Natural Nutmeg July 2013

July 2013

Connecticut's Resource For Essential Living

Natural Nutmeg Creating A work Of Art Bernie Siegel, MD

Back Pain...

A Natural Solution

Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD Nancy Ortolani, PT

HeartMath...

A Cutting Edge Technology to Reduce Stress

Raw Foods!

Laurie Hoffman

What’s All the Hype About?

Deanna M. Cherrone, MD

Pain...

A Signal that Needs Attention!

Alison Caldwell-Andrews, PhD

www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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Master of Arts in Consciousness Studies Introducing Our New Life Coaching Track!

In this 2-year program, you can earn your Master’s degree and become an International Coach Federation (ICF) credentialed Life Coach!

Learn how to translate inner purpose into outer action.

Classes begin July 26, 2013!

Are you STILL in pain? effective treatment can be hard to find.

Doctors and patients are frustrated by ineffective oral medications.

At Pioneer Health, 95% of new patients dramatically reduce their pain using a customized pain relief gel.

WHY? Because WE take the time to find the right BLEnd that:

• Decreases your dosage of medication • Increases the preciseness of your therapy • Reduces side effects of common pain meds I injured my lower back and suffered immense pain and immobilization. After working with Gene and my doctor to create a customized pain formula, the pain was gone within two weeks! I was even able to make a 22 hour car trip to Alabama with no pain and it was as if I never hurt my back. I hope more doctors will listen to their patients and prescribe this more often. Pam S.

Call noW for a free pain consultation (Reg. $200)

To learn more, call (203) 874-4252 or write to admissions@learn.edu

(888) 268-9379

In network with most insurance plans Gene Gresh, RPh

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Natural Nutmeg July 2013

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR

JOINT

ARTHRITIS Arthritis pain can be annoying at best, and crippling at worst. It can affect your every move, and even keep you from the activities you love. But there is hope.

Valley Sports Physicians is southern New England’s leader in non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis (the wear-and-tear kind). With over 18 years of performing Prolotherapy injections, 5 years of Platelet-Rich Plasma treatments, and 2 years of Stem Cell treatments, we have more experience than anyone in these cutting edge treatments. And, unlike most practices, we do ALL of our injections under ultrasound guidance to insure safe and accurate treatment. In fact, we are nationally recognized leaders in musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Before you consider surgery for your arthritis, consider a consultation with us!

SPECIALIZING IN THE TREATMENT OF: • • • •

ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES TENNIS ELBOW CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME PLANTAR FASCIITIS

• • • •

ACHILLES TENDINITIS ANKLE SPRAINS & INSTABILITY JOINT ARTHRITIS HIP & BACK PAIN

PAUL TORTLAND, D.O.

ALBERT KOZAR, D.O. DAVID MAGNUSSEN, P.A. TEAM PHYSICIANS: UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD, AVON H.S., BLOOMFIELD H.S., GRANBY H.S.

VALLEY SPORTS PHYSICIANS & ORTHOPEDIC MEDICINE, INC.

AVON & GLASTONBURY, CT 860.675.0357 WWW.JOCKDOCTORS.COM

www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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featured Content Back Pain... a natural Solution Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD Nancy Ortolani, PT, IMT, C 10

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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, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, and the products and services that support good health.

raw foods What’s All the Hype About?

Deanna M. Cherrone, MD 16

PUBLISHERS Dr. Diane Hindman Chris Hindman Publisher@naturalnutmeg.com

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Pain... a Signal that needs attention!

Alison Caldwell-Andrews, PhD 26

ADVERTISING SALES Adrian Dean Adrian@naturalnutmeg.com Advertising@naturalnutmeg.com

HeartMath... a Cutting edge technology to reduce Stress Laurie Hoffman 30

Departments the BUZZ 6

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Bernie 8 SHaPe 14

HaPPeningS 38 reSoUrCeS 41 4

Natural Nutmeg July 2013

INTERNS Margaret Keane Lauren Silvis Tyler Salomon Jacqui Mastrianni

natural nutmeg Magazine

DiSH 21

noUriSH 36

ADVISORY BOARD Ann Aresco, N.D. Deanna M. Cherrone, M.D. Debra Gibson, ND Lauren Gouin, ND Kenneth Hoffman, LAc, CCH David Johnston, DO Vicki Kobliner, MS, RD, CD-N Donald Piccoli, DC Paul Tortland, DO

DISTRIBUTION FFC - Tom Cossuto, Man In Motion, LLC Greater Hartford and surrounding counties, please contact Natural Nutmeg.

PreVention 18

SeLf 34

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Deb Percival Deb@naturalnutmeg.com

P.O. Box 447, Avon, CT 06001 Ph. (860)206-9500 • Fax (860)263-8505

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

Natural Nutmeg is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers and distributed throughout Connecticut. Please call for a location near you. (860) 206-9500 or email to publisher@naturalnutmeg.com. © 2007-13 by Natural Nutmeg, LLC. All rights reserved.

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 ar ticles and adver tisements, nor are we responsible for the products and ser vices adver tised. We welcome your feedback.

PuBLISHER'SLETTER

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hen is the last time you laughed so hard you cried? Can you remember? If you can’t or it seems like a long time ago, it might be time for some serious laughter therapy. And if you think that’s silly, think again. Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, and disease-fighting proteins, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

There’s even a Humor & Health Journal, which is the official publication of Humor & Health Institute. Humor & Health Institute is dedicated to humor and communicating its relationships with health, medical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. And Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai, India popularly known as the ‘Guru of Giggling’, is the founder of Laughter Yoga Clubs. While researching the benefits of laughter, he was amazed by the number of studies showing profound physiological and psychological benefits of laughter. He decided to find a way to deliver these benefits to his patients and other people. The result is Laughter Yoga, a unique exercise routine that combines group laughter exercises with yoga breathing, and it has grown into a worldwide movement of more than 6000 Laughter Yoga clubs in over 60 countries.

So, the evidence is there that laughter is very good for our health and well-being. Why don’t we do it more often? Part of the reason is we’re adults now and we think we need to be serious. We have responsibilities, careers, families and laundry lists of things we need to do each day. Who has time for fun and games? Let me tell you – if you don’t make time for it, you will burn out quicker than the blink of an eye. In fact, I often wonder if one of the reasons we age is because we stop having fun.

As a life coach, one of my favorite things to coach my clients on is learning how to have fun again. We do passion lists, bucket lists, life reviews and guided meditations to bring out your inner child and find ways to laugh every day. It can be as simple as watching a funny movie, reading a humorous book, going to a comedy show or spending time with someone who always makes you laugh. Whatever you choose to do, finding time to laugh and have fun on a daily basis is a necessity for optimal health and well-being.

In health and happiness,

www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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THE BuZZ

glastonbury naturopathic Center welcomes Dr. teresa Spano to our team of naturopathic experts!

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he mission of Glastonbury Naturopathic Center is to provide our patients and community with the very best Naturopathic Care, combining traditional Naturopathic Medicine with cutting edge alternative medicine. Teresa Spano, ND is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport, Connecticut where she received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Her four years of training included naturopathic philosophy, and the prevention and treatment of illnesses though natural remedies including homeopathy, nutrition, botanicals, mind-body medicine, among others. She also completed over 1200 hours of clinical shifts in areas such as general medicine, integrative oncology, physical medicine, classical homeopathy, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and First Line Therapy, a personalized, science-based nutritional program. She has expanded her studies through continuing education focusing on Functional Medicine, Detoxification, and UNDA Biodrainage Therapy. Her passion and expertise as a Naturopathic Physician is finding the underlying cause of disease and treating each patient through nutrition, and personalized Naturopathic medicine. Dr. Spano accepts most insurances, and is now accepting new patients.

To make an appointment with Dr. Spano, please call Glastonbury Naturopathic Center at 860-657-4105. We are located at 18 School Street, Glastonbury, Ct. www.naturopathicwellness.com. See ad on page 24.

Sign up for our monthly e-zine at naturalnutmeg.com Scan code with your Smart phone to visit our website!

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Natural Nutmeg July 2013

Congratulations Connecticut, for Passing the first gMo Labeling Law in the Country!

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his month, Connecticut won the honor of becoming the first state to pass a law requiring genetically engineered foods to be labeled. Connecticut will now set the standard for states around the country to follow.

The amended version of the bill is without the exemption for farmers grossing less than 1.5 million dollars, which undermined the entire intent of the bill. The bill will go into effect when “Four states, not including this state, enact a mandatory labeling law for genetically-engineered foods that is consistent with the provisions of this subsection, provided one such state borders Connecticut; and (2) the aggregate population of such states located in the northeast region of the United States that have enacted a mandatory labeling law for genetically-engineered foods that is consistent with this subsection exceed twenty million based on 2010 census figures.” While we believe we have a right to know what is in our food today, we are satisfied that the language of the GMO labeling bill will give CT consumers transparency in labeling that will allow them to make informed decisions once the law is triggered.

Hill-Stead Museum Launches fifth Season of farmers Market

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n July 7, 2013, Hill-Stead Museum will launch the fifth season of its popular weekly Farmers Market. Host to over 25 Connecticut farmers and food artisans each week, the market will be held every Sunday, 11am – 2pm, through October 20th.

In 2012, over 13,300 patrons visited Hill-Stead’s Farmers Market to purchase CT Grown vegetables, fruits, dairy products, free-range eggs, naturally raised beef, veal, pork, lamb and poultry, baked goods, hand-made Italian ices, flowers, Connecticut-landed seafood, and farm-related products such as Angora goat yarns, wools, and soaps. The market is “Producer Only,” which ensures that patrons can talk directly with growers and producers.

Live, local musicians, a community table, and weekly visiting vendors round out this distinctive program.

For a list of participating vendors and special events, visit www.hillstead.org/events-hillstead-farmers-market.php or call 860.677.4787 ext 110.

Michele Welcome of SNAP Fitness Launches Approved Grocery Shopping List in Farmington Valley

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ichele Welcome is on a mission. As owner of Snap Fitness in Avon, Michele has taken her life-long passion to help make it easy for her community to better their health by implementing her “Michele Approved” stamp of approval on her custom created menus at select restaurant locations. Michele has now taken her “no bland food movement” a step further by collaborating with family run Shop Rite supermarket in Canton.

Now you can walk in, grab Michele’s categorized list, and find all her approved healthy proteins, starches, fruits, veggies, spices, super foods, and more throughout the store. Look for the “Michele ApprovedTM” aisle tags throughout the aisles in the store to make all her “approved” items easy to identify. Michele’s goal is to show variety with healthy foods by “approving” a broad range of healthy grocery selections and promote that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring.

Michele’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus feature healthy and nutritious selections so that health conscious people no longer have to make substitutions and/or select from bland options in order to eat healthy while dining out. In a world of “fast food” Michele’s menu options can be called in and picked up ahead of time as well. One of Michele’s lunches can be found at The Meat House in Avon featuring the popular “back day burger wrap” with 93% lean grass fed burger and the healthy house salad with your choice of free range chicken breast and grass fed filet. Michele’s dinner menu can be found at the family run La Trattoria in Canton and one of the favorites on this menu are the gluten free turkey meatballs, spaghetti squash with homemade marinara sauce, and steamed spinach.

Westside Chiropractic, LLC Dr. Richard Duenas

Chiropractic Physician • Board Certified Neurologist

Natural Health Care for Family and Friends West Hartford / Hartford 557 Prospect Avenue (860) 523-5833 www.westsidechiropractors.com

Offering Free Health Advice...

Walk-in and Phone Consultations Available When YOU Need It! For Allergy and Asthma Relief

(Please call for a free consultation to outline your specific formula) 1. Probiotics - Restores colon health and supports immune function.

2. Adrenal Support Formula - Restores immune balance 3. Thymus Extract and Colostrum - Regulates overactive immunity.

4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Decreases bronchial hyper-reactivity.

5. Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC’s) - Slows the effects of chemical mediators of inflammation like Histamine, Leu kotrienes.

Michele Welcome-Pellegatto is the owner of Snap Fitness Health Club located at 260 West Main Street in Avon, CT. She is a 3x Professional Physique athlete, Fitness Coach, Stage Presentation/Posing coach for all physique athletes, and certified personal trainer with a passion in life to help the average person take the guess work out of living a fit and healthy lifestyle. Snap Fitness is a fully equipped health club “without the overwhelming corporate environment” with state of the art cardio and strength training equipment, dedicated personal training staff, and group classes. Please call (860) 581-4014 or email avonct@snapfitness.com to set up a tour of the club. For more info log onto the Snap Fitness website www.snapfitness.com/avonct. See ad on page 29.

Free Proven Protocols Available Now, in Person or by Calling 203-755-1105.

www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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BERNIE

By Bernie Siegel, MD

CREATING a Work of Art

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onceiving a child and raising that child to feel loved is the most significant action parents can attain. A loved child becomes not only a creative, inspiring being but one who helps all living things to survive and thrive. Think of your child as a young artist who has come to you to learn how to paint or sculpt. As a teacher you would show patience as you guide and instruct the child so they can create a work of art. You would not throw out their painting or pottery but show them how to rework it and create a true work of art. You have the clay, the paint and the blank canvas with which to work—your child.

As a surgeon I listened to eighty-five-yearold parents complain about their kid and I had to laugh remembering they were talking about a kid, who was in his sixties. We are critical of our children when we use phrases like, “There’s something wrong with you.” Or we can let them know they are loved even when we don’t like what they are doing.

I know from working with all age groups that when you ask eighty or ninety year olds whether their parents loved them close to ninety percent answer yes; but when you ask high school students the same question the figures are reversed. When for homework you ask students to write a note about why they should commit suicide and why they are lovable the suicide notes are three to five pages long and the love notes one page. I am not trying to depress all the parents reading this.

I have lived the experience with our five children so I know wounds can be healed, and that if we are truly educated about the parenting experience our children will be the beneficiaries. Licenses are needed for just about every significant activity or occupation...except parenting. So when the birthing classes finish, start parenting classes and learn from those who have preceded you and lived the experience.

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Natural Nutmeg July 2013

Why is it your children’s children are called grand and their children become great grandchildren? The answer is that as we grow and mature and learn what is truly important in life we see the children as grand and great.

