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Women's Wellness

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NATURAL THERAPIES FOR DOGS

THE HEALING POWER OF

GLUTEN-FREE

MASSAGE ON THE GO May 2014 | Las Vegas Edition | NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

las vegas 2014 Join Us For Our 3rd Annual Conference On Natural Health Solutions For The Whole Body, Spirit Mind & Spi

20 Fantastic Speakers • Amazing Chefs Vendor Marketplace • Free Classes Healthy Lunch Buffet • Raffle • Great Giveaways!

REGISTER NOW AT:

www.health-healing-happiness.com

or call 702.772.9401 June 7th & 8th 2014

Springs Preserve 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107 2

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May 2014

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contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

12 CONQUERING

INFERTILITY BY UNDERSTANDING HORMONES

by Robert DeMartino

16 TWEET THOSE

FITNESS GOALS Online Friends Help Us Stay on Track

12

by Tamara Grand

17 MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

18

by Tedd Mallasch

18 THE HEALING

POWER OF MASSAGE From Body Repair to Reversing the Blues

by Case Adams

19 DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF THAI YOGA MASSAGE

by Connie Owings

22 CONTRACEPTIVE

24

PILL CHILL

Dangers Include Cancer, Strokes and Fatigue

by Kathleen Barnes

24 FUNNY TUMMY? Probiotic Foods Can Fix a Troubled Gut

by Kathleen Barnes

26 GLUTEN-FREE ON THE GO Safe Eating Away from Home 28 28 PAIN-FREE POOCH

by Judith Fertig

Five Natural Therapies that Work

by Jennifer Kachnic

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11 13

22

7 newsbriefs 11 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 16 fitbody 17 activism

spotlight

21 localinsight 22 healingways 24 consciouseating 28 naturalpet 33 classifieds 34 calendarofevents 36 ongoingevents 37 resourceguide

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letterfrompublisher Dear friends,

Contact Us Publisher/Executive Editor Gabrielle Wyant-Perillo 702-305-5828 Editor Martin Miron Calendar Editor Michele Perillo Community Awareness Promoter Tina Moden 702-835-3223 Empowerment Catalyst Tracey Owens Relationship Manager Laurie Michaels 949-690-4245 Design & Production Meredith Montgomery Michael Wilson National Franchise Sales 239-530-1377 Natural Awakenings – Greater Las Vegas P.O. Box 230925 Las Vegas, NV 89105 702-305-5828 Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsLV.com NaturalAwakeningsLV.com ©2014 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen.

Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Free subscriptions are available for our digital edition by signing up for email list at: NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

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This month's issue is important to me for two reasons; first, Mother’s Day is this month and celebrating being a mother is my “best thing”. Secondly, I am a publisher, a title I wear with pride. May celebrates my first year on the job with Natural Awakenings-Las Vegas. I’m grateful for the opportunities for improving health and wellness within the community.

There are no coincidences, of this I’m certain. Over the past year, I’ve shared many spiritual and emotional struggles and triumphs. Have you noticed I never once mentioned physical triumphs? The Universe has a way of showing us the way and, in my case, the map had to be thrown in my lap.

Last month, we became corporate sponsors for the Las Vegas Health and Fitness Chamber of Commerce. I was given the opportunity to deal with issues of weightrelated pride when, during a mixer at TruFusion Yoga, I mingled with the top health and fitness professionals of Las Vegas. Surrounding myself with people in whom I believe and admire was powerful and motivating, yet I resisted physical activity. The following week, I received a call from personal trainer Stefania Barker, of Primal Fitness LV, (PrimalFitnessLV.com), announcing that my name was drawn and I had won four personal training sessions. I get it, Universe! No excuses!

So, in the past month I’ve purchased a Body Ball, learned to do squats (ouch!), learned the proper position to execute a plank (which is much more difficult than my previous form), actually raised my shoulders off the ground while attempting a crunch and I’ve been introduced to the TRX (yes, the day after felt as though I’d been trampled by a T-Rex). However, the pain is oddly wonderful. I’m feeling my body and I’m feeling as though I’m grounded within my body. Good stuff… but there’s more …

During a Health & Wellness Expo, I met Rowena Cua, of Body Resonance Myofascial Wellness Center (BodyMFR.com). Yesterday I had a myofascial release session and today I’m detoxing, physically and emotionally. It’s wonderful to feel the emotion or pain, acknowledge it, and then let it go. Read more about myofascial release on page 20. And, as if that’s not enough…

While reading “The Importance of Thyroid Health: Know the Right Numbers,” (see page 21) I realized that I was reading about myself. I mentioned this to Michelle Farino, at Superior Health Solutions, and she asked that I send my most recent blood test results, which happened to have been read the week before. I told her my TSH levels indicated that I was in my first trimester of pregnancy (which, at 49 and a variety of other reasons, is a complete impossibility!). Farino recommended I come in for a complete blood test, which would show all the necessary markers.

I’m relieved to announce that despite a family history of Hashimoto’s disease, my thyroid and autoimmune markers were fine. I do show signs of leptin resistance, insulin resistance and a genetic marker for vitamin deficiency and inflammation; all of which explain my fatigue and weight gain. “Easy fix,” says Farino. It seems I just need to clear the toxins from my body and supplement my diet. Again… all good things!

Live Peace,

Gabrielle Wyant-Perillo, Publisher NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

newsbriefs Free Health Seminars

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uperior Health Solutions (SHS) is offering free public natural health seminars from 6 to 7 p.m., four times a month. The rotating topics each Tuesday are Thyroid Disorder, New Solutions to Parkinson’s Disease, Treat Neuropathy Naturally and Natural and Permanent Solutions to Type II Diabetes.

These seminars are casual and conducted in an environment that is conducive to learning, relaxing and fun.

SHS is a state-of-the-art outpatient treatment facility designed to care for patients on a primary and chronic level to heal such degenerative diseases that also include multiple sclerosis, autism, neuropathy and more.

Location: 1661 West Horizon Ridge Pkwy., Ste. 280, inside Highland Plaza, in Henderson.

RSVP to seminars (required) by calling 702-643-9904 or email Michelle@SHSLasVegas. com. For more information, call 702-643-9900 or visit SHSLasVegas.com. See ad, page 5.

Experience True Yoga Fusion at TruFusion

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Las Vegas Review-Journal Reader’s Choice poll named TruFusion “the Best Yoga Pilates Studio in Las Vegas.” When yoga and fitness fuse, the result is a new approach to body and wellness. TruFusion Yoga hosts nearly 200 classes every week in core disciplines like hot and traditional yoga, TRX, kettle bells and hot Pilates.

TruFusion is offering two TruFire workshops, a set yoga series conducted in 103 degree heat with 50 percent humidity.

Instructors at TruFusion have skillfully mashed fundamentals into fusion classes like Barefoot Bootcamp and Sculpt.

In this new approach to body and movement, customers are exposed to the best teachers, the highest quality classes and a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility that includes four unique workout rooms, a café and spa-like locker rooms with convenient parking.

Relax Your Own Way at Relaxed Fitness

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elaxed Fitness, a Las Vegas-based factory direct manufacturer/distributor of whole body vibration machines and infrared saunas, has expanded their offering to include a studio where people can pay to use their equipment on a single-use basis or a monthly program.

There is a private studio room with a large sauna and vibration machines and a larger room to hold unique, low-impact workout classes using whole body vibration machines that incorporate Pilates and yoga fusion.

Their Relaxed Fitness philosophy is for everyone to relax their own way to better health and fitness. The products burn calories, increase blood circulation, detoxify, tone and help with pain relief and lymphatic drainage, all in a low-impact manner. There are also essential oils and diffusers for sale, with free classes on their proper use.

Location: 5325 S. Polaris Ave., Ste. 400, Las Vegas. For more information, call 702-629-1800 or visit RelaxedFitness.com. Check Groupon for deals.

Workshop cost is $10 each. Location: 8575 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas. For more information, call 702-982-2930 or visit TrufusionYoga.com.

Las Vegas Fat Loss Center Under New Management

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r. Peter-Mario Balle, a graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic, has assumed management of the Las Vegas Fat Loss Center and moved to new location at 2621 West Charleston Boulevard, in Las Vegas.

The office offers non-surgical lipo-laser treatment for fat reduction up to one inch per session and far-infrared sauna bag slimming blanket for body contouring and detoxification.

Balle also offer a doctor-supervised, all-natural weight-loss program to help people that suffer from being overweight lose one to two pounds a day in a fast, safe, easy and effective way.

Balle plans on implementing chiropractic services and functional medicine within a year to treat patients suffering from chronic diseases and illnesses such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia and correct these conditions once and for all with a natural, drug-free approach.

For more information, call 702-567-0355, email LasVegasFatLossCenters@yahoo.com or visit VegasFatLossCenters.com.

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newsbriefs The Sky’s the Limit at 52 Peak Party

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he 52 Peak Club will host its third annual 52 Peak Party from 6 to 10 p.m., May 3, celebrating the accomplishments of members like 75-year-olds David Blackshaw, Ted Williams and Rita Wagner, who recently climbed 52 peaks to earn their certification. The party includes a sit-down dinner, awards, $2,500 in prizes, dancing and a cash bar.

The 52 Peak Club, created by Branch Whitney, conducts 60 to 90 hikes per month, ranging from beginner to advanced, year-round. Members range in age from 18 to 75 and climb the best 52 Peaks around Las Vegas. Each time they stand at the peak, they earn a card. The goal is to earn all 52 cards, which involves climbing the equivalent of 8,000 flights of stairs and hiking from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. There is no time limit for this accomplishment.

Cost is $35. For event location and more information, visit 52PeakClub.com.

What Happens in Vegas

C

ounterbalance herbal shots have debuted in Las Vegas with the release of two herbal shots: Wake Up and Alcooholic Moment. Counterbalance herbal shots are specifically formulated to counterbalance the effects of lifestyle choices that sometimes leave us not feeling our best.

Counterbalance shots contain no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors or sugar. Alcooholic Moment is the shot to take before or while drinking alcohol to counterbalance the negative effects it has on the body. This two-ounce shot contains liver supporting herbs, along with superfruits goji, acai and mangosteen, with a B-12 and antioxidant boost, to help eliminate free radical damage.

Wake Up is an herbal energy booster to take for quick pick-meup, containing a powerful energy-supporting herbal blend with a caffeine and B-12 boost.

For more information, call Counterbalance founder Katherine Schneider at 702-733-7971, email RawKatherine@yahoo.com or visit Counter-Balance.com.

Chamber Mixer Takes Over the Barton Gym

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xperience fun, fitness and health all in one event at the May Las Vegas Health & Fitness Chamber of Commerce mixer, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., May 12. The David Barton Gym creates an energy and environment like few others, and it’s the perfect venue for this opportunity to meet some of the top health and fitness professionals in the Las Vegas area.

Tickets are$15 in advance online or $20 at the door. Chamber members get in free.

Location: David Barton Gym at Tivoli Village, 410 S. Rampart, Ste. 200, Las Vegas.

For more information, email Mindy@LasVegasHealthFitnessChamber.com or visit VegasHealthFitnessChamber.com. See ad, page 4.

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New Healing Modality Available in Las Vegas

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ayan shaman and spiritual reader Profesora Sorayda now offers new Reiki Sound, a healing art based on the channeling and transmission of universal energy by means of laying on of the hands.

Sorayda uses Reiki Sound “to harmonize our physical and spiritual beings” and to promote positivity, relaxation and good health. “It is a way to recover inner power by connecting to the source by means of the presence I AM, producing a deep sense of peace,” she says. “It is a way of working energetically; starting with the premise that we are all geometry, color and sound. We draw, visualize and sing symbols.

Sound is used consciously to give more power and depth to healing.”

According to Sorayda, “Reiki Sound brings a very deep level of wholeness and well-being. When a person undergoes a session, they take into themselves energy and its maximum vibration to beneficial effects. It’s very effective for stressrelated disorders such as anxiety and depression.”

For more information call 702-5562900 or email Sorayda@live.com.

See ad, page 31.

Free Healthy Homes Consultation

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obert Blake, founding broker of Triple Seven Realty, in Las Vegas, has been specializing in helping home buyers with their purchase of new homes in the southern Nevada region since 2002.

Blake is providing free initial consultations on new home buying opportunities available in the Greater Las Vegas area.

“Buying one’s home is their haven and a place where health rejuvenation begins,” says Blake. “We will design a personalized home-buying tour around your needs and desires.” He helps his clients get attractive buyer incentives such as paid closing costs, interest rate buy-downs, down payment assistance and free upgrades and/or appliances from local builders on their new home purchases.

Blake believes that buying a new home can be a new beginning to a new, healthier lifestyle and says, “ Ju s t i m a g i n e buying a home that is built just for you, outfitted with the features and amenities that best meet your needs and desires. With a new home purchase, you can do this.”

