MAR 2021 Natural Awakenings South Central PA

E R F

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

REGENERATIVE FARMING HOW IT CAN SAVE THE PLANET

COUNTERTOP GARDENING

EASY WAYS TO GROW EDIBLES INDOORS

ALL ABOUT CBD

PROMISES OF THE HEMP PLANT

STAY FIT WITH A FOAM ROLLER

FERTILITY BOOSTERS

NATURAL MEANS TO A HEALTHY BABY

WEIGHT LOSS

FOR DOGS

March 2021 | South Central PA | NaturalCentralPA.com

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher There’s something satisfying about getting your hands in the soil.

SOUTH CENTRAL PA EDITION Publisher Dave Korba Managing Editor Gisele M. Siebold Editors Martin Miron Theresa Archer Design & Production C. Michele Rose Steffi K. Kern Office Cats Jasmine and KJ

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~E.A. Bucchianeri, Vocation of a Gadfly

n spite of the multitude of recent snow storms and remaining snow on the ground, spring is on the way, no thanks to groundhog Phil, in Punxsutawney. The reliable cycle of seasonal change is a welcome thought— let’s just hope we’re able to keep any further negative effects of climate change at bay before we have to alter the seasonal calendar. But I’m getting ahead of myself, because we will address climate change as our main topic in April.

What comes to mind for our March issue, looking out over snow-covered fields from my window, is that soon it will be planting season, and home gardeners will be tilling the soil and perhaps adding nutrient-dense peat moss to help re-nourish the same ground that was used last season for the tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and lettuce. That’s how we did it growing up, with Grandma’s help, in a hearty vegetable garden behind our garage.

Many farmers won’t be mixing peat moss into their large acreage fields, but instead will use chemical fertilizers for the nutrition needed by the crops which unfortunately, is not available in the soil. And so it goes, season after season and year after year. The situation is not natural nor is it sustainable.

Nature is regenerative. The forests, jungles and fruited plains; the Serengeti; the oceans, rivers, natural habitats and global ecosystems naturally evolved to be self-sustaining and regenerative. So too, were the nation’s farmlands, but for the intervention of mass production and chemical dependency. We are facing a dilemma in our soil, on our farms, in our food and with our health and healthcare—and some of the most important and impactful research and innovation on this subject is coming from scientists, farmers and healthcare professionals in central Pennsylvania.

I like to say that every issue of Natural Awakenings is a ‘healthy food’ issue, and this month is no exception, although we mean ‘healthy soil’. I invite you to finish shoveling the snow, pour a warm beverage, turn off the news and settle into your favorite reading chair with these pages and soak it all in. Perhaps you’ll realize that the key to feeling good, living simply and laughing more is in the soil.

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Contents 12 HEMP-DERIVED

12

CANNABIDIOL

A Primer on the Latest Research

14 THE HEALING POTENTIAL

OF PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINES

Promising Studies on Stress Disorder, Depression and Addiction

16 GETTING PREGNANT

Lifestyle Strategies to Boost Fertility

18 DOWN TO EARTH

25

The Promise of Regenerative Organic Farming

22 JEFF TKACH

on Regenerative Healthcare

25 ON A ROLL

Foam Rollers Ease Pain and Workout Recovery

27 INDOOR EDIBLE GARDENING

28

Grow Veggies, Sprouts and Microgreens Year-Round

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28 CANINE OBESITY When Doggies Need Diets

31 ONLINE EXCLUSIVES Articles and Videos Available Online at NaturalCentralPA.com

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 10 health briefs 12 green living 14 healing ways 16 healthy kids 22 wise words 24 yoga pilates fitness guide 25 fit body

27 conscious 28 31 32 33 35

eating natural pet online exclusives calendar resource guide classifieds

March 2021

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news briefs

Class for Cancer Survivors at Absolute Pilates

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bsolute Pilates is offering a free class for breast cancer survivors on the last Wednesday of each month for those either in treatment or years out from treatment.

Participation can be virtual, in-person or hybrid, depending on personal needs. The Pink Ribbon program works with goals of improved strength and mobility in shoulders and arms; improved lymphatic drainage; prevention of lymphedema; improved quality of life; restored energy levels; improved posture; decreased stress and anxiety; and reduced pain and swelling.

Owner Allison Zang says, “Exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing after breast cancer surgery. You’re probably exhausted, your arms may be painful and swollen, and the adjuvant treatments can make you feel even worse. All you want to do is rest. In the past, that’s exactly what doctors recommended. However, recent studies indicate a link between moderate physical exercise and improved quality of life for breast cancer survivors. At Absolute Pilates, we are dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive body image to all breast cancer survivors.”

Admission is free. Location: 132 Walden Way, Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717585-2592, email Info@AbsolutePilates.com or visit AbsolutePilates.com. See listings, page 24.

New Podcast from H2L Studio

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2L (Healthy Holistic Living) Studio, in Mechanicsburg, is offering a podcast on Spotify under the name H2L for those in need of some motivation during these difficult times. The audio files include meditations, fitness classes, advice, news and more. Content changes weekly.

For more information, call 717-697-4425, email h2lstudio717@gmail.com or visit h2lstudio.com. See ad, page 26.

Amethyst Center Weekend Retreats

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methyst Retreat Center has six R&R Personal Retreat weekends coming up on the weekends of April 16, May 21, June 11, September 3, October 8 and November 5 to provide the gift of a self-directed experience with a few simple options to choose from.

Complimentary workshops include group classes, plus seasonal vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner freshly prepared

by Nicole Sharkey, RD, of Nutrition Naturally LLC. All guests may enjoy the 144 acres of forest, walking trails, meadows, labyrinth, lavender field, outdoor fire pit and gardens.

Location: 44 Buffalo Creek Rd., Duncannon. Preregistration is required. For more information, call 717-574-2654, email AmethystRetreatCenter@gmail.com or visit AmethystRetreatCenter.org.

Virtual Spring Native Plant Sale

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he online Manada Conservancy spring native plant sale fundraiser will continue through April 20, with pick-up on May 1. Patrons can select from a large selection of native perennials for sun and shade, hardto-find natives, trees and shrubs.

Now a community of more than 400 members with generous community support and many hours of volunteer labor, Manada Conservancy has been able to protect nearly 2,500 acres of land in Dauphin County, present more than 100 environmental education programs, develop a native plant initiative, offer outdoor opportunities and engage with businesses and other organizations.

For more details and shopping, visit Manada-Conservancy.Square.site.

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Wild Woman New Moon Circle

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New Half-Pint Corner at Palmyra

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almyra Real Food Emporium is turning the herb garden in the front yard into a teaching area to acquaint customers with fresh herbs and encourage cooking with them. It will also serve to instruct children about growing and cooking fresh food. Owner Tom Maurer says, “We wanted to teach kids and adults to grow and cook fresh food. Studies have shown that kids are more likely to eat things they grew, so we decided to combine these two goals and start the Half Pint Corner to help kids of all ages learn to grow, harvest, prepare and enjoy food.”

Maurer wants to get patrons’ input on the planning to determine the level of interest for ordering plants and seeds. This will be a hands-on learning center, not a day care. Sessions will likely be every Saturday, or every other Saturday for one hour. An adult must accompany any child under 10 years old, and groups are limited to six to eight kids.

A $25 donation will be collected with registration for the whole season to cover the cost of supplies. Location: 707 E. Broad St., Palmyra.

For more information or to provide input, call 717-813-0860, email Maywoodfarminc@aol.com or visit Tinyurl.com/PalmyraRealFood. See ad, page 10.

methyst Retreat Center will host a Wild Woman Project New Moon Circle led by Zoe Miner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 15. This safe and sacred space allows women to come together, use their voices, be heard and be seen. Women throughout history have gathered in circles to empower each other and share wisdom.

“When we come together with intention, untapped inspiration is revealed to all who are present to witness,” says Miner. Wild Woman Project circles are not associated with a singular path or religion, but rather an inclusive coming together with women from all paths.

Miner notes, “Women are gathering all over the world with a focus on intuition and embodiment, tapping into the wisdom held in our bodies. We go deep together in a safe, sacred space connecting to ourselves and each other with a creative guided meditation, sharing, an intention-setting ritual and so much more!” Circles are open to anyone identifying as female.

Location: 44 Buffalo Creek Rd., Duncannon. Preregistration is required. For more information, call 717-574-2654, email AmethystRetreatCenter@gmail.com or visit AmethystRetreatCenter.org.

Yoga Alleviates Anxiety

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illsburg Yoga and Emily Gilmore will conduct Yoga for Anxiety, a six-week course from 10 to 11:15 a.m. on March 5, 12, 19 and 26, and April 2 and 9 online via Zoom. Weekly topics include Establishing a Daily Practice; Working with Anxiety & Panic; Working with Worry; Finding Your Value; Strengthening Communication; and Developing Radiance.

Participants will journey through a journey of slowing down, tuning in, listening and moving forward with calming and grounding practices for managing anxiety. The framework for the course largely follows the practices of yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy from Julie Greiner-Ferris, LICSW, and Manjit Kaur Khalsa, Ed.D. Sliding scale cost is $45 to $65 for the series. To enroll, call 717-502-2870 or email Emily@ DillsburgYoga.com. For more information, visit DillsburgYoga.com. See listing, page 24.