So if you do not have time to read this entire article all I ask of you is to act as if you are a loving grandparent towards your children.

My parents hid me in a covered carriage because I was born an ugly duckling. I survived because I had a grandmother who, to quote my mother, “Poured oil over your body and pushed everything back where it belonged many times a day”. I didn’t have to find my own beauty, as the ugly duckling did, because I had a grandmother. Studies show the benefits of massage in newborns by their rapid weight gain. So touch and massage your children and watch them grow and develop in response to your loving touch. A teenager I know said she was staying at her grandmother’s house and there were no full size mirrors for her to look in before she went off to high school. When she complained to her grandmother, her grandmother said, “Come over here and look into my eyes and you’ll see how beautiful you are.” There are many ways to touch your child.

We must remember the opposite of love is indifference. So one child who feels unloved and drives you nuts gets your attention.

On the other hand, the “angel child” often feels unloved because no one pays attention to him. As one of our children said, “I don’t get twenty per cent of your time”. He explained that his brother drove us nuts and got forty per cent. I admire the fact that he felt comfortable confronting his father with those statistics.

When siblings are born one or five years apart there is little rivalry. So apologize, as I have, to our kids and help them become a family. Our children learned that love and appropriate anger can exist together. Make magic and do things as a family every week. It can be eating out, going skating, visiting a museum, what-

ever; just make it an activity that allows you to interact and not sit staring at a TV set or a movie screen. When you do the latter, have a session in which you all discuss your reaction to what you saw and learn from each other.

Various states are currently debating passing laws to ban spanking until age four and not allowing smoking in cars with children under the age of six, while a religious cult in another state wants a law passed to allow whipping of children. I can see the fourth birthday becoming spanking day to make up for what parents weren’t allowed to do until that day.

It is absurd. What we need is a law that says you must love your children. I know smokers who smoke outdoors to protect their pets but do not think about their children’s lungs. Love is the answer.

As Emmet Fox wrote, “There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer; It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble; A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.”

A young woman I know whose parents are alcoholics started saying to them every morning, “I love you”. They never answered her.

After doing this for three months she ran out of the house one morning late for school. Her parents were in the street yelling, “You forgot something”. “What did I forget?” “You didn’t say I love you.” Their healing began.

Yes, love is a weapon and I prefer to kill with kindness and torment with tenderness.

When we do this our natural tendencies towards aggression are utilized in creative ways through work, sports, games and hobbies and not through destructive behavior. A child’s brain wave pattern up to the age of six is like that of a hypnotized individual. So your messages can stay with them for a lifetime. If they are mottoes to die by, and the child does

not make a conscious effort to eliminate and abandon them, it does lead to their illness and early death. A study of Harvard students showed that of those who felt loved by their parents, while attending college, only one fourth had suffered an illness by midlife while almost one hundred percent of those who didn’t feel loved had suffered a major illness by midlife.

The addictions and self destructive behavior are not an accident. To quote a woman who said her mother always belittled her efforts and only dressed her in dark clothes, “My mother’s words were eating away at me and maybe gave me cancer.” The cancer motivated her to be born again and redirect her life; reparent herself, find self love and buy a red dress. So curses can became blessings as castles can be built out of the mud.

Centuries ago Maimonides wrote, “If people would take as good care of themselves as they do their animals they would suffer fewer illnesses.” So get some pets and treat your children as you do your beloved pets with love, affection, trust, respect, consistency, discipline, exercise and a reverence for life. Those bits of advice actually come from veterinarians. So when in doubt WWLD; just ask yourself What Would Lassie Do? If your children have any questions just remember love is my answer. My Mom’s answers were, “Do what will make you happy”; “Troubles are God’s redirections and something good will come of this.” And my Dad’s, “Material things are to make life easier and when you are happy you are a success.”

On...Nutrition & Food Allergies & Sensitivities...

IBS, migraine, sinusitis, arthritis and ADHD are just a few food related disorders.

Dietary changes can have powerful effects.

HolcareNutrition Vicki Kobliner, MS RD | vicki@holcarenutrition.com

3 Hollyhock Rd. • Wilton, CT • 06897 • 203-834-9949 • holcarenutrition.com

Bernie runs a Woodbridge Cancer Support group on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month and a Mind, Body, Health Support Group on the first Tuesday evening of every month at Coachman’s Square, Bradley Road, Woodbridge, CT. Contact: Lucille Ranciato at 203-288-2839 or email her at lranciato@yahoo.com or email Bernie at bugsyssiegel@sbcglobal.net.

Wisdom of the Ages, a special place to nurture 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 & daughterin-law, Keith & Jane Siegel. Located at 1408 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury. Please call for info or to register for Bernie's group. (860) 6511172, www.wisdomoftheages.biz. See ad on page 25.

www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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Back Pain...

A Natural Solution

By Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD Nancy Ortolani, PT

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ack pain is so prevalent in our culture that people consider it normal. It is not normal, but it certainly is typical.

The National Institute of Health publishes a Low-Back-Pain Fact Sheet that states, “Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation.

Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States…”

Causes and Complications There are a myriad of causes for back pain, including traumatic injuries such as car accidents, sports injuries, lifting or bending injuries, stress, too much job-related sitting, pregnancy, and more.

An acute injury can become a chronic problem that lasts for months or even years.

People typically rest and reduce their activity level when they experience back pain. They may use ice and over-the-counter medication; they may stretch and try to resume activities with modifications. Our culture does not always allow for a reduction in functional activities. Consider a single parent with three kids, managing his/ her work life and home life—in this scenario, there is no opportunity for a break! This person has to function through the pain.

Our common philosophy in this country is that age is correlated with ‘breaking down’; getting older means getting weaker. To attain optimal health at any age, this misconception needs to be changed!

Why Does the Back Hurt?

There are multiple natural strategies for eliminating pain. It is helpful to understand the underlying reasons for a person’s pain to be optimally successful in achieving sustainable results. Why does the back hurt? Is it because of postural issues at the low back? Could back pain be contributed to disc herniation or disc degeneration? Is it caused by tension of the sciatic nerve and tightness of the piriformis muscle? Could it be caused by pelvic floor inflammation associated with men’s and women’s health issues or irritable bowel syndrome?

Can hip dysfunction contribute to low back pain? In the following paragraphs we will discuss the various possibilities.

Disc Herniation or Degeneration Sometimes, when a person incurs an injury, they visit their doctor and undergo an MRI diagnostic. This may identify disc herniations at the lumbar spine region. The MRI may also find disc 10

Natural Nutmeg July 2013

degeneration or the beginning of arthritis. The back pain comes from muscle spasm and guarding to protect the injured disc region. The doctor may prescribe pain medication or temporary bed rest. The patient might be referred to traditional physical therapy, or undergo surgery for the disc problem. Often, these approaches lead to limited reduction in pain.

Biomechanical Dysfunction - Poor Joint Alignment of the Low Back Good posture and joint alignment of the low back joints is an indication of spinal health. Commonly, when a person has back pain, there is joint compression and postural mal-alignment at the low back region. This joint problem can cause low back pain.

Typical intervention for postural dysfunction is traditional physical therapy, including mobilization techniques that are often aggressive, and modalities that may be unsuccessful in pain reduction.

Sciatica and Piriformis Syndrome - Is Stretching the Piriformis a Viable Solution?

When there is back dysfunction, or spasm of the piriformis muscle in the buttocks region, there is often sciatic nerve pain. Sciatic nerve pain or Sciatica may radiate from the low back through the buttocks down the leg. A common strategy for treatment of sciatica and piriformis syndrome is stretching of the piriformis muscle. This approach does not lead to long lasting results in reduction of pain and must be performed repeatedly on an ongoing basis—it does not correct the problem.

Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain Often, people visit their doctor because of plantar fasciitis and foot pain or stiffness that is severe and does not go away. Morning foot pain upon rising is very common. Stiffness and guarding of the low back can shorten leg muscles and tighten nerves in the low back causing foot pain. Stretching the ankles and wearing night splints are common treatments but do not address the underlying low-back dysfunction that may be causing the foot pain.

Pelvic Floor and Pelvic Bowl Dysfunction: Other Causes of Low Back Pain Inflammation and toxicity of the pelvic region is common in individuals today. Terms such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), endometriosis, prostatitis and other women’s and men’s health issues are becoming commonplace in our culture. It is common for both men and women to experience difficulty with urination. Following childbirth, pelvic floor weakness is commonly identified.

How can these issues contribute to back pain? Our bodies have the most remarkable capacity for self-correction. In absence of the ability to heal and correct, our bodies protect. One of our body’s greatest forms of protection is limitation of mobility—essentially, joint compression. When we have a toxic load in our pelvic bowl such as overgrowth of yeast or bacteria, inflammation typically presents. It can also be caused by food sensitivities. This inflammation and toxicity can contribute to irritation of the bowel leading to IBS, as well as other challenges. Traditional treatment for these types of problems commonly includes medication, particularly steroids, as well as surgery. These interventions often only mask symptoms and do not correct the underlying problem. They rarely lead to long lasting reduction of back pain.

A person may not know the cause of their back pain, especially when the underlying cause may be obscure, such as inflammation of the pelvic bowl. It can be frustrating and depressing to endure back pain without relief.

of body dysfunction that is more conducive to healing. For example, consider someone who has undergone disc surgery in the lumbar spine. Following surgery, it’s likely there will be inflammation and tension of all the tissues in the region, as well as poor circulation and drainage. This environment often leads to limited healing and complications following surgery, such as stiffness and residual pain.

An IMT treatment plan may include general healing support as well as techniques to promote healthier circulation and drainage to and from the disc region, scar release therapy to reduce fascial tension, and treatment of posture and joint mechanics to support improved spinal alignment.

Another scenario may include a woman with irritable bowel syndrome and other challenges such as low-back weakness and pain. With this woman, an IMT treatment plan may include treatment of the immune system to promote healthier detoxification and elimination as well as drainage of the pelvic region. The plan might also include treatment to improve biomechanics and joint alignment of the pelvis, hips, and low back to eliminate back pain and improve strength of the pelvic-bowl muscles.

Often, people are taught pelvic floor strengthening exercises such as Kegel exercises. These exercises are limited in their success often because the structure of the tissues is compromised from joint mal-alignment and muscle spasm in the region. By restoring the health and integrity of the pelvic floor tissues using IMT, strengthening of these muscles can be more successful.

IMT is beneficial in correcting structural dysfunction and promoting a healing environment to support reduction and elimination of pain. There are additional natural strategies that may also be helpful in eliminating underlying causes of back pain. Implementing some important dietary and lifestyle changes can be instrumental

Manual Therapy - A Natural Strategy for Back Pain Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) is a gentle, hands-on therapy that incorporates the whole body. Assessment of the spine and possible underlying contributors to spinal dysfunction is integral to this comprehensive approach. The IMT therapist looks at the ability of the joints to move, including the lumbar spine and the sacroiliac joints. S/he also assesses the alignment of the joints such as the individual spinal vertebrae and the pelvis. Gentle techniques are used to improve mobility and alignment. IMT Therapists assess the tension of the fascial tissues in the lumbar and pelvic region to determine areas of compression and possible ‘protection’. Assessment goes beyond the joints and includes soft tissues such as the pelvic organs, nerves, arteries and veins, lymphatic drainage vessels, and more.

During an IMT session for someone experiencing back pain or another form of chronic pain the IMT therapist checks for underlying contributors, such as those listed previously. The IMT session can then be focused on the primary cause. Typically, an IMT therapist creates a treatment plan that encompasses multiple techniques to address the primary underlying cause for the pain. This plan is an efficient and effective way to eliminate pain sustainably and help the person return to all their activities, including work, sports and recreation.

The body has an amazing ability to self-correct and heal itself.

Therapists utilize IMT to create a healthier environment in an area www.NaturalNutmeg.com

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Eclectic Naturopathic Medical Center, LLC Kathleen Riley, ND • Lesa Werner, ND At the Eclectic Naturopathic Medical Center, we specialize in providing gentle, effective treatments for acute and chronic illnesses.

We offer: Nutritional Supplements • Acupuncture Homeopathics • Lifestyle Counseling • Bowen Therapy® Flower Essences • IonCleanse® 2434 Berlin Turnpike, #18, Newington, CT 06111 (860) 665-1254 • www.kathleenrileynd.com

Anew You! microdermabrasion non-surgical face lift facials - peels - massage eyelash & eye brow tinting spider vein & skin tag removal FDA approved cellulite treatments body wraps - detox footbath - reiki

Anew You Skincare & Wellness Center Scan code with your smart phone to learn more about us.

16A Ensign Drive, Avon, CT 860.284.9730 • www.anewyouskincare.net

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in reducing inflammation in the body, thereby helping the body to heal. This healing response can help to eliminate pain in the body and restore normal function.

nutritional wellness How to Change your Diet to Support Health Our bodies require proper nutrition to heal.

Often, people do not recognize that many of the foods that we eat regularly may be causing an inflammatory response in the body and delaying healing. In particular, with spinal health and back pain, which is so often caused by and exacerbated by inflammation, making some basic but essential dietary changes can significantly help to promote health by reducing inflammation in the body.

Let’s get started! A great way to begin shifting your diet is to consider what foods are inflammatory. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and oat, is an inflammatory grain that can contribute to joint pain and dysfunction. There are many individuals who have experienced a reduction in chronic pain by completely eliminating gluten from their diet.

A gluten-elimination diet can create a healthier environment in our body, which is more conducive to healing. To learn more about how to eliminate gluten, visit: http://www.instituteofimt. com/gluten-elimination-diet.php (website) and http://naturallivingfamily.com/ (blog). A great cookbook for transforming your home kitchen successfully is “Gluten Free Baking Classics,” by Annalise Roberts.

It is well documented that eating high levels of processed and refined sugar can interfere with healing. Processed sugar is neuro-toxic, which means it can contribute to inflammation of the nervous system. Many times, back pain is caused by sciatic nerve irritation and spinal nerve involvement contributing to disc inflammation. Eating processed sugar can inhibit nerve healing and prolong recovery from nerve-related chronic pain. There are many wonderful substitutes for refined sugar, including honey, pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, palm/coconut sugar, date sugar, agave, molasses and fruit. It is relatively easy to replace refined sweeteners with natural sweeteners when using a standard recipe. It is amazing how many packaged foods include refined or artificial sugars like corn syrup, white and brown sugar, turbinado sugar, Splenda, aspartame, cane sugar and many others. Reading ingredients is a great way to educate ourselves about what is in the foods we eat.

