Natural Awakenings Charlotte - June 2022 Issue

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

SPECIAL ISSUE

MEN’S

HEALTH

TRAUMA THERAPIES OFFER FRESH HOPE THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE WINE & SPIRITS MISBEHAVING DOG WALKS

June 2022 | Charlotte Edition | AwakeningCharlotte.com

Direct Primary Care

Affordable convenient care that goes beyond an office visit to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Wellness Programs

Obtain overall wellness with our unique and customized 3 and 6 month packages that get to the root cause of disease.

The Skin Center Medical spa offering skincare products and specialty spa treatments to support your wellness journey while relaxing your body, mind, and spirit.

To Schedule Your Appointment Call: 704-775-6029

Cammy Benton, MD

Dr. Benton has a deep understanding of mainstream medicine and the value of a holistic functional approach.

BentonIntegrative.com | BentonClinical@bimmail.com North Charlotte Location 16415 Northcross Dr. Ste B Huntersville, NC 28078 (704) 775-6029

South Charlotte Location 421 B South Sharon Amity Charlotte, NC 28211 (980) 207-0575

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Wednesday-Friday noon-6pm Saturday noon-4pm Sunday-Tuesday closed Face Coverings and Social Distancing required Spiritual, Religious, Metaphysical, New Age Supplies, Gifts & Books, Candles, Incense, Smudge Sticks & Accessories, Gemstones & Crystals, Tarot & Oracle Cards, Pendulums, Herbs, Gemstone Jewelry, Talismans, Egyptian, Hindu, Catholic Statuary 3010 Monroe Road • Suite 104 Charlotte 704-632-9911

MamaBessiesPlace.net

The Healing Power of Oxygen Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a safe and non-invasive therapy that enhances the body’s natural healing process, stimulates stem cell production and strengthens the immune system

Effective Treatment for Both Insurance & Noninsurance Covered Conditions: • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) • Lyme Disease • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Autism • Fibromyalgia • Ulcerative Colitis • Diabetic wounds • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • Radiation injury • Anti-Aging • Concussion • Stroke • Chrohn’s Disease • Sports Injury • Long COVID During your session you can: watch a movie, listen to music, sleep, meditate, or just plain relax 2

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Get Started Today!

Call to speak with our neurologist

(704) 471-4100

Nirvana Hyperbaric Institute • 146 Medical Park Rd, Suite 110 Mooresville, NC 28117• NirvanaHbo.com

June 2022

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We Help You Reach Your Health Goals Naturally Have you tried EVERYTHING and STILL have unexplained health issues?

Dr. Haas has been in practice for 33 years.

He has helped over 15,000 patients return to their highest health potential.

Better Healthcare Now Available Without A Prescription!

Specializing in Alternative Therapies: Applied Kinesiology • Detoxification Allergy Elimination • Hormone Balancing Nutritional Testing • Healthy Weight Massage • Energy Foot Baths Laser Therapy

Does Your Doctor Offer This?

• 2 Hour New Patient Appointments • Personal Health Care Plans • Doctor’s Cell Phone Number Call To Schedule A FREE 15 Minute Consultation

(704) 837-2420

3315 Springbank Ln, Suite 102 • Charlotte, North Carolina

HaasWellnessCenters.com

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(silver fillings) are removed using safe accredited protective protocols.

All of our crowns, bridges, and veneers are made in-house with CAD/CAM computer milled technology.

FR

EE H E A L T H Y L I V I N G

HEALTHY

PLANET

As true Biological/Holistic Dentists, Drs. Eric Kempter, Erin Wilbanks and John Kempter combine modern technology & safe protection protocols with advanced knowledge of biological dentistry.

