why every few months, that pain comes back and stops you in your tracks?

Try to discover what solution is best for you and change yourself for the better. Life is too short and too exciting to be sidelined with pain that gets the best of you. Call me or email me for more information about Rolfing, but please be patient—the process can be lengthy, these times are busy, and I want you to have the very best care.

Sharon Sklar is in her 40th year of private practice as a Certified Advanced Rolfer.

State licensed and the only Rolfer in Central CT, Sharon works with direct manipulation of the soft tissue of the body and movement re-education over a ten-session series to help her clients feel freer, get more balanced, and reduce chronic pain. Great for athletes, children, and adults recovering from the stress, injuries, and traumas of life. Call 860.561.4337 for more info or to schedule a consultation. www.SharonSklarRolfing.com.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

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Mindful Wandering in Nature

By Lauri Ingram

W

e can receive messages from the divine wherever we are, at any time. On a recent hike at Hidden Valley Preserve, I practiced wandering with intention, mindfully present to whatever may arise. What has arisen during my mindful wandering has brought me many lessons and many messages that I apply to my own life, and that I use as lessons to share with my clients.

Mindful practices allow us to name and bring our awareness to whatever may be happening in the moment. Emotion, feelings, and sensations are all part of our experience. Practicing allowance with compassion teaches us to move through what arises and accepting without judgment what our experience is showing us.

Allowing Nature to Guide Your Thoughts The day of my recent hike I was greeted with a beautiful, cool morning. My drive was pleasant, windows open, beautiful roads in a part of the state I had not yet explored. As I parked in the small lot, I heard a roar. With all the recent rain, the Shepaug River was running very fast, very loud. The energy coming from the river was inviting healing.

Before I set out, I deliberately brought to my mind an intention of being open and curious about any emotions that I may experience. Fear was primary, as it was my first walk on this trail. The last time I had hiked I had tripped, fallen, and broken my kneecap. Being alone on a new trail brought with it the fear of a recurrence, but I nevertheless continued on with compassion for myself.

I was keenly aware of my unease with not knowing exactly where I would go and what I would encounter. This perfectionism is rooted in my childhood, always seeking the perfect grades and wanting to be in the background—essentially be invisible—so as not to cause trouble. I had never made the connection between my childhood and my perpetual worry that I will make a mistake.

As I came to the end of my hike, I encountered another solo traveler. She did not have a map and asked if I realized there was not cell service there. I did not, felt a twinge of fear emerge, and then offered her my old school paper map. She also asked if I saw any bears, given the warning signs.

I had not seen any wildlife—and I had missed the signs as well!

I set the intention of allowing myself to simply wander along the path ahead of me, to go as far as I felt drawn to go. My hike was not intended to be long; the trails were easy and well-marked. I resisted any urge to check my cell phone and when the urge arose, I internally questioned where it came from. Was it a desire to be sure I had not missed an email or text?

Or was it an excuse to not be present to nature and my experience?

As I blessed her on her way and headed back over the Thoreau Suspension Bridge to my car, I realized that if I had known there was no cell service, or if I had seen those bear warning signs, I may not have entered the preserve. Yet I did not need my phone, nor did I encounter any bears. It made me wonder—how often have I been held back by my fear of something that may never happen? This is perhaps a question we should ask ourselves each day.

The Companionship of Spirit

I truly believe we minister and counsel where we have travelled ourselves. The spiritual journey lasts a lifetime, and I am honored to be a companion to others. Those who seek out spiritual counseling and modalities such as crystal dreaming are often looking for something deeper, something beneath the surface that is seeking healing.

Greeting others on the trail, I silently blessed their journey, wishing them ease and healing from nature. Such was the blessing I sought for myself. A day off from work, time to reflect, a pull into the woods, a path along a river, a sense of knowing that there was more happening than I was aware of.

Gratitude that my experience, my healing through my practices, would serve others.

When I decided to turn around and make my way back, somewhat disappointed I had not travelled as far as I would have liked, I was aware that I was gliding along with spirit at my side. Although every other hiker I met had a companion, whether human or canine, I did not feel alone.

From walking along the muddy path of the riverbanks, to the carpet of pine needles beneath a canopy of trees, I was not alone.

Lauri Ingram, ordained by One Spirit Interfaith Seminary and a certified Interspiritual Counselor, currently offers in-person sessions in her North Haven office, as well as by phone and Zoom. You can learn more about Lauri at www.lauriingram.com, email her at lauri@lauriingram.com or call 203.435.5650. www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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How Traditional Chinese Medicine Improves Digestion

By Kathlene Emond, LAc

I

magine you are about to cook something. Assuming you have already prepped your ingredients, what is the first thing you do?

You turn on the stove. Fire is a necessary component of cooking.

Likewise, from a Chinese medicine perspective, fire is needed in the body in order to properly break down the foods we eat in order to utilize the nutrients they contain.

Before we are born, we receive all the nutrients we need to sustain us through the umbilical cord. Once that cord is severed, our digestive system becomes fully responsible for manufacturing all the qi/energy and blood we will need each day for the rest of our lives. Having a strong Earth element/digestive system is the foundation to leading productive, optimal lives. It is so fundamental, there is even a school—called the Earth school—dedicated to it. The Earth school views all disease processes as having their original root cause in digestive dysfunction.

How Does Chinese Medicine View Digestion?

There are several main organs involved in digestion. The pathway begins at the mouth, where mechanical and some early chemical breakdown of food creates a bolus. Digestion of simple carbohydrates is first on the to-do list, with salivary amylase beginning its enzymatic process as soon as food enters the mouth. Then, travel20

Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

ing down the length of the esophagus, the bolus enters the stomach where it encounters hydrochloric acid and more mechanical breakdown. The spleen/pancreas (in the Chinese medicine view, the pancreas is part of spleen), liver, and gallbladder provide enzymes and bile, respectively, to continue breaking down key components such as proteins and fats. The vagus nerve then signals the stomach to begin contracting in order to move what is now called chyme into the small intestine, where most of the absorption of the broken-down nutrients occurs. The small intestine is said to “separate the clear from the turbid”—what serves us is taken in, and what we do not need gets shuffled off to the large intestine. It is here that fermentation occurs, and excess water is reabsorbed from the forming stool. Finally, the stool moves into the rectum and is expelled once the rectum is full and stretch receptors send the signal that it is time to contract.

Proper digestion, like everything, involves a dynamic and delicate balance of yin and yang. Fire is considered yang in Chinese medicine. After our food has been sufficiently broken down and there is no further need for yang, the stomach yin (which Western medicine would call probiotics) tempers the yang back to its appropriate base level until the next time we eat. This would be equivalent to turning the burner off, something we often worry we didn’t do, and for good reason!

of transforming dampness in the body. Give it more work for the same amount of pay, and you will definitely hear complaints! Raw foods are physically tougher to break down than cooked foods are.

According to Chinese medicine, those who have weak digestive fire should not eat a raw, vegan-type diet, because they will not be able to break down all that vegetable cellulose into useable energy. You will end up feeling sluggish, tired, and undernourished.

It is important to remember that there are both constitutional causes and environmental/lifestyle causes for digestive issues.

If one or both of your parents struggle with digestive issues, it is likely that you will also struggle, as you cannot receive energetics that were unavailable at the time of your development. Other lifestyle factors such as eating just prior to bedtime, eating on the run, skipping meals, and the inability to manage stress can all play a role in throwing our digestion off the rails.

How Does Stress Impact Digestion? Can Acupuncture Help?

It is important not to eat when you are rushing. You are nourishing yourself, and this should be done mindfully. Proper digestion happens when the parasympathetic state is dominant—you may have heard the phrase “rest and digest.” When we are rushing, we are in a sympathetic state of arousal, and therefore we have triggers being sent to our muscles to prepare for fight or flight.

This shuts down processes not essential to immediate survival, which means the stove gets turned off. Food that sits in a pot on the stove with the burner off will most certainly begin to putrefy.

Similarly, you should not eat when stressed. According to Chinese medicine, the liver is the organ most susceptible to stress.

The smooth flow of qi in the body is managed by the liver. When stressed, our qi stagnates. Think of the stress knots you get in your upper trapezius—those can also happen in the intercostal muscles that line our flanks. This is significant because qi needs to move downward for proper digestion to occur. Acupuncture can help by opening special “gate” points in the rib, which are meant to ease this diaphragmatic tension to allow the qi to once again move down freely.

Chinese Herbs in Digestion

Signs of Digestive System Issues The liver sits adjacent to the stomach and spleen, and when it gets bound up it takes it out on those around it. When the liver acts upon the stomach, you may experience acid reflux.

With unchecked stomach heat, it could even turn into recurrent nosebleeds over time. Stomach qi should move downward, and this bullying from the liver upsets the proper directionality of the stomach qi, causing it to rise and resulting in symptoms that flow upward.

When the liver overacts on the spleen you will see signs such as loose stool and bloating, especially after meals. Spleen qi normally moves up to hold things in its proper place. When spleen function is damaged, things start moving downward. You may notice other signs of what we call “spleen qi fall,” such as hemorrhoids, hernias, or varicose veins. If spleen qi continues to malfunction, it could even contribute to herniated discs in the spinal column, which Chinese medicine would view as a type of prolapse.

