Natural Awakenings Greater Boston/Rhode Island July 2023

REGENERATIVE ORGANIC CONNECTIONS

THE MICROBIOME CONNECTION

How Soil and Human Health are Related

TOO MUCH HISTAMINE

Natural Solutions to an Excessive Allergic Response

PROTECTING PETS FROM LYME DISEASE

Prevention and Symptom

Management Tips

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

DEPARTMENTS

7

12

13

14

HUES OF HEALTH

Benefits of a Colorful Diet

15

22

26

32

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE GARDEN

Regenerative Techniques for a Healthy Ecosystem Never

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letter from the publisher

“By creatively offering children healthy, diverse foods, presented in ways to please even finicky palates, parents can support microbiome health while establishing a lifetime of good eating habits.” The preceding statement is an excerpt from, “Gut Health for Kids, Clever Strategies for Picky Eaters,” by

As I began reading this piece, I was teleported in my mind to our childhood dining room table. With dinner-time long past, my siblings off with friends or watching television, there I would sit. Sometimes for hours, no joke. Mom would be in her closest-to-the-kitchen head-of-the-table seat, fork in hand with me to her left writhing in disgust at the thought of what I was about to be forced to consume.

This day was likely a Tuesday. As I recall, Tuesday was “franks and beans” night; my least favorite of them all. Not only were the franks the kind of hot dog with the casing that gave them the nickname, “snappers,” but the canned beans, for me, were like torture.

Still, as I type these words, I catch the expression on my face; upper lip curled, eyes a little squinty, furrowed brow, pure disgust … aaaaugh, the frustration Mom and I put each other through during those long evenings alone in the dining room.

Every once in awhile our German Shepard would make her way past Mom when she was distracted, and I’d get to offload some to my faithful friend. Occasionally, she’d get a call and the opportunity would come to slip some into the trash. I’d try anything given the opportunity.

I didn’t think I was a picky eater; I’d try any kind of chocolate you’d put in front of me!

Mom had all good intentions, no doubt. I was a bone-skinny little kid before puberty took its toll and all the chocolate and ice cream started catching up with me. She wasn’t going to let one of her brood starve to death, lol.

Having not had children, I’m not sure what I would have done in my younger days being responsible for another human—such a huge responsibility! Given that I was barely aware of any nutritional do’s and don’ts during childbearing years, I’d have probably felt just like Mom.

That’s why I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to share the potential solutions we strive to bring forward every month. Our desired outcome and mission is to be a solution-oriented place where you can take what works for you, share what you find helpful and leave the rest. I know I’m looking forward to trying some of Julson’s tips-for-picky-kids on myself this month!

You can support us by supporting our advertisers—they are the heroes and the healers, we’re just a conduit.

Have a safe, happy and healthy July!

Peace,

PUBLISHER Maisie Raftery EDITOR Randy Kambic

ADMINISTRATIVE ASST. Carolyn Coogan

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Courtney Ayers

Zina Cochran

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Page Cerulli

Amparo David

Wesley Dennis

Wendy Nadherny

Fachon

Carrie Jackson

Sheila Julson

Chrysanthi Kazantzis

Gary Kracoff

Kelcie Ottoes

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Sandra Yeyati

CONTACT US

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Phone: 617-906-0232

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Maisie@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com

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Quantum Energy Wellness Opens in West Warwick

Quantum Energy Wellness, which recently opened at 693 Quaker Lane in West Warwick, Rhode Island, provides the revolutionary Enhanced Energy System (EES) technology that can help relax and rejuvenate the cells in our bodies and possibly restore the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Custom-installed computers generate bio-active energy fields, called “scalar waves”, that promote wellness for cell rejuvenation, improve immune function, relief of pain, body detoxification, elevate mood, mental clarity, performance levels and consciousness along with balancing the rightand left-brain hemispheres for increased energy levels.

Developed 20-plus years ago by Dr. Sandra Rose Michael, Ph.D., D, DNM, DCSJI, the EES charges cells based on the principle that we interact with the energetic resonance of our environment. When a space is charged at 70 to 90 millivolts and being in it for enough time, cells begin to assimilate and sync to their optimal charge levels, promoting the body to heal itself potentially on many levels.

Owner Lyanne Perras reports that the process also counteracts destructive energy fields, like 5G, ELF, EMF, radiation, wiring and microwaves, and facilitates optimal cellular energy, allowing for life-supporting detoxification of harmful substances. For a limited time, mention Natural Awakenings to buy one session get one free (one per customer).

For more information or to make an appointment, call 401-228-9100, email LyannePerras27@gmail.com or visit QuantumEnergyWellness.net. See ad on page 3 and Resource Guide on pages 35, 36 and 37 .

Dr. Delonnay Helps Patients Crack the Code to Good Health

Martine Delonnay, a naturopathic physician and owner of Delonnay Holistics, in Providence, Rhode Island, provides a bio-energetic testing system, a thorough evaluation that provides a wealth of information about patients’ health, especially in cases in which the patient feels discomfort, but other healthcare providers are saying they are in good health. The process visualizes the meridians and the chakras of patients, an effective tool to prevent ailments that are in development, but not yet actively harming the patient.

With her accreditation and allopathic vision, she has a special interest in bringing awareness to the mind-body connection using a large array of modalities like nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, lifestyle counseling and more. Delonnay also works with patients to remove barriers and help them gain a better understanding of the emotional roots of their physical ailments.

“When it feels like your body is an enigma or a mystery to the medical community, I can help crack the code,” enthuses Delonnay, who can also check on other health parameters like for heavy metal toxicity, mineral and vitamin deficiencies, digestive absorption, gut issues and others.

Cost: $299 for a complete evaluation, $110 for follow-up visits. Location: 182 Gano St. For more information or to make an appointment, call 774-425-9519, email DelonnayHolistics@gmail.com or visit DelonnayHolistics.com. See Resource Guide on page 37.

Boston’s Local Food Festival Returns This Fall

Boston’s largest one-day local food festival celebrating the bounty and flavors of New England will return from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 17 on the Rose Kennedy Greenway along Fort Point Channel. Presented by the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston, the event will feature nearly 100 farmers and food vendors plus games and activities for kids of all ages, cooking demonstrations and a seafood throw-down.

Festival-goers can engage with farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs from the Boston area and throughout New England, learn from workshops and demonstrations, and enjoy other activities including local live music. Attendees will taste new creations and support our state’s and region’s farmers and other food makers.

Free admission. Location: 191 Atlantic Ave. For more information, visit BostonLocalFood.org. See ad on page 10.

Experience Healing Through Yoga Therapy

Maria Sichel, owner of Time For You Yoga, in Cumberland, Rhode Island, is providing private Svaroopa yoga therapy sessions. Geared toward the neck, shoulders, spine, knees and/or feet, the modality—of which she is certified and also teaches—addresses knee and back pain, sciatica, bulging and herniated discs and scoliosis, and is also helpful for those recovering from injury, surgery or a long-term condition that makes engaging in regular yoga classes unsuitable.

Each of the 50-minute sessions, tailored and targeted to meet specific needs and goals, may include coaching in yoga breathing, poses with special adjustments to release deep tensions, or Embodyment, and is equivalent to six to eight yoga classes. Yoga therapy is easy, slow-paced, safe, concentrated, reliable, accessible and adaptable for adults of all ages and abilities.

Cost: Several packages are available and a 10 percent discount applies for those over 60 years old. Location: 2155 Diamond Hill Rd. For more information or for a free phone consult to help decide, call 401-305-5319, email Sichel. Maria@gmail.com or visit TimeForYouYoga.com. See Resource Guide on page 38.

Taking Care of Summertime Skin

Damage

Just in time for summer and the fine lines, wrinkles and other skin damage the sun may cause and to generally improve overall skin texture and firmness year-round, Holistic Health Rhode Island, in East Greenwich, has added micro- and nano-needling to its array of services. While both procedures—personalized based on each client’s needs—use a needling pen to create micro-channels in the skin, nano-needling only punctures the first layer of the skin while micro-needling penetrates into the deep dermis.

Nano-needling is particularly suitable for treating fine lines and wrinkles, swelling, dark pigmentation or sagging skin. Those concerned with deep wrinkles, hypo-pigmentation, stretch marks or deep acne scars should consider micro-needling.

The creation of micro-channels in the skin can increase product absorption by 97 percent and encourages the body to rejuvenate itself as its natural collagen and elastin production is stimulated and skin begins to heal itself naturally, reducing fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles.

Location: 990 Main St., Ste. 4. For more information or to make an appointment, call 401-398-2933, email info@HolisticHealthRI.com or visit HolisticHealthRI.com. See ad on page 10.

North American Debut of New ‘Body Worlds’ Exhibit

“Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness,” the first exhibition of its kind to immerse attendees in anatomy, physiology and health with real human bodies preserved through plastination, will make its North American debut on July 7 at The Back Bay Hut, in Boston. Since its first showing in Japan in 1995, more than 54 million people in 150-plus other cities worldwide have taken an unforgettable journey into the human body through "Body Worlds" exhibitions, gaining insights into its complex structure and how functional systems and organs interact.

The plastination preservation process, a vacuum technique that facilitates the long-term preservation of anatomical specimens using specially developed reaction plastics, was invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, when he was as an anatomist at the University of Heidelberg.

This exhibition tour’s preserved bodies show how happiness is determined, its impact on the body and mind, and the negative impacts from its absence. Attendees will also see the negative effects that tobacco, alcohol and various diseases can have on the body. “The Anatomy of Happiness” inspires us to live more consciously, pay more attention to our health, recognize physical potential and limitations, and reflect on what it means to be human.

Ticket prices start at $25. Location: 343 Newbury St. For more information or to obtain tickets, visit the box office or BackBayHub.co.

Training the Brain with Dynamical Neurofeedback

Rhode Island Neurofeedback, in Providence, Rhode Island, offers Non-Linear – Dynamical Neurofeedback by NeurOptimal brain training for all ages including children. This safe and highly effective technology, classified by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as a wellness device, helps to regulate the nervous system while providing relief for many conditions from lethargy to mania, ADD to OCD, depression to anxiety and sleep issues plus neurological, cognitive and emotional issues—without risky or dangerous side effects.