Thank you Community KempterDentistry.com Sponsor Kempter Holistic Dentistry

1000 Copperfield Blvd, Ste 160, Concord 3111 Springbank Ln, Ste F1, Charlotte

704-782-0797

VISIT US ONLINE @ www.AwakeningCharlotte.com

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HEALTH

TRAUMA THERAPIES OFFER FRESH HOPE THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE WINE & SPIRITS MISBEHAVING DOG WALKS

June 2022 | Charlotte Edition | AwakeningCharlotte.com

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THE GIFT OF AN IMPERFECT FATHER UNPLUGGED ADVENTURES

Eco-Tripping for a Digital Detox

HOW TO RAISE EMPATHETIC KIDS

Simple Ways Parents Can Cultivate Compassion

THE EXERCISE POWER OF E-BIKES

Get a Workout on an Easier Ride

FRANK BRUNI

on Living with Afflictions CALENDAR Check out the latest events at www.AwakeningCharlotte.com/Calendar

LOOKING FOR

Elevating

– CONVERSATIONS & – SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES? JUNE GUEST BLOG

Michael Smith, ND and Founder of Carolinas Natural Health Center, on America's Low T Phenomenon June 2022

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

letter from publisher

CHARLOTTE EDITION

Healing the Scars We Don’t See

PUBLISHER Shannon McKenzie DESIGN & PRODUCTION Patrick Floresca AD DESIGN Helene Leininger EDITORIAL Jane Aylward Allison Gorman

Randy Kambic Martin Miron

CONTACT US P.O. Box 456 Cornelius, NC 28031 Ph: 704-499-3327 • Fax: 866-632-9118 AwakeningCharlotte.com Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Free subscriptions are available for our digital issue by emailing Publisher@AwakeningCharlotte.com

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs

I

f we weren’t so close to deadline, I wouldn’t be writing this letter today. I just tested positive for Covid and I’m achy, tired, run-down and feeling a bit sorry for myself, as my shingles from last month only recently cleared up.

As soon as I got the results back, I thought, Is the Universe teaching me a lesson (that I’m clearly not getting)?

And then I read about the “sandwich-board theory of life” in this month’s Wise Words article, “Frank Bruni on Living with Afflictions,” which you can find online at www.AwakeningCharlotte.com.

As Bruni explains, “If each of us walked around wearing a list of the pain we carry or the struggles we have survived, struggles that are usually invisible, then few of us would ask, ‘Why me?’ We’d ask, ‘Why not me?’ And that’s the truer, healthier question.”

My initial takeaway was I can’t even indulge my own self-pity thanks to Frank Bruni and Natural Awakenings. But relatively quickly I realized that this isn’t that bad at all, that many other people are enduring much more serious illness and other stresses.

They’re struggling with job and housing insecurity. They’re victims of gun, racial or gender-motivated violence. They’re living in war zones—real or metaphorical—and still carrying the scars and trauma from so many previous battles.

Here’s the good news: Much of this issue of Natural Awakenings is about healing from past events.

Wishing you healing this month of Father’s Day,

Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4851 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 200 Naples, FL 34103

Shannon

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Check out the latest events at www.AwakeningCharlotte.com/Calendar

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Contents

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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18 16

14 THE HEALING OF THE MODERN MAN

Men Redefine Their Emotional Power

16 HEALING TRAUMA Emerging Therapies Offer Fresh Hope

20 PLANET-FRIENDLY POURS

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The Rise of Sustainable Wine and Spirits

22 MISBEHAVING DOG WALKS

Ways Humans Get it Wrong

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 704-499-3327 or email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline for ads: the 9th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ AwakeningCharlotte.com. Deadline for editorial: the 9th of the month.

DEPARTMENTS 8 news briefs 11 global briefs 12 health briefs 12 local health briefs 16 healing ways

20 22 24 27

conscious eating natural pet resource guide gaston county natural guide

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CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events on AwakeningCharlotte.com.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

June 2022

7

news briefs

Celebrate Solid Waste Workers: Learn How to Recycle Right The Next Step in Spiritual Communities!

We invite you to join a Spirit-Guided, Heart-Centered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Community, and be a part of transforming the world by allowing the Heart-light Presence of God to Shine Through US as US!

David Hulse, Spiritual Leader Wed @ 10AM: Mid-week Inspiration Sun @ 11:15AM: Celebration Service Live Stream: HeartLightCharlotte.org

Wedding & Event Space Available in Newly Remodeled Center!