Location: 8910 W. Tropicana Ave., Ste. 2, Las Vegas. To schedule an appointment, call 702-523-7653.

Health, Healing & Happiness Conference

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he third annual conference for natural solutions that embrace the whole body, mind and spirit, sponsored by Belsandia. com, Natural Awakenings magazine, Daiya Cheese, Alternative Baking Company, Vegan Health & Fitness, Pura Vida Bakery & Bystro, Raw Food Express, Fresh Mama, Bronze Cafe, Kinnaree Thai Restaurant, and TruFusion Yoga, will be held June 7 and 8 at Springs Preserve.

Participants will enjoy 20 world-class speakers on nutrition, fitness, personal development and spirituality and seven master chefs of healthful cuisines with cooking demonstrations and tasty creations. There will be free fitness classes and massages, raffles and a holistic vendor marketplace.

Featured speakers include Dr. John McDougall and Dr. Michael Greger who use nutrition as base for their medical practices; Judi Moreo, who overcame her cancer with lifestyle changes; and Dr. Will Tuttle. Others include champion bodybuilder Robert Cheeke, Chef AJ, Swami Ramananda, Loren Slocum, Vanessa Chamberlin, Stacey Hall, Nick Brannigan, Thomas Tadlock, Chef Mayra, Chef Sharynne Frazer, Chef Stacey Dougan, Shane Stuart, Chef Kenny Chye and Chef Keidi.

Free admission to Friday night reception. Location: 333 S. Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas.

For tickets, call 702-772-9401 or visit Health-Healing-Happiness.com. Sponsorships are available. See ad, inside cover.

Wellness Rocks Holistic Health Fair

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he nonprofit Sophia Center for Goddess Study is a dedicated to providing women and men with wisdom, insight and tools to live a deeper, more authentic and inspired life. They will conduct Wellness Rocks, a day of wellness and fun, for from noon to 5 p.m., May 17, at their new home, 6034 Smoke Ranch Road, in Las Vegas.

With more than 20 vendors and 300 guests, Wellness Rocks is going to be a day of family fun and wellness, with an amazing raw food demonstration by Chef Keidi; a discussion of healthy eating tips for the entire family from Certified Health Coach Mindi Anderson; knowledgeable wellness practitioners, children’s activities, workshops, raffle prizes and more.

Partial proceeds from Wellness Rocks will go to two organizations this year; the food bank at First CME Church and the Sophia Center for Goddess Study. First CME Church is a Three Square Agency Partner; all food they give out is purchased through Three Square. They’ve developed an amazing food pantry because of the monetary donations they receive. Let’s keep them going strong.

For more information, call 702-772-6025 or visit BodyKandyProducts.com.

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FREE app!

Search iTunes app store for “Natural Awakenings”

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May 2014

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newsbrief “Are you already taking at least one diabetic drug and have the desire to reduce or eliminate your dependence on these potentially dangerous drugs”?

Dr. Brown will be discussing how new technology in functional wellness allows most Type II Diabetics to get off their medications NATURALLY! Come learn how your medications may worsen your condition. Reserve a seat so you can start to reclaim your health, your youth, & your life!

Enjoy a FREE dinner Venue: Havana Grill 8878 S. Eastern Ave. STE: 100 Las Vegas, NV 89123 When:

May 8th, 15th, & 29th Time:

6PM - Please RSVP -

The Ultimate Healing Center 10120 S. Eastern Ave. Suite: 100 Henderson, NV 89052

(702) 871-7004 Dr. Jeffrey Brown,

Ultimatehealingcenter.com Marketing/ADs By: Adonis K. 702.739.4416

DO, AOBFP

Do You Want To Feel Alive?

Finding Dinosaurs Among the Roses

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he Dinosaurs and Roses thrift store has opened at 4310 East Tropicana Avenue, Suites 6 to 9, off US-95 and Tropicana, boasting an inventory unlike any other thrift store in town.

Nonprofit Dinosaurs and Roses benefits more than 20 charities throughout the Las Vegas Valley, recycling new and gently used designer fashion, vintage furniture and a variety of artwork.

Whether individuals want to support local Nevada residents in need of food, pets searching for loving homes or the holistic treatment of those touched by cancer, finding an undiscovered rose of your own at this store’s new location is a great way to do it.

Dinosaurs and Roses welcomes tax-deductible donations of non-perishable food, clothing, household goods, and furniture at any time. For larger donations, please call to take advantage of hassle-free pickup.

For more information, call 702-277-3752 or visit DinosaursAndRoses.org and their store on eBay.

NEWS TO SHARE? Send submissions to Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsLV.com or call 702-305-5828.

If you suffer from: Anxiety Depression Insomnia Chronic Fatigue Addiction Attention Deficit Disorder

Cognitive Impairment Alzheimer’s Dementia Parkinson’s Disease Migraine Headaches Brain Injury Tremor Restless Leg Syndrome

Crohn’s Disease Ulcerative Colitis IBS Obesity Don’t Know?

Don’t Be Shy! Call Us Today!

we have the answer!

all natural, non-prescription therapy board certified physicians

Restoration Neurology Free consultation • Satisfaction guaranteed

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For submission guidelines, please visit NaturalAwakeningsLV.com.

healthbriefs

Merciér Pelvic Massage Boosts Women’s Fertility

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new, noninvasive infertility treatment has met with highly favorable results. In a recent study published in the journal Midwifery Today, 40 of 48 women between ages 28 and 42 that underwent two or more sessions of Merciér Therapy achieved pregnancy within the first year; 32 of those used the method alone (no other artificial fertilization/insemination techniques). The four-year study was presented at the 2013 World Congress of Low Back and Pelvic Pain.

The Merciér Method was developed by Jennifer Merciér, a midwife and holistic women’s health practitioner. The regimen includes six hours of pelvic organ massage manipulation, along with a supplement program and continuous monitoring. She explains, “Our protocol is a gentle and noninvasive visceral manipulation of the female reproductive organs that helps to increase general organ mobility and blood flow, which enhances optimal function.” A documentary on the protocol, Fertility: The Shared Journey with Merciér Therapy, premieres this month (MercierMovie.com).

Roundup Toxin Accumulates in GM Soybeans

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study published in the journal Food Chemistry tested soybeans grown from seeds that were genetically modified (GM) to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup. It compared these with organic soybeans and soybeans from non-GM seeds.

The chemical and nutritional analysis of soybean samples from 31 different Iowa farms found the GM soy contained significantly higher levels of the toxin glyphosate, the central chemical in Roundup, than both the organic and the conventional non-GMO soybeans. The organic soybeans contained no glyphosate, plus significantly higher levels of protein and zinc, as well as lower levels of saturated fats.

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"At the end of the day, the wisdom that our body possesses and coordinates through our central nervous system is what causes conception..."

Conquering Infertility

by Understanding Hormones

by Robert DeMartino

T

he process of a baby being born seems beyond comprehension.

Two cells come together and the woman’s body builds an entirely new person from scratch inside, followed by a labor process that brings them into this world to live among us. It's like a miracle, but the rate of infertility is skyrocketing, with parents unable to conceive and moms not being able to carry babies to the full term.

Any conversation about infertility begins with the subject of hormones.

While many women have their hormones tested, the testing is often incomplete.

Blood work for hormones can only tell us what is being used, not what is available in the system, and these are two very different things. Saliva testing does a better job of telling us what is available, but a 24-hour urine examination will reveal important toxic estrogen markers and the ability of the body to detoxify them. Many women have estrogen dominance, even though they are told they are in normal

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limits, because they are not counting the toxic estrogen levels that aren’t seen on traditional testing.

In addition, most women do not have their adrenal glands screened for problems. Adrenals are two little walnut-sized glands that sit on top of your kidneys. Among many other jobs, the adrenals work to balance our genderrelated hormones. They literally control the ability to begin having and maintain a regular cycle and the ability to get and stay pregnant. A saliva test done at four intervals over the course of the day is the gold standard marker to measure adrenal function. Blood is not diagnostic for this type of adrenal problem, but it is an important marker to know and fix if hormone problems are to be solved.

Of course, genetic markers in women are important for us to know about in order to make sure that their body can support a pregnancy. Many expecting women have read about the importance of folic acid, but about one-third of the

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

population has a genetic marker that makes their body unable to properly utilize folic acid, and that can be tested. Just in this one example, we can see how important it is to know how a specific body is going to react on a core genetic level.

Possibly the the biggest underlying culprit that we find for infertility is the toxic load that most of us are carrying, and many of those toxins are hormone mimickers. As time goes on, the population is becoming more toxic, and this is directly related to an inability to get pregnant. Beyond that, if a pregnancy can occur, the toxic loads will be passed to our children. It takes 17 micrograms of lead to drop IQ by 10 points. In the case of heavy metals, we will tend to see a concentration up to three times higher in a newborn fetus than what mom had originally. So evaluation for toxic load is not only important in the quest to get pregnant, but also to have a happy, healthy baby.

At the end of the day, the wisdom that our body possesses and coordinates through our central nervous system is what causes conception and the baby’s development through the gestation process. A fully functioning central nervous system, and specifically the nerves to control reproductive function around the sacral area, is important, as well. Not only will this allow a baby to develop as efficiently as possible, but will also make the event of labor simpler and as shorter.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a lot of moving parts working together to make and grow a child. But the body is ultimately capable of the task unless something is blocking in its efforts. That is what we need to find and correct to conquer infertility.

Dr. Robert DeMartino is a doctor of chiropractic and proprietor of Superior Health Solutions, located at 1661 West Horizon Ridge Pkwy., Ste. 280, inside Highland Plaza, in Henderson. For more information, call 702-643-9900 or visit SHSLasVegas.com. See ad, page 5.

healthbriefs

Vitamin D No Help for Bone Mass or Hip Fractures

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niversity of Pittsburgh researchers that followed 29,862 women for 11 years have found that supplementing calcium with vitamin D does not reduce hip fractures. The study, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, found that women taking calcium plus vitamin D had as many hip fractures as women taking a placebo. Women supplementing with more than 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day also had a 28 percent higher incidence of breast cancer.

Because hip fractures are linked to a reduction in bone density, these findings are compounded by a review of research published in The Lancet, which established that vitamin D supplements typically taken with calcium did not increase bone density among elderly adults. The review analyzed 23 studies among 4,082 participants, 92 percent of whom were women.

Don’t cry because it’s over.

Smile because it happened. ~Dr. Seuss

Drinking Cow’s Milk While Nursing Linked to Infant Eczema

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ew research has found that if a mother drinks cow’s milk during the period that she is breastfeeding, it raises her infant’s risk of experiencing skin allergies.

The study, published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, followed 62 mothers and their infants from birth through 4 months of age.

Researchers from Bangkok’s Mahidol University assembled the mothers and infants into two groups. Mothers in one group drank cow’s milk during the first four months of breastfeeding; the control group did not. Eight of the children with mothers drinking cow’s milk had skin allergies, versus two of the children in the control group. All of the mothers exclusively breastfed their infants throughout this period.

An earlier study published in the British Medical Journal followed 124 mothers, 97 of which breastfed their babies. Of those that breastfed, 48 drank no milk or other dairy products and 49 drank milk. Infants in the milk-drinking group experienced 21 cases of eczema, while the no-milk group had only 11 cases. Overall, between the breastfed and non-breastfed infants, the breastfed infants had lower incidences of eczema regardless of the mother’s diet.

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TMJ Treatment • Mercury Removal • lnvisalign Heart Rate Variability Testing New Patient Special

$90 for cleaning (basic) exam & Xrays

Dr. Michael Bell, DDS Bell Center for Biological and Holistic Dentistry Call for an appointment today!

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Forests Preserve Trees Rescue Urbanites from Dirty Air

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, poor air quality can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, inflame and damage the cells that line the lungs, make lungs more susceptible to infection, aggravate asthma, aggravate other chronic lung diseases and cause permanent lung damage.

U.S. Forest Service researchers have discovered that the urban forests in 10 cities across the country save on average one person a year from pollution-related death. In New York City alone, that number increases to eight people per year.

The scientists recommend that people everywhere plant more trees.

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Bikes-to-Go

Cycling Gains Ground at Colleges and in Cities May is National Bike Month, and more universities continue to commit to bicycling as a sustainable, healthy and environmentally conscious transportation choice. Recently, Harvard University joined Princeton and Yale as an official Bicycle-Friendly University (BFU), and the League of American Bicyclists designated 14 new BFU members, expanding the program to 58 colleges in 30 states across the U.S. with more to come.

When New York City opened registration for a public bike-sharing program, Citi Bike, more than 5,000 people signed up within 30 hours. Similar demand for more cycling options is happening across the nation where shared bicycle programs are taking root (see Tinyurl.com/ Top50BikeFriendliestCities).

