Vitality Magazine | Summer 2024 Issue

6 N E W S & N O T E S

The link between plastic and f ibroids; Measles hysteria – what’s really going on?; Absorption of sunscreen chemicals through skin; How does exercise benef it the brain?

12 HOT WEATHER HERBAL REFRESHERS from iced tea to lemonade

18 NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO ANTACIDS and Heartburn Drugs by Zoltan Rona, MD, MSc

22 HEALING WOMEN’S EMOTIONAL PAIN with Ceremony, Ritual, and Breathwork

26 COMMUNITY NEWS Tesla’s Medicine Festival; Toronto Tantra Festival

29 CLASSIFIEDS Health Products; Off ices for rent

28 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Events, Classes, and Workshops Across Ontario

29 SER VICE DIRECTOR Y Toronto’s Comprehensive Monthly Health Resource

Editor’s note: All Vitality ar ticles represent the views of the writer, and not necessarily those of the publisher. We accept no responsibility for the variability in outcomes achieved by the usage of these views, and they are not meant to replace the advice of a physician Cover photo: Pink Lemonade with Lemon Balm and Lavender

PolarAid® encourages the overall health of the body:

“This will be the fourth PolarAid I’ve purchased! I fully believe in this product and it’s power! I’ve given them to family members and we’ve all had great success with it.” C.A.T. (Vista, CA)

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Youknow the summer season has arrived when everyone starts reaching for cold beverages There was a time when I grabbed a pina colada or frozen margarita to quench my thirst on a hot day, but these days the allure of alcohol has faded as the link between cancer and booze becomes more clear.

According to research by the University of Oxford, “New data from a large-scale genetic study led by Oxford Population Health confirms that alcohol directly causes cancer. Worldwide, alcohol may cause around 3 million deaths each year, including over 400,000 from cancer.”

Add to that the surging levels of turbo cancer being diagnosed in some heavily vaccinated populations, and you have a society at higher risk of this disease than ever before (Statistics available at websites such as https://makismd substack com or https://diedsuddenly info)

Needless to say, if we can find thirst quenching beverages which don’t increase our cancer risk, then so much the better. So this month we bring you Carol Little, Registered Herbalist, with her feature this m o n t h o n “ H o t We a t h e r H e r b a l Refreshers.” Here we learn how to make infusions of herbs such as bee balm, chamomile, and hibiscus and then trans-

form them into chilled iced teas or blended lemonades To make it easier, Little has created a template which serves as a guide to turn any recommended herb into a chilled beverage which can slake our thirst while at the same time bestowing the medicinal properties of the herb

For example, lavender (the herb featured on our cover) has soothing and calming properties and also helps to relieve insomnia. Since its strong flavour is best blended with other herbs, you may want to try the recipe for Lemon Balm & Lavender Lemonade (page 15) which Carol likes to serve to her guests in the summertime. It tastes divine!

The summer season brings with it many other benefits and some hazards. I think the greatest benefit is increased sun exposure which amps up our vitamin D levels while it warms the kidneys Those who like to slather themselves with sunscreen would do well to read the report in News & Notes on hazardous chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin Check your sunscreen labels carefully and see if they contain any of the toxic ingredients listed in the article (see page 8). Thankfully there are two ingredients recognized as safe: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Personally I never use sunscreen, opting instead for moderate sun exposure while wearing a hat and moisturizing exposed skin with coconut oil. I also avoid chemical deodorants since their heavy metals can enter the body through lymph nodes under the arms. (Natural deodorants made with

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baking soda work just fine ) Have a great summer and we’ll see you in July with our monthly newsletter Order a FREE subscription for friends and family at: s u b s c r i b e @ v i t a l i t y m a gazine.com To post a question or comment on this or any other article, go to www.vitalitymagazine.com

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DOES EXPOSURE TO PHTHALATES IN PLASTIC PROMOTE UTERINE FIBROIDS AND ENDOMETRIOSIS?

by Dr Alan R Gaby, MD

Myometrial and leiomyoma (uterine f ibroid) cells obtained from women with uterine f ibroids were exposed to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) in vitro Exposure to DEHP led to increased viability and increased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and type I collagen in myometrial and leiomyoma cells. The urinary concentration of mono-(2-ethyl5-carboxypentyl) phthalate was higher in women with uterine f ibroids than in controls who had undergone a uterine surgical procedure but didn’t have f ibroids

In another report, exposure of endometrial cells to DEHP in vitro increased their proliferative activity Oral administration of DEHP to mice that had been subjected to implantation of human endometrial tissue increased the size of the endometrial implant. In a case-control study, the mean urinar y concentrations of mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxy-

NEWS & NOTES

Research reports on Nutrition, Health & Anti-Aging from Around the World

COMPILED BY JULIA WOODFORD

Plastic chemicals found in wrappers, makeup, soaps, etc are now linked to fibroids; Sunscreen chemicals being investigated by FDA

hexyl) phthalate, mono (2ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, and mono (2-ethyl-5-carboxyphentyl) phthalate were signif icantly higher in women with endometriosis than in controls.

Comment: Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are widely used in plastics (including food wrappers), makeup, shampoo, soaps, paints, medical products, and some pesticides Phthalate metabolites are detectable in more than 75% of people in the US.

(The previous report is by Dr. Alan Gaby, author of “Nutritional Medicine”, a c o m p re h e n s i v e t e x t b o o k for healthcare professionals and educated nonprofe s s i o n a l s M o re i n fo : https://doctorgaby com/ Reprinted with permission from Townsend Letter: The E x a m i n e r o f A l t e r n a t i v e Medicine For information about subscriptions, visit: w w w t o w n s e n d l e t t e r c o m , info@townsendletter.com)

MEASLES HYSTERIA –WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON?

The results of the studies described above suggest that phthalate exposure may contribute to the pathogenesis of uterine f ibroids and endometriosis.

Kim J H, et al In vitro effects of p h t h a l a t e e s t e r s i n h u m a n m y o m e t r i a l

m a cells and increased urinary level o f p h

m

t a b o l i t e i n women with uterine leiomyo m a Fe r t i l S t e r i l 2017;107:1061-1069.e1. Kim SH, et al Possible role of phthalate in the pathogenesis of endometriosis: in vitro, animal, and human data J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015; 100: E1502-E1511

Commentary by Edda West Prior to the widespread use of measles vaccines, the majority of doctors acknowledged that measles is a “self-limiting infection of short duration, moderate severity, and low fatality.” The demonizing of measles when outbreaks occur, and the fear generated by the medical industry through its controlled media, is in direct contradiction to the experience and memory of the vast majority of people who got measles, recovered uneventfully, and gained the benef it of lifelong immunity. Lawrence Solomon’s The

Untold Story of Measles is an excellent synopsis of the history

Today, it is the large segment of baby boomers and seniors bor n in the mid1960’s and earlier who comprise the “herd” of truly immune people in the population, most of whom had measles in childhood. According to Stats Canada, in 2011, 57.2% of the population was born prior to 1966. To a large extent, it is this large group of people with naturally acquired immunity who are protecting the public from large scale measles outbreaks Naturally acquired immunity is a precious health resource that develops over many generations The scuttling of this highly protective natural immuni-

ty, and its replacement with temporary vaccine immunity, is a tragic loss both to contemporar y society and to future generations When the present naturallyimmune adult population dies off, and is replaced by a majority with temporar y vaccine immunity, it is predicted that there will be a greater proportion of susceptibles than in the prevaccine era, along with the potential for large epidemics across all age groups.

