Conscious Comedy Concert

Unity Church for Creative Living (UCCL), in St. Johns, is hosting a Comedy Concert featuring award-winning songwriter, author and humorist Greg Tamblyn on February 26 at 12:30 p.m. Dubbed “a contemporary Mark Twain” by author Dr. Larry Dossey, Tamblyn will provide attendees a healthy dose of comic relief with his irreverent humor and sideways view of life. UCCL invites everyone to come and get a comedy hangover that lasts all week.

With a list of national awards to his credit, including multiple Best Comedy Song awards from the Posi Music Awards, Just Plain Folks Music Awards and the Music City Song Festival, Tamblyn's unique musical wit provides the perfect dose of “conscious comic relief” from the workday blues, global anxiety and personal challenges.

His current mission, and one of his funniest comedy bits, is “Saving the World From Whiny Victim Love Songs.” His concerts feature songs like Analog Brain in a Digital World; Self-Employment Made Harder by Difficult Boss; I'd Like To Be the Man My Dog Thinks I Am; The Shootout at the I'm OK, You're OK Corral; and My Life is a Beer Commercial. As a professional songwriter in Nashville, Tamblyn appeared nationally on television and had songs recorded by other artists from Canada to the Philippines. One of his own records, It's Another Joyful Elvis Presley Christmas, was named Christmas Single of the Year in Cashbox Magazine.

Cost: $20 prior to Feb. 20; $30 after Feb. 19. Location: 2777 Race Track Rd. For more information or to purchase a ticket, call 904-287-1505 or visit UnityInJax.com. For more information about Tamblyn, including free songs and videos, visit GregTamblyn.com. See ad, page 9.

Spirit Fest: Holistic, Metaphysical and Wellness Expo

Spirit Fest: Holistic, Metaphysical and Wellness Expo will be held March 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and March 12, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Schultz Center, in Jacksonville. There will be 60 booths with vendors, practitioners, readers, artists, authors and demonstrations.

“We always have the best shows in Jacksonville,” says producer Mary Ellen Popyk. “There is something for everyone, and lots of opportunities for learning at every level. We have vendors coming in from all over the country, and highly acclaimed readers and practitioners. The greatest thing at these shows is the excellent energy and feeling of being together with others of like mind.”

Speakers are scheduled throughout both days on a variety of topics that are included with daily admission. There will also be sound therapy, foot reflexology, animal communication, aura photography, and henna designs for kids and adults. Some vendors speak Spanish. Food trucks will be available on-site and there will be free parking.

Cost: Entrance fee is $10 per day or $15 for the weekend; children 12 and under attend free. Location: 4019 Blvd. Center Dr. For more information, call 321-313-2543 or visit SpiritFestUSA.com. See ad, page 6.

D&D Offering LoveThemed Events

In the spirit of the month of love, D&D Health, Wellness and Travel is serving up several free online events to help increase love, intimacy and well-being. The events include How to Get the

Relationships You Want, on February 8; Pure Romance by Dalia, on February 15; and the D&D Health, Wellness and Travel Preview Party, on February 22. All events are from 7-8pm.

During the How to Get the Relationships You Want interactive workshop, health coaches Meghan Varner and Dalia Philbeck will share tips on how self-care and boundaries can be used to attract the one you are looking for and/or to grow and thrive with the one you love. The Pure Romance by Dalia event focuses on how wellness and intimacy go hand in hand. Dalia will share how to “live well” with nutritional supplements, bubble bath, moisturizers, lingerie and more. And during the D&D Health, Wellness and Travel Preview Party, wellness travel advisers—and co-owners of D&D—Damon and Dalia Philbeck will take attendees on a virtual cruise around the world with Celebrity Cruises. Those joining the event will learn how wellness travel can support one’s health, well-being and vitality.

To reserve a spot for the Feb. 8 event, visit EventBrite. com/e/512479850027; for the Feb. 15 event, visit EventBrite.com/e/519284593197; and for the Feb. 22 event, visit EventBrite. com/e/519337742167. For more information about D&D, visit ddWellnessjax.com. See ad, page 6.

Herbal Toothpaste Deemed Safe and Effective

Toothpaste containing certain plant-derived extracts was found to be effective in the prevention or treatment of gingivitis and early-stage periodontitis, according to a study published in Dentistry Journal. The authors noted that people should still get regular, in-depth cleanings and treatments to maintain oral hygiene, and that antibacterial herbal extracts have safer toxicity profiles for human use.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with a previous diagnosis of gingivitis or initial stages of periodontitis were given an experimental toothpaste or the control toothpaste for a 60-day trial period, during which time they brushed twice daily. The experimental toothpaste contained chemical components and extracts of German chamomile, sage, arnica and echinacea. The control toothpaste contained only chemical active ingredients.

