Natural Awakenings March 2017

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Healthy Eat For Holistic FATS Wellness Eye Care

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How to Move Past Food Sensitivities

March 2017

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Taking the Whole Body into Account

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Experience a Meal with Friends & Saladmaster Saladmaster offers the world’s finest premium cookware that is the healthiest and most convenient way to cook your favorite foods. The advanced design and construction of Saladmaster’s titanium cookware allows vapor seal cooking at a low to medium heat to preserve the nutrition in food, and without using added grease 31 or even water.

We’d like to invite you to host a Saladmaster cooking show in the comfort and convenience of your own home. It’s easy. It’s delicious. And it’s a great excuse to spend time tasting and learning with your favorite people.

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Ø Saladmaster is personal. 9WI ǻVWX TIVWSR [LIRIZIV Ø Saladmaster is fun. Balance an upbeat tone with three couples in attendance. Other premium hosting gifts are available professionalism and sophistication. possible. Incorporate words like “we,” “us,” “you,” for smaller dinner shows. Hosting requires very little on your part, but the "who" and “our” to communicate a connection rewards make you glad you did.

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Each dinner show takes about two hours, and we will bring all the food

to lightheartedly share information about cooking, and clean up after. There are several dates available this month, so book Ø Saladmaster changes life. Keep this in mind in healthy living, nutrition, business, etc. to everyone it your cooking show today. Call Charles Maples atshare 256-412-4896 to pick communications, and those experiences in can, without being a know-it-all. your date. an inspirational way.

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letterfrompublisher “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”

–Mark Twain My weight loss has visibly progressed to the point where many people are asking me what I have been doing to slim down. I will give you a overview of some things I have learned, with the hope that it will offer ideas and inspiration to others who are significantly overweight and really want to change their body.

First, get the chemicals out of your food and water. Eat zero processed foods.

The additives and preservatives, artificial flavors, colorings, and sweeteners that we think are safe ingredients in processed foods are, in reality, toxic chemicals that disrupt the body’s metabolism and keep you fat because the body will refuse to burn fat that has stored toxins. If you are of middle age and overweight, you are already highly toxic.

Eat organic and non-GMO. Genetically modified foods can cause allergies and inflammation throughout the body, especially in the intestinal lining.

Inflammation will prevent weight loss. You can look up a list of the vegetable crops that are likely to be GMO, such as corn, canola, soy, papaya, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow squash. It is important to realize some of these, such as corn in the form of corn syrup and the sugar from sugar beets, are found in almost all processed foods. If a food product that contains one of the ingredients on the list of likely GMOs doesn’t say “USDA Organic” or “Non-GMO Project Verified,” then you can assume that it is GMO. If meat, milk or eggs do not have one of these two verification labels, then you can assume that the animals involved were fed genetically modified feed. The “USDA Organic” label includes non-GMO status, though non-GMO certification does not include Organic. If it is non-GMO but not Organic, the crops may have been sprayed like conventional crops with pesticides, which are more harmful to health that we were ever led to believe, even in very small amounts.

Another thing that Mark Twain said was: “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” He might as well have been talking about the mistaken science behind 60 years of “low-fat” diet recommendations, now proven to be tragically wrong. There is an immense amount of misinformation out there about food, diet, and what impacts our health. We have to learn how to do our own research, trust our intuition, and think for ourselves.

Looking at it in one way, the world has become an unbelievably hostile place to health and well-being. It is like a minefield that has to be navigated. Looking at it another way, if we learn what all the dangers are and learn how to avoid them, it is still possible, even today, to enjoy abundant, radiant health.

contact us Editor@Natvalley.com 256-808-8044 Publisher/Editor Advertising Sales Tom Maples Co-Publisher Cindy Wilson Design and Production Melanie Rankin Natural Awakenings in the Tennessee Valley 14 Woodland Ave Trinity, AL 35673 Fax: 256-217-4274 Natvalley.com Facebook.com/natvalley © 2017 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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newsbriefs healthbriefs globalbriefs ecotip therapy spotlight

12 WHAT YOU SHOULD

KNOW ABOUT HYPNOSIS

by Chui Sien Chan, Ph.D.

14 therapy

spotlight

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Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

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healingways wisewords consciouseating greenliving calendar

14 IV VITAMIN C The Big Cover-Up

by Dr. Howard L. Gilliam, DC, NMD

16 FEARLESS EATING

16

How to Move Past Food Sensitivities

by Kathleen Barnes

classifieds resourceguide

advertising & submissions

20 HOLISTIC EYE CARE Taking the Whole Body into Account

by Linda Sechrist

20

HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 256-808-8044 or email Editor@Natvalley.com.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS* Newsbriefs due by the 15th of the month. Limit 50-250 words.

Content limited to special events and other announcements.

No advertorials, please.

Articles and ideas due by the 15th of the month. Articles generally contain 250-850 words, with some exceptions. No advertorials, please.

23 DR. JOSEPH MERCOLA On Simple Steps To Well-Being

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by Judith Fertig

24 THUMBS-UP ON FATS Good Fat Doesn’t Make Us Fat

by Judith Fertig

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Calendar of Events and Ongoing Calendar listings due by the 15th of the month. Limit 50 words per entry. Please follow format found in those sections.

26 FOREVER GREEN

Eco-Burial Options Grow

by Avery Mack

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY 256-808-8044 -or- Editor@Natvalley.com *All submissions are subject to editing and will be printed at the publisher’s discretion. Article space often fills in advance. Deadline dates refer to the month prior to next publication and may change without notice due to holidays, shorter months, or printing schedules.

Digital archive: Issuu.com/natvalley

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newsbriefs The Paranormal Study Center Hosts Jane Wodtke: “Soul Realignment with Akashic Records”

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ane has been a student of spirituality and esoteric subjects since her teenage years, beginning with studying Edgar Cayce and being in the A Search for God study groups.

She has been a student of A Course in Miracles since 1992.

She recently retired from a 30-year career working in Jane Wodtke Special Education. Shortly after relocating to Huntsville, Jane was drawn to the Soul Realignment Akashic Records Readings Course offered by Andrea Hess. Through the encouragement of her friends at the Light of Christ Center she was able to become certified in doing readings. She has found that in working with this program she has been able to harness her own intuitive powers, and she believes that the readings that she has been able to provide to others have been enlightening and inspiring.

Jane feels that this is her calling at this stage of her life and hopes to increase other people’s awareness of this method to recognize and realign one’s own Divinity.

The Akashic Records, or “The Book of Life,” can be equated to the universe’s super-computer system. It is this system that acts as the central storehouse of all information for every individual who has ever lived upon the earth.

This presentation will be held at Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr, Friday, March 24 at 6:30pm.

Public Admission is $10. For information, contact LaMont Hamilton at WorldPsychic@email.com or visit Meetup.com/ Huntsville-Paranormal-Study-Center. See ad, page 9.

Workshop on Discovering Creativity at Midlife and Beyond

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enee Beckham will facilitate a twelve-week course aimed at defining—and creating—the life you want to have as you redefine—and re-create—yourself.

The course is inspired by Julia Cameron’s book, It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again: Discovering Creativity at Midlife and Beyond, which includes simple tools that will guide and inspire you Renee Beckham to make the most of this time in your life.

Memoir writing offers an opportunity to reflect on—and honor—past experience. This class guides you through the daunting task of writing an entire memoir, breaking it down into manageable pieces.

Morning Pages—private, stream-of-consciousness writing done daily—allows you to express wishes, fears, delights, resentments, and joys, which in turn, provide focus and clarity for the day at hand.

Artist Dates encourage fun and spontaneity.

Instructor Renee Beckham is passionate about Julia Cameron’s classic book, The Artist’s Way. Renee was introduced to this “spiritual path to creativity” in 2003, the same year that she retired from the military after twenty-four years. Today, she recognizes the timing of that discovery as synchronistic. Her life profoundly changed as she used The Artist’s Way tools to uncover her passion for creativity. She credits her mid-life career change (now enjoying her dream jobs of The Artist’s Way Facilitator, Life Mastery Consultant, and a potter) to her work with The Artist’s Way. Dates: Tuesdays, 6-8pm, March 7-May 30. Cost: $250.

Location: Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr, Huntsville. Register: tobeckhamir@aol.com or 512-5735008. Note: a $50 nonrefundable/nontransferable deposit secures your space in the class with the balance of the class tuition due a week before the class starts. See ad, page 8.

Pain relief without prescriptions!

Cymatic Therapy uses sound frequencies to create harmony in the body For back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and more

Cymatic Therapy & Dermacycling

614 Madison St, Ste #2, Huntsville

256-656-1606

CymaticsByLil.com

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coverartist

Divine Guidance: Listening to the Inner Voice

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Still Life Study Owen Lafon “Inspiration is all around, from the trees and plants in my environment to people I meet,” says cover artist Owen Lafon, originally from the dual island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Tropical birds, fruits and flowers and other natural subjects in bold, happy colors are Lafon’s artistic staples. “I enjoy doing still lifes, but I like to give them my own flavor, using bright colors to give them personality and bring out my Caribbean heritage,” says Lafon, now a resident of Plantation, Florida.

Lafon loved to draw as a boy, and still enjoys doing black-and-white pencil drawings in addition to his colorful acrylic paintings. “Once you learn to draw, the next step is to add color,” says Lafon. “I keep trying to find different ways to express myself and get out of my comfort zone as an artist by working with different positioning of elements, textures or sizes.”

Lafon has had solo exhibitions at notable venues such as the Schacknow Museum of Arts, also in Plantation, and Galeria Guatibiri, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

View the artist’s portfolio at Owen-Lafon.ArtistWebsites.com.

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n Saturday, March 25 from 1-8pm, the Alabama affiliate of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, will host a spiritual seminar entitled “Divine Guidance: Listening to the Inner Voice.” This seminar is being held at the Best Western Plus Hotel, 9035 Madison Blvd (Hwy 20 near I-565 Exit 9) in Madison, and is free to the public.

Inspirational talks, dynamic workshops, personal stories and panel discussions will offer spiritual tools and insights for understanding how to improve our lives and find a greater measure of happiness. We can realize these goals by taking advantage of the ever-present guidance of Divine Spirit. Some of the topics included on the program are Listening to God’s Voice; Dreams–Sources of Inner Guidance; Discover the Source of All Truth; Contemplation and Spiritual Exercises as Spiritual Tools; Learning to Trust Your Inner Guidance, and Being a Spiritual Survivor in All Conditions. Small group discussions will provide attendees an opportunity to explore ways to realize the benefits of using spiritual consciousness to meet the challenges of daily life. Interspersed among the talks and discussions will be live musical performances.

Amanda Morris, local Eckankar clergy, says, “This seminar will highlight ways of recognizing the divine in every moment of your life. Anyone interested in finding keys to a life of greater love, wisdom and freedom is invited to attend.”

More information about the seminar or Eckankar events in Alabama can be obtained by visiting Eck-Alabama.org or by calling 256-534-1751.