Owner Raffaele Gianfrancesco says, “Most of us don’t realize how much we can benefit from training our brains. Like our bodies, our brains benefit from healthy exertion and positive attention. Many of us suffer from symptoms of brain dysregulation. Training the brain can strengthen its response to these symptoms and provide a clarity, ease and peacefulness that is hard to describe until you experience it. It doesn’t provide any physical inputs to your brain. It only reads your brain activity and provides feedback via auditory and visual cues. Because of this, training is safe and side-effect free.”

In 30-minute sessions, clients wear sensors placed with conductive paste on each side of the head and clipped to each ear which measures brain electrical activity while listening to relaxing sounds. The practice’s tracking tools help identify shifts as they are happening.

Location: Bliss Place, 245 Waterman St., Ste. 504D. For more information or to make an appointment, call 401-2820230, email Raff@RINeuroFeedback.com or visit RINeuroFeedback.com.

New Podcast Episodes Highlight

Natural Awakenings

The podcast interview of Natural Awakenings Greater Boston/Rhode Island edition Publisher, Maisie Raftery, is now available through the Dreamvisions

7 Radio Network. Wendy Nadherny Fachon, a writer for the magazine and Story Walking Radio Hour host, presents her experiences as a writer and reader in Part 1. In Part 2, she conducts an interview with Raftery, who explains her profound passion for connecting healthy lifestyle businesses and practitioners to the communities she serves.

Since 2011, Raftery has been publishing the Boston edition of the magazine, which serves as a bridge between allopathic and natural medicine, providing readers with ways to explore natural alternatives and solutions to healing. Her grassroots efforts, including nine months of door-to-door advertising and revenue generation, as well as establishing distribution channels in Greater Boston, laid the foundation for obtaining the Natural Awakenings Rhode Island edition in January 2021. Both women share their inspiring stories.

“When the pandemic disrupted the magazine’s distribution channels, we enhanced our digital offerings and expanded into supporting businesses with cookieless digital- and social media advertising, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), native advertising and more.,” says Raftery. “Readers can find both the full magazine and individual, shareable articles online. By sharing the podcast and magazine digital materials, we hope to grow our readership, distribution and advertising base to help more people find solutions that assist in improving quality of life.”

For more information, call 401-529-6830, email StoryWalkerWendy @gmail.com or visit Dreamvisions7Radio.com. See ad on page 12.

Close Relationships May Influence Physical Well-Being

A new study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science has found that a person’s close relationships may either benefit or undermine physical health. The three-week study involving 4,005 participants looked at how both positive and negative relationship experiences affect the body, and how daily fluctuations in those interactions may influence changes in well-being, as reflected in self-reported stress levels and coping abilities, as well as blood pressure and heart rate reactivity biomarkers.

The researchers observed that people with more positive experiences and fewer negative ones reported lower stress, improved coping skills and better physical functioning. They also noted that ups and downs in negative relationships were especially predictive of outcomes like stress, coping and overall systolic blood pressure.

Pilot Program Reveals Benefits of Four-Day Work Week

The nonprofit 4 Day Week Global conducted a six-month pilot of more than 2,900 workers from 61 companies in the United Kingdom from June to December 2022 in which the work week was reduced from a standard 40 hours to 32 hours for the same pay and benefits. At the end of the sixmonth trial, 39 percent of employees reported less stress and 71 percent expressed lower levels of burnout. Anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues also decreased, while mental and physical health improved. Sixty percent found a greater ability to balance work with home-based responsibilities, and 62 percent found it easier to balance work with social life. Employees were also more satisfied with their finances, relationships and time management.

Company revenue stayed broadly the same over the trial period, rising by 1.4 percent on average. Companies also saw improvements in hiring, absenteeism and resignations, with staff turnover dropping by 57 percent over the trial period. Additionally, 63 percent of businesses offering a four-day week found it easier to attract and retain new talent.

Effects of Cannabis Before and After Surgery

In January 2023, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine published guidelines recommending that all patients undergoing anesthesia be screened and questioned about cannabis use, including how much and how often they use, how they take it and when they last used it.

One of the largest studies on the effects of cannabis use on sedation, published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, looked at 250 patients undergoing an endoscopy while under anesthesia. Those that reported regular cannabis use required significantly higher doses of anesthesia than nonusers. Another study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that daily cannabis users required a higher dose of sedatives prior to an endoscopy than weekly or monthly users.

On a related note, a 2018 study published in the journal Patient Safety in Surgery reported that marijuana use may interfere with painkillers after surgery. The study looked at 261 trauma center patients and concluded that marijuana use, especially chronic use, may affect the pain response to injury and require higher doses of opioids for pain management.

Repairing the Planet’s Lungs

The oceans, sometimes called the lungs of the Earth, have absorbed 30 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions since the Industrial Revolution and captured 90 percent of the related excess heat. Seawater stores about 150 times more CO2 than air. Unfortunately, absorbing all that greenhouse gas has damaged sea life.

Engineers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a process to cleanse the seawater of CO2 so it can store greater amounts of greenhouse gases. The process sends an electric charge into seawater flowing through tanks on a barge. The charge sets off chemical reactions to trap the greenhouse gas into a solid mineral, which is then deposited on the ocean floor, completing the cleansing process.

The engineers expect to design larger facilities based on the data obtained from their test sites in Los Angeles and Singapore and have commercial sites removing millions of tons of CO2 per year by 2025. The UCLA scientists estimate that 1,800 facilities would be needed to capture 10 billion tons of atmospheric CO2 annually beginning in 2050, thereby limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Solar Community Hubs

Nearly half of the world’s population has no access to the internet. Dell Technologies, in partnership with Computer Aid International, is addressing the gap for people that might benefit the most. They convert old shipping containers into customizable, solar-powered internet centers, called “solar community hubs”, that connect community members to the digital world. The hubs are well-lit, well-ventilated classrooms that use energy-efficient Dell technology and aircooled servers. Each hub supports up to 40 people at a time and offers up to 20 users a wireless connection to learning materials.

The hubs provide digital skills to further education and open economic opportunities for the local community; allow micro and small enterprises to create jobs; and enable financial sustainability by offering services and products that go beyond education, such as telemedicine.

The first hub was placed in the Brazilian Amazon town of Boa Esperança in March 2022. Dell and the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability also installed equipment, including drones and environmental monitors, to track deforestation in the area. During the first week of March 2023, more than 200 alerts about tree loss were posted from Boa Esperança. Three hubs currently exist in Brazil and South Africa, and Dell will soon add two hubs in Egypt that are focused on career and life skills, as well as another in Australia, centered on preserving and protecting Aboriginal art and culture.

Saving the Fading Night Sky

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History "Lights Out" exhibit, in Washington, D.C., is helping people understand that light pollution is a global problem with broad impact. The effects of light pollution go beyond our diminishing view of the stars; it also impacts ecosystems and cultures on Earth.

The exhibit features more than 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, a history of human-made light, interactive experiences, tactile models and a theater program to discover why dark nights matter, rekindle a connection with the night sky and consider how much light at night is enough.

Astronomers rely on light, both visible and invisible, to understand celestial bodies, and their view of the universe has become increasingly obstructed by artificial light. Biologists have observed light pollution’s toll on plants and animals—from harming coral reefs’ moonlight-triggered reproduction to bats’ ability to pollinate flowers and the grim consequences of disoriented migrating birds. Another area of the exhibition presents people’s ancient and modern-day connections to the night sky through photographs, stories and cultural items.

Visitors also learn about simple but meaningful actions they can take to reduce light pollution, such as aiming outdoor lights downward and using the dimmest settings.

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Natural Ant Control for the Home

The warmer weather can bring unwanted pests, including ants, into homes and apartments. Conventional pesticides and ant traps can be toxic to humans, pets and the environment. This season, consider using one of these safer ant-control alternatives.

KEEP COUNTERS CLEAN

First and foremost, maintain kitchen counters and floors free of food particles. Tightly seal food containers, wipe countertops with soapy water, sweep the floors and avoid leaving standing water overnight. If there are no food sources around, the ants will lose interest.

STOP ENTRY INTO THE HOME

After cleaning, the next line of defense is to keep ants from entering the home in the first place. One of the most effective, toxin-free methods is to spray cedar oil outside, around the perimeter of the house. Mix one ounce of cedar oil in one quart of wa-

ter (or four ounces per gallon) and spray the solution three feet up the outside walls and on the ground, six feet out from the edges of the house.

USE NATURAL REPELLENTS

Numerous natural repellents work well inside the home. Place one or more of these in the kitchen or wherever the ants are entering: cucumber peels or slices; tea bags of mint tea or dry, crushed mint leaves; cloves; cayenne pepper; citrus oil soaked into a piece of string; lemon juice; cinnamon; or coffee grounds.

CONFUSE ANTS TRAVELING BACK TO THE NEST

As worker ants travel from their nest to forage for food, they leave a sex hormone (pheromone) scent in order to find their way back to the nest. These invisible trails can be washed away with a mixture of one-quarter cup of white vinegar, two cups of water, and 10 to 15 drops of peppermint, clove, eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.

USE NATURAL ANT KILLERS AS LAST RESORT

A serious ant problem might require more drastic measures that kill the invading ants. These two options employ non-toxic ingredients.

• Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic, talc-like powder made from the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton. When sprinkled on ants, the powder causes them to dehydrate.

• Cornmeal left out in small piles where ants are visible is another option that poses no threat to pets or little kids. The ants will eat the cornmeal, but because they can’t digest it, they will perish.

Benjamin Blackett

Connecting the Mind, Body and Spirit Through Healing Movement

As a transformative moving meditation practice, TranscenDance takes yoga up off the floor and puts it into free-flowing movement, connecting body, mind and spirit in ways that can help heal unconscious pain and disconnection. When Benjamin Blackett sought to integrate energizers into his Life Mastery workshops, he was drawn to this Conscious Dance modality and studied under Jennifer Joy Jiménez, the creator of this movement system which cultivates inner peace, joyful expression and purposeful living. Blackett became the first male to be certified as a facilitator and now offers TranscenDance sessions in-person and online for both women and men.

“We need to move our bodies to

move spirit,” explains Blackett, “and this 10-stage dance process takes people into their body as if coming into it for the very first time. The process helps to shift energy, and what I witness in an hour of TranscenDance always amazes me.”

The most notable benefits of the practice include moving from physical tension to physical freedom, from self-doubt to self-confidence and from depression to happiness.

The guided dance meditation begins in stillness, with the sourcing stage, calling on source and setting a personal intention which can be anything from releasing stress or healing to improving energy or uplifting mood. As the music picks up, Blackett guides participants to engage the

spirit by moving into the body and breath. The music intensifies to stimulate the movement and the process, transporting one into the experience of “my body is dancing me.”

The spirit dance moves the body and carries it to the next stage, stretch, to feel the parts of the body and fully explore the space. TranscenDance proceeds through the remaining stages—self, shift, surrender, synergy, serve, sooth and, finally, back into stillness. Synergy is a mirror dance in which participants witness one another and combine their spiritual energies. Serve brings love in and sends it out. Sooth washes the body, mind and spirit, and bestows healing energy. Participants end the class feeling relaxed, more connected with themselves and happier with who they are.

“Our issues live in our tissues,” says Blackett, “and TranscenDance allows us to look at our discontent and our longing, release the former and shift our energy to the latter. Getting rid of inhibitions and negativity and feeling better about ourselves.”

Blackett is a certified Life Mastery Consultant and founder of A Creative Healing Place. He guides people in recognizing, relying on and believing in their unlimited potential and power. He helps them stir up the innate knowing and self-trust already instilled deep inside their soul. He offers a variety of in-person seminars, workshops and one-on-one coaching programs, and is particularly passionate about the transformative power of TranscenDance.

For more information about Blackett or to register for a Zoom class at 8 p.m. on July 5 and 19 or 10 a.m. on July 22 or for in-person Beach TranscenDance, visit https://ACreativeHealingPlace.com/. See ad on page 25 and Resource Guide on page 34.

Wendy Nadherny Fachon hosts the Story Walking Radio Hour, and is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings. Learn more at Storywalking. com or contact StorywalkerWendy@ gmail.com

THE MICROBIOME CONNECTION

HOW SOIL AND HUMAN HEALTH ARE RELATED

The human gut microbiome, which is critical to fighting off disease, and soil microbiome, which enables plant growth, are vitally important to maintaining all life on our planet. These two communities of microorganisms are indirectly connected in important ways, and researchers are trying to find out more about their interplay.

Human Microbiome

The human gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms of different species. These microbes help to digest food, synthesize vitamins and other important compounds, regulate our immune system and even influence behavior and mood.

The gut microbiome includes both helpful and potentially harmful microbiota that coexist peacefully in a

healthy person. But certain diets, or the use of antibiotics or other bacteria-destroying medications, can upset the balance, a state known as dysbiosis, which can impair the microbiome’s functions, leaving the body susceptible to disease.

Soil Microbiome

The soil microbiome has many parallels to the human gut scenario. It consists of bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses—microorganisms that play an important role in maintaining the health of the soil. They do this by breaking down organic matter, cycling nutrients and protecting crops against harmful pathogens.

Regenerative organic farming practices that promote biodiversity and disdain the use of chemical pesticides

and fertilizers develop robust soil that is rich in nutrients and beneficial microbes. In such settings, farmers don’t need to use chemicals, because the microbiome creates disease-resistant soil to fight off threats.

The Nutrition Link

While a direct link between the soil microbiome and the gut microbiome has yet to be proven, soil certainly impacts our health through our diet. A diverse and active soil microbiome is responsible for supporting plant growth. Plants then provide us with the nutrients that our gut microbiome needs to thrive, including calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, E, K and the B complex.

Dan Kittredge, founder of The Bionutrient Institute, explains, “The sophistication of the soil microbiome is connected to the nutritional value of the food that’s produced. The healthier the [soil] microbiome, the healthier the food.” The use of fertilizers and pesticides does not directly produce less nutritious food, but rather their impact on the health of the soil microbiome can impact the crops’ nutritional value.

There is a hypothesis that food has become less nutritious since the mid-1900s. In a 2004 study, University of Texas scientists examined the nutritional value of 43

The Promise of Regenerative Organic Agriculture

garden crops from 1950 to 1999 and found that while all 43 foods showed a statistically reliable decline in nutrition, it was likely due to cultivating plants with desired traits, such as larger sizes, faster growing rates and increased pest resistance. It wasn’t the soil that was the problem, but that growers had not prioritized breeding crops for higher nutritional value.

According to Jack Gilbert, a pediatrics professor at the University of California San Diego and co-founder of the Earth Microbiome Project and the American Gut Project, “There is an indirect relationship between a healthy soil microbiome and healthy gut microbiome. While we need healthy soils to grow plants, a healthy soil microbiome does not equal a healthy gut microbiome.”

He explains, “The link is really about diet in the gut microbiome. Precision nutrition is the idea that how we all respond to food is unique, and that we can predict those responses if we understand what kinds of bacteria are in the gut. This is because the gut microbiome varies between people, and those same gut microbes can mediate how food influences our physiology. Eating a healthy diet can have a profound impact on reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases.”

The nutritional value of food is more complicated than the quality of the soil in which the crops grow. It is also impacted by the processing of the food. As Kittredge notes, when the bran in wheat is removed—a common process that turns flour white—wheat loses much of its nutritional value. Unprocessed foods allow us to access more of the nutrients within them.

Digging in the Soil

There is another way that soil microbes can benefit human health: spending time in nature. Exposure to the soil microbiome has been shown to stimulate the immune system. When outside, we are exposed to a diverse array of microorganisms that increase disease resistance and provide neurological benefits.

Led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, which includes organizations and brands like Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia, the Regenerative Organic Certified farms and products meet the highest standards in the world for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness. The idea is to create farm systems that work in harmony with nature to improve quality of life for every creature involved. The Regenerative Organic Certified framework is designed to go above and beyond the USDA Certified Organic seal. To date, 134 farms and more than 47,000 smallholder farmers totaling almost 880,000 acres are Regenerative Organic Certified. Nearly 100 brands offer Regenerative Organic Certified products on the market.

Under Regenerative Organic Certified standards, soil health is promoted by including a variety of rotating crops, cover crops, no tillage, no synthetic inputs, no genetically modified seeds and rotationally grazed animals. Farms that follow these protocols become biodiverse ecosystems with organically rich soil that absorbs water, does not erode over time and produces safe, nutritious food. Learn more at RegenOrganic.org.

Gilbert has largely built a career on the benefits of getting his hands dirty. He is currently conducting a study to find out how giving children two hours of outdoor learning a day can impact their metabolic health and help them avoid diseases. According to Kittredge, playing in the dirt isn’t just for kids. “It is beneficial to expose ourselves to soil microbes,” he says. “Everyone should nature bathe.”

“Exposure to soil microbes, like Mycobacterium vaccae, can positively impact our physical and mental health,” says Kathleen DiChiara, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner and digestive wellness educator. “We are losing diversity and not getting the exposure we used to.” She points out that the gut microbiomes of urban citizens in the U.S. have lower bacterial diversity than those in rural societies, including hunter-gatherers from Tanzania and the Amazon.

While diet, lifestyle and genetics play a role in the host-specific differences, the microbiome composition in adults is also based on exposure to microbes in the environment. According to DiChiara, there is no perfect

The Bionutrient Institute

Helps Build a Nutrient-Dense Food Supply

As modern agricultural practices have degraded millions of acres of land, concentrations of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables have steadily decreased— the Bionutrient Institute (BI) is working to rectify this trend. While food nutrition has declined, there has been a concurrent increase in physical, psychological and emotional ailments related to nutrient deficiencies. Degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes and heart disease have risen to epidemic levels. Recognizing that soil health is directly connected to plant, animal, environmental and human health, the BI has become instrumental in building a nutrient-dense food supply.

Founded by Dan Kittredge, the organization seeks to deepen people’s understanding of these connections and to shift the focus of agriculture from an overemphasis on yield and

cost toward improving quality and nutrition. Lab scientists assess soil and crop samples for levels of vital elements and compounds to identify the variation that exists within the food supply. This information helps them determine the relative nutrient density of different crops and identify the best practices to produce the highest quality results.

One of the BI’s most notable projects is the development of the Bionutrient Meter, a collaboration between the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) and Our Sci, LLC. The handheld spectrometer utilizes light-emitting diodes that emit light at highly specific wavelengths, which then bounce off objects like carrots or spinach or soil. A light sensor reads how much light bounces back and characterizes the object’s chemical compounds. Wavelength measurements correlate with the amount of

profile for the gut microbiome, and our gut microbial communities ebb and flow. “If a specific strain of bacteria suddenly disappears, perhaps due to an illness, another species can take on its task,” she explains. “Like nature, it’s about working together on our behalf.”

Diversity, richness and symbiotic behavior of the gut microbes are central to our well-being. DiChiara notes that many variables can negatively impact the gut microbiome. Some result from the choices we make voluntarily, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, eating ultra-processed foods, being chronically stressed and leading a

different nutrients in food, the levels of organic carbon in soil and chlorophyll content in plants.

The meter will allow people to measure the nutrition density of their food at home. Since 2018, the BI has been gathering thousands of soil, food and crop samples through its Grower Partner and Citizen Science programs and using them to calibrate the latest version of the device.

The meter is only one part of an overall strategy that includes an opensource data platform that will support an empowered transformation of food production. BFA memberships for individuals, farmers and businesses, as well as donations, support the research and development work.

Location: 411 Sheldon Rd., Barre, MA. For more information, call 978-3551199 or visit BionutrientInstitute.org or Bionutrient.org.

Wendy Nadherny Fachon is host of the Story Walking Radio Hour and produced a one-hour episode about “Soil Science and Bionutrition” with Dan Kittredge. Download the free podcast at Dream Visions7radio.com/soil-science-andbionutrition/.

sedentary lifestyle. Other factors are beyond our control, such as neurological injuries, illnesses and hormonal shifts due to puberty or menopause.

Human Impact on Soil Health

The soil microbiome and the gut microbiome both need our support to maintain proper health. Although our gut microbiome may not be directly impacted by the health of soil microbes, it can be impacted by the pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in our food.

Degradation of the soil microbiome occurs in many ways. Tillage, bare soil, dry soil, fertilizer, chemical sprays and fungicides all harm the soil microbiome. These non-regenerative agricultural practices can have negative impacts on the health of individuals that eat the plants and on the health of the broader ecosystems.

Chemicals like glyphosate can damage the gut microbiome by creating oxidative stress, which agitates the microbiome and impedes its ability to function properly. Pesticides can also have a detrimental impact on the gut microbiome. Each year the United States uses 1 billion pounds of pesticides that may be damaging our bodies when we eat our veggies. “What we are not doing is prioritizing protecting the microbiome—for us and the soil. It’s time we recognize the interconnections between climate, soil and the gut,” DiChiara says.

There are multiple ways we can cultivate a closer, healthier relationship between our soil and our gut, such as supporting sustainable agriculture, avoiding processed foods, frequenting farmers markets for organic produce or spending time in nature. Better yet, Kittredge suggests planting a pesticide-free garden at home and eating carrots straight from the soil.

Kelcie Ottoes is a copywriter and content creator specializing in sustainability and environmental topics.

Boston’s Food Forest Expansion

The Boston Food Forest Coalition (BFFC) is leading the nation in green space equity and climate resilience. This community land trust has, to date, purchased and started cultivating 10 sites with the intention of developing 30 food forests by 2030. Essentially, food forests are edible parks. These urban food forests are often situated on vacant lots, and unlike community gardens or urban farms, they are designed to mimic ecosystems found in nature, with many vertical layers.

Trees, vines, shrubs, herbaceous plants and root vegetables work symbiotically to produce an abundance of fruit, nuts, tubers and edible greens. The plants shade and cool the land and air, regenerate the soil, provide habitat for wildlife, beautify neighborhoods and help economically challenged areas become more resilient. Community volunteers work

and learn together, choosing what to grow, planning seasonal activities and sharing their harvests with food banks and nonprofit and faith-based meal programs.

The Edgewood Neighborhood Association stewards the quarteracre Edgewater Food Forest in Mattapan. The park project began with a lot clean up in April 2021. Teams built benches and a raised platform for yoga and performances. The largest trees grow black walnuts, which are difficult to crack, so the community added a walnut-cracking shed and plans events around harvest time. The park is also cultivating figs, apricots, plums, strawberries, blackberries, golden berries and mushrooms. Although Boston’s food forests are small, they grow a large variety of produce, including Roxbury Russet apples, native blueberries and pawpaws. The city has been selling

land to the BFFC’s community land trust for $100 per parcel since 2015 and helps fund initial construction and planting operations. Boston also adopted innovative zoning and permitting ordinances to support these food forest initiatives.

The BFFC, for its part, provides technical assistance and fundraising support. It hires experts for tasks such as soil remediation, invasive plant removal and accessible pathway development, as well as fence and bench installations. Furthermore, the BFFC land trust holds these urban food forests as permanently protected lands. Food forests are now a vital part of the city’s open spaces program. This community-driven model assures the maintenance of these spaces without burdening city governments and sets an example for other cities across the country.

Urban food forest parks bring together neighbors, neighborhood associations, community-based organizations and city agencies, in a grassroots effort that responds to the interconnected crises of food security, social equity, climate change and environmental degradation.

The Boston Food Forest Coalition is located at 76 Weld Hill St., Jamaica Plain, MA. For more information, visit BostonFoodForest.org.

Wendy Nadherny Fachon is host of the Story Walking Radio Hour and has produced numerous episodes related to permaculture and food forest gardening. Find these free podcasts at Dreamvisions7radio.com/soilscience-and-bionutrition.

Recycle Antioxidants and Bile for Health and Longevity

Recycling antioxidants and bile plays an important role in maintaining optimal health and preventing many diseases and imbalances.

Antioxidants are compounds that help protect cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals. These substances can damage cells and contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidants help prevent this damage and promote healthy cell function.

Antioxidants can help protect cells from damage by donating electrons to free radicals. This neutralizes the free radicals and prevents them from damaging our cells and other molecules. Antioxidants can also help to repair damage that has already been done by free radicals.

Bile is a vital substance produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Here are some of the functions of bile:

 Fat digestion: Bile contains bile salts, which emulsify dietary fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets. This helps our enzymes break the fats so we can absorb them.

 Fat absorption: Emulsified fats can be digested by lipase into fatty acids and glycerol. Bile also helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and other fat-soluble substances.

 PH regulation: Bile helps regulate the PH balance in the intestines. It contains bicarbonate ions that neutralize stomach acid, creating an optimal environment for enzymes to work effectively.

Overall, bile is essential for the proper digestion and absorption of dietary fats, the elimination of waste products and maintaining a healthy PH balance in the intestines.

Here are several steps that can be taken to support antioxidants and bile recycling:

 Eat a diet rich in antioxidants: A diet with lots of fruits,

vegetables, nuts and whole grains can provide the body with important antioxidants. Berries, spinach, kale, nuts and dark chocolate are high in antioxidants.

 Limit intake of processed foods: Processed foods are often high in unhealthy fats and can contribute to a build-up of harmful compounds in the body. Limiting our intake of processed foods can help support the healthy function of our digestive system and promote the recycling of bile.

 Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is important for maintaining a healthy digestive system and promoting the recycling of bile. Aim to drink one-half of one’s body weight in water throughout the day.

 Exercise regularly: Working out can help promote healthy digestion and bile recycling. Exercise can also help reduce inflammation in the body and promote the production of antioxidants.

 Consider supplements: If the amount of antioxidants in our diet is insufficient, consider taking a supplement. A well-formulated antioxidant formula will contain a vast assortment of antioxidants. We need some of all of them, not just a large amount of a few antioxidants. Phosphatidylcholine, Tudka and digestive bitters can all help with bile flow and utilization.

Supporting the recycling of antioxidants and bile is important for maintaining optimal health and preventing many diseases. By making simple lifestyle changes and incorporating healthy habits into our daily routine, we can help support recycling of antioxidants and bile and promote healthy digestion, elimination and overall health.

Dr. Gary Kracoff is a registered pharmacist with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine at Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, located at 577 Main St., Waltham. For more information about testing and supplementation, call 781893-3870 ext. 111 or visit Natural Compounder.com. See ad on page 19 and Resource Guide on pages 35 and 37.

Too Much Histamine

Natural Solutions to an Excessive Allergic Response

Histamine is an organic chemical produced by the body as a protection from allergens. It is also found in some of the foods we consume. While certain levels of this compound are considered normal and healthy, an overabundance can cause troublesome symptoms—from runny noses and hives to intestinal discomfort and brain fog. Histamine intolerance, as this condition is called, is often caused by food triggers or the body’s inability to break down the excess histamine. Over-the-counter antihistamines promise short-term symptom relief but may have unappealing side effects. Long-term, drugfree resolution is possible with a little sleuthing and holistic lifestyle adaptations.

A WIDE ARRAY OF SYMPTOMS

“Histamine intolerance can affect every area of the body, including the brain. The inflammation created by excess histamine often leads to brain fog and other neurological symptoms,” says Michael Ruscio, a naturopathic practitioner, doctor of chiropractic, clinical researcher and author of Healthy Gut, Healthy You

Symptoms of histamine intolerance often start in the intestinal tract with diarrhea and bloating and contribute to leaky gut. “If the sensitive gut lining is damaged, histamine can permeate to other areas of the body and lead to redness, swelling and itchiness, as well as respiratory issues, joint pain and anxiety. These seemingly unrelated symptoms can all have the same underlying cause, and patients, as well as many doctors, are not aware of these connections,” says Arti Chandra, a Seattle-based family practice physician who is certified in functional medicine and serves as faculty at the Institute for Functional Medicine.

KNOWING THE TRIGGERS

“Mast cells, a type of white blood cell, are responsible for releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation. A histamine intolerance or exposure to high-histamine foods can lead to mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), where they release excess amounts into the body. Typically, enzymes will break down the histamine so that it doesn’t build up, but if the body

doesn’t have the proper level of enzymes to break it down or if too much histamine is being released, then persistent symptoms can occur,” Chandra asserts.

Symptom management begins by healing the digestive system. “A healthy gut biome supports the body in producing one of the enzymes needed to break down histamine and can help lower inflammation,” she explains. “Dysbiosis, which is when the gut flora is out of balance, is often caused by the Standard American Diet, also known as SAD. Processed foods, fillers, chemicals, additives and other unnatural substances can all compromise the gut flora and gut function. Dysbiosis often leads to low levels of DAO [diamine oxidase], an enzyme in the gut that helps break down histamine. Some people can have a genetic basis for this—a mutation—that can also lead to excess histamine from impaired breakdown.”

SOLUTIONS FOR HISTAMINE OVERLOAD

Per Ruscio, “A simple, balanced, whole foods diet like the Paleo diet is a great starting point to calm inflammation and heal your gut. This means aiming for a variety of vegetables, fresh fish, eggs, meat, nuts and seeds, and fruits in moderation. If symptoms continue, try a low-histamine diet.”

Chandra suggests avoiding processed and fast foods, gluten, dairy, sugar and artificial sweeteners. Foods that are naturally high in histamine, including aged cheese, fermented foods, cured meat, alcohol, caffeine and tomatoes, can exacerbate symptoms. She recommends eliminating triggers for three weeks and slowly reintroducing them one at a time to see which are still problematic. “As the gut biome becomes stronger, the body may naturally be able to tolerate high histamine foods better; eating a diet rich in prebiotic foods and sometimes taking an appropriate probiotic supplement can help with this,” she says.

Environmental factors can also trigger histamine reactions. “The body produces histamine to ward off

substances like pollen, infections, chemicals and mold. Many people get what they think are normal allergies in the spring, with symptoms like runny noses, watery eyes and a scratchy throat. However, if these symptoms occur year-round, it could be a sign of a histamine intolerance or MCAS. Mold contains mycotoxins that are known to activate mast cells and lead to a histamine release. If someone is living in a building with mold and the exposure is continuous, it can lead to chronic inflammation and histamine issues. Proper air filters can help, but they ultimately may need to eliminate the mold or move out of the environment,” says Chandra.

While over-the-counter antihistamine medications may help, they can have a sedating effect and other side effects, including cognitive issues. Natural and holistic treatments work just as well and are often better tolerated by the body, Chandra says. “Quercetin, found in apple skin and onions, can stabilize mast cells and make them less leaky, as can luteolin, both of which are available in supplement form and in Himalayan Tartary buckwheat. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil or supplements have anti-inflammatory properties. Stinging nettles, another stabilizer, can be used as a tea or in supplement form. Spices such as curcumin are natural anti-inflammatories and a nourishing addition to any diet,” she advises.

Stress management can help reduce histamine reactions, too. “Stress can trigger mast cells, causing a release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, as well as causing dysbiosis and leaky gut,” Chandra says. “Breathwork and meditation, as well as restful sleep, can help reduce histamine intolerance symptoms, support the gut and contribute to an overall level of internal balance.”

Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

Dr. Egginton on Resetting Hormones with a Detox Diet

Chemicals and other toxins we are exposed to in our environment, our beauty routines, medical treatments and even in the foods we eat are processed by the liver, which also recycles our hormones—the body’s chemical messengers—that interact with one another as well as with our neurotransmitters and our digestive system. When symptoms of hormonal imbalances arise, like PMS and menopause difficulties, acne, bloating, irregular periods and low libido, it’s crucial to address their root cause. The interplay between mood, hormones and gut health is why a holistic approach can be helpful in identifying the cause of symptoms.

Dr. Abby Egginton, a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and owner of Balance Natural Medicine, in Arlington and Lexington, Massachusetts, helps patients with issues surrounding hormone regulation, microbiome health and overall body balance for optimal health.

Trained as both a naturopathic doctor and registered nurse, Egginton now specializes in women’s and LGBTQ health. She has recently introduced a 10-day detox diet program with a focus on hormone health.

Can you define “detoxification” and “cleanse”?

Detoxification is how our body metabolizes toxins in order to process and excrete them. A cleanse is a diet where you focus on eating more cleanly by avoiding processed foods and focusing on an organic, plant-based diet.

What does a detox diet consist of?

In essence, it eliminates processed foods and focuses on organic whole foods that are easily digested. In my program, this is paired with a medical food protein powder that includes the proper amino acids and cofactors to support the liver’s three phases of detoxification. Attention is also brought to optimizing pathways of elimination: daily bowel movements, regular urination, sweating and some breathwork.

Are there benefits to completing a detox diet program?

Yes. Benefits might include improved digestion, increased energy, clearer skin and less joint pain. The primary benefit is that detoxification pathways operate more optimally which means that hormones will be recycled and drugs will be metabolized more effectively. It also means that toxins we are exposed to may be less likely to cause damage.

Who do you recommend should participate?

All hormones are processed by the liver and therefore all people can benefit from a detox. Generally, women or people who have (or have had) monthly periods, are more prone to hormonal imbalance since there is a more complex interplay of hormones going on.

This type of detox diet program is helpful to those with a hormonal imbalance because it can help the liver to recycle hormones more completely resulting in a decrease of hormone-related symptoms. Many xenobiotics (toxins we are exposed to) are estrogenic so a detox can help balance (and therefore reset) hormones by decreasing the exogenous hormones we are exposed to.

What can someone expect while their body is detoxifying?

There are many different approaches to detoxifying the body. My upcoming program is a gentle 10-day detox diet. During this 10-day program, a person may initially experience fatigue and headaches as their body adjusts to days without sugar or caffeine. After the initial few days most people report improved energy and mood, and clearer thinking.

Should someone only undertake this with the help of a professional?

Yes. Those with certain medical conditions or who are on certain medications shouldn’t do a detox, so it’s important to have a licensed independent provider ensure that a detoxification diet is safe and appropriate for you as an individual. Once cleared to participate, it’s also important to work with a medical professional in case there are any adverse reactions to this restricted diet. While rare, any change in diet can result in blood sugar or electrolyte changes with symptoms like headache, dizziness or fatigue. Always check in with an experienced provider to get help moving through a detox safely and to be sure that any symptoms are monitored.

What other lifestyle changes during a detox program do you recommend?

I recommend limiting exposure to toxins in cleaning and beauty products, staying well hydrated, participating in daily gentle exercise such as yoga or walking, and considering incorporating a mindfulness practice such as deep breathing or journaling. During my program, dietary recommendations are also discussed including eliminating processed foods, alcohol, added sugar and caffeine.

How does one prepare for this type of diet detox program?

Make sure that the timing of the program works with your schedule. If you have big events or celebrations during that time, it may not be a realistic time to participate. Because your energy will initially be lower and preparing meals will take some time, it’s helpful to complete a detox diet during a time when your work is not too demanding and you have some time each day for gentle exercise, food prep and detox-promoting activities including castor oil packs, dry skin brushing and journaling. Basically, if life is feeling hectic or stressful, it may not be the best time to do it. But the beauty of a 10-day detox is that it is manageable with real life. For those who rely on caffeine and sugar to get through their day, it can be help-

ful to begin cutting back on these things in preparation so that your body more easily adjusts to their removal during the detox.

Egginton’s 10-day hormone reset detox program will begin on September 28 featuring six group Zoom meetings that include information, recipes, encouragement and time for Q&As. Practice locations: 49 Waltham St., Lexington, Mass.; 393 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass. For more information, to make an appointment or register for the program, call 914-919-9300, email Info@ BalanceNaturopathic.com or visit BalanceNaturopathic.com. See ad on page 20 and Resource Guide on page 37.

Gut Health for Kids

Clever Strategies for Picky Eaters

Most kids look forward to summer vacation, but the dog days can eventually lead to boredom and over-snacking. By creatively offering children healthy, diverse foods, presented in ways to please even finicky palates, parents can support microbiome health while establishing a lifetime of good eating habits.

Tickle Their Palate

“Foods with probiotic-containing living cultures or fermented foods can add beneficial bacteria to the gut,” says Jill Castle, a Massachusetts-based pediatric dietitian and founding CEO of The Nourished Child, an online nutrition resource for parents. She recommends incorporating treats that are alive, tart and bubbling with healthful microbes.

“Parents can make sure they offer a variety of prebiotic and probiotic foods routinely at mealtimes as options to taste and try. The good news is there are many healthy, gut-supporting foods for children to eat,” she advises.

Yogurt with live or active cultures and kefir, a fermented milk drink, both contain these beneficial probiotics. “Although kefir tends to be sour, some brands have flavored kefir, such as strawberry, mango or peach,” Castle explains. “I’ve had great luck intro-

ducing this to children who are picky, because it’s smooth and creamy and tastes like a smoothie.”

She also notes that kombucha, a fizzy, fermented tea with live and active cultures, is available in fruity flavors that appeal to children. Pickles fermented over time with salt and water are a source of healthy bacteria for the gut. And although cheeses are fermented, only a few have live, active cultures. Castle recommends gouda, mozzarella or cheddar.

Sneak in the Fiber

According to Dr. Joanne Aponte, a naturopathic doctor at Lakeside Natural Medicine, in Milwaukee, a diverse diet high in fiber is key to supporting a healthy gut microbiome. “All veggies are beneficial, but ones high in galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) and fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) prebiotics help grow and support healthy

gut bacteria,” she explains. GOS-rich foods include beans, lentils and peas, along with broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, while FOS-predominant choices are garlic, onions, asparagus, artichokes and leeks.

Aponte also recommends chia, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, which can be ground up in an inexpensive coffee grinder and added to smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt or home-baked goods such as cookies, pancakes or waffles. “Sunflower butter can be used to make cookies,” Aponte notes. “I make oatmeal-sunflower butter cookies that are packed with microbiome-supporting oatmeal, pumpkin, ground chia seeds and, of course, chocolate chips.”

For children that are choosy about vegetables, Aponte suggests making zucchini or carrot muffins with ground chia seeds or walnuts. Entice children to eat raw veggies by offering dip-

ping sauces, such as teriyaki, ranch dressing or salsa. Aponte notes that skins should be left on vegetables whenever possible because they contain fiber, which helps feed the gut microbiome.

“It takes some experimentation, but encourage your child to try lots of different foods,” Aponte says. “Some kids might prefer a black bean spread or dip, or refried beans, versus eating whole beans. There are also pastas made with chickpeas or lentils. Veggies like onion or zucchini can be chopped small and hidden in spaghetti sauce.”

Add a Pinch of Fun

Katrina Lien, the program development specialist for Sanford fit, a children's fitness program in rural South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, suggests that parents find ways to engage and empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices.

“Try offering new foods with foods that you know your kids already like,” she says. “When you introduce something new or unfamiliar alongside foods that are a well-known favorite, kids are more open to trying the unfamiliar food.”

Attempt to make foods more interesting and fun, Lien advises. “This can be done by how you arrange the food items on the plate or cutting foods into different shapes. For example, use a cookie cutter to turn simple cucumber slices into a heart or a star.”

According to Lien, when parents involve their children in snack and meal preparation, kids feel included and excited to try the foods they helped create. Although getting kids interested in unfamiliar foods can be laborious and time-consuming, parents should remind themselves to be patient and remain consistent.

Sanford fit offers free, online resources through printable literature, videos, lessons and games at fit. SanfordHealth.org.

Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

Children’s Dental Health is Crucial for Gut Health

The gastrointestinal system (GI) is the body’s mechanism of absorbing nutrients to grow and thrive. It begins with the oral cavity, then moves to the stomach and into the intestines. In essence, the mouth is a window that allows us to see what else is going on in other areas of the body. If an infection forms in the mouth, it will surely expand unless it is treated properly. Disturbances in the mouth such as tooth decay or gum inflammation will affect the rest of the GI tract and can strike vital organs such as the heart and brain, making it imperative for children to have access to proper dental care.

The body is a large microbiome, or natural home to millions of living microbes. Many of the microbes that live within us are not harmful and we have a symbiotic relationship with them. Good bacteria help breakdown the foods we eat and support our immune system. However, we can harbor unwanted bacteria species that cause inflammation and illness. Dental decay and inflamed gum tissue is directly related to an infection of harmful bacteria. If a large cavity is left alone for a while, bacteria will continue to advance and create an even larger infection of bacteria in our saliva. We swallow an average of 700 times a day, so the infected saliva we swallow will move to the stomach and alter its microbiome. This will lead to long-term inflammation of the stomach, getting in the way of absorption of the nutrients as well as weakening the immune system.

Antibiotics are a significant variable when it comes to gut health. Along with the harmful bacteria, antibiotics will wipe out good bacteria too, drastically changing the microbiome in the stomach. Medicating with antibiotics has become a common quick-fix solution in health care, especially for children. By relying on it too much, we expose the body to a point where a resistance is formed by the microbes we are trying to eliminate. This is why it is important to use antibiotics only when absolutely necessary because when the time comes to treat a serious infection, they will not be effective.

To rebalance the gut microbiome, consuming probiotics and fermented foods can reintroduce good bacteria to the GI and get proper absorption back on track. Starting a child’s eating habits early with plenty of fresh vegetables and protein will help the body absorb needed vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy mouth such as vitamin C for healthy gums and calcium for healthy teeth. Avoiding certain foods that cause inflammation will also improve gut health. This includes foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. To make sure the microbiome is healthy, it is important to form a good relationship with a dentist. Dental professionals will be the first to identify a potential problem in the mouth and lead you down the right path in fixing it early. Routine dental cleanings will keep bacteria levels as low as possible and contribute to not only a healthy microbiome, but overall health.

Dr. Amparo M. David, owns Dentistry by Dr. David, located at 563 Main St., Bolton, MA, where she practices general and cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics. She also has completed a residency in dental sleep medicine and sleep apnea, and is able to assist her patients with this common problem. For more information or to make an appointment, call 978-779-2888 or visit BoltonDental.com. See ad on page 2 and Resource Guide on pages 35 and 37.

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Functional Lab Testing for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the stomach and intestines, also known as the gastrointestinal tract. Although it is a chronic, long-term condition, changes in our diet and lifestyle can improve the quality of life.

Symptoms of IBS can include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. Foods to avoid triggering the ailment include gluten, dairy, fried foods, beans or legumes, caffeinated drinks, highly processed foods, alcohol, garlic and onions, and cruciferous vegetables.

Functional and naturopathic medical practitioners always look for

the root cause of chronic conditions and, in the case of IBS, they know that there are many reasons for digestive discomfort and equally as many options for restoring a patient to optimal intestinal health.

Helpful foods include lean meats, eggs, fatty fish, vegetables including leafy greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, fermented foods and bone broth. Suggested supplements include psyllium fiber, probiotics, digestive enzymes, L-glutamine, marshmallow root, slippery elm root and aloe vera gel.

Since IBS can be complex, it is best approached and addressed by a clinician that takes the time to get

to know each patient well. This includes completing a thorough intake to identify any underlying lifestyle issues, completing a panel of comprehensive tests and then creating a curated plan of action. With IBS, there are many tests to determine the underlying cause.

In-Depth Stool Testing

This at-home test provides a 10page report that includes information on digestion and absorption of food, markers of inflammation, number of prebiotics, levels of bad bacteria including the various types and pathogenicity, specific parasites and levels of good bacteria.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Testing

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) can also be an underlying cause to IBS. This three-hour, athome breath test provides a one-page report with two markers of hydrogen and methane gas which can contribute to painful gas and significant bloating.

In-Depth Food Sensitivity Testing

This process can test for up to 176 separate foods. This test is a three-page report which shows which foods are causing inflammation and leading to our gut symptoms. It also tests the gut barrier panel which can show an overgrowth of candida (yeast) and if we have leaky gut. A functional, natural approach to IBS has been shown to be successful for symptom management and higher quality of life outcomes. Taking the time to investigate symptoms thoroughly is key. And with an individualized treatment plan that is catered to a patient’s unique symptoms, managing IBS doesn’t have to get in the way of everyday life.

Dr. Chrysanthi Kazantzis (Dr. Kaz) is an expert in naturopathic and functional medicine who uses a personalized approach and comprehensive testing with each patient to help them achieve optimal health. Her practice, Anasa Personalized Medicine, is located at 245 Waterman St., Ste. 308, in Providence, RI. For more information or to make an appointment, call 401-270-1742 or visit AnasaMedicine.com. See ad on page 8 and Resource Guide on page 36.

Natural Remedies for Skin Rashes from Plants

Holistic Approaches for Gaining Relief

The itchy and irritating rash caused by poison ivy, poison oak and sumac are an unwelcome and uncomfortable experience. These and other plants contain a resin called urushiol that triggers an allergic reaction in many individuals after skin contact.

Homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine that aims to stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities. It is based on two main principles: the “law of similars” and that of dilution and succussion. According to the first, a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used to treat similar symptoms in an individual who is ill. The second principle involves the preparation of remedies through a process of serial dilution and potentization, which is believed to enhance their healing properties.

Homeopathy offers several potential benefits when it comes to helping treat the aforementioned rashes.

■ Holistic approach: Homeopathy treats the person as a whole, taking into account their physical, emotional and mental symptoms, and addressing the underlying cause of the rash, rather than just suppressing the symptoms.

■ Individualized treatment: Homeopathy recognizes that each person is unique and the selected remedy is based on an individual’s specific symptoms and constitution. This personalized approach can lead to better outcomes and tailored relief.

■ Safety and non-toxicity: Homeopathic remedies are prepared through a process of dilution, making them safe and non-toxic. They can generally be used alongside conventional drug treatments without risk of adverse effects.

Several homeopathic remedies can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms associated with these kinds of poisoning or rashes.

Rhus tox: This remedy is often recommended when the rash is intensely itchy, accompanied by swelling and blister formation. The itching may worsen at night or in damp weather. The person may experience restlessness and find relief through both warm applications and baths.

Anacardium: When the rash is accompanied by intense itching and burning sensations, anacardium may be prescribed. The person may also experience restlessness, anxiety and a desire to scratch the affected area vigorously.

Croton tiglium: This remedy is indicated when the rash is accompanied by intense itching and burning, and there is a tendency for it to spread quickly. The person may experience a raw, sore feeling on the skin, aggravated by touch and scratching.

Ledum palustre: Used for poison ivy/ oak rash when one feels better after washing the area with cold water. Ledum is an antidote remedy for poison oak. Rashes burn in open air and discoloration can be seen after weeks of rashes or from other injuries; ledum can help heal the discoloration faster.

Graphites: This remedy is suited for cases where the rash is oozing, with a sticky discharge. The skin may be dry, rough and cracked. The itching may worsen in the warmth of the bed and the person may feel irritable and sluggish.

Kali Sulph: A cell salt, it is used for chronic and recurrent breakouts of the poisoning … the rash is small, herpetic vesicles, forming a thin scab, with itching and oozing. Cell salts are different than homeopathy and help heal the body on the basis of mineral deficiency correction.

Grindelia: This can be used topically as a tincture or poultice. Further, some of the more readily available topical home remedies include banana peel, aloe vera, sandalwood powder mixed with rose water, and

ghee. Also, fresh cilantro juice has antihistamine effects and is a traditional remedy for rashes like from contact with poison ivy and allergy-related hives, and sunburn.

Vandana Pitke, a certified homeopath with a medical degree in homeopa-

thy, a holistic healer and managing director of the Rhode Island Holistic Healing Association, also owns OmHomeopathy, located at 1099 Mendon Rd., Cumberland, RI. For more information, call 401-573-3757 or visit OmHomeopathy.com. See ad on page 29 and Resource Guide on page 36.

COMING IN THE AUGUST ISSUE

Back to School

Protecting Pets From Lyme Disease

Prevention and Symptom Management Tips

When the weather is nice and we crave outdoor adventures with our pets, we may not want to think about Lyme disease, but it’s a good idea to take precautions to avoid an infection. One bite from an infected tick could lead to troubling health concerns. Despite the risks, there is no reason to hide indoors, as there are numerous actions we can take to protect our animal companions from infection and to relieve their symptoms should they contract the ailment.

Disease Prevalence in the U.S.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Lyme disease is spread by bites from blacklegged deer ticks or western blacklegged ticks that carry the disease-causing bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. While cases have been reported in nearly every U.S. state, Lyme disease is most common in the Northeast, Upper Midwest and Northwest. A 2018 study published in Environmetrics found that the prevalence of Lyme disease in dogs is getting worse

in the Northeast and spreading into regions that weren’t previously considered to be high risk, including areas in North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Tennessee.

Symptoms in Cats, Dogs and Horses Lyme disease affects animals differently. Veterinarian Erin O’Leary, founder of Heal House Call Veterinarian, explains that cats with Lyme disease are asymptomatic. “We don’t see any symptoms in cats, so we don’t tend to test or treat for Lyme in cats,” she explains.

Canine Lyme disease is a different story. Per O’Leary, dogs often exhibit lameness that may shift among the legs. Fever and swelling in the joints are common. Dogs can also experience a serious kidney complication called Lyme nephritis that causes them to feel very sick, drink lots of water and urinate more. Two studies performed by IDEXX, a developer of diagnostic and software products for animals, revealed that dogs exposed to tick-

borne diseases, including Lyme disease, had a 43 percent increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, horses with Lyme disease may experience weight loss, lameness that shifts among the legs, muscle tenderness, low-grade fever and swollen joints.

Preventing Tick Bites

Nicole Savageau, a veterinarian with The Vets, notes that pet owners can naturally reduce their pet’s risk of being bitten by a tick by keeping their yards in check. “Ticks prefer to live in areas with tall grass, weeds and leaf litter,” she says. “Keeping your yard tidy by mowing your lawn and removing any dead leaves or debris can help reduce the number of ticks in your yard.”

Pet owners may also use food-grade diatomaceous earth, a non-toxic powder, to help kill ticks in areas where pets like to spend time. Several natural fly sprays, many of which help to repel ticks, are also available for horses.

Removing a Tick It’s important to carefully inspect pets for tick bites after spending time outdoors. “If you can remove the tick within 24 to 48 hours of the bite, it won’t transmit Lyme disease,” O’Leary maintains. She recommends tools like the Tick Twister or a pair of tweezers to safely coax a tick from their pet. “If you can get down to where the head is inserted and squeeze that with tweezers, that’s the easiest thing to do,” she says.

Savageau suggests keeping pet hair trimmed short, which can make it easier to spot and remove ticks, and cleaning the bite site with soap and water or an antiseptic solution to prevent infection. It’s important to watch for signs of inflammation or infection, like redness, swelling or discharge. “If any of these symptoms appear, or if the pet develops a fever or lethargy, the owner should contact their veterinarian for advice,” she says.

Caring for an Infected Pet

According to O’Leary, the antibiotic doxycycline is the best available treatment for Lyme disease, and giving the pet a bit of turmeric to eat can relieve inflammation, though it is best to consult with a veterinarian regarding the most appropriate treatment options and dosages. To reduce a fever, soaking a towel in cool water and applying it around a pet’s paws and ears will help.

Savageau highlights the importance of feeding pets a balanced and nutritious diet that supports the immune system, as well as supplements and other natural remedies. “This may include adding probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids to their food to support gut health and reduce inflammation. Herbs like echinacea may help stimulate the immune system and support the body’s ability to fight infections,” she says, adding, “Always consult with a veterinarian before starting any natural or alternative treatment for pets, as some may be harmful or interfere with prescribed medications.”

Paige Cerulli is a freelance writer in Western Massachusetts specializing in the health and care of pets.

Diatomaceous Earth with Neem For a More Comfortable Flea and Tick Season

Nature’s Goodness, a family-owned, natural health food and supplement store in Middletown, Rhode Island, carries Dr. Mercola Diatomaceous Earth (DE) with Neem among its curated selection of high-quality nutritional supplements, specialty and organic foods, unique gifts, and natural bath, beauty and household products. DE is an age-old remedy for keeping pets comfortable during flea season while also protecting homes and gardens from annoying and potentially harmful insects. This product is meant for external use only.

“This time of year, especially, it’s important to make your pet’s environment unwelcome territory for pests,” advises co-owner Donna Levesque. “While Diatomaceous Earth is not a pesticide, it makes life difficult for insects, yet it is harmless to humans, mammals, birds and reptiles. Insects and pests don’t like neem either. The neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has existed for thousands of years because it protects itself against insects, so using this combination product should keep unwanted pests at bay. It can also be applied with or without other herbal insect repelling products.”

Levesque adds that, because DE by itself can be very drying, the added organic neem leaf powder makes an important extra since it has many moisturizing properties and can help reduce excess dryness and scaling, plus it soothes irritated skin.

For use, apply DE sparingly and then thoroughly brush it into the animal’s coat, avoiding contact with eyes, nose and mouth. In the home, sprinkle it lightly around kennels, bedding and other areas where animals frequent plus along baseboards, in corners and hard to reach crevices such as between appliances. Outside, sprinkle DE generously around the perimeter of the home, on top of garden soil and dust the leaves of plants with it. Using it outdoors can even help to ward off mosquitoes.

“Our goal at Nature’s Goodness is to create a friendly, welcoming environment that inspires our customers to get excited about healthy living,” says Levesque. “Our knowledgeable staff, with 70-plus years of cumulative experience in the health food industry, is always happy to answer your questions and share information on our favorite products like this one, which we recommend for a happy, comfortable pet and inviting home and yard.”

Product cost: SRP $24.99 for a 1 lb. bag. Location: 510 E. Main Rd. For more information, call 401-847-7480, email Info@NaturesGoodnessRI.com or visit NaturesGoodnessRI.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 Sales@NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com to request our media kit.

Akashic Consulting

INTO THE AKASH WITH ASTRID!

401-617-8074

AstridMeijeruic@gmail.com

rihha.org

Curious to learn how your other lifetimes are impacting your life? Ready to clear trauma, negative belief patterns, relationship dynamics, vows and soul contracts? Through consulting your Akashic Records, I facilitate the clearing of energies blocking your True Self, and coach you through conscious meaning-making to create the life you want.

Alexander Technique

CÉCILE’S WISE WAYS

857-245-9488

Contact@CecileRaynor.com

CecileRaynor.com

Ready for sustainable relief from your chronic muscle or joint pain? Do you want to experience effortless good posture and ease of movement? Then explore the BIA Process based on the Alexander Technique.

Brain Training

RI NEUROFEEDBACK | ZEN BRAIN TRAINING

401-282-0230

RINeurofeedback.com

Most of us don’t realize how much we can benefit from training our brains. Like our bodies, our brains benefit from healthy exertion and positive attention. Many of us suffer from symptoms of brain dysregulation that vary from lethargy to mania, ADD to OCD, depression to anxiety. Training the brain can strengthen its response to these symptoms and provide a clarity, ease and peacefulness that is hard to describe until you experience it. Call today for a free discovery conversation.

Chiropractic

MALCHAR CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER

33 College Hill Rd, Bldg 30C Warwick, RI 02886 401-826-7600

MalcharWellness.com

MCWC offers a variety of services, which include chiropractic care, nutrition, homeopathy, total body modification, activator methodology, auto, sports and work injuries, applied kinesiology, contact reflex analysis and Graston technique. Dr. Malchar and Dr. Boudreau, as well as supporting staff, are here to support you along your wellness journey.

MCARDLE CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER

Catherine McArdle, DC Robert Sedlor, DC 2013 Plainfield Pk, Johnston, RI 02919 401-383-3400

McArdleChiropractic.com

Family chiropractic practice offering holistic care to patients of all ages. Based on the initial evaluation, patients will be given a treatment plan which addresses ergonomics, exercise, stretching and nutrition in addition to their spinal alignment. See ad, page 10.

Coaching

A CREATIVE HEALING PLACE

Benjamin B. Blackett

401-855-2008

BBB3pips@gmail.com

Facebook.com/BenjaminBBlackett ACreativeHealingPlace.com

Benjamin Blackett is a multi-certified, International Life Mastery Consultant and motivational speaker. He helps people pull their dreams into their lives. His clients experience better health, deeper and more meaningful relationships, more satisfying careers, and expanded time and money freedom. You are invited to get to know him through his livestream “Morning Mindset Book Studies” on his Facebook page, A Creative Healing Place, Mon-Fri, 9:05-9:25am. See ad, page 25.

TAKE THE LEAP COACHING

Kim Childs

1025 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476 617-640-3813

Kim@KimChilds.com

KimChilds.com

Need help clarifying and realizing your desires? Asking

“What’s next?” or “How do I get started?” Kim is a certified life and career coach specializing in Positive Psychology, creativity and midlife transitions, to help clients create more personally fulfilling, meaningful and empowered lives. Initial consultations are free.

Colon Hydrotherapy

INTERNAL WELLNESS CENTER

Liz Marcano-Pucillo

150 Wood Rd, Ste 403, Braintree, MA 02184 781-228-6915

Liz@InternalWellnessCtr.com

InternalWellnessCtr.com

Receive professional colon hydrotherapy by a national board-certified therapist using the Angel of Water system. The most comfortable and private system in the industry. See ad, page 25.

Compounding & Wellness Pharmacy

BIRD’S HILL COMPOUNDING PHARMACY

401 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA 02492

781-449-0550

Pharmacist@BirdsHillPharmacy.com

BirdsHillPharmacy.com

Familyowned and -operated since 1960, we have evolved from a traditional pharmacy to a worldwide compounding and nutritional resource. Our unique one-on-one patient consultations produce a full understanding of your health needs. You, your physician, and one of our compounding pharmacists work as partners to ensure that you will receive the best care possible.

DINNO HEALTH

Acton Pharmacy

563 Massachusetts Ave, Acton, MA 01721

978-263-3901

Keyes Drug

2090 Commonwealth Ave

Newton, MA 02466

617-244-2794

Theatre Pharmacy

1784 Massachusetts Ave

Lexington, MA

781.862.4480

West Concord Pharmacy

1212 Main St, Concord, MA 01742

978-369-3100

DinnoHealth.com

For more than a quarter of a century, Dinno Health has been a trusted provider of pharmacy services and is committed to providing the highest quality of individualized care for each customer. At our four independent pharmacies, we offer prescriptions, compounded medications, medical supplies, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and vaccines. See ad, page 7.

JOHNSON COMPOUNDING AND WELLNESS

577 Main St, Waltham, MA 02452

781-893-3870 • Fax: 781-899-1172

John@NaturalCompounder.com

NaturalCompounder.com

JCW is the only sterile and non-sterile PCABaccredited pharmacy in Massachusetts. In addition to our compounding service, we offer a full range of nutritional supplements, natural products, homeopathic remedies and home health care equipment. See ad on page 19.

Dentist

DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID

Amparo

563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888

BoltonDental.com

We look beyond our patients’ teeth in order to improve both their smiles and their quality of life. Our practice offers full preventive services: biological, holistic, functional dentistry, ozone therapy, reconstructive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, dental sleep medicine, implant dentistry, in addition to TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders) therapy. See ad, page 2.

Energy Healing

QUANTUM ENERGY WELLNESS, LLC

693 Quaker Ln, West Warwick, RI 02893 401-228-9100

QuantumEnergyWellness.net

The EESystem generates multiple bio-active life enhancing energy fields, including “scalar waves” which can allow cell regeneration, improve circulation and immune function, reduce inflammation, relief from pain, detoxify the body, elevate moods and more. See ad on page 3.

Flotation

FLOAT BOSTON

515 Medford St, Somerville, MA 844-443-5628

FloatBoston.com

A float tank is a small shallow pool filled with water nearly saturated with Epsom salt. You float completely effortlessly. It’s completely dark and quiet: your own private world. It’s utterly relaxing. See ads, pages 11 and 29.

Frenectomy (Tongue/Lip Tie Release)

DENTISTRY BY DR. DAVID

Martin Kaplan, DDS

563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-2888

BoltonDental.com

Specializing in pediatric dentistry, Dr. Kaplan uses the latest technology available to diagnose and treat infants as well as children and adults. In 2015, he was instrumental in developing the first-in-the-country “Infant Laser Frenectomy” training class through the continuing education department at Tufts Dental School and is an international leader in the field of dental laser surgery. See ad, page 2.

Functional Dietitian

ALORA FREDERICK, RDN

Johnson Compounding & Wellness

781-893-3870 x 149

Alora@NaturalCompounder.com

NaturalCompounder.com

Integrative and Functional Registered Dietitian who strives to motivate individuals on their health journey. Alora loves to help people feel their best and has a special interest in GI health and mental health (depression & anxiety). See ad on page 19.

Gut Health

REBALANCE YOUR ROUTINE

Jessica Liggero, HHP, SIBO Practitioner 617-459-8114

RebalanceYourRoutine.com

A virtual Holistic Health Coaching Service that focuses on improving gut health, SIBO and detoxification by making changes to your daily habits and by integrating the best herbal supplements for your individual needs. See ad, page 25.

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Handmade Soaps & Skin Care

NEW BEDFORD SOAP COMPANY

NewBedfordSoapCompany.com

We have been making soap for over 10 yrs and have over 60 blends. We have scrubs, face, hand and foot creams, fragrance stones, along with perfume sticks, lip and cuticle balms. We also have dog shampoo and balms. Open M-F, 11am-4pm and Saturdays, 10am-2pm.

Health Food Store

NATURE’S GOODNESS

510 East Main Rd, Middletown, RI

401-847-7480

Facebook.com/NaturesGoodness

NaturesGoodnessRI.com

Since 1984 we have been providing the finest quality Natural & Organic Whole Foods including many gluten-free products, natural body care, athletic supplements & protein powders, incense, smudging supplies and candles made with essential oils. Natural pet care food & supplements. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Visit website for more information.

Homeopathy

VANDANA PITKE

Om Homeopathy, It’s My Health Cumberland, RI

401-573-3757

OmHomeopathy.com

With 16+ yrs experience in classical homeopathy, Vandana Pitke has helped many clients restore and achieve health. A certified classical homeopath, she looks at the clients from a holistic perspective focusing on mind, body and spirit. She also incorporates many other holistic modalities in her practice, which makes healing faster, better and from within when combined with homeopathy

See ad on page 29.

Integrative Veterinary Medical Care

MASH MAIN ST ANIMAL SERVICES OF HOPKINTON

Margo Roman, DVM 72 W Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-4077

MASHVet.com

Ionic Foot Bath

QUANTUM ENERGY WELLNESS, LLC

Carleen Christopher

401-228-9100

QuantumEnergyWellness.net

A full-service integrative veterinary clinic offering caring and healthful options and modalities like acupuncture, functional nutrition, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbs, ozone therapy, surgery and dentistry. See ad, page 33.

Integrative Wellness Center

IT’S MY HEALTH

Marie Bouvier-Newman

1099 Mendon Rd, Cumberland, RI 401-305-3585

Its-My-Health.com

We provide much more than products, services and education. We provide the tools you need to optimize your health in a comfortable environment. We care. See ad on page 29.

Intuitive Arts

NJP TAROT

Nicole Pirani

NJPTarot.com

Instagram.com/njptarot

Tiktok.com/@njptarot

Nicole uses the tarot cards to help clients intuit their own life paths, clarify life situations, make difficult decisions or simply let go of fears. Think of the reading as a mini-brainstorming session with a trusted mentor/friend. Sessions are positive and heartfelt with a touch of humor.

This ionic detox is a therapy that uses negative ions to cleanse the body. The ions attach themselves to the toxins and then are flushed out through the feet's reflex points. See ad on page 3.

Light Therapy

HEALING LIGHT JOURNEY

By appointment only

401-282-0230

Raff@RINeurofeedback.com

HealingLightJourney.com

The healing powers of light & sound are well documented. It is now possible to travel through amazing lightscapes and absorb beautiful sound energies to facilitate beneficial states of trance, healing and even psychedelic experiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience something truly out of this world (or your body!) Call today for a free discovery session to determine if this technology is for you.

Massage

WEST SHORE WELLNESS

Massage Therapy & Transformational Breath

Jane McGinn, LCMT, CTBF

459 Sandy Ln, Warwick, RI 02889

401-450-4172

WestShoreWellness.com

Massage therapy relieves muscle tension, improves sleep, supports feelings of well-being. Transformational Breath helps to eliminate restrictive breathing patterns, clear the subconscious and access higher levels of awareness. Live more joyfully. Call today.

That which you give to another will become your own sustenance; if you light a lamp for another, your own way will be lit.

~Nichiren

Naturopathic Medicine

ANASA PERSONALIZED MEDICINE

Chrysanthi Kazantzis, ND, MS 245 Waterman St, Ste 308 Providence, RI 02906 401-484-1882; AnasaMedicine.com

Owner and founder of Anasa Personalized Medicine, Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist and Reiki Master. Specializing in digestive disorders, thyroid disorders, diabetes, Lyme disease and chronic pain. Addressing these conditions by treating the underlying cause through herbal medicine, supplements, homeopathy, clinical nutrition and lifestyle counseling. Book an appointment to start your journey to optimal health. See ad on page 8.

BALANCE NATURAL MEDICINE

Dr. Abby Egginton

Arlington, Lexington & online appts

BalanceNaturopathic.com

Dr. Abby partners with her patients to find personalized health solutions for lasting wellness. She specializes in women’s and LGBTQ health, oncology, mental health and pediatrics. Call or text to schedule an appointment. See ad on page 20.

DELONNAY HOLISTICS

Martine Delonnay, ND

182 Gano St, Providence, RI 774-425-9519

DelonnayHolistics.com

An integrative medical practice combining naturopathic medicine with an allopathic medical background. Special interest in skin issues, nutrition and supplements, detox and cleanse cures, men’s and women’s health, and mental and emotional challenges. Currently seeing patients on Zoom and in-office for bodywork.

GARY KRACOFF, RPH & NMD

Johnson Compounding and Wellness

781-893-3870

Gary@NaturalCompounder.com

Dr. Gary Kracoff provides guidance and in-depth consultative services to find the “why” to what is happening physically and mentally, working with individuals to restore balance in the body. Specializes in customizing medications to meet individualized needs of patients, and he suggests nutritional supplements, natural products and homeopathic remedies to aid in faster healing and recovery. See ad on page 19.

Organic Hair Care

FLIPP SALON APOTHECARY

38 Transit St

Providence, RI 02903

401-274-1981

FlippSalon.com

A small boutique salon promoting a holistic approach to beauty, herbalism, art and music. Offering a full range of hair services using organic, plant-based products, full apothecary of loose herbs, blends and organic self-care items and accessories. Herbalist on staff. Gallery walls featuring local artisans; all mediums welcome. Live music in semi-acoustic for Music Nights. We believe that all these mediums are symbiotic in promoting joy and wellness in the individual and the community.

Past Life Regression

BLUE FEATHER HEALING PAST LIFE HEALING/HYPNOTHERAPY

401-262-6998

BlueFeatherHealing333@gmail.com

BlueFeatherHealing.net

Group sessions offer guidance to another life to gain a brief review of that time. Individual sessions offer detailed investigations into other lives and deep healing of trauma/wounds from those times.

Raindrop Therapy

QUANTUM ENERGY WELLNESS, LLC

Carleen Christopher

401-228-9100

QuantumEnergyWellness.net

Raindrop Technique is a sequence of anointing with oils that brings structural and electrical alignment to the body in a relaxing and invigorating manner through the power of essential oils. The oils can improve overall bodily function. See ad on page 3.

Reiki

BOSTON REIKI MASTER

34 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands

617-633-3654

BostonReikiMaster.com

Are you stressed from the pressure of your job, home life, kids or an illness? Do you want to feel calm and relaxed?

Experience reiki. Certified Reiki Master/Teacher with over 20 years’ experience in energy medicine providing pure Usui Reiki healing/relaxation sessions.

Sleep Therapy

TMJ & SLEEP THERAPY CENTRE OF NEW ENGLAND

563 Main St, Bolton, MA 978-779-0865

Info@TMJSleepMa.com; TMJSleepMa.com

Our facility addresses the root problem of most people’s sleep issues. Symptoms like facial pain, jaw pain, headaches, ringing in the ears, clenching, grinding and sleep disturbance must be examined thoroughly in order to treat a patient with individualized care. This usually involves the fabrication of a custom oral appliance. See ad on page 2.

Spiritual Centers

CENTERS FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING SOUTH COASTAL, MA TEACHING CHAPTER

Barbara M. Fuyat 401-793-1753

Barbara@CSLSouthcoast.org

CSLSouthcoast.org

We are a warm, welcoming community studying the Science of Mind, a philosophy and a way of life that embraces all spiritual paths, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and ages. We believe we are all connected. It is in this oneness that we come together in nature, celebration, services, classes, workshops to understand our own spiritual magnificence and choose to live in love, peace and equality. Our vision is a world that embraces and empowers each and everyone. Everyone includes you. See ad, page 23.

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Wellness Centers

THE IVY DRIP BAR AND WELLNESS CENTER

7 Brighton St, Belmont, MA 02478

617-221-5070

TheIvyDripBar@gmail.com

The Ivy Drip Bar offers IV nutrient infusions and aesthetic treatments. Infusions include “Meyer’s Cocktail,” immunity, inner beauty, hangover, recover and performance. IV therapy helps with dehydration, athletic recovery, immune booster, hangovers and malabsorption ailments. See ad, page 9.

Wellness Resources

BETH GARDNER

Acton Pharmacy

Keyes Drug

West Concord Pharmacy

BGardner@DinnoHealth.com

508-259-7851

Certified lifestyle educator and the director of health and wellness at Acton Pharmacy, Keyes Drug and West Concord Pharmacy. Beth Gardner works one-on-one with patients to help create ways to improve diet and overall health as a means for disease and illness prevention. See ad, page 7.

Yoga & Tai Chi

TIME FOR YOU YOGA

Maria Sichel, RYT, CSYT

2155 Diamond Hill Rd

Cumberland, RI  02864 401-305-5319

Maria@TimeForYouYoga.com

TimeForYouYoga.com

Private Svaroopa® yoga therapy sessions are tailored to meet your needs. Specially trained in treating pain, including back pain and neck and shoulder issues. Yoga therapy is more powerful than weekly yoga classes and moves you more quickly toward health and well-being. Experience pain relief, greater mobility, improved sleep, easier breathing, deep relaxation, increased flexibility and a deep sense of peace.

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