By substituting natural sweeteners for refined or artificial ones, we can promote health and support healing from nerve-related injuries.

In addition to making important dietary changes, incorporating some supplements into

our diet is beneficial as well. In particular, essential fatty acids are limited in our diet and can be ingested supplementally in the form of fish oil, for example. Every tissue in our body is made up of cells.

The wall of every cell is comprised of essential fatty acids. The fatty acids are called ‘essential’ because our body does not produce them. They have to be derived from the environment in some form.

For our body to repair any tissue, such as a nerve, a disc, or even healing following surgery, essential fatty acids are necessary. The idea of eating two tins of sardines per day may be repulsive to some.

Another way to meet our quota of daily essential fatty acids is by taking omega-3 supplements.

Chronic pain can be debilitating. It can alter our lifestyle and get in the way of our function. A person may have difficulty working a full day which could have an impact on their income and financial security. Even lifting our children or our laundry can be hindered.

There are so many interventions that mask symptoms and can lead to other problems. By incorporating manual therapy and healthy nutrition into our lives, we can feel better and achieve greater health.

Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD, PT, IMT, C is the Practice Manager and Director of Pediatrics for Regional Physical Therapy and The Institute of Integrative Manual Therapy (IIMT), headquartered in Bloomfield, CT. She is also the Dean of the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy (CSIMT). Dr. Connell-Giammatteo has taught courses in IMT nationally and internationally for over 15 years. She received her doctoral degree focusing in neuropediatrics, with a concentration in autism. Dr. Connell-Giammatteo is a Physical Therapist and Certified Integrative Manual Therapist. She has been practicing in the field of IMT for over 15 years. Dr. ConnellGiammatteo is a graduate of the Institute of Functional Medicine’s program “Applying Functional Medicine into Clinical Practice” focusing on nutritional wellness. She is also a local of this community and has been living in the Greater Hartford area for many years.

Nancy Ortolani, PT, IMT, C is the Clinical Manager of the Institute of IMT and Regional Physical Therapy located in Bloomfield, CT. She graduated from the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill with a degree in Physical Therapy and has treated clients with trauma and chronic pain. Nancy has been studying Integrative Manual Therapy since 1995 and has been the Clinical Manager at the Institute of IMT for the last 15 years. She has studied with the Institute of Functional Medicine, and is a graduate of their program “Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice”. As teaching faculty for the Connecticut School of IMT, she has taught extensively on the topics of cardiovascular health. See ad on page 35.

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13

SHAPE

By Paula Scopino, LMT, E-RYT 500, IAYT

Yoga for Stress Relief

T

he definition of Yoga is a yoking, or joining, of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies.

Because Yoga helps us become familiar with our emotional and physical needs, teaching us to listen to our body, it provides an excellent means of stress prevention and management. Approximately 95% of all ‘dis-ease’ in the body is caused or worsened by stress. The mind-body or body-mind connection is one; it is interconnected. All stress is not bad; it is how we perceive it. Consider Hamlet: “Nothing is good or bad, but that thinking makes it so.”

Chronic Stress can be Damaging According to Hans Selye, MD, the man who coined the word stress,“ The modern physician should know as much about emotions and thoughts as about disease symptoms and drugs. This approach would appear to hold more promise of cure than

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anything medicine has given us to date.

Chronic stress can be damaging. It impairs our immune system, increases bloodsugar levels, and elevates blood pressure and heart rate. The stress-related diseases we see today include anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, dementia, post traumatic stress syndrome, ulcers, and cardiovascular disease. When our sympathetic nervous system is activated, along with specific hormonal pathways, it results in the release of cortisol (one of the major stress hormones associated with the stress response) from the adrenal glands.

Yoga Reduces Stress Hormones Yoga has been proven to reduce stress hormones, including cortisol. Recent findings suggest that practicing yoga—even for the very first time—can normalize cortisol levels that are either too high or too low, bringing the body into balance, according to Vijayendra Pratap, Ph.D., President

of the Yoga Research Society in Philadelphia. Yoga asanas (postures) also support internal organs and glands with increased oxygenation and circulation. The tools of yoga also include pranayama (breathing techniques), progressive relaxation through physical and subtle anatomy, visual imagery, meditation, mantra, ‘be-ing’ in the present moment, and mudra among others.

Working with the breath is especially effective. It is a portable stress management tool; you can practice it anywhere.

When we are under stress, we tend to breathe in a very rapid, shallow way, which exacerbates the body’s stress response.

Slower, deeper breathing activates the parasympathetic system…the relaxation response. Herbert Benson, MD, of Harvard Medical School, has named, demonstrated and documented this. Heart rate and brain waves are changed, metabolism is slowed.

Prevent or Reverse Heart Disease Dr. Dean Ornish, MD, also of Harvard, ( http://www.pmri.org/lifestyle_program. html) proved, after two years of double blind studies, that it was possible to reverse and prevent coronary heart disease with yoga, a low-fat vegetarian diet, meditation, group support (community), release of anger, and seva (service, volunteering your time, giving of yourself, gratitude).

Stress contributes greatly to heart disease by causing arteries to constrict, thereby restricting blood flow to the heart.

Use Your Breath There are many ways to meditate.

You can begin by simply focusing on the breath. Place your hands on your belly, below your navel. Inhale, the stomach expands. Exhale, draw the stomach in. Stay here or progress to the ‘Three Part Breath’.

Place your hands on your ribcage. As you inhale, feel the ribs expanding out to the sides, into your palms. Feel the movement of your breath in your front, side and back ribs and intercostals muscles. Exhale, using your hands to help move your ribs closer together. Imagine how an accordion works Next, place your hands on your chest under your collarbones. This is where many people breathe all the time. Inhale, chest rises. Exhale, chest moves down. Later, put the three parts together, into one ‘complete breath’. You may also use a count of six or eight to help keep your focus on the breath.

More Stress Reducers

as ‘peace’. Mudras (hand positions) are physical gestures that have an effect on the energy flow of the body. The meaning of ‘mudra’, which is a Sanskrit word, is ‘closure’ or ‘seal’.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is another yoga-based program used for reducing stress through mindfulness. It was created by Jon Kabot-Zinn at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

We cannot control all that will happen in our lives, but we can learn to control our reactions. Slow down. Take a deeper, more conscious inhalation and exhalation.

Let go. Practice gratitude. Learn not only to listen to your body, but to honor it. By stimulating life force, you increase healing power.

Paula Scopino LMT, E-RYT 500, IAYT, Owner/Director, Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033.

860.657.9545. www.sacredriversyoga. com. See ad on page 25.

Walking in nature is meditation in motion, and also can be combined with an awareness of the breath, of the foot making contact with the earth, and of the sounds of nature. Be aware of all of your senses.

Mantra is a sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation. You may also choose any word or phrase, such

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15

raw foods

What’s All the Hype About?

By Deanna M. Cherrone, MD

W

hile traveling with a friend in Toronto and inquiring about raw food restaurants in the area, I was surprised to find that she thought I was trying to find a raw (seafood) bar and had no idea that there was such a thing as raw food cuisine. Raw foods are plant based foods in their original “natural” uncooked state and as such are “alive” and teaming with life sustaining and revitalizing nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, oxygen and live enzymes. Heating food to greater than 116 degrees Fahrenheit is thought to destroy the life force of the food and diminish its nutritional value. How does heating food reduce its nutritional value? It does so by destroying the “live” enzymes present “naturally” in the food that assist in the digestion and absorption of that food in the body.

The best way to understand the concept of “living” food is to look at seeds. Raw seeds may look dead but if you plant them, water them and provide them with light you will soon see them sprouting and growing into mature plants. If you were to take that same seed and roast it or cook it and then plant it, water it and give it light it would not grow because it is dead. It has lost its life force.

What does being on a raw food diet entail? First of all, at least 75% of your diet must be living or raw and although eating organic is not a requirement it is a choice that is much more in alignment with what nature intended for us. When you eat con-

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ventionally grown produce you are consuming the pesticides that are designed to keep the plant free of “pests” thus allow them to grow bigger. Have you ever noticed how organically grown produce always seems to be on the smaller side when compared to conventionally grown produce? Eating chemicals certainly seems counterintuitive and counterproductive when eating a raw food diet especially when considering the negative impact these pesticides have been shown to have on one’s health. Even though these organically grown foods are typically more costly, one needs to weigh the cost to benefit ratio. You may be saving yourself money now but in the long run you could end up with more costly medical expenditures in the future. Also the difference in taste, in my opinion, is well worth the price.

Some of the health benefits that have been associated with eating a raw food diet include: improved health with reduced risk of heart dis-ease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer, in particular; lowered cholesterol and triglycerides, decreased inflammation such as allergies, increased energy, healthier looking skin, hair and nails, improved digestion and weight loss. The high fiber content of a raw food diet is an important component of building and maintaining a healthy digestive tract and colon, which is one of the major channels of elimination in the body and thus a key factor in optimal health. A common finding in those that adopt a raw food diet is that their addiction to cooked and processed food is broken so “toxic” and nutritionally poor foods are eliminated from their diet. The end result is improved cellular health. Cooked foods technically are processed foods just by the mere nature of being heated beyond their “natural” temperatures.

Carnivores have large teeth, claws and short colons. Humans on the other hand, have small dentition, hands without claws and long colons, which make them more like herbivores, plant eating animals.

When humans eat cooked, processed foods and animal products the pH of their blood becomes more acidic. The pH of the blood stays within a narrow range so that all of the metabolic processes of the body can occur normally. Within that range, the blood can be more acidic or more alkaline. Degeneration and disease has been shown to flourish in the more acidic range. How do we become more alkaline? Eating a plant based diet, which includes lots of fruits and vegetables – 9-10 servings per day.

Raw foods are actually easier for the body to digest because they provide all of the enzymes needed for the body to breakdown the food. As a result the body uses up less energy digesting the food.

When a food is processed, it is lacking in these important enzymes and the body has to provide energy to make the enzymes that are needed to digest and absorb the food, so not only is that food lacking in nutrients to begin with, the body becomes more depleted of energy when it has to work harder and longer to digest and absorb these foods. Eating these “unnatural” foods, not recognizable by the body, is largely responsible for poor overall health and poor cellular health, inflammation and degeneration of organs in the body, slower metabolisms, weight gain, fatigue and premature aging.

A raw food diet may not be right for everyone. It may not provide enough protein, calories or iron for growing children and pregnant or nursing women, and for those who are vegan – not eating any animal products at all –it may not provide enough vitamin B12 or vitamin D, although these vitamins can always be supplemented. Ayurveda, Macrobiotics and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners feel that raw food diets are not right for people who live in colder climates and for those with certain constitutions.

Sprouting seeds, grains and beans is an important part of going “raw.” Sprouting manufactures vitamins naturally and makes these foods more easily digestible.

Soaking nuts and dried fruit is a way to make these “difficult” to digest foods more digestible. Juicing fruits and vegetables provides the body with many nutrients that are more readily assimilated into the body. Blending foods in a blender breaks

down the cell walls of foods allowing for easier integration and absorption into the body. Dehydrating food blows air through the food at temperatures less than 116 degrees and allows for the making of breads and crackers without baking. These are the mainstays of going “raw.”

Going raw is not something that should be undertaken haphazardly. It requires thought, time, energy and preparation. It should be eased into gradually to prevent the severe detoxification reaction that can occur when you suddenly begin clearing the “waste” and toxins from your diet dumping them into your bloodstream and lymphatic system. Symptoms of detoxification include fatigue, headache, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, skin rashes and flu-like symptoms.

Going raw can certainly be very healing for someone with dis-ease such as cancer where conserving the body’s enzyme resources is essential. In fact, when a group of people with terminal cancer was placed on a raw food diet 100% of these cancer patients had remission of their cancers. It was only when the holidays arrived that these same people found it difficult to continue with their raw food diets only to have their cancer return. This speaks to the power of food and to our addiction to cooked and processed foods.

My recommendation for anyone considering this lifestyle is that you proceed slowly, that you get some guidance from someone who is knowledgeable in going raw and the moderate side of me, especially living in this part of the country, inclines me to recommend like Dr. Joel Fuhrman, one of my mentors, one pound of raw vegetables a day and one pound of cooked vegetables per day, each providing different nutrients to the body that it needs.

Dr. Deanna Cherrone is a functional medicine practitioner and the owner and founder of Natural Health & Healing, LLC located at 61 S. Main St, Ste 210, West Hartford, CT. For more information, please visit www.naturalhealthandhealing.net or call (860) 677-4600. See ad on back cover.

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17

PREVENTION

By Dr. Kara Burkhart, N.D., L.Ac and Julian Nieves, M.D., MPH

Fibromyalgia: Frustrating for Patients, Challenging for Physicians...

Understanding Symptoms and Treatments

F

ibromyalgia, a disorder that affects muscles and soft tissues and is a common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain, can be challenging and frustrating for both patient and physician.

Its cardinal feature—chronic, widespread pain that is not explained by another rheumatic or systemic disorder—is often present in other diseases such as infection or autoimmune disorders, where it manifests abnormal physical and laboratory findings. In fibromyalgia, the physical examination (other than tenderness in muscles and soft tissues) is unrevealing, and laboratory and imaging studies are unremarkable. Other symptoms include fatigue, sleep disorders, or mood and cognitive disturbances.

The Cause of Fibromyalgia is Not Entirely Understood Since the cause of fibromyalgia isn’t completely understood, fibromyalgia is a controversial illness. Patients appear well, there are no obvious abnormalities on physical examination, and laboratory and radiologic studies are normal. Thus, fibromyalgia has often been considered to be ‘psychogenic or psychosomatic.’ However, the symptoms are very real and current concepts focus on possible alterations in central nervous system pain processing as a possible cause.