The spleen is highly reactive to greasy, cold, fried, overly spicy, and raw foods. Cold foods produce more damp (along with sugar/simple carbs) and therefore hinder the spleen’s task

There is a known correlation between leaky gut and autoimmunity.

The first step for patients is to secure the integrity of the gastrointestinal lining to promote optimal absorption in order for herbs to be an effective treatment strategy. It may be that acupuncture, diet/ lifestyle modifications, and supplements should be considered first before being able to employ herbal therapy. Often, instead of asking what we can add, first we must ask what can be eliminated that may be contributing to the problem. Less is more, as adding things will have a systemic effect on all body systems. Therefore, it is important to be conservative when it comes to herbs.

When it comes to the aforementioned constitutional legacies—your mother’s IBS; your father’s heartburn—this is where herbs shine. Herbs can make up the difference in what we would need for each organ system to be healthy enough to not present with symptoms of disease. Whereas most pharmaceuticals are used to squelch invading critters, Chinese medicine’s approach is to make individuals themselves more optimal and resilient, so we are able to adequately fend off invading factors and pathogens— we can actually target and strengthen specific organs.

Herbal medicine turbo-charges your acupuncture sessions, and the strategy is usually short term. Once the pattern shifts, the herbs are no longer needed, and the new balanced state is maintained with acupuncture, diet, and lifestyle changes. Our ultimate aim is for a system to be in charge of itself, functioning optimally all on its own. www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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What Do Cravings Mean?

There are five “tastes” in Chinese medicine: salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and bland. Cravings for salt means dehydration, or accumulations; the salty taste dissolves hardness. Cravings for sweets/damp-producing foods like sugar and refined carbs can often mean that there is some kind of internal heat that the body is attempting to put a wet blanket over to mitigate scorching.

Cravings for dark chocolate almost certainly point to magnesium deficiency. If you are the type to get calf cramping in the night, this might be a craving you feel more often than others. If you are ravenous at night, you most certainly did not reach your calorie quota for the day.

What Should I Eat, and When?

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all diet. People have vastly different constitutions, and therefore, there should be as many diets as there are people. In fact, the same people may need different diets depending on their age, their activity level, or even the season of the year we are in. Animals forage and eat what grows at that time in the environment. Deer along the Connecticut coastline eat rose hips before the first frost. These are high in vitamin C, and they do this at the turn of the season so that they can stave off illness.

Humans tend to forget that in nature, we are animals too. Chinese medicine is simple in that way—it is governed by observing the world around us. If we eat what is growing seasonally, we will be provided with the exact nutrients we need to support us. Therefore, as the winter months approach, we need to ensure we have enough yang to fortify us against the external influence of cold. We should generally be eating more soups with bones, lamb and beef stews with root vegetables, and incorporating herbs and spices such as garlic, turmeric, and chai.

Those who have internal heat patterns or yang rising patterns may find that their symptoms worsen if they eat these types of foods. These are the same people that look forward to the winter months, because the cold tempers their internal fire.

Time of day is also a consideration when balancing yin and yang. Yang corresponds to day and yin corresponds to night; as such, there are certain activities that are meant to be done during the yang, or active, part of the day, one of these being digestion.

The stomach yang is most active around noon, so it is best to eat a big breakfast, a hearty lunch, and a modest dinner, not much later than 4 pm.

Whereas most pharmaceuticals are used to squelch invading critters, Chinese medicine’s approach is to make individuals themselves more optimal and resilient, so we are able to adequately fend off invading factors and pathogens—we can actually target and strengthen specific organs.

Is Working with a Chinese Medicine Practitioner Right for Me? We are dynamic beings constantly in flux. As such, there is always room for movement in any direction at any time. This underlying premise of Chinese medicine results in the most important factor I believe that contributes to wellness—hope. Getting acupuncture once a week is one opportunity a week to shift your pattern. Herbs can be 14 opportunities each week. Diet can be 21 opportunities, assuming you eat three meals a day.

Finally, it is vital to work with someone who understands your specific needs, as well as to do your own homework to determine how certain foods make you feel. Food diaries can be laborious, but a good 2–3-week, consistent effort pays out large dividends.

This may be especially true for those suffering from migraines, as many foods, such as nuts and bananas, can be triggers. Many problems could be avoided if we have the awareness to make the appropriate choices for ourselves. Having an objective Chinese medicine guide on your side might just be the advantage you need to get that digestive system back into shape.

Kathlene Emond, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist/ herbalist, and a diplomate of Asian medicine as granted by the NCCAOM. She is dual licensed in CT and NY state, and completed her Chinese medicine training at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, now Pacific College of Health and Science, in Manhattan. She belongs to the CTSA, Connecticut Society of Acupuncture, and practices in Glastonbury near her hometown of South Windsor. She is passionate about educating her patients and the general public about the modern applications of ancient Chinese medicine. Her own personal healing journey led her to developing a more holistic approach. She specializes in digestive health, autoimmunity, anxiety/stress, women’s health, and fertility. Call 860.633.6022 for more information or to schedule a consultation. www.ctfamilyacupuncture.com. See ad on page 30.

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Ask Dana! A Column Where Personal Finance and Life Intersect

By Dana R. Mascalo, CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(k)P®

T

he clock is ticking! With the end of the year approaching, here are some important financial planning and tax reminders to consider before 2021 is in the rearview mirror.

Eight Important Reminders for 2021 1. Your income in 2021. Now is the time to assess what your expected 2021 taxable income will be. One major consideration that makes tax planning crucial this year are the policy proposals on the table that could increase taxes and capital gains, among other tax code changes. Also, similar to what we saw in 2020, many jobs and income levels changed this year due to the economic recovery, people moving, or going back to work. Depending on your personal circumstances, either consider tax planning strategies that can reduce taxable income now or, if it may help you in the future, increase your taxable income now at lower potential rates. You could consider Roth conversions, funding pretax or Roth retirement plans, creative profit sharing moves for business owners, tax bracket management, gifting, and so much more.

2. Investment gains and losses. If you are an investor with taxable, non-retirement accounts, you may have experienced tremendous growth in your investments over the last several years. Now is the time for assessing realized capital gains and tax loss harvesting. Although we are mindful of this for our clients’

Seeking outside advice from professionals when you need it for tax, legal, or financial advice can make the overall process easier and less stressful for you.

investment accounts all year long, the fourth quarter is “the most wonderful time of the year” to manage the gains and losses in taxable investment accounts. Use this time to see how you have done with your investments and determine if you want to sell to take any gains or losses in 2021. And remember—this is even more important if the increased capital gains tax is placed into effect.

3. Are you saving enough through your employer retirement plans? Take a moment now to check your paystub details and see how much you have saved this year. December 31 is the last day for elective contributions through your employer 401(k)/403(b) plans. For 2021, the maximum contributions are typically $19,500 if you are under 50, with $6,500 catch up if over 50.

4. Are you a small business owner without a retirement plan? If the answer is yes, there is still time to set up certain plan types by December 31, 2021. Ask your personal advisor or tax professional

what the best plan is for your business. If you don’t have an advisor, give our team a shout and we will be your guide (with bells on)!

5. Investment allocation review time!

Are you positioned for the current market risks we are seeing today, such as COVID, inflation, higher taxes, political concerns, international risks, and so on?

Remember to review your allocation and see if you are where you want to be, or simply review your accounts with a qualified advisor.

6. Feeling charitable? For those who make larger contributions, consider the following for the most bang for your buck: • Qualified Charitable Deductions from IRAs (for those over 72) • Donating appreciated stock from taxable accounts • Clustering annual donations with donor-advised funds This is a huge area of interest right now, especially for higher-income clients facing large tax bills. Please see our website or contact TrinityPoint Wealth for more information.

7. How about your estate plan?

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8. What makes you happiest? As one of our partners, Michael Smiley, says in his year-end planning with clients, “What makes you happiest? Set a goal to do more of that—whatever it is— over the coming weeks, months, and year ahead!”

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Please pause and take a moment to consider the important reminders above. I think you will find yourself feeling grateful you did. And please remember, seeking outside advice from professionals when you need it for tax, legal, or financial advice can make the overall process easier and less stressful for you. If you don’t know where to turn, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Wishing you peace and universal support in the days ahead, one day at a time. ~Dana Dana R. Mascalo, CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(k)P®, is a Managing Partner with TrinityPoint Wealth, an independent SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm in Milford, CT and Charlotte, NC. Dana advises high net worth clients with complex needs and is sought after by individuals, families, business owners and executives all over CT and the United States. Acting as their personal CFO, Dana looks at a client’s entire financial life with a visionary lens, advising on investment portfolios, retirement planning, stock options, life transitions, exit planning for business owners, customized advanced cash-flow planning and multi-generational wealth transfer strategies.

This material presented is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. TrinityPoint Wealth, nor its investment advisory representatives are permitted to provide legal or tax advice, and nothing contained in these materials should be taken as legal or tax advice. See ad on page 43.

