Conscious Life Free Online Magazine October 2020 Ed 68

*FREE ONLINE MAG *ISSUE 68 *OCT 2020

21 Days, No Gluten, Dairy & Sugar: What Happens?

5 Reasons To Do A Body Scan Meditation

Best & Worst Essential Oils For Your Pets Going Green: The First 10 Steps

Using Your Thoughts to Manifest Your Best Life The Ultimate Guide: Healing Your Sacral Chakra

Health Benefits of Blue Light Glasses Stress-Free Morning Habits

Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels

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CONTENTS [

SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH

10

Natural Wisdom for Spring Liv ing

13

Stress-Free Morning Habits

18

5 Reasons to Do a Body Scan Meditation

R

NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

30

I Stopped Eating Gluten, Dairy & Sugar for 21 Days – Here’s What Happened

36

Do Blue Light Glasses Work? Potential Benefits for Sleep & Eye Health



CONSCIOUS HEALING

48

Create your Life

50

The Pow er Of Gratitude

54

The Ultimate Guide to Sacral Chakra Healing For Complete Beginners

64 101 Best Louise Hay Affirmations of All Time

R

HEALTHY INTAKE

76

The Best Natural Sw eeteners to Use

81

Microbial Secrets of Sourdough

85

Miso Eggplant w ith Buckwheat Tabbouleh

b CONSCIOUS BODY 89

Yoga for Lymph Flow : A Gentle Practice to Support Your I mmune System

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CONTENTS H

GREEN LIVING

99

Going Green: The First Ten Steps

106 How To Stay Green During Hallow een

108 Why Solar Geoengineering Should Be Part of the Climate Crisis Solution

_ ANIMAL WORLD 117 Essential Oils for Pets: The Best & Worst Oils to Help Your Furry Friends

P WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS 128 DNA Activ ation 129 Neuro-Androgyny – Union of Opposites

130 Angel Connection School 131 Access Bars, Body Processes, Antaneea Technique, I nfinity Keys and the Magic of Colour

P

GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS

134

Support Local: Getaw ay to Aw esome SA Resorts

_ REACH OUT 142 Reach Out & Help: Deserving Charities And Causes

30

18

117 99

48 54

36

13

89 Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels

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Contributors Include

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media Articles from the late

EDITOR/OWNER Candida “Cj“ Matticks 087 802 6102 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za

LOUISE L. HAY Author/Inspirational Speaker

MICHAEL HOWARD Mindshare

Copy Editor Linda Navon SALES & MARKETING Sales & Marketing Manager Cj Matticks

SIMON WING-LUN Founder: Unconditional Love Healing

DR CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP

Sales Linda Navon CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Cj Matticks

DR JAMES MERCOLA

BRENT LINDEQUE The Good Things Guy

Content & Layout Assistant Linda Navon Digital Manager & Social Media Cj Matticks DISTRIBUTION & ACCOUNTS

HANNA KOK

WENDY YOUNG

BrainGym

Life Coach and Spiritual Counsellor

Lee Coulter lee@childoftheuniverse.co.za CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: 087 802 6102 011 026 2643 011 046 8737

FOLLOW US

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LINDA NAVON Deputy Editor

CJ MATTICKS Editor

Contributors Include

MARGI McALPINE

PENNI DU PLESSIS

Angel Connection School

Divine Space

MICHELLE LESKE

DR SHAVIT SACHS

Egypt Tour Goddess

Naturopath

TORSTEN A. LANGE Author, founder & director Reiki Academy London

VERONICA HAUPT Re-code Your Life

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT We believe in the ‘FIRST DO NO HARM’ principle and we select our content and advertisers accordingly. Our focus is on conscious lifestyle.

We cover topics around natural health & wellness: body, mind & spirit; conscious living for a cleaner planet, healthy recipes and fitness.

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By Wendy Young of Wise-Living “Every impulse of intelligence in our awareness starts it’s journey from the source of life as love, and nothing else.”

Deepak Chopra As we welcome the unfolding wonders of Spring with warmer weather, rains that nourish the earth, the return of animals and the growth of plants from their Winter hibernation, we also undergo an internal transformation. According to Charaka, a great Ayurvedic authority, 7 days before and after the Spring Equinox is the transition time to slowly make changes necessary to effortlessly and healthily welcome in the new season on all levels. The Spring Equinox is the 22nd September.

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Nature teaches us that space contains infinite potential and is the seed of all creation. So from the space, quiet and rest of the Winter, comes the potential for rebirth and new possibilities of the Spring. I invite you to take a few moments now to reflect on what seeds you wish to plant this Spring? They could be seeds pertaining to your health, to personal transformation and growth, to birthing a new relationship or career… the possibilities are endless… the seeds of Spring are yours for the planting.

“Nature teaches us that space contains infinite potential and is the seed of all creation.”

According to Ayurveda, Spring time is Kapha dosha (earth & water constitution) predominant time, which brings the qualities that are heavy, cold, dull, liquid, dense, slimy, and oily. Although this simple list doesn’t seem to offer much information, it is actually quite informative. These qualities have accumulated through the Winter (another Kapha time) so following the Ayurvedic principle of “like increases like” we adopt the opposite qualities of hot, dry, sharp and light to treat any imbalance.

We are all familiar with Spring allergies, congestion, sinusitis and excess mucus. This is nature’s way of melting away our inner “cold”. So now is the time to melt away that which has built up in the winter and clear excess heaviness and toxicity so that we may feel light, refreshed and renewed.

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•

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Morning routine can include: warm lemon and/or ginger water upon waking, abhyanga (self massage) with warm sesame seed oil before your shower, skin brushing (twice a week) and a brisk early morning walk!

Clean up your diet: just as we Spring clean our homes it’s time to Spring clean our inner home. Avoid heavy and dulling foods like excess dairy, wheat, oily and cold foods. Continue to eat warming and astringent foods and spice them up with cloves, ginger, cumin, mustard seeds and black pepper. Green juicing is a great way to detox the liver and cells.

Enjoy some type of dynamic daily exercise. The best way to move excess heaviness and stagnation is to move the lymph and blood that circulate throughout the body.

Slowly energize your Yoga practice with more challenging asanas which focus on the chest and stimulating breathing practices.

Meditation helps to digest the events of the day on a mental and emotional level allowing you to enjoy the precious present moment. Daily practice is a profound way to help clear the ‘clutter’ from your life.

For a nutrition and lifestyle consultation or any further information please contact me on wendy@wise-living.co.za .

Suggested Spring Routine: •

Start to wake up 30 minutes before sunrise. Kapha time begins around 6am. So as not to increase Kapha qualities in the body, it’s important to be up and moving before the sun rises to help move toxins and stagnant lymph that have accumulated overnight.

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Full Range

Stress-Free Morning Habits

Photo courtesy of Food Matters

By Laurentine Ten Bosch courtesy of www.Foodmatters.Com

Each day we awake with the same offering; a chance to start anew. An offering to approach the day ahead with a certain mindset. A minute to start the day as we mean to go on. It sounds blissful when you romanticize it like this, only the reality is often somewhat more chaotic.

Missed alarms and dirty school uniforms. Breakfast on the run and a quick load of washing. The AM to-do list is inescapable and we’ve all felt the stress of it at some point. So if you’re wanting to start doing something for you in the mornings, but you’re running short of time, here are a few stress-free morning habits. Not only are they easy to get done in a matter of moments, but they simultaneously work to alleviate any other stresses that may be sneaking up on you. Carve out a few moments for your mind in the midst of the chaos.

1. Lemon Water Each morning in our house is started with a glass of spring water with a freshly squeezed lemon.

This is one of the easiest rituals to start your day with, abundant with benefits. As the metal stresses begin to take a physical toll on our body, this alkalizing drink flushes out toxins along the way. But that’s not all! Discover more powerful benefits of drinking lemon water.

2. Drink Greens To carry on the goodness from the lemon water, my days often begin with a fresh, cold-pressed green juice. I make mine each morning, using locally-grown, organic vegetables - but this isn’t as

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easy or available for everyone! Another way I love to up my daily dose of greens in the morning is through a good-quality, nutrient-dense greens powder - I have this in a smoothie or just with some water on its own. It’s the best way to boost my daily greens in no time. You can shop my favorite greens powder, here.

3. Mindfulness & Meditation Just as I like to encourage others on their meditation journey, I find my personal practice to be equally as important. This moment of breathwork and mindfulness allows me to step away from any stresses of the day. It’s a moment to be truly present, grateful, and honor myself. It doesn’t always have to be a long practice either, just 10-minutes a morning will do.

4. Sun Salutations If I don’t have time for a yoga practice in the morning, I begin my day with a series of sun salutations. The flow of asanas encourages a flow of energy throughout my body, truly waking me for the day ahead. It’s a great way to improve strength and flexibility, often used as a warmup for Vinyasa classes, but as my friend Lauren writes, you can turn it into a moving meditation too.

5. Cold Water Exposure Between Wim Hof and teenage sports movies, ice-baths have been gaining a lot more attention lately. Whether you’re plunging into the arctic ocean or submerging yourself in a chest freezer, there are widespread health benefits. It also doesn’t have to be any more complicated than your usual routine. Simply swap the last 30-seconds of your shower to the cold temperature. As well as waking you up for the day (and doing the world of good for your hair), you start to support your body’s natural processes - including the stress response.

6. Make The Bed To change the world, start by making your bed. It’s what the world’s most successful leaders are doing. Not only is it a simple task to help you feel like you’ve accomplished something so early in the morning, but after a long day you can just pull back the covers and roll into a deep slumber.

Looking to add an organic greens powder to your morning routine? You can shop our favorites, here.

Photo by: Negative Space

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Made from 100% pure cotton, the Cherubs Eco Cotton range is soft, absorbent and gentle enough for everyday use. And, it is not tested on animals.

I believe that we are on our 4th or 5th pack since we discovered them Look for them in store: • Available in a pack of 100 or 200 buds • 100% pure cotton • Gentle and cleansing • Ideal for beauty and adult ear care • Eco-friendly • Flushable

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5 Reasons to Do a Body Scan Meditation

By David Adam 05.07.2020. Courtesy of www.knowablemagazine.org

Is meditation just focusing on breathing? Not exactly, considering there are many ways to meditate. One such way is by practicing a “body scan meditation,” which is often recommended for those who are just getting started building a meditation practice.

Studies have found that following body scan guided meditations can help people become more self-aware and present, cope with pain, feel more relaxed and less anxious, sleep better, and learn to be less self-critical.

How does it work? It’s believed that the practice can help increase awareness of sensations happening in the body, providing insight into deeper emotions without judging or trying to change them.

What Is Body Scan Meditation?

Body scan meditation is a practice in which you pay attention to sensations happening in your body. During a body scan, you mentally scan over every part of your body from your head to your toes.

Sensations are anything that you feel and notice in the body, like tingling, cramping, tightness, heat, coolness, buzzing, pulsing, itching, throbbing or numbness.

Why is noticing sensations in the body beneficial? It helps bring your attention to the present moment, since you can only feel what is taking place in the “here and now.”

The idea behind a body scan is that physical sensations are tied to emotional states. You may not even realize that stress and other emotions, such as anger or sadness, cause physical symptoms

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like tightness in your chest, headaches and heartburn.

The practice trains you to stay present in your body even when you don’t like what you’re experiencing, such as pain and discomfort.

According to the HelpGuide website: The goal is to train the mind to be more open and aware of sensory experiences — and ultimately, more accepting. With time and practice, the body scan will build your ability to focus and be fully present in your life.

Benefits What is a body scan exercise good for? Here are some of the benefits associated with this type of meditation practice: 1. Improves Self-Awareness A number of studies have found that people who practice body scans as an act of “self-care” experience greater levels of self-awareness, mindfulness (they are able to observe their thoughts and feelings without reacting) and increased psychological well-being.

One of the primary reasons to practice body scan is to tune in to what you’re feeling, rather than ignoring how your emotions impact your body. Another way this is described by researchers is as experiencing “increased internal somatic sensations” (or interoceptive attention).

A body scan practice can help you notice what’s going on in your body/mind without having to hold on to sensations/feeling, allowing you to better let them go and run their course.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsure of how you really feel or lost, this is a good time to try a body scan. Try to relax into whatever comes up and explore both the pleasant and unpleasant sensations as they unfold.

With practice, you can use your body to gain awareness of your emotions without trying to fix or change anything.

2. Has Relaxing Effects This type of meditation is one of the most commonly recommended for people dealing with anxiety symptoms and chronic stress. It can help decrease muscular tension and tightness in the body and other symptoms tied to stress, such as inflammation, pain, digestive issues, tension headaches and insomnia.

Studies show that meditation practices lead to greater activation of the parasympathetic nervous system in relation to the sympathetic nervous system, evoking a relaxation response.

Not only can it reduce stress in the moment that you’re feeling anxious, but it can also be used to help you cope better with stressors in the future. With practice, you can get better as noticing stressful thoughts and feelings without over-reacting to them or ignoring them all together.

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Photo by Elly Fairytale

3. Can Be Beneficial for Sleep Body scan meditation can be very relaxing, which means that practicing before bedtime may make it easier to fall and stay asleep. This is exactly what a 2019 review found after investigating the effects of mindfulness meditation among people with sleep disturbances.

While laying in bed or somewhere else comfortable, try listening to a body scan with music while progressively focusing on relaxing your body from head to toe. This can help to turn off the “noise” in your head and put your mind to rest, making it easier to drift off to sleep.

4. May Help You Cope With Pain If you’re someone who deals with ongoing pain, research indicates that body scan meditations can be one way to practice acceptance and self-compassion.

One clinical study found that a brief body scan had immediate benefits for those experiencing chronic pain. Participants in the body scan group reported a significant reduction in ratings for pain-related distress and for pain interfering with social relations compared with those in the control group.

The nonjudgmental quality of body scans and other mindful practices is important for developing an accepting attitude toward present-moment events and feelings. Rather than fighting your pain and potentially making it worse by becoming frustrated with it (which is stressful and can worsen tension or inflammation), the practice helps you approach your body with more gentleness, gratitude and patience.

5. May Improve Focus A quick body scan meditation for 10 minutes or even less is a great way to “reset” during a hectic day by giving your mind a break. By letting thoughts go and your mind relax as you focus on your body, you may find that you gain more energy and improved alertness afterward, especially if your environment is a hectic one.

Some research suggests that mindfulness practices, including body scan and all other forms of meditation, may work to improve mental performance by modulating the insula, which is the primary hub for interoception in the brain. Some have argued that interoception is the primary mechanism by which one benefits from the practice and that it can potentially lead to improved attention, awareness and decision-making.

How to Do It How do you do a mental body scan exactly? If you’re new to the practice, it’s a good idea to listen to a body scan meditation script read out loud.

Once you get the hang of it, you can practice without needing to listen to a guided meditation, however music and apps can still be helpful. (It’s really all about your preference.)

CREDIT: ESA / MARS500 CREW

Here’s a basic body scan meditation, adapted from one published by Mindful.org: • Start by laying down or sitting up in a comfortable position.

• Close your eyes, or at least lower your lids, let your eyes relax and “half-close” them.

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• • •

• •

•

Bring awareness to your body, breathing in and out, noticing sensations at your nostrils, belly and chest.

Then bring your attention to the places where your body makes contact with the seat or floor, such as your back and shoulders.

Start scanning your body from your head downward. Move your attention to different parts of your body as you breathe and keep exploring sensations.

Ask yourself what each body part is feeling. Is there pressure, vibration, heat, pulsing, heaviness, lightness?

Be curious and open to what you are noticing. Tune in to what’s present without judgment.

You can try to visualize any pain or tension leaving your body, but don’t try to force discomfort away.

When your mind wanders and you get lost in thoughts, bring your attention back to exploring sensations in the body and breathing until you’re done with the practice.

How long should a body scan meditation take?

It depends on how much time you have and your preferences. There is no strict time limit, however giving yourself about 20 to 40 minutes to let yourself really relax and get into the practice is recommended.

If you’re short on time, even a five- or 10-minute body scan meditation can be beneficial.

Consistency is key if you want to get the most benefits from a meditation practice. Experts in meditation at University of California Berkeley suggest practicing three to six days per week, for at least four weeks, in order to make the habit stick.

Can you practice mindfulness meditation while also doing a body scan?

Yes — in fact a body scan can be thought of as one form of mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness is commonly defined as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” It involves regulating one’s attention toward current-moment experiences and noticing those experiences with an attitude of openness, acceptance and curiosity.

While there are many forms of meditation, three popular types of meditation include focus, mantra and moving meditations. Mindfulness and body scans can be considered focus-oriented practices.

All mindfulness practices involve setting an intention to focus on a specific “object of awareness,” and in the case of body scans, it’s the body that’s being observed.

As the Headspace website puts it, “While there are many specific meditation techniques that can be used to help us find stability of mind and cultivate mindfulness over time, one of the most accessible practices is a body scan meditation.”

You can combine a body scan with breath-oriented meditation by staying present with and breathing into sensations as you notice them taking place.

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Photo by Cliff Booth

Other Tips • • • •

• • •

A body scan can be performed while lying down, sitting or in other postures. Sitting may be best if it helps you stay awake, while laying down is best if it’s most relaxing and helps you sleep.

Make sure you’re in a comfortable position and location that isn’t distracting.

You may want to place a pillow or folded blanket under your knees to help take stress off of your back. You can also use a pillow under your head, blanket over your torso or anything else that makes you feel comfortable.

It helps to lay or sit down somewhere where the lights are dimmed rather than shining in your face.

Experiment with trying music versus silence. A guided meditation using a body scan meditation app can also be helpful if you get distracted easily.

Visualization may also help take your practice to the next level. You can try visualizing ice melting as your muscles relax, you floating in water or other calming images.

To listen to either long or short body scan meditations, check out UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC), which offers several different downloadable scripts and audio meditations.

Risks and Side Effects Meditation overall is very safe and a low-risk way to cope with stress and pain. If you suffer from PTSD or severe anxiety, it might be helpful to start practicing with a therapist.

If you’re struggling to feel like you benefit much from a body scan practice, consider your intentions and attitude toward the practice. Are you rushing or approaching the practice with specific goals in mind?

It’s best to stay open-minded and curious, rather than going into meditation with specific goals.

If your practice is actually worsening your stress, try making your sessions shorter and taking the pressure off of yourself to see immediate benefits.

Conclusion •

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• •

Body scan meditation is a practice that involves mindfully scanning your body as you pay attention to sensations. Noticing sensations (like discomfort, pain, tightness, tension, heat, etc.) helps you stay present and also allows you to connect your emotions to physical sensations you’re experiencing.

Benefits can include improved awareness, reduced stress, better sleep, help coping with pain, improved focus, increased self-compassion and gratitude, and more.

The basic way to practice is to lay or sit, focus on your breath, then scan sensations from your head to toes without judging them.

You can practice for anywhere between three and 40 minutes, however 20 to 30 minutes is common. If you’re new, start with shorter sessions and use a script or app for support.

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Felipe Borges

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Photos courtesy of Food Matters

I Stopped Eating Gluten, Dairy & Sugar for 21 Days – Here's What Happened

By Tess Patrick Courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

I like to think I lead a relatively healthy, balanced lifestyle. I drink my superfood greens in the morning and eat organic vegetables throughout the day. I’m gluten-free (cheers celiac) and I’m just coming out of 7 years of veganism. But like most, the 3 pm sugar cravings kick in and I reach for a coffee as a burst of energy. Breakfast is often on the road or at my desk, if at all, and when I’m not prepared I end up getting takeaways for lunch, much to the dismay of my credit card. So while I enjoy a salad every now and then, when I took a step back to reexamine my diet recently, I was quite shocked at what I was eating. I knew it needed a drastic overhaul, but amid fad-diets, endless recipes, and little time to spend in the kitchen, I had no clue where to begin.

I thought about visiting a dietitian, but that wasn’t attainable for me. I actually have a degree in nutrition, so then thought about creating my own meal plan. It would be fully gluten-free, dairyfree, refined sugar-free, and use local, seasonal ingredients, but that was going to be too timeconsuming. Later that week, it was announced that Food Matters would be launching a Clean Eating Program. It was almost like I had manifested this opportunity. And after spending weeks watching the girls whip up all of the amazing dishes in the office and wiping literal drool from my keyboard, I knew I had to be one of the first to jump on board.

I have often read that it only takes three weeks to form a habit, and after finishing the program on Sunday, I can wholeheartedly agree. I’ve got a whole new, refreshed outlook on food again,

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and I’m feeling the best I have all year. The program was 21-days of shopping lists, user-friendly meal plans, and incredible lessons in nutrition along the way. There are almost no words to describe the shifts I witnessed, but here’s what happened in three short weeks!

I Learnt To Love Meal Prep (& Spent Less Time Cooking) If you’re anything like me, you will have avoided meal prep for as long as possible. I know it works great for some, but hours in the kitchen isn’t my idea of a Sunday well spent. And the idea of reheating everything in a microwave is far from appetizing. But I learned within the first few days that I couldn’t have been more wrong. My meal prep never took longer than an hour on a Sunday evening, but saved hours of my time throughout the week! It meant breakfasts were ready for when I was in a hurry, quinoa for salads didn’t need cooking, and meals never took longer than half an hour to make. As much as I love cooking, sometimes you just don’t want to get home from work and spend the rest of the evening in the kitchen. Plus, because all of the meals served two, I had lunch ready for the next day.

No More Stressing About Dinnertime When friends and family are arguing in favor of meal delivery services or food boxes, it’s often because it takes the daily stress and worry out of dinnertime. I’ve never tried any of the big players on the market, but I think I know the feeling they’re talking about. Over the 21-days I felt a weight lift off my shoulders as the evenings came and I would remember I didn’t have to do any planning for dinner or make a quick trip to the shops on the way home. Everything was mapped out for me (thanks to a team of nutritionists) and I had already bought the right amount of ingredients at the markets earlier in the week. I could spend more time doing what I loved in the evenings, and that’s important to me.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

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I Actually Saved Money Other meal plans and nutrition programs have always encouraged me to overload on expensive ingredients that I only use once or twice, which has stopped me from coming back. Yet while following the Clean Eating Program I found I actually ended up saving money! The weekly shops cost no more than my usual trip to the markets, but the $80 I normally spend each week on lunches, takeaways, and last-minute grocery needs went straight into my savings account. At this rate, having lifetime access to the program will see me saving over $4000 a year.

I Stopped Counting Calories, Am Less Bloated & Lost 2kg Unnecessary calorie counting has always been one of my biggest downfalls. It’s hard not to get obsessed with calories in vs. calories out while disregarding the other important stuff - like the kinds of calories I’m consuming. But by trusting the program, eliminating the key irritants (gluten, dairy, sugar), and eating clean, nourishing foods, my body is happier than it’s been in years. Perhaps the program was the final push I needed to cut out the trace gluten in my foods (it made it so easy to follow) and the sneaky sugary snacks I crave in the afternoons. Either way, I’m much less bloated, have more energy to exercise throughout the day, and lost 2kg in the three weeks.

Brain Fog Subsided & My Energy Was Limitless In refocussing my diet I’ve noticed a huge shift in the way I show up. I’m waking with more energy, which follows me into the day, and I’m more present. Long days in front of a computer screen aren’t as draining, as I’ve got the mental clarity to see them through. This is because of the healthy fats I had been eating throughout the program. Too often we eat fats from subpar sources, but there are a few options out there (like coconut and olive oils) that are wonderful for healthy brain function. As someone who has had depleted iron stores, and therefore quite low energy for extended periods of time, this shift was huge for me. It felt like I had finally taken my life back.

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I Started To Love Breakfast On the odd occasion that I have breakfast, it’s normally on the go. I know how important it is, but life often gets in the way and I never truly practice what I preach. But these 21-days were a chance to change that. All it took was 10 minutes, or sometimes a little preparation the night before I went to bed, and I noticed such a difference. I was fuller, longer throughout the day, and my energy levels remained much more consistent. Eating a nutritious breakfast meant I spent less time throughout the day reaching for unhealthy snacks or starving until lunchtime.

My Digestive Issues & Reflux Calmed For nearly two years, I’ve been struggling with digestive issues. The reflux-like symptoms go up and down in their severity, but they’re almost always present. I’ve tried different medical practitioners, different cleansing protocols, and nothing has addressed it - until I began to clean up my diet. Limiting triggers like caffeine and alcohol definitely helped, but the plates rich in nourishing, healing foods, mean I have now gone days without a flare - something I never would have imagined a month ago.

I Tried New Foods & Regained Cooking Confidence I have a tendency to write foods off before I’ve even tried them, or if I haven’t enjoyed a food once, I can hold a bit of a grudge. But these last three weeks pushed me out of my comfort zone when it came to ingredients. Take celery, for instance. I can’t think of any other food I’ve disliked so much. But after making the Asian Style Green Crepes, my eyes were opened to a new, celeryfilled world. It’s easy to fall into a routine of the same 4-5 meals each week, but over the 21-days I never ate the same thing twice. The recipes were easy enough to follow but challenged me enough to help me rebuild some confidence in the kitchen.

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I Discovered New Recipes For Busy Days Or Unexpected Guests My kitchen shelves are stacked with recipe books, but I often stick to my tried-and-true. By following the program, each day I discovered at least one (often two) new recipes, and they all tasted insanely delicious. They came together within half an hour and used fairly basic ingredients, so I know I’m never going to be stuck on those busy days (or when a friend pops over last-minute) again.

My Nutrition Knowledge Grew Tenfold One of my favorite parts of the program, aside from the delicious food and how incredible I now feel, was all of the amazing knowledge I picked up along the way. From the best way to cook staple foods to James’ guided audio lessons, where I learned to approach nutrition in a new way, it feels like my eyes have been opened to a whole new side of food. It was one I knew that always existed, but amid busy schedules and a global pandemic, sometimes we lose sight of our priorities.

These 21-days were truly an eye-opening experience for me. I rediscovered how powerful food can be when it comes to shifting energy levels, brain fog, digestive issues, and even excess weight. It truly only does take three weeks to set a habit for a lifetime, and I’m so excited to dive deeper into my journey of feeling my best self.

If the Clean Eating Program sounds like something you would benefit from, I urge you wholeheartedly to do it! It’s one of the best investments you could ever make for your health, and with lifetime access you can keep returning to it whenever you need the extra support. You can find out more information about everything the program offers, here.

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Do Blue Light Glasses Work? Potential Benefits for Sleep & Eye Health

By Jillian Levy, CHHC of www.draxe.com

Many experts tell us that when it comes to managing our health, including our body weights and moods, we should be careful not to underestimate the power of sleep. One reason why so many adults and children today are thought to be living in a sleep deprived state is because of high exposure to electronic devices that emit blue light.

Because blue light is capable of disrupting our circadian rhythms, or “internal clocks,” blue light glasses are now recommended to improve sleep quality and other concerns.

What are the benefits of blue light glasses? While more research on the topic is warranted, there’s some evidence that blue light blocking glasses can positively impact your metabolism, focus, appetite control and more.

Read on to find out how to choose the best blue light blocking glasses for your needs, plus tips regarding when and how long to wear them.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light glasses are a special type of eyewear that can block or filter blue light that is emitted from digital screens and electronics.

If you regularly deal with issues like eye strain, blurry vision, headaches and trouble sleeping — which you believe may be tied to your use of electronics — then wearing blue light filtering glasses can be a worth a shot.

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What is blue light that glasses block?

Blue light is a type of high-energy light that is bright and has a short wavelength. These are wavelengths of light between 420 and 480 nanometers on the visible light spectrum. While it mostly has a bad reputation, blue light also has some benefits, such as making us feel alert and awake.

Most of our exposure comes from sunlight, but electronics also contribute to the amount of blue light that reaches our eyes on a daily basis. Electronics that give off blue light include televisions, smartphones, laptops, computer monitors and tablets, which many teens and adults now report spending multiple hours using every single day.

How do blue light glasses work?

These glasses are most often used at night to help block blue light emitted from LED devices from reaching the eyes.

Studies have found that blue light exposure can suppress natural production of the hormone melatonin, which has sleep-inducing effects. Therefore it’s thought that too much exposure at night can keep you up and disturb your natural sleep-wake cycle.

Wearing blue light filtering glasses is therefore a way to prevent sleep dysfunction and possibly to protect the eyes in other ways.

Do They Work? Potential Benefits Do blue light glasses really work? Opinions regarding their effectiveness and findings from studies conducted thus far have been mixed overall.

Research focused on the effects of blue light glasses is largely still underway. One reason it’s difficult to determine how well they work for the majority of people is because their use isn’t tightly regulated, since authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States do not consider these glasses to be medical devices.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Association of Optometrists in the U.K currently don’t recommend the use of blue light glasses for the general public, although they haven’t stated that they are dangerous or should be avoided.

Their stance is that there isn’t enough high-quality research showing that they work, plus that symptoms like eye strain and headaches may actually be due to issues like squinting while using electronics and poor posture, not blue light exposure.

That said, some experts and many people do report experiencing benefits from blue light blocking glasses. Potential benefits may include: • Reduced eyes strain, dry eyes and blurriness • Reduced headaches • Improved sleep habits and decreased insomnia, especially having an easier time falling asleep • Enhanced vision (including less blur) • Possibly increased protection against development of certain eye diseases, although this is Conscious Life Magazine

still being studied — it’s currently thought that blue light from devices do NOT damage the retinas or contribute to long-term vision loss, macular degeneration or glaucoma

If blue light filter glasses are capable of helping you sleep better, then there’s reason to believe that their benefits can be far-reaching.

Sleep deprivation can make it more likely that you’ll develop a range of serious health issues, such as obesity, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and others. Therefore getting more sleep can be highly protective and important for improving overall quality of life.

What to Look for in Blue Light Blocking Glasses What is the best brand of blue light blocking glasses? It really depends on the filter strength that you require and how severe your symptoms are.

In terms of where to buy blue light glasses, you can purchase either prescription or nonprescription blue light glasses from your optometrist, in drug stores, in stores that sell glasses/eyewear or online.

If you’re dealing with vision-related problems, such as cataracts, or you’ve recently had eye surgery, it’s best to speak with your optometrist about his/her recommendations, since it may be possible you actually require contacts or glasses in addition to filtering glasses.

Filters that block blue light can be added to prescription glasses at a relatively low cost, typically under $100. You can purchase non-prescription blue light glasses for around $30 to $100 as well, although more expensive brands are also available.

If you’re concerned about also blocking UV light, look for glasses that have a filter providing 100% protection from UV light.

When to Wear Them How do you know if you need blue light glasses?

If you regularly use electronic LED devices at night, particularly once the sun is down, you may benefit from trying them. However, if you don’t want to invest in these glasses and are skeptical about their effects, experts suggest simply decreasing your evening screen time and/or setting all of your devices to “night mode,” which helps automatically result in less blue light exposure.

Is it OK to wear blue light blocking glasses all the time?

This may not be necessary, but it shouldn’t be harmful either. Some people find that wearing the glasses while they work helps their eyes feel better and allows them to work longer more comfortably.

If you spent a couple of hours on electronics daily, especially during the daytime when you’d be getting blue light exposure anyway from the sun if you were outdoors, it’s probably not a problem to skip the glasses. Some blue light exposure during the day, particularly from natural sunlight, is even beneficial for regulating your circadian rhythm, so don’t be worried about a normal level of exposure.

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Overall, the best time to wear blue light glasses is at night, during the hours leading up to bedtime when your body is producing more melatonin. But if your eyes feel less strained when you wear them during the day too, then experts say this is fine to continue doing.

Risks and Side Effects Blue light glasses may be capable of taking stress off of your eyes and helping you sleep better at night, but they aren’t the only way to take care of your vision of circadian rhythm.

Here are other steps to take if you wish to sleep better and avoid eye strain, headaches and other issues: • Get sunlight exposure during the day by going outdoors. Just be careful about too much UVA and UV-B light reaching your eyes, which may be damaging — therefore consider wearing sunglasses if you spend lots of time in the sun.

• Avoid alcohol and nicotine, especially close to bedtime.

• Exercise regularly, which can improve sleep quality.

• Develop a relaxing nighttime routine that helps you cope with stress and unwind. Ideally this routine shouldn’t involve electronics — instead try reading a book, stretching or taking a warm bath. If you do use electronics at night, switch them to night mode.

• Keep the temperature in your room low, and wear clothes that don’t make you too hot.

• Limit the amount of hours you spend on electronics if possible. Invest in a good ergonomic chair to support your posture, and make sure your screens are at the right height so you’re avoiding forward head posture. Ideally have your eyes be about 25 inches from the screen and looking just slightly down.

• When working on a computer or device, take a break every 20 minutes and look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Conclusion • •

• •

What is the benefit of blue light blocking glasses? They help filter/block bright blue light that is emitted from electronic devices.

Too much blue light can contribute to issues like sleep dysfunction and possibly eye strain and headaches.

What are the best blue light glasses? It depends on why you’re wearing them. If you have severe symptoms or are recovering from eye surgery, you may need a prescription and should speak with a doctor. Otherwise you can purchase them at drug stores or online.

Research focused on the effects blue light filtering glasses is overall lacking, and opinions differ about whether or not they are necessary. However, some people find they reduce symptoms like eye strain, dry eyes, blurriness, tension headaches and trouble falling asleep — especially among people using electronics for many hours daily and at night.

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By Annie Wyatt September 17, 2020

What we think and speak is directly related to our lives on a day to day basis. We are always manifesting even through our thoughts. Every statement, thought and action is a reflection of what is happening in our lives. Every situation or person that we encounter is a mirror reflection of what we are thinking or feeling.

What we think and see has a direct bearing on whether our thoughts are for our benefit or for our detriment. If you think about your thoughts as being a boomerang, what you put out is what you bring back. So when you think big, that’s like being abundant and positive. When you think small that’s like being negative and diminishing your possibilities and opportunities. So if you think you are poor, you will be. If you constantly say and think that you will be financially abundant, you will be. We are constantly creating our own reality and it is possible to manifest the best for you, to come to you in the easiest possible way.

How do you do this? By establishing your priorities, your values and by being specific. By first deciding exactly what it is that you wish for in your life. Most people don’t know what they truly wish for and so therefore, they never manifest what they want. Some people believe that life happens to them including what other people do however, we always have a choice and it is about utilising our free will of choice to create our abundance. Being in a theta brain wave is an effective way to manifest. In manifestation, the spoken word is effective only 30 – 40 % of the time. Visualising is effective 50% of the time and being in a theta brain wave while manifesting

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is effective 80 – 90% of the time. One is able to achieve a theta brain state with the help of Theta Healer, using the Theta Healing Technique. The healer helps you to release the beliefs that are blocking your abundance, going as far back as to your ancestry and through your genetic lineage on a core and a soul level. With this healing technique the past, the present and the future is explored, helping you to find the best for you in the now.

My friend and colleague Kendal Taytasac, who practices healing on our retreats, found that Theta Healing was a life shifter and a life changer for her. Before becoming a master healer, Kendal worked in the corporate world realising that if she could just understand why people did the things that they did, she would have a greater understanding of other people and of herself.

The three things that stop us from moving forward are doubt, disbelief and rejection of self and others.

Through the Theta Healing Technique Kendal liberated herself to mental, emotional and physical freedom and found a sense of ease, harmony and joy in her daily life. All of us have low points and challenges, so having the Theta Healing Technique in her life helped her to move through and past these challenges instantly, giving her an opportunity to open her abundance up further, bringing what she wanted into her reality and being able to visualise and go beyond her dreams.

If you wish to expand your abundance on all levels including Financial Abundance, contact Kendal for a discovery session and shift yourself from surviving to thriving.

Email Kendal

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THE POWER OF GRATITUDE – By Evelyn Alessandri Our outside world might be changing drastically at the moment, but it’s our inside world that guides us through these changes, either with difficulty or resilience.

How much time do you spend working on your inner strength? Do you take time out to do things that make you happy? Do you treat yourself kindly? Do you face each day with a positive mindset? The more we care about our inside world the greater our outside world will become.

A wonderful way of building your inner strength is through the practice of gratitude.

What is gratitude? Is it a habit, an attitude, an emotion, a personality trait or a coping response?

Perhaps it’s all of these things. For me, it’s the way in which we view our world. It’s a choice to notice the positive things in life, instead of dwelling on the bad.

Why not start your day by thinking of one small thing you’re grateful for and then write it down.

What are the benefits of this habit?

1.

It keeps us present.

Practicing gratitude means we look for something good in every day. The more we look, the more we find. By being amazed at the beauty around us, we become more connected to the ordinary things in life and more accepting of life right now, as it is.

2.

It changes the pathways in our brains.

Shifting our mindset from dwelling on negativity to one of always looking for the good means we start to form new pathways in the brain. This helps us move away from anxiety and depression.

Our brains even retain the positive thoughts and experiences that we have and these act towards a positive buffer when negative occurrences happen in our everyday lives.

In fact, regular practice activates the bliss center of the brain due to the build-up of production of dopamine and serotonin. Bliss equals happiness and contentment.

3.

Relationships are strengthened How did you feel the last time someone truly made you feel appreciated? It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we matter. This is the power of gratitude. When we show appreciation of others they will be inclined to respond in the same way.

4.

Gratitude and YOU. As you adopt an attitude of gratitude, the more you will start to appreciate yourself. And let’s face it, we all battle with self-love at one time or another.

I found my daily gratitude practice not only gave me a positive mental attitude, but it helped me to become more authentic. I was able to identify what my own unique strengths and talents are.

Something I’ve found difficult to pinpoint in the past. I also realized what I’m not and instead of beating myself up about it, I became more accepting of myself.

What about when life gets you down? When the curved balls being thrown at you seem impossible to catch. STOP, breathe and remember that just by focusing on one positive thing in your life, and writing it down, you will start to change your thinking.

It is impossible to block out difficulties, but the goal is to be able to approach them with a different perspective. To choose a positive action, like gratitude, rather than feed negativity with your attention.

Changing your inside world will change your outside world. Choose gratitude to help fill your inside world with joy, happiness and contentment.

Ways to practice gratitude: • • • • • • •

Write in a gratitude journal. Think of one thing every day that you can you are grateful for and write it down. Think outside the box when you’re flexing your gratitude muscles.

Say thank you and really mean it.

Appreciate the people around you. Don’t judge them.

Sending a note/letter of appreciation Keep a gratitude jar Show kindness Volunteer

Gratitude Exercise: Quieten your mind by taking some nice deep, controlled breaths and think of something you can be truly grateful for. It doesn’t need to be complicated or big, it can be as simple as taking time out with a nice cup of coffee. Feel how gratitude feels in your body. By anchoring your gratitude you will lift your spirits.

Words can also play a vital role in helping you to lift your vibration, think abundance rather than scarcity, blessings instead of burdens and happiness rather than depression. Your energy will stay in a much better flow when the words you use are positive.

Gratitude is a gift, a gift to appreciate the new day we have been given.

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When was the last time you felt emotionally grounded, creative, sexually desirable, energetic, and bursting with passion for life?

This vivacity you felt was likely when your sacral chakra was in complete harmonious balance. People with balanced sacral chakras radiate warmth, playfulness, and good humor.

Unfortunately, many experiences in life can lead to blocked sacral chakras. If you’ve experienced body shame, a strict or authoritarian upbringing, sexual abuse or dysfunction, toxic relationships, religious indoctrination, or critical forms of social conditioning that have limited the flow of your life force energy, you likely have an impaired sacral chakra.

I’ll explore with you how to undergo sacral chakra healing in this article.

What is the Sacral Chakra?

The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is the center of our emotional, creative, and sexual energy.

Located three inches below your belly button above our genitals, the sacral chakra is associated with the color orange, and it regulates the energy associated with passion, pleasure, and sensuality.

When the sacral chakra is imbalanced due to traumatic early and adult life experiences, we experience a multitude of physical, emotional, psychological, and interpersonal issues.

What is Sacral Chakra Healing?

Sacral Chakra healing is the practice of opening, clearing, cleansing, supporting and strengthening the sacral chakra within our bodies. Sacral Chakra healing involves using a

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number of holistic remedies such as aromatherapy, sound, crystal, and movement therapy to reestablish harmony within the body-mind organism.

12 Signs of an Unhealthy Sacral Chakra The best way to tell whether you need to undergo sacral chakra healing is to pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, actions and physical sensations within your body.

Here are some signs to look out for: • You’re addicted to anything that brings pleasure such as food, gambling, sex, work, alcohol, drugs, compulsive buying, etc.

• You feel emotionally numb or cold, and you find it hard to feel very much of any kind of emotion • You’re sexually frigid, and you have a low to non-existent libido, OR …

• You’re sexually impulsive, and your libido tends to be in overdrive • You’re neurotic, and you can’t handle spontaneity or uncertainty • You’ve got reproductive problems such as infertility, impotence or menstrual issues • You’re constantly fatigued, and you have little energy for anything • You feel inhibited and repressed from expressing your true feelings and desires, OR …

• You’re extremely emotionally reactive, and you’re a drama junkie • You’re emotionally hypersensitive OR emotionally aloof • You’re creatively blocked, and you tend to overthink everything • You have lower back, kidney or stomach disorders • How many of these signs can you relate to in this list?

Do You Have a Deficient or Excessive Sacral Chakra?

Did you know that there are actually two types of chakra imbalances?

While a deficient sacral chakra is passive or energetically “numb,” an excessive sacral chakra is energetically aggressive or manic.

Here’s a breakdown of the difference between the two: Deficient = lifeless, sluggish, passive, blocked, inwards (not enough energy flows in)

Excessive = lively, agitated, reactive, aggressive, outwards (too much energy flows in) Therefore, if you have a deficient sacral chakra, you will be more prone to issues such as detachment, emotional coldness, and sexual frigidity. On the other hand, if you have an excessive sacral chakra you will be prone to codependency, emotional explosiveness, and sexual addiction.

The question is, what type of imbalance do you have? It’s also possible to fall somewhere in the middle.

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16 Sacral Chakra Healing Practices

So what does a healthy and balanced sacral chakra look and feel like?

When you have a clear, strong and harmonious sacral chakra, you will firstly feel comfortable in your skin. You will no longer struggle with sexual guilt or indulgence, but you’ll come to honor your sacred sexuality and enjoy it in a balanced way. Not only will you enjoy the pleasures of life, but you will be open to experiencing life and your passion for it. You’ll be both emotionally open but also emotionally grounded with healthy boundaries. Not only that, but you’ll get back your creative flow once again, and you’ll enjoy the spontaneity of life.

Here are some of the best sacral chakra healing practices out there that I have personally experimented with: 1. Practice emotional catharsis Best suited to: deficient sacral chakra blockages Open the “frozen” energy channels within yourself by purging your emotions through catharsis.

Try jumping, screaming, laughing, crying, or other physical forms of catharsis that release built up emotions.

2. Explore creative self-expression Best suited to: deficient and excessive sacral chakra blockages Pick an activity that you’re interested in such as sculpting, drawing, photography, quilting, jewelry making or cooking, and give it a go! Remember, art takes time, dedication, and practice.

Don’t expect to be perfect at what you choose immediately! Think of what you would like to mentally or emotionally express, and paint, weave, build, tie or photograph those inner desires.

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3. Identify your sexual blockages Best suited to: deficient sacral chakra blockages

What beliefs, ideals, and prejudices towards sexuality were you taught as a child? You might like to write these blockages down or speak about them with a good friend or counselor. Once you identify these blockages, you can then proceed to deconstruct them.

4. Meditate with and carry crystals Best suited to: deficient and excessive blockages Use sacral chakra crystals such as carnelian, orange calcite, jasper, and moonstone. My favorite sacral chakra crystal is amber, which you can buy here.

5. Become mindful of your emotional triggers Best suited to: excessive blockages Explosions of emotion can be balanced by becoming mindful of your emotional triggers. For example, if you discover that your fists start to clench when you get angry, slowly uncurl them and breathe deeply. If your blood temperature rises around a certain topic, become aware and present with that emotion.

6. Increase your intake of ginger Best suited to: deficient blockages Ginger is a warming and stimulating herb that is terrific for the sacral chakra. Try cooking more with ginger, using ginger oil, or drinking a ginger tea infusion. I recommend this 100% organic ginger infusion from Buddha Teas.

7. Explore the root of your addictions Best suited to: deficient and excessive blockages Addictions are a way for us to cope with our reality and fill empty holes in our lives. In a journal or with a friend or therapist, explore why you are addicted to something. Ask questions such as “What place was I at in my life when I started getting addicted to this?” “What do I feel this addiction brings me?” “What is this addiction trying to hide about who I believe I am?” If you’re suffering from a serious addiction, make sure you schedule an appointment with an addiction specialist.

8. Practice self-care towards your body Best suited to: deficient and excessive blockages Explore empowering resources such as books, workshops, and guided meditations that will help you to accept your body type and other physical quirks. Stop apologizing for how you look and start embracing your unique body and its needs. Join online or real life groups that help you to love your body. Find out what eating plan suits you the best, and cut out processed foods. For the sacral chakra, try eating fruit and vegetables such as coconuts, oranges, apricots, almonds, sweet potatoes, carrots, mangos, passionfruit, and papaya.

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9. Try color therapy Best suited to: deficient and excessive sacral chakra blockages

Introduce the colors orange, peach and apricot into your life as the color of the sacral chakra is orange. For example, wear orange clothing, surround yourself with orange objects, and creatively express yourself in the color orange.

10. Do a sacral chakra visualization Best suited to: deficient and excessive sacral chakra blockages Imagine a throbbing or swirling ball of luminescent orange light three inches below your bellybutton. Feel the ball of orange energy dissolving all blockages or aggressive flows of energy within you.

11. Do something spontaneous Best suited to: deficient sacral chakra blockages Give yourself the permission to do something that you wouldn’t usually do. Break the cycle of rigid and uncreative living! For example, watch a movie you’d never watch, travel to a place you’d never thought possible, take up a wacky new craft, you name it!

12. Get sexually creative Best suited to: deficient sacral chakra blockages If you have a partner, explore different creative forms of sexuality. For example, discover what fetishes or sexual positions you’d both like to try out together to spice up the bedroom. If you’re single, explore different creative forms of self-pleasure. If blockages such as guilt or shame arise, question them.

13. Cleanse the sacral chakra with aromatherapy oils Best suited to: deficient and excessive sacral chakra blockages Use oils such as ginger, orange, jasmine, neroli, rosewood, and bergamot.

14. Clear blocks with yoga Best suited to: deficient and excessive blockages

Yoga is an amazing way to open up blocked constrictions of energy in the body. Try the cobra, butterfly, camel, goddess, reverse warrior, and pigeon poses.

15. Say daily affirmations Best suited to: deficient and excessive sacral chakra blockages.

What you think is what you manifest. Support your sacral chakra healing by repeating the following affirmations with sincerity and open-heartedness, “I allow myself to feel my emotions,” “I create healthy boundaries,” “I embrace my inner passion,” “I value and respect my body,” “My sexuality is sacred,” “I release my inner emotions creatively.”

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16. Chant “Vam” to yourself Best suited to: deficient and excessive blockages

This sound matches the vibration of the sacral chakra. Try drawing out the letters into sounds, such as “vaaaaaammmmmmmmm.” You might also like to listen to binaural beats (a form of music healing therapy) which helps to activate and clear all the chakras through alternating sound waves. Try these chakra healing songs.

You can also try to incorporate more humor into your life. Try watching funny movies or surrounding yourself with lighthearted people who are in touch with the sacral chakra. You might also like to explore belly dancing which is a wonderful stimulator of the sacral chakra.

Final Advice After reading all this information, you might be wondering what you should do next.

I recommend picking a handful of activities from the list above that you’re naturally drawn to.

Make sure you identify whether you have a deficient or excessive chakra blockage (or a mixture), and choose accordingly. Experiment with each healing modality for a couple of weeks and observe how you feel.

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What is CBD? CBD is a natural compound found in cannabis flowers. It is a safe non-addictive substance and is one of hundreds of Phyto cannabinoids that are unique to cannabis. CBD stand for Cannabidiol and is found in both hemp and cannabis plants.

CBD is closely related to THC, which is psychoactive (can make you high). THC has many uses and works synergistically with CBD. They both have significant therapeutic properties, but they act in different ways on different receptors in the body.

CBD and THC interact with our bodies in a variety of ways. One of the main ways is by mimicking and enhancing the effects of the compounds already in our bodies called “endogenous cannabinoids” - so named because of their similarity to compounds found in the cannabis plant.

These “endocannabinoids” are part of what scientists refer to as the “endocannabinoid system.”

The endocannabinoid system gets damaged after we are born. First off, many years ago the animals were fed hemp or cannabis and that came through in the products that we ate. Since around 1937 hemp and cannabis were banned, so animals never got it anymore and neither did we. Then vaccinations were brought in to protect us for some of the horrible illness around, which in turn damaged our cells and bodies in unseen ways. That is how our life starts and we wonder why we all end up with arthritis, depression and cancers.

CBD is easily able to heal diseases. It offers anti-inflammatory action, immediate pain relief and regulates blood pressure and cholesterol. It doesn’t just treat the symptoms.

The CB1 And CB2 receptors are situated throughout our body so CBD wont just heal one issue in your body but everything that it comes across that is out of kilter. And it’s not just for us, the young middle aged and elderly, any animal that has a skeleton can benefit from this.

There is growing evidence that many diseases can be successfully treated with CBD, from any inflammation and stress related diseases, cancers, arthritis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s etc.

CBD does not work on Hormones and Testosterone, but it can help with the side effects.

CBD can be taken as an oil, capsule, balm, tincture etc. As with most products it is best to speak to a professional and ensure that the product is safe to use for your particular ailments.

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Our beloved friend and Hay House founder Louise Hay transitioned peacefully in her sleep on August 30, 2017 at age 90. Louise was an incredible visionary and advocate.

Everyone who had the privilege to meet her, either in person, or through her words, felt her passion for serving others. “I have come to this planet to learn to love myself more, and to share that love with all those around me,� Louise wrote.

To celebrate her incredible life, we’ve selected 101 of our favorite Louise Hay Affirmations Louise Hay dedicated her life to teaching people how to life a positive and empowered life, often with the aid of positive statements and beliefs, which she called affirmations.

Louise taught that your point of power is always in the present moment, where you plant the mental seeds for creating new experiences. You’re never stuck, for you can choose new thoughts and new ways of thinking.

Your future can always be more positive, more loving and more prosperous. Think about how you’d like to live and what you’d like to accomplish as you read affirmations out loud.

We hope these positive affirmations by Louise Hay bring you comfort, prosperity, healing, and love in your life as they have in all of ours.

Let’s affirm: •

Life loves me!

•

All is well in my world. Everything is working out for my highest good.

Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe!

•

It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed.

•

The point of power is always in the present moment.

•

Every thought we think is creating our future.

•

I am in the process of positive change.

•

I am comfortable looking in the mirror, saying, “I love you, I really love you.”

•

It is safe to look within.

• • •

I forgive myself and set myself free .

As I say yes to life, life says yes to me.

•

I now go beyond other people’s fears and limitations.

•

I am Divinely guided and protected at all times.

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I claim my power and move beyond all limitations.

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I trust the process of life.

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I am deeply fulfilled by all that I do.

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We are all family, and the planet is our home.

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As I forgive myself, it becomes easier to forgive others.

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I am willing to let go.

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Deep at the center of my being is an infinite well of love.

•

I prosper wherever I turn.

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I welcome miracles into my life.

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Whatever I need to know is revealed to me at exactly the right time.

•

I am loved, and I am at peace.

•

My happy thoughts help create my healthy body.

•

Life supports me in every possible way.

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My day begins and ends with gratitude.

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I listen with love to my body’s messages.

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The past is over.

•

Only good can come to me.

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I am beautiful, and everybody loves me.

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Everyone I encounter today has my best interests at heart.

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I always work with and for wonderful people. I love my job.

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Filling my mind with pleasant thoughts is the quickest road to health.

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I am healthy, whole, and complete.

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I am at home in my body.

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I devote a portion of my time to helping others. It is good for my own health.

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I am greeted by love wherever I go.

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Wellness is the natural state of my body. I am in perfect health.

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I am pain free and totally in sync with life.

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I am very thankful for all the love in my life. I find it everywhere.

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I know that old, negative patterns no longer limit me. I let them go with ease.

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In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete. I do not have to prove myself to anyone..

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I come from the loving space of my heart, and I know that love opens all doors.

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I am in harmony with nature.

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I welcome new ideas.

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Today, no person, place, or thing can irritate or annoy me. I choose to be at peace.

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I am safe in the Universe and All Life loves and supports me.

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I experience love wherever I go.

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I am willing to change.

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I drink lots of water to cleanse my body and mind.

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I choose to see clearly with the eyes of love.

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I cross all bridges with joy and ease.

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I release all drama from my life.

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Loving others is easy when I love and accept myself.

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I balance my life between work, rest, and play.

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I return to the basics of life: forgiveness, courage, gratitude, love, and humor.

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I am in charge, I now take my own power back.

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My body appreciates how I take care of it.

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I spend time energetic people.

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The more peaceful I am inside, the more peace I have to share with others.

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Today is a sacred gift from Life.

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I have the courage to live my dreams.

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I release all negative thoughts of the past and all worries about the future.

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I forgive everyone in my past for all perceived wrongs. I release them with love.

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I only speak positively about those in my world. Negativity has no part in my life.

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We are all eternal spirit.

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I act as if I already have what I want—it’s an excellent way to attract happiness in my life.

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I enjoy the foods that are best for my body. My life gets better all the time.

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It is safe for me to speak up for myself.

with

positive,

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I live in the paradise of my own creation.

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Perfect health is my Divine right, and I claim it now.

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I release all criticism.

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I am on an ever-changing journey.

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I am grateful for my healthy body. I love life.

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Love flows through my healing all dis-ease.

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My income is constantly increasing.

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My healing is already in process.

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There is always more to learn.

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I now live in limitless love, light, and joy.

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I become more lovable every day.

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It is now safe for me to release all of my childhood traumas and move into love.

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I deserve all that is good.

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I am constantly discovering new ways to improve my health.

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Love is all there is!

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My life gets more fabulous every day.

body,

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Today I am at peace.

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Loving others is easy when I love and accept myself.

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I have the perfect living space.

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I have compassion for all.

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I trust the Universe to help me see the good in everything and in everyone.

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I love my family members just as they are. I do not try to change anyone.

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There is plenty for everyone, and we bless and prosper each other.

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I love and approve of myself.

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Life is good, and so it is!

We hope that as you say your favorite daily affirmations you will see your life transform in more positive, more uplifting ways.

As Louise famously taught, you can heal your life!

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The Best Natural Sweeteners to Use Article by James Colquhoun courtesy of www.foodmatters.com, images herein from the original article

Life is certainly a little sweeter with sugar. However, the levels of sugar that our society is currently consuming is a direct reflection of our global chronic health concerns. On average, we’re only supposed to consume 25-36g of added sugar a day (this doesn’t include the beautiful natural sugars in fruits), but realistically the average American consumes 71.14g each day - that’s 17 whole teaspoons!

Excessive sugar consumption is playing a major role in overall health; it may cause glucose levels to spike and plummet, increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, impact immune function, lead to chromium deficiency, accelerate aging, cause tooth decay and gum disease (which can lead to heart disease), affect cognition in children, increase strength, and take the place of important nutrients.

But doing away with sweet flavors altogether doesn’t have to be an option. Here are our picks of the best natural sweeteners to use.

Maple Syrup One of the most-reached-for sweeteners in the Food Matters kitchen is maple syrup. In it’s purest form, when taken from the sap of the maple tree, it’s taste is enough to sweeten even the

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most bitter of dishes with a lovely homely flavor. Not only is it a beautiful sweetener, but when enjoyed in balance it can actually have some incredible health benefits. It contains calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and manganese, alongside at least 24 antioxidants. Plus, some active compounds in maple syrup have been shown to help reduce the growth of cancer cells and may slow down the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract. But be cautious, the pure form isn’t to be confused with maple-flavored syrup, which is sugar syrup with chemically derived maple flavors.

Coconut Sugar A simple swap for any sweet recipe is coconut sugar. This is still to be consumed in moderation (and can usually be used in half the amount that any recipe calls for), but carries a lot more nutrients than refined white sugar. It is made from the dehydrated sap of the coconut palm and retains nutrients such as the minerals iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium, along with some shortchain fatty acids like polyphenols and antioxidants.

Dates This fruit is one of the most nutrient-rich sources of natural sugars and can be used in anything from baking and smoothies to salads and syrups. This high-fiber fruit is perhaps best known for its powerful digestive properties, but it’s good for so much more than that. Dates have a widespread nutrient profile and are packed with various antioxidants, alongside helping regulate cholesterol levels, strengthening the nervous system, and improving bone health.

Honey Another syrupy sweetener we often reach for is honey. This option is naturally delicious and I love it for the abundance of health and antimicrobial benefits it offers. Manuka honey for instance, a native honey produced by bees who pollinate the manuka bush, is known for wound healing, oral health, and soothing sore throats. As honey becomes more widely used for health purposes, emerging studies are confirming what we already know; that the antibacterial benefits are extremely potent and it’s a powerful last-resort medication.

Because it’s an animal byproduct, honey is technically not vegan - so many not be a suitable option for all. We also need to be cautious of sustainability. Bees are required for pollination, to ensure our ecosystems are thriving, but our growing demand for the product is leading to a honey bee decline. To meet the growing demand, industrial bee farming has become the norm the US has seen over a 40% decline in honey bees. Supporting local, sustainable beekeepers is one of the best decisions you can make.

Monk Fruit Powder I love getting my sweeteners from sources as close to nature as possible, so monk fruit is also a great option I keep on hand. The extract is 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar and contains zero calories, zero carbohydrates, zero sodium, and zero fat. Most noticeably, it doesn’t raise blood glucose levels, making it a popular option for diabetics and health-conscious foodies. The sweetener is derived from the native Chinese plant, and many properties have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. Monk fruit powder is often available at your local health food store, so if you’re looking to branch out this is a wonderful option.

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Photo by Valeria Boltneva

Stevia I’m not personally a fan of stevia, as it is often heavily processed and can taste bitter to me.

Many of the readily available alternatives are also packed with artificial additives too. But some people like this option and it can provide sweetness without spiking blood sugar levels. Stevia is a nonnutritive sweetener, and while the zero-calorie approach may appeal to some, it’s also important to note that it lacks any good nutrients too. The lowered glucose and insulin levels found in clinical studies were not due to the compounds of stevia, but rather the elimination of standard sugar from the diet.

No matter the recipe, you can be sure that there’s a way you can improve on the nutritional benefits and begin to work on undoing the lifetime of damage caused by refined white sugar sugar. If you’re looking to discover more ways you can clean up your meals, or want to get back to the nutrition basics, I've created this free masterclass just for you.

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Microbial Secrets of Sourdough Image by Thomas Bock

By Bob Holmes 08.12.2020 courtesy of www.knowablemagazine.org

It all starts with a community teeming with yeasts and bacteria — but what’s really happening? Scientists peer into those jars on the kitchen counter to find out.

The Covid-19 pandemic has tightened our social circles and narrowed the scope of our lives in ways no one imagined just a year ago. But the lockdown also brought an unexpected solace: Everyone, it seems, turned to baking sourdough bread. Social media has been overflowing with photos of frothy sourdough starters — many of them named, like a family pet — and the freshbaked loaves that result. And though peak sourdough may have passed, many a fridge still contains that jar of starter.

Most home sourdough bakers know that their starter contains a vibrant herd of microbes, which leaven and flavor their bread. But where conventional breads rely on a single species of baker’s yeast — the microbial equivalent of a cattle ranch — sourdough is more like the Serengeti, a diverse ecosystem of interacting yeasts and bacteria. The nature of that ecosystem, and hence the flavor of the bread, is a profound expression of a particular time and place. Scientists are beginning to discover that the microbes in a sourdough depend not just on the native microbial flora of the baker’s house and hands, but also on other factors like the choice of flour, the temperature of the kitchen, and when and how often the starter is fed.

“When we study sourdough science, we learn that we know remarkably little for a technology that’s — what? — 12,000 years old,” says Anne Madden, a microbiologist at North Carolina State

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University. But even that limited knowledge is enough to cast light on a diverse, tumultuous microbial world — and provide a few hints to home bakers hoping to up their game. (We probably still have plenty of time to be baking, alas.)

Rise of the microbes Mix flour and water in a bowl and you have papier-mâché paste. But almost immediately, yeasts and bacteria from the environment and the flour itself begin feeding on the sugars in the flour, explains Erin McKenney, a microbial ecologist also at North Carolina State who has studied the events that unfurl as a sourdough starter forms. At first, just about any microbe can grow on this rich, new energy source, including spoilage bacteria. (That’s why brand-new sourdough starters often go through a black, putrid-smelling phase.)

But soon, conditions begin to change. One group of those early colonists begins to acidify the starter. By Day 3, these so-called lactic acid bacteria — named for one of the main acids they produce, which is also found in yogurt, cheese and other fermented milk products — have made the starter so acidic that many of the early colonists can’t survive, leaving only the lactic acid bacteria and a few acid-tolerant yeasts. This lactic acid, together with vinegary-smelling acetic acid, gives sourdough its characteristic tang.

It may also improve the nutritional quality of the bread, says microbiologist Guylaine Lacaze of the Belgian bakers’ supply and consulting company Puratos (she is aware of four as-yetunpublished studies on the topic). The increased acidity activates an enzyme, phytase, that makes minerals like calcium and phosphate more available, she says.

By Days 10 to 14, the starter has settled into a stable state where yeasts and lactic acid bacteria grow vigorously, the yeasts producing enough carbon dioxide to leaven a loaf of bread. The starter is ready to use.

But the fact that new starters settle down within a couple of weeks doesn’t mean that they all end up with the same set of microbes. In one recent study, Madden and her colleagues shipped bags of the same flour to 18 professional bakers around the world, who then used the flour to create starters in their own kitchens using identical techniques. About a month later, the bakers and their starters convened in Belgium, where researchers used DNA sequencing to identify the microbes in each starter.

Even though all the bakers started with the same flour, their starters were all different. Most contained various strains of common baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with a host of other yeasts in varying proportions, they found. The starters also contained a wide range of lactic acid bacteria, mostly in the genus Lactobacillus — though once again, the details varied widely from one starter to the next. Most microbes appeared to have come from the flour — a different draw each time — though a few also originated with the baker’s hands or kitchen.

Other research groups in Europe have seen similar diversity. “My conclusion is that every sourdough is different,” says Marco Gobbetti, a microbiologist at the Free University of BozenBolzano in Italy. Indeed, he suspects, a constant flux of species may be the norm for any given sourdough over time, though what little evidence is available is still equivocal. This casts some doubt on treasured heirloom sourdoughs, some of which have been passed down for

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generations. While their owners may like to think that they’re baking with the same microbes their ancestors used, Gobbetti is skeptical.

But even if every sourdough is different, might they fall into several distinct groups based on the microbes that are present, in much the same way that terrestrial plant communities can be grouped into grasslands and forests despite a changing mix of species? The answer to that question might be coming soon. Elizabeth Landis, a microbiologist at Tufts University in Boston, and her colleagues (including Madden and McKenney) identified the microbes in 560 starters submitted by bakers around the world, then looked for recurrent groupings of microbes. Some species do appear to co-occur frequently, they found, perhaps because they specialize in feeding on distinct sugars. The yeast Kazachstania humilis, for example, can’t use the sugar maltose, which is therefore available for the lactic acid bacteria. (The paper describing these results is still under review, so Landis isn’t sharing details just yet.)

Each microbial community seems to produce its own unique flavor profile, too, McKenney says.

Some produce more lactic acid, which gives a yogurty flavor; others yield a sharper, more vinegary note from lots of acetic acid. And because each species of microbe has slightly different metabolic pathways, each is likely to add other flavorful metabolic byproducts to the mix — a big reason sourdough tends to have a subtler, more complex flavor than ordinary bread. “You could compare it to one single flower compared to a nice bouquet of different flowers. The complexity of all these different compounds is what you find in a sourdough bread,” says Karl De Smedt, who maintains a library of sourdough starters at Puratos.

Care and feeding Not everyone agrees that sourdough microbial communities are so variable. In commercial bakers’ sourdoughs, which are fed daily or even more often, the microbes always have plenty of food. That creates a race, with the fastest-reproducing microbes dominating over time, says Michael Gänzle, a food microbiologist at the University of Alberta, Canada. In the long run, he says, the winners are the yeast Kazachstania and the lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (recently renamed Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis).

That’s not necessarily good news for the resulting bread: L. sanfranciscensisgrows fastest because it has one of the smallest genomes among lactic acid bacteria, which means it has fewer metabolic pathways and thus fewer flavor-producing by-products than other bacteria, Gänzle says. (Score one for home sourdoughs, which Landis says might be more diverse.)

But the flavor of a sourdough bread depends on more than just the species of microbes present in the starter. “You can have really different sourdoughs even if the microflora is the same,” says Lacaze. “It depends also on the recipe of the sourdough, the parameters of the culture.” Stiffer starters — that is, those made with a lower proportion of water — trap more oxygen within the dough, and this encourages lactic acid bacteria to produce sharper-tasting acetic acid; in runnier starters, the same bacteria produce softer-tasting lactic acid.

Temperature matters, too. Lactic acid bacteria do best in relatively warm conditions, for example, so fermenting in a warm kitchen makes for a sourer dough, while cooler conditions lead to more of the fruity flavors produced by the yeast. Moreover, lactic acid bacteria, despite what you’d think, aren’t fond of highly acid environments. Home bakers who leave an acidic

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starter in a cold fridge for weeks between bakings can find they end up with a blander bread that lacks the distinctive tang contributed by the bacteria. (Pro tip: If you’re going to leave your starter in the fridge for longer than a week, make sure to refrigerate it immediately after adding fresh flour, when it’s least acidic. That, says Lacaze, will help the lactic acid bacteria survive the prolonged cold to acidify the rising dough.)

One of the biggest ways that bakers can influence the flavor of their sourdough bread is through their choice of flours for the starter. To demonstrate this, McKenney and her team made four starters each from 10 different grains. Because grains differ in the mix of sugars they make available to sourdough microbes — corn, for example, lacks a starch-digesting enzyme that creates maltose — they might lead to different sets of microbes and, hence, different flavors.

And that’s exactly what McKenney found (again, the results are not yet published). Starters made from amaranth flour tended toward meaty, toasty aromas. Those made from teff (an African grain) and sorghum gave fermented smells, while emmer and buckwheat gave more vinegary starters.

So far, McKenney and other sourdough researchers have taken only baby steps toward designer sourdoughs: Their science has not yet caught up to folk wisdom. “People would like to know step by step: ‘How do I make the end product I desire?’” McKenney says. “We can’t begin to offer anything that’s better than common baking knowledge or the best practices you learn from blogs or talking to friends.”

More answers could be coming soon, thanks to new citizen-science initiatives. McKenney, Madden and their colleagues run the Wild Sourdough Project, which invites home bakers to experiment with flours and growing conditions and report their results. Similarly, Puratos has launched the Quest for Sourdough, where anyone from newbies to professionals can register their sourdough. Those with particularly interesting or unique starters might be invited to submit them to Puratos’s sourdough library for further analysis.

But sourdough is interesting to more than just bakers. Sourdough and other food fermentations such as those that give us cheese, sauerkraut and kimchi provide relatively simple, easy-tohandle model ecosystems for studying microbial ecology more generally. “There’s lots of insights you can gain from studying fermented foods that you can then transfer to more complex microbial communities as well,” says Paul Cotter, a microbiologist at the Teagasc Food Research Centre in Ireland, and co-author of an article on food microbiology in the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology.

Sourdough offers an additional benefit, especially relevant in pandemic times when the microbial world seems so full of threat. “Sourdough is this one space where we all agree, as a society, that microbes are helping us do wonderful things,” Madden says. “If you love sourdough, you love wild microbes in our lives.”

Editor's note: This story was updated on August 13, 2020, to correct an error in the authorship of a study. The study, on the microbial diversity of sourdough starters originating from identical bags of flour, should have been attributed to Anne Madden and her colleagues, not Erin McKenney and her colleagues, as was originally stated.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on August 18, 2020, to correct an error. The original stated that baker’s yeast could not use the sugar maltose. It can, although several other yeasts common in sourdough, such as Kazachstania humilis, cannot.

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MISO EGGPLANT WITH BUCKWHEAT TABBOULEH

by Ivette Rieksts courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

The Food Matters soul-warming, tummy-filling tabbouleh is made from nothing but nourishing ingredients and paired with miso-glazed eggplant it makes the perfect dinner for the family (and is just as tasty for lunch tomorrow)!

Ingredients Miso Eggplant • 2 medium eggplants • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar • 1½ tablespoons maple syrup • ½ tablespoon white miso paste • 1-inch fresh ginger, grated • 1 teaspoon sesame oil Tahini Cream • 1 tablespoon hulled tahini • 2 tablespoons coconut yogurt • Pinch of unrefined sea salt Buckwheat Tabbouleh • ½ cup buckwheat groats • 1 cup water • 1 cup broccoli, finely chopped • ¼ bunch parsley • 1 scallion, sliced • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds • ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil • ½ lemon, juiced

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cut eggplants in half and score a crosshatch pattern on the white flesh. Place on the baking sheet, white side up, and set aside.

3. In a bowl, add apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, miso paste, grated ginger, and sesame oil. Whisk until combined.

4. Drizzle the miso glaze over the eggplants and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes.

5. While the eggplants are cooking, rinse the buckwheat under cold water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Place a lid on the saucepan and let the buckwheat cook for 10 minutes. Drain the buckwheat.

6. To make the tabbouleh, in a mixing bowl, combine the cooked buckwheat, broccoli, parsley, scallion, sesame seeds, a drizzle of olive oil, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.

7. Prepare the tahini cream by whipping the tahini, coconut yogurt, and a pinch of sea salt with a fork or a whisk.

8. Once the eggplants are soft and caramelized, remove from the oven. Divide all of the food into two portions. Serve eggplants on a bed of buckwheat tabbouleh and add a dollop of tahini cream.

TIP: Soak buckwheat overnight or for 4 hours before cooking in 3 - 4 times the amount of warm water. Rinse and drain buckwheat before use. This activation process breaks down the phytic acid that the body can have trouble digesting.

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Photo by Yannic Läderach on Unsplash

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Photo By Li Sun

Yoga for Lymph Flow: A Gentle Practice to Support Your Immune System

By Tiffany Cruikshank, www.draxe.com

Yoga for lymph flow isn’t a common topic, but with so many superbugs and contagious diseases floating around these days, it’s pretty astounding that one of the most critical components of our immune system — the lymphatic system — is so seldom talked about. The lymphatics, as sort of the passive circulatory system of our immune system, is one of our most potent innate tools offering protection from the daily challenges our internal physiology meets. In addition to nutrition and sleep, yoga can be an effective and accessible tool to maintain a healthy lymphatic and immune system that doesn’t cost a lot of money or require any fancy products.

Why the Lymphatic System Is So Important The lymphatic system is an essential component of our immune system that helps eliminate toxins and waste from the body. You can think of it as your clean-up crew. Our lymphatics are responsible for transporting waste and toxins out of the tissues back to the bloodstream and regulating the immune response as a local communication mechanism within the tissues. Your lymphatic system creates an essential link for the immune cells to both monitor and respond to signals to increase or decrease immune and inflammatory responses. This also helps protect the body from threats like infections, bacteria and cancer while balancing fluid levels.

The lymph nodes and vessels create a loose sort of webbing throughout the body, providing this vital immune support to every part. Lymph nodes are like little immune hubs found all over the

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body, but there are three areas that are most influential in mounting an immune response to foreign invaders that we can target in a yoga practice — the neck, armpit and abdomen.

The first two areas contain lymph nodes right under the skin, whereas the abdomen houses deeper lymph nodes throughout the digestive tract. These lymph nodes are important to help trap pathogens so the immune system can promote a defense response. However, research suggests that lymphatic flow is also an important part of a healthy immune response.

How Yoga for Lymph Support Works An intelligently created system, the superficial lymph nodes are strategically congregated around the joints to allow the changes in pressure with movement to facilitate lymphatic flow through the nodes, bathing them in immune cells. The lymphatic system depends on this changing pressure to pump lymphatic fluid through the system with valves that keep fluids moving in one direction. The flow through these nodes is what drives our capacity to both mount an immune response and to sound the alarm for other needed immune cells.

Any sort of movement practice (gentle or vigorous) can act as an important pump for this system, however yoga can be especially helpful with its capacity to be both specific to these congregated lymph areas, regulating the breath as a pump and also helping to regulate stress which we know can dampen the immune response. Yoga adds in the component of gently compressing some of these more superficial lymph nodes to stimulate circulation of lymphatic fluid here.

The inversions add a powerful assist to the lymphatic flow of the extremities and torso that work against gravity. The use of diaphragmatic breathexercises and breath-centric movements in a yoga practice help to magnify the effects on the lymphatics as the diaphragm acts as a central pump for the deeper lymphatics.

Key Components of the Yoga for Lymph Support Practice To create a yoga practice targeted to lymphatic system support, keep these components in mind.

The first and probably the most important is to focus on deep, relaxed breathing throughout, as this creates the internal pump driving this more passive system. Another thing to keep in mind is that our purpose is creating superficial circulation under the skin, so it’s important that all of the movement and breathing be done with a sense of ease rather than actively pursuing strength or flexibility as you might in other yoga classes.

The series of poses below incorporates both traditional practices and movements inspired by research. This practice is done in a specific order that helps to support lymphatic circulation, starting by releasing tissues around the thoracic duct as the main outlet for this system, so there’s an exit pathway for this lymphatic flow. Then, we move down through the torso, work our way out to the extremities and end back where we started to encourage good lymphatic drainage at the thoracic duct under the clavicles.

As with any movement practice, these movements should be pain free. If not, back off or stop and consult your healthcare provider before continuing. Though these practices are relatively safe, if you have a known illness, injury, cancer, lymphedema or significant health concerns, it’s

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always best to contact your healthcare provider who knows your specific needs prior to starting a new routine such as this one.

A Home Practice to Support Your Lymphatic System Diaphragm Breathing We’ll begin by freeing up the diaphragm as the central pump for our work here, something we’ll come back to during the practice. Start in a comfortable position on your back with your hands on your belly. As you inhale feel your belly expand and press into your hands, as you exhale feel your belly relax back toward the floor. Continue for 1 to 2 minutes, feeling your body drop back into the floor as you relax here.

Lymphatic Booster in Sukhasana (Easy Seated Pose) This gentle, breath-guided movement helps to support lymphatic flow through the neck, under the clavicles and near the thoracic duct to free up the outlet for the lymphatics, creating an exit route for the toxins and wastes being eliminated through the lymph.

This is also a great one on its own to boost lymphatic flow around the nodes in the neck if you’re feeling a bit run down or start to feel a sore throat coming on.

This one takes some extra time to wrap your head around, but once you get the movement, it’s a simple and effective one to come back to.

Start in an easy cross-legged position. If this is difficult for you, try sitting on the edge of a pillow or bolster to elevate your hips. You can also sit on the edge of a chair with the feet flat on the floor.

Place your right hand on the floor or chair behind you, and your left hand somewhere along your right leg.

As you exhale turn your shoulders into a gentle twist to the right as you turn your head forward toward your left shoulder.

Stay here as you inhale lean your head back slightly to the left to feel a slight tug under the skin on the right side of the neck (to enhance this you can shrug your right shoulder down gently).

Stay for the exhale.

Inhale come back up to the starting position with your hands in the same place.

Repeat 5 times on one side, then repeat on the second side.

Interoceptive Belly Roll This pose is helpful to stimulate the deeper lymph in the abdomen along with the diaphragm.

Note: It’s not a traditional sphinx pose, so the legs are relaxed and elbows are underneath you anywhere that feels comfortable.

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Begin by rolling up a towel to about 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

Place the roll across your yoga mat and lie on your belly with the roll across your belly. Make sure the roll is placed in the soft part of the belly, between the ribcage and pelvis.

Place your elbows on the floor anywhere that feels comfortable.

Inhale as you press the belly into the roll, exhale as you relax the belly and let the roll sink into the belly.

Repeat for 1 to 2 minutes, relaxing a little more with each exhalation.

Low-Lunge Lymphatic Pumping This gentle movement is a great way to pump the lymphatics through the arms and chest to encourage a healthy lymphatic flow and immune response.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

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Start in low lunge with your back knee on the floor (feel free to put some padding under your knee here).

As you inhale, let your pelvis sink toward the floor as you take your arms out to the sides like a cactus and clench your fists, opening across the chest. (The key is making sure the hands reach above heart level as you clench the fist to pump lymph down the arms.)

As you exhale, release your hands and arms, relaxing them down by your sides as the hips come back.

Repeat 5 times moving slowly with the breath, then do the same on the second side.

Think gentle, easy movement with the fists clenching and releasing to drive the lymphatics.

Bridge Pose This common yoga pose provides a gentle backbend to stimulate the deeper lymphatics in the torso, along with a mild inversion to encourage lymphatic flow and some gentle compression to the lymphatics of the neck.

Start on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor.

Gently lift your hips and spine off the floor to a comfortable height as you press down through the arms and shoulders to feel a gentle lift and opening through the chest.

If you’re comfortable here, you can clasp the hands behind your back to open the chest more.

Stay for 5 deep breaths, then slowly lower the hips to the floor.

Legs Up the Wall Inversions are a great way to enhance lymphatic return back to the heart, an efficient way to support the lymphatics throughout the body.

To begin, roll a towel to about 3 to 4 inches in diameter.

Then, sit with one hip against the wall and your rolled towel nearby.

Carefully roll onto your back as you swing your legs up the wall.

Find a comfortable distance from the wall so your legs can easily rest on it.

Bend your knees and place your feet on the wall so you can lift your hips enough to place the roll under your pelvis there.

Then rest your pelvis on the roll and extend your legs up the wall to relax there.

Stay for 3 to 5 minutes, using your exhalations to help relax.

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Supine Reclined Twist Twists are a great traditional way to stimulate lymphatics through gentle compression. This one targets the thixotropic quality of the connective tissue in a gentle movement. Thixotropic means that the connective tissue becomes more liquid with movement and more viscous as we become sedentary. Since the lymph lives in the connective tissue, this more liquid environment allows for better lymphatic flow.

Begin on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor.

Walk your feet a little wider than your hips. As you exhale, let your knees gently swing to the right like a windshield wiper, keeping your feet on the floor.

Let the inhale come back in naturally as the legs come up.

Then exhale swing the knees to the opposite side. As you continue, allow there to be as little effort as possible.

If you’re happy here, find a little momentum in the movement as you move more quickly (but still effortlessly).

Repeat for 2 minutes, then extend the legs for savasana.

Take a few minutes in a still savasana to take it all in and allow your body time to absorb the effects here.

Final Thoughts on Yoga to Support Your Lymphatic System Yoga can be a simple, accessible way to support your lymphatics.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing acts as a pump for the deeper lymphatics.

Simple movements create changes in pressure around the joints where the lymph nodes congregate to drive lymphatic flow.

Simple breath-centric movements performed with ease can be a great way to encourage lymphatic flow.

Twists and simple inversions are an efficient way to support the lymphatics.

Less is more with this more subtle system.

Tiffany Cruikshank (@tiffanycruikshank), L.Ac., MAOM, E-RYT, is the founder of Yoga Medicine® (@yoga_medicine), a community of teachers focused on fusing anatomy and western medicine with traditional yoga practices to serve the medical communities. She has trained thousands of teachers around the world and is regularly featured in major media outlets. An author with a background in acupuncture and sports medicine, Tiffany has worked with celebrities, athletes and corporate professionals alike in her own private clinics and Nike World Headquarters. Tiffany also founded and continues to run two nonprofits — one conducting research on yoga’s therapeutic benefits and the other supporting a shelter for women rescued from trafficking in Delhi, India.

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The Sivananda School of Yoga was founded in 1956 by a small group in Johannesburg who were inspired by one of the greatest yogis of the twentieth century, Swami Sivananda of Muni Ki Reti, Himalayas. The School's voting members are the trustees of its property, the committee, and currently serving teachers, who serve without remuneration. Shunning all the hybrid inventions, adaptations, and variously named "yogas" which have appeared in recent decades, our teachers are faithful to authentic Yoga in the Hindu tradition: the only Yoga the Sivananda School recognises as such.

Yoga Classes Hatha Yoga Morning Classes: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 09h00 - 10h30

Saturday and Sunday 08h30 - 10h00 Hatha Yoga Evening Classes: Monday to Friday 17h30 to 19h00 The monthly subscription (see yoga fees) gives unlimited attendance to all classes of every kind.

New students do not need to book for Hatha (yoga exercise sessions); just arrive five minutes early.

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Going

The First Ten Steps Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

By Alice Beckett, Greenpop Communications Intern courtesy of www.greenpop.org

We all know that ‘going green’ is an essential thing, however it can be difficult to do. So here are ten small choices that can be made to your day to day life that create a big impact for the environment.

1. Recycle your waste Divide your recycling bins into glass, plastics, paper and cans. (Remember to clean and rinse the objects before).

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2. Turn the light off One of the easiest ways to save energy and also money is to turn off the light!! By turning off your light you could be saving between 10-20 percent of your household electricity usage.

3. Green your transportation By greening your transport you can save yourself a ton of money and the best way to travel to work is to walk or cycle, not only can you count this as your daily exercise but you are also making your carbon footprint smaller. If work is too far to do this, then why not pick up a work colleague on the way, this saves petrol and money.

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4. Ban the bottle Ban the plastic bottle from your routine! This may be the most difficult task for someone ‘going green’, however once you make this your habit you will not turn back! Get yourself a reusable bottle to use everyday and you will keep mother earth and your wallet happy and healthy.

5. Stop junk mail arriving through your letterbox The estimated decomposition of paper takes two to five months. By putting an end to your junk mail arriving through your post box you are saving not only paper but – water, fuel and energy as these resources are all used in order to send you a catalogue you forgot you signed up for. A sapling takes a minimum of 15 to 20 years to grow into a tree but less than ten minutes to be felled. For every ton of paper that is recycled 17 trees are saved.

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Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

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6. Conserve water There are over a hundred ways to conserve water in your household, here are just a few for a first time greener…

• Find and fix those annoying leaks you have never got around to fixing.

• Turn the water off before a vacation • Switch to a low flow shower head • Always fill the dishwasher for maximum use • Capture rainfall to water your plants later on • And finally… always support local conservation efforts.

7. Eat local foods Become a ‘Locavore’, these are people who choose to eat seasonal and locally grown food. This is the tastiest and most efficient way to shop as you are supporting the local economy also! (You could even take your reusable bag with you).

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8. Compost Making the choice to compost has incredible benefits for you and your home – small choice, big impact. This idea is inexpensive as there is no need for fancy equipment, as you can make your own or buy one for a minimal cost. So get composting now!

9. Embrace meatless mondays Studies suggest that by cutting out meat for one day or more a week it can halve your chances of chronic illness such as obesity and diabetes. Not only will meatless monday impact your own health but also the environment as the meat industry generates so much of the greenhouse gas emissions. This is also the perfect chance to try out some amazing and delicious vegan or vegetarian recipes.

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10. PLANT A TREE As you have now completed your first nine steps to becoming greener it is now your opportunity to give back for the time you were not so green. This is by far the most enjoyable and rewarding step, so head outside to plant a tree in your garden. Or come and plant a tree with Greenpop! Sign up here to receive updates on our tree planting volunteer opportunities!

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By Laura Klapperich courtesy of www.greenpop.org

With everyone’s favourite holiday right around the corner, Greenpop is here to remind you that while Halloween may be spooky, the future of our planet doesn’t have to be! Halloween is a Photo fun byholiday that from canPexels be Daria Shevtsova enjoyed by people of all ages, but unfortunately can also be quite wasteful. Follow these simple tips and tricks to keep your Halloween green (not ghostly)! It’s all about Reducing, Reusing & Recycling!

Compost organic waste Don’t throw away your organic waste, compost it! This Halloween, instead of letting your leftover food & treats rot in a landfill, turn them into nutrient-rich fertiliser for your plants and trees. And don’t forget – you can compost your pumpkins and gourds too! The more you chop the pumpkin the easier is the decomposing process. Let the microbes celebrate their own Halloween pumpkin feast.

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Upcycle & reuse decorations Repurpose household items you already own to create your Halloween decorations this year.

Turn toilet paper rolls into bats. Transform tin cans into ghosts. Create pumpkin magnets out of bottle caps. You can also upcycle your candy wrappers, which are not recyclable, and turn them into chunky beads, bookmarks or even bracelets. Your options are only limited by your imagination. If you’re not into handicraft works, then stuff your plastic and other non-recyclable waste into an ecobrick till it’s tight, and drop it off at a collection point (like Greenpop’s Nursery).

Vegan recipes Don’t throw your pumpkin leftovers away! You can either toast the seeds for tasty treats or prepare some delicious things like pumpkin pie, muffins, bread, soup or stew. Moreover, a lot of Halloween-inspired vegan recipes can be found online. Find a new favourite recipe or come up with your own and share it with us. Witch Fingers are a fun Halloween treat which look fantastic and are easy to make. There are few ingredients needed, and your friends, colleagues and kids will love them!

DIY costumes Looking for a Halloween costume that will completely transform your look? Get your friends together and participate in a costume swap! Not only will this save you some money, but it will reduce waste as well. Nearly 6,250 tons of landfill waste are created by costumes each year, so do your part to reduce this by giving your old costumes to friends! If you have a costume that is in good shape but you don’t feel like wearing it anymore, upcycle it or donate it! Or have a look at the second-hand shop next door. Be creative and mix different pieces of clothing to make your own fantastic costume!

Plastic-free party For a truly eco-friendly Halloween party say goodbye to plastic cutlery and crockery. Use real dishes – if you don’t have enough ask your guests to bring their own. Biodegradable ones are an alternative too. In order to keep the quantity as low as possible, use a marker to identify the cups so that guests can re-use their own cup. Moreover, provide beverages in plastic-free containers such as glass containers.

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Why Solar Geoengineering Should Be Part Of The Climate Crisis Solution Q&A with Climate Scientist David Keith Photo by Johannes Plenio from Pexels

By Betsy Mason 09.16.2020b courtesy of www.knowablemagazine.org

The controversial technology of reflecting sunlight away from the planet could help blunt the worst impacts of climate change.

For decades, climate scientist David Keith of Harvard University has been trying to get people to take his research seriously. He’s a pioneer in the field of geoengineering, which aims to combat climate change through a range of technological fixes. Over the years, ideas have included sprinkling iron in the ocean to stimulate plankton to suck up more carbon from the atmosphere or capturing carbon straight out of the air.

Keith founded a company that develops technology to remove carbon from the air, but his specialty is solar geoengineering, which involves reflecting sunlight away from Earth to reduce the amount of heat that gets trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. The strategy hasn’t been proven, but modeling suggests it will work. And because major volcanic eruptions can have the same effect, there are some real-world data to anchor the idea.

In the near future, Keith and his colleagues hope to launch one of the first tests of the concept: a high-altitude balloon that would inject tiny, reflective particles into the layer of the upper atmosphere known as the stratosphere. The place and time for the experiment are still to be determined, but it would be a baby step toward showing whether artificial stratospheric particles could help cool the planet the way eruptions do naturally.

But the idea of using a technological fix for climate change is controversial. Talking about — let alone researching — geoengineering has long been considered taboo for fear that it would dampen efforts to fight climate change in other ways, particularly the critical work of reducing carbon emissions. That left geoengineering on the fringes of climate research. But people’s attitudes may be changing, Keith says. He argues that while geoengineering by itself cannot solve the problem of climate change, it could help mitigate the damage if implemented carefully alongside emissions reductions.

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In 2000, Keith published an overview of geoengineering research in the Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, in which he noted that major climate assessments up until that point had largely ignored it. Earlier this year, he spoke in Seattle about the current state of the field at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Knowable Magazine talked with Keith about how the scientific, technological and geopolitical landscape has changed in the intervening decades.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Twenty years ago you called geoengineering “deeply controversial.”

How has the controversy changed since then?

Back then it was something that a pretty small group of people who thought about climate knew about — and mostly agreed they wouldn’t talk about. And that was it. Now it’s much more widely discussed. I think the taboo is reduced, for sure. It’s certainly still controversial, but my sense is that there has been a real shift. An increasing number of people who are in climate science or in public policy around climate or in environmental groups now agree that this is something we should talk about, even if many think it should never be implemented. There’s even growing agreement that research should happen. It feels really different.

Why was there a taboo against talking about geoengineering, and do you think was it valid?

I think it’s well-intentioned; people are right to worry that talking about geoengineering might reduce the effort to cut emissions. I don’t think this concern about moral hazard is a valid reason not to do research. There were people who argued that we shouldn’t allow the AIDS triple-drug cocktail to be distributed in Africa because it would be misused, creating resistance. Others argued against implementation of airbags, because people would drive faster. There is a long history of arguing against all sorts of potentially risk-reducing technologies because of the potential for risk compensation — the possibility that people will change behavior by taking on more risks. I think it’s an ethically confused argument.

For me, the most serious concern is some entities — like big fossil-fuel companies that have a political interest in blocking emissions cuts — will attempt to exploit the potential of geoengineering as an argument against emissions cuts. This concern has likely been the primary reason that some big civil-society groups want to block or contain discussion of this stuff so it doesn’t enter more widely into the climate debate. For me the concern is entirely justified, but I think the right answer is to confront it head-on rather than avoiding debate. I don’t want a world where decisions are made by elites talking behind closed doors.

Has the amount of geoengineering research increased in the past two decades?

Dramatically, even in the last couple of years. When I wrote that Annual Reviews paper in 2000, there was virtually zero organized research. There were a few researchers occasionally getting interested and putting in like 1 percent of their time.

Now there are little research programs almost everywhere you care to mention. There’s a

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Chinese program that’s pretty serious; there’s an Australian one that’s better funded than anything in the United States; there are several in Europe.

What has been the biggest surprise over the past 20 years in how solar geoengineering might work?

The big surprise has been recent results, including two studies I was involved in, showing that the effects of a global solar geoengineering program wouldn’t be as geographically unequal as was feared. What matters for real public policy is who is made worse off.

For one paper published last year in Nature Climate Change, we used a very high-resolution computer model, and we compared, over all the land surface, two worlds: one world where we have two times preindustrial levels of carbon dioxide and the other world where we have enough solar geoengineering to reduce the temperature change by half. For each of the 33 geographical study regions designated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we tried to look at whether solar geoengineering would move a particular climate variable back toward preindustrial levels, which we call “moderated,” or move it further away from preindustrial, which we call “exacerbated.”

We focused on some of the most important climate variables: change in extreme temperature, change in average temperature, change in water availability and change in extreme precipitation.

And what we found seems almost too good to be true: There wasn’t a single variable in a single region that was exacerbated. That was a surprise.

In a paper published in March in Environmental Research Letters, we did the same analysis with another model, and we found that with solar geoengineering, everything is moderated in all regions except four. But all four of those are dry regions that get wetter. So my guess is many residents of those regions would actually prefer that outcome because in general people are more worried about getting drier than wetter.

Now, what the model shows may or may not be true in the real world. But if there is a single reason to really look at these technologies and evaluate them in experiments, it’s results like this that show you can reduce almost all or many of the major perturbations of climate without making any region significantly worse. That’s quite a thing.

How would your planned real-world experiment, known as the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx), work?

SCoPEx is a stratospheric balloon experiment to put aerosols in the stratosphere and measure their interaction over the first hours and the first kilometer or so after release in a plume. It involves a high-altitude balloon that will lift a gondola carrying a package of scientific instruments to an altitude of 20 kilometers. It will release a very small amount of materials such as ice, calcium carbonate (essentially powdered limestone) or sulfuric acid droplets known as sulfates. The gondola will be fitted with propellers that were originally made for airboats so that it can fly through the plume of released materials to take measurements.

The amount of released material will be on the order of 1 kilogram, which is far too small to have any direct health or environmental impact once released. The goal is not to change climate or even to see if you can reflect any sunlight. The goal is simply to improve our models of the way

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aerosols form in the stratosphere, especially in plumes, which is very relevant for understanding how solar geoengineering would work. We hope to launch the experiment soon. But when and where that will happen depends on balloon availability and recommendations from an advisory committee.

We know there are health risks related to sulfuric acid pollution in the lower atmosphere. Are there potential health risks from injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere?

Anything we put in the stratosphere will end up coming down to the surface, and that’s one of the risks we must consider. A full-scale solar geoengineering program might involve injecting around 1.5 million tons of sulfur and sulfuric acid into the stratosphere per year. This could be done using a fleet of aircraft; roughly 100 aircraft would need to continuously fly payloads up to about 20 kilometers (12 miles) altitude. You would not be wrong to think this sounds crazy. We know that sulfuric acid pollution in the lower atmosphere kills many people every year, so putting sulfuric acid into the stratosphere is obviously a risk. But it’s important to understand how much 1.5 million tons a year really is.

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, in the Philippines, poured about 8 million tons of sulfur in one year into the stratosphere. It cooled the climate and had implications for all sorts of systems.

Current global emissions of sulfur are about 50 million tons a year into the lower atmosphere, and that kills several million people every year from fine particulate air pollution. So the relative risk from solar geoengineering is fairly small, and it has to be weighed against the risk of not doing solar geoengineering.

How quickly could a full-scale solar geoengineering program get off the ground?

It could happen very fast, but all the ways it happens very fast are bad cases, basically where one country just jumps on it very quickly. It’s obvious that what would be best is for countries not to just start doing it but to articulate clear plans and build in checks and balances and so on.

If there were much wider research over the next half-decade to decade — which is possible because attitudes really are changing — then it’s plausible that some coalition of countries could begin to inch toward real implementation with serious, visible plans that can be critiqued by the scientific community starting by the end of this decade. I don’t expect it will happen that fast, but I think it’s possible.

How does geoengineering fit in with other efforts to combat climate change such as reducing fossil-fuel emissions and removing carbon from the air?

The first, and by far the most important, thing we do about climate change is decarbonizing the economy, which breaks the link between economic activity and carbon emissions. There’s nothing I can say about solar geoengineering that changes the fact that we have to reduce emissions. If we do not do that, we’re done.

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Then carbon removal, which involves capturing and storing carbon that has already been emitted, could break the link between emissions and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Large-scale carbon removal really makes sense when emissions are clearly heading toward zero, and we’re getting toward the harder chunk of the economy to mitigate. And then solar geoengineering is a thing that might partially and imperfectly weaken, but not break, the link between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and climate changes — changes in sea level, changes in extreme events, changes in temperature, etc.

So if you look at the curve of overall greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, you can think of emissions cuts as flattening the curve. Carbon removal takes you down the other side of the curve. And then solar geoengineering can cut off the top of the curve, which would reduce the risk of the carbon dioxide that is in the air already.

Some people think we should use it only as a get-out-of-jail card in an emergency. Some people think we should use it to quickly try to get back to a preindustrial climate. I’m arguing we use solar geoengineering to cut the top off the curve by gradually starting it and gradually ending it.

Do you feel optimistic about the chances that solar geoengineering will happen and can make a difference in the climate crisis?

I’m not all that optimistic right now because we seem to be so much further away from an international environment that’s going to allow sensible policy. And that’s not just in the US. It’s a whole bunch of European countries with more populist regimes. It’s Brazil. It’s the more authoritarian India and China. It’s a more nationalistic world, right? It’s a little hard to see a global, coordinated effort in the near term. But I hope those things will change.

10.1146/knowable-091620-1 Betsy Mason is a freelance journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area who specializes in science and cartography. She is the coauthor, with Greg Miller, of All Over the Map: A Cartographic Odyssey (National Geographic, 2018).

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Photo by Ramiz Dedaković on Unsplash

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Phot courtesy of www.draxe.com

Essential Oils for Pets: The Best & Worst Oils to Help Your Furry Friends

By Annie Price, CHHC, www.draxe.com

Essential oils are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that come from the seeds, bark, stems, flowers and roots of plants. If you’ve used them before, I’m sure you’re already familiar with how incredibly potent, fragrant and beneficial they can be to your health, but have you ever tried essential oils for pets?

According to the American Kennel Club, “Preliminary research suggests that these potent oils may have some health benefits for dogs and humans, and many holistic veterinarians incorporate essential oils into their practices.” Many pet owners today are turning to essential oils for a variety of health concerns in their pets, including flea and tick prevention, skin issues, and behavior problems like anxiety. (1) While using essential oils for pets is known to have its benefits, it’s vital to know which oils are safe to use, how to use them, and to remember that, like people, each animal is different and may react uniquely to a particular essential oil. Similar to the use of oils with children, it’s absolutely crucial to remember that a little goes a long, long way with pets.

Are Essential Oils Safe for Pets?

If you’re wondering about the safety of essential oils for pets, the answer is that some essential oils are considered OK for use with pets. There are a good amount of essential oils that have been deemed safe and, even better helpful, to pet health. However, there are also many essential oils toxic to dogs and cats (and animals in general), which I will talk about later in this article. But first, are you ready to learn all about the best essential oils for pets, specifically dogs and cats?

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Essential Oils for Pets: 5 Best Oils + Uses for Dogs What essential oils are OK for dogs? The following oils are not only OK for dogs, but they’re also known to have some really impressive potential benefits!

Below is a short list of essential oils that experts say are safe to use on dogs: 1. Lavender Oil Lavender oil is a popular choice among humans so maybe you already have this incredible essential oil on hand for your furry friend. If you’re looking for essential oils for dog odor, lavender is a great scent that pet owners tend to love too. Plus, studies demonstrate lavender’s amazing helpful effects on cases of PTSD as well as its anti-anxiety ability, so it will likely calm both you and your pet. (2, 3)

For pets like dogs, lavender essential oil’s calming effects can be very helpful for anxiety (often induced by visits to the vet or car rides), car sickness or sleep troubles. A 2006 clinical trial looked at the effects of lavender essential oil on 32 dogs with a history of travel-induced excitement in their owners’ cars. What did they find? The dogs exposed to the scent of lavender oil spent a significant amount more time resting and sitting and a lot less time moving around and vocalizing. Overall, the researchers conclude, “Traditional treatments for travel-induced excitement in dogs may be time-consuming, expensive, or associated with adverse effects. Aromatherapy in the form of diffused lavender odor may offer a practical alternative treatment for travel-induced excitement in this species.” (4) Lavender oil is a great topical remedy for canine skin concerns like allergies and burns. It’s also a common choice of essential oils for dog wounds and essential oils for dogs itching. (5) 2. Peppermint Oil You may already be familiar with this popular, refreshing essential oil. Will peppermint oil hurt dogs? Peppermint is one of the top recommended essential oils to get rid of fleas in dogs. You’ll actually find peppermint as one of the more commonly used essential oils for dog flea repellent for sale in pet shops and online today.

According to Dr. Janet Roark, a veterinarian and the owner of Hill Country Mobile Veterinary Service in Austin, Texas, “Peppermint essential oil can be used to cool sore muscles, energize tired animals, and soothe upset stomachs. It refreshes the air when diffused and can freshen breath with taken internally. This oil can open the airways and promote a healthy respiratory tract, as well as soothe aching joints.”

As an energizing oil, it can be a great mood booster for animals too. Roark, who is also known as the “Essential Oil Vet,” instructs that peppermint oil is best used topically with dogs. (6) The American Kennel Club has a great essential oil dog shampoo recipe that includes several recommendations for essential oils for dog fleas prevention, including peppermint. Check out it Flea-Repellent Dog Shampoo with Essential Oils, which includes simple ingredients you may likely have on hand already. Using a shampoo like this regularly is the perfect way to use essential oils to kill fleas on dogs.

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3. Chamomile Oil Roman chamomile oil is a wellknown anti-inflammatory that is a great choice for both humans and dogs alike if the problem is a skin irritation, burns, wounds, ulcers or eczema. (7, 8) This is a very gentle essential oil that can also help calm a stressed-out dog. (9) If you’re looking for essential oils recipes for dogs using chamomile oil, check out this super easy Calming Spray Recipe that also includes lavender oil.

4. Frankincense Oil Can you use frankincense oil for dogs? For most dogs, the answer is “yes!” In fact, Dr. Richard Palmquist, chief of integrative health services at Centinela Animal Hospital in Inglewood, Calif., says that using frankincense oil in some cases of cancer and tumors can be very helpful. (10) The use of frankincense oil in pet cancer isn’t that surprising when you consider that research has shown the powerful potential for frankincense oil to help fight some forms of human cancer, including bladder cancer. (11) Frankincense oil is known to have potent antimicrobial abilities, making it a great choice for germ fighting and immune boosting too. (12) Research using animal models (mice) also shows that this ancient oil has powerful antidepressive effects. (13)

5. Cedarwood Oil According to Dogs Naturally Magazine, cedarwood oil (Cedrus Atlantica or Cedrus deodara) is a

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terrific natural pest repellent.

Cedarwood essential oil when used in dogs also can act as an antiseptic for the lungs, expectorant for coughs (like kennel cough), circulation stimulator (making it helpful for bodily pains and arthritis), hair growth booster and dandruff reducer, diuretic, and a general calming agent that can help with behavior concerns like shyness or nervous aggression. (14)

Essential Oils for Pets: 5 Best Oils + Uses for Cats What are some of the best essential oils for cats?

According to Palmquist, the following oils can typically be safely used with cats (and dogs) on a shortterm basis: (15) 1. Spearmint Oil Somewhat similar to peppermint oil in terms of its scent and uses, spearmint oil can really come in handy with cats for a lot of different concerns, including nausea and diarrhea. For overweight cats, some vets use spearmint oil to balance the metabolism, and in felines with gastrointestinal problems, the oil can be used to improve unwanted symptoms. Like most essential oils, spearmint oil should be diluted before application.

2. Frankincense Oil According Palmquist, frankincense essential oil has shown itself to be helpful in some cases of cancer. He’s also seen it reduce tumors and external ulcers. Frankincense oil may also boost blood supply to the brain, but it may make high blood pressure

worse too so be careful when using it. You can check with your vet, but it’s probably best to refrain from using this oil if your cat has a history of hypertension.

3. Cardamom Oil Just like with humans, cardamom oil is a great digestive aid for pets. It can help ease heartburn while also encouraging a healthy appetite level. It also has natural antimicrobial properties and can be helpful for coughs.

4. Helichrysum Oil Helichrysum essential oil has many benefits to pets thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. (16) For pets, it’s excellent for decreasing bleeding due to accidents and for general skin rejuvenation as well. Helichrysum oil is also used to support the nervous system and boost heart health.

5. Fennel Oil Fennel essential oil has a sweet smell similar to licorice and is commonly employed to treat digestive issues in humans. In cats, it may be able to help balance the pituitary, thyroid and pineal glands. If your cat has a buildup of fluid and/or toxins in its tissues, topical application of diluted fennel may help break up that unhealthy buildup and get things back to normal.

How to Use Essential Oils for Pets You should only use 100 percent pure essential oils for pets and always dilute them before application unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian. How much oil should you use?

Recommendations vary, and you should ask your vet if you’re feeling unsure, but a safe bet is starting with a single drop of essential oil in 50 drops of carrier oil, such as coconut, olive or almond oil. Another recommendation is to use three to six drops of essential oil(s) to one ounce of carrier oil.

Of course, it’s important to adjust the amount of oils you use depending on your pet’s size and age. Use less of a diluted oil with smaller dogs and cats, as well as puppies, kittens and senior pets.

To enable your pet to benefit from the scent of essential oils, put one to two drops of essential oil in a diffuser and allow the aroma to permeate the living space for 10 to 15 minutes.

Here is some caution with using essential oils with cats or dogs: • Be familiar with your pet’s health status, and check with your vet to make sure no essential oils are contraindicated for your pet due to its breed or a health condition.

• Observe your pet’s reaction to essential oils, and stop using them if you observe any adverse reactions.

• Never use essentials oils for pets around delicate areas, including the eyes, ears, nose and genitals.

• Do not add essential oils to your pet’s food or drinking water unless instructed to by your vet.

• Do not use essential oils with puppies under 10 weeks of age.

• Do not use oils on epileptic pets who are prone to seizures.

•

If your pet is pregnant or nursing, check with your vet before using any essential oils and be especially careful with introducing her to essential oils (that includes your own use in her vicinity).

More Precautions, Including Oils to NEVER Use for Pets To be on the safe side, you can always talk to your veterinarian before using essential oils for animals. Cats are especially at risk for essential oil reactions. It’s vital that you choose 100 percent pure, therapeutic-grade and certified USDA organic essential oils free of adulterants and additives for use with your pets.

Both cats and dogs have very sensitive senses of smell so essential oils should always be used in extremely small amounts and diluted with a carrier oil. It’s also important to remember what oils you can and cannot use in an oil diffuser around your pet. When using aromatools like a diffuser, make sure to provide an escape route so your dog or cat doesn’t feel trapped. It’s also not recommended to force the use of any oils on pets when they clearly do not like them.

The list of toxic essential oils varies between cats and dogs. It’s also important to remember that each pet can react differently to certain essential oils and could have a negative reaction even if the oils aren’t on this list below. The following two lists are not exhaustive but include some common essential oils known to be problematic for dogs and cats.

Which essential oils are toxic to dogs? Essential oils that are toxic/NOT recommended for use with dogs: (17) • • • • • • •

Clove Garlic Juniper Rosemary Tea Tree Thyme Wintergreen

Which essential oils are toxic to cats? Essential oils that are toxic/NOT recommended for use with cats: • Cassia • Cinnamon • Clove • Eucalyptus • Lemon • Lavender • Peppermint • Spruce • Tea Tree • Thyme Some pet owners may be interested in trying essential oils with other furry friends so this is another helpful essential oils guide for animals in general below.

Photo By Laura Stanley

30 Essential Oils You Should Never Use on Any Animal: (18) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Anise Birch Bitter Almond Boldo Calamus Camphor Cassia Chenopodium Clove Garlic Goosefoot Horseradish Hyssop (Hyssopus sp. with the exception of Decumbens) Juniper (Juniperus sp. with the exception of Juniper Berry) Mugwort Mustard Oregano Pennyroyal Red or White Thyme Rue Santolina Sassafras Savory Tansy Tea Tree Terebinth Thuja Wintergreen Wormwood Yarrow

How do you apply essential oils to dogs and cats? According to Dog Oiler, the best carrier oil to use in combination with essentials oils for your pets is coconut oil. (19) Not only does the use of a carrier oil like coconut reduce the likelihood of skin irritation, but it’s also helps to nourish your pet’s skin — plus research has shown it has helpful antifungal properties. (20) According toPalmquist, “To reduce the chances of sensitivity and organ toxicity, we generally use an oil for no more than two weeks and then provide a rest period. Under certain circumstances — like in the treatment of cancer — we will use oils for longer periods, but this is something best left to those trained in the use of oils.” (21) Signs and symptoms of essential oil poisoning in pets can include: (22) • Difficulty breathing • Drooling • Lethargy or weakness

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• • • • •

Muscle tremors Pawing at the mouth or face Redness or burns on the lips, gums, tongue or skin Trouble walking or an uncoordinated gait Vomiting

Always store essential oils out of the reach of pets and children. If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned by essential oils, immediately contact your veterinarian or the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). Bring the suspected essential oil offender with you to the vet in a sealed container. Seeking treatment as quickly as possible will typically lead to a better outcome for your pet. If you believe your pet swallowed the oil, inducing vomiting or giving activated charcoal are not recommended as this may make the situation even worse.

Final Thoughts on Essential Oils for Pets • •

• • •

You can use certain essential oils for pets safely to boost their physical as well as emotional well-being, while there are other oils that you specifically should not use with dogs and cats or animals in general.

What essential oils are good for dogs? Some top choices include lavender, chamomile, frankincense and cedarwood. Peppermint is also a top choice of essential oils for dogs fleas.

What essentials oils are helpful to cats? Beneficial oils for cats include spearmint, frankincense, cardamom, helichrysum and fennel.

It’s vital that you choose 100 percent pure, therapeutic grade and certified USDA organic essential oils for pets.

There are many important cautionary tips to know before using essential oils for pets, and it’s also important you include your vet on essential oils for pets choices, especially if your pet is very young, old or has an ongoing health concern.

Photo by Snapwire

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Welcome To The Angel Connection School of Africa The Angel Connection School of Africa, established as a non-profit organisation, for the highest good of all, will incorporate all forms of Spirituality continuing with the basic teachings of Angels, Ascension, Atlantis etc. which we all know to be Universal.

