Natural Awakenings Charlotte - September 2021 Issue by Shannon

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

INTEGRATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT FABULOUS FUNGI FARE

COOKING WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

ART THAT

MARTHA BECK ON

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CREATIVITY SPURS DEEP CHANGES

LIVING WITH INTEGRITY

September/Early October 2021 | Charlotte Edition | AwakeningCharlotte.com

ENDING STRESS AND CREATING WELL-BEING SEPTEMBER 18 4PM ‒ 7 PM

Transform and Optimize your health with our featured speaker: Brian Clement, Phd, LN from Hippocrates Health Institute, who will share about Regenerating Health, Reversing Disease (with a focus on Lyme disease), and creating Longevity. Join us! Nourish your Well-Being! Please stop by to visit our amazing Health Vendors. See you soon...and bring a friend! Cost: $10

LOCATION: South Park Christian Church 6650 Park South Dr., Charlotte, NC 28210 To Register go to: https://brianinnc .eventbrite.com Questions? Ask Bill: 704-219-9574 or marcartmarketing@gmail.com

If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.

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YOGA TO HEAL TRAUMA

Soothing Poses Calm the Nervous System

CREATIVE KIDS

How to Nurture Imagination

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How to Choose Non-Toxic Pots and Pans HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE AwakeningCharlotte.com/ Businesses

HORSES AS HEALERS

Equine Therapy has Physical and Emotional Benefits

THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN NOTE SHEDDING LIGHT ON LIGHTBULBS

The Ins and Outs of Our Options

CALENDAR

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September/Early October 2021

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

CHARLOTTE EDITION PUBLISHER Shannon McKenzie DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca AD DESIGN Helene Leininger

EDITORIAL Jane Aylward Allison Gorman Randy Kambic Martin Miron

CONTACT US P.O. Box 456 Cornelius, NC 28031 Ph: 704-499-3327 • Fax: 866-632-9118 AwakeningCharlotte.com Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Free subscriptions are available for our digital issue by emailing Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com

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Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakenings.com © 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

letter from publisher

Co(vid)exist

thought came to me suddenly this month and I found it to be very helpful. Simply, it was an acknowledgment that Covid is going to be around for a while, so why not learn to live with it? I thought I had been living with it all this time, but now I realize I’ve had an end date in mind. The reality is, variants are not uncommon. Even with the amazingly quick development of vaccines, deployment has been complicated and uneven around the world. In countries like the United States, where the vaccine is readily available, some people have delayed getting the vaccine until FDA approval and some people will never get it. Variants have developed in the midst of all this. With so many moving parts, it is hard to fathom how it all could have come together in a short time, even under the best of circumstances. In August I wrote about having an urge to be happy, so to bring the last two months’ themes together, I now have an urge to live happily with Covid. I may actually invest in a mask (up to this point, my few masks have been gifts). Speaking of masks, a friend mentioned to me a while back that Americans wore masks during the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918. I had never heard this, so I didn’t believe it at first, but google has confirmed it is true. www.Tinyurl.com/SpanishFluandMasks reports there were mask mandates, shaming of those not wearing masks, and controversies over enforcement and punishment, as well as masks made of dubious materials, such as the designer influenza veil of fine mesh with a chiffon border. Some people poked holes in their masks so they could smoke. Others resisted wearing masks altogether. No new thing under the sun, I guess. There is relief in choosing to live with Covid that I can’t explain. I feel more focused on maintaining strong immune systems within our household. Who knows, maybe I’ll sport an influenza veil (sans the dubious materials) myself. Wishing you a very happy September, Shannon

P.S. September’s guest blog by Ryan Brown, Ph.D., “How the ‘Honor Culture’ of the Carolinas Affects Kids as They Return to School,” is a timely and interesting read. You can find it at www.AwakeningCharlotte.com. Just type “Ryan Brown” into the search bar.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings is printed with soy-based ink.

Charlotte Edition

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 50 healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

12 ART'S EMBRACE

Healing Through Creativity

16 MARTHA BECK on Living with Integrity

18 CONQUERING CHRONIC PAIN

How the Body-Mind Connection Works

19 LOCAL CHRONIC PAIN SUFFERER on The Dilemma of

Living with Pain

20 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Chronic Pain

22 FORAGED FUNGI FARE Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 704-499-3327 or email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline for ads: the 9th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline for editorial: the 9th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events on AwakeningCharlotte.com. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 11 local health briefs 16 wise words 18 healing ways 22 conscious eating 24 resource guide 26 gaston county

natural guide

26 classifieds

September/Early October 2021

news briefs

The Benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy During Summer

Special Offer for Digestive Issue Sufferers

C Wellness Center and Spa, in Gastonia, North Carolina, provides colon hydrotherapy with a well-trained certified practitioner. The practice points to the importance of being adequately hydrated on an ongoing basis and especially during the summer and the related benefits of the treatment. Approximately 42 million Americans are troubled with constipation each year. It has almost become “normal” to skip regular bowel movements multiple days in a row for most individuals which can lead to potentially serious issues with our digestion. The benefits of colon hydrotherapy include lowering the risk of colon cancer, improved digestion, preventing constipation, better mood, kickstarting losing weight, increased energy, boosting retention of vitamins and nutrients, clearer skin and improved focus.

t’s estimated that more than 70 percent of Americans suffer from some type of digestive disorder like gas, bloating, diarrhea and other abdominal issues on a regular basis. As living with any of these ailments is challenging and not the way we were intended to live, Michelle Tonkin, ND, owner of Healthy Solutions for All, is Michelle Tonkin providing initial, free, 30-minute consults to help people take back their gut health. Tonkin, also a Certified Nutritional Consultant, Master Herbalist, Master Iridologist and Master Reflexologist, has 15-plus years of experience in treating health issues. A graduate of Trinity College of Natural Health and Acusage Academy, she previously experienced many health problems including Lyme disease, chronic fatigue and chronic Epstein-Barr. Her business is part of the fulfillment of a vision to not only experience health and healing for herself, but to use her knowledge to assist others in achieving and maintaining abundant health.

Location: 1308 E. Garrison Blvd. For more information or to make an appointment, call 704-823-1577, email IHealthyConnect@ Carolina.rr.com or visit www.HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com. See CRG, page 24.

Email ContactHealthySolutionsForAll@yahoo.com and mention Natural Awakenings to obtain free consult. For more information, call 877-955-HEAL (4325) or visit www.HealthySolutionsForAll.com. See CRG, page 25.