Massage Therapy as Treatment for Fibromyalgia

By Kristina Mozzicato, LMT, BCTMB

F

ibromyalgia is a pain condition that is fairly common throughout the United States. Although there is no cure, there are various treatment options available. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), “massage therapy can be a beneficial part of an integrative treatment plan for those who suffer with fibromyalgia syndrome.”

There is no one treatment that cures fibromyalgia or relieves all of the symptoms, so an integrative approach tends to work best for most people.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

How Massage Can Help

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by muscle pain and tenderness throughout the body. More specifically, symptoms consist of chronic pain in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues; fatigue and difficulty sleeping; headaches; and cognitive difficulties. According to the National Institutes of Health, it is estimated that fibromyalgia affects five million Americans over the age of 18 and of those, between 80 and 90 percent of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women. However, it may also affect men and children. Most people are diagnosed during middle age.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), “Fibromyalgia is a pain condition frequently seen by health care providers, and one in which there often is no universally effective treatment. Studies have found that up to 91% of people with fibromyalgia use some form of CAM, and up to 75% use massage therapy.” A study in 2011 demonstrated that massage therapy caused reductions in sensitivity to pain at tender points. Additionally, a 2014 study (which reviewed several other studies concerning the effects of massage therapy on fibromyalgia patients) found that therapeutic massage had immediate beneficial effects on improving pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with fibromyalgia. According to this same study, massage therapy is particularly effective when administered to soft and connective tissues, since it improves muscle flexibility as well as regulating local blood and lymph circulation.

More recent research has suggested that the syndrome is actually a nervous system disorder. This explains why fibromyalgia patients tend to be hypersensitive to different stimuli. According to Dr. Michael Schneider, associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of multiple studies on fibromyalgia, “The classic fibromyalgia patient just isn’t tender to the touch and can’t submit to mechanical pressure. They’re sensitive to light, sound, [may have] multiple food allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities, and they don’t tolerate heat and cold real well.”

Although it is unknown what exactly causes fibromyalgia, it is thought to be the result of stressful or traumatic events, repetitive injuries, or certain diseases. According to some scientists, a person’s genes can make them overreact to certain stimuli that other people would not find painful. People living with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) are thought to be more likely to also have fibromyalgia.

In addition, women who have a family member with this disorder may be more likely to experience fibromyalgia themselves.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) acknowledges that although sample sizes are small, research indicates that in respect to fibromyalgia syndrome, massage can: • Reduce pain • Improve quality of life • Decrease anxiety • Decrease depression • Increase sleep hours and quality of sleep • Reduce tender points • Decrease use of analgesics www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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• Decrease cortisol levels • Decrease stiffness and fatigue • Work well in an integrative treatment plan Combining Treatments for Improved Relief Although many people living with fibromyalgia tend to be very sensitive to touch, I have worked with some clients in my massage practice who can actually tolerate relatively deep pressure. For clients who are sensitive to touch, light to medium Swedish massage is typically well tolerated. Since every fibromyalgia client is unique, it is important that I always make sure they are comfortable with the amount of pressure being applied during their massage. Hot stone massage is very relaxing to the fibromyalgia client, as the heat helps to sedate the nervous system. Cupping (also known as vacuum therapies) is also very effective in sedating the nervous system. Several other common conditions (insomnia, auto-immune disorders, and PTSD) also benefit from nervous system sedation. Since cupping provides relief of chronic inflammation and lymph congestion, it is an effective approach in relieving conditions such as fibromyalgia.

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There is no one treatment that cures fibromyalgia or relieves all of the symptoms, so an integrative approach tends to work best for most people. There are prescription medications that may be effective, and self-care is very important to help control the major symptoms of fibromyalgia. This includes getting enough sleep, exercising, following a nutritious diet, and, of course, therapeutic massage treatment has been shown to positively benefit fibromyalgia patients.

Kristina Mozzicato is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork by the NCBTMB. A 2009 graduate of the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, she is also certified in Cupping and ACE MediCupping™.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

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Give Yourself the Gift of Being Heard

By Caroline Wetzel, CFP®, CDFA®, AWMA®

D

o you enjoy feeling heard and understood? My clients and I do, too. Over time, clients have graciously referred to me as their “sounding board,” “thought partner,” and “trusted advisor.” Together we create a safe space that is free of judgment to talk about what is important to them. This healthy environment is conducive to conversation and enables me to understand both what clients like about their finances as well as their financial pain points. With this information, I can advise clients on their financial choices so they can make informed decisions and optimize their financial health.

As we prepare to celebrate the season of giving, consider giving yourself an independent view on your current approach to your finances. Accept my open invitation to a complimentary thirty-minute consultation to talk about what is important to you and whether my fiduciary team is best positioned to assist you with your financial needs. To illustrate what this looks like, the following is an account of a consultation I offered recently.

Preparing for Your Future Georgia* is an accomplished doctor who had read an article I had written. After following me on social media for a bit, she requested a consultation. In preparation for the conversation, I invited Georgia to send me her financial statements and answer the following questions: • What do you like about your finances?

• What do you not like about your finances?

As we prepare to celebrate the season of giving, consider giving yourself an independent view on your current approach to your finances.

• How would you like your finances to be different?

• What questions are on your mind?

After I received her information, I reviewed it and prepared some thoughts for our discussion.

As we began our time together, Georgia confided in me, “I should let you know that someone has been managing my investments for years. I reached out because I like what you have to say, and I wonder what it would be like to work with your team.”

I thanked Georgia for her honesty and assured her that most of my clients had other advisors before they decided to work exclusively with my team. To start our conversation, I asked Georgia to share what she understood already about my team and me. I listened to Georgia and provided her additional details about who we are, what we do, and what clients pay us for our services.

With this context, we began talking about Georgia. She is an independent, accomplished woman in her 50s with no partner or children. After graduating from business and medical school, Georgia focused on building her career, paying off student loans, and saving for the future.

Georgia maximized her contributions to her company retirement plan and invested, enabling her to build a substantial amount of wealth. While her investments were “fine,” Georgia didn’t pay much attention to them and said that her advisor would reach out around once a year and let her know that things “were good.”

Make Your Wishes Known Given this background, I asked Georgia what I said that had inspired her to ask for a consultation. She explained that in her professional experience, when patients understood their health options they felt better, and so she took time to educate her patients on their choices. Georgia saw in my articles and social media posts that I followed a similar approach: I advise clients on their financial choices so they could experience peace of mind.

Considering this, Georgia and I discussed her answers to my consultation questions. We uncovered that while things “felt fine” with her finances, Georgia was craving something more, especially as she began thinking about her retirement in the next 15 years, her desire to share her wealth over time with causes she believed in, and the legacy she wanted to leave for loved ones. We began to chat about what retirement looked like for her, the organizations that were important to her, and who she wished to share her wealth with over time.

Communication Is Key At the end of the conversation, we confirmed that Georgia’s main financial pain point was a desire to organize, coordinate, www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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Shortly after our conversation, Georgia began working with my team and me; she transferred her investments from her former advisor to my fiduciary team. Today we continue to manage them according to the financial plan we developed for Georgia, and she and I speak regularly to ensure we continue to be on the same page with her finances as life inevitably changes.

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of peace of mind when it comes to your finances. Like Georgia, have the courage to pause from your busy routine, explore what it’s like to be heard when it comes to managing your finances, and consider a fresh way forward for 2022. *Georgia is a pseudonym. Her name has been changed and some details generalized for this article.

Caroline Wetzel is one of Natural Nutmeg’s 10Best Winners for Business/Life Coach. Caroline is a Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) and Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor with Procyon Private Wealth Partners, LLC. Procyon Private Wealth Partners, LLC and Procyon Institutional Partners, LLC (collectively “Procyon Partners”) are registered investment advisors with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This article is provided for informational purposes only and for the intended recipient[s] only.

This article may also include opinions and forward-looking statements which may not come to pass. Information is at a point in time and subject to change. Procyon Partners does not provide tax or legal advice. https://www.procyonpartners.net.

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and structure her finances and investments according to an intentional plan that aligned with what was important to her. Georgia also valued having ongoing conversations to assess her progress on her plan. Georgia’s face lit up with joy when I summarized our discussion in this way—she said she “felt heard.” I told her this was just the beginning—this was how clients and I work regularly, and it would be a privilege to continue this collaboration with her.

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Spiritual Health for Today’s Woman

By Michele Hamida Rabinowitz

A

s I reflected on the topic of spiritual health and pondered how I would bring this message to women, I had to go deep into my own heart. What is spiritual health, and how do I translate the many years of deep exploration and seeking of my own truth and health on all levels, body, mind, soul, and spirit?

some sort of childhood trauma, which plays a huge role in contributing to our feeling cut off and separated.

inner strength, self-awareness, and daily spiritual practice, igniting our creativity and knowing who we are; and most importantly, we have to develop a deeper connection to the divine essence that lives inside each one of us.