Five decades on into this vast medical experiment, we are just beginning to understand the consequences

The above is an excerpt from a longer article by Edda West, co-founder and past president of Vaccine

Choice Canada To read the full article, complete with references, click on: https://vitalitymagazine com/article/measles-hysteria/

The following 2 repor ts are reprinted from the column “Shor ts” by Julie Klotter, which appeared in the March and April 2024 issues of Townsend e-Letter https://www townsendletter com

REMOVING ACCESS TO SUGARY BEVERAGES IMPROVES INSULIN RESISTANCE

Banning workplace sales of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) decreased consumption of these health-harming drinks and produced improvements in waist circumference and insulin resistance among 214 study participants who worked at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) In 2015, UCSF stopped selling sodas, sports or energy drinks, “fruit” drinks, and sweetened bottled teas and coffees in cafeterias, vending machines, hospital food services, and retail outlets. People could still bring these types of drinks to work.

Sugar intake from beverages is more detrimental to metabolic health than sugar in foods, according to metaanalyses, and considered a strong risk factor for obesity and cardiometabolic disease.

Elissa S. Epel and colleagues surveyed 2,556 employees about their daily beverage intake before the ban They then

So far, two sunscreen ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are recognized as “generally regarded as safe and effective” (GRASE)

Two are not: paraaminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate.

conducted a randomized study with 214 survey participants who repor ted drinking 12 fl oz or more of sugar-sweetened drinks each day; 109 met with a health educator for a 15-minute motivational inter view in which they were given information about the sugar content of these drinks, the effect on health, and how to reduce sugar intake. The remaining 105 acted as the control.

Simply banning the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages nearly halved consumption: “They reported a mean daily intake of 1050 mL (35 fl oz) of SSBs at baseline and 540 mL (18 fl oz) six months after the ban began.” Those who took part in the motivational interview had a signif icantly greater response compared to the control: a mean (SD) reduction of 25.4 [2.8] fl oz vs 8.2 [2.8] fl oz. In addition, improvements in insulin sensitivity, measured by Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), cor related to SSB intake reductions, particularly in participants with higher body mass index (BMI); and mean (SE) waist circumference decreased by 2 1 (2 8) cm Removing access to these beverages appears to be an easy way to decrease consumption

Epel ES, et al Association of a Workplace Sales Ban on SugarSweetened Beverages with Employee Consumption of SugarSweetened Beverages and Health JAMA Intern Med Oct 28, 2019

ABSORPTION OF SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS – THE SKIN AS ENTRY POINT FOR TOXICANTS

The skin’s ability to absorb chemicals in personal care products is well documented, as Anne Marie Fine, NMD, discussed in her June 2019 Townsend Letter article “The Skin as Exposome: An Underappreciated Route of Entry for Toxicants.”

Recently, the FDA has turned its attention to the chemicals in sunscreen products A 2020 clinical study conf irms that active ingredients in commercial sunscreen products are absorbed through the skin, resulting in systemic exposure that exceeds the FDA guideline level of 0 5 ng/mL: “The 0 5 ng/mL threshold was selected because the approximated cancer risk associated with plasma concentrations below this threshold would be less than 1 in 100,000 after a single dose ”

The 2020 trial follows a 2019 pilot study that measured blood levels of four chemicals (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule) after exposing four groups of healthy volunteers (n=6/group) to one of four commercial sunscreens. The blood levels of these chemicals also exceeded 0.5 ng/mL.

FDA issued a proposed rule for over-the-counter sun-

screens in February 2019, which would update its recommendations for sunscreen use As part of the update process, active ingredients are to be clinically tested for systemic absor ption in people exposed to maximum recommended doses. Chemicals that produce blood levels above 0.5 ng/mL are required to be tested for developmental and reproductive effects and for carcinogenicity.

The 2020 study assessed six of the 12 active ingredients that FDA has questions about. Forty-eight participants, who stayed at a clinic and out of sunlight for seven days, were randomized into groups to test four sunscreen products (a lotion, an aerosol spray, a non-aerosol spray, and a pump spray). All four products contained avobenzone and at least two other active ingredients The product was applied once on the f irst day, and four times on days 2-4 at two-hour intervals (following manufacturer guidelines) After a baseline blood sample, sunscreen was applied; and 12 blood samples were taken on the f irst day Further samples were taken on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, and 21

Twenty-three hours after the single application on day 1, all active ingredients measured above the 0 5 ng/mL level (using geometric mean maximum plasma concentrations) in over 75% of the participants. Each of the chemicals remained above the 0.5 ng/mL level for days after the f inal application (on day 4) in the majority of the participants: “day 7 for avobenzone (95%; n=42/44), octisalate (75%;

n=24/32, octinoxate (90%); n=18/20; day 10 for oxtocrylene (67%; n =22/33); and day 21 for homosalate (55%; n=17/31) and oxybenzone (96%); n=22/23) ”

In addition, skin samples (from tape stripping) showed that all of the chemicals were still present in the skin at day 7, despite daily showers taken in the morning (after blood sampling and before the f irst sunscreen application) while at the clinic.

In an editorial that accompanied the 2019 pilot study, Califf and Shinkai noted that evidence of systemic absor ption in humans was f irst shown in 1997. Over the years, some sunscreen chemicals have been linked to cancer and adverse effects on endocrine, reproductive, and developmental functions and on the environment An FDA public advisory panel determined in 2014 that there was insuff icient evidence to conf irm safety for many sunscreen ingredients and formulas despite the large body of evidence that sunscreen use prevents sunburn, precancerous actinic keratosis, and squamous cell cancer So far, two sunscreen ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are recognized as “generally regarded as safe and effective” (GRASE) Two are not: para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate.

Califf and Shinkai raise several unanswered questions that extend beyond these initial studies on absor ption such as “the effects of different sunscreen formulations, clinical characteristics (ie skin type, age, presence of skin diseases that disrupt the skin bar rier), physical activity level, and exposure to sun and water on systemic sunscreen levels….” Moreover, absor ption and effects may differ in infants and children compared to adults.

Califf and Shinkai say, “At a minimum, physicians should recommend use of sunscreen formulations containing GRASE ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as part of a larger program of photoprotection that includes seeking shade, and wearing protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses, until meaningful answers to these questions are available ”

Lycopene supplementation and eating foods high in lycopene (red tomatoes, apricots, papaya, pink grapefruit, guava, watermelon) also protect from UV damage. Tomato paste is particularly high in lycopene as cooking increases lycopene’s bioavailability.