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health briefs

NaturalCentralPA.com

Use Colored LED Lights to Relax Getting an MRI or CT scan is typically not a relaxing experience, and patient discomfort, anxiety or agitation can affect the quality of the image. Taking note of businesses that use lighting to create a mood, researchers from Pepperdine University demonstrated that patient unease in imaging centers can be modified with the use of colored LED lights. In a pilot study involving 35 subjects, 43 percent found blue lighting most relaxing, while 31 percent preferred yellow.

The least relaxing lighting color was red, according to 69 percent of participants, followed by yellow (17 percent) and green (11 percent).

Each subject was given a handheld device to set the hue, intensity and brightness of lighting, and most chose blue. No patient preferred the standard bright, white lighting of healthcare environments. “When given the opportunity to change a single aspect of the environmental or imaging facility experience, patients feel much more in control of the otherwise unfamiliar and uncomfortable setting,” write the authors in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Try Mindfulness to Improve Cardiovascular Health Mindfulness training can lower blood pressure and positively influence behavior that promotes cardiovascular health, report Brown University researchers. The study published in Plos One involved 43 people with hypertension. In eight weekly 150-minute sessions, participants learned mindfulness meditation movements and techniques, including eating food mindfully, while also receiving instruction on hypertension risk factors.

By the end of the year, they reported improvements in stress levels, diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption.

On average, systolic blood pressure fell by six points and diastolic pressure by one point, a small, but significant improvement.

March 2021

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green living

Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol A Primer on the Latest Research

by Sandra Yeyati

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ver since the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized the commercial production of hemp, U.S. sales of cannabidiol (CBD) have exploded onto the scene with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of vendors popping up around the country. CBD, a cannabinoid, is abundant in the hemp flower. “By law, hemp is defined as a variety of cannabis plant that has less than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid that induces a high,” says Shannon Livingston, a cannabis consultant for Florida Gulf Coast University, in Fort Myers.

Proven Benefits of CBD: “The enthusiasm for CBD is soaring above the actual scientific evidence,” says Peter Grinspoon, M.D., a leading medical cannabis expert and primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. “What’s known is that it helps with childhood epilepsy, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a CBD drug for that. It is believed, and there’s good animal data and some human data to suggest, that CBD helps with chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety.”

kostrez/AdobeStock.com

Anxiety Under Study: A clinical trial examining a high-CBD, low-THC (the psychoactive component) sublingual custom formulation for patients with moderate to severe anxiety is being conducted by Staci Gruber, Ph.D., director of Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery at McLean Hospital, in Belmont, Massachusetts, and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “In the open label phase of this study, we’ve seen a rather dramatic and precipitous drop in symptoms of anxiety and depression after four weeks of treatment. We’ll see if this holds in the doubleblind phase, which is underway now,” she explains.

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Entourage Effect: Gruber notes that this customized formulation is a full-spectrum, whole-plant formula, saying, “You often seem to get a bigger bang for the buck using a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum (whole plant minus THC) product, rather than just a single extracted compound.” The process she’s describing is called the entourage

effect—an assumption that all elements of the cannabis plant, working together, are most effective. “I believe there’s a significant role for terpenoids, flavonoids and other cannabinoid constituents of the plant, in addition to the big two (THC and CBD), and I have a grant to look at that very question,” she says.

How to Start CBD: Experts agree that the best approach is to start low and go slow.

“With experimentation, the patient will know what works for them,” Grinspoon says. “When CBD doesn’t work with my patients, the next step is to add a little bit of medical cannabis; it often takes a very little dose to help them with their sleep or their chronic pain.” Medical marijuana has been legalized in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

Route of Administration: “When you smoke or vape, it’s an almost immediate onset, which is helpful for breakthrough pain, nausea and anything you want to treat immediately, but the effect is very short-lived,” Livingston explains. “For chronic pain, you might take a capsule or the patch that will last six to eight hours. If you want to fall asleep, a sublingual will work. For a skin condition, you might rub an oil on your skin. It’s really about the time of onset, how long you need it to last and what you’re treating.”

Ensuring Quality Control: “Choose CBD providers that are certified for good manufacturing practices; conduct batch-specific, third-party testing on all of their products; and provide certificates of analysis directly from those labs. These tests can detect the presence of heavy metals, bacterial or microbial life, mycotoxins and pesticides, and also provide cannabinoid potency and terpene profiles,” says Grace Kaucic, senior communications and content manager at Bluebird Botanicals, a CBD company in Louisville, Colorado.

Our Built-In Cannabinoids: In the mid-1990s, researchers discovered the endocannabinoid system of receptors and neurotransmitters throughout the body, which uses cannabinoids that our own bodies produce. “This system is believed to control homeostasis, the body’s ability to regulate itself and maintain normal functioning,” Grinspoon says, adding that he believes this system will become central to medicine over the next few years as more research is conducted.

Research is Ongoing: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for cannabis science,” Gruber says.

“There’s every reason to be optimistic about the potential of harnessing and exploiting the benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids in ways that may still surprise us, but to be cautiously optimistic.

It is not a panacea. It will never be one-size-fits-all.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

March 2021

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healing ways

terminal cancer patients as a way to help them deal with their “existential distress” at the approach of death. The second, a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Psychopharmacology by Johns Hopkins researchers, was entitled “Psilocybin Can Occasion Mystical-Type Experiences Having Substantial and Sustained Personal Meaning and Spiritual Significance.”

Pollan turned his journalistic skills to researching the potential of psychedelics to actually heal the mind and treat mental and behavioral disorders, and the book that resulted became a number one New York Times bestseller.

The Healing Potential of Psychedelic Medicines Promising Studies on Stress Disorder, Depression and Addiction

by Linda Sechrist

cendeced/AdobeStock.com

Research Breaks New Ground

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or more than 30 years, intersections of the human and natural world— our plates, farms and gardens—have been of interest to author Michael Pollan, who recently added the mind as another significant association in his latest book, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence.

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Pollan’s interest was sparked by two articles. The first, a New York Times story, “Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning In Again,” details how researchers from Johns Hopkins, the University of Arizona, Harvard, New York University (NYU), the University of California/Los Angeles and other institutions had been giving doses of psilocybin—the psychoactive compound in certain mushrooms—to

NaturalCentralPA.com

Much of the research for studying psychedelic medicine has been supported by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). The 35-yearold Santa Cruz, California, nonprofit is currently backing research into psychoactive methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also referred to as ecstasy, which produces effects resembling stimulants and psychedelics, as well as a feeling of connectedness. It plans to publish the full results of phase three clinical trials for MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2022, the final stage before seeking U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval for its use as a prescription treatment.

MAPS founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D., who spent 30 years studying how psychedelics might help heal trauma and mental illness, was trained and mentored by Stanislav Grof, M.D. A renowned psychiatrist with more than 60 years of experience researching non-ordinary states of consciousness, Grof proposes that psychedelics are to the study of the mind what microscopes are to biology and the telescope is to astronomy. When used wisely, he suggests, they can heal, inspire and perhaps save us.

Researchers have found that psychedelics reduce activity in the brain’s default mode network that creates our sense of self—the equivalent of our ego—filtering all incoming information according to personal

Johns Hopkins and NYU research has demonstrated how psilocybin can help with treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and addiction. needs and priorities. When activity is reduced in the default mode network, the ego shifts from the foreground to the background, allowing us to see that we’re part of a larger field of awareness. This can be among an individual’s most important experiences, allowing for feelings of connectedness, altruism and acceptance of death.

Psychedelics as Treatment Since 2010, in addition to treating PTSD, MDMA has shown positive results for depression, social anxiety in autistic adults and anxiety associated with a life-threatening illness. Johns Hopkins and NYU research has demonstrated how psilocybin can help with treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and addiction. Both MDMA and psilocybin have been studied as adjuncts or catalysts to psychotherapy rather than as standalone treatments.

Jennifer Phelps, M.D., who teaches for the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, in Washington, D.C., and practices family and integrative medicine in Georgetown, Connecticut, says that psilocybin can transform a terminally ill individual’s quality of life for the remainder of their time. “This compassionate use can presently only be prescribed by a physician with the required license issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Presently, LSD, MDMA and psilocybin can only be prescribed for research,” she says.

Charley Wininger, a Brooklyn-based psychotherapist, authored Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA after experiencing its positive effects on his marriage and psyche.

“For those who experiment responsibly, psychedelics can open their lives up to spiritual growth and transformation. It’s a way to learn about how connected we are to each other, to the natural world and to the world at large. When you experience this level of connection, you and your

worldview are transformed,” he says.

“MDMA helped me with the aging process. I keep growing and exploring consciousness in an unconventional way,” he adds, enthusing that psychedelics can be a unique, life-enhancing opportunity for healthy people across their entire adult lifespan.