Access Bars Allows Release of Stuck Thoughts, Feelings and Emotions

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elissa Posey has been a certified Access Bars® practitioner since July 2015. An Access Bars session can help facilitate more ease, joy and expansion in your life. Melissa’s clients have reported many beneficial changes such as more ease with family, a relief of depression, anxiety, and anger, and even healing for chronic illnesses. Things that used to bother them no longer have the same emotional charge they once had, and they are able to look at everything from a more neutral standpoint, allowing them respond calmly instead of reacting to any situation. Access Bars also increases the cohesiveness of the brain and creates more gratitude in your life.

The Bars are 32 bars of energy that run through and around the head that connect to different aspects of a person’s life. The Bars store the electromagnetic component of all the thoughts, ideas, attitudes, decisions and beliefs that you have ever had about anything. When you have your Bars run it is like hitting the delete button on a computer! At the very least, you will feel more relaxed and at ease.

(This is not a substitute for physician’s care.)

To learn more about Access Consciousness and Access Bars, visit Access Consciousness.com.

Contact Melissa to schedule a Bars session at 256-652-5125 or message her through the Facebook page “Melissa Posey Light Worker & Massage Therapist.”

See listing, page 30.

Cortney Brown, LMT, Jeffrey Rich, LMT Published in Two Joins Dr. Jamie’s International Journals Rich, LMT, shamanic healer and Systemic Wellness Center Jeffrey and Family Systems Constellation Facilitator has

C

ortney L. Brown is a Licensed and certified Mobile Massage Therapist in the Madison County area.

She is owner of Panacea: Feng Shui & Medical Massage, North Alabama’s Ecofriendly Massage Therapy Business.

Cortney Brown A graduate of Everest College of Seattle, Cortney specialized in Medical Massage to cater to PIP, L&I, and ailing patients since 2010.

Many of her patients have described her techniques as unique yet therapeutically efficient in relieving their chronic to acute aches and pains. She offers this therapy as well as Healthful Deep Tissue and Relaxing Aromatherapy in her new in office location at Dr. Jamie’s Wellness Center.

Cortney has helped many of her clients in the spiritual art of Feng Shui since 2008. The intuitive nature of creating Balance in the home and in the self in order to become healthier, happier, and more successful. She enjoys herbology, teaology, and reaching optimal health of mind + body through Nature’s Balanced Way. Cortney found motivation on the path of health after finding that her original path was narrow and blocked in a way that limited her full potential. For Cortney, this upward climb toward a better life wasn’t as easy as she once thought it might be, yet through learning, healing, and hoping, success was unbelievably found.

This is why she believes in possibilities and potentials, and why she believes no one’s pain will last forever.

You can find Cortney in downtown Huntsville’s beer craft trail, reading Natural Awakenings, and hiking and kayaking in her local area.

Call 206-402-2659 for appointments.

Dr. Jamie’s Wellness Center is located at 917 Merchants Walk, Ste A, behind Whole Foods in Huntsville. See ad, page 13.

recently published two international journal articles outlining his unique work merging shamanic healing and systemic constellations. Shamanism has been practiced by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Systemic Constellation is the work of German psychotherapist and innovator, Bert Hellinger. Constellation illuminates the hidden structure of relationships within a system. Both healing methods are spiritual and energy based.

Jeffrey Rich The first article, “Shamanic Healing Applications of Systemic and Family Constellations,” which appeared in the September 2016 issue of The Journal of Shamanic Practice, is written with the shamanic practitioner community in mind and describes the weaving of systemic constellation technology into the ancient shamanic healing techniques of Soul Retrieval, Spirit Clearing, Curse Unraveling and Space Clearing.

The second article, “Towards an Integration of Shamanic Healing Practices and Systemic and Family Constellations” appears in issue 29 of The Knowing Field: International Constellations Journal (January 2017): 29-33. This article was written for the international systemic constellations community to highlight and describe common shamanic healing techniques that routinely show up in family constellation and which may go unrecognized for what they are.

Both articles arose from Jeffrey’s work in both fields of shamanic healing and systemic and family constellation. Jeffrey studies shamanic healing with indigenous and non-indigenous teachers, and has been a student of systemic constellation since 2015, attending and presenting at last year’s North American Systemic Constellations Intensive program in Hartford, CT. Jeffrey Rich, LMT #656, offers Therapeutic Massage, Family and Systemic Constellations, and Shamanic Healing at the Shining Mountain Healing Center, 900 Wellman Ave #5, in Five-Points. Shining-Mountain.com. Jeffrey.Rich@gmail.com.

256-337-1699. See ad, page 9.

TRUE NORTH

PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS

PRACTITIONER

Caroline Choppa AL License #PTH7418

i Personalized, holistic Physical Therapy services to help accelerate your recovery from illness and injury i Individualized Wellness care to help balance body, mind and spirit i Advanced manual therapy techniques include Visceral Manipulation, Cranial-Sacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, and Myofascial Release 805 Madison St, Ste E • Huntsville, AL 35801

256-924-0881

Caroline@TrueNorthPTWellness.com

TrueNorthPTWellness.com

Call today or book online to schedule your appointment natural awakenings

March 2017

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Kids Going Online at Bedtime Sleep Poorly

healthbriefs

No Benefit to Cutting Fat in Cheese nyone that has struggled to reduce their intake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) may have considered avoiding saturated fat in their diets, although the latest meta-study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine now refutes this. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, conducted a test to determine if consuming lowfat versus regular cheeses impacts LDL cholesterol levels.

The study divided 139 people into three groups. One ate regular fat cheese, one consumed reduced-fat cheese and one didn’t eat any cheese at all for 12 weeks. Both LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol) levels were tested at the beginning and end of the period. Researchers found no significant difference in the LDL levels of any of the groups and no difference between the HDL levels of the reduced-fat and regular cheese groups, suggesting that consuming low-fat versions has no measurable metabolic benefit.

An increase in HDL levels among those that abstained from eating cheese altogether was noted.

Unity Church on the Mountain 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801

What’s Happening at Unity Saturday, March 4, 8:30am-12:30pm

“Build Your Dream Life” Workshop at Unity Church Info: Renee Beckham at beckhamir@aol.com or 512-573-5008

Sunday, March 5

Guest Speaker, Renee Beckham

Looking Ahead: Coming May 17

Special Guest Speaker, Life Coach Celia LifeCoachCelia.com

Contact Us

256-536-2271 UnityOnTheMountain.org

UnityChurchontheMountain@gmail.com

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new study from King’s College London has found that children’s use of electronic devices close to bedtime can reduce their chances of a good night’s sleep. Researchers examined 20 existing studies encompassing 125,000 children between the ages of 6 and 19. They found that youngsters using a device within 90 minutes of falling asleep had an increased likelihood of poor and inadequate sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Study author Ben Carter, Ph.D., says, “Sleep is an often undervalued, but important part of children’s development, with a regular lack of sleep causing a variety of health problems.” These can include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, reduced immune function and poor diet. Poor food choices and excessive eating can start young, as illustrated in a study from Colorado University, in Boulder, which found a link between sleep deprivation and poor diet choices in preschool children.

The Colorado study followed five girls and five boys, ages 3 and 4, that were regular afternoon nappers. They were deprived of their naps for one day, during which their food and beverage consumption was monitored and compared with their choices on a day when their sleep routine remained intact. During the sleep-deprived day, the children ate 20 percent more calories than usual and their diet consisted of 25 percent more sugar and 26 percent more carbohydrates.

Reverend Carol Landry “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Ongoing Classes

Weddings A t

Unity ChUrCh on the MoUntAin

Sunday 9:30-10:30am

Sunday Book Discussion (Adults) Lower Classroom

Sunday 11am

Children’s Sunday School (ages 4-10) Upstairs

Beginning March 1 on Wednesdays 6-7:30pm

David Carroll will facilitate a book study group on Lessons In Truth by H. Emilie Cady

Sunday Discussion Class – 9:30am Sunday Worship – 11am Meditative Silence begins at 10:55am

The perfect place for couples planning an elegantly simple ceremony.

For more information go to:

UnityChurchWeddings.com or email us at

UnityChurchWeddings@gmail.com Non-traditional, interfaith unions and commitment ceremonies are always welcome!

HTU/Shutterstock.com

Yeko Photo Studio/Shutterstock.com

A

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study from Dijon, France, found that a specific nutrient combination supplement can help reduce feelings of anxiety and tiredness.

Researchers studied 242 subjects between the ages of 18 and 70 that complained of stress and fatigue.

Each was given a supplement containing magnesium, probiotics, vitamins and minerals to take for one month.

Researchers measured the subjects’ stress and fatigue levels before commencing the test period and again one month later. They found a 22 percent reduction in psychological stress and a 45 percent reduction in fatigue. Thirty days after the supplementation was discontinued, the subjects’ stress and fatigue levels remained reduced.

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esearchers from Tianjin Medical University, in China, have discovered that regularly taking docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves brain function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. A total of 219 adults over the age of 65 participated in the randomized, double-blind, 12-month trial. Half of the subjects were given two grams of this omega-3 fatty acid daily, while the others received a placebo.

The researchers measured cognitive function, including a full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) test and two IQ subtests which serve as indicators of both short and long-term memory. The tests were administered after six months and again after 12 months. The DHA group showed a 10 percent higher IQ than the placebo group. There were also significant increases in both IQ subtests and brain hippocampus volume in the DHA group. Decreased hippocampus volume is a primary indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.

Jane Wodtke Soul Realignment Practitioner janewodtke@yahoo.com

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R

www.hope4lifeal.com

256-270-8731 10300 Bailey Cove Road, Ste 7A Huntsville, AL 35803

MAD2562708731-A

Jin Shin Jyutsu® of Huntsville Sandra Cope Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu® Practitioner Assists healing through relaxation and restoring body harmony.

Receive an Akashic Animal companion sessions are available.

Record Reading Sales Rep.: Mike Underwood I Approve This Copy. Cust. Sign.: X Office: (256) 534-1794 1108 McClung Avenue SE

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Cell:

(256) 509-3540

Huntsville, Alabama 35801

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March 2017

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globalbriefs Jessie Eldora Robertson/Shutterstock.com

News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Botanical Breakthrough

In many large commercial chicken farms, the animals are fed antibiotics to keep them healthy and fight off infections. But due to consumer demand, McDonald’s has eliminated antibiotics used in human medicine from its entire restaurant chicken supply.

Meanwhile, a farm in Pennsylvania owned by Scott Sechler is among the first to rely solely on a mix of oregano oil and cinnamon in the treatment and care of its chickens. In addition to being completely natural, oregano oil supplies the chickens with health advantages, producing a much higher quality of natural chicken in a far more humane method than that attained using antibiotics. Like antibiotics, the oil assists the chickens in battling any infections, reducing the number of birds lost to disease.

Bob Ruth, president of another Pennsylvania farming business, has been testing oregano on his pigs for six months to see if it can outperform prescription antibiotics. Related problems arise when animals live in dirty conditions, making them more susceptible to infections and viruses, which can also be triggered by insufficient cleansing of slaughterhouses that must be hosed down and completely sanitized after each act of butchery. He thinks that drugs should not be a requirement if the farmers keep things tidy.

