August 2020 Jacksonville St. Augustine Natural Awakenings Magazine

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

IMMUNE BOOSTERS Ways to Keep Kids Healthy

SCRAPPY BIOLOGICAL MINDFUL COOKING DENTISTRY WALKING

Maximize Your Garden’s Bounty

Goes to Root Cause of Problems

Meditative Steps for Well-Being

August 2020 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com

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letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

Welcome to our August edition, filled with many ideas and

tips you can easily incorporate into your best and most healthy life. Our mission as a publishing company is to connect you, our valued readers, with information and resources to live a healthier lifestyle. Our curated collection of wellness partners are ready to help you achieve your highest and best life.

It truly is an unprecedented time in the world. In addition to the pandemic, civil unrest and division are prevalent in several cities. It’s easy to get bogged down if we don’t protect from the low vibration. The key to maintaining your high vibe is to recognize that you can sense negative and heavy energies without taking them on.

We all have “off ” days. Getting back to your high vibe can be as easy as acknowledging you’re temporarily having a tough time. Life isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.

Meditation is the great equalizer for almost everything. It’s especially powerful for putting us in a “witness” state of mind, letting negative thoughts pass by like clouds on a windy day. Keep moving forward and let negative energies pass by without getting emotionally involved in them.

Carrying black tourmaline crystals wherever you go can protect you, and feeling them in your pocket reminds you to hold your high vibe. Sage moves stale energy that may be hanging out without announcing its presence. Smudging reminds you to say affirmations and set your intention for the sacred space you call home. You’re ultimately in control of your vibration levels, not your circumstance.

With so much uncertainty in our world, we encourage you to curl up with this magazine and other reading material you may have put on a shelf during busier times.

Your inner voice is more easily heard during quiet time. Visit our website to read additional articles online and download the magazine to archive. Below is a glimpse of what’s in store for you this month.

Awe-inspiring moments are all around us if we open ourselves to noticing them. The power of awe has profound effects on our mind and body. The moments that make us go “wow” can be the moments that change our lives for the better. Our inspiration article explains how “awe” can transform your life.

Mindful walking is a wonderful way to meditate while exercising. Cultivate a love for walking in nature, and feel the release from anxiety as you calm the portion of the brain that can become hyper-reactive to stress and trauma. Concentrating on each step, heel to toe, can combat depression, anxiety and boost neurotransmitters.

Keeping kids strong and healthy in the absence of school and organized sports has been a challenge since spring. Check out our five tips to boost kids’ immunity for simple ways to get them ready for the start of school.

You’ll want to try the recipes in our conscious eating section and learn new ways to maximize your garden’s harvest or farmers’ market finds. Including herbs and flowers adds flavor and visual interest to our recipes.

We love to hear from our readers, so please connect on Facebook or through email with comments or special requests for future content.

JACKSONVILLE / ST. AUGUSTINE EDITION Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@NAJax.com

Writer Erin Floresca

Editor Sara Gurgen Calendar Editor Sara Peterson

Design & Production Melanie Rankin

Graphic Design Wendy Wilson

Distribution Dan Dickerson

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Natural Awakenings is a family of nearly 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 9 WRITE A HEALTHIER LIFE STORY

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with Megan Weigel

10 WHOLE-BODY DENTISTRY

Biological Dentists Get to the Root Causes

13 HOW AWE CAN

TRANSFORM OUR LIVES

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14 NO-WASTE

GARDEN EDIBLES

Ways to Maximize Your Garden’s Bounty

18 MINDFUL WALKING Meditative Steps for Well-Being

20 HEALING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise in Natural Awakenings, please call 386-736-3838 or email Ads@NAJax.com.

23 SOUL NOURISHMENT

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The Kitchen As Sacred Space

26 STRONG AND HEALTHY Five Ways to Strengthen Kids’ Immunity

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Editor@NAJax.com.

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DEPARTMENTS 5 health briefs 6 global briefs 8 eco tip 9 physician

spotlight 13 inspiration

14 conscious

eating 18 fit body 23 conscious

eating 26 healthy kids 28 calendar 30 resource guide

Tatjana Baibakova/Shutterstock.com

health briefs

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Eat More Fiber for a Longer Life Eating the right kind of fiber lowers the risk of death from multiple causes, reports a new study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers from the University of Toronto followed more than 92,924 Japanese people 45 to 74 years old for nearly 20 years and found men that ate higher levels of dietary fiber had a 23 percent reduced risk of death compared to those that ate the least dietary fiber; the figure was 18 percent for women. The more dietary fiber people ate, the less likely they were to die from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases and injuries; it also protected against cancer mortality in men, but not women. Fiber from fruits, beans and vegetables, but not from cereals, was linked to lower mortality.

Hug a Mate for a Happy Relationship The more a couple shares affectionate hugs, kisses and cuddles, the more satisfied they are in the marriage, a new study from the State University of New York at Binghamton shows. It tested 184 heterosexual couples on the effects of non-sexual intimate touching like holding hands or cuddling while watching TV rather than actions intended to lead to sex. The more affection the couples routinely experienced, the more they felt satisfied with their partners’ touch, even if they had “avoidant attachment styles” and ordinarily were more reserved with physical displays of affection. “Interestingly, there’s some evidence that holding your partner’s hand while you’re arguing de-escalates the argument and makes it more productive,” says lead author Samantha Wagner.

Avoid Toxic Chemicals to Prevent Celiac Disease Children and young adults diagnosed with celiac disease have been found with elevated blood levels of toxic chemicals found in pesticides, nonstick cookware and fire retardants, reports a new study from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine published in Environmental Research. Researchers analyzed levels of toxic chemicals in the blood of 30 children and young adults ages 3 to 21 after being diagnosed with celiac disease. They compared those results to those of 60 other young people of similar age, sex and race.

Girls with higher than normal exposure to pesticides known as dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylenes were at least eight times more likely to have celiac disease. If they had elevated levels of perfluoroalkyls (nonstick chemicals found in products like Teflon), they were five to nine times more likely to have the disease. Boys were twice as likely to receive a celiac diagnosis if they had elevated blood levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (fire-retardant chemicals).

August 2020

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Dig Business

global briefs

Sarah Papworth, a conservation biologist at the University of London, and artist Rory McCann designed a menagerie of imaginary beasts to find out which animals people were most willing to support. “Donations are really key to a lot of institutions,” says Diogo Veríssimo, a conservation biologist with the nonprofit San Diego Zoo Global. “Without them, many of the largest conservation organizations would struggle to survive.” It is common knowledge that people favor those they find adorable—tigers over turtles, for instance—but no one knows exactly which physical and nonphysical features motivate donors. From all the different body shapes, sizes, colors, eye positions and furriness, hundreds of past conservation donors ranked the imaginary species. Animals that were larger and more colorful were most likely to solicit donations, as reported in Conservation Letters. But it turns out that cuteness is not the only thing that matters, because the formula doesn’t account for the impact of popular culture. A study in Poland found that proboscis monkeys, once labeled the world’s ugliest primate, received a surge in donations through crowdfunding after starring in popular memes poking fun at their appearance. Maybe there really is no such thing as bad publicity.

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Elbow Room

Rory Mccann

Some Animals Garner Lion’s Share of Conservation Donations

Nature Needs More Space

All over the world, plants and animals are increasingly threatened by human activities and habitat encroachment. A 2019 study published in Science News estimates that 1 million species face extinction within decades.

The natural world makes the planet livable by cleaning the air, filtering water, cycling carbon dioxide and pollinating crops. To impede biodiversity loss, governments are working to set aside more space for natural habitats. The UN Convention on Biodiversity (Tinyurl.com/ Post2020GlobalFramework), which is now under consideration, seeks to designate 30 percent of land and sea as protected by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050 in order to revive ecosystems and safeguard the diversity of species on Earth.

Humans have altered more than three-quarters of Earth’s surface, and of the 14 terrestrial biomes, such as tropical rainforest, tundra or desert, eight retain less than 10 percent of undeveloped wilderness, according to a 2016 study in Current Biology. Many species have already vanished.

ndrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com

Pretty Kitty

In 2018, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that fossils belonged to mineral rights owners, threatening to put a damper on scientific fossil hunting by paleontologists, but the Montana Supreme Court has now decided that fossils should not be deemed minerals, thereby restoring ownership of two dinosaurs buried together to the landowners, as had been customary in the past. A year after buying their property, Mary Anne and Lige Murray, along with a private fossil hunter, found an impressive array of specimens, including a complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. Scientists like David Polly, an Indiana University paleontologist and past president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, had warned that tying fossils to mineral rights would make it harder to get permission to excavate them and put the ownership of fossils already on display into doubt.

They also feared that distinctive fossils would be purchased by private collectors, denying access to the public and researchers.

Ton Bangkeaw/Shutterstock.com

Dinosaur Bone Ownership Resolved

Protasov AN/Shutterstock.com Reevese/Shutterstock.com

Bug Bites

Bumblebees Chew Leaves to Hasten Pollen Production

When trying to establish colonies in early spring, bees rely on flower pollen as a protein source for raising their young. Consuelo De Moraes, a chemical ecologist and entomologist at EidgenĂśssische Technische Hochschule Zurich, in Switzerland, reported in Science that at least three species of bumblebees use their mouth parts to snip little confetti bits out of plant foliage, and that the biting gets more widespread when there’s a pollen shortage. Experiments show that mustard and tomato plants nibbled by Bombus terrestris bees bloomed earlier than unbitten plants by days or weeks. In a caged-bee test, bumblebees trapped with non-blooming plants were more likely to poke holes in foliage after three days without pollen than a bee group buzzing among plentiful flowers. When researchers switched the bees’ situations, those trapped without blooms started nibbling leaves, too. Professor of Biology Dave Goulson, at the University of Sussex, in England, says, “I can imagine that hungry bees unable to find flowers might try biting leaves in desperation.â€?

Cooling Towers

Gts/Shutterstock.com

More Nuclear Reactors on the Way

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is spending $230 million this fiscal year to start building two new prototype nuclear reactors over the next seven years as part of an Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Both will be built in equal partnership with an industrial firm and could receive up to $4 billion in funding from the DOE. Commercial nuclear generators supply 20 percent of U.S. electrical power and 50 percent of our carbon-free energy. The inventory comprises 96 reactors, down from 113 in the early 1990s.

More reactors are slated to close, and the nuclear industry’s share of the electricity supply is expected to fall, yet engineers continue to develop designs for reactors they say will be safer and more efficient. Proponents of nuclear power doubt the program will spur construction of new commercial reactors as long as natural gas and renewable energy remain relatively cheap. Robert Rosner, a physicist at the University of Chicago, says, “New builds can’t compete with renewables.�

Hot Topic

Tropical Forests Face Climate Change Risk

Tropical forests remove and absorb carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, and researchers estimate that despite current deforestation levels, they still hold more carbon than civilization has generated by burning coal, oil and natural gas over the past 30 years. But as trees stressed by heat and drought due to global warming die and release their carbon, their ability to act as reservoirs will diminish.

A global team of more than 200 researchers led by tropical ecologist Oliver Phillips, of Leeds University, measured more than half a million trees in 813 forests in 24 countries to calculate how much carbon the different forests now store, based on the height, diameter and species of each tree. Their research, published in Science, also looked at how carbon storage varied from place to place using data from 590 long-term monitoring plots. If warming reaches 2° C above preindustrial levels, the study found huge swaths of the world’s tropical forests will begin to lose more carbon than they accumulate. Already, the hottest forests in South America have reached that point.

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eco tip JPC-PROD/Shutterstock.com

Virus Fighters

Essential Oils for Challenging Times In these coronavirus days, an essential oil mixture with legendary origins in the Bubonic Plague offers soothing scents for the homebound and might add some viral protection.

The mixture of five oils: eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon, lemon and rosemary, is known as Thieves. As the story goes, in the 1500s, as the Black Death decimated Europe, when four unemployed spice merchants that turned to robbing the bodies and homes of the dead were captured and threatened with being burned alive, they confessed to the judge their secret to avoiding infection—the spice blend that they rubbed on their hands, ears, feet and temples.

They were all hanged, but their formula survives as Thieves, and is today one of the most popular essential oil blends in the market, sold under that name and also as Five Guards, Health Shield and Fighting Five. Although shown to sharply reduce three kinds of airborne bacteria in 10 minutes, its antiviral properties have not been extensively studied. Its components, however, have proven antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral properties:

n Eucalyptus, long used for respiratory infections, has been proven effective against a number of viruses, particularly the swine flu and herpes type 1 viruses. n Clove has exhibited strong antiviral activity against such viruses as the adenovirus type 3 respiratory virus, poliovirus and coxsackievirus. n Cinnamon leaf shows antiviral activity and can prevent pneumonia due to influenza. n Lemon oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is often used in cleaning products. n Rosemary eases stress and has antiviral, antimicrobial and antidepressant qualities.

Thieves can be purchased in natural health stores or online. For a homemade blend, Jennifer Lane, an aromatherapist, registered nurse and founder of LovingEssential Oils.com, recommends combining these essential oils: 4 35 drops lemon 4 20 drops cinnamon leaf 4 15 drops clove bud 4 15 drops eucalyptus 4 10 drops rosemary

Adding five drops of the blend, along with water in a diffuser, can waft the scent throughout a room and diminish airborne odors and germs. For respiratory support, put a few drops into a cup of steaming, but not boiling, water, drape a towel around the cup and face, and breathe in the fumes. Add it to a carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil at a 1:30 ratio (such as one-half ounce Thieves to 15 ounces jojoba) and rub it on pulse points in the wrist and neck. But do not ingest the blend. If a child under 10 is in the house, don’t diffuse it or use it topically on them, because rosemary and eucalyptus can be unsafe for a child, advises Christina Anthis, author of The Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started.

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practitioner spotlight

Write a Healthier Life Story with Megan Weigel

by Erin Lehn

M

egan Weigel, DNP, founder of First Coast Integrative Medicine, in Jacksonville, spends a lot of time reflecting on the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. She also spends much of her life helping others rewrite the stories that don’t encompass self-healing and a better quality of life. “We do have choices when it comes to the stories we create. You can either let the story write you or take the pen in your hand and write a new story.”

In the first installment of her podcast series, titled Oh, But Darling, What if You Fly?, Weigel, a holistic nurse practitioner specializing in neurological care and multiple sclerosis (MS), reflects on the importance of this courageous act. “Let’s take the story of a health condition. Once a person is diagnosed, a healthcare provider usually tells them what they can expect.

Then the patient comes to me and tells me their story of ‘what I can expect.’ But that’s not so! When a provider outlines the path of illness, it does not have to be your path.

You are not always your genes. You are not your diagnosis,” she affirms. “You can make changes in your lifestyle and thought processes to turn your life around. You can heal—even when a cure isn’t possible.”

The key, says Weigel, is being motivated to change old patterns of behavior.

“Oftentimes, a person needs to be directed to something unconventional, and instill behaviors that are different than the way they

usually navigate through the world. Working through old stories, old lies, and old trauma is vital to seeing the clouds part in the sky.”

Weigel knows this experience firsthand. Several years ago, after a long period of busy work schedules and being “all things to all people,” she woke up one morning with an uncomfortable tightness in her chest. “I knew it was a health crisis,” she recalls. “I decided that I needed time out to figure out what the next chapter of my story was going to be.” Weigel, willing to sacrifice her cushy job to regain her well-being, was granted a month-long sabbatical, which she spent in Hawaii. “I wrote for two hours every day, spent time in self-reflection, and renewed my passion for my work. I came back to center. By the time I left, I knew that everything in my life was going to be okay, no matter what.”

Weigel, who has been practicing in the field of medicine for two decades, says she came to integrative medicine through her yoga practice. “Years ago, an opportunity to take a yoga practitioner training course fell in my lap. At first, I resisted with every fiber of my being,” she says. “My immediate response was that I was too busy.” However, she soon realized that her schedule was free every weekend the yoga workshops took place. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Eventually I knew it was the right thing to do and signed up for the course.” Now, this 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher is the

co-founder of oMS Yoga, which brings free yoga classes to people living with MS.

She opened First Coast Integrative Medicine to offer a new approach to traditional medicine—patient, heart-centered listening. “Health is not just the absence of disease, but the experience of vitality.

And how you feel is deeply interconnected with your personal history and even your beliefs. The interplay of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual elements contributes to your overall wellness,” writes this passionate practitioner, who enjoys honoring her intuition when working with her patients. “My intuition is just one of the healing tools in my toolkit. I trust my ability to connect with people. Instead of being afraid of it, I lean into it and remain intentional about what I’m saying and why I’m saying it.”

According to Weigel, she loves nothing more than helping others achieve a healthier body, mind and spirit using a combination of conventional and holistic practices. “There is always something bigger and better that we can do for ourselves.

Allow the healing in with a combination of spirituality, breathing and movement as medicine. Heal yourself and you can turn that into energy that can heal our world.

Take that pen in your hand—even if you feel like you might fall. Because, more than likely, you’ll learn how to fly.”

First Coast Integrative Medicine is located at 14215 Spartina Ct., Ste. 200, in Jacksonville.

For more information or to schedule an inperson or online appointment, call 904-5433510 or visit FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine. com. See ad, page 8.

August 2020

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DENTISTRY Biological Dentists Get to the Root Causes

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by Linda Sechrist

hile the majority of individuals may consider oral health as separate from overall health, the mouth and body are very much connected.

Until the late 1970s, this was rarely acknowledged outside a circle of dental professionals, physicians and allied researchers involved in organizations such as the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and the Holistic Dental Association.

Dentists associated with these groups favor the use of preventive measures, a minimally invasive approach to dentistry and biocompatibility testing for all materi-

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als used in oral health procedures. Their individualized methodology and systemic health method of addressing the root causes frequently includes nutrition and lifestyle, providing patients with a less-toxic and safe experience for their overall health.

An important newcomer to this area is the myofunctional treatment system used in orthodontics for children 5 to 15 years old. Research in this field now points to the real causes for crooked teeth and incorrect jaw development—mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking (known as incorrect myofunctional habits), in addition to allergies, asthma and an open-mouth posture.

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WHOLE-BODY

Jean Marie Nordin, DDS, co-owner of Groton Wellness, in Groton, Massachusetts, added pediatric orthodontics to her practice after learning about early innovative interventions from her mentor, James Bronson, DDS, of Bronson Family Dentistry, in McLean, Virginia. “Our program for children involves a comprehensive evaluation on the first visit. We look at breathing habits, the way their tongue swallows and the function of the muscles. In medicine, we believe that form follows function; therefore, we observe what muscles around the mouth actually do when the individual swallows. It is really the way you breathe and swallow, as well as how the muscles work, that plays a significant role in where teeth end up and line up,” explains Nordin, who identifies problems in patients between 2 and 5 years old.

“We can start them on a removable Myobrace mouthpiece that can be worn at night and an hour during the day. The mouthpiece begins to change the way the tongue works, waking it up and strengthening it. If a child is born with the physiological problem of a tongue-tie that can’t swallow properly or get up onto the palate, that tongue will never expand the palate like it’s supposed to,” she clarifies.

For chronic mouth-breathers, the face grows long and narrow, which in the long term can cause cardiovascular disease.

In the short term, it can cause anxiety, because the nitric oxide receptors located in the nose signal arteries and veins to relax. “A cardiologist knows about this phenomenon,” says Nordin, who notes that the dysfunction can be unwound before a child turns 9.

While early interceptive myofunctional orthodontic treatment methods such as Myobrace appliances have proven effective for children, there’s also good news for adults that suffer from breathing problems which cause sleep apnea, says

xavier gallego morell/Shutterstock.com

Early interventions beyond conventional solutions

Nordin, who employs a myofunctional therapist. Orofacial myofunctional therapy is neuromuscular reeducation of the oral facial muscles via a series of exercises that work with the muscles of the lips, tongue, cheeks and other parts of the face.

Early intervention and role modeling

“Parents can begin playing a pivotal role in how their children care for their teeth, as well as how they feel and behave in the dentist’s office, as early as age 1. I encourage every mother to bring their child to an appointment. They can hold the child in their lap so they can watch me caring for mom’s teeth. Generally, by the time they are alone in my chair, they aren’t frightened,” advises Pentti Nupponen, a doctor of dental medicine and owner of the Halifax Center for Holistic & Cosmetic Dentistry, in Halifax, Pennsylvania.

Chris Kammer, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Gums of Steel Oral Hygiene Transformation, in Middleton, Wisconsin, also suggests early interceptive treatments for young children. “Early treatments with removable appliances which expand the arch in the roof dome, influence bone growth and make room for incoming teeth can be performed by general dentists,” says Kammer, who notes that a proper diet may help prevent crowding of teeth, as well as malocclusion, or misalignment, of upper and lower teeth.

Gum and heart disease

Doctors practicing functional medicine are more likely to refer patients to biological and holistic dentists. Cardiologists are particularly aware of a 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine study in which researchers looked at individuals with gum and heart disease. Individuals

that received adequate care for gum disease had 10 to 40 percent lower cardiovascular care costs than those who didn’t get proper oral care. Another study revealed that gum disease increases an individual’s risk of heart disease by approximately 20 percent.

Given such evidence, the American Dental Association and American Heart Association have acknowledged the relationship between the two diseases.

By neglecting important ongoing research regarding new and old dental practices, as well as orthodontics, mainstream media has largely left the public in the dark regarding problems associated with root canals, mercury amalgam fillings and some dental implants.

Root canals, tooth extractions and gum disease Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi, owner of Boston Dental Wellness, in Brookline, Massachusetts,

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takes a holistic and biological approach to dentistry founded on the philosophy that everything within the whole body is connected. “Teeth are related to organs, tissues and glands along the body’s meridians, energy channels through which the life force flows,” says the integrative periodontist, who prefers extracting teeth when necessary and using zirconium implants rather than performing a root canal.

Iontcheva-Barehmi explains, “It’s logical that the connection between the meridians and teeth can indicate an individual’s overall health and wellness. Tooth extractions protect patients from toothrelated disease and systemic infections that can be harmful to overall health.

A failing root canal is a chronic abscess around the root of the tooth. It has a direct connection with the bloodstream and disseminates infection through the whole body. This is the reason why holistic dentists recommend extractions.”

She believes the best research on this was done by Weston Price, a Canadian dentist and pioneering nutritionist.

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Treating gum disease

To treat gum disease, Amparo David, DMD, owner of Dentistry by Dr. David and the founder of the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Center of New England, in Bolton, Massachusetts, refers patients to the periodontist she keeps on staff. “I can tell that a patient has internal inflammation by looking at the gums and tongue.

Gum disease has been linked to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and premature births or low-birth weight babies,” says David, whose preventive and healing suggestions for healthy gums includes chewable oral probiotics, daily coconut oil pulling, consisting of swishing a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce harmful bacteria there and on the teeth. She also recommends flossing with an electric toothbrush and a Waterpik. “I suggest adding one or two drops of tea tree oil and iodine to the water in the pick,” notes David, who urges patients to eat less sugar and carbohydrates and more vegetables, proteins and fruits.

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“We treat gums with ozone after a deep cleaning because it kills bacteria on contact. Patients maintain healthier gums using ozonated oils twice a day and by using a good toothpaste with no glycerine or fluoride,” says David, who notes that temporomandibular mandibular joint (TMJ) problems are tied to sleep disorders. “Many adolescents have TMJ problems, and sometimes experience this after extraction or retraction orthodontics.”

Despite the slow trickle of related information to the public and the lack of acknowledgement by the majority of dental professionals, these new philosophies and biological dental protocols are definitely improving overall health and wellness.

According to the IAOMT, a dentist that chooses to put biocompatibility testing first can look forward to practicing effective dentistry while knowing that patients are being provided with the safest experience for their overall health.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

Finding Joy in the Space Between

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inspiration

How Awe Can Transform Our Lives

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by Jonah Paquette

hat do you feel when you gaze up at the night sky, listen to a soul-stirring piece of music or witness an act of great courage or inspiration? What happens in your body, and what emotions arise, when you come face-toface with these sorts of moments? This feeling—often complete with goosebumps and a shiver down the spine—is known as awe. And as it turns out, this underappreciated and often misunderstood emotion just might hold the key to a happy, meaningful and healthy life.

Although we might think of awe as a rare experience, awe-inspiring moments are all around us. We don’t have to climb to the summit of Mount Everest or stand atop the Eiffel Tower to reap the many benefits of awe. Instead, we can learn to notice the changing colors of the leaves, truly see the joy in a child’s eyes or allow ourselves to be uplifted by the kindness of a stranger.

When we do, it not only feels good in the moment—it actually can change life in lasting and profound ways. In fact, cuttingedge research has shown that awe holds many benefits, ranging from improved mental health, stronger immune systems, increased compassion, strengthened social bonds and much more. In short, the moments that make us go, “Wow!” can be the very moments that lastingly change our lives for the better.

Here are some ways we can find more awe in our daily life:

Seek out nature: Connect to the natural world, even by just visiting a local park, and notice the beauty all around.

Appreciate the good: Slow down and appreciate the small stuff—the aroma of morning coffee, time with loved ones, having a roof over our heads or even just the breath.

Look for inspiration: The current challenges around the world have also shown some of the best of humanity. Spend time learning about the people making a difference and experience a sense of awe through their courage.

Expand the mind: Learning about

mind-expanding topics like astronomy, the human brain or anything else that captures the imagination can be a great way to harness a feeling of awe.

Foster connection: The next time we’re with the people we love, take a moment to appreciate how awe-inspiring it is to have the capacity to love and forge bonds the way that we do.

Jonah Paquette is a psychologist, author and international speaker specializing in the science of happiness and well-being. His newest book, Awestruck, explores how moments of awe and wonder can transform our lives. For more information, visit JonahPaquette.com.

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by Megan Weigel

s a young girl, I was taught to recognize that joy is in the journey; looking only forward to the destination causes lessons, love and life to be missed. Journeying, however, still involves moving. Right now, many of us are still and have literally canceled journeying. What then do we do with the space between?

There exists a restless anxiety to move toward the next thing. Whether a special event, opportunity, idea or just a closet clean out, the past four months have left us stopping and starting, moving backward and forward. Do you recognize the space between the stop and the start as a rest stop, a gift?

There is a breath in yoga called sahita kumbhaka. Simply put, it is a pause at the top of inhalation and at the bottom of exhalation—awkward at first, then, like most things, less so.

Where is your favorite rest stop? We are blessed to have beaches, the Intracoastal Waterway, rivers, lakes and springs, as well as oak hammocks and palm groves—bright sun and cool shade—usually not more than a few miles from the front door. Have you been there lately? Move intentionally and enjoy the pauses offered right now. They are intentional gifts.

Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, APHN-c, MSCN, is a nurse practitioner specializing in neurological care and multiple sclerosis at First Coast Integrative Medicine (FCIM), located in Jacksonville.

With nearly 20 years’ experience in the field of medicine, she brings a unique integrative medicine and holistic nursing perspective to her practice, complementing allopathic treatment with wellness and lifestyle support.

Connect with her at 904-543-3510. For more information about FCIM, visit FirstCoast IntegrativeMedicine.com. See ad, page 8.

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Tip-to-Root Eating

No-Waste Garden Edibles Ways to Maximize Your Garden’s Bounty

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by April Thompson

ost gardens are loaded with delicious, nutritious food that goes uneaten and overlooked, from edible greens like sweet potato leaves to flavorful flowers like tulips, marigolds and wisteria. Getting better acquainted with the edible parts of common backyard plants opens up a world of culinary possibilities.

With continued concerns around potential exposure to COVID-19, maximizing a garden’s bounty while minimizing trips to the grocery store is an added benefit.

“Food foraged from your backyard is fresher, tastier and cheaper than storebought food,” says Ellen Zachos, the Santa Fe author of Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat.

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“There is also the novelty factor. People don’t expect to be served a BBQ sauce made from crabapples or a curd made with flowering quince fruit. You simply can’t buy those flavors.”

Many plants and trees commonly thought of as being ornamental have edible parts. Hostas are a common one that Zachos loves to nibble on as much as the deer do.

“You can harvest at a couple stages: First, when spears are poking up and the leaves have not unfurled. A little later in the season, you can blanch them and put in a stir fry or quiche, or roast them as you would asparagus,” explains Zachos.

Roses are another multipurpose ornamental, with organically grown rose petals

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Several common vegetables are edible from leaf to root, including broccoli, beets, chard and radishes, says Josh Singer, a garden specialist with the U.S. Department of Parks and Recreation, in Washington, D.C., who teaches classes on “alternative edibles” from the garden. “One of my favorite recipes is a hummus made with chard stalks in place of chickpeas. It’s so creamy and delicious.”

Singer also cites borage, passionflower and squash flowers as favorite floral foods.

“Unfortunately, it does mean making a hard choice between having beautiful flowers in your garden and eating them,” he adds. “It can also mean the plant not producing fruit or vegetables, but you can hand-pollinate female flowers in the case of squash and just use the male flowers for cooking. They make delicious fritters.”

Marie Viljoen, author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine cookbook, has one tip for daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva) that overagressively multiply: eat them. “Daylilies are nose-to-tail eating: their tender, cooked shoots are as melt-inyour-mouth as leeks, and their firm, underground tubers are delicious snacks, raw or cooked. I like to roast them with olive oil, like mini-home fries,” says the New York

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making aromatic additions to sweet or spicy treats. Leaving the roses to decay after the first frost rather than dead-heading them yields rose hips rich in vitamin C for teas and jams.

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City forager, instructor and chef. “Their buds are juicy snacks and their open, fresh flowers are edible—and stunning in a salad—but so are the older, dried flowers, the so-called ‘golden needles’ that one can sometimes find in Chinese stores.” Viljoen cautions that a small percentage of people have a bad reaction to daylilies, and they should be eaten in moderation, especially when trying them for the first time.

Lindsay-Jean Hard, a food writer in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and author of Cooking with Scraps: Turn Your Peels, Cores, Rinds, and Stems into Delicious Meals, points out some common fruits with edible greens. Strawberry greens can be used to make a pesto or flavor water. Tomato leaves can flavor a tomato sauce (sparingly, as they pack a strong taste)—a tip found in Harold McGee’s On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen.

Carrot tops and celery leaves also make great pesto, says Tama Matsuoka Wong, a New Jersey forager, chef and author of Foraged Flavor: Finding Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer’s Market. While pea shoots have gotten to be a trendy item on many menus, Wong says they have long been an off-menu item at Chinese restaurants. “You won’t find it on the menu, but Chinese people eat pea shoots instead of beans all winter long, often stir fried with sesame oil, garlic and bamboo shoots.”

Many scrappy cooks know to use garden produce that fails to ripen before the season ends or bolts too soon. Singer uses unripe tomatoes to make green tomato chili, muffins and bread, whereas Hard likes working with flowers from bolted herbs and greens, including arugula, basil, chives, chervil, kale, sage, rosemary and others. “I mainly use them as garnishes, but every year, I make a batch of chive blossom vinegar,” she says.

Leaving a plant like cilantro to bolt and flower not only feeds pollinators, but also provides free spices at the season’s end, says Singer. Simply let cilantro dry on the stalk, then gather the seed pods for home-harvested coriander seeds. Letting annuals go to seed (and saving the seeds) provides the start for next year’s food plot.

April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

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This strikingly beautiful salad marries the sweet crunch of pea pods with crisp orange daylily petals and creamy cheese. Eat the flowers in moderation.

6 daylily flowers (Hemerocallis fulva) 2 cups snap peas or fresh garden peas in pods 2 Tbsp soft goat cheese (can substitute vegan cheese or leave out for a vegan version) 2 tsp toasted sesame oil 1 Tbsp aged balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp soy sauce 2 field garlic flower heads, separated

Kale Stem Hummus

Meanwhile, fill another medium-size pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the kale stems and cook until they are very tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Drain them.

Yields: 6-8 servings 1 cup dried chickpeas 1 tsp baking soda Stems from 1 bunch kale 3 garlic cloves, minced ⅔ cup tahini 1 tsp fine-grain sea salt ⅔ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice Ice water Extra-virgin olive oil for serving

Blend the kale stems, garlic and tahini in a food processor, scraping down the sides as necessary until well blended.

Once the chickpeas are cooked, drain them, add them to the kale stem mixture in the food processor along with the salt and lemon juice, and process until smooth.

The night before making the hummus, put the chickpeas in a large bowl, cover them with at least twice their volume of water and leave to soak overnight at room temperature.

The next day, drain and rinse the chickpeas. Put them, along with the baking soda, in a medium-size pot over high heat.

Stir constantly for about 3 minutes.

Add 6 to 8 cups water until the chickpeas are covered by a few inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot and simmer until the chickpeas are very tender—45 to 60 minutes—checking on them occasionally to skim off any foam on the surface.

Skim off any chickpea skins that float up as well, but there’s no need to try to remove the skins if they don’t come off. They were softened by the baking soda and will blend smoothly into the hummus.

Add 2 tablespoons of ice water and process until the hummus is very smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add up to 2 additional tablespoons, one at a time, and process again as necessary.

To serve, spoon into a shallow bowl and drizzle with olive oil.

Note: The hummus can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. After thawing frozen hummus, we might need to adjust the seasoning—taste and add salt and lemon juice as necessary. Also, try this hummus with other scraps like Swiss chard stalks or cauliflower cores. Follow the same cooking method as outlined, boiling until very tender, 15 to 30 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Cooking with Scraps, by Lindsay-Jean Hard.

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

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With a sharp knife, slit some of the flowers down the middle. (Remove the anthers and the pistil if following traditional Chinese preparation.) Top and tail the peapods if they have strings.

Split half of them down the middle to expose the peas.

Arrange the peas and flowers on a plate.

If using cheese, crumble and scatter across the salad. At this point, the salad can be covered and chilled to make it ahead of time.

To serve, drizzle first the sesame oil, then the soy and balsamic vinegar, across the top. Finish with the field garlic flowers.

Serve within 10 minutes.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine by Marie Viljoen (Chelsea Green Publishing).

photo by Penny De Los Santos

Flower-ful Feasts

Daylily Salad

Daylily and Zucchini Curry with Sweet Potato Shoots

Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring so it doesn’t stick. Add the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, fresh turmeric, green garlic leaves and dry daylily flowers. Increase the heat to high. When the liquid boils add the butternut and enough water to bring the liquid just over the vegetables. Cook covered, at a simmer, for 10 minutes.

This comforting vegan curry sings with the flavors of summer’s vegetables, herbs and garden scraps.

Yields: 2 servings 2 Tbsp avocado oil 3 Tbsp microplaned or very finely chopped fresh ginger 2 heads green garlic and cloves, separated 3 mature garlic cloves, crushed fine 1 can coconut milk 2-3 Tbsp fish sauce (or soy) 2 Tbsp lime juice 1 Tbsp thinly sliced fresh turmeric rhizome ½ cup chopped green garlic leaves 1½ cups cubed butternut squash 2 lb baby zucchini or older ones cut into chunks 8 dry daylily flowers 4 fresh daylily flowers (Hemerocallis fulva), anthers and pistil removed 8 daylily buds 1 makrut (Thai lime) leaf, sliced thinly

Remove the lid and add the zucchini, the rest of the daylilies, the lime leaf and the chile. Cover and cook for another 10 minutes.

1 tsp chile flakes or a large fresh chile, chopped 2 cups loosely packed tender sweet potato shoots 4-6 sprigs Thai basil In a wide skillet that can accommodate the zucchini in a single layer, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the ginger and all the garlic.

Remove the lid, increase the heat and cook at a gentle boil for 10 to 15 more minutes.

The sauce will reduce and concentrate in flavor. Taste for seasoning and add a little more fish sauce or lime if necessary.

Stir in the Thai basil and the tender sweet potato shoots and cook until they have wilted into the sauce, about 4 minutes.

Serve in shallow bowls.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Marie Viljoen.

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Mindful Walking

Meditative Steps for Well-Being

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by Marlaina Donato

he health benefits of walking, such as stress reduction, improved joint mobility, lower blood pressure and increased oxygen, are well known, but walking or hiking with a meditative focus offers some other unexpected perks.

Mindful walking that fosters focus on each step can combat depression, anxiety and unhealthy food cravings by boosting neurotransmitters. Studies from the University of Exeter, in England, reveal that chocolate cravings and consumption are reduced after just a 15-minute walk, and a German study found overweight people that walked briskly for 15 minutes had less desire for sugary snacks.

A 2016 study in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that meditative walking for 30 minutes three times a week reduced arterial stiffness and the stress hormone cortisol in a 12-week period. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes also had healthier blood sugar levels. Further, the group that employed mindful walking exhibited significant improvement compared to the control group that engaged in regular, non-meditative walking.

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Mindful Me-Time Like seated meditation, meditative walking fosters mind-body awareness that can nourish the spirit. “Some of the world’s greatest artists, like Johann Sebastian Bach and William Blake, were well aware of this, and spent much time on long walks exploring their inner worlds,” says Reino Gevers, of Majorca, Spain. The author of Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul, he sees walking meditation as an invitation to tap into the bigger matrix of life. “Deep walking, also pilgrimage walking, is spending time alone in nature to walk off the things that are weighing heavy on your shoulders. These could be hurtful and traumatic

events like the loss of a family member, divorce or financial loss. While practicing mindful walking, there is a reconnection to the natural rhythm of life.”