The popular Washington, D.C., Capital Bikeshare program began operating in September 2010, and is now the nation’s largest, with 200 locking docks able to accommodate more than 1,800 bright-red bicycles. As in many programs, people can sign up for a short-term stint or an annual membership using either a credit card online or at a station kiosk. Then they can unlock a bicycle and return it to any station within the system. All rides under 30 minutes are free, after which escalating fees kick in, encouraging people to make short trips and to keep more bikes available for other riders.

For more information, visit BikeLeague.org.

Dangerous Additive

FDA Finally Regulates Triclosan The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, under a new court agreement with the Natural Resources Defense Council, has agreed to issue a new rule governing the use of Triclosan, a controversial antimicrobial agent used widely in consumer products, by 2016. The action was first proposed in 1978.

Triclosan, a possible endocrine-disrupting chemical, has been found in three-quarters of people from whom blood, urine or tissue has been analyzed as part of bio-monitoring studies; it is also found in the environment after having passed through sewage treatment plants.

Source: TheDailyGreen.com

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

Sinking Reptiles

World Turtle Day Sounds Alarm Since 2000, people around the globe have celebrated World Turtle Day, held this year on May 23, to increase respect for and knowledge of the world’s oldest creatures.

Susan Tellem, co-founder with Marshall Thompson of American Turtle Rescue (ATR), states, “These gentle animals have been around for about 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a result of the exotic food industry, habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade.” They believe that turtles may be extinct within 50 years and suggest ways to increase their chances for survival for future generations: n Never buy a turtle or tortoise from a pet shop; it increases demand from the wild. n Never remove turtles or tortoises from the wild unless they are sick or injured. n If a tortoise is crossing a street, pick it up and gently place it on the other side in

the same direction it was headed. n Write legislators about keeping sensitive habitats preserved. n Report cruelty or illegal sales to a local animal control shelter. n Report the sale of any turtle or tortoise less than four inches long, which is illegal

throughout the U.S. For more information, visit Tortoise.com or Facebook.com/AmericanTortoiseRescue.

Greening Garbage

Activist Turns City Food Waste into Rural Soil Jeremy Brosowsky had an epiphany at a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, greenhouse a few years ago that set him on a more sustainable path: “What if we could take our garbage and grow food in it?” He was in the Midwest to learn about urban agriculture at Growing Power, the pioneering urban farm of McArthur Genius Fellow Will Allen, and was considering starting a rooftop agriculture business. Allen’s emphasis on the importance and elusiveness of fertile soil intrigued him.

“If you don’t dramatically improve the soil, you cannot grow food in cities,” Brosowsky realized. His solution was to create Compost Cab (CompostCab.com), a Washington, D.C.-based service that picks up and delivers urban food waste to local farms for composting. Nearly 100 cities already divert food waste from landfills, but Brosowsky emphasizes, “Composting is not just about waste reduction.

It’s about food production, education, jobs and creating social benefits.” He hopes to roll out Compost Cabs in other cities.

Information Overload

Organic Food Labeling Causes Confusion A recent Harris Poll of 2,276 U.S. adults showed that concern for the environment is growing, but Americans may not be ready to spend more for organic food. More than half think that labeling food or other products as organic is just an excuse to charge more. Yet more than half of respondents also believe that organic foods are healthier than non-organic. At the same time, only 23 percent know what the term “dirty dozen” means in regard to organic food; it’s the Environmental Working Group’s annual list of foods consumers should always buy in organic form due to high pesticide levels in conventional farming.

Harmful Harmonics Whales Under Siege by Seismic Surveys

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is intensifying global efforts to safeguard whales and other marine species from the harm caused by powerful noises generated by seismic seafloor surveys by the oil and gas industry and others. In seismic surveys, air guns towed behind ships repeat powerful bursts of sound; sensors measure the return echo to reveal details of the sea floor and the underlying geologic structure to a depth of several kilometers.

Whales rely on sound for communication, navigation and foraging. Exposure to loud noise from seismic surveys can result in stress and behavior changes, affect foraging and nursing or cause direct physical damage.

In a study published in the journal Aquatic Mammals, the authors present the most thorough, robust and practical approach to minimizing and monitoring the risk of harm to vulnerable marine species when intense sounds are used.

A step-by-step guide to reducing effects on whales and other marine species during seismic sea floor surveys is available from the IUCN Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (Tinyurl.com/ WhaleSavingGuide). natural awakenings

May 2014

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fitbody

Tweet those Fitness Goals Online Friends Help Us Stay on Track

by Tamara Grand

tos, low-calorie recipes and at-home workouts. Tweeting when feeling the urge to eat virtually guarantees that we’ll receive a helpful response in a minute or two. Twitter chats are also a fabulous way to connect with an established and helpful healthy living tribe.

Pinterest

A visual smorgasbord of clean-eating recipes, at-home workouts and inspirational photos keeps spirits up. Pinterest accesses photos throughout the Internet that we can grab and “pin” to a personal online vision board. It’s also possible to create a visual cookbook, pinning recipes to, for example, clean eating, Paleo, pumpkin and oatmeal themed boards.

It’s fun to connect with our favorite healthy living peeps and start following their boards for continuous injections of inspiration and motivation.

Instagram

H

umans are inherently social creatures. Most of us enjoy the company of others and spend much of our waking time engaging in social interactions with colleagues, friends and family. People that spend a lot of time together often adopt one another’s eating and exercise habits—sometimes for the better, but often for the worse.

At least one positive side to wishing to conform socially is unexpected.

Finding the right circle of friends—our own personal support group—can make sticking to an exercise schedule or diet easier. It’s a key factor in the popularity of organized weight-loss groups and exercise classes.

Studies published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and the Journal of Obesity demonstrate that just having a weight-loss or fitness support system in place results in better adherence to diet and exercise with more pounds shed and kept off over the long term. Researchers believe that in addition to the motivation and account-

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ability supporters provide, benefits are also enhanced by learning through observing; changing our behavior through watching the actions and outcomes of others’ behavior.

If we don’t have physical access to a local support group, we can access one online or create our own, using one of the following social media platforms.

Facebook

The leading social networking website includes thousands of community and group pages devoted to weight loss, exercise and healthy living. Its search function helps find one that fits our needs. Make an introduction and join the discussion. Participating in a special challenge helps everyone stay motivated.

Twitter

This micro-blogging site is informal and fast-paced, providing nearly instantaneous feedback. Use Twitter to identify friends with similar health and fitness goals. Follow links to motivational pho-

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Love to take photos using a smartphone?

Instagram provides a platform for sharing snippets of our day via pictures. Fitness fans regularly “Instagram” their meals and workouts, in part to remain accountable to their online followers, but also to help motivate themselves and others to make healthy choices each day.

YouTube

Our go-to resource for music videos is also home to hundreds of healthy living “channels”. Want to follow someone’s 100-pound weight-loss journey, learn how to cook quinoa or follow along with free, at-home workout videos? This is the place. Watch, share and comment on a favorite YouTube video to become part of its online community.

The key to using social media to improve our health and fitness is inherent in the name. It’s a friendly way to interact, participate and engage with others.

Tamara Grand, Ph.D., is a certified personal trainer and a group fitness and indoor cycling instructor in Port Moody, British Columbia, in Canada. Her new book is Ultimate Booty Workouts. She contributes to Life.Gaiam.com and blogs at FitKnitChick.com.

activismspotlight

MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO

by Tedd Mallasch

P

eople will gather locally in Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Boulevard South at 10:30 a.m., May 24, to participate in a worldwide March Against Monsanto. One might ask why they should care or get involved in the march at all; if the company is breaking laws, they will be punished, right? It’s a free country, isn’t it?

Stacey Langford, a pioneer of The Slow Foods Mama (SlowFoodsMama.com), who understands the powerful monopoly Monsanto holds on our food system, explains, “If you believe no one should have the right to patent life, you should care. If you believe seeds belong in the hands of family farmers and backyard gardeners, you should care. If you value genetic diversity, you should care. If you know how important pollinators are to our survival, you should care. If you don’t want to see increasing amounts of poison poured into our soil and water, you should care.

If you think there’s even a slim chance this technology could go wrong, you should care. If you believe huge, multinational companies shouldn’t have so much power and influence over our food or our government, you should care. If you eat, you should care. I care because I love my son and my unborn daughter.”

There is debate in this country over the safety of food grown genetically engineered or genetically modified organisms (GMO). Traditionally, farmers created variations of food species by watching their crops, saving the seeds from plants that exhibited desirable traits such as ability to survive drought, resist mildew and produce the best flavor and yield. “Each year, the seeds were saved, they became more perfectly adapted to their place and the needs and desires of the people who grew them,” says Langford.

GMOs are a technologically advanced version of selective breeding. Through this breeding, this modification allows genes from plants, animals and bacteria to be inserted into the genes of a plant or animal. According to Langford, “Two of the more common versions are plants that have

been created to produce their own pesticides, as in Bt corn, or are created to resist herbicides, as in Roundup Ready corn or soybeans.”

The Monsanto Company, headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri, began in 1901 and in 1997, spun off the chemical portion of their business, which manufactured the herbicide Agent Orange, used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War, to become a 100 percent agricultural company.

It was among the first to genetically modify a plant cell and conduct field trials of genetically modified crops. Notably, it continues to make the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate), which supplies the basic rationale behind much of their “weed killer-resistant” GMO strategy.

More than 60 countries, including Australia, Japan and all of the European Union, have significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. However, the United States government has approved GMOs based on studies by the corporations that created them and profit from their sale.

While it would be wonderful to get rid of GMOs altogether, today’s battle lines have been set up over the simple matter of labeling them to make it easier for consumers to decide whether or not they want to purchase GMO products.

Monsanto, along with other biotech companies, have set a target spending of $6 million dollars against the labeling initiative—40 times what prolabeling forces will spend. Monsanto fought labeling initiatives in California and Washington, and has even threatened to sue the state of Vermont over a labeling bill. There is even anti-labeling activity at the national level.

Marching against Monsanto and wearing red is just the first step. We can support GMO labeling legislation and candidates and vote with our dollars when we shop, buying locally grown, organic products whenever possible. The dollars we don’t spend backing GMO corporate farms may seem to have a small impact, but the support it gives local organic farmers is huge.

Saturday May 24 10:30am Wear Something Red Marching From Town Square to Las Vegas Sign & Back Tedd Mallasch is a contributing writer for Natural Awakenings magazine – Greater Las Vegas edition.

natural awakenings

May 2014

17

The Healing Power of Massage

From Body Repair to Reversing the Blues

by Case Adams

I

n 1886, Dr. William Murrell stated in the British Medical Journal, “Massage is of such inestimable value in the treatment of many intractable diseases that it is regretted that so little is known about it in this country, and that it is so rarely employed as a therapeutic agent.”

A 2013 survey by the American Massage Association (AMTA) showed that a majority of us are choosing massage therapy to treat such conditions as stress and pain management, according to Winona Bontrager, the association’s immediate past president. Of 1,007 adults surveyed, 75 percent opted for it within the previous year for stress or medical reasons, and 88 percent view massage as effective for pain relief.

“A growing body of evidence shows that massage therapy can be effective for a variety of health conditions,” reports Bontrager, adding that massage is rapidly

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becoming recognized as an important part of health and wellness.

Cody Landis, a licensed massage therapist and instructor at the Swedish Institute’s College of Health Sciences, in New York City, explains, “In the last few years, massage therapy research has been focusing more on the mechanisms by which the potential health benefits may be occurring—looking at the response of the brain, the immune system and the mechanisms of repair inside of muscle cells themselves.”

Relieves Stress

An AMTA survey reported that 32 percent of positive respondents used massage to relieve stress, and numerous recent studies have confirmed this. Research from Harvard Medical School shows that massage reduces pain and anxiety while increasing sleep and quality of

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

life among metastatic cancer patients.

Boston Medical Center researchers saw similar results among 60 cancer patients that underwent port placement surgery; 20-minute massages before and after surgery reduced participants’ stress and anxiety.

Australian researchers reporting in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that massage reduced pain, anxiety and muscle tension following heart surgery among 152 cardiac surgery patients. A study from Japan’s Toho University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences showed that aromatherapy massage significantly reduced psychological stress among elderly nursing home residents.

Reduces Depression

A study from Nashville’s Meharry Medical College of 43 HIV patients revealed that Swedish massage reduced their symptoms of depression. Lead researcher Russell Poland, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, observes, “When we designed the study, we didn’t expect to see such a large effect of massage. We remain surprised.”

The benefit was echoed by a University of California-Los Angeles study of 95 volunteers that displayed increases in their production of oxytocin hormone

simultaneous with reductions in adrenocorticotropin hormone.