To make the situation even more challenging, a variety of illnesses might overlap with fibromyalgia. These include myofascial pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Mood and sleep disorders may also include sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome. Fibromyalgia and these overlapping disorders are often termed ‘functional somatic syndromes.’

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Because there is no evidence that a single event causes fibromyalgia, it is often difficult to treat. Physical and/or emotional stressors may trigger or aggravate symptoms. Good sleep hygiene and treating comorbidities that may contribute to symptoms, including mood disorders, are important parts of an effective treatment regimen.

Patient education also is valuable since many patients suffer from fibromyalgia for years before a diagnosis. Some feel rejected by the medical profession, while others may fear that a life-threatening illness will eventually be found.

Effective interventions include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies that are often provided in combination. Patients generally respond best to a multidisciplinary, individualized treatment program. Medications that are well researched and that have been most consistently effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia include certain antidepressants and selected anticonvulsants. Nonpharmacologic treatments can help patients who do not respond to initial therapies, and some even respond well without drug therapy.

An exercise program, including aerobic conditioning, stretching, and strengthening is important, with low-impact aerobic activities such as fast walking, biking, swimming or water aerobics being the most successful. Treatment should be tailored to each individual patient and can include medications, herbs, nutrients and dietary suggestion.

general advice for fibromyalgia Patients acupuncture A recent consensus statement from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or may be an acceptable alternative treatment in a comprehensive management program for fibromyalgia patients.

Acupuncture is the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific locations on the body and has been practiced for thousands of years in many parts of the world. It has been well established that acupuncture stimulates release of endorphins, the pleasure chemicals in the brain. Consistent, weekly acupuncture has been shown to reduce symptoms in those with fibromyalgia. Pain, sleep, and stress/anxiety are most affected and can significantly improve quality of life.

Foods and inflammation Could food contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms? Seventy percent of the immune system is located along the digestive tract. It is possible that particular foods cause immune responses that can lead to pain and inflammation. A trial can be done by elimination of two of the most common triggers for food sensitivities or allergies—gluten and dairy. If there is a food-trigger to symptoms, after just two weeks, people usually see an improvement in symptoms.

optimize Magnesium Levels Magnesium is a mineral that promotes relaxation of muscles and has an overall calming effect on the body. If you avoid eating dark green leafy vegetables, you are likely to have lower than optimal magnesium levels. It is well accepted that magnesium efficiency is at the top of the list of common nutritional deficiencies in the Unites States. A general rule is that the darker the color, the more nutrientrich the green. Some are hard to digest so light steaming or blanching is advised. Other good sources of magnesium are seeds, nuts and legumes.

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the body from aging and cardiovascular disease. They’re power packed with carotenoids, beneficial fats, protein, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, and fiber. Think of an avocado as a multivitamin that tastes great.

Eat Fresh Tomatoes

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Ripe tomatoes taste best due to the sweet tasting compounds present. Scientific research has linked tomato consumption to reduction in risk for cancers, including prostate cancer and cervical cancer. One carotenoid called lycopene proves to be a strong antioxidant with a multitude of beneficial actions in the body including decreasing inflammation. Why not just take lycopene in a pill? Because nature knows best and the cancer-preventative action of lycopene is likely due to complex interactions between the phytochemicals in tomatoes.

For example, your body may need vitamin C and beta carotene to be present for lycopene to be effective. Eating fresh tomatoes tastes best and is often best so if garden space is not abundant consider having a deck container tomato plant.

Go Berry Picking Raspberries, huckleberries, blueberries and blackberries are ripe locally in July. Berries are fantastic sources for polyphenols, plant chemicals that are known as inflammation modulators in the body. When you increase the variety of brightly colored plant foods, you do yourself a huge service in terms of wellness. Use this link to find a local U-pick farm and remember sunblock, water, and to check for ticks afterwards. http://www.pickyourown. org/CT.htm.

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By Michele Welcome-Pellegatto

DISH

Cooking Fish Shouldn’t Stink

M

y family never cooked fish when I was growing up, so I never acquired a taste for it until I had fresh fish as an adult. I thought all fish was stinky and didn’t know that the smell was an indication that the fish wasn’t fresh. I also couldn’t imagine eating shrimp because they looked too much like bugs.

I never imagined I would be cooking fish for dinner and having cooked shrimp as my go-to fast food snack! It’s all about the quality and the preparation.

Have you heard the phrase, “If it smells it doesn’t sell?” This should definitely apply to fish. Fresh fish doesn’t smell, and when it’s cooked the taste is clean and the consistency is flaky. I suggest purchasing fish the same day you are going to prepare it and only buying from a reputable place that brings in fish fresh daily.

Many people don’t cook fish at home because it does leave an odor in the oven and fish is easy to overcook. White fish in particular can be a little blah tasting without spices (and no amount of just plain lemon will help). My recipe for cooking fish at home is quite simple: GRILL IT.

Orange Roughy Get the grill nice and hot. Cut the fish into portions and coat both sides with an organic rub that doesn’t contain added sugar. Place the fish on the grill, cover, and let it cook for a few minutes. Time will depend on thickness. I typically cook orange roughy for 3-5 minutes per side and purposely pull it off the grill BEFORE it is fully cooked. The trick is to wrap the almost-cooked fish in foil. It will finish cooking in the foil, causing the oils/juices to come out of the fish and blend with the spices from the rub, creating a sauce. After the fish sits in the foil for about five minutes, unwrap and serve with some fresh organic vegetables and seasoned organic brown rice!

Bon Appetit!

Michele Welcome-Pellegatto is the owner of Snap Fitness Health Club located at 260 West Main Street in Avon, CT. She is a 3x Professional Physique athlete, Fitness Coach, Stage Presentation/Posing coach for all physique athletes, and certified personal trainer with a passion in life to help the average person take the guess work out of living a fit and healthy lifestyle. Snap Fitness is a fully equipped health club “without the overwhelming corporate environment” with state of the art cardio and strength training equipment, dedicated personal training staff, and group classes. Please call (860) 581-4014 or email avonct@snapfitness.com to set up a tour of the club. For more info log onto the Snap Fitness website www.snapfitness.com/avonct. See ad on page 25.

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21

Good Posture for Life... and Health

By Dr. Patrick DeFrancesco

I

f the eyes are the windows to the soul, then posture is a lens to our health.

“Sit up straight.” “Stop slouching.”

“Look confident, and keep those shoulders back.”

Sound familiar? Well, your parents were right! Proper spine alignment is just as important as a healthy diet, exercising, getting enough sleep, and having a positive attitude are to the body’s overall wellbeing. And the best part is that it’s never too late to improve posture, even if no one reminds you anymore!

A Slumping Generation With the increased usage of cell phones and computers, this generation has some of the worst posture I have seen in my 20 years of practice. Children and adults are slumped over their laptops and/ or cell phones texting for more hours than ever before. Technology is creating a population of people with disorders of the thoracic spine including ‘hunchback’.

The symptoms of poor posture often develop gradually. Back and neck pain, tightness, and loss in your normal range of motion occur long before you notice your shoulders hunching forward.

Proper posture occurs when the muscles and joints of the body align well, allowing for efficient movement. For this to exist, three curves of the spine need to be present and various muscles must work in harmony to support these three curves.

When you are poorly aligned, the joints in the body do not fit together correctly, causing some muscles to work harder than others. Over time, these muscles tighten while others weaken, creating muscular imbalances that slowly result in poor posture. After prolonged imbalance, function is reduced and pain increases.

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Your spine is the main pathway for the nervous system and when posture is maintained, so is neurological function. Try arching your lower back and feel how your body assumes a strong, tall stance. When slouching, notice how the curve disappears.

Poor Posture Leads to Poor Health Poor posture leads to various health disturbances, such as reduced organ-system function, as slouching compresses the internal organs such as the heart, lungs and stomach. It can also cause degenerative joint and disc disease.

How’s Your Posture?

The good news is that posture can be improved at any age and thus can affect your overall health in a positive way. Evaluations are simple and can be done at home. Try The Wall Test: Stand with the back of your head touching the wall and your heels six inches from the baseboard. With your buttocks touching the wall, check the distance with your hand between your lower back and the wall, and your neck and the wall. If you are within an inch or two at the low back and two inches at the neck, you are close to having excellent posture. If not you may need professional attention to restore the normal curves of the spine.

Remedies There are various methods on the market to improve and maintain posture, from harnesses worn under your clothing to a myriad of traction devices and inversion tables. They may offer a temporary solution but require consistent work. Exercise that targets deepcore muscles combined with corrective chiropractic adjustments is extremely effective.

Supporting proper posture requires a conscious effort on a daily basis, but to protect your posture is to protect your health. The confidence, poise and leadership it conveys, not to mention that it makes you look 10 years younger, are all reasons to thank your parents for the years of reminders!

Here are three basic corrective strengthening exercises to add to your fitness program.

Core exercises Plank: Begin by lying on your stomach with palms on the floor next to your shoulders, feet and legs together, toes down. Lift your body up so that you’re resting on your forearms and weight is balanced evenly between hands and toes, keeping your body as straight as possible. Hold for 30 seconds and work up to 1-3 minutes. Don’t let your hips drop or rise.

Crunches: Lie on your back (on the floor or on a mat) with your knees bent and your hands behind your head. Feet should be flat on the floor. Keep a space between your chin and chest (look up diagonally towards ceiling.) Exhale and raise your chest until your shoulder blades lift off the floor. Then inhale and slowly lower back to floor. Don’t use your hands and arms to help lift you up. Perform 3 sets of 25-50 reps.

Back extensions: Begin by lying on a large exercise thera-ball on your stomach, very close to the wall, facing away from it. Pull the ball into your legs as close to your body as possible. Keep your toes firmly on the ground and the soles of your feet flat on the wall behind you. Straighten legs so that weight is evenly distributed between your feet (at the wall) and the ball. Place your hands behind your ears or across your chest. Exhale and extend from your hips, bringing your torso upward toward the wall as high as possible.

Hold for 3-5 seconds and then inhale slowly return to starting position to complete one rep.

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acupuncture for Chronic Pain

By Helene Pulnik, ND, Lac. Dipl. NCCAOM

F

or more than 2500 years, acupuncture has been one of the world’s most popular forms of healthcare for treating all types of chronic pain. The ancient technique of acupuncture helps relieve chronic back pain better than standard care such as medications and physical therapy. According to recent studies, acupuncture outperformed standard care when used by people suffering from osteoarthritis, migraines, and chronic back, neck and shoulder pain.

acupuncture for Children Acupuncture, which involves inserting needles at specific acupoints on the body, is among the most widely practiced forms of alternative medicine in the country and is offered by many hospitals. Most commonly, the treatment is sought by adults looking for relief from chronic pain, though it also is used with growing frequency in children. According to government estimates, about 150,000 children in the United States had acupuncture in 2007.

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Natural Nutmeg July 2013

acupuncture for Pain and Healing In clinical practice the most common types of pain that patients turn to acupuncture for are neck pain, upper/mid back and low back pain, arthritis pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, migraine pain, tendonitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, and even cancer pain.

So exactly how does inserting acupuncture work to relieve pain? Acupoints are tiny areas on the skin that contain relatively concentrated levels of nerve endings, lymphatics, and blood vessels. Acupoints can be readily identified by their lower electrical resistance, and are usually located in small palpable depressions detectable by trained acupuncturists. Stimulation from placing acupuncture needles in acupoints initiates pain relief, relaxation and healing.

acupuncture for Depression and weight Loss There are several theories as to how acupuncture relieves pain. It is widely accepted that acupuncture stimulates the secretion of endorphins in the body (specifically enkephalins). Endorphins are our bodies’ natural painkillers. They are 1000 times stronger than morphine. Also, certain neurotransmitter levels (such as serotonin and noradrenaline) are affected by acupuncture. This is why acupuncture is so successful with depression, mood disorders and weight loss, and why many people feel so amazing after an acupuncture treatment.

The pain-gate theory explains that pain signals must pass through a number of high-traffic gates as they move from the area of injury upward through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road or a highway, these nerves can only handle a limited number of nerve signals at one time. Acupuncture generates competing stimulus and effectively interrupts the neurotransmitters of the pain signals from reaching the brain. This results in the patient never getting the pain signal and therefore never getting the pain. This is the most popular theory among Western scientists.

In summary, it seems that there are several systems in the body involved in carrying the effects of acupuncture and that there are messages being delivered to both the brain and body that promote health and pain relief. Acupuncture is truly an amazing drug-free medicine, with no side effects.

a Better alternative The cost of treating chronic pain with surgery, narcotic pain killers, NSAIDS, injections of cortisone, and other short acting analgesics is extremely high when compared to the cost of an acupuncture treatment, which can cost only $85.

It is important for medical physicians and patients with pain to recognize that acupuncture is extremely effective in regard to pain relief. So many people with pain, whether from low back pain, headache or a chronic, unexplained condition, rely on prescription NSAIDS and narcotic pain killer medications, which can become addicting and cause serious side effects.

Acupuncture has no side effects and studies have shown the pain relief it provides can last for months, not to mention the improved quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic pain.

Dr. Helene Pulnik is a board-certified, licensed Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician with a private practice in Glastonbury, CT for more than 13 years. She has helped many patients become pain free, often eliminating the need for drugs and surgery for chronic pain. She is now accepting new acupuncture patients. See ad on page 24.

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As pi Pa rin Re in liv er

Pain...A Signal that Needs Attention!

By Dr. Alison Caldwell-Andrews

E

veryone has a good reason for ignoring an impending crisis. We ignore it and then we are surprised (and often insulted) when it shows up! It seems that most of us have to learn how to solve our painful problems through experience, and not through observational learning.

Take my Dad, for instance. He suffered a heart attack 10 years ago. He was in his sixties, and already had significantly outlived his father and grandfather, who both had died of heart attacks at younger ages.

His heart pains started on a Sunday night. It took him until 5 a.m. to call an ambulance. Knowing him, he had to have been in excruciating pain by that point.

I’m sure he tried to ignore his symptoms because he wanted to uphold his work and family duties. You probably know many people like that. He’s a smart guy. He certainly knew the warning signs for heart attacks, yet he ignored them.

Pain is a Warning Sign Pain’s message is usually simple: Stop.

There’s a problem. Fix it. But we don’t stop.