Raw Hide

A Veggie Leather Alternative Researchers from Iowa State University have developed a new form of synthetic leather using cellulose fibers taken from kombucha tea, along with vinegar and sugar, made in shallow plastic tanks. When a colony of bacteria and yeast is added, the material grows on the top of the liquid’s surface, where it can be harvested and dried.

The researchers have successfully used the material to make prototype garments, including shoes and a vest. It’s 100 percent biodegradable, so when the fabric gets wet, it softens and becomes less durable; in very low temperatures, it can become brittle.

Young-A Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of apparel, merchandising and design at Iowa State University, in Ames, says, “Fashion, to most people, is an ephemeral expression of culture, art and technology, manifesting itself in practical form. Fashion companies keep producing new materials and clothing, from season to season, year to year, to fulfill consumers’ desires and needs. Think about where these items eventually go. They will take up tremendous underground spaces of the Earth, like other trash.”

Spanish designer Carmen Hijosa has created Piñatex, another faux-leather product made from pineapple leaf fibers as a more sustainable and cruelty-free alternative. She acted after seeing how leather tanneries operate.

Source: News.iastate.edu 10

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Oregano Oil Proves a Safe Antibiotic for Poultry

Clean Jeans

Laundry Machines Boost School Attendance Kids in middle schools with attendance problems may simply lack clean clothes to wear. An experiment by the Whirlpool company has taken on the issue with significant results.

The Whirlpool Care Counts Program donated 17 pairs of washers and dryers to school districts in St. Louis and Fairfield, California.

Kids with attendance problems were asked to bring their laundry to be cleaned while they were in class. Each student had approximately 50 loads of laundry done at school during the year, and more than 90 percent increased their attendance, with at-risk students attending almost two more weeks in class. Whirlpool is now expanding the program.

Compared to factors such as economic opportunity, unemployment and institutional racism, laundry might seem inconsequential, but for a 10-year-old facing stacked odds, having nothing clean to wear could be the deciding factor in whether or not they want to face their classmates that day.

Seventh-grade teacher Alison Guernsey, in Fairfield, says, “One of my students had more or less withdrawn from school completely. After we started the program, he was more excited about coming and started to actively engage in class. He didn’t feel like an outsider anymore.”

ecotip

Inner Wellness

Eco-Joe

Making a Cuppa More Planet-Friendly A Gallup poll last year reported that 64 percent of U.S. adult coffee lovers consume one or more cups daily and the average number of cups quaffed each day is 2.7. We can express our affection for both java and the Earth by following these eco-tips.  Forego the convenience of single-cup, plastic pod makers like Keurig. As Mother Jones magazine recently reported, only 5 percent of current pods are made with recyclable plastic, and even those, having hard-to-remove aluminum tops, pose recycling challenges. Keurig plans to make all of its pods recyclable by 2020.  Many other simpler coffee-making devices maximize energy use by facilitating more servings and reducing waste. Treehugger.com recommends the Moka Pot, a pressure-driven aluminum stovetop brewer; the Chemex Coffeemaker, a funnel-shaped glass unit with a wooden collar; the Canadian wood product Aeropress; an old-fashioned vacuum pot with two glass chambers connected by a thin neck; and a traditional non-electric stovetop percolator. Some coffee farms exploit their workers, paying subsistence wages, damage rainforests and use unsustainable farming practices. Jake Carney, co-founder of TheAlternativeDaily.com, founded Lucy’s Bru, an organic whole-bean coffee that’s exclusively shade-grown under fair trade conditions, sustainably farmed and free of harsh fertilizers and pesticides. Reuse steel and aluminum coffee cans. ChasingGreen.org details how they can make effective dehumidifiers for damp basements when filled with salt; soak paint brushes in thinner solutions; store items in a garage or work space; and serve as a spot lawn or garden seeder after punching holes in the bottom. The website also lists ways that coffee grounds can be used as a beauty, cleaning, deodorizer and dying agent. Use better filters at home. Instead of paper, single-use filters, INeedCoffee. com suggests reusable or unbleached, biodegradable alternatives such as the Medelco cone permanent filter and a French press.  For to-go drinkers, many coffee shops and restaurants will pour fresh brew into mugs that patrons bring in. Keeping a clean spoon in the car can save on plastic stirrers.

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therapyspotlight

What You Should Know About Hypnosis

of indescribable sensation spreading through me, from the head down. Within seconds, at least 50% of my pain had gone away. I felt my mind suddenly become very clear, very aware. It felt like I was being teleported into another world, another dimension. I felt free. I felt painless!

My recovery became rapid. Within a few days, I was back at work. However, I could not help asking myself, “How is it possible for pain that is caused by an actual virus to suddenly become eliminated?”

What hypnosis is and what it isn’t

by Chui Sien Chan, Ph.D., Certified Hypnotist

“D

r. Chan, can you hypnotize us now so we’ll all get a hundred on the test?” a student of mine once asked. Everyone in the class concurred. Many of them seemed bright-eyed and eager.

Being a science teacher at a high school puts me in touch with curious people. As my reputation for being a hypnotist became known at my place of work, I started to get some interesting requests. I also found myself having to dispel a lot of myths. Movies, storybooks, entertainment programs, and even the news media have misconstrued what hypnosis is. I find myself pushing against a hundred years of misinformation.

Is this a challenge that I am willing to take on? I believe so. Hypnosis has helped me in so many profound ways that it would seem selfish for me to keep it a secret amongst only those fortunate enough to have been helped by it.

How hypnosis saved my life

In 2006, I contracted a painfully debilitating disease, commonly known 12

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as the “hand-foot-mouth” disease (HFMD), that is caused by a strain of the Coxsackle virus. There is no known cure for this disease. You simply ride it out, or you don’t. At that time, I was struggling with my marriage and was mentally and physically drained from my job. I was unhappy with my surroundings and did not have the knowledge or skills that I possess today to make my life better.

The incessant pain crumbled me.

The more I tried to stay positive, the more unbearable my condition became. I had prayed to every God that I knew but to no avail. One night, more than a week into the illness, I asked the Universe to release me from this life. To my amazement, as soon as I mentally let go of all resistance, I felt a wave

One year later, an uncanny impulse prompted me to take a course run by the National Guild of Hypnotists. I learned through my training that during my harrowing encounter with death in 2006, I had unknowingly gone into a state of self-hypnosis.

Contrary to what many people think, hypnosis is not something bizarre. Hypnosis is simply a natural state of profound relaxation where the subject is conscious, highly focused, and in control. All of us must have hypnotized ourselves at some point. People who have not been trained in hypnotism could have inadvertently hypnotized themselves as I did in 2006. Scientific studies have shown that the parts of the brain that are activated during hypnosis are similar to those activated when a person is joyful, relaxed, and painless.

Is hypnotism a case of mindcontrol? Yes, except that you are the one who is controlling your own mind.

You are not being controlled by someone else. All forms of hypnosis are self-hypnosis. A hypnotist cannot make you do something against your will.

As a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, Inc., we abide by a Code of Ethics, a stringent set of guidelines, that places an added layer of protection onto our clients.

Contrary to what many people think, hypnosis is simply a natural state of profound relaxation where the subject is conscious, highly focused, and in control.

thoughts, and highly motivated to do things that I know are good for me…”

Taking that first step

Chui Sien Chan

The hypnotist’s job is to guide you to achieve your goals. That is why I have named my business, “Follow Yourself Hypnosis.” You are essentially “following yourself,” listening to your own inner voice, which is frequently muted by the rowdy, scurrying world outside of us.

What can a hypnotist help with?

My training in hypnotism opened many doors to wellness that I never knew existed. Since then, I have used hypnotism to help both myself and clients achieve success in life.

The applications of hypnotism are enormous, including the removal of irrational fears, releasing of unwanted habits, improving self-confidence, preparing for an unnerving event, such as public speaking, a job interview, or taking an exam.

According to my client, A.D., from Auburn, who gets stressed during social situations, “…I have been more comfortable with myself around large groups of people. I still get a little anxious, but not nearly as badly as before where I would shut down.”

Another client, L.M., from Huntsville, who struggled with unhealthy eating habits, wrote, “Dr. Chan helped me realize that overeating was not a compulsion to eat, but a reaction to the stress I was under. At the end of the first hypnosis session I felt the most relaxed I had felt in months!... Since my appointment, I find I am more apt to stop, label what is happening, and reroute my thoughts, rather than feeding the stress with food.”

A.E.L. from Huntsville wrote, “…I feel myself letting go of nagging concerns, more centered and clear in my

So, what about my student’s question as to whether I can hypnotize them so they get a hundred on their test?

Hypnotism can definitely help a person perform at a higher level. But hypnotism is not a magic trick. You don’t wave a wand and hypnotize all your problems away. Instead you work individually with your hypnotist, who would help define your goals and form a strategy for self-improvement. By tapping into your subconscious mind, you become more relaxed, as opposed to being tense. This helps your mind to focus, instead of being easily distracted.

You learn to release the obstacles that have been holding you back. At the same time, solutions that used to elude you start to become apparent to you in a harmonious fashion.

Like all things in life, success must begin with deliberate intent. With the courage to take that first step towards wellness and joy, I hope that you will also reap the benefits of “following yourself.”

Disclaimer: Hypnotism is not meant to replace medical treatment or therapy.

The author is not a healthcare provider.

The ideas and opinions here are the author’s and do not represent that of any organization that the author was or has been affiliated with.

References: Fuchs, Perry N., Yuan Bo Peng, Jessica A. Boyette-Davis, and Megan L. Uhelski. “The Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Pain Processing.” Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience Front. Integr. Neurosci. 8 (2014): n. pag. Web.

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Rainville, Pierre, Robert K. Hofbauer, M. Catherine Bushnell, Gary H. Duncan, and Donald D. Price. “Hypnosis Modulates Activity in Brain Structures Involved in the Regulation of Consciousness.” Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 14.6 (2002): 887-901.

Follow Yourself Hypnosis is located at 607, McCullough Ave NE, Huntsville, AL. 256-508-5584. FollowYourselfand Be.com. See listing, page 31. natural awakenings

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therapyspotlight

IV Vitamin C

The Big Cover-Up

by Dr. Howard L. Gilliam, DC, NMD

I

n a recent case history that I read, it told of the story of a man named Adam Smith from New Zealand who contracted the H1N1 flu, also known as swine flu. In a twisted turn of events, after he was hospitalized he was also diagnosed with white-out pneumonia and hairy cell leukemia. With all of the antibiotics and weeks in the hospital, Adam’s condition degraded to the point where he went into a coma and was put on life support. After being on life support for over five weeks, and just hours before he was scheduled to be removed from life support and allowed to die, his family argued successfully with the doctors to administer massive doses of ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. A 60 Minutes news segment in New Zealand documented Allan’s full recovery.

WHAT A MIRACLE! So why did the FDA in the United States on December 28, 2010 send a letter to the manufacturer of this vitamin C, McGruff Pharmaceuticals in California, and ban them from any further mass

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production of its vitamin C formulations.