Oxytocin is linked to compassion, empathy, maternal affection and social connection, while lowered adrenocorticotropin effects less stress.

Relieves Pain

Researchers in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Brazil’s University of Sao Paulo studied 46 birthing women and determined that lumbar massage during labor reduced pain by 27 percent. In another study at Beijing’s Chinese PLA General Hospital, deep massage brought relief to 64 patients suffering from chronic low back pain.

Relief was reported by a third of 110 headache patients in a Turkish medical school study. Dhaka Medical College Hospital, in Bangladesh, found similar results in a study of 500 headache sufferers, many of which had migraines. Research from the University of Miami’s School of Medicine showed that massage reduced arthritis pain and increased both grip strength and range of motion among 42 rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Lead researcher Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of Miami University’s Touch Research Institute, says, “We have known that massage therapy reduces substance P, [a neuropeptide] which causes pain, and that it increases serotonin, the body’s natural pain killer. We also know that deep sleep is critical to lowering substance P, increasing serotonin and reducing pain.”

Expands Acceptance

Lucy Liben, dean of massage therapy at the Swedish Institute, affirms the recent research as evidence documenting the numerous health benefits of massage therapy. “More and more consumers are seeking massage therapy for help with a variety of medical issues and conditions. Doctors are increasingly referring patients for such treatment and hospitals are enlisting more therapists to provide care for patients,” says Liben.

“Perhaps most importantly,” she adds, “research is offering us guidance in our work as massage therapists in how to provide the most effective care for chronic pain or musculoskeletal problems, during cancer treatment, during the changes of pregnancy or for any number of other health-related issues.”

Case Adams is a California naturopath and author of 25 books on natural healing. Learn more at CaseAdams.com.

DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF THAI YOGA MASSAGE

by Connie Owings

T

hai yoga massage (TYM) is an ancient modality dating back 2,500 years and thought to be founded by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, a physician to The Buddha. It is a unique, interactive form of bodywork with extensive roots in Indian healing arts, combining several Asian techniques, including warm herbal compresses, acupressure, passive stretching, reflexology, meditation, breath work, energy work and aromatherapy.

With recipients remaining in loose fitted clothing, the therapist uses these techniques to open and remove stagnation and tension and to release toxins in the body by working on energy lines and acupressure point work. This is therapeutic for opening and transforming the body, mind and spirit into a place of relaxation, and offers both a preventative and healing approach to health.

Meditation and breath work is synchronized with the slow movements of the energy work to increase and move oxygen, one of the most vital nutrients for our bodies. Specific herbs are selected for their therapeutic benefits and are wrapped in cloth and steamed for aromatherapy and as heated compresses massaged onto the body.

Progressive stretching takes recipients through sets of stretches to increase range of motion, reduce muscle soreness and create flexibility. Tok Sen are wooden tools used to send healing vibrations through the body to release blockages, toxins and tension. This can be a very effective detox treatment for the whole body.

This ancient art of TYM is helpful because it requires slowness, mindfulness, flexibility and mobility; components needed for balance and peace. There are no limitations to the amazing benefits of wellness TYM offers individuals with natural alternatives, awareness of mind, body and spirit, self-healing and self-empowerment.

Connie Owings BA, is a nationally certified licensed massage therapist practicing Thai yoga massage and Tox Sen Therapy at A Peace of Happiness Massage. To schedule an appointment, call 702-755-7773 or visit APeaceOfHappiness.org.

natural awakenings

May 2014

19

Myofascial Release Therapy Relieves Pain and Restores Motion

J

ohn F. Barnes Myofascial Release (JFB MFR) is a safe and effective, hands-on technique that involves applying gentle, sustained pressure into myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. The prefix “myo” refers to a muscle, and fascia is a tough connective tissue that supports and surrounds every muscle, nerve, blood vessel, bone and organ in the body. Fascia is present in our body from head to toe.

Myofascial restrictions cause our body to be out of optimal alignment, not allowing it to work properly or freely and over time, may cause lack of mobility, dysfunction and pain. Perceived pain may be local to the restrictions or in seemingly unrelated areas of the body away from them.

MFR helps to release the entire myofascial complex and eliminate pressure from pain-sensitive structures. Upon a comprehensive initial evaluation addressing posture, structural alignment, range of motion, myofascial flexibility and mobility, the therapist will identify

the areas and parts of each unique individual's body that need to be released and opened. MFR treatment is then performed on the skin, without lotions or oils, to effectively release the restrictions.

MFR is not a massage. MFR therapists provide sustained, gentle, pressure for a minimum of two to five minutes in the areas of restriction or as long as it takes for restrictions to release. This allows the fascia to elongate naturally and effectively, returning to its normal resting length and providing results that are measureable, functional and long-lasting.

“MFR can never injure or harm you,” states Rowena Cua, a licensed massage therapist and owner of Body Resonance Myofascial Wellness Center, in Las Vegas.

According to Cua, “Myofascial release involves more than structural or physical improvement. There is an intimate connection between body and mind. Memories can become locked within the fascial system from what is known as your body’s tissue memory, and can oftentimes manifest themselves in the

physical or emotional pain that you feel.

With the help of MFR, the physical and emotional content of any injury, literal or symbolic, may be addressed in a safe and gentle way and environment.

“JFB Myofascial Release is a whole body approach that addresses the root cause of symptoms and releases them, thus allowing your body to return to its natural grace and fluidity of movement.

You will experience healing on a faster rate and it will be more complete and lasting.”

Body Resonance Myofascial Wellness Center is located at 5463 S. Durango Dr., Ste. 120E, in Las Vegas. For appointments call 702-776-8881. For more information, visit BodyMFR.com.

With Myofascial Release, Your Body Heals Itself – Naturally At Body Resonance Myofascial Wellness Center, we will help facilitate your body’s natural healing ability––safely, gently, effectively.

Allows authentic, truly long-lasting healing • Improves ability to focus Allows physical, emotional and mental balance • Improves quality of sleep Eliminates pain, allowing for a more active lifestyle • Improves nerve function Increases mobility, flexibility, and energy levels • Improves postural alignment dramatically

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Greater Las Vegas

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localinsight

THE IMPORTANCE OF THYROID HEALTH: KNOW THE RIGHT NUMBERS

by Robert DeMartino

E

ach day, health center offices are filled with people showing all the symptoms of thyroid problems: no energy, trouble sleeping, weight gain, thinning hair, depression, etc. Despite the list of obvious symptoms, these patients have had their thyroid checked and are told, "Your levels are within normal range." This is one reason why in most natural healthcare circles, thyroid is considered the most under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed health condition.

The thyroid is not considered a vital organ. It can be removed or radiated to death and the person can still live.

However, the thyroid is a main component of our body and vital to living well. When the thyroid isn’t functioning at optimum, the body starves for energy on a cellular level, and that is the hallmark of every major disease. Yet, consistently, thyroid problems are overlooked.

The reason simple; the related markers that medical students are taught in school aren't the most important markers.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is still the gold standard of thyroid testing. The problem lies in that 90 percent of the functional thyroid problems encountered clinically occur after TSH has done its job.

The pituitary gland tells the thyroid to produce hormones by using TSH. The thyroid then produces mostly T4, an inactive form of thyroid hormone. The body begins to produce autoimmune antibodies against it, resulting in underactive thyroid production. The thyroid is no longer the main problem, our immune system is, and the diagnosis becomes chronic thyroiditis, or Hashimoto’s disease. This can occur at any age, but is most often seen in middle-aged women. Hashimoto’s and hypothyroid are similar, but they are absolutely not the same thing and need to be handled very differently.

The T4 hormone then goes to the liver and stomach, where between those two organs 80 percent will be converted to T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. If the stomach or liver has problems such as acid reflux or high cholesterol, the body will struggle to make adequate T3 hormone. Every single one of the trillions of cells in our body has a T3 receptor on it. It is literally the engine that makes our bodies go.

Hashimoto’s is a gateway to other, more serious autoimmune diseases. It is extremely rare to find a fibromyalgia patient with a normally functioning thyroid, and in Parkinson's, abnormal thyroid function causes the neurotransmitter dopamine to not work correctly. Thyroid dysfunction puts pressure on the cardiovascular system and is a major player in Type 2 diabetes. If it is an autoimmune problem, it is only a matter of time before the immune system decides to go after different tissue, such as the brain or kidneys.

The importance of thyroid health and how it affects every major function of the body is evidenced by the rise of chronic fatigue and disease. However, it takes accessing all seven possible thyroid markers to determine the exact cause of the thyroid dysfunction.

In summary, get an appropriate series of lab tests that include TSH, free T4 and T3 ranges, Reverse T3 markers (which indicate associated adrenal issues), inflammation markers that affect the thyroid function and most certainly the two thyroid antibody markers. When these levels are measured and assessed, an appropriate individualized course of action can be laid out.

Fortunately, advanced technology and treatments for thyroid problems are available, including infrared light therapy (applied energy to increase circulation, reduce inflammation and promote healing), frequency specific microcurrent (an electric, pain-free modality that increases tissue healing by 500 percent), oxygen therapy, detoxification programs and nutritional supplementation.

In conjunction, these techniques are designed to accelerate healing on a cellular level, which in turn creates lasting and true healing by rebuilding the thyroid to regain optimal total body health.

Dr. Robert DeMartino is a doctor of chiropractic and proprietor of Superior Health Solutions, located at 1661 West Horizon Ridge Pkwy., Ste. 280, inside Highland Plaza, in Henderson.

For more information, call 702-643-9900 or visit SHSLasVegas. com. See ad, page 5. natural awakenings

May 2014

21

healingways

Filches Vitamins

Contraceptive Pill Chill Dangers Include Cancer, Strokes and Fatigue

by Kathleen Barnes

F

or more than 50 years, women have appreciated the freedom that birth control pills offer. They simply take a little pill every day and rest easy, fairly assured that an unplanned pregnancy won’t occur. However, there’s actually a lot not to love about “The Pill”, especially its long-term side effects.

“The sexual freedom that women have fought so hard to obtain has been won at a terrible price,” advises Naturopathic Doctor Sherrill Sellman, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, author of The Hormone Heresy: What Women Must Know about Their Hormones.

That price includes blood clots and even death from heart attacks and strokes in young women. As early as 1963, an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association linked The Pill to venous thrombosis, or blood clots. By 1968, at least one cancer journal, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, had linked cancer to the use of the steroid hormones contained in oral contraceptives. In 1973, Scandinavian researchers warned of the link between oral contraceptives and strokes.

“In December 2002, the U.S. government published its biannual Report on Carcinogens that added all steroidal estrogens to the list of known human car-

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cinogens,” says Sellman, “The gravity of this finding cannot be overstated: All estrogens used in HRT [hormone replacement therapy] and oral contraceptives have now been proven unequivocally to cause cancer.”

Yet, regardless of the many downsides, The Pill remains the most common method of birth control worldwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with usage by 16 percent of married American women.

Elsewhere, users include 29 percent of British women and 40 percent of women in France and the Netherlands.

“Birth control pills are vitamin robbers, and this is the source of the health risks that accompany the use of The Pill,” says Ross Pelton, a registered pharmacist, certified clinical nutritionist and author of The Pill Problem. Oral contraceptives deplete more bodily nutrients than any other class of drugs, says Pelton, who blogs regularly at NaturalPharmacist.net.

However, he adds, women taking The Pill even as long as 10 years may not notice any obvious health problems.

“Maybe she’ll first notice a lack of energy, but doesn’t connect the dots and realize that magnesium, B12 and numerous other nutrients involved in energy production are depleted,” he explains.

The nutrient-depleting effects of The Pill were recognized as early as 1975 in a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, but it carried no recommendations for replacing them.

Some of these nutrients are essential for the production of brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, including moodelevating dopamine. An affected woman can become depressed, a condition closely linked to the use of The Pill, ac-

Nutrients Women on The Pill Need 4 BHRT* 4 Chrysin 4 Coenzyme Q10 4 DHEA 4 Folic acid 4 L-methlyfolate 4 Magnesium

4 Melatonin 4 Natural progesterone 4 Nettle root 4 Omega-3 oils 4 Probiotics 4 Selenium

* Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (for perimenopausal and menopausal women) Source: Ross Pelton, NaturalPharmacist.net

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4 Tyrosine 4 Vitamin B2 4 Vitamin B6 4 Vitamin B12 4 Vitamin C 4 Zinc

cording to a German study published in 2013 in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.

The Pill’s steroidal hormones also reduce the body’s natural accumulations of disease-preventing antioxidants, increasing vulnerability to diseases of aging, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease, according to Pelton.

Women that decide to keep taking The Pill should add an array of specified supplements to counterbalance the nutrient loss, advises Pelton. Replacing nutrients should, in the long term, neutralize the negative effects of The Pill, even cancer and blood clots, he assures.