Connecting with Our Spirit

In the past year, we have been challenged in ways like never before; our core has been shaken and old ways of being don’t seem to fit anymore. As I question these changes and look deeper to understand, I ask myself, “What is the wisdom we need to know at this time?” We have fallen asleep and our spirits are calling us to wake up, to go deeper, to know who we are and why we are here in these unprecedented times. It is a time to ask ourselves what is missing and what is needed to fulfill our lives in a way that brings us more joy, love, and connection and to know who we are in the deepest way.

The common thread that runs through all of creation is our spirit. As we grow older, we begin to lose that divine connection and start looking outside of ourselves, turning to the world. By the time we are about eight years old, our ego is already formed. From there we continue to cover our spirit and block ourselves because of both our natural desire to do so and lack of connection to our spirit. In addition, most of us—if not all of us—have had

Strengthen Your Spiritual Connection

Women carry a certain light that is part of creation; it is different from the light men carry. Women can tend the garden, cook a meal, heal a wound, and wipe a tear while holding the hearts of her loved ones. A woman knows how to do this innately, yet there comes a time when she burns out, loses her patience, doesn’t feel fulfilled, and is running on empty. How can we live a life that is in more alignment with who we are? To become better mothers, partners, friends, sisters, and daughters?

As with any tools or practices we do on a day-to-day basis to keep ourselves healthy, we can also learn ways that nourish our spirit and soul. When we strengthen our spiritual connection, it builds resilience and spiritual backbone, which is important when faced with challenges, both personal and collective. To strengthen this backbone, we have to love ourselves; connect to our innate wisdom; develop

We must first tend to our own garden, our own wounds, and feed our spirit to receive the nourishment it needs to heal.

We need to be honest and look at all areas of our life to find balance, wholeness, and truth. The time is here, and the time is now, for us to step up and heal the wounds we have been carrying our whole lives, for our ancestors and for the generations to come after us. It is time to realize our true nature

There has always been a calling, a desire to know who I was from a very young age. Due to a birth trauma I almost died from, it makes sense to want to understand why I chose life. When someone faces death at any age, it often becomes part of their life’s work or purpose to guide others to help them connect to their own divine essential nature.

The Spirit of Woman

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is not outside of us, but inside. We have to listen deeper so we can hear the call and respond with reverence and an understanding of what is being asked of us in this moment, in this breath, in these times. Are we listening?

Please take my hand—let’s breathe this breath together as one heart. As we hold the heart of the world we form a sisterhood, a new beginning, a way to support each other as we journey through this life.

The world needs healing and most of all love for ourselves, for our children, for our planet, and for each other. Women are the mothers, wisdom keepers, guardians, crones, sages, medicine women, and healers. We are being called to heal ourselves and return to who we were created to be, and from this place we can heal Mother Earth and all of her creation.

Michele Hamida Rabinowitz has been a licensed massage therapist/bodyworker and a holistic healthcare practitioner for the past 28 years. Her skill and expertise are rooted in healing the deeper layers of trauma in the mind, body, heart and spirit. Michele’s passion is helping women return to their innate wisdom and essential nature that is waiting to be “birthed.” She draws from many ancient and sacred traditions to assist the healing journey. Michele is best known for guiding her clients to understand and heal the subconscious patterns that hold them back from living a more connected and embodied life. Michele can be reached at info@michelehamida.com. Visit her website at www.MicheleHamida.com.

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A Metaphysical Dive into the Dynamics of the Pandemic

By Mary Anne Costerella, MA, LADC

A

s a licensed integrative/addictions psychotherapist and spiritual scientist, I weave ancient wisdoms of psychology with contemporary philosophy to treat emotional trauma and addictive process. I believe the collective body of our world is a physical representation of the world’s internal soul’s experience—COVID-19 was “allowed” to happen because of the diminishment and loss of existential meaning (soul purpose) in the world.

Instead, EGO focus (Edging God Out) represented by money, greed, power, global elitism, technology, workaholism, substance use disorders, addiction to the Reader’s Digest view of life, toxic eating, and compulsive self-reliance became the newly glamorized “drugs of choice.” Technocrats gained power because screen/ device addiction, AKA electronic brains, created more value and revenue than human beings.

Will “I Am Not a Robot” Devolve into “I Am Not a Human Being”?

Do you consider the possibility of “men behind the curtain” of conventional politics (a proverbial deep state) intent upon a Great Reset to gain full control of the human system? Or perhaps we contribute to our own slavery through device addiction and then become adolescently curious about why socializing other than virtually meets with significant resistance?

The vaccine is the popular narrative, the easy fix, the one-sizefits-all, effortless remedy—the 100-yard dash vs. the marathon.

Our disinterest in the truth setting us free breeds the most dangerous drug on the planet—denial. The cultural apathy about vaccine pharmaceuticals parallels our malaise concerning the ingredients and inflammatory dangers of alcohol, fast food, sugar, marijuana, and other drugs that endanger the brain, heart, gut, and lungs—they provide transient relief via antidepressants and anxiety medications prescribed ad nauseum for broken hearts and historical traumas.

Grief cannot be healed with chemicals.

Have Ethical Concerns Devolved into Systemic Financial Motivations?

Our world culture is suffering from the repression of traumatized grief exacerbated by the industry’s collusion to tamp down human emotion with medications that support the system’s financial addiction—greed. Will the vaccine’s massive implementation into our new world culture allow us to revert to a stagnated addictive existence, a relapse to the old normal to excuse us from doing the work?

The injection does not require a lifestyle change; in other words, we need not bother strengthening the immune system through regular exercise, nutritional adjustments, therapy (individual, couples, family), decreasing alcoholism and workaholism, technology, gaming, internet pornography, and so on.

Technology is a process addiction—we are gradually losing our voices; we speak and communicate from a distance with less affect, emotion, connection, concern, and empathy for ourselves and others; our brains are multitasking, creating a metastatic apathy for the needs of the heart and soul.

The Physical in the Metaphysical Metaphysically speaking, the virus threatens our lungs, the breath organs, because they are the home for each individual life. Our spirit reminds us to heal our unsanitary container—the body. If the sacred continuum of life is represented by breath and the mask devalues our need to breathe and talk, it is ironic that the mask and virus both attack and compromise the fullness of our breath and voices.

I question whether vaccine efficacy is waning because the head of science—a vaccine detox—is an easy yet impotent cure for the loss of emotional and spiritual meaning. Every human being has suffered traumatizing family-of-origin experiences; unfortunately, trauma and addiction treatment continue to carry the stigma of shame in a world in which we are encouraged to “hide www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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our issues in our tissues.” Complying with the status quo of “healing” using antidepressants, anxiety medications, and addictive pain relievers create a generational re-wounding.

I am questioning that if we utilize the vaccine as the detox exit from the internal experience of deep healing, how then will we cure the causative malignancy inflaming the soul of our culture—running, avoiding, distracting, pleasure-seeking? Where does our non-life-sustaining clutter reside—in our bodies, psyches, closets, garages, offices, relationships?

Our human energy is diminishing. The internal light is flickering in deference to technology, an “ism” created to minimize and devalue human life. Social distancing enables the virtual world to present as the reality of choice. Screen viruses intentionally create a “social distance” between the user and their real world. We need to remember we have no control over life and death—not pre- nor post-COVID-19. On our destined transition date, there will be only a two-part question asked of us: “How well did you love, and how well did you live?”

Healing through Unconditional Love 2021 challenges us to experience the withdrawal phase of this comprehensive addictive process and begin the real work following 2020’s detox. Is the impending need for additional boosters an intuitive reminder that we cannot Band-Aid a spiritual disease from the outside in? Grief, depression, trauma, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and addictions necessitate “inside-out” treatment, or cause before symptom; the symptom presents a challenge to the patient and clinician to locate the cause, and not simply to continually treat the symptom ad infinitum without ethical concern for its origin.

Robert Whitaker’s Anatomy of an Epidemic investigates the biological causes of mental disorders and poses the question: Do psychiatric medications fix chemical imbalances in the brain, or do they, in fact, create them? Will the vaccine eradicate the SARS-2 epidemic, or will it increase the amount of immunocompromised human beings on this planet? It is my belief that the biological, psycho-emotional, and spiritual pandemic is a

tragically collaborative result of running scared from the individual truth of our individual traumas, the intergenerational wounding we incessantly choose to avoid and then legacy to our children, who then pass it on to their offspring, ad infinitum.

People are heard saying, “this is never going to end,” inferring that the biological pandemic seems to be easier to address and places value the physical wound, rarely tending to the emotional and/or spiritual causation. I am sad and scared to admit we need to begin a truth dive into the origin of this virus I choose to call FEAR (Face Everything and Run), now medicated by governmental and global control of freedom that was once identified as democracy.

David Brooks, a New York Times columnist, penned the book The Road to Character—the thematic comparison between the resume profile vs. the eulogy profile. The resume profile is an earthly, egoic goal composed of education and work history, awards, financial success, and so on. The eulogy profile is a meta-transitional goal required of each soul in a body to live with integrity despite an unawareness of when or how transition will occur. The Universe seeks holistic healing, asking us to love unconditionally with kindness and without judgment. Perhaps daily exercise, a cleaner diet, listening more, talking less, reading non-internet material, practicing yoga and meditation, journaling, befriending our shadow (our angers, betrayals, abandonments), practicing random acts of kindness, reducing drama and negativity, befriending nature, animals, children and the elderly, valuing wisdom over intellect, and so on, can help us to an existence of unconditional love.