The teachings of various modalities will however, be enhanced by adding the specific requirements of our culture and ethnicity, whilst retaining flexibility.

The mission statement of the school is:“To Light up Africa so that Africa can Light up the World”

A Letter From The School Principal – Margi McAlpine

Angel Connection Day

Meditations

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Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

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The Beautiful Hopi Indian Labyrinth at Thirsty Falls Guest Farm

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The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is a thatched, whitewashed lodge built high on a natural platform overlooking the Bushman's River and Giants Castle.

Antbear Drakensberg Lodge offers various Drakensberg accommodation options in en suite double rooms, luxury suites, family units and also boasts a luxury cave too.

Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is one of those smaller intimate kind places which has been lovingly put together. The natural setting of the accommodation is stunning and we have managed to encase all this beauty with an atmosphere of comfort and ease.

The cottages are smartly appointed and individually designed and the fact that we are a small place makes for an intimate and personal accommodation experience. Each of the accommodation units are different and are decorated with uniquely eccentric and artistic wooden furniture.

It is a bit off the beaten track and is more of an insider tip than just another bed and breakfast. We cater for small intimate groups and never have more than 45 guests at a time. It's a laid back, lovingly cared for kind of place where you feel a sense of happiness and peace. Honeymoon stays turn into anniversary commemorations just as guests become friends. Even foreign tourists return for a second and third taste.

Attractions Drakensburg Hiking Trails Bushman Rock Art Giant’s Castle Kamberg Weenen Game Reserve Royal Natal National Park Drakensburg Boys Choir

Horse Trails Injasuti Nature Reserve Monks Cowl Natal Midlands Tugela Falls Sani Pass Fly Fishing

Retreats The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is the ideal retreat venue where we can provide all the services and accommodation for your retreat. Situated 4 hours from Johannesburg and 2 hours from Durban with easy access from the N3 Antbear Lodge is easy to get to but has the feeling of being far from the madding crowd. This wonderful place for group retreats offers spectacular views, vast spaces, wild winds, rain, sunshine, clouds and rainbows and in all of this – silence and peace.

Retreat groups can book the whole lodge for their exclusive use.

The Lodge can accommodate 44 persons in 15 separate accommodation units Antbear Drakensberg Lodge has a spacious dining room with a wood-burning fireplace, a comfortable lounge with a fireplace and spectacular views, a breakaway meeting room, a large veranda and a large meeting room for retreat, team building or training activities. We provide excellent meals and will fit our menu to your expectations.

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Because food is an important part of your stay Meals are part of the real surprises that the Antbear Lodge has to offer where home grown cooking is part of the deal. We like to use our own home grown organic vegetables and if we haven’t got, then we lean heavily on those local providers with similar attitudes to our own. Conny and Andrew both like cooking and are up to changing just about anything to suit tastes or philosophies. Our cooking experience is in part a journal, a record of events and memories expressed in recipes. In the course of our travels we have filed away many recipes and with them images of people and places and their lives. How food tastes has much to do with the associations we make and if you would like to hear the tales of our meals we would love to tell them.

Sustainable & responsible tourism is our social responsibility and what we do to give something back to our community and environment We believe in sustainable tourism and social responsibility. We live is a spectacularly beautiful place called the Drakensberg and our standard of living here is exceptional.

But around us lie contrasts of poverty and lack of development. If we are to keep our way of life then it surely follows that we must do everything in our power to contribute to the upliftment and prosperity of this rural area. We believe that the future of South Africa is linked to the prosperity of the people, and that upliftment is linked to education. And as such we have chosen to support our local primary school called Vulakani Primary School.

Pet friendly accommodation Drakensberg One of the few pet-friendly places in the Drakensberg. Beautiful, vast views of the Drakensberg with plenty of ground for my dogs to roam. Walk for hours.

Your dogs will be happy with lots of dams to swim in and horses to discover. One of the accommodation units at Antbear Lodge is fenced in so its really easy to leave your dog behind if you would like to explore some of the sights where pets are not that welcome. If country life is for you and you would love to take your pet with you then Antbear Lodge is a great accommodation choice. Your hosts will advise you on all the activities available. Antbear Lodge prides itself on being both family-friendly and petfriendly.

CONTACT Mobile 076 441 2362 Email: reservations@antbear.co.za Web: www.antbear.co.za

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The Buddhist Retreat Centre, where people of all religions, and none, come to experience peace and tranquility.

How to Retreat The Buddhist Retreat Centre offers various types of retreats, ranging from those investigating Buddhist thought and philosophy, through to practice retreats where the emphasis is on meditation; as well as retreats featuring bird watching, cookery, drumming, pottery and photography. At first glance the latter might appear to be unrelated to Buddhism but even these retreats will contain some element of meditation, of mindful awareness, refracting the chosen subject matter through a Buddhist lens.

People from all walks of life come to these retreats with a variety of motivations and expectations. Perhaps they want to deepen their meditation practice, to take some time out from a hectic working life; to reflect on a tense domestic situation; to consider the trajectory of their lives; to make a decision about a way forward. Maybe they just want to learn how to take a good photograph. Each person will have a different reason for going on a retreat. Different paths will have led them to this place.

We all need to make an appointment with ourselves from time to time. To re-connect with who we are; to maintain balance; to recharge exhausted batteries. To make time to go on a retreat is a necessary and healthy step for anyone.

General Information The Centre has been established on an exquisite 125-hectare country estate near the village of Ixopo, KwaZuluNatal 90 kilometers south of Pietermaritzburg, one and a half hours’ drive from Durban.

Set in hilly grasslands amongst dams, indigenous bush and forests, it overlooks one of the great valleys in the Umkomaas river system. CNN featured the BRC as one of the ten finest retreat centres in the world. It was awarded Natural Heritage status by President Nelson Mandela in recognition of its success in establishing indigenous vegetation on the property and providing habitats for wildlife to return, including the endangered Blue Swallow. It is a birder’s paradise with more 160 species recorded.

Walks lead to many interesting sites and viewpoints on the property, including evidence that Bushman lived there and Voortrekkers and Settlers passed through. In 2000, the BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa valley. It continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways.

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Accommodation Fifty retreatants can be accommodated in single and twin-bedded rooms, en-suite cottages and thatched chalets overlooking the secluded valleys on the property – a short distance away from the dining room, office, library, studio and meditation hall.

The Centre is justly famous for its fine lacto-ovo vegetarian cuisine which is featured in its own bestselling recipe books, Quiet Food, The Cake the Buddha Ate and Plentiful: The Big Book Of Buddha Food. The BRC menu includes organically grown vegetables and farm-baked bread.

Observances The Retreat Centre offers a tranquil environment for the study and practice of philosophy, psychology, meditation and the arts associated with Buddhist culture. The Centre therefore encourages adherence to traditional Buddhist moral principles during retreats, such as respect for all forms of life and abstinence from alcoholic drinks and hallucinogenic drugs. Noble Silence is maintained from the last meditation at night until the first session after breakfast in the morning.

During some retreats, Noble Silence is maintained throughout. Pets are not allowed at the Centre. Only some retreats are suitable for children: please check with the Administrator.

Forthcoming Retreats: For full details of each retreat please go to the website page: http://www.brcixopo.co.za/retreats/detailed-list-ofretreats.html

Email: brcixopo@futurenet.co.za Tel: +27(0)39 834 1863 or 0878091687 Mobile: 082 579 3037 www.brcixopo.co.za

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EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED – PLEASE REACH OUT! WE ALSO ENCOCURAGE YOU TO REACH INTO YOUR HEARTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND REALLY NEED OUR HELP.

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Help us bring hope to girls without and choices to those with none.

Founded in 2000 by Khanyisile Motsa, and run under her diligent care ever, Home of Hope for Girls is an autonomous, self-started initiative to provide real care for exploited, trafficked and abused children in the city of Johannesburg.

It is more than just a residential shelter; it is a loving home where dignity is restored, the past is healed and the girls are given the tools to take control of their futures. Home of Hope also reaches out to the community offering the most vulnerable members support, practical help and a lifeline.

The Background to Home of Hope An estimated 10,000 children are prostitutes in Johannesburg and this figure is increasing.

When Khanyisile Motsa relocated to Hillbrow she was shocked to observe girls as young as nine working as prostitutes and selling drugs on the streets at night. The truth about these forgotten children is: • •

• • •

•

Child Prostitute. Photo by Tseliso Monaheng

Criminals pay agents to recruit children They usually target often orphans or/and those from very disadvantaged rural communities Victims are trafficked or seduced to leave with lies about a life in the city Their IDs are frequently taken from them to make escape and identification difficult Their IDs are often sold on the black market ‘Owned’ by their exploiters they are prostituted, abused, made to sell drugs

Email: info@hopehome.org.za Mam Khanyi: 073 250 2086 Telephone: 011 614 0861 Conscious Life Magazine

Call 012 430 7775 Lines open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

We need your help to ensure that no child is left behind.

In a tough funding environment, we have ensured we have multiple avenues of funding and are proud to have 11,000 generous individual donors contributing monthly. We will continue to be innovative in securing funding to enable us to reach more children and will work on increasing unrestricted and consistent funding streams.

You can help us make a difference. Even just by becoming aware of our work by reading our annual report.

To download and read the full annual report, click here.

Help us do whatever it takes to save the children.

Thank You Gugulethu Ndebele CEO

www.savethechildren.org.za Conscious Life Magazine

Hotel Hope Ministries is a fully registered South African non-profit organisation established with aim of ensuring that each and every child is brought up in a safe, happy and healthy home so that they can grow up and develop into responsible and positive adults. Although children are our main focus, we have a holistic approach to the problem of orphaned and abandoned children. We realise that we need to focus on the cause of the problem too and not only the symptoms. So we have projects to focus on assisting Mothers and Fathers, so that they can look after themselves and their children.

We group our projects under three focus areas: BABIES IN NEED Creating and supporting several small family style foster homes for orphaned and abandoned babies.

MOTHERS IN CRISIS Providing young mothers facing unplanned pregnancies with counselling, guidance and practical support.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Helping Mothers and Fathers to help themselves by providing jobs and skill development opportunities through our fundraising and trading projects.

As a fully registered South African charity we are registered with the following authorities: · Section 21 company without share capital - 2010/006792/08 · Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number – 084 289 · Public Benefit Organization (PBO) number – 930 034 387 Mission statement: To engage the local Church Worldwide to embrace its God given responsibility of taking care of destitute mothers and orphaned and abandoned children.

Vision statement: To see a full service (either ourselves or in partner with others) covering: •Children’s homes •Adoption advocacy •Mothers in crisis •Counselling centres •Training Academy •Charity shops / trading Conscious Life Magazine

Our fundraising model: We have a unique funding model in place where we are able to generate funds to cover 100% of our administrative costs through our Charity Shop(s) as well as the output of our carpentry workshop and sewing workshop. We are extremely committed to Social enterprise as it creates employment in South Africa, funds for the Charity, volunteering opportunities as well as a lowpriced outlet for customers from low-income groups. Furthermore we can assure donors that 100% of their support will directly benefit the children in our care as well as mothers in crisispregnancy situations.

Thank you to our donors and corporate sponsors: As an organisation we are incredibly blessed to have many active supporters, individuals and corporates, who make it possible for us to do what we do and to make a difference. People often comment that it must be difficult to work in our environment hearing sad stories all the time, and it is sometimes hard, but it is also so rewarding to see those stories turning into stories of hope and it is so inspiring and such a privilege to witness people, like our supporters, coming forward to help and to give so generously. There are amazing people out there in the world, click here to see who some of them are and how they have made a difference‌ Click here Our Sponsors:

DONATE FINANCIALLY Deposit or Electronic transfer directly into our account First National Bank Account name: Hotel Hope Account number: 62194003382 Branch: Melville, Johannesburg Branch code (sort code): 256505 Account type: Cheque account SWIFT code: FIRNZAJJ (For international deposits) Reference: Donation (your name) OTHER WAYS TO DONATE/HELP US Conscious Life Magazine

Dear Reader, Because of animal lovers like you, Humane Society International is working around the clock to fight the gruesome dog meat industry – to end it for good.

We’ve slammed the doors permanently on nine dog meat farms in South Korea and rescued more than 900 dogs. Not only that, but we’re lobbying hard for better laws throughout Asia to fight the cruelty, transition farmers out of the business of cruelty, and so much more.

Here is one transformation that we can't stop smiling about. Sophie was rescued just this year from a horrible life on a dog meat farm. Now, she is running free and playing in the grass, surrounded by the love of her forever family:

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This kind of ending never gets old, but so many other dogs still need you.

You can make a difference for dogs caught up in this brutal industry: Sign the dog meat pledge today.

With you by our side, we're committed to this huge fight against the dog meat trade. We’re closing farms and rescuing the animals; we’re raising public and political awareness of the cruelty involved; and we’re growing substantial support for a phase out and ban of South Korea’s dog meat farms. Become a part of the global campaign to end the dog meat trade—sign your name right now.

Thank you, for protecting animals from cruelty all across the globe.

Sincerely, Kitty Block President Humane Society International

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Who we are: The Monkey Helpline, started in 1995, is a volunteer group, based in Westville near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, but operating throughout the province and also anywhere else in South Africa and abroad where our assistance and advice are requested.

Our team of dedicated rescuers and rescue assistants, veterinarians, educators, monitors, fund-raisers, administrative assistants and supporters is what makes this project the success that it is today.

Monkey Helpline is a registered NPO. 130-166 NPO

What we do: As a team we devote our time to educating people about the reasons why the monkeys are here, why monkeys behave the way they do, the things people should do or not do when monkeys are around, and how to humanely keep monkeys away from those places where they are not welcome. Just knowing that monkeys will NOT attack and bite people, and that they DON’T carry rabies, is usually enough to change antagonism and fear into tolerance, and frequently into appreciation.

We also run a rescue operation and a “high care” unit. We rescue an average of three monkeys every two days, and their injuries range from wounds sustained during fights with other monkeys, dog bites, being run over by motor vehicles, electrocuted, snared, trapped or poisoned, shot with airguns (pellet/BB guns), catapults, paintball guns and firearms, as well as being caught or injured on razor-wire. Many are babies who are orphaned or injured when mother monkeys are attacked by dogs or other monkeys, or are severely injured or killed in human-related incidents.

Over eighty percent of the monkeys we rescue, irrespective of the reason why, have got air-gun pellets lodged in their bodies. Lead pellets cause terrible pain, suffering and a lingering death and no person, adult or child, should ever shoot monkeys, or any other animals, with an air-gun.

As the only dedicated monkey rescue project in KwaZulu-Natal, the Monkey Helpline is available to do rescues 24 hours a day, every day! On any given day we are treating ten or more monkeys in our home-based high care unit – frequently in excess of twenty monkeys! Once they have recovered from their injuries these monkeys are released back into their home territory, transferred to a rehabilitation facility or placed in a sanctuary.

Education is a vital tool in our hands and we distribute thousands of information leaflets, and visit many schools (at least two schools per week) to do educational talks about the monkeys. During 2009 we spoke to over 40 000 school learners and their teachers. We also do talks to many other interest groups such as police cadets, garden clubs, public service groups, conservation bodies, body corporates, etc. In addition, we advise farmers, businesses, hotels and casinos, housing and golfing estates, botanical gardens etc on the best ways to manage human/monkey “conflict”.

Monkey Helpline networks with a number of other Vervet-related individuals, groups, and general primate- and animal-care NGO’s.

NB. There is no charge for the services we offer, but donations towards the cost of running the project are welcome. Without your support we would not be able to change attitudes and legislation in favour of the monkeys nor would we be able to rescue the hundreds that we do every year and alleviate their suffering.

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With much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and of course, our readers Namaste

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