Better yet, say Sellman and Pelton, stop taking The Pill and switch to safer forms of contraception. It may take months or even years for the nutrient imbalances to be fully corrected, so start now.

Natural Contraceptives

Although no natural forms of estrogen are suited for birth control, safe and effective natural forms exist, advises women’s health expert Holly Lucille, a naturopathic doctor and registered nurse

in West Hollywood, California. She cautions against the potential risks of using estrogen patches, shots and vaginal rings, and recommends avoiding anything that contains estrogen. “Not using The Pill doesn’t mean you have to rely on withdrawal or the rhythm method, both of which are notoriously unreliable,” says Lucille, preferring what she terms “barrier methods”, like diaphragms, cervical caps and male and female condoms.

She notes, “Cervical caps are just as effective as The Pill and you can put them in and leave them a little longer for a bit more spontaneity.” Female condoms are even more convenient, she explains: “They fit much like a diaphragm and they can be left in place as long as eight hours.” Instead of potentially toxic spermicides, Lucille recommends using lemon juice, which, she says, is equally effective.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous natural health books including the Basic Health Publications User’s Guide to Natural Hormone Replacement.

Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

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consciouseating

Funny Tummy?

Probiotic Foods Can Fix a Troubled Gut

by Kathleen Barnes

Gas, bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea and constipation—each of these digestive issues indicates an imbalance of “good” and “bad” intestinal bacteria.

C

hronic digestive discomfort is distressingly common. More than 60 million Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), notes Dr. Mark Pimentel, director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Program at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, in Los Angeles, and author of A New IBS Solution. Many are too embarrassed to mention it to their doctor, so they suffer silently and learn to live with it.

Multiple Culprits

While digestive distress can visit most of us occasionally, regular bouts have increased due to high-stress lifestyles and unhealthy diets, according to Dr. Dustin James, a St. Louis, Missouri, gastroenterologist and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Digestive Health. “Getting home late after a stressful day, eating a high-fat meal and then going to bed is a recipe for problems,” he says.

James advises a food-free interlude of four to six hours before bedtime and notes that prescription and over-thecounter heartburn medications can actually worsen the problem over time.

Pimentel, citing his own research, also suggests that even a minor case of food poisoning may unbalance digestive bacteria enough to cause problems for years. “We think food poisoning leads to bacterial overgrowth,” says Pimentel.

In his clinical experience, James says about 10 percent of IBS cases can be connected to the food poisoning theory. Although such cases are typically 24

Greater Las Vegas

treated with an antibiotic, rifaximin, many experts ironically attribute bacterial overgrowth to the use of antibiotics.

All antibiotics, taken for any reason, indiscriminately kill both good and bad intestinal bacteria, ultimately creating unbalanced bacteria colonies in the digestive tract, says James. “There can be bad long-term effects,” he advises.

James’ antibiotics theory is affirmed by a major Australian review of current research on the links between antibiotics and intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Sugar is another culprit as are antibiotics in dairy products and meats, which can also aggravate digestive problems. Sugar feeds the growth of unfriendly bacteria and yeast and antibiotics kill friendly bacteria, contributing to imbalances.

The U.S. obesity epidemic has even been linked to digestive problems. In a study published in the journal Frontiers of Public Health, researchers at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley warn against longterm exposure to antibiotics through their widespread use in the dairy and meat industries. One animal study from Washington University, in St. Louis, showed that intestinal bacteria tend to extract more nutrients—and more calories—from the same foods when

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

eaten by obese animals than when ingested by thinner ones. This helps explain why obese people tend to stay obese without heroic measures.

Good Food Solutions

There is considerable agreement that probiotics—live bacteria such as those contained in fermented foods like quality yogurt—help rebalance beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and ease ailments that include IBS. Due to U.S. food regulations, yogurt is routinely pasteurized, which kills its probiotic benefits; conscientious suppliers then add active digestive microorganisms, like Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, back into their products.

“Check yogurt labels for specific names of the species and a certification that it contains live cultures,” counsels Maria Marco, Ph.D., an assistant professor of food science at the University of California-Davis.

Coconut yogurt may be preferred by those with dairy-free diets. Dairy is acidforming and can be difficult to digest.

Many fermented foods can provide the same probiotics to ease digestive woes and restore a healthy balance of the right bacteria. Sauerkraut, rich in

Lactobacillus and other strains of healthy bacteria, is at the top of the list. It’s easy to make super-healthy sauerkraut at home with shredded organic cabbage and salt.

Other fermented foods to put high on a natural probiotic list include: miso, kefir, tempeh, soft cheese, kimchi, sour pickles and sourdough bread.

James recommends two daily servings of high-quality yogurt or other fermented foods to obtain the 2 to 5 billion live bacteria needed to restore gut health. “Every human is unique; try different products in search of what works,” he says.

Probiotic supplements may be more effective for people with serious digestive distress that need higher bacterial counts and the product label may provide specifics of the bacteria and strains. “For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a strain that has been proven to be effective against antibiotic-induced diarrhea,” Marco explains. High-quality probiotics usually require refrigeration to keep the bacteria alive.

In addition, there are many non-fermented foods, including certain juices, candies and energy bars, with specific strains of bacteria added that have probiotic effects.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of a wide variety of natural health books including 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health, with Dr. Hyla Cass. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

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natural awakenings

May 2014

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consciouseating

GLUTEN-FREE

ON THE GO Safe Eating Away from Home

by Judith Fertig

A

lthough following a diet without gluten has become easier due to increased availability and labeling of gluten-free foods, we still need to know how to make sure which foods strictly qualify. We always have more control in our own kitchen, yet we’re not always eating at home. Natural Awakenings asked experts to comment on reasons for the demand and offer practical tips and tactics for healthy eating on the go.

According to the Center for Celiac Research & Treatment, 18 million Americans are now gluten sensitive, 3 million more suffer from celiac disease, and the numbers continue to skyrocket, says Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist and author of Grain Brain. Gluten, a naturally occurring protein in wheat, barley and rye, is prevalent in the modern American diet. Perlmutter points to new wheat hybrids and increasing amounts of gluten in processed foods as exacerbating the problem. He particularly cites today’s overuse of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications as contributors to “inappropriate and excessive reactions to what might otherwise have represented a non-threatening protein like gluten.”

Solutions at Work

Jules Shepard, a mother of two in Washington, D.C., and author of Free for All Cooking: 150 Easy Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly Recipes the Whole Family Can Enjoy who also shares recipes at Blog.JulesGlutenFree.com, remembers when going out for a gluten-free lunch was difficult. “The friendly lunch spots

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my coworkers and I used to enjoy on a weekly and sometimes even daily basis were no longer friendly for me,” she says.

“There was nothing on the menu I could eat, and it seemed better for everyone if I simply stayed in the office. But it isolated me socially from my colleagues and deprived me of a much-needed midday break that had been such an enjoyable part of my routine.” Attending catered breakfasts or lunches for office meetings also presented difficulties.

Shepard learned that it’s best to be prepared and pack something, even if it’s only a snack. “Some of my favorites include fresh fruit, like apples or bananas with peanut or almond butter, washed berries, applesauce, coconut yogurt, hummus and red peppers, trail mix, dry cereals like granola, and nutrition bars. I keep a variety of these bars in my purse and car year-round, so I’m never bored with my choices.”

“Gluten-free instant oatmeal is a staple in my life,” advises Shepard. She never leaves home without it, regardless of the length of the trip. “All you need is a cup or a bowl and some boiling water.

Be sure to buy certified gluten-free oats, because regular oats can be contaminated with gluten grains.” Shepard also recommends avoiding pre-sweetened varieties.

Kate Chan, a teacher and mother of two in suburban Seattle, Washington, who has been following a gluten-free diet since 2000, has solved the problem of eating healthy at work another way: The family cooks extra the night before.

“While cleaning up the kitchen, I just

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pack the leftovers for lunch. I like to vary the side dishes a bit if I pack side dishes at all, and toss in fruit and more vegetables,” she says. Chan likes to use a bento-style lunch box with several compartments, plus thermal containers, so she can enjoy a variety of gluten-free lunch options.

On the Road In Los Angeles, California, Kristine Kidd, former food editor at Bon Appétit, has recently returned to gluten-free eating.

On her menu-planning and recipe blog, KristineKidd.com, and in her cookbook, Weeknight Gluten Free, she recommends whole, fresh foods from farmers’ markets that are naturally gluten-free. When she and her husband hike the Sierra Mountains, she carries homemade, high-fiber, gluten-free cookies to eat on the way up and packs gluten-free soups such as butternut squash and black bean, corn tortillas with fresh fillings, and fruit for a delicious lunch upon reaching the peak.

Some gluten-free snacks can contain as many empty calories as other types of junk food, notes Registered Dietitian Katharine Tallmadge. “Many ‘gluten-free’ products are made with refined, unenriched grains and starches, which contain plenty of calories, but few vitamins or minerals.” She agrees with Kidd and others that choosing whole, natural, fresh foods, which are naturally gluten-free, makes for healthy eating wherever we go.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Eat Fresh. Buy Local.

Treat your locavore palate to farm-fresh foods while contributing to a healthier planet and a more prosperous local economy. Support these Greater Las Vegas businesses!

CAFE/RESTAURANT BERRY BLENDZ-LAS VEGAS 7175 W Lake Mead Blvd, #140, LV 702-541-7800

Health nuts and flavor geeks finally unite with our delicious and nutritious real fruit smoothies and tasty energy drinks.

BRONZE CAFE

401 S Maryland Pkwy, LV 702-202-3100 • BronzeCafe.com

A downtown vegan-friendly coffeehouse.

Simply delicious and healthful food made from scratch.

50 N Las Vegas Blvd, #150, LV (entrance on Ogden Ave) 702-527-7717 • EatDrinkWild.com

Proving gluten-free can be delicious, WILD offers mouthwatering pizzas and pastas, fresh salads and delectable desserts, including cupcakes.

CHEF REAL ORGANIC CHEF INC.

Chef Robert Blanks • 702-762-3278 RealOrganicChef.com GoodFood@RealOrganicChef.com

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5875 S Rainbow Blvd, #104, LV 702-726-2621 • FreshMamas.com

702-397-2021 QuailHollowFarm@mvdsl.com A quirky, comfy, artistic spot to lounge. Healthy, QuailHollowFarmCSA.com

GO RAW CAFE

2381 E Windmill Ln, Paradise 702-450-9007 2910 Lake East Dr, LV 702-254-5382 GoRawCafe.com

Organic, live, vegan cuisine. Fine organic produce, nuts, seed and grains, complimented with raw organic oils.

GREENS AND PROTEINS 8975 S Eastern Ave, LV 702-541-7800

Local, organic, sustainable CSA. Fresh quality produce, eggs, honey and meat locally grown with care.

FARMERS’ MARKET COUNTRY FRESH MARKET 240 Water St, HD 200 Green Valley Pkwy, HD 702-579-9661 LasVegasFarmersMarket.com

Dozens of vendors including CA and local farmers.

Farm fresh produce, nuts eggs, coffee and teas. Water St: Thurs., 9am-4pm. Green Valley: Fri., 10am-4pm.

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Greens and Proteins is a modern, family friendly 702-604-3165 cafe’ offering all your favorite foods with a OrganicEdibles.org healthy twist.

Non-GMO, Tour the operation and Farm Stand. You can actually see our vegetables growing! Sat., 10amLAYERS BAKERY CAFE 12pm.

Organic/Gluten Free Options 6655 S Green Valley Pkwy, #100, HD DOWNTOWN 3RD 702-221-2253 • LayersBakery.com 201 N 34rd St, LV Organically focused bakery & cafe serving breakfast, lunch, coffee & desserts. Mon-Fri., 8am-4pm. Sat/Sun., 9am-4pm.

RAINBOW’S END NATURAL FOODS 1100 E Sahara Ave, #120, LV 702-737-1338 RainbowsEndLV.info

Our café offers delicious vegetarian, vegan and raw dishes. Includes a tonic juice bar with smoothies.

WILD

Gluten Free Comfort Food Vegan Options

Open-air markets are a community gathering place; a place for farmers, artist, chefs, crafters.

GROCERY SPROUTS FARMERS’ MARKET 3365 E Tropicana Ave, LV 702-777-0650 Sprouts.com

A neighborhood grocery store with the feel of an old-fashioned farmers market.

Organic Personal Chef. Weekly meal service, in-home and TRADER JOE’S 2101 S Decatur Blvd, LV delivery. Time-share, catering.Mon-Sat., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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702-953-4353 Downtown3rd.com

Indoor Farmers Market. Fri., 9am-3pm.

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Open Air Market 702-900-2552 fresh52.com

7575 W Washington, LV TraderJoes.com

Neighborhood grocery store with amazing food and drink from around the globe and around the corner.