Mary Anne Costerella, MA, LADC, is a metaphysician, integrative psychotherapist, graduate of the Magi Fellowship Counselor Training Program, nationally certified Destiny Card Reader, and ongoing student of the Ancient Wisdoms. She utilizes the Destiny Card System in conjunction with Astrology, Numerology, and Personology to provide clients with an integrated approach on their journey to personal transformation. Mary Anne holds a BA in Secondary Education, an MA in Counseling Psychology and Pastoral Counseling, and is a certified Addictions Specialist. www.maryannecosterella.com. See ad page 2.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

Reversing Prediabetes to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

By Erika Dworkin, BCHN®

A

diagnosis of prediabetes increases your risk for type 2 diabetes, but it does not necessarily follow that you will be afflicted with the disease. You can begin to reverse your condition with changes in your lifestyle, diet, and mental outlook. Various healing modalities, including dietary supplements and certified pure tested grade essential oils (EOs), can also provide valuable support.

In the United States, 88 million adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. What’s more, more than 84% of them don’t know they have it.

With prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes raises your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States…

[It] is the No. 1 cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness. In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.

—Centers for Disease Control

What Is Prediabetes?

The islets of Langerhans, irregularly shaped patches of endocrine tissue located in the pancreas, secrete the anabolic hormone insulin. Insulin regulates glucose, the sugar from food that the body uses for energy when it enters the cells of the liver, muscle, and fat. When those cells do not respond well to insulin and therefore cannot easily take up glucose from your blood, your pancreas creates more insulin to aid in the absorption of glucose. Blood glucose levels will stay in the healthy range as long as the pancreas can make enough insulin to overcome the cells’ insulin resistance. If the pancreas overreacts to insulin resistance, the resulting hyperinsulinemia increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and decreases health span and life expectancy.

A prediabetic patient has glucose levels higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed a diabetic, and often has some insulin resistance or a

pancreas that makes an inadequate amount of insulin to keep blood glucose in a normal range. Normal fasting glucose is lower than 100 mg/dl. The test results for prediabetes, also known as impaired glucose tolerance, are: 1. A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 100–125 mg/dl 2. Postpandrial glucose (PPG; 2 hours after eating), or oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose, of 140–199 mg/dl 3. A1C (average blood sugar for the past 2–3 months) of 5.7–6.4% According to the American Diabetes Association, patients almost always develop prediabetes before they succumb to type 2 diabetes. Since there are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, it is generally diagnosed when a patient is tested for diabetes. Prediabetics should be tested for diabetes every 1–2 years.

Modifying the Lifestyle Choices behind Prediabetes If your doctor has diagnosed you as prediabetic or has advised you that you are headed in that direction, you have the power to improve your health and prevent type 2 diabetes through various lifestyle changes. These include modifications that can lead to weight loss and improve your overall physical well-being: 1. Change your diet. Try the Mediterranean or keto diet and increase fiber consumption. Eat fewer white, refined, empty-calorie carbohydrates and synthetic sweeteners (e.g., high-fructose corn syrup, sodas, juices, sweets, breads/crackers, potato chips/other snacks). Lower trans/ saturated fat and sugar intake, reduce portion sizes, and try intermittent fasting and vegetable juicing. Drink more high-quality water (up to half your body weight in ounces) and drink less alcohol. www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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2. Exercise regularly. Over-exercising can be counterproductive when attempting to lose weight to lower blood sugar. Aim to find 20 minutes each day to walk, ride a stationary bike or treadmill, or exercise in some other way you enjoy. To increase HGH and burn more fat, try increasing your pace as much as possible for 30–60 seconds every two minutes (called HIIT, or high intensity interval training).

Weight resistance exercises will build more muscle, which in turn will enable your body to burn more fat.

3. Reduce inflammation. Dietary supplements, including omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin from turmeric, can be especially supportive in combatting the inflammation that accompanies prediabetes. Quitting smoking and eliminating pro-inflammatory foods—dairy, gluten (in barley, wheat, rye), nightshades, lectins (or treat foods to inactivate them)— are also critical steps.

4. Attend to sleep issues. Researchers have discovered a link between higher blood sugar levels and sleeping fewer than five or more than eight hours per night. In one randomized controlled parallel group sleep study of 39 participants, researchers determined that addressing sleep apnea improves glucose metabolism in prediabetics.

EOs that can promote healthier sleep patterns include lavender, vetiver, and Roman chamomile.

Studies have established that taking steps to change your personal mental outlook can also greatly improve your physical health. Chronic stress/low stress resilience and anxiety are well-established risk factors for depression, and all increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. This is thought to be the case particularly because negative mindsets are associated with suboptimal self-care. There are a wide variety of tools that reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, including consciousness management (see theavatarcourse.com), EOs (those above that promote sleep, as well as frankincense, tangerine, and wild orange), meditation, prayer, yoga, tai chi, journaling, and aerobic exercise.

Adding Dietary Supplements to Your Daily Regimen A broad range of dietary supplements and EOs can address the multiple factors implicated in prediabetes. The following are just a few that have proven especially successful in scientific studies and clinical practice.

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

• Blood sugar: Magnesium not only relaxes muscles, reduces stress, and enhances sleep, but it also helps manage insulin and carbohydrate metabolism. In one review of 26 studies that included 1,168 people, researchers found that those with the highest regular intake of magnesium had a 22% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who regularly consumed the least magnesium. They concluded that magnesium supplementation appeared to be advisable in those at high-risk for diabetes.

Certain EOs can combat prediabetes when used internally: • Coriander: Promotes a healthy insulin response.

• Cinnamon/cassia: Balance blood sugar levels.

• Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

• Sleep, stress, and anxiety: The causes of sleep disturbance and heightened stress best determine the appropriate remedies. Though no single remedy or combination of remedies suits all those who suffer sleep-deprivation or stress/anxiety, clinical practice has proven these to be supportive of both conditions, in some cases by lowering cortisol: • Inositol (a sugar that supports the processing of insulin; may help balance brain chemicals);

the gut with probiotics can reduce chronic systemic inflammation, l ower body weight, and improve insulin sensitivity and glucose and fat metabolism.

• Ashwagandha (an ayurvedic, adaptogenic herb that helps the body cope better with daily stress, anxiety, mental, and physical fatigue, and depression); • Melatonin (the sleep hormone produced by the pineal gland; especially helpful for the elderly); • Magnesium glycinate (bound to L-glycine, a relaxing amino acid); • Relora® (magnolia and phellodendron); and • a clinically studied variety of Echinacea angustifolia root extract.

• Weight loss: Whether a supplement will support weight loss largely depends on the reasons an individual gains and/or retains weight, such as hormonal imbalances, age, compulsive or emotional/stress eating, inactivity, food addiction, and impeding perspectives on food. Berberine (compared to metformin in studies), known as an AMPK enzyme activator, is a well-studied plant compound known to lower blood sugar, balance body lipids, and combat obesity.

Chromium (especially Chromemate) is a trace mineral that increases insulin sensitivity and facilitates uptake of glucose in the cells. Researchers have demonstrated that supplemented chromium lowers body weight but increases lean body mass. Studies to date have demonstrated that modifying the bacteria naturally found in

DID YOU KNOW THAT

ARE OFTEN THE ROOT CAUSE OF

Success breeds success. Rather than trying to make the above changes all at once, thereby allowing them to overwhelm you, work on moving toward better health one step at a time. Once you see improvements from one lifestyle change, you will be motivated, even excited, to begin taking additional steps.

See this full article online at www.naturalnutmeg. com. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, are solely for educational purposes, and are not intended to take the place of a physician’s advice. Submitted by Erika Dworkin, Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®, former owner of the Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe in Manchester, CT (www. cthealthshop.com), which operated for 65 years. Erika is currently developing Vitathena Wellness and is available for nutrition consultations and to speak to groups. She can be contacted by phone at 860.646.8178, or by email at edworkin@vitathena.com. All statements in this article are scientific evidence- or practicebased and references are available upon request. See ad on page 7.

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Are You Touch Deprived?

By Elisabeth Johnson

W

ho isn’t completely stressed out these days? With the ongoing pandemic, intense political climate, and civil unrest, we are all on edge more than ever. We are also touch deprived, which has a greater impact than most people realize. It can be intensely overwhelming and the impact to our bodies can be dramatic.

Fight or Flight Stress creates a “fight or flight” response in the brain, which causes adrenaline to rush through our veins; that moment when we feel, see, taste, and hear even more clearly and sharply. We get that charged moment when our bodies naturally want to react and save us. A burst of energy comes that enables us to power up to fight. A stress hormone called cortisol is responsible for this response. Cortisol boosts the body’s ability to respond to stress stimuli by borrowing resources from other crucial body functions to supercharge the areas that will help it fight. It essentially robs one area of the body to help another. Cortisol increases our heart rate, increases glucose in our bloodstream, decreases our ability to reproduce, and decreases our ability to digest food properly.

The human body is remarkable at ensuring we have all the power we need to fight off an outside stressor. Redirecting that power is fantastic in the short term, as it makes us stronger and more able to fight things head on. Our natural fear response to that kind of stimuli gets pushed back so it doesn’t impact our ability to survive.

What the body naturally wants and pushes for is survival. This is when those superhuman acts of survival happen.

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When we constantly live in a stressorfilled environment, the impacts on our daily living are enormous—the body redirects power from crucial systems due to the “fight or flight” response. Our bodies are not meant to be in this constant stress state.

We gain weight. We get depressed and moody. We do not sleep well as we are always on edge waiting to fight and our body will not let us rest. Our health declines. It could even lead to a heart attack.

Stress Management Tips Stress management is key. Eating well with a balanced diet can help keep our bodies fueled. Make sure you take the time to enjoy life, appreciate the small things, read a book, take a walk, and exercise.

How many times have we all heard those pieces of advice and not taken them? It is a vicious cycle with stress. We know we are stressed and are not feeling the way we want to feel; we see the impacts in our lives yet we do not seem to be able to do anything to change it. We can never get rid of all the stress that we have. Sometimes that stress can be overwhelming and we feel buried in it and struggle to get out.

I like to tackle stress in a different way.

I know the golden rules for stress reduction, yet they do not always work for me. When I need immediate stress relief, I turn to two things—getting a massage or turning on some loud music and painting. For me, the power of touch is the ultimate healer of stress. When we were children, we would run to our parents for a hug when we were distressed. As an adult, we sometimes forget how important kind and loving touch can be and how much it can heal. This is especially true during a pandemic, when we are told to be afraid to be too close to others. The key is doing it safely with strong safety precautions in place.

Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

The Power of Touch People who get regular massages find that they are better able to manage their stress; it makes them feel stronger and more able to deal with what comes their way. During massage we often lose ourselves in the moment and can just let the world be still for a moment. Having someone take care of us for a while can help melt away stress. It is such an amazing feeling, and it is a major reason I work for Cortiva Institute and train massage therapists and estheticians. I firmly believe they will change the world through the power of touch. For me, massage has changed my world completely and better enabled me to deal with what is thrown at us every day. Massage lowers our hearts rates and helps our bodies function better. Stress will always be around. We can’t change that, but if we let the power of touch heal us along the way, we will be better equipped to manage it. The key to stress reduction is finding what works for you.

Submitted by Elisabeth Johnson. Elisabeth is the Campus Director of Cortiva Institute in Cromwell, CT. Cortiva Institute offers both a massage therapy and an esthetics program and is currently enrolling for the fall sessions. She can be reached at 860.667.1886 or at elisabethj@cortiva. edu. Elisabeth resides in the Stony Creek section of Branford with her other half Chris, his three kids, and their dog Juniper.

She has a love of hiking, the Red Sox, Patriots, and spending time at the ocean.

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10 Steps to a Healthier and Youthful Brain

By Adam Breiner, ND

U

nderstanding brain health is more important than ever these days. It is estimated that at least 5 million people have dementia in the United States; worldwide, it is close to 50 million people.

Most adults know someone suffering from one form or another. The primary type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. It kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. Between 2000 and 2018, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease increased by 146%. One out of every three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s disease or other type of dementia. The emotional and medical costs are staggering. Medically, the cost this year will be about $300 billion and it is estimated that by the year 2050, it will be over $1 trillion.

Dementia Prevention Strategies A whole-body approach is best when dealing with any chronic illness. The goal is to reduce general inflammation that underlies all disease, thereby increasing your susceptibility to various health problems.

Reducing inflammation is done using multiple modalities: nutraceuticals, dental treatments, homeopathy, various energetic treatments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, EEG-guided microcurrent and pulsed magnetic therapies, biomagnetic pair therapy (BPT), detoxification protocols, colonic hydrotherapy, and more.

We view dementia as the end stage of a downhill process that has been progressing for many years. Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are all associated with

different types of dementia; these issues need to be dealt with, preferably at the early stages. Discussion of approaching dementia from the holistic point of view could fill a book. In this article, we will limit our discussion to those steps that can help prevent dementia and perhaps mitigate some of the symptoms or signs of the already manifesting disease.

Ten Steps to a Healthier and Youthful Brain 1. Avoid Head Trauma. Head trauma, especially where there has been a loss of consciousness, appears to be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Think of football players and the associated problems with repeated trauma to the brain. We all know that a concussion is a type of head injury, but www.NaturalNutmeg.com

37

it’s more than just a bump or a bruise.

Concussions are serious because they are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

As a result of a sudden blow, jolt, or change of direction (e.g., whiplash), the brain suddenly shifts within the skull.

This head trauma can result in torn nerve axons, bruising, and damage to blood vessels. If not treated properly, damage and inflammation can adversely affect brain function, even long after the initial injury. It is essential to wear a helmet when playing contact sports, riding bikes, and other activities with the potential of head injury.

chamber breathes 100% pure oxygen under pressure. This pressure allows for oxygen to dissolve in the bloodstream and diffuse into tissues such as lymph and cerebrospinal fluids at concentrations not allowed under normal atmospheric conditions. The body’s blood and tissue oxygen concentrations may increase up to 20 times the normal level. Today the most profound use for hyperbaric oxygen is for the treatment of neurological disorders. With the help of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, brain damage believed to be irreversible may actually be reversed.

2. Exercise. Physical activity is essential to increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Exercise has been shown to increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a nerve growth factor.

BDNF helps our brain improve cognitive abilities and helps us with memory and learning. The more BDNF, the better.

If someone is starting to show signs of dementia, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often beneficial. While we normally breathe oxygen at a 21% concentration, a patient in a hyperbaric oxygen

3. Keep Mentally Active. Try brain exercises and study new topics to keep mentally active, as the brain benefits from mental exercise. Additionally, it is essential to be socially engaged— studies show loneliness significantly increases dementia. Try brain exercises such as IQ Mind Wear for Brain Training for Cognitive Ability and Resilience (iqmindware.com).

4. Sleep. General healing occurs during sleep. This healing process includes the brain. Sleep apnea is associated with

More Than Just A Mouth Wash

Good health begins in the mouth.

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increased diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and dementia.

If you snore, wake up tired, or fall asleep easily while reading or watching TV, you may be suffering from various levels of sleep apnea.

When taking a 3-D Cone Beam dental scan, we find a significant number of patients have a restricted airway, which usually indicates an apnea problem. If suffering from any of the above, a sleep study is a good idea. Make sure you practice good sleep hygiene. Good sleep hygiene means that your bedroom should be dark and quiet, with no EMFs, and it is best not to be on your phone, computer, or watching TV for at least an hour before going to sleep.

5. Stress. Stress elevates cortisol, which has been linked to cognitive decline. Having a positive attitude, not being a victim of circumstances, praying, Yoga, exercise, meditation, a hobby, and anything else that helps you relax is essential. Walk barefoot in the sand or on the grass to “ground” you, thereby absorbing the earth’s electrons. Get plenty of sunlight, as low vitamin D is associated with

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Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

increased dementia risk. It is a good idea to know your vitamin D levels; this can be assessed with blood laboratory testing and is now included in our inoffice OligoScan testing.

6. Lower Your Toxic Load. We live in a toxic world and we have found that almost everyone has a problem with toxins.

Among these toxins are heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals, solvents, and mold, all of which are pro-inflammatory.

There are various ways to test for these toxins and to decrease the toxic burden—we can do a chelation challenge urine test for heavy metals and there are laboratory tests for various toxic chemicals, pesticides, and mold toxins, as all of these can affect the brain. At our office, we offer the OligoScan and energetic EAV testing to help determine your toxic load.

7. Clean Up Your Mouth. Studies show periodontal disease is associated with increased Alzheimer’s disease. Hidden dental infections, including abscessed teeth, cavitations, and root-canaled teeth are toxic burdens on the immune system and are all pro-inflammatory.

3-D imaging of the dental structures available in our center often uncovers these previously undetected problems.

In his book Beating Alzheimer’s, author Tom Warren tells how he reversed his Alzheimer’s disease. Tom attributes his success in large part to removing various dental infections, mercury (silver) fillings, and other metals in his mouth.

Mercury fillings give off mercury vapor, which goes directly to your brain cells.

The expression “mad as a hatter” associated with the Mad Hatter character in The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland was a reference to the “hatters” in Danbury, Connecticut. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the process of making felt for hats included mercury nitrate, a toxic substance that hatters were exposed to that caused a variety of physical and mental problems.

8. Limit Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical drugs have many side effects and the interactions aren’t known, especially when taking more than one drug. The number of prescriptions per capita in the United States in 2013 was twelve.

For a person over age 65, that number jumps to 27. Who knows what the effect on the brain is from these drug interactions? Dr. Duane Graveline, an astronaut and flight surgeon, wrote a book about his memory loss when taking Lipitor®, a cholesterol-lowering statin drug.

9. Gut Flora. Intestinal health is directly related to brain function, as the gut is looked upon as a second brain. The brain’s longest nerve, known as the vagus nerve, innervates our gastrointestinal system. This connection is a two-way street—the brain can have a direct effect on the gut, and the gut can have a direct impact on the brain. This relationship is why having a healthy and balanced gut microbiome (bacterial environment) is so important. In fact, the bacteria in our gut make numerous neurotransmitters that can affect our gut motility and brain function. Consuming a gut-healthy diet is essential. This may be different for individuals; however, eating processed

and sugary foods is a problem in general for everyone.

10. Foods and Supplements for Brain Health. Avocados, blueberries, broccoli, celery, bone broth, extravirgin cold-pressed olive oil, walnuts, coconut oil, eggs, and beets are foods that are rich in the nutrients for your brain. You may also need to supplement your diet, as support for numerous biochemical processes is essential for brain health and function. For instance, a new clinical trial published in The Lancet’s EBioMedicine (July 2020) suggests higher omega-3 DHA dose may help Alzheimer’s disease. To list all the supplements that aid in brain health would require a separate article. Your holistic practitioner is often the best resource to advise which supplements are best for you at this time in your life. They usually have access to high-quality, medical-grade products that are not readily available elsewhere.

Dr. Adam Breiner, ND, practices naturopathic medicine at Whole-Body Medicine in Fairfield, CT. Patients from Connecticut and surrounding states seek his care for Lyme disease and brain injuries such as stroke, concussions, TBI, as well as enhanced brain performance.

Visit the Neuroedge Brain Performance Center at www.wholebodymed.com. To schedule an appointment or consultation, call 203.371.8258 ext. 2.

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Community Resources ACUPUNCTURE

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY

HYPNOSIS

Acupuncture of Greater Hartford Stan Baker, LAC 91 South Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107 860.836.1068 acupuncturestanbaker.com Collaborative Natural Health Partners Nick Edgerton, ND, LAc & Diana Zitserman, ND, LAc 315 E. Center St., Manchester, CT 06040 860.533.0179 • www.ctnaturalhhealth.com.

Dr. Mark A. Breiner, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT Fairfield, CT • 203.371.0300 WholeBodyDentistry.com A recognized authority in the field of holistic dentistry, Dr. Breiner treats patients for a myriad of dental concerns including sleep breathing disorders, TMD, mercury toxicity, and hidden infections from cavitations and root canals. “If you have unexplained symptoms that won’t go away, the answer could be in your mouth.”

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Dr. Steven F Hinchey, DMD South Glastonbury 860.633.6518 • drhinch@agd.org dochincheydmd.com Thank you to our wonderful patients who trust our team to care for their improved oral health. Please let your family and friends know that a healthy, disease-free mouth will help your overall health. It is all connected—the mouth and the body.

And we can help you get there.

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Dr. Krithika Jayaprakash, DDS, FAGD,NMD, IBDM Dr. Jay Dental, 170 Union St. Vernon, CT 06066 860.875.3349 • drjaydental.com Dr. Jay is a naturopathic dentist specializing in all your dental needs, including ceramic implants, same-day ceramic crowns, laser dentistry, ALF orthodontics, Myobrace, ozone therapy, and nonsurgical gum treatment. Dr. Jay has the latest in dental technology at her office.

See ad on page 24.

Diane Bahr-Groth, C. Hy., TFT, Dir. 1177 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, CT. 203.595.0110 • mindbodytransformation.com Joann Dunsing Hypnosis 204 Cherry St., Milford CT 06460 203.907.7710 • joanndunsing.com I am passionate about enabling you to get the changes you want!

This is accomplished by empowering you through the skillful use of NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), EFT (emotional freedom techniques, also known as meridian tapping), and the relaxed focused state of hypnosis.

Michele P. Rousseau, MA, CH 267 William St., Middletown, CT 06457 860.704.9054 • mprousseau@sbcglobal.net www.micheleprousseau.com

CBD STORE Nature’s Gifts 304 W Main St., Avon • 860.995.4444 naturesgifts-usa.com/ Nature’s Gifts is an independently owned family run CBD Store in Avon, CT. Stress, sleep, and pain solutions available.

Our knowledgeable staff will happily guide you through our gummies, tinctures, capsules, topicals, and raw flower offerings to find the perfect CBD product for your needs. Don’t pay too much for your CBD—stop in, say hello, and let us help you feel like you again.

FINANCIAL PLANNING Dana Mascalo CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(k)P® Managing Partner, TrinityPoint Wealth 612 Wheelers Farms Rd. Milford, CT Office: 203.693.8521 Fax: 203.693.8524 dana@trinitypointwealth.com See ad on page 43.

Caroline Wetzel, CFP®, AWMA® Procyon Private Wealth Partners, LLC 1 Corporate Dr., Suite 225 Shelton,CT • 475.232.2713 cwetzel@procyonpartners.net www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-wetzel/ www.procyonpartners.net See ad on page 14.

HOLISTIC COUNSELING James Osborne, MS, LPC, BCPC ProNatural Physicians Group, LLC Berlin, CT • 860.829.0707 pronaturalphysicians.com James Osborne is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Professional Counselor, Board Certified PTSD Clinician ,and a Fellow in the American Psychotherapy Association with over 40 years of clinical experience.

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HOLISTIC PSYCHIATRY David London, MD 567 Vauxhall St. Ext, #218, Waterford, CT 06385 Ph: 860.443.5822 Fax: 860.444.0581 davidlondonmd.com

HOMEOPATHY Abby Beale, CCH RSHom(NA) Homeopathy Healings HomeopathyHealings@gmail.com HomeopathyHealings.com • 413.426.1024 Want to get to the root cause of your chronic symptoms? Homeopathy can relieve the symptoms of depression, anxiety, women’s issues, headaches, digestive troubles, child behavior problems, and so much more. Contact Abby to see if homeopathic care is appropriate for you.

Appts over Zoom and Skype possible.

Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

INTEGRATED MEDICINE Collaborative Natural Health Partners Kate Zachau, DO, Julia Vitali, DO, Brad Brooks, DO, Amy Smith-Bassett, nurse practioner 315 E. Center St., Manchester, CT 06040 860.533.0179 • www.ctnaturalhhealth.com ProNatural Physicians Group 120 Webster Sqr Rd. Berlin, CT 06037 860.829.0707 • www.ProNaturalPhysicians.com Sophia Natural Health Center 31 Old Route 7, Brookfield, CT 06804.

203.740.9300 • SophiaNaturalHealth.com Tamara Sachs, MD Functional Medicine & Integrative Care LLC 15 Bennitt St., New Milford CT 860.354.3304 • tsachsmd.com Dr. Sachs prevents and treats chronic illness by uncovering and correcting the underlying root causes of your health concerns while remaining respectful of the uniqueness and complexity that make us human. She comprehensively and thoughtfully creates personalized plans explaining why and how each area of your healing will be addressed.

MASSAGE THERAPY Abundant Health Massage Therapy & Wellness Farmington, CT • 860.778.0315 abundanthealthct.com Kristina Mozzicato is Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork by the NCBTMB and has been practicing massage for the past 12 years. She provides professional, therapeutic, customized sessions. In addition to massage, she offers cupping, medicupping, body contouring, Himalayan salt stone massage, and Reiki sessions. Convenient online booking.

See ad on page 7.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE NUTRITION Dr. Adam Breiner, ND Fairfield, CT • 203.371.8258 WholeBodyMed.com Focusing on brain health and Lyme disease, Dr. Adam Breiner offers cutting-edge therapies that include hyperbaric oxygen, neurocognitive therapies, including sophisticated brain-imaging equipment to evaluate brain injuries and brainwave patterns associated with metabolic imbalances, infections, and allergies. Conditions treated include concussions, TBI, stroke, PTSD, ADD/ ADHD, anxiety, depression, and more.

See ad on page 32.

Collaborative Natural Health Partners Dr. Lauren Young, Dr. Ashley Burkman, Dr. Tonya Pasternak, Dr. Craig Fasullo, Dr. Carolina Padilla, ND, Dr. Carissa Fioritto, ND 315 E. Center St., Manchester, CT 06040 860.533.0179 • www.ctnaturalhhealth.com Other locations: 107 Wilcox Rd., Ste 103, Stonington, CT 06378 74 Park Road, West Hartford, CT 06119 Naturopathic & Acupuncture Health Center Dr. Marie Mammone, Dr. Renee Mammone, NDs John Mammone, Licensed Acupuncturist 274 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT 06109 860.529.1200 • www.NAHcenter.com The Wellness Institute Marvin Schweitzer, ND 1 Westport Ave., Norwalk, CT • 203.847.2788 See ad on page 35.

West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine Frank Aieta, ND 301 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT 860.232.9662 • www.DRAIETA.com See ad on page 14.

Tara Tranguch, ND 16 Sherman Hill Rd., Woodbury, CT 203.707.1163 • drtaratranguch.com facebook.com/drtranguch Personalized health care for men, women, and children that is effective and transformative. Dr. Tranguch is a licensed naturopathic physician focused on preventive care, digestion, and environmental medicine.

