Natural Nutmeg July 2010

July 2010

Free

Natural

Nutmeg

Connecticut's Resource For a Healthy, Active, Sustainable Lifestyle...Naturally I Can’t Remember And I Don’t Know Where I’m Going Bernie Siegel, MD

Fight or Flight Desmond Ebanks, MD

Getting A Natural Edge Using Sports Nutrition

My Child Has Migraines Jared Skowron, ND

What is Dementia, Really?

Cynthia Ebanks, RN

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July 2010

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July 2010

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Much more than an all natural, fluoride-free, great tasting toothpaste... comprehensive oral health in a tube

PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste What makes PerioBiotic™ unique?

• PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste contains Dental-Lac™, a patent pending1 functional lactobacillus dental hygiene probiotic2. Research on DentalLac™, a specific Lactobacillus paracasei strain, demonstrates its ability to kill off harmful strains of oral bacteria including streptococcus mutans3, a significant contributor to dental caries, tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Like probiotics in the human intestinal tract, beneficial flora in the mouth are critical to maintaining an oral environment conducive to healthy teeth and gums.

PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste and other DFH Products are available exclusively through health care professionals. For more information, you can contact the following HCPs in Connecticut: • Dr. Frank Aieta ND, West Hartford 860-232-9662 • Alternity Healthcare, LLC, West Hartford 860-561-2294 • Caskey Wellness Center, Middlebury 203-758-1765 • Desert Light Health Associates, Bloomfield 860-761-2489 • Eclectic Naturopathic Medical Center, LLC, Newington • 860-665-1254 • Glastonbury Naturopathic Center, Glastonbury • 860-657-4105 • Kensington Naturopathic Medical Center, Kensington • 860-829-0707 • Dr. Robban Sica, Orange 203-799-7773 • Natural Health and Healing, LLC, Avon 860-677-4600 • Porzio-Hawley Chiropractic, Southington 860-384-0374 • Tamara Sachs, MD, New Milford 860-868-9565 • Thiele Chiropractic Life Center, Manchester 860-864-8003 • Alison Birks MS, RH, Woodbury 203-263-4868

• And…PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste contains two active ingredients that have been shown in research to promote dental and oral health via their cavity-fighting abilities: xylitol4 and calcium glycerophosphate.5,6

What’s not in PerioBiotic™ does matter...

The ingredients not found in PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste, which are found in most other toothpastes include: fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and saccharin. Also, this product is not harmful if swallowed as it does not contain fluoride.

Available in refreshing Fennel and Spearmint Flavors 118 grams (90 ml) Suggested Use: Apply PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste onto a soft bristle toothbrush. Brush thoroughly after meals for at least 1 minute. Spit out the excess solution, and for maximum benefits do not rinse to allow longer contact of the natural ingredients to the teeth and gums. The remaining solution is not harmful if swallowed as it does not contain fluoride. Brush 2 to 3 times per day or as directed by your health care professional. Flossing is recommended along with regular use of PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste.

References: 1. United States Patent Application # 20080118444; Hsu; Ching-Hsiang; et al.; Lactobacillus paracasei-containing product; May 22, 2008 2. The efficacy and safety of ADP-1 (Lactobacillus paracasei GMNL-33) for periodontal pathogens, a placebo-controlled trial; Ching Ria Chen; GenMont Biotech, Inc. August 17, 2007 3. Lactic acid bacteria from healthy oral cavity of Thai volunteers: inhibition of oral pathogens; Sookkhee S, Chulasiri M, Prachyabrued W.; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University; J Appl Microbiol. 2001 Feb;90(2):172-9.

4. Xylitol in relation to the incidence of dental caries; Scheinin A.; Int Z Vitam Ernahrungsforsch Beih. 1976;15:358-67.

5. Calcium glycerophosphate and caries: a review of the literature. Lynch RJ; Int Dent J. 2004;54(5 Suppl 1):310-4.

6. Cariostatic activity of calcium glycerophosphate in hamsters: topical vs dietary administration; Pianotti RS, Ambrozaitis JD, McNamara TF; J Dent Res. 1976 Nov-Dec;55(6):1092-6.

®

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

www.designsforhealth.com • 1 (800) 367-4325

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Inside This Issue

Contents

Departments

14 Newsbriefs 6

Fight or Flight Desmond Ebanks, MD 14

Getting a Natural Edge Using Sports Nutrition Michael Dworkin, P.D., MS Erika Dworkin, Dip. C.N. (Pend.)

18

Prescription for Living Bernie Siegel, MD 12

Supplements101 Alexander George 37

18

KnowyourHerbs Lisl Meredith Huebner 40

What is Dementia, Really?

Cynthia Ebanks, RN 22

22

Healthy Family Dr. Lauren Gouin, ND 42

Healthy Cooking Chad Carns 43

Treating Headaches Holistically Nancy Brockett, PhD 25

Community Resources 44

31

My Child Has Migraines Jared Skowron, ND 31

Community Calendar 48

NaturalPlanet Deb Percival 54 4

July 2010

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PUBLISHER'Snote

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ur mission is to provide valuable insight, information and resources that will allow our readers to maintain a healthy, active, sustainable lifestyle. Natural Nutmeg contains timely information on natural health, complementar y and alternative medicine, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, and the products and services that support good health.

PUBLISHERS Dr. Diane Hindman Chris Hindman Publisher@naturalnutmeg.com ADVERTISING SALES Dr. Diane Hindman Chris Hindman advertising@naturalnutmeg.com STAFF WRITER Nancy Hinchey nancy@naturalnutmeg.com WEBMASTER Matt Milunic Matt@iComDesign.com

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s we head into July and mid-summer, our thoughts turn to rest, relaxation and vacation! Hopefully thinking about your summer vacation is not causing you stress or headache, but if it is we’re focusing this month on just that. We’ve got some great articles on the effects of stress and how to treat headaches holistically. And don’t miss the Art of Living course with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the CT Convention Center on July 22-25th – that’s sure to be a stress reducer!

Dr. Desmond Ebanks writes an informative article on the health effects of stress and offers some great tips for dealing with stressors. He points out that what stress should be about for a normal mammal is three minutes of screaming terror on the savannah, after which either its over with or you're over with, but nowadays, humans are exposed to stress on a sometimes daily basis for extended periods of time. And Cynthia Ebanks, RN explains the causes of dementia and the need to treat a person with dementia with respect and caring.

Nancy Brockett, PhD teaches us that treating headaches holistically doesn’t so much involve finding the “right” natural healing remedy as attending to our experience of a headache on all levels. Ask yourself: “What’s out of balance in my life?

What do I need physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, or environmentally so I get back balance?” And Jared Skowron, ND helps us to understand how to treat migraines in children by getting at the cause of the problem.

Bernie Siegel, MD teaches us that at times it is all right to be carried, at other times following in the footsteps of others is appropriate, at others to make your own way and at times it is proper to leave the old ways and start a fresh path.

Looking to get an edge on your performance in your sport or exercise routine?

Michael and Erika Dworkin educate us on the latest cutting-edge supplements for sports nutrition.

Wishing you health and happiness and a great 4th of July,

ADVISORY BOARD Deanna M. Cherrone, M.D. Desmond Ebanks, M.D. Ann Aresco, N.D. Richard Duenas, D.C. Moshe Laub, D.C. Tom Moorcroft, D.O.

Natural Nutmeg Magazine P.O. Box 447, Avon, CT 06001 Ph. (860) 217-1239 Fax (860) 217-1721

© 2007-10 by Natural Nutmeg. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that permission be obtained in writing. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

In keeping with our concern for the environment, Natural Nutmeg is proudly printed on recycled paper with soy based inks.

All issues are available for digital download at NaturalNutmeg.com Natural Nutmeg is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers.

With wide distribution throughout central Connecticut, the Litchfield Hills, and the shoreline. Please call for a location near you. Call us at (860) 217-1239 if you would like copies for your place of business. (25 copies min. req.) www.naturalnutmeg.com

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Newsbriefs Good Blood Pressure Numbers…But Is That Enough?

New Cardiovascular Test Available at Alternity Healthcare Provides Patients with Critical Cardiovascular Data

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ou eat right, exercise and your blood pressure numbers are good. But is that enough? The SphygmoCor CP system, a new cardiovascular test available at Alternity Healthcare, measures the pressures the heart, brain and kidneys actually experience. The test obtains critical cardiovascular data not available with the traditional brachial cuff blood pressure measurement.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, killing more people each year than the next five leading causes combined,” said Desmond Ebanks, MD, founder and medical director of Alternity Healthcare, a preventive medical practice in West Hartford. “It’s more important than ever that we provide the latest cardiovascular tests to patients to help identify risk factors so that they have the knowledge to make the best lifestyle choices.”

The SphygmoCor CP, a lightweight, portable device, allows clinicians to assess effects of drug therapy and lifestyle changes that cannot be detected with standard brachial cuff blood pressure measurement. The test is painless and non-invasive. Using a highly sensitive pressure transducer held against the patient’s pulse, the pressure wave exiting the heart is captured and analyzed through a complex algorithm. This identifies the central aortic pressure, determines the portion of the pressure attributable to diseased or stiffened arteries, the relative workload of the heart, and the ratio between the heart’s demand for oxygen and the available supply.

This month, the Mayo Clinic Proceedings published a major review of scientific literature on noninvasive central blood pressure measurement. The article makes several important findings including that central pressures are a better predictor of cardiovascular outcome and provide a more accurate reflection than brachial blood pressure measurements.

“We’re very pleased that a forward-thinking, preventive practice like Alternity Healthcare has decided to offer the SphygmoCor CP,” said Doug Kurschinski, senior vice president of AtCor Medical. “Cardiovascular disease is often preventable. Our hope is that the SphygmoCor CP will provide the data needed to help patients make good lifestyle changes, and ultimately help end the cardiovascular disease epidemic.”

The SphygmoCor CP system has been featured in hundreds of published studies and is used in leading physician practices and medical centers worldwide and in pharmaceutical and device clinical trials. The product was developed by AtCor Medical, based in Australia. AtCor Medical provides products for clinical use that can non-invasively assess the physiological status and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. For more information please visit atcormedical.com.

Alternity Healthcare, LLC, is an innovative medical practice specializing in preventive healthcare. Alternity Healthcare offers cutting-edge programs and services to determine patients’ overall health and risk for degenerative disease. The practice provides patients with the tools to help them achieve optimal health and a good quality of life. Alternity Healthcare is located at 639 Park Road, 2nd Floor, West Hartford, Connecticut. For more information please call 860-561-2294 or visit www.alternityhealthcare.com.

See ad on page 2.

Naturopathic Health and Acupuncture Center has New Location

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he Naturopathic Health Center has a new name, a new face, and a new location! The Mammone family of natural medicine practitioners at Naturopathic Health and Acupuncture Center are excited to announce their move to a beautiful new space just a few doors away from the previous convenient location. The three resident experts in Naturopathic medicine and Acupuncture, Dr. Marie Mammone, ND, John Mammone, L.Ac. and Dr. Renee Mammone, ND, who bring over 20 years of collective experience to their practice, are delighted to be able to offer more choices in wellness as they blend the best of modern medical science and traditional natural medicine. Using an integrated approach to health and healing, they each have unique skills which they administer individually or collectively to not only treat disease, but also to establish and restore health. In addition to their standard services which include clinical nutrition, supplementation, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, energy medicine, and so much more, they are now able to offer more classes, events, and experiences that encourage wellness through the nourishment of body, mind, and spirit. Their new center is designed and configured with tranquil, thoughtfully appointed spaces that create a sense of well being to help you feel comfortable and at ease, as you maintain or reclaim your health.

Visit the center and meet the staff online at www.NAHcenter.com or in person at 274 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, CT. Open house is Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 1-3pm.

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From Cosmos to Culture: The Real Story Come To A Special Filming Event at The Graduate Institute!

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rom ancient times, astrologers have recognized a sharp correlation between planetary alignments and human experiences.

For some contemporary counselors and psychotherapists, astrology continues to serve as an extraordinary diagnostic and therapeutic tool.

But what is the difference between psychological astrology and its misconceptions in mainstream society? And how can astute practitioners apply archetypal cosmology - a unique psychological modality - to enhance their practice?

Licensed psychotherapist and professional astrologer Glenn Perry, Ph.D. will explore these intriguing questions, and more at a special filming event at The Graduate Institute in Bethany, CT. There will be two tapings: one on Friday, July 9th at 6 pm, and another on Saturday, July 17th at 10 am.

Dr. Perry serves as Program Coordinator for a unique online certificate program in Archetypal Cosmology offered by the Institute. The certificate, which leads to a Master’s degree in Conscious Evolution for eligible participants, explores the relationship between planetary alignments and archetypal patterns in human experience. Participants learn invaluable tools for practicing authentic psychological astrology. See ad on page 27.

To be a part of the interactive audience, please visit www.learn.edu or call (203) 874-4252.

Wellness Studio And Accessories Boutique Opens In Rocky Hill Unique Instructors and Class Formats Ensure Physical and Spiritual Well-Being Regardless of Fitness Level

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otal Body, a new yoga and pilates studio has opened at 459 Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill. Designed for all fitness levels, shapes, sizes and ages, Total Body offers a unique fitness philosophy: small class sizes and individualized, one-on-one attention in a rejuvenating, spa-like atmosphere. As a supplement to the studio, an on-site boutique offers the finest in yoga and pilates clothing and accessories that cannot be found in traditional yoga/pilates pro shops. The boutique carries products by designers such as Glima, Alternative, Tees for Change, Yogitoes and Be Present, and other goods such as soy-based candles, European soaps and all-natural teas.

The goal of all Total Body programs is to bring a spiritual connection to working out. All fitness instructors at Total Body bring years of experience to their teaching practices and are committed to improving their students mind-body connection by developing strength, balance and flexibility while improving energy and overall well-being.

Located in a serene white colonial home set atop a hill overlooking Route 3, Total Body offers a relaxing, homelike atmosphere. In the quiet, peaceful studio setting, a range of classes can be found for all abilities including yoga, pilates, Zumba, Power Yoga and Balance Yoga. One-on-one and group personal training sessions are also available. Students may walk-in or register for a series of classes or long-term memberships.

For more information about the Total Body Studio and Boutique, call (860) 206-6255, visit www.totalbodystudios.com, or email totalbodystudios@gmail.com.

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Newsbriefs Soroptimists International of Farmington Valley presenting Self Defense Class to Empower Women and Girls

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his workshop will help empower women to identify potentially dangerous situations that can put them in harm. Women will gain confidence while learning some basic self defense techniques. It is structured for women, 13 and older, with little or no experience. Come and observe self defense demonstrations and have a chance to practice simple techniques. Several SIFV women are students at Yu’s Academy, who have generously donated their facility to support the event. Saturday, June 26, 2010, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, at Yu’s Academy of Martial Arts, 345 Albany Turnpike, Route 44, Canton, CT 06019. Fee: Free - $10 donation to SIFV is suggested.

Funds raised will help area women and children in need.

Soroptimist International is a volunteer service organization for business, professional and community-minded women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Soroptimist is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Seal of Excellence. The Farmington Valley chapter (SIFV) presents several programs throughout the year which empower women and girls by building self esteem and confidence. Funds raised support charitable organizations such as My Sister’s Place and Prudence Crandall Center, shelters for women in transition and also provide grants to young women who display outstanding community service. To learn more about membership and service projects of the Soroptimist International of Farmington Valley club, please contact Kathleen (860) 614-5676 or send an email to knockyouout@gmail.com Registration is required as space is limited: Please call Kathleen at (860) 614-5676 to reserve your place. For more information visit www.BestForWomenSelfDefense.com.

Artfarm Announces Headliner Musical Acts For Shakespeare In The Grove 2010

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RTFARM is celebrating its fifth season of Shakespeare in the Grove in Middletown with a production of the romantic comedy As You Like It. Some of the magic of ARTFARM’s outdoor Shakespeare experience, however, will be happening before the play even begins.

Each night at 6 pm, as the audience arrives, lays out blankets and lawn chairs and spreads out picnics, a different Connecticutbased musician or musical group plays in the Grove. This year ARTFARM is offering a particularly exciting selection of musicians.

“We have been so fortunate to attract a really great group of musical acts, many that have regional or national followings,” says ARTFARM’s Executive Director Dic Wheeler. “If we skipped the Shakespeare play and simply offered up these eight music performances this would still be one of the best concert series’ in the State and something to travel to Middletown for. As it is, patrons can choose which night they come to see As You Like It based partly on who will be playing before the show.” Live music begins at 6 pm and the play begins at 7 pm. The schedule of musical acts is as follows: July 8: Nancy Tucker July 9: Banning Eyre & Dirck July 10: Noah Baerman & Friends July 11: Tom Callinan is Connecticut's first "Official State Troubadour”.

July 15: Sirius Coyote July 16: Eric Kuhn July 17: Nzinga’s Daughters July 18: Phil Rosenthal ARTFARM is a Middletown-based non-profit which cultivates high-quality theater with a commitment to simple living, environmental sustainability and social justice. The event is free, but a $20 donation is suggested. Shakespeare in the Grove is co-sponsored by the Humanities and Arts Division of Middlesex Community College. Additional support is provided by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Middletown Commission on the Arts, Pratt & Whitney, It’s Only Natural Restaurant, Kidcity and O’Rourke’s Diner.

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An Enlightened Approach to Combating Corruption:

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 5 steps to a Violence-Free, Stress-Free Society

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he big ‘C’ of corruption can be countered by five more ‘C’s! The first, I would say, is the sense of ‘Connectedness’. A lack of connectedness or sense of belongingness breeds corruption in society. That is why, often, you see people looking for connections, in order to avoid corruption!

A sense of belongingness among people, among the community, can root out corruption. That is why corruption is lowest at the village level; but when it comes to urban areas, cities, it’s much more because there is no community sense there — no belongingness.

The second ‘C’ is ‘Courage’. A lack of self-esteem or confidence in one’s own ability is one of the causes of corruption. It is fear, or insecurity in a person that makes one become more corrupt. He then tries to find his security only through money, which doesn’t really happen.

The more money he acquires, the insecurity doesn’t disappear. In fact, he becomes more afraid and more fearful because the money is not earned in a right manner. So the second ‘C’ that we will have to focus on is to create that courage in a person — courage and confidence in one’s ability and in the laws of nature.

Third is an understanding of ‘Cosmology’ — looking at one’s own life in the context of extended space and time. Just take a look at our own life. How long is it? Only 80-100 years!