WHOLE FOODS 6689 Las Vegas Blvd S, LV 702-589-7711 WholeFoods.com

Highest quality natural and organic products.

HYDROPONICS R FISH & VEGGIES

Hydroponically Grown Veggies 4612 Industry Center Dr, LV 702-480-9571 • RFishandVeggies.com The indoor family owned farm that grows kale, spring mixes, and micro-greens year round.

STORE HERBALLY GROUNDED 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV 702-558-4372 HerballyGrounded.com

Locally made formulas, more than 300 bulk herbs, thousands of natural products and monthly classes.

STAY HEALTHY! OF LAS VEGAS

840 S Rancho Dr, LV 4612 Industry Center Dr, LV 702-877-2494 • StayHealthyLasVegas.com Celebrating 31st years! Knowledgeable staff and huge selection of natural supplements and herbs.

VEGAN SUNRISE COFFEE

3130 E Sunset Suite A, LV

Fri: Town Square 3-7pm. Sat: Tivoli Village 9am-2pm. 702-433-3304 Sun: Sansone Park Place 8:30am-1pm. See ad, page 9. SunriseCoffeeLV.com Sunrise Coffee House and Coffee Roasting. Fair Trade Organic and vegan, vegetarian and gluten LAS VEGAS FARMERS MARKET free friendly foods.

10401 Garden Park Dr, LV Tues. 4-8pm.

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702-562-2676

natural awakenings

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naturalpetpages naturalpet

Pain-Free Pooch Five Natural Therapies that Work

by Jennifer Kachnic

T

he truth is that arthritis and muscle or joint injuries are just as uncomfortable for dogs as they are for us, and many canine illnesses generate significant pain. While conventional medications can ease discomfort, they’re not the only or even the best options in many cases.

Alternative therapies can be helpful in managing and relieving pain and work best as part of a whole body wellness program designed for a dog’s individual needs. To that end, always consult with an integrative veterinarian before starting any new treatment. Together, practitioner and owner will note that some of the following modalities may be contraindicated in some situations—for example, massage should never be performed on or near a tumor.

Canine Massage: Dogs love massage because they crave being touched. Physical contact from another being provides a calming effect and brings comfort. Skin, the largest sense organ in the body, is loaded with sensory receptors and nerve endings that register touch, temperature and pain, and send information to the brain. Massage therapy relaxes muscles and also stimulates endorphins, increases circulation, elevates oxygen levels,

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flushes toxins, helps with inflammation, strengthens the immune system and accelerates healing. All of these benefits can contribute to effective pain management.

Acupuncture and Acupressure: Both of these time-honored modalities are based on the concept of keeping vital energy flowing through the body and seek to stimulate key points along the energy meridians beneath the skin. Acupuncture involves the insertion of small needles at these points, while acupressure uses fingers to apply pressure to the same points. Both modalities are widely known to assist in managing pain and anxiety.

Energy Healing: Here, the practitioner improves the flow of energy in an animal’s body using a range of gentle and powerful natural therapies. During a treatment, the trained healer sends subtle energy through the hands to promote physical and emotional balance and healing. While conventional medicine follows the belief that treatments for disease or injury must be strictly biological, energy medicine works to restore the patient’s health by treating the mind, body and spirit in nonphysical ways. Energy healing modalities available for dogs include Reiki, qigong, Healing Touch and Tellington Touch.

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

Cold Laser Therapy: Developed more than 20 years ago, cold laser therapy has become a popular alternative treatment around the world for aches and pains in dogs. It directs highly concentrated coherent light waves to muscles, tissues and organs, reducing inflammation and muscle spasms. It’s also applied to disc and other spinerelated issues. Low-level cold laser therapy is painless, noninvasive and takes only minutes. The effects are similar to those provided by non-steroidal medications, with negligible negative side effects.

Hydrotherapy: The benefits of swimming are renowned. When dogs swim, they feel a resistance to movement, which makes a vigorous five-minute swim virtually equivalent in energy expended to a five-mile run. Some dogs like swimming even better than running.

Hydrotherapy, which includes exercise on an underwater treadmill combined with swimming, is particularly helpful.

The effect on senior dogs is especially dramatic, affording them a painless and enjoyable way to move about and exercise. Water’s natural buoyancy supports the dog, lessens stress on joints, facilitates greater movement and provides a safe and healthful form of exercise for those suffering injuries, disease or pain.

The best choice of therapies for an individual animal will depend on the dog’s condition and recommendations by the family veterinarian. Selected and practiced properly, these complementary modalities can make a major impact in a canine’s physical and emotional well-being, while minimizing or even eliminating the need for medications.

Jennifer Kachnic is the author of Your Dog’s Golden Years: Manual for Senior Dog Care Including Natural Remedies and Complementary Options. She is a certified canine massage therapist, animal Reiki practitioner and certified therapy dog handler with the American Humane Association. Learn more about this president of The Grey Muzzle Organization at GreyMuzzle.org.

ADVERTORIAL

What’s In Your Calorie?

by David Forman

C

alories for both people and pets come from three macronutrients: protein, fat and carbohydrates. A gram of protein has four calories, a gram of fat has nine calories and a gram of carbohydrates has four calories.

Weruva pet foods ensure proper macronutrient balancing through the use of high-quality, lean muscle meats such as boneless, skinless white breast chicken that yield formulations with the majority of calories coming from protein.

It sounds logical that most foods for our carnivores would contain more protein calories than fat calories, but quite frequently this is not the case. To understand this, let’s take a closer look at the top protein source in pet food—chicken.

According to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and industry definitions, chicken is the “combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone.” What this means is that manufacturers can use varying combinations of skin, bone, mechanically separated meat, dark meat, light meat, etc. when putting together chicken-based formulas. As a result, chickenbased formulas from many brands not only often do not have more protein calories than fat calories, but frequently have more than double the amount of calories coming from fat than protein.

This is not to say that fat inclusion is a bad thing, because fat is certainly needed in the diet. Yet, for our companions, the point to take here is that it is quite relevant to recognize the calories we are feeding pets and

whether they fit into a profile that Mother Nature intended.

How do we do this? For starters, we can ask manufacturers about the macronutrient profiles of their foods and the cuts and quality of the meat. This information may be readily available on a manufacturer’s website, like it is on ours (Weruva.com). This information is important in your decision making process, however be mindful of the information not provided as well.

As experienced label readers, we may have some ideas about this, as we know that “chicken” may be better than “chicken meal” which may be better than “chicken byproduct”. Look to your own experiences of carefully selecting chicken from the grocery aisle or ordering chicken at a restaurant. These experiences may translate into certain expectations we have about what the chicken is and should be in our pets’ foods.

What is chicken if it is blended into pate or part of kibble and we cannot identify the cut or quality? The only place to turn is the industry definition; which essentially means that the chicken used is any combination of flesh, skin and bone. It should not at all be a mystery, because food as caloric quality is the vehicle that separates “thrive” from “survive”. So we urge you to beg the question to pet food manufacturers—what’s in your calorie?

David Forman is the founder of Weruva pet food family of brands. For more information, visit Weruva.com.

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness...

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NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

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natural awakenings

May 2014

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CREATE A CHANGE NOW IS MORE THAN PLANTING SEEDS

by Gabrielle Wyant

I

magine this scene from a movie—a young American girl of 7 is running through her Uncle Vito’s gardens in Sicily, her senses filled with wonder and amazement as she picks a tomato off the vine for the first time. She then has the pleasure of enjoying this treasure while she and her family sit at a long table filled with laughter and fresh food from the garden.

This is the real-life account that sparked an idea for Candace Maddin, founder of Create A Change Now. “I remember how full of wonder Tiffany was as she ran through the tomato fields with pure joy,” says Maddin. “We were raising her in Las Vegas and she was finally experiencing exactly what I wanted her to experience. It was during this time that I became aware of the importance of passing on this experience of joy and knowledge to the children in our city.”

So, upon retirement, Maddin embarked on an idea to make a difference in the lives of children and the community by developing Create A Change Now, a Las Vegas nonprofit that uses the money they raise to change the way families eat by educating children at their most impressionable age–during their elementary school years. “I 32

Greater Las Vegas

watched as kids walked from school to the corner 7/11 to get Cheetos and a Pepsi for their afternoon snack … they didn’t know anything different,” says Maddin. I want children to get the knowledge about fresh food before they get too far into a blasé way of thinking about their food choices.”

Create A Change Now develops “edible gardens” with crops of fruits, nuts and vegetables at local at-risk elementary schools. When the gardens are planted, students care for the fruits and vegetables until harvest. “The garden belongs to the children. If they grow and plant, they will think about what they are putting in their bodies,” says Maddin.

The creation of edible gardens is in it’s sixth year, and Create A Change

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Now ensures that the schools are adopting the principles of the organization on a long-term basis. “We must have support from parents, as well as school administration,” says Maddin. In order to encourage and enlist participation, the Garden Club was created for parents and the community to gather and learn from a guest speaker. Each month, the club gets together to ensure the garden is sustained. “With the Chefs In Schools Program, we enlist some of the finest chefs to teach students about preparing and cooking the food they harvest,” explains Maddin. “The children think these chefs are like rock stars!”

“Gardening isn’t about just planting seeds. These children learn teamwork, cooperation and nurturing as these seeds grow,” says Maddin. “This gives them a sense of pride and self-esteem. There is such a sense of accomplishment for these children as they go into the garden, pick vegetables, cook and sample them.” The children are given recipes for the dishes they sample which, according to Maddin, opens a new dialog among family members that also get excited about the project.

Maddin’s mission is to bring joy, a sense of awe and wonder to children.

Her community service efforts are spreading and local businesses are donating labor and goods to build the beds for these gardens. “Through the years, I’ve had a business in Las Vegas and I’m grateful for it’s success,” she says. “Solid community businesses and volunteer organizations are giving back to the community. That’s what I’m hoping to do. We are leaving a legacy.”

Create A Change Now is always in need of donated items for their garden projects, chef demonstrations and annual fundraising events. They will host their second fundraiser, Circus Garden Party, from 3 to 6 p.m., September 13 at Springs Preserve. The event will support nutritional education and chef demonstrations, as well as the planting of more edible gardens in schools.

Tickets now available. For more information, call 702-303-5506, email Info@CreateAChangeNow.org or visit CreateAChangeNow.org.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsLV.com.

Deadline is the 10th of the month.

Take your First Step into a Special Journey

NETWORKING

Start a New Career Expand Your Practice

GREEN DRINKS LAS VEGAS – This is a FREE networking group that creates awareness about eco-conscious businesses and concerns in Las Vegas. Businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations participate, educate and connect to promote a greener world. Meets every second Thursday of the month. Visit Facebook.com/GreenDrinksLV or GreenDrinks.org.

Join the first school in Nevada approved to offer a Masters of Science degree in Oriental Medicine (MSOM).

SOLAR NV – Solar NV strives to educate Southern Nevadans about the benefits of renewable energy and to encourage and promote the use of sustainable energy technology. FREE monthly meetings every third Thursday of the month feature speakers from a variety of disciplines related to solar energy.

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OPPORTUNITIES MELALEUCA – “Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping people reach their goals.” Learn how Melaleuca’s commitment to manufacturing and delivering healthy, non-toxic products directly to the member can create income opportunities for people just like you every day. For information on how you can join the Melaleuca family please call Laurie Michaels, Membership Executive at 949-690-4245 or email LightOurWay@ gmail.com.

SERVICES/CLASSES OFFERED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY – Intern $40 therapy sessions. Initial session no-cost (let’s see how we can work together).

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ROOMS FOR RENT IN HEALING ARTS/ WELLNESS SPA – We are looking to create a healing community with no judgement. Reiki, intuitive healing, nutrition, Shaman, chiropractor, esthetician, hypnotherapist, life coach, midwife, Ayurveda, therapist, Chinese medicine or any other healing modality. $225/week. Very nice, large rooms. Call 702-979-8035.

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Help Shape a Better World

FREE LECTURES at WHOLE FOODS HENDERSON

Natural Solutions to Digestive Problems May 28 • 6:30 pm

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Register Today at SHS: 702-643-9904 natural awakenings

May 2014

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calendarofevents Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to the next month's publication and adhere to our guidelines. Submit listings online at NaturalAwakeningsLV.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 1

Spring Open House – 12-7pm. Morgan Specialties, iShirt Company and Dinosaurs & Roses celebrate with cocktails, hors d-oeuvres and live music. 2764 Lake Sahara Dr, 113, LV. Free. RSVP at 702-804-8005 or Info@MorganSpecialties.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 3

Henderson Shines – 9am-1pm. Community cleanup and educational day. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted items while learning about the importance of sustainability. Henderson Pavilion, 200 S Green Valley Pkwy, HD. 702-267-2000.