Califf RM, Shinkai K Filling in the Evidence About Sunscreen JAMA May 6, 2019

Matta MK, et al Effect of Sunscreen Application Under Maximal Use Conditions of Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients JAMA i May 6, 2019

Matta MK, et al Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients JAMA 202;323(3):256-267

Stahl W, et al Lycopene-rich products and dietary photoprotection Photochem Photobiol Sci 2006;5:238-242

The above report appeared in the April 20, 2024 issue of Townsend e-letter https://www townsendletter com/e-letter32-shorts-sunscreen-chemicals-allergies-more/

Lawyer Shawn Buckley is urging everyone to join the campaign to protect natural health products and services

NEW THREATS TO NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS IN THE 2024 BUDGET BILL

H e a l t h C a n a d a i s a t t e m p t i n g t o introduce additional measures that could fur ther har m the natural health industr y. To recap, Health Canada made substantial revisions in the 2023 Budget Bill (Bill C-47), reclassifying natural health products –such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, and homeopathic remedies – under the same categor y as over-the-counter phar maceuticals This reclassif ication has resulted in new fees, f ines, and ex c e s s ive r eg u l a t i o n s t h a t t h r e a t e n t h e i n d u s t r y I n response, we have been suppor ting Bill C-368, introduced by MP Blaine Calkins, to remove sections 500-504 from the 2023 Budget Bill.

The reclassif ication of natural health products as “therapeutic products” has paved the way for even more stringent regulations. Now, the 2024 Budget Bill includes further alarming revisions that:

– Restrict off-label use of drugs, including natural health products, by medical doctors, health care professionals, natural health practitioners, and even veterinarians.

– Grant exemptions for food and drugs from crucial safety regulations designed to protect against fraud, adulteration, and unsanitary conditions

– Allow exemptions for food and drugs from safety laws based on selective “parts” of foreign documents

For a detailed review, take the time to read Shawn Buckley's latest Discussion Paper titled Alarm Bells in Health Policy: Hidden Changes in Bill C-69, at: https://nhppa org/discussion-paper-alar m-bells-in-healthpolicy/

Immediate Action Needed: Oppose New Health Canada Powers: In the 2024 Budget Bill, Health Canada has proposed new powers that everyone needs to be aware of.

(Continued on page 17)

Summer

time is f inally here and hydration is key to enjoying the season with optimum health. On days when it’s hazy, hot, and humid I tur n to my favourite cool herbal beverages for refreshment.

I hope you’ll enjoy these tasty recipes and lear n how easy it is to make herbal iced tea preparations These are some of my ‘go to’ herbs and simple iced tea recipe ideas, along with a detailed template which makes it easy to create liquid refreshments from the garden. What you choose to experiment with will depend upon your own personal taste preferences Some people love the citr us-tasting herbs, while others favour a lively tar t flavour or maybe herbs with hints of licorice The herbs below represent a cross-section of my own favourites.

Herb Ideas for Iced Tea Refreshment

BEE BALM – An herbal infusion made with Bee balm (Wild Bergamot) can help to relieve digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and indigestion. My favourite is the redflowered bee balm (typically Monarda f istulosa) – a soothing and suppor tive digestive herb.

ANISE HYSSOP – When cr ushed, the leaves of this herb have a lovely scent of licorice, similar to cr ushed fennel seeds. The plant is good for the hear t, digestive system, and for sleep suppor t.

C H A M O M I L E – Te a m a d e f r o m colourful chamomile flowers has a calming effect on the body, and can work as a natural remedy to help manage menstr ual

Hot Weather Herbal Refreshers

pain, sleep problems, and tummy issues

FENNEL SEED – This licorice-flavoured herb is traditionally used in Ayur veda to soothe and suppor t digestion, and calm flatulence. So it’s common to give dinner guests a handful of fennel seed to chew on after dining

HIBISCUS – These gorgeous flowers make a tar t-tasting tea that is rich in vitamin C, and is anti-inflammator y and anti-cancer. As well, hibiscus can help lower blood pressure and stabilize blood sugar levels

LAVENDER – This herb’s aromatic leaves and flowers are calming and uplifting. A soothing cup of lavender tea can help you sleep better at night, boost mood, and relieve stress and anxiety. It is best blended with other herbs as it can taste too strong on its own

LEMON BALM – This citr usy-tasting leaves of Lemon balm suppor t digestion and help clear the mind and lift spirits.

LEMON VERBENA – Also with citr us notes, this herb has a rejuvenating fresh scent and is helpful for tummy upsets, cramps, and nausea.

LEMON GRASS – This plant tastes like mild citr us with a hint of ginger It has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and has been used as a pain reliever and fever reducer.

Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot)

H I B I SCU S ICED TEA

LEMON THYME – These delicate leaves offer a light lemony flavour, and their decongestant proper ties make them benef icial for colds as well as suppor ting the digestive system

ROSEMARY – This spiky plant works to stimulate circulation which helps to soothe aches and pains. It also helps clear congestion and boosts mood and memor y.

SPEARMINT (or Mojito Mint or your favourite mint) – This herb is refreshing and wonderful for soothing digestive issues.

My personal choice for herbal iced tea is Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). Melissa’s fresh lemony taste is delicious on its own or in combination with other herbs It is uplifting, nourishing, helps to improve digestion and is also believed to suppor t mental health

We can use both fresh and/or dried herbs for tea. Personally, I use both. Often, by choosing dried herbs for brewing a hot cup of tea, there’s more consistency and it’s easier to store and manage dried herbs over the cooler months

But in summer and early fall I often choose fresh herbs, and sometimes end up tr ying a combo of cuttings when I’ve been out in the garden giving some of the plants a ‘haircut’. (Herbs love to be clipped!)

I tend to use about three times more fresh herbs than dried herbs To explain this idea fur ther, here’s an example of a popular herbal tea blend which is delightful hot or chilled and uses both fresh and dried herbs:

5 g rams of hibiscus flowers (dried)

15 to 20 g rams of fresh spear mint (large handful from your garden)

10 g rams of other fresh herbs (another handful) such as violet leaves, lemon balm or lemon verbena

1.5 litres pure water

Directions:

1) Chop the fresh herbs. Add the dried herbs. Mix.

2 ) A d d t h e wa t e r ( j u s t boiled) and steep for 20 minutes or so

Tips:

• Choose one type of herb for your tea or combine several different ones. You can also a d d f r e s h o r d r i e d f r u i t s , flower petals, or aromatics like cinnamon or ginger to your tea.

• Cr ush dried herbs a little before steeping to help release essential oils

• Muddle (gently br uise, r ub or cr ush) fresh herbs to release their essential oils Don’t cr ush too much, just a little, as we want to avoid over-exposing the g reen chlorophyll which can have a bitter taste.