Most of us just pop some pain relievers and keep going. In fact, that’s the culturally appropriate thing to do. Because only wimps actually stop, right?

Earlier this year my dad had another heart attack. It was quite different. In the intervening 10 years he had changed his life and health significantly through excellent attention to diet—and honestly, probably also through an obsession with making seriously green smoothies and gallons of his own 26

Natural Nutmeg July 2013

hot pepper and veggie-packed salsa that he ate religiously every week. He was on zero medication and was thriving.

This time he knew the signs and called the ambulance much earlier. But much earlier still allowed for many hours of refusing to see reality. How many of us do this very same thing when we are in pain (whether physical or psychological)?! We want to use our willpower to change reality. That doesn’t work much, does it?

Dad wrote off multiple signs of trouble because he “couldn’t possibly” be having another heart attack. His indigestion must have been caused by a bad batch of spinach. Angina pains went away and were discounted. Finally, pain got his attention.

That’s what pain is designed to do, and we ignore it at our peril.

Pain is a signal, a signal that needs attention. So instead of popping a pain-reliever and going on with your life, be bold and check out the problem. This is true whether the pain is primarily physical or psychological (and they are highly connected!).

Pain and Resilience There is a vast body of research on pain.

In this article I focus on recent findings in the area of pain and resilience.

1. Shore Up Your Defenses Resilience has three parts. The first part is about not giving up on the problem, but instead finding solutions that help. These solutions may not get rid of the problem

entirely, but they will provide a trampoline that pushes you upward.

Resilience is not resistance. Resistance (not a bad thing at all) is preventing negative consequences of a stressor whereas resilience is recovering after experiencing those negative consequences.

Much of resilience has to do with having good physical resources. These come from paying attention to your physiological functioning and by this I mean making sure that 1) you get enough sleep (please note: In most cases, 7 1/2 hours is not enough and no matter what fantasies you tell yourself, it’s not close enough to 8 to make it okay), 2) you eat nutritiously enough (this means plenty of fruits and vegetables every day), and 3) you get enough exercise.

We tend to think we can operate on “Not Enough” and still be okay through our inherent grit. As if somehow the magic fairy will make it so we don’t really need to pay attention to all three (eating, sleeping, exercise).

But the truth is that if you have good physiological functioning, you are providing your brain, gut and self with enough nutrients to function optimally. And better functioning is what you need to develop resilience.

Research tells us that people with resilience are people who feel that what they do will have an impact (Psychosomatics, 2011 May-Jun; 52(3):199-209). Terms like selfefficacy, internal locus of control, mastery, hope and determination all basically mean that the person thinks he or she can do the behaviors that will actually change their outcomes.

Don’t give up now. These qualities don’t just fall out of the sky and only land on special people. You can develop them. They are like muscles. Go to the gym (metaphorically) and get them.

People with better social support tend to have better resilience. Learning how to make and keep friends and family is another set of muscles you can work on.

2. Don’t Give Up A second part of resilience is the idea of being able to bounce back. Central to this mindset is believing that there is indeed a solution. You can find countless people who will tell you that they never gave up trying different solutions until they finally hit on something that worked. This is the essence of optimism—it’s simply continuing to work on solving problems without getting stuck in the emotional draggage (like baggage, only the drowning kind). Instead of thinking you should hit on the solution within the first 10 trials, think about it more long-term and keep working to solve the problem.

Really? Every day for the rest of my life?

It sounds exhausting! It won’t take the rest of

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your life, and it especially won’t if you actually do this thing where you sleep enough, eat right and exercise as best as you can.

Give yourself the resources to feel better.

Additionally, change your thoughts.

Optimism is a huge part of resilience. It’s a crucial piece to dealing with pain. “Optimist: someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha.” (Robert Brault, quoted to me by Mark Doney). This is a profoundly useful way of thinking. It prevents us from catastrophizing, which in turn helps us better marshal our resources to face adversity and pain. In addition, optimism is associated with reduced pain. Bonus.

3. Pain Makes You Stronger The third part of resilience is the idea that although you might have recovered from the stressor (bounced back), your life is

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Natural Nutmeg July 2013

nonetheless not back to normal.

Rather, your life is improved. You function better, your resistance to future stressors is higher, and you have benefitted from the entire experience. I can think of several painful experiences I’ve had that I wouldn’t trade for the world. They were the best path to learning what I needed to learn most.

People vary quite a bit when it comes to how they respond to stress. For example, some people develop post-traumatic stress symptoms and some don’t. Current research is using neuro-imaging techniques to investigate the neurobiological basis of resilience.

Scientists are finding that people with more efficient processing and regulation abilities are those with better resilience.

What is brain efficiency? Although there are plenty of long-winded answers, one way to think of brain efficiency is use of energy. An efficient brain can get more out of the same amount of energy. That is to

say, people who need less brain energy to manage their emotions and reactions to an event are more efficient, and more likely to be resilient. Probably they also have enough energy left over to maintain some optimism!

Let me again point out that good nutrition, sleep and exercise are what underlie your energy and brain efficiency. (I know!

It’s like there’s a hidden message I’m pushing over and over!)

Research also tells us that the optimal life is not pain free; a certain amount of adversity is necessary for well-being. Somewhat like the classic U-shaped curve for optimal amounts of anxiety, there’s a similar curve for adversity. Too much and too little are not as good as a moderate amount.

Performance is improved with moderate anxiety, and life is improved with moderate adversity.

Think about it this way. How many interesting people have you met who have led lives lacking in adversity? None? I thought so.

My Dad’s resilience resulted in his improved health after his first heart attack and subsequent triple bypass. He figured out what the problems were and he solved them. As the doctor told him at the time of his most recent heart attack, “You’re in great shape for a ‘38 model!” No diabetes, no problems with blood pressure, nothing that would indicate poor health. Instead of giving up after the attack of 10 years ago, he grabbed hold of life and, well, he made salsa. So even though he outlasted the grafts that were implanted 10 years ago, he sailed through this next heart attack with flying

colors and was in much better shape than he might have been.

One study of 87 adults with chronic pain found that resilience predicts mental-health-related quality of life and has a bigger impact on the likelihood of depression than does pain severity. People with resilience are less likely to become depressed, even when they have more severe pain (Nurs Health Sci 2012 Dec; 14(4):508-13). Before you sniff at this, realize also that these people with resilience did not merely view the world with rose-colored glasses. Their perceptions weren’t different from those without good resilience.

This is important. This means that you— yes, even YOU— can feel better, get better, and benefit from pain. You just have to decide to start solving the problem. If draggage is keeping you down, ask for good, competent help.

Part of solving pain is paying attention to it, identifying the problem and doing what you can to solve it. But even better, we are finding out that learning from pain is not just an old wives’ tale to make you feel better. It really can be beneficial.

Plus, you’ll be a heck of a lot more interesting to talk to when you’re 80.

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29

A Cutting Edge Technology to Reduce Stress

By Laurie Hoffman

W

e live in in a fast paced world and if you ask most people today how they feel, they will tell you they’re stressed out.

But what is stress? Stress is a term used to describe a physiologic reaction to a threat. It is the fight or flight survival response.

However, we humans were designed only to use our body’s stress response in a life or death situation and yet many of us are experiencing wear and tear from everyday tensions and pressures. Change, illness, injury or career and lifestyle changes, are common causes of stress. However, it’s the emotional pressure and tension we feel in response to the little everyday hassles —rush hour traffic, waiting in line and too many emails—that do the most damage.

Stress affects people physically, mentally and emotionally. According to the American Institute of Stress, up to 90% of all health problems are related to stress. Most people are not aware that stress makes our body secrete certain hormones that over time can destroy our health. It can cause many health problems including heart disease, hormone problems, high blood pressure, chronic pain, stroke, depression, cancer and sleep disorders just to name a few.

Since everyone responds to stress differently, it is important to see if stress is impacting your life. Ask yourself the following questions: • Do you feel overly tired or fatigued?

• Are you often nervous, anxious or depressed?

• Do you have sleep problems?

• Do you have repeated headaches or minor aches and pains?

• Do you have any health problems that won’t go away?

• Do you worry about job security, financial obligations or relationships?

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Natural Nutmeg July 2013

If you answered yes to any one of these questions, it means you are not handling your stress well and it may be having an effect on your health.

The first step is to understand how stress works. It’s not the events or situations that do the harm; it’s how you respond to those events. More precisely, it’s how you feel about them that determine whether you are stressed or not. When you feel stressed, your body secretes a variety of hormones and enzymes as it prepares to defend itself such as cortisol or adrenaline. When the threat is over, the body returns to a normal calm state. If the body is in the stress response for too long, it can create an imbalance in the organs, glands and nervous system that will lead to dysfunction and eventually disease.

But you do have control. Studies show that emotions, or feelings, have a powerful impact on the human body. Positive emotions like appreciation, care, and love not only feel good, they are good for you. They help your body’s systems synchronize and work better, like a well-tuned car. They flood your body with gentle healing chemistry and balance organ function. Research has shown when you intentionally shift to a positive emotion, heart rhythms immediately change. This shift in heart rhythms creates a favorable cascade of neural, hormonal and biochemical events that benefit the entire body. The effects are both immediate and long lasting.

For years now, I have provided stress training through the HeartMath Institute to dozens of patients in our clinic. The HeartMath® mission is: to facilitate a fundamental shift in health, well-being and consciousness. This non-profit organization has been dedicated to the science of the heart for over 30 years. What they discovered is that when you’re stressed, your nervous system is out of sync. More intriguing are the dramatic positive changes that occur when techniques are applied that increase coherence in rhythmic patterns of heart rate variability. These include shifts in perception and the ability to reduce stress and deal more effectively with difficult situations.

They observed that the heart was acting as though it had a mind of its own and was profoundly influencing the way we perceive and respond to the world. In essence, it appeared that the heart was affecting intelligence and awareness. Typical negative emotions we feel when stressed— like anger, frustration, anxiety and worry—lead to increased disorder in the heart’s rhythms and in turn the nervous system.

In contrast, positive emotions like joy, appreciation, care and kindness create harmony in the heart’s rhythms and the nervous system. Other bodily systems sync up to this rhythm, which scientists call coherence. Because coherence leads to more mental clarity, creativity and better problem-ˇsolving abilities, it’s easier to

find solutions and better ways of handling the stressful situation. The concept of how emotions influence the beat-to-beat changes in the heart’s rhythms is called heart rate variability or HRV. HRV analysis is recognized as a powerful, non-invasive way to measure nervous system dynamics. New clinical research identifies HRV as a key indicator of preventable stress and shows a relationship to a wide range of health problems.

As a licensed HeartMath® provider at SOPHIA Natural Medicine Center, I have not only seen the dramatic impacts of stress on our patients health but I have had the opportunity to share with my clients amazing tools of self-transformation that have improved their quality of life, reduced stress, helped them sleep better and enjoy living again. I teach the HeartMath® System which includes easy-to-use, easy-to-learn tools and technology to prevent, manage and reverse the negative effects of stress. I also combine this with proprietary software where I can monitor you and help you access and improve positive heart rate variability. As a result, you can meet life’s inevitable challenges with poise and resiliency.

Contact Laurie Hoffman, Licensed HeartMath Provider at SOPHIA Natural Health Center in Brookfield, CT for more information (203) 740-9300. HeartMath is a registered trademark of the Institute of HeartMath. See ad on page 37.

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Doctor’s Notes

Penelope McDonnell, ND

Pain and Food: The Love/Hate Connection

W

hen a patient walks into my office with a disorder that causes physical pain, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis or any other of the many autoimmune diseases, I know we will be spending a lot of time discussing the food/pain connection: What is it? What types of foods are pain triggers? What specific foods are healing; which are damaging? Since these patients have a high degree of chronic internal inflammation, certain foods just stoke the fire. It’s important to know which ones they are.

Chronic Pain and Nutrition Most of you have read and heard about how important it is to have a diet filled with organic fruits and veggies, low fat/low hormone meats, legumes, and whole grains. Unfortunately, if you have chronic pain, it’s not that simple. Some grains and some vegetables have constituents that can increase the immune response, cause inflammation and trigger pain. Even certain herbal supplements should be avoided. The opposite also is true; there are specific foods that target and reduce inflammation, and knowing what these are is a critical key in addressing chronic pain nutritionally.

Are Your Immune Mechanisms Doing their Jobs?

Before diving into details about foods effects, it’s important to understand the role of the gut and digestive system in all of this. We have more immune mechanisms surrounding our gut than in any other place in our body. These mechanisms work hard to analyze the safety and usefulness of foods we eat, making sure that unhealthy foreign bodies are kept out and healthy nutritious food constituents are allowed in. Our stomach supports this mechanism by killing germs with naturally occurring hydrochloric acid (HCL). The small intestine itself also supports these immune police by promoting good bacteria (such as probiotics) to counteract any unhealthy bacteria that appear. Lastly, the entire gut lining reduces the load on the immune system as it is cleverly designed to be a tight mesh that sifts food selectively, allowing only proper nutrients to pass through.

Stressing the System If any of these immune supporters weaken by either reduction of HCL (through GERD medications like Nexium, aging, illness), reduction of good bacteria (through poor dietary choices like those listed below) or weakening of the gut lining itself (stress, NSAIDS, some prescription drugs, alcohol, poor food choices, and pesticides) the immune system becomes overloaded, inflammation occurs and spreads to the joints, skin, and tissues. The end result: PAIN. The basic food groups that stress the gut, reduce its ability to work well and create inflammation and pain are: artificial sweeteners and sugar (so stevia is your best choice), hydrogenated fats (e. g., margarine, anything deep-fried), fruit juices, most wheat products, soda, and depending on your gut health, red meat and dairy. I have 32

Natural Nutmeg July 2013

seen miraculous changes in symptoms of patients who have done nothing but give up the Three White Foods: White flour, Sugar, and Dairy. All three of these can burden both the gut lining and the good/bad bacteria balance. Nightshade vegetables and herbs also play an active role in stimulating inflammation in the body; these include all peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and the calming (but potentially inflammatory) herb Ashwagandha.