Wininger explains that MDMA floods the body with serotonin and oxytocin, creating a sense of safety and well-being. “It’s best to do it with a trained psychotherapist or sitter, so that if any trauma surfaces, it can be relieved with a sense of safety. While individuals report that their relationship to trauma is altered permanently, integration groups give them opportunities to share and anchor their experiences.”

Getting Informed Daniel Shankin, program director of the wellness organization Tam Integration, Align and Flow, in Fairfax, California, offers mindfulness-based coaching and mentorships to integrate psychedelics with life, education and a related career. “Having a guide, preparation coach or therapist is good,” he says. “For the transformation to be lasting, preparation work is needed.

Answering questions such as—Why are

you here? What are your expectations?

And what makes you feel safe and comfortable?—helps to build rapport with a guide that can help you form a simple, powerful intention beforehand.

“Personal growth work is invaluable to psychonauts,” says Shankin, who offers podcast interviews on TamIntegration. com, as well as replays of a 2019 Psilocybin Summit in which notable speakers explore the facets of psilocybin mushrooms and methods for creating ceremony and holding a safe space. Also discussed are traditional and indigenous use, as well as efforts to change public policy so that individuals can legally have access to psychedelic medicine.

The Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies also educates the public about psychedelic medicines and trains psychotherapists to work in the expanding field of psychedelic studies.

Its online programs inform the general public via podcasts about conscious medicine and the future of psychedelicassisted therapy, which appears promising in light of the recent decriminalization of psilocybin in Oakland, Denver and Washington, D.C. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

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healthy kids

Getting Pregnant Lifestyle Strategies to Boost Fertility

by Ronica O’Hara

More than 7 million American women face one of life’s deepest heartbreaks: They want a newborn in their arms, but their bodies are not cooperating.

Happily, the growing use of natural approaches like healthier diets, supplements and acupuncture is changing that outcome for many.

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Egg Matters A healthy pregnancy depends on a healthy egg. Chromosomal abnormalities severely hamper fertilization and account for more than half of first-trimester miscarriages. Yet, contrary to common belief, egg quality is not determined solely by a woman’s age: it can be highly influenced by her lifestyle choices and nutrients in the three-month window before an egg is fertilized, Fett advises. Based on the latest research, she offers the following recommendations for women trying to conceive naturally or through such means as in vitro fertilization (IVF): Detox the diet. To manage critically important blood sugar and insulin levels, eat low-glycemic, nutrient-rich foods and avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol. An organic, largely plant- and fish-based Mediterranean diet boosts fertility. Dutch researchers found that women following this diet before an IVF cycle had a 40 percent higher chance of becoming pregnant.

Supplement correctly. Take a prenatal vitamin, vitamins C and E, ubiquinol and melatonin. For women with diagnosed low ovarian reserve, consider carefully dosed DHEA.

sergmakssmol/Adobestock.com

W

hen Rebecca Fett was told at age 26 that she had “incredibly low odds” of being able to conceive with her own eggs, she used her biochemistry and genetics training to plunge into research on egg quality and fertility. By taking targeted supplements, upgrading her diet and detoxing her house of harmful chemicals, the result was not only two healthy baby boys, but a book entitled It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IV. It sells at the fast clip of about 600 copies a week, showing that even amidst the traumas of the pandemic, couples fervently want to bear children. Some doula groups on the East Coast report a 30 percent rise in early 2021 births, and sperm banks are running so low that sperm from a handsome new donor posted online can be bought out within hours, reports The New York Times. “There is nothing more hopeful than the creation of a new life,” says Randine Lewis, who used acupuncture and Chinese herbs to enable a hard-won pregnancy and then wrote The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies.

Detox the house. The Bisphenol A (BPA) in many household items and the phthalates in most scented products are endocrine disrupters that increase the risk of infertility and miscarriages, numerous studies show. Exchange plastic storage containers and water bottles for glass or stainless steel ones. Steer clear of fast food and processed food. Buy milk, oil, drinks and condiments in glass bottles rather than plastic ones. In the bathroom, toss hairspray, perfume and nail polish, and be wary of scented skin care products, air fresheners and detergents. Use non-toxic cleaning products.

An Eastern Perspective Taking a different tack, “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not focus on forcing maximum egg production,” says Lewis. “We improve the quality and receptivity of the entire body, mind and spirit, and the reproductive physiology responds.”

TCM involves identifying imbalances in the body that are creating obstacles to pregnancy and then using acupuncture, herbs and diet to restore full health. Diagnosis is typically done by an acupuncturist or Chinese medicine doctor. (To find one locally, Lewis suggests asking pointedly, “How many cases of infertility have you been successful in resolving?”)

According to Lewis, self-diagnosis can also work. For example, sore breasts and irritability during ovulation can signify liver qi stagnation, and can be relieved by massaging certain acupressure points, taking black cohosh and meditating or doing yoga. General TCM strategies include: Acupuncture: Regular treatments “can stimulate the body’s hormonal system to do what it is supposed to: secrete the right hormones at the right time in a woman’s cycle,” says Lewis. Self-administered acupressure also works.

Herbs: Specific herbal concoctions and powders can target imbalances and deficiencies at key points in the menstrual cycle.

Stress-busters: Qigong breathing lowers stress, and nightly warm foot soaks increase blood flow to the pelvic organs.

“As we live more harmoniously, our fertility improves,” says Lewis. “It is vastly wise and responds to how we live, think, act and relate.”

Natural health writer Ronica O’Hara ’’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

For more, see “Boosting Fertility” on page 31.

Guys and Infertility Although researchers have long focused on female infertility, studies now show that for 40 percent of infertile couples, the problem lies in male sperm that is too sparse, slow, damaged or misshapen. Many of the strate-

gies that improve egg quality also improve sperm quality, researchers are learning.

This includes a healthier diet with more antioxidants, supplements that include a multivitamin and ubiquinol, detoxing the home and workplace of chemicals, cutting out smoking and lowering or stopping alcohol use. Other strategies include:  Acupuncture to improve the concentration, volume and motility of sperm.  Tossing lubricants with ingredients like petroleum, propylene glycol, glycerin, parabens, silicone and Nonoxynol-9 that hamper sperm movement and viability.  Keeping cell phones out of side pockets.

A Cleveland Clinic study found that pocketing cellphones more than four hours daily reduces sperm count, motility and viability.  Wearing boxer shorts instead of briefs and forgoing hot tubs to keep testes temperatures low for sperm production.  Exercising just enough. Studies show that men who exercise regularly, but not too extremely, have higher testosterone levels and better semen quality.

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Diet: Choose organic foods and hormonefree meats, and eat veggies cooked rather than raw. Nix caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

Supplements: Besides a high-potency, multivitamin-mineral complex, such nutrients as bee pollen, blue-green algae, wheatgrass, vitamin B6, CoQ10 and folic acid are often useful.

March 2021

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DOWN TO EARTH The Promise of Regenerative Organic Farming

by Sandra Yeyati

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ith its dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, heavy tilling techniques, concentrated animal feeding practices and mono-crops—all designed to maximize yields—conventional farming has come at a great cost. “Conventional intensive farming practices have significant negative consequences for the land and surrounding ecosystems,” says Richard Teague, Texas A&M professor of Ecosystem Science and Management. “By disrupting the natural function of these habitats, the valuable ecosystem services they provide are compromised.”

The way we’re growing food now is not sustainable. “According to the United Nations, we only have 60 harvests left before our soil is completely depleted. Years of conventional industrial agriculture have drained the soil dry of all of the organic matter, all the microbes, that microbiome that brings nutrients to our plants and to our planet as a whole,” says Margaret Wilson, content creation and media relations specialist at the Rodale Institute.

The UN also reported last year that agriculture and forestry were responsible for nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. “Agriculture is a climate-intensive process and conventional practices make that even worse because they’re fossil fuel-intensive,” Wilson says. “They require a lot of machinery to plow fields and distribute pesticides. Fertilizers 18

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are fossil fuel-based. Tillage is a huge part of conventional agriculture, where you’re turning the soil over, and that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

One third of the world’s land surface is considered desert, and according to Judith D. Schwartz, the Vermont author of The Reindeer Chronicles and Cows Save the Planet, most deserts are manmade. “If we look historically, we learn that most deserts

were once thriving grasslands or some other kind of ecosystem and became deserts after hundreds of years of poor grazing management or farming that was no longer putting nutrients back into the soil.”

The good news is that deserts can be brought back to life. In the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, where much of the land is degraded, ingenious ranchers have figured out a way to support healthy animals and plant biodiversity. “The ranchers were earning money by managing the livestock holistically in a way that was reviving the ecological function of these lands, so there were thick grasses, birds and butterflies flourishing right next to land that looked horrible—absolute deserts with a lot of erosion, the soil so depleted that it couldn’t hold water,” recalls Schwartz, who visited the area.

Regenerative organic farming holds great promise to rebuild soil, draw carbon from the atmosphere and ultimately grow healthier food. “When you take out the pesticides, fertilizers and intensive tilling, our farming systems trial concluded that regenerative organic agriculture uses 45 percent fewer fossil fuels and releases 40 percent fewer carbon emissions than conventional practices,” Wilson says, adding that a recent Rodale Institute white paper postulated that by transitioning all global crop and pastureland to regenerative management, we could sequester 100 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions.