7300 Mallard Creek Rd Charlotte NC 28262 704-599-1180 info@heartlightcharlotte.org www.heartlightcharlotte.org

I

n an effort to reduce the amount of non-recyclable materials put in residential curbside recycling carts, Mecklenburg County Solid Waste is offering free residential Recycle Right presentations. During Waste and Recycling Workers Appreciation Week, County Residential Recycling Educators will present an informational webinar at 6 p.m. on June 15.

Can you spare 40-minutes to learn how to recycle right and make our solid waste system more productive? In less than an hour you will receive an overview of the county’s residential curbside recycling process; the challenges and costs of improper recycling and how residents can help; what is and is not recyclable; an interactive fun game to solidify learning and clarify common misinformation; and a Q&A session.

Non-recyclable items (wishful recycling) annually cost the county $1.9 million.

Educating and encouraging our community to recycle correctly are county priorities that will improve job conditions for local solid waste and recycling workers. Thank a solid waste worker in mid-June and learn how to recycle right.

Advanced registration required at www.bit.ly/RRJune152022. Email SolidWaste@MeckNC.gov with questions. For ideas how to celebrate Solid Waste and Recycling Workers week, visit www.WasteRecyclingWorkersWeek.org. To find Mecklenburg County recycling guidelines, visit www.WipeoutWaste.com. See ad, page 13.

Marie’s Total Body Studio’s Grand Opening and Special Priced Service ‘Bundles’

Natural

Fertility Treatment A holistic approach to women’s health & fertility

Mercier Therapy (4-year research study indicating an

83% pregnancy success rate!)

We are one of the few offering Mercier Therapy in the Charlotte region To Learn More Text 704-401-7428 to schedule A Free Phone Consultation 610 Jetton St, Ste 210, Davidson,NC

www.ApogeeFertility.com

8

Charlotte Edition

T

he co-owners of Marie’s Total Body Studio, CEO Valencia Williams and President Latasha Williams, now offer their Total Body Bundles at their new location in the University area of Charlotte. Providing a full-body makeover at an extremely competitive price, they have bundled many of their most popular services including their customized, non-invasive enhancement treatments such as body contouring/lipo cavitation, butt enhancement, detox weight-loss wraps and more in limited-time packages.

All their body contouring specialists are experienced body and beauty enhancement service providers, have been certified in all the services they offer and have been trained in Marie’s Total Body high standard of service.

According to the co-owners, they don’t just provide services to their clients, they treat the whole person. They feel their job is to ensure clients are relaxed, get the best experience they’ve ever had and are satisfied with the service. They spend the time with clients that is needed so they can provide the best possible experience for them.

Location: 9711 David Taylor Dr., Ste. 108, Charlotte. For more information, to view current Total Body Bundles, make an appointment and to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with a client specialist, call 704-631-3002 or visit www.MariesTotalBody.com. See ad, page 4.

AwakeningCharlotte.com

The Patio Farmer Offers Summer Plant Club

E

rin Hostetler, owner of The Patio Farmer, invites us to join her virtual Plant Club from now through August to grow sweet potatoes, okra, and heirloom pole beans.

“Summer is a great time of year to start growing food or try growing new crops, especially these heat-loving vegetables!” she says.

Those joining at the GROW level ($65/month), will receive all the supplies needed to grow each month’s crop. Grow kits are delivered to each member’s home during the first week of each month.

Hostetler adds, “No matter what size space you have, you can grow food at home! I promise. Whether you are starting from scratch, looking for a few new tricks and tips, need help tackling a big (or small) project,

Hold an Event at HeartLight Wedding and Event Center

C

onsider staging a variety of events at the HeartLight Wedding and Event Center. Located in a lovely natural setting near Charlotte’s University City area, the facility offers two event spaces: the newly renovated, 110-yearold Light House with original hardwood flooring, prep kitchen, indoor and outdoor seating with a view that seats 50; and the Sanctuary that has full audio-visual capabilities and can host up to 75 people in theatre-style seating.