Interestingly, the feedback I usually get from patients after they have tried cutting these out for three weeks is “I really don’t feel any different.” I suggest they slowly reintroduce them, and the majority report that their symptoms suddenly got quite a bit worse and that they realized that they had actually been getting slowly better before they restarted nightshades!

That experience of not feeling much change when you give up inflammatory foods—yet feeling increases of symptoms when you reintroduce them—is common, so it is important to try to abstain for at least three weeks to give the body some time to adjust to the relief of not having to activate an inflammation response.

Helping Your Gut So now we know a bit about foods that cause pain. What helps?

Any food that heals the gut improves the inflammatory/pain cascade.

• Aloe liquid (make sure it is Inner Filet Only as the whole leaf can cause severe diarrhea) dosed at 1Tablespoon three times per day is soothing.

• Chewing licorice also is soothing (although this can negatively affect blood pressure in hypertensive patients, so they should avoid this).

• Omega-3 fatty acids, in pill form or from wild-caught Alaskan salmon, also have been shown to reduce inflammation.

• The insoluble fiber found in fruit and vegetable skins, seeds and nuts also improves gut integrity and colon health.

• Soothing supplements that combine nicely with healing foods are l-glutamine and n-acetyl-d-glucosamine. Both speed up intestinal lining repair.

• Lastly, the benefits of drinking water, staying hydrated, and including appropriate exercise in your daily routine can’t be over emphasized. Pain is caused by specific immune factors moving into areas of the body. The only way these factors can be eliminated is by being swept away by blood or lymph fluids. This can’t be accomplished without water.

Dr. McDonnell is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Cranial Sacral Therapist at Naturopathic Partners. She specializes in supporting patients who have autoimmune disorders, cancer, thyroid disorders, menopause symptoms, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal disorders, and Lyme disease. She can be reached at (203) 470-1909 for an appointment. A full bio can be found at www.naturopathicpartners. com. See ad on page 31.

“Mommy, I Don’t Feel Good”

By Lesa Werner, ND

A

s every mother knows, these words are commonplace, especially after children return to school. The difficult part lies in determining if your child’s symptoms are due to a bacterial or a viral illness. Many times, however, symptoms can be related to a sensitivity to a particular food.

As a naturopathic doctor, it is common for me to have a parent in my office describing a chronic condition experienced by his or her child. Often, symptoms such as eczema, frequent ear infections, a stuffy nose, asthma, fatigue, stomach aches, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder may be related to food sensitivities.

On one occasion, a nine-month old, breast-fed infant was brought to my office with a severe case of eczema over his entire body. His pediatrician prescribed a topical ointment and asked his mother to eliminate dairy from her diet, neither of which had solved the problem. After examining the infant, I placed the mother on a modified elimination diet and, after only one week, the infant’s eczema was completely cleared. We later determined that the baby was reacting to garlic that the mother had been eating and subsequently passing to him through her breast milk.

Another childhood condition commonly treated is the dreaded and chronic ear infection. After several courses of antibiotics, alternative treatments are frequently sought. Often, the ears initially become congested from either a food or environmental allergy so it is important to find the cause of these chronic ear conditions before an ear becomes infected. Many times, the best treatment is simply removing dairy products from a child’s diet. Of course, other foods might be implicated, but generally, upper respiratory conditions are easily resolved by eliminating cow’s milk and cheeses. There are a variety of products that can be consumed as a substitute for dairy.

These substitutions will ensure your child is still getting enough calcium and other nutrients required for proper growth.

The Elimination Diet To identify a potentially allergic food item, most doctors will use an elimination diet. While this diet may be difficult and timeconsuming, it is considered to be the gold standard in food sensitivity testing.

Here’s how it works: After completely removing selected foods from a patient’s diet for a period of no less than two weeks, individual foods are then specifically and systematically reintroduced. Many healthcare professionals have unique methods for reintroducing these foods so it is advised that you contact your doctor before attempting this on your own. It is also important to realize that the reintroduction of certain foods may cause a severe reaction in certain individuals, especially those suffering with severe asthma. Your doctor can assess this risk.

Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity With attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorders, multiple factors are often to blame. In these cases, food elimination becomes more complicated as preservatives and dyes found in food items may also be implicated. These children respond best by using a combination of homeopathics, dietary changes and nutrient supplementation.

Frequent Colds Children who experience frequent colds might be having a reaction to sugar. Sugar has been scientifically shown to decrease the immune response, leaving your child susceptible to viral and bacterial illnesses. However, sugar alone may not be the only cause of a lowered immune system. The preventative use of herbs and vitamins might be a necessary addition to support your child’s immune system. A doctor who is specifically trained in the use of natural therapies should be consulted, as not all natural treatments are safe.

As you can see, the “illness” that your child is experiencing may have multiple causes. Not all symptoms require the use of antibiotics or other medication. Sometimes, a common sense approach of determining and eliminating the cause of a condition can prevent future infections.

Dr. Lesa Werner is a licensed naturopathic doctor practicing in Newington, CT. She may be reached at 860-665-1254, or visit her website, www.drlesawerner.com. See ad on page 12.

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SELF

Ashley Burkman, ND

What Your Ears are Trying to Tell You When They Ring

R

oughly 20% of us have ringing in our ears. That ringing is trying to tell us something. The frustrating part is figuring out what they are saying! Ringing or noise in the ears is called tinnitus, and it’s a symptom, which means it has a cause; it is not a disease on its own. However, this symptom can be so severe that it can interfere with work, social life and even sleep.

The causes for tinnitus can vary from person to person, however the message from the ears is the same, something is out of balance and needs support!

Tinnitus symptoms need to be evaluated by a physician, especially when other symptoms are present. Nausea, dizziness, headaches or fatigue could mean something more systemic is occurring, like an infection. Other times, ringing in the ears can be an isolated symptom, potentially of damage to nerves in the ear or of an excess or deficiency in the body.

The most common cause of tinnitus is nerve damage, whether from a medication, systemic disease or trauma.

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Medication Because our hearing is sensitive, it is often affected by medications that are intended to treat other parts of the body. Medications affect individuals in different ways, and this list is not comprehensive. If you are on medication and experience tinnitus, talk to your physician about side effects and interactions. Medications with the known side effect of tinnitus include:

should be no need to suffer tinnitus when your medication could be changed to one that doesn’t upset your ears.

Systemic Imbalance

Systemic conditions that may manifest as ear ringing range from autoimmune to cardiovascular; therefore it is critically important to understand the cause. Improving cardiovascular health may help low or high blood pressure, which can cause ringing.

• Anti-inflammatories and aspirin Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, may • Antibiotics - pecifically erythromycin, be improved by increasing antioxidants and vancomycin and neomycin supporting hormone balance.

• Cancer medication - mechlorethamine and vincristine Meniere’s Disease • Blood pressure medication, especially diuretics One of the most notorious causes of • Anti-depressants tinnitus is Meniere’s disease— a disorder of

Most of these drugs have alternatives in both conventional medicine and natural medicine. With a few exceptions, there

the inner ear which, due to an imbalance of fluid, causes a sense of fullness, ringing, hearing loss and vertigo. Symptoms vary wildly from person to person and episode to episode. The cause of Meniere’s is unknown, though it is thought to have different potential triggers, including: autoimmune, improper fluid drainage, genetic predisposition, immune response to a virus or allergy, and neurological response much like a migraine.

Conventional treatments for Meniere’s disease include a low-sodium diet and occasionally medication like a diuretic. In some cases, more extreme medications are used to quiet the ringing and help reduce vertigo.

Because there is no one cause of Meniere’s, there is no one solution. However, there have been studies linking food sensitivities, specifically gluten, with Meniere’s symptoms. Also, improving levels of nutrients that support hearing health, such as healthy fats and B Vitamins, can reduce symptoms. Stress management and hormone balance also often play a role with managing Meniere’s. Conventional labs offer testing for nutrient levels, stress hormones and even proper ratios of healthy fats in the body! For even severe cases of tinnitus,

which are possible with Meniere’s disease, evaluation of the whole individual offers potential insight as to causes and solutions, instead of simply managing symptoms.

Prevention The best way to help your ears and hearing is to prevent damage or further damage. Keeping the whole body as balanced as possible is a smart start. Prevention of tinnitus can also mean focusing on the hearing system itself, and can take two forms, protecting and fortifying.

Shielding our ears from damage can mean avoiding, when possible, taking medications that can harm hearing. In addition, keeping ears protected in loud situations or avoiding those situations altogether can reduce risk of damage.

Nerve conduction in our ears and throughout our bodies is protected and insulated by a coating known as a myelin sheath. This coating is made up of essential fatty acids and Vitamin B12. Nerves also are highly vascular and require good blood flow. Blood thinners like Ginkgo and fish oil help protect the ears and reduce tinnitus.

One of our most important senses can often be a barometer to our whole body’s health. Listening to our bodies may enhance our hearing overall!

Dr. Ashley Burkman is a board certified licensed Naturopathic Physician in Manchester, CT. She sees patients of all ages and is in network with most insurance companies. For an appointment please visit ctnaturalhealth.com or call (860)533-0179. See ad on page 34.

The healTh BenefiTs of Drinking Coffee • Increases headache relief by 40% • Decrease post-exercise muscle soreness by 48% • Decreases chronic neck and shoulder pain BMC Research Notes, 2012

21 W. Main Street, Rt. 44, Avon • 860-676-2661 Mon-Fri 7:30-6, Sat 8:30-5, Closed Sunday

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Nourish

By Vicki Kobliner MS, RD, CD-N

Vitamin D…The Wonder Nutrient

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“

ummertime and the livin’ is easy….”

It’s not surprising that the onset of summer, with its long days of warm and sunny weather seems to put everyone in a better mood, and often improves physical and mental health. There is no need for ponderous layers of clothing, more time to be outside before dark, many options for outdoor exercise and accessibility of quick, easy and healthy meals made on the grill.

So is it just the lifestyle that makes us feel better, or is something else going on in the summer? Most health experts will agree that a key factor in this uplift in health and mood can be attributed to Vitamin D…the “wonder” nutrient that is critical for both body and brain.

Extensive research has been conducted on the benefits of Vitamin D and the role that a deficiency plays in such varied illnesses as autism, cancer, depression, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, MS and irritable bowel disease. It has also been linked to heart disease, infertility, obesity and skin disorders. Unfortunately, Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency have reached epidemic proportions in this country with different studies showing one third to two thirds of the population lacking the crucial nutrient. Depleted Vitamin D will have the most far reaching consequences on the ten percent of children who are considered highly deficient. Many Vitamin D experts also believe that our current guidelines for Vitamin D intake are far too low for optimal health, and should be four or more times as high as the 600IU currently recommended.

The impact of this gap is striking:

Depression In one study, depressed women with Vitamin D deficiency who were treated with supplementation experienced a reduction in their depressive symptoms. Many other studies confirm that low Vitamin D levels frequently coexist with depression, and increases in Vitamin D reduce symptoms.

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Cancer

Autism

Vitamin D has been shown to reduce cancer cell growth in lab studies. Dozens of studies have shown an association between low Vitamin D levels and increased risk of certain cancers, while others show that people with more Vitamin D in the body have increased odds of survival after cancer diagnosis. It is important to note that even melanomas seem to respond better with higher Vitamin D levels, while excessive use of sunscreen blocks our body’s ability to produce this protective compound.

Children with autism have lower levels of Vitamin D in their blood than typical controls, and the lower the Vitamin D, the higher the rating on a standard Autism Rating Scale. Children with autism are also more likely to have allergic or autoimmune conditions, which coincide with increasing data that low vitamin D impacts allergy and immunity. Studies are currently being conducted to determine if Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy can reduce the onset of autism.

Diabetes

Osteoporosis

Evidence exists for a relationship between diabetes and Vitamin D. This includes the fact that Vitamin D receptors can be found in the pancreas, and that Vitamin D is an important compound in regulating the immune system, and as such has been implicated in many autoimmune disorders such as Type I diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis. Children supplemented with Vitamin D have a reduced chance of developing diabetes. In another study, young adults who maintained healthy levels of Vitamin D were less likely to develop type II diabetes. Since Type II is not an autoimmune disorder, it speaks to an as yet undiscovered role for Vitamin D in blood sugar regulation.

Vitamin D works with Calcium and phosphorous to build bone. In fact, Calcium needs may be reduced when enough Vitamin D is consumed, since D will improve Calcium absorption. In the elderly, low Vitamin D is correlated with increased fractures.

Fertility The growing prevalence of infertility coincides with the pervasive increase in Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for normal sperm development, increases testosterone in men, and improves in vitro fertilization outcomes and progesterone/ estrogen balance in women. In one study, deficient rats experienced a 75% reduction in fertility rates.

Managing Vitamin D Levels While current diet and lifestyle trends have resulted in an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency in this country, the problem can easily be rectified: 1. Get tested: If your physician doesn’t include Vitamin D in your blood test at your next physical, ask for it. Be sure to test the 25OH form, which is the active form of vitamin D. While a level above 30ng/ ml is considered acceptable by laboratory standards, many on the forefront of Vitamin D research believe anything less than 50 is still too low.

2. Consume more D: Vitamin D is carried in fats, and is therefore available in limited quantities throughout the year from food sources such as eggs, fatty fish like salmon or tuna, and organic beef liver. Low fat diets should be replaced with “good fat” diets that include these foods. Milk and

some grains are fortified with Vitamin D, and are the main source in many diets, but this form will not be as well absorbed.

3. Supplement: People with dark skin, overweight, those living in Northern climates, and with jobs and lifestyles that keep them indoors much of the day will have a hard time accessing Vitamin D from sunlight. Supplementation is indicated in these cases. Since the Vitamin D producing UVB rays are strongest near the equator, people in the Northern US should also supplement in fall and winter when those rays are weaker. Ideal doses are a subject of debate, but one thing is certain, the current recommendations are too low. A safe level for most people is 1000 to 2000IU in the form of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). The D2 form (ergocalciferol) is not as effective.

4. Sunshine: It is very difficult to consume enough Vitamin D from foods, as it is optimally produced by sun exposure on unprotected skin. In fact 15 minutes of sun exposure daily is all the body needs to produce more than enough Vitamin D for good health. While being in the sun for long periods without protection, or letting the skin burn, even slightly, increases the risk of melanoma, a small bout of sun exposure is important to maintain normal levels.