As the founder of the Rodale Institute, J.I. Rodale, said, “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people.” Soil restoration is job one, and we know how to do this. “The goal of regenerative farming is to farm and ranch in nature’s image,” says Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer and author of Dirt to Soil. He offers the following six principles to create a thriving, regenerating agricultural ecosystem:

1 2

Context: “There’s a reason bananas do not grow in North Dakota. They don’t fit the context, whereas more spring wheat is grown in North Dakota than anywhere else.

You have to farm and ranch in your context.”

The least amount of mechanical and chemical disturbance possible: “Nature tills with earthworms and burrowing rodents, but it certainly doesn’t till the soil like we do in farming or even in gardening. Tilling is the worst thing you can do if you want to raise nutrient-dense food. Nature aerates the soil with the use of living plants and soil aggregates. Those soil aggregates will only last about four weeks, then new ones need to be formed, and the only way to form them is by not tilling and allowing biology and fungi to secrete substances that help bind sand, silt and clay to form soil aggregates.”

3

4

Armor on the soil: “Nature always tries to cover the soil, whether it be leaves in a forest or decaying plants in a pasture or field. Nature does not like bare soil.”

Diversity: “Where in nature do you see a monoculture? Usually only where man put it or man’s actions have driven it to be a monoculture. Nature is very diverse, so hundreds of different grasses, legumes all growing in harmony. We’ve gotten away from that.

Now we plant monocultures. That’s not the way nature functions.”

5

6

Livestock and insect integration: “Nature does not function properly without animals. Too many people think we have to remove the animals from the landscape.

That’s the worst thing you can do. What’s going to pollinate the plants? The way our rich soils were formed was with large herds of ruminants, grazing the plants. That plant, once grazed, starts sloughing off root exudates to attract biology, to regrow, and then that plant is able to cycle more carbon out of the atmosphere.”

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A living root being in the soil as long as possible throughout the year: “I go out in the spring here in North Dakota, and you’ve got crocuses coming up through the snow. That’s nature’s way of trying to take the solar energy and all of these compounds out of the atmosphere, and through photosynthesis convert it into carbon to feed soil biology.”

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Brown waxes poetic when he talks about the amazing results of regenerative farming. “Healthy soil looks like dark chocolate cake.

It’s full of pore spaces. Healthy soil is dark because of the amount of carbon in it. It smells good, whereas unhealthy soil is very compacted. There’s no pore spaces. Water cannot infiltrate into it. It’s a dull, pale color. You can see it, you can smell it, you can feel it.”

According to Wilson, the Rodale Institute is poised to help farmers adopt these principles and make them profitable. “People say regenerative organic isn’t scalable, but through our farming systems trial, we’re proving that you can do this on a large scale.

It might require customization, but that’s why we’re investing so much in providing support and research to farmers to help them navigate that, and we’re seeing that scalability is not a barrier to implementation because so many big companies like Dr. Bronner’s and Patagonia are starting to implement these practices because people are demanding it. The market finds a way to make it doable and as long as we keep up our consumer education and show people that this is a benefit to everybody, I think large-scale farmers and corporations that buy their products will respond.”

Last year, Graham Christensen’s father gave him and his brother full control of a 750-acre farm in Oakland, Nebraska, that has been in the family since 1867. Over the decades, the farm has seen many changes, but the biggest transformation is still to come, as the brothers eagerly transition their once conventional operation into a regenerative organic one.

The family began to incorporate a few innovations 12 years ago when they stopped tilling the land and adopted solar energy, but this year they’ll take bolder steps to eliminate their dependence on GMO seeds and chemical fertilizers and pesticides which over the years have reduced organic matter levels in the soil and led to increased and unhealthy nutrient levels in their waterways.

“For the first time, we’ll be cover-cropping 612 acres and expanding habitats for wildlife, especially in some riparian areas, so we can get more roots in the soil and have better filtration and cleaner water,” Christensen explains. “We’re going to produce nutrients by building a biodiverse ecosystem and we’re incorporating animal grazing systems to help us fertilize naturally rather than having to add synthetics like nitrogen and phosphorus.”

They have planted a 100-tree hazelnut orchard that they hope to expand as a tree crop. “That’s going to help us stop soil erosion, store more carbon in the ground, produce another form of income and also be able to fit right into our cropping system, virtually taking out no extra land; just creating a higher layer, so now we’re farming higher in the air.”

The transition is not without its risks, Christensen adds. “Farms like ours have been heavily subsidized by the federal government to ship our grain to other countries. What we’re trying to do now is produce more small grains and hazelnuts for a regional market and reintroduce livestock to the land—not in confinement—so we can focus more on feeding people in our local community and in Omaha or Lincoln or Kansas City or Des Moines.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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Sustainable Growing Practices Impact Local Communities

by Gisele M. Siebold

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wo local farms in the South Central Pennsylvania region use sustainable growing practices to protect, enhance and replenish soil nutrients for current and future food production. Spiral Path Farm and Dickinson College Organic Farm both grow food to feed their local communities.

The Brownback family owns and operates Spiral Path Farm, located in Loysville.

Devoted to farming the land, keeping the soil rich in nutrients and sharing food that contributes to a healthy lifestyle, they personify the farm’s name by creating a path on the cutting edge of organic farming.

“We are committed to building the fertility of our soils and health of our farm and surrounding woodlands,” explains second-generation farmer Lucas Brownback. “We pro-

tect the soil with cover crops, erosion control and conservation measures such as contours on slopes, waterways of grass in steep areas and grassy roadways between fields. Our own vermicomposting system [worms] plays a major role in the farm’s fertility.”

The Dickinson College Organic Farm, located in Boiling Springs, aspires to cultivate and implement holistic approaches to land management with care and respect for natural resources and processes. “I believe that the terms regenerative and sustainable reflect the intention of continual improvement and to conserve resources by working with, rather than against nature,” says Director Jenn Halpin.

“Agriculture is not necessarily a natural process,” she explains. “We manipulate the natural environment in order to grow non-

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native food crops. With this in mind, efforts to minimize ecological impacts at the College Farm include extensive crop rotations, cover cropping and no-till systems in our vegetable operation using tools and techniques developed by the Rodale Institute.”

According to Halpin, the certified organic designation provides the farm with a system of accountability and reflects a set of principles that seeks to provide customers with a level of confidence in the farming practices.

“Regenerative and sustainable farming practices minimize food insecurity and maximize dietary diversity,” affirms Halpin.

Dickinson College Organic Farm is located at 553 Park Dr., in Boiling Spring. For more information, visit Blogs.Dickinson.edu/farm Spiral Path Farm is located at 538 Spiral Path Lane, in Loysville. For more information, visit SpiralPathFarm.com. See ad, page 16.

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wise words

Jeff Tkach on Regenerative Healthcare

by Patricia Trenchak

F

or over 70 years, Rodale Institute— a pioneer of the organic food movement—has championed the concept of farming without herbicides and pesticides by funding and supporting scientific studies and education. Now entering his fifth year with Rodale Institute, Chief Impact Officer Jeff Tkach is committed to upholding the legacy of the Institute’s founder, J.I. Rodale, who believed that healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people. According to Tkach, farmers and healthcare professionals need to embrace a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health, and Rodale Institute is here to bridge the gap between these two industries by unlocking the transformational power of regenerative healthcare.

How did your personal journey lead you to explore regenerative healthcare?

In 2016, I experienced a tremendous health collapse in my own life. I went through six conventional medical doctors and $50,000 in medical bills. I had been a highperforming businessperson up until that point, and found myself on medical leave, bedridden and unable to work. I sought out a doctor who practiced something called functional medicine, which focuses on finding the root of whatever caused the breakdown in health. After numerous 22

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tests, it was discovered that I had chronic Lyme disease. The doctor explained that there was nothing he could prescribe that was going to instantly make me better.

Through my work with him, I had to look at my body as a whole system and came to realize that food is medicine. Ultimately, alternative modalities like acupuncture and IV [intravenous] therapy, as well as food healed me.

What is regenerative healthcare?

It is a system in which farming and healthcare work together focused on a prevention-based approach to human and environmental health. Instead of using toxic chemicals to farm, regenerative healthcare aims to prevent disease through an organic, plant-based, whole-foods diet.

Regenerative healthcare begins on farms that work in harmony with nature. At Rodale Institute, we see ourselves as a human health organization, not an agricultural organization. We use agriculture as a tool to promote human health. Our goal is to build the first brick and mortar facility in the world, called the Regenerative Health Institute, that will connect medical doctors and farmers. The facility will be a 333acre certified organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, that will provide innovative research on the links between farming and human health. We’re going to be doing scientific research that demonstrates the

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link between soil health and the health of people, and we’re going to educate and train tomorrow’s doctors to become more literate in agriculture and to understand how they can use food as medicine.

How can we harness the power of regenerative organic farming to foster good health?

The current mode of farming is systemically broken, and farmers need to move in a healthier direction. The science is showing that elements in pesticides and herbicides are known carcinogens that are wreaking havoc on our immune systems. They are ubiquitous in our air and drinking water.