Meditative walking calms the amygdala, the portion of the brain that can become hyper-reactive from trauma and keep us in the loop of anxiety. Introduced to meditative walking by a spiritual teacher, Carolyn Sinclair, in Houston, found deep healing from depression after a devastating divorce. “Even though I knew tai chi, qigong and sitting meditation, I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow, couldn’t sleep and wasn’t eating,” says Sinclair, who relinquished all medications after six months of taking mindful steps. Today, she blogs at Walking-Meditation.com and attributes her capacity to feel joy and her improved emotional resilience to the practice. “We cannot stay in sitting meditation all day long, and life will always throw us a curve ball,” she says. “Walking meditation allows us to be in the world, but not attached to the chaos and drama. This form of meditation helps train the mind to reside in the present moment during our everyday activities.”

Resetting Body and Soul Going for a mindful walk can cultivate sensory nuance, especially to changing angles of sunlight and the dance of turning seasons. Psychologist Hugh O’Donovan, in Cork, Ireland, the author of Mindful Walking: Walk Your Way to Mental and Physical Well-Being, says, “The body is a powerful instrument

of connection. It appears too simple, but this is a necessary aspect of mindful walking for the beginner right through to the more experienced practitioner. It is in this slowing down that you begin to notice.” In 2015, he traversed the entire length of his native country and was reminded, he says, that “In this mindful walking space, the world can come alive at every sensory level. You can see the colors, the textures, the contrasts, the shade, the magic.”

Gevers concurs, “There is a major difference in just walking for exercise and deep walking. When you do mindful walking, you open your senses to the world around you. What do you smell, hear and feel?”

Buddha Steps Mindful walking begins with communing with each step, heel-totoe, on Mother Earth. “The beauty of walking meditation is that once it becomes a habit, we can bring it everywhere, naturally,” emphasizes Sinclair.

O’Donovan, whose mantra is, “Show up, slow down and notice”, inspires us all when he says, “You might think, ‘I’ve seen grass a million times; I know grass,’ but this limits the possibility to know in a deeper way. Grass is not just grass when you walk mindfully.”

Marlaina Donato is a composer and body-mind-spirit author.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Tips on Meditative Walking From Carolyn Sinclair: n Find a safe, quiet place to walk. A park, your yard, in nature is best, but you can even choose a mall before the stores open. n Set aside a specific amount of time to walk and start with 10- or 15-minute increments. n Wear shoes and set your gaze about 12 to 15 feet angled toward the ground in front of you. Relax. Keep arms and shoulders loose; head and neck in alignment. n Observe the smell of the earth, flowers and trees. Feel the moisture in the air and how it effects your skin; recognize the temperature. Notice how you maintain balance as you walk; how a rock and uneven surfaces feel underfoot. n Notice any tension without trying to change it—just observe and avoid analyzing, comparing or editing. n Experience the sensation of feeling the soles of the feet as each foot touches the ground. One shouldn’t be fooled by its simplicity. The mind will always wander; consequently, it’s not necessary to try to stop the mind from thinking. All that is needed is to bring attention back to feeling the soles of the feet, again and again. They contain energy meridian lines and

acupuncture and chakra points that communicate energetically to every cell and every organ of the body. n Avoid headphones or music whenever possible. With mindfulness, you will be tapping into the music of your sole/soul and experience peace and tranquility. n If you don’t have time to go out, practice in the living room, going slowly in a clockwise direction, or walk down a hallway in your home or office. n Something miraculous happens when we bring our awareness to the feet. This is one of the deepest secrets of the Buddha. Bring your awareness to the soles of your feet when grocery shopping or when you are standing in line at the bank. Always bring your awareness to the soles of your feet, even when sitting at a desk or waiting in the doctor’s office.

From Reino Gevers: n Start with a short 10- to 15-minute walk and do it every day of every week. You will soon begin to notice the positive effects on body and mind. If you put yourself under pressure by wanting to do too much too soon, you will inevitably fail and get frustrated. It’s a small change in one’s daily habit that has an enormous positive impact.

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Healing the Immune System Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

by April Thompson

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ome 23 million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases—a category comprised of more than 80 conditions, including fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes. These pernicious disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose, even harder to treat and can be debilitating, diminishing the quality of life for sufferers.

Another commonality is the increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in women versus men; in the case of lupus, for example, a nine-fold difference. Some early indicators are that this may be related to a “gene dosage effect”, as men with XXY chromosomes have the same risk of developing lupus as other women, and women with XXX chromosomes (known in medical parlance as “superwomen”) have an even higher risk of autoimmune disease, according to Judith James, 20

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chair of the Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in Oklahoma City.

Yet there is hope on the horizon, as scientific discoveries unlock important insights about the manifestation and progression of autoimmune diseases leading to new treatments and prevention tips. Evidence is also mounting around the role of diet and lifestyle in autoimmune conditions, giving patients new avenues for taking charge of their health instead of simply waiting for a cure.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic and can affect almost any part of the body, including the heart, brain, muscles, skin, eyes, joints, lungs, kidneys, glands, digestive tract and blood vessels. Each disease carries its own set of symptoms, but inflammation is nearly always present, and are all connected by how the immune system attacks

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the body’s healthy tissues. “Those shared characteristics hold the potential for shared treatments, and ultimately potentially common cures,” says Jane Buckner, president of the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), at Virginia Mason, in Seattle, which works to advance the prediction, prevention, reversal and cure of immune system diseases.

“I’m excited about our progress toward prevention. We are working to understand those tipping points in transitioning into disease that help us understand who is at highest risk, and helps give very directed therapies,” says James.

Self-Healing from Autoimmunity

By her early 20s, Mickey Trescott, of Willamette Valley, Oregon, was bedridden and had lost her job to autoimmune

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disease. At one point, doctors thought it was multiple sclerosis (MS); she was dizzy, numb, falling over and slurring her speech.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with both Hashimoto’s and celiac diseases, affecting the thyroid and small intestine, respectively. Trescott, a nutritionist, chef and author of The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, had been vegan for 10 years, but had a feeling that her body needed something different.

She found an early version of what would become known as the autoimmune protocol (AIP), and in following its guidelines, began to find relief. Trescott connected with other women and started a private Facebook group to share information on what was improving their condition from which the AIP community sprung. AIP, an elimination diet that seeks to reset the immune system by cutting out inflammation-causing foods and treating leaky gut, has much in common with the paleo diet and promotes vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods. However, every individual comes out of the AIP process with a customized diet.

For Trescott, “Gluten is a forever-no, and I am also allergic to dairy and sensitive to a lot of nightshade vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers.” It took three years to recover most of her functioning, and although she had been a personal chef, it was still challenging to determine a new approach to eating that didn’t include the grains and legumes that had been staples of her diet.

Trescott is still on medications, including the same thyroid support she’s relied on from the start. “There is a misconception that the AIP is an alternative to conventional medicine. We really pride ourselves on using all the tools in our toolbox, including surgery, medication and lifestyle changes,” she says.

Anecdotal successes like Trescott’s have led researchers to pursue funding to test the AIP’s efficacy. In a pilot study of 18 individuals with an average sick time of 19 years that didn’t respond to traditional medication, 73 percent were in clinical remission at the end of the trial, having followed the AIP. “It was a small sample size, but the results are promising,” says Trescott.

Physician, Healed Thyself

Like many physicians, Terry Wahls focused on treating her patients with drugs or surgical procedures—until the Iowa City doctor was diagnosed with MS in 2000. Within three years, despite conventional medical treatments, her back and stomach muscles had weakened to the point where she needed a tilt-recline wheelchair, and by the summer of 2007, she could no longer sit up.

Though Wahls had been a vegetarian on a low-fat diet for 20 years, she went back to eating meat and gave up all dairy, wheat and grains, but still wasn’t improving. Delving back into the science of her condition, Wahls realized that mitochondrial support was key, and the speed of her decline slowed while taking a cocktail of vitamins to support its functioning.

It wasn’t until she took a comprehensive approach to optimize everything she could take in through her food rather than relying on supplements that she saw radical results: Her brain fog, fatigue and pain went away and she biked around the block for the first time in six years. “Taking in nutrients in the form of food rather than supplements, you get related compounds and thousands of others in biologically anticipated ratios,” explains Wahls. “I still do take some supplements, but the magic is the food.”

Those key ingredients, says Wahls, include magnesium, zinc, selenium, sulfur, amino acids, cholesterol, omega-6 and omega-3s, fats, carnitine and creatine. Her rule of thumb for daily intake is three cups of leafy green vegetables; three cups of

sulfuric vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms and onions; and three cups of deeply pigmented vegetables, plus sources of protein for meat eaters and vegetarians.

While her work was initially not accepted, today she has funding from the National MS Society and her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. “Basic science is now showing that the microbiome has a huge impact on the immune system activity and the brain; the food we eat can turn gene expression on and off,” says Wahls, who hasn’t taken any drugs for her autoimmune condition since 2008.

Buckner cautions against patients trying to manage disease with lifestyle changes alone, without giving available allopathic treatments a fair try. “People do better if they are treated early and aggressively. They are reliant on fewer medications down the road and don’t have permanent damage if they seek treatment early.”

However, even researchers focused on pharmaceutical approaches acknowledge the importance of diet and lifestyle.

Meggan Mackay, professor of Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, at Northwell Health, in Manhasset, New York, believes this can play a critical role in disease management.

She cites numerous studies showing exercise as a stress-buster positively influencing disease outcomes, as well as a more specific study looking at the benefits of adding fish oil and vitamin D to the diets of lupus patients. “The rise in obesity, which is linked to increased inflammation in the U.S., may be one of reasons we are seeing more autoimmune disease than ever,” says Mackay.

At-risk individuals should be aware of factors under their control, adds James. “If someone is worried about autoimmune disease running in their family, monitoring and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and avoiding smoking and other high-risk behaviors can help improve their chances.”

Even sleep patterns can play a role in disease manifestation, says the researcher.

In one study, individuals at high risk for autoimmune disease that slept less than seven hours per day were more likely to develop an autoimmune condition, according to James.

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There are some clear links between autoimmune diseases, such as the genetic predisposition that runs in families. “Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have a sister with celiac disease, for example, and one individual may suffer from multiple autoimmune conditions. We can learn from these common genetic links,” says Buckner. These common links can serve as important clues. For example, Buckner says they are able to demonstrate changes in T cells in diabetes and MS that are the same, which might lead to common treatments for the two conditions.

While the process from basic scientific discovery to development of effective treatment can be slow, there are some concrete breakthroughs autoimmune researchers are excited about, having demonstrated ability to both prevent and delay disease. Citing a recent clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “They have demonstrated in kids at high risk for developing Type 1

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diabetes the ability to delay onset for at least two years. It’s an incredibly exciting finding,” says Buckner.

Mackay is hopeful about advances in basic science addressing specific immune system abnormalities linked to inflammatory problems. “Lupus is very challenging to diagnose and treat because it can affect every system in the body,” says Mackay, whose research team has focused on lupus

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for decades. “The only forms of treatment have been very immune-suppressive medications that shut down the immune response. None of these medications are specific, so in shutting down the immune response to treat lupus, they in turn interfere with the body’s ability to fight off infection and cancer.” Researchers are now honing in on single cells from biopsies that indicate which proteins are abnormal, thereby helping develop more selective therapies, she says.

Seeing progress in the lab is one thing; seeing it in the waiting room is another, and that’s where autoimmune scientists and clinicians are really beginning to note a difference. “I’ve seen patients for 25 years, and when we started, we had very few options in my clinic, which was full of wheelchairs,” says Buckner. “In the last 20 years, we have seen an explosion in research and available treatments. I don’t have wheelchairs in my office anymore.”

Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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Common Links Serve as Research Clues

Laugh throughout the meal preparation.

Dance as you cook. Do the same thing if you live alone.”

Preparing food, whether a healthy smoothie or a gourmet weekend dinner for two, is a way to express love for ourselves and others. Baron loves the presence of plants, lovely ceramics and interesting platters and dishes, and notes, “Families can definitely shop, chop, cook and mealplan together to make the kitchen a fun place to be. Doing these things together is very bonding and sends the message that looking after yourself is important.”

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conscious eating

Practical Magic

Soul Nourishment The Kitchen As Sacred Space

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by Marlaina Donato

n our busy lives, grabbing food on the run or eating while standing at the kitchen counter is often the norm. Designating the kitchen as a practical sanctuary and seeing the sacredness of food not only makes it more conducive to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but also gives our spirits much-needed satiety.

“If we don’t touch the transcendent— emotionally and spiritually—physical nourishment won’t fill us up,” says Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D., former psychological consultant to Weight Watchers International and the author of The Zen of Eating: Ancient Answers to Modern Weight Problems. “Seeing the kitchen as sacred is something that represents gratitude, beauty and blessings.”

Delia Baron, co-author of Better Together Kitchen: Beautiful Recipes to Share With People You Love and the host of seasonal food workshops with partner Ronnit Hoppe in Melbourne, Australia, concurs, “The kitchen is often the heartbeat of the home and the best place to gather, feast, chat and create beautiful memories and rituals. The kitchen is also a place to connect to our food source.”

Fun and Felicity

Preparing meals the old-fashioned way can slow us down and foster mindfulness, but Kabatznick emphasizes that cooking is irrelevant. “Look at the kitchen in terms of possibilities: ‘What can I create in this space?’ You don’t have to turn into Julia Child,” she says, adding, “You could be eating Chinese takeout or a prune; it’s all about mindset and simple rituals like saying a blessing, appreciating what we eat as a great gift.” Kabatznick encourages everyone to eat with dignity, and this includes using the good dishes, putting fresh flowers on the table and eating with awareness.

Seeing the kitchen as the inspired nucleus of the home, it’s natural to add favorite items like art prints, colorful jars, sentimental treasures, dried flowers and other seasonal delights to nourish daily contentment. Conjuring an element of joy adorns the mundane. “Put on some music to put you in either a peaceful or joyful mood,” says Molly Larkin, author, healing practitioner and blogger at Ancient Wisdom for Balanced Living (MollyLarkin.com), in Corrales, New Mexico. “Turn off the TV and give everyone in the family a job.

Meal prep can be enjoyable and even relaxing in a calm environment. For Baron, organization is key. She advises, “Having all the ingredients you need and working in a clean space also helps make the experience rewarding.”

The smallest of kitchens can be abundant and organized with the help of a little innovation. A simple bookcase can offer additional shelf space for dry goods, bowls of produce or favorite cups. A small end table can hold a favorite tea pot and a jar of gourmet dark chocolate. A beautiful basket can hold go-to spice jars, and a pretty pitcher near the stove can accommodate a multitude of cooking utensils. “If you can’t fit it all out of sight in a cabinet, get some glass jars, fill them with grains, flours and legumes and line them up on the countertop. It will be neat, and you can see what you have,” suggests Larkin.

In the end, a well-nourished body and spirit fosters a beautiful life and inspires the same in others. An advocate for supporting the hungry in all communities, Kabatznick underscores local efforts and seeing the big picture of our relationship with food: “Taking out the garbage and cleaning up is also a sacred act if we bring that attitude into it. Food connects us to the Earth, the moon and the stars. From the seed to the truck driver—everything and everyone involved—the process of food is miraculous.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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SACRED SERVINGS photo by Marlaina Donato

Moroccan-Spiced Red Lentil Soup Yields: 4 servings

Bring water, carrots, apricots and all spices and seasonings to boil. Add red lentils, stir once and set heat to low. Cover pot with lid. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, remove from heat. Add olive oil and allow to sit for five minutes before serving.

ECKANKAR

The Path of Spiritual Freedom All ECK events are currently suspended.

For strength, peace, and calm . . .

Optional toppings for each bowl: finely chopped red onion, red pepper flakes, fresh cilantro and/or a sprinkle of turmeric.

“Sing HU once or twice a day for ten or fifteen minutes to spiritualize your state of consciousness.”

—Harold Klemp, The Sound of Soul

904-725-7760 • www.TheSoundofSoul.org

Spring Fever Salad with Flowers and Fruit Yields: 4 servings

1 head romaine or green leaf lettuce 8 medium-large organic strawberries, thinly sliced, or 2 small packages of fresh organic raspberries Handful of fresh, chemical-free flowers from the garden or store’s produce section: nasturtium, pansies and/or calendulas; gathered wild: spring violets and dandelion blooms

In-the-Bowl Dressing:

Juice from one fresh tangerine 1 part organic apple cider vinegar to 2 parts avocado oil Dash of sea salt Add avocado oil, apple cider vinegar and salt into a large bowl, swirl around twice. Tear (don’t chop) lettuce and add to the preliminary dressing. Squeeze tangerine juice over lettuce and toss lightly until well-dressed. Place strawberry slices over salad. Sprinkle (don’t toss) flowers on top or artfully place where desired.

Serve immediately.

Whole-Grain Dark Chocolate-Banana Muffins Yields: 12 muffins Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

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½ cup organic whole-wheat flour, sifted (protein-rich, gluten-free option: 1 cup organic brown rice flour and ½ cup organic soy flour or 1 cup organic brown rice flour and ½ cup garbanzo flour)

photo by Marlaina Donato

4 cups water 1½ cup red lentils 1 tsp sea salt 1 medium-size organic carrot, chopped in bite-size pieces 2 soft, dried apricots, chopped, or 1 Tbsp golden raisins or 2 dates, chopped ¼ tsp ground cloves ¼ tsp ground turmeric ¼ tsp ground coriander seeds or ½ tsp crushed coriander seeds ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp crushed or ground cumin seeds 2 tsp extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil

MIKHAIL MAKOVKIN/Shutterstock.com

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup coconut sugar, evaporated cane juice or turbinado ½ tsp salt 3½ tsp fresh baking powder 1 cup water or unsweetened non-dairy milk (or half of each to make a cup) 2 tsp extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil or cold-pressed sunflower oil 2 organic eggs, beaten (for vegan option: ¼ to ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce) 2 tsp natural vanilla extract 1½ mashed ripe bananas 2 tsp molasses 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp cloves ¼ tsp dried ginger 2 dashes of nutmeg 1 dash of allspice (optional) Pre-heat oven to 400° F and grease muffin tin with sunflower or olive oil (or line with cupcake papers). Sift flour and cocoa powder into bowl. Add baking powder, salt, sugar and spices; mix well. Combine water/milk, vanilla, molasses, oil and eggs (or apple sauce), and add to dry mixture. Stir, lifting

the spoon high with each stirring to get air into the mixture. Do not beat or overmix.

Leave it a bit lumpy.

Fold in bananas. Fill muffin cups half to three-quarters full and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Place muffin tin on wire rack and allow to cool for 15 minutes before removing each muffin by hand (avoid turning tin over to get muffins out, or the extra-moist, fruit-filled muffins might come apart).

Optional treat: Dip muffin tops into melted coconut oil and roll in coconut sugar or turbinado. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Recipes by Marlaina Donato, author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

August 2020

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Sunny studio/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

SEPTEMBER

Strong and Healthy

THE SELF-EMPOWERMENT ISSUE

Coming Next Month

Adaptive Yoga

Plus: Emotional Well-Being

We are drowning in information, but starved for knowledge. ~John Naisbitt

Five Ways to Strengthen Kids’ Immunity

W

by Ronica O’Hara

ith American children increasingly afflicted with asthma and allergies, it’s critical to help them build up their natural immunity.

Microbial ecologist Jack Gilbert, Ph.D., of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, co-founder of the crowdsourced American Gut Project, advises, “Furry pets, the outdoors, dirt in the backyard, forests—life!”

As the co-author of Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System, Gilbert is part of an emerging scientific consensus called the “hygiene hypothesis”, which posits that excessive sterility—being overzealous in protecting our children from germs and other microbes—can dampen the ability of their bodies to fight off allergens and infections. “As a species, we have evolved in a world full of microbes, and our immune systems have developed to cope with that,” he says. “The immune system needs to be used and trained by exposure to the world around it.” From birth onward, here are some proven strategies that strengthen kids’ immune systems.

1

Start off right with natural birth and breastfeeding: One

in three babies in the U.S. is born by

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NAJax.com

caesarean section, and about half the time it’s optional rather than necessary—perhaps because parents don’t understand that babies born in this manner have been shown to have altered immune development, reduced gut microbiome diversity and a higher risk of developing allergies, atopy and asthma in the short term, with a longterm risk of obesity, according to a study published in The Lancet. Likewise, breastfeeding protects against the likelihood of viruses, eye and urinary tract infections, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteritis, lymphoma, leukemia, and Type 1 and 2 diabetes, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics.

2

Feed them the right foods:

Provide lots of antioxidant-rich fruits, veggies and fiber—organic when possible—while avoiding processed foods. “The intestinal lining of the gastrointestinal tract serves as the body’s first line of defense against many pathogens.

Through certain strains of probiotics and prebiotics found in whole food, we can help landscape our child’s intestinal microbiome to create a positive effect on their innate and adaptive immune responses,” says Krystal Plonski, a Seattle naturopathic physician with a pediatric focus.

3

Avoid cleaning toxins: The

COVID-19 pandemic has many of us reaching for virus-zapping bleach disinfectants, but Gilbert advises not to overuse them. Once the viral threat is past, it’s wise to go back immediately to natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda. A 2015 study in Occupational & Environmental Medicine of more than 9,000 children ages 6 to 12 in Spain, Holland and Finland found the incidence of infections such as flu, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia was more prevalent in homes where bleach was used.

4

Get them outside around dirt:

Whether toddlers are making mud pies, older kids are growing gardens or teens are kicking up dust on the sports field, childrens’ immune systems thrive when they meet the microbial richness of dirt and the vitamin-D boost of the sunny outdoors. In a study in The New England Journal of Medicine that focused on two technology-free communities, Amish children that lived and worked at old-fashioned family dairy farms had a quarter and a fifth the rate of asthma and allergies, respectively, as Hutterite children that lived off-site from their community’s large industrialized farms. Georgetown University researchers report that sunlight, besides producing vitamin D, energizes infection-fighting T-cells in the skin that play a central role in human immunity.

5

Get them a pet: The dirt, germs

and fur that dogs and cats bring to a house may be just what young immune systems need. Finnish researchers following 397 babies found those that grew up in homes with pets were 44 percent less likely to develop an ear infection and 29 percent less likely to receive antibiotics than pet-free babies. Canadian researchers found that babies from families with pets—70 percent of which were dogs—showed higher levels of two types of microbes linked to lower risks of becoming allergic and obese. They theorize that exposure to dirt and bacteria early in life—for example, in a dog’s fur and on its paws—can create early immunity.

Access the Record of Your Soul’s Journey

Find Your Life Mission

AKASHIC RECORD CONSULTATIONS By Stephany “Stevie” Levine ARCI Trained Certified Consultant/Teacher Over 8 years of experience

Create Better Relationships

Solve Challenges

For Appointments: Phone/In Person-Contact Me At: stephanylevine@ymail.com

904-545-2447

www.stevielevine.com

For additional information – www.akashicrecordconsultantsinternational.org

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

August 2020

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calendar of events Dearest Readers, while many events have been postponed, many others will proceed online. Please visit the location’s website or Facebook page for up-to-date information.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

Talking Stick Circle and Potluck – 5-7pm. Native American gathering to share ancient teachings and drumming circle. Bring a chair, family, friends; children are welcome. Bring a dish to share. Andrew Jackson Davis Bld. 1112 Stevens St, Cassadaga.

Info: 386-503-4930. Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

SpiritualServices.online.

Virtual Services: Unity of Jacksonville Beach – 10:30am. Join UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier for spiritual lessons, prayer, and meditation via Facebook Live every Sunday on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonville Beach.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 10

Virtual Services: Unity of Jacksonville Beach – 10:30am. Join UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier for spiritual lessons, prayer, and meditation via Facebook Live every Sunday on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904-246-1300. UnityOfJacksonville Beach.com.

Lunch Box Make-Over – 6:30pm. Gain ideas for packing school lunches that kids will eat. Fun and informative. Free. Health by Design Wellness Center, 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville. Register: Tiny. cc/magadevents. HealthByDesignFL.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 3 Virtual Death Café of NE Florida – Community gathering hosted by Nada Frazier, Founder of The Sacred Servant. Join people from across the nation and talk about life/death. See Death Café of NE Florida’s Facebook page, Deathcafe.com, MeetUP, and TheSacredServant.com for more info. To attend, email Nada@TheSacredServant.com for Zoom meeting link.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 Group Past-Life Regression Meditation – 6:307:45pm. With Irene Schrank. Access information about your distant past that may enlighten and astound you. In a safe and supportive atmosphere, Irene will place you into a deeply relaxed but conscious state, while guiding you through by asking questions about what you see and feel. $25/person.

Mind Body and Beyond Center, 14215 Spartina Ct, Ste 300, Jacksonville. Register 904-992-9930 or Info@MBandBCenter.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 Virtual Prayer/Meditation Gathering – 7pm.

Led by UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904-246-1300. UnityOf JacksonvilleBeach.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 Unity of Jacksonville Beach Women of the Circle Virtual Gathering – 2nd & 4th Fri. All are welcome to virtually attend this community gathering held twice a month. To attend, email: NadaUJB@ gmail.com for Zoom meeting link/info or call 904-246-1300.

Virtual Prayer/Meditation Gathering – 7pm.

Led by UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904-246-1300. UnityOf JacksonvilleBeach.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 Unity of Jacksonville Beach Women of the Circle Virtual Gathering – 2nd & 4th Fri. All are welcome to virtually attend this community gathering held twice a month. To attend, email: NadaUJB@ gmail.com for Zoom meeting link/info or call 904-246-1300.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

Virtual Prayer/Meditation Gathering – 7pm.

Led by UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904-246-1300. UnityOf JacksonvilleBeach.com.

Virtual Heart4Souls Spiritual Guidance – 2pm.

Rev. Judy Weaver will provide an overall message that has been laid on her heart, followed by a live channeling session where universal light beings will provide guidance and answer your questions for spiritual wisdom and support you with the expansion of your soul. Questions or requests to hear from specific entities (God Source, Arch Angels, Masters, Spirit Guides, Lemurian’s, etc.) for session consideration. Preregister: Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com.

Info: SpiritualServices.online or 386-503-4930.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 New Moon Drumming: Manifestation Channel Circle – 6-8pm. Everything is made of energy and we will adjust and align your vibrational energies with those of the cosmos, explore your dreams and allow for hidden desires to become your reality. Preregister: $20. Mystical Expressions of Paradise: 1014 Reed Canal Rd, S Daytona. Info: 386-503-4930. SpiritualServices.online or Rev.Judi.

Weaver@gmail.com.

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Improve Your Memory & Attention – 6:30pm.

Learn what foods and habits can increase performance. Free. Health by Design Wellness Center, 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville. Register: Tiny.cc/magadevents.

Transcendental Meditation – Noon. Introductory talk by video teleconference. The TM technique is a uniquely simple, natural, effortless procedure that is scientifically proven to reduce stress, maximize mental clarity and improve health. This video conference gives all the information needed to make an informed decision about learning the TM technique.

Register: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

Virtual Services: Unity of Jacksonville Beach – 10:30am. Join guest speaker Rev Judi Elia for spiritual lessons, prayer, and meditation via Facebook Live every Sunday on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

NAJax.com

Virtual Services: Unity of Jacksonville Beach – 10:30am. Join guest speaker Rev Lisa Solwold for spiritual lessons, prayer, and meditation via Facebook Live every Sunday on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

Indian Cooking Class – 4-6pm. Join spa owner Falli Shah and her husband Sunny Shah for a vegan Indian cooking class. This delicious event includes the meal that is freshly prepared in front of you.

The class will be held in their lovely outdoor deck overlooking the garden. $45. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events/.

How to Grow Indoors 101 – 4-7pm. The 101 class will cover seed to harvest. This is a great class for Medical Card holders or caregivers when the laws change. $20/class. Seats are limited. Register/info: 904-829-4847 or JaxHugs.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

ongoing events

Transcendental Meditation – 6:30pm. Introductory talk by video teleconference. The TM technique is a uniquely simple, natural, effortless procedure that is scientifically proven to reduce stress, maximize mental clarity and improve health.

This video conference gives all the information needed to make an informed decision about learning the TM technique. Register: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.

Virtual Prayer/Meditation Gathering – 7pm.

Led by UJB Spiritual Leader Nada Frazier on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904-246-1300. UnityOf JacksonvilleBeach.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 Inner Sanctuary Training Workshop – 8/28: 7-9:30pm; 8/29: 10am-6pm. Host Delphi University, healer and teacher, Steve Smith. Deepen your inner connection and interaction with your higher self. $344. Limited to 10. Mind Body and Beyond Center, 14215 Spartina Ct, Ste 300, Jacksonville.

Register: 904-992-9930 or Info@MBandBCenter. com. MindBodyandBeyondCenter.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 Virtual Services: Unity of Jacksonville Beach – 10:30am. Join guest speaker culture builder, teacher, and author and disaster chaplain, Rev Kelly Isola for spiritual lessons, prayer, and meditation via Facebook Live every Sunday on the Unity of Jacksonville Beach Facebook page. Love offerings welcome. Info: 904246-1300. UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com.

wednesday Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. All classes are conducted via ZOOM. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505.

UnityInJax.com.

friday sunday Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30 am. Join on Facebook Live to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Or visit the YouTube Channel. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-2871505. UnityInJax.com.

tuesday Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. 1st & 3rd Tue (8/4 & 8/18). Developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, this advanced meditation technique is aimed at achieving illumination of universal consciousness.

This is a free service by instructor Falli Shah, to bring more positive awareness and harmony to the community. Bring a mask. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-3818686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

Live, Virtual Mudra Vigyan: Science of Gestures – 5-6pm. Aug 7, 14, 21, 28. With Dr Kamal Parikh, MD (internal medicine). Mudras are for everyone.

They awaken cosmic energies and purify the mind, body and soul using finger postures performed by pressing two fingertips together by flexing and stretching the other fingers in a particular manner.

Mudras stimulate electromagnetic energy, activate dormant nerves, correct imbalance and heal many ailments. $10. Location: Google Meet (link will be sent 24 hours prior to class). Info: 904-381-8686.

Register: Seventh-Wonder.com/events.

saturday Kundalini Yoga – 9-10am. With Ashley Ireland.

This session will include tuning in, warm ups, pranayama (breathing techniques), kriya (set of exercises), deep relaxation and meditation. It is suitable for all ages and stages. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904381-8686. Register: Seventh-Wonder.com.

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community resource guide

HERBS

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Ads@NAJax.com to request our media kit.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

ACUPUNCTURE

JACKSONVILLE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER

A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE

4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 Dr Christine Yastrzemski, NCCAOM, AP AP2255 AP4076 NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncture Physician specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. We offer the highest quality of care while customizing treatments that best suit your needs.

See ad, page 27.

CBD HYDROPONIC UNIQUE GOODS

8622 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 904-829-4847 • JaxHugs.com Hemp is all relaxation without intoxication, research shows numerous health benefits. Garden and hydroponic supplies: Leading brands of soil, nutrients, grow tents and LED lights.

ROOTSCBD

904-420-7550 JaxRootsCBD.com RootsCBD is a family business providing high quality CBD products supplied by farms they know. They will soon sell products grown on their own farm. See ad, page 22.

END-OF-LIFE SERVICES THE SACRED SERVANT

Nada Frazier, End of Life Doula 904-402-7061 • TheSacredServant.com Certified end-of-life doula (nonmedical, holistic) services, training EOL doulas, and supporting people, family and caregivers around illness and end of life issues. Planning and guidance through times of transformative change.

30

Jacksonville / St. Augustine

Dr Jon Repole, DC, CFMP 9957 Moorings Dr, Ste 403 Jacksonville (Mandarin) 904-268-6568 • DrRepole.com

Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner.

Find the cause of your health challenge. Our office will create a doctor supervised custom-tailored health program that will include the following: meal planning, supplemental prescriptions, detoxification guidance, food/lifestyle coaching, exercise prescriptions, accountability, on-line patient portal, and more. We utilize the most advanced diagnostics testing available to aid both our diagnoses and treatment.

See ad, page 27.

GROCERY NATIVE SUN

1585 3rd St North, Jacksonville Beach 904-853-5497 NativeSunJax.com J a x B e a c h ’s community organic grocer, local food and essential items. Order online for curbside p/u.

HEALING CENTER MIND BODY & BEYOND CENTER 14215 Spartina Ct, Ste 300 Jacksonville • 904-992-9930 MindBodyAndBeyondCenter.com

Comprehensive. Integrative.

Transformative. Strategies for developing awareness and understanding. Harmonize the mind and the body and spirit will f o l l o w. We l l n e s s t i p s , customized meal plans, healthy recipes that are adaptable for the entire family, cooking classes & fitness professionals to help you meet your goals. Find greater intuitive and creative ability, have a fuller expression of love, enhance your sense of self-worth and bring spiritual qualities into your life. #MM35640 See ad, page 15.

NAJax.com

LAURENCE LAYNE, LMT, HERBALIST Healing Waters Clinic & Herb Shop 26 Clark St, St. Augustine 904-826-1965 • HealingWatersClinic.com MA0010746 MM005595

A holistic center specializing in pain relief and chronic health issues.

Certified in neuromuscular and deep tissue bodywork, myofascial therapy, craniosacral balancing, east-west herbalism. Offering attunement energy healing since 1978. See ad, page 24.

HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA SEVENTH WONDER HOLISTIC SPA 4236 St John’s Ave, Jacksonville 904-381-8686 • Seventh-Wonder.com

A true sanctuary away from the stresses of the world since 2002.

Offering: Ayurveda consultation and services, natural alternatives to facelift, massages, facials, eyebrow threading/tinting, reiki, pranic healing, ear coning, sauna, and a Himalayan salt room.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE A. SCHAEFFER-PAUTZ, MD

Board Certified in Internal and Integrative Medicine Persephone Healing Arts Center 485 6th Ave N, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-3583 • DrPautz.com Medical practice emphasizing highest quality personalized care, integrating spiritual, emotional and physical. Practicing naturopathy, homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine. Monthly open house and lecture. See ad on back cover.

FIRST COAST INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Megan Weigel, DNP 14215 Spartina Ct, Jacksonville 904-543-3510 FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com A holistic, heart-centered and evidence-based approach to care for people living with neurological conditions and symptoms. Dr Weigel has nearly 20 years experience in neurology and neurological care. See ad, page 8.

MEDITATION TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CENTERS

• Karen & Herb Bandy, Certified Teachers 904-375-9517 • Jacksonville@TM.org • Regine de Toledo & Richard Pinto, Certified Teachers 904-826-3838 • StAugustine@TM.org The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious, evidence-based practice for eliminating stress, increasing well-being and expanding consciousness.

Certified Teachers give individual instruction and ongoing support.

See ad, page 18.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD CERTIFIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS 10695 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville 904-299-5300 2085 A1A S, St. Augustine 904-299-7373 CMMDR.com

Patients with a qualifying medical condition can become a Florida medical marijuana patient in two easy steps and gain access to Florida Medical Marijuana Dispensary discounts, deals and special savings.

License number OS8874. See ad, page 29.

METAPHYSICAL CENTER

METAPHYSICAL STORE SPIRITUAL UPLIFTS

2186 Park Ave, Ste 102, Orange Park 904-292-4555 SpiritualUplifts.com Metaphysical services, including life coaching, spiritual readings, energy work, crystal healings, biomat, aura photography, chakra and astrology reports and more. World-renowned speakers and demonstrations to further your spiritual journey. See ad, page 22.

NUTRITION/KINESIOLOGY HEALTH BY DESIGN

Dr Kristy A Harvell 2002 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville 904-363-3374 • HealthByDesignFL.com Nutrition Response Testing™ gets to the underlying cause of your condition by testing for food sensitivities, heavy metals, and chemical toxins. A Clinical Nutrition Program will be designed for your individual needs. See ad, page 25.

PSYCHIC CHANNEL REV JUDI WEAVER

Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com

THE KARMA CASTLE

1437 N US Hwy 1, Ste C8, Ormond Beach TheKarmaCastle.com Psychic & Mediumship Development classes and workshops, Kundalini Yoga classes for all levels.

Mediumship Demonstrations, Group Meditations, and Spiritually oriented events. Private Psychic and Mediumship Readings with International Psychic & Medium, Carl Seaver. Healing Sessions and Meditation Instruction with Spiritual Healer, Shannon MacDonald.

Hours by appointment. See website to schedule appointments, and view the Calendar for events.

energy distance.

Channeled spirit messages, crystal light healer, divine personal guidance, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counseling, guided meditations, home/property blessings, vision quest journeys.

For individuals or groups—in person, virtual/on-line, phone or

SPIRITUAL CENTERS UNITY CHURCH FOR CREATIVE LIVING IN ST JOHNS 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns 904-287-1505 • UnityInJax.com

Unity offers positive, practical teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. They take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all life. Join to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. See ad, page 25.

UNITY OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH 106 6th St N, Jacksonville Beach (at Players by the Sea Theatre) 904-246-1300 UnityOfJacksonvilleBeach.com

Unity of Jacksonville Beach honors all paths to God. Unity welcomes those who might call themselves spiritual but n o t r e l i g i o u s . We welcome seekers and people of all faith traditions.

Sunday services at 10:30 am, silent meditation at 10:10 am. Unity explores spiritual teachings through metaphysical study, prayer, meditation and more…

Join us! See ad, page 18.

YOGA YOGA DEN

Mandarin | Fleming Island | Southside | Avondale | Golf Village | San Pablo | Bayard | Yoga-Den.com Founded in 2002, all Yoga Den teachers are graduates of YogaDen’s nationally accredited 200hour TT Program. Members may use their key tags at all locations with Passport Membership.

Hundreds of weekly classes. Our philosophy is No Judgement, and all levels will feel welcome. See ad, page 2.

StAugustineHumaneSociety.org August 2020

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