• If you need to use dried herbs that have been on hand for awhile, you may want to use a little more to improve the flavour

• There are no set r ules – base your combination on your personal preferences for colour, flavour, caffeine vs decaffeinated plus any desired therapeutic benef its

• Don’t expect bright vibrant colours like you get with commercial herbal teas. If you want brighter colours, consider adding hibiscus, calendula flowers or the amazing blue butterfly pea blossoms to your herbal tea mix

• Some herbs are best used fresh as they lose flavour when dried.(Lemon balm for example)

RECIPES

These easy herbal iced tea recipes can all be created from a basic template; simply customize according to your preferences. We can make these adaptable for keto and low carb lifestyles too by choosing stevia as opposed to sugar or raw honey as a sweetener. I tend to make my tea without sweeteners initially, and then adjust later It’s about experimenting with the countless options possible! Herbal Iced Tea Template

7 to 8 cups spring water** (divided in 2 par ts)

½ to 1 cup herbal plant material of your choice (as well as fresh flowers or dried flowers)

1 lime thinly sliced, or any citr us for that matter

1 to 2 cups of coconut water to replace some of the additional water in recipe.

Optional: ½ cup organic sugar or ¼ cup raw honey or 2 drops of stevia

Directions:

1) Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot

Anise Hyssop

Recipe Notes:

Remove from heat.

2) Add the plant material and sweetener if using Put a lid on the pot. Allow to steep 8-12 minutes.

3) If using a sweetener, stir 2 to 3 times while tea steeps to mix well

4) Allow to cool slightly and then strain your infusion into a glass jar, jug, or pitcher.

**I nor mally gauge this amount and adjust if using ice cubes in the pitcher or if using some coconut water as a par t of the ‘water’. Optional gar nishes include sliced cucumbers, ber ries or other fr uit, edible flowers, or complementar y fresh herb leaves. To make it extra special, make ice cubes ahead of time with edible flowers, sprigs of fresh herbs or fr uit!

Herbal Tea Combination Ideas

• Spear mint, Pepper mint, Sage

• Hibiscus flowers (add some pomeg ranate juice)

• Lemon Balm and Lavender

• Bee Balm and Lemon Verbena

Cold Brew Tea

This method is actually the easiest. Simply combine the herbs and water and leave to steep in a glass jar in the fridge for 6 to 12 hours. If possible, 12 hours is preferable and yields a better result When ready, strain out the plant material, pour into a glass pitcher and it’s ready to enjoy!

Whether using the ‘traditional’ method as described above in the template, or cold brewing the herbs, you can create herbal refreshments to enjoy all summer long.

There is a g rowing fan base for the cold brew method, as the resulting brew is smooth, ref ined and delicious (free from bitter components because of the lack of heat applied). I make it both ways. I love to play with the plants in my garden and experiment!

Variations on a theme:

Herbal Lemonade

What I thought was an unlikely combination, years ago, has become a ‘go-to’ ever y summer. It’s an iced tea/lemonade which incor porates both lavender and lemon balm, and it’s a hit with ever yone who tastes it!

Lemon Balm & Lavender Lemonade

1/8 cup dried lavender flowers

1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves, lightly packed

2 to 3 cups hot boiled water

Spearmint

3/4 cup raw honey

3 to 4 lemons

Cold water

Directions:

1) Place lavender flowers in a large glass jar or pitcher Top with just boiled water and allow to steep 5 to 8 min.

2) Add the fresh lemon b a l m l e ave s Po ke w i t h a chopstick or wooden spoon until plant material is submerged. Allow to steep for 8 to 10 minutes.

3) Strain and discard the plant material into the compost or reser ve to make again (use to make another light batch!)

4) Cut the lemons in half Squeeze their juice (without the pits/seeds) into the lemon balm-lavender tea

5) Add cold water and ice cubes to the lemony tea. Use a glass jar or pitcher to ser ve. Enjoy!

Conclusion

Want to lear n more about herbal lemonades? Check out this ar ticle featuring four of my own faves It’s here: https://www.studiobotanica.com/herbal-lemonades/

We can all tr uly benef it by choosing natural options to create refreshing beverages with the plant allies from our g reen world It’s a healthy new habit that we can incorporate into life and have a lot of fun at the same time

AUTHOR BIO:

Carol Little, R H is a traditional herbalist in Toronto, where she has had a private practice for the last 20+ years She loves to write about how we can embrace herbs in our daily lives She is a current professional and past board member of the O n t a r i o H e r b a l i s t s A s s o c i a t i o n Vi s i t : https://www studiobotanica com

Carol’s current project is a fun-filled “deep dive” into ON E herb each month ~ it’s called HerbGals and it’s a creative interactive way to learn about the many g ifts and practical ways we can embrace the g reen world! Open to herb enthusiasts, herbalists, gardeners or those with culinary interests It’s about sharing and learning from each other! For more information, come for a visit here: https://studiobotanica teachable com/p/herbgals

References

– Michael Vertolli R H https://www livingearthschool ca – Rosemary Gladstar https://www scienceandartofherbalism com/

Herb Resources:

– Richter’s Herbs https://www richters com/

Lavender Flowers

News and Notes

- continued from page 11

According to Shawn Buckley, these revisions are “literally unbelievable and unexplainable ” Fortunately, the 2024 Budget Bill is not yet law, giving us a critical window to voice our concerns and push for amendments We must act now to send this bill back for revision and ensure Division 31 is removed from Bill C-69 before it becomes law

We encourage you to send your MP a letter and a copy of the discussion paper We’ve provided everything you need, to make it as simple as possible.

To g rab the resources needed, go to: https://nhppa.org/bill-c69/

To make a donation to the Natural Health Product Protection Association, go to: https://nhppa.org/donate/

To volunteer with NHPPA visit: https://nhppa.org/volunteer/

HOW DOES EXERCISE BENEFIT THE BRAIN?

A report from Wiley News

New research published in Aging Cell provides insights into how exercise may help to prevent or slow cognitive decline during aging.

For the study, investigators assessed the expression of genes in individual cells in the brains of mice. The team found that exercise has a signif icant impact on gene expression in microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system that support brain function. Specif ically, the group found that exercise reverts the gene expression patterns of aged microglia to patterns seen in young microglia

Treatments that depleted microglia revealed that these cells are required for the stimulatory effects of exercise on the formation of new neurons in the brain’s hippocampus, a region involved in memory, learning, and emotion

The scientists also found that allowing mice access to a running wheel prevented and/or reduced the presence of T cells in the hippocampus during aging These immune cells are not typically found in the brain during youth, but they increase with age.

“We were both sur prised and excited about the extent to which physical activity rejuvenates and transforms the composition of immune cells within the brain, in particular the way in which it was able to reverse the negative impacts of aging,” said co–cor responding author Jana Vukovic, PhD, of The University of Queensland, in Australia. “It highlights the importance of normalizing and facilitating access to tailored exercise programs Our f indings should help different industries to design interventions for elderly individuals who are looking to maintain or improve both their physical and mental capabilities ”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acel.14172

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B Y Z O LTA N P R O N A , M D, M S c

Lawsuits

against dr ug companies for serious side effects (including death) caused by their products are not uncommon. Most recently, Bloomberg News repor ted that Pf izer has just settled more than 10,000 lawsuits regarding Zantac, the popular hear tbur n dr ug it manufactures. The lawsuits claim that the dr ug company hid the cancer risks associated with Zantac from the public The dr ug has been on the market for over 30 years and it is not fully known how many patients developed cancer as a result of using it

Thousands of dr ugs are available in the dr ug compendium but only a few dozen are tr uly disease-curative, or life-saving The majority of them work to temporarily or per manently suppress symptoms, failing to get to the root of the real physiological or biochemical imbalances.