3rd Annual 52 Peak Party – 6-10pm. Celebrating members who recently climbed 52 peaks to earn their certification. $35. 52PeakClub.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 6

Learn about Thai Yoga Massage – 6-7pm. May 6, 13, 20. Interactive class to learn about and experience warm herbal compresses, acupressure, gentle stretching and Tok Sen healing vibrations. Bring mom for Mother’s Day or bring a friend for fun. $5. A Peace of Happiness Therapeutic Massage, 8820 S Maryland Pkwy, 115, LV. 702-755-7773.

APeaceOfHappiness.org.

Natural Solutions to Thyroid Disorder – 6-7pm.

Learn what is needed to know about the proper diagnosis, testing and natural treatments available for thyroid disorder. There is no need to suffer with thyroid problems and medication forever. Free. 1661 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, 280, HD. 702-643-9904.

Michelle@SHSLasVegas. SHSLasVegas.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

SATURDAY, MAY 10

Tree of Life Craft Class – 7-9pm. Make a beautiful craft gift to take home, it will serve as a model that can be made time and time again for friends as gifts.

All materials will be provided. $15. Enchanted Forest Reiki Center, 800 N Rainbow, 100, LV. 702-948-4999. DebbieV@EnchantedForestReiki. com. EnchantedForestReiki.com.

Art Festival of Henderson – Sat: 9am-5pm.

Sun: 9am-4pm. Mother’s Day weekend gets a splash of color with Henderson’s annual art show.

Enjoy a variety of artisan and crafter booths, live entertainment, children’s activities and chalk art masterpieces. Henderson Events Plaza, 200 Water St, HD. 702-267-2171. HendersonLive.com.

markyourcalendar

Reiki 1 Certification – 10am-5pm. For anyone who is interested in focusing energy inward to help create self healing for the mind/body/spirit. The first of three certifications or a stand alone class. $200 for Reiki Level 1 Attunement. Intentional Healings Center, 3450 E Russell Rd, 110, LV. 702-274-4545.

Meetup.com/Intentional-Healings-Center/.

SUNDAY, MAY 11

Chakra Group Healing Circle with Rose Catmull – 1pm. Energetic imbalances can affect one emotionally, mentally and spiritually. One is left feeling ungrounded, discouraged, fatigued, fearful and confused. In this powerful healing group, learn more about each Chakra and their effects. $15. Enchanted Forest Reiki Center, 800 N Rainbow, 100, LV. 702-948-4999. EnchantedForestReiki.com.

MONDAY, MAY 12

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Natural Solutions to Parkinson’s Disease – 6-7pm. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease but what is not being considered is the metabolic side of Parkinson's. Looks at the factors of the evolution of Parkinson's from a neurological and metabolic standpoint. Free. 1661 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, 280, HD. 702-643-9904. Michelle@SHSLasVegas. SHSLasVegas.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 9

Eating Vegan in Vegas Book Signing – 5-9pm.

Author Paul Graham will present his revised and printed edition of Eating Vegan in Vegas. Graham is spreading the word about the benefits of a plantbased life and great vegan choices found in Las Vegas. Panevino Restaurant, 246 Via Antonio Ave, LV.

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Sounds of Silk, Music and Dance – 7pm. Members from Eastern Arts perform classical and traditional folk music and dance from the lands of Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Free.

West Charleston Library, 6301 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 702-507-3964. lvccld.org.

Gardening in Small Places: What’s Bugging Your Garden – 8am-12pm. The workshop, taught

by Dr. Angela O’Callaghan, will show what to look for when ones garden doesn’t look quite right. Problems such as nutrient deficiencies, pests and diseases will be covered. Pre-registration is required. $25 includes class materials. Lifelong Learning Center 8050 Paradise Rd, LV. 702-2575573. Elaine Fagin: Fagine@unce.unr.edu.

Inspirational Reiki Healing Circle – 8pm. Learn new information pertaining to natural healing every Wednesday. Guided meditation channeled by Reiki Master of 25 years, receive deep personalized healing. Relax, recharge mind/body. Bring a friend or meet one. Donation. Naturally Organic Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. Victoria: 702-4059375. TransformationsLasVegas.com.

EZ Weight Loss Series: Detoxify! – 6-7:30pm.

"Trim, Sexy & Slender" series: Detoxify. Mentalemotional stress, pollution, poor diet, all contribute to many digestive disorders. Learn how to safely detox ones body now. Includes guided imagery for easy memorization. $13. Transformations, 3920 Amy Marie Ct, LV. Victoria: 702-405-9375.

TransformationsLasVegas.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 16

Las Vegas Health & Fitness Chamber of Commerce Mixer – 6:30-9pm. These events are all the rage in the health and fitness community. Meet top health and fitness professionals. $14 advance/ $20 door. Chamber members free. VegasHealthFitnessChamber.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 13

THURSDAY, MAY 15

EZ Weight Loss Series: Alkalize – 6-7:30pm.

Learn how to pH-balance the fluids in ones body, why it is important. Learn what can be done to reverse and prevent many health conditions. Includes guided imagery for easy memorization. $13.

Transformations, 3920 Amy Marie Ct, LV. Victoria: 702-405-9375. TransformationsLasVegas.com.

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Wellness Rocks / A Holistic Fair Join 20+ vendors, speakers and wellness practitioners for a day of fun for the entire family. Raffle prizes will be available along with goody bags for the first 25 people.

May 17 • 12-5pm Sophia Center for Goddess Study 6034 Smoke Ranch Road, Las Vegas 702-772-6025 Facebook.com/events/448791561934079/ Energy Home Clearing Techniques – 12-2pm.

For Reiki II and III students. Learn how to enhance the energy in home or business, remove obstacles and blockages within ones immediate space. Techniques taught to clear an energy field with hands on experience. $50. Intentional Healings Center, 3450 E Russell Rd, 110, LV. 702-274-4545. Meetup.com/ Intentional-Healings-Center/.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

New Paradigm MTD Shamballa Basic Master Course – 10am-5pm. Clear away fears, activate Divine Love and become the master in one’s life.

Basic Master two day course. $252. Angel’s Light Coaching, Commerce Center, 3450 E Russell Rd, 110, LV. 702-350-1711. AngelsLightCoaching. com.

Raw Food Class: Natural Pro-biotics – 3-5pm.

Learn how to make delicious pro-biotics right at home, at a fraction of the cost. Fermenting nuts, seeds, grains, vegetables. Full meal and handouts included. $24. Transformations, 3920 Amy Marie Ct, LV. Victoria: 702-405-9375. TransformationsLasVegas.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 20

Natural Solutions to Neuropathy – 6-7pm. More and more research is continuing to be done for Neuropathy and there have been some large breakthroughs in physical treatment and symptom relief.

Empower oneself to heal for good. Free. 1661 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, 280, HD. 702-643-9904.

Michelle@SHSLasVegas. SHSLasVegas.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

Psychometry, Aura’s & Energy – 6:30pm. Experience the art of psychometry. A combination of normal psychic awareness plus the ability to read energy patterns that everyone leaves on everyday objects. Please bring metal objects, rings, bracelets, jewelry, etc. $15. Enchanted Forest Reiki Center, 800 N Rainbow, 100, LV. 702-948-4999.

DebbieV@EnchantedForestReiki.com. EnchantedForestReiki.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 22

EZ Weight Loss Series: Truth About Fiber – 6-7:30pm. Learn how to eliminate, reverse and prevent obesity, diabetes, constipation and many undesirable health conditions and the link to low amounts of fiber in the diet. Includes guided imagery for easy memorization. $13. Transformations, 3920 Amy Marie Ct, LV. Victoria: 702-405-9375.

TransformationsLasVegas.com.

digestive-related conditions such as acid reflux, hiatal hernias, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and Crohn’s diease, which collectively affect more than 61 million Americans yearly. Free.

Registration required. 100 S Green Valley Pkwy, HD. 702-643-9904. Michelle@SHSLasVegas.

SHSLasVegas.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 30

Las Vegan Eatz Dinner – 6:30pm. Hosting monthly vegan dinners, dessert socials and other events. Las Vegan Eatz offers plant-based restaurant consulting and lifestyle coaching. Bier Garten Downtown at Plaza, LasVeganEatzEvents@gmail. com. BiergartenLV.com.

Become part of THE health and fitness “connected community” of Las Vegas!

This Month’s Mixer: Monday, May 12 6:30pm to 9pm David Barton Gym

TUESDAY, MAY 27

Natural Solutions to Type II Diabetes – 6-7pm.

Informative presentation teaches about what happens in the body that leads to diabetes, the warning signs and how simple lifestyle changes and cleansing can prevent, control and eliminate Type II diabetes. 1661 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, 280, HD. 702-643-9904. Michelle@SHSLasVegas.

SHSLasVegas.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

Natural Solutions to Digestive Problems – 6:30pm. Open to public. Learn the facts concerning

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natural awakenings

May 2014

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ongoingevents Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Submit listings online at NaturalAwakeningsLV.com.

daily

tuesday

Piano Lessons – Ages 7 and up. Private piano lessons intended for the beginning or intermediate learner. $20/30 minutes. Summer Trail at Mountain’s Edge. Call or text Dominique Koldewyn: 435-592-0662.

Chi Kung/Qigong – 10-11am. Tues-Fri. Chi Kung, the art of developing internal energy for health and vitality, mind expansion and spiritual cultivation uses body movements, rhythmic breathing, visualizations and healing sounds. $10. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com.

Wongu University of Oriental Medicine - Graduate Program – 9:30am-5:30pm. The non-profit school offers a Master of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine. Coursework includes acupuncture, herbology, Taiji, moxibustion, Western medicine, practice management and more. Currently accepting applications. $180/Didactic Unit. $18/Clinical Hour. Wongu University of Oriental Medicine, 8620 S Eastern Ave, LV. 702-463-2122. Wongu.org.

sunday fresh52 Sunday Farmers’& Artisan Market – 8:30am-1pm. fresh52 Farmers' and Artisan Market is a lively, friendly, open-air market where neighbors and friends come together to celebrate the community. Free. Sansone Park Place, 9480 S Eastern, LV. 702-900-2552. fresh52.com.

Soulful Sunday with Martin Hinton – 8:30-9:45am.

Discover the wisdom of ones body in this heartfelt "Soulful Sunday" celebration of mind, movement, and breath. Enjoy 75 minutes of hot vinyasa to the beats of modern, meaningful, classic tunes. 8575 S Eastern Ave, LV. 702-982-2930. TrufusionYoga. com.

Krishna Fest – 6-9pm. A unique night out.

Experience mantra chants, vibrant world music, stimulating spiritual knowledge of ancient India.

Relax over a super-tasty vegetarian dinner with a diverse range of thoughtful people. Free. Govinda's Center of Vedic India, 7181 Dean Martin Dr, LV. 702-434-8332. GovindasCenter.com.

monday Reiki-Spiritual Healing & Meditation – 6-8pm.

Open to the public. Healing and meditation guided by three Reiki masters with combined experience over 50 years. Experience the magic of Reiki. Leave relaxed, renewed, exhilarated. Suggested love offering $5. No one is turned away. Just Breathe Wellness Center, 5333 S Arville St, Suite 206, LV. 702-659-2390. TransformationsLasVegas.com.

Evening Tai Chi Yang Style 24 – 6-7pm. Learn the ancient art of Tai Chi and bring peace and balance into one’s life. $10. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-433-3874.

NaturallyOrganicCenter.com.

wednesday Reiki Healing Circle – 6-8pm. Experience guided meditation channeled by Victoria (Reiki master of 25 years) and receive deep personalized healing.

Bring a friend or meet one. Relax and recharge mind and body. Free. Love offerings accepted.

Naturally Organic Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-659-2390. TransformationsLasVegas.com.

Vinyasa Yoga and Sonic Therapy – 7-8:30pm. An all level Vinyasa flow class with pranayama and mantra meditation. Learn the secrets of relaxation and explore the practical techniques for a healthy mind, body and soul. Donation based. Govinda's Center, 7181 Dean Martin Dr, LV. 702-434-8332.

GovindasCenter.com.

thursday Green Drinks – Second Thurs. Network with other eco-friendly business professionals. Times/ locations vary. Facebook.com/GreenDrinksLV. Chi Kung (Qigong) – 10-11am. Chi Kung is the art of developing internal energy particularly for health and vitality, mind expansion and spiritual cultivation. Chi Kung uses body movements, rhythmic breathing, visualizations and healing sounds. $10/ per class. Naturally Organic Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter. com/classes/.

Reiki with Angels Meditation – 11:30am12:30pm. Heal, restore and empower oneself. Allow the love of the Angel and the power of Reiki to assist in a spiritual journey. Seek to bring Divine light into everyday lives. $10. Just Breath Wellness Center, 5333 S Arville, 206, LV. 702-350-1711.