See life in the context of the huge dimension of time. Billions of years have passed since the creation. Our creation, as scientists say, is 50 billion years old. And everything in this creation is recycled. The air we breathe is old, every cell in our body, every atom is old, the oxygen and hydrogen is old!

And this will continue. Seeing life from a different perspective of space and time is what will deepen one’s vision about one’s life. Being corrupt, one amasses a lot of money and puts it in the bank. One can’t spend all that money and then one dies. One’s children inherit the property and then

they fight over the inheritance! Seeing life in the context of this huge universe and unfathomable time can broaden one’s vision, can broaden one’s mind and can enrich one’s heart.

The fourth ‘C’, I would say, is ‘Care’ and ‘Compassion’.

Care and compassion in society can bring dedication. It is the lack of dedication that causes corruption. The Kumbha Mela in India was attended by a total of 30 million people — nearly 3 million people each day, and there was not a single incidence of violence, theft or robbery!

One night, we were distributing blankets to the poor as it was very cold and I came across a youth, who refused to take a blanket, saying that probably someone else there needed it more! That sense of care and compassion: ‘It doesn’t matter even if I don’t have, somebody needs this more. We have to care for them’. That care and compassion can root out corruption.

The last one I would like to emphasise is a sense of ‘Commitment — commitment to contribution. When a person has a goal, a commitment to a higher cause in life, it brings a shift from gaining to giving. In society, if everyone keeps thinking, ‘What can I gain?’ rather than ‘What can I contribute?’ or ‘How can I be useful to the people around me?’, then corruption cannot be rooted out. In society, we need to have this shift in our attitude, from ‘What can I gain?’ to ‘What can I contribute?’

But all this cannot be possible without individual upliftment. Spiritual upliftment. A sense of belongingness with the whole world. Today the globe has become a village. We have globalised everything other than wisdom. And that is one of the causes of terrorism and unrest in the world today. We accept food from every part of the world, we accept music from every part of the world, but when it comes to wisdom, people seem to shy away.

ZUMBATOMIC Designed to encourage children (ages 4-12) to develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate fitness as a natural part of their lives through dance & exercise We also offer ZUMBA and ZUMBA Toning!

Private parties, or special group events available

Mention this ad and get your first class free!

Call Nancy at Nutrition Kingdom (860) 221-5074 • 28 East St. Plainville, CT. www.naturalnutmeg.com

July 2010

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I would like to have a special in the advertisement & would like to remove the word systems in Organic Color Systems, so that it just reads Organic color. The special I would like to offer is to Receive the Ultimate Conditioning Treatment for $5 ( Reg. $15)

If every child in the world learns a little bit about all cultures, a little bit about all values, the whole scenario will be different. Then one will not think, ‘Only I will go to heaven. Everyone else will go to hell’. This wrong education or lack of education has caused so many problems in the world. A sense of belongingness with the whole world — it doesn’t matter what colour or race you are — is that shared value that we are talking about today.

Even if one pocket in the world remains ignorant of these shared values, common values, the world will not be a safe place. So we need to address these issues with a lot of patience. It is not a job that we can do overnight, but through education and creating that sense of community, through inspiration and example.

Make a subtle distinction between spirituality and religion. Religion is like the banana skin and spirituality is the banana. Spirituality or the common values are the same, in every religion. The differences are only on the surface and they are good! It’s good to have differences. Nurture the differences and at the same time enliven spiritual values. Then we all get together and make a change.

Make a better society.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual leader and multi-faceted humanitarian known worldwide as an icon of non-violence and universal human values. Millions have benefitted from his Art of Living course and unprecedented breathing techniques that rid the system of stress and negativity. His teachings of love, practical wisdom, and service promote harmony among people, and encourage individuals to follow their chosen spiritual path, while honoring other paths. Sri Sri will be in Connecticut from July 22-25 for an Art of Living Course. For more information, go to us.artofliving.org/ct or call 860-880-0260.

See ad on page 15.

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Prescription for Living

by Bernie Siegel, MD

I Can’t Remember And I Don’t Know Where I’m Going

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n this issue I would like to reveal to you the advantages of footsteps and amnesia. Let me begin with footsteps. I am sure most of you are aware of the story about the man who walked with God and there were, therefore, always two sets of footprints. At a time of great difficulty the man noticed only one set of footprints and complained to God that He was not there when he needed Him most, God replied, "I was carrying you during the difficult times and that is why there was only one set of footprints."

On a personal level I have learned much from footprints.

One of my stranger habits is to enjoy jogging through cemeteries. I like to read the wisdom of the words on some stones and also notice the egotistical craziness of some people’s last words. What would you share with the world with your last breath and what words do you want on your headstone?

Well to get back to the point. One day after a big snowstorm I was jogging through the deep snow and really struggling to make my way. I realized how much of a struggle it was to have to make your own way with no plowed path or footsteps to follow. The next day it was much easier. The snow was still soft and my footprints were easy to follow. Five days later the snow had frozen and the rigid ice made it dangerous for me to try and fit into the old footprints. I had to create a new path or risk breaking my ankles.

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What I learned from all this is that at different times in my life I must make different choices. At times it is all right to be carried, at other times following in the footsteps of others is appropriate, at others to make your own way and at times it is proper to leave the old ways and start a fresh path. Your way is found by what feels right for you and not by looking for the easy way.

You must remember that if you constantly follow in the steps of others you will lose your way in life. Remember their way can at times endanger you and be the wrong way. So find your way and let them go theirs. True natives can be your guide when they have shared the same experience but be wise in choosing your guides and do not follow those who are not true guides and teachers but dictate their way to you. Follow their way and you will be lost forever.

Now let me grow less philosophical and more practical as I tell you about my experience with amnesia. Several years ago after doing some work on our roof I stepped onto my ladder and the top rung broke. I fell onto the pavement and struck my head hard enough to give me a concussion. I awakened to a lovely woman bending over me asking, "Honey are you all right?" "Why are you calling me Honey?" "I’m your wife."

Well I felt quite fortunate to have such an attractive wife. She then introduced me to the five children who were standing nearby.

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It turns out they were ours and all quite nice. I had amnesia, due to the fall, and that was why everyone seemed so nice. I couldn’t remember the problems they caused yesterday. My marriage was great. I got along with the kids fabulously and everything was going very well until my memory returned. Then I had to go into psychotherapy and marriage counseling.

Fortunately I had a great therapist who taught me that there was something better than amnesia for relationships. She said it would make me blind to some things as amnesia did but had many other assets. What do you think she taught me about?

If you want a hint try reading I Corinthians 13 or "The Practice of Love" by Ashley Montagu. Yes, she taught me that love had all the benefits of amnesia but also offered many more benefits to the giver and receiver of the love.

Please be sure the love you give is unconditional or "kill ‘em with kindness" is not simply a way of overpowering your enemies by loving them but can destroy the lives of others by your forcing your love and will upon them. This conditional love is no different then following the wrong footsteps imposed upon you by others. That is not love. Love clears the way but does not tell you which way to go.

The garden of Eden has no paths because you cannot make a mistake in direction when love is the only way to go.

Here in the real world we must make choices so walk in the footsteps of the great lovers. Follow their path and create a path of love and leave some deep and wide footprints for us to follow with ease. Please do not wait to live a life and path of love. Too often we postpone our lives waiting for the right time and then learn we don’t have all the lifetime we needed and desired. So live your way now.

The phone just rang as I was typing this article. The man who called asked how I was feeling. I knew this was the beginning of a sales pitch so I said," My therapist is here. I have just taken an overdose of sleeping pills and I’m headed for the emergency room."

"Oh, Is this Bernie Siegel? I’ve attended two of your lectures. Can I read you a poem I’ve written?" I laughed and told him to go ahead. What he read me was a poem about his ten-year experience working with children with disabilities.

By the way he was selling fuel oil at a good price but I already have a good deal since one of our sons is a general contractor.

Bernie holds a support group in Simsbury at Wisdom of the Ages the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm. Wisdom of the Ages, a special place to nuture your spiritual side. It's filled with items to calm the mind, heal the body & empower your spirit. They also provide massages & monthly meditation classes. Wisdom of the Ages is owned by Bernie's son & daughter- in-law, Keith & Jane Siegel. Located at 1408 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury. Please call for info or to register for Bernie's group. (860) 651-1172, www.wisdomoftheages. biz, berniesiegelmd.com. See ad on page 29.

Bernie also runs a Woodbridge Support Group which meets the Second and Fourth Tuesday evenings of each month at Coachman's Square, Bradley Road, Woodbridge, CT. Contact: Lucille Ranciato at 203-288-2839 or email her at lranciato@yahoo.com.

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Fight or Flight...

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t’s 4:30 on Friday afternoon. You are thinking about your plans for the upcoming long weekend when you get an email from your boss. He needs to see you right away about something, but he didn't say what.

What does he want to see you about this late in the day?

Is it about the rumored layoffs everyone’s been talking about?

Suddenly, your heart starts pounding, your palms become sweaty, your mouth feels dry, and your face feels hot. Say hello to your fight-or-flight response.

All mammals have a fight-or-flight response when under stress. This makes sense from an evolutionary sense – animals that didn't react to danger didn't leave behind descendents.

As Stanford University neuro-endocrinologist Robert Sapolsky says, “If you're a normal mammal, what stress is about is three minutes of screaming terror on the savannah, after which either its over with or you're over with.”

Humans, on the other hand, are not normal mammals.

We are nearly unique in that the fight-or-flight response isn't only a response to immediate danger. We experience stress for many more reasons and much more often. Essentially, our fight-or-flight response is on a permanent hair trigger. The health consequences of this are stress-related diseases, many of which are rare or even unknown in other mammals. In fact, Sapolsky has written a book aptly titled, “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers.”

Whether you are a luckless zebra fleeing on the savannah or a luckless pawn fighting in the corporate jungle, when you perceive danger the brain floods your system with stress hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine.

This is the familiar “adrenaline rush” that makes you ready for whatever action is necessary to respond to the danger.

Cortisol production is increased to modulate how our bodies use various fuel sources. Any process that is not needed right now for this response is downgraded in favor of those that are. Testosterone and DHEA levels go down. If, for example, a leopard appears on a rock above you, your reproductive or digestive systems are put on hold so that blood is sent to the

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skeletal muscles to fuel escape. While this is useful in the short term, you can’t sustain these reactions indefinitely and remain healthy.

The reactions that the fight-or-flight response triggers affect nearly every part of your body. These reactions are started by the release of stress hormones. These hormones prime the brain, making you more alert and aware of your environment.

They also make more neurotransmitters available in your peripheral nervous system so that nerve impulses to your muscles are faster. Stress hormones enter the circulation, where they travel to the rest of the body. The heart beats faster and stronger, breathing goes into overdrive, the digestive system slows down, blood is re-routed from internal organs and other areas to the skeletal muscles, production of saliva and tears stops, the pupils dilate, reflexes are accelerated, and more.

The modern human, however, doesn't face many leopard attacks. We face infuriating commutes, corporate reorganizations, tax returns, airport security, and a thousand other insults of life in the twenty-first century. When we encounter one of these stressful situations, our body still reacts in the same way as if there was a leopard lurking above. In this case, the fightor-flight response turns from a helpful reaction that can possibly save your life into a negative reaction that can damage your health.

What’s more, that zebra on the savannah has to run from danger maybe once a day or even once a week or less. We experience stress on a daily basis, and many times a day. Our physiology is just not adapted to the constant demands we place on our bodies.

When we trigger production of stress hormones over a long period, we experience chronic stress. Both the fight-orflight response and chronic stress are mediated by the same hormonal pathways. In fact, another name for the fight-orflight response is the acute stress response. Although all animals have an acute stress reaction, only humans experience stress on an ongoing, purely psychological basis. While animals do not normally harbor chronic stress like humans, when

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chronically exposed under experimental conditions, they get sick just like humans.

When instead of immediate danger, the body experiences repeated or longterm physical or psychological stress, the hormones produced in the hypothalamus repeatedly or constantly trigger production of cortisol in the adrenal gland. Chronically high cortisol levels affect a wide array of metabolic processes such as suppressing the immune system and increasing blood sugar. High cortisol levels from chronic stress are linked to diabetes and obesity. The combination of high cortisol and low testosterone leads to muscle wasting and can affect bone density. Although recurrent stimulation of the fight-or-flight response can be one trigger for this type of stress response, it is not the only trigger.

Acute stress from the fight-or-flight response causes a number of issues throughout the body differing from chronic stress associated with constantly high cortisol. As Sapolsky says: “You need to turn off anything that’s not essential. Growth, reproduction,…tissue repair,… do it later if there is a later.”

This is the compromise the fight-or-flight response imposes on your body.

Shunting resources from the digestive system, for example, slows down or stops digestion. It's not important to be properly digesting food if you're about to become food, after all. This can have some surprising effects. By shutting down the intestines, however, we become more likely to suffer polyps, bowel cancer, diverticulitis, and more.

A bowel that moves is an all-around healthier bowel. If we keep sending the signals that it should stop what it’s doing, then trouble can follow.

Chronic stress also causes other conditions as the body attempts to adjust to the frequent stimulation of the fight-or-flight response. Carnegie Mellon University psychologist Sheldon Cohen has found stress negatively contributes to the course of disease in conditions as diverse as depression, cardiovascular disease, and HIV/AIDS. Depression is perhaps the most clearly stress-linked disease. Major clinical depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in the U.S, with between 32 and 35 million adults meeting the criteria for diagnosis at some point

in their lifetime. It also imposes a huge financial cost on society, with over 50% of cases requiring medical treatment and almost 60% resulting in severe or very severe impairment of ability to work or care for others. In fact, depression causes more lost work days every year than substance abuse.

Both the onset and the relapse of depression are associated with stress. Stress events, such as divorce and the death of a loved one, are among the biggest culprits in depression. Depression also is common among people who have been diagnosed with a serious illness, because physical disease itself is a stressful event that can lead to depression. In both such cases, the stress event or the diagnoses are treated as dangers and the fight-or-flight system is activated. In one sense, this makes sense – the death of a loved one or being told you have an awful disease are definite threats to your emotional and physical health.

The problem is that you can’t run away from one of these events the way you can run away from our hypothetical leopard. You still want to, and your body still tries, but there’s nowhere to run to. So neither the stress nor the stress hormones dissipate and your brain metaphorically stews in a soup of stress hormones. This interferes with normal neurotransmitter function and literally re-wires the brain. In extreme cases, the constant psychological stress causes the brain to re-play the stressing event over and over, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder. All this because your brain acts like a zebra's.

Cardiovascular disease is still the number one cause of death in the United States among adults. Over a quarter of all deaths in the US every year is due to heart disease, and strokes account for another 5%. The link between cardiovascular disease and stress is also wellestablished. In one study, people who experience high levels of workplace stress had a 50% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. In another, people that experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse as children also had higher risks of developing heart disease in later life.

The fight-or-flight response is related to these risks because psychological stress increases the physical stress on the heart. In the fight-or-flight response, www.naturalnutmeg.com

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the heart rate and blood pressure both increase, and blood vessels constrict.

These reactions place a much higher burden on your entire cardiovascular system. When these strains are continued for long periods, they can create dangerous changes in the heart, such as inflaming and weakening the heart muscle.

The fight-or-flight response also activates pathways that increase the inflammatory response and make coagulation happen faster. In a true immediate life-or-death situation these prepare the body to deal with the damage that such a situation might inflict. When these mechanisms are continually, chronically primed, they make blockages and clots in the arteries and veins more likely – possibly leading to strokes, heart attacks, or pulmonary emboli.

HIV/AIDS is fundamentally different from depression and cardiovascular disease in that no amount of stress will cause AIDS. If a person has not been exposed to the HIV virus, there is no chance of developing AIDS. Stress will; however, worsen the course of the disease in a person who has HIV infection.

One study found that for every moderately to severely stressful event experienced while infected with HIV, the risk of progressing to full-blown AIDS increased by 50% and the risk of developing an AIDS-related condition increased by 2.5 times.

How is the stress response able to change how a virus attacks the immune system? First of all, stressful events may increase progression of AIDS by taxing an already weakened immune system.

Secondly, stress can reduce compliance with the often-complex antiviral regimens that have been successful in recent years in keeping the disease in check. Lastly, the fight-or-flight response directly impairs the immune system’s ability to respond.

The link between stress and cancer is less clear than for these diseases, but still suggestive. Part of the issue is that cancer is not one disease but many, with different causes affecting different tissues.

Despite this confusing situation, however, it is clear that stress mechanisms negatively impact cancer through affecting antiviral defenses, DNA repair, and cellular aging. During the fight-or-flight response, these physiological processes are, like digestion, not immediately necessary and therefore downgraded.

Stress can also cause us to age prematurely. Most of us have seen the effects of stress on someone’s physical appearance. Telomeres are part of our chromosomes that protect the genetic material as the cells divide. Telomeres

are longer when we are young and progressively shorten as we age, with each cell division. At any given age, the length of our telomeres is the most accurate measure of our biological age. A study reported in the National Academy of Sciences found that women with the highest levels of perceived stress had telomere shortening consistent with an additional decade of aging. Whew!

Triggering the fight-or-flight reaction, of course, requires us to perceive danger in some form. Perception is a combination of what you know and the signals received from your senses.

Where one person perceives a harmless garter snake, another person may perceive a threatening serpent. Most of us have some irrational fear. So the conditions that provoke the fight-or-flight response are not universal, but instead are particular to each individual. This also implies, of course, that perception can be changed to reduce our susceptibility to having the fight-or-flight reaction triggered.

Sapolsky’s studies in the Serengeti have found that production of stress hormones in animals is affected by many of the same things that experts recommend to humans. For instance, male baboons that spend time with non-fertile females and infants have lower stress hormone levels, while males that cannot tell the difference between displays and threats are twice as stressed. In other words, males that have multiple social connections and that don’t panic in the face of

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a threat are better off than their fellow apes.

This is not very surprising. Multiple studies have found that people with serious illness do better if they have a deep and dependable support system. Cancer patients have been best studied in this respect. In both quality of life and in severity and progression of disease, those patients that have support networks do better. It does not seem to matter whether this network is family, church, support groups, friends, or other types of support, just that the patient feels able to depend on them. The support reduces stress, improving health in both sorts of primates.

Stress reduction is not merely making sure you have friends, of course.

Coping skills, meditation, good diet, and exercise can all reduce your stress.

Self-medication with drugs or alcohol, a high-fat/high-sugar diet, inactivity, smoking, coffee, and social isolation are all poor ways of coping with stress that can worsen the impact of stress on your health.

Another way of managing stress is through learning more about it. Learning that a garter snake is not a dangerous, poisonous reptile that demands a panicked response is one example. It also applies on a more-general level.

The “four A’s” of learning about stress are: • Avoid the stressor. Learn your limits and stick to them. Learn the people and situations that cause you stress and find alternatives. Learn what changes you can make to reduce the stress you inflict on yourself.

• Alter the stressor. If you can’t avoid the stressor, learn how to alter it. It may mean expressing your feelings instead of repressing them or learning to better compromise to the situation. It may mean learning better time-management or organizing strategies.

• Adapt to the stressor. If you can’t avoid or alter the stressor, you may need to adapt to it. Learn to change yourself instead of the immovable situation. Is the situation truly worth getting stressed about? Are there positive aspects you haven’t focused on?

• Accept the stressor. Finally, there are sources of stress you can’t avoid, you can’t change, and you can’t adapt to. Learn not to try to control the uncontrollable. Learn to forgive the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

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Management of stress has no magic wands. No pill or simple treatment eliminates stress. If the stressor is there, your body is going to react to it just like a lifeor-death situation. The stress response cannot be shut off completely. Management is a multi-pronged approach, involving sound nutrition, regular physical activity, psychological support and medical interventions to balance hormones and neurotransmitters.

Another reality of stress management is that it is a long-term project. You will have set backs. No single setback is going to cause a heart attack or a sudden tumor. Don’t be discouraged when you feel stressed. Even the experts have trouble. Sapolsky himself says: “The reality is that I’m unbelievably stressed and TypeA and poorly-coping. Why else would I study this stuff eighty hours a week?”

Desmond Ebanks, MD is a board certified internal medicine physician specializing in age management medicine; a science-based approach to preventive wellness, bioidentical hormone modulation and optimizing health for men and women at Alternity Healthcare, LLC in West Hartford, CT. He can be reached at 860-561-2294 or www.alternityhealthcare.com. See ad on inside front cover.

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Getting A Natural Edge Using Sports Nutrition

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ould you like to be faster, stronger, bigger, or leaner?

Do you wish you had more energy for your workouts so you could get more out of them? Whether you’re a weekend warrior, endurance or power athlete, or mainly focused on weight loss, sports nutrition supplements can help enhance your performance and appearance. Try experimenting with them, including those discussed below, to see which combination works best for you.

You might be amazed at the results!

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Energy Basics: Carbohydrates, Proteins & Fats Before sports supplements are introduced, maximized training and results first depend on the intake of optimal amounts of energy/calories from appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats (known as macronutrients).

Deficient energy intake during training, to which many athletes are susceptible, often leads to significant weight loss (including muscle mass), illness, onset of

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physical and psychological symptoms of overtraining, and reductions in performance.

According to conventional guidelines, those who exercise 3 times per week for 30-40 minutes can generally meet their nutritional needs with a normal diet of 1,800-2,400 calories/day (or 25-35 calories/kg/day for a person weighing 110-175 pounds) (because they tend to use only 200-400 calories per session) consisting of high-quality: (1) carbohydrates- 3-5 g/kg/day; (2) protein - 0.8-1.0 g/kg/day; and (4) fat - 0.51.5 g/kg/day. [The appropriate number of kilograms of these macronutrients for an individual is determined by dividing the individual’s weight in pounds by 2.2 (e.g., 150 lbs/2.2 = 68 kg, calling for approximate daily intake of 272 grams of carbohydrates, 61 grams of protein, and 68 grams of fat.)]

Athletes engaged in moderate-tohigh levels of training, who tend to burn 600-1,200 calories or more per hour of exercise, require 2,500-8,000 calories/ day (or 50-80 calories/kg/day for a person weighing 110-220 pounds) and thus higher quantities of the macronutrients: (1) carbohydrates- 5-8g/kg/day; (2) protein – 1 – 1.5g/kg/day (moderate-intensity athletes training intensely 2-3 hours/ day, 5-6 times per week); 1.5 – 2g/kg/ day (high-intensity athletes training 3-6 hours/day, 5-6 times per week); and (3)

fats - 0.5-1.5 g/kg/day (about the same as non-athletes).

While there is more than one way to prepare for and recover from exercise, some experts recommend consumption of protein and simple carbohydrates (fruits, juices) 15-30 minutes before exercising and heavy carbohydrates+protein (15-25% of total daily calories) within 30-90 minutes thereafter. The body converts only carbohydrates and protein to glucose (known as glycogen when stored in the liver), the primary energy source for exercise. One study found that athletes who refueled with carbohydrates+protein had 100% greater muscle glycogen stores than those who consumed only carbohydrates. If glucose levels are inadequate due to insufficient intake of carbohydrates, the body breaks down proteins for energy. If an athlete consumes inadequate quantities of protein, the body uses muscle and other body proteins to synthesize glucose. Over time, this can lead to lean muscle wasting and training intolerance.

Foods & Supplements To Avoid or Limit Athletes should avoid certain foods and performance boosters. First, fat (e.g., meat, fried foods, candy bars) does not have a role in an effective pre- or post-exercise regimen, though healthy fats (omega-3-6-9 fatty acids) are critical to other aspects of good nutrition. It can be difficult to digest fat and it tends to cause cramping by pulling blood into the stomach to aid digestion.

Though some athletes still risk using them, these are among the ergogenic

aids that most sports organizations have banned due to their serious potential side effects: (1) Erythropoietin (EPO) – a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells and is available in synthetic form as a pill or shot; (2) Anabolic Steroids/ Hormone Precursors (DHEA/THG/Androstenedione) – synthetic versions of testosterone that accelerate lean muscle building and shorten recovery time; (3) Amphetamines- highly addictive central nervous system stimulants; and (4) Human Growth Hormone (HGH) – the injection form was reported to reduce body fat by 14.4% and increase muscle mass by 8.8% in twelve men using it for six months (New England Journal of Medicine, 1990), but it requires a prescription, may not be prescribed for anything other than HGH deficiency, and its potential side effects include gigantism, joint pain/swelling, blindness and cancer.

Sports Supplements for Endurance/Muscle Building/ Recovery/ Weight Loss Exercise physiologists and other experts often highly recommend these sports supplements as safe and effective: Whey Protein: Convenient Powders, Shakes (RTDs) & Bars. The human body contains about 11-13 lbs. of muscle protein. Physical exertion breaks down muscle, requiring the consumption of protein to sustain and rebuild it. Preserving and building muscle enables an athlete to train harder and recover faster.

To achieve a daily protein goal of 1-2g of protein per pound of bodyweight,

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intake whey protein with a diverse mix of amino acids from whole food protein sources (e.g., egg, fish, soy). The preferred form, micro-filtered whey protein isolates, are high in protein, low in lactose and fat, and retain their immunesupporting and anti-cancer properties, but some view whey protein concentrates (unlike ion exchange isolates) as suitable, less expensive substitutes.

Creatine Monohydrate Powder: Extensive research has shown creatine to be the most effective nutritional supplement available to increase fat-free body and muscle mass, power, and endurance, especially for high-intensity athletes. An amino acid with minimal side effects (weight gain and possible taxing of the liver and kidneys), it works by increasing cellular energy (ATP) available to skeletal muscle cells during exercise.

Creatine daily doses range from 2-5g (starting and non/post-loading) to 2030g (loading, in 2-4 servings), depending on an athlete’s weight, workout intensity and frequency, metabolism, and digestive tolerance. Since experts differ on whether to take creatine pre- or postworkout, experimenting with each is recommended. Try dosing immediately after exercise and first thing in the morning on non-workout days. A few more tips to follow when using creatine: (1) to create an insulin spike that will maximize muscle cell uptake, drink it immediately after mixing it with a non-citrus juice and protein; (2) try taking it with D-Ribose, a simple sugar that begins the metabolic process for ATP production; (3) drink one 8oz. glass of water for every 10 lbs. of bodyweight every day;

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and (4) limit caffeine and alcohol intake to prevent removal of the water the creatine is pulling into the muscle.

Other Exercise Enhancers Testosterone Boosters/Diet Aids/ Recovery Supplements To enhance the results of exercise and a fitness goal-focused diet, it’s also worth researching and trying these supplements: (1) Standardized Tribulus Terrestris (500-2000mg/day in separate doses; 1 hour before workouts)– enhances muscle growth and treats erectile dysfunction by boosting testosterone and DHEA levels; (2) Long Jack/Tongkat Ali (200-300mg, 2-3 times/ day; cycle 5 days on, 2 days off for 8 weeks, followed by a 2-week break )– enhances production of testosterone and enables it to enter muscle cells to induce growth; (3) Nitric Oxide (NO) Stimulators/L-Arginine - may increase muscle growth by increasing blood flow, nutrient delivery, wound-healing; (4) Beta-Alanine- enhances carnosine synthesis to buffer muscles from acidity and thus increase energy, delay muscle failure, and maximize workouts; (5) Fat Burners – If Non-Hypertensive – formulas that include bitter orange (source of synephrine and octopamine, chemicals in ephedra), moderate doses of caffeine/ green tea-EGCG/guarana (for those with no adrenal, thyroid, prostate, or hypertension/cardio issues; also improves endurance); white willow bark, and/or bioperine/black pepper. If Hypertensive – formulas containing fucoxanthin/Fu-

cothin®, a seaweed carotenoid clinically proven to burn fat naturally without side effects, and/or lipotropic formulas combined with fat enzymes; (6) Hoodia Gordonii – non-hypoglycemics might try this to suppress hunger and thirst; (7) White Kidney Bean Extract – blocks storage of carbohydrates as fats; and (8) Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs-leucine, isoleucine, valine), L-Glutamine, Electrolyte Replacers – aid in muscle and energy recovery after exercise.

Conclusion It’s not cheating! Why do it the hard way, all on your own, when safe sports supplements can boost your workouts and results? With the right attitude, once you find your ideal combination, you’re bound to reach your fitness goals.

Submitted by Michael Dworkin, P.D., M.S., a Registered Pharmacist and State Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CT Certification #00203), with J. Erika Dworkin, Dip.C.N./ Board Cert. Holistic Nutrition (pending).

Owner of the Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe (860.646.8178, 378 West Middle Turnpike, Manchester), Pharmacist Dworkin has been guiding patients since 1956 and is available for consultation by appointment. Erika is available to speak to groups. References are available upon request. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the natural remedies discussed herein are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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Sunshine and Vitamin D

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ot long ago, it was common to hear parents advising their kids to ‘play outside and get some sun’. The health effects of sunshine were well known. The farther north you lived the more important those sunny days became. In Scandinavia you’d think their appreciation of the summer solstice verged on worship – rightly so—it’s the reward for having survived the dark dormancy of winter emotionally and physically.

The summer sun brings a promise of carefree leisurely days, gardening, being on vacation, and visiting the beach.

However, along with that gentle onshore breeze, there is an unwanted element that minimizes the benefits of sunshine.

Sulfur dioxide, a by product petroleum combustion, which is also responsible for acid rain, blocks some of the ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation of the sun. UVB is what stimulates our skin to produce vitamin D. From Connecticut to Maine, our skies are sulfur dioxide ‘enriched’ and sunshine isn’t what it used to be. The suns’ vitamin D stimulating effect vastly diminished, or to put it another way, the actual solar strength as measured on the ground is the weakest in the northeast and Alaska. The combined effect of a weak winter sun, due to living above 37 degrees latitude, and less available UVB radiation due to sulfur dioxide emission during the summer has made northeasterners to be the most deficient vitamin D population in the entire country. Consequently, we residents of the northeast have the highest incidence of breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer, according to studies.

In Finland when pregnant mothers were given vitamin D the rate of type one diabetes dropped by 50 percent among newborns. Osteoporosis, “seasonal affecting disorder” and certain auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid

and osteo arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and multiple sclerosis are associated with vitamin D deficiency. Though the incidence of MS is associated with living farther north, for instance Vermont has the highest in the US, that is not always true. In Norway those living along the coast have a lower occurrence of MS. This is presumably due to a diet containing more fish instead of dairy, such as cheese and milk, as compared to their counterparts that live further inland. The connection again is vitamin D, which is higher in fish.

Other factors that affect our vitamin D levels are skin color, age, and diet.

Those at greatest risk of low level of vitamin D are those who don’t get outside at all, the elderly, and those with darker skin color by ethnic origin. Where we can improve our vitamin D level are: sun exposure, diet, and supplementation. Foods with the best sources of vitamin D are primarily the oily fish, salmon (wild), mackerel, and sardines. For over three centuries a good natural source has always been cod liver oil. Mushrooms too are a good source of vitamin D. Certain foods are fortified with Vitamin D, such as dairy products, milk, and cheese; otherwise they would not have any substantial amount naturally.

Exposure of 20 percent of the body's surface to direct sunlight was effective in increasing blood concentrations of vitamin D3 among both young and older adults according to studies. Regular sun exposure of 20 – 30 minutes three times per week of noon time summer sun will help improve vitamin D levels. Additionally, those with tans are shown to have higher bone density as compared to those with no tans. Keep in mind that sun exposure does come with certain risks – namely skin cancer. The risk of Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is associated with those havwww.naturalnutmeg.com

ing more sunburn, as opposed to tans, having more moles on their body, and having red hair. Most melanomas occur on the non—sun-exposed areas of the body.

To find out what your vitamin D level is request a 25 hydroxy vitamin D test from your doctor, and …. get some sunshine.

Dr. Goldkamp is a naturopathic doctor who specialized in environmental medicine in Old Lyme, at the Center For Natural Medicine Family Practice. He lives in Mystic and is also a licensed acupuncturist and certified Chinese herbalist.

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What is Dementia, Really?

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s life expectancies continue to increase, we will be confronted with challenges in health care.

The population over the age of 65 is mounting swiftly and will reach an estimated 20% by 2030. As the population ages we will be impacted with the possibility of chronic and degenerative illness. A statistic cited often by public health advocates is that dementia-related conditions are the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States, but despite how frequently the term “dementia” is used, many people are confused by what the term really means. While medical professionals have specific symptoms and deficits in mind when they use the term, among non-professionals any perceived mental issue in older adults gets called “dementia.” So what is dementia, really?

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Although dementia is common in persons over 65, dementia is not “normal” aging nor is it something every person experiences as they age. Dementia is impairment of the brain’s ability to function, specifically impairment of cognitive and memory functions.

People with dementia may experience frequently repeating the same questions, becoming forgetful, being unable to follow simple commands, developing poor personal hygiene, becoming disoriented, having mood swings or changes in personality, getting lost in familiar places, and other such symptoms.

Changes in cognitive functions also impact the person’s ability to perform activities of daily living.

Dementia is not one disease but a symptom cluster created by many causes.

It can either be reversible or irreversible.

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Reversible dementia is caused by a treatable disease or condition like thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, poor nutrition, infection, adverse reactions to medicines, or minor brain injury. Clinical depression can also cause many of the symptoms of dementia, but it is often difficult to distinguish depression causing dementia versus dementia causing depression.

Irreversible dementia is progressive and results in incurable loss of cognitive functions and memory. The most common cause of irreversible dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but vascular dementia, dementia from alcohol abuse, and Lewy Body dementia are also significant causes.

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, but the course of decline is well established. New medications

are improving symptoms and slowing the rate at which dementia progresses, but there is no cure yet. There are seven stages that characterize dementia symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease as the disease progresses: •Stage one: no impairment, no cognitive signs or memory loss •Stage two: very mild cognitive decline and memory impairment •Stage three: mild cognitive impairment.

Problems with memory or concentration apparent on medical examination. Work related performance begins to decline, losing or misplacing valuable objects, remembering new places and people are difficult, difficulty concentrating. Diagnosis of dementia usually made at this stage.

•Stage four: marked change in cognitive abilities, reduced memory of personal history, impairment of recent memory.

Impaired ability to handle finances, travel and other complex tasks. Typically individual will withdraw from challenging activities and use denial as defense mechanism.

•Stage five: moderately severe cognitive decline. The individual will appear to be normal, no assistance required with activities of daily living but will be unable to name relevant aspects of their lives such as addresses, telephone numbers.

•Stage six: severe cognitive decline.

The individual is not oriented to time or place; unable to recall recent events, may have difficulty counting backward from 10. The individual is no longer able to maintain a thought process long enough to complete a task. At this stage the individual will require assistance with activities of daily living, and assistance at home should be considered. Behavioral changes like delusions, obsessive symptoms, repetitive actions (such as wiping the table in the same area repeatedly); anxiety and depression are also noted at this stage.

•Stage 7: very severe cognitive decline.

The individual requires total care for all activities, communicating is limited to short phrases or grunting. The individual is unable to walk or sit up without assistance, or hold head up. Reflexes become abnormal, muscles are rigid, and the ability to swallow is lost.

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of irreversible dementia. This type of dementia is the result of either compromised blood flow to the brain or damage accumulated from one or a series of strokes. In many cases, treatment can reduce, but not reverse, the possibility of further damage. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia can co-exist in the same person. While vascular dementia affects very similar functions such as memory, speech and coordination, the dementia progresses

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in a “step like” fashion. The person will seem to stabilize or even improve for a time and then there will be a downturn in function.

Alcohol-related dementia occurs in people with a history of heavy drinking. The most common symptoms are marked personality changes such as irritability and volatility. Removing alcohol from their environment makes care possible and may slow further degeneration, but will not restore function.

Lewy body dementia is the leastcommon cause of dementia, accounting for only about 5-10% of dementia. Lewy bodies are abnormal masses of protein that aggregate inside nerve cells, interfering with their function. Originally, thought to only occur in Parkinson's disease, some people with dementia have Lewy bodies spread through their brains. People with this type of dementia will have degeneration of their motor skills, speech, and other voluntary nerve functions.

It is important to find skilled patientcare workers that are experienced in both recognizing and caring for these stages. Part of this care is understanding the mechanical requirements of adapting to these cognitive, memory and behavioral changes. More important than that, however, is understanding how to treat a person with dementia with respect and caring. Often the tendency is to treat adults with dementia as if they are children and to treat all people with dementia as if they have the same (low) level of ability and understanding. Although memory games and other activities that are part of caring for a person with dementia resemble children’s activities, these people are adults and need to be treated as individuals, instead of as a diagnosis.

New England Nightingales’ experts in dementia care perform in-home evaluation for each client and create a treatment plan appropriate for that person, ensuring appropriate and individualized care. Cynthia Ebanks is a registered nurse specializing in dementia care. She is certified by Alzheimer Foundation of America as a qualified dementia care specialist, certified in case management and is a disability management specialist. She can be reached at 860-676-7786 or www.newenglandnightingales.com. See ad on page 18.