At 650 square feet, the Light House is highly suitable for hosting intimate gatherings, meetings and training class sessions or creating memorable celebrations. The Sanctuary, a 1000-square-feet room, is ideal for weddings, workshops, community association meetings, family events, and more.

The center is surrounded by lush greenery, foliage and flower gardens, creating a natural and colorful setting.

The two buildings are connected with a covered ramp that also extends to a handicap parking area.

The Center, a non-denominational, inclusive community where everyone is welcome, was created to be a service to the community by fulfilling a need for intimate, affordable space to host life’s memorable events.

Location: 7300 Mallard Creek Rd. For more information or to arrange for an event, call Tim Leach at 704-669-7300 or visit www.WeddingsAndEventsCLT.com or www.HeartLightCharlotte.org. See ad, page 8.

The Patio Farmer is here to assist.

I can walk alongside you as you grow or I can do it all! My services and offerings are designed to meet you where you are in your food-growing journey.”

For more information or to register for the Plant Club, email ThePatioFarmer@gmail.com or visit www.ThePatioFarmer.com and @thepatiofarmer on Facebook and Instagram. See CRG, page 25.

Excess Acidity Starts With What You Eat And Drink Symptoms such as heartburn, gout and indigestion often stem from excess acidity in the body.

Multiforce is formulated with the aim of providing a sustainable response to the root cause – excess acidity Scan to purchase Free Shipping when ordered on Multiforce website www.multiforcehealth.com

FREEDOM COMES AT A HIGH PRICE FOR

UKRAINIAN CITIZENS SHOW THEM YOUR SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY.

PLEASE DONATE

T O H E L P T H E U K R A I N E H U M A N I TA R I A N C R I S I S .

THANK YOU! icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine

June 2022

9

news briefs

Ashley Logan Wellness Offers Free Consultations

A

shley Logan, a certified Health and Well-Being coach, and owner of Ashley Logan Wellness, is now offering free virtual new client consultations.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn how she can create a personalized wellness plan around their most pressing health and wellness goals.

“Discover how to nourish, heal and thrive in all aspects of your life,” says Logan, who is dual certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Duke Integrative Medicine, and is a RYT-200 yoga instructor.

“Align with your purpose, unlock your potential and create the life of your dreams by cultivating optimal health and well-being. It’s time for you to experience the most effective, transformational, and personalized wellness coaching program.”

She specializes in partnering with clients to empower and support them as they set and achieve their personal health and wellness goals so they look and feel their best. Through her holistic approach to health and well-being that addresses and supports clients physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, they become empowered to tap into their own innate wisdom to live a life they love.

For more information, register for a free consultation or make an appointment, email Ashley@AshleyLoganWellnesss.com or visit www.AshleyLoganWellness.com. See CRG, page 25.

Are You Looking For A HEALTHY NATURAL Smile?

We Care for More than Just Your Teeth….

• 3D Digital Dentistry • Preventative Dentistry • Mercury Safe Removal • Biocompatible Implants • Ozone Therapy • PRF - (Platelet Rich Fibrin) •Tongue & Lip Tie Release

IAOMT Accredited Mercury Safe Removal Biological/Holistic Family Dentistry in a Caring RelaxedEnvironment Failing Amalgams As true Biological/Holistic (silver fillings) are Dentists, Drs. Eric Kempter, removed using safe Erin Wilbanks and John accredited protective Kempter combine modern protocols. technology & safe protection All of our crowns, bridges, and veneers protocols with advanced are made in-house with CAD/CAM knowledge of biological computer milled technology.

dentistry.

Kempter Holistic Dentistry 1000 Copperfield Blvd, Ste 160, Concord 3111 Springbank Ln, Ste F1, Charlotte

KempterDentistry.com 10

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Accepting New Patients!

704-782-0797

Organic Salon LKN Celebrates Eighth Anniversary

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ea Casanova, owner and stylist with Organic Salon LKN, in Mooresville, is celebrating her eighth year in blending traditional salon services with holistic products. With the business operation motto of “No toxins, No dyes, No kidding,” she partners innovatively with Hairprint, Mehendi Henna and Oway for clients’ botanical coloring and hair care needs, and without chemical burns or unpleasant odors.

