Natural Awakenings Magazine May 2021 Greater Pittsburgh Edition

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Integrative Women's Wellness

Natural Mama

Holistic Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

Bodywork to the Rescue

Massage Improves Post-Workout Recovery

Feeding Baby Healthy Foods You Can Make

May 2021 | Pittsburgh, PA Edition | naturalawakeningsswpa.comMay 2021

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

PITTSBURGH, PA EDITION Publisher Michelle Dalnoky Editor Martin Miron Calendar Editor Sara Peterson Ad Designer Zina Cochran Design & Production C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Michelle Dalnoky Lisa Doyle

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings – Pittsburgh P.O. Box 390 Uledi, PA 15484 Phone: 724-271-8877 Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive your FREE monthly digital magazine at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

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Sharon Bruckman Joe Dunne Gabrielle W-Perillo Yolanda Shebert Heather Gibbs Rachael Oppy Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Anne-Marie Ryan

letter from publisher

Messy Mindfulness…

I admire people who can make a regular and scheduled practice of mindfulness and meditation, journal regularly or even set aside time for regular exercise. Me, I’m not that disciplined, but I do all of these things nonetheless. I find bursts of time to integrate pieces here and there and that seems to work for me.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I integrate more mindfulness into my life. I take a more thoughtful approach to my activities and thoughts, and take mini-breaks to slow down.

It really helps me to feel less scattered and more focused. My brain is always turning and processing and problem solving, but I know that sometimes I just need to slow that down or focus on something specific, and I do that when I need to.

I don’t have a specific meditation practice, but I do go outside regularly and stop, listen, smell and look around. I ground with the earth and sometimes lie on the grass and watch the clouds drift by. It may sound silly, but it really does put you into a different space. We have lots of trees and so many birds. I love to listen to them. Right now, my grass is tall and full of dandelions and violets. I love them so. I can’t bear to cut them yet and they are feeding the pollinators. I take it all in with gratitude, pleasure and joy. Sometimes I’ll put on ocean sounds or some soft piano music to relax.

For exercise, I walk several times a day with Olive, our sweet dog. I do lots of work around our property cleaning up. I have two large garden plots and I do a ton of stretching with all of my aches and twinges that occur regularly. I was a gymnast as a youth and enjoyed rollerblading for many years, but these days I find all of the things I do to be enough to keep me moving, active and limber. I would like to do more.

I guess my message is that sometimes doing what we can is enough. I feel I’m a pretty well-balanced person, despite the fact that I don’t have a regular discipline of these practices. I fit them in randomly every day and they help me. I have learned to take a few minutes here and there to really listen to nature and do some stretches. I take the time in small bursts and it is okay that I don’t have a scheduled practice. I do these things every day as a natural part of finding my joy and balance in life. As long as we are doing something to take care of ourselves, it can be enough.

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

Michelle Dalnoky, RN, BA, Publisher ©2021 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. 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.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

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Coming Next Month JUNE

Treating Depression Naturally

Plus: Integrative Approaches to Men’s Health Travel for the Planet Tips for Eating Vegan on Vacation

Natural Awakenings is a family of 55-plus healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 8

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EVEREST EATS

Plant-Based Cuisine Delivered

10 BABY BITES

Healthy Homemade Food for Tiny Tummies

12 STAY FIT WITH

BODYWORK THERAPY

Enhance Workout Performance and Recovery with Massage

14 NATURAL MAMA

Holistic Approaches to a Healthy Pregnancy

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16 INTEGRATIVE

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Five Top Health Concerns and What to Do

20 THREE STEPS FOR FACING DIFFICULT EMOTIONS

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22 HOMEOPATHY TO THE RESCUE

Create a Family First-Aid Kit

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24 CURBING CANCER IN CATS Ways to Keep a Feline Healthy

DEPARTMENTS 4 news brief 6 health briefs 8 business 10 12 14 20

spotlight conscious eating fit body healthy kids inspiration

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healing ways natural pet calendar resource guide classifieds

May 2021

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news brief

2021 Seedling Sale

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row Pittsburgh Garden Dreams is offering herb, tomato, flower, spring, summer and fall vegetable plant seedlings to the community in a number of ways this season: East End Food Co-op, 7516 Meade St., Pittsburgh.

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Late March through mid-July.

Garden Dreams, 806 Holland Ave., Pittsburgh.

11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday.

May 6 through July 17 (tentative).

Shiloh Farm, 7209 Thomas Blvd., Pittsburgh.

2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Braddock Farms, 1000 Braddock Ave, Braddock.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Founded in 2005 by three urban farmers, Grow Pittsburgh has adapted their programs to meet the changing landscape and community-identified needs and priorities for growing food in our neighborhoods. Today, they build and support school and community gardens by working with novice groups that have dreams of starting a garden, as well as with established school and community gardeners looking for additional resources or training to make their garden programs more sustainable.

EBT/SNAP is accepted at all locations. If unable to buy seedlings in person, email SeedlingSale@GrowPittsburgh.org to place an order. To view the catalog, visit Tinyurl.com/GrowPittsburghCatalog. For more information, visit GrowPittsburgh.org/buy-ourgoods/seedlingsale.

News to share?

Email details to: Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

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health briefs

Homeopathic Calendula Cream for Radiation Burns Homeopathic calendula cream is made from the dried flower petals of the garden marigold which contain flavonoids that have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Calendula is very soothing when applied topically to the skin and helps to calm redness, itchy skin, and soothe rashes associated with radiation burns.

It is estimated that a woman born today has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime and 95 percent of patients experience some degree of radiation burns during treatment. Despite the evidence, the majority of medical centers have not yet integrated calendula cream as part of their medical protocol for radiation treatment.

In a clinical trial of Calendula Officinalis compared with Trolamine, 254 patients that applied calendula cream twice daily or more to irradiated areas, reserchers reported, “Calendula is highly effective for the prevention of acute dermatitis of grade 2 or higher and should be proposed for patients undergoing postoperative irradiation for breast cancer,” with fewer treatment interruptions.

For the treatment of radiation burns, apply a thin layer of calendula cream to the affected area two to three times a day. Do not apply calendula cream three hours before radiation therapy and avoid using it on tattoo marks scheduled for radiation therapy until the treatments are finished.

Dr. Heidi Weinhold completed a four-year doctoral program in naturopathic medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, has a private practice in Canonsburg and is available for naturopathic consultations. For more information, call 724-941-7701 or visit DoctorHeidi.net.

Try Ayurveda for Optimal Health Ayurveda is the sister science of yoga. This ancient healing system dates back to India over 5,000 years ago.

Ayurveda looks at the whole body, the subtle body energy and the individual’s ability to connect with the divine and laws of nature. In Ayurveda, health lives in the digestive tract. One must nurture the agni, or digestion, to maximize overall health. The first step in practicing Ayurveda is to determine our dosha, or ayurvedic constitution by taking an Ayurvedic assessment or quiz found online or through local ayurvedic practitioner. Most of us have a predominant dosha (there can be more than one) and are predisposed to certain illnesses or conditions. The doshas are pitta, kapha and vata. Ayurveda teaches us how to balance the doshas) and correct imbalances in the body and mind by addressing diet first.

There are six tastes that we must incorporate into our diet daily: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. Depending on the dosha, it is important to choose foods that soothe our digestive system and help to balance the gut. Ayurveda is strongly connected to nature and the elemental energies. Pitta is associated with fire.

To pacify pitta, we need to cool the fire in our body by eating more cooling, anti-inflammatory foods and engage in low-intensity exercise, particularly in summer months.

Kapha is associated with water and earth. Kaphas tend to need more energy and may choose foods and exercise that are more warming and stimulating. Vata is associated with air and space. Vatas tend to have sluggish digestion, so like kapha, choose foods that are warming.

Vatas are particularly sensitive to cold seasons and dry air. For optimal health, the rule of thumb is to eat seasonally, connect with the earth elements in daily life and in a yoga practice.

Ayurvedic specialist Jenny Dayton, E-RYT, YACEP, the owner of Jenny Dayton Yoga, offers indoor and outdoor therapeutic yoga lessons, Ayurveda and aromatherapy sessions. Virtual options are available.

For more information, call 724-550-3661 or visit JennyDaytonYoga.com. See ad, in Resource Guide.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Soul Mating

by Lesa Vivio

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here is often a lingering question in romantic relationships of whether we have indeed found our soulmate. There has always been endless conjecture about what this means, but we tend only to imagine the sunshine and rainbows of the connection. We tend to miss the deeper part of the relationship, which is “the mirror”. This isn’t something that comes up in the beginning of the relationship, but over time. When making a soul connection, we sense an extraordinary link. A person calls to us in a way that transcends the practical aspects of our interactions. We feel drawn together in a significant and meaningful way, and this is valid. The reality is that we are ready to learn a lesson, and this person is here to offer some insight.

The biggest human lesson is about moving from desirous love toward unconditional lov, and soulmates are individuals that help us learn about where we are in that journey. When it comes to long-term partnerships, it is important to find a person that we trust and respect enough to challenge each other in such a way that provokes inner growth by pushing boundaries and testing

comfort zones safely. We agree to exercise patience and not run away on merely a whim or impulse. This is the conscious, soulmate relationship, where we learn to become polished because we care enough to endure the friction.

Lesa Vivio, MS, LPC, CMHIMP, DDiv, is a counselor and founder of Sacred Centered You who offers sessions on conscious relationships. For more information, visit SacredCenteredYou.com. See ad, page 23.

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business spotlight

Katy and Jose Rosa

Everest Eats

Plant-Based Cuisine Delivered

by Martin Miron

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verest Eats is a family owned local Pittsburgh meal delivery service delivering flavorful fully prepared plant-based meals with no artificial food dyes, sugars, harmful preservatives or toxins. Their motto is, “We are changing the world, one bite at a time.”

Owner Katy Rosa says, “The original idea of starting Everest Eats began after adopting a plant-based lifestyle almost six years ago.” She completed a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and realized the unsustainable destruction caused to the planet by industrial agriculture and industrial fishing. After tastings at many different places offering vegan food, she used her background in nutrition and cooking with environmental science, to created a menu of environmentally focused, flavorful and nourishing cuisine. After considering a food truck, she and husband Jose Rosa decided on the delivery model. Losing their jobs in the oil and gas industry with two kids provided the final impetus to cash in their retirement funds and launch the business.

The menu at Everest Eats comprises 100 percent plant-based cuisine. “At times we offer whole food plant based, as well, and always have gluten-free options, although we are not a certified gluten-free kitchen.” says Katy.

“I am the one who sources the food,” says Jose. Our belief about food is that the more you mess with it, the less you get out of it. Leave it fresh, leave it pure, and let it work its magic.

We don’t believe in counting calories, but rather counting chemicals. Your body is either thriving, or surviving. Give it the nourishment it needs to grow and thrive.” They are working with nearby farms to keep things local in order to stimulate the local economy and encourage area growers to create a sustainable, synergistic environment.

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“Everest Eats offers pretty much everything the normal carnivorous being would be used to eating but we just simply give it a plant-based twist: burgers, ribs, reubens, pizzas, wraps, tacos, salads, soups, noodles, bowls, etc. There is no shortage of creativity and flavor in our meals,” says Jose.

Their delivery area is a 25-mile radius from Canonsburg, and they plan on expanding the number of pickup spots throughout the city to increase accessibility Katy Rosa and ensure sustainability of the business model.

Jose explains, “We provide education on how to source your food, how to improve your mood via nutrition, nutritional facts on certain foods and how they positively interact with your body. We teach what to avoid, as well.

Our goal is to bring together the local community to create a self-sustaining organism and Seitan Gyro Salad stimulate the local community by providing a platform for many local small businesses to offer their plant-based products via our delivery channels.”

In October, they gave 99 free meals to breast cancer patients to help them through recovery and spread awareness about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle and its effects on cancer. They plan to create an app that gives easy access to local, fresh, plant-based foods and products to the community and expand their operation.

To order, visit EverestEats.com. See ad, page 4.

(L to R) Jose, Everest, Katy and Denali

CELEBRATING 27 years in THE business of

May 2021

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conscious eating

Baby Bites Healthy Homemade Food for Tiny Tummies

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or the first year of a baby’s life, breast milk and formula are the main sources of nutrition, but as early as 4 to 6 months, a little one may be suited to try solid foods.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, when a baby consistently holds their head up, has started to sit upright, has doubled their birth weight to a minimum of 13 pounds and exhibits an interest in food, they are ready.

Anjali Shah, a board-certified health coach and author of The Super Easy Baby Food Cookbook, is a proponent of homemade purées and soft finger foods. “A store-bought sweet potato pouch can cost $2.50, whereas one sweet potato is under a dollar, and you can get multiple meals out of it,” says Shah. “So, budget-wise, it’s a lot cheaper. It’s also healthier because you can control what’s in your baby food.”

The process is easy. “If you have a spoon and a fork, that’s a pretty good start, and if you have a blender, that’s really all you need,” says Amy Palanjian, author of Busy Little Hands: Food Play! and blogger at YummyToddlerFood.com. A very basic technique, which both she and Shah employ, involves boiling or steaming vegetables and fruits, puréeing them with a fork or blender to the desired smoothness and freezing one-ounce portions in ice cube trays. Once frozen, the cubes can be popped out, kept in labeled freezer bags and thawed to serve.

They recommend a progression from thin, smooth purées to chunkier blends, and from very mild, single foods to progressively more adventuresome and complex flavors and textures. “Start with a really mild fruit like avocado or a really mild vegetable like carrots, green beans or sweet potato,” Shah advises. “Introduce one food every two or three days to make sure your baby is not allergic and that it suits their digestive system.”

In addition to purées, parents can offer their babies small-cut, softened versions of foods that they can hold in their hands and gnaw, a technique called baby-led weaning. “Your baby will pick it up with their fists, stick it in their mouth and drool all over it and gum it up. It teaches them to chew very early on,” Shah explains.

“Kids need healthy fats for proper brain development,” Palanjian says, suggesting a splash of olive oil in a broccoli purée or a dab of peanut butter in oatmeal. She also favors healthy proteins like a purée made with hard-boiled egg yolk slathered on a piece of toast or a well-blended bit of salmon.

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“At 7 or 8 months, you can add lentils, beans and grains, and around 9 or 10 months you can start introducing mild spices—cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, turmeric, cumin, coriander. For example, if you’re going to make a lentil soup for yourself, you could add a few fresh, aromatic herbs like rosemary, oregano or thyme, and then for your baby, you can mash up that same lentil soup and serve it to them.

The key is to avoid the hot spices like black pepper, cayenne or chili powder,” Shah says, noting that salt should be avoided in the first year because a baby’s kidneys cannot handle it. Added sugar is also a big no-no in her book.

“The best way to feel like you’re feeding your baby safe food is to serve a variety of foods over the course of a week,” Palanjian says. “But most of all, learn to enjoy this phase of your baby’s life. It can be a fun milestone. Let them explore. Trust them if they turn their face, close their mouth or push the spoon away. There’s no reason you need to force another bite. Let them show you and be in charge of what goes into their mouth. That can be a great way to set the foundation for intuitive eating.

We want them as adults to be able to say when they’re hungry and when they’re full, and we often have the tendency to try to override that in our kids. So, if you let that develop as it very clearly does and is present from birth, that can be a great thing to do with little ones.”

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer.

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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by Sandra Yeyati

Easy DIY Baby Food Recipes

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Baby Blueberry Smoothie 1 cup frozen wild blueberries 1 pear, cored ½ banana, peeled 1 cup baby spinach ¼ to ½ cup water Put all of the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer until soft. Once soft, purée in a blender, adding additional water if needed for a thinner purée.

Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze for up to four months.

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Baby Superfood Purée 16 oz fresh or frozen broccoli 16 oz fresh or frozen cauliflower 4 cups baby spinach ¼ to ½ cup water Put all of the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer until soft. Once soft, purée in a blender, adding additional water if needed for a thinner purée. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze for up to four months.

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Recipes courtesy of Anjali Shah. For more information, visit PickyEaterBlog.com.

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

May 2021

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fit body

Stay Fit with Bodywork Therapy Enhance Workout Performance and Recovery with Massage

by Marlaina Donato

Tailored Tools “In the context of exercise, someone who trains three to five times per week at a high intensity will likely have a higher level of fitness. However, the demand placed on the soft tissue structures will equally be high, and may require more treatment to offset this. This may vary from once a week to once a month,” says Andy Stanbury, head of soft tissue therapy at Pure Sports Medicine, a London clinic for sports injuries.

After working with high performance athletes for 15 years, he always asks, “What do I need to add to improve a patient’s fitness or performance?” For a patient that wants to improve fitness by running, “I would want to optimize their range of movement and stimulate the nervous system in readiness to exercise. I may look to use some myofascial release techniques, active release therapy, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization or muscle energy techniques. This would of course take place before the run.” For post-run recovery, Stanbury suggests more relaxing modalities, such as gentle massage, combined with breathwork.

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herapeutic massage and other bodywork modalities are well-known stress-busters, but they can also hasten recovery after a workout or injury. A little restorative TLC with a bodywork practitioner before or after exercise can combat post-workout soreness and stiffness, maximizing our fitness investments in and out of the gym.

Approaches such as Swedish, deep tissue and sports massages, and myofascial trigger point release therapy can boost both blood and lymphatic circulation, giving soft tissues a vital shot of cellular nutrition. Massage modalities affect biochemical processes and on the deepest level, mitochondria—the cell’s energy-producing engines.

Research from 2015 published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that massage immediately following injury due to resistance training encourages tissue regeneration.

The Fascia Factor Fascia, a network of connective tissue, wraps the body in protective layers from the most superficial muscle to the deepest organs and plays a central role in flexibility. This complex netting can become stuck due to inactivity, injury or surgery.

Keeping it supple is vital for everyone.

Bodywork like myofascial release that targets trigger points—knots of tension— can help to ramp up postoperative and overall injury recovery. “Myofascial release is a technique used to reduce the tension in the fascial membrane. Slowly stretching the fascia will unwind and reduce the pressure on the muscles and nerves, reducing pain and creating range of motion and flexibility,” explains Anthony Hansen, a myofascial release therapist at Therapy on the Gulf, in Naples, Florida.

Hansen, who specializes in a “fast release” technique, emphasizes the impor-

tance of a gentle approach. “Trigger points are caused by cellular debris encapsulated by the fascia, so it’s much better to stretch it loose than it is to force it. Normally, it takes about three to five sessions, depending on the condition of the patient, for the fascial system to unwind before the patient will feel relief.”

Active trigger points refer, or radiate, pain elsewhere in the body while latent points tend to be more localized and are sore when compressed. “From a whole-body perspective and when we put this in the context of fascial planes, restoration of efficient movement is key, particularly post-surgery and when progressing training load,” says Stanbury. “However, this is not just movement of the body (muscles), but movement of blood, lymph and energy.”

A supple, tension-free body helps deter and bounce back from injuries. Regular bodywork, especially Swedish and deep tissue massage, fosters muscle recovery and helps prevent future issues. Self-massage using foam rollers and massage balls or canes can also be very helpful.

Bodywork offers full-spectrum perks, points out Stanbury, including “improved tissue mobility and elasticity, more efficient blood circulation and reduced anxiety and stress. This will, in turn, help promote better sleep, which is, of course, where we recover best.”

Marlaina Donato is a body-mind-spirit author and composer/ recording artist. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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Natural Mama Holistic Approaches to a Healthy Pregnancy

by Julie Peterson

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uring her first pregnancy, Sarah Wallace, a former registered nurse in Atlanta, was chronically anemic. “I was so tired I would fall asleep while I was eating dinner,” she says. That pregnancy resulted in a baby with a low birth weight.

Fortunately, Wallace learned more about nutrition and wellness.

Her now 4-year-old has caught up to the growth charts and is thriving, and her next pregnancy went smoothly.

No matter how pregnancy is counted—280 days, 40 weeks or three trimesters—mama and baby share blood, nutrition and air for the duration. “Taking a holistic path before and during pregnancy is about embracing the nature of our bodies and committing to maintaining all aspects of wellness during this journey,” says Nancy Peplinsky, founder of the Holistic Moms Network, based in Caldwell, New Jersey.

Nutrition for Two The right foods nourish the growing baby, the placenta and the mother’s increasing blood volume, maintaining the mother’s body during the complex mission. Whole foods rather than processed are best. The Whole 9 Months: A Week-By-Week Pregnancy Nutrition Guide with Recipes for a Healthy Start, by integrative obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) Jennifer Lang and dietitian Dana Angelo White, makes it easier to select the proper nutrients along the way and provides ways to deal with nausea and cravings.

Choose organic foods when possible to reduce exposures to pesticides. If organic isn’t an option for every food, The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, from the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org), can be downloaded and taken to the market. Either avoid foods on the “Dirty Dozen” list or go organic for those items.

A high-quality prenatal vitamin fills nutrition gaps. Wallace saw a difference between her first and second pregnancy by switching brands. “The first time, I took generic prenatal vitamins. With the second pregnancy, I found whole-food supplements. I never got that exhaustion, and my second baby was a healthy weight,” she says.

“Research has shown that healthy nutrition during pregnancy 14

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improves outcomes for mom and baby, while unhealthy food choices can lead to premature childbirth, high-risk pregnancies and poor developmental outcomes in children,” says Peplinsky.

In addition to clean food, it’s important to reevaluate body care products and household cleaners for toxicity. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has linked personal care and cleaning product ingredients to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive disorders, neurotoxicity and cancer.

Body Love Kristen Burgess, in Fife Lake, Michigan, creator of the website NaturalBirthAnd BabyCare.com, teaches classes for moms-tobe. “[Exercise] helps your blood volume increase, brings plenty of oxygen to your baby, increases your stamina and endurance for labor (which is an athletic event), and perhaps best of all, keeps you feeling great,” she writes in her blog.

Options such as stretching, walking and prenatal yoga can be soothing for mom and baby. Burgess also advocates prenatal belly dancing to raise the heart rate “while bonding with your baby and relishing your beautiful pregnant form.”

Peplinsky notes, “A holistic approach to pregnancy also embraces integrative therapies such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture and chiropractic, which may assist in reducing stress, minimizing physical discomfort and joint pain, while improving overall life quality for mom and baby.”

Support Along the Way A healthy pregnancy includes assistance. In the U.S., most women choose an OB-GYN, with just over 9 percent of 2017 births incorporating a midwife to support the mother before, during and sometimes after birth. A midwife is medically trained and, depending on state law, may offer gynecological examinations, birth control counseling and prescriptions. On her own or as an assistant to a doctor, she coaches the mother during labor and assists with the delivery, which may be in a home, birthing center or hospital. The American College of NurseMidwives, in Silver Spring, Maryland, offers a midwife locator.

Another option is engaging a doula that focuses on emotional support for mom, her partner and the family during pregnancy and birth. During labor, she may offer massage, encouragement and breathing coaching. While doulas only provide non-medical care, they can offer evidence-based resources to inform decisionmaking. There is a database to find one at DoulaMatch.net.

There are also books and apps to provide week-to-week details on pregnancy. Genevieve Howland, a childbirth educator in Destin, Florida, and author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, offers a weekly article at MamaNatural. com about what’s going on with the developing baby and mother.

“Being a holistic mom is about connecting the mind, body and spirit, and approaching wellness with all three in mind,” adds Peplinsky. “The more we listen to our instincts and our needs, the more our health improves during childbearing and afterwards.”

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

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healthy kids

Astrology

Planetary Signs and Sun Signs

by Anjali Soi

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opular astrology often consists of knowing your sun sign, with many people stating, “I’m an Aries” or “I’m a Scorpio” when a discussion about astrology begins. But many don’t know that they also have a moon sign and other planetary signs.

Reading our sun sign horoscope or understanding our personality traits based on sun sign astrology definitely has validity, but this is just the very tip of the iceberg.

When we were born, all of the planets, including the sun and the moon, were passing through certain signs that are different than but related to constellations relative to our position on Earth. Aries corresponds to the Aries constellation, Taurus to the Taurus constellation, and so on. For example, if we were born in May, then maybe we have the sun in Aries, the moon in Gemini, Mercury in Aries, Venus in Taurus, Mars in Sagittarius, Jupiter and Saturn in Scorpio and so on, with Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. These planetary signs will equally indicate your personality and aspects of your life just as much as your Sun sign.

The planets represent aspects of our psyche and activate the signs, or our needs and qualities. The sun represents our well-

being and what we come back to feel whole again. The moon represents our emotional and feeling body, while Mercury shows our thinking and communicating nature. Venus shows how we can achieve balance and the nature of our relationships, and Mars shows how we activate our conscious desires and ego. Knowing our planetary signs gives us a much more complete and accurate view of who we are and our life path to achieve a more holistic and integrated understanding.

Anjali Soi is the. owner of Sun Conflict Solutions, in Pittsburgh and online. For more information, call 412-897-0809 or visit AnjaliSoi. com/astrology. See ad in the Community Resource Guide.

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INTEGRATIVE

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Five Top Health Concerns and What to Do

by Ronica O’Hara

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nyone walking into a U.S. hospital today will notice something that was inconceivable 50 years ago—one in three practicing physicians is a woman, and among physicians under age 35, it’s three in five. That compares to one in 14 in 1970. For women needing health care, that fact can change everything. “Research says that female physicians provide better care to female patients than male physicians do,” says Harvard Medical School Associate Professor Alice Domar, Ph.D., a pioneer in women’s mind-body medicine. “They are more likely to listen carefully and take complaints seriously.”

That’s just one factor in how health care is improving for women. Only three decades ago, women were simply considered “small men” in medical research and rarely included as subjects in clinical studies. Today, after a 1993 federal mandate ensured their inclusion, it’s been well established that women metabolize drugs differently than men, respond to health threats with a more robust immune system and are more likely to experience side effects. These findings have helped spur major changes for women in standards, dosages, medications and procedures—resulting in fewer cancer deaths, better treatment of autoimmune disorders and more nuanced cardiac care strategies. Although much has improved about women’s health, much more remains to be done.

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Cancer

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About one in three women is diagnosed with cancer in the course of a lifetime, and they have better survival rates than men, of which one in two receives that diagnosis. Between 2001 and 2017, the overall cancer death rate for women declined by 1.4 percent each year as diagnoses and treatments became more refined and targeted. The number one cancer killer for women is

lung cancer, although 19 percent diagnosed have never smoked.

The next most deadly are cancers of the breast, colon/rectum, pancreas and ovaries.

Breast cancer deaths have dropped by 40 percent since 1989, thanks to greater awareness, early detection and better treatments. “Women learned from the AIDS crisis that making noise gets results,” says Domar. “Look at how far breast cancer research and treatment has come in the past 10 to 20 years, how powerful Breast Cancer Awareness Month is, and that everyone recognizes that pink ribbon.”

Common symptoms: Bowel changes, lingering sores, fatigue, lumps, unusual discharge, difficulty digesting or swallowing, nagging cough or hoarseness, belly or back pain.

New research: An international research team has identified a direct molecular link between meat and dairy diets and the development of antibodies in the blood that increases the chances of developing cancer.

Medical advances: Painful, invasive biopsies may become a thing of the past. Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a simple blood test that detects more than 50 types of cancer, as well as their location within the body, with a high degree of accuracy, and the City of Hope Cancer Center, in Los Angeles, has developed a urine test that analyzes cell-free fragments of DNA to detect cancer.

Preventive strategies: Vitamin D supplementation lowers the risk of mortality across all cancers, German researchers found, estimating that if all Germans older than 50 took such supplements, up to 30,000 cancer deaths per year might be avoided. A 10-year study found that people between 55 and 74 that took a low-dose aspirin at least three times each week lowered their risk of all types of cancer by 15 percent and overall mortality by 19 percent.

One in three American women die from heart disease, more than all cancers combined. “Unfortunately, awareness that heart disease can and does happen to women remains low, and this results in delay of care,” says cardiologist Nicole Harkin of Whole Heart Cardiology, in San Francisco. “Women tend to seek medical care later in the course of their heart attack and with more risk factors, resulting in poorer outcomes, and they are more likely than men to die of their first heart attack.”

Women have different symptoms of heart disease than men, are often misdiagnosed and have a 20 percent greater risk of dying within five years of a heart attack. Pregnant women that develop hypertension are two to five times more likely to later develop cardiovascular disease.

Common symptoms: Heart pressure, fatigue, breathlessness and pain between the shoulder blades.

New research: Eating more than seven servings per day of refined grains like croissants and white bread increased the risk of heart disease by 33 percent and stroke by 47 percent, concluded a study

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Heart Disease

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fibromyalgia, lupus, celiac disease, Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, are linked to genetics, environmental triggers, some medications, obesity, injuries and stress.

Common symptoms: These vary widely, but may include achy muscles, fatigue, recurring low-grade fever, joint pain and swelling, skin problems, abdominal pain and swelling, hair loss, swollen glands and tingling in hands and feet.

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New research: Eating significantly fewer foods containing the amino acid methionine, found at high levels in meat, fish, dairy and eggs, could slow the onset and progression of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis in high-risk individuals, reports a study in Cell Metabolism.

in The British Medical Journal. In a Stanford study, participants that ate plant-based meat for eight weeks had improved markers of heart health, lower LDL levels and lost two pounds compared to those eating meat.

Medical advance: To successfully fix a floppy mitral valve that’s hampering blood flow in the heart, doctors can guide a catheter up a patient’s leg vein and staple the troubled parts of the valve with a tiny clip, a safer and less invasive procedure than openheart surgery.

Preventive strategies: Eating nuts several times a week lowers by 30 to 50 percent the risk of heart attacks, sudden cardiac death and cardiovascular disease, four large cohort studies have shown.

Older women with high fitness levels have one quarter the risk of dying from heart disease as women that are out of shape, report Spanish researchers.

Autoimmune Diseases The prevalence of autoimmune diseases has grown by one half in two decades, even as medications and targeted therapies have kept more patients active and out of wheelchairs. “Where it used to be the norm for many physicians to consider women with some autoimmune illnesses to be neurotic, that approach is now being recognized as being abusive and unacceptable. This is a critical step towards recovery,” says chronic fatigue expert Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of From Fatigued to Fantastic!

About 80 percent of the 23 million Americans that suffer from debilitating autoimmune diseases are women, and those conditions tend to develop during childbearing years. The eighth-leading cause of death among women, these illnesses shorten lifespan by an average of eight years. The 80-plus diseases, including 18

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Medical advance: Evidence is mounting that low doses of naltrexone, a substance-abuse treatment drug, can treat conditions like lupus, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis by normalizing the immune system and relieving pain with few side effects. “It costs only about 70 cents a day, is made by compounding pharmacists and is remarkably beneficial for a host of autoimmune conditions,” says Teitelbaum.

Preventive strategy: To fight inflammation, take a daily turmeric or curcumin supplement that includes piperine (black pepper) for better absorption. A University of Houston meta-study in Nutrients found that curcumin supplements improved symptoms in 14 osteoarthritis, two ulcerative colitis and eight Type 2 diabetes studies.

Hormonal Imbalances The past 20 years has seen significant improvements in the studies and treatments of female hormonal issues. “There are now treatment options that allow women to transition into menopause, options for prevention of osteoporosis and momentous changes in fertility,” says Stephanie Seitz, a naturopathic family physician in Scottsdale, Arizona. At the same time, she adds, “I have seen environmental toxins rising in my female population. I see young girls coming in with polycystic ovary syndrome, early menarche and painful menstrual cramping; women having trouble getting pregnant for unknown reasons; the rise of fibroids, premature ovarian insufficiency and endometriosis.”

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, regulating processes ranging from hunger to blood pressure to mood and playing a key role in reproduction. They have come under assault from endocrine disrupters, thousands of largely unregulated perand polyfluoroalkyl substances, abbreviated PFAS. These “forever chemicals” are found in everything from plastics to cushions to canned foods, and are in the blood of 98 percent of Americans.

Studies have linked them to girls experiencing puberty one year earlier than 40 years ago; to rising cases of infertility, miscarriages and low birth weight; to menopause occurring two to four years earlier; and to obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and breast cancer.

Common symptoms: Because hormones regulate all of the body’s processes, symptoms of imbalance run the gamut and may

include fatigue, weakness, erratic menstrual cycles and weight gain or loss.

New research: Early menstruation increases the likelihood of hot flashes and night sweats decades later at menopause, according to a University of Queensland study. Eating five teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil daily reduced women’s moderate to severe menstrual cramps by 83 percent in two months, Iranian researchers found.

Medical advance: A major study of 9,000 postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer showed 94 percent that received hormonal therapy, but not chemotherapy, did not have recurrences.

Preventive strategies: To avoid toxic chemicals, buy organics; replace plastic kitchen containers with glass; replace Teflon pans with ceramic or cast-iron; use chemical-free cosmetics and shampoos; nix air fresheners and chemical cleaners; and check out food and care products at the Environmental Working Group (ewg. org). To help detox the body, consider working with a naturopathic doctor to develop a program that may include cleansing foods, herbs, saunas, elimination diets and chelators such as activated charcoal and algae.

Depression

Common symptoms: Sadness, anxiety, flat feeling, loss of motivation or feelings of pleasure, change of eating or sleeping patterns, low energy, difficulty concentrating or headaches.

New research: Sleeping irregular hours, doing night shifts and working for more than nine hours a day have been shown to put women at higher risk of depression, while eating more dietary fiber in produce, grains and legumes significantly lowers this risk.

Medical advances: For the estimated one in four people with depression that doesn’t respond to medication or therapy, emerging approaches offer fresh hope. Low doses of the anesthetic drug ketamine lifted the depression of 70 percent of hard-to-treat subjects by targeting specific serotonin receptors, Swedish researchers report. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of the prefrontal cortex, lifts symptoms for 50 to 60 percent of subjects, studies show.

Preventive strategies: Eating at least two servings a week of wild-caught, oily fish or a daily 1,000-to-2,000-milligram fish oil supplement with a 60-to-40 EPA to DHA ratio has been shown to be effective for symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and postpartum depression.

Taking a brisk daily walk in nature with a friend or dog lowers four factors linked to depression: a “nature deficit”, physical inactivity, low vitamin-D levels and isolation.

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

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Women are twice as likely as men to develop depression, with one in four having a major episode at some point in life, yet fewer than half seek treatment. “Many women are too busy caring for others and feel guilty about their depression, fearing it could get in the way of their caregiving goals,” says New York psychoanalyst Claudia Luiz. “Many have the fantasy that if they open that door and allow themselves to focus on their feelings, they won’t be able to keep going.”

Depression occurs most frequently in women ages 25 to 44, and one in five teenage girls reports having had a major depressive episode, a number that has exploded due to social media use.

Psychotherapy is effective for 62 percent of adults with depression, antidepressants work for 54 percent and combining the two is helpful for 72 percent.

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inspiration

Three Steps for Facing Difficult Emotions

by Shauna Shapiro

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Welcoming our emotions. The second step is to learn to welcome difficult emotions.

Emotions have a limited time span, typically lasting for only 30 to 90 seconds. They arise, do their dance and pass away, like waves in the ocean. When we remember that this painful feeling will not last forever, it becomes more manageable.

Through practice, we can learn to welcome all our emotions with an attitude of kindness and curiosity. This involves becoming interested in the emotion and the felt experience in the body. For example, we may feel sadness as a tightening in the throat or fear as a contraction in the belly. All emotions have their signature in the body.

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ll of us can feel the impact of these uncertain and challenging times on our hearts and in our nervous systems.

While there are parts of the situation that we cannot control, that does not mean we are powerless. When we’re up against change, uncertainty and stress, resilience is the key to navigate life and emerge with more happiness and satisfaction.

We can cultivate resilience through the practices of mindfulness and compassion. Here are three key steps to finding greater clarity, calm and well-being.

Naming our emotions. The first step is to bring mindfulness to whatever we are feeling and simply name it. Research shows that acknowledging and naming our emotions allows the body to physiologically calm down. It is helpful to remember that our emotions are here for a reason, metaphorically serving as a smoke alarm to let us know about an impending fire. Ignoring or repressing our emotions can lead to bigger problems, but mindfulness teaches us a different way to manage difficult emotions—acknowledge them and name what we feel—“name it to tame it”. When we name an emotion, it puts the brakes on our reactivity, downregulates the nervous system and allows us to see clearly.

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Compassion for ourselves and others. The final step to managing difficult emotions is to cultivate compassion. Self-compassion involves treating ourselves as we would a dear friend that is suffering. The willingness to face the pain in ourselves and in life takes great courage. As we practice self-compassion, we learn not only to grow from our own struggles and sorrows, but to connect with the sufferings and sorrows of others. We realize that we are not alone in our fear and overwhelm, and become aware of the many others right now that are also afraid. As we recognize our common humanity, our isolation begins to lessen and we understand that we are all in this together.

Shauna Shapiro, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and compassion whose most recent book is Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire the Brain for Calm Clarity and Joy. For more information, visit DrShaunaShapiro.com.

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May 2021

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Homeopathy to the Rescue

Arnica montana

Create a Family First-Aid Kit

by Marlaina Donato

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Soft Tissue Trauma, Burns and Bites

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Gentle Go-To Medicine Whether treating a child’s skinned knee or an athlete with a mild to moderate injury, regular potencies offer benefits without a high risk of unpleasant or dangerous contraindicaLedum palustre tions. “In general, homeopathic remedies are safe for people of all ages because if taken as directed, there are no side effects or drug interactions. This is due to the fact that remedies have been made through a process that renders the substances harmless,” says certified classical homeopath Myra Nissen, in Davis and Walnut Creek, California.

Classical homeopathic treatment is based on a person’s unique physical, emotional

and mental nature, and requires deeper study to find the most appropriate remedies, but first-aid applications are most often universally straightforward. “A homeopathic first-aid kit at home is useful for cuts, burns, bumps and bruises, insect bites, poison oak/ivy and minor illnesses,” says Nissen.

Gentle, but beneficial Arnica montana is perhaps the best-known application, used for acute injury and post-surgery. In a 2016 review of studies in the American Journal of Therapeutics, a team of international researchers found Arnica to be more effective than a placebo for swelling, bruising and post-surgery pain, and suggested it could be an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Calendula is a heavy hitter for wound care, skin ailments, minor burns including sunburn, diaper rash and post-tooth extraction. It offers antiseptic and antiinflammatory properties and is available for topical and internal use.

Nissen highlights Ruta graveolens and Rhus toxicdendron for soft Rhus toxicdendron tissue injury and tendonitis and suggests Symphitum for serious damage to cartilage and ligaments. For puncture wounds or injuries involving nerves, Hypericum perforatum is helpful.

She emphasizes the importance of using remedies immediately and properly to maximize the potential for rapid healing and pain reduction.

Birch says that bee stings and allergic

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homeo—meaning similar, and pathos—meaning suffering. Basically, it means that a substance has the power to cure the same symptoms it can create,” says Kate Birch, a certified classical homeopath at the HippHealth Center for Holistic Healing, in Minneapolis. “Moreover, the more a substance is diluted through homeopathic preparation, the more potent it can be for healing when given upon homeopathic indications.”

For most health conditions, including chronic complaints, homeopaths recommend tailoring remedies to an individual’s constitution, but first-aid applications are relatively universal and simple. Homeopathic first-aid can be administered for muscle strains, splinters, minor burns and even the common cold. Available in health food stores and pharmacies, homeopathic remedies come in various potencies in the form of pellets, tinctures and topical agents.

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Aconitum napellus

he 200-year-old health system of homeopathy is based on natural sources and is unique in its “like cures like” philosophy that uses extremely diluted substances to trigger the body’s natural defenses.

“The word homeopathy is derived from two words:

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healing ways

Hypericum perforatum

When taken at the first sign of a cold or flu, specially combined homeopathic formulas or single remedies can help to lessen severity and duration of certain viruses. Bryonia alba is useful for moderate fever, Gelsemium for general flu-like symptoms, Nux vomica for severe chills and nausea, and Arsenicum album for respiratory and stomach flus.

Homeopathic remedies, like all medications, should be properly stored and kept away from children and pets. Also, not all products labeled as homeopathic may be pure. Some products add homeopathic remedies to other ingredients that are not safe; for example, Arnica gel may have alcohol, preservatives and stabilizers, and be harmful if swallowed.

While homeopathy offers many benefits, Birch clarifies that it is not designed to be a quick fix and is best approached from a broader view or “a philosophy that shapes your day-to-day life. When you understand these things, once you have the right remedy, it produces instantaneous results.”

Marlaina Donato is a body-mindspirit author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Bryonia alba

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Fighting the Flu

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responses respond well to Apis mellificia and fevers and headaches to Belladonna.

Using Cantharis or Urtica urens for firstand second-degree burns can help to prevent blisters and minimize pain, while Silicea is a good choice for splinters.

In general, for all acute cases and injuries, remedies are often taken every hour and tapered down to every four hours upon signs of improvement or lessening of intensity. If results are not seen within two days, it is best to discontinue the remedy.

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natural pet

CURBING CANCER in Cats Ways to Keep a Feline Healthy

by Julie Peterson

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Diagnosis and Staging Cats instinctively hide pain, so it’s up to pet parents to detect unusual behaviors or symptoms. Karen Shaw Becker, a holistic veterinarian in Chicago who writes Mercola Healthy Pets, recommends that unusual bumps, sores that won’t heal, weight loss, offensive smell, low energy and difficulty eating indicate the need for evaluation by a veterinarian to rule out cancer. If cancer is diagnosed, a referral to a veterinary oncologist is likely. Pet owners can also search for one at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (ahvma.org).

Blood work, biopsies or aspirates, imaging and a thorough exam may be needed to determine the extent of the cancer and any possible complications. These tests help ensure treatment is appropriate, tolerable and humane.

Treatment Options Treatments vary based on the type, site and stage of cancer, the age and wellness of the cat and what is available and accessible to the owner. Traditional remedies may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. While not without side effects, cats tolerate these methods relatively well.

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Holistic therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, supplements and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine may also be used. “Herbal therapies can be used with traditional cancer treatment to relieve side effects and to improve outcomes,” says veterinary oncologist Amanda Beck, at the University Veterinary Hospital, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Clinical trials are another option. The Veterinary Cancer Society, in Columbia, Missouri, provides information on current research trials that “may involve novel diagnostic methods or therapies including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical procedures, hypo- or hyperthermia, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy, among others.” While these trials may offer hope, each has very specific qualifications for participation and they may not be free.

Herbst did her own research after seeing the 2019 documentary Fantastic Fungi and learning about cancer patients using turkey tail mushrooms. “We found that dogs taking those mushrooms were living four times as long as dogs that got chemo,” she says. “We wondered if we could use that for Cougar.” Their

image courtesy of The Basket Cat

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he absence of one back leg isn’t slowing down 13-yearold Cougar the cat. In fact, she is doing better than before, as that limb once had a painful tumor. Alyssa Baker Herbst, co-founder of the Autumn Farm Sanctuary, in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, was told that, even with chemotherapy, Cougar might only live three more months. Herbst sought out a veterinary oncologist at University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care for another opinion. Amputation was recommended and done in December 2020.

Cancer isn’t uncommon in cats; the Animal Cancer Foundation, in Port Washington, New York, states that one in five cats will be diagnosed at some point. This equates to approximately 6 million cats being newly diagnosed with cancer each year, according to the Comparative Oncology Program of the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

veterinarian ensured they wouldn’t be harmful and determined an appropriate dosage.

Unfortunately, some feline cancers are extremely aggressive. It started in Doris Gassen’s cat, Meadow, with a few small bumps under the skin that quickly grew and multiplied. “About six days after they first appeared, they were open and draining,” says Gassen, in Madison, Wisconsin. The diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoma was made and palliative care was implemented. Meadow crossed the rainbow bridge within a few weeks.

Coming Next Month JUNE

Integrative Approaches to Men’s Health

Preventive Measures Keeping cats at a healthy weight, giving them plenty of exercise opportunities and keeping them indoors more or entirely can all help reduce the risk of cancer. The feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, which can lead to cancer, are usually contracted from feral cats outdoors.

Genetically modified organism (GMO) ingredients such as corn, soy, alfalfa and cottonseed in pet foods are also culprits, because they can contain high concentrations of glyphosates. The World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer declared glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, to be a probable human carcinogen, and research indicates that it does cause cancer in animals.

“Many experts who have studied animal dietary patterns in the wild agree that a whole-food diet composed of mostly meats, organs and bones, supplemented to a much lesser extent with vegetables, is the way to go for both cats and dogs,” says Ty Bollinger, the San Antonio-based author of The Truth About Cancer.

Keeping cats healthy throughout life with routine wellness care helps strengthen them against any illness or injury. And while quality of life for pets may be paramount, Cougar seems to be going for quantity, as well. “Clinically, Cougar is doing fantastic.

She just can’t jump as high as she used to,” says Herbst. “She’s back to bullying the other three cats and hanging out with the dog. She’s feisty.”

Plus: Treating Depression Naturally Travel for the Planet Tips for Eating Vegan on Vacation

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Julie Peterson writes about health, wellness and environmental issues. Find her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

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calendar of events NOTE: Events were accurate at the time the magazine went to press – please call ahead to check for date or time changes. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review submissions guidelines at NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com or email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com for more information.

SUNDAY, MAY 2 Body, Mind and Spirit Fair – 11am-4pm. Hosted at the Indiana Country Club, Indiana PA. Western Pennsylvania’s finest holistic health practitioners, reiki healers, artists, psychics, mediums and more. $5 admission or free with donation of non-perishable food item for Indiana food bank. 412-519-8199.

MONDAY, MAY 3

TUESDAY, MAY 4 Rain Barrels Workshop – 6-7:30pm. With Ryan.

Hosted by Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse. Learn about fresh water conservation, water run-off, benefits of collecting and storing rain water. Build your own barrel or take a pre-assembled one. Buy additional barrels at check-out. $75. 740-359-4467.

Tickets: ShopBedners.com/products/rain-barrelswith-ryan-workshop.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 Free Yoga Class – 2-3:15pm. Free Zoom event hosted by Saraswati’s Universe. Turn resistance into kindness, self-compassion and nourishment. Find stillness with mindful movement. Tickets via Eventbrite. Info: SaraswatisUniverseNow@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 6 Remake Learning Days – 8am-5pm. Thru May 16.