Heartburn Drugs, Antacids, and Co.

Hear tbur n could be a sign of ulcers, gastritis, GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disorder), H pylori infections, or the rarely seen Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Hear tbur n dr ugs are a $15 billion a year industr y in Nor th America, mainly because it’s far more prof itable to steer people to medications than to healthier diets, stress reduction, or herbal remedies like slipper y elm, g i n g e r, d i g e

licorice root lozenges (DGL). There’s more on these natural alter natives in the second half of this ar ticle.

The most popular and powerful of all hear tbur n dr ugs are the proton pump inhibitors, so called because they bind or inhibit an enzyme (hydrogen potassium adenosine triphosphatase) also known as the proton pump. The proton pump causes the parietal cells in the stomach to produce acid Through this proton pump inhibition, stomach acidity is reduced or eliminated much more and for much longer periods of time than the histamine H-2 receptor blockers (e g cimetidine or ranitidine) The best known of this class of dr ugs are e s o m e p r a z o l e ( N ex i u m ) , l a n s o p r a z o l e ( P r eva c i d ) , omeprazole (Prilosec, Losec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Pariet)

These dr ugs are well tolerated if used for a few days or weeks but common side effects include constipation (a frequent symptom of excessively low stomach acidity), diarrhea, headache, skin itch and skin rash. Rarely, there are repor ted cases of acute pancreatitis, flu-like illnesses, vomiting, low platelets, hepatitis and autoimmune disorders. Adverse dr ug reactions var y from person to person but can be quite devastating when dr ugs are used for extended periods of time.

It’s

Some of these dr ugs are actually dangerous. The outcome of their long-ter m use can be detrimental in ter ms of one’s general health, longevity, or sense of well-being. Years after their release, some are the subject of lawsuits while others are pulled off the market due to dangerous side effects. Vioxx and Propulsid were just two such examples. What this ar ticle will attempt to do is to aler t you to the dangers of using these symptom suppressors and provide some safer or more effective alter natives

far more profitable to steer people toward drugs than toward healthier diets, stress reduction, or herbal remedies for heartburn

Both proton pump inhibitors and the histamine H-2 blocking dr ugs can raise the risk of hip fractures by 44% if taken for longer than a year because, when you block acid production, you make it more diff icult for the body to absorb calcium

One must remember that ever y treatment, even a medication, has a place in healthcare – but dr ugs are not necessarily your only or best choice

When you decrease or eliminate acid production with these dr ugs or liquid antacids (e g Maalox, Gaviscon, Mylanta, et al ), you make it harder for the gastrointestinal tract to digest food and this can cause gas, bloating and constipation. Sometimes this set of symptoms is labelled as IBS (ir ritable bowel syndrome) for which fur ther medication is often prescribed. By the way, ginger and/or enteric-coated peppermint oil might be a reasonable alter native to the dr ugs commonly used for IBS.

When either proton pump inhibitors or the histamine H-

2 receptor blockers like Tagamet, Zantac or Pepcid are used, stomach acidity can become so reduced that the body fails to absorb vital nutrients like iron, calcium, zinc and numerous others. These dr ugs also reduce your primar y defence against bugs in food (bacteria, parasites and fungi like Candida). This then can lead to both acute and chronic gastrointestinal infections and often sets one up for a lifetime of IBS, candidiasis, and food sensitivity syndromes Essentially, you are increasing your risk of food poisoning ever y time you use these medical “remedies”

Clostridium diff icile bacteria can cause life-threatening colitis A 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that people taking proton pump inhibitors were almost three times more likely to have a C-diff icile infection than non-users Those taking H2 receptor antagonists were twice as likely to have the infection

Increased Risk of Pneumonia

A 2004 study repor ted in The Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that the risk of pneumonia was 89% higher for those using proton pump inhibitors and 63% higher for those using H2-receptor antagonists Acid-suppressive dr ug users were four times more likely to have pneumonia than non-users This underlines the impor tance of stomach acid as a systemic immune boosting substance Suppressing stomach acid will have its infectious disease consequences, especially if this is done on a long-ter m basis.

In 2000, the histamine H-2 receptor blocker, Propulsid, was taken off the market due to associated cardiac deaths. While it seems to me that only cardiac deaths are the sole reason the HPB and the FDA take dr ugs off the market, perhaps increasing rates of life-threatening pneumonias and C. diff icile infections ought to be considered for dr ug removal as well. Proton pump inhibitors and the histamine H-2 receptor blockers should be used sparingly, if at all Cer tainly, the natural alter natives are a better option here

Natural Alternatives to Heartburn Medication

Much like antibiotics, hear tbur n dr ugs of all kinds are g rossly over-prescribed. According to some health care professionals, perhaps one in a hundred people actually need these dr ugs, while 99 out of 100 really need to change their diets and/or use har mless alter natives.

There are probably as many natural remedies for hyperacidity as there are prescription dr ugs, so a person has many choices If you are not sure what to do, a natural health care professional will be able to help

Since stress, poor lifestyle choices such as cigarette smoking, and physical inactivity can cause hyperacidity as well as just about any disorder, effor ts should def initely be made to make major changes in these areas

HELICOBACTER PYLORI –

These bacterial infections are usually thought to be the cause of peptic ulcer disease and the symptoms that usually trigger doctors to prescribe either proton pump inhibitors or other dr ugs. There are a variety of tests your doctor can order for you to make the diagnosis These include blood tests, breath tests, x-rays, ultra-

M

Recommended drinks for relief from heartburn include fresh pressed juices of carrot, beet, and cucumber / spinach

treat the H pylori infection with antibiotics and a variety of antacids and/or acid suppressing dr ugs

AVOID ASPIRIN – If you use aspirin, replace it with white willow bark capsules. At least this will not fur ther agg ravate the discomfor t.

ELIMINATE FOOD ALLERGENS – A large number of people suffer from hyperacidity because of an allergy to milk protein (casein) or gluten found in most g rains. Food allergy or sensitivity testing might be a good idea in the more stubbor n cases failing to respond to other diet and supplement changes

VITAMINS AND HERBS – Supplements that have a healing effect against H pylori include garlic, wild mountain oregano oil, berberine, lactobacillus acidophilus and other probiotics Also recommended are bovine colostr um, essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, cod liver oil, salmon oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil), licorice root tincture or herbal tea, choline, lecithin, PABA, bismuth, bentonite. Other benef icial plants include goldenseal, slipper y elm, burdock, manuka honey, ginger root, mastic gum, and aloe vera juice. To help soothe acid reflux, a person can tr y drinking ginger tea, water, or non-acidic fr uit or vegetable juices such as car rot, melon, or aloe vera.