Organic Flow Yoga – 5-6pm. Organic Flow Yoga with teacher Jenn Stuber. $10. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com.

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Askashic Book Study Workshop with Anika Ray – 6:30pm. Explore spirituality and connect with the aspect of being divine in nature, the soul.

Workshop is based on the book How to Read the Akashic Records by Linda Howe. $10. Enchanted Forest Reiki Center, 800 N Rainbow, 100, LV. 702948-4999. EnchantedForestReiki.com.

Solar NV Monthly Meeting – 6:30pm. Third Thurs. Featuring speakers from a variety of renewable energy disciplines. A great place to network with people who share an interest in renewable energy. Free. Check website for meeting room number. UNLV, 4505 S Maryland Pkwy, LV. 702507-0093. SolarNV.org.

friday Organic Flow Yoga – 9-10am. Organic Flow Yoga with teacher Jenn Stuber. $10. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com/classes/. fresh52 Friday Farmers’& Artisan Market – 3-7pm. fresh52 Farmers' and Artisan Market is a lively, friendly, open-air market where neighbors and friends come together to celebrate the community. Located outside Whole Foods at Town Square.

Free. Town Square (outside Whole Foods), 6605 Las Vegas Blvd S, LV. 702-900-2552. fresh52.com.

Crystal & Tibetan Bowl Meditation with Cheri Smith – 4-5pm. Donation. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com/classes/.

Foundations of Spirituality – 6-7pm. Find inner spirituality to be discovered through the foundations of one’s spiritual sense. $11. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com.

Homemade Vegan/Vegetarian Dinners – 6-9pm.

Friday is vegan/vegetarian dinner night at Govinda’s. Preparations will consist of vegetable stew, rice or pasta, soup, bread, a dessert and beverage for a donation of $8/plate. Senior/student discounts available. $8. Govinda's Center, 7181 Dean Martin Dr, LV. 702-434-8332. GovindasCenter.com.

Reiki Shares – 6-8pm. Second Fri. Beautiful evening filled with love, joy, meditation and a technique or two for grounding and clearing or centering and feeling energy movement with other like minded people. Intentional Healings Center, 3450 E Russell Rd, 110, LV. 702-274-4545. Meetup.com/ Intentional-Healings-Center/.

Community HU – 6:15-6:45pm. Fourth Fri. Community HU: Open the heart to divine love and experience upliftment, joy, relaxation and spiritual connection with the HU chant every 4th Friday of the month. Free. Pure Health Foods, 7575 W Washington, LV. 702-224-4325.

saturday fresh52 Saturday Farmers'& Artisan Market – 9am-2pm. fresh52 Farmers' and Artisan Market is a lively, friendly, open-air market where neighbors and friends come together to celebrate the community. Free. Tivoli Village, 302 S Rampart, LV. 702-900-2552. fresh52.com.

Chi Kung – 9-10am. Teacher Sifu JC Cox. $10 per class or $15 when combined with Tai Chi Yang 48 Style (Sat only). Naturally Organic Healing Center,

1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com/class-schedule/.

Tai Chi Yang 48 Style – 10-11am. $10 per class or $15 when combined with Chi Kung on Sat only.

Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com/class-schedule/.

Tai Chi Fan or Saber – 11-11:30am. Teacher Sifu JC. $5. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com/class-schedule/.

Healing Benefits of Spices and Herbs – 2-3pm.

Cooking with spices never tasted so good. Cooking

with herbs is very beneficial for the mind, body and soul. $15. Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com.

Energy Drumming Circle – 5-6pm. A sharing energy circle. Come in, introduce and talk about oneself. A short meditation grounds and centers, balancing mind, body and spirit. Give or receive a mini treatment of loving energy. $5 donation.

Naturally Organic Healing Center, 1171 S Buffalo Dr, 110, LV. 702-433-3874. NaturallyOrganicCenter.com/classes/.

naturaldirectory Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To be included in the Natural Directory, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsLV.com to request our media kit.

BEAUTY & BALANCE STEVIE’S HEALING ART & SPA 2541 Wigwam Pkwy Henderson, NV 89074 702-979-8035 • SteviesSpa.com

The mascara wearing hippy!

Specializing in aromatherapy organic facials, body treatments, life coaching, reiki, toe reading and the healthiest, safest eyelash extensions in Vegas. Healing from head to soul. See ad, page 31.

BODYWORK/MFR BODY RESONANCE MYFASCIAL WELLNESS CENTER

Rowena Cua 5463 S. Durango Dr., Ste 120E, Las Vegas 702-776-8881 • BodyMFR.com

DINING & EVENTS LAS VEGAN EATZ EVENTS

Mindy Tatti & Paul Graham Facebook.com/LasVeganEatzEvents LasVeganEatzEvents@gmail.com 702-239-6636

CONSCIOUS CLOTHING VEGAN ROYALTY

Mindy Tatti • 702-239-6636 Facebook.com/VeganRoyalty VeganRoyalty@gmail.com We are an eco-friendly apparel line, created for vegan and plant-based individuals, who are creating a peaceable kingdom for all living creatures. A percentage of each item sold goes to organizations that help with this healthy and compassionate mission.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ENERGY DETOXIFICATION

3651 Lindell Rd, #D-794, LV 702-239-6636 Mindy@VegasHealthFitnessChamber.com A Chamber of Commerce for the health & fitness professionals within the community. Our mission is to help members grow their businesses among a group of their peers through a variety of sales, marketing, advertising and public relations initiatives, health and fitness awareness, news articles and education on living a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle. See ad, page 4.

KAT REYES-CAMPBELL, MEDICAL QIGONG THERAPIST 702-743-3786 HealingChi_Kat@hotmail.com ThreeTreasuresMQ.com

This ancient energy healing modality is proven to offer healing of chronic illness and dis-eases through holistic integration of the body, mind and spirit. Experience life long selfhealing.

Las Vegan Eatz Events is an organization focused around a plant-based life-style, while recognizing restaurants and holding events. We host a monthly dinner with plant-based food and a portion of those proceeds go to a foundation or charity.

Specializing in the John F. Barnes, Approach to Myofascial Release: The ultimate whole body approach, mind-body treatment and missing link to wellness and healthcare which is safe, gentle and effective in producing truly longlasting results and pain-free lifestyle. See ad, page 20.

LAS VEGAS HEALTH & FITNESS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ENERGY HEALING

PROFESORA SORAYDA

Mayan Healer 702-556-2990 Facebook.com/ProfesoraSorayda A spiritual cleansing will bring positive vibrations and lead you on a path to good fortune in all areas.

Remove negative thoughts that cause you to feel unhappy, lethargic, physically ill and cause bad luck and misfortune. See ad, page 31.

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FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE THE ULTIMATE HEALING CENTER

Jeffrey Brown, DO 10120 S Eastern Ave, Ste 100, HD 89052 702-871-7004 • OptimalHealthPC.com The Ultimate Healing Center is a functional medicine practice that incorporates a variety of methods to help heal the body. We identify imbalances and help restore balance so the body can work optimally to heal itself.

Dr. Brown believes that the body has its own natural healing mechanisms. See ad, page 10.

HAPPY LIFE LAURIE MICHAELS, CRM

Wellness Consultant • Reiki Master Self-Love Master 949-690-4245 • Hugs2Live@gmail.com Imagine living through the Power of your self-love. We will release your learned patterns and create new self nurturing practices to enable you to live a happier more f u l f i l l e d l i f e . Wi t h y o u r commitment, the life you have dreamed of will be yours. Call for a free in person or remote consultation. See ad, page 31.

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HEALING CENTER ENCHANTED FOREST REIKI CENTER, SPIRITUAL ITEMS 'N MORE 800 N Rainbow Blvd, #100, LV 89107 702-948-4999 EnchantedForestReiki.com

Reiki-ShamanicCranial SacralChakra BalancingSound TherapyBars AccessCrystal healers. Plus lots of classes and events such as Reiki Certification, meditations, intuitive studies and much more.

Visit our beautiful metaphysical gift shop. See ad, page 31.

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY AAA DENTAL & FOUR SEASONS DENTAL SPA

Dr. Jim Wright, DDS, AIAOMT, AIABDM 8855 W Flamingo, LV 89147 702-281-9900 • HolisticDentistLasVegas.com Practicing holistic, biological dentistry with safe removal of mercury according to the standars of IAOMT and IABDM. State of the art early detect cavity mapping, cosmetic, general, specialty dentistry and low sensitivity teeth whitening. Dr. Wright offers holistic, no-prep veneers, Lumineers, Invisalign Braces, dental implants and All on 4 Implant Bridges, sleep and full sedation dentistry. See ad, page 11.

BELL CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL AND HOLISTIC DENTISTRY Dr. Michael Bell, DDS 8068 W Sahara Ave, Ste A, LV 89117 702-256-7666 • LVTMJDentist.com

Holistic dentistry with a whole body approach to create a healthy smile and body. Live microscopic viewing of mouth bacteria. Laser gum disease treatment.

Computerized TMJ and bite analysis. Mercury testing and removal. Nutritional testing.

Autonomic nervous system analysis. Invisalign. See ad, page 14.

HOLISTIC EDUCATION SOLUTIONS TINA FAYE

702-493-4823 Loving_Intentions@me.com Holistic education solutions incorporates Innerlight energy balancing, nutrition and counseling to help sensitive children improve focus and concentration and remove frustrations in educational settings. Innerlight method helps relieve symptoms of anxiety and overstimulation in kids, teens and adults.

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PRIMARY/SPECIALTY CARE

MEDICINE RESTORATION NEUROLOGY

SUPERIOR HEALTH SOLUTIONS

All natural, very effective treatment for difficult medical conditions that result from low neurotransmitter levels: chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraines, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer ’s, Parkinson’s, Crohn’s, addiction, ADD, IBS, mood disorder, obesity, restless leg and more. See ad, page 10.

Naturally heal degenerative diseases; Parkinson’s, MS, A u t i s m , N e u r o p a t h y, Thyroid Disfunction and more. Relax and heal in a state of the art outpatient treatment facility designed to care for patients on a primary and chronic level. See ad, page 5.

7106 Smoke Ranch Rd, #110 Las Vegas, NV 89128 702-796-3847

MUSIC EDUCATION DOMINIQUE KOLDEWYN

Private Piano Lessons Summer Trail at Mountain’s Edge 435-592-0662 cell and text Private piano lessons in my home.

Lessons are intended for the beginning or intermediate learner, ages 7 and up. Cost is $20 for 30 minutes, plus initial material cost.

Gift certificates available. See ad, page 23.

NEW PARADIGM VIOLETLIGHTED Nesho Dobras 773-993-6865 VioletLighted.com

A new paradigm specialist dedicated to assisting any individual into connection with their higher self. Nesho teaches master classes that give the student all the tools necessary for their path of personal transformation, including the ability to heal with the hands. These courses contain the highest upgrade of energy activations that are available on the planet. If you feel called to this contact me. See ad, page 25.

PET SUPPLIES & GROOMING AT YOUR SERVICE PET SUPPLIES & GROOMING

55 S Valle Verde, #300, HD 89012 702-982-4324 AtYourServicePetSupplies.com Quality, full-service, pet supply store with the best value in the valley. Pet-friendly. On-site “Barkery”. Nutritional experts.

Professional grooming available seven days for cats, dogs and little critters. Pet adoptions too! See ad, back cover.

NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

Dr. Robert DeMartino, D.C. 1661 W Horizon Ridge Pkwy, #280, HD 702-643-9900 • SHSLasVegas.com

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UNIVERSITIES WONGU UNIVERSITY

8620 S Eastern Ave, LV 89123 702-463-2122 Wongu.org Nevada State Board approved to offer a MS Degree in Oriental Medicine. Didactics with clinical training in acupuncture and herbology ensure competent practitioners.

Step into a new career or expand your practice. See ad, page 33.

WELLNESS STEVIE’S HEALING ART & SPA 2541 Wigwam Pkwy Henderson, NV 89074 702-979-8035 • SteviesSpa.com

The mascara wearing hippy!

Specializing in aromatherapy organic facials, body treatments, life coaching, reiki, toe reading and the healthiest, safest eyelash extensions in Vegas. Healing from head to soul. See ad, page 31.

TRANSFORMATIONS

Wellness Center & Intl. School of Reiki Victoria Stitzer, Expert in Rapid Behavior Modification • 702-405-9375 Transformations-LasVegas.org Transform your “Fears into Power”; “Pain into Joy” through powerful proven Mind-Body t e c h n o l o g i e s : N L P - E F TRegressions-Detox-Reiki-Pranic and Thetahealing. Free Reiki circles Wednesdays at 7pm. Call 702-659-2390.

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