Farmers are no longer able to control where those chemicals land. They’re leaching into our groundwater, killing the life in the soil and causing major soil erosion.

Ultimately, they’re causing imbalances in nature of mass proportion.

How can you convince people to adopt organic and consider food as medicine?

We need to encourage people to get to know a farmer. There are incredible regenerative organic farmers in our own communities that oftentimes don’t have access to mainstream markets. During the pandemic, we saw a major increase in sales directly from farms to consumers. When the supply chains in the grocery stores broke down, we turned to farmers. That’s profound. As a result of the pandemic, 22 million new gardens were planted in the United States, according to the National Gardening Association. We need to keep that going. It’s very exciting to be a part of this movement as people around the world come to understand the importance of food as medicine. I truly believe that regenerative healthcare is the key to healing our planet.

For more information, visit RodaleInstitute.org.

Patricia Trenchak writes for KnoWEwell, a Regenerative Whole Health Community platform and a collaborative partner of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. See ad, page 4.

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ON A ROLL

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Foam Rollers Ease Pain and Workout Recovery

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by Marlaina Donato

F

oam rolling— rolling parts of the body on top of a lightweight foam cylinder—targets trigger points or painful knots in muscles and is a valuable tool for reducing chronic pain and enhancing workout recovery. From sciatica to pelvic floor dysfunction, there is a foam roller for almost every condition, including low- to high-density, heated and textured types for massage-like benefits.

Research during the past several years shows that using foam rollers before or after exercise quells fatigue, improves joint mobility, lowers risk of injury and eases muscle soreness. Its effectiveness is attributed to the activation of the central nervous system resulting in better circulation and reduced inflammation.

“Foam rollers are used to relieve tension in the fascia (connective tissue), ‘roll’ out sore muscles and provide a soothing, self-controlled, soft-tissue massage,” says

Amber Kivett, owner of Kivett Kinetic Solutions, in Monrovia, Indiana. “They can also be used for proprioception, balance, flexibility, core stability training and most importantly, natural pain relief.”

Freeing the Body

Fascia, the body’s all-pervasive connective tissue, tightens like an invisible net from injury and other stresses and can adhere to the underlying muscles, creating pain and restriction. “Foam rolling has the power to change and realign the 12 fascial lines responsible for human movement and support,” says Kivett. “Those same fascial lines also sense and transmit pain and emotion far greater than any nerve or muscle and respond well to foam rolling. There’s an emotional and spiritual release in the body when fascia is compressed and released. That response facilitates a structural change to human alignment and an immediate change in pain levels for all types and causes of pain.”

Foam rollers offer an opportunity for

self-care, according to Los Angeles fitness trainer Ashley Borden. “Foam rolling is one of the best ways to troubleshoot your own body, keep it healthy and mobile.

Using an inexpensive tool like a foam roller not only feels good, but it also connects you to your body. Foam rolling the entire body encourages circulation and an immediate feeling of relief afterwards.

My clients who don’t like to work out are usually surprised how good they feel post-rollout and feel encouraged to do more.” She cites research that shows that a dynamic warm-up, paired with the use of foam rollers before and after workouts, amplifies recovery and aids in the repair of muscular micro-tears.

For Rafal Augustynowicz, founder of TeamRAF Fitness, in Kent, England, it’s about counteracting lifestyle stresses.

“The foam roller is a beautiful and great tool, especially in the 21st century, when we sit too many hours. It is a great tool to get our mobility and our posture back to normal.”

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Recovery, Joint Pain and Sciatica

Gently rolling targeted muscles below and above specific joints can help to resolve certain types of pain, including in the knee. “Many times, when a person has pain in the knee, it’s more than likely they have tight muscles elsewhere—calves, inner thighs, hip flexors or glutes—and the pain shows up in the knee,” says Augustynowicz. “Foam rolling and using a massage ball have saved me many times when I had a lot of problems with my back, neck, hip and a dislocated shoulder.”

The practice can help ease sciatica, a sometimes-excruciating condition. “Most cases of sciatic pain are caused by tight muscles deep in the buttocks, including the piriformis muscle,” says Kivett. “The sciatic nerve travels through the piriformis, so if it’s tight, it will cause a sensation similar to that of sciatica nerve pain. A foam roller can be used along the back, throughout the buttocks and the legs to relieve tension, soften tissues and calm the nervous system for instant pain relief.”

Kivett, who was introduced to foam rollers during intensive physical therapy after a life-altering accident, found them to be a way to recover from severe fibromyalgia pain. “My nerves were hypersensitive from the injuries, and I used foam rolling to reboot the ‘software’ in my brain, which allowed me to engage in recovering.”

Foam rolling is an all-around boon, Borden highlights. “The immediate relief, the muscle definition, the decrease in cellulite, all of these are added benefits.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

For more, see “Foam Rollers” on page 31.

MORE ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE A ROLL

Amber Kivett: Ideally, it’s best to perform foam rolling right after a light warm-up for five to 10 minutes to increase circulation to the muscles and decrease tension and stiffness. If there is extra time, do a quick three to five minutes of foam rolling after a workout, but preferably after you’ve done your cool-down or some walking. You don’t have to foam-roll the entire body postworkout; just do a quick “scan” of areas that are more sensitive or painful.

For those with high levels of pain, fibromyalgia, MS, autoimmune conditions or an acute injury, I would recommend buying a low-density, soft, foam roller or [one] that vibrates, because soft and/or vibrating foam rollers are gentle to fragile areas.

Ashley Borden: Foam rolling is a valuable tool for the senior population to improve overall body tightness and circulation. Assistance is needed if you have a hard time getting up and down. I would also suggest a non-slip yoga mat and using the softest foam roller first to gauge the pressure. If you feel like you have to hold your breath when you are foam rolling, the surface is too hard.

Rafal Augustynowicz: Never use foam rollers on bones, joints, the spine or armpits; only on the muscle/flesh. Be informed to avoid arteries, etc. If it hurts too much, it’s probably not right. Watch tutorials or go to a professional.

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conscious eating

Indoor Edible Gardening Grow Veggies, Sprouts and Microgreens Year-Round

by April Thompson

T

here’s no need to wait until the last frost date to sow a kitchen garden. Impatient gardeners or those without outdoor space can grow almost anything indoors with a little light and creativity.

“You can start many edible plants from seed on a sunny windowsill, even in late winter.

You’ll be surprised how quickly everything germinates this time of year,” says Zia Allaway, the British author of Indoor Edible Garden: Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables in Your Home.

Herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are among the many foods that can be easily grown from seed indoors, according to Allaway. Many fruiting plants that are not self-pollinating, such as cucumbers, need a boost from hand pollination if growing them indoors. Allaway adds, “When growing any plants on a windowsill, rotate them periodically so they grow evenly, as they will turn toward the light.”

While crops like garlic, beets and carrots won’t reach maturity indoors, they can still be grown inside for their tasty, nutritious leaves. To grow garlic shoots, for example, remove the papery outer case and submerge the flat end of a garlic bulb in a container of water, leaving the top exposed to air. Within a few weeks, garlicky-flavored shoots will sprout up that can be harvested and used like chives, advises Allaway.

To maximize space, she suggests growing plants vertically, perhaps by hanging bushy herbs or trailing plants in a window basket. She has also used interior walls to erect a trellis for vining plants like cucumbers, wiring it up with screw eyes.

Mini-Greens, Major Nutrients Many health-conscious gardeners are drawn to sprouts and microgreens for their nutritional benefits, as they contain as much as 40 times the nutrients as their full-grown counterparts. Sprouts can easily be grown with or without soil, and are eaten before the first tiny cotyledon leaves emerge, whereas microgreens are harvested later, often just before or after the first true leaves, the second pair, pop up.

“Sprouted greens grown at home are the freshest food you’ll ever eat. Being able to grow your own salads is also a lot of fun in the winter, to see the wonderful colors growing on your

shelf,” says Peter Burke, the Calais, Vermont, author of Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, SoilSprouted Greens in Less Than 10 Days.

Burke’s tried and true method is to plant a small amount of seed every day from a mix of sunflower, peas, radish, buckwheat and brassicas like broccoli or kohlrabi, providing a steady supply of his family’s daily dose of greens. While some gardeners grow sprouts or microgreens directly on paper towels or coconut coir, Burke prefers using a storebought, germination soil mix, spread up to two inches deep in reusable trays, watered once a day and grown without artificial light.

Many seeds commonly found in the home pantry can be turned into sprouts and shoots, says Lina Wallentinson, the Swedish author of Sprouts, Shoots and Microgreens: Tiny Plants to Grow and Eat in Your Kitchen.

“Mustard seeds from the spice shelf, whole lentils in all colors, chickpeas and yellow peas can all be easily grown for sprouts and shoots without any special equipment,” she says.

Seeds can be put into wide-mouthed jars, soaked overnight, and then drained and rinsed two to three times a day. Germination of seeds into sprouts, from mung beans to quinoa, can typically take less than 24 hours with this method.

Sprouts and microgreens make great toppers for salads, soups, sandwiches or smoothies, and they can also be cooked.

“Newly sprouted mung and lentil seeds with a short ‘tail’ are perfect to flash-fry and season with soy, chili and a little sesame oil as an alternative to rice or pasta,” says Wallentinson. “Sprouts are also nice to bake with. Like seeds and nuts, they give a good little chew in all kind of breads.”

Whether growing sprouts, microgreens or full-sized plants, Allaway advises home gardeners to make drainage holes at the bottom of the containers to avoid overwatering. “It’s better to underwater than overwater a plant, because once it starts to rot, it’s game over. There is also research showing that a little stress from occasional underwatering can trigger the plant to produce more phytochemicals, which are nutritionally beneficial,” she says.

Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

March 2021

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natural pet

CANINE OBESITY When Doggies Need Diets

by Julie Peterson

A

year ago, Leroy became exhausted lifting his furry head. Today, he has energy to run, chase and play, thanks to his owner helping the 11-year-old Shiba Inu lose 14 pounds. Leroy was adopted last May by Peter Nguyen, a facilities coordinator in Bellevue, Washington. Back then, Leroy weighed 56.4 pounds—twice the recommended weight. Nguyen found a holistic veterinarian to provide an integrative support plan to remove him from danger.

Overweight dogs are at risk for joint problems, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and more. According to a 2018 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 55.8 percent of dogs (about 50 million) in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. The APOP also reports that most of the owners of these dogs don’t realize or are in denial about this important fact.

Determining Appropriate Weight “A dog that is a perfect weight, you can feel the ribs, but not see them. And you have an abdominal tuck when you look from the side. From above, right in front of the hips, you can see the waistline,” says Leroy’s veterinarian, Jackie Sehn, at Mercy Vet, in Mercer Island, Washington. She points out that the dog must be touched to feel the amount of fat, especially in long-coat breeds.

This evaluation can be done at home using the online Body Condition Score chart at PetObesityProtection.org. The American Kennel Club also has a weight chart for dozens of breeds that can help determine an initial goal weight, although ideal weight can vary among individual dogs.

willie cole/AdobeStock.com

Doggy Diets

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Debbie Hensel, who fosters dogs, took in a morbidly obese 13-year-old Chocolate Labrador for the Mr. Mo Project, in Cary, North Carolina. Under her care, the pet went from 108 to 81 pounds within nine months. “Since Bruce was an older dog and overweight, the first thing we did was start him on a joint supplement with turmeric and a prescription diet food. In the beginning, I withheld some of his food and used it as treats throughout the day,” says Hensel. Every four to six weeks, Hensel decreased Bruce’s food intake.

She also divided up portions to feed him four times per day to help him feel full. “Portion control is important,” agrees Nguyen. “Leroy has a habit of wanting to eat more. I think he has a hard time knowing how much food he really needs.”

But the problem isn’t just eating too much.

Pet owners are often feeding the wrong foods. “It is the quality sometimes more than quantity. Health doesn’t come from processed food,” says Sehn, adding that most dry kibble is essentially overprocessed junk food that lacks nutrients and contains fillers.

Fortunately, refrigerated and frozen dog food has made it easier to feed organic, fresh, nutritionally balanced, raw food which is based on a dog’s ancestral diet.

Raw food is also available dehydrated.

Treats, if included, should satisfy the chewing instinct without adding many calories.

Sehn recommends dehydrated chicken or duck feet, tendons and healthy jerkies.

“Switching to a raw diet helped with Leroy’s weight, but I had no idea it would have so many other benefits,” Nguyen says.

“I noticed that his coat was getting a lot softer and he smelled a lot better.”

Ease into Exercise “Bruce sounded like an elephant falling when he laid down and he couldn’t stand for long,” says Hensel. Indeed, exercise can overburden the heart and joints of an obese dog. At first, Leroy and Bruce both had a hard time just getting up off the floor, so losing weight first was crucial.

As the weight began to come off, they both became more engaged and stamina slowly increased. Hensel started by walking around in the backyard and letting Bruce follow. Their initial walks were to the end of the block. They would stop and rest before going back home. “As he lost weight and his strength improved, our walks got longer,” says Hensel.

Weight loss must be a healthy process.

“Breaking down excess fat takes time,” says Sehn, adding that losing too fast results in muscle loss. Patience and time are key.

“I think Bruce just needed less food and someone that wanted to do things with him,” says Hensel, who has adopted Bruce as her “forever foster dog”.

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Ancient trees are precious. There is little else on Earth that plays host to such a rich community of life within a single living organism. ~Sir David Attenborough

Julie Peterson writes about health and environmental issues. Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

For more, see “Organic, Raw Food” on page 31.

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Local physical therapist and owner of Zang Physical Therapy in Camp Hill, Andrew Zang shares useful information about effectively using a foam roller.

Boosting Fertility

We i n q u i r e d w i t h two local fertility practitioners for their natural approaches to boost fertility. Jaque Hanson, owner of Bee Present Wellness and Erin Donley, owner of Faith & Hope Wellness Associates share their insights.

Organic, Raw Food for Pet Weight-Loss

Local animal nutritionist and owner of Hounds N Herbs, LLC, Dianne Wa g m a n , s h a r e s information about the importance of organic, raw food for your dog or cat, for weight loss and regular diet.

Herbal Applications for Anxiety & Depression

Local herbalist and owner of The Rebel Herbalist, Erin Shrader, offers insight about which plants work with the body as it copes with anxiety and depression, often caused by stress and inflammation.

Q& A with Dickinson College Organic Farm Regenerative, sustainable, organic, lo c a l, rene wable, holist ic, natura l, accountable, research-based, native and educationdriven. Farm Director, Jenn Halpin, provides an overview of the progressive operation at the Dickinson College Organic Farm in Boiling Springs.

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To pollute less and exercise more, trade your gas vehicle for an electric bike. Powered by pedaling and an e l e c t r i c m o t o r, i t confers as many cardiorespiratory benefits as a conventional, nonmotorized bicycle.

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The Four Invitations of Grief

inspiration

Grief is a sacred pathway into a deeper connection within our hearts. Jasmin Jenkins elaborates of the invitations to pause, connect, feel and heal.

March 2021

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calendar of events TUESDAY, MARCH 2 Virtual ReikiShare – 6:30-8pm. Reiki practitioners all levels and training, and newbies welcome. $10. Via Zoom. Register: 717-599-2299 or ReikiByRickie.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

savethedate SATURDAY, MARCH 6 Foot Reflexology Certification Class – 9am. This intensive 1-day course will review how healing through the feet is a proven technique for everyone.

Learn anatomy and how it is directly related in the feet. Learn to work on others. No experience needed. Certification will require work beyond this course for those interested. NCBTMB provider for CEUs. $325 course; $50 certification. Health Quest Holistics, 1517 N 7th St, Lebanon. More info: 717228-0612. HealthQuest4Life.com.

Soundwise ReikiVoice – 9:30am-5:30pm. With Lana Ryder. Accessing the portal of vocal medicine for you, for your clients and for the Earth. This is for anyone wanting to use their voice for healing and wellness. $175. Reiki by Rickie, ReikiSpace & Learning Place, 2793 Old Post Rd, Ste 10, Harrisburg. 717-599-2299. ReikiByRickie.com.

Heart, 1953 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle. Pre-register: 717-240-0400 or Info@Gracefull-Heart.com.

$75/70 mins. Mella Luna Studios, 9 N Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs. For appt: 717-943-4833.

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

Meditation – 7-8pm. Come out and support Bhante Soma and Blue Lotus Meditation Center, in Carlisle, as he supports you with Loving Kindness Meditation, Dharma talk and chanting. All welcome. Donations appreciated. Mella Luna Studios, 9 N Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs.

717-486-7823.

Practical Magick Series: Anointing Magick – 2pm.

Aromatherapist Sharon Muzio teaches how to use essential oils in magick work and spellcasting.

Participants create their own anointing oil. $50.

Alta View Wellness Center, 4814 Jonestown Rd, Harrisburg. Pre-registration required: 717-221-0133 or AltaViewWellness.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 15 Wild Woman Project New Moon Circle – 6:308:30pm. With Zoe Miner. Safe and sacred space for women to come together for sisterhood, healing and connection. Amethyst Retreat Center, 44 Buffalo Creek Rd, Duncannon. Pre-registration required: AmethystRetreatCenter@gmail.com. AmethystRetreatCenter.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 Shamanic Journey and Sound Healing Around the Stargate – 7-9pm. With Linda Gareh-Applegate, Holly Blyler, Sharon Askey. Relax, rejuvenate and rebalance with potent sound healing. Sound can provide an opportunity to breakdown patterns no longer serving you. $20. Gracefull Heart, 1953 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle. Pre-register: 717-240-0400 or Info@Gracefull-Heart.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20

Tarot Readings – 10am. Reader John Tucker answers questions through the tarot in these private sessions. Hr or half-hr options. $75. Alta View Wellness Center, 4814 Jonestown Rd, Harrisburg. Pre-registration required: 717-221-0133 or AltaViewWellness.com.

Psychic Readings – 10am. Psychic William Stillman connects to the spirit realm to bring forth messages in private, 1-hr sessions. $150. Alta View Wellness Center, 4814 Jonestown Rd, Harrisburg. Pre-registration required: 717-221-0133 or AltaViewWellness.com.

Animal Communication Level 2 – 10am-3pm. With Dawn Tule. For those who have taken an animal class with Dawn or another instructor. Deepen your understanding of animals, expand your communication toolbox, and increase your skills in this fun and experiential class. $150. Mella Luna Studios, 9 N Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs. 717-486-7823.

Pre-register: MellaLunaStudios.simpletix.com.

Animal ReikiKids Class – 10am-3:30pm. With Rickie Freedman. Kids and animals help each other learn, trust and heal beyond any words. Class includes everything in our full ReikiKids class plus supervised touch and non-touch reiki practice with live dogs. $100. Reiki by Rickie, ReikiSpace & Learning Place, 2793 Old Post Rd, Ste 10, Harrisburg. 717-599-2299. ReikiByRickie.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Intuitive Tarot Readings – 10am-4:30pm. With Judy Winfrey. Receive messages that offer clarity and guidance which can help you with everyday life as well as help open you to your own potential. $80/50 mins.

Gracefull Heart, 1953 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle. Preregister: 717-240-0400 or Info@Gracefull-Heart.com.

Psychic Readings – 3pm. Psychic William Stillman connects to the spirit realm to bring forth messages in private, 1-hr sessions. $150. Alta View Wellness Center, 4814 Jonestown Rd, Harrisburg. Pre-registration required: 717-221-0133 or AltaViewWellness.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 Knowledge Is Power: Is Auriculotherapy (Ear Seeding) Right for You? – 6-7pm. Learn all about the benefits of ear seeding and how it can change your life for the better. Free. The Center of Balance, LLC, 29 N Jefferson St, Greencastle. 717-643-1404.

TheCenterOfBalanceLLC.com.

Smiling with Gratitude Meditation – 7-8pm. With Kristy Overstreet. Each month is facilitated by someone new to expose you to many different styles of meditation. No experience necessary. $10. Via Zoom.

Register: 717-599-2299 or ReikiByRickie.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 Archangel Michael, Mother Mary, Padre Pio Channeling – 10am-4pm. With Pat Cassel. Messages from Archangel Michael and the Angels and potent healing energies from Mother Mary and Padre Pio are awaiting you. $100/hr, $60/30 mins. Gracefull

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SUNDAY, MARCH 21 How to Let Go and Embrace the Future with Ease – 2:30-4pm. With Gigi Jantos. Experience meridian tapping, guided imagery and teachings that will shift your mind, body and energy system. $20. Reiki by Rickie, ReikiSpace & Learning Place, 2793 Old Post Rd, Ste 10, Harrisburg. 717-599-2299. ReikiByRickie.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25 Knowledge is Power: Healing with Essential Oils Raindrop Process – 6-7pm. Learn about the healing benefits of essential oils applied through the raindrop process. Free. The Center of Balance, LLC, 29 N Jefferson St, Greencastle. 717-643-1404.

TheCenterOfBalanceLLC.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 26 Foot Reflexology – Sink into Bliss under the care of Beth Baublitz’s skilled and intuitive hands. Each session is complete with hot towels on the feet.

NaturalCentralPA.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

savethedate SATURDAY, MARCH 27 Full-Body Reflexology Certification Class – Mar 27-28. 10am-4pm. This 2-day class will teach you how to align the body from head-to-toe using the Natural Electro-Magnetic Process. No experience needed. NCBTMB provider; 12 CEUs. $425 course; $50 certification. Health Quest Holistics, 1517 N 7th St, Lebanon. More info: HealthQuest4Life.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28 Guided Animal Journey: Cougar Medicine – 4pm.

Shamanic Practitioner Angie Yingst leads this guided animal medicine journey working with Cougar to strengthen and protect. Zoom or in-person. $40.

Alta View Wellness Center, 4814 Jonestown Rd, Harrisburg. Pre-registration required: 717-221-0133 or AltaViewWellness.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 Virtual Pink Ribbon Pilates – 12pm. Free virtual class for breast cancer survivors. This class is appropriate for those in treatment or years out. It is gentle moving, core strengthening and upper body stretching. Absolute Pilates: 717-585-2592 or AbsolutePilates.com.

ongoing events

monday Beginner Group Reformer – 9am. Join us for a group reformer class to help learn the basics of Pilates. Move better feel better and be healthy. First class free. Absolute Pilates, 132 Walden Way, Mechanicsburg. 717-585-2592. AbsolutePilates.com.

tuesday Meditative Yoga – 10am. With Nancy Bie. Suitable for all levels. In this class you will move through gentle yoga poses, use breathwork, relax in the stillness of yin poses to create a meditative state. $10. Mella Luna Studios, 9 N Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs. Pre-registration required: 717-486-7823.

saturday All-Levels Yoga – 9am. With Nancy Bie. This easy flow yoga class is designed to awaken strength, increase balance and flexibility, and is easily adaptable to all levels of practice. $10. Mella Luna Studios, 9 N Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs. Pre-registration required: 717-486-7823.

community resource guide

DENTISTRY – HOLISTIC

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, visit NaturalCentralPA.com and click on the “Advertise” link, then submit an “Advertising Inquiry Form”. To view a media kit, click on the “Advertise, then Overview” links.

ACUPUNCTURE CENTRAL PENN ACUPUNCTURE AND WELLNESS

Carolyn Romako & Pamela Howard 940 Century Dr, Ste D, Mechanicsburg 717- 610-4911 • CentralPennAcupuncture.com We’ve been Central Pennsylvania’s center for compassionate, thorough and evidence-based acupuncture for 6 years. New location with new practitioners and services, including pain management, sports medicine, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopausal and fibromyalgia.

GIDDINGS ACUPUNCTURE PRACTICE, LLC AND ZEN & NOW APOTHECARY Rhonda Giddings 4814 Jonestown Rd, #101, Harrisburg 717-657-1951 • GiddingsAcupuncture.com

A practice of healing art techniques from acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage, herbs and energy work to help patients and clients reach their individualized optimal health and vitalized longevity.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION MELLA LUNA STUDIOS

Dawn R. Tule 9 N Baltimore Ave, Mt Holly Springs 717-486-7823 • MellaLunaStudios.abmp.com Dawn provides compassionate service to deepen the understanding between you and your pet, whether in physical form or in spirit. Gain insight into what your animal friend is thinking and feeling.

BODYWORK ARVIGO MAYA ABDOMINAL THERAPY® 309 Third St, New Cumberland Jaque Hanson • 717-448-1281 Jaque@BeePresentWellness.com

The Arvigo ® session is a noninvasive treatment that repositions internal organs that have shifted by opening the flow of blood, lymph, nerve and Chi. Infertility, digestive and other benefits. Visit BeePresentWellness.com for details. See ad, page 24.

CARLISLE BOWENWORK

Nancy Bittinger 616 W Main St, Mechanicsburg 717-386-8279 • CarlisleBowenworkPA.com Bowenwork is renowned for its effectiveness in stimulating true healing from within.

Through gentle yet powerful moves, even chronic problems “unwind” and balance is restored.

THE CENTER OF BALANCE, LLC

Louise Kemper, RMI, Artist Leslie Kemper Punt, BCE,CCH, RMI 29 N Jefferson St, Greencastle 717-643-1404 • TheCenterOfBalanceLLC.com We offer reiki, massage, reflexology and hypnosis to facilitate wellness in mind, body and soul. Find the perfect gift in our unique retail shop featuring the grounding and balancing energies of stones and arts.

CBD THE HEALTHY GROCER

3800 Trindle Rd, Camp Hill 717-737-5123 • TheHealthyGrocer.com Garden of Life CBD—THC-free whole hemp extracts. Formulated

by Dr. David Perlmutter. 3rd party certified as THC-free and uses hemp grown in the USA. Certified Non-GMO and made using a clean extraction process. See ad, page 5.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY THE ROOTS OF HEALTH

Rachel Benbow, LMT, BA, MLIS 3540 N Progress Ave, Ste 106, Harrisburg 717-831-6936 • TheRootsOfHealth.com Rachel relieves pain and frees blockages using CranioSacral Therapy or massage. From stress reduction, to illness/injury/surgery recovery, to management of autism/ADHD, your therapeutic experience is individualized.

MSG009527.

HERSHEY DENTAL ASSOCIATES, LLC Ryan Buehner, DMD, FAGD, AIAOMT 273 Hershey Rd, Hummelstown 717-220-1792 • HersheyDental.com

Provides full service family dental care, mercury-/metal-free options, fluoride-free, safe mercury removal, biocompatibility testing for dental material sensitivities, in-office ozone treatments, clear aligner orthodontics, Bruxism/tooth grinding guards. See ad, page 11.

HERSHEY DENTAL ASSOCIATES, LLC Carol Layton, DMD, MAGD, AIAOMT, NMD 273 Hershey Rd, Hummelstown 717-220-1792 • HersheyDental.com

Provides full service dental care, mercury/metal free, including s a f e r e m o v a l o f m e r c u r y.

Biocompatibility testing for individual choice of materials; use of ozone for protection. See ad, page 11.