Was it to protect the patients who might be at risk of being cured or to protect Big Pharmaceutical companies from a potential loss of revenue? Or was it to “protect” so many patients from the benefits of high-dose vitamin C.

Why is it that no animals on this planet except for humans, monkeys and guinea pigs have heart attacks and heart disease? The reason is because all other species have the ability to manufacture their own vitamin C. Humans, monkeys, and guinea pigs cannot.

Why do so many of our patients request IV vitamin C? Find out for yourself. Experience the benefits of what this all natural substance can do for you. As the old saying goes, “THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING” and lab tests do not lie. If you need IV vitamin C, a simple lab test will let us know.

I can’t begin to cover all of the benefits one could receive from having these done. If I had only one medicine to treat patients with, IV vitamin C would be it.

An IV vitamin C once a month could make all the difference!

I am often asked what causes heart disease. Until recently, I have been explaining the cause as it was taught tome when I was in college and is still taught to student doctors today. It all deals with risk factors that I call bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol in excess, eating fried fatty foods, etc., along with poor exercise habits, etc.

With heart disease “running in my family,” I knew that I did not want to have a heart attack or a stroke, so I heeded all of the normal risk factors.

Regardless of what I did, in September 2013 I had my first heart attack. My cholesterol was only slightly elevated and my triglycerides were totally normal. I was placed on a blood pressure medication because my blood pressure was elevated, and they tried to make me take a statin drug to lower my cholesterol.

Deep down inside, I knew there was a cure for heart disease but the pharmaceutical industry did not want us to find it. So when my wife and I took a week off from work and went on a trip to the Carolinas, I took my iPad and every night I would spend hours researching information that pertained to heart disease. Bit by bit, I would find fragments of information here and there, and I would make note of what I discovered. After much research, I began to assimilate all of the data I had collected, and what a shock it was.

I discovered that an answer for heart disease had been known for over 50 years and yet the vast majority of us had no idea that it existed. In fact, it almost seemed like it had been intentionally hidden from us.

You see, Dr. Linus Pauling, a twotime Nobel Prize winner, had already realized and stated that heart disease is an adult form of Scurvy. I think that Focal Scurvy would best describe it.

So what is Scurvy? Scurvy is a medical condition whereby your body begins to show signs of breaking down and deteriorating, particularly in your vascular system. It is a blood vessel disorder caused by severe deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the diet, leading to defective collagen formation in small blood vessels. Scurvy is characterized by bleeding of any tissue, weakness, anemia, spongy gums, and a brawny induration of the muscles of the calves and legs.

Now truly most individuals will not have all of the above symptoms in the beginning. For the vast majority, it may seem rather innocent as we brush our teeth and our gums bleed. However, this is one of the major signs of Scurvy. After the tissues begin to break down, then various other medical conditions begin to show up. Heart disease is one of the major problems associated with Scurvy, according to Dr. Pauling. Along with this comes many variations, including hypertension (high blood pressure), fatigue, decreased stamina, angina, an the list goes on.

Having personally had most of the above symptoms, I never once dreamed that I had Scurvy. Once the light bulb came on in my brain, I rapidly realized that I did indeed have a severe form of Scurvy. I never really ate much citrus fruit, however, I did take lots of vitamin C by mouth. Now I know that the vitamin C I took by mouth was just enough to keep me from bleeding and bruising my skin very easily.

So what did I need to do? What was my answer to the symptoms I was having? I started taking a daily and weekly regimen of things that I knew would fix Scurvy. The first thing I started doing was having a 30 gram (30 thousand milligram) vitamin C IV once per week. I also started taking more vitamin C by mouth, especially on the days I did not have an IV. After about 8 weeks, I suddenly realized that my gums had stopped bleeding when I brushed my teeth. I have also noticed that my blood pressure is slowly returning to normal without taking any blood pressure medication.

My energy has gone through the roof and I am on my way to getting healthy again. I anticipate that I may probably need about 30 IV treatments in order to rebuild my system.

However, the cost is far less than I paid when I had my heart attack, not only in money but also in pain and fatigue for months. Roughly, it cost me for this one heart attack, over $100,000 in money, not to mention time off from work, fatigue, angina, etc.

Don’t wait to have your heart attack, take an active approach and fix the problem ahead of time. Having IV vitamin C once per week, dietary changes, weight loss, and exercise have been the answer for me. Could it be your answer?

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Fortunately, food allergies that trigger such a dramatic, fast, immune response are fairly rare, particularly in adults.

“Most of what we’re seeing today is an uptick in food sensitivities and intolerances, terms that are often used interchangeably to describe foods that are not digested well and can challenge the immune system,” says Solana Beach, California, nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin, author of The Virgin Diet.

Newark, Delaware, medical doctor and allergist Junfang Jiao, Ph.D., attests to increased levels of testing for food allergies and sensitivities in recent years. “I can’t say there are more allergies or sensitivities, but more doctors are aware of the wide-ranging symptoms and more people are getting referred for testing,” he reports.

Many experts agree on at least one underlying cause behind the trend—a widely studied condition called leaky

FEARLESS EATING How to Move Past Food Sensitivities

by Kathleen Barnes

C

omplaints of digestive upsets, brain fog, headaches, relentless food cravings and unrelieved stress appear to be at epidemic levels these days.

“These symptoms may be part of newfound awareness of the wideranging and seemingly unrelated health problems caused by food sensitivities and intolerances, which are different from food allergies,” explains microbiologist Kiran Krishnan, from Chicago.

Food Allergies

Food allergies seem to be plaguing America’s children now more than in the past. We know that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, once standard lunchbox fare, have become a no-no.

They’re often outlawed by schools to protect the students that experience extreme peanut allergies.

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The symptoms of food allergies in adults and children, often including hives, rashes and itching, can range from being annoying to life threatening.

For extremely sensitive people, the tiniest fragment of a peanut or a bee sting, exposure to latex gloves or certain medications like penicillin can cause such a sudden strong allergic reaction that it results in anaphylaxis, which makes breathing passages swell shut. If untreated, such extreme allergies can even prove fatal, which is why people with severe allergies carry the antidote epinephrine (adrenaline) with them.

Food allergies are diagnosed by blood and/or skin testing under the supervision of a medical professional, usually a doctor of medicine, osteopathy or naturopathy. Effective treatment, which must be customized to the individual, typically entails avoidance of allergy triggers.

gut, characterized by intestinal permeability. Microscopic pinholes in an unhealthy small intestine can allow undigested nutrients to pass through intestinal walls, triggering mild immune responses, inflammation and, potentially, the onset of some diseases.

Theories of what causes leaky gut are diverse and sometimes contradictory but experts recommend consulting a medical professional if one suffers from food sensitivities. Each individual is unique, so there is no “blanket solution” for everyone.

Dysbiosis: Leaky gut is often caused by an imbalance in “good” and “bad” intestinal bacteria, sometimes called dysbiosis, says Krishnan. It can be brought on by the use of antibiotics, antibiotic residues in meats and dairy products or a diet high in sugar and processed foods.

Most interesting, he believes, is the discovery that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s weed killer

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

Some More Common Issues

Roundup used on genetically modified (GMO) corn and soy crops, contributes to dysbiosis, as verified by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists in a study published in Interdisciplinary Toxicology. They concluded with a plea to world governments to reconsider policies regarding the safety of glyphosate residues in foods.

GMOs: While this issue has been less widely analyzed, a 1996 study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology found that the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin added to Monsanto’s GMO corn crops to kill pests is not destroyed during human digestion. Danish researchers at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University suggested it may damage cells of the intestinal lining.

Gluten: “Gluten causes leaky gut,” says Port Jefferson, New York, naturopathic doctor Doni Wilson, author of The Stress Remedy, voicing one side of the controversy based on her review of scientific literature. She’s concluded, “Whether you are sensitive to it or not, gluten increases the production of zonulin, which can result in damage to intestinal walls and cause the cells on the outside of the intestines to set off an immune response to anything that passes through. In this condition, what we’re eating—cheese, milk, eggs, corn, soy—is leaking through the gut lining, triggering an immune response and potentially creating multiple food sensitivities.”

Wilson also notes that in her clinical experience, only about half of her patients with gluten sensitivities complain of digestive issues. “I’ve found that gluten causes the immune cells on the outside of the small intestine to affect the nervous system, causing headaches, anxiety, depression and insomnia,” she says. Her findings are backed by research from the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Celiac Research and Italy’s University of Catania. The same researchers confirm that non-celiac gluten sensitivity or intolerance can also foster depression; a University of Cincinnati study published in the journal Headache links gluten and headaches.

Other proteins in wheat can be problematic, advises Fiona McCulloch, a Toronto doctor of naturopathy, citing a study presented at the annual European Gastroenterology Conference, in Vienna,

As a gluten tolerance test, substitute an amount of non-gluten carbohydrates for the same amount of gluten-containing products.

For example, instead of two pieces of bread, substitute three-quarters of a cup of brown rice—a rough equivalent in carbohydrate content. A positive difference in hunger, cravings and energy levels when gluten is eliminated indicates a condition of gluten intolerance. ~Fiona McCulloch last October. The report showed that a family of proteins called amylase trypsin inhibitors can lead to the development of inflammation in tissues beyond the gut, including the lymph nodes, kidneys, spleen and brain.

Glyphosate residues can be a factor in gluten intolerance. Although wheat crops produced in the U.S. are not yet genetically modified, many non-organic wheat crops are sprayed with glyphosate to promote rapid drying, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Inadequate digestive enzymes: Lactose intolerance is the most common result of missing digestive enzymes like lactase, according to the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Avoiding milk products may relieve digestive distress for some.

Eliminate Items, Then Challenge

Most experts believe the easiest way to deal with food sensitivities is to stop eating the food in question. The so-called “elimination and challenge” diet, which has been in use for decades, is effective, free and addresses the foods responsible for common food intolerances, says Virgin.

Simply avoid the food of concern completely for at least three weeks, then eat a small amount of it and catalog the results. For some people, it may only take a couple of hours for symptoms to return after eating a piece of bread, cup of milk, an egg or bit of tofu.

Virgin’s seven-food challenge is a bit more rigorous, but improves feelings of general well-being so readily that many people don’t even want to bring back the eliminated foods because they feel so much better, she says. Her threeweek diet completely eliminates the most common food sensitivity triggers: gluten-containing foods (largely wheat), dairy, eggs, soy, corn, peanuts, sugar and artificial sweeteners.

“When I say eliminate these foods 100 percent, I mean it,” cautions Virgin.

“You need to give your immune system at least that much time to cool off.” She adds, “You can do anything such as this for just three weeks.”

Virgin also recommends the elimination diet for weight loss because it helps overcome food cravings triggered by the immune system response and leptin resistance, leveraging the hormone that turns off the body’s hunger signals, a finding confirmed by independent studies performed by Sweden’s Lund University and Italy’s University of Palermo. She’s also documented other positive effects through her own research and experience with participants in her programs, including improvements in energy, focus, joint pain, skin clarity and bloating, all in the designated short time frames.