Ahlara to Feature Peruvian Shaman

30-year friendship between Ahlara owner, Lynne Wiggins, and Peruvian Shaman and Spiritual Teacher, Jorge Luis Delgado, has resulted in the presentation of two stellar events and private healing sessions at Ahlara in Mooresville, North Carolina. Seminars ($40) will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and 45-minute Jorge Luis Delgado private healing sessions ($100) can be arranged between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., all on September 29 and 30. Featured many times on the TV program Ancient Aliens, Jorge Delgado will share Andean ancestral teachings which are extremely useful in this current process of transformation. He will speak about Children of the Sun and the role to be played in the new dawn of the world. His latest book is titled Machu Picchu: The City of the Children of the Sun. He will speak about the 7 harmonies of life—Below: Mother Earth, Above: Father Sun, Right: Blood Family, Left: Neighbors, Opposite: Past, Back: Future and With Yourself—and 7 daily practices—good eating/drinking, good talking/listening, good sleep/ dream, good walking/silence, good meditation, good dancing and good flourishing—which offer his spiritual insight and experience to provide sacred guidance. Location: 155 Joe Knox Ave. For more information or to register for seminar (seating is limited) or a healing session, call 704-662-0946 or visit www.AhlaraInternational.com. See ad, back cover. 8

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

New Book by Charlotte Doctor Sheila Kilbane

ntegrative pediatrician Sheila Kilbane, M.D., has published a new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Moms: 7 Steps to Heal and Prevent Common Childhood Illnesses. “This book is the latest chapter in my mission to transform pediatric health care,” says Dr. Kilbane, who practices at Infinite Health, in Dilworth. “I want to get a million kids off meds that they may not need.” Healthy Kids, Happy Moms is now available for pre-order along with free bonus downloads at www.SheilaKilbane.com/book. Kilbane has treated thousands of families in her private practice who suffer with recurring childhood illnesses with her 7-step program, which is not found elsewhere. With a formal release date of September 14, Kilbane’s book is actually three books in one. Part one uses scientific research and Kilbane’s real-life cases that led her to develop the Healthy Kids, Happy Moms Program. Part two is a week-by-week guide to implementing the Healthy Kids, Happy Moms Program. Part three includes dozens of mom-tested, doctor-approved recipes that kids will love. Kilbane presents at medical conferences, online summits, educational courses and wellness podcasts. She is a medical advisory board member for several companies and organizations. Location: Infinite Health, 2201 Park Rd., Ste. B. For more information or to make an appointment, call 704-626-6771 or visit www.SheilaKilbane.com. See CRG, page 25.

Natural Awakenings Launches New Digital Marketing Division

atural Awakenings has been a leading go-to resource with upto-date news, information and advice for people interested in a holistic, organic, spiritual and sustainable green living for the last 27 years. Now, the magazine is bringing in top experts in online marketing to help businesses reach their ideal clients online. “We are so excited to announce that we are now offering digital marketing services to all of our clients,” says Shannon McKenzie, publisher of Natural Awakenings Charlotte. The new digital marketing division is headed by Marketing Strategist, Imee Gusich, who has over 20 years marketing experience and has been helping companies build an online presence and drive leads to their businesses for more than seven years. Her Team’s expertise in online marketing helps companies build a synergistic marketing ecosystem that brings in a steady stream of leads on autopilot without time-consuming tasks or complicated technology. For a limited time, Natural Awakenings is offering free digital marketing strategy calls with Gusich to gain personalized insights and direction on how to best market one’s business online. A 30-minute strategy session (a $997 value) will provide potential strategic and synergistic pieces that may have been missing in marketing plans along with ways to generate leads automatically. For more information or to reserve a free digital marketing session, call 704-499-3327, email Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com or scan the QR code. See ad, back cover.

event brief

Special Hippocrates Health Institute Event in Charlotte

rian

Clement, Ph.D., LN, director and co-founder of the Hippocrates Health Institute, based in West Palm Brian Clement Beach, will lead a presentation entitled Ending Stress and Creating Well-Being. The main theme is regenerating health and reversing disease with a focus on Lyme disease and creating longevity. The event takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. on September 18 at South Park Christian Church, in Charlotte. Important information about the protocol the Hippocrates Health Institute uses to reverse the effects of Lyme disease will be discussed. By conducting daily clinical research, Clement and his staff have developed a state-ofthe-art program for health and wellness at one of the world’s foremost complementary health facilities. He has been in the forefront of the international progressive health movement for more than five decades. Attendees that arrive early can network and visit with some of the Hippocrates team and health vendors. Cost: $10. Location: 6650 Park South Dr. For more information or to register to attend, call Bill Carter at 704-219-9574, email MarcartMarketing@gmail.com or visit www.BrianInNC2021.eventbrite.com. See ad, page 2.

September/Early October 2021

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local health brief

Take Your Next Step To

Better Health

Three Habits to Boost Back-to-School Immunity Heading back to school can mean earlier mornings, tighter schedules and the inevitable back-to-school illnesses. Here are three ways families can help boost their immunity and avoid sickness. The first is diet. The USDA recommends eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily, but food is the number one way to boost the immune system, so eat at least six different colors of fruits and vegetables daily. For instance, green foods like spinach, kale, green apple and broccoli help detoxify the body, which will help to boost the immune system. The second is sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ages 5 to 12 years old sleep nine to 12 hours, while teens should be sleeping a minimum of eight hours, but as many as 10. As they go back to school, kids start staying up later on electronic devices, sometimes late into the evening. For adults and especially children, keep the room cool and dark, and turn off electronic devices, including smartphones, at least an hour before bed. The third way to improve immunity is to reduce stress. A National Institute of Health study connects elevated stress levels to a decrease in immunity. Adults and children both need to learn ways to address their stress. Kids as young as toddlers can learn how to breathe correctly, breathing deeply through the nose. Taking deep breaths in times of stress will help calm the nervous system and reduce the impact stress has on the body and on immunity. Dr. Michael Smith is a naturopathic physician, located at 1114 Sam Newell Rd., Ste. A in Matthews, specializing in immune system support and reversing chronic health conditions naturally. He offers a free discovery call at 704-486-2448. For more information, visit www.CarolinasNaturalHealth.com.

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ART’S EMBRACE

Healing Through Creativity by Sandra Yeyati

rt can be a powerful force for healing. Its potential manifests in a disabled man’s triumphant dance or cancer patient’s stirring self-portrait. Throughout America, art’s redemption takes center stage at hospitals, nursing homes, jails and homeless shelters. Even an entire city can be transformed when its citizens embrace public art to add beauty, create community and heal its broken places.