Vitamin D may truly be a wonder nutrient, capable of preventing or reducing many diseases, so know your levels and takes steps to enhance them via prudent sun exposure, appropriate fat intake and supplementation when needed.

Vicki Kobliner MS RD, CD-N is a Registered Dietitian and owner of Holcare Nutrition (www.holcarenutrition.com). Vicki works with infants, children and adults with digestive disorders, food allergies, ADHD, autism and other chronic illness, and provides fertility and prenatal nutrition counseling. Vicki has extensive experience in using dietary modification, appropriate supplementation and functional lab testing to achieve optimal wellness. She can be reached at 203.834.9949 or vicki@ holcarenutrition.com. See ad on page 9.

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REMEDIES

Turmeric: A Tasty Medicine

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urmeric (Curcuma longa) is a spice found in Indian cooking, used both for its flavor and vibrant color. You will find it in many Indian recipes, including those for curry. It is native to India and Southeast Asia and is in the same family as ginger. As with ginger, the underground rhizome is used to make the turmeric. The spice is considered a sacred spice for the Hindus and has a place in religious ceremonies and rituals.

Medicinal Uses of Turmeric/Curcumin Traditional medicinal uses of turmeric include protecting the liver from toxins, aiding in the digestive process, treating stomach ulcers and abdominal pain, and as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and blood purifier.

Curcumin is the pigmented flavanoid that gives turmeric its golden color and which is used as a cosmetic and dye in India.

Curcumin was discovered more than two hundred years ago as the constituent of the rhizome that gives turmeric its color, but it was not until the middle of the twentieth century that its specific actions began to be studied, first as an agent to kill off different strains of bacteria. Then it was found to have a whole host of actions, including activity against cancer cells, lowering cholesterol and blood sugar, as well as showing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Combining the results of many scientific studies, it can be said that curcumin supports the maintenance of healthy joints, a healthy cardiovascular system and helps protect the liver from toxins as well as assist with detoxification.

As Effective as Steroids Curcumin is known to help the body maintain a healthy inflammatory response and has been shown to be as effective as steroids without the side effects. Our bodies need the inflammatory response for normal functions, but pain can result if the inflammatory pathways become too active. Curcumin blocks the production of the chemicals that cause the pain of inflammation, and scientific studies reveal it to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Curcumin for Arthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, commonly described as the arthritis caused by wear-and-tear of the joints as one ages. In a recent study, curcumin was combined with boswellia and given to patients with osteoarthritis. The results of the study showed that patients taking the herbs had a decrease in pain during walking. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition in which the body’s own immune system begins attacking and destroying the joints. It can affect other bodily systems aside from joints, including muscles, heart and lungs. Pain in joints can be quite severe. Studies of patients with RA have reported that the use of curcumin can limit acute flair ups and be more effective in decreasing symptoms than a typically prescribed pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory.

Making Curcumin Bioavailable The challenge in using curcumin for inflammation in the joints is that it is not very well absorbed in our intestinal tracts. This is great for inflammation that is localized to the lining of our intestines as the curcumin is able to interact directly with the inflamed sections of the intestinal lining. However, to be able to combat inflammation in the joints, the body needs to absorb it from the intestines into the blood stream and carry it to the joints. Researchers have been able to solve the problem of poor absorption of curcumin by attaching it to a cellular component called phosphatidylcholine. This complex of curcumin and phosphatidylcholine has the trademark name of meriva and has been shown to be twenty-nine times more bioavailable than curcumin alone. This means that much less curcumin needs to be taken in order to achieve an anti-inflammatory effect. Because absorption is better, a smaller amount of the herb will support the inflammatory process.

Although it is not well absorbed, one study showed a lowering of markers of inflammation at a dose of 150 mg twice a day. Other studies show it effective in doses as high as 500 mg, two to four times a day.

Dr. Emma Norton is a naturopathic physician on staff at Salud Primary Care and Integrative Medicine in Farmington, CT (saludintegrative.com, 860.233.0112). She is a clinical faculty member at the University of Bridgeport Naturopathic Medical Clinic where she supervises clinical rounds. See ad on page 20.

Monday, July 8th Circle of Love/Spiritual Empowerment Group. 6:308:30 pm. $20. Meet together with “like minded” spiritual people to enhance your spiritual empowerment through meditation and other tools and techniques. Delve deep within ourselves to bring forth and enhance our ability to tap into our divine energy. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. Gayle @ 203265-2927 sunnispirit@sbcglobal.net or visit www. return2love.net.

Yoga Boot Camp. July 8 - Aug 2. 6:15 a.m. $150/ 4 weeks, $48/ 1 week. Boost your energy each morning with Yoga Boot Camp! If you’re ready to reach a new level of physical and mental strength, join us Monday through Friday from 6:15-7:15am. These 60 minute power yoga classes are suitable for beginners and advanced yogis alike, and will leave you feeling fabulous. West Hartford Yoga, 860-953-9642.

Tuesday, July 9th Step into Love and Joy with Barbara Evans. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. $35.00. Using high vibrational art, crystals and sacred sounds as powerful energetic tools, you will create a unique, transformational experience that raises consciousness and supports the blossoming of Joy, Love and Harmony within your life. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter. com.

A Gong and Himalayan Singing Bowl Meditation with Priscilla Gale. 7:30pm – 8:30pm, $15. Everything in and around our bodies resonates to sound.

Sound therapy has long been shown to strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, relieve pain, improve sleep patterns and help with depression and anxiety. Relax and release to these beautiful sounds. Sacred Rivers Yoga 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury CT 860-657-9545. www. sacredriversyoga.com.

QiGong. No Cost. 1:15-1:45pm Instructor: Risa Brophy, MQT. Join us to calm you mind and energize your body with the deep breathing and slow movements of these ancient Chinese exercises.

Note: Please, eat your lunch before or after this program. The Institute of Integrative Manual Therapy, 1 Northwestern Drive, Suite101, Bloomfield. To obtain additional information or to sign up for this class, please email Info@InstituteofIMT.com or call 860-243-6571.

Wednesday, July 10th Healing in Harmony Night. 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

FREE. Participants will sit individually with a healer and receive an 8 – 10 minute healing. No reservation required. You will be served in the order in which you enter the center. The healing services are offered one night each month. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury.

For information please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter.com.

Thursday, July 11th Teacher Training Open House. 9:00am -12:00pm.

Free. Come experience a day of teacher training at Sacred Rivers Yoga. SRY offers 200 and 500 Hour Yoga Alliance training programs, as well as Yoga Therapy modules. Speak with Paula, owner and director, and get all of your questions answered.

Please call to pre-register. Sacred Rivers Yoga 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury CT. 860-657-9545. www. sacredriversyoga.com.

Friday, July 12th The Astrology of Relationships with Lynda Aldorisio.

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $50.00. This two-part course provides an in-depth study into the sign energy and planets that occupy the 7th house of relationship in the natal chart, providing valuable insight and awareness of the dynamics of your relationships.

Also meets on Friday, July 26. Bring your astrological chart with you, or have one constructed for the class for a $5.00 fee. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter.com.

Saturday, July 13th Psychic Saturday. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. $25.00 for a 20-minute reading. Receive a private reading to connect you to guidance from your angels, spirit guides and loved ones. Various Readers. Pre-scheduling is highly recommended. A Crystal vendor will also be onsite this day. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. To preschedule an appointment, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter.com.

Get Your Toes Wet! Intro To Expressive Art. 12:303:30 $40. Includes materials. A playful spacious atmosphere allows you to open and trust the artist within. Create authentic imagery using collage, paint and drawing materials. Guided meditation helps us relax. Facilitated by Elisabeth Moss BFA certified Expressive Art Facilitator. 12 Old Farms Rd. Avon. To register call 860-550-0882 No prior art experience needed.

Sunday, July 14th Reiki II. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. $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. Participants receive a manual and certificate. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. For information please call 860.301.1468 or visit www. healinginharmonycenter.com.

Community Acupuncture. 1 - 2:30 p.m. $30. At West Hartford Yoga Community Acupuncture, we provide effective, affordable, and high quality acupuncture care in a peaceful, warm, comfortable environment. Points will be individually chosen based on your main health issue, tongue and pulse diagnosis. Treatments take place in a group setting and last an average of 40 minutes. West Hartford Yoga 860-953-9642.

Happenings Wednesday, July 17th Student Medium’s Night. 6:30 p.m. – 8pm. Love donation. Don’t let the word student confuse you as they are well versed in the art of message delivery.

These nights allow them to practice their mediumship and for you to receive guidance. Sessions are 15-minutes each. No appointments. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. For information, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter. com.

Thursday, July 18th Wholistic HCG Fat Loss Program Free Educational Seminar. Shape Up for Summer!! Learn how you can lose up to 30 pounds in 40 days with our UNIQUE, safe and effective, medically supervised weight loss program. 6-7pm Glastonbury Naturopathic Center 18 School St. Glastonbury. Call 860-657-4105 to reserve your space. www.naturopathicwellness.com.

Friday, July 19th Gallery Night. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $45.00. Enjoy an intimate evening of learning about angels and guides and experiencing intuitive readings with medium and certified Angel Therapy Practitioner®, Priscilla Bengtson. Seating is limited and pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury.

To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www. healinginharmonycenter.com.

Saturday, July 20th Structural Yoga Therapy with Mangala Warner.

9:00am – 5:00pm. Also July 21. $200 for both days, $125 for single day. This is an experiential workshop based on Structural Yoga (SY) as developed by Mukunda Stiles. Learn the anatomy of 24 poses that can be transferred to any pose by knowing the anatomical positions! This workshop is for Teacher Trainees and RYTs. 7 CEUs available per day. Sacred Rivers Yoga, 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury CT. 860-6579545. www.sacredriversyoga.com.

Om Street. 8 - 9:15 a.m. FREE. (Rain Date August 10). West Hartford Yoga is bringing yoga to the street! Join Barbara Ruzansky, owner and director of WHY, as she leads a 75-minute yoga class for alllevels on LaSalle Road in West Hartford center. Last year hundreds turned out for this joyous community event--come be a part of the fun this year! Join us at 8am on LaSalle Road on July 20th and celebrate yoga in the community!

Sunday, July 21st Women’s Empowerment Meditation. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. $25.00. We invite in our angels and guides to help us release those things that keep us stuck. The energy of the group helps us to release those things that no longer serve our highest good and allow us to live an empowered life. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter.com.

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Happenings Monday, July 22nd

Sunday, July 28th

Thursday

Ascended Masters/Full Moon Meditation. 6:30-8:30 pm. $20. Join us for the combined energies of the full moon and ascended masters for a very powerful meditation. No experience necessary. Divine beings will be guiding and supporting you on your quest to discovering your true authentic self. 36 Cheshire Rd, Wallingford. Gayle @ 203-265-2927 sunnispirit@ sbcglobal.net or visit www.return2love.net.

Community Acupuncture. 1 - 2:30 p.m. $30 At WHY Community Acupuncture, we provide effective, affordable, and high quality acupuncture care in a peaceful, warm, comfortable environment. Points will be individually chosen based on your main health issue, tongue and pulse diagnosis.

Treatments take place in a group setting and last an average of 40 minutes. West Hartford Yoga, 860-9539642.

Detox With Dr. Dave. Every Thursday 6pm. Come join us for discussion on the importance of cleanses, facts on nutrition and supplementation and support for weight loss. No fee; no registration; just drop in! for those who attend and commit to a 14 or 28 day plan, we offer 20% off the detox kit.

Osteopathic Wellness Center, 158 Danbury Road, Suite 6, Ridgefield, CT 06877. 203-438-9915.

Tuesday, July 23rd Meet your Angels and Guides. 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. $50.00. During this workshop you will learn about your primary spiritual guides and guardian angels.

Through meditation, we will meet them and receive information from them on how they would like to work with you. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter.com.

Wednesday, July 24th Creating Conscious Loving Relationships with Lynda Aldorisio. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $30.00. Enhance and ignite your relationships learning essential reliable body-centered tools and skills. Our playful explorations will include persona play, shifting out of drama and stuck patterns, making friends with feelings, breath and movement. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury.

To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www. healinginharmonycenter.com.

Saturday, July 27th Nordic Pole Walking Class. Join us for this fun instructional class. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring your water bottle. Everything else is provided. 10am-11am Glastonbury Naturopathic Center 18 School Street Glastonbury. Class fee $10.00. Call 860-657-4105 to reserve your space. www.naturopathicwellness.com/ Reiki Master/Teacher. Saturday – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday – 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m. $400.

Receive the Master Symbol attunement and learn to teach and attune others to all levels of Reiki. This is a two day class with a required internship assisting in Reiki I and II classes. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury.

To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www. healinginharmonycenter.com.

Reiki I Training with Barb Fasulo. 11:00am – 6:30 pm. $125. Pre-registration and $50 deposit required.

Reiki can be learned and used by anyone who desires to make a difference. It is a technique that can relieve or reduce pain, stress and discomfort by balancing the body’s energy system. Students will learn the basic theories and procedures of Reiki.

Certificate of completion included. Sacred Rivers Yoga 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury CT 860-6579545. www.sacredriversyoga.com.

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Wednesday, July 31st Home Message Circle. 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. $15.00. The session is open to anyone who wishes to practice their mediumship message delivery in a group. Your ability doesn’t matter as we are all here to get some practice and learn from each other. A group facilitator will help you stay on track with your message if needed. Held at The Healing in Harmony Center, 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury. To register, please call 860.301.1468 or visit www.healinginharmonycenter.com.

ONGOING Monday Ashtanga Light with Jack Lynch. 5:30 – 6:45pm. $16 drop in, class cards accepted. This is a challenging practice which develops strength and endurance. It is based on the classical yoga system taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Class structure will be similar to the primary Ashtanga sequence in terms of tempo and posture progression. Modifications from the classical style will include substitutions, posture variations offered, and alignment considerations. Sacred Rivers Yoga 2934 Main Street, Glastonbury CT. 860-657-9545 www.sacredriversyoga.com.

Tuesday Conscious Living Relationship Tools Series.

Ongoing Second Tuesday’s, begins March 12th.

7-9pm. $20.00. Lynda Aldorisio, Certified Life Coach. The intention of this series is to learn how to end power struggles, criticism, get unstuck from recurring patterns; to communicate authentically/ listen consciously. Come explore/discover esential relationship tools to create more harmony/vitality/ love/creativity. Spirit Matters, 199 West Center Street, Manchester, CT. 2 Day Registration. lyndaaldo@yahoo.com. Ph. 508-962-0009.

Reiki Sessions & Trainings with Reiki Master/ Teacher Carol Hipkins. Every 3rd Tue. Reiki share & Healing Circle, $10.00 6 - 8:30pm open to public. at the Purple Turtle wellness, 1 Grist Mill Rd., Simsbury. www.onthpathofhealing.com or call for appt. 860-413-3592.

Saturday Ellington Farmers’ Market. 9-12pm. Arbor Park, Main St. Ellington. May 4th-Oct 19th. Local and fresh organic produce, seafood, baked goods, dairy, beef, poultry, chicken, specialty foods artisan wares and more. Weekly themes, entertainment and Kids Power of Produce Club. Visit www.ellingtonfarmersmarket.com for a complete schedule of events. ellingtonfarmersmarket@ gmail.com.

Introductory Workshops to In-Depth Body Psychotherapy and Subtle Energy Healing Programs.

FREE. July 13, August 3, September 7. 9am1pm. Get a flavor of HFI’s Professional Training Program and new non-traditional Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling. CEUs available for $35.

To register, call 860-236-6009 or visit HartfordFamilyInstitute.com. Hartford Family Institute, 17 South Highland Street, West Hartford, CT. Introductory Workshops to Understanding and Changing Yourself and Your Relationships. FREE. July 13, August 10, September 7. 9am-12pm. Attend an introductory workshop for HFI’s Human Relations Training Program. CEUs available for $35. To register, call 860-236-6009 or visit HartfordFamilyInstitute.com. Hartford Family Institute, 17 South Highland Street, West Hartford, CT.

Sunday Community Acupuncture. 1 - 2:30 pm. $30. Drop in only. Making the benefits of acupuncture accessible to all, WHY is proud to present Community Acupuncture. Experience this incredibly healing modality in a small group setting. Healing Arts at WHY, 23 Brook Street, W Hartford. www.westhartfordyoga.com.

Acupuncture

Dentistry

Stan Baker, L. Ac., Dipl. Ac. Menla Holistic Health, 35 Nod Road, Ste. 106 Avon, CT • (860) 836-1068.

Dr. Steven Hinchey 2249 New London Turnpike South Glastonbury, CT. (860) 633-6518 www.dentistryfordiabetics.com/drhinchey See ad on page 17.

Glastonbury Naturopathic & Acupuncture Center 18 School St. Glastonbury, CT • 860-657-4105 Dr. Helene Pulnik, RPh, MS, ND, L.Ac. www.naturopathicwellness.com info@naturopathicwellness.com See ad on page 24.

Sophia Natural Health Center Kenneth Hoffman, L.Ac., CCH 31 Old Route 7, Brookfield, CT 06804.

(203) 740-9300 • SophiaNaturalHealth.com See ad on page 37.

Chiropractic Chiropractic Health Center of Glastonbury 2934 Main St.,Glastonbury, CT 860-657-8800 • www.glastonburychiro.com See ad on page 19.

Westside Chiropractic 557 Prospect Avenue, West Hartford,CT (860) 523-5833 • westsidechiropractors.com See ad on page 7.

Allergy Treatment Wholistic Allergy Solutions 18 School St. Glastonbury, CT • 860-657-4105 Dr. Helene Pulnik, RPh, MS, ND, L.Ac. www.naturopathicwellness.com info@naturopathicwellness.com See ad on page 24.

Colonics Lifeline Hygienics Colonics 914 921-Life (5433) 150 Theodore Friend Ave., Suite B15 Rye, NY 10580 Tovah@lifelinehygienics.com lifelinehygienics.Com

Green & Sustainable Interior Design Put It Together, llc Judie Ricciardi Heritage Center,464 Heritage Road, Suite 1B Southbury, CT 06488 • 203-263-7836 Email: putittogetherllc@cs.com www.putittogetherllc.com M-Th 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Fri. until noon.

Health Food Stores Parkade Health Shoppe Manchester Parkade, 378 West Middle Tpke, Manchester, CT • 860.646.8178 M-Sat 8am-9pm • Sun 9am-6pm See ad on page 19.

Holistic Centers Center for Holistic Practices & Psychotherapy 963 Queen Street, Suite C Southington, CT 06489 • (860) 276-5843 www.centerforholisticpractices.com See ad on page 22.

Holistic Health PANACEA - Healing for Body and Sole LLC Barb Porlides Access Consciousness Techniques, Reflexology, Etheric Weaver Healing, Ionic Detox Foot Baths 101 River Rd., Canton, CT. 860-294-1296 www.panaceahealing.com

Hypnosis

Colon Hydrotherapy

Diane Bahr-Groth, C. Hy., TFT, Dir. 1177 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT. (203)595-0110 • mindbodytransformation.com See ad on page 37.

Glastonbury Naturopathic Center 18 School St. Glastonbury, CT • 860-657-4105 Dr. Helene Pulnik, RPh, MS, ND, L.Ac. www.naturopathicwellness.com info@naturopathicwellness.com See ad on page 24.

Mind Matters Hypnosis Center Lisa Zaccheo, MA, BCH, BCI Board Certified Hypnotist & Instructor 12 Waterside Court, Avon, CT 06001 (860)693-6448 • MindMatters@comcast.net www.mindmattershypnosis.com

Dentistry

Hypnosis

The Canaan Gentle Dentle & Implant Center Dr. Thomas Livingstone 3 Railroad St. North Canaan, CT (860)824-0751 • www.livingstonedental.com See ad on page 20.

Michele P. Rousseau, MA, CH 267 William Street, Middletown, CT 06457 860-704-9054 • mprousseau@sbcglobal.net www.micheleprousseau.com

Resources Integrative Medicine New England Integrative Health Associates, LLC (NEIHA) 345 North Main Street, Bishop’s Corner West Hartford, CT 06117 Ph. 860.278.3812 • Fax: 860.525.6054 Email: info@neihact.com • See ad on page 31.

Life Coach PEAK Results Coaching Jeff Forte, CSIC, CME 2389 Main St., Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860)633-8555 • peakresultscoaching.com See ad on page 17.

Partners In Spirit

Ellen Gilhooly 22 Maple Ave Windsor, CT 06095 (860)490-2027 • http://www.partnersinspirit.com

Massage All About You Massage Therapy, LLC Cindy Strickland, LMT 396 Lewis Hill Road, Coventry, CT 06238 www.allaboutyoumassagetherapy.net (860)742-5285 • (860)573-6526 CT Lic#006649. Member: AMTA & NCBTMB Wholistic Spa 18 School Street, Glastonbury, CT. 06033 860-657-4105 • www.wholisticspa.com See ad on page 24.

Naturopathic Medicine CT Natural Health Specialists Lauren Gouin, ND 135 Center St., Manchester, CT (860) 533-0179 • www.ctnaturalhhealth.com See ad on page 34.

Debra Gibson, ND 100 Danbury Road, Ste. 102 Ridgefield, CT 06877 • (203)431-4443 See ad on page 2.

Glastonbury Naturopathic & Acupuncture Center 18 School St. Glastonbury, CT • 860-657-4105 Dr. Helene Pulnik, RPh, MS, ND, L.Ac. www.naturopathicwellness.com info@naturopathicwellness.com See ad on page 24.

Kensington Naturopathic Medical Center Dr. Ann Aresco 355 New Britain Rd, Kensington, CT (860) 829-0707 • drannaresco@comcast.net kensingtonnaturopathic.com See ad on page 27.

NaturalNutmeg.com 41 www.NaturalNutmeg.com 41

Resources Naturopathic Medicine Naturopathic & Acupuncture Health Center Dr. Marie Mammone, ND Dr. Renee Mammone, ND John Mammone, Licensed Acupuncturist 274 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT 06109 (860)529-1200 • www.NAHcenter.com William Nager, ND, DC 11 Mountain Ave., Ste. 201, Bloomfield, CT, 06002 (860) 242-8277 • www.drbillnager.com The Wellness Institute Marvin Schweitzer, ND 1 Westport Ave, Norwalk, CT (203) 847-2788 See ad on page 23.

West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine Frank Aieta, ND 301 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT (860) 232-9662 • www.DRAIETA.com See ad on page 28.

ProNatural Physicians Group LLC 355 New Britain Road Kensington, CT 06037 • 860-505-0702 www.ProNaturalPhysicians.com ProNatural Members Dr. Ann Aresco 355 New Britain Road Kensington, CT 06037 P: 860-829-0707 • F: 860-829-0606 E: draresco@comcast.net • See ad on page 27.

Dr. Rick Cooper 258 Main Avenue Norwalk, CT 06851 P: 203-229-0164 E: contact@rickcoopernd.com

Nutrition Thyme & Season Natural Foods Certified Nutrition Counselor Linda Myers, Complimentary consultations in store. Mon – Fri 9 - 5.

3040 Whitney Ave., Hamden Email: Supplements.Thyme@gmail.com. www.ThymeAndSeasonNaturalMarket.com

Physicians, M.D. Advance Biomedical Treatment Center, LLC (formerly Avon Therapeutic Center) Eileen C. Comia, M.D. 35 Jolley Dr., Ste., #102 Bloomfield, CT 06002 Tel 860.242.2200 • Fax 860.242.2212 www.AdvBioMedTx.com • See ad on page 37.

Natural Health & Healing, LLC Deanna M. Cherrone, MD 61 S. Main St, Ste 210, West Hartford, CT (860) 677-4600 • naturalhealthandhealing.net See ad on back cover.

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

(860)284-9730 • www.anewyouskincare.net Melissa@anewyouskincare.net See ad on page 12.

Spa/Floatation Services

Thermography

Osteopathic Wellness Center, LLC David L. Johnston, DO • Lisa Preston, DO 158 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877 (203) 438-9915 • www.osteopathicwellness.net See ad on page 29.

Sophia Natural Health Center 31 Old Route 7, Brookfield, CT 06804.

(203) 740-9300 • SophiaNaturalHealth.com See ad on page 37.

Psychotherapy Inner Change Holistic Counseling Deni Weber, MA, LPC, DCEP Weston, CT. • 203-544-6094 DeniWeber.com

Relationship Coach

NaturalNutmeg NutmegJuly July2013 2013 4242 Natural

Skincare

Osteopathic physcian

Dr. Summer McAllister 71 East Avenue, Suite D, Norwalk, CT 06851 P: 877-437-3537 • F: 917-456-0362 E: drsummermcallister@gmail.com

Holcare Nutrition Vicki Kobliner MS RD 3 Hollyhock Lane, Suite 2A, Wilton, CT 06897 203-834-9949 • www.holcarenutrition.com See ads on page 7.

Center for Holistic Practices & Psychotherapy 963 Queen Street Suite C, Southington, CT 06489 860-276-5843 www.centerforholisticpractices.com

iFloat 163 Main Street. Westport, CT 06880 Phone: 203-26-7378 Website: ifloatspa.net • Email:info@ifloatspa.net

Center for Holistic Practices & Psychotherapy 963 Queen Street Suite C, Southington, CT 06489 860-276-5843 www.centerforholisticpractices.com

Nutrition

Shamanic Healing

Tamara Sachs, MD Functional Medicine & Integrative Care 15 Bennitt St., New Milford, CT (860) 354-3304 • www.tsachsmd.intranets.com

Dr. Marcos de Escobar 171 Grandview Avenue, Suite 101 Waterbury, CT 06708 P: 203-757-9336 E: cosnd1@gmail.com

Dr. Jonathan Ritz 37 West Town Road Lebanon, CT 06249 • P: 860-281-7489 E: drjon@drjonritz.com

The Graduate Institute Leslie Cahill, Director of Admissions & Recruitment.

(203) 874-4252 • www.learn.edu See ad on page 2.

PEAK Results Coaching Jeff Forte, CSIC, CME • Relationship Coach 2389 Main St., Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860)633-8555 • peakresultscoaching.com See ad on page 17.

X to Rays, LLC Suzanne Pyle, MS, CCT 35 Boston Street, Guilford, CT 866.986.7297 or 203 331-2878 www.xtorays.com

Vibrational/Energy Healing The Healing in Harmony Center Priscilla Bengtson, ATP® 99 Citizens Drive, Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860)632-8434 • healinginharmonycenter.com See ad on page 30.

Yoga / Pilates Centers

Schools

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

See ad on page 25.

Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies LauraMignosa, NCCH 912 Corbin Ave, New Britain, CT 06052 (860) TCM-2705 • www.ctherbschool.com.

See ad on page 25.

Sacred Movement Yoga 10 Simsbury Road (Bishop’s Corner) West Hartford, Connecticut 06117 860.990.2555 • www.mysacredmovement.com.

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Deanna Cherrone, M.D.

Board certified Internal Medicine Functional Medicine practitioner

“Do you believe you should feel better than you do?”

I help restore balance so that you can look, feel and function your best.

Areas of Focus: • Adrenal Fatigue • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy • Bone Loss • Detoxification • Food Sensitivities • Heavy Metal Testing & Oral Chelation • Leaky gut • Menopause & Andropause • Mind Body Medicine

Many of my patients are simply looking for someone who will listen.

Functional Medicine explores the root cause symptoms: Fatigue • Brain Fog • Sugar Cravings • Headaches • Depression • Stress & Anxiety • Decreased Libido • Aches & Pains • Decreased Stamina • Constipation • Allergies • Inability to Lose Weight • Insomnia Dr. Cherrone, founder of Natural Health & Healing, provides Functional Medicine with emphasis on patient education and self care for optimal health.

CALL DR. CHERRONE TODAY AT (860) 677-4600

• Neurotransmitter Testing • Nutritional & Lifestyle Counseling • Thyroid • Weight Loss

61 S. Main St., West Hartford, CT • www.naturalhealthandhealing.net 44

Natural Nutmeg July 2013