Other Approaches

People with food sensitivities may be able to tolerate occasional indulgences in their trigger foods once they’ve healed their digestive systems, notes Krishnan. Probiotics can help, especially those encapsulated in spores so they can pass through the barrage of stomach acid and reach the small intestine where they are most needed.

Krishnan’s research, to be published this spring, showed that half of otherwise healthy young people suffering from leaky gut had a dramatic reduction of symptoms by taking a spore-forming probiotic Bacillus indicus product for 30 days. After the healing period, sensitive people may be able

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to eat small amounts of certain foods with the assistance of dietary aids and supplements, adds McCulloch.

Get dirty: Johns Hopkins University research has shown that kids raised in an excessively hygienic environment experience much higher rates of allergies and sensitivities. University of Wisconsin researchers found that youths growing up in households that are less than obsessively sanitary among four or five other people and dogs will strengthen and challenge their immune systems as they mature. Adults need to challenge their immune systems, too, says Krishnan.

Eat organic and fermented foods: A widely varied diet helps spread out the immune system challenges of trigger foods. Organic foods don’t contain glyphosate and other potentially harmful chemicals; fermented foods contain digestive enzymes.

Eat prebiotics: Raw onions, garlic, leeks and asparagus are prebiotics.

They help feed probiotic bacteria and improve gut health.

Block sensitivity triggers: Many people with lactose intolerance are able to consume dairy products if they use lactase, the enzyme that helps digest lactose. Similarly, some people with gluten intolerance find they can eat moderate amounts of wheat products with protein supplements like lectin, carb blockers and digestive enzymes that help break down the gluten molecules, according to Virgin.

Supplements that might help: Glucomannan (konjac or elephant yam fiber) contributes to a feeling of fullness and stabilizes blood sugar, says McCulloch. She also recommends the amino acid L-glutamine and digestive enzymes to assist in gut healing.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous natural health books. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

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Food Intolerances Self-Questionnaire

by JJ Virgin Answer each question with never (0), seldom (1), sometimes (2) or often (3).

1. I need a cup of coffee or another caffeinated pick-me-up to jumpstart the middle of my morning or afternoon. _____ 2. I crave baked goods, pasta and other high-sugar impact foods. _____ 3. I have difficulty falling asleep or I awake during the night feeling anxious and struggle to get back to sleep. _____ 4. My bowel movements occur infrequently (less than one a day), which can sometimes be painful and involve straining. _____ 5. My mood can change swiftly and I take out my crankiness and irritation on coworkers and family members. _____ 6. I want to lay my head down on my desk mid-morning or afternoon because I have little motivation to remain productive. _____ 7. During meetings or conversations I zone out and struggle to concentrate for long periods of time on my work. _____ 8. After eating a big meal, I’m hungry and craving more of what I ate several hours later. _____ 9. Doing routine and important tasks takes all the energy and initiative I have. _____ 10. Even as an adult, I struggle with acne, rashes or blotchy skin, even though I use expensive skin cream. _____ 11. I head to the bathroom or step outside after a meal because of gassiness, bloating or other uncomfortable gut issues. _____ 12. The smell of a scented candle, perfume and detergent bothers me. _____ 13. Walking or moving around can create cramping, achiness or joint pain. _____ 14. I develop headaches that prevent me from enjoying the moment and leave me scrambling for a pain reliever. _____ 15. Even though I don’t have other cold/flu symptoms, I suffer from a scratchy throat or sinus trouble. _____ 6. I eat all the right foods in moderation, exercise religiously, and yet struggle 1 intensely to lose every pound. _____ Total Score: ______

What Scores Mean

18 or above – You most likely struggle with food intolerances that create many unpleasant symptoms and stall fat loss. By removing the seven target foods for just three weeks, you’ll see these symptoms disappear and the scales will start moving again.

10 to 17 – You display some of the symptoms that food intolerances can trigger.

You would greatly benefit from eliminating target foods to lose symptoms and those last few pounds.

Below 10 – While you suffer few of the symptoms brought about by food intolerances, you could still benefit from the same regimen. Even the healthiest person can take their game up a notch and ditch those last few stubborn pounds.

Source: The Virgin Diet, by JJ Virgin

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Holistic Eye Care

Tuzemka/Shutterstock.com

healingways

Taking the Whole Body into Account

by Linda Sechrist

T

he “old wives’ tale” about eating carrots for healthy vision wasn’t wrong, but fell far short of a holistic approach to eye health. Today’s holistically trained healthcare providers and ophthalmologists believe that properly maintaining the marvelous phenomenon of eyesight requires taking into consideration genetics, diet, toxin exposures, life environments and our belief systems.

“The body does not work as a series of parts in isolation, but as a dynamically integrated living system,” says Marc Grossman, a doctor of optometry, licensed acupuncture physician and co-founder of Natural Eye Health, in New Paltz, New York. “The reductionist method of referring each symptom to the domain of a particular specialist, isolated

from the whole person, is slowly being replaced with a complementary view of health care that may include acupuncture and other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We are beginning to look at each person as an integrated being.”

Progressive health providers now consider dietary preferences, general exercise regimens, environmental factors and physical, emotional and mental issues, as well as an individual’s particular symptoms, in determining treatment strategies. “To improve vision, the condition of the whole person needs to be addressed,” says Grossman, whose books include Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision.

Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and Homeopathic Doctor Edward

Kondrot’s practice at Healing The Eye & Wellness Center, which he founded in Zephyrhills, Florida, embraces traditional and alternative therapies. He uses microcurrent, ozone therapy and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved stem cells from a newborn’s umbilical cord in treating serious eye disease.

Kondrot, the author of 10 Essentials to Save Your Sight, systemically understands the eyes as windows to overall health. For instance, his perspective is founded on the fact that a balanced diet is one of the best preventive measures for maintaining eye health. Systemic disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stress-related effects and nutritional deficiencies are easily determined under the scrutiny of his holistic biomicroscope.

According to science published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, chiropractic spinal manipulation may also contribute to normal vision; in one case study, 20 treatment sessions helped an individual recover the function of optic nerves and normal vision. It’s generally accepted that chiropractic adjustment realigning the spinal column allows the nervous system to function properly, reduces tension and frees up the body to better transport blood to locations such as the eyes. Additionally, the second vertebra below the skull contains nerves that affect the eyes, optic nerves, auditory nerves and sinuses.

Common eye conditions generally develop so slowly that they may not present noticeable symptoms until deterioration has become severe. “Many

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factors can affect our eyesight, includingother health problems. Having a family member with eye disease may mean you’re genetically prone to having that condition as well, but living a healthy lifestyle may prevent the gene from being activated,” advises Kondrot.

Viewing the condition of the eyes as a reflection of whole body health means that lifestyle and diet choices play major roles. The Vision Diet and supplement program recommended in Grossman’s Natural Eye Care has been shown to reduce the intraocular pressure in the eyes of study participants by five to seven millimeters, which generally equates to 10 to 15 percent. In general, a diet high in beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids can be helpful. Foods containing such nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes.

Other dietary and lifestyle options recommended by Grossman are daily drinking one pint of juice made from mostly green vegetables and drinking eight to 10 glasses of purified water to keep eyes hydrated. Managing stress and doing palming and other eye exercises, such as those found at Tinyurl.com/ ComputerEyeStrainExercises, as well as daily aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes, are also beneficial. Additionally, Kondrot’s use of multimodal protocols such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, homeopathy, and detoxification can be applied to reverse visual loss.

Kondrot advises that avoiding foods that trigger allergic reactions is important.

“A study of 113 patients with chronic simple glaucoma showed an immediate increase in pressure in the fluid inside the eye when they were exposed to foods to which they were allergic. Take up meditation, yoga, tai chi or any other practice that helps you manage stress and relax,” he advises. “Some consider glaucoma a stress-related condition.”

The best strategy for healthy eyes is to have regular eye examinations. Early detection and prompt treatment can prevent significant vision loss.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

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wisewords

Of course, you will want to replace a high net carb intake, or total carbs minus fiber, with healthy fats such as those in avocados, coconut oil, seeds and nuts.

Avoid industrially processed omega-6 vegetable oils like corn, soy and canola.

Dr. Joseph Mercola on

SIMPLE STEPS TO WELL-BEING

Because an indoor, climatecontrolled, sedentary lifestyle may lead to slowly developing chronic disease, what changes do you suggest we make?

by Judith Fertig

D

octor of Osteopathic Medicine Joseph Mercola has practiced as a boardcertified family physician for more than 30 years.

His educational website, Mercola.com, has been the most visited natural health site for the past 12 years, with 12 million unique visitors each month. His three New York Times bestsellers include Effortless Healing.

With today’s overload of conflicting health information—and the temptation to self-diagnose—how can we accurately assess our status in terms of optimal wellness?

One of the major principles I strongly embrace is to listen to your body and adjust your lifestyle based on the feedback it’s providing you. The seven clinically proven gauges I advise you to assess now and continue to monitor every six months or so are fasting insulin level (normal is less than five micro-international units per milliliter of blood; ideal is less than three); vitamin D level (normal is 40 to 60 nanograms per milliliter); waist-to-hip ratio (ideal for men, 0.8; for women, 0.7); body fat percentage (fitness level for women is 21 to 24 percent; for men, 14 to 17 percent); HDL to total cholesterol ratio (ideally 24 to 30 percent or higher); blood pressure (ideal numbers are 120 over 80 systolic/diastolic without medication); and uric acid level (ideal is three to five milligrams per deciliter).

It is important to get these levels checked, because it is impossible to know without testing.

In your opinion, what is the greatest health risk Americans face today and what can we do about it right now?

I’m convinced that for the typical American, the most important health step to take is to stop drinking soda, sports drinks, fruit juices or artificially flavored and sweetened waters and replace them with pure water.

Most people are now aware that sodas are laced with processed sugars like high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, but many don’t know that their favorite sport and vitamin drinks contain these sweeteners plus a host of frightening extras, including toxic chemicals like chlorine, fluoride, phthalates, BPA [bisphenol A] and disinfection byproducts.

What role do carbohydrates play?

Carbs are a far dirtier fuel than fat and generate far more reactive oxygen species than fat. Some 70 years of following low-fat diet recommendations has resulted in the vast majority of dieters losing the ability to burn fat as their primary fuel.

One of the most powerful strategies to regain this ability is to start a practice of regular intermittent fasting, restricting your eating window to six to 14 hours a day and fast the rest of the day.

Spending time outside with bare feet in contact with the ground even for short periods can yield significant benefits.

It’s even better to do it with the sun shining on your bare skin.

The Earth is an abundant source of free electrons, and when the sun shines on your skin a vital biological circuit forms that helps transfer energy to water throughout the body, which serves as a cellular battery. Albert Einstein won a Nobel Prize for describing this process, called the photoelectric effect.

Reducing the length of time sitting each day and regularly moving is even more important for most of us than getting regular exercise. A good rule of thumb is to stand up every 15 minutes or so.

What can we do better to maintain optimal health?

Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. The problems with carrying excess weight are more than aesthetic.