The herbs used in the study showed positive antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic and antibacterial actions. Patients in the experimental group experienced diminished bleeding of the gums and teeth whitening. The indices of gingivitis, general oral hygiene, plaque, tartar buildup and mild periodontitis decreased in both groups over the trial period. While both toothpastes eliminated several bacterial periodontal pathogens, the experimental one was more efficient against several of them.

Put On a Happy Face

According to a new study led by Stanford University and published in Nature Human Behaviour, positioning our facial muscles into a smile can actually cause us to feel happier. Researchers collected data from 3,878 participants across 19 countries, using three techniques: n Mimicking facial expressions of actors seen in photos n Moving the corners of their mouths to their cheeks using only their facial muscles n Using the “pen-in-mouth” technique, which moves facial muscles in a simulated smile shape

The study found a noticeable increase in feelings of happiness from people that mimicked smiling photographs or pulled their mouth toward their ears.

Zinc for Colds and Flu

A study published in BMJ Open evaluated the use of zinc for the prevention or treatment of acute viral respiratory tract infections (RTI) in adults. As a treatment for colds and flu, zinc reduced symptoms by two days, compared to the placebo. The researchers surmised that of 100 people with upper respiratory infections, 19 of them recovered by day seven as a result of the zinc treatment. Symptom severity appeared to be lower for those treated with zinc—with improvements seen by day three. Those taking zinc experienced an 87 percent lower risk of developing severe symptoms.

In terms of the prevention of colds and flu-like illness, taking zinc was found to have a modest effect compared to the placebo, with one out of 20 infections prevented. Preventive effects were most significant in reducing severe symptoms. Overall, there was evidence suggesting zinc might prevent RTI symptoms and shorten its duration. Researchers were unable to clearly ascertain the efficacy of different dosages and delivery (oral or nasal spray).

Weighted Blanket for Better Sleep

Weighted blankets may be a non-drug option to help ease conditions like insomnia and anxiety by allowing the body to release more melatonin (a hormone that promotes sleep) at bedtime.

In a new study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden measured the amount of melatonin, oxytocin and cortisol in the saliva of subjects after sleeping with either a light blanket or a weighted blanket. They found that using a weighted blanket helped naturally increase production of melatonin by 32 percent. There were no significant changes in the levels of oxytocin, cortisol or sympathetic nervous system activity.

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Alarming Decline of the Hawksbill Turtle

Dispersed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the hawksbill sea turtle helps maintain high coral cover on reefs by removing invasive prey. Their ornate, beautifully patterned shells make them a favorite attraction for snorkelers and divers around the world. But those beautiful shells also make them a target for illegal harvesting to be carved into combs, jewelry and other trinkets.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the population of hawksbill turtles has declined by 84 to 87 percent over the last three generations, and their numbers continue to fall. Illegal poaching is not the only threat facing these turtles. Excessive hunting, loss of coral reef habitats due to warming oceans and acidification, light pollution in nesting areas due to development, marine pollution and fatal run-ins with commercial fishing have contributed to their decline.

Conservation efforts are underway in places like Australia and the Caribbean, including working with commercial fishers to develop sustainable, turtle-friendly fishing methods. Laws are in place in many parts of the world to deter and prosecute the illegal trade of turtle products. Consumers can do their part by learning to identify, avoid and report hawskbill shell products. For tips, check out this video by Travel for Wildlife at Tinyurl.com/HawksbillHelp.

Turning Vegetable Waste into Plastic

The World Economic Forum estimates that about 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally each year and that 98 percent of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuels. So, the prospect of replacing the petroleum in plastic with a plant material is exciting news for the planet and humanity.

Toresyoku, a Japanese firm, has developed technology that efficiently removes cellulose (dietary fiber) from plant material for use in plastic production. Using vegetable waste, such as cabbage cores, rice husks, coffee grounds and the leaves and stems of tomatoes and broccoli from local farms, the company extracts the cellulose through hydrolysis (heating under pressure in water) and component decomposition (using enzymes).

Not only does the cellulose reduce the use of petroleum-based materials, but it may also increase the strength of the plastic being made for products such as plastic bottles, appliances and car bumpers. The company expects to start operating their factory soon and be able to process up to a ton of plant waste a day. While other companies have been able to extract cellulose from wood chips, Toresyoku’s technology is more efficient and can be done for a fraction of the cost of competing technologies.

Sharks Win!

In a groundbreaking decision, world governments have awarded increased protections to 54 species of sharks at the 19th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). “This decision is the most significant step toward improving global shark management that countries have taken,” says Mark Bond, a biologist at Florida International University and an advocate for the CITES protections. “It will ensure international shark trade is regulated and traceable.”

Sharks and rays, which are fished for their fins and meat, are the second most threatened vertebrate group in the world, with a third of them threatened with extinction. The inclusion of these sharks on the CITES list helps ensure only legal and sustainable trade in fins and meat is taking place. Almost every shipment of shark products will now require a permit to prove that trade meets legal and sustainability requirements. Before the decision, there were few restrictions in place around the globe.