Specialized treatments include nutrigenomics, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy. Experience health care that offers vitalism and joy. In-person and telehealth appointments available.

See ad on page 8.

Erika Dworkin, BCHN® 860.646.8178 edworkin@cthealthshop.com See ad on page 7.

Holcare Nutrition Vicki Kobliner MS RD 3 Hollyhock Lane, Suite 2A, Wilton, CT 06897 203.834.9949 • www.holcarenutrition.com

PHYSICIANS, M.D. Natural Health & Healing, LLC Deanna M. Cherrone, MD 41 N. Main St., Ste 207, West Hartford, CT 860.677.4600 • naturalhealthandhealing.net Optimal Health Medical, LLC Henry C. Sobo, M.D. 111 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, CT 06905 203.348.8805 • www.drsobo.com See ad on page 14.

ROLFING® Rolfing®—The Art and Science of Body Change Sharon Sklar, BFA, MsT, Cert. Adv. Rolfer West Hartford • 860.561.4337 sharonsklarrolfing.com Rolfing® —The Art and Science of Body Change.

A dynamic 10-session bodywork series that eases pain, improves movement, and restructures your body when you feel “out of whack.” A hands-on and educational approach that establishes order and balance after life's injuries, stresses, and accidents. Since 1981.

See ad on page 34.

SCHOOLS The Graduate Institute 171 Amity Rd., Bethany, CT 06524 203.874.4252 • info@learn.edu See ad on page 2.

SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP Lauri Ingram Hamden, CT • 203.435.5650 www.lauriingram.com Services available in person, and via Zoom/Skype.

Lauri Ingram is an ordained interfaith/interspritual minister, offering spiritual counseling, crystal dreaming, crystal light, and color therapy, along with workshops and ministerial officiant services.

THERMOGRAPHY April Beaman, RDH, CTT CT Thermography Farmington & Glastonbury, CT 860.415.1150 • ctthermography.com CT thermography specializes in medical thermal imaging. Breast thermography is a compression and radiation-free screening tool that’s used to monitor breast health to detect physiological changes that may be early warning signs of a disease process. As a Certified Thermographic Technician, I help empower women to take a proactive approach following their thermography screening for optimal breast health.

See ad on page 30.

YOGA STUDIO Sacred Rivers Yoga East Hartford, CT • 860.657.9545 sacredriversyoga.com Paula Scopino, E-RYT 500-Hour, CIAYT, CT Licensed LMT, YACEP, is the owner/director of Sacred Rivers Yoga and Allied Health Therapies and “Sacred Rivers Yoga for Every Body,” a Yoga Alliance 200- and 500-hour registered school, as well as a member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga herapy.)

See ad on page 6.

SPAS/WELLNESS CENTERS Imagine Float 290 West Main St., Avon 860.255.7771 • imaginefloat.com See ad on page 18.

www.NaturalNutmeg.com www.NaturalNutmeg.com 41 41

November/December 2021

HAPPENINGS Wednesday, November 10

Wednesday, December 8

Psychic/Spiritual Development with Joyce St. Germaine, M. Ed., CHt., RYT-200.

6:30–8 pm. The Psychic/Spiritual Development Monthly Study Group Is meeting in-person again (as well as Zoom). New members welcome!

There is a strong connection between spiritual growth and psychic development. Every session starts with a positive, light-filling exercise and includes topics such as palmistry, oracle cards, pendulums, remote viewing, and spirit guides.

Reclaim your natural gifts, assist others, and live your life more joyfully! $25 ($20 for elders over 65 and veterans). Join our email list and find detailed descriptions at www.thesacredjourney.biz.

The Sacred Journey, 29 Davis Road, Burlington.

Pre-registration required. 860.675.9706.

Psychic/Spiritual Development with Joyce St. Germaine, M. Ed., CHt., RYT-200.

6:30–8 pm. The Psychic/Spiritual Development Monthly Study Group Is meeting in person again (as well as Zoom). New members welcome! T here is a strong connection between spiritual growth and psychic development. Every session starts with a positive, light-filling exercise and includes topics such as palmistry, oracle cards, pendulums, remote viewing, and spirit guides.

Reclaim your natural gifts, assist others, and live your life more joyfully! $25 ($20 for elders over 65 and veterans) Join our email list and find detailed descriptions at www.thesacredjourney.biz.

The Sacred Journey, 29 Davis Road, Burlington.

Pre-registration required. 860.675.9706.

Wednesday, November 17

Wednesday, December 15

Shamanism with Joyce St. Germaine, M. Ed., CHt., RYT-200. 6:30–8 pm.

The Shamanism Monthly Study Group is meeting in person again (as well as Zoom). New members are welcome; no experience needed! In this group, you will develop an understanding of cross-cultural shamanism, the importance of ceremony, and become adept at journeying into non-ordinary reality and work with animal allies and spirit helpers, ancestors, and elemental energies. $25 ($20 for elders over 65 and veterans) Join our email list and find detailed descriptions at thesacredjourney.biz.

The Sacred Journey, 29 Davis Road, Burlington.

Preregistration required. 860.675.9706.

Shamanism with Joyce St. Germaine, M. Ed., CHt., RYT-200. 6:30–8 pm.

The Shamanism Monthly Study Group is meeting in person again (as well as Zoom). New members are welcome; no experience needed! In this group, you will develop an understanding of cross-cultural shamanism, the importance of ceremony, and become adept at journeying into non-ordinary reality and work with animal allies and spirit helpers, ancestors, and elemental energies. $25 ($20 for elders over 65 and veterans) Join our email list and find detailed descriptions at www.thesacredjourney.biz. The Sacred Journey, 29 Davis Road, Burlington. Pre-registration required. 860.675.9706.

Is your Soul calling to be in alignment with your Divinity?

If your Soul says YES, please join us to transform your mind, body, and spirit!

13th Octave LaHoChi Level 1 & 2, Practitioner Training with

Master Healer and Teacher

Friday Evening, December 3, 7–10pm Saturday & Sunday, December 4 & 5, 10:30am–6pm Level 1 is prerequisite for level 2.

academyforsoulhealing.com/13th-octave-lahochi-training Experience the newly expanded and amplified 13TH Octave Lahochi Energy and Receive one-on-one time with Eilis after the training.

The Academy for Soul Healing supports the growth and expansion of humanity, individually and on a global scale. "I foresee many students from the Academy becoming teachers of this integrated way of service."

academyforsoulhealing.com • SoulHealingJourney.com Eilis@SoulHealingJourney.com • 203-767-5954 Fairfield, CT 42

Natural Nutmeg November/December 2021

ONGOING Wednesdays

Akashic Field Healing from the 13th Octave.

7–9:30pm weekly. 20 consecutive weeks.

All weeks required. $1600 or $400 monthly.

Payment plans available. Akashic Field Healing is a profound modality where we access the quantum field or Akashic Records of each individual.

These records are a collection of all information, individually and collectively, including past, present and all future potential. Through Akashic Field Healing, we have the ability to access any trauma stored there that is directly impacting your life and limiting your access to your future potential.

Spend 20 weeks with Eilis Philpott, Advanced AFT Practitioner and East Coast AFT Director, and learn a powerful and integral method of trans-personal psychology with quantum healing processes.

Anyone can learn to use AFH as a personal and spiritual tool! Location—via Zoom. Contact info: eilis@soulhealingjourney.com, 203.767.5954 or https://academyforsoulhealing.com/akashic-fieldhealing-from-the-13th-octave.

Thursdays Community Acupuncture.

First and third Thursdays at 6:30–8:30pm. $30. Socially distanced and COVID safe!

Performed by a board certified licensed acupuncturist specializing in chronic pain, anxiety and more. Please call to schedule at 860.430.5300 or visit ctrforholistichealthcare.com/ for more information. Center for Holistic Healthcare, 1420 Main Street, Glastonbury.

BIOMAGNETISM for Lyme Disease

Hartney Chiropractic Care Center Dr. Carrie Hartney has been serving Berlin, CT for over 25 Years Certified Lyme Magnetic Practitioner Trained in Biomagnetic Therapy with Dr. Louis Garcia Trained and Certified in Acupuncture Extensive Knowledge in Diet and Functional Nutrition

I have been seen by Carrie for biomagnetic treatment for Lyme disease for the past few years and I think she is a truly compassionate and knowledgeable healer. In a short time after I started seeing her, I began to see marked improvements in my health and functioning.

I think of Carrie more like a miracle worker because I got my life back thanks to her! -Daisy M

CONTACT US 3 Webster Square Rd Berlin, CT

hartneychiropractic.com

860-828-5503

Office space for therapists and wellness practitioners West Hartford, CT

Considering retirement?

Ask Dana and the team at TrinityPoint how to make it happen.

Phone or video appts. available and your first consultation is complimentary!

Natural

Nutmeg 10BESTof Magazine

Dana Mascalo CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(k)P®® Managing Partner, Senior Wealth Advisor 612 Wheelers Farms Road Milford, CT 06461 203.693.8521 • dana@trinitypointwealth.com linkedin.com/in/danamclaughlin1/

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WINNER 2018, 2019, & 2020

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