At the root of obesity is mitochondrial metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic disorders go hand-in-hand with many of the chronic diseases plaguing Americans in record numbers—including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia and cancer—according to numerous studies such as research by the Centers for Disease Control and the Center for the Study of Chronic Metabolic and Rare Diseases, at George Mason University.

The most potent strategy to address such metabolic dysfunction is to make a strong commitment to reaching and maintaining a personally healthy level of body fat.

Judith Fertig writes food health articles and cookbooks from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

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March 2017

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consciouseating Craevschii Family/Shutterstock.com

The misleading information began in the 1950s, when Physiologist Ancel Keys, Ph.D., discovered a correlation between diets high in saturated fats and higher cholesterol levels. Soon, the lowfat diet was born.

In 2000, further research introduced the concepts of good and bad fats. More recent analysis confirmed this finding with the refinement that saturated fats increase both types of cholesterol. However, the latest research from the journal BMJ shows that saturated fat does not increase the number of LDL, or “bad”, particles, a predictor of cardiovascular disease. Instead, it makes existing LDL particles larger, a fairly benign situation in regard to such disease.

Thumbs-Up on Fats

Weight Loss Benefit

Fat doesn’t even make you fat, claims Mark Hyman, a well-known medical doctor in Lenox, Massachusetts, and author of Eat Fat, Get Thin: Why the Fat We Eat Is the Key to Sustained Weight Loss and Vibrant Health. “The theory that all calories have the same impact on your weight and metabolism remains one of the most persistent nutrition myths,” says this practitioner of functional medicine who points out that we’ve been sidetracked by wrong thinking.

“Eating fat can make you lean.

Healthy cell walls made from highquality fats are better able to metabolize insulin, which keeps blood sugar better regulated. Without proper blood sugar control, the body socks away fat for a rainy day. The right fats also in

Good Fat Doesn’t Make Us Fat

by Judith Fertig

I

n an era of too much information, the role of fats in our diet has been a victim of not enough information.

Today’s turnaround in nutritional thinking acknowledges natural fats as being vital to heart health and weight loss.

Heart Health Benefit

A recent metastudy in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American College of Physicians, concluded that saturated fat does not

appear to increase heart disease risk, overturning almost 60 years of accepted medical thought. The researchers analyzed data from 76 studies involving more than 600,000 people and found that those that ate the most saturated, or “bad”, fat did not show a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those that ate the least. Note that processed trans fats remain a villain, still deemed a risk to heart health per the metastudy.

Creating Health and Harmony through Nature New Thought Gifts • Crystals • Gemstones Essential oils • Crystal Lightbed Sessions • Candles Massage Therapy • Salt Lamps • Reflexology

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crease fat burning, diminish hunger and reduce fat storage,” he notes.

Whole30, a 30-day diet revolving around clean eating, also emphasizes healthy fats. Devised in 2009 by Dallas Hartwig, a functional medicine practitioner and certified sports nutritionist, and Melissa Hartwig, a certified sports nutritionist, the program aims to reduce inflammation, detoxify the body and reset metabolism. The Salt Lake City, Utah, authors of the New York Times bestselling The Whole30 recommend healthy fats to keep us full and rev up metabolism. Recommended healthy fats include coconut milk and oil, avocados, olive oil, organic ghee (clarified butter) and raw nuts.

Josh Axe, a natural medicine practitioner and clinical nutritionist in Nashville, Tennessee, recommends the healthy fats contained in avocados, organic butter and ghee from grass-fed cows and goats, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, sardines, walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds.

“Butter’s experiencing a comeback as a healthy fat as its benefits become more widely known,” says Axe. “The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in butter help the brain function properly and improve skin health.” Ghee, an ancient Indian version of butter,

is lactose- and casein-free, while being loaded with fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E, says Axe. These vitamins are best absorbed by the body when they’re in a fat substance and then stored in the gastrointestinal tract, keeping metabolism and digestion on track, he notes.

Ghee’s high level of vitamin K2, best known as a natural blood coagulator, “also helps strengthen bones, while the fatty acids found in it improve digestion and reduce inflammation.”

Healthy Levels of Fat

“If you’re active, about 40 percent of your calories should come from carbohydrates, another 30 percent from protein and the other 30 percent from fat in general,” says Axe, adding that this has the added benefit of helping prevent arteriosclerosis. “Some people may consume a greater percentage of healthy fats if the goal is to become a fat burner.”

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss and health,” Hyman reminds us. “Low-carb, higherfat diets work for most people, but for some, they may not be optimal in the long term.”

Judith Fertig writes food health articles and cookbooks from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

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Prime Sources of Healthy Fats Functional medicine physician Mark Hyman suggests that we include four to five servings of fat in our diets every day. “In the last five years, the scientific evidence has been mounting that high-fat diets outperform low-fat diets for weight loss and for revising every single indication of heart disease risk, including abnormal cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension and inflammation,” he says.

Each amount listed indicates a serving size.

Nuts (a handful of walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts or cashews) Seeds (a handful of pumpkin, sunflower of flaxseed) Most plant-based liquid oils (one

tablespoon of olive, safflower, sesame, avocado, macadamia, grape seed or walnut oil) Fatty fish (4 ounces of salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna or trout) Avocado (one-half to one avocado) Extra virgin coconut oil (one tablespoon) Organic coconut milk (one-quarter cup) Olives (one-quarter cup) Grass-fed animal butter, clarified butter or ghee (one tablespoon) Aim to eat fats that remain liquid (not solid) at room temperature; it’s a sure sign of heart-healthy, unsaturated fats.

Source: Adapted from Eat Fat, Get Thin, by Mark Hyman, M.D.

Rev. David Leonard Transforming Lives and Making the World a Better Place

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greenliving A Course In Miracles Study Group 9:15am Sundays

FOREVER GREEN Eco-Burial Options Grow

by Avery Mack

1-Hour Mystery School 11:00am Sundays

Affirmations, Music, Mystery Message, Fellowship, An Open Communion Table

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Introduction to Metaphysics Wednesdays at 6:30pm March 8 - May 10th

Public Clearance

7:00pm, Friday March 17th Spring Equinox Celebration Sunday March 19th at 11:00am

Looking Ahead: Dream Workshop Mondays at 6:30pm March 13th & 27th Empath Discussion Group Thursdays at 6:30pm April 6th - 27th Meditation & Prayer Class Thursdays at 7:00pm May 4th - 25th Clearance Workshop Mondays at 7:00pm May 8th - 29th Our labyrinth is always open for your meditative walks.

Dance & Sing in the Light 4208 Holmes Ave. NW Huntsville, Alabama 256-895-0255 www.lightofchristcenter.org

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N

atural burials allow those that lived their principles of an environmentally sound life to complete their days in a planet-friendly, personalized way.

“The number of U.S. cemeteries allowing natural burials has increased by 30 in the last year,” says Elizabeth Fournier, owner of Cornerstone Funeral Services, in Boring, Oregon. “More than 150 cemeteries allow them now. We encourage replacing cut flowers with plants. A multipurpose wooden casket can serve as a bookshelf until needed, or a casket can be made of natural wicker, paper or grass.” Formaldehyde-free embalming fluids made of non-toxic and biodegradable essential oils allow for a synthetic chemical-free burial.

“Green burials tend to be unique and can last from one to four hours,” says Brian Flowers, green burial coordinator for Moles Farewell Tributes, in Bellingham, Washington. “One funeral had 50 Civil War re-enactors in blue and gray outfits, along with a 21-musket and two-cannon salute. Another was led by a shaman. Natural burial isn’t just for the Birkenstock/patchouli crowd. Our area is farm-rich, so a green burial fits with the idea of living close to the land.”

The Moles’ four-and-one-half-acre meadow for natural burial will expand in the next two years to eight acres.

Flowers explains, “It’s an ecological

restoration site. We manage invasive species and plant three native plants for each burial.”

In Houston, Terry Ward, president and CEO of Country Communities, notes how fast-paced lifestyles can prevent intimate connections among siblings. “At Indigo Fields, we’re able to implant an app-accessible microchip into an urn or stone. The information can include photos, details of the person’s life and stories that might otherwise become lost. It can be updated at any time and serves as a gift for anyone researching the family tree.

It helps the living heal and talk about their fears, too.”

Added Green Alternatives

Cremation has always been an alternative to burial, but is energy intensive; recycling medical parts helps green up this option. Many choices are available for the cremains, the ashes that remain after a cremation.

Many states outlaw burying pet remains in a human cemetery, so Lisa Brambilla, of Yorba Linda, California, invented 100 percent biodegradable Bio Urns. “Before, pet lovers had few choices when it came time to say

goodbye. Laying a cremated pet to rest this way makes a loss easier because it’s a physical manifestation of a pet in plant form. It hurts a little less,” she says. Each urn comes with a seed for a tree or shrub and the proper soil to help it grow.

“Maka, a keeshond, was the dog my son’s heart bonded with; he was 6 when she died,” Brambilla relates.

“After she grew into a tree, he could smile when he talked about her. It teaches kids to create a new life and to treat the planet well. Death is nothing but a word. The only thing real is life.” Bio Urn expanded to include human clients after Brambilla’s fatherin-law requested to be remembered via a redwood tree and her mother, a Christmas tree.

Eternal reefs are made of ashes mixed with cement placed in the ocean in a military-style ceremony to help support marine life for at least 500 years. Family members retain the reef’s GPS coordinates and can boat or dive to visit it.

Music lovers can choose to have their ashes compressed into a vinyl record. A live recording of goodbyes, a last will and testament or compilation of

favorite songs can be prerecorded. Ashes can also be compressed into colorful memorial gemstones ready to be set into jewelry to keep a loved one close.

Resomation, or bio-cremation, liquefies the body in a heated alkaline bath, using far less energy than traditional cremation and without environmentally harmful chemical emissions; afterward, the bones are ground, resembling cremains, and are returned to the family.

Promession is a way to freeze-dry the body by immersion in liquid nitrogen at -321° F. When it becomes brittle, vibrations shake the corpse into small pieces, water is evaporated and the dust that remains can be used as compost.

Invented by Swedish biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, she feels it’s the utmost Earth-friendly way to return a body to the soil.

As people opt to avoid the higher costs of a traditional funeral and elect practical, eco-friendly ways to exit the human scene, natural burials can become more accepted ways to achieve Biblical dust-to-dust while doing no harm.

GONE GREEN

Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

Source: Casket and Funeral Supply Association of America

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Each year, traditional funerals use and bury: Hardwoods for caskets (30 million board feet) Steel for caskets (90,272 tons, plus 14,000 tons for vaults) Copper and bronze for caskets (2,700 tons) Reinforced concrete for vaults (1.636 million tons) Embalming fluids (827,060 gallons)

Earth-friendly methods: Cost about half as much as a traditional funeral. Use non-toxic embalming fluids. Offer biodegradable caskets. Replace quarried headstones with  natural stone or greenery. Restore native plant areas, reducing invasive species, mowing and herbicides. Contribute to peace of mind with a green legacy.

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calendarofevents Email Editor@Natvalley.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

Family Constellations Workshop with Jeffrey Rich, Certified Systemic Constellations Facilitator – 9am-5pm. Uncover and harmonize the hidden structure of relationships in your family system or business to increase the flows of love and productivity. $75 suggested donation. Shining Mountain Healing Center, 900 Wellman Ave #5, Five-Points.

Shining-Mountain.com. Jeffrey.Rich@gmail.com.

Preparing for a Natural Disaster Seminar – 6-7:30pm. An expert panel will discuss how to prepare for disasters, including creating a family communications plan, staying safe, filling insurance gaps, caring for your pets, and protecting your finances. Free. The Atrium at Redstone Federal Credit Union, 220 Wynn Dr, Huntsville. Reservations: My.redfcu.org.

Spring Market & Craft Show – 9am-3pm. Shop with more than 60 unique, local crafters and vendors, along with food trucks and fun. Free. Jaycee’s Building & Fairgrounds, 2180 Airport Rd, Huntsville.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3 Hike Hays – 9-10am and 12-1pm. Guided hike on the first Friday of each month. Morning hike begins at 9am. Afternoon hike begins at Noon. Meet in the Flint River Parking Area. Paved and natural paths both available. Free. Hays Nature Preserve, 7161 U.S. Hwy 431 S, Owens Cross Roads. 256-532-5326.

Huntsville SOUP – 6-9pm. A micro-granting dinner celebrating creative projects. For $5 or more, you receive soup, bread, and a vote. Presenters share their projects, ranging from art, social justice, social entrepreneurship, education, technology, and more.

The project with the most votes takes home the money from the door. Lowe Mill East Dock.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4 “Build Your Dream Life” Workshop – 8:30am12:30pm. Learn tools to “be, do and have” what you want in your life. This workshop will help you discover your passion and live the reality of your dreams. $40. Unity on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. Info: Renee Beckham, beckhamir@aol.com or 512-573-5008.

Community Kite Festival – 11am-3pm. Theme: “Soaring for Social Justice.” Let’s come together to understand society’s problems and make the connections to facilitate change. You’ll find booths from community organizations, food vendors, live entertainment, kite flying and children’s activities.

Free. Jaycee’s Building & Fairgrounds, 2180 Airport Rd, Huntsville.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 Native Tree Identification – 12:30-2pm. Last class in a series (attend any or all classes) covering at least 70 species of trees native to northern Alabama mountains. Most classes will be Garden walks.

Garden admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. 256-837-4344.

Healing Center, 900 Wellman Ave #5, Five-Points.

Shining-Mountain.com. Jeffrey.Rich@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 Vegetable Gardening for Beginners – 10am-12pm.

Learn a few basic principles to set you on your way to creating that much coveted personal picking garden in your own backyard. Members $15; Nonmembers $20. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. 256-837-4344.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 Guided Hike: Smokewoods of Monte Sano via Three Caves Trailhead – 10am. (Easy to moderate). Land Trust Board member David Young will lead you along the Young/Kennedy Trail. Admire the Chittamwood (Smokewood) groves and the many fossils from the ocean that once covered North Alabama. Directions: LandTrustNAL.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 19 Guided Hike: South Monte Sano Trailhead to Trough Springs – 1pm. (2 miles / Moderate to difficult). Land Trust Board member David Young will tell the story of Lt. Col. Milus E. “Bushwhacker” Johnston his dramatic surrender to Union Forces on May 11, 1865. Directions: LandTrustNAL.org.

Guided Hike: Blossomwood’s Wonderful Wildflower Trail – 2pm. (1 hour / Easy with moderate incline; roots and rocks on trail). Walk with botanist Lynne Weninegar on the Land Trust trail named for its claim to fame: beautiful wildflowers. Dogs welcome on leads. Directions: LandTrustNAL.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

MONDAY, MARCH 21

Dream Exploration Circle – 6:30-9pm. Explore the power of your dreams. We use techniques pioneered

by Robert Moss, author and dream explorer, to expand and understand the information given to us in our dreams. $10 suggested donation. Shining Mountain

Shaping Alabama-Early Years – 2pm. How did Alabama get its shape? Featuring detail views of some recently identified early Alabama maps, this PowerPoint presentation will show the complex history that contributed to the shaping of Alabama’s distinctive borders. Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

GOT EVENTS? GET NOTICED! Advertise in our calendar.

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for every individual who has ever lived upon the earth. $10. Unity Church on The Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr, Huntsville. Meetup.com/HuntsvilleParanormal-Study-Center.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 The Paranormal Study Center Monthly Lecture – 6:30pm. Jane Wodtke is a certified Soul Realignment Practitioner using the Akashic Records, which are the central storehouse of all information

2017 Madison Kite Festival – 10am-2pm. Kite Flying, children activities, entertainment, flight simulators, STEM demonstrations, vendors/ booths, and food trucks. Free. James Clemens High School, 11306 County Line Rd, Madison.

Guided Hike: From Fort Payne to Oklahoma Over Blevins Gap – 10am. (2 hours / Moderate to difficult). The Land Trust’s Blevins Gap Nature Preserve protects a portion of the Benge Detachment Route of the Trail of Tears. Guide: John Stanton.

Directions: LandTrustNAL.org.

Invasive Plant Species ID and Control – 1-3pm.

Learn how to identify invasive, non-native plants and keep these plants at bay in your own landscape.

Free with Garden Admission or Membership.

Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. 256-837-4344.

Divine Guidance: Listening to the Inner Voice – 1-8pm. Learn how simple spiritual exercises can help you connect with the ever-present guidance of Divine Spirit to improve your life every day. Free seminar sponsored by the Huntsville ECK Center.

Best Western Plus Hotel, 9035 Madison Blvd, Madison. For info: 256-534-1751. Eck-Alabama.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26 Friends of the Library Hertha Heller Forum – 2-4pm. Christel McCanless, an expert on the beautiful objects of Peter Carl Faberge, will present “Gems and Minerals in the McFerrin Faberge Collection: A Study.” Free. Huntsville Main Library, 915 Monroe St. 256-532-5940.

Local Author, Dr. Stephen B. Jones – 2-3pm. Dr. Stephen B. Jones, local resident and author of Nature Based Leadership: Lessons for Living, Learning, Serving, and Leading, will visit the Madison Library.

Steve created the emerging field of nature-based leadership (NBL). Free. Madison Public Library, 130 Plaza Blvd, Madison. 256-461-0046.

plan ahead SATURDAY, APRIL 1 Guided Hike: Walls of Jericho in Jackson County – 8:30am. (App. 6 hours / Difficult). Join Mike Dalen for an unforgettable day hike. Once the hunting grounds of Davy Crockett, “The Walls” are one of Forever Wild’s most popular properties.

Directions: LandTrustNAL.org.

ongoingevents

Lessons in Truth by H. Emilie Cady. 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. UnityOnTheMountain.org.

Satsang – 6:30pm. Through group discussion and inquiry, we reveal the innate wisdom of the one presence living life as each one of us. Meditation 6pm.

Led by Rev. David Leonard. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Email Editor@Natvalley.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday A Course in Miracles Study Group – 9:15am.

Shared reading and group discussions. Extra books available. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255. LightOfChristCenter.org.

friday Public Clearance Session – 7pm. Third Friday each month. Learn effective healing through reception and application of Divine energies. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville.

256-895-0255.

Revealing Service – 9:45am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Celebration Service – 10:30am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Unity Church on the Mountain – Worship Service 11am. Adult Book Discussion 9:30-10:30am. Children’s Sunday School 11am (ages 4-10). Unity is a positive path for spiritual living. All are welcome!

1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. UnityOnThe Mountain.org.

1-Hour Mystery School – 11am. A different service each week including ritual, music, and a message in an open, loving environment. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville. 256-895-0255.

LightOfChristCenter.org.

Yoga with Mr. Nirmal Singh – 4pm. Hatha Yoga class for beginners as well as experienced students.

The yoga postures will be tailored as much as possible to the capability and experience of the individual participants. Free. HCCNA Temple Auditorium, 14840 Smith Dr, Harvest, AL. Nsingh. ks.1970@gmail.com.

Heartfulness Meditation – 5pm. Experience a guided relaxation session leading to meditation by an experienced Heartfulness trainer. Heartfulness is a path to experiencing your inner self. Free. HCCNA Temple Auditorium, 14840 Smith Dr, Harvest, AL. Huntsville.Hearfulness@ gmail.com. Heartfulness. org. Free masterclass offered online at Heartfulness. org/masterclass.

monday Aging Gracefully Yoga – 10-11am Mondays and Fridays. In this yoga class for seniors, students will learn postures to strengthen and stretch muscles, protect joints, and promote balance. Yoga props will be used to make the postures accessible. Chris Irrgang RYT-200, Restoring Bodies Fitness Studio, 6996 Wall Triana Highway, Madison. 256-6534776. Yoga.AimlessWanderers.net.

Acupuncture Happy Hour – 4-6pm. A 30-minute ear acupuncture treatment that will de-stress, detox, relax and re-energize you. No appointment necessary. $35. Alabama Holistic Health, 204 Lowe Ave SE, Ste 3, Huntsville. 256-801-9162. ALHolistic Health.com.

Introduction to Practical Philosophy – 6:308:30pm, Mondays, 1/9-3/13. Connect with the happiness, wisdom, and awareness that are already within. Increase peace and awareness in daily life

through group discussion and mindfulness practices.

First class free, continuing students $75 ($45 Students/Seniors). Unity on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. 256-883-8446. Alabama Philosophy.com.

tuesday Yoga for 50+ – 9-10:15am Tuesdays and 9:1510:30am Wednesdays. In this class, seniors will learn postures to strengthen and stretch muscles, protect joints, and promote balance. Yoga props will be used to make the postures accessible to everyone.

Chris Irrgang RYT-200, YogaFire Studio, 970 Balch Rd (inside Empire Fitness Center), Madison. 256653-4776 Yoga.AimlessWanderers.net.

Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville. 256-883-8596. CSLHuntsville.org.

Discovering Creativity Workshop with Renee Beckham – 6-8pm, Tuesdays, 3/7 to 5/30. A 12week class based on the book, It’s Never To Late To Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning At Midlife and Beyond by Julia Cameron. $250.

Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville. Info: Beckhamir@aol.com or 512-573-5008.

Military Stress Acupuncture Clinic – 6:30-8pm.

For active duty and veterans with Military Stress, PTSS, PTSD. Acupuncturists and massage therapists available to relieve stress or pain. Donation only.

Alabama Holistic Health, 204 Lowe Ave, SE, Ste 3, Huntsville. 256-801-9162. ALHolisticHealth.com

wednesday Yoga for 50+ – 12-1:pm. In this class, seniors will learn postures to strengthen and stretch muscles, protect joints, and promote balance. Yoga props will be used to make the postures accessible to everyone. Chris Irrgang RYT-200, The Yoga Center, 500 Pratt Avenue NE, Huntsville. 256-653-4776 Yoga.

AimlessWanderers.net.

Lessons in Truth Book Study – 6:30-7:30pm.