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Treating Headaches Holistically

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f you’ve chosen to read this article the probability is high that you’ve experienced discomfort from more than an occasional headache, and less likely that you’re one of the ten percent of men or five percent of women who’ve never had a headache. Perhaps you’re one of approximately 45 million Americans who experience chronic headaches or maybe even in a subset —one in ten— which suffers from migraine headaches.

If you experience migraine headaches, it’s three times more likely that you’re a female.

In any case, my guess is that you want information that empowers you to (1) provide relief when you experience pain and (2) prevent re-occurrence of headaches. But first, if you’re over the age of 50 and have recently begun having frequent headaches or if you’ve experienced change in the character of chronic pain from headaches, it’s important to consult healthcare providers specializing in headaches if you haven’t already done so. The treatment and prevention options provided below are supplements to, rather than substitutes for, professional treatment.

You’ll get some brief information about kinds of headaches, what might cause them and ways to relieve and prevent them. If you need more detailed information you’ll want to go to other resources, including the internet where there is a wealth of material about headaches on sites such as MayoClinic.com, migraineinformation.org, achenet.org, and iHATEheadaches.org.

While the malady is very common, the term ‘headache’ encompasses many different types and causes. The International Classification of Headache Dis-

orders divides headaches into three broad categories: • Primary headaches (they are both the medical symptom and problem) • Secondary headaches (they are a medical symptom of another, underlying, problem) • Cranial neuralgias, central and primary facial pain and other headaches (caused by inflammation of nerves in the head, face and upper neck) Approximately 90% are primary headaches which include migraines, tension-type, and cluster headaches.

They are related to constricted blood flow and muscle contraction, occur with various qualities and degrees of pain, and are not life-threatening.

Of the secondary headaches—those attributed to another medical problem such as injury, infection, toxins, medication overuse, high blood pressure, or disease—most have benign causes. But because some are limb-, vision-, brain-, or life-threatening they require serious and immediate attention from healthcare professionals.

Disorders related to one particular nerve in the head (trigeminal nerve, responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions of the jaw) are chief causes for pain appearing to be on the surface of the head or face. Headaches related to temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders are common examples. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Typically when we have a headache, we’re interested in getting rid of it—NOW! Maybe we’re annoyed with our body for having it. We don’t want to figure out what caused it; we want quick relief to get on with our life as quickly as possible. Let’s first focus on some drug-free remedies for fast-acting relief of headache pain and then look at what causes headaches so we can avoid and prevent them.

Complaints related to primary headaches result in about ten million visits per year to doctors in America. The information in the next sections focuses specifically on this kind of headache.

Headache Relief When headaches occur, before doing or taking anything else, take at least three deep, cleansing breaths. A friend of mine laughs every time he hears this reminder because of its simplicity, but a deep breath literally creates space within your physical, emotional, spiritual, and social realms. Opening up space begins the process of relieving the muscle-conJuly 2010

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traction and vasal-constriction of most primary headaches.

Holistic treatment of any health issue emphasizes the interaction among all realms of the whole self—body, mind, spirit, social — and the importance of balancing these realms. Broadly speaking, headache pain reflects a disruption to the flow of our Life Energy (Chi, Prana, Qi) in one or more realm and relief comes from getting it back in balance.

The remedies listed here are based in the principle of returning life systems to balance and are suggested more as a “reference guide” than an “instructional manual”. You can find a good “how-to” list in Alice Lesch Kelly’s article “Holistic Headache Helpers” (located via internet search).

• Acupressure – A short period of gentle scalp massage, light pressure at the base of the skull, head tilting, and deep breathing can lessen pain.

• Aromatherapy – Inhaling the scent of essential oils such as lemon, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus can ease pain variously from sinus, tension and migraine headaches.

• Chiropractic spinal manipulation – Chiropractic treatment can be helpful for headaches caused by positionand posture-misalignment, especially if you’ve had previous work.

• Compresses – Either heat or ice can soothe sore neck or shoulder muscles and relieve tension.

• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

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– An emotional version of acupuncture without needles, this technique restores balance and flow of Qi through gentle fingertip tapping on precise meridian points.

• Exercise and Movement – Yoga, tai chi and other gentle exercise can reduce frequency of headaches by lessening tension and increasing circulation.

Heavy exercise, however, exacerbates headache pain. Feldenkrais Method uses simple movements to alleviate muscle tension and constriction to blood vessels in the neck and head for many types of headaches.

• Supplements –feverfew, butterbur, magnesium, Vitamin B12 and Coenzyme Q10 have been used effectively.

• Traditional Eastern Healthcare – Practiced for over 5,000 years, both Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine view the body as a whole system and seek to prevent illness, bring balance and optimal well-being through natural means: diet, gentle exertion, herbal remedies, meditation (Ayurveda) and acupuncture (TCM).

Headache Causes and Prevention A major part of preventing headaches lies in understanding the causes and attenuating their effects through change in lifestyle choices and/or behavior. According to American Council for Headache Education, the discomfort can be triggered by stress, emotions, foods, pol-

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lution, noise, light, odors, changes in weather, infections, and hormone fluctuations.

• Environmental Factors – Depending on a person’s sensitivity and the level of intensity, odors, allergies, toxins, noise levels all cause headache pain in varying degrees. Prevention relies on knowing your sensitivities and avoiding problematic circumstances.

• Nutrition – Frequency of headaches can be reduced by eating nutritious meals regularly, staying hydrated with plenty of water daily and eliminating excess use of alcohol, caffeine, and sugars.

• Posture and Position – Reducing repetitive muscle strain from manual labor or prolonged lack of movement releases physical tension and pain.

• Sleep – When we address sleep problems caused by lack, apnea, and interruptions due to family or work schedules we can eliminate headaches.

•Stress and Unresolved Negativelycharged Emotions – By keeping stress under control we neutralize the arguably greatest contributor of tension-type headaches. Simplifying life, adding personal peace procedures, intentional relaxation and supportive networks help prevent stress.

These are options. What options to use depends on what your body needs.

Who best knows what your body needs?

YOUR BODY!

Shift of Consciousness We could say that holistic healthcare involves two revolutionary shifts: 1) from conventional to alternative/ complementary medicine and 2) from our self as passive responder to active participator in the healing process.

Treating headaches holistically doesn’t so much involve finding the “right” natural healing remedy as attending to our experience of a headache on all levels. WE are the primary healing agent; the supplement, technique or action is the catalyst that ignites our healing process.

This perspective is helpful particularly with chronic headaches. Rather than trying to get rid of a headache we can imagine it as a messenger warning that we are out of balance.

Take responsibility to BE with the symptom; interact with the dynamic process of our unique healing system. Wonder, “What’s out of balance in my life?

What do I need physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, or environmentally so I get back balance?”

This “listening” leads to the body’s wisdom about the appropriate substance or action needed. The process is

sustained by internal knowing as well as by our connection with external lifesupporting resources.

“But,” we protest, “that’s too much work; I don’t know how to do it, I’m not a health professional.”

Let me be very clear. I’m NOT suggesting going solo. Often our body’s healing system has been “taken offline” by a total reliance on outside agents and a firm belief that health comes exclusively by rational efforts.

The logical thinking-self is only PART of our whole self. We have to go holistic, even within ourselves to return to health! In addition to consulting any appropriate healthcare providers, we must value and utilize information gathered from rational/linear, intuitive/circular structural and functional parts of ourselves.

It’s the energy of the heart chakra that takes center stage as our healing agent because it’s the portal to abundant Source Energy of the universe. Healing proceeds unhindered only as we allow Life Energy to flow freely within us. This involves letting down interior “walls” constructed to protect ourselves from psychic and emotional pain. If such pain is related to deep and/or severe in-

ner wounds, we can benefit from professional guidance in deconstructing those defense structures.

Our natural state is health and the human system is designed to return to health in every realm. We all have unique aspects of the healing system. In treating headaches holistically general information is valuable, though it’s not the entire picture. It’s even more important to know your self and your headaches, by which you access a resource of accurate data from your body. You tune into what it truly needs and respond in ways that restore free-flowing life energy and wellbeing throughout your being.

Nancy Brockett, PhD of Soul Support Counseling, 801 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, teaches holistic mental hygiene to clients and members of the community, helping them build on their inner strengths to find more peace, purpose and joy.

See ad on page 19.

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Women And Depression

A Fresh Approach To Treating Depression

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, regardless of racial or ethnic background or economic status.

Sticks and stones and depression may break your bones.

Women with a history of major depression tend to have lower hipbone mineral density and a greater risk of fracture.

What Causes Depression?

The exact cause is unknown. However, the best scientific theory is that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The chemicals involved are called neurotransmitters, which carry signals between brain cells.

What Helps?

Antidepressant medications are designed to increase the levels of these neurotransmitters, thereby restoring proper balance and enhancing mood.

The problem is, these medications don’t work for everyone. More than 4 million depression patients who take antidepressant medications see little or no benefit, suffer intolerable side effects, or both. If your depression treatment is not working for you, read on. NeuroStar TMS Therapy may be just what the doctor will order.

N

euroStar TMS Therapy® is a non-invasive, non-drug treatment that’s giving some depression patients a reason to smile.

A Serious Illness Depression afflicts over 14 million American adults every year—it affects almost 7% of the U.S. population in any given year. Many go undiagnosed and untreated. The cost of untreated or unsuccessfully treated depression was estimated by the National Institute of Mental Health to be over $83 billion almost 10 years ago; the cost to physical health, relationships, and enjoyment of life is incalculable. It’s important to recognize the symptoms and get treatment as soon as possible.

How Do I Know If I’m Depressed?

A major depressive episode represents a change in the way a person feels and generally includes at least five of the following symptoms: •Depressed mood •Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in usual activities •Significant change in weight and/or appetite •Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much) •Psychomotor agitation or retardation •Fatigue or loss of energy •Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt •Slowed thinking or impaired concentration •Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide 28

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What Is Neurostar TMS Therapy®?

TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. It’s a simple medical treatment that can be performed in a psychiatrist’s office.

While you sit back in a comfortable chair, the TMS treatment coil delivers focused magnetic pulses that stimulate an area of the brain thought to be involved with regulating mood.

The magnetic fields are similar to those used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.

This NeuroStar TMS Therapy® system is the only TMS device cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression.

What Are The Benefits?

TMS Therapy® is a non-invasive outpatient treatment that requires no surgery or anesthesia. TMS Therapy is non-systemic, meaning that no substances enter your bloodstream that can affect other parts of your body. Each session takes only about 37 minutes and allows you to go right back to your normal activities.

How Effective Is It? Clinical trials showed the following results after six weeks of treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy®: •1 in 2 patients showed significant improvement.

•1 in 3 experienced complete symptom relief.

Patients also noticed significant relief from anxiety and physical symptoms, like appetite changes, aches and pains and lack of energy that are often associated with depression.

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Advertorial NeuroStar TMS Therapy® has not been studied in patients who have not received any prior antidepressant treatment. Its effectiveness has also not been established in patients who have failed to receive benefit from two or more prior antidepressant medications at minimal effective dose and duration in the current episode.

How Safe Is It? NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is FDA-cleared for the treatment of depression. Over 10,000 active treatments were performed during clinical trials demonstrating its safety.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Who Is Eligible?

In each case, a physician should perform a complete evaluation of the person’s medical and psychiatric history to determine whether this therapy is recommended.

The FDA has cleared NeuroStar TMS Therapy® for patients suffering from depression who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant treatment.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy is contraindicated in patients with implanted metallic devices or non-removable metallic objects in or around the head. Patients with braces and metal fillings are acceptable for treatment; however, patients with other metal within their mouth should discuss this with their physician.

The side effects reported in the clinical trials were mild to moderate headache and scalp pain and discomfort at the treatment site, both temporary. There are no adverse effects on cognition that can occur with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Also, there were none of the systemic side effects, for example, sexual dysfunction and weight gain, that are associated with antidepressant medications.

How Much Therapy Would I Need?

How Does It Work?

Insurance plans often cover some portion of the initial consultation appointment. Since NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is relatively new, your insurance carrier may not cover the treatments. However, there is help available.

The treating physician can give you a letter of necessity and a paid receipt that you can submit to your insurance company. These will help to build your case and let the insurer know that you are undergoing treatment.

The treatment coil is placed on the left side of the head above the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that is thought to affect mood and where NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is focused. The magnetic fields generated by the NeuroStar TMS system activates nerve cells that are known to release chemicals called neurotransmitters. The theory behind the therapy is that increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters can alleviate the symptoms of depression.

The initial course of treatment requires 20-30 treatments over a 4-6 week period. Treatments are administered five days a week and each session takes 37 minutes.

Does Insurance Cover It?

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Also, if you’re eligible, your treating physician can enroll you in the NeuroStar Care Connection program. This will put you in touch with a team of case managers who can assist you with getting reimbursement from your insurance company.

Where Is It Available?

Nationally, NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is now available in the United States in over 150 locations. There are currently six offices in southern New England that offer it (listed below).

Plan on scheduling an initial consultation appointment.

Prior to the appointment, you will need to have your current physicians submit your medical and psychiatric records to the treatment provider you choose.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy is:

• Noninvasive, non-systemic • Effective and well-tolerated • No anesthesia or sedation • Approx. 37-minute procedure • Outpatient procedure easily performed in psychiatrists’ offices Institute of Living John Goethe, MD; Joanna Fogg-Waberski, MD 200 Retreat Ave Hartford, CT 06103. (860) 545-7102 University of Connecticut Health Center Leighton Huey, MD 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030. (860) 679-4282 Comprehensive Care Mahmoud S. Okasha, MD 200 West Town St Norwich, CT 06360. (860) 886-1508 VA Connecticut Healthcare System Deepak Cyril D’Souza, MD Psychiatry Service 116A, 950 Campbell Ave West Haven , CT 06516. (203) 932-5711 ext: 2572 Island Counseling Center, PC - TMS of Worcester Rachid Och, MD 108 Grove St. Worcester, MA 01606. (508)-552-0210 Lincoln Psychiatric Services Walter Fitzhugh, III, MD 652 George Washington Highway, 4th Floor Lincoln, RI 02865. (401) 334-1830 Please note that the physicians provided are not employed or compensated by Neuronetics, and Neuronetics does not provide any assurances or guarantees with respect to their service. * NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from one prior antidepressant medication at or above the minimal effective dose and duration in the current episode.

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My Child Has Migraines

E

mily came into my office last month.

She is eight years old, but seemed like a little adult. Her mother was sitting there next to her, but she talked the whole time. She told me about her migraines, how her head pounded, and how it felt like some unstoppable force was squeezing it. She wanted it to stop, and she was willing to do anything. “Can you stop my head from hurting so much that I cry at night?”

“Of course I can, but first we have to discover what is causing your headaches.”

The art to all medicine is to determine what’s causing the problem. We can take Tylenol or Advil every time we get a migraine, but that only temporarily makes us feel better. We get another headache, and another, and another, and eventually we feel like we’re pounding our head against a wall. Finding the root of the problem and changing that core is like a magic switch, where all of our pain disappears and Emily went from having five headaches a week, to one a month. For her, the magic switch was flipped, and we found the cause of her problem.

Headaches are caused by a multitude of reasons, and my responsibility is to determine that cause. The first major cause of headaches is food sensitivity, followed by nutrient deficiency, followed by neurotransmitter imbalance. Emily, like all patients, was completely tested for all migraine causes. No stone is left unturned to discover the reason. You don’t have an ibu-

profen deficiency; that’s not what’s causing your headaches.

Food Sensitivities vs. Food Allergies Our immune system is designed to protect us. If it believes a substance is foreign, it will attack. It will create soldiers, called antibodies, to attack the perceived invader to remove it. When we get sick with a bacterial infection, our body creates antibodies, called IgG, to attack and destroy the bacteria. We feel the result with body aches, fatigue, and other symptoms of being sick. Once the bacteria are gone, we feel better. When spring starts and the pollens come out, we may get a runny nose, watery eyes: symptoms of allergies. This is created by our immune system creating different soldiers, called IgE, that attack the

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pollen and create allergy symptoms. When the pollen is gone, we feel better.

We have the same reactions to certain foods. You are familiar with food allergies.

A handful of people will have their face swell, itch, or maybe even have their throat close up so much that they can suffocate.

These are well known food allergy symptoms that are a result of the body creating IgE soldiers against the food. We feel the result similar to pollen allergy symptoms.

Once the food is avoided, we feel better.

What is fairly unknown is that when the body creates IgG soldiers against foods, we feel the symptoms that can range from headaches, body aches, arthritis, IBS, and a myriad of other conditions. The biggest problem is, we keep feeding ourselves these offending foods, without even knowing they’re causing the problem. It’s part

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of the future of medicine. These are called food sensitivities. Just like the bacteria and the pollen, once the food is avoided, we feel better.

The Research Your allergist or conventionally trained physician may not understand how important IgG food testing is to improve your headaches. A study of food sensitivities in children with headaches showed that 46% had total or partial improvements in their headaches by removing foods that tested positive with IgG antibodies. That’s almost half of headache patients getting better without ever taking a painkiller. If you only had to avoid one food and your headaches would disappear, would you do it? It can truly be that simple. I run food IgG sensitivity testing on every headache patient, and find huge success in 80% of my patients.

Nutrient Deficiencies Our body needs fuel to run properly.

Our car needs gasoline, oil, and other fluids. We’re more complicated than our cars and we need more than calories. We need a multitude of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and proteins or we don’t run efficiently. If you don’t put oil in your car, there’s going to be problems. If we don’t get all of our nutrients, there’s going to be bigger problems. Certain nutrients are associated with preventing headaches, including fish oil, riboflavin, CoQ10, and magnesium.

A multi-vitamin isn’t strong enough, and children with bad headaches need thera-

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peutic dosages of certain nutrients, but we must always be careful that we treat with safe doses. Just because it’s natural, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe.

A study of adolescents that had migraines for an average of 4 years were given fish oil for two months. Headaches decreased from 15 per month (that’s one headache every other day) to 2 headaches a month. The children said they had 87% fewer headaches. Another study of children with headaches showed that almost one-third of them is deficient in CoQ10.

This nutrient is essential for creating energy in our body. When these children supplemented with CoQ10, their headaches improved dramatically. Another nutrient commonly low in headaches patients is magnesium. Migraine patients have considerably lower levels within their red blood cells, and when they take magnesium, their headaches again improve. Last, but not least, Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) decreases headaches by 50%.

How do you know which nutrient will help your child? Taking all four can be overkill, and experimenting can take time. All of your vitamin and mineral levels can be tested and analyzed. When Emily’s nutrients were tested, we found low magnesium levels. Her fish oil, CoQ10, and riboflavin levels were normal. We avoided months of trial and error, and gave her magnesium every day. Her headaches disappeared within a week. When we find the cause of the problem, it seems like a magic switch. The science of nutrition is so common sense, yet so commonly overlooked.

Neurotransmitters Our body makes many chemicals, many of which affect the brain. These neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, can cause headaches if unbalanced. Many people are familiar with drugs that increase serotonin levels, such as Prozac or Lexapro. These neurotransmitters can be changed naturally. Our body makes serotonin from protein and vitamins. Our body also takes serotonin and makes a neurotransmitter called melatonin. A study on children aged 6-16 years with headaches showed that 67% of them removed their headaches when they took a supplement of melatonin.

What’s your naturopathic answer?

For every problem, there’s a solution.

Headaches are traumatic and can greatly affect our life. Taking painkillers everyday doesn’t solve the problem and causes ulcers, liver damage, and other problems with our intestines. My practice has huge success in treating headaches and migraines because we get at the cause of the problem. We test for food allergies, food sensitivities, nutrient levels, and neurotransmitter levels. Every patient has a different solution, because there are so many reasons for headaches. The future of medicine is individualized medicine. You aren’t just another migraine patient that gets thrown a painkiller. You have a headache. You have a unique reason for that headache, and you have a unique solution to cure it permanently. Emily is migraine free, and you can be too.

Dr. Jared Skowron is a national expert on natural medicine for children. Author of Fundamentals of Naturopathic Pediatrics, the most up-to-date book on scientifically proven natural remedies for children’s health conditions, he is also founder of the Pediatric & Autism Clinic at the University of Bridgeport. Dr. Skowron has appeared on Animal Planet, Dogs 101, and lectures nationally on natural medicine for children.

He and his wife practice at Harvest Park in Wallingford, CT. See ad on page 22.

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Deep Soul Writing: Welcome to the Romance

H

ave you ever been hit by a "cosmic two by four", an event or circumstance that changed your life? Events such as divorce, illness, loss of job, being broke or feeling depressed can make you start wondering what life is all about. According to Janet Conner, author of "Writing Down Your Soul - How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within", the experiences that compel you to start asking questions about who you really are is actually your inner voice trying to get your attention. She maintains this inner guide is our innate spirit and is a loving and caring guide that has your best intentions.

Janet Conner calls this inner guide the Voice, and the Voice is always there, always ready to listen, always ready to communicate. You can call it anything you want; instinct, divine energy, cosmic universe, God. But be assured when you start asking questions, the universe always responds.

Everyone has direct and immediate access to their inner voice. Intriguing as this sounds, it is also deceptively easy to start this dialogue. Putting pen to paper instantly connects you with this divine source. The connection is right there in your hand. "Writing Down Your Soul" (WDYS) provides in clear and concise language just how to do that.

Not Your Momma's Journaling Janet did not set out to write another book on journaling.

She describes her work as deep soul writing which engages all five senses. It combines innate spiritual practice and cutting edge brain science. "I have a secret to share," said Janet.

"Most authors write books that they want to read. I wanted to share how deep soul writing saved me and guided me through a horrific divorce. And I wanted to know why writing works.

Why does it heal and open up your soul," she continued.

Deep soul writing bypasses any intermediary like a priest, shaman, or hypnotist to talk directly with what is within you to establish a long term relationship/dialogue with your source.

This guide will answer all your questions. Janet maintains that

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you don't have to come to this practice with any religious background, spiritual backing, or belief system. You don't have to think it is a divine source. Many approach deep soul writing from a psychological standpoint, in that it is all source energy. It is a psycho-spiritual practice that will train you to access your own internal voice.

Four Simple Steps To Start The Dialogue And Access Your Inner Voice Show Up. This is where you set your intention. Intentions can change your life. For example it can be simply stating "here I am, let's talk." Have this simple statement become a habitual part of your day. It is the energy of intention that puts everything in motion. When you begin with clear intention to access the voice within you, you let the universe know you are ready to open two doors in your soul, the door into your deepest self and the gate to the cosmic divine. Also, dedicating a specific time and place to your writing routine will enhance the changes that will occur in your life. Research shows that it takes 30 days to create a new habit and create new neural pathways in our brain that promote this change. WDYS includes extensive research on cutting edge brain activity to support this sacred routine. This research shows that unexpressed traumas and negative emotions reduce blood flow to the brain, increase the likelihood of a wide variety of illnesses, and produce the feeling of being "stuck," unable to come up with new solutions to stressful situations. Writing releases your story, and in the process helps you find meaning and resolution. Telling your story heals.

Open Up. Open your heart. In this dialogue, you go first with the questions, you write first. Write by hand, and write fast!! Writing fast drowns out the inner critic in your mind, and we all have many critics chattering away. This is your opportunity to tell your story first. You can say what is happening in your life, express your feelings, leaving nothing under

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the rug. This is where you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This is a private conversation with your source with no fear of criticism and judgment from others. Do not judge and do not be critical of what you write. These initial questions lead to the next question and more. And so you are on your road to self-discovery.

Listen Up. This is where the "magic" begins. Start asking questions, your questions. Asking questions activates the voice within. They should be open ended, heart felt questions. Short yes and no "magic eight ball" questions aren't going to elicit the answers you need. Listen with your spiritual ears, not your physical ears. You are having the experience as you realize you are having a profound dialogue. The voice will absolutely come through.

Follow Up. "This is where the rubber meets the road," said Janet. If you want to change, you have to follow up with the guidance you have received. You have been involved in deep dialogue and the guidance may require you to shift your thinking. For instance, if the guidance says to step away from a toxic relationship, then it is time step away. Heed the words given to you.

Writing by hand at the soul level may well be the most effective spiritual practice because it activates all five senses and slips you out of conscious mind and into the theta brain wave state. It is so powerful; it can create new neural pathways in your brain. Through deep soul writing you can train yourself to access and harness the creativity and solutions that come through the theta brain wave state.

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Mystical Theta And Practical Spirituality What sets WDYS apart from other writing disciplines is that it guides you out of conscious mind. The secret of this success is exiting conscious mind. Janet maintains, "Your problems are in the conscious mind, so you have to get out of conscious mind to find the solutions.

This form of writing kicks you out of beta into theta consciousness."

There are four types of brain waves: beta, alpha, theta and delta. Beta waves are the fastest and are associated with stress, work and concentration. We usually go about our days in beta and when we start writing we start out in beta. Alpha brain waves are just a shade slower than beta. Alpha is connected to calmness, creativity, and insight. We are in alpha when we engage in good, almost effortless work. You have heard about people being in the flow? That is alpha.

Theta waves are the next slowest, and we experience this when we are slowly waking up, and are at our drowsiest.

We can remember our dreams vividly, and have creative breakthroughs and

ideas. Almost everyone has had the experience of waking up with the solution to a problem. That's theta. Delta brain waves occur when we sleep.

When we start writing we are usually in beta, concentrating and creating in alpha but slipping into theta when we commence communicating with our inner voice. So often deep soul writers will go back and read what they have written and not recognize the words. “This isn't me, I didn't write that." This is recognizing the communication between you and your divine source. "When your handwriting and your words aren't your own you have crossed over to mystical theta. This is a clear example that you have crossed over to theta thinking, deep thinking where communication is available," Conner explains.

"A common complaint I get with workshop participants is the feeling of being stuck," said Janet. WDYS provides deep soul questions that will guide you on your journey of healing and discovery of who you are. These questions will assist you in exiting conscious mind to access subconscious mind and mystical theta. Through deep soul writing you can train yourself to access and harness the creativity and solutions that come through the theta brain wave state.

As a form of meditation deep soul writing doesn't try to quiet the monkey mind chattering away. Instead you are actively engaged in writing down all the intimate thoughts and questions in your mind. Janet coaches to write quickly without editing or judging the content, thus drowning out the inner critic as you enter theta flow. It can be considered a pure form in that it engages the entire body, heart, mind and soul.

Welcome To The Romance The subtitle to this book is "How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within.” However, Janet confided this may be changed to "Welcome to the Romance". Because on this journey of deep soul writing, you not only will get the answers to all your questions and problems you will also be introduced to someone you need to know better and love. YOU! One workshop participant who engaged in 30 days of deep soul writing thanked Janet for introducing him to his new best friend: himself. Being in deep soul writing for this length of time allows you to uncover who you are and allows you to make the leap to loving yourself.

With all the instruments and instructions on starting the dialogue with your inner voice provided, how deep you want to go is up to you. Everything you need to start a spiritual practice of writing that gets richer and deeper over time is provided.

But be warned. When you start on this journey there is no going back. With each question you ask, there will be a rumbling and shifting in your soul. You should have a commitment to what you are embarking on, as you are asking the universe for guidance and you are beholden to following through. Janet invites deep soul writers to "Step in that space of who I am and who I could be.

Between what I have and what I want.

Step into that empty space and expect miracles. " For more information on "Writing Down Your Soul - How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within", workshops, book orders, tours and upcoming events, please go to www.writingdownyoursoul. com. Submitted by Nancy Hinchey.

Have a Picnic!

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Supplements 101

Supplements for Stress

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eople say “I’m stressed out” so often that the word “stress” is now used loosely and sometimes fashionably. When people say they’re stressed, we don’t really know if the stress is chronic, or if the stress is a one-time feeling because of an event or circumstance that just occurred. The human body, if generally healthy, has a remarkable way of coping with stress and infection.

Once the stress trigger is eliminated, the stress disappears.

Unfortunately, many of today’s stressors can be so long lasting that our stress becomes chronic and begins to wear our bodies out. A solution is to take stress supplements, preferably those with natural ingredients. Let’s review some of these supplements.

Vitamin B-complex Vitamin B-complex is not one vitamin. It encompasses thiamine (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) and other such water-soluble vitamins.

To understand how B-complex vitamins help diminish stress; we need to look at the brain’s chemical reactions and the pituitary gland. Cells located in the brain stem and spinal cord send messages to the adrenal glands. These glands release substances that make us breathe quicker, increase our alertness, and cause our heart to beat faster. These reactions stimulate the pituitary gland.

This sending of messages can go back and forth until our coping mechanisms begin to weaken.

B-complex vitamins help support our coping mechanisms. In fact a deficiency in B-complex vitamins is associated with typical stress symptoms – anxiety, undue tension, nervousness and lack of concentration. When we have stressful jobs and difficult relationships, stress supplementation becomes even more imperative.

The best way to get B-complex vitamins is from natural foods (liver, lentils, beans, brewer’s yeast, tuna, bananas) but when stress is compounded by a poor diet due to lack of time or motivation, supplementing with B-complex vitamins is a great answer.

Valerian You may have heard of Valerian as a sleep aid. It is a medicinal herb that was used in ancient Greece and Rome to cure insomnia and nervousness. The Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) described Valerian as a potential remedy for sleeplessness caused by stress. The evidence is inconclusive, but numerous clinical studies have found that when Valerian is administered, the group that received Valerian supplements showed better sleep results than their placebo counterparts.

Valerian, according to the NIH, is a common ingredient in products that are promoted as mild sedatives, helping to calm people who are emotionally tense. How it acts as a stress reducer cannot be ascertained, but it may have to do with its ability to boost the body’s supply of a key neurotransmitter – GABA. Scientists believe that it stimulates more production of GABA, decreases its absorption, or possibly slows down the breakdown process. GABA stands for gamma aminobutyric acid.

Because it is an all-natural remedy, Valerian may not be as effective as prescription sleep medications. However, it has two distinct advantages: it does not bring about a hangover type of feeling the next morning and does not generate dependence.

People who take prescription drugs tend to have recurring sleep problems once they stop taking their medication.

Antioxidants Free radicals are atoms, or groups of atoms, with an unpaired number of electrons. Free radicals cause damage to the body in numerous ways and are a central component in cancer, aging, and various chronic diseases. When your body is stressed, free radical production increases. The best way to combat free radicals are with antioxidants, which can stop the formation of free radicals and help prevent bodily damage. This is extremely important during times of stress because our bodies and immune

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system are already weakened.

It is the best idea to source antioxidants from natural foods, such as berries (blueberry, cranberry, strawberry, etc), red kidney beans, apples, artichokes and others, but unfortunately, our diets are not as rich in fresh fruits and vegetables as they should be. Taking supplements packed with antioxidants will help us cope more efficiently with stress. The concept of supplementation has been embraced by modern society and is strongly recommended by health care professionals. A good antioxidant supplement would be a product like Fundamental DefenseTM and Goji berry or Acai berry extracts. These products contain enough antioxidants to help turn our immune system from sluggish to “on the alert.” Tibetan Goji Berries, for instance, have 18 amino acids and 27 trace minerals, in addition to thiamine and B-6, lab certified and USDA 100% organic.

Acai Extracts can be made with pure berries harvested directly from the rain forests of Brazil and are gaining worldwide acceptance as potent antioxidants.

Conclusion There are excellent stress supplements that we can take. The natural supplement industry in Europe and North America has come full circle now, and the products that are being made have undergone significant improvements in terms of integrity of ingredients and lab-certified good practices.

With stress being called the silent killer, how can we ignore the benefits of supplementation? We can’t make stress disappear from our lives, it’s here to stay.

This is why organizations like the Mayo Clinic have established their Complementary and Integrative Medicine program to help people deal with their stress. The program’s approach includes non-conventional therapies one of which is herbal medicine. Herbal stress supplements should be on your health action plan. Don’t let stress control you or your life.

Submitted by Alexander George. Alexander works with EarthTurns.com to write health articles that explain the importance of living a conscious life by being aware of your lifestyle choices and revealing the importance of using chemical free and natural products. See ad on page .

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KnowyourHerbs

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG)

Basil

(Ocimum basilicum, O. sanctum)

B

asil. Saying it summons images of sunny weather, dining outdoors, delicious cuisine and happy memories. Basil is affiliated with many legends that ascribe pleasant imagery and feelings to the herb. In Italy, where the plant was sometimes called “kiss me Nicholas,” a woman left a pot of Basil on her windowsill to indicate that she was looking for a suitor. Some traditions say that a man would be destined to fall in love with any woman who gifted him with a Basil plant, but love and fidelity aren’t the only desirable blessings the herb is said to attract; in Mexico, carrying a few Basil leaves in your pocket is certain to bring in money.

Be sure to carry some in your wallet the next time you visit the casino!

Basil’s folklore didn’t always invoke such pleasing associations though; during Medieval times, a superstition that linked Basil to scorpions went as far as declaring that smelling basil’s pungent aroma would cause scorpions to grow in one’s brain. In reality, Basil deters insects, in particular it is repellant toward scorpions and toxic to mosquitoes. It is marvelously helpful to apply on bites and stings, notably from scorpions, as it draws poisons back to the site and inhibits the dispersal of toxins into

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the bloodstream. Also noteworthy, dried and powdered basil “snuff” or essential oil applied topically can open sinuses and clear headaches rather than grow a brain scorpion.

The name Basil is believed to originate from the word basilisk, an evil serpent-like creature with deadly venom that could be conquered with a mere sprig of Basil. The connection to its power against venomous bites is not subtle in this tale. Another theory is that it originates from the Greek term basilikos, which means “worthy of kings;” certainly there are vast amounts of literature that present Basil with a level of sanctity. Tulsi, meaning “matchless” in the Far East, is known as Holy Basil (O. sanctum) here in the West. In legends, Tulsi manifested from the ashes of the goddess Tulasi and provides love, eternal life, purification and protection.

Holy Basil is considered to be very sacred in many parts of the world as its name suggests. In India, some courts have those who testify swear their oaths upon a Holy Basil plant. Sacred to Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu, the dried stems of Tulsi are sometimes cut into beads and used like a rosary for offering prayers. After the Lotus, Holy Basil is considered to be the most

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blessed plant in India; being far too hallowed to cook with, the herb is planted around homes and temples for heavenly protection.

The offer of divine protection has been a universal theme for Basil. In India, when death was imminent, a piece of Tulsi placed in the mouth of the dying assured safe passage to paradise. An old European custom had loved ones place sprigs of the herb in the hands of their dearly departed to ensure a protected journey to the Other Side. In ancient Egypt and Greece, Basil was provided to the deceased in order to open the gates of Heaven for them. In fact, the Greek Orthodox Church prepared their Holy Water with Tulsi, and other traditional churches would often place pots of Basil underneath their altars.

In modern spirituality, Basil continues to provide a link to the unconscious; some resources suggest that Basil can assist one in recalling their past lives. Renaissance herbalist Gaspard Bauhin (1560) once said that Basil, “with its fine scent quickens the brain and heart and restores the vital spirits.” Perhaps it is the penetrating aroma that opens unexplored pathways to previously uncultivated aspects of our consciousness.

A few weeks ago, before I had decided to embrace Basil’s teachings beyond a rudimentary understanding of her vast benefits to humanity, I went to lunch with a girlfriend that I hadn’t seen in quite a while. During our meal, she began to tell me about the reason she had been off the radar screen: she had been sick. As a professional opera singer, her lungs and her voice were more than important to her, they were her raison d’etre. We spoke at length about different dietary, herbal and complementary approaches and after we parted company, the thought of her lingering illness stayed on my mind.

Her symptoms included copious amounts of mucous, bronchial and sinus congestion, tremendous fatigue, poor digestion and a feeling of being chilled. She looked pale and puffy and she moved without her usual grace and spunk. I was concerned about her when I went to sleep that night, and at the first light of dawn I received a message from the plant I had only just chosen for this monograph: Basil.

(Okay, let’s be honest here, Basil clearly chose me.) The message I was given was specific to my friend: that Basil strongly desired to be her plant ally. I immediately sprang from my bed and looked up the various characteristics of Basil beyond what I knew about her benefits in the treatment of migraine headaches, to improve digestion and her established attributes for lowering blood sugar in the treatment of diabetes.

All Basils are warming and drying and have strong action on the respiration, the nervous system and reproduction; they

are stimulating to Yang energy and treat fatigue, cold and depression. Better than Hyssop for supporting the body’s vital energy and more effective than Thyme for warming and stimulating wet, congested lungs, Basil also address chronic sinusitis with concurrent loss of smell. The most specific indication that Basil is appropriate for in respiratory conditions is chest tightness, wet asthma and lungs that consistently produce copious amounts of clear or white phlegm. I knew instantly that Basil had indeed come to give me this communication for my damp friend and called her on the spot to deliver the message.

Interestingly, she had been feeling drawn to Basil essential oil, one of the strongest methods of administering the herb (a tincture is also a great form of the remedy). With some time and effort, it could very well be the shot in the arm that she needs to restore her vitality, lift the fog of melancholy that weighed her spirits down from the long-standing malady and invigorate her sluggish constitution. I was also reminded of Basil’s ability to attract a loving mate and figured as a plant ally, this quality couldn’t hurt her any either!!

Speaking of amore, I find it fascinating that Basil can reduce sperm production, but is often used to restore libido in men and women alike. Across the board, applying the essential oil to someone with fatigue and a cold, achy lower back will bring immediate relief. For women, it can help to balance certain hormonal issues that present with delayed or scanty menstruation and cramps that are improved with the application of heat. The herb can

help issues of female infertility, encourage the flow of breast milk and give men a much-needed lift in cases of impotence.

Basil restores the nerves, revives the consciousness, promotes clear thinking and helps assist the memory. Herbalist Wilhelm Ryff (1582) said of Basil, “It awakens joy and courage.” I have to agree, it is a marvelous cure for stress!!

Almost everyone loves Basil; the scent, the flavor, its attractiveness in a garden and its versatility in so many cuisines.

From sweet basil pesto, to Thai spring rolls and as an interesting and pleasant accompaniment to sweet dishes like tea breads and fruit salad, it seems that Basil knows no culinary limits either. Plant some in your garden and enjoy the harvest of love, passion, fidelity, fine dining, and good health.

Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH, RH -Diplomate Chinese Herbology (NCCAOM), Registered Herbalist (AHG) “Herbalisl” is a nationally board certified Chinese Herbalist with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. She is available by appointment at The Essence of Being at Johnnycake Mountain, Burlington, CT. www.theessenceofbeingat.com Visit her blog: http://HERBALISL.Blogspot. com Please call 860-673-6863 or email at essenceofbeing@hotmail.com if you have any questions, would like to schedule an appointment, attend meditations, weed walks, or are interested in taking classes.

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Healthy Family

Dr. Lauren Gouin, N.D.

What if it's not Gluten?

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any people are becoming aware of gluten sensitive enteropathy or celiac disease, a condition where the immune system becomes hypersensitive when exposed to wheat gluten. This autoimmune condition is becoming more frequently diagnosed, with new statistics suggesting almost one in three hundred people have either symptomatic or asymptomatic celiac disease. The diagnosis may require blood test or a biopsy to determine if the immune system is reacting to wheat gluten and creating an autoimmune state. Food allergies and food sensitivities are also other ways the immune system can react to wheat proteins, creating different types of antibodies to gluten containing foods in the diet. These can be determined with blood tests.

An intolerance of wheat gluten, whether it is an autoimmune condition, allergy or sensitivity, may be the underlying cause for many chronic health complaints, particularly digestive complaints. There are a lot of people, however, either diagnosed with some form of gluten intolerance or not, that do not feel complete relief from a gluten free diet. It is important to remember that with a compromised digestive tract, multiple conditions can occur and need to be addressed to help restore balance to the digestive tract and whole person.

Dysbiosis Our digestive tract involves an important balance of microorganisms. Inappropriate growth of bacteria or yeast may cause digestive disturbance and create symptoms throughout the body.

Candida infection, an overgrowth of a specific strain of pathological yeast, can be caused by use of certain medications, such as antibiotics and oral contraceptives. Healthy bacteria are displaced by this yeast leading to systemic symptoms as well as gastrointestinal complaints. Bacteria can also migrate from the large intestine into the small intestine where they then colonize and cause malabsorption. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can be promoted by chronic constipation, long-term use of antiacid medication or other underlying conditions such as celiac disease.

Disaccharide Intolerance Disaccharides are simple sugars commonly found in our foods. Lactose, sucrose and maltose are the three sugars that are then broken down by enzymes: lactase, sucrase and maltase.

Lactase is the enzyme responsible for digesting the milk sugar, lactose. Within the digestive tract, are small little finger-like protrusions, known as villi that stick out into the tract and help aid with food breakdown and absorption. These villi produce lactase, however, they can be damaged with inflammation within the digestive tract. When this occurs lactase production is compromised and fermentation of these sugars can occur causing GI distress with symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea and belching.

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July 2010

or low levels of lactase, and is very different than this intolerance which can occur at any age. Other disaccharides, sucrose and maltose, may not be tolerated well and may be tested with dietary modifications or biopsy. Healing the digestive lining may improve patients' response to lactose or other disaccharide intolerances.

Fructose Malabsorption Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar found in fruits and vegetables. It is found extensively in the typical American diet, as high fructose corn syrup has become the chief sweetener for most processed foods. When combined with glucose, fructose then forms sucrose or table sugar, another ingredient found pervasive in our diets. In compromised digestive tracts, fructose can be malabsorbed, leading to fermentation of these sugars and digestive distress as well as headaches. Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol used in many diet foods, interferes with fructose absorption and can also produce these symptoms. Diagnosis for this condition may be more complicated and requires a trial of specific food avoidance or otherwise specific diagnostic tests.

Microscopic Colitis Another autoimmune condition, with similar genetic background to celiac disease, microscopic colitis does not typically respond to a gluten free diet and is associated with more severe villous damage. There are still many natural and conventional options for treatment of this condition, but it is important to first have the appropriate diagnosis. Symptoms are similar to other gastrointestinal conditions, with watery, non-bloody diarrhea.

Pancreatic Insufficiency The pancreas is responsible for the production of numerous hormones and enzymes associated with digestion and absorption of nutrients. Stress and intestinal damage can reduce hormone secretion and pancreatic enzyme production. Low pancreatic enzymes can lead to malabsorption and typically diarrhea. There are multiple ways to assess pancreas function and treatment can often be as simple as enzyme support.

The digestive tract is a complex system that once thrown off balance may need multiple areas restored. While a dietary change like gluten free may help improve symptoms, if they are not completely resolved it may be due to some other condition.

Dr. Lauren Gouin is a board certified naturopathic physician with a family practice in Manchester and South Windsor, CT. She is currently accepting new patients and is in network with most insurance companies. To make an appointment, call (860) 6496944 or visit www.ctnhs.com. See ad on page 19.

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Healthy Cooking ThEGOuRmETbaChElOR.COm Free recipes, cooking & travel videos!

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Breakfast Quesadilla

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Wake up to a nourishing and gluten free breakfast by just adjusting a few ingredients to fit into your healthful lifestyle.

I love grilling Tortillas first thing in the morning. A cast iron, stove top grill does the trick for my city apartment. The crisp tortilla creates an exciting crunch that glides the silky egg mixture into your mouth. Try this version with gluten free tortillas that you can find in some health food stores.

recipe; an essential wine

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INGREDIENTS

2 whole wheat tortillas (gluten free) 4 eggs (Alt. 6 egg whites) 2 T olive oil 2 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 c red and green peppers, diced 1 T cilantro, chopped 1/4 c corn kernels

DIRECTIONS: Saute peppers and corn for 4 minutes. Whisk eggs.

Stir eggs into skillet until fluffy. Add cheese and cilantro. Grill tortillas for 1 minute per side. Place egg mixture on top of one tortilla.

Place second tortilla on top.

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Chiropractic Physicians West Hartford Chiropractic Dr. Moshe Laub 345 North Main St., West Hartford, Suite 322 (860) 232-5556 Dr. Laub is the founder of West Hartford Chiropractic and Wellness. Dr. Laub’s quest to treat the person as a whole and the underlying cause of disease, inspired him to study Chiropractic in Canada.

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Health Food Stores Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe The Manchester Parkade 378 West Middle Turnpike Manchester, CT 06040 860.646.8178 M-SAT 8am-9pm • SUN 9am-6pm The Manchester Parkade Health Shoppe is an information- and service-oriented health food store that has served its community since 1956. We are a true oasis for learning and achieving optimal wellness. The owner, Michael Dworkin, P.D., M.S., a Registered Pharmacist and State Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CT Cert. #00203), is available for consultation by appointment. Our other staff nutrition consultants provide customers with instore guidance in choosing vitamins, herbs, sports nutrition products, natural body care, natural and allergen-free foods, and life style changes. Many of our products are discounted every day. Ask us about our gym and other special discounts.

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Holistic Health Monika Benoit BA Psy, CH, HHP, EFT-ADV CT Wellness Connection LLC 82 Salem Turnpike, 2nd Floor Norwich, CT 06360. 1-888-446-2338 healingwithmonika@live.com www.healingwithmonika.com As a certified holistic health practitioner, Monika specializes in providing holistic solutions for women, children & families. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about her fully customized therapeutic programs, including stress-management for parents, specialized support for childbirth, relief from prenatal discomfort, post-partum healing, help with PMS and relief from menopausal discomfort. Schedule a free consultation on-line at www.healingwithmonika.com & download a free gift! See ad on page 20.

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Naturopathic Physicians Advanced Allergy Relief CT Anne Mitchell, ND (203) 265-3546 www.aarct.com North Haven & W. Hartford Eliminate your allergic reactions using a technologically advanced treatment that corrects the body’s response to the offending food, pollen, mold, perfume, pets, etc. No medications. Non-invasive. Childfriendly. See ad on page 36.

Connecticut Natural Health Specialists Lauren Gouin, ND 1330 Sullivan Ave., South Windsor, CT (860) 644-2437 www.ctnhs.com Dr. Lauren Gouin is a naturopathic physician with a family practice in Manchester and South Windsor. Dr. Gouin is accepting new patients and is in network with most insurance companies. For more information, contact her at (860)644-2437 or visit www. ctnhs.com. See ad on page 19.

Glastonbury Naturopathic Center 18 School Street, Glastonbury Dr. Helene Pulnik. (860) 657-4105 www.naturopathicwellness.com Glastonbury Naturopathic Ctr. is a multidisciplinary healthcare center focusing on natural alternatives for individuals to achieve and maintain optimal health. Dr. Helene Pulnik, ND, LAc. is a board-certified licensed Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncturist with over 25 years experience as a healthcare professional. Offering Naturopathic Medicine, Colon Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture, Cleansing & Detoxification Programs, Weight Management Programs. See ad on page 30.

Kensington Naturopathic Medical Ctr. Dr. Ann Aresco 355 New Britain Rd, Kensington. (860) 829-0707 drannaresco@comcast.net kensingtonnaturopathic.com Centrally located in Connecticut, Kensington Naturopathic Medical Center provides comprehensive family healthcare. Our team of specialized health professionals is dedicated to facilitating our patients’ optimal health, and offers a wide range of services, including supplementation, homeopathy, acupuncture and Chinese herbs as well as nutrition, holistic health counseling and weight loss/life style changes.

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CommunityResources Nurse Practitioners/APRN Naturopathic Physicians West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine 301 N. Main St. West Hartford, CT (860) 232-9662, www.DRAIETA.com Dr. Frank Aieta, founder of West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine, is a board certified licensed Naturopathic Physician who specializes in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease utilizing the most advanced natural therapeutics. He offers a wide range of natural, non-toxic treatments which include: Acupuncture, Spinal Manipulation, Clinical Nutrition, Detoxification, Pain Management, Herbal Medicine and Natural Hormone Balancing. See ad on page 20.

Whole Health Associates, LLC Dr. Jennifer J. Stagg, Dr. Mark S. Stagg 100 Simsbury Rd., Suite 209, Avon, CT. (860) 674-0111, www.wholehealthllc.com frontdesk@wholehealthllc.com Whole Health Associates, LLC is an integrative family practice offering naturopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy services. The approach to patient care at Whole Health Associates differs from most other provider’s offices. Every person is addressed on an individualized level, tailoring treatment plans to meet the specific needs of each patient. Consideration of all aspects of the patient’s life is taken into account. Unique services include comprehensive food allergy and neurotransmitter testing, stomach acid analysis, body composition testing and gentle chiropractic techniques. The doctors are providers for many insurance companies.

See ad on page 24.

Organic / Gluten free Divine Treasures 404 Middle Tpk. West, Manchester, CT. (860) 643-2552 Specializing in artisan organic chocolate made with luxuriously healthful ingredients.

Explore vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free selections along with Greater Hartford’s only dairy-free holiday ice cream cakes.

See ad on page 21.

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July 2010

Physicians, M.D.

Roaring Brook Family Practice, LLC Mary Leahy APRN & Kelly Pfeiffer APRN 30 West Avon Road, Suite D Avon, CT 860-675-0640, www.roaringbrookfp.com

Deanna M. Cherrone, M.D. Natural Health & Healing, LLC 12 West Main Street, Avon, CT. (860) 677-4600. naturalhealthandhealing.net

Roaring Brook Family Practice provides premiere family medical care with personalized attention by certified Nurse Practitioners. We consistently treat each patient for a variety of acute and chronic health problems with consideration, respect and understanding. We take time to get to know you and establish a personal connection. As a patient, you will be engaged as an active participant and partner in all health care decisions. RBFP participates with most insurance plans.

Dr. Deanna Cherrone, founder of Natural Health & Healing, is a board certified Internal Medicine physician who has changed the focus of her practice from traditional Internal Medicine to Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine is a science based approach to health care that involves looking at each patient as a whole being with interconnected systems that function best when they are all in balance.

See ad on page 55.

Physicians, M.D. Alternity Healthcare, LLC Desmond Ebanks, MD 639 Park Rd, 2nd Floor, West Hartford, CT (860)748-4064 or (860)561-2294 Alternityhealthcare.com Dr. Desmond Ebanks, founder of Alternity Healthcare, is a board certified Internal Medicine specialist with more than 22 years of experience treating patients. Dr. Ebanks uses a comprehensive evaluation and stateof-the-art diagnostic equipment to expose a patient’s total health picture and develop a customized program incorporating bioidentical hormone balancing, clinical nutrition and exercise counseling and lifestyle modifications. He is the first physician in CT to offer the HeartSmartIMTplus; a non-invasive diagnostic scan endorsed by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. See ad on page 2.

Tamara Sachs, MD Functional Medicine & Integrative Care 15 Bennitt St., New Milford (860) 354-3304 www.tsachsmd.intranets.com See ad on page 7.

Physicians, Osteopathic Origins Of Health, LLC Jill Moorcroft, DO Tom Moorcroft, DO 844 Hebron Avenue Glastonbury, CT 860-430-9790 www.OriginsOfHealth.com Origins Of Health is a holistic medical center that specializes in Osteopathic Manipulation, including Cranial Osteopathy, Integrative Medicine and Nutrition. Founders Drs. Tom and Jill Moorcroft integrate their personal passion and extensive training as Family Medicine Physicians while working with you to develop a personalized approach to health that stimulates the self-healing forces within. Our goal is to assist you in realizing optimum health while being free to enjoy life and all it has to offer. See ad on page 13.

Psychotherapist Center for Integrative Healthcare & Healing 533 Cottage Grove Rd, Bloomfield, CT (860) 243-2224, www.cmgmds.com/cihh.html

Dori L. Gatter, Psy.D., LPC 17 S Highland St West Hartford, CT 06119 203.258.4113

The first of its kind in the country, Connecticut Multispecialty Group (CMG) is a large multispecialty group with its own Integrative Medicine Department. The physician-directed model uniquely blends conventional medicine with complementary therapies.

Over 70 physicians work collaboratively with licensed massage therapists, licensed acupuncturists, certified energy workers, and registered dieticians. The end result is comprehensive model of healthcare delivery that focuses on whole person wellness and optimal health. CMG also features an electronic health record that interconnects all providers and offers portable flash drives with personal health information to all its clients.

See ad on page12.

Dori Gatter,Psy.D., LPC is trained in a broad palette of therapies, which include: Body Centered Psychotherapy, Reiki, and Mindfulness. She has co-written two books and runs training programs and workshops nationally on Bonding and Attachment. Also an Image Consultant, she started her image consulting business knowing that in addition to needing support for our inner process, we need support to integrate our image with our growth. She has created an entire program for developing the self from the inside out. For more information please check out her website at www.drdorigatter.com or contact her directly either by phone at 860.258.4113 or email dori@drdorigatter.com. See ad on pg. 15.

www.naturalnutmeg.com

CommunityResources Psychotherapist Soul Support Counseling Nancy M Brockett, PhD, LPC 860.223.2232 West Hartford www.soul-support.org Feeling stressed, confused, anxious or depressed? Imagine yourself breaking free from worries and fear and then confidently doing what you haven't been able to before! We work together from the perspective of the whole self to get to the heart of what’s troubling you. Using painless, drug-free treatments, Dr Brockett helps you uncover and build on your own inner strengths so you can free yourself from negativity and live with more joy in your life.

See ad on page 19.

Spas / Day Spas Wholistic Spa 18 School St., Glastonbury, CT (860) 657-4105, www.wholisticspa.com.

Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, LAc, Med. Director Wholistic Spa™ is a haven of total wellness.

From the moment you step into our quiet space, we are focused on your complete wellness. Our treatments use the purest natural and organic ingredients, with no toxic synthetic ingredients. We offer organic facials, hand & foot treatments and signature massage services for women, men and couples, featuring EMINENCE Organic Skin Care from Hungary. We also offer an array of deeply therapeutic and purifying services to help you achieve optimal health from the inside out!

Inner Health. Outer Beauty™.

See ad on page 41.

Founded in 1992, the CT Institute of Herbal Studies focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine and offers a Certified Herbology Program with a foundation in both theory and clinical diagnosis as practiced in China today.

See ad on page 33.

The Graduate Institute Leslie Cahill Director of Admissions and Recruitment (203) 874-4252 • www.learn.edu The Graduate Institute is an accredited institution of higher education that offers Master of Arts degrees in emerging fields of inquiry. Degree programs include: Experiential Health and Healing, Peace Studies, Oral Traditions, Holistic Thinking, and Conscious Evolution. Classes meet one weekend per month and programs are offered in Hartford, Bethany, New Milford, and Stamford, CT. For more information or to find an Information Session near you, call (203) 874-4252 or visit www.learn.edu. See ad on page 12..

Skincare Anew You Skincare & Wellness Center Melissa Martin, 16A Ensign Drive, Avon.

(860)284-9730, www.anewyouskincare.net Melissa@anewyouskincare.net We are committed to strengthening your overall well-being and skin health through the use of excellent quality products and extraordinary services that produce amazing results. Only natural ingredients are used, including plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential oils! We want you to be "WOWED"!

See ad on page 23.

Clare-ity Brings Peace of Mind! We all want a more balanced and centered life. We want to know what is in our best interest regarding our relationships, our health or the focus of our work. Robin Clare teaches people from all walks of life how to find balance in their lives. With offerings that include The Clareity Method, Akashic Record Reading, Energy Healing and Pineal Gland Activation, Robin will help you to reach “clare-ity” in your life based on where you are currently in your life and where you aspire to be. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Robin at 860-232-3331 or Robin@clare-ity.com.

See ad on page 32.

Yoga Centers

Schools Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies LauraMignosa, NCCH Nationally certified Chinese Herbologist 900 Wells Road (RT. 175) Wethersfield, (860) 666-5064, www.ctherbschool.com.

Robin Clare Inner Wisdom Guide 10 Crossroads Plaza, West Hartford, CT. 860-2323331, info@clare-ity.com

Kula Yoga Center 136 Riverdale Farms,Bldg. 4, 2nd Flr. Avon.

(860) 676-8800, www.kulayogacenter.com info@kulayogacenter.com

Vibrational/Energy Healing Simply Fitness for the spirit, mind and body Priscilla Bengtson, ATP® 122A Naubuc Avenue, Ste 210, Glastonbury, CT (860)632-8434 simplyfitnessonline.com Simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body offers programs and services that help spiritual beings get unstuck in their human experience. Owner Priscilla Bengtson is dedicated to helping people live a joyous and fulfilled life and offers classes and workshops that help people achieve this. Private sessions are offered for intuitive and angel readings, hypnosis, reiki, mandala healing, and health coaching. Psychic parties are also offered in your home or at the center. See ad on page 9.

L.O.V.E. Lightworker of Vibrational Energy LLC Gayle Franceschetti Med,CHt. 36 Cheshire Road Wallingford,CT 06492 203-265-2927 www.return2love.net Gayle Franceschetti is the founder of the L.O.V.E. Institute and is an acclaimed intuitive counselor and healer, Reiki Master, certified Hypnotherapist and past life regressionist. As an open channel for Divine Energy, Gayle integrates the power of universal love, compassion and understanding in all her workshops and healing sessions. Gayle conducts healing and mentoring sessions in person, by phone and hosts a variety of workshops and power journeys throughout the U.S. and around the world. See ad on page 41. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Join us in our spacious, naturally lit studio, overlooking Talcot t Mountain for a variety of classes including Gentle Yoga, Anusara Inspired, Power Yoga, D y n a m i c F l o w, a s w e ll a s P r i v a t e Yoga Classes and Thai Yoga session.

With no membership fee and drop ins welcome, we take the stress out when you walk in the door.

We look forward to having you be a part of our community atmosphere at Kula Yoga.

Merriman Woods Yoga & Life Coaching, LLC Migdalia Merriman Burlington, CT 06013 (860) 675-3684 Offers on going Yoga & Wellness classes, workshops & retreats in Art, Chinese Medicine, Aruveda, Yoga, Meditation and Chakra Balancing with Migdalia Merriman and guest teachers. Visit merrimanwoodsyoga.com for a complete listing of offerings. See ad on page 7.

Sacred Rivers Yoga Paula Scopino LMT, E-RYT 500 IAYT Owner / Director 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033 www.sacredriversyoga.com PH. 860.657.9545 • FAX. 860.657.3161 See ad on page 37.

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CommunityCalendar Wednesday, July 7th

Friday. July 9th

Saturday, July 10th

Womens Expressive Art Group-Living Your Gift. 4 Wednesdays 7/7-7/28.

6-8:15pm. Create imagery from within that visually expresses and empowers your innate gifts. Using collage, paint, and oil pastel, deepen connection to your intuitive voice. Play , trust, and let go with joy! $160. includes art supplies Facililtated by Elisabeth Moss 12 Old Farms Rd., Avon, Ct 06001. Call 860550-0882 to register No previous art experience needed. Self Expression is natural. www.elisabethmoss.com.

From Culture to Cosmos: The Real Story. 6 pm. Attend a Special Filming Event with psychotherapist Glenn Perry, Ph.D, To be part of the audience, call (203) 874-4252 or visit www.learn.edu.

Workshop: Keys to Secret Worlds.

9:30am–11:30am. Free. Discover the nature of our reality and its illustions, the creative power of spiritual exercises, and how to understand past lives, dreams, and Soul Travel. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cromwell, CT. Presented by students of Eckankar. For more info and directions: www.ct-eckankar.org, ECKinfo@ct-eckankar.org

Thursday, July 8th Kids Yoga Series. (ages 5-8) with Beth Agdish, 2–2:45 pm$65, July 8th - August 5th. Yoga for kids is designed to help young children stretch out their bodies while using their imagination at the same time. Children will roar like lions and bark like puppies. They will enjoy the many benefits of an adult yoga class, but in a fun and safe environment where they can be themselves. For more information visit www.sacredriversyoga.com.

To Register for this series contact Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545.

Integrative Health Studies. Learn about a rewarding certificate and M.A. program at St. Francis Hospital Center for Integrative Medicine., 3–5pm. Offered

by The Graduate Institute. (203) 8744252 or www.learn.edu.

Feng Shui, Creating Sacred Space with Karen Elizabeth Rowan, LMT, CST. Free.

7:00 to 8:30pm. Are you looking to create prosperity, bring more passion in to your life, confused about what's next and want to get clarity about your visions and dreams?...Let's bring those visions to LIFE! These are some of the areas we will explore during our time together as we discuss the ancient techniques of Feng Shui and how they may be applied to your life and your environment. Karen Elizabeth Rowan, LMT, CST, Advanced Certified Samvahan Vibrational Healer, Life Coach and Feng Shui Consultant.

Passifora Tea Room and Herbal Shoppe, 526 Main St., New Hartford, CT.www. passiflorateas.com.

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Is Everything You Know About Ghosts Dead Wrong? 7-9 pm. $25, or 2 people for $40 David Franklin Farkas, a professional house healer and ghost rescuer, facilitates. Ghost phenomena make sense when you understand who / what ghosts are and what they are experiencing. Why are they here? Do certain places or people 'attract' ghosts and what can you do?

Understand the safety issues related to ghosts and hauntings. Bring your ghost experiences; ghosts may never seem creepy again. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT. Register at www.HouseHealing.com, or 866-4.Farkas.

Exploring the Spiritual Frontier. Weekend Seminar. 7/9-7/11. Explore the spiritual nature of yourself as Soul through workshops, group discussions, talks, and creative arts. A variety of speakers can inspire you on your own personal quest.

Come share a weekend filled with opportunity to explore your inner worlds.

Free to newcomers. Please feel welcome to bring a guest. Connecticut Eckankar Regional Seminar. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cromwell, CT and the Eckankar Temple of CT in Middlefield. For information and directions: www.ct-eckankar.org, ECKinfo@ct-eckankar.org.

Medicinal Aromatherapy Certification: 7/9-7/11. Friday 7-9:30pm; Saturday & Sunday 8:45am -6:30pm. $475.00 (includes texts) Connect with the consciousness of plants and trees with the assistance of over 200 essential oils and shamanic journeying. Unlearn “toxicity myths,” correct common conditions. 18 class “A” CE’s for Massage Therapists!

John Odlum & Lisl Meredith Huebner.

The Essence of Being, 184 Johnnycake Mountain Road: Burlington, CT www. theessenceofbeingat.com To register call: 860-673-6863 Email:essenceofbeing@ hotmail.com.

www.naturalnutmeg.com

Psychic Saturday. 10– 4pm. $20.00 for a 20-minute reading. Do you need guidance on your life, career, or your relationships? Stop by for a private reading and receive guidance from your angels, spirit guides and loved ones. Intuitive and Angel Therapy Practitioner® Priscilla Bengtson will connect with her guides and angels to provide you with the information you need. Pre-schedule or try your luck by walking in. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. To pre-schedule an appointment, please call Priscilla Bengtson at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Got Ghosts? 9 am-1 pm. $75. Wondering how to know whether you are living with ghosts and what to do? Learn the many levels that may need to be cleared, and simple techniques for safely clearing them using pendulum dowsing.

Dowsing techniques, psychic methods and other tools will be introduced. David Franklin Farkas, a professional house healer and ghost rescuer, facilitates. Prerequisite: July 9 ghost talk. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT. Register at www.HouseHealing.com, or 866-4.Farkas.

Monday, July 12th Meditating with the Masters. 6:30pm8:30pm $20 Enhance your meditation practice by meditating in the vibration of the Archangels and Ascended Masters. These Divine beings will be guiding and supporting you on your quest in discovering you true authentic self.

By allowing yourself to be in the presence of these Divine beings, you open yourself to higher vibrational changes and heightened clarity. 36 Cheshire

Road Wallingford. No previous experience necessary. To register or for more information please contact Gayle Franceschetti @203-265-2927, email sunnispirit@sbcglobal.net, or visit www. return2love.net Youth Yoga Camp. (ages 9 – 13) with Kathye Flanagan. 2:30 – 3:30 pm. $65.

Camp runs July 12 – 14. Yoga is a noncompetitive form of exercise that promotes strength and flexibility while teaching relaxation, concentration and how to quiet the mind. Pre-register for the 4 day camp by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545, www. sacredriversyoga.com.

Tuesday, July 13th The Body Electric. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $45.00. Within your body you have many energy centers called chakras.

Each chakra has a connection to certain emotions, physical ailments and how you relate to the world. Participants will learn about or gain a deeper understanding of the chakra system and how it impacts your everyday life.

A guided meditation will allow you to explore your body and see which areas may need to be addressed. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. To register, please call Priscilla Bengtson at 860.301.1468 or visit www. simplyfitnessonline.com.

Chinese Herbology Series. (3 Tuesday eves) 7pm - 8:30pm. $78.00. Introduction to Chinese Herbal Therapy: designed to teach the differences between ”Superior Herbs” and Inferior Herbs, Formulas making theory and some herbs commonly used. Chinese Herbs to Maintain and Regain Health: Learn ancient herb to help balance the body and learn how to use preventative health teas for the season changes. Chinese Herbs to Calm the Spirit: Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia or even the inability to focus can be symptoms of an “energetic” heart disturbance. The class will cover basic theory as well as herbs and formulas often used in Chinese medicine to help with the disharmonies of the “Heart”. Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies 900 Wells Road (RT 175) Wethersfield, CT 860-666-5064. wwwCTHerbschool.com.

Thursday, July 15th Relaxation Therapy Class. Instructor: Sharon Giammatteo, PhD, PT, IMTC. 1:15pm-1:45pm. No Cost. This class will walk the student through a series of techniques to aide in relaxation and letting go of stress. CenterIMT, 800 Cottage Grove Road, Building 2, Blomfield, CT. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please contact Matt Connell-Giammatteo at mattconnell@centerimt.com or by calling (860) 243-5220 x 128.

Everyday Astrology. 7-8:30 pm. Free.

Learn how to predict your own future by watching the monthly Moon cycles.

Charles Edgarton, an Intuitive Astrologer, presents, (860) 573-0410, orion255@ aol.com. Sponsored by The Alliance For Holistic Living, part of a monthly series held at different venues East of the Connecticut River to introduce the community to holistic healing modalities, centers and practitioners in the region.

Hosted at The Beyond Center, G-5, Vernon Professional Building, 281 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT. No advance registration. www.afhlnow.org Integrative Heart Health. 7 pm. What part medicine, what part doctor, what part YOU? Presented by Steven Horowitz, MDThe Graduate Institute, Bethany, CT. (203) 874-4252 or www.learn.edu.

Aroma-Bar!! 7-9pm $15.00 Experience exotic fragrances from around the world! Ask questions, sample what you like, bring a friend and make new ones!

This social and educational event offers delicious refreshments made with pure essential oils such as non-alcoholic “Aroma-tinis” and tasty snacks –recipes available!! John Odlum & Lisl Meredith Huebner. The Essence of Being at Johnnycake Mountain, 184 Johnnycake Mountain Road: Burlington, CT www. theessenceofbeingat.com To register call: 860-673-6863 Email: essenceofbeing@hotmail.com.

Friday, July 16th Gallery Night. 6:30pm–8:30pm. 45.00.

Join us for an intimate evening of learning about angels and guides and expewww.naturalnutmeg.com

riencing intuitive readings with medium Priscilla Bengtson. Priscilla is a certified Angel Therapy Practitioner®, medium and psychic intuitive who connects with angels, spirit guides and those who have crossed over. The evening begins with a short introduction, we invite Spirit Guides, the Archangels, Guardian Angels and deceased loved ones to be present. Intuitive readings will be done gallery-style. The group is kept small so that everyone receives guidance. Preregistration is required. Simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Coyote Talking Circle. 7-9 pm. Free will donation. Ray Hardy, artist/Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran/Reiki Master is offering a talking/sharing/healing circle based on the work of Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD of Cherokee and Lakota Heritage (www.mehl-madrona.com) utilizing deep listening, active imagination, dream work, art, storytelling, music and ceremony as well as other traditional practices. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Contact Ray Hardy at rayhardy0109@sbcglobal.net, 860-643-8168 to register by Tuesday, July 13.

Saturday, July 17th From Culture to Cosmos: The Real Story. 6 pm. Attend a Special Filming Event with psychotherapist Glenn Perry, Ph.D. To be part of the audience, call (203) 874-4252 or visit www.learn.edu.

Human Relations Training Program – Intro. 9-12pm. FREE. A Program for Life.

Whether you are seeking growth within yourself, in your professional life, or in your relationships, this program can provide you with an unparalleled understanding of human dynamics. This FREE introductory workshop will give you an in-depth look at the Human Relations Training Program, it's curriculum and how you can benefit from it. Change you life Forever.Hartford Family Institute, 17 S Highland St., West Hartford, CT. 860.236.6009, www.hartfordfamilyinstitute.com.

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49

CommunityCalendar Saturday, July 17th Expressive Art Workshop. Birthing Blossoms and Butterflys. 10 a.m.-2:30p.m.

Discover your instinctual expressionhow it mirrors the blossoms and butterflys you carry.Using collage, paint, and oil pastel, this workshop supports a deeper connection to your intuition and fosters living your innate gifts and wisdom, large and full in your life. $85. includes art supplies.facilitated by Elisabeth Moss, 12 Old farms Rd Avon, Ct 06001 to register call 860-550-0882.

No previous art experience needed. Self expression is natural.www.elisabethmoss.com.

Yin Yoga. 2-4pm $20. Fuller Yoga Pilates & Massage, 1477 Park St. 2nd Flr., Hartford, 860-951-9642, www.fulleryoga. com, Based on principles of Chinese medicine, Yin Yoga is geared toward opening the energy lines to release long held tension and toxins. It helps the body to stimulate and detox organs through a series of complimentary postures.

Yoga for Respiratory Problems .(Asthma, Allergies, Anxiety, Panic Attacks) with Margo Hennebach, Feldenkrais Practitioner. 9:30am – 12:00pm, $55. Open to Health Care Professionals (OT’s, PT’s, RYT’s, LMT’s, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, etc.). Visit www.sacredriversyoga. com for more information. Pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545 Introduction to Osteoporosis and Osteoporosis Safe Movement in Yoga.

Kate Keefe, OT, RYT. 1-5pm. $55. Open to Health Care Professionals (OT’s, PT’s, RYT’s, LMT’s, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, etc.). Visit www.sacredriversyoga. com for more information. Pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545.

Make Your Own Medicine: Herbal Tinctures, Vinegars & Oils. 1-5pm. $45.00 Making your own medicine is one of the most important aspects of being a home herbalist; the ability to create effective medicine is a skill that everyone should learn. In this class you will learn to create tinctures, vinegars and oil infusions.

Lisl Meredith Huebner. The Essence

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July 2010

of Being at Johnnycake Mountain184 Johnnycake Mountain Road: Burlington, CT www.theessenceofbeingat.com Call: 860-673-6863 Email: essenceofbeing@ hotmail.com.

Sunday, July 18th Weed Walk. Weather Permitting. 10amNoon $15.00. Join nationally board certified herbalist, Lisl Meredith Huebner for an informative and entertaining morning of meeting the leafy green neighbors you never knew! Tour forest and field to identify all manner of useful plants for food, healing and crafts. Get healthy ideas for delicious, nutritious and free meals! The Essence of Being184 Johnnycake Mountain Road: Burlington, CT www.theessenceofbeingat.com To register call: 860-673-6863 Email: essenceofbeing@hotmail.com Essence Meditation. 1-3pm $15.00 Join us for a wonderful guided meditation/ journey aided by pure essential oils. Accessing profound Inner Wisdom and integrating that knowledge creates a more fulfilling life. Reclaiming your relationship with Nature is the most direct route back to yourself and the manifestation of your Personal Destiny. John Odlum & Lisl Meredith Huebner; The Essence of Being; 184 Johnnycake Mountain Road; Burlington, CT www.theessenceofbeingat.com Call: 860-673-6863 Email: essenceofbeing@hotmail.com.

Fuller Yoga Open House. 9am-2pm, FREE Fuller Yoga Pilates & Massage, 1477 Park St. 2nd Flr., Hartford, 860951-9642, www.fulleryoga.com, Join us as we celebrate and welcome you to our fabulous space with classes you need to keep you in shape and away from stress.

Sample class are free see schedule on website. Special rates, raffle prizes and giveaways all day!!!

Monday, July 19th Shamanic Journeying. 7:00-8:30 pm. $25 for 2 session series, July 19 & August 9. Dr. Marian Vitali, DC guides.

Drum or rattle for your spirit teachers, angels, power animals or helping guides to come along for your journeying experience. Access spiritual wisdom for transformational growth and health.

Build medicine power and refresh skills www.naturalnutmeg.com

in a supportive group. Some journeying experience requested. Bring drum/ rattle, eye cover, and notebook. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT. Register with Marian: 860-918-8703, www.wholelifewellnessshaman.com. Private sessions available for new journeyers.

Tuesday, July 20th Integrative Health Studies. Learn about a rewarding certificate and M.A. program at St. Francis Hospital Center for Integrative Medicine., 1-3pm. Offered

by The Graduate Institute. (203) 8744252 or www.learn.edu.

Wednesday, July 21st Healing in Harmony Night. 5–7p.m.

FREE event. Stop by simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body for a healing service. Participants will sit individually with Priscilla and receive a healing.

Each healing will be approximately 8 – 10 minutes. You will be served in the order in which you enter the center. The healing services are offered one night each month. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. For more information, please contact Priscilla Bengtson at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Grief – It Does Not Have to Be Dark!

7-9 pm. $25, or $40 with a friend. Peg Busse, Rainbow Quest, Grief Recovery Specialist presents. Why does the word GRIEF scare us? Do you grieve as a result of positive changes in your life? Come and explore the world of change and loss. We will look at where we learned how to cope with our own loss and react to other grieving individuals. What are the truths and myths about coping with loss or grief? How can you explore your own losses and better integrate them into your life? Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Register by July 16 with Peg at 860-966-6331.

Janet Hulme – Back Class. Instructor: Marilyn Gross, PT, IMTC. No Cost.

1:15pm-1:45pm. Based on the work of Janet Hulme – focus on back strength and stability. This one hour class is structured to provide individuals suffering

from back pain with an easy set of functional exercises. CenterIMT, 800 Cottage Grove Road, Building 2, Blomfield, CT. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please contact Matt Connell-Giammatteo at mattconnell@centerimt.com or by calling (860) 243-5220 x 128.

Thursday, July 22nd Vibrational Healing Meditation. 7-8:30 pm. $15. Lisa Burch, LCSW & Marna Walter, RN, RMT, facilitate. Relax with this blend of guided imagery and sound healing with Tibetan singing bowls, releasing what no longer serves you. Reiki may be offered as time allows and Spirit guides. Bring a mat, pillow and blanket if you wish to lie down. Offered at Spirit Matters, 19 Pinney Street/Rt. 286, Ellington, CT, www.spiritmattersct.com. Register with Lisa at 860-871-9295 x2.

Saturday, July 24th 3rd Annual "Thank the Lake Day".

Sears Park East Hampton Ct 10:00 am1:00pm. Sponsored by Positively Clean.

Featuring Joseph FireCrow to perform at 11:00am. Bring your electric bill to sigh up with Varidian Green Energy! Offer Flower petal to the Lake, Live drumming all event/Bring your own and join in! $5.00 to enter vehicle into park/Event is FREE. Show your Gratitude to a large body of water, Especially NOW! Reiki II. 9am–12noon and 1:30–4:30. $150.00. Receive attunements to higher frequencies of universal energy and enhance your healing work. Learn how to do distance healing, as well as heal mental, emotional and past life issues.

Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. To register, please call Priscilla Bengtson at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Quarterly Abraham Study Group and Dinner. 6:00pm. $20 per person. Join us for our 8th gathering! Meet like minded people to study the teachings of Abraham (Esther and Jerry Hicks). Discover how to attract the elements of a wonderful life.

Enjoy a great buffet (not too spicy) with old and new friends. Location: Taste of India. 139 South Main Street. W. Hartford.

Reservations required – call 860-2323331. http://abrahamjul.eventbrite.com.

Sunday, July 25th A Morning of Oneness. 9:30-11:30am. $20 suggested donation. The Oneness University has provided us with a catalyst for both personal and collective awakening - come and discover how.

Join us for a relaxing morning of conversation, meditation and receiving an energy transfer of Oneness. The energy transfer removes the endless chatter of the mind and brings you fully into the moment where there is only peace and joy. It is an experience, not a concept.

Our special guest will be Pat Caffrey who is the voice for the Angelic Council of LIGHT. The Council through Pat will share messages from the angelic realm.

West Hartford Senior Center, 15 Starkel Road. To register call Enlightened Professionals at 860-232-3331 or http:// onenessjul.eventbrite.com Fuller Yoga Clinic. Sacrum Hips and Hamstrings What's the Connection?

5-7pm. $50. Fuller Yoga Pilates & Massage, 1477 Park St. 2nd Flr., Hartford, 860-951-9642, www.fulleryoga.com, Through anatomical knowledge you will begin to understand why you are so tight and which muscles are locking you up.

Keeping good posture while stretching will greatly advance your practice and your posture.

Evening Prayer/Healer’s Circle. 7pm10pm, No Charge. Hosted by The Light Within, Glastonbury, CT. Meeting is free (donation is accepted )to healers and for those interested in living a spiritual path.

Do you want or need to talk about your spiritual path in a safe environment? Do want to talk to others with more experience? This is the group for you. The circle must contain a minimum of 4 people and RSVP required. Please let me know 48 Hours in advance of attendance and cancellation. Call 860-659-1790 between 8am to 8pm.

Tuesday, July 27th Open House at The Graduate Institute.

Discover unique M.A. and Certificate programs empowering visionary thinkers to create a better future 5 pm. 171 Amity Road.

Trust Your Intuition. 6:30–8:30p.m. $45.00. At times we trust our intuition www.naturalnutmeg.com

and other times it would be helpful to have tools to help us receive the guidance we need or to connect to loved ones, spirit guides and angels. During this workshop we will explore the many ways using physical tools like billets, card decks and candles help us to connect. Working individually and in small groups, participants will experience new ways to connect and trust in their intuition. Held at simply fitness for the spirit, mind and body, 122A Naubuc Avenue, Suite 210, Glastonbury. To register, please call Priscilla Bengtson at 860.301.1468 or visit www.simplyfitnessonline.com.

Holistic Moms Network. 7-9pm. Free.

Non-profit organization connecting parents interested in holistic health and green living. United Church of Chester, 29 W. Main St., Chester. middlesexhmn@ yahoo.com. www.holisticmoms.org.

Thursday, July 29th Ergonomics & Body Mechanics Class. Instructor: George Giannoni, PT, GDMT, IMTC. No Cost. 1:15pm-1:45pm. This class provides the student with the basic essentials for proper body mechanics as well as proper ergonomics throughout daily activity. CenterIMT, 800 Cottage Grove Road, Building 2, Bloomfield, CT. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please contact Matt Connell-Giammatteo at mattconnell@centerimt.com or by calling (860) 243-5220 x 128.

Saturday, July 31st Spirit Journeys Gallery Readings. 6:309:30pm. $50. Join Master Clairvoyant Medium, Cathy Camera and Master Intuitive Psychic, Kerri Mitchell for an evening of personal connection to Spirit. As a team Cathy and Kerri will bring forth messages from your energy field and/or loved ones who have crossed over. During this 3 hour event you will not only receive personal messages and guidance, but you will also have your current Animal Totem identified and a Past Life read to you. This circle is very healing and you will experience laughter, tears and amazing connections. EVERY attendee gets a reading!! Limit 10 attendees. Pre-reg required. www.thespiritoflight.org. The Spirit of Light, 1161 S Broad St., Wallingford, CT. July 2010

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Ongoingcalendar monday Life-Energy Qigong. 12:10-1:10pm. Sullivan Senior Center, 88 E. Albert St., Torrington.

Focus is on gentle movement, meditation and breathwork. NQA certified instructor Daline Dudley. Call 860-496-8312 for details.

Tai Chi for Health sponsored by Hartford Hospital. 6:30 - 7:30pm. Safe & Effective. Tai Chi is proven to decrease blood pressure, relieve stress, increase balance & prevent falls.

It helps people alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, osteoporosis & diabetes. This program was designed by tai chi AND medical experts. Come & see what it can do for you.

Classes start in March. $160 for 16 classes.

Call 1-800-545-1888 or email: taichiforhealth@live.com. Avon Wellness Ctr. 100 Simsbury Rd. Avon.

Group Acupuncture. Starting May 10. 4– 7:00pm. $25 per session. Come experience an acupuncture session in a community style group environment. Call to reserve your time.

Walk-ins welcome. Naturopathic Health Center, 274 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT. (860) 529-1200 or http://NAHcenter. com/acupuncture.

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Tai Chi for Health. Avon: Monday/Wednesday, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Tai Chi has been proven through scientific study to improve balance, strengthen muscle, increase flexibility and reduce stress-based illnesses. Australia's Doctor Paul Lam, a practicing M.D. and Tai Chi expert himself, and a team of Tai Chi and medical experts has created a simple, safe and effective program to improve joint function, prevent bone loss and improve balance. Many people have gained significant health benefits from a program that is especially suited to seniors and people suffering from arthritis & osteoporosis. Learn what Tai Chi can do for you! Classes start in July Fee: for a 4-week session, $45/one class a week or $80/two classes a week. Call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664.

Tai Chi for Health. Glastonbury: Tuesday/ Friday, 12–1 pm. Tai Chi has been proven through scientific study to improve balance, strengthen muscle, increase flexibility and reduce stress-based illnesses. Australia's Doctor Paul Lam, a practicing M.D. and Tai Chi expert himself, and a team of Tai Chi and medical experts has created a simple, safe and effective program to improve joint function, prevent bone loss and improve balance. Many people have gained significant health benefits from a program that is especially suited to seniors and people suffering from arthritis & osteoporosis. Learn what Tai Chi can do for you! Classes start in July Fee: for a 4-week session, $45/one class a week or $80/two classes a week. Call the Hartford Hospital Referral Service at 860-545-1888 or 1-800-545-7664.

Women at Midlife: A therapeutic support group. 6:30 -8 pm. Midlife is a time of transition and great possibilities! This group is an invitation to join other women in exploring questions and concerns you may be holding about life purpose, career, menopause, empty nest, intimate relationships. New group forming in April. 6 week series meeting alternate Mondays in Avon, CT. Facilitated by Kathleen Zecchin MA, LPC. For more information, please call 860-306-4199 or kzecchin22@yahoo.com.

Tai Chi for Health. Wethersfield: Tuesday/ Thursday, 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Classes start in July. See above listing for description.

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Informational/Open House Sessions for Yoga Alliance Teacher Trainings. Sacred Rivers Yoga is offering informational sessions each Tuesday at 6:45pm in regards to the Weekend and Weekday 200 and 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training programs, all of which are ongoing. You may schedule an alternate time to discuss the programs by contacting the studio. Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT. 860.657.9545. info@sacredriversyoga.com.

Ct Assoc. of Classical Homeopaths. advanced study group meets every 3rd Wednesday of month, 7-9 PM. Joy Pacitto-860-529-8313.

Intro to Pilates. July 10-Aug. 21, 9:30-10:15, $60 Drop Ins $15, Fuller Yoga Pilates & Massage, 1477 Park St. 2nd Flr., Hartford, 860951-9642, www.fulleryoga.com, Learn the very basics of how to train your tummy flat.

The Breath Precision and Control of Basic Pilates will reduce back pain and strengthen the muscles for good posture. This 6 week session will build the foundation for any exercise program.

Hatha Yoga All Levels with Sushil, 7:30pm and Saturdays @ 9:30am, class cards and drop in rates apply. Fuller Yoga Pilates & Massage, 1477 Park St. 2nd Flr., Hartford, 860951-9642, www.fulleryoga.com, Increase your energy with this all levels yoga class that incorporates moderate postures and lots of pranayama (breath work). Feel invigorated well into the next day. Great for beginners.

Tai Chi for Health. Windsor: Tuesday/Thursday 7– 8pm. Classes start in July. See details in Tuesday listing.

wednesday Holistic Moms Network. Hartford County, CT chapter of a non-profit organization.

Meetings held the last Wednesday of each month from 7-9pm at The Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford. Email hartfordhmn@yahoo.com or visit www.holisticmoms.org.

TOT Itsy Bitsy Yoga (Ages: Crawling to 24 months) with Laurie Frucce, 1:30 – 2:30 pm. $70 for the 6 week series (June 23 – July 28).

While a tot's curious nature and exploration of movement begins to fully explode - so does their yoga practice! See how yoga can help divert tantrums and offer easy transitions between activities. With lots of praise in this playful and structured class environment, you will deepen the bond with your child while exercising! Visit www.sacredriversyoga.com for more information. Pre-register by contacting Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033, 860.657.9545 Training Program Class. 6-7:30. FREE. Hartford Family Institute's Center for Healing Arts Professional Training program or Human Relations Training program. Topics covered are: MIndfulness, Spirituality and Psychotherapy, Quantum Physics, the Origins of Pain and Illness, Buddhist Conflict Resolution, Shamanic work, Energy Healing, Dreamwork, and much more. Visit our website www.hartfordfamilyinstitute.com to learn more. Reservations are required. Hartford Family Institute's Center for Healing Arts. 17 S Highland St., West Hartford, CT. 860.236.6009

Tai Chi for Health. Avon: 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Tai Classes start in July. See Monday listing for description.

Stress relief! Free sessions of Reflexology, TT, CST, Reiki, Guided Imagery, and more during EPIPHANY. Ist Wednesday of the month except January and July. 6-8:30pm. 225 Commerce Drive in Canton. Also in Southington from 1-3pm at 232 Bristol Street. 2/3, 3/3, 4/7. Children welcome. Sessions may enhance learning skills.

Yang Style Tai Chi. 7-8:30pm. Ongoing Yang style Tai Chi classes using a number of short forms including Yang 24 form - George Hoffman, instructor. $72 for 8 weeks. Call 860742-5892 to register. Classes held at CT Institute for Herbal Studies, 900 Wells Rd (Rte 175)Wethersfield. 860-666-5064.

Zumba ® Fitness at Manchester Yoga Center!

Every Wednesday 6:30-7:30 pm. Kick start your summer with an ongoing fun and fabulous fitness class! The Zumba ® Fitness program fuses hypnotic international rhythms & easy-to-follow moves to create an hour of energizing & calorie burning fun! Open to anyone age 14 and over! Drop-in fee: $8.00 or 10 class card/$60.00! Instructors: Carole Knoblauch/Joann Hoffman. Come join the fun at 485 Hartford Rd., Manchester, CT. 860-803-6960 or xjoannhoffmanx@gmail. com for more information.

Thursday Tai Chi for Health. Wethersfield: Tuesday/ Thursday 3:30-4:30pm pm. Classes start in July. See Tuesday listing for description.

Tai Chi for Health. Windsor: Tuesday/Thursday 7-8pm. Classes start in July. See Tuesday listing for description.

Friday Tai Chi for Health. Glastonbury, 12-1pm.

Classes start in July. See Tuesday listing for description. www.naturalnutmeg.com

Hartford shambhala meditation group offers mindfulness/awareness meditation instruction at no charge Morning Meditation from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. All Day Silent Meditation Retreats from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Once per month we have a longer practice session, including sitting meditation, walking meditation, and a dharma talk or reading. Once per quarter we have an all-day silent meditation retreat. Come for all or part of the day. The location is at the Quaker Meeting House (see address, above). Check our website for dates: http://www.shambhala.org/centers/hartford.

Readings: Angel Card Yearly Spread. Kerri Mitchell. 10am-3pm. $55. Wouldn’t it be great to know what energies are coming into your life over the next 12 months? Wondering what’s in store for you? Master Intuitive Psychic Kerri Mitchell forecasts your upcoming year through the use of Angel Cards and her highly tuned Psychic abilities. The session is broken down into a month by month overview. Kerrie will highlight what’s coming up for you regarding Health, Career, Relationships and Finances. www.thespiritoflight.org. The Spirit of Light, 1161 S Broad St, Wallingford. 203-641-337.

sunday Fuller Yoga Clinics. 4th Sunday of every month starting June 27, 5-7pm, Fuller Yoga, Pilates & Massage, 1477 Park Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford 860-951-9642, www.fulleryoga.com Take your yoga practice deeper while feeling good in your body and aligning with well being!

Women's Temple In Her Name. 10:30-11:45, Collinsville, CT. Suggested Donation $5-10.

(860) 693-9540. www.womenstemple.net.

Meditation for a Peaceful Mind. 10-11:15am. $5 or free for members. In this class, we will listen to, contemplate and meditate on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. These teachings are designed to teach us how to have a peaceful, happy mind all the time. From a peaceful mind comes a peaceful world. Join us any Sunday. OBC is a 501(c)(3) organization. Visit our website for more details and upcoming events: meditationinconnecticut. org. Held at Fuller Movement Center, 1477 Park Street, 2nd floor, Hartford, CT. Kitty Sanders, info@odiyana.org. 860-268-7251.

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Natural Planet

by Deb Percival

A monthly compendium of tips, thoughts, and updates about our shared home.

Reduce! 12 Ways To Reduce Waste

I

sometimes wonder if my environmental beseeching annoys people. Yesterday my husband and I went grocery shopping. He picked up a plastic bag filled with smaller plastic bags – individual servings of nuts – and tossed it in the cart.

“Don’t buy that,” I snapped. “Too much packaging.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s recyclable, isn’t it?”

Recycling is neither the panacea nor the justification I believed it to be! It takes energy and materials to create stuff and it will take more energy and materials to break that stuff down and turn it into something else.

It’s best, and divinely it’s also easiest, to not buy the stuff in the first place. As it turns out, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” is in priority order. Who knew. (If you honestly knew this send me an e-mail saying so. I’ll send a Whole Foods reusable shopping bag to the first five people I hear from.)

“The best way to reduce any environmental impact is not to recycle more, but to produce and dispose of less.” From Use Less Stuff, by Robert Lilienfeld & William Rathje, 1998.

Here are 12 EASY ways to reduce the amount of trash and pollution you create!

(And you’ll save money, too.)

1. Reduce the amount of meat you eat. It takes far more land, grain, water, and energy to create meat than to grow vegetables. According to a United Nations initiative, the livestock industry modern practices of raising animals for food contributes on a "massive scale" to deforestation, air and water pollution, land degradation, loss of topsoil, climate change, the overuse of resources including oil and water, and loss of biodiversity.

Plus, if you read about how the animals are generally treated, you might quickly lose your appetite for meat.

2. Reduce the amount of stuff you use. Use less water. Use less of all your soaps and creams and lotions, etc. You’ll create less trash, and less pollution caused by all the things that go down the drain.

3. Buy in bulk and/or buy concentrates. Buying giant containers and buying from bulk food bins generally saves money.

BONUS – minimal packaging. If you’ve got room for storage or friends to split things with, food co-ops and shopping clubs, like Costco, BJ’s, and Sams, offer many items in large containers.

frozen dinners come in non-recyclable packaging besides – the black plastic trays that carry many of them from microwave to table are not recyclable. (I understand that’s because of the chemicals in that plastic…yum.)

5. Avoid disposable items. Use refillable pens and pencils.

Choose reusable razors. Switch out toss-away dust cloths for rags or microfiber cloths.

6. Repair broken items. If you can’t fix it, put it on Freecycle for someone who can repair it or use it for parts.

7. Have your address removed from mail lists and catalog lists. To stop credit offers dial 1-888-5 OPT OUT (or 1-888567-8688) 24 hours a day. For catalogs, visit www.catalogchoice.org 8. Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of packaged. You can do this at the grocery store and at your local farm stand.

9. Get your bills via e-mail. Send your invitations via e-mail.

10. Print on both sides of the paper, or better yet, save it to a file. BONUS! Your office will be cleaner and you’ll have less to file!

11. Use a travel mug. Buy an insulated mug and bring your hot or cold drinks from home, or have your favorite barista/ takeout fill it. BONUS! Many places will give you a discount.

12. Cook at home and pack your lunches. If you must get take-out, keep a refrigerator dish and some utensils in your car – sure, chopsticks too. Before you place your order say you don’t need utensils (I get a kick out of saying ‘hold the plastic grass’ when I order California rolls). And don’t take 88 napkins. Honestly.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

- Ghandi

Author Deb Percival is a freelance writer in Connecticut. E-mail deb@naturalnutmeg.com.

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