Natural Awakenings Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona, May 2020 Edition

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

COVID-19 PET SAFETY Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

FINDING

CALM During Trying Times

FLOWER WOW-ER Beautiful Floral Designing Power Up Your Immune System Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

May 2020 | Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition | NaturalAZ.com

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Contents 16 HEALING THE

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IMMUNE SYSTEM

Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

19 DANCING TO YOUR OWN DRUMMER

The Healing Power of Movement

20 HOW TO REDUCE

STRESS AND ANXIETY NATURALLY

21 SOUL NOURISHMENT The Kitchen As Sacred Space

22 THE JOY OF

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BEAUTIFUL FOOD

Three Simple, Beautiful Plant-Based Summer Recipes

24 HOW TO USE HERBS TO KEEP CALM AND STAY STRONG

26 THE MATRIX OF LIFE

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Boosting Collagen for Better Health

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27 FLOWER WOW-ER Beautiful Floral Designing

29 EYE CARE FOR KIDS A Clear Path to Healthy Vision

30 CORONAVIRUS

PET SAFETY

Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

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DEPARTMENTS 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 14 eco tip 15 inspiration 19 fit body 21 conscious eating 26 healing ways

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green living healthy kids natural pet farmers' markets calendar business directory May 2020

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

A Little of This and That

PHOENIX & NORTHERN ARIZONA EDITION PUBLISHER Tracy Patterson, BSc, MES DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca COPY EDITOR Sara Gurgen WEBSITE Locable Kyle Hass

CONTACT US Natural Awakenings – Phoenix 17470 N Pacesetter Way Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Tracy@NaturalAZ.com NaturalAZ.com

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Lisa Doyle-Mitchell

I

’m hoping that you are well and staying safe during this challenging time.

It has been interesting to publish the May issue of Natural Awakenings, and a little sketchy as to whether or not we were going to get a print edition out this month. However, we managed to pull through and here it is!

I would like to thank my designer, Patrick Floresca; editor, Sara Gurgen; distributors, Presidio Distribution and Steve Bazzar; printer, Valley Newspapers; and the Natural Awakenings national team for their work with my print magazine. I would also like to thank Locable and Kyle Hass for their ongoing help with my website. I know that this is a challenging time, and I appreciate everyone's dedication.

Thank you to my advertisers—those who are in this month’s edition and made it possible for you to be able to read the interesting, informative and important articles, and those who weren’t able to advertise this month but will be back stronger than ever once we’re on the other side of this pandemic.

And to you, my reader—Natural Awakenings appreciates your support, commitment and enthusiasm for the magazine.

When I read the article “How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety Naturally,” on page 20, I thought it would be great to have a coloring picture in this month’s edition. When you get to page 33, you will find such a picture; I hope you enjoy it!

Also, please check out Immune System Resources on our website at NaturalAZ.com.

We’ve compiled articles on healthy ways to keep up your immunity, and will continue to add to this section. We have lots of great resources on our site; just enter a word in the search box for a list of articles.

Finally, I happened to see this quote and it struck a chord, so I thought I’d pass it on:

© 2020 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.

“Courage is the ability to have faith, persistence, and strength in the face of fear, pain, and stress. Have faith today. Keep persisting toward your dreams because we need you. The world needs more people with a courageous heart.”

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please contact us to find a location near you.

~Brendon Burchard

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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In a study of 76 people with mildly high total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, research published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine found that consuming 30 milliliters of vinegar made from date pulp and pits daily for four weeks significantly improved total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride and HDL levels, as well as several biomarkers of inflammation.

A new Harvard study of 746 young sperm donors reports that men that exercise more have better sperm quality.

The men, with an average age of 26, at least a high school education and no radiation exposure or sexually transmitted diseases, were qualified to donate to a sperm bank in their area. Compared to men that seldom exercised, those that reported the most total exercise and logged the most time doing intense workouts had better sperm motility, which increases the chances for sperm to move through the female reproductive tract to reach an egg.

Take Quercetin to Reduce Blood Pressure

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Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

Fewer than seven hours of sleep for a child is not only linked to anxiety, depression, impulsiveness and cognitive difficulties, but also impacts a child’s brain structure, suggests new research from the UK’s Warwick University published in Molecular Psychiatry. Researchers used data that included MRI scans of more than 11,000 children ages 9 to 11 from 21 centers in the U.S. Parents also provided information about their child’s sleep duration and mental health conditions, and children performed a battery of cognitive tests. Researchers found that compared to children that slept between the recommended nine and 11 hours, those receiving less than seven hours had 53 percent more behavioral problems and scored 7.8 percent lower on cognitive tests. In children that slept less, volumes were smaller in five brain regions. Children that slept longer showed less depression and higher cognitive scores, and felt safer and more secure in their homes and neighborhoods.

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Supplementation with quercetin, a plant pigment found in capers, cilantro, fennel, onions, red leaf lettuce, watercress, elderberries, asparagus, kale, cocoa, apples and chia seeds, can significantly reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, lowering each by about three milliliters/ Hg, reports a new review of research published in the Oxford Academic Journal, of 17 clinical studies that tested 896 participants. Quercetin also improved HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels when consumed for eight weeks or more.

Tuck Kids In Early to Reduce Depression and Cognitive Issues

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Exercise to Boost Sperm Quality

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Consume Date Vinegar to Boost Heart Health and Reduce Inflammation

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Watch Out: Rapid Weather Changes Boost Flu Risk

Eat Less Sulfur Amino Acids to Reduce Heart Disease Risk A plant-based diet low in such sulfur amino acid foods as meat, dairy, nuts and soy may be key to lowering the risk of heart disease, concludes a study from the Penn State University College of Medicine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins; a subcategory called sulfur amino acids plays integral roles in metabolism. Researchers correlated diets and blood biomarkers of more than 11,000 participants from a national study and found people that ate foods containing fewer sulfur amino acids tended to have a decreased risk for cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They also found that the average American consumes almost two-and-a-half times more sulfur amino acids than the estimated average requirement. “People who eat lots of plant-based products like fruits and vegetables will consume lower amounts of sulfur amino acids,” says lead author Zhen Dong, a doctor of public health.

Confirming this, a Northwestern Medicine and Cornell University study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that every two servings of red meat, processed meat or poultry per week increased cardiovascular disease risk by 3 to 7 percent. For every two servings of red meat or processed meat per week, the risk of death from any cause was increased by 3 percent. The findings, based on an analysis of six studies involving 29,682 people, contradict a controversial study published last year that recommended people not reduce the amount of red meat and processed meat they eat. “Everyone interpreted that it was okay to eat red meat, but I don’t think that is what the science supports,” says senior study author Norrina Allen, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern.

Rapid weather swings as a result of climate change raise the risk of flu virus infections and epidemics, reports a study from Florida State University and international researchers. Tracing weather patterns and infection rates during a 20-year period in the U.S., China, Italy and France, scientists found that extreme fluctuations in weather during the autumn months of 2017 essentially kick-started that winter’s severe flu epidemic, implying, “The lapsed human immune system in winter caused by rapidly changing weather makes a person more susceptible to flu virus,” says lead author Zhaohua Wu, a professor of meteorology. The study warned that as weather variability increases, Europe could see a 50 percent increase in deaths tied to flu by the end of the century, but added that factoring in weather variability could help public health planning.

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Buzz Off

global briefs Seaweed Lowers Cows’ Methane Emissions

If Australia can grow enough of the puffy, pink Asparagopsis taxiformis seaweed for every cow in Australia, the country could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent.

That’s the conclusion the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia) seaweed research group leader Associate Professor Nick Paul. The cows burp out methane, but, “When added to cow feed at less than two percent of the dry matter, this particular seaweed completely knocks out methane production. It contains chemicals that reduce the microbes in the cows’ stomachs that cause them to burp when they eat grass,” he says. Cows are known to eat seaweed. “This seaweed has caused a lot of global interest, and people around the world are working to make sure the cows are healthy, the beef and the milk are good quality,” Paul notes. “But the one missing step, the big thing that is going to make sure this works at a global scale, is to make sure we can produce the seaweed sustainably.”

New research from the University of Sheffield in the UK published in Scientific Reports suggests that individual members of a bee swarm behave like neurons in a human brain.

The scientists applied a theoretical model commonly used to study human psychology to the behavior of bee colonies, and they believe that studying “bee speak” could inform us about how our own minds make decisions. In the field of psychophysics, Weber’s law describes a relationship between the size of a stimulus and noticeable increases in its magnitude. This general rule about stimulus and perception has been observed in birds, fish and even the collective behavior of simpler organisms, but not in whole clusters of tiny brains such as an insect hive. To investigate its role in the decision-making processes of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), the researchers watched hives split apart and hunt for new homes. Among bees, the process of choosing a hive comes down to the interactions of scout bees communicating their discoveries through a visual display of body wiggles.

“The study also supports the view of bee colonies as being similar to complete organisms,” says computer scientist and lead author Andreagiovanni Reina.

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Passing Gas

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Bee Swarms Form Giant Brains

Life Perseveres

Although thousands of species have been identified and finding new taxa like birds, is rare, a study published in the journal Science describes five new songbird species and five new subspecies found on a single small island near Sulawesi, Indonesia, during a six-week expedition. Scientists targeted the area because of its geological history and complexity, and the historical notes of other explorers.

Two factors that contributed to the description of the large number of species in a small geographic area included knowledge of geographical land connections that helped pinpoint isolated islands likely to harbor substantial endemism and accounts of historic collectors such as British naturalist Alfred Wallace. The findings suggest that human understanding of biogeographically complex regions remains incomplete.

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Charging Ahead

New Batteries From Fruit Waste

Carbon aerogels that exhibit high specific surface areas, high proportions of mesopores and significant levels of nitrogen doping have been developed for the first time using waste from durian fruit and jackfruit scraps using a chemical-free, green synthesis procedure. According to the Journal of Energy Storage, the electrodes also displayed long-term cycling stability and rapid charge–discharge processes. Both electrodes are attractive candidates for the next generation, high-performance, yet lowcost supercapacitors for energy storage devices derived from biowastes.

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New Bird Species Found on Remote Island

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Jolly Good

King of Bhutan Requests Selfless Gift

The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, turned 40 years old on February 21.

Rather than ask for gifts, he asked his people to either plant a tree, adopt a stray animal or clean up their neighborhood in his honor.

The Himalayan nation is consistently ranked one of the most eco-friendly countries in the world. In May 2016, Wangchuck and his wife celebrated the birth of their firstborn son by asking each of the nation’s households to plant a sapling, resulting in more than 108,000 trees planted.

Wild Things

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Wildness a Big Factor in Urban Parks

A new study led by the University of Washington (UW) has found that not all forms of nature are created equal when considering benefits to people’s well-being.

Experiencing wildness is particularly important for physical and mental health, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. This is the first study to show that wildness in urban areas is profoundly important for human well-being. “The wilder areas in an urban park seem to be affording more benefits to people, and their most meaningful interactions depended on those relatively wild features,” says lead author Elizabeth Lev, a graduate student in the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.

Senior author Peter Kahn, a UW professor of environmental and forest sciences and psychology, says, “Everywhere, development is chipping away at wild areas. Humanity has caused so much destruction and there’s no stopping it—unless we stop. We’re trying to show that if you’re going to develop an area, you at least need to understand the human costs.” The researchers hope studies like this can be used as part of the decisionmaking process for development proposals in parks and urban natural areas. They compiled their analysis methods into a handbook that can be used in other cities around the world.

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Virus Fighters

Essential Oils for Challenging Times In these coronavirus days, an essential oil mixture with legendary origins in the Bubonic Plague offers soothing scents for the homebound and might add some viral protection.

The mixture of five oils: eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon, lemon and rosemary, is known as Thieves. As the story goes, in the 1500s, as the Black Death decimated Europe, when four unemployed spice merchants that turned to robbing the bodies and homes of the dead were captured and threatened with being burned alive, they confessed to the judge their secret to avoiding infection—the spice blend that they rubbed on their hands, ears, feet and temples.

They were all hanged, but their formula survives as Thieves, and is today one of the most popular essential oil blends in the market, sold under that name and also as Five Guards, Health Shield and Fighting Five. Although shown to sharply reduce three kinds of airborne bacteria in 10 minutes, its antiviral properties have not been extensively studied. Its components, however, have proven antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiviral properties: ■ Eucalyptus, long used for respiratory infections, has been proven effective against a number of viruses, particularly the swine flu and herpes type 1 viruses.

■ Clove has exhibited strong antiviral activity against such viruses as the adenovirus type 3 respiratory virus, poliovirus and coxsackievirus.

■ Cinnamon leaf shows antiviral activity and can prevent pneumonia due to influenza.

■ Lemon oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is often used in cleaning products.

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■ Rosemary eases stress and has antiviral, antimicrobial and antidepressant qualities.

Thieves can be purchased in natural health stores or online. For a homemade blend, Jennifer Lane, an aromatherapist, registered nurse and founder of LovingEssential Oils.com, recommends combining these essential oils: ✔ 35 drops lemon ✔ 20 drops cinnamon leaf ✔ 15 drops clove bud ✔ 15 drops eucalyptus ✔ 10 drops rosemary Adding five drops of the blend, along with water in a diffuser, can waft the scent throughout a room and diminish airborne odors and germs. For respiratory support, put a few drops into a cup of steaming, but not boiling, water, drape a towel around the cup and face, and breathe in the fumes. Add it to a carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil at a 1:30 ratio (such as one-half ounce Thieves to 15 ounces jojoba) and rub it on pulse points in the wrist and neck. But do not ingest the blend. If a child under 10 is in the house, don’t diffuse it or use it topically on them, because rosemary and eucalyptus can be unsafe for a child, advises Christina Anthis, author of The Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started.

and asking them what color would help them feel calm. Then we can inhale that color, letting it find its way within to soothe our cells, and exhale our stress by breathing out a different color. We can repeat this technique as long and as often as needed. Teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, report that this really works for kids, too.

To heal means to make whole. It doesn’t mean to make something go away. Hardship is part of life’s journey. Even this global pandemic can serve as our spiritual wake-up call to learn how different spiritual traditions heal from life-shattering events. Five gifts offer us the keys to wholeness:

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inspiration

■ Humility helps us accept what we cannot change.

■ Patience takes the edge off when the hurt lasts longer than we want.

■ Empathy keeps us connected for the long haul.

■ Forgiveness means forgiving ourselves, our leaders and God. ■ Growth lets us look back with thanks for what we learned when the journey of life was anything but comfortable and easy.

Let’s journey together.

FINDING CALM

Laurie Nadel, a Manhattan psychotherapist, is the author of The Five Gifts: Discovering Hope, Healing and Strength When Disaster Strikes.

During Trying Times

F

by Laurie Nadel

rom the moment we wake up and log on to our day, we are flooded with news about people whose days started off much the same, with an expectation of going from point A to point B, to lunch, to point C and then back home.

But something happened. A tornado touched down in the neighborhood. Or a train derailed in a cousin’s hometown. Or, like now, an invisible killer stalks the globe, threatening to take our life or the life of someone we know.

Within seconds, we are flooded with horror and helplessness. Unable to stop the cascade of acute stress hormones, our bodies shift into fight-or-flight mode or leave us frozen like deer in the headlights. Whether we see what is happening online, on screen or in real time, we feel unsafe in our own skin. Although disturbing images can be swiped away, when something bad happens to us, we don’t know what to do. We can’t change the channel.

Even during these tough times, we can find opportunities to develop new strengths and grow individually and together.

To start with, we need emotional first aid to help us find calm quickly. We can do this by locating the tension points in our body May 2020

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Healing the Immune System Autoimmune Breakthroughs Offer New Hope

S

by April Thompson

ome 23 million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases—a category comprised of more than 80 conditions, including fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes. These pernicious disorders are notoriously difficult to diagnose, even harder to treat and can be debilitating, diminishing the quality of life for sufferers.

Another commonality is the increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in women versus men; in the case of lupus, for example, a nine-fold difference. Some early indicators are that this may be related to a “gene dosage effect”, as men with XXY chromosomes have the same risk of developing lupus as other women, and women with XXX chromosomes (known in medical parlance as “superwomen”) have an even higher risk of autoimmune disease, according to Judith James,

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chair of the Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in Oklahoma City.

Yet there is hope on the horizon, as scientific discoveries unlock important insights about the manifestation and progression of autoimmune diseases leading to new treatments and prevention tips. Evidence is also mounting around the role of diet and lifestyle in autoimmune conditions, giving patients new avenues for taking charge of their health instead of simply waiting for a cure.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic and can affect almost any part of the body, including the heart, brain, muscles, skin, eyes, joints, lungs, kidneys, glands, digestive tract and blood vessels. Each disease carries its own set of symptoms, but inflammation is nearly always present, and are all connected by how the immune system attacks

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the body’s healthy tissues. “Those shared characteristics hold the potential for shared treatments, and ultimately potentially common cures,” says Jane Buckner, president of the Benaroya Research Institute (BRI), at Virginia Mason, in Seattle, which works to advance the prediction, prevention, reversal and cure of immune system diseases.

“I’m excited about our progress toward prevention. We are working to understand those tipping points in transitioning into disease that help us understand who is at highest risk, and helps give very directed therapies,” says James.

Self-Healing from Autoimmunity

By her early 20s, Mickey Trescott, of Willamette Valley, Oregon, was bedridden and had lost her job to autoimmune

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disease. At one point, doctors thought it was multiple sclerosis (MS); she was dizzy, numb, falling over and slurring her speech.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with both Hashimoto’s and celiac diseases, affecting the thyroid and small intestine, respectively. Trescott, a nutritionist, chef and author of The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, had been vegan for 10 years, but had a feeling that her body needed something different.

She found an early version of what would become known as the autoimmune protocol (AIP), and in following its guidelines, began to find relief. Trescott connected with other women and started a private Facebook group to share information on what was improving their condition from which the AIP community sprung. AIP, an elimination diet that seeks to reset the immune system by cutting out inflammation-causing foods and treating leaky gut, has much in common with the paleo diet and promotes vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods. However, every individual comes out of the AIP process with a customized diet.

For Trescott, “Gluten is a forever-no, and I am also allergic to dairy and sensitive to a lot of nightshade vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers.” It took three years to recover most of her functioning, and although she had been a personal chef, it was still challenging to determine a new approach to eating that didn’t include the grains and legumes that had been staples of her diet.

Trescott is still on medications, including the same thyroid support she’s relied on from the start. “There is a misconception that the AIP is an alternative to conventional medicine. We really pride ourselves on using all the tools in our toolbox, including surgery, medication and lifestyle changes,” she says.

Anecdotal successes like Trescott’s have led researchers to pursue funding to test the AIP’s efficacy. In a pilot study of 18 individuals with an average sick time of 19 years that didn’t respond to traditional medication, 73 percent were in clinical remission at the end of the trial, having followed the AIP. “It was a small sample size, but the results are promising,” says Trescott.

Physician, Healed Thyself

Like many physicians, Terry Wahls focused on treating her patients with drugs or surgical procedures—until the Iowa City doctor was diagnosed with MS in 2000. Within three years, despite conventional medical treatments, her back and stomach muscles had weakened to the point where she needed a tilt-recline wheelchair, and by the summer of 2007, she could no longer sit up.

Though Wahls had been a vegetarian on a low-fat diet for 20 years, she went back to eating meat and gave up all dairy, wheat and grains, but still wasn’t improving. Delving back into the science of her condition, Wahls realized that mitochondrial support was key, and the speed of her decline slowed while taking a cocktail of vitamins to support its functioning.

It wasn’t until she took a comprehensive approach to optimize everything she could take in through her food rather than relying on supplements that she saw radical results: Her brain fog, fatigue and pain went away and she biked around the block for the first time in six years. “Taking in nutrients in the form of food rather than supplements, you get related compounds and thousands of others in biologically anticipated ratios,” explains Wahls. “I still do take some supplements, but the magic is the food.”

Those key ingredients, says Wahls, include magnesium, zinc, selenium, sulfur, amino acids, cholesterol, omega-6 and omega-3s, fats, carnitine and creatine. Her rule of thumb for daily intake is three cups of leafy green vegetables; three cups of

sulfuric vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms and onions; and three cups of deeply pigmented vegetables, plus sources of protein for meat eaters and vegetarians.

While her work was initially not accepted, today she has funding from the National MS Society and her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. “Basic science is now showing that the microbiome has a huge impact on the immune system activity and the brain; the food we eat can turn gene expression on and off,” says Wahls, who hasn’t taken any drugs for her autoimmune condition since 2008.

Buckner cautions against patients trying to manage disease with lifestyle changes alone, without giving available allopathic treatments a fair try. “People do better if they are treated early and aggressively. They are reliant on fewer medications down the road and don’t have permanent damage if they seek treatment early.”

However, even researchers focused on pharmaceutical approaches acknowledge the importance of diet and lifestyle.

Meggan Mackay, professor of Molecular Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, at Northwell Health, in Manhasset, New York, believes this can play a critical role in disease management.

She cites numerous studies showing exercise as a stress-buster positively influencing disease outcomes, as well as a more specific study looking at the benefits of adding fish oil and vitamin D to the diets of lupus patients. “The rise in obesity, which is linked to increased inflammation in the U.S., may be one of reasons we are seeing more autoimmune disease than ever,” says Mackay.

At-risk individuals should be aware of factors under their control, adds James. “If someone is worried about autoimmune disease running in their family, monitoring and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and avoiding smoking and other high-risk behaviors can help improve their chances.”

Even sleep patterns can play a role in disease manifestation, says the researcher.

In one study, individuals at high risk for autoimmune disease that slept less than seven hours per day were more likely to develop an autoimmune condition, according to James.

May 2020

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There are some clear links between autoimmune diseases, such as the genetic predisposition that runs in families. “Someone with rheumatoid arthritis may have a sister with celiac disease, for example, and one individual may suffer from multiple autoimmune conditions. We can learn from these common genetic links,” says Buckner. These common links can serve as important clues. For example, Buckner says they are able to demonstrate changes in T cells in diabetes and MS that are the same, which might lead to common treatments for the two conditions.

While the process from basic scientific discovery to development of effective treatment can be slow, there are some concrete breakthroughs autoimmune researchers are excited about, having demonstrated ability to both prevent and delay disease. Citing a recent clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “They have demonstrated in kids at high risk for developing Type 1

for decades. “The only forms of treatment have been very immune-suppressive medications that shut down the immune response. None of these medications are specific, so in shutting down the immune response to treat lupus, they in turn interfere with the body’s ability to fight off infection and cancer.” Researchers are now honing in on single cells from biopsies that indicate which proteins are abnormal, thereby helping develop more selective therapies, she says.

Seeing progress in the lab is one thing; seeing it in the waiting room is another, and that’s where autoimmune scientists and clinicians are really beginning to note a difference. “I’ve seen patients for 25 years, and when we started, we had very few options in my clinic, which was full of wheelchairs,” says Buckner. “In the last 20 years, we have seen an explosion in research and available treatments. I don’t have wheelchairs in my office anymore.”

diabetes the ability to delay onset for at least two years. It’s an incredibly exciting finding,” says Buckner.

Mackay is hopeful about advances in basic science addressing specific immune system abnormalities linked to inflammatory problems. “Lupus is very challenging to diagnose and treat because it can affect every system in the body,” says Mackay, whose research team has focused on lupus

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

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DANCING TO YOUR OWN DRUMMER The Healing Power of Movement

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by Marlaina Donato

ovement comes in many colors, from modern dance to country line dancing, and there’s something for everyone, including those that claim to have two left feet. Dancing is healthy for the heart and improves cognitive function by forging new neural pathways in the brain. It builds stronger bones, helps balance and improves flexibility and endurance. Putting on dancing shoes also has a positive effect on depressive disorders, flooding the brain with endorphins that uplift mood and jumpstart motivation. Dance has found its way into the clinical setting as a psychotherapeutic tool for healing trauma, eating disorders and addictions.

Dancing, in essence, is for everyone. “Dance is a human right, a feature of almost every culture in the world, and our natural inclination to dance is one of the things that makes us human,” says David Leventhal, program director of Dance for PD, a nonprofit Parkinson’s Disease program of the Mark Morris Dance Group, in Brooklyn.

Valerie Durham, a modern dancer in Baltimore specializing in the Isadora Duncan technique, concurs, “Birds don’t consider if they have talent for singing, they just sing. They sing because they have a voice. Similarly, dance is a right offered to anyone with a body.”

A Deterrent for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer Going dancing on a Friday night also proves to nourish the brain. A 2017 study published in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience shows evidence that dance increases white matter that diminishes with cognitive decline. An older study sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine spotlights data gathered during a 21-year period and reveals that regular social dancing can reduce the risk for dementia in seniors by 76 percent.

“A number of peerreviewed research studies point to dance’s ability to improve motor skills and function of people living with Parkinson’s disease— balance, gait and tremor.

Dance is expressive, giving people a creative voice when it feels that their capacity for physical, vocal and facial expression is being taken away,” says Leventhal.

Durham, who worked with patients at the University of Florida Shands Hospital Arts in Medicine Program in the 1990s, witnessed memorable responses from cancer patients. “We danced with patients who were attached to IVs and those even in the ICU, some who were partially or even completely paralyzed, people who maybe could dance only with

their eyes. And yet they danced,” marvels Durham. “Getting the lymphatic system, endorphins and breath flowing all elevate the body out of pain mode.”

Dancing from the Soul All forms of dancing have the capability to free the spirit and heal deep emotional wounds buried in the memory-holding fascia of the body’s soft tissues. Ecstatic dance, which has roots in ancient spiritual practices, is an unstructured option that dilutes limiting, self-conscious habits. These days, ecstatic dance gatherings have been organized in cities around the world.

“There’s a vast movement in the dance world that has nothing to do with performance, but rather, is done for the joy of inhabiting a body in motion.

Ecstatic dance is a free-form conscious dance and is a vibrant global community for people who love music and movement,” says Donna Carroll, founder of Ecstatic Dance International, in San Francisco. “When we can be courageous enough to turn away from our cultural norms that say you need ‘talent’ to dance, we get a chance to experience music through our bodies, and it can be quite pleasurable and life-affirming. Ecstatic dance is one of the most effective methods to return to what matters, to our bodies, to our ‘home’, and is accessible for people of all abilities.”

In her artistic sphere of performance art, Durham has seen her students blossom from the inside-out. “They are able to connect with the deep wisdom in their bodies, thereby releasing old energetic wounds. Depression and anxiety are relieved during dance because you are so consciously consumed with the present moment of the steps and the music. Dancers will find that they feel more joyful and at peace at the end of a dance session.”

For Leventhal, moving the body is a blessing for all: “Dance should be accessible and enjoyable to everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive challenges.”

Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at AutumnEmbers Music.com.

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by Ann Charlotte Valentin

Excerpt from chapter 13 of Med School After Menopause, The Journey of My Soul, by Dr. Ann Charlotte Valentin.

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ost of us have experienced an increase in stress and anxiety during the past few weeks.

Stress is the body’s response to a real or imaginary threat. When the body is under stress, it responds by releasing stress hormones, such as cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine, resulting in the “fight or flight” response. The body isn’t very good at distinguishing between mental and physical stress, so it reacts the same way each time regardless of what type of stress is being experienced. Anxiety, which typically causes symptoms of worry, nervousness, apprehension and fear, is something you feel in your body and demands your immediate attention.

Tools for dealing with stress and anxiety:

When you experience stress and anxiety, remind yourself to be in the present moment rather than worrying about the future. As John Lennon said: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

Here are some things you can do at home to bring your attention to the present moment: • Meditate by sitting quietly and listening to calming music. Focus on your breath. If you start thinking about something, simply recognize the 20

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thought and let it go and return to focusing on your breath. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to only practice five minutes in the beginning if that is all you can do. Gradually work up to longer periods of time.

The more you practice, the better you will get.

When you experience fear, tell yourself that you are releasing your fear to the sky and replacing it with gratitude.

Make a gratitude journal. Write down five new things each day you are grateful for.

Increase your exercise, as it creates endorphins, which naturally reduce stress.

Look for online platforms to join in with others if that helps you get going.

Learn how to cook or bake new things.

You can easily find recipes online.

Draw a picture and color with crayons, markers or paint. If you can’t draw, look for free drawing lessons on YouTube or other online platforms.

Make your own postcards and mail them to family and friends to brighten their day.

Grounding exercises, such as taking off your shoes and feeling the earth beneath them, will give you negative ions, which are calming.

Sing songs out loud or call a friend or family member to set up sing-along times.

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Remember this message: The darkness holds the power of creativity and transformation. It is from the darkness that new life awakens and begins.

Finally, practice this exercise: When you feel like you can barely make it through another day and nothing seems to be going in the right direction, remind yourself that this, too, shall pass. Tell yourself that you are strong. Remind yourself that you are sowing your seeds, and soon your flowers will blossom. Send yourself an email with this message or write it down and put it on your mirror or wall to remind yourself daily.

Dr. Ann Charlotte Valentin is a family physician and also has post-graduate education in bioidentical hormones, Koren Specific Technique, CranioSacral Therapy, Emotional Release Technique and BodyTalk. Valentin also works as an evidential medium and spiritual educator. Her book, Med School After Menopause, The Journey of My Soul, is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Connect with her at 602-888-2320 or DrLotte.com.

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How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety Naturally

• If you play an instrument, take it out and play it or learn how to play a new song.

• If you have a garden or patio, plant some flowers or seeds.

• Go outside in the evening and look at the stars.

• Learn something new. Look on YouTube or other online platforms for free classes.

• Take time to sit outside and drink a cup of herbal calming tea, such as chamomile, and listen to the birds.

• Read a book you own and never read or order a new book.

Laugh throughout the meal preparation.

Dance as you cook. Do the same thing if you live alone.”

Preparing food, whether a healthy smoothie or a gourmet weekend dinner for two, is a way to express love for ourselves and others. Baron loves the presence of plants, lovely ceramics and interesting platters and dishes, and notes, “Families can definitely shop, chop, cook and mealplan together to make the kitchen a fun place to be. Doing these things together is very bonding and sends the message that looking after yourself is important.”

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conscious eating

Practical Magic

Soul Nourishment The Kitchen As Sacred Space

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by Marlaina Donato

n our busy lives, grabbing food on the run or eating while standing at the kitchen counter is often the norm. Designating the kitchen as a practical sanctuary and seeing the sacredness of food not only makes it more conducive to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but also gives our spirits much-needed satiety.

“If we don’t touch the transcendent— emotionally and spiritually—physical nourishment won’t fill us up,” says Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D., former psychological consultant to Weight Watchers International and the author of The Zen of Eating: Ancient Answers to Modern Weight Problems. “Seeing the kitchen as sacred is something that represents gratitude, beauty and blessings.”

Delia Baron, co-author of Better Together Kitchen: Beautiful Recipes to Share With People You Love and the host of seasonal food workshops with partner Ronnit Hoppe in Melbourne, Australia, concurs, “The kitchen is often the heartbeat of the home and the best place to gather, feast, chat and create beautiful memories and rituals. The kitchen is also a place to connect to our food source.”

Fun and Felicity

Preparing meals the old-fashioned way can slow us down and foster mindfulness, but Kabatznick emphasizes that cooking is irrelevant. “Look at the kitchen in terms of possibilities: ‘What can I create in this space?’ You don’t have to turn into Julia Child,” she says, adding, “You could be eating Chinese takeout or a prune; it’s all about mindset and simple rituals like saying a blessing, appreciating what we eat as a great gift.” Kabatznick encourages everyone to eat with dignity, and this includes using the good dishes, putting fresh flowers on the table and eating with awareness.

Seeing the kitchen as the inspired nucleus of the home, it’s natural to add favorite items like art prints, colorful jars, sentimental treasures, dried flowers and other seasonal delights to nourish daily contentment. Conjuring an element of joy adorns the mundane. “Put on some music to put you in either a peaceful or joyful mood,” says Molly Larkin, author, healing practitioner and blogger at Ancient Wisdom for Balanced Living (MollyLarkin.com), in Corrales, New Mexico. “Turn off the TV and give everyone in the family a job.

Meal prep can be enjoyable and even relaxing in a calm environment. For Baron, organization is key. She advises, “Having all the ingredients you need and working in a clean space also helps make the experience rewarding.”

The smallest of kitchens can be abundant and organized with the help of a little innovation. A simple bookcase can offer additional shelf space for dry goods, bowls of produce or favorite cups. A small end table can hold a favorite tea pot and a jar of gourmet dark chocolate. A beautiful basket can hold go-to spice jars, and a pretty pitcher near the stove can accommodate a multitude of cooking utensils. “If you can’t fit it all out of sight in a cabinet, get some glass jars, fill them with grains, flours and legumes and line them up on the countertop. It will be neat, and you can see what you have,” suggests Larkin.

In the end, a well-nourished body and spirit fosters a beautiful life and inspires the same in others. An advocate for supporting the hungry in all communities, Kabatznick underscores local efforts and seeing the big picture of our relationship with food: “Taking out the garbage and cleaning up is also a sacred act if we bring that attitude into it. Food connects us to the Earth, the moon and the stars.

From the seed to the truck driver—everything and everyone involved—the process of food is miraculous.”

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

May 2020

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aromatherapy and mindfulness of handgrating cumin and coriander seeds for hummus, along with cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom for raw desserts.

4

Plate Mindfully. Remember we eat with our eyes first, so after you have taken the time to prepare your dishes, take a few mindful moments to choose one of your favorite plates or bowls for your meal and take time to mindfully place the veggies, herbs and edible flowers onto the plate to create your own version of appetizing food art.

Three Simple, Beautiful Plant-Based Recipes Hummus 3 Ways: Beet, Turmeric, Classic.

The Joy of Beautiful Food Three Simple, Beautiful Plant-Based Summer Recipes

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by Melanie Albert

his season, let’s bring joy to our lives with beautiful food by creating simple plant-based recipes and adding an extra touch of beauty to them.

Top Four Ways to Add Beauty to Your Meals:

1

Buy Veggies from Our Local Farmers. Food is still growing abundantly in Arizona, and we are so fortunate that our local farmers continue to work so passionately and hard to grow such beautiful, fresh, local food for our community. To shop with our local farmers, visit their farm stores, farmers’ markets, or preorder a CSA (community-supported agriculture) share from a farmer and pick it up at a farmers’ market.

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2

Add Color and Texture to Your Dishes. This is a great time to experiment with the produce, herbs and flowers our local Arizona farmers are growing. Buy a variety of veggies, such as tomatoes, peppers, radishes, carrots, beets and onions.

Chop the vegetables in unique shapes and sizes for your meals. Garnish your dishes with fresh herbs and even edible flowers.

3

Add Natural Aromatherapy to Your Culinary Creations. Use fresh summer herbs, such as basil and mint, to add flavor to your meals and side dishes.

Mindfully chop the herbs and pause to enjoy their natural aromatherapy. Experiment with freshly squeezed citrus juice and zest to add aromatherapy and fresh taste to your meals. Enjoy the natural

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Enjoy mindfully and intuitively creating these simple dishes. Take time to appreciate the beauty of the food, the mindfulness of the cooking process, and the final food art of your culinary creations.

• Classic Hummus. Turmeric. Beet.

• Simple Avocado Salsa. Intuitively create with the veggies, aromatics and herbs in your kitchen.

• Raw Carrot Cake. A simple, beautiful, tasty, aromatic dessert.

Classic Hummus.

Turmeric. Beet.

I’m excited to share with you the same recipe we made for the Super Bowl XLIV VIP Tailgate Party for the Super Bowl in Miami. Now you can make it, too. In addition to the Classic Hummus, traditionally made with tahini (ground sesame seeds), we can create different versions of hummus with turmeric or beet powder. Enjoy!

Yields: 4 servings Simple Ingredients 2 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) ⅓ cup chickpea water 3 Tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste) 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice ⅛ tsp cumin seeds, hand-ground ⅛ tsp coriander seeds, hand-ground (seeds from cilantro) Pinch sea salt 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Simple Avocado Salsa: Mise en Place.

Turmeric Hummus: ½ tsp turmeric powder, pinch black pepper Beet Hummus: 2 tsp beet powder Simple Steps • Place all ingredients, except olive oil, into a food processor.

• Blend a few minutes, until smooth.

• Stream in the olive oil and blend until creamy.

• After the hummus has been blended, taste and add more of any of the ingredients to suit your taste.

• Turmeric or Beet Hummus: After creating the Classic Hummus, add either the turmeric or beet powder to the food processor. Process until well combined.

Simple Plating Mindfully plate the three versions of hummus with fresh edible flowers, fresh herbs, or chopped veggies.

(onion or garlic); citrus (lemon or lime); favorite veggies (carrots, green or red peppers, radishes, cauliflower, tomatoes); and a fresh herb (basil, cilantro or marjoram).

Simple Ingredients 1 soft, ripe avocado 4-5 mini-carrots, chopped 1 green onion, chopped 3-4 cloves raw garlic, minced 4-5 cauliflower florets, chopped ½ lemon, juiced and zested 4-5 basil leaves, chiffonade Pinch sea salt Garnish: basil leaves, flowers, minitomatoes Pinch sea salt Simple Steps

Simple Avocado Salsa.

Yields: 1 serving Have fun intuitively creating your own avocado salsa with the veggies grown by our local farmers and available right in your own refrigerator. With the avocado as a base, add in your choice of aromatics

Simple Avocado Salsa: Enjoy!

Raw Carrot Cake. Edible Flowers.

Simple Steps • Chop all ingredients.

• Place avocado in a bowl and mix with a fork.

• Add all other ingredients to the bowl and gently mix all ingredients.

Simple Plating • Place ring mold onto plate or bowl.

• Scoop avocado salsa into the ring mold.

• Option: If you do not have a ring mold, place a mound of the avocado salsa onto the plate.

• Garnish with basil leaves and minitomatoes.

• Enjoy!

Raw Carrot Cake.

Create a fresh raw carrot cake that is so simple to prepare, beautiful and delicious. Enjoy creating this simple dish with mindfulness—hand-grating the fresh spices and attractively plating with berries, mint and edible flowers.

Simple Ingredients 1 cup dates, pitted and soaked for 1 hour in water, then rough chopped 1½ cups apple, minced 2 cups carrots, grated 1½ cups raw cashews or pecans, ground May 2020

23

into a fine meal ½ tsp cinnamon, freshly ground ½ tsp nutmeg, freshly ground ½ tsp cardamom, freshly ground Pinch sea salt Garnish: berries, edible flowers Simple Steps • Gather mise en place.

• Soak dates.

• Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl.

• With hands combine gently until the mixture forms a ball.

• Press dough into a springform pan.

• Refrigerate for an hour.

• Garnish with berries, mint and edible flowers.

Simple Plating • Mindfully plate a slice of the carrot cake with berries and edible flowers.

Take time to really enjoy the beauty of food to bring joy to your life!

Melanie Albert, founder and CEO of Experience Nutrition Group, LLC, in Phoenix, is author of the award-winning cookbook A New View of Healthy Eating and plant-based recipe blog at ExperienceNutrition.com and YouTube channel Experience Nutrition. Albert offers plant-based farm-to-table culinary experiences, corporate wellness programs, team-building events, retreats and catering. Albert has step-by-step cooking photos of these recipes on her blog and videos for those who are interested.

Recipes and photos courtesy of Albert. For more information, visit ExperienceNutrition.com.

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How to Use Herbs to Keep Calm and Stay Strong

by Kathleen Gould and Madalyn Johnson

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e don’t need to tell you that we are experiencing unusual and, yes, fearful times on the planet right now. Many people are flocking to herb shops and health food stores across the country looking for help and guidance to curb that fear, anxiety and depression, and rightfully so, because there are amazing herbs that do exactly that.

Fear is not necessarily a bad thing, however, as it helps keep us focused and moving forward, as well as aids us to find courage and keeps us strong! Anxiety and depression, on the other hand, can be debilitating and make us feel vulnerable, helpless and insecure. It affects our overall health by decreasing our immune system, and constricts our blood vessels and shortens our breath.

In this article, we will look at herbs that help transform that anxiety and depression, and help us find our courage and strength. There are so many herbs to choose from depending on the person and symptoms, so let’s look at a few and help you determine which one(s) is best for you.

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The first herb that comes to mind is motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca). The botanical name means lionhearted and is used when you need the heart of a lion— when you need to be strong and calm.

This herb is very bitter, so a tincture (extract) is usually preferable. You can take about half a dropperful every 10 minutes or so to calm and settle anxiety. You may want to take half to one dropperful daily as we move through these stressful times, and then as needed should anxiety or depression arise throughout the day.

If you are feeling like you are right at the edge, reach for St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) tincture. This beautiful herb nourishes and strengthens the nerves and quickly helps relieve anxiety and depression. You can try a dropperful one to four times a day or even several times within an hour to calm an anxiety/panic attack. This works well with motherwort for anxiety/panic.

Nervine herbs help nourish and strengthen the nervous system and are usually rich in calcium to help steady the

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Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) nerves. Try the following tea blend and see how you feel after a cup or two: 3 oz oat straw (Avena sativa) – decreases anxiety, depression and insomnia.

2 oz lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – relaxing calmative to help decrease insomnia, depression and nervousness.

1 oz nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) – strengthens adrenals to help decrease anxiety.

1 oz skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) – powerful nervine and calmative for anxiety and emotional upsets. ½ oz passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) – nervine and mild sedative for anxiety and depression.

1 oz slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) – soothing demulcent.

To make: Mix all herbs together and store in a glass jar. Use 1 teaspoon or tablespoon herb blend to each 8 oz water, depending on the severity of feelings. Put water and herbs in a pot, cover and bring to a simmer. Turn off the stove and let steep overnight. Strain and store in the refrigerator. Drink two to four cups daily.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Another plant to help calm nerves is the very popular hemp plant, where we get our CBD (cannabidiol) oil from. CBD targets receptors throughout your nervous system, providing a calming remedy for a nervous and anxious mind. Traditional medicines to treat anxiety have been SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), only available with a prescription, and may come with a long list of side effects.

CBD oil might be a nice alternative to help manage your angst, without those harsh, and sometimes long-lasting, after effects.

CBD is user friendly. You can find it in sublingual liquid form, capsules, lozenges, topicals, gummies, and even bath bombs (don’t laugh until you try it!).

Strength can range from 10 milligrams (mg) up to 3,000 mg, even 5,000 mg. And like any other plant medicine, know your source. CBD should be full-spectrum, non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) and organic.

CBD has been on the forefront of medicinal talk for years now for good reason. It works for most people.

Finding a good-quality product and the proper dose are key, so talk with a

Hemp trusted friend or health professional to help you get just the right product and dose for you! It might just be the answer that you are looking for during these trying times.

Once again, plants come to our rescue with a wide range of available remedies to keep you calm, strong and able to enjoy each day, “herbally”!

Kathleen Gould, registered herbalist, and Madalyn Johnson are Madalyn Johnson (left) and proprietors of SW Herb Kathleen Gould (right) Shop and Gathering Place. Gould has been an herbalist for 30-plus years and has extensive experience in herbal medicine. For more information, call 480-694-9931, or visit SWHerb.com or Store.SWHerb.com.

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THE MATRIX OF LIFE Boosting Collagen for Better Health

by Maya Whitman

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ollagen, a protein, holds us together from the inside-out, helping to build bones and providing the scaffolding that knits our bones and organs together. Stress and poor lifestyle habits, such as smoking and eating too much sugar, can contribute to its breakdown and accelerate the aging process, but strategic dietary choices and supplements can have a significant positive impact on our skin, as well as underlying conditions.

Although celebrated for its cosmetic effects, “Most people are surprised to learn that collagen is equally important for blood vessels and tissues surrounding and supporting the internal organs,” says Pamela Schoenfeld, a dietitian and nutritionist in Raleigh, North Carolina, and author of The Collagen Diet: Rejuvenate Skin, Strengthen Joints and Feel Younger by Boosting Collagen Intake and Production.

Collagen is mostly found in tendons, ligaments and skin, and is also abundant in bones, cartilage, muscles, corneas, blood vessels, the gut, vertebrae discs and teeth.

In studies, collagen supplements show promise for joint pain, arthritic conditions, osteoporosis and heart health.

A Penn State study of 147 student athletes found that those that took 10 grams of collagen hydrolysate daily for 24 weeks had significantly less joint pain while walking and at rest compared to a placebo group.

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A 2012 study featured in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that 1,200 milligrams of collagen hydrolysate taken daily decreased joint pain in older people by 20 percent compared to a placebo. In a 2018 study, post-menopausal women that took five grams of collagen daily for a year had better bone buildup and less bone degradation. A 2017 Japanese study of 31 healthy adults found that those that took 16 grams of collagen daily had more flexible arteries after six months.

Essential Foods

Collagen health starts with our diet.

Leafy greens and jewel-toned, lycopenerich vegetables, like beets, red peppers, tomatoes, berries and pomegranates, as well as seeds, including chia, sunflower and pumpkin, all pack a collagen punch.

Schoenfeld recommends bone broth, too, for its joint-lubricating molecules called glycosaminoglycans, which hold many times their weight in water.

Kellyann Petrucci, a naturopathic doctor in Philadelphia and author of Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet, concurs: “Bone broth is more than a soup. It’s concentrated healing and contains a bioavailable form of collagen your body can use immediately. It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids and

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so much more.” She also recommends sulfur-rich foods like eggs, broccoli, onions, garlic and cauliflower, as well as shellfish and red meat in moderation for copper. “Copper activates the enzyme that is critical in producing collagen,” she explains.

Also important, according to Petrucci, is vitamin C: “If you’re depleted of vitamin C, your body won’t make any collagen. Experiment with broccoli, kiwi, tomatoes and various citrus fruits. Bioflavonoids also improve the ability of vitamin C to be absorbed and utilized.”

Schoenfeld recommends chicken, including the skin; omega-3-rich fish with edible bones, such as sardines and canned salmon; and proline-rich, aged cheeses and yogurt. “Gelatin is also a fantastic way for the whole family to enjoy collagen and can be added to foods high in water like soups, stews, hot cereals, as can bone broth and collagen powders,” she says.

Supplements

A 2019 review of 11 studies published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology found that oral collagen hydrolysate or tripeptide at dosages ranging from 2.5 grams to 10 grams a day increased “skin elasticity, hydration and dermal collagen density” and showed promise for wound healing and skin aging. Aloe vera, ginseng, berries, garlic, hyuralonic acid and red light therapy also boost collagen production, according to osteopathic physician and author Joseph Mercola.

For vegans, British homeopath Melissa Foreman recommends homeopathically-based minerals known as tissue salts at low potency, “which offer the benefits of meat-derived collagen and bone broth without having to ingest a meat product.” She personally relies on a combination of Nat phos, Calc phos and Kali sulph to promote new skin cells and improve the skin cell matrix. “These remedies are totally animal-free,” she says.

“You can produce a supplement similar to collagen powder and it has the same health benefits of bone broth.”

Maya Whitman is the author of several books. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

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healing ways

green living

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Homeopathic Collagen-Boosters

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omeopathic physician Melissa Foreman, of Brighton, England, recommends the following tissue salts:

FLOWER WOW-ER Beautiful Floral Designing

Calc phos for strengthening bones and easing stiff joints, is particularly recommended for active people, aging athletes and menopausal women. It supports growth, builds cells, supports teeth and nail strength, and helps ease irritable bowel syndrome.

Calc fluor promotes elasticity and

flexibility. It’s essential for tendon and bone health; softens, strengthens and tones the skin; and helps when the digestive organs have lost their elasticity and become compromised.

Silica is found in hair, nails and bones.

It decreases inflammation, eases painful joints, supports and strengthens nails, encourages new hair growth and improves the length and quality of eyelashes.

Nat Mur brings moisture to the skin and

regulates the moisture content of every cell in the body. It promotes hydrochloric acid, helping to prevent heartburn, bloating, colic and flatulence.

Nat phos is known as the antacid of the biochemical world and like collagen, can protect the gut by neutralizing acids.

F

by April Thompson

resh-cut flowers can The good news Finding a elevate a space with is you can’t mess Floral Style color, scents and As with any artistic medium, up flowers. textures that draw the eye creative choices are imporand nose, but professional ~Kathy Jentz tant in floral arranging. We floral designs can be pricey. can opt for a fussy, formal DIY arranging, however, is an easy, fun style, a rustic farmhouse look or a modern, and inexpensive creative outlet that can asymmetrical design. “The good news is also help cultivate mindfulness. Flower you can’t mess up flowers. Whether multiarranging is more than just a decorative dimensional or one-sided, monochromatic art; it’s a spiritual activity that helps creor multicolored, you really can’t go wrong,” ate a kinship with nature and merge the says Kathy Jentz, publisher of Washington indoors and outdoors.

Gardener Magazine and a flower arranging Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower instructor in Silver Spring, Maryland. arranging, dates back to the seventh Like a good meal, the ingredients of a century, when floral offerings were made bouquet are as important as how they are at Buddhist altars, according to Jeanne Ha, assembled.

Start with organic, pesticideowner of the Washington Flower School, in free buds.

“Look for local, seasonal flowers, Takoma Park, Maryland. In the 16th cenwhich will be fresher and last longer than tury, Japanese samurais practiced flower those flown in,” says Betty Ann Galway, a arranging prior to combat to help calm certified floral designer and instructor at them and stay centered, a stress-reducing the Norfolk Botanical Garden, in Virginia. activity most of us can benefit from today.

“Seasonal flowers are an important element Farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture CSAs and pick-your-own farms of Ikebana,” says Ha, part of a longstanding are all great places to find locally, sustainJapanese tradition of appreciating plants ably grown flowers, according to Jentz. To and flowers throughout the four seasons.

May 2020

27

select for long shelf life, look for fresh-looking stamens and foliage, and firm heads on flowers. Mums, carnations and asters will last up to three weeks, says Galway.

When selecting flowers, Ami Wilber, floral and event décor designer at the Washington, D.C., Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, recommends starting with a color scheme, whether limiting the palette to one or two colors, using analogous colors like pinks and purples or selecting complementary colors like blues and oranges. “It’s also good to find a focal flower or a show-stopper that will immediately draw attention to a bouquet,” says Wilber.

Prepping the flowers before arranging will also prolong an arrangement’s longevity, including cutting stems diagonally to provide more surface area for water, suggests Jentz. She also recommends plunging flowers into cool water immediately after trimming their stems. Leaves pump water up the stem, so leave a few on while clearing those from the bottom that would otherwise be submerged in water, adds Galway.

There are many ways to create structure for an arrangement, most of which is often hidden. Wilber stuffs chicken wire into an opaque container and then tapes down the top with a grid of floral tape to provide more control over the direction of the stems. Ha uses floral foam, soaked to provide hydra-

tion, into which stems can be inserted at any angle to create a gravity-defying design.

Different styles of arranging draw from different principles, but many common rules of thumb apply; for example, using odd numbers of each type of flower and adding in the largest flowers first to create an anchor for the composition. For a rustic, farm-totable bouquet, look beyond just blooms to incorporate seed pods, grasses and other foliage from the backyard or woods, says Wilber. These will not only fill in gaps left by thin-stemmed flowers, but also help create contrast in texture, she adds, recommending that 70 percent of the container be green.

Once the design is complete, finetune the arrangement by stepping back to see the big-picture look and making any adjustments, removing discolored leaves and adding greenery to any bald spots, says Wilber. Many designers wrap large, flat leaves around the inside of a container for a clean, polished look that hides the stems.

Most importantly, don’t forget to stop and smell the lilacs. Let the flowers lead the design and let go of any unattainable vision of perfection. “Appreciating the flowers and being thankful is an important part of the process, too,” says Ha. Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

Flower Arranging Tips From a Pro

~Dalai Lama

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healthy, professional-looking bouquet doesn’t take years of flower designing to achieve; these tricks of the trade will help neophyte designers get started.

To loosen up tightly wound buds, breathe on them. Hot breath will open buds up faster, says publisher and arranger Kathy Jentz.

An arranging technique Jentz recommends is clustering blossoms between the index finger and thumb of the less-dominant hand, resulting in a tight arrangement that can be held in place by a rubber band pulled up to the tops of the stems.

If working with hydrangeas or other flowers with woody stems, smash open the stems along the length to get more water circulation.

Consider upcycling common containers to make flower vases, Jentz says. “You can create recycled vases out of old jars and bottles, or use chalk paint to colorfully cover over a tin can.”

The secret sauce in flower food is simply sugar and citric acid, says Jentz, so a little lemonade mix added to the water of an arrangement will work fine in a pinch.

Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

NaturalAZ.com

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

I do not judge the universe.

A

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

healthy kids

Eye Care for Kids A Clear Path to Healthy Vision

T

by Ronica A. O’Hara

he blurry distant vision of myopia is a worldwide epidemic. Nearsightedness has doubled in the U.S. since 1971 to 42 percent, and in some Asian countries it affects 90 percent of teens and adults, reports the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye doctors say the key time to pay attention is during childhood, because myopia and other eye and vision problems can be reversed or stabilized if addressed at an early age.

“Parents tend to assume that vision problems aren’t a concern for the young and healthy, but it’s never too early to promote healthful habits or to be on the lookout for potential vision issues,” advises ophthalmologist Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., medical director of the Clearview Eye & Laser Medical Center, in San Diego.

Ophthalmologists and optometrists recommend having a child’s eyes tested at 6 months, 3 years and 5 or 6 years to detect nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, “lazy eye” (amblyopia), crossed or misaligned eyes (strabismus) and other potential problems. “For signs of trouble, I ask parents if they have seen their child have an eye that wanders or if the child covers an eye regularly, they are rubbing their eyes or playing with their

toys close to their face,” says optometrist Nathan Langemo, of the Hopkins Eye Clinic, in Hopkins, Minnesota.

If myopia becomes severe, it can lead to retinal detachment, premature cataracts and glaucoma in adulthood, but early detection is possible. An Ohio State University study of 4,500 children found that myopia in eighth-graders could be predicted in the first grade by their eyeglass prescription. Children at age 6 are naturally slightly farsighted, and those with normal vision are more likely to become myopic later.

A common medical treatment to slow myopia in kids is daily use of 0.01 percent atropine eye drops, the medication used to dilate an eye before an exam. It slowed down nearsightedness by roughly 50 percent in Singapore children. A new, twoyear study shows that combining the eye drops with nightly contact lens-wearing is 28 to 38 percent more effective. For preschoolers with amblyopia, an iPad game called Dig Rush was shown to be helpful in a University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center study. Hong Kong researchers report that 15 weeks of acupuncture beat out eye patches for treating children with lazy eyes, resolving the condition in 41 percent of cases, compared to 16 percent.

The simplest preventive strategy for myopia may be simply to shoo children outdoors every day, including involving them in outdoor sports. Researchers aren’t sure whether it’s the vitamin D effect or the fact that when they are outdoors kids focus more on distant objects like trees and balls than when reading a book or screen, but recent studies in Taiwan and Denmark have verified that more time outdoors is linked to less myopia. Even sitting in sunlight inside while reading or using fullspectrum light bulbs is protective, say researchers. When outdoors, “Make sure the child has 100 percent UVA and UVB sun protection for the eyes,” advises Langemo, including using UV contact lenses.

Evidence is mixed on whether closeup reading brings on childhood myopia, but a study of 500 college students that heavily used computers found 53 percent reporting headaches, 55 percent with burning sensations in the eyes and 48 percent with tired eyes. When kids focus on a computer, their eye-refreshing blinking rate slows from 10 to 12 times a minute to three or four times a minute, says optometrist Marc Grossman, of New Paltz, New York, author of Natural Eye Care: Your Guide To Healthy Vision and Healing.

He recommends taking breaks at least 10 minutes every hour, using homeopathic eye drops and gently massaging the eyes by moving fingers from the inner corner, around the upper socket and underneath, stopping about six times to massage each point for five to 10 seconds.

It’s also important to remove household hazards. Medical emergency rooms increasingly report eye injuries in kids from popular toy weapons like Nerf, BB guns and paintball guns, as well as colorful detergent pods that preschoolers love to squeeze or bite, plus aerosol spray from paint, hairspray, cleaning products and bug repellants.

Feeding children the right foods, including lots of vegetables, fruits and grains, also benefits their eyes. The omega-3s in fish oil, nuts and seeds help minimize dry eye, and leafy greens and eggs have the eye-protective antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.

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

May 2020

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Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock.com

natural pet

Coronavirus Pet Safety Facts and Tips for Dog and Cat Owners

T

by Shawn Messonnier

here are many types of coronavirus.

COVID-19 is new—a novel coronavirus—and there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in dogs or cats. Dogs can become infected with a canine coronavirus. It is fairly speciesspecific and will not infect people, but can infect cats (without causing clinical disease in naturally infected cats). Most infected dogs do not show symptoms and recover without showing signs of infection; young puppies may exhibit mild diarrhea.

Cats have their own coronavirus that, like dogs, usually causes an asymptomatic

infection, or may cause mild diarrhea or mild respiratory infection (especially in kittens). However, this coronavirus, for unknown reasons, can mutate in the GI tract and transform into the (usually) lethal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus (this occurs in about 10 percent of infected cats).

Again, this feline coronavirus will not infect dogs or people, and only infects felids. (A curious note is that cats can become infected with the human SARS coronavirus experimentally and naturally, but do not become ill, and the original SARS virus was suspected to have origi-

Check website for service times.

30

Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

NaturalAZ.com

It is unlikely a pet will become infected and serve as a source of infection for people. nated from a mongoose.) As with human coronaviruses, canine and feline coronaviruses can survive outside of the pet’s body for a period of time, especially in a colder environment, but are easily killed with most soap or disinfectants.

Dogs and cats that develop their own coronaviral diseases will not infect people.

However, by serving as fomites (objects that can carry an infectious organism on the surface), dogs and cats could potentially carry a virus on their coat or skin if an infected family member gets infected material (saliva, respiratory droplets, etc.) onto the animal.

Like any other surface in the home, the virus could transfer from the surface of the pet to other uninfected family members. (This is usually by hand to face transfer.)

To be safe, it may be wise to keep the family pet away from the infected family member, or at least have the infected family member bathe and/or wipe the pet’s coat with a wet washcloth before the pet is exposed to uninfected family members.

Keep in mind that maintaining proper blood levels of vitamin D in people and in pets is important in minimizing infectious diseases.

Shawn Messonnier, DVM, is the owner of Paws & Claws Holistic Animal Hospital, in Plano, Texas, and an award-winning author and host on Martha Stewart Radio.

Tempe Meadows Farmers’ Market 1490 E Weber Dr Saturdays & Sundays 8am-2pm TempeMeadows.com

123rf.com/lola1960

Local Farmers’ Markets

The Barn at Power Ranch 3685 E Autumn Dr, Gilbert Wednesdays 4-8pm RaysMarket.com The Capitol Farmers’ Market 1700 Adams St, Phoenix Thursdays late Nov-Apr 10:30am-1:30pm ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com Uptown Farmers’ Market 5757 N Central Ave, Phoenix Wednesdays Oct-Apr 9am-1pm & May-Jun 8am-noon Saturdays Nov-Apr 9am-1pm & May-Oct 8am-noon UptownMarketAZ.com

NOTE: Some markets are closed for the season or due to COVID-19, and some are open with restrictions. Please check ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com and market websites for more information.

High Street Farmers’ Market 5415 E High St, Phoenix Sundays Oct-May 10am-1pm Facebook.com/Farmers-Market-on-HighStreet-2244771575799425

Ahwatukee Farmers’ Market 4700 E Warner Rd, Phoenix Sundays Oct-May 9am-1pm Jun-Sep 8am-11am Facebook.com/AhwatukeeFarmersMarket

Mesa Farmers’ Market and Flea 526 E Main St Saturdays 8am-1pm (winter hrs) 7am-noon (summer hrs) MesaFarmersMarketAndFlea.com

Vincent’s Saturday Market 3930 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix Saturdays late Oct-early May 9am-1pm VincentsOnCamelback.com

Anthem Farmers’ Market 41703 N Gavilan Peak Pkwy Sundays Oct-May 9am-1pm Facebook.com/AnthemFarmersMarket

Momma’s Organic Market Park West, 9744 W Northern Ave, Peoria Saturdays 9am-2pm MommasOrganicMarket.com

NORTHERN ARIZONA

Care 1st Farmers’ Market 328 W Western Ave, Avondale Tuesdays Jul-Oct 8am-noon ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com

Old Town Scottsdale Farmers’ Market 3806 N Brown Ave Saturdays 7am-11am ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com

Carefree Farmers’ Market 1 Sundial Circle Fridays Oct-May 9am-1pm Jun-Sep 8am-11am Facebook.com/CarefreeFarmersMarket

Phoenix Public Market 721 N Central Ave Saturdays Oct-Apr 8am-1pm May-Sep 8am-noon PhxPublicMarket.com

Downtown Chandler Farmers’ Market 3 S Arizona Ave Saturdays Oct-May 9am-1pm Jun-Sep 7am-10:30am Facebook.com/ChandlerFarmersMarket

Power Road Farmers’ Market 4011 S Power Rd, Mesa Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm | Sunday 9am-4pm PowerrdFarmersMarket.com

Gilbert Farmers’ Market 222 N Ash St Saturdays Oct-Mar/Apr 8am-noon Apr/May-Sep 7am-11am GilbertMarket.com Goodyear Farmers’ Market 3151 N Litchfield Rd Saturdays Oct-May 8am-noon ArizonaCommunityFarmersMarkets.com

Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market 3502 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix Saturdays Oct-May 9am-1pm | Jun-Sep 7am-11am Facebook.com/RoadrunnerParkFarmersMarket Sun City Farmers’ Market 16820 N 99th Ave Thursdays Oct-May 9am-1pm Facebook.com/Sun-City-Farmers-Market631299790224049

Verrado Community Farmers’ Market N Market Pl & W Main St, Buckeye Sundays Oct-Jun 10am-1pm Facebook.com/VerradoCommunityFarmersMarket

Flagstaff Community Farmers’ Market 211 W Aspen Ave, City Hall Parking Lot Sundays May-Oct 8am-noon FlagstaffMarket.com Prescott Summer Farmers’ Market Yavapai College, Parking Lot D 1100 E Sheldon St Saturdays May-Oct 7:30am-noon PrescottFarmersMarket.org Prescott Winter Farmers’ Market Prescott High School, 1050 Ruth St Saturdays Nov-May 10am-1pm PrescottFarmersMarket.org Sedona Summer Community Farmers’ Market Tlaquepaque/Creekside, 336 Hwy 179 Fridays May-Oct 8-11:30am Sedona-Farmers-Market.com Sedona Winter Community Farmers’ Market Wells Fargo Bank Parking Lot 2201 W State Rte 89A, West Sedona Sundays Oct-May noon-4pm Sedona-Farmers-Market.com

May 2020

31

calendar of events

Find More Events On Our Website!

NaturalAZ.com Click “Calendar” NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted online at NaturalAZ.com by the 10th of the month, and adhere to the guidelines that can be found on the submission pages. No phone calls please.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, we have very limited events in this month’s edition. Please check the website at NaturalAZ.com, as new events may be added throughout the month. Some of these may be events that are offered in an online capacity. Please check ahead of time to make sure they are still running as planned.

plan ahead SATURDAY, JUNE 6 GET

SERIOUS SOMEONE ABOUT MEETING

This spring, join the largest holistic, conscious, spiritual and green network dating site online. We invite you to become a member and feel the energy on our site from the moment you first log in.

Codes of Contact – 9am-9pm. Raise your vibe in beautiful Sedona with intimate and informative presentations from international speakers Brad Johnson, Laura Eisenhower and Diane Canfield, with Sound Healing and Light Language by Marga Samahdi. $122. More info about speakers and sessions: EmpoweredLight.com/events/codes-ofcontact-sedona-az-june-6. Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Rd, Sedona.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12 Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat – June 12, 4pm to June 15, noon. With cookbook author Melanie Albert. Enjoy three days of plant-based cooking and self-care, yoga, hiking, massage, and Sedona ceremonial experiences in Sedona and our beautiful eco-retreat house. Perfect weekend for a group of friends, corporate wellness, or moms/ daughters. Contact for price/info: 602-615-2486, Mel@MelanieAlbert.com, ExperienceNutrition. com/sedona-retreats.

Join now at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 2020 International Feng Shui Symposium – 8:30am-6pm. Hosted by the International Feng Shui Association USA Chapter. Guest speakers and experts cover hot topics, including Feng Shui, BaZi, Chinese Medicine, I Ching Divination, and Qi Men Dun Jia. Breakout workshops on August 2 and 3. Members $288, nonmembers $338. Arizona State University - Memorial Union, 301 E Orange St, Tempe.

IntFengShuiSymposium.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Sedona Plant-Based Cooking Retreat – Sept 18, 4pm to Sept 21, noon. With cookbook author Melanie Albert. Enjoy three days of plant-based cooking and self-care, yoga, hiking, massage, and Sedona ceremonial experiences in Sedona and our beautiful eco-retreat house. Perfect weekend for a group of friends, corporate wellness, or moms/ daughters. Contact for price/info: 602-615-2486, Mel@MelanieAlbert.com, ExperienceNutrition. com/sedona-retreats.

MISSION STATEMENT To empower individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet.

TRY FOR FREE

To educate communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability.

To connect readers with local wellness resources and events, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives.

32

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ongoing events

daily Online at Unity of Phoenix – While we are social distancing, connect with us online for uplifting messages of faith, hope and empowerment.

602-978-3200. Facebook.com/unityofphoenix.

UnityPhx.org/videos.

sunday Sunday Services at Unity of Mesa – 10:1511am. Services are live-streamed on our Facebook page—join us there for music and message.

Check our website for service time changes if stay-at-home order has been lifted. 480-892-2700.

UnityOfMesa.org.

The Magic Power of Cosmic Law – 1:30-3pm.

May 3, 17, 31. Give yourself a boost; change your life; and enjoy profound, deep, energizing teachings. Via Zoom.us. $35/11-month access.

Register: SummitLighthousePhoenix.org.

480-442-5020.

thursday

Classifieds: $59/month (50 word max. including title and contact info.).

Print magazine only. Email listings by 10th of month prior to publication to PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com HELP WANTED ADVERTISING SALES – Natural Awakenings magazine is looking for experienced advertising salespeople in the Phoenix area to help others grow their business. Commissionbased. Full- or part-time. Unlimited potential.

Tracy@NaturalAZ.com.

JUNE

Coming Next Month

Inspired Lifestyle Travel

Plus: Brain Health

OPPORTUNITIES TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE PESTICIDES IN SCOTTSDALE – Help to make Scottsdale the first city in Arizona that restricts the use of toxic pesticides. Details on how to sign the petition, collect signatures on your own, or volunteer for a signature collection event can be found at ScottsdaleBelieve.com.

Full petition at ScottsdaleBelieve.com/petition.

OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE HERE – Are you hiring, renting office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your business needs in the Natural Awakenings classified ads section.

123rf.com/bimdeedee

Book Study: Alchemy of the Heart – May 7, 21. Via Zoom.us/j/429552807, passcode 073685.

Give and receive more love. Free. 480-4425020. Info@SummitLighthousePhoenix.org.

SummitLighthousePhoenix.org.

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Bring this picture to life with an array of colors! It will help to calm your mind and keep you in the present moment.

May 2020

33

business directory

MILLENNIUM DENTAL ASSOCIATES

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Business Directory, email PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com or visit NaturalAZ.com and download our media kit.

CLEANING SERVICES

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE NATURAL PAIN TREATMENT AND DETOX

MacKenzie Kalt, Owner 23425 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste A-110 Scottsdale 480-594-5052 • NatPainTreat.com Providing some of the most advanced natural technologies for those struggling with chronic pain, injuries, stress, migraine headaches, PTSD, insomnia, Lyme disease, autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, and much more. Visit our website to learn more. See ad, inside front cover.

SALT CHALET ARIZONA

Pavel Gershkovich, CHP, CRP 5011 N Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale 480-621-6041 SaltChaletArizona.com ArizonaLeechTherapy.com Our rooms are coated from floor to ceiling with multiple layers of pure, untreated salt from the Dead Sea. Providing relief for many health conditions.

SW HERB SHOP & GATHERING PLACE

148 N Center St, Mesa 480-694-9931 • SWHerb.com Store.SWHerb.com Kathy Gould and Madalyn Johnson, herbalists and proprietors, offer medicinal bulk herbs and specialty tea blends, herbal extracts, certification classes, community and therapist rental space, medicine-making supplies, and more. See ad, page 11.

ART CLASSES WATERCOLOR ART CLASSES

Valleywide Service • 480-994-4988 BennettsCarpetCleaningAz.com Eco-friendlycarpet and upholstery cleaning. Featuring org-anic cleaners and odor removal products derived from renewable seed and vegetable sources. No perfumes, solvents or other hazardous products. No phosphates.

Products also available for in-home use. Licensed and owner operated since 1974.

MY DENTIST

Dr. Michael Margolis and Dr. Stephen Kovar 2045 S Vineyard Rd, Ste 153, Mesa 480-833-2232 • MyDentistAZ.com A holistic and biological approach to your dental needs and overall health. Bio-compatible dentistry, esthetic dentistry lumineers/veneers, family dentistry and much more. See ad, page 3.

COACHING WHITE STAR

Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Medicine Woman 617-697-8924 (Scottsdale) DivineLightMinistries.com White Star is a Spiritual Elder, Mystic, Medium and Master Psychic and Healer with 40 years' experience. She offers profound clairvoyant readings covering any subject. She can heal serious conditions and restore emotional and spiritual wellness. Classes and trainings on psychic development and many healing modalities are available in person and online.

See ad, page 25.

DENTISTS INTEGRATIVE DENTAL ASSOCIATES Lisa M. Butler, DMD 4202 N 32nd St, Ste A, Phoenix 602-956-4807 • IntegrativeDental.com

Providing biologic dentistry personalized to fit your needs in a caring and supportive environment.

Offering many holistic procedures using the latest in modern technology. Dr. Butler is a member of the Holistic Dental Association and the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology. See ad, page 4.

Allura Westly, master teacher, opens her sanctuary studio to all levels, beginner to advanced. Learn fluid color technique, drawing and composition. Small class of eight students. No talent required, just a desire to create.

34

Millennium Dental offers more than 40 years’ experience in holistic dentistry, including advanced general dentistry and an extraordinary knowledge of services found in complementary medicine. See ad, page 9.

Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

NATURAL DENTAL PARTNERS

Dr. Ingo Mahn 3134 W Carefree Hwy, Ste 9, Phoenix 602-775-5120 • MyNaturalDentist.com Dr. Mahn takes the time to listen to your concerns and uses his extensive experience to help you achieve better health. Author of A Healthy Mouth—The Missing Link to Optimal Health, he utilizes the latest advances in dentistry (low dose digital x-rays and single visit biocompatible restorations) to deliver the highest level of holistic dental care. Check the calendar of events page on his website for upcoming seminars. See ad, pages 6 and 18.

PURE SMILES

Jason A. Jones, DMD 7231 E Princess Blvd, Ste 207, Scottsdale 480-585-1612 • PureSmilesAz.com Exceptional dental service with dedication to comfort and compassion. We carefully assist each procedure and select the products to help preserve and protect your overall well-being.

123rf.com/ Jeffrey Banfield

Allura Westly 3611 E Sunnyside Dr, Phoenix AlluraWatercolor@cox.net 602-469-0524 • AlluraWaterColor.com

BENNETT’S CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

Nicholas J. Meyer, DDS, DNM Dr. Jay Valiyaparambil, DMD 5705 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste D-110, Scottsdale 480-948-0560 MillDental.com

NaturalAZ.com

DOCTORS ANN CHARLOTTE VALENTIN, NMD Center for Integrative Medicine 16421 N Tatum Blvd, Ste 129, Phoenix 602-888-2320 • DrLotte.com

Dr. Valentin specializes in Integrative Medicine and is trained in Botanical Medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition and Pharmaceuticals. She treats many conditions, such as Menopause, Menstrual issues, Thyroid, Digestion, Allergies, Anxiety, Depression, Heavy Metal Toxicity, and many chronic and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Valentin has post-graduate training in Bioidentical Hormones and sees patients of all different age groups. See ad, page 25.

ENERGY HEALING KIM CARTER, MA, HTCP

15215 S 48th St, Ste 154, Phoenix Kim@IntuitiveKim.com IntuitiveKim.com Kim Carter is a Psychic and Healing Touch Certified Practitioner providing grounded, down-toearth guidance to those in transition or needing some clarity. Her intuitive readings offer insight into innate strengths, as well as challenges in moving forward.

Her compassionate, practical approach helps clients step into their authentic power to create balance and harmony in body, mind and spirit.

HOLISTIC HEALTH ANAHATA YOGA, SOUND AND ENERGY HEALING

A Community of Conscious Connection 14148 N 100th St, Ste C-130, Scottsdale 480-699-9600 • AnahataYogaAZ.com Crystal singing bowl sales, meditations, sound immersions, gong, yoga, special events, workshops and trainings. See our schedule for more info!

PEST CONTROL ARIZONA ORGANIC PEST & TERMITE CONTROL

Organic Pest Control 602-923-1457 • ArizonaOrganic.com

PET CARE ANDREA SOBOTKA, AKA “CRITTER DOC”

ASAM, Sh. Reiki, HTAP Animal Communicator and Counselor 602-317-1543 • CritterDoc1@cox.net SpiritAnimalWisdom.com With a gentle healing touch, Andrea provides earth medicine and energy healing, animal communication, and intuitive counsel for pets and their people.

RETREATS/WORKSHOPS EXPERIENCE NUTRITION GROUP LLC Melanie A. Albert Phoenix • 602-615-2486 ExperienceNutrition.com Facebook.com/NewViewHealthyEating

Plant-Based Farm-to-Table Experiences. Founded in 2010.

Hands-on intuitive interactive cooking workshops, classes, team building events, corporate wellness, and retreats for organizations.

Artisan plant-based catering, snacks, and gift baskets.

SALONS A LOR A ORGANIC STUDIO

7329 E Stetson Dr, Ste 11, Scottsdale 917-202-3289 • AloraOrganic.com An organic eco-friendly hair salon where beautiful cuts and color coexist with the best natural hair care. No harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances – just beautiful healthy hair. Energy healing and past life regression is also available. See ad, page 14.

SCHOOLS SOUTHWEST INSTITUTE OF HEALING ARTS

1538 E Southern Ave, Tempe 480-994-9244 Info@swiha.edu • swiha.edu Nationally accredited college offers holistic health and wellness degrees, diplomas, certificates of excellence, continuing education and personal development, oncampus and online. Financial aid available.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS THE SUMMIT LIGHTHOUSE® OF PHOENIX

4105 N 20th St, Ste 115, Phoenix 480-442-5020 SummitLighthousePhoenix@gmail.com SummitLighthousePhoenix.org Dedicated to sharing Saint Germain’s Violet Flame. All faiths welcome. Learn how you can become a modern day mystic. We are dedicated to sharing the Teachings of the Ascended Masters® to help you bring in joy and peace to the world. Learn what the requirements are to make your ascension. See ad, page 28.

UNITY OF MESA

2700 E Southern Ave, Mesa 480-892-2700 • UnityOfMesa.org We are a progressive, New Thought, spiritual community, exploring universal principles and practices. We offer practical spiritual teachings for meaningful and prosperous living. Sunday services, youth programs and a wide variety of classes are available each week. ALL are welcome here. See ad, page 30.

UNITY OF PHOENIX SPIRITUAL CENTER 1500 E Greenway Pkwy, Phoenix 602-978-3200 • UnityPhx.org

We are a friendly, loving, all-inclusive community that honors all paths to God and welcomes all people – regardless of race, beliefs or sexual orientation. Wherever you are in your life's journey, we invite you to visit us and discover your new spiritual home. We inspire people to live better lives. See ad, page 24.

GROW

Your Business

Email PhoenixAds@NaturalAZ.com to advertise in Natural Awakenings

Avoid being exposed to dangerous chemicals when all-natural and safer alternatives work just as well and last longer. See ad, page 14.

May 2020

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GROW YOUR OWN

BUSINESS

Publish a Natural Awakenings Magazine CHANNEL YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILL SETS AND BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS THAT EMPOWER YOU TO BE AN INFLUENCER IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Natural Awakenings is a franchise family of 65+ healthy living magazines, celebrating 26 years of publishing! This rewarding home-based franchise opportunity provides training and ongoing support, following an established and proven business model.

To learn more information and current franchise availability, visit or call:

239-530-1377

NaturalAwakenings.com/Franchise

36

Metro Phoenix & Northern Arizona Edition

NaturalAZ.com

Phenomenal Monthly Circulation Growth since 1994. Now with 3 million monthly readers in: Alabama (1) Gulf Coast AL/MS* Arizona (2) Phoenix Tucson California (1) San Diego* Colorado (1) Denver Connecticut (3) Fairfield County/ Housatonic Valley* Hartford New Haven/Middlesex District of Columbia (1) Washington Florida (12) Daytona/Volusia/Flagler Ft. Lauderdale Jacksonville/St. Augustine Miami & Florida Keys Naples/Ft. Myers Northwest FL Ocala/Gainesville FL Orlando Palm Beach County Sarasota Space & Treasure Coast Tampa Bay Georgia (1) Atlanta Idaho (1) Boise/Southern ID Illinois (1) Chicago Indiana (1) Indianapolis* Louisiana (1) Lafayette Massachusetts (1) Boston* Michigan (4) East MI Greater Ann Arbor Detroit/Wayne & Monroe Cos. Western MI Minnesota (1) Minneapolis/St. Paul

*Existing magazines for sale

New Jersey (6) Central NJ Hudson County Monmouth/Ocean Counties North NJ North Central NJ South NJ New Mexico (1) Albuquerque/Santa Fe New York (5) Albany Hudson Valley West Long Island New York City Westchester/Putnam/ Dutchess Counties North Carolina (2) Charlotte Wilmington/SE NC Oklahoma (1) Oklahoma City Oregon (1) Portland Pennsylvania (7) Bucks/Montgomery Cos. Lancaster/Berks Cos. Lehigh Valley Philadelphia Pittsburgh South Central PA Rhode Island (1) Providence South Carolina (3) Charleston Columbia Greenville* Texas (3) Austin Dallas Houston Virginia (1) Richmond Washington (2) Inland NW/Spokane Seattle Wisconsin (1) Milwaukee*

Puerto Rico (1)