David Carroll will facilitate a book study group on

saturday Artist Market – 12-4pm. Local artists and others are invited to set up a booth and sell their wares to the public. There will be art, jewelry, vintage clothing, records and more for sale. Admission free. Flying Monkey Arts Center at Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville.

Community HU Song – 1:30-2pm. Join others in singing HU, an ancient love song to God that can help and uplift you in countless ways. Held each Saturday (except 3/25). Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Ave NE #3 (near Five Points). 256-5341751. Eck-Alabama.org.

Crystal Light Bed Sessions – 1-4pm. A 20-minute crystal light bed session that to relax, de-stress, balance and re-energize your energy system. $20.

Dream Maker, 4004 Triana Blvd, Huntsville. 256883-8446. Facebook.com/DreamMakerHuntsville.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month.

To place listing, email content to Editor@ Natvalley.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

ENERGY WORK SUPPORT GROUP LOOKING FOR PRACTITIONERS of Dr. Ray’s Radiance Technique for monthly group.

Call 256-534-6091 and leave message.

FOR SALE BURIAL PLOTS FOR SALE: Maple Hill Cemetery, Huntsville. One for $2,500; both for $4,000.

Call Ron at 954-593-4279 or email Otterdad@ hotmail.com.

HEALTH COOKWARE SALADMASTER sales and service. 256-412-4896.

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. Email Editor@Natvalley.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE ALABAMA HOLISTIC HEALTH, LLC Dr. Christina L. Berry, Ed.D., ACI, ADS 204 Lowe Ave, Suite 7, Huntsville Info@ALHolisticHealth.com 256-801-9162

A holistic approach to health and wellness, specializing in pain management, weight loss, natural detoxification, and mental health improvement. Auriculotherapy/ Ear acupuncture. Massage therapy. Reflexology. Lifestyle consulting. Diet and supplement recommendations. Hydro-colon cleanse. Ionic detox.

See ad, page 20.

THE NEELEY CENTER FOR HEALTH

600 Saint Clair Avenue SW, Bldg 5 Suite 11 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-716-4048 Hours: T-F, 9am-5pm, Sat 8am-12pm House calls by Appointment Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology, Pastoral Counseling, Beam Ray Therapy, Rapid Eye Technology, Emotion Code Technique, Nutritional Supplementation, Detoxification, BioMat.

CHIROPRACTOR DR. JAMIE BUNIS, DC

Dr. Jamie’s Wellness Center 917 Merchant’s Walk, Ste A, Huntsville 256-434-7977 DrJamiesWellnessCenter.com Comprehensive chiropractic and wellness services. Applied Nutritional Analysis Testing (ANA) and nutritional counseling.

Standard Process® high-grade nutritional supplements.

Aromatherapy. Essential oils.

Detoxification. Multiple styles of massage, including Qi-ssage. Free educational classes on many healing modalities. Located behind Whole Foods. See ad, page 13.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY HOPE FOR LIFE COLONICS

Tina Pencola Owner/Certified Colon Hydrotherapist 10300 Bailey Cove Rd, Suite-7A Huntsville, AL 35803 256-270-8731 • 256-684-0020 Hope4LifeAL.com Tina.HopeForLife@outlook.com Our goal is to live long and live strong. Young or old, male or female, healthy or sick, will benefit from an internal cleansing. Mention this ad and get $10 off your first colonic session. See ad, page 9.

JARVIS NATURAL HEALTH CLINIC 1489 Slaughter Road, Madison 256-837-3448

I-ACT Certified Colon Hydro Therapists. Do you know that 80% of your immune system is in your colon? Bathe your body from the inside to improve health. Colon irrigation aids in soothing and toning the colon, which makes elimination more effective.

ENERGY HEALING MELISSA POSEY, CCH, LMT#2602

Light Worker & Massage Therapist Ela Botanica and Bodyworks 3012 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville 256-652-5125 Facebook.com/MelissaPoseyLightWorker andMassageTherapy Crystal healing, clearing and balancing the Chakra system as well as removing chords, attachments and blockages, Crystal Gridding, Crystal Consultations, clearing and charging of your personal crystals at no charge, Access Bars Practitioner, Reiki Master, Deep Tissue Massage, Therapeutic Massage.

ESSENTIAL OILS CINDY WILSON

Young Living Independent Distributor 256-476-6537 Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com Want to know why everyone is talking about essential oils?

Learn more about essential oils, their uses and how to safely use them. Classes held monthly or schedule your class with friends and family. For more information call or email.

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FAMILY MEDICINE MADISON FAMILY CARE

Chad Gilliam, M.M.S. PA-C 1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C, Madison, AL 256-722-0555 MadisonFamilyCare.com Madison Family Care provides medical care for patients of all ages and uniquely blends Natural and Prescription medicines together to help speed the patient’s recovery. Madison Family Care is the patient’s clinic of choice when they would like to understand how natural medicines work along with prescription drugs. See ad, page 32.

FOOT CARE SPECIALIZED NAIL CARE

1900 Flint Rd SE Decatur, AL 35601 256-476-6537 Cindy@SpecializedNailCare.com Nail care for those that need more than just a pedicure.

Physicians order required for care. Care includes footbath, trimming nails, thinning of thick nails, and removal of calluses and corns. For more information call or email. See ad, page 27.

HAIR SALON CJ HAIR AND ART STUDIO

CJ Denison 105E Church St Madison, AL 35758 • 256-603-9018 Specializing in N AT U R A L Hairstyles.

Cuts with Texture and Movement. Specializing in Fine Hair, Razor cuts, Men's Hair Pieces with A NATURAL Look. Specializing in Hair Color OFF the Scalp. Hair Painting. A Safer way to Color or HiLight Your Hair to Help in Decreasing the Exposure to the Scalp. HEALTHY HAIR is HAPPY HAIR. Also Original Art Work and Private Art lessons available. Call Today for YOUR Appointment.

HEALTH & FITNESS HEAD-TO-TOE TRAINING 8006 Madison Pike, Ste 5 Madison, AL • 256-772-2006 HeadToToe@knology.net Head-To-Toe.com

A Mind/Body Training Center specializing in Core Training, Corrective and Therapeutic.

Offering all facets of training: group and personal. Pilates (both matwork and apparatus), Thai/yoga massage, Flowmotion, PilatEASE, CoreABS and more! Membership packages available.

HOLISTIC EMOTIONAL HEALTHCARE RELIEF THRU EPT, LLC

Kim Dillon, Practitioner/Emotional Therapist 7734 Madison Blvd, Ste 114, Huntsville, AL (corner of Madison Blvd & Slaughter Rd) 256-759-0496 • ReliefThruEPT@gmail.com EPTworksHuntsville.com Emotional therapy with 20 years of clinical success, Emotional Polarity Technique (EPT) gets to the hidden issues quicker than talk therapy to bring relief from stress, traumas, hidden blocks, or chronic physical problems, and reach the life you desire. Free 15-minute EPT consultation.

HYPNOTHERAPY CENTER FOR INNER WELLNESS

Becky Waters Certified Hypnotherapist, EFT Practitioner and Professional Breathworker 3322 S. Memorial Pkwy, Ste 617 Huntsville, AL • 256-348-5236 Empowering you to live to your highest potential. Relieve stress and anxiety, release negativity, pain management, pre/post medical procedure, fears/phobias, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more. See ad, page 11.

FOLLOW YOURSELF HYPNOSIS

Chui Sien Chan, Ph.D., Certified Hypnotist 607 McCullough Ave NE, Huntsville 256-508-5584 FollowYourselfandBe.com Preparing for an unnerving event?

Wanting more success in academic performance, athletics, career, love and relationships, and the release of unwanted habits? Tap into your subconscious mind through hypnosis. Book a session now!

MASSAGE THERAPY

J. L. JONES, LMT, AL #3610

Chi of Life Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, LLC 614 Madison St, Ste #4, Huntsville 256-812-1284 • BodyWorkByJL@gmail.com ChiOfLife.MassageTherapy.com Assisting your well-being and recovery from discomfort and injury using a variety of Swedish, deep-tissue and neuro-muscular techniques. Energy-based work including Reiki and Reflexology.

All services performed in a caring, secure environment. Limited outcall available.

NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES Dr. Deb Gilliam, N.M.D. 1230 Slaughter Rd, Ste E, Madison, AL 256-325-0955

PAIN RELIEF & NON-SURGICAL FACELIFT CYMATIC THERAPY & DERMACYCLING

614 Madison St, Ste #2, Huntsville 256-656-1606 CymaticsByLil.com Cymatic Therapy uses sound and bioresonance frequencies to harmonize the body and relieve most kinds of pain. Dermacycling is a non-surgical facelift procedure that provides beauty treatments using microcurrent. Both therapies are highly effective, safe, and completely non-invasive. See ads, page 5.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JACI HOGUE

Dr. Deb treats a variety of health problems using natural means.

She looks for why people have symptoms and treats the root cause of those symptoms. Dr. Deb is highly regarded in the integrative and natural approach to wellness. Every patent is unique, and she individualizes treatment for their optimal wellness. See ad, page 15.

NUTRITION COUNSELING & HEALTHY COOKING HEAD 2 TOE CHANGE, LLC

Dana Sims, BS, MA, Plant-Based Nutrition, Certified Wholistic Rejuvenist (CWR) 204 Lowe Ave, Suite 3, Huntsville 256-323-1265 • Head2ToeChange.net Healthy Shopping/Label Reading.

Learn Foods to Avoid Pain/ Inflammation; Chemical Cuisine: Do You REALLY Know What You’re Eating? by Dr. Gloria Gilbere. Individualized meal plans prepared for people who have a specific diagnosis and require strict dietary needs.

256-656-4108 JaciHogue@gmail.com A complete system of body education that balances the physical body, improves posture, and helps resolve chronic pain.

Created by Dr. Ida P. Rolf in the 1950s, Structural Integration has been scientifically validated and has withstood the test of time, as millions of people have enjoyed the remarkable benefits.

SUSAN K. JEFFREYS

Advanced Practitioner Lic.#249 Dr. Ida P. ROLF method 525 Fountain Row 256-508-3351 • RolfGuild.org Serving Huntsville since 1995 “When the body gets working appropriately, then the force of gravity can flow through. Then spontaneously, the body heals itself.” —Ida P. Rolf. See ad, page 15.

RON GRAY, LMT #36

The Dream Maker 4004 Triana Blvd SW, Huntsville 256-883-8446 Over 24 years experience providing an original mix of massage therapy modalities including Polarity Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Energy Balancing, Neuromuscular, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Therapy, Reiki, and Lymphatic Drainage.

Works in harmony with the body’s inner wisdom, gently guiding your session with integrity, intuition and skill. See ad, page 24.

There is nothing on this Earth more to be prized than true friendship. ~Thomas Aquinas

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FAMILY CARE AND WELLNESS CENTER

Chad Gilliam, M.M.S., PA-C • Dr. Gary Adams, MD 256-722-0555 • MadisonFamilyCare.com

WANT TO CONNECT WITH OUR READERS? THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR AND MARKETING PLANNER

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