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BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE VETRINARY MEDICINE
THERAPIES INCLUDE: • Sports Medicine • Painless & Needle Acupuncture • TCVM Herbals & Nutrition Advice • Conventional Medicine • Dentistry • Minor Surgeries & More
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A Fresh Look at Pet Food
by Julie Peterson
Eating healthy is a family affair, and that includes the family pet. However, what works for humans may be less than optimal for Fluffy or Fido, as each requires a species-specific, nutritionally balanced regimen. Most pet parents opt for commercial dog or cat food that comes in a bag or a can, but many are beginning to consider more natural options. “Kibble is often the most economical way to feed your pet. But its processed state makes it the least optimal,” says Angie Krause, DVM, at Boulder Holistic Vet, in Colorado.
Canned food is also heavily processed and potentially toxic. In 2017, Clean Label Project, a nonprofit testing laboratory, completed a study of 1,084 pet food products, screening them for more than 130 toxins and contaminants linked to cancer and other conditions. Results showed cadmium, a heavy metal, in 94 percent of the products, along with arsenic and lead. Contaminants aren’t the only concern. “Up to 50 percent of commercial foods are composed of meat meal and byproducts,” says Armaiti May, DVM, owner of Dr. May’s Veterinary House Calls, in Los Angeles. These can include meat from dead, dying, diseased or disabled animals, and even rendered dogs and cats from animal shelters, says May. “We are seeing more cancer, neurologic conditions and kidney disease, and there is evidence that the increase in these diseases may be due to harmful ingredients in commercial, meat-based foods.”
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE DIETS Owners that switch from commercial foods report their animals display thicker coats, brighter eyes and greater energy. However, dogs and cats require specific ranges of vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates, so it’s important to ensure that nutritional needs are met and a healthy balance is maintained.
■ HOME-COOKED Pet food recalls have prompted some families to start cooking for their charges, but it’s not as simple as sharing the family dinner. “There are online calculators that can help you create and balance recipes for dogs and cats. Balancing a diet can be tedious and often requires added supplements,” says Krause.
Seeing a four-legged friend thrive was worth the extra time and cost for Yvonnda Stamp-Agent, a homemaker from Rockvale, Tennessee. Emma, a schnauzer mix, suffered from itchy skin, anal gland leakage, kidney crystals, vomiting and other problems. “We switched to home-cooked wild salmon and flounder protein with fresh organic vegetables and fruits, along with vitamin and mineral supplementation.” Emma recovered and is now an energetic 5-year-old.
■ RAW The biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) diet, as described at BarfWorld. com, contains raw meats, vegetables and cooked grains and legumes. Proponents say it improves health from tooth to tail. “Buddha, my orange tabby, is 22 and no longer has an issue with hairballs,” says Kim Bolin, a Reno, Nevada real estate agent, who has fed raw for three years.
Stephanie Krause, in Keego Harbor, Michigan, says her three dogs are more relaxed, probably from the time and effort needed to eat large bones—and they haven’t needed a teeth cleaning since going raw. “After eating raw bones, there was plaque laying all over the floor.”
The BARF diet can be homemade, although most choose prepared frozen or freeze-dried products to ensure nutrient balance or to avoid handling raw meats. Angie Krause says the diet is controversial, largely due to human health risks from pathogenic bacteria.
Julie Peterson lives in rural Wisconsin. Connect at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.
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Ascend Hospice
by Jennifer Lesser
When most people think of doulas, they think of childbirth and those that support women as they bring new life into the world—but at Ascend Hospice, end-of-life doulas are available to accompany the dying and their families during the final stages of life.
For Kelly Roman, Ascend Hospice volunteer supervisor and endof-life doula mentor, it was a personal loss that inspired the development of a program to better support patients who are nearing the end of their lives, as well as guide their loved ones through the process of saying good-bye. “Anyone who does this work will tell you it’s a calling… and my brother’s death was my catalyst either years ago,” she recalls. “During his last nine months, I kept thinking there must be a better way to provide care to the dying.”
In 2016, Roman pitched the idea of creating an end-of-life doula program within Ascend’s volunteer department to offer an additional support system to patients and families. Ascend Hospice partnered with Quality of Life Care and their end-of-life doula training, and in January of 2018, the AscEnd of Life Doula Program was officially launched. Ascend Hospice currently operates in seven states and has more than 70 doulas supporting patients across the country—the organization is striving to become part of a movement that’s providing a whole new level of caregiving, Roman says.
The program provides comprehensive holistic training to volunteers that are taught how to provide support and guidance to both patients in their final stages of life as well as their families. According to Roman, the doula training provides mindful caregiving tools to both professionals and caregivers alike; participants are often pre-medical students seeking volunteer opportunities. Doulas are trained to provide support and companionship as well as education and resources to those who are nearing the end of their lives, and taught how to best support the dying and their families.
“While they do not perform clinical tasks or personal care, doulas focus solely on supporting the patient mind, body and spirit,” she explains. “The majority of our families tell us how grateful they were for the doula and how supported they felt through the most difficult time in their lives.”
A majority of the program’s doulas come from various holistic backgrounds; some will offer reiki or techniques such as gentle hand
massages. Doulas are often able to advocate for patients, such as by requesting pain medication, while at the same time emotionally supporting family members.
“Healthy boundaries are set and respected for everyone. Preparing for a vigil and grounding yourself is so valuable to doulas and the families they share that space with,” Roman says. “The energy in the room immediately shifts and by the time our doulas leave, everyone is in a good place… the patient is comfortable and the family can focus on saying their good-byes.” A doula’s tasks might also include coordinating longer and more frequent visits with loved ones and assisting with end-of-life planning or legacy projects. They can also encourage respite for the family, whether it’s allowing them to get some rest or go out and run some errands. “We talk about the importance of having a self-care practice when doing this work. In doing so, doulas can gently guide caregivers of the dying in caring for themselves,” she adds. “Above all, they can empower the dying to take control of how they want to die.”
Ascend Hospice’s end-of-life doulas are serving as a crucial layer to a patient’s caregiving team and earlier interventions are being made as doulas establish rapport with patients and their families. “While grief can be enormous in a room filled with family and friends, the doula can be the ‘eye of the storm’… that quiet presence through it all,” Roman concludes.
Ascend Hospice is located at 65 Jackson Dr., Ste. 103, in Cranford. For more information, call 866- 821-1212 or visit AscendHospice.com. See ad on page 39.
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Join the movement in End of Life Care at Ascend Hospice
Ascend Hospice is seeking compassionate volunteers to join our End of Life Doula program. Our program equips volunteers to accompany the dying and to provide emotional & spiritual support and guidance in the final days of life. End of Life Doula Certificates are awarded once training and required service is completed.
To learn how to become an End of Life Doula volunteer at Ascend Hospice please call 1-866-821-1212 or visit our website at www.ascendhospice.com
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Gary’s Gem Garden: South Jersey’s Unique and Complete Gem & Mineral Shop
by Gina Cronin
Gary’s Gem Garden is one of the most unique gem stores on the East Coast. Serving the community for 47 years, the family-owned shop has recently moved from their Cherry Hill location to a brighter, fresher locale in Mount Laurel. “We are super excited to welcome everyone into our new location, and hope they find what they love like we did,” says Crystal Weinstein, daughter of owner Gary Weinstein.
The 2,300-square-foot shop is filled with rocks and minerals of all types including quartz, amethyst, citrine, tourmaline, celestite, selenite, fluorite and many more. They have stones from gigantic to microscopic and every size in between. Customers can find the stone they seek in many forms: tumbled, carved, cut, raw, polished, in jewelry or even create a custom piece of jewelry. From animal carvings and wands; to silver and gold gemstone rings, bracelets and necklaces; to rough geodes, the selection is expansive.
The shop extends more of an earth science lens into these little wonders of the planet, but welcomes rock seekers of all types, from teachers to collectors to crystal healers. “The metaphysical world of gemstone healing is so vast, it’s nearly impossible for us to memorize all of the properties,” says Gary. “We have books and charts to aid our customers in finding the perfect stone for them. We love to see what they choose or what chooses them.”
Gary started collecting minerals at age 11 and his fascination only grew from there. He had a full-fledged business by the age of 18. At first, he was out doing rock and mineral shows around the East Coast, then had a store in Woodcrest Shopping Center, in Cherry Hill, and it all grew organically into what it is today. After 17 years in Woodcrest, Gary and his family moved the store to Route 70 in Cherry Hill for 27 years, and now to Mount Laurel.
“I think what he loves most is the chemistry aspect of it,” Crystal says. “There are over 5,000 different minerals that form naturally in the Earth, it is all so genuinely unique and interesting and that’s what sparked it in him.”
Another detail that customers love about the shop is a large portion of the items sold come with a label, clearly displaying their name and where they are from. People are more and more interested in the origin of their crystals, and even if the information isn’t displayed, Gary and his team always have that information available when possible. This is different from a lot of metaphysical stores where information about the mineral’s origin or even the chemistry and mineral makeup is not accessible.
They also focus on affordability. Prices start at 10 cents up to the thousands of dollarsfor more rare pieces, with many of the more common minerals priced at only a few dollars. “We pride ourselves on having the lowest prices possible,” Gary says.
It isn’t only rocks and minerals that marvel visitors at Gary’s Gem Garden. Other items include genuine and natural fossils from all over the world, historical and cultural artifacts, shells, machinery, books and charts, display stands, and other gifts and collectibles. The team also provides jewelry repair and custom jewelry designing in sterling silver, gold and platinum. They also plan to have instore crystal events in the near future.
Gary’s Gem Garden is located at 3119 Rte. 38, Ste 1, Mount Laurel. For more information, call 856-795-5077 or visit GarysGemGarden.com. See ad on page 41.
Gina Cronin is a writer for Natural Awakenings magazine editions across the country, and lives in Lima, Peru. To connect, visit GinaImagines.com.
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