Caveat: It should be noted that the long-ter m use of licorice can elevate blood pressure in some sensitive individuals. The glycyr rhetinic acid component of licorice is responsible for this potential side effect. The best way of getting around this problem while still taking advantage of licorice’s ability to protect the gastrointestinal lining from acid ir ritation is to use deglycyr rhizinated licorice (DGL) Many herbal brands manufacture DGL, a supplement widely available at most health food stores

FOOD AND DRINK – With respect to diet, the best thing to do is eat frequent small meals throughout the day

instead of the usual three large meals And drink more spring or purif ied water to help dilute acid excess

Hear tbur n generally responds well to fresh-extracted vegetable juices that are non-acidic such as organic car rot, spinach, beet, cucumber, parsley, celer y, cabbage and potato. These should be used liberally throughout the day (2 quar ts daily). Raw organic potato juice just before breakfast can help reduce acid regurgitation.

To fur ther reduce the symptoms of hear tbur n, avoid red meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy and fried foods, added salt, caffeine products, sugar and ref ined carbohydrates (cakes, cookies breads, pasta etc).

ESSIAC – The four-herb combination of burdock, slipper y elm, Turkish rhubarb, and sheep sor rel (a k a Essiac) is effective for a wide range of gut problems including hiatus her nia, duodenal ulcers, gastritis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, non-specif ic indigestion, ir ritable bowel syndrome, hemor rhoids and bowel infections It can be used alone or in combination with DGL, aloe vera juice, or prescription medications in more resistant cases Check with your doctor or naturopath for a personalized treatment regime

Zoltan P. Rona, MD, MSc, offers consultations on nutrition and natural remedies in Thornhill He has recently retired from medical practice as a Complementary and Alternative medical practitioner and now strictly offers nutritional consults. To see more of Dr. Rona’s articles, visit: www.highlevelwellness.ca and for appointments, please call (905) 764-8700 Office address: 390 Steeles Ave W , Unit 19, Thornhill, Ontario

References

• P fizer Ag rees to Settle More than 10,000 Zantac Cancer S u i t s : h t t p s : / / n e w s b l o o m b e r g l a w c o m / h e a l t h - l a w - a n dbusiness/pfizer-ag rees-to-settle-more-than-10-000-zantac-cancerlawsuits

• David C Metz, M D; Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and Risk of Hip Fracture; JAMA. 2006;296:2947-2953.

• Vanderhoff, Bruce T , and Rundsarah M Tahboub “Proton Pump Inhibitors: An Update ” American Family Physician 66 (2002): 27380

• Physicians’ Desk Reference 2005 Montvale, N J: Thomson Healthcare, 2004

• Rober t J F Laheij, PhD; Miriam C J M Sturkenboom, PhD; Rober t-Jan Hassing, M Sc; Jeanne Dieleman, PhD; Bruno H C Stricker, M D, PhD; Jan B M J Jansen, M D, PhD; Risk of CommunityAcquired Pneumonia and Use of Gastric Acid–Suppressive Drugs; JAMA 2004;292:1955-1960

• Sandra Dial, M D, M Sc; J. A. C. Delaney, M Sc; Alan N. Barkun, M D, M Sc; Samy Suissa, PhD Use of Gastric Acid–Suppressive Agents and the Risk of Community-Acquired Clostridium difficile–Associated Disease; JAMA. 2005;294:2989-2995.

• Wh a t a l t e r n a t i v e m e d i c i n e s w o r k f o r a c i d r e f l u x ? https://www healthline com/health/gerd/alternative-treatment

• What to drink if you have acid reflux: https://www medicalnewstoday com/ar ticles/314886

Every word and thought car ries a vibration If we are sur rounded by healthy relationships and love, we hear the words that nourish our soul, and in time these words become part of who we are, how we feel, and what we believe about ourselves.

When we experience abuse or spend time in an environment that is devoid of loving and suppor tive words and gestures, they too become part of who we are and the perception we form of ourselves.

Once we have deeply inter nalized these words and thoughts, they move from our mind to become deeply rooted within our spirit and body. They reflect outwardly, from within each of us, as heartache and emotional pain

Compared to men, women are often more spiritually open So, the emotional pain that they car ry runs deeper than it does in most males. Because we hold emotional pain in these deeper places, it affects our kidneys, heart, thyroid, and adrenal glands

Each of our organs and glands have an emotional

Indigenous Wisdom

Healing Women’s Emotional Pain with Ceremony, Ritual, and Breathwork

SACHI FLYING EAGLE MEDICINE WOMAN

Medicine Bowl Breathing helps to clear areas of stagnation and reconnect them to the heart, which in turn allows emotions to be released and healing processes to begin

and spiritual function in addition to their physical function The kidneys help us to feel safe and grounded to reality. Our heart helps us to know and maintain our interconnectedness to one another and all living beings, and it also brings a peaceful sense of wellbeing.

The thyroid uplifts us and supports our creativity and, lastly, the adrenal glands help us to bring our desires into action.

When we allow deep

emotional pain such as fear, anger, and sadness to build up inside us, our hear t becomes blocked, our body contracts, and the rhythms and natural cycles of our organs and glands become disrupted

This disruption leads to the onset of mental and physical health issues, such as depression, anxiety, cysts, digestive issues, f ibroids, and moon-time (menstrual) problems, any or all of which can become chronic if left unacknowledged

Women can begin to heal themselves by acknowledging the emotional stories and the deep pain they car ry inside Using the ceremonies, medicines, and practices offered by Traditional Native Healing, they can learn and master effective forms of emotional release, such as the practising of powerful ritual and

ceremony, breath work, the lear ning of sacred movement, and f inding their true voice

‘Medicine Bowl Breathing’ is a simple but powerful technique that can be performed daily The medicine bowl is comprised of the pelvic floor, lower belly, lower back, hips, and related organs

When women are emotionally healthy, they feel the vitality, sensuality, and power through the deep connection to their hear t When we become emotionally sick, our medicine bowl becomes dirty and stagnant, and it becomes disconnected from the heart

Medicine Bowl Breathing helps to clear the areas of stagnation and reconnect them to the heart, which in turn allows emotions to be released and deep healing processes to begin.

Learn the Technique

Star t by f inding a quiet space where you will not be inter rupted. Place your right palm on your lower belly. Place your left hand on your heart

Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your heart. Let your heart speak to you How does it feel? Is it flowing, heavy, or light? Is it angry or sad? Honour and acknowledge these feelings by listening silently.

Now bring your awareness to your lower belly Once again, listen to the story it is telling you and acknowledge this story.

Next, bring your awareness to your breath As you breathe in, imagine drawing

a line from the centre of your lower belly to your heart As you breathe out, imagine drawing the same line back from your heart to your lower belly Take deep slow breaths Each breath gradually heals and awakens the broken or blocked connection between your heart and medicine bowl. When there is a shift, it can often feel like a softening or a letting go

Spend ten minutes per day practising this breathwork ritual. Give gratitude for the healing you receive, regardless of your experience, as much healing occurs within the deeper parts of ourselves before it ever comes to our conscious awareness

Many women suffer from emotional pain; much of this pain is repressed because they do not make time in their schedule to acknowledge their feelings. Regrettably, the strain of life’s demands does not often allow for this personal time Traditional Native practices such as ‘Medicine Bowl Breathing’, performed daily, can teach women how to honour themselves and their emotional pain, and facilitate the emotional release needed to reclaim their power and regain their health

Sachi, Flying Eagle Medicine Woman is an Indigenous healer practising in Yorkville (Toronto). She uses Indigenous medicine and practices to achieve spiritual and psy-

chological mending and re-patterning Her sessions focus on restoring health and fortif ication from an Indigenous perspective. Sachi also offers Indigenous teachings and rites in Chacaruna training, Death and Dying Guide training and health practitioner development training

For more information or to book an appointment please call (647) 930-1832 or visit Sachi’s website: www.sacredmedicineways.com

Meditation for Stress

A Simple Technique to Relieve Stress and Improve Health in Just 15 Minutes a Day

BY STEPHEN DOBOS, BBA, CSMI

Stressis considered one of the most common causes of various health issues that have us visiting our doctors Author and associate professor of Medicine at Harvard University, Dr Herbert Benson M.D. explains in his book, The Relaxation Response, why stress is the cause of high blood pressure, back pain, ulcers, insomnia, and much more. In fact, research conducted by Dr. Benson concluded that over 90% of all our ailments are stress-related; that is, stress blocks the body’s natural healing mechanism (the immune system) in its efforts to properly perform its job. The longer we let this interference go on, the harder it is to rebalance the body’s defense system.

The easiest way for us to manage stress is to meditate regularly. The benef its of regular meditation include not only an improvement in the immune system’s ability to keep stress in check, as many scientif ic studies show, but also an increase in a feeling of wellbeing, happiness, self conf idence, and connection to those around us The challenge for many is not having knowledge of how to meditate; meditation may be unfamiliar and, to some, can even seem a little esoteric However, the truth is that meditation is a simple and powerful tool, the eff icacy of which has been researched and proven by scientists and scholars from a wide ar ray of institutions – from Harvard University to the World Health Organization Meditation is a proven technique of relaxation that can be practiced almost anywhere and anytime, without the need of any other aids or additional resources

Relaxation Technique

The meditation technique explained below is a basic relaxation tool that is taught to students of the Silva Method, and used by millions of people around the world. It can be learned quickly and is easy to practice Read all the steps below before trying it and be sure to set aside at least 20 minutes of time to relax, before practice, in order to attain the full effect

Now f ind a quiet place where you can sit, undisturbed, for

20 minutes

1 Choose a comfortable chair, without armrests

2. Sit with both feet on the ground, sitting upright with your back against the chair

3. Close your eyes.

4 Take a deep breath and exhale slowly As you exhale, feel your body relax from head to toe. Repeat three times.

5 On the third exhalation, mentally count backwards from 20, again while relaxing your body from head to toe At 20, relax the top of your head; at 19, relax your forehead; at 18, relax your eyelids and eyebrows; at 17, your cheeks, mouth, and ears; at 16 your neck; at 15 your shoulders; at 14 your chest; at 13 your upper arms; and so on until you ar rive at your toes at 0.

6 When you have relaxed your entire body, imagine a tranquil, peaceful spot where you feel you can relax It can be anywhere in the world, or out of it. Just use your imagination, or your memories Project yourself to that place and take it all in Immerse yourself in the environment and let yourself go. Keep your mind focused on this relaxing place only

7. If some thought or wor ry comes to mind, just let it go. Say to yourself: “It doesn’t matter now” and return to your peaceful place.

8. Stay in this peaceful environment for 15 minutes.

9 After 15 minutes, say to yourself mentally: “I am going to count from one to f ive; at the count of f ive, I will open my eyes and be wide awake, feeling better than before

10. Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Then open your eyes and say mentally: “I am wide awake, feeling better than before ”

What should you expect to feel after a session of meditation? Typically, those who practice this technique feel a sense of calm, relaxation, or even deep peace The intensity of what you experience will depend on you, and on your ability to relax and let yourself go; on your willingness to let yourself be totally immersed in your chosen place of relaxation. Just let yourself go and remember: don’t try too hard Whatever you achieve is just f ine, and the next time will be better. For instance, even if you only improve by 1% each time you meditate, after 52 attempts you will already have improved by 52%! I know that may sound counter-intuitive, but don’t wor ry about the results Just let yourself go and enjoy

If you feel anything like dizziness or nausea, stop and consult your physician before you continue meditating, in order to rule out any potential health problems. However, these are often just physiological responses to the practice as your body starts to let go of the stress it’s been holding on to for so long. So relax and enjoy the benef its.

Stephen Dobos, BBA, CSMI, a Certified Silva Method instructor in Toronto, has practiced yoga, meditation and self healing since 1994 when he was frustrated that no health professionals could provide lasting relief from his ulcer and chronic back pain. Through yoga and meditation, Stephen healed himself and now teaches others how to do the same using the Silva Method Details at: www silvamethod ca, email better@silva method ca To view the class schedule, please visit: http://www.silva method.ca/schedule/dates

C O M M U

N I T Y N E W S

THE REDWOOD THEATRE LAUNCHES WELLNESS FESTIVAL JUNE 14 - 16

The Redwood Theatre, Toronto’s new centre for arts and innovation, will host a high-frequency wellness event inspired by renowned engineer and futurist, Nikola Tesla The Tesla’s Medicine festival is a 3-day event that explores Tesla’s historical medical inventions and demonstrates how electro-medicine impacts cur rent healing practices. It takes place on June 14 – 16 at The Redwood Theatre & Studios located at 1300 & 1289 Ger rard St. East, Toronto.

Festival attendees will learn about creating healthy homes and regenerative f ar ming techniques, plus reiki, qi gong, healing touch, vibration, music and light therapy, PEMF, electromagnetism, forest and frequency therapy Par ticipants will also explore how to use quar tz cr ystals, human biof ields, along with PEMF, PEMA, Scalar Waves, Red Light Infrared Light, and UV light machines.

The weekend opens with

a gala featuring Reiki Master August Worley, a circus performance, an electro-yoga dance party and a performance by jazz pianist and Redwood Theatre artistic director, Bill King A highlight will be the screening of Tesla Medicine, the f irst of three f ilms by Robert Connolly documenting the medical inventions that produce a magnetic f ield to treat patients

Tesla’s Medicine offers ticket tiers that include day passes, opening night gala, f ilm screenings and VIP lounges. For info, schedule and tickets, visit The Redwood Theatre online: h t t p s : / / w w w. t h e r e d w o o d theatre.com/teslasmedicine.

LIVING WILD IN THE CITY HIKE & FIRE

On Sunday, June 23, Toronto Botanical Garden is hosting an urban adventure exploring hidden trails, spotting wildlife, and ending with a cozy bonf ire Knowledge based on natural relationships and cultural aspects of Indigenous people will be shared during this hike and f ire with Alan Colley from Living Wild in the City.

This outdoor tour to explore the local flora and fauna of the land will begin with an opening sharing circle and introductions, teachings about the environment and ecosystems and conclude with gathering togeth-

er around a f ire.

Time: 9 am – 12:00 p.m. Registration: Public $5 (plus taxes and fees).

Alan Colley is an Indigenous Anishinaabe Toronto resident with extensive knowledge of local geog raphy, histor y, and ecosystems Alan facilitates Indigenous culturally based workshops and tours focusing on self-improvement, motivation, and goal setting in recreational, educational, or cor porate settings.

Providing environmental education in all teachings benef it both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities greatly.

When not leading tours, Alan can be found on the land – f ishing, hiking, traveling, canoeing, and mastering traditional healing activities

For more information on Toronto Botanical Gardens, or this par ticular event, visit: https://torontobotanicalgarden.ca, email: info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca or leave a message at 416-397-1341

The Tesla’s Medicine Wellness Festival, based on the work of visionary Nikola Tesla, will take place June 14 to 16

Living Wild in the City –a Hike and Fire hosted by indigenous teacher Alan Colley, will be held June 23

The Toronto Tantra Festival celebrating love, spirituality, Eros, and community takes place September 5 to 8

THE TORONTO TANTRA FESTIVAL

The Toronto Tantra Festival is a 4-day immersive festival exploring and celebrating love, spirituality, Eros, creativity, and community Consent, healthy boundaries, and conscious communication are the cornerstones of the festival Canadian and international facilitators will create a sacred, safe(r), sex-positive, and inclusive environment for all experience levels and intensities.

Lear n – Experience –Transform. Join them from Sept 5 to 8, 2024. Find more info at: www.toronto tantrafestival com

SUPPORT ONTARIO’S WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITATS

Ontario is home to a diverse ar ray of wildlife, but many species are facing signif icant threats to their survival The Eastern Wolf, also known as the Algonquin Wolf, is among the iconic species at risk A study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology conf irms what we already knew Easter n Wolves struggle to survive outside of protected areas due to

hunting, trapping and human encroachment The research substantiates the impor tance of protected areas in safeguarding Easter n Wolf populations and highlights the need for targeted conser vation efforts.

And it’s not just Eastern Wolves. All of Ontario’s eight species of freshwater turtles have been designated as species at-risk These reptiles are an essential part of the tapestry of Ontario’s natural heritage and without immediate action they could be lost forever

Habitat loss due to developments like ag riculture, urban sprawl, roads, and bridges has led to the loss of over 70% of original southern Ontario wetlands.

Roads built through wetlands force turtles to cross busy routes to feed and nest, leading to fatal hits, especially during low-light conditions. Road mortality is one of the leading causes of tur tle population declines Ontario’s tur tles deserve protected habitats and safe passage to their feeding and nesting sites

Ear throots is working with municipal councils to bring light to this issue and request the installation of wildlife under passes so Ontario’s turtles can safely cross the road.

With your suppor t, Earthroots will continue to pursue protection for the habitats of Ontario's wildlife. To make a donation to their work, visit: https://www earthroots org/donate or call (416) 599-0152, email: info@earthroots org

J U N E 7 - 9 B UT TE R TARTS AN D YO U: A Weekend Escape at the B u t t e r Ta r t Fe s t i v a lhttps://www.sugarridge.ca/retreat /butter-tar ts-and-you-a-weekendescape-at-the-butter-tar t-festival/

J U N E 19 R E LEAS E TH E P R ES E NT AN D PAST LI F E "KAR MA" with S i f u J a m e s h t t p s : / / w w w s u g a rr i d g e c a / r e t r e a t / f e n g - s h u i - 1 0 1with-sifu-james-2-2/

J U N E 20 TH E ART O F H EALI N G w i t h A r r o l e L a w r e n c e https://www sugarridge ca/retreat / a r t - o f - h e a l i n g - w i t h - a r r o l elawrence-2-2-2-3/

J U N E 21

NATI O NAL I N D I G E N O U S P EOP L E S ' DAY h t t p s : / / w w w s u g a rr i d g e c a / r e t r e a t / n a t i o n a l - i n d i g enous-peoples-day/

J U N E 25 - 27 TH E ESS E N C E O F B R EATH https://www.sugarridge .ca/retreat/the-essence-of-breath2-2-2-2/

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Happy Summer Solstice

Thursday, June 20, 2024

J U N E 28 - J U LY 1 G ET YO U R

G LOW O N! Yoga Retreat https://www sugarridge.ca/retreat /get-your-glow-on-yoga-retreat-2/

J U LY 1 - 10, AU G 23 - 25

T H E YO G I N I PAT H O F YO G A

Te

Women Information: https://only loveis real love/sananda-yoga-ttc

J U LY 5 - 7 TH E ART O F R EST: Movement, Meditation & Nature

We e k e n d R e t r e a t - h t t p s : / / w w w s u g a r r i d g e c a / r e t r e a t / t h ear t-of-rest-movement-meditationsound-long-weekend-retreat/

J U LY 7 - 12 BAC K TO VITALIT Y:

A Week Long Wellness Kickstar t https://www sugarridge ca/retreat / b a c k - t o - v i t a l i t y - a - 5 - n i g h t - w e l lness-kickstar t/

J U LY 12 – 14 YO GA & H I K E: The E s s e n t i a l S u m m e r R e t r e a thttps://www sugarridge ca/retreat /yoga-hike-the-essential-summerretreat-2/

J U LY 19 – 21 YO GA AN D M E D I-

TAT I O N ST R E S S R E D U CT I O N

WE E K E N D - https://www sugarridge ca/retreat/yoga-and-meditation-stress-reduction-weekend/

AU G 2 - 5 G ET YO U R G LOW O N!

Yoga Retreat - https://www sugarridge ca/retreat/get-your-glow-onyoga-retreat/

AU G 7 M I N D F U LN ESS M E D ITAT I O N : A N I N T R O D U CT I O N

https://www sugarridge ca/retreat / m i n d f u l n e s s - m e d i t a t i o n - a nintroduction-2/

AU G 8 M I N D F U LN ESS M E D ITATI O N: A Day of Silence with Lizhttps://www sugarridge ca/retreat / m i n d f u l n e s s - m e d i t a t i o n - a nintroduction-2/

AU G 11 – 16

S U M M E R C LEAN S E J U I C E AN D R AW F O O D D ETOX W E E K https://www sugarridge ca/retreat / s u m m e r - c l e a n s e - j u i c e - a n d - r a wfood-detox-week/

S E P T 5 – 8 T H E TO R O N TO

TA N T R A F E ST I VA L i s a 4 - d a y immersive festival exploring and celebrating love, spirituality, Eros, c r e a t i v i t y, a n d c o m m u n i t y Consent, healthy boundaries, and conscious communication are the c o r n e r s t o n e s o f t h e f e s t i v a l Canadian and international facilitators create a sacred, safe(r), sexpositive, and inclusive environment for all experience levels and intensities LEAR N EXP ER I ENCE TR AN SFOR M Join us! Tickets are l i m i t e d G e t y o u r s h e r e : www torontotantrafestival com

AD R E NAL FATI G U E, ALLE RG I ES, D IAB ETES, and other Educational

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