Free online event by KidsburghPGH. An innovative learning festival for families and youth. More than 130 virtual and in-person events across the greater Pittsburgh region. Hosted by libraries, schools,

SUNDAY, MAY 9 19th Annual Walk with Me Pittsburgh – Noon2pm. In-person and online fundraising and awareness event by Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania. In person participation at Allegheny Commons Park, 810 Arch St. 412-281-7244. Register: WalkWithMe.org/Pittsburgh.

Mama’s Day of Service – Noon-5pm. Hosted

by Repair the World Pittsburgh. Online and virtual opportunities for a day of service in honor of mothers, caretakers, domestic workers and women who are incarcerated. National Bail Out Collective also coordinates with Mama’s Day Bail Outs for Black Mamas so more mamas can spend Mother’s Day with their families. Donate at Secure.actblue. com/donate/freeblackmamas. Register/volunteer: WeRepair.org/Pittsburgh.

Sacred Sounds at the Salt Cave – 4-5pm. Hosted

by Sacred Centered You and Salt of the Earth.

Double the healing benefits with halotherapy and the magical vibrations of crystal bowls and chimes. $45.

Salt of the Earth, 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray.

724-260-0472.

Guiding Light: An Empath Assembly – 6:30-8pm.

Free Zoom event hosted by Sacred Centered You. Calling all lightworkers, empaths, and high vibrating souls – join our monthly free-flowing assembly.

412-258-0766. SacredCenteredYou.com/events.

tional hands-on healing modality. Prerequisite for Holistic Energy Practitioner Certification. Participants receive Reiki Level I attunements and Reiki I Certificate. 12 CE credits for Licensed Massage Therapists. $150. 275 Pleasant Valley Rd, Connellsville. 724-603-2444. RonzionSchool.com.

tech centers, museums, play spaces, community centers. Explore arts, maker, outdoor learning, science, technology and youth voice. Find events at RemakeLearningDays.org.

Pittsburgh Virtual Fringe Festival – 6-11pm. Thru May 9. Free online event by Pittsburgh Fringe Festival and Emily Padden. All-inclusive performing arts show with more than 50 live and pre-recorded virtual performances and 3D visual art shows.

Pittsburghfringe.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 7 Lunchtime Looks: Ana Alba – Noon-1pm. Free online event hosted by Art Museum of WVU. Inside look at the process of art conservation by Alba Art Conservation owner Ana Alba, who conserved the painting BlueField, View from My Room by Joseph Dodd. WVU.zoom.us.

SATURDAY, MAY 8 West Virginia Botanic Garden Day – 10am-6pm.

Free event by West Virginia Botanic Garden. Fun outdoor gathering with exhibits by local artists, live music, garden tours, kids’ activities, and food from vendor Cheese Louise. No reservations required.

1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV. Info: wvbg.org.

Reiki I Certification – 11am-5pm. Hosted by Dr. Lillian Ronzio School of Holistic Health. Tradi-

GROW Your Business Contact us for special ad rates.

724-271-8877

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 Mindful Moments in Nature: Nature Journaling – 9-11am. Hosted by Keystone State Park. The park Naturalist leads a short hike using meditative techniques, stretching and more. Pre-registration required by May 10. Space is limited. Details disclosed upon registration with Jean: jkeene@pa.gov.

Keystone State Park, 1150 Keystone Park Rd, Derry.

Art as a Mental Health Tool: Women in the Arts Network – 6-8pm. Online event hosted by Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Can art be therapy? Is creating something inherently therapeutic? What happens psychologically during artmaking? How can we use art to heal trauma? $10. 412-391-2060.

Register: PittsburghArtsCouncil.org/events-andworkshops-etc/event/801.

SATURDAY, MAY 15 Community Free Market – 9am-noon. Hosted by The Source Church Pittsburgh. Lightly used clothing and home goods. Free. 1900 Clariton Rd, West Mifflin. SourceChurch.com/events.

Hunger Advocacy Workshop and Racial Wealth Gap Simulation – 9:30-noon. Free online event

by SWPA Bread for the World and Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania. This simulation demonstrates how federal policies created structural inequalities and how these policies have differently impacted Black and White communities in America.

Tickets: Eventbrite. Info at Bread.org or 412-780-5118.

19th Annual Walk with Me Pittsburgh – 1-3pm.

In-person and online fundraising and awareness event by Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania. In person participation at Allegheny Commons Park, 810 Arch St. Register: WalkWithMe. org/Pittsburgh. 412-281-7244.

SUNDAY, MAY 16 Sacred Sounds at Visions Reiki – 1-2:30pm. Hosted

by Sacred Centered You and Visions Reiki. A powerful meditative experience to cleanse the chakra system with vibrations and frequencies of crystal bowls and gong. $25. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane.

412-258-0766. SacredCenteredYou.com/events.

Starting from Seedlings – 2-4pm. By West Virginia Botanic Garden. Learn how to transplant and care

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II attunements and Reiki II certificate. Approved provider for continuing education for National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Body Work. $250. 724-603-2444. Preregistration required: RonzionSchool.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 25 Yoga for Balance and Self-Healing – Noon12:30pm. Free online event hosted by Community Health Council of Lebanon County. Learn tips and “tools to thrive” during May, Mental Health Awareness Month. Tickets: Eventbrite. Info: CommunityHealthCouncil.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 27 for seedlings in a container garden. Participants take home three veggie seedlings, a Mexican Sunflower (learn why) and horticulture fleece. Age 14 and up.

Space limited. $25/members, $35/nonmembers.

1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV. Preregistration required: Forms.donrorsnap.com/form.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19 Spring Wild Edibles Webinar – 5-5:45pm. Free online event hosted by Allegheny Land Trust. A virtual lesson on spring-time foraging. Learn about poisonous and edible local plants, and some with medicinal properties. Info: AlleghenyLandtrus. networkforgood.com.

Backyard Farm School: How to Grow a Chef’s Herb Garden – 5:30-7:30pm. Hosted by Grow Pittsburgh at Churchview Farm. Tour the farm, share Chef Csilla’s favorite recipes along with samples, and take herb seedlings home. $30 via Eventbrite. Part of a season-long workshop series with local chefs and guest farmers. 412-362-4769.

GrowPittsburgh.org.

Astro Chat – 7-8pm. Free Zoom event hosted by Sacred Centered You. Join for the monthly forum to explore topics and exchange insights on the current astrological environment. SacredCenteredYou.com/ events. 412-258-0766.

Hemingway’s 2021 Summer Poetry Series – 7-8:30pm. Free online event hosted by White Whale Bookstore. The Hemingway Summer Poetry Series was founded by Jimmy Cvetic around 1974. RSVP to all events in this series on Eventbrite and check out the archives at HemingwayPoetrySeries.blogspot.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 21 Reiki II Certification – 6-9pm. Hosted by Dr. Lillian Ronzio School of Holistic Health. Become attuned to and learn the sacred reiki symbols, their meanings and functions. Receive Reiki Level II attunements and Reiki II certificate. Approved provider for continuing education for National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Body Work. $250. 275 Pleasant Valley Rd, Connellsville. Preregistration required: 724-603-2444.

RonzionSchool.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 22 Intentional Lactation – 9am-noon. Online event hosted by Pittsburgh Birth Nerd. Equip yourself with knowledge and support. $50 via Eventbrite.

724-678-6958. Info: pghbirthnerd.com.

Reiki II Certification – 11am-5pm. Hosted by Dr. Lillian Ronzio School of Holistic Health. Become attuned to and learn the sacred Reiki symbols, their meanings and functions. Receive Reiki Level

Group Meditation and Reiki Virtual Healing – 7-9pm. Online event by Prana-Veda Studio, Yellow Lotus Spiritual Center and Victoria Zaitz. Virtual group energy healing with reiki and shamanic techniques. In-depth guided meditation followed by distance work. $25. 412-390-5245. Tickets: Vagaro. com/pranaveda/classes.

ongoing events

sunday Heartfulness Meditation – 11am-noon. 1st Sun. Hosted by Heartfulness Pittsburgh. Age 15+. Guided relaxation and meditation for ages 15 and up. Learn the basics of heartfulness and how it can benefit you.

Be casual. Free. Winchester Thurston Lower School in Shadyside, Rm 202. Info: Heartfulness.org.

Yoga for Wellbeing – 5:30-6:30pm. Wellbeing Solutions hosts in-person (limit 4) or online to harmonize body, mind, spirit, and breath with your dedication to attendance. Colleen Harshbarger, ERYT-500 and MS in Exercise Science Biomechanics, provides alignment-based instruction. All levels. $8. 304-508-2398. Wellbeingwv.com.

African Dance Class – 6:30-7:30pm. Online class hosted by Hayti Heritage Center and St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation Inc, Durham, NC. Energetic and culturally rich dance exploration taught by seasoned dance professionals Toni Hall and Ivy Burch. Tickets: $5 at Eventbrite. 919-683-1709.

Info: hayti.org.

1 Hood Power Hour – 7-8pm. A virtual forum hosted by 1 Hood Power to discuss all things political in SWPA and beyond. A virtual public affairs forum featuring elected officials, policymakers and thought leaders. 617-517-7600. Facebook. com/1HoodPower.

tuesday Managing Career Transition and Life During Uncertain Times – Noon-1pm. Online event by The Salon – a Female-Forward Space to Gather and Grow. $10. Tickets at Eventbrite. TheSalonPGH.com.

Family Night at the Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh – 6-9pm. 2nd Tue. Hosted by Hofbrauhaus. Kids eat free with each adult entrée purchase. 2705 S Water St. 412-224-2328.

Online Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Hosted by WVU Collegiate Recovery. All skill-levels welcome. A

Sacred Sounds – 1-2:30pm. 3rd Sun. Hosted by Sacred Centered You and Visions Reiki & Soul Spa. $25. Join Leza for a relaxing, powerful meditative experience, sound immersion with crystal bowls, and individual healing vibrations through the gong.

Tickets at Eventbrite. 206 Alexander Ave, Strabane.

724-745-1785.

Sunday’s Restorative Rejuvenation – 5-6:30pm.

3rd Sun. Hosted by Morgantown Power Yoga. All levels welcome. Learn to use breath, props, and focused awareness to decrease stress and anxiety in the body and the mind. Compliment your power yoga practice with restorative rejuvenation. $25.

235 Spruce St, Morgantown, WV. Tickets: Clients.

MindBodyOnline.com.

Shavasana Sundays – Thru June 6. 8-9:15pm.

Online introductory class by Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh. Offers movement, breath awareness and guided relaxation. $12. Register: HipYoga.org.

monday Military Share Pittsburgh Food Distribution – Noon-2pm. 1st Mon. Hosted by Veterans Leadership Program in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Food distribution for Veterans and Military Families in need. Fresh produce, shelf stable goods. No-contact pickup. No sign-up or RSVP. 2934 Smallman St. 412-481-8200 ext 221.

I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest.

I do not judge the universe. ~Dalai Lama

Children’s Fine Art Classes – 5:30-6:30pm. Hosted

by Arty by April Ryan, Thistledown Boutique. Kids learn basic art techniques starting in charcoal and progressing to acrylic painting. Get kids off the screen and into hands-on creativity. $20/class plus supplies.

151 S Main St, Washington, PA. 724-470-3775.

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password is required, but anyone can join! Free.

Email olivia.pape@mail.wvu.edu to get the code.

The Salty Core – 7-8pm. 4th Tue. Hosted by Salt of the Earth and Valleybrook Pilates & Fitness. Pilates in the Cave to lengthen and expand muscles for a leaner, stronger you. Incorporate breath, stretch, and strengthening. Open to all levels. 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray, PA. Tickets: SaltOfTheEarthpgh.com.

wednesday Yoga for Wellbeing – 8:30-9:30am. Wellbeing Solutions hosts in-person (limit 4) or online to harmonize body, mind, spirit, and breath with your dedication to attendance. Colleen Harshbarger, ERYT-500 and MS in Exercise Science Biomechanics, provides alignment-based instruction. All levels. $8. 304-508-2398. Wellbeingwv.com.

Wild Wednesday: Virtual Live Animal Encounter – 1:30-2pm. Online event hosted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Join museum educators via Zoom to meet members of the museum’s living collection. Each week is unique! $10/household ($5/ members). 412-622-3131. Register at Carnegiemnh. org/explore/live-animal-encounters/.

Mindfulness Training – 4-5:15pm. By Laughlin Children’s Center. Ages 5-18. Teaches awareness of thoughts, feelings, and environment. Aids in reducing stress and emotional reactivity, increasing focus, cognitive flexibility, and social-emotional skills. Sarah Rea, MSEd, pre-doctoral psychology intern, provides the Mindful Schools curriculum.

In person or virtual. 16-week course $120/$140 by age group. Register: Laughlin Children’s Center: 412-741-4087.

Listen to Black Women: What’s it like to be a Black Woman in Pittsburgh? – 6:30-8pm. Online event hosted by Black Women’s Policy Agenda.

Join for a virtual community conversation. Free.

412-245-6771. Register: Eventbrite. BltackWomensPolicyAgenda.org.

We stand together to fight racism, injustice, brutality and backlash.

To the black members of our community: we see you, we support you and we stand by you.

Learn to Draw Zentangle – Online. 6:30-8pm.

Hosted by Monroeville Public Library. 1st and 3rd Wed. Zentangle is a meditative, relaxing, fun method of pattern drawing. Classes are in conjunction with Zentanglers in Pittsburgh meet-up group. To participate, go to meetup. com, register to become a member, then RSVP to the class you want to attend. Zoom link provided upon RSVP. Monroeville Public Library 412-372-0500.

thursday Yoga Classes – 9:30-10:30am. 1st & 2nd Thurs.

Hosted by Spruce Street United Methodist Church.

All ages and abilities with variations to accommodate health and movement issues, with students sitting or standing next to a chair. Emphasis on meditative practices. Wear comfortable clothing.

386 Spruce Street, Morgantown, West Virginia.

304-292-3359.

Zoom Family Storytime – 10:30-11am. Free online event hosted by C.C. Mellor Memorial Library. 1 Pennwood Ave. 412-731-0909. Tickets via Eventbrite.

Yoga – 10-11:30am. With Nancy Micheals. A series designed to focus on specific areas of the body to strengthen and stretch muscles. Classes

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Pittsburgh, PA

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

will help participants build strength, balance the body’s system, increase body awareness, and increase energy while learning specific postures.

CDC guidelines observed. YWCA Westmoreland County, 424 N Main St, Greensburg. 724-834-9390.

Info@ywcawestmoreland.org. ywcawestmoreland. org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/YWCA-Fall2020-Classes-and-Workshop-Insert.pdf.

Wellbeing Solutions Webinars – 2nd & 4th Thur.

Noon-1pm. Self-Care as Healthcare with BoardCertified Health and Wellness Coach and Yoga teacher Colleen Harshbarger and Natalie Geary, MD and Ayurveda Therapist. COVID rate: $25 1st (trial class); $40/thereafter. 4-pack: $150; 8-pack: $280.

12-pack: $399 includes one-year Wellness Inventory subscription ($49.95 value). On-demand times for groups. 304-508-2398. Info/register: Wellbingwv. com/webinars.

AW Studio Sessions – Thru Apr. 8-9pm. 1st Thur.

Free online event hosted by August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and Citizens. AW Studio Sessions series is an intimate, live-in-studio experience with the most talented musicians on the scene.

412-339-1011. aacc-awc.org.

friday Friday Family Walk – 10am-noon. Hosted by West Virginia Botanic Garden. First Friday of every month. Enjoy a short story followed by a walk around the Garden, conclude with a simple craft.

Trail accommodates off road strollers. Members/ free, $15/donation per family suggested. Preregistration required: wvbg.org or Forms.donorsnap. com/form.

Write Now! – 10am-Noon. Zoom Writer’s Group hosted by Sewickley Public Library. Participants enjoy writing from prompts in an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. Register: us02web.zoom. us. SewickleyLibrary.org.

Bakery Square Toastmasters Weekly Meeting – Noon. Online event hosted by Bakery Square Toastmasters. Practice public speaking, improve communications, and build leadership skills. People from diverse backgrounds find a warm, supportive group that shares your goals. Visit BakerySquareToastmasters.com for login info.

saturday Loving Myself First: Personal Development Series – 10-11am. 2nd Sat. Free online event hosted by Visions 2020 LLC. Learn real life principles to improve and maximize your personal and professional life. Tickets at Eventbrite.

412-376-2110.

Watercolor Workshops – 10-11am. 1st and 3rd Sat. Hosted by April Ryan and Thistledown Boutique. $25 includes materials, $20 bring your own. Learn basic drawing and watercolor techniques. 151 S Main St, Washington, PA. 724-470-3775. Tickets: Paypal.com/paypalme/ArtbyAprilRyan.

Winter Market – 10am-1pm. Morgantown Farmer’s Market. Hosted by WVU Monongalia County Extension Service. New location due to COVID: Mylan Park, 270 Mylan Park Ln. Seasonal offerings from within a 50-mile radius of Morgantown.

SNAP accepted. Pre-order online for pick-up during market: MorgantownFarmersMarket.org/shop.htm. or shop in person. MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

JOIN THE LARGEST HOLISTIC, CONSCIOUS SINGLES SITE ONLINE

WE CATER TO SINGLES WHO VALUE:

Authentic & Loving Relationships Natural Health & Sustainable Living Living a Conscious Life Honoring Diversity

Try for FREE at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

May 2021

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community resource guide

HEALTH FOOD

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our Pittsburgh community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com to request our media kit.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES

305 Jefferson Ave, Moundsville, WV 304-506-3585 Dr.Carol@Remedies.com AlternativeRemediesOnline.com Dr. Carol offers a personalized holistic approach to your health concerns through nutrition, supplements, exercise, cellular spa treatments, homeopathy and self-help classes. Twenty years of experience in naturally supporting the body, her specialties are digestive health, women and children, and gluten-free living. Health memberships and video conferencing available.

ASTROLOGY SUN CONFLICT SOLUTIONS Pittsburgh, PA and Online 412-897-0809 Anjalisoi.com/astrology

Evolutionary Astrology allows you to uncover your deep unconscious desires and align with the cycle of death and rebirth in your life.

Ensure your correct karma and life lessons manifest in an abundant way and find meaning and perspective of the experiences in your life.

BIOLOGIC DENTISTRY JANET LAZARUS – BIOLOGIC DENTIST Dr Janet Lazarus, DMD, NMD Mail: 4313 Walnut St, Ste 178 Office: Olympia Shopping Ctr Arcade, McKeesport • 412-754-2020 Dr.Lazlo@hotmail.com

D r. L a z a r u s p r a c t i c e s compassionate biologic dentistry by looking at the whole body to offer preventative care and health maintenance. She offers compatibility testing on dental material, safe mercury removal, extraction and a host of other treatments including ozone therapy. She has been practicing for 28 years.

See ad, page 4.

CHIROPRACTIC PANTHER FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CHIROPRACTIC Dr Danielle Marra, DC Murrysville • Greensburg 724-387-1014 • PittsburghHealthPro.com

Dr. Danielle Marra has nearly 20 years’ experience helping patients regain their health through conservative and holistic approaches utilizing functional medicine, chiropractic, diet modifications, and nutritional support. The practice provides advanced lab testing, allergy relief, spinal decompression, CDL physicals, massage therapy, thermography and more. Their philosophy is treating the root of your symptoms, naturally. See ad, page 13.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PANTHER FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Danielle Mara, DC Murrysville • Greensburg 724-387-1014 • PittsburghHealthPro.com

Dr. Danielle Mara has nearly 20 years’ experience helping patients regain their health through conservative and holistic approaches utilizing functional medicine, chiropractic, diet modifications and nutritional support. Plus advanced lab testing, allergy relief, spinal decompression, CDL physicals, massage therapy, thermography and more. Their philosophy is treating the root of your symptoms, naturally. See ad, page 13.

HEALTH COACH COTERIE

Calli Tony, CPT 201 E Fairview Ave, Rm 211, Connellsville, PA 724-562-0682 • CalliTonycpt.com Calli Tony is a mother, spiritual entrepreneur and a holistic health and transformational coach. She is the creator of HYPE and podcast host. Her mission is to serve, empower and educate through holistic healing. She works with women who want to create a massive shift in their life!

My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return. ~Maya Angelou 30

Pittsburgh, PA

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

EVEREST EATS

EverestEats.com Orders@everesteats.com A local Pittsburgh plant-based meal delivery service providing, sourced, sustainable, flavorful, and nutritious meals to the Pittsburgh community. See ad, page 4.

THE KEFIR CHICKS

Connellsville, PA TheKefirChicks.com TheKefirChicks@gmail.com Facebook.com/TheKefirChicks Kathy and Haley, The Kefir Chicks, are two chicks on a mission to bring awareness to everyone about whole foods and gut health through whole, probiotic-packed food medicine – water kefir. See ad, page 7.

HERBALISM BASIC EARTH ESSENTIALS

Michael Lausterer P.O. Box 6, Richeyville, PA 724-426-4579 • BasicEarthEssentials.com Getting back to our natural roots is the foundational philosophy that drives and inspires Basic Earth Essentials; using the purest botanicals of the earth to create handcrafted, superb blends of the finest quality. Products for pets, personal care, and inspirational settings. Custom products available.

HERBS OLD THYME HERB SHOP, LLC Lisa Cunningham Old-Fashioned Family Herbalist 308 Liberty St, Perryopolis, PA 724-736-2400

Nothing fancy, just hundreds of organic bulk medicinal herbs at your beck and call.

Heal yourself and help others.

In service and gratitude always.

No Facebook, no website, no social media. Not enough thyme! Just you and I and your blessed healing herbs.

NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS NAPTURAL BEAUTY SUPPLY 724-307-8487 NapturalBeautySupply.com

Naptural Beauty Supply was created to end the stigma around natural hair by empowering men and women to love themselves naturally. We do this by instilling confidence in our community and increasing convenience by having the tools and services in one place, such as hair and body butters, beard care and apparel. We are beauty supply with naturals in mind! See ad, page 11.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

WELLNESS

APPALACHIA CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS, PC

360 CAFÉ LLC

Best of natural medicine – combining both chiropractic and naturopathic care. We provide integrative and individualized care to the community where patients feel heard and truly cared for. We offer manipulation, sports medicine, nutrition, herbal, homeopathy and hydrotherapy.

360 Café LLC is an alternative health and wellness business with the goal of helping others to heal from the inside out while taking a holistic approach to healing by offering distance reiki, and crystal healing sessions to help our consumers restore physical and emotional balance. See ad, page 23.

DR. ARETI, LLC

SALT OF THE EARTH

Dr. Areti is a board-certified naturopathic physician who implements manual therapy, lifestyle medicine, nutritional analysis, and non-invasive methods to address functional and structural imbalances – services are 100% grounded in evidence-based science. She goes the extra mile to identify and address root causes of conditions and to provide ongoing support. See ad, page 5.

Salt of the Earth offers the ancient healing benefits of salt; serene, therapeutic, and exquisitely built with 16 tons of authentic Himalayan salt.

Sessions are 45 minutes. Group events: guided meditation, yoga, sound healing, and pilates. Personal services in the cave: reiki, massage, cellular healing, Akashic Records, mediumship and spirit guide channeling. Known to heal respiratory and skin issues, the organically dispersed salt is naturally detoxifying, reduces inflammation, cleanses the respiratory system and improves sleep. See ad, page 15.

Travis D Horne, DC • Gi Ming ‘‘Lili’’ Chan, ND 20120 Route 19, Ste 202, Cranberry Twp, PA 724-553-5312 • AppalachiaChiropractic.com

Dr. Areti Fitsioris 421 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh 412-419-1537 (call/text) • Facebook.com/Dr.Areti

SPIRITUAL SACRED, CENTERED, YOU, LLC 412-258-0766 SacredCenteredYou.com

Leza is known widely for her abilities as a sound healer, inspirational speaker and interfaith spiritual counselor. Healing arts services include vibrational sound healing, past life and soul regression, journey work counseling and conscious relationships counseling. Private and group services offered. Lesa Vivio, MS, LPC, CMHIMP, DDiv, DSM. See ad, page 23.

URBAN FARMING GROW PITTSBURGH

Raqueeb Bey, Garden Resource Coordinator 6587 Hamilton Ave, Ste 2W, Pittsburgh 412-362-4769 ext 215 • GrowPittsburgh.org Raqueeb@GrowPittsburgh.org Grow Pittsburgh is an urban, agriculture nonprofit that teaches people how to grow food. They envision the day when everyone grows and eats fresh, local and healthy food. Get involved. Take a tour, become a member, learn, volunteer! Visit their website for workshops and events.

VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE SACRED, CENTERED, YOU, LLC 412-258-0766 SacredCenteredYou.com

Offering individual and group experiences that promote healing through self-discovery and personal acceptance. Special focus on sound healing, life coaching, qigong, and vibrational medicine. See ad, page 23.

Tyleda Worou Pittsburgh 724-374-8089 • 360CafeLLC.com

Himalayan Salt Cave and Chakra Boutique 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray 724-260-0472 • SaltOfTheEarthpgh.com

WINER WELLNESS CENTER 2419 Baldwick Rd, Pittsburgh 412-922-9355 • DrWiner.com

Holistic Wellness Center with practitioners for chiropractic, nutritional consultation, allergy elimination and muscle therapy. Workers’ compensation and accident insurance claims. Fully stocked all-natural supplement store.

YOGA AND MEDITATION JENNY DAYTON YOGA

Jenny Dayton, E-RYT, YACEP MountainYogaShala@gmail.com 724-550-3661 Jenny offers indoor and outdoor yoga throughout the Laurel Highlands. She also offers private therapeutic yoga lessons, Ayurveda and aromatherapy sessions by appointment. Virtual options are also available. For more information and to view the class schedule and locations, visit JennyDaytonYoga.com.

THE HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH 300 Beverly Rd, Pittsburgh 412-344-7434 • HipYoga.org

The Himalayan Institute of Pittsburgh is committed to creating and supporting programs for wellness in body, mind and spirit.

Their purpose is to promote personal peace and global unity.

Offering a daily schedule of yoga and meditation classes and healing services including massage, reiki and Ayurvedic health consultations. They are a leader in education, providing authentic yoga and Ayurveda certification programs.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS READING POETRY RELAXES – Inquire at: wewuvpoetry@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 4725, Pittsburgh, PA. 15206-0725.

OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ad section. To place an ad, email Publisher@NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople covering the Greater Pittsburgh area, SW Pennsylvania and Morgantown WV to help others grow their natural health & wellness and sustainable living or green businesses. Commission-based. Full- or part-time. Paying 25% commission. Unlimited potential income. Be a part of something magical! Send resume to Michelle: Publisher@ NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com.

Natural Awakenings Client Testimonial I have been advertising since the beginning of Natural Awakenings and I have to say. that it has been a great choice! I have gotten a lot of new patients from her magazine. The covers are always colorful and fun! Michelle has been very helpful and she is always available when I need to talk to her. I would highly recommend this magazine if you are considering advertising. ~Dr Janet Lazarus

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The best doctors.

The best hospitals.

The best service.

It’s how we help you live your best life.

What is good health? Your answer is as unique as you are. Whatever it means to you, UPMC Health Plan is here to help you live your life in the best way. We give you award-winning customer service, in-network access to the world-renowned doctors and hospitals of UPMC, and the people, products, and programs you need to live the healthiest life you can. We can’t think of a better outcome. UPMCHealthPlan.com

For UPMC Health Plan “best” information go to www.upmchealthplan.com/best.

Nondiscrimination statement UPMC Health Plan1 complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

1 UPMC Health Plan is the marketing name used to refer to the following companies, which are licensed to issue individual and group health insurance products or which provide third party administration services for group health plans: UPMC Health Network Inc., UPMC Health Options Inc., UPMC Health Coverage Inc., UPMC Health Plan Inc., UPMC Health Benefits Inc., UPMC for You Inc., and/or UPMC Benefit Management Services Inc. Translation Services ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-855-489-3494 (TTY: 1-800-361-2629). 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-855-489-3494（TTY：1-800-361-2629）。