Art in Medical Settings According to Jill Sonke, director of the University of Florida (UF) Center for Arts in Medicine, approximately half of U.S. hospitals have art programs that provide positive distraction, enjoyment and connection. To humanize otherwise intimidating environments, visual artists and musicians are employed to install appealing exhibits and play relaxing music. Artists also work at the bedside with patients as part of inter-professional care teams. Serving as an artist-in-residence early in her career, Sonke remembers a young female patient with sickle cell disease whose bouts of extreme pain required hospitalization. Dance sessions eased her suffering and enabled doctors to reduce pain medications. “The way the patient described it was not that the pain was going away, but that she didn’t mind it as much because she was enjoying dancing,” she says. While facilitating Dance for Life classes for Parkinson’s patients, Sonke encountered a man suffering limited mobility and an inability to form facial expressions. After two months of biweekly sessions, he could lift his arms over his head and, to his wife’s delight, smile again. “It’s that multimodal capacity of the arts,” Sonke explains. “All at the same time, he was engaging in music, movement and imagery. He was moving with others and experiencing joy and laughter.” According to Sonke, ongoing research seeks to pinpoint the public health benefits of art. In Britain, they have learned that people over 50 visiting museums or concerts once a month are almost half as likely to develop depression in older age. Other studies suggest that music can unlock memories and improve cognition. UF researchers are currently investigating whether live music in emergency and trauma care settings can reduce the need for opioids. 12

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

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“When people engage in the arts, they often enter into a flow state, that experience of losing yourself in art where we lose track of time and what we’re doing is intrinsically motivated,” Sonke says. “A flow state can engage a relaxation response, helping to reduce stress and anxiety, which can enhance immune function.”

Art Therapy for Cancer Patients Board-certified art therapist Mallory Montgomery helps cancer patients in Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital work through symptoms of depression, anxiety or trauma. “Any person seeking a talk therapist or social worker could also consult with an art therapist,” she says. “We have the same training, but use art instead of just words. Evidence suggests that art therapy accesses healing faster because you’re forging a deep mind/body connection.” When counseling a double mastectomy patient that has questions about who they are now that they’re missing a part of their identity, Montgomery might offer a printed body map so that they can pinpoint where they carry feelings of loss, pain or confusion. “By drawing or coloring in those areas, I’m asking them to show how they’re being affected physically, emotionally and spiritually, and to externalize the overwhelming, negative side of their problem,” she explains. Using a second body map, Montgomery might invite the patient to draw or paint in those same areas to transform the pain into something more positive. “Is it going to blossom like a flower or be soothed with water? What imagery can you create that represents the opposite of your pain or an improvement of your concerns? We might also do a portrait to highlight other aspects of you and your personality that still exist, even though you no longer have a body part that was killing you,” she says. Montgomery’s emphasis is never on the quality of the art. “I walk the fine line between allowing patients to problem-solve how to make something look like what’s in their head and providing

them with comfort and intervention so they don’t get so frustrated that they want to give up,” she notes. Montgomery keeps a visual journal for her own self-expression. “It helps me make sense of the world,” she says. “Art gives my voice and thoughts an outlet, something concrete and representational that reaches into the depth of what I’m experiencing.”

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Gupta has learned firsthand that healing is a two-way street. “When I come to Skid Row, I’m the one who feels lifted,” he says. As a result, Street Symphony has morphed into a collection of workshops and conversations that also employs jazz, reggae, hip-hop and West African musicians and vocalists from the Skid Row community. “We might play 30 minutes of music and then ask the audience what images, thoughts or memories came up for them,” he explains. In this community, art is neither entertainment nor a commodity, Gupta says. “It’s a lifeline, a way for people that have been devastated by poverty, addiction or trauma to add to their lives in

a constructive way. We all have devastated places within ourselves that need healing and attention. Visiting Skid Row is a pilgrimage to the broken place within myself, and in that way, it’s a spiritual place, my temple where I go to worship.”

Creative Care for People with Dementia Drawing from her theater background, Anne Basting, author of Creative Care, has developed an innovative approach to dementia and elder care. “Our current caregiving model envisions one person that’s empty and has lots of needs and the other person that’s full and pours themself into the other person, which leads to

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burnout,” she says. “Dementia and aging are experiences of increasing separation. People isolate themselves and learn not to trust their own expressive capacities, because their relatives and friends no longer know how to relate with them and often ignore their words.” Basting’s Creative Care changes this depleting dynamic. “In improvisational theater, you observe everything that’s happening on stage and try to figure out how you can add to the performance positively,” she explains. “Applying that idea to a care situation, you observe the person’s facial expressions, what they’re saying, how they’re behaving and then invite them into expression out of that moment with

what we call a ‘beautiful question’, one that has no right or wrong answers and draws on the person’s strengths.” A beautiful question might be, “If your feet could talk, what would they say?” This offers people with pain a poetic way to express it. “I invited a gentleman with dementia who had no language—no words left—to show me how water moves. His response was the most beautiful dance I’d ever experienced, performed in the kitchen of his duplex,” Basting recalls, adding that it’s important to acknowledge the person’s expression so they know they’ve been heard. The final step in Creative Care is to accumulate these experiences over time and shape something larger and universally meaningful that can be shared with others—an artistic product. Basting founded the nonprofit TimeSlips to train artists and caregivers worldwide to do this visionary work. Their efforts have resulted in art exhibits, dance and theater productions, books and animations. “My dream is that meaning and beauty will be made

every day in nursing homes, creating care settings so interesting that people want to visit them—a new kind of cultural center, integrating health and art,” she says.

Transforming a City with Public Art More than 4,000 works of public art grace the city of Philadelphia, three-quarters of which are breathtaking murals that combine world-class paintings and images with provocative words and healing messages. Art permeates virtually every neighborhood on walls, billboards, sidewalks, rooftops, swimming pools and basketball courts, enriching people from all walks of life, even those that don’t have access to galleries and museums. “Public art lifts our spirits, provides us with beauty and inspires us,” says Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP). “It can be evocative, challenging and educational, as well, serving as a barometer of our time—a system of checks and balances and a mirror that we hold up to people and say that

your life counts and you matter.” In addition to sponsoring 75 to 100 new works every year, MAP’s $10 million budget funds programs related to criminal justice, art education, housing insecurity, behavioral health, community development and environmental justice. According to Golden, the healing power of art is not just in the mural, but also in its collaborative creation. In addition to artists and educators, hundreds of people work on these projects, including individuals grappling with addiction or homelessness, veterans with PTSD and immigrants and refugees facing isolation and stigma. “The act of creating is a meditative and healing experience, and because you’re part of a larger effort, it connects you to your community,” Golden says. “People start to feel a sense of purpose and value. They start to believe in themselves again.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@ gmail.com.

Direct Primary Care

Affordable convenient care that goes beyond an office visit to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

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September/Early October 2021

wise words

Martha Beck on Living with Integrity by Sandra Yeyati

monthly contributor to O, The Oprah Magazine, for the last 17 years, Martha Beck, Ph.D., is a Harvard-trained sociologist and New York Times bestselling author of nine nonfiction books, one novel and more than 200 magazine articles. Her most recent book is The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self.

develop symptoms. The most painful is loss of meaning in your life. Without a sense of purpose, our lives start to feel dull, and then we start to experience anger, sadness, grief, irritability, anxiety and depression. If we don’t pay attention, our bodies start to give out because we’re deeply biologically programmed to tell the truth. Our career and relationships start to fall apart, and often we end up being addicted to cope with the pain.

Why did you write this new book? They say the truth will set you free, so 30 years ago, I decided I wouldn’t lie once for an entire calendar year, and it completely changed my life. Ever since, I’ve done integrity cleanses: If anything doesn’t feel like my real self, if it isn’t what I really want to do or what I truly believe, I just won’t do. I started my last integrity cleanse seven years ago, and I’m still in the middle of it because it’s so liberating, dramatically improving my health, business and relationships. After 30 years, I have a method, so I decided to share it with people.

How do you define integrity? The word comes from the Latin integer, meaning whole or undivided. In engineering, if an airplane is in perfect structural integrity, it can do amazing things. But if its parts aren’t all working in harmony with each other, it may not take off, it may be impossible to steer, it may crash. Being in harmony with your true self enables you to do all the things that will most fulfill you and to realize your destiny if you believe you have one—and I believe we do.

Why, when and how do we lose sight of our true selves? From the moment we’re born, we start getting messages from people about how 16

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How do we regain our integrity?

they’d like us to behave. We try to do it to fit in, to belong. When someone tries to get us to do something that isn’t true for us, we abandon ourselves and decide to do what pleases them. Every person I’ve worked with, including psychopaths and murderers, has at some point said, “I need to please people. I need to be admired. I need to be liked. I need to be accepted.” It’s such a deep part of the psyche that we will abandon our own comfort to satisfy it, and we won’t even know that we’re out of integrity.

How does this inner conflict manifest itself? When you stray from your integrity, it’s an abandonment of self. You’ll feel a deep but sometimes subtle unease. Most of us are trained not to notice, but if you’re not paying attention to your own truth and what you really want, you eventually

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You feel what you’re feeling and notice any place you’re uncomfortable, which is information that’s always available to you. Many of us are frightened to do that and maybe haven’t done it for many years, but once you find out you’re not comfortable, I advise making a series of one-degree turns away from the things that aren’t right for you, nudging yourself gently toward things that make you happy every day. As you edge your life in that direction with small changes, enormous things can happen.

What are the benefits of living with integrity? Any time we yearn for something in a very deep, intense way, it’s always immediately given to us, but it’s sent to the place that is our real home, which is peace. It waits for you there. When you get into your integrity, you find incredible peace. And at that point, everything you’ve wanted in your whole life seems to be waiting for you. Peace is your home. Integrity is the way to it, and everything you have ever longed for will meet you there. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

Elemental Healing Charlotte is for SALE! After 12yrs of providing a warm, welcoming space for healers and the community in greater Charlotte, EHC is passing the baton. Our growth has continued, and opportunities abound for someone to carry the torch.

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The Healing Power of Oxygen Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a safe and non-invasive therapy that enhances the body’s natural healing process, stimulates stem cell production and strengthens the immune system

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healing ways

Conquering Chronic Pain How the Body-Mind Connection Works

stanciuc/AdobeStock.com

by Ronica O’Hara

or three decades, David Hanscom was a top-ranked orthopedic surgeon in Seattle who daily put the scalpel to injured, deformed and twisted spines. Privately, he writhed in pain himself. He was beset over 15 years with burning feet, insomnia, tinnitus, anxiety, skin rashes, crushing chest pain, depression, sweats, heart palpitations and tension headaches, among other symptoms. That put him among the estimated 50 million American adults afflicted with chronic pain for which relief is hard to come by and often short-lived. The standard medical approaches of surgery and injections often don’t work well or last long for many patients, research shows. Opioids, once a standby, are now prescribed sparingly after being implicated in half a million overdose deaths. Treatment is especially elusive for the one in six adults and 30 to 40 percent of primary care patients with pain or chronic conditions considered “medically unexplained.” As a result, integrative pain management, which focuses on both mind and body and incorporates medical and holistic approaches, is growing in importance. Major medical 18

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centers such as the Mount Sinai Health System and Cleveland Clinic, as well as practitioners such as chiropractors and homeopaths, offer dozens of modalities to turn around painful conditions. Sometimes a single simple method works quickly for a patient with a straightforward symptom; more often, it takes a combination of approaches over time to reverse pain, especially if it is complex, sustained or recurring. Launching on his own healing path, Hanscom came to a critical understanding: The abuse he had suffered as a child from a rage-filled mother, coupled with emotional repression and a fierce drive to excel as a surgeon, produced his high levels of anxiety. It turbocharged his central nervous system and set off a cascade of reactions that fed ever-rising levels of pain. “Your mind and body function as a unit with no separation,” he says. “Chronic pain results when your body is exposed to sustained levels of stress hormones, excitatory neurotransmitters and inflammatory protein. Your brain is sensitized and the nerve conduction speed is faster, so you physically feel more pain. It’s not ‘all in your mind’—it’s a normal physiological process.” After six months of intense inner work focused on his rage, Hanscom calmed his overwrought nervous system and his symptoms “essentially disappeared.” He began applying his experience to hundreds of spine patients, helping the great majority of them to avoid surgery altogether. In the book Back in Control, he describes his approach, which is designed for people with pain that is not caused by underlying structural or organ issues. He recommends these initial steps.

n Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, which may require sleeping pills or natural methods. n Doing expressive writing twice a day, which involves writing down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language for 10 to 30 minutes, and then promptly tearing it up. Neurological research shows that this simple practice rewires the brain. “Some people experience remarkable pain relief right away,” he says. n Practicing “active meditation” throughout the day by mindfully fo-

cusing each time on a sight, sound or sensation for five to 10 seconds.

For deep, sustained healing, he stresses the importance of forgiveness, gratitude, self-discovery, exploring a spiritual path, relearning playfulness and connecting with others. Medication may be necessary initially, he says, and as pain levels recede, most people become ready to improve their diet and exercise more. Understanding the mind/body connection is key in pain management, concurs gastroenterologist David D. Clarke, M.D., author of They Can’t Find Anything Wrong! and president of the Portland, Oregon-based Psychophysiologic Disorders Association. “When medical evaluation shows no problems with organs or structures, then the pain is being generated by the brain, similar to what happens in phantom limb pain, where people feel pain in the location of an amputated arm or leg,” he says. “Chronic pain generated by the brain generally occurs due to stress, an emotional/psychological trauma or strong negative emotions (often toward people the patient cares about) that are not fully recognized. Often, these issues began due to adverse childhood experiences, which can be anything you would not want a child of your own to endure. I recommend people explore these possibilities on their own, with a loved one or with a therapist.” That process might sound daunting, but so is suffering crippling pain. “The most important thing for people to know is that pain can be successfully treated, relieved and often cured with the right techniques,” says Clarke. Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

Learn More Direct Your Own Care Journey is a free, online course for healing chronic pain. Designed by David Hanscom, M.D., it includes an experiential app, group sessions, video tutorials and webinars at TheDocJourney.com. Stress-Disease Information, including videos, a webinar-based course, recent research and a list of practitioners, can be found at ppdassociation.org, the website of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association, founded by stress-disease expert David Clarke, M.D. American Chronic Pain Association, at theacpa.org, lists treatments, clinical trials, support groups and other resources.

The Ongoing Dilemma of Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia and Chronic Pain Sufferers

ibromyalgia/neuralgia is a disorder that affects mostly women and their muscular and neurological system by affecting the way their brain and/or central nervous system processes pain. Pain is magnified and usually develops after any type of trauma, dental work, illness or even stress. The spinal cord and nerves are impaired and consequently send out signals of intense pain throughout the body. Sufferers deal with various illnesses that this condition brings such as occipital neuralgia, tension headaches, TMJ, Trigeminal Neuralgia, IBS along with the mental stress that promotes anxiety, depression and even suicide. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but there are various ways that people have tried to obtain relief. A healthy diet, vitamins or supplements and exercise are encouraged. Desperation for relief drives some to seek doctors or pain management specialists that write scripts for pain. Whether it be antidepressant medications, nerve blockers, brain or facial invasive surgery to ease or relieve the pain, some relief comes at a cost. People in extreme pain tend to be open to many types of treatment. Many are beginning to take CBD as a way of reducing pain, anxiety and stress and to avoid the side effects of medications commonly prescribed for these conditions. People are discovering the benefits of CBD as a method of treatment to assist in the reduction of certain neurological problems. Ivonne Peck is co-owner of Your CBD Source, located at 10416 E. Independence Blvd., Ste. 610 in Matthews, and a chronic pain sufferer. She belongs to fibromyalgia, trigeminal, peripheral neuralgia, and chronic pain groups and has an in-depth understanding of the struggle with chronic pain. For more information and a CBD consultation, call 704-443-7003 or visit www.YourCBDSourceNC.com. September/Early October 2021

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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Chronic Pain

yperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100 percent pure oxygen while inside a closed chamber. Oxygen dissolves into the plasma and diffuses into every cell of the body including bone and the brain. Essentially, HBOT heals wounds in the body by forming new blood vessels and stimulating stem cells along with many other things. Chronic Reflex Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that can be so painful that the patient cannot walk. HBOT can resolve this to the point that the patient can resume normal activities. Fibromyalgia is another condition that standard medical care seems unable to resolve. Dr. Shai Efrati, director of the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, in Israel, did a study of 60 patients that showed that HBOT can significantly reduce fibromyalgia syndrome. Radiation is used to kill cancer cells, but unfortunately healthy tissue is damaged as well. This most commonly results in wounds to the jaw, bladder, rectum, vagina, and breast all resulting in chronic pain. HBOT is the only therapy that can

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repair this damage, and it is covered by insurance. Migraines and cluster headaches respond extremely well to HBOT. Headaches and brain fog caused by concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and PTSD respond extremely well also. Dr. Daphne Denham has shown that when concussions are treated with HBOT within the first 10 days, permanent brain injury (TBI) can be prevented. When the concussion becomes a TBI or PTSD, Efrati and others have shown that through new blood vessel growth and stem cell recruitment the brain can be repaired and the headaches eliminated. For military veterans with PTSD, this is literally a lifesaver. Dr. Roger Hunter is the co-founder and CEO of Nirvana Hyperbaric Institute, located at 146 Medical Park Rd. Ste. 110, in Mooresville. For more information and appointments, call 704-471-4100 or visit www.NirvanaHBO.com. See www.Tinyurl.com/HBOTFibromyalgia and www.Tinyurl.com/HBOTforTBI for research details.

Copper Stops Germs Before They Spread

September/Early October 2021

conscious eating

FORAGED FUNGI FARE Cooking with Wild Mushrooms

ild mushrooms can infuse exciting new flavors and textures into familiar dishes, along with a taste of the local terroir, the natural habitat, from woods to plate. “I first encountered wild mushrooms through local foragers, then later from specialty food purveyors who would fly mushrooms from around the world into our kitchen. They were the most unique ingredients I could find, offering colors, flavors and textures I had never experienced … pure catnip for a chef,” says Alan Bergo, a Minnesota chef and author of The Forager Chef ’s Book of Flora. Recipes at ForagerChef.com feature more than 60 species of wild edible fungi, from common deer mushrooms to prized porcinis. The intriguing flavors of wild mushrooms in part come from their diets, akin to the difference between grain and grass-fed meats. “For fungi, their food is their habitat. Cultivated mushrooms 22

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have less variety of the micronutrients and secondary metabolites that can add flavor to a wild mushroom,” says Eugenia Bone, a New York City food journalist and editor of Fantastic Fungi: The Community Cookbook. Foraged fungi also offer a host of nutritional benefits surpassing commercially grown mushrooms. Wild mushrooms like chanterelles and morels can contain up to 1,200 international units (IU) of vitamin D per serving, whereas commercial mushrooms, typically grown in dark conditions, contain less than 40 IU, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. While foraging is the most satisfying way to procure wild mushrooms, they are becoming increasingly available through farmers’ markets, online purveyors and gourmet stores. Some species that grow wild throughout North America such as oysters, maitake (hen of the woods) and lion’s mane are also grown commercially;

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these can be suitable for transitioning from buying to hunting. Sam Fitz, owner of ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room, a neighborhood taproom in Washington, D.C., picked up mushrooming when COVID-19 hit, in part mentored by the restaurant’s wild food purveyor. Fitz started ANXO making hyperlocal ciders from crabapples foraged on bike rides through the nation’s capital, salvaging fruit that otherwise would go to waste. Today, the seasonally focused menu often features wild fungi and other foraged ingredients from savory tartelettes made with beech and hedgehog mushrooms to cocktails made from bitter boletes. One of ANXO’s signature dishes is a vegan “chicken of the woods” sandwich, served hot, Nashville-style. This orangecolored tree mushroom, also known as sulphur shelf, has a taste, texture and color that so closely resembles chicken that many recipes use it as a meat substitute. “People

Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com

ivan kmitAdobeStock.com

by April Thompson

Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com

are so blown away by its meaty texture they can’t believe they are being served mushrooms,” says Fitz. When preparing mushrooms, “Forget what you know about cooking vegetables,” says Bone. “Also forget the notion that mushrooms are too delicate to take washing or high heat. Mushrooms are extremely hardy because of the chitin in their cell walls, a compound that is more like fingernails than the cellulose of plants. You can cook mushrooms twice and they will still retain their integrity.” Because the amino acids in mushrooms respond to heat more like meat than vegetables, Bone suggests searing mushrooms on the grill or under the broiler. “A slice of maitake will cook beautifully on the grill,” she says. When cooking a particular species for the first time, Bone recommends ovenroasting the mushrooms wrapped in parchment paper. “When you open up

the parchment, you can really smell the mushroom. It’s a wonderful way to pick up subtle flavor differences and see how the mushroom handles,” she says. Since fungi take on all sorts of shapes and sizes, Bergo suggests letting a mushNatural Awakenings room’s morphology inform how to cook it. appreciates the generosity Lion’s mane, for example, has a texture that of its distributors mimics crabmeat, so faux crab cakes make throughout the area. a fun dish that honors its form. “Chefs tend to chop things up, but I prefer to cook many mushrooms whole, Pick up magazines especially when they have interesting monthly at: shapes,” says Bergo. One of the chef ’s Natural Awakenings go-to preparations of oyster mushrooms the generosity is to toss large pieces in seasonedappreciates flour or brush them with mustard, then bake untilof its distributors crispy. “They turn into cool-looking, crispy throughout the area. croutons you can put on a salad or eat as a snack,” he says. Please consider supporting

these major distributors by there and picking Natural Awakenings up the magazine each month from one ofappreciates the racks. the generosit Awakenings of its distributors Thank you!Natural appreciates Wild mushrooms are a culinary delight, but beginning foragers should harvest with cauthroughoutthe thegenerosi area. tion. The forager’s rule of thumb is to be 100 percent sure of an identification 100 percent of its distributors of the time given that toxic lookalikes can exist. It’s also important to try a small amount of Please consider the supportin throughout area. a mushroom the first time around, as some individuals can respond adversely to a particuthese major distributors b Natural Awakenings lar species despite its general edibility. Please consider supportin shopping there and pickin appreciates the generosity major distributors upthese the magazine each mon of its distributors Hen of the Woods and pickin from onethere of the racks. throughoutshopping the area. Steaks up the magazine each mo Thank you! yield: 1 serving per 4 ounces mushPlease consider supporting from one of the racks. rooms these major distributors by Thank you! 4-oz pieces of hen of the woods (Grifola fronshopping there and picking Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance shopping writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

dosa) mushrooms, broken into large clusters up the magazine each month Kosher salt from one of the racks. Cooking oil as needed, about ¼ cup

Clean the hens by swishing them in cool water, gently peering inside the caps to make sure they are cleaned, trimming with a paring knife as needed, then allowing to drain on paper towels.

Thank you!

Heat the oil in a pan or on a griddle until hot, but not smoking. Add the mushroom clump and season with salt, placing a weight—like a rock, log, crumbly wood or cinder block wrapped in foil or a pan—on top, then cook until the underside is deeply caramelized, then flip and repeat. If the pan gets dry, add a little more oil. When both sides of the mushrooms are deeply caramelized and browned, serve immediately, with extra finishing salt on the side. Recipe from Alan Bergo, ForagerChef.com. September/Early October 2021

community resource guide

DIRECT PRIMARY CARE

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@AwakeningCharlotte.com to request our media kit. ACUPUNCTURE EMPOWER LIFE CENTER

Camilo Sanchez, L. Ac, MAOM 704-542-8088 EmpowerLifeCenter.com 28 years of experience in acupuncture, Chinese medicine and integrated health. Specializing in identifying and correcting the root cause of your health concerns. P ain c onditions, digestive disorders, stress, women’s health and chronic disorders. Classes in authentic Qigong, Tai Chi and Taoist yoga.

CHRONIC & DIFFICULT CASES HAAS WELLNESS CENTER

3315 Springbank Ln, Ste 102 704-837-2420 HaasWellnessCenters.com

Specializing in chronic and difficult cases and holistic and wellness care. We identify and treat the root cause of your health issues. Call today for a free 15-minute consultation. See ad, page 4.

COLONICS

ALLERGY AAIR OF CHARLOTTE

Elizabeth, Blakeney, Steele Creek 704-910-1402 AAIRofCharlotte.com

HC WELLNESS CENTER & SPA

1308 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia 704-823-1577 HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

Our principle service is Colon Hydrotherapy, but we also offer a wide variety of other services. We o ff e r b o t h t r a d i t i o n a l a n d alternative therapies to assist clients in achieving optimal health, wellness and balance.

Dedicated to the progressive treatment of allergy, asthma and immunology patients. Dr. O’Connor is one of only three specialists nationwide to complete the University of Arizona Fellowship of Integrative Medicine. See ad, page 8.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY

CBD STANLEY SPECIALTY PHARMACY

3120 Latrobe Dr, Ste 200 704-370-6612 StanleyRx.com/CBD

Charlotte’s CBD experts. CBD consultations available with a licensed Pharmacist ($50 per ½ hour). Consultation fee applied to any CBD purchase. Professional grade CBD products available in store and online.

CBD is highly individualized and we have the largest selection in NC of the best, most reliable CBD/Hemp/Delta8 products. Sources verified for safety and reliability. Experienced, knowledgeable staff recommends products, dosages, and modifications. See ad, page 13.

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Charlotte’s most experienced & trusted compounding pharmacy. Skilled pharmacist can prepare custom medications to meet needs of the individual patient. Specializing in women’s & men’s health as well as veterinary medications.

DENTISTRY

YOUR CBD SOURCE

10416 E Independence Blvd, Ste 610 Matthews • 704-443-7003 YourCBDSourceNC.com

STANLEY SPECIALTY PHARMACY

3120 Latrobe Dr, Ste 200 704-370-6612 StanleyRx.com

KEMPTER HOLISTIC DENTISTRY

3111 Springbank Ln, Ste F1 1000 Copperfield Blvd, Ste 160, Concord 704-782-0797 KempterDentistry.com Biologically minded family dental office offering 3D digital dentistry, preventative dentistry, safe mercury removal and sleep apnea screenings. In a relaxed and caring environment, all patients are given devoted time. Call the office today to request a new patient consultation. See ad, page 13.