SUSQUEHANNA DENTAL ARTS Dr Owen Allison, DMD 100 S 18th St, Columbia, PA 17512 717-684-3943 or 717-285-7033 SusquehannaDentalArts.com

A full-service family dental practice providing 100% mercury-free restorations, quality non-surgical periodontal care, INVISALIGN, implant retained dentures and partials. See ad, page 21.

DENTISTRY – WELLNESS COLONIAL DENTAL GROUP

Tammy del Sol, DMD 4940 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg 717-901-7045 • CDGWellness.com Our focus on Wellness educates and motivates patients to care for their overall health. We no longer place mercury fillings, nor encourage ingestion of fluoride for children or adults. We educate and safely serve our patients and protect the environment. See ad, page 10.

METAPHYSICAL GRACEFULL HEART

Sharon Askey 1953 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle 717-240-0400 • GraceFull-Heart.com Gracefull Heart provides a peaceful, loving and supportive space to assist in your journey toward wholeness/ healing. Crystals, books, gemstones, jewelry, statues, incense, oracle cards (plus sample decks), crystal and metal singing bowls, pendulums and much more. See ad, page 29.

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GROW YOUR BUSINESS Secure your ad spot!

Contact us for special ad rates.

NATURAL HEALTH CONSULTANT ABUNDANT LIFE NATURAL HEALTH Fred Swartley 268 Walnut Bottom Rd, Carlisle 717-448-0903 • AbLifeNH.com

We offer natural and holistic solutions for those who are suffering with chronic and unresolved health problems. We seek to uncover the roots of your disease, and use food and lifestyle remedies to provide healing.

NATUROPATHIC HEALTHCARE NATURAL PATHS TO WELLNESS

Leia Anderson, BA, MS, ND 1524 Cedar Cliff Dr, Camp Hill 717-494-4500 • NaturalPathsToWellness.com Leia is part of a unique, collaborative naturopathic practice in central PA. Her passion is providing safe, effective and individualized care for the whole family. See ad, page 2.

570-350-4590

NATURAL PATHS TO WELLNESS

Heather DeLuca, BS, ND 1524 Cedar Cliff Dr, Camp Hill 717-494-4500 • NaturalPathsToWellness.com Heather is part of a unique, collaborative naturopathic practice in central PA. She provides a safe, effective and affordable alternative to conventional health care. See ad, page 2.

NATURAL PATHS TO WELLNESS

Jessica Shoemaker, BS, ND 1524 Cedar Cliff Dr, Camp Hill 717-494-4500 • NaturalPathsToWellness.com Jessica is the owner of Natural Paths to Wellness where nutritional therapies, alternative modalities and functional medicine testing are combined to create an individualized holistic approach to health. See ad, page 2.

NATURAL PATHS TO WELLNESS

Ashlyn Zikmund, BS, ND 1524 Cedar Cliff Dr, Camp Hill 717-494-4500 • NaturalPathsToWellness.com Ashlyn's enthusiasm for wellness and nutrition makes her a tremendous addition to NP to W. As a Naturopathic Doctor, she partners with patients to solve difficult acute and chronic health issues. See ad, page 2.

NATUROPATHIC & CHIROPRACTIC FAMILY HEALTH, LLC Jane Drobin, ND, DC 1255 S Market St, Ste 210, Elizabethtown 717-381-5773 • CFamHealth.com

A natural, holistic and functional approach to healthcare. We treat the root causes of disease by establishing the foundation of optimal health. We educate our patients about lifestyle changes and incorporate natural treatment modalities for both internal and physical complaints.

NUTRITION PALMYRA REAL FOOD EMPORIUM Tom Maurer 707 E Broad St, Palmyra • 717-383-0028 Facebook: Palmyra Real Food

A local grower’s market providing fresh produce and organic products year-round. Also, meeting room available. See ad, page 10.

THE HEALTHY GROCER

3800 Trindle Rd, Camp Hill 717-737-5123 • TheHealthyGrocer.com Shop in-store or online, for organic, natural, local produce & full range of products. On-site deli, juice/sandwich bar and baked goods, plus catering and wellness programs. Sustainable initiatives support the community. A fun and healthy place to shop. See ad, page 5.

WEGMANS FOOD MARKET

6416 Carlisle Pike, Ste 2000 Mechanicsburg, PA • 717-791-4500 I n - s t o r e N a t u r e ’s Marketplace features natural foods, supplements, herbal remedies, and foods for special dietary needs. See ad, page 3.

NUTRITIONIST NATURAL PATHS TO WELLNESS

Sarah Glunz, MS, CNS, LDN 1524 Cedar Cliff Dr, Camp Hill 717-494-4500 • NaturalPathsToWellness.com Sarah will design your optimal nutrition plan for managing your w e i g h t , f o o d a l l e rg i e s o r sensitivities, or medical condition while helping you to improve your relationship with food. She breaks down the plan you need to follow to accomplish your health and wellness goals into reasonable action steps providing support along the way. See ad, page 2.

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. ~Amelia Earhart

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PET NUTRITION HOUNDS N HERBS, LLC

Dianne Wagman, President 101 E Broad St, Dallastown Info@HoundsnHerbs.com 717-804-9111 • HoundsnHerbs.com Your local source for raw and all organic natural pet foods, with a full line of organic pet supplies including pet CBD, nutritional supplements, cookies and treats, grooming supplies and apparel, bioDOGradable waste bags, de-shedding tools and gifts. Now open. See website for hours.

PHYSICAL THERAPY ZANG PHYSICAL THERAPY Andrew Zang

3514 Trindle Rd, Camp Hill 717-440-6197 • ZangPT.com Zang PT is proud to help people regain an active lifestyle. Eliminate the need for pain, medication, injections and even frequent doctor’s visits. See ad, page 17.

PREGNANCY & PARENTING

SPIRITUAL CENTER UNITY OF HARRISBURG

Rev Dan Landis 927 Wertzville Rd, Enola 717-732-9773 • UnityOfHarrisburg.org We are a Spiritual Center focused on practical spiritual tools and processes that guide us to a more successful life. We honor and respect all people.

THERMOGRAPHY ADVANCED THERMAL IMAGING

Pamela Howard, DC, CCT 550 Coventry Dr, Mechanicsburg 866-522-3484 • AThermalImage.com Thermal Imaging offers a safe, non-invasive way to visualize potential health concerns; providing early warn-ing signs for a proactive approach to health, including breast health. Locations in Mechanicsburg and Columbia, PA. Visit website for more information.

VETERINARIAN – INTEGRATIVE HEALING CREATURES HOSPITAL

OM BABY PREGNANCY & PARENTING CENTER

(Formerly Avian And Feline Hospital) 3300 Hartzdale Dr, Camp Hill 717-730-3755 • HealingCreatures.com

Offering support to women and their families for the childbearing year and beyond through a wide variety of classes, workshops, support groups, and products. See ad, page 17.

Our passion is the pets. Holistic and traditional services tailored to meet pets’ needs (homeopathic, herbal, nutritional and behavioral).

Unique services offered include acupuncture, cold laser therapy and veterinary orthopedic manipulation (VOM). See ad, page 29.

2201 Rear Market St, Camp Hill 717-761-4975 • OmBabyCenter.com

REIKI REIKI BY RICKIE

Rickie Freedman, ReikiSpace & Learning Place 2793 Old Post Rd, Ste 10, Harrisburg 717-599-2299 • ReikiByRickie.com Rickie Freedman, Reiki Master/ Teacher, P.T., offers the Gentle Touch, Deep Healing and Balancing of “Reiki by Rickie” sessions, as well as unique Therapeutic Massage including Indian Head Massage and Chakra Foot Massage. She teaches Reiki classes and workshops on stress management, positive attitude and more. See ad, page 11.

WELLNESS GRACEFULL HEART

classifieds NOTE: For guidelines and to submit a classified listing, email Publisher@ NaturalCentralPA.com. Listings are $25 for up to 25 words, or $1 per word over 25 words. Deadline is the 1st, for the next month.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PALMYRA REAL FOOD EMPORIUM – is looking for someone with the vision, passion and resources to take the Emporium to the next level.

We specialize in high-end meats and seafood, local wine and much more. Send serious inquiries to MaywoodFarmInc@aol.com. See ad, page 10.

START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/ mymagazine. See ad, page 30.

ENERGY WORK BRENNAN HEALING SCIENCE – Create a bridge to your health through your vital energy system. Understand your energy field, understand yourself. Experience transformational healing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Visit EnergyBodyWorks.com and Tinyurl.com/ Asha-HER-Summit. Asha Scatchard, 717-843-5672.

FREE for all local Businesses & Practitioners

Sharon Askey 1953 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle 717-240-0400 • GraceFull-Heart.com Gracefull Heart offers many services to assist in maintaining wellness: Sacred Spirals Healing, Dominus Cervix™ Stargate sessions, reiki sessions, aura photography and AmpCoil™ sessions. We offer reiki classes and a diverse schedule of workshops. See ad, page 29.

List your business, create special offers, & submit your events all for FREE on

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Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary. ~Fred Rogers

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