Natural Awakenings Greater Pittsburgh August 2020

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

HEALING WATERS Baths for Well-Being

SCRAPPY BIOLOGICAL MINDFUL COOKING DENTISTRY WALKING

Maximize Your Garden’s Bounty

Goes to Root Causes of Problems

Meditative Steps for Well-Being

August 2020 | Pittsburgh, PA Edition | naturalawakeningsswpa.com August 2020

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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

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was already using thermography instead of mammography and learned about biologic dentistry in 2012. During a whole-body thermography, the

practitioner warned that I had a lot of inflammation in my mouth. and that it could be very dangerous to my health. I had broken both front teeth when I was 8 and had root canals and crowns put on, so I was determined to educate myself about this issue. Throughout my adult life, I’d had several more root canals, and all of those areas showed inflammation.

I developed an autoimmune condition, Graves disease, in my late 20s, which involves

an overactive thyroid. I went undiagnosed for over a year-and-a-half despite repeatedly complaining of many typical symptoms to my doctor. I just got the pat on the head and an offer of anti-anxiety medications, which I refused. When I was finally diagnosed, I had a resting heart rate of 130 and I was really a wreck.

I opted to go to the Cleveland Clinic for treatment, and even though I didn’t have any medical training at that time, I strongly expressed to my doctors that I wanted to

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be involved in the decision-making process because I wanted to know what my options were. I spent many hours at the medical university library educating myself on this condition and tried medications, but by then, more drastic action was necessary. I could either have a surgical removal of my thyroid or drink radioactive iodine. I chose the radioactive iodine.

With the first dose, my lab values returned to normal, although my health did not.

In 2013, I attended a weeklong virtual oral health summit with Dr. Hal Huggins, Dr. Raymond Behm and Dr. David Kennedy. These pioneers in biologic dentistry were so enlightening. I learned about biologic dentistry and the impact of oral health on the whole body, including Weston Price and his early research regarding nutrition and dental health, which lead me to the Traditional Food Diet.

I learned about how negatively oral health can impact overall health, and for some people who can’t effectively eliminate toxins, can even ruin their health. There is definitely a connection with my root canals that I would never have made had I not attended that oral health summit.

We all have health experiences that send us on different paths. These are some of the health issues that have driven me to educate myself about their causes and work to correct them through natural, functional and integrative means, and not just treat symptoms.

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Contents 8 MUSTAFA SANTIAGO ALI

on Healing America Through Social Justice

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9 WHAT SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS ALL HAVE IN COMMON 10 STRONG AND HEALTHY

Five Ways to Strengthen Kids’ Immunity

12 MINDFUL WALKING

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Meditative Steps for Well-Being

14 NO-WASTE

GARDEN EDIBLES

Ways to Maximize Your Garden’s Bounty

16 WHOLE-BODY DENTISTRY

Biological Dentists Get to the Root Causes

19 THE UPSIDE

OF LOCKDOWNS

Air Gets Cleaner Around the Globe

20 HOW AWE CAN

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TRANSFORM OUR LIVES

22 HEALING WATERS

Hot Baths Rejuvenate Body and Mind

24 COOL TREATS FOR

CATS AND DOGS

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DEPARTMENTS 4 news briefs 6 health briefs 8 wise words 10 healthy kids 12 fit body 14 conscious eating

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green living inspiration healing ways natural pet calendar resource guide classifieds August 2020

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news briefs

Stay Vigilant to Protect Family Health

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he Pittsburg Health and Wellness Festival, hosted by CareForHealth and featuring a day of family fun, education, health and community building, will take place from noon to 5 .m., August 16, at Station Square.

Activities include free prizes and giveaways, live performances, Intro to Yoga, Zumba, classes, medical screenings, exercise stations, mental health awareness, senior, wellness cooking, demonstrations, family activities and more.

Promoters hope that by galvanizing community influencers, elected officials, families and health care professionals, they will be able to equip residents of Pittsburg and environs with the tools necessary to live their best life possible.

Location: 125 W. Station Square Dr., Pittsburgh. For Information, call 347-819-8475 or email desiresvip@gmail.com.

Environmental Board Members Needed

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ennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light is a community of congregations, faith-based organizations and individuals of faith responding to climate change as an ethical and moral issue through advocacy, education, energy conservation, energy efficiency, stewardship and the use and promotion of clean, renewable energy. They are seeking three new members from the Harrisburg, Lancaster and Pittsburgh areas. The board of directors comprises up to 12 members.

Applications are also being accepted for a paid, part-time executive director, open to anyone in the state that is faithbased in any tradition, passionate about the environment and a good leader.

For more information or to apply for the board or executive director position, email board member Sister Donna Korba, IHM, at KorbaD@SistersOfIHM.org. Also visit paipl.org and paipl.us/ hiring-executive-director.

News to share?

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

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August 2020

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health briefs

Eating a meal heavy in saturated fat can hinder the ability to concentrate, even five hours later, a new study from the Ohio State University College of Medicine shows. Researchers tested 51 women on computer games that measured attention spans and response times, and then fed them a 930-calorie meal that mimicked the fare of fastfood restaurants. For half the subjects, their meal was cooked in saturated fat, and for the others it was cooked with sunflower oil that is high in unsaturated fat. Five hours later, the women that ate the saturated fat meal had erratic and slower response times on the 10-minute concentration tests and they were less able to maintain their attention.

Nail Health Can Show Hidden Health Issues

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Increase Focus by Reducing Saturated Fat

Nail appearance can be an indication of what is going on inside the body. Here are some signs to discover.  White spots on nails can mean a zinc deficiency, which may lead to thinning hair, lowered immunity, diarrhea, acne and allergies. Brittle or soft nails can mean a thyroid deficiency or mineral deficiencies. Club-shaped ends of finger and nail can mean a serious cardiopulmonary (heart/lung) problem, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure. Get it checked. Bluish nail beds can mean low oxygen levels in blood, as in anemia or a lung problem. Lots of hangnails can mean digestive issues or low protein. Using proton-pump inhibitors (Nexium) or other stomach antacid medication can lead to chronic poor digestion and malabsorption of nutrients, especially minerals.

The potato, a perennial favorite deemed nutritionally lackluster, can be a source of high-quality protein that helps to maintain muscle, reports the journal Nutrients. Researchers from Canada’s McMaster University, in Ontario, gave young, healthy women either a placebo or a pudding made with potato protein isolate that doubled the amount of protein the women typically consumed daily. The study found that the potato protein increased the rate at which the women’s muscles produced new protein. “This study provides evidence that the quality of proteins from plants can support muscle,” says Sara Oikawa, lead author of the study.

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V-shaped nails may be associated with rheumatoid arthritis. A yellowish hue to nails or hands can indicate jaundice or liver congestion. Dark lines or splotches can indicate liver, stomach or intestinal issues, but can also indicate something more serious like a melanoma (skin cancer) under the nail which should be checked by a dermatologist right away.

Check toes, too. Talk to a functional medicine practitioner to find answers.

Dr. William Howrilla, DC, CFMP, is the clinic director of Your Health Investigator, with multiple locations in the Greater Pittsburgh area, as well as Telemedicine option. See ad, page 7.

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wise words

Mustafa Santiago Ali on Healing America Through Social Justice

by Sandra Yeyati

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ustafa Santiago Ali has dedicated his career to fighting for environmental justice, public health, resource equity and political empowerment to uplift the most vulnerable communities in America.

For 24 years, he served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is currently vice president of environmental justice, climate and community revitalization for the National Wildlife Federation. He is a renowned public speaker and has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, VICE TV, Black Entertainment Television, Democracy Now! and other networks.

Does the Black Lives Matter movement feel different than other moments in our history?

Yes. This is a transformational moment. So many different types of folks are coming together in large numbers, not just in our country, but across the planet, saying that change has to happen and we have to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination.

They want the 21st century to look like the 21st century, and not something from the 1950s or the 1940s or even the 1960s.

How can we keep the momentum going?

By bringing all kinds of different folks together, building authentic coalitions that are rooted in change, harvesting the energy of this moment and making sure that the right types of legislation—whether at the federal, state, county or local level—are reflective of 8

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what people are asking for. Then we focus on getting engaged in the civic process—voting.

Dr. King said, “I cannot pass legislation to make you love me, but I can pass legislation to stop you from lynching me.” When we fast forward that to today, we can pass legislation that addresses social ills, disparities and other egregious types of behaviors. We can also make sure that our organizations are representative of what America looks like—in our hiring practices and on our boards—and make sure that our philanthropic organizations are moving in the right direction where they are helping to fund and support folks who are doing this transformative work. It really is a holistic set of actions.

How do you remain hopeful in light of America’s turbulent history?

I see many artists and entertainers who are getting engaged in an effective way, and they have the ability to reach so many folks. Even more critical are the thousands upon thousands of incredible young leaders who are pushing, willing to put their bodies on the line, creating their own organizations and investing their time to make real change happen.

I see people at the local and state level changing laws that have been entrenched for decades. I see organizations that would not normally see themselves in these types of conversations or actions saying, “You are right. I apologize for not being here sooner,

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but we’re going to do everything we can now to stand in solidarity with this change that’s happening.” My hope is anchored in the fact that people are already doing the work and we’re seeing fruits from the seeds that people planted sometimes hundreds of years ago, but definitely decades ago.

What kind of justice are you fighting for?

We’re fighting for housing, transportation, economic and public health justice, and of course, the environment.

Which vulnerable communities are you fighting for?

I fight for communities of color. I fight for lower-wealth white communities. I fight for indigenous brothers and sisters. And I fight for the planet. I know that disproportionately, these are the communities that are often unseen and unheard, and I know if we can give voice to those communities, then it will benefit everyone. Social justice gives us the opportunity to make America whole—to be stronger and better, as we become anchored in real justice. We have to be focused on moving our most vulnerable communities from surviving to thriving.

What is your contribution to the National Wildlife Federation?

I sat down with President Collin O’Mara to have real conversations about what a 21stcentury organization and their 6 million members would look like. I thought that if I could get 10 or 20 percent of those members to embrace environmental justice and to stand in solidarity with folks, then that could help the movement and make real change happen. The National Wildlife Federation board has just approved a full environmental justice analysis of all of its programs, policies, activities and budgeting decisions. No other organization in our country does that, and it sends a clear message to all the other organizations that are out there that these are the types of things you have to do to be a 21st-century organization.

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

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

What Social Justice Movements All Have in Common

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by Jen Dalke

ith unprecedented weather events, worldwide virus spread and enormous racial justice movements, the world is in a real upheaval right now. These events are all intricately tied together, with many overlapping objectives.

Environmental advocates are connecting the dots between the pandemic and ecology. This outbreak was not a complete surprise, yet economic agendas have blocked preventative measures in many countries. Many connections are obvious; there is a plethora of evidence connecting disease spread and water supply. Then add air quality, food quality (including factory farming), living conditions, the state of healthcare and any number of other elements.

To touch briefly on the factory farming phenomenon, livestock seems to be a hot spot for disease spread. The conditions of factory farms are beyond gross. Animals are kept practically on top of one another, their “living” conditions are often filthy and mismanaged; should an outbreak of disease occur, it is often concealed to prevent lost profits. This practice of pretending nothing is wrong puts hundreds or even thousands of lives at risk because the situation is not being fully managed just to save a dollar. Support local farms.

The petrochemical boom has created jobs at cracker plants

and fracking sites that have appeared among the large pockets of natural gas being explored in the U.S. This industry has always been an important source of profit and is one of the most destructive forces to the environment.

To add insult to injury, much low-income housing is situated near sources of industrial pollution, exacerbating racial and class struggles. We’re seeing thousands of lower-income white families struggling in the rural countryside with fracking wellsite pollution, and we’re seeing thousands of lower-income Black and Hispanic families near the urban sources of pollution where much of the fracked natural gas is processed and made into other products. These operations are rarely situated near newer, more expensive housing.

Although finding quality, affordable healthcare is still very much a class struggle across races, Black/Indigenous/people of color (BIPOC) are still experiencing an entirely different struggle than those of Caucasian descent, including limited access to higherpaying jobs (with less access to healthcare and benefits). BIPOC also tend to receive lesser-quality healthcare when they do see a medical professional. These elements create a difficult formula for surviving a pandemic, and that means BIPOC are being hit the hardest.

The country cannot solve any one of these pressing issues without addressing all three, but not addressing them is what got us here in the first place, so the time has come to finally do this work. It is not an insurmountable demand; this is what we can do to help.

Educate: We must educate ourselves, our family and our friends about all three. Educate them about ways to help the environment, about the immune system and about racism. Holding each other accountable for the well-being of the planet and everyone on it does not have to be seen as authoritarian.

Stand up for BIPOC: What we tolerate and accept in ourselves and others either enables or disables the harmful beliefs and actions that brought us to this breaking point.

Support BIPOC-owned businesses and causes: If we’re not on any form of social media (where these resources are running rampant right now), search online and find them.

Jen Dalke is a member of the nonprofit South Fayette Conservation Group and the Founder of Blue Heron Nature Skills. She can be reached at BlueHeronNatureSkills.com.

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Avoid cleaning toxins: The COVID-19 pandemic has many of us reaching for virus-zapping bleach disinfectants, but Gilbert advises not to overuse them. Once the viral threat is past, it’s wise to go back immediately to natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda. A 2015 study in Occupational & Environmental Medicine of more than 9,000 children ages 6 to 12 in Spain, Holland and Finland found the incidence of infections such as flu, tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia was more prevalent in homes where bleach was used.

Strong and Healthy 4 Five Ways to Strengthen Kids’ Immunity

Get them outside around dirt:

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by Ronica O’Hara

ith American children increasingly afflicted with asthma and allergies, it’s critical to help them build up their natural immunity. Microbial ecologist Jack Gilbert, Ph.D., of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, co-founder of the crowdsourced American Gut Project, advises, “Furry pets, the outdoors, dirt in the backyard, forests—life!”

As the co-author of Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System, Gilbert is part of an emerging scientific consensus called the “hygiene hypothesis”, which posits that excessive sterility—being overzealous in protecting our children from germs and other microbes—can dampen the ability of their bodies to fight off allergens and infections.

“As a species, we have evolved in a world full of microbes, and our immune systems have developed to cope with that,” he says.

“The immune system needs to be used and trained by exposure to the world around it.”

From birth onward, here are some proven strategies that strengthen kids’ immune systems.

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Start off right with natural birth and breastfeeding: One

in three babies in the U.S. is born by

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caesarean section, and about half the time it’s optional rather than necessary—perhaps because parents don’t understand that babies born in this manner have been shown to have altered immune development, reduced gut microbiome diversity and a higher risk of developing allergies, atopy and asthma in the short term, with a longterm risk of obesity, according to a study published in The Lancet. Likewise, breastfeeding protects against the likelihood of viruses, eye and urinary tract infections, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteritis, lymphoma, leukemia, and Type 1 and 2 diabetes, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Feed them the right foods:

Provide lots of antioxidant-rich fruits, veggies and fiber—organic when possible—while avoiding processed foods. “The intestinal lining of the gastrointestinal tract serves as the body’s first line of defense against many pathogens.

Through certain strains of probiotics and prebiotics found in whole food, we can help landscape our child’s intestinal microbiome to create a positive effect on their innate and adaptive immune responses,” says Krystal Plonski, a Seattle naturopathic physician with a pediatric focus.

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Whether toddlers are making mud pies, older kids are growing gardens or teens are kicking up dust on the sports field, childrens’ immune systems thrive when they meet the microbial richness of dirt and the vitamin-D boost of the sunny outdoors. In a study in The New England Journal of Medicine that focused on two technology-free communities, Amish children that lived and worked at old-fashioned family dairy farms had a quarter and a fifth the rate of asthma and allergies, respectively, as Hutterite children that lived off-site from their community’s large industrialized farms. Georgetown University researchers report that sunlight, besides producing vitamin D, energizes infection-fighting T-cells in the skin that play a central role in human immunity.

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Get them a pet: The dirt, germs

and fur that dogs and cats bring to a house may be just what young immune systems need. Finnish researchers following 397 babies found those that grew up in homes with pets were 44 percent less likely to develop an ear infection and 29 percent less likely to receive antibiotics than petfree babies. Canadian researchers found that babies from families with pets—70 percent of which were dogs—showed higher levels of two types of microbes linked to lower risks of becoming allergic and obese. They theorize that exposure to dirt and bacteria early in life—for example, in a dog’s fur and on its paws—can create early immunity.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based health writer. Connect at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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healthy kids

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Mindful Walking

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by Marlaina Donato

he health benefits of walking, such as stress reduction, improved joint mobility, lower blood pressure and increased oxygen, are well known, but walking or hiking with a meditative focus offers some other unexpected perks.

Mindful walking that fosters focus on each step can combat depression, anxiety and unhealthy food cravings by boosting neurotransmitters. Studies from the University of Exeter, in England, reveal that chocolate cravings and consumption are reduced after just a 15-minute walk, and a German study found overweight people that walked briskly for 15 minutes had less desire for sugary snacks.

A 2016 study in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that meditative walking for 30 minutes three times a week reduced arterial stiffness and the stress hormone cortisol in a 12-week period. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes also had healthier blood sugar levels. Further, the group that employed mindful walking exhibited significant improvement compared to the control group that engaged in regular, non-meditative walking.

Mindful Me-Time Like seated meditation, meditative walking fosters mind-body awareness that can nourish the spirit. “Some of the world’s greatest artists, like Johann Sebastian Bach and William Blake, were well aware of this, and spent much time on long walks exploring their inner worlds,” says Reino Gevers, of Majorca, Spain. The author of Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul, he sees walking meditation as an invitation to tap into the bigger matrix of life. “Deep walking, also pilgrimage walking, is spending time alone in nature to walk off the things that are weighing heavy on your shoulders. These could be hurtful and traumatic 12

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events like the loss of a family member, divorce or financial loss. While practicing mindful walking, there is a reconnection to the natural rhythm of life.”

Meditative walking calms the amygdala, the portion of the brain that can become hyper-reactive from trauma and keep us in the loop of anxiety. Introduced to meditative walking by a spiritual teacher, Carolyn Sinclair, in Houston, found deep healing from depression after a devastating divorce. “Even though I knew tai chi, qigong and sitting meditation, I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow, couldn’t sleep and wasn’t eating,” says Sinclair, who relinquished all medications after six months of taking mindful steps. Today, she blogs at Walking-Meditation.com and attributes her capacity to feel joy and her improved emotional resilience to the practice. “We cannot stay in sitting meditation all day long, and life will always throw us a curve ball,” she says. “Walking meditation allows us to be in the world, but not attached to the chaos and drama. This form of meditation helps train the mind to reside in the present moment during our everyday activities.”

Resetting Body and Soul Going for a mindful walk can cultivate sensory nuance, especially to changing angles of sunlight and the dance of turning seasons. Psychologist Hugh O’Donovan, in Cork, Ireland, the author of Mindful Walking: Walk Your Way to Mental and Physical Well-Being, says, “The body is a powerful instrument

of connection. It appears too simple, but this is a necessary aspect of mindful walking for the beginner right through to the more experienced practitioner. It is in this slowing down that you begin to notice.” In 2015, he traversed the entire length of his native country and was reminded, he says, that “In this mindful walking space, the world can come alive at every sensory level. You can see the colors, the textures, the contrasts, the shade, the magic.”

Gevers concurs, “There is a major difference in just walking for exercise and deep walking. When you do mindful walking, you open your senses to the world around you. What do you smell, hear and feel?”

Buddha Steps Mindful walking begins with communing with each step, heel-totoe, on Mother Earth. “The beauty of walking meditation is that once it becomes a habit, we can bring it everywhere, naturally,” emphasizes Sinclair.

O’Donovan, whose mantra is, “Show up, slow down and notice”, inspires us all when he says, “You might think, ‘I’ve seen grass a million times; I know grass,’ but this limits the possibility to know in a deeper way. Grass is not just grass when you walk mindfully.”

Marlaina Donato is a composer and body-mind-spirit author.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

August 2020

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No-Waste Garden Edibles Ways to Maximize Your Garden’s Bounty

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by April Thompson

ost gardens are loaded with delicious, nutritious food that goes uneaten and overlooked, from edible greens like sweet potato leaves to flavorful flowers like tulips, marigolds and wisteria. Getting better acquainted with the edible parts of common backyard plants opens up a world of culinary possibilities.

With continued concerns around potential exposure to COVID-19, maximizing a garden’s bounty while minimizing trips to the grocery store is an added benefit.

“Food foraged from your backyard is fresher, tastier and cheaper than storebought food,” says Ellen Zachos, the Santa Fe author of Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat. “There is also the novelty factor. People don’t expect to be served a BBQ sauce made from crabapples or a curd made with flowering quince fruit. You simply can’t buy those flavors.”

Many plants and trees commonly thought of as being ornamental have edible parts. Hostas are a common one that Zachos loves to nibble on as much as the deer do.

“You can harvest at a couple stages: First, when spears are poking up and the leaves have not unfurled. A little later in the season, you can blanch them and put in a stir fry or quiche, or roast them as you would asparagus,” explains Zachos.

Roses are another multipurpose ornamental, with organically grown rose petals making aromatic additions to sweet or spicy 14

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treats. Leaving the roses to decay after the first frost rather than dead-heading them yields rose hips rich in vitamin C for teas and jams.

Tip-to-Root Eating

Several common vegetables are edible from leaf to root, including broccoli, beets, chard and radishes, says Josh Singer, a garden specialist with the U.S. Department of Parks and Recreation, in Washington, D.C., who teaches classes on “alternative edibles” from the garden. “One of my favorite recipes is a hummus made with chard stalks in place of chickpeas. It’s so creamy and delicious.”

Singer also cites borage, passionflower and squash flowers as favorite floral foods.

“Unfortunately, it does mean making a hard choice between having beautiful flowers in your garden and eating them,” he adds. “It can also mean the plant not producing fruit or vegetables, but you can hand-pollinate female flowers in the case of squash and just use the male flowers for cooking. They make delicious fritters.”

Marie Viljoen, author of Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine cookbook, has one tip for daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva) that overagressively multiply: eat them. “Daylilies are nose-to-tail eating: their tender, cooked shoots are as melt-inyour-mouth as leeks, and their firm, underground tubers are delicious snacks, raw or cooked. I like to roast them with olive oil, like mini-home fries,” says the New York

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City forager, instructor and chef. “Their buds are juicy snacks and their open, fresh flowers are edible—and stunning in a salad—but so are the older, dried flowers, the so-called ‘golden needles’ that one can sometimes find in Chinese stores.” Viljoen cautions that a small percentage of people have a bad reaction to daylilies, and they should be eaten in moderation, especially when trying them for the first time.

Lindsay-Jean Hard, a food writer in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and author of Cooking with Scraps: Turn Your Peels, Cores, Rinds, and Stems into Delicious Meals, points out some common fruits with edible greens. Strawberry greens can be used to make a pesto or flavor water. Tomato leaves can flavor a tomato sauce (sparingly, as they pack a strong taste)—a tip found in Harold McGee’s On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen.

Carrot tops and celery leaves also make great pesto, says Tama Matsuoka Wong, a New Jersey forager, chef and author of Foraged Flavor: Finding Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer’s Market. While pea shoots have gotten to be a trendy item on many menus, Wong says they have long been an off-menu item at Chinese restaurants. “You won’t find it on the menu, but Chinese people eat pea shoots instead of beans all winter long, often stir fried with sesame oil, garlic and bamboo shoots.”

Many scrappy cooks know to use garden produce that fails to ripen before the season ends or bolts too soon. Singer uses unripe tomatoes to make green tomato chili, muffins and bread, whereas Hard likes working with flowers from bolted herbs and greens, including arugula, basil, chives, chervil, kale, sage, rosemary and others. “I mainly use them as garnishes, but every year, I make a batch of chive blossom vinegar,” she says.

Leaving a plant like cilantro to bolt and flower not only feeds pollinators, but also provides free spices at the season’s end, says Singer. Simply let cilantro dry on the stalk, then gather the seed pods for home-harvested coriander seeds. Letting annuals go to seed (and saving the seeds) provides the start for next year’s food plot.

April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

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conscious eating

photo by Penny De Los Santos

Flower-ful Feasts

Kale Stem Hummus Yields: 6-8 servings

1 cup dried chickpeas 1 tsp baking soda Stems from 1 bunch kale 3 garlic cloves, minced ⅔ cup tahini 1 tsp fine-grain sea salt ⅔ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice Ice water Extra-virgin olive oil for serving The night before making the hummus, put the chickpeas in a large bowl, cover them with at least twice their volume of water and leave to soak overnight at room temperature.

The next day, drain and rinse the chickpeas. Put them, along with the baking soda, in a medium-size pot over high heat.

Stir constantly for about 3 minutes.

Add 6 to 8 cups water until the chickpeas are covered by a few inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot and simmer until the chickpeas are very tender—45 to 60 minutes—checking on them occasionally to skim off any foam on the surface.

necessary until well blended.

Once the chickpeas are cooked, drain them, add them to the kale stem mixture in the food processor along with the salt and lemon juice, and process until smooth.

Add 2 tablespoons of ice water and process until the hummus is very smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add up to 2 additional tablespoons, one at a time, and process again as necessary.

To serve, spoon into a shallow bowl and drizzle with olive oil.

Note: The hummus can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. After thawing frozen hummus, we might need to adjust the seasoning—taste and add salt and lemon juice as necessary. Also, try this hummus with other scraps like Swiss chard stalks or cauliflower cores. Follow the same cooking method as outlined, boiling until very tender, 15 to 30 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Cooking with Scraps, by Lindsay-Jean Hard.

Skim off any chickpea skins that float up as well, but there’s no need to try to remove the skins if they don’t come off. They were softened by the baking soda and will blend smoothly into the hummus.

Daylily and Zucchini Curry with Sweet Potato Shoots

Meanwhile, fill another medium-size pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the kale stems and cook until they are very tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Drain them.

Yields: 2 servings

Blend the kale stems, garlic and tahini in a food processor, scraping down the sides as

This comforting vegan curry sings with the flavors of summer’s vegetables, herbs and garden scraps.

2 heads green garlic and cloves, separated 3 mature garlic cloves, crushed fine 1 can coconut milk 2-3 Tbsp fish sauce (or soy) 2 Tbsp lime juice 1 Tbsp thinly sliced fresh turmeric rhizome ½ cup chopped green garlic leaves 1½ cups cubed butternut squash 2 lb baby zucchini or older ones cut into chunks 8 dry daylily flowers 4 fresh daylily flowers (Hemerocallis fulva), anthers and pistil removed 8 daylily buds 1 makrut (Thai lime) leaf, sliced thinly 1 tsp chile flakes or a large fresh chile, chopped 2 cups loosely packed tender sweet potato shoots 4-6 sprigs Thai basil In a wide skillet that can accommodate the zucchini in a single layer, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the ginger and all the garlic.

Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring so it doesn’t stick. Add the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, fresh turmeric, green garlic leaves and dry daylily flowers. Increase the heat to high. When the liquid boils add the butternut and enough water to bring the liquid just over the vegetables. Cook covered, at a simmer, for 10 minutes.

Remove the lid and add the zucchini, the rest of the daylilies, the lime leaf and the chile.

Cover and cook for another 10 minutes.

Remove the lid, increase the heat and cook at a gentle boil for 10 to 15 more minutes.

The sauce will reduce and concentrate in flavor. Taste for seasoning and add a little more fish sauce or lime if necessary.

Stir in the Thai basil and the tender sweet potato shoots and cook until they have wilted into the sauce, about 4 minutes.

Serve in shallow bowls.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Marie Viljoen.

2 Tbsp avocado oil 3 Tbsp microplaned or very finely chopped fresh ginger

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

August 2020

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DENTISTRY Biological Dentists Get to the Root Causes

W

by Linda Sechrist

hile the majority of individuals may consider oral health as separate from overall health, the mouth and body are very much connected.

Until the late 1970s, this was rarely acknowledged outside a circle of dental professionals, physicians and allied researchers involved in organizations such as the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and the Holistic Dental Association.

Dentists associated with these groups favor the use of preventive measures, a minimally invasive approach to dentistry and biocompatibility testing for all materi-

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als used in oral health procedures. Their individualized methodology and systemic health method of addressing the root causes frequently includes nutrition and lifestyle, providing patients with a less-toxic and safe experience for their overall health.

An important newcomer to this area is the myofunctional treatment system used in orthodontics for children 5 to 15 years old. Research in this field now points to the real causes for crooked teeth and incorrect jaw development—mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, reverse swallowing and thumb sucking (known as incorrect myofunctional habits), in addition to allergies, asthma and an open-mouth posture.

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WHOLE-BODY

Jean Marie Nordin, DDS, co-owner of Groton Wellness, in Groton, Massachusetts, added pediatric orthodontics to her practice after learning about early innovative interventions from her mentor, James Bronson, DDS, of Bronson Family Dentistry, in McLean, Virginia. “Our program for children involves a comprehensive evaluation on the first visit. We look at breathing habits, the way their tongue swallows and the function of the muscles. In medicine, we believe that form follows function; therefore, we observe what muscles around the mouth actually do when the individual swallows. It is really the way you breathe and swallow, as well as how the muscles work, that plays a significant role in where teeth end up and line up,” explains Nordin, who identifies problems in patients between 2 and 5 years old.

“We can start them on a removable Myobrace mouthpiece that can be worn at night and an hour during the day. The mouthpiece begins to change the way the tongue works, waking it up and strengthening it. If a child is born with the physiological problem of a tongue-tie that can’t swallow properly or get up onto the palate, that tongue will never expand the palate like it’s supposed to,” she clarifies.

For chronic mouth-breathers, the face grows long and narrow, which in the long term can cause cardiovascular disease.

In the short term, it can cause anxiety, because the nitric oxide receptors located in the nose signal arteries and veins to relax. “A cardiologist knows about this phenomenon,” says Nordin, who notes that the dysfunction can be unwound before a child turns 9.

While early interceptive myofunctional orthodontic treatment methods such as Myobrace appliances have proven effective for children, there’s also good news for adults that suffer from breathing problems which cause sleep apnea, says

xavier gallego morell/Shutterstock.com

Early interventions beyond conventional solutions

Nordin, who employs a myofunctional therapist. Orofacial myofunctional therapy is neuromuscular reeducation of the oral facial muscles via a series of exercises that work with the muscles of the lips, tongue, cheeks and other parts of the face.

Early intervention and role modeling

“Parents can begin playing a pivotal role in how their children care for their teeth, as well as how they feel and behave in the dentist’s office, as early as age 1. I encourage every mother to bring their child to an appointment. They can hold the child in their lap so they can watch me caring for mom’s teeth. Generally, by the time they are alone in my chair, they aren’t frightened,” advises Pentti Nupponen, a doctor of dental medicine and owner of the Halifax Center for Holistic & Cosmetic Dentistry, in Halifax, Pennsylvania.

Chris Kammer, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Gums of Steel Oral Hygiene Transformation, in Middleton, Wisconsin, also suggests early interceptive treatments for young children. “Early treatments with removable appliances which expand the arch in the roof dome, influence bone growth and make room for incoming teeth can be performed by general dentists,” says Kammer, who notes that a proper diet may help prevent crowding of teeth, as well as malocclusion, or misalignment, of upper and lower teeth.

Gum and heart disease

Doctors practicing functional medicine are more likely to refer patients to biological and holistic dentists. Cardiologists are particularly aware of a 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine study in which researchers looked at individuals with gum and heart disease. Individuals that received adequate care for gum disease had 10 to 40 percent lower cardiovascular care costs than those who didn’t get proper oral care. Another study revealed that gum

disease increases an individual’s risk of heart disease by approximately 20 percent.

Given such evidence, the American Dental Association and American Heart Association have acknowledged the relationship between the two diseases.

By neglecting important ongoing research regarding new and old dental practices, as well as orthodontics, mainstream media has largely left the public in the dark regarding problems associated with root canals, mercury amalgam fillings and some dental implants.

Root canals, tooth extractions and gum disease

Iveta Iontcheva-Barehmi, owner of Boston Dental Wellness, in Brookline, Massachusetts, takes a holistic and biological approach to dentistry founded on the philosophy that everything within the whole body is connected. “Teeth are related to organs, tissues and glands along the body’s meridians, energy channels through which the life force flows,” says the integrative periodontist, who prefers extracting teeth when necessary and using zirconium implants rather than performing a root canal.

Iontcheva-Barehmi explains, “It’s logical that the connection between the meridians and teeth can indicate an individual’s overall health and wellness. Tooth extractions protect patients from toothrelated disease and systemic infections that can be harmful to overall health.

A failing root canal is a chronic abscess around the root of the tooth. It has a direct connection with the bloodstream and disseminates infection through the whole body. This is the reason why holistic dentists recommend extractions.”

She believes the best research on this was done by Weston Price, a Canadian dentist and pioneering nutritionist.

Treating gum disease

To treat gum disease, Amparo David, DMD, owner of Dentistry by Dr. David

and the founder of the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Center of New England, in Bolton, Massachusetts, refers patients to the periodontist she keeps on staff. “I can tell that a patient has internal inflammation by looking at the gums and tongue.

Gum disease has been linked to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and premature births or low-birth weight babies,” says David, whose preventive and healing suggestions for healthy gums includes chewable oral probiotics, daily coconut oil pulling, consisting of swishing a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce harmful bacteria there and on the teeth. She also recommends flossing with an electric toothbrush and a Waterpik. “I suggest adding one or two drops of tea tree oil and iodine to the water in the pick,” notes David, who urges patients to eat less sugar and carbohydrates and more vegetables, proteins and fruits.

“We treat gums with ozone after a deep cleaning because it kills bacteria on contact. Patients maintain healthier gums using ozonated oils twice a day and by using a good toothpaste with no glycerine or fluoride,” says David, who notes that temporomandibular mandibular joint (TMJ) problems are tied to sleep disorders. “Many adolescents have TMJ problems, and sometimes experience this after extraction or retraction orthodontics.”

Despite the slow trickle of related information to the public and the lack of acknowledgement by the majority of dental professionals, these new philosophies and biological dental protocols are definitely improving overall health and wellness.

According to the IAOMT, a dentist that chooses to put biocompatibility testing first can look forward to practicing effective dentistry while knowing that patients are being provided with the safest experience for their overall health.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

August 2020

17

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green living

THE UPSIDE OF LOCKDOWNS

east in March indicated that levels of the pollutant in March of this year were about 30 percent lower on average across the region of the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston than the mean of the previous five years.

Another immediate benefit of the reduction in pollutants is their effect on the pandemic itself. Public health experts agree people that have higher long-term exposure to fine particulate pollution have a 15 percent greater likelihood of dying from COVID-19. They attribute this to the lung damage caused over time by air pollution, combined with the fact that the virus targets the lungs and increases the risk of pneumonia.

Experts warn, however, that the cleaner air is likely to be temporary if we return to pre-COVID-19 levels of travel and industry.

Although we have seen a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels—another important

Air Gets Cleaner Around the Globe

A

by Kimberly B. Whittle

round the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way millions of people live their dayto-day lives, but despite their dire consequences, government-mandated lockdowns have had an unintended positive consequence: cleaner air.

In China, as major cities shuttered factories and reduced transportation earlier this year, experts found that carbon emissions dropped by about 100 million tons over a two-week period. Scientists at the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, in Brussels, are using satellite measurements of air quality to estimate the changes in nitrogen dioxide (NO2)—a pollutant emitted into the air when fossil fuels are burned—over the major epicenters of the outbreak. Their research shows that NO2 pollution over Chinese cities decreased by an average of 40 percent during the lockdown compared to the same period in 2019.

Across the United Kingdom, the reduction in traffic and industry similarly impacted the climate. Within the first six weeks of lockdowns, in London, Birming-

ham, Bristol and Cardiff, NO2 and fine particulate pollutant levels dropped by a third to half, with large declines recorded in other cities. These are the two air pollutants that have the biggest health impacts on people, says James Lee, professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of York and research fellow at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science.

The U.S. has been part of these trends, as well. In Los Angeles, known for its smog, the air quality index improved by about 20 percent during March. According to Yifang Zhu, a professor at the University of California (UC) Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, during March, the region recorded the longest stretch of “good” air quality that it has experienced for 25 years.

NASA has observed significant air quality improvements in other parts of the U.S., as well. Satellite data for March showed that the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions had the lowest monthly atmospheric levels of NO2 that month since 2005. Data on NO2 from the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument over the North-

Jan. 1-20, 2020

Feb. 10-25, 2020

Stevens, J. NASA Earth Observatory (2020, January/February) Airborne Nitrogen Dioxide Plummets Over China August 2020

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inspiration

March 2015-19 Avg.

March 2020

Schindler, T. L. NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio (2015-2020, March)

contributor to global warming—have continued to rise. “The crisis has slowed emissions, but not enough to show up perceptibly [in CO2 levels everywhere].

What will matter much more is the trajectory we take coming out of this situation,” geochemist Ralph Keeling, who directs the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s CO2 monitoring program at UC San Diego, told The Washington Post. But it’s possible that if people start expecting and demanding the cleaner air we have been enjoying during the pandemic, the coronavirus shutdowns could lead us to embrace new ways of living and working.

Scientists worldwide have emphasized that most of the air quality improvement is due to a reduction in traffic. Ed Avol, a professor of clinical preventive medicine at the University of Southern California, told Forbes that telecommuting is here to stay. “Telecommuting from home for those who can, even just for a couple of days a week, can have a marked reduction in terms of emissions.”

Kimberly B. Whittle is the founder and CEO of KnoWEwell.com, a community and marketplace platform committed to rigorous, evidenced-based research that empowers healthier living. To learn more, visit KnoWEwell.com or see ad on page 23.

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How Awe Can Transform Our Lives

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by Jonah Paquette

hat do you feel when you gaze up at the night sky, listen to a soul-stirring piece of music or witness an act of great courage or inspiration? What happens in your body, and what emotions arise, when you come face-toface with these sorts of moments? This feeling—often complete with goosebumps and a shiver down the spine—is known as awe. And as it turns out, this underappreciated and often misunderstood emotion just might hold the key to a happy, meaningful and healthy life.

Although we might think of awe as a rare experience, awe-inspiring moments are all around us. We don’t have to climb to the summit of Mount Everest or stand atop the Eiffel Tower to reap the many benefits of awe. Instead, we can learn to notice the changing colors of the leaves, truly see the joy in a child’s eyes or allow ourselves to be uplifted by the kindness of a stranger.

When we do, it not only feels good in the moment—it actually can change life in lasting and profound ways. In fact, cuttingedge research has shown that awe holds many benefits, ranging from improved mental health, stronger immune systems, increased compassion, strengthened social bonds and much more. In short, the moments that make us go, “Wow!” can be the very moments that lastingly change our lives for the better.

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Here are some ways we can find more awe in our daily life:

Seek out nature: Connect to the natural world, even by just visiting a local park, and notice the beauty all around.

Appreciate the good: Slow down and appreciate the small stuff—the aroma of morning coffee, time with loved ones, having a roof over our heads or even just the breath.

Look for inspiration: The current

challenges around the world have also shown some of the best of humanity. Spend time learning about the people making a difference and experience a sense of awe through their courage.

Expand the mind: Learning about

mind-expanding topics like astronomy, the human brain or anything else that captures the imagination can be a great way to harness a feeling of awe.

Foster connection: The next time we’re with the people we love, take a moment to appreciate how awe-inspiring it is to have the capacity to love and forge bonds the way that we do.

Jonah Paquette is a psychologist, author and international speaker specializing in the science of happiness and well-being. His newest book, Awestruck, explores how moments of awe and wonder can transform our lives. For more information, visit JonahPaquette.com.

August 2020

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HEALING WATERS Hot Baths Rejuvenate Body and Mind

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by Marlaina Donato

own to our very cells, water is the foundation of life. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, bathing in hot mineral springs and cool saltwater was a common ritual for better health, and spaces dedicated to baths were considered sacred. Stepping into a warm tub harkens back to the safety of the womb while offering abundant health benefits. Opting for a bath instead of a shower can not only help minimize headaches, insomnia, menstrual cramps, depression and chronic pain, but soothe a burnt-out nervous system. It can also enliven stagnant blood and lymphatic fluids, enabling metabolic waste to be carried out of the body through perspiration.

“Hydrotherapy is used in many natural health systems for a wide variety of ailments from inflammation to nervous system dysfunction and skin conditions.

Whether you have access to a bathtub or not, there are many ways you can apply these traditional practices to your own self-care routine,” says Marlene Adelmann, herbalist and founder of the Herbal Academy, in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Whether we step into a full-body tub or a foot basin, water is a balm for the modern spirit bogged down by information overload and world events.

“Taking time away in the sanctuary of warm water allows us to slip into a 22

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different state of mind and to release the energetic armor we defend ourselves with, as well as recuperate and heal internally,” says Kiva Rose Hardin, herbalist and co-editor of Plant Healer magazine, in New Mexico.

Insulin Sensitivity, Pain and Depression A good bath can lower chronic systemic inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. It can also impact how the body uses insulin.

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology shows that immersion in hot water counters low-grade inflammation and increases glucose metabolism in individuals unable to exercise.

Hot baths relax muscles by promoting blood circulation through the tissues and prompting the nervous system into a calming parasympathetic mode. Cold-water soaks—preferably in the morning—provide perks that include boosting immunity and increasing depression-zapping endorphins such as dopamine.

are great choices. Studies going back to the 1990s show significant, lasting effects of Dead Sea salts on those with osteoarthritis of the knee, as well as rheumatoid arthritis.

Fortifying the bath with Epsom salts, evaporated sea salt or Himalayan pink salt is highly beneficial. “Himalayan salt has 84 valuable trace minerals, including potassium, magnesium and sodium. It draws out toxins, cleanses the skin and helps cleanse the body energetically,” says Hellen Yuan, founder of the bath product company Hellen, in Brooklyn.

Adding bundles of fresh or dried herbs or snipping them into sachets can strengthen immune response and provide a welcome antidote to work-related stress. “Aromatic herbs and essential oils are inhaled through our olfactory system and make a beeline to our brains, signaling that it’s time to relax or feel energized,” says Adelmann, who emphasizes practical common sense. “Although flowers and leaves floating in the tub make for lovely social media posts, most household plumbing cannot handle big, bulky plant material. The simplest way to add herbs to a bath is by making a super-concentrated tea.” Hardin concurs, recommending fresh or dried lavender, flowering goldenrod tops, holy basil leaves (tulsi, Ocimum tenuiflorum) or calendula blossoms.

Sacred Waters

A Handful of Nature

Baths are good medicine for both genders. “Men carry so much stress in their bodies and typically hold in a lot of tension. A good bath brew eases the muscles and replenishes the mind and soul,” says Yuan.

Bathing can be the ultimate sacred offering to the body. From her woodfired outdoor tub at the edge of a starlit mesa, Hardin advises, “Efforts need not be expensive or time-consuming. Just focused intent will inherently return a sufficient degree of sensuality, magic and beauty to the bath.”

The skin is our largest organ, and what we put into the bath affects us from the outside-in. Bentonite clay for detoxing and Dead Sea salts for pain

Marlaina Donato is the author of Multidimensional Aromatherapy. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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healing ways

NAPA110

August 2020

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Yields: Depends on size of molds 1 cup coconut oil ½ cup blackberries ½ cup raspberries 1 Tbsp basil leaves

COOL TREATS FOR CATS AND DOGS

by Tonya Wilhelm

S

pending quality time with our pets is always a win, especially if it’s in the kitchen. Pet treats can be more than tasty; if we use the right ingredients, they can be downright nutritional. Stop at a favorite local health store to pick up the ingredients to prepare these easy and cool pet treats.

Berry Delicious

Basil isn’t just a culinary herb—it improves digestion, delivers anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants, strengthens the immune system and helps to detoxify the liver. It’s perfect for this summertime frozen snack.

Place the coconut oil in a pan over low heat. Stir until melted and set aside. Place the blackberries, raspberries and basil leaves into a mixer and blend.

Add the melted coconut oil into the mixer and blend ingredients together.

Place a silicone ice cube mold on a cookie sheet for support. The smaller the cavities, the better.

Pour the mix into the molds and place in the freezer.

Once frozen, pop out treats and store in a glass container in the freezer.

Serve one frozen treat to each pet every few days.

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photos courtesy of RaisingYourPetsNaturally.com

Blueberries aren’t the only healthy berries. Blackberries are full of vitamin C, high in fiber, manganese and antioxidants, are a good source of vitamin K and offer antibacterial and anti-inflammatory attributes.

Coconut oil provides vitamins and minerals, is antibacterial, antiviral and has antifungal properties, making it a good choice for yeasty dogs. It also aids in digestion, although too much of a good thing can cause diarrhea.

Berries are a great treat for pets. Raspberries contain quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid that reduces inflammation.

natural pet

Sardines and Milk This frozen pet treat will delight both dogs and cats. Not only will they enjoy this treat, but it offers a powerhouse of nutrition. Sardines provide pets with healthy fats such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), otherwise known as omega-3 fatty acids. They also provide vitamin D3, B12, coenzyme Q10 and amino acids. Not bad for a small fish.

Cow’s milk for pets is pretty much a no-no. They do not tolerate its high level of alpha-s1-casein protein. Goat’s milk, on the other hand, contains extremely low to no amounts of this protein, and so allows better absorption of the nutrients. Goat’s milk also supplies essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B5 and A, as well as healthy fats, enzymes and minerals, making it a good choice for the liquid component in this frozen treat.

Yields: Depends on size of molds 1 can (3.75 oz) wild-caught sardines in water 1 cup goat’s milk, raw or fermented is best Place the ingredients into a mixer and blend. Place a silicone ice cube mold on a cookie sheet for support. The smaller the cavities, the better.

Pour the mix into the molds and place in the freezer.

Once frozen, pop out treats and store in a glass container in the freezer.

Serve one frozen treat to each pet every few days.

Cooling and Soothing

Blueberries are quite popular as a healthy fruit for good reason. They are the most antioxidant fruit around. Because they contain natural compounds called anthocyanins, which are flavonoids, blueberries help protect against cardiovascular disease. They also have high amounts of EPA and DHA, making these little berries quite the superfood.

Carrots offer a great crunch. They also are a fine source of betacarotene, vitamin A, fiber and potassium. Not just a calming herb, lavender is also anti-inflammatory and even aids in digestion. Strawberries are fragrant and tasty, and also provide vitamins C and B9 , magnesium and potassium.

These sweet fruits are rich in antioxidants.

Yields: Depends on size of molds ½ cup blueberries ½ cup carrots ½ cup strawberries 1 Tbsp dried lavender Place the ingredients in a mixer and blend.

Place a silicone ice cube mold on a cookie sheet for support. The smaller the cavities, the better.

Pour the mix into the molds and place in the freezer.

Once frozen, pop out treats and store in a glass container in the freezer.

Serve one frozen treat to each pet every few days.

Tonya Wilhelm is a professional dog trainer, spreading the word about positive methods of preventing and managing behavioral issues with a holistic approach. To connect, visit RaisingYourPetsNaturally.com.

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.

August 2020

25

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.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

and realistic flowers using simple graphite drawing techniques. Ages 14 and up; all skill levels welcome. $25/members, $35/non-members includes material.

1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV. Tickets: Forms.

DonorSnap.com.

Woofstock 2020: Pet Party in the Park – 11am4pm. Hosted by Washington Area Humane Society at Mingo Creek County Park. Enjoy a doggone good day of vendors, food trucks, live music, pet contests, raffles, and more. 3111 Route 136, Finleyville.

Wilderness Survival 101 – 9am-4pm. Hosted

by True North Wilderness Survival School. Join instructors for the perfect introduction to the fundamentals of wilderness survival. $125. 412-9136000. Register/payment: ExploreTrueNorth.com.

Info: Erik@ExploreTrueNorth.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Socially Distant VBQ (Vegan BBQ) Pre-Order Event – Noon-4pm. Hosted by Tupelo Honey Teas. Pre-order from Pure Grub, Veggies N’at, Bitchy Vegan Homo, The Piehorse, and Tupelo Honey Teas. Exhemplary Life CDB and the Millvale Community Library are also taking orders. COVID precautions in place. Pick-up will be scheduled. 211 Grant Ave, Millvale. 412-821-0832.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 Yoga Mini Monsters –10:30-11am. Join Ms. Shannon for Yoga Mini Monsters online via Zoom for children ages 2-5 with caregiver supervision. Ageappropriate yoga poses while listening to music, stories and playing. Hosted by Baldwin Borough Public Library Kids & Teens. Info: Dolores Colarosa: 412-885-2255. Colarosad@einetwork.net.

Tickets: EventKeeper.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 Basic Wilderness Survival Two-Day/One-night Course – Aug 8-9. Hosted by True North Wilderness Survival School. Moderately difficult course meant for those in good physical condition. Learn to use the Seven Priorities of any wilderness emergency: survivor psychology, medical, shelter, fire, signal, water, and food from one of the nation’s top ranked wilderness survival schools. $240. Register: ExploreTrueNorth.com.

Lit Fridays – Noon-1:30pm. Hosted by August Wilson African American Cultural Center. A literaryfocused virtual salon featuring conversations and guest performances via Facebook Live and Zoom.

Info: 412-339-1011 or Info@aacc-awc.org.

Make Your Own Mala –1-4pm. Hosted by Calli Tony, CPT and Simply Holistic Momma. Opening meditation and intention setting prayer. Learn what a mala is. Materials will be provided. $108. 201 East Fairview Ave, Rm 211, Connellsville. Register: Checkout.Square.site.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Swine and Unwind: Pig Yoga – 4-6pm. Fundraiser

by Pigsburgh Squealers Rescue. Pig yoga in the new barn surrounded by resident piggies. Followed by tours of the property and snacks. Kid-friendly. Bring yoga mat or towel, bottled water. Social distancing in practice. $25/adult, $15/under 12. 130 Lampus Ln, Tarentum. Pigsburgh.Squealers@gmail.com.

Tickets: Eventbrite.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 Free Clothing Bank and Household Items –Aug 18-19. 10am-2pm. Hosted by Fresh Fire Church School of Ministry and Training Center. Congregational Church, 171 Connellsville St, Uniontown.

Preregistration required: 724-580-7027.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. ~Christopher Morley

Plant Based Junk Food in Pittsburgh – 5-9pm.

Hosted by Vuture Food and Allegheny City Brewing. Vuture Foods is back from Los Angeles with some of the best vegan comfort food ever. Everything made to go. Menu will be posted the morning of. 507 Foreland St. 412-904-3732.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 Seventh Annual Beers of the Burgh Festival – 3-7pm. By Beers of the Burgh at the Carrie Furnace, Swissvale. Experience an unprecedented variety of ales, ciders, mead and more, all unique to the Three Rivers regional area. Plus, check out some of Pittsburgh’s best food trucks, dance to live music and more. 21 and up only. No children or pets. Tickets: ShowClix.com $25-$65 plus $15/parking. 412-4644020. Info@RiversOfSteel.com.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 Drawing Flowers in Graphite –10am-1pm. By West Virginia Botanic Garden. Artist/Illustrator Linda S. Gribko will teach how to draw expressive

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2nd Annual Spring into Women’s Wellness – 10am-5pm. Hosted by Wellness for Generations LLC at Camp Harmony. Three speakers and 30 vendors of wellness products and services. Includes healthy meals for all and swag (first 50 tickets only). $45. Camp Harmony, 1414 Plank Rd, Hooversville.

814-798-5885. Tickets: Eventbrite.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 24th Annual Shadyside – The Art Festival on Walnut Street – Aug 29-30. 10am-7pm. Howard Alan Events. What started as a neighborhood street fair is now one of the top art shows in PA featuring more than 140 artists. Howard Alan Events: 561-746-6615.

ongoing

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.

Soil Sisters Plant Nursery Summer Camp – Thru Aug 9. 3-6pm. If limit is reached, continue to register to gauge interest to open additional camps.

Volunteer opportunity to help open more sessions.

Children ages 10-13 will learn all about urban gardening and fresh food. $25. Limited scholarships available. Limit 10 children. Camp: 900 Delmont St. Parents will be notified if their child has been selected. 412-872-1744. SoilSisterpgh.com.

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.

monday Mindful Mondays – Thru Sept. 9-9:10am. Join the Veteran’s Administration Pittsburgh’s Whole Health

facilitators for a weekly moment of mindfulness.

Call in every day (except federal holidays) at 9am to transform your day. Start your week with an inner calm, serenity, and harmony. Cal 1-844-376-0278, access code: 685412322.

THE SELF-EMPOWERMENT ISSUE

SEPTEMBER

Emotional Well-Being

tuesday

plus: Adaptive Yoga

Waynesburg Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept. 10am2pm. Hosted by Waynesburg Farmers’ Market and Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful at the Green County Courthouse, 10 East High St, Waynesburg.

724-852-5212. Follow COVID guidelines on social distancing, masks, and handwashing.

Readers are Seeking These Providers & Services:

Counseling/Therapy • Energy Healing Holistic Health Care Providers Life Coaches ... and this is just a partial list!

Lawrenceville Farmers’ Market – Thru Sept.

3-6pm. Join more than 20 local farmers and producers in Arsenal Park, 250 40th St. COVID safety protocols are in place. Sign up to attend the market at Lunited.org. Info at 412-802-7220.

Online Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Hosted by WVU Collegiate Recovery. All skill-levels welcome. A password is required, but anyone can join! Free.

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

Guided Meditation with Reiki – Thru Dec 22.

7-7:50pm. 3rd Tue. Hosted by Salt of the Earth.

Guided meditation begins with gentle relaxation leading to deep inner awareness and peace. $18.

Tickets: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com. Once registered you will receive an email link. Click the link five minutes prior to start. 724-260-0472.

LisaMascara@gmail.com.

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.

thursday Restorative Yoga Nidra – Thru Dec. 7-8pm. 2nd Thur. Hosted by Salt of the Earth. Restorative yoga in the salt cave. Nidra, known as yogic sleep, is meant to induce total physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Bring a mat. 504 Valley Brook Rd, McMurray. 724-260-0472. Lisa@SaltOfTheEarthpgh. com. Tickets: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com.

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.

friday Couples Night at Gaynor’s School of Cooking – Thru Sept. 6-10pm. Unique menu and opportunity to make a meal with your professional instructors. $165. 309 E Carson St. 412-325-2703. Register: App.getoccasion.com.

saturday Morgantown Summer Farmer’s Market – Thru Oct. 8:30am-noon. Pick-up only until further notice. Pull in off of 231, enter the market, exit onto Hwy 70. Call Farmboy (270-526-4649) for a to-go breakfast order for hosting. Support local!

Place sign with your last name, visible through your windshield, follow our signs and directions for drive-through pick-up. Morgantown Farmers Market, 503 No High St, Morgantown, WV. Info: mfmgamanager@gmail.com. Order online: MorgantownFarmersMarket.org.

Volunteer Opportunity – Hilltop Urban Farm – Thru Oct. 9am-noon. 1st & 3rd Sat. Bring a mask and water bottle. Help with mowing, mulching, trimming, planting, weeding and more. 700 Cresswell St. Info: Ned@HilltopUrbanFarm.org.

Virtual Walk with a Doc – Thru Oct 17. 3rd Sat. Hosted by Gentile Family Direct Primary Care. Dr. G will post a health-related educational video on Facebook and Instagram, then look forward to your comments on the health talk, on Walk with a Doc Highland Park Facebook page, on your own social media use #VirtualWWAD, tag @GentileFamilyDirectPrimaryCare, @wwadhp, @walkwithadoc, and @wwadhp. GentileFamilydpc.com.

OCTOBER

Stress Management plus: Joint Health

THE DIABETES CHALLENGE ISSUE

NOVEMBER

Personalized Diabetes Strategies plus: Skin Care

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.

Without them humanity cannot survive. ~Dalai Lama

THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER

Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at: 724-271-8877

August 2020

27

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Pittsburgh, PA

www.NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com NaturalAwakeningsSWPA.com

community resource guide 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.

AROMATHERAPY WELL OILED

Melissa Robb, BSW, JD, CA, RPII Certified Aromatherapist, Reiki II Practitioner 1414 Potomac Ave, Dormont 412-531-6457 • GetWellOiled.com Be your own best wellness advocate. Melissa can help you learn about essential oils, answer questions about CBD or help you along your spiritual path. Holistic We l l n e s s S h o p p r o v i d i n g accessible, affordable, and safe products plus workshops for optimal health and wellness: mind-body-spirit. High-quality aromatherapy oils and accessories, CBD and spiritual workshops. See calendar for classes.

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 5.

CHIROPRACTIC APPALACHIA CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS, PC

THANK YOU

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

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 11.

FAMILY AND LIFESTYLE MEDICINE GENTILE FAMILY DIRECT PRIMARY CARE Natalie Gentile, MD 5655 Bryant St, Pittsburgh GentileFamilyDPC@gmail.com GentileFamilyDPC.com

Affordable, high-quality, evidencebased direct primary care for patients of all ages, regardless of insurance status. Become a member for a low monthly fee and get unlimited office visits, quality healthcare, wholesale prices on prescription medication and at-cost labs. They support a plant-based lifestyle and specialize in intensive therapeutic lifestyle counseling.

To the healthcare professionals who are risking their lives during this epidemic, thank you for fighting COVID-19 on the front lines.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. ~Desmond Tutu

August 2020

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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 11.

YOUR HEALTH INVESTIGATOR

Dr William Howrilla, DC, CFMP Pittsburgh • SW Pennsylvania • Telehealth 412-445-3168 • YourHealthInvestigator.com

TRY FOR FREE! MEET YOUR CONSCIOUS PARTNER HERE!

Dr. William Howrilla, DC, CFMP is a unique chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner who utilizes Contact Reflex Analysis or CRA, which assesses the energy connections within the body for health analysis, detailed health history and other testing modalities to help you restore your health and regain your vitality and quality of life. See ad, page 7.

HEALTH COACH COTERIE

Calli Tony, CPT 201 E Fairview Ave, Rm 211, Connellsville, PA 724-562-0682 • CalliTonycpt.com

KICK OFF SUMMER WITH A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP We invite you to join and experience a truly conscious, loving, dating environment with amazing members. JOIN NOW!

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!

SHE’S MY HEALTH COACH

D’Anna V. Kromer 1195 W Laurel Cir, Mount Pleasant, PA 724-331-3365 • ShesMyHealthCoach.com Certified health wellness coach and registered yoga teacher assisting individuals with habit change. Providing support, a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, a n d t o t a l t r a n sf o r m a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s addressing most pressing health issues like sugar cravings, energy and mood swings, stress, inflammation, emotional eating, chronic dieting, weight loss, diabetes, and sleep hygiene.

Plus, offering private yoga instruction.

Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

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HEALTH FOOD 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 5.

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.

See ads, page 4 and 12.

INTERIOR DESIGN DEBORAH BELLA INTERIOR DESIGN

Debbie S Bielawski, Allied ASID, Associate IIDA 412-216-5487 • DeborahBella.com Info@DeborahBella.com Redesigning your home or office beautifully by utilizing natural, eco-friendly, sustainable and biophilic solutions that are healthier for your mind, body and soul. See ad, page 4.

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 5.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE APPALACHIA CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS, PC

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

SPIRITUAL THE PRAYER WARRIOR AND HEALER ThePrayerWarriorAndHealer.com ThePrayerWarriorAndHealer@gmail.com

Healing children, adults and pets through Divine Intervention practices. Specializing in: customized written prayer requests and crystal grids; assisting empathic and sensitive children; Akashic (past-life record) readings; energy clearing for self, home, property and workplace. See ad, page 4.

URBAN FARMING GROW PITTSBURGH

Raqueeb Bey, Garden Resource Coordinator 6587 Hamilton Ave, Ste 2W, Pittsburgh 412-362-4769 ext 215 Raqueeb@GrowPittsburgh.org 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 304 Third St, California, PA 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 9.

WELLNESS LEARN AND GROW WITH SARA JO Sara Remington, Consulting SaraRemington13@gmail.com 724-208-4977

Family wellness coaching through holistic nutrition, transformational life coaching, and mindfulnessbased practices. Teacher, parent educator, and mind body and wellness practitioner. Schedule a one on one 10-week coaching program on intuitive eating. Available to hold workshops on mindfulness for kids, nutrition, and intuitive eating.

SALT OF THE EARTH

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

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.

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 Awak-

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 7.

enings magazine is looking for experienced

WINER WELLNESS CENTER

START A CAREER YOU CAN BE PASSION-

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.

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.

ATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business, complete with comprehensive training and support system.

New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsmag.com/MyMagazine.

YOGA AND MEDITATION 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.

Open your eyes, look within.

Are you satisfied with the life you’re living? ~Bob Marley

Natural Awakenings Client Testimonial Advertising is a key part of modern business and it informs us about the personal choices we have when it comes to our health. Nowadays time is such a valuable asset and with Natural Awakenings you don't have to worry about it, it is so easy and so rewarding! ~Barbara Calcagni All About Thermography

August 2020

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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）。