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BENTON INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE & THE SKIN CENTER

16415 Northcross Dr, Ste B, Huntersville 421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte 704-775-6029 • BentonIntegrative.com

Affordable convenient Direct Primary Care from a personalized holistic perspective. Thorough and efficient care with nutrition as the foundation. We want to get and keep you healthy. Schedule a new patient consult today. See ad, page 15.

BLUE SKIES FAMILY MEDICINE

Katherine Weeks, MD, FAAFP 363 Williamson Rd, Ste 103, Mooresville • 704-663-7819 BlueSkiesFamilyMedicine.com

Monthly fee model supports timely/higher quality appointments at lower overall costs as well as transparency and clear expectations. Ideal for small businesses and individuals with co-op or catastrophic plan coverage. Call for meet-thedoctor appointment.

ECO-FRIENDLY LIVING A GREENER CLEAN LLC

704-765-2035 Info@AGreenerClean.net AGreenerClean.net

Local Christian owned toxin free maid service covering Iredell and parts of Mecklenburg. Our probiotic cleaner will leave your home sparkling and truly clean. Call or email today for estimate. Free EnviroMist with first appointment.

RECYCLED COMPOST & MULCH

140 Valleydale Rd • 980-314-3880 17131 Lancaster Hwy • 980-314-3845 MeckMulchMadness.com Supports a 360˚ from your yard to our facility and back again. Mecklenburg County upcycles your yard waste to create highquality STA approved compost and beautiful mulch at a very affordable price. See ad, page 14.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN

Claudia Josephine Design 860-796-3415 ClaudiaJosephineDesign.com

Proving that sustainable, ecofriendly design can still be stylish, Claudia creates classic, functional and beautiful interiors. Certified Green Accredited Professional. Maria Killam True Colour Expert.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BENTON INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE & THE SKIN CENTER

16415 Northcross Dr, Ste B, Huntersville 421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte 704-775-6029 • BentonIntegrative.com The Carolina's only Integrative practice offering membership based Direct Primary Care and Functional Medicine wellness programs. Wellness programs are individualized to the patient and address the root cause of illness. See ad, page 15.

HYPERBARIC THERAPY NIRVANA HYPERBARIC INSTITUTE

146 Medical Park Rd, Ste 110 Mooresville • 704-471-4100 NirvanaHBO.com

Dedicated to healing, forwarding the science of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and providing patients a tranquil place to heal. Highly effective in treating many conditions, some covered by insurance. See ad, page 17.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Dr Michael Smith 1114 Sam Newell Rd, Ste A 704-486-2448 CarolinasNaturalHealth.com Diabetes, Depression, Digestive Disorders, A llergies, Autoimmune disease, A nxiety, ADHD. C h a r l o t t e ’s o n l y d o c t o r specializing in homeopathy. We focus on treating YOU to uncover the cause of your health condition and empower you to better health! See ad, page 11.

INTEGRATIVE HEALER

GARDENING

KATIE SUTTON

THE PATIO FARMER

Charlotte, NC • ThePatioFarmer.com ThePatioFarmer@gmail.com @thepatiofarmer on IG and FB

Intuitive Channel, Guided Meditation Coach 828-246-3335 ZenWithinAcademy.com Katie synthesizes a unique blend of healing modalities with selfactivation techniques–from sound & vibrational therapy, to intuitive channeling, to guided meditation– in order to deliver healings tailored to each person's needs.

Confidently grow food at home with Consultations, Installation and Maintenance Plans. Also, check out Plant Club for in-depth gardening know-how. Contact us today and start enjoying food from your own plants.

NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH CONSULTING HEALTHY SOLUTIONS FOR ALL

Michelle Tonkin, ND 877-955-HEAL HealthySolutionsForAll.com

15+ years’ experience with Lyme disease, autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Online health store with discounts and free shipping on all orders $50+. Call today for a free 10-minute consultation.

INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICIAN

HEALTHY PET

INFINITE HEALTH, PLLC

FOR THE LOVE OF DUTCH

Sheila Kilbane, MD 2201 Park Rd, Ste B 704-626-6771 • SheilaKilbane.com

Charlotte • 704-576-7916 Hello@ForTheLoveofDutch.com ForTheLoveofDutch.com

Dr. Kilbane is a board-certified integrative pediatrician who specializes in finding the root cause of illness including reflux, eczema, allergies, recurrent ear and sinus infections, asthma, constipation, abdominal pain and more.

Nourish your pet the natural way. Ready-to-serve, handcrafted food for your dog made with fresh, seasonal produce and sustainably sourced meat from local Carolinas farms. See ad, page 17.

HOMEOPATHY

NATURAL DOCTOR

CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

DARRYL ROBERTS, ND

Haas Wellness Center 3315 Springbank Ln, Ste 102 704-837-2420 • DoctorDarrylND.com DrDarryl@HaasWellnessCenters.com

Dr Michael Smith 1114 Sam Newell Rd, Ste A 704-486-2448 CarolinasNaturalHealth.com C h a r l o t t e ’s o n l y d o c t o r specializing in homeopathy—a power system of natural medicine that stimulates your body’s natural ability to heal, without side effects. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral issues, eczema, auto-immune disease, hormonal imbalance, and much more. See ad, page 11.

Heal. Recover. Thrive. Modern wellness for a modern world. Specializing in emotional and digestive disorders with children and adults using non-toxic treatments. Call today for a free consultation. See ad, back cover.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS HEARTLIGHT SPIRITUAL CENTER

Rev. David Hulse, Spiritual Leader 7300 Mallard Creek Rd 704-599-1180 HeartLightCharlotte.org

We are a Spirit-Guided, HeartCentered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Family providing an empowering, universal, Christ-centered message grounded in the teachings of metaphysics. Sunday Service 11:15 am. Email Shine@HeartLightCharlotte.org. See ad, page 20.

UNITY OF CHARLOTTE

401 E Arrowood Rd Sundays at 9:30am UnityofCharlotte.org

Unity features a vibrant Sunday Celebration Service at 9:30 AM, with inspiring messages from a rotating slate of guest speakers. Unity supports your well-being, prosperity and spiritual journey.

DIRECTORY Find local businesses with ease at AWAKENINGCHARLOTTE.COM September/Early October 2021

SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE AKASHIC RECORD READINGS

Charlotte, NC • 704-236-1413 AmyGrayCunningham.com Amy@AmyGrayCunningham.com

The Akashic Records are like a Google search for your soul. Call today and rediscover who you are at soul level, clear negative karmic patterns and begin living the life you truly desire. See ad, page 15.

SUSTAINABILITY

gaston county natural guide Connecting Gaston County to leaders in natural health, wellness and green living. To find out how you can be included in the Gaston County Natural Guide, email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE HEALING PLATFORM

Amber Pederson, DC, CFMP 29 E Woodrow Ave, Belmont 704-755-4088 • HealingPlatform.com Info@HealingPlatform.com We empower people to take control of their health by educating and providing tools that enable clients to implement simple nutrition and lifestyle strategies. In person and virtual visits.

SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE

SustainCharlotte.org

A nonprofit organization working to inspire choices that lead to healthy, equitable and vibrant communities across the Charlotte metro region for generations to come. Become a member today.

VETERINARIAN ATRIUM ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Kim Hombs, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CTui-Na 6520 McMahon Dr 704-542-2000 AtriumAnimalHospital.com Comprehensive holistic/ integrative animal medicine practice in the Charlotte region. Alternative vaccine approaches, double certified acupuncturist and herbalist, cold and class 4 laser, TCM food therapy, Tuina, animal rehabilitation with underwater treadmill.

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE

Gastonia • 704-271-9757 Matthews/Ballantyne • 704-243-8560 CWLI.net

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE

Lidia Adkins, CFMP, DC, PKT 216 S. New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-271-9757 • CWLI.net

Developer of the “40 Day Transformation” system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

ORGANIC MARKET & SUPPLEMENTS ORGANIC MARKETPLACE

1012 S New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-864-0605 OrganicMarketplaceNC.com 9am -7pm M/F, 9am-6pm Sat. Reliable community partner, local source for education, organic foods, personal care, products, supplements, aromatherapy, organic wine/beer and pet products. See ad, page 13.

To place a listing call 704-499-3327 or email

Ads@Awakening Charlotte.com

SPA HC WELLNESS CENTER & SPA

1308 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia 704-823-1577 HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

Offering traditional and alternative therapies seven days a week to help you achieve optimal health, wellness and balance. Colon hydrotherapy, massage, far-infrared sauna therapy, energizing foot spa and yoni or v-steam.

Developer of the "40 Day Transformation" system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

classifieds

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $25 for up to the first 20 words and $1 per word thereafter. To place a classified, email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline is the 9th of the month. FOR SALE 2010 SUBARU FORESTER – 170K miles, manual transmission, rebuilt Subaru engine, roof rack, bluetooth, well-serviced. 704-778-6863.

Charlotte Edition

PLANT-BASED SUPPLEMENTS – Get Greens, Oil Blends, Herbal Teas, Electrolytes, Colon Cleansers & More. All organic. See Special Offer for Free Samples. TerraLifeStore.com, 954-459-1134.

AwakeningCharlotte.com

5 ACRES IN MARION NC – Heavily wooded, lightly developed subdivision. 30 minutes to Linville Falls, 40 minutes to Asheville. 704-7786863.

THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY THE AFTERLIFE FREQUENCY: The Scientiﬁc Proof of Spiritual Contact and How That Awareness Will Change Your Life by

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer

75 A NNIVERSARY ! th

World-renowned 4th generation psychic medium and Oxford educated attorney Mark Anthony bridges the divide between faith and science in this fascinating afterlife exploration taking you around the globe, from the cosmic to the subatomic, into the human soul itself. Combining physics, neuroscience and riveting true stories this book: • Reveals how our “Electromagnetic Soul” is pure eternal energy which never dies. • Takes spirit communication, near-death experiences, and deathbed visions out of the shadows of superstition and into The Light of 21st Century Quantum Physics. • Teaches Anthony’s “RAFT Technique” to Recognize contact with spirits, Accept it as real, Feel it without fear, and Trust in the experience. • Provides hope for victims of grief, homicide, suicide, PTSD and survivor’s guilt. • Illuminates how contact with spirits is a powerful instrument of healing and love.

“To put it bluntly, this is an “amazing book that deserves to be enjoyed by millions of readers.” Gary E. Schwartz, PhD, Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health, University of Arizona and author of “The Afterlife Experiments”.

“Mark Anthony shows that while we cannot control death, we can control how we understand and react to it in healthy ways.” Bruce Greyson, MD, co-founder of IANDS and author of “After: A doctor Explores what Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond”

Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer author of The Afterlife Frequency and his other best sellers, Never Letting Go and Evidence of Eternity is cohost of The Psychic & the Doc on The Transformation Network and columnist for Best Holistic Magazine. He appears nationwide on TV and radio as an expert in spirit communication, near-death experiences, paranormal phenomena and as a legal expert. ®

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI

The book that has c hanged the lives of millions Paperback, only $8.50 Also available in eBook and audio editions

To get your copy go to: Amazon, ﬁne book stores or ATERLIFEFREQUENCY.com. Also available on audio, narrated by Mark Anthony, JD Psychic Explorer (Psychic Lawyer ) ®

www.AfterlifeFrequency.com

w w w. AYa n n i ve rs a r y. o rg September/Early October 2021

LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER

PRSRT STD ESRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL

We now offer digital marketing services

Natural Awakenings has been the go to resource for people interested in a holistic, organic, spiritual, and sustainable living lifestyle for the last 27 years. Our loyal readers look to our publication for up to date news, information, and advice in the holistic health and green living space.

For a LIMITED TIME ONLY, we are offering FREE digital marketing strategy calls to gain personalized insights and direction on how to best market your business online.

In this 30-minute strategy session, we will discuss n Pieces you may be missing in your marketing n Putting your marketing pieces together strategically and synergistically n Creating a marketing machine that generates leads for you on autopilot

These strategy sessions are usually $997, but as a special gift we are offering the sessions FREE! No obligations, no strings, just pure value.

Space is limited so call 704-499-3327, email Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com or scan QR Code to reserve

We have brought in experts in online marketing to help businesses reach their ideal clients digitally. • 20+ Years Marketing Online Marketing Experience • Built a Fast-Growing Multi-Million Division • Lead Generation Experts • Creators of Successful Synergistic Marketing Ecosystems

We look forward to serving you and helping you grow your business online!

Join Jorge Luis Delgado (as featured on Ancient Aliens) for Two Workshops and Private Healing Sessions September 29th and 30th from 6 to 8 p.m. $40 each Private Sessions ~ each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $100

Lake Norman’s Premier Spa & Wellness Center

Current book release: Machu PicchuThe City of the Children of the Sun

Natural Awakenings Charlotte - September 2021 Issue

Articles inside

conscious eating

Art's Embrace: Healing Through Creativity

local health brief

event brief

news briefs

letter from publisher: Co(vid)exist

wise words

healing ways