“At Organic Salon LKN, I strive to always be ‘complimenting nature’s beauty,’ and that means you!” she relates. She specializes in finding the styles that fit each client’s desired level of maintenance including making their possible transition to gray as fun and/ or natural as possible, all without compromising health standards.

She also focuses on sustainable sourcing, recycling, and partnering with companies that have the same ethics.

Location: 427 E. Mills Ave. For more information or to make an appointment, call 704-883-6564, email OrganicSalonLKN@gmail.com or visit www.OrganicSalonLKN.com. See ad, page 21.

global briefs

Take Your Next Step To

Better Health

Easy Beezy

Weeds Attract Pollinators to Increase Harvests

Kiryakova Anna/AdobeStock.com

A recent study published in Insects compared mango trees at a local farm in Homestead, Florida, where one plot of trees had weeds growing around them and another plot was maintained to be weed-free. It turns out that the presence of weeds benefits trees and pollinators. “Weeds actually do a lot of good. It might be helpful to think of them of wildflowers,” says Blaire Kleiman, the Florida International University Institute of Environment graduate teaching assistant and alumna who, under the guidance of professors Suzanne Koptur and Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, undertook this research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants program.

Fruit trees can’t live without pollinators. Bees and other insects have been shown to increase the size and quality of yields from 70 percent of the leading, economically important crops in the world, but it’s getting harder to bring bees to the trees. Over the last 30 years, pollinator numbers have declined significantly. Farmers already rely on insectary plants to attract pollinators, and Kleiman notes that her findings apply to 80 percent of all flowering plants of Earth, including vegetables like tomatoes, beans, eggplants and squash. She wants her study to help farmers also reduce the use of chemical pesticides that harm pollinators.

Placing Band-Aids On Symptoms

START

Treating The Underlying Cause Digestion Disorders Autoimmune Diseases • Diabetes Anxiety/Depression • Women’s Health Wellness and Prevention

Dr. Michael Smith and Team Naturopathic Physician

Register For Our Upcoming Seminar

Ban Plastics in National Parks

704-486-2448

©2022 Free the Ocean.

Our national parks are places of unparalleled scenic beauty and wildlife for all of us to enjoy. These national treasures are being threatened by plastic trash. Nonprofit Free the Ocean is circulating a petition to Get Single-Use Plastic Out of U.S. National Parks. Sign it at Tinyurl.com/PlasticParkPetition.

STOP

6404 Bannington Road, Suite A Charlotte, NC 28226

CarolinasNaturalHealth.com

Empowering People to Better Health Since 2005

Virtual Appointments Available June 2022

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Two new studies suggest that neem (Azadirachta indica), a plant used for centuries in India to treat malaria, intestinal ulcers and skin diseases, may offer protection against COVID-19 and future variants. At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus, researchers found that neem bark extract tested on COVID-infected human lung cells proved as effective as a preventive drug.

It targeted a wide range of viral proteins and also decreased virus replication and spread after infection. In an Indian double-blind study of 190 healthcare workers or relatives of COVID-19 patients, researchers at the All India Institute of Ayurveda, in Delhi, found that those given a neem extract of 50 milligrams twice daily for 28 days had a reduced risk of 55 percent for infection compared to the control group.

For people dealing with the lingering symptoms of long COVID such as fatigue, brain fog and muscle pain, a solution may be daily exercise of at least 30 minutes, because it lowers inflammation and blood glucose levels, suggest Louisiana State University researchers in the journal Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. “If you can only walk 15 minutes once a day, do that. The important thing is to try. It doesn’t matter where you begin,” says article author Candida Rebello, Ph.D.

local health brief

It is widely known that heavy drinking harms the brain, but even drinking as little as a few beers or glasses of wine per week will reduce brain volume, according to a new study of 36,000 adults. Researchers led by a University of Pennsylvania team reported in Nature Communications that alcohol consumption even at modest levels may carry risks to the brain, shrinking it in ways similar to the aging process. The study was conducted using the UK Biobank, a dataset from 500,000 British middle-aged and older adