May 2020 Natural Awakenings Lowcountry Edition- Charleston, SC

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

COVID-19 Pet Safety

Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

Healing Dance

Movement Helps the Whole Body

POWER UP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

May 2020 | Lowcountry Edition | NALowcountry.com

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letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

“If there’s one thing we know for certain about this pandemic, it’s that we know almost nothing for certain about this pandemic.” Mark Manson from “Nobody Knows What is Going On.”

B

eing in the middle of both a health and economic crisis has brought out the best in us, and it has also brought out some of our less attractive qualities. Stress, grief and uncertainty can do that. On the one hand we have seen many acts of kindness, sacrifice, creativity and bravery. Yet at the same time we have also seen a lot of contention, especially on social media. People are all over the place with theories, and when opposing world views collide, well it hasn’t been pretty. It can be downright exhausting.

In the words of my fellow publisher and COVID-19 survivor Kelly McGrath Martinsen, “We must stop bickering on Facebook (yeah we really must-it is so **** annoying to read) we must realize we are stronger when we are together! The virus, the bad times, the darkness, they want us divided…the light, the goodness in the world, it knows we are better TOGETHER!”

Here is my theory. We don’t know much. Those who have the most certainty are particularly suspect. What we are told one day (no need to wear a mask) may well change the next day (you must wear a mask). Numbers keep changing. Some say we are underestimating the scope of this, others say the numbers are grossly exaggerated. One thing IS certain, we haven’t had large scale testing, so guess what? We don’t know. We don’t know how it started, how to best treat it or how long it will last. We don’t know the full, longterm economic impact. We don’t know what the new normal will look like.

So how can we best cope with this kind of uncertainty? We can choose what we focus on. We can choose how we spend our precious energy. We can focus on what we can control.

We can count our blessings. You can’t be afraid and truly grateful at the same time. I don’t know who said it originally, but it is true. Test it out for yourself.

We can focus on our health. I saw something on Facebook the other day that said we are basically house plants with complex emotions. Funny, but I don’t think that is too far from the truth. Sunshine, clean air and water, proper nourishment (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual nourishment that is….) are all key. Add enough movement and plenty of sleep and you have a great recipe for fending off this virus and all other nasty interlopers.

We can take time for self-examination. What lights us up? How can we serve?

I think they are typically related. We can focus on our relationships, near and far. We can get outside. I relate to the words shared by one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver: “Here where I live, I’m shaken to my core but I am looking to the trees, watching the world wake up to another spring. Every living species other than people is carrying on, untouched, undaunted. It helps.”

We can strive to be fully present in the moment, knowing that this moment is all that we ever really have. We can be kind to one another and to ourselves.

The world is changing. I, for one, am holding out hope that it will ultimately change things for the better. I do not mean to diminish the suffering that so many are enduring.

I grieve the loss of life, health, jobs and businesses. However, I hope we are learning lessons from the sacrifices we have made for the greater good, and are rethinking what we define as essential. My hope is that we will come out of this with a healthier, more just world for people and the planet.

Thank you to our loyal readers, advertisers and distributors. We exist to serve the community and are grateful to have the opportunity at this time. We hope you enjoy this issue, delivered later than usual, since things are just starting to open up. We look forward to keeping you company through the coming period of discovery and rebuilding.

Love,

Toni Owen Conover, Publisher 4

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Contents 6 Neurofeedback Training

8

An Innovative Drug-Free Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

7 Choosing a

Quality Elderberry Supplement

12 HEALING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

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15 SOUL NOURISHMENT The Kitchen As Sacred Space

17 THE MATRIX OF LIFE

Boosting Collagen for Better Health

18 CORONAVIRUS PET SAFETY

Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

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19 DANCING TO YOUR

17

OWN DRUMMER

The Healing Power of Movement

DEPARTMENTS 6 local health briefs 8 health briefs 10 global briefs 15 conscious eating 17 healing ways 18 natural pet 19 fit body 20 calendar 20 resource guide

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May 2020

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local health briefs

Is Neurofeedback Training the Way Forward in the Drug-Free Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

by Dilshan Kevin de Silva - MBBS (SL)

considered by most psychiatrists to be the most effective clinical intervention, the prevalence of PTSD and the degree of those who experience treatment resistant symptoms osthas led to the creation of additional Traumatic innovative treatment methods.

Stress Disorder

One of these methods is neuro(PTSD) is a devafeedback training, a completely stating emotional non-invasive therapeutic strategy that disorder that can have naturally induces specific functional a significant impact on an changes in the brain, with effects on individual’s mental and physical the underlying physiology and behavhealth, productivity and overall quality iour. of life.

Neurofeedback holds promise in

Epidemiological data indicate that alleviating overall PTSD symptoms, the estimated lifetime prevalence rate and although prematurely heralded as among adult individuals in the United ‘ineffective’ in some of the early studStates is 6.8% of the population, and ies, recent research employing more among war veterans this number can advanced technology and treatment increase to 10-14%. Research also protocols has shed light into the posshows that at least 20% of staff working sibility of using neurofeedback either in American intensive care units present as a standalone treatment for PTSD or PTSD symptoms. This figure is certainly in combination with other therapeutic expected to increase significantly durinterventions. ing and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A large randomized, controlled

A clinical diagnosis of PTSD is trial at Boston University Medical made by a psychiatrist when specific School in 2016 showed that neurosymptoms are displayed for more than feedback sessions lasting 12-30 6 months after the exposure to a stress- minutes each, occurring twice per ful event. These symptoms may include week for 12 weeks, resulted in a nightmares, flashbacks, poor sleep, clinically significant post-intervention intruding thoughts, reduced ability improvement in PTSD symptom scores. to focus or sleep, emotional and/or

While some neurofeedback sensory numbness and an altered sense protocols require expensive equipof reality, among others. PTSD can lead ment and highly trained clinical staff, to poorer clinical outcomes in individu- recently developed technology based als with other health conditions, when on electroencephalography (EEG) alcompared to individuals with the same lows any mental health professional to condition who do not have PTSD. offer neurofeedback services to clients,

While the combination of pharma- using relatively inexpensive equipment. cotherapy and psychotherapy is still

Hands on EEG neurofeedback

P

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software can be installed in a regular desktop or laptop computer and, with the right training (many affordable online certification courses are available), any therapist can use neurofeedback technology to run both before-treatment EEG-based assessments and also therapeutic interventions, creating detailed reports that integrate the therapist’s clinical evaluation with electrophysiological data.

With more and more neurofeedback studies consistently demonstrating results in rigorous experimental designs, therapists must give strong consideration to using neurofeedback technology as both a diagnostic and intervention tool to alleviate the psychological suffering of individuals with PTSD. Dilshan Kevin de Silva is a medical graduate specialising in internal medicine with a special interest in writing about mental health. He can be reached at Linkedin. com/in/DilshanKdeSilva/ About SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training offers in-office or @Home plans for individuals and families seeking neurofeedback services. SYMMETRY provides trainees the opportunity to train their brain with neurofeedback to correct brainwave dysregulation.

The approach is backed by more than 50 years of evidence-based research, is painless, drugless, non-invasive, has no harmful side effects and creates long-term positive changes.

Additional services include training to provide professionals, schools and treatment facilities who want to incorporate neurofeedback into their programming or provide @Home training for continued support after program completion.

SYMMMETRY makes it simple to enhance therapeutic services with a scientific strategy that provides positive results, revenue, and reputation.

If you are interested in training in neurofeedback and in adding EEG-neurofeedback services to your private practice, please visit: https://symmetryneuropt.com.

See ad page 16.

Choosing a Quality Elderberry Supplement

CALL/ GRAB & GO

by Brandy McCroskey

E

lderberry has long been known for its immuneboosting properties and is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. As a consumer it can be overwhelming to sift through the copious amount of elderberry products on the market today.

Consider these questions: 1. Where is the product produced? (home kitchen, commercial facility, etc.) And by whom?

2. What consumer safety practices are used during the production and bottling of the product?

3. Is the product third party lab tested?

4. Does the product require refrigeration or not? (Tip: Products that do = less preservatives) 5. What is the product sweetened with?

Also, read the label carefully and look for the following information: • Common name and botanical name of the active ingredient and how much is contained in this specific product • Whether it is the actual berries or an extract used • Expiration date that has not yet passed • Name and contact information of manufacturer Brandy McCroskey is the director of marketing for The Power of Elderberries.

For more information, call 678-3151626 or visit ThePowerOfElderberries. com. See ad page 15.

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May 2020

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In a study of 76 people with mildly high total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, research published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine found that consuming 30 milliliters of vinegar made from date pulp and pits daily for four weeks significantly improved total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride and HDL levels, as well as several biomarkers of inflammation.

Take Quercetin to Reduce Blood Pressure Supplementation with quercetin, a plant pigment found in capers, cilantro, fennel, onions, red leaf lettuce, watercress, elderberries, asparagus, kale, cocoa, apples and chia seeds, can significantly reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, lowering each by about three milliliters/ Hg, reports a new review of research published in the Oxford Academic Journal, of 17 clinical studies that tested 896 participants. Quercetin also improved HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels when consumed for eight weeks or more.

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Fewer than seven hours of sleep for a child is not only linked to anxiety, depression, impulsiveness and cognitive difficulties, but also impacts a child’s brain structure, suggests new research from the UK’s Warwick University published in Molecular Psychiatry. Researchers used data that included MRI scans of more than 11,000 children ages 9 to 11 from 21 centers in the U.S. Parents also provided information about their child’s sleep duration and mental health conditions, and children performed a battery of cognitive tests. Researchers found that compared to children that slept between the recommended nine and 11 hours, those receiving less than seven hours had 53 percent more behavioral problems and scored 7.8 percent lower on cognitive tests. In children that slept less, volumes were smaller in five brain regions. Children that slept longer showed less depression and higher cognitive scores, and felt safer and more secure in their homes and neighborhoods.

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

A new Harvard study of 746 young sperm donors reports that men that exercise more have better sperm quality.

The men, with an average age of 26, at least a high school education and no radiation exposure or sexually transmitted diseases, were qualified to donate to a sperm bank in their area. Compared to men that seldom exercised, those that reported the most total exercise and logged the most time doing intense workouts had better sperm motility, which increases the chances for sperm to move through the female reproductive tract to reach an egg.

Tuck Kids In Early to Reduce Depression and Cognitive Issues

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Exercise to Boost Sperm Quality

Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com

Consume Date Vinegar to Boost Heart Health and Reduce Inflammation

health briefs

Kamira/Shutterstock.com

arilyn barbone/Shutterstock.com

Watch Out: Rapid Weather Changes Boost Flu Risk

Eat Less Sulfur Amino Acids to Reduce Heart Disease Risk A plant-based diet low in such sulfur amino acid foods as meat, dairy, nuts and soy may be key to lowering the risk of heart disease, concludes a study from the Penn State University College of Medicine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins; a subcategory called sulfur amino acids plays integral roles in metabolism. Researchers correlated diets and blood biomarkers of more than 11,000 participants from a national study and found people that ate foods containing fewer sulfur amino acids tended to have a decreased risk for cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They also found that the average American consumes almost two-and-a-half times more sulfur amino acids than the estimated average requirement. “People who eat lots of plant-based products like fruits and vegetables will consume lower amounts of sulfur amino acids,” says lead author Zhen Dong, a doctor of public health.

Confirming this, a Northwestern Medicine and Cornell University study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that every two servings of red meat, processed meat or poultry per week increased cardiovascular disease risk by 3 to 7 percent. For every two servings of red meat or processed meat per week, the risk of death from any cause was increased by 3 percent. The findings, based on an analysis of six studies involving 29,682 people, contradict a controversial study published last year that recommended people not reduce the amount of red meat and processed meat they eat. “Everyone interpreted that it was okay to eat red meat, but I don’t think that is what the science supports,” says senior study author Norrina Allen, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern.

Rapid weather swings as a result of climate change raise the risk of flu virus infections and epidemics, reports a study from Florida State University and international researchers. Tracing weather patterns and infection rates during a 20-year period in the U.S., China, Italy and France, scientists found that extreme fluctuations in weather during the autumn months of 2017 essentially kick-started that winter’s severe flu epidemic, implying, “The lapsed human immune system in winter caused by rapidly changing weather makes a person more susceptible to flu virus,” says lead author Zhaohua Wu, a professor of meteorology. The study warned that as weather variability increases, Europe could see a 50 percent increase in deaths tied to flu by the end of the century, but added that factoring in weather variability could help public health planning.

May 2020

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Buzz Off

global briefs

If Australia can grow enough of the puffy, pink Asparagopsis taxiformis seaweed for every cow in Australia, the country could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent.

That’s the conclusion the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia) seaweed research group leader Associate Professor Nick Paul. The cows burp out methane, but, “When added to cow feed at less than two percent of the dry matter, this particular seaweed completely knocks out methane production. It contains chemicals that reduce the microbes in the cows’ stomachs that cause them to burp when they eat grass,” he says. Cows are known to eat seaweed. “This seaweed has caused a lot of global interest, and people around the world are working to make sure the cows are healthy, the beef and the milk are good quality,” Paul notes.

“But the one missing step, the big thing that is going to make sure this works at a global scale, is to make sure we can produce the seaweed sustainably.”

Life Perseveres

New Bird Species Found on Remote Island

Although thousands of species have been identified and finding new taxa like birds, is rare, a study published in the journal Science describes five new songbird species and five new subspecies found on a single small island near Sulawesi, Indonesia, during a six-week expedition. Scientists targeted the area because of its geological history and complexity, and the historical notes of other explorers.

Two factors that contributed to the description of the large number of species in a small geographic area included knowledge of geographical land connections that helped pinpoint isolated islands likely to harbor substantial endemism and accounts of historic collectors such as British naturalist Alfred Wallace. The findings suggest that human understanding of biogeographically complex regions remains incomplete.

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NA Lowcountry Edition

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kurt/Shutterstock.com

Seaweed Lowers Cows’ Methane Emissions

New research from the University of Sheffield in the UK published in Scientific Reports suggests that individual members of a bee swarm behave like neurons in a human brain.

The scientists applied a theoretical model commonly used to study human psychology to the behavior of bee colonies, and they believe that studying “bee speak” could inform us about how our own minds make decisions. In the field of psychophysics, Weber’s law describes a relationship between the size of a stimulus and noticeable increases in its magnitude.

This general rule about stimulus and perception has been observed in birds, fish and even the collective behavior of simpler organisms, but not in whole clusters of tiny brains such as an insect hive. To investigate its role in the decision-making processes of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), the researchers watched hives split apart and hunt for new homes. Among bees, the process of choosing a hive comes down to the interactions of scout bees communicating their discoveries through a visual display of body wiggles. “The study also supports the view of bee colonies as being similar to complete organisms,” says computer scientist and lead author Andreagiovanni Reina.

Charging Ahead

New Batteries From Fruit Waste

Carbon aerogels that exhibit high specific surface areas, high proportions of mesopores and significant levels of nitrogen doping have been developed for the first time using waste from durian fruit and jackfruit scraps using a chemical-free, green synthesis procedure. According to the Journal of Energy Storage, the electrodes also displayed long-term cycling stability and rapid charge–discharge processes. Both electrodes are attractive candidates for the next generation, high-performance, yet lowcost supercapacitors for energy storage devices derived from biowastes.

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Passing Gas

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Bee Swarms Form Giant Brains

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Jolly Good

King of Bhutan Requests Selfless Gift

The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, turned 40 years old on February 21.

Rather than ask for gifts, he asked his people to either plant a tree, adopt a stray animal or clean up their neighborhood in his honor.

The Himalayan nation is consistently ranked one of the most eco-friendly countries in the world. In May 2016, Wangchuck and his wife celebrated the birth of their firstborn son by asking each of the nation’s households to plant a sapling, resulting in more than 108,000 trees planted.

Wild Things

Maria Sbytova/Shutterstock.com

Wildness a Big Factor in Urban Parks

A new study led by the University of Washington (UW) has found that not all forms of nature are created equal when considering benefits to people’s well-being.

Experiencing wildness is particularly important for physical and mental health, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. This is the first study to show that wildness in urban areas is profoundly important for human well-being. “The wilder areas in an urban park seem to be affording more benefits to people, and their most meaningful interactions depended on those relatively wild features,” says lead author Elizabeth Lev, a graduate student in the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Senior author Peter Kahn, a UW professor of environmental and forest sciences and psychology, says, “Everywhere, development is chipping away at wild areas. Humanity has caused so much destruction and there’s no stopping it—unless we stop. We’re trying to show that if you’re going to develop an area, you at least need to understand the human costs.” The researchers hope studies like this can be used as part of the decisionmaking process for development proposals in parks and urban natural areas. They compiled their analysis methods into a handbook that can be used in other cities around the world.

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May 2020

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Healing the Immune System

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

by April Thompson

S

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, 12

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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

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

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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14

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Call Today!

866-310-2663 Gift Certificates Available On-line

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Common Links Serve as Research Clues

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conscious eating

Nutrition Coaching Learn how to customize nutritional guidelines for clients and calculate their body fat, lean body mass and more.

Soul Nourishment The Kitchen As Sacred Space

I

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.

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Practical Magic

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

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.

Your Journey Begins with Young Living Essential Oils

WWW.MYYL.COM/LISABAYOREK

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NA Lowcountry Edition

NALowcountry.com

SACRED SERVINGS photo by Marlaina Donato

very bonding and sends the message that looking after yourself is important.”

Moroccan-Spiced Red Lentil Soup Yields: 4 servings 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 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.

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

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

Find more soulful recipes at NALowcountry.com/ConsciousEating

Essential Foods

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healing ways

THE MATRIX OF LIFE Boosting Collagen for Better Health

by Maya Whitman

C

ollagen, a protein, holds us together from the inside-out, helping to build bones and providing the scaffolding that knits our bones and organs together. Stress and poor lifestyle habits, such as smoking and eating too much sugar, can contribute to its breakdown and accelerate the aging process, but strategic dietary choices and supplements can have a significant positive impact on our skin, as well as underlying conditions.

Although celebrated for its cosmetic effects, “Most people are surprised to learn that collagen is equally important for blood vessels and tissues surrounding and supporting the internal organs,” says Pamela Schoenfeld, a dietitian and nutritionist in Raleigh, North Carolina, and author of The Collagen Diet: Rejuvenate Skin, Strengthen Joints and Feel Younger by Boosting Collagen Intake and Production.

Collagen is mostly found in tendons, ligaments and skin, and is also abundant in bones, cartilage, muscles, corneas, blood vessels, the gut, vertebrae discs and teeth.

In studies, collagen supplements show promise for joint pain, arthritic conditions, osteoporosis and heart health.

A Penn State study of 147 student athletes found that those that took 10 grams of collagen hydrolysate daily for 24 weeks had significantly less joint pain while walking

and at rest compared to a placebo group.

A 2012 study featured in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that 1,200 milligrams of collagen hydrolysate taken daily decreased joint pain in older people by 20 percent compared to a placebo. In a 2018 study, post-menopausal women that took five grams of collagen daily for a year had better bone buildup and less bone degradation. A 2017 Japanese study of 31 healthy adults found that those that took 16 grams of collagen daily had more flexible arteries after six months.

Collagen health starts with our diet.

Leafy greens and jewel-toned, lycopenerich vegetables, like beets, red peppers, tomatoes, berries and pomegranates, as well as seeds, including chia, sunflower and pumpkin, all pack a collagen punch.

Schoenfeld recommends bone broth, too, for its joint-lubricating molecules called glycosaminoglycans, which hold many times their weight in water.

Kellyann Petrucci, a naturopathic doctor in Philadelphia and author of Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet, concurs: “Bone broth is more than a soup. It’s concentrated healing and contains a bioavailable form of collagen your body can use immediately. It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids and so much more.” She also recommends sulfur-rich foods like eggs, broccoli, onions, garlic and cauliflower, as well as shellfish and red meat in moderation for copper. “Copper activates the enzyme that is critical in producing collagen,” she explains.

Also important, according to Petrucci, is vitamin C: “If you’re depleted of vitamin C, your body won’t make any collagen.

Experiment with broccoli, kiwi, tomatoes and various citrus fruits. Bioflavonoids also improve the ability of vitamin C to be absorbed and utilized.”

Schoenfeld recommends chicken,

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May 2020

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natural pet It is unlikely a pet will become infected and serve as a source of infection for people.

Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock.com

including the skin; omega-3-rich fish with edible bones, such as sardines and canned salmon; and proline-rich, aged cheeses and yogurt. “Gelatin is also a fantastic way for the whole family to enjoy collagen and can be added to foods high in water like soups, stews, hot cereals, as can bone broth and collagen powders,” she says.

Supplements

A 2019 review of 11 studies published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found that oral collagen hydrolysate or tripeptide at dosages ranging from 2.5 grams to 10 grams a day increased “skin elasticity, hydration and dermal collagen density” and showed promise for wound healing and skin aging. Aloe vera, ginseng, berries, garlic, hyuralonic acid and red light therapy also boost collagen production, according to osteopathic physician and author Joseph Mercola.

For vegans, British homeopath Melissa Foreman recommends homeopathically-based minerals known as tissue salts at low potency, “which offer the benefits of meat-derived collagen and bone broth without having to ingest a meat product.” She personally relies on a combination of Nat phos, Calc phos and Kali sulph to promote new skin cells and improve the skin cell matrix. “These remedies are totally animal-free,” she says.

“You can produce a supplement similar to collagen powder and it has the same health benefits of bone broth.”

Maya Whitman is the author of several books.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

june

Coming Next Month

Brain Health

plus: Inspired Lifestyle Travel

18

NA Lowcountry Edition

Coronavirus Pet Safety Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

T

by Shawn Messonnier

here are many types of coronavirus.

COVID-19 is new—a novel coronavirus—and there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in dogs or cats. Dogs can become infected with a canine coronavirus. It is fairly speciesspecific and will not infect people, but can infect cats (without causing clinical disease in naturally infected cats). Most infected dogs do not show symptoms and recover without showing signs of infection; young puppies may exhibit mild diarrhea.

Cats have their own coronavirus that, like dogs, usually causes an asymptomatic infection, or may cause mild diarrhea or mild respiratory infection (especially in kittens). However, this coronavirus, for unknown reasons, can mutate in the GI tract and transform into the (usually) lethal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus (this occurs in about 10 percent of infected cats).

Again, this feline coronavirus will not infect dogs or people, and only infects felids. (A curious note is that cats can become infected with the human SARS coronavirus experimentally and naturally, but do not become ill, and the original SARS virus was suspected to have originated from a mongoose.) As with human coronaviruses, canine and feline coronavi-

NALowcountry.com

ruses can survive outside of the pet’s body for a period of time, especially in a colder environment, but are easily killed with most soap or disinfectants.

Dogs and cats that develop their own coronaviral diseases will not infect people.

However, by serving as fomites (objects that can carry an infectious organism on the surface), dogs and cats could potentially carry a virus on their coat or skin if an infected family member gets infected material (saliva, respiratory droplets, etc.) onto the animal.

Like any other surface in the home, the virus could transfer from the surface of the pet to other uninfected family members. (This is usually by hand to face transfer.)

To be safe, it may be wise to keep the family pet away from the infected family member, or at least have the infected family member bathe and/or wipe the pet’s coat with a wet washcloth before the pet is exposed to uninfected family members.

Keep in mind that maintaining proper blood levels of vitamin D in people and in pets is important in minimizing infectious diseases.

Shawn Messonnier, DVM, is the owner of Paws & Claws Holistic Animal Hospital, in Plano, Texas, and an award-winning author and host on Martha Stewart Radio.

fit body

DANCING TO YOUR OWN DRUMMER The Healing Power of Movement

Luis Molinero /Shutterstock.com

M

by Marlaina Donato

ovement comes in many colors, from modern dance to country line dancing, and there’s something for everyone, including those that claim to have two left feet. Dancing is healthy for the heart and improves cognitive function by forging new neural pathways in the brain. It builds stronger bones, helps balance and improves flexibility and endurance. Putting on dancing shoes also has a positive effect on depressive disorders, flooding the brain with endorphins that uplift mood and jumpstart motivation. Dance has found its way into the clinical setting as a psychotherapeutic tool for healing trauma, eating disorders and addictions.

Dancing, in essence, is for everyone. “Dance is a human right, a feature of almost every culture in the world, and our natural inclination to dance is one of the things that makes us human,” says David Leventhal, program director of Dance for PD, a nonprofit Parkinson’s Disease program of the Mark Morris Dance Group, in Brooklyn.

Valerie Durham, a modern dancer in Baltimore specializing in the Isadora Duncan technique, concurs, “Birds don’t consider if they have talent for singing, they just sing. They sing because they have a voice. Similarly, dance is a right offered to anyone with a body.”

A Deterrent for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer Going dancing on a Friday night also proves to nourish the brain. A 2017 study published in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience shows evidence that dance increases white matter that diminishes with cognitive decline. An older study sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine spotlights data gathered during a 21-year period and reveals that regular social dancing can reduce the risk for dementia in seniors by 76 percent.

“A number of peerreviewed research studies point to dance’s ability to improve motor skills and function of people living with Parkinson’s disease—balance, gait and tremor. Dance is expressive, giving people a creative voice when it feels that their capacity for physical, vocal and facial expression is being taken away,” says Leventhal.

Durham, who worked with patients at the University of Florida Shands Hospital Arts in Medicine Program in the 1990s, witnessed memorable responses from cancer patients. “We danced with patients who were attached to IVs and those even in the ICU, some who were

partially or even completely paralyzed, people who maybe could dance only with their eyes. And yet they danced,” marvels Durham. “Getting the lymphatic system, endorphins and breath flowing all elevate the body out of pain mode.”

Dancing from the Soul All forms of dancing have the capability to free the spirit and heal deep emotional wounds buried in the memory-holding fascia of the body’s soft tissues. Ecstatic dance, which has roots in ancient spiritual practices, is an unstructured option that dilutes limiting, self-conscious habits.

These days, ecstatic dance gatherings have been organized in cities around the world.

“There’s a vast movement in the dance world that has nothing to do with performance, but rather, is done for the joy of inhabiting a body in motion. Ecstatic dance is a free-form conscious dance and is a vibrant global community for people who love music and movement,” says Donna Carroll, founder of Ecstatic Dance International, in San Francisco. “When we can be courageous enough to turn away from our cultural norms that say you need ‘talent’ to dance, we get a chance to experience music through our bodies, and it can be quite pleasurable and life-affirming.

Ecstatic dance is one of the most effective methods to return to what matters, to our bodies, to our ‘home’, and is accessible for people of all abilities.”

In her artistic sphere of performance art, Durham has seen her students blossom from the inside-out. “They are able to connect with the deep wisdom in their bodies, thereby releasing old energetic wounds. Depression and anxiety are relieved during dance because you are so consciously consumed with the present moment of the steps and the music. Dancers will find that they feel more joyful and at peace at the end of a dance session.”

For Leventhal, moving the body is a blessing for all: “Dance should be accessible and enjoyable to everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive challenges.”

Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at AutumnEmbers Music.com.

May 2020

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calendar of events Submissions for the June issue must be received no later than May 15 and can be entered at NALowcountry.com. $15 per entry for print edition Please visit our online calendar to see more events: nalowcountry.com/calendar

Plans ChangeCall ahead to confirm events will occur as scheduled.

SATURDAY, MAY 2

Power of Choice Virtual Discussion Unity of Charleston – 11am-12:30pm. Jackie McCullough leads the Saturday May 2nd and 16th virtual discussion group. Jackie is a Life Options Coach/Counselor. She helps us to choose joy, peace and happiness instead of fear, anxiety and depression. Email unitycharleston@msn. com for login instructions. Donations on UnityChs.org. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston.

843-566-0600. UnityChs.org.

MONDAY, MAY 4

Wake Up Call Virtual Discussion Group: Elevate Charleston! – 7-8pm. Francesca Pardini, Unity Minister in training, leads the weekly group. Get free ebook “21 Wake Up Calls – Basics for a Better Life” https://francesca-pardini.squarespace.com/store/21wakeupcalls-ebook. Transcend fear and find love during these questioning and unprecedented times. Let’s experience hope and understanding through self-discovery. Email francescapardini@icloud.com for login instructions. Donations www. paypal.me/wakeup74. Donation. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600. francescapardini.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

Dances of Universal Peace Unity of Charleston – 7-8:30pm. Dances being held outside at a safe distance at Unity 2535 Leeds Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405. This joyful, meditative practice is done with live music and open to ALL. Dress is casual. No experience or partner needed. Monthly on 3rd Saturdays. Email dancesofuniversalpeacechs@gmail.com for more info. Donation. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600. UnityChs.org.

ongoing events Plans ChangeCall ahead to confirm events will occur as scheduled.

sunday Unity of Charleston Sunday 10:30am Facebook Live Service – 10:30am-noon. Reverend Ed Kosak leads the Unity of Charleston Sunday Service on Facebook Live. Goto www.facebook.com – Search for Unity Charleston SC – Select Video Live. Services are a positive path to enriched spiritual living.

We are open and affirming, welcoming everyone.

We provide an environment for fun, fellowship, creativity, empowerment, and self realization. We strive to bring equality and justice to the tri-county area through our interfaith programming and through our social justice ministry. Donations on UnityCHS. org/ are greatly appreciated. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. For information on Unity of Charleston virtual online services, events, and meetings and like Zoom, email unitycharleston@msn.com or call (843) 566-843-566-0600.

experience hope and understanding through selfdiscovery. Email francescapardini@icloud.com for login instructions. Donations on Paypal.me/ Wakeup74. Unity of Charleston, 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston. 843-566-0600. francescapardini.com.

wednesday Mystical Path Bible Contemplation – 6:45pm.

We begin with a short meditation followed by an active discussion and contemplation on a Gospel Passage. Our goal is radical transformation and the experience of our own inner divine nature. Class is free. 6:45 pm until 8:15 pm every Wed. Held at Meditate Center for Healing Arts 757 St Andrew’s Blvd. revandrew@mysticlachurchofchrist.org text: 773-240-3900. Meditate A Center for Healing Arts, 757 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston. 773-240-3900. mysticalchurchofchrist.org.

monday

thursday

Wake Up Call Virtual Discussion Group: Elevate Charleston! – 7-8pm. Wake Up Call Virtual Discussion Group: Elevate Charleston! Francesca Pardini, Unity Minister in training, leads the weekly group through September 7th. No need to attend all 21 discussions. Get the free ebook “21 Wake Up Calls – Basics for a Better Life” https://francescapardini.squarespace.com/store/21wakeupcalls-ebook. Learn to transcend fear and find love during these questioning and unprecedented times. Let’s

Holistic Chamber of Commerce Monthly Meeting – 6:30-8pm. 3rd Thur. Holistic Chamber of Commerce represents holistic professionals,practitioners, businesses and resource providers. We encourage and promote healthy living, and support those who make it possible. Please join the community every third Thursday of the month as we network, promote and heal. Donation. This month there will be a Zoom call discussing working from home. https:// holisticchamberofcommerce.com

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NA Lowcountry Edition

NALowcountry.com

community resource guide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NALowcountry. com.

ALTERNATIVE HOLISTIC MEDICINE Michael Bauerschmidt, MD

Deeper Healing Medical Wellness Center 1300 Hospital Drive, Suite 360 Mt Pleasant SC 29464 843-388-5995 DeeperHealing.com Experience a refreshing MD consult at Deeper Healing Medical Wellness Center where they take the time to dive deep to uncover root causes and focus on healing the body naturally. Dr. Michael Bauerschmidt, an expert in Functional & Environmental Medicine, offers state-of-the-art treatments for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, a powerful cellular cleansing program, progressive allergy treatments, natural pain management, chelation and IV infusions. Dr. B is a leading expert on environmental toxicity and a compassionate professional who teaches tirelessly on how to live “well” in our modern world.

DR. PATRICK S. LOVEGROVE Merge Medical Center Mt Pleasant 843-469-1001 MergeMedicalCenter.com

AMA board-certified MD specializing in family medicine, holistic internal medicine, Antiaging, Chinese medicine, naturopathy. Merge Medical Center … where modern thinking meets natural healing. Services include Primary Care, Weight Loss, Fatigue management, Bioidentical hormones, Colonics, Acupuncture, Massage, Reiki, Chiropractic, IV vitamins, and Bemer therapy.

ANTI-AGING Alternative Health Charleston Michael Boggs, Health Consultant Charleston, SC 29405 843-408-0010 Alternativehealthcharleston.com

Got Vitality? More Energy. Better Sleep. A Whole New You. BENEFITS OF REAL NAD+ *include Anti-Aging, Energy Production, Sports Performance and Addiction Recovery. Contact us to learn more about the importance of NAD.

Ayurveda EARTHEN APOTHECARY

Jennifer Byrne MPH, CAP, LMT NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Body Revelations Wellness 217 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401 843-743-8373 • EarthenApothecary.com Jennifer@EarthenApothecary.com Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of health and longevity. An Ayurvedic consultation can help you understand your unique constitution and identify how your system manifests imbalances. Individualized dietary, lifestyle and herbal recommendations are tailored to address any current imbalances.

Call/email for scheduling.

beauty consultant YOUR GROOMING GURU

1319 Savannah Hwy, Ste C Charleston (in Artisans Inc. Salon) 843-813-1838 • YourGroomingGuru.com Your Grooming Guru, Barbara Brant-Williams, is an experienced hair-stylist, makeup artist and certified Organic Color Specialist practicing out of the Artisans Salon.

Charleston’s go-to source for hair, makeup and beauty product knowledge. See ad, page 17.

bIOMAGNETIC THERAPY Paula McGuire

Mt Pleasant/Charleston 843-732-0293 • Paula@ireinst.com ireinst.com BioMagnetic Therapy can help create balance, restore vitality within the body and facilitate clearing of viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections; allergies; ADD; autism; autoimmune issues; heavy metal and other toxicity; chronic pain; infertility; herpes; MS; among other conditions. See ad, inside back cover.

bodywork LOTUS HOLISTIC MASSAGE

Abigail McClam, BA, LMBT 232A Ashley Ave, Charleston 843-724-9807•Abigail@LotusCharleston.com LotusCharleston.com Licensed holistic massage and integrative bodywork practitioner offering massage, aromatherapy, energy healing and breathing techniques to help individuals nurture health, restore balance, manage pain, trauma and injury as they learn to embrace their own body/mind wisdom.

BREATHWORK More Love Transformations, LLC

Sara Firestone, Certified Transformational Breath Facilitator Founder, Wholistic Anxiety Solution Irie Life - a wholistic studio, Mt. Pleasant 843-452-3044 • iamsarafirestone@gmail.com Personalized programs combining cutting edge breathwork w/ supportive transformational concepts and techniques. 2 decades helping people navigate changes/ crises; resolve ongoing and recent anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, ACEs, insomnia, breathing issues, their physical impacts, and more.

CHIROPRACTORS ACCURATE CHIROPRACTIC

3373 S Morgans Point Rd, Ste 307 Mt Pleasant • 843-971-8814 CoursonChiropractic@gmail.com MtPleasantChiro.com Holistic Family Care practice, offering a variety of techniques and therapies to help improve overall health and wellness.

Proudly serving the Charleston area for 17 years.

Atlas Spine & Wellness Care

Dr. Rick DiGregorio 3400 Salterbeck Street #102 Mount Pleasant, SC 843-352-7941 • Drrick@aospinalcare.com AOSpinalCare.com Offering Atlas Orthogonal Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. A nonforce neck realignment procedure that uses a sound wave that is precise and safe. As well as Class 4 Laser Therapy and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

COLUCCI CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER

Dr. Gina Colucci 1806 Trolley Rd, Summerville 843-875-5700 • ColucciChiropractic.com Serving the Summerville area for 29 years. Specializing in holistic care; weight loss and nutritional cleansing; pain management; bio-identical hormones; sugar detox; stress testing; chiropractic; peripheral neuropathy; detox footbaths; emotional (TBM/NET) and wellness care.

Dr. Ann Jenkins, Not Your Ordinary Chiropractor

12-C Carriage Ln, Charleston SC 29407 (West Ashley) 843-270-9913 • DrAnnJenkins.com Exclusive to the area: Whole Body Magnetic Therapy. Mention Natural Awakenings for a free one-hour session. Holistic family care. Relief of neck, back and emotional pain.

Homeopathy and essential oils.

CHURCHES THE MYSTICAL PATH

Andrew Shykofsky (Ordained Priest and Teacher) 843-641-7663 revandrew@mysticalchurchofchrist.org mysticalchurchofchrist.org For those wishing to know the Self, our community offers a path through meditation and exploration Into the Gospels to discover the Christ Consciousness within. Led by Andrew Shykofsky, owner of Meditate Center for Healing Arts in West Ashley, we have weekly classes and services.

James Island and West Ashley locations.

Unity Church of Charleston Rev. Ed Kosak, Minister 2535 Leeds Ave, Charleston 843-566-0600 • Unitychs.org

Sunday Service: 10:30 am. Are you more spiritual than religious? Do you believe in many paths to God? Then please join us.

COACHING SHERRY KACHANIS

North Charleston • 843-743-9488 SherryKachanis@gmail.com SherryKachanis.com Transformational Coach and Shamanic Healer. Break through unconscious barriers to fully LIVE the LIFE you desire! Monthly Meditation/Shamanic Healing, Moon Ceremonies and Healing Retreats.

COUNSELING HOLISTIC YOU COUNSELING

Angel Muehlenkamp, MA Professional Counseling Summerville 843-327-1440 • LivingAngel777@gmail.com UniquelyuNow.com We are here to live in the fullness of who and what we truly are. Angel uses her unique ability to Connect to Source to assist you in moving beyond daily limitations. Open to a brand new way of living. Talk, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy; Quantum-Touch; Reiki; Intuitive Counseling; Art of God; Life Coaching; and Spiritual Counseling.

DENTISTRY I SMILE MATHIS FERRY DENTISTRY Wendy S. Haefner, DDS 1571 Mathis Ferry Rd, Mt Pleasant 843-884-1215 • MathisFerryDentistry.com

Biological dentistry using IAOMT protocol. Natural products free of BPA and mercury. Mercury-safe filling removal. Now offering ozone therapy! See ad, page 11.

May 2020

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Light Activator

ESSENTIAL OILS YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS WITH LISA BAYOREK Lisa Bayorek, Member #10796546 Charleston MYYL.com/LisaBayorek

Shield of Light

Renae Davidson 843-367-8829 renae.myislandtyme@gmail.com Shield of Light can help you move forward with ease and grace. Do you feel dormant, dull? Let us help you progress faster, becoming your own healer. Let us light up your DNA! Ask us how.

Curious about essential oils? I would love to share Young Living with you! I offer classes on family wellness, chemical-free cleaning, business opportunities and more!

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JANA DAVIS, MS, RD, CDE

PrimeMyBody Hemp Oil

843-847-1927 • AnaHaugsoen@msn.com Anah.primemybody.com/ Learn about our Endo-Cannabinoid System, Phyto-Cannabinoids and Hemp Oil! There is research on more than 250 conditions and cannabidiol. Hemp oil might be the most important product you add to your health regimen!

Integrative Medicine Lowcountry Wellness Center 1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd., Suite 201 Charleston • 843-793-1353 info@lowcountry-wellness.com Lowcountry-Wellness.com

Holistic and Integrative Primary Care offered in an affordable monthly membership model.

Bringing healthcare back to true patient driven care between you and Dr. Penni! See ad, inside front cover.

215 East Bay St., Suite 201-A Charleston, SC 29401 www.carolinagreenliving.com Online booking available 843-801-4686 CarolinaGreenLiving@gmail.com Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with over 25 years of experience. Private consultations, grocery store tours, public speaking. Owner of Carolina Green Living LLC, which focuses on teaching clients about avoiding toxins and other environmental factors that can impact health.

ORGANIC SALON & BOUTIQUE COTTAGE AROMA BELLA DAY SPA 2671 Ft Trenholm Rd, Johns Island 843-266-3619 CottageAromaBella.com

Relax and renew your mind, body and soul while enjoying our luxurious services. All treatments are tailored just for you using the finest all-natural products.

See ad, page 7.

Zenergy Healthcare

Tina Howard 669 Marina Drive Suite A3 Daniel Island, SC 29492 Phone 843-414-2984 • fax 843-414-2985 zenergyhealthcare@gmail.com ZenergyHealthcare.com Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in family/ functional medicine. Find the root cause of your issues. Primary care, prevention, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, digestive health, brain health, neurodegenerative conditions, fatigue, autoimmune Illness, mold exposure/illness, weight loss, environmental toxins.

Read more ONLINE EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES at

SALON INDIGO

732 S Shelmore Blvd, Ste 100 Mt Pleasant (Shelmore Village) 843-991-6835 Our experienced team of hairstylists and skin care specialist use 100 percent-certified organic products.

We specialize in haircutting, coloring and make-up application. We sell All Nutrient™, Moroccan Oils, Dr. Hauschka™, 100% Pure™, iLike™ and many other boutique items.

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Spiritual Hypnosis DR ALLISON BROWN, QUANTUM HEALING PRACTITIONER 843-425-4906 allison.brown@drallisonbrown.com DrAllisonBrown.com In-person or online sessions available

Experience BQH, a heart and energy-based regression experience that is considered one of the most advanced healing modalities on the planet today. Connect directly with your Wisdom Team for purpose, guidance, and healing!

SPIRITUAL LIFE COACH LAURA GRIFFITH GARLAND, PHD

Charleston Holistic Center 2366 Ashley River Rd, Bldg 8, Charleston 843-452-7996 • DrLaura.Coach@gmail.com CharlestonReikiAndTarot.com Transform your life from the ordinary to the extraordinary by understanding how the aspects of your being interact and block your progress. Together, we can heal your past and find your true future. See ad, page 14.

WATER Your Water Girl

Margaret Blalock (843) 647-8885 • yourwatergirl.com Specializing in gold standard certified filtration and advanced Japanese technology. Turns tap water into Ph- balanced, antioxidantrich, alkaline drinking water and waters capable of removing pesticides from produce while replacing harmful cleaning, sanitizing and personal care products.

WOMEN’S HEALTH Dr Stephanie Zgraggen, DC, MS, CNS, CCN Lime and Lotus, LLC 925 Wappoo Rd – Ste F, Charleston 843-214-2997 • Hello@DrZgraggen.com DrZgraggen.com

Painful periods? Hot flashes?

Fatigue? Weight gain? Dr. Stephanie takes a holistic, individualized approach toward natural female hormone balance where she helps facilitate the healing process with simple, safe and effective therapies such as herbal medicine, whole food nutritional supplementation, and dietary and lifestyle modifications.

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Energy Psychology & Energy Medicine

20% OFF ENTIRE PURCHASE WITH MENTION OF THIS AD

LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER. SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY.

Wellness and Well-Being

Restoring Resilience and Hope FUNraiser for bliss Spiritual Co-op Register at www.blissSpiritualCo-op Saturday May 2 • 2 to 5pm

Wellness through Energy Psychology & Energy Medicine On-line - register at www.blissSpiritualCo-op 4th Friday • noon to 1:30pm

on-line energizing group paula@ireinst.com to register Wednesdays • noon to 12:30pm

Individual Sessions

via zoom, skype, phone Energy Psychology, Energy Medicine, Transformational Coaching, BioMagnets paula@ireinst.com or 843-732-0293 for an appointment

For more information: INTEGRATIVE RELATIONAL ENERGETICS

Sylvia Barnhill Designs

www.ireinst.com paula@ireinst.com (843) 732-0293

ART & RETAIL SHOP REIKI • CARD READINGS AKASHIC RECORDS PET MEDIUM CLOSED SUNDAYS MONDAYS ARE RESERVED FOR APPOINTMENTS, CALL TO SCHEDULE.

(843) 224-7377 217 LUCAS STREET, SUITE D1

with Paula McGuire, ThetaHealing Instructor, DCEP

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC 29464

You DON’T need to spend BIG BUCKS to Get a GREAT, HEALTHY Mattress!

NO BULL mattresses all use CertiPUR US certified foams.

CertiPUR-US certified foams are: ✓ Made without ozone depleters or flame retardants like PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (”Tris”) ✓ Made without mercury, lead, and other heavy metals ✓ Made without formaldehyde or phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission ✓ Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million) ✓ Preview popular mattress price comparisons at NoBullMattress.com, but make sure you come see us to try before you buy!

Save 55-80% off of retail every day at No Bull Mattress in Mt. Pleasant!

1220 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Suite G | 843-216-8815

(in Sea Island Shopping Center near Harris Teeter, next to Baroni’s) May 2020

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Innovative Health Solutions for Optimal Health From advanced energetic scans and laser contouring to chiropractic spine relief, we have the tools and expertise ready to optimize your health.

"I was weeks away from scheduling a cervical fusion and had tried many different approaches to relieving my chronic pain. Injections, TENS, traction, adjustments, massage ... nothing worked for long. I will be the first to say that I was doubtful but I am a different person than I was just a few weeks ago. It has been an amazing experience."

Becky Sweat Kirby

Services Chiropractic Care Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) SpectraVision BioBalance Technology Biological Preference Scanning Non-Invasive Body Contouring Verju Laser System FDA Cleared Robotic Laser

Book an Appointment Call today! 843.766.4444

BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY! Meet Dr. Jesse Ross, an influencer in local schools, businesses, organizations and the holistic world. By combining the most current technology with genuine compassionate care and a strong focus on education, Dr. Jesse's goal is to optimize your healing experience with long-lasting results.

Properly Spaced Properly Timed And Kept Simple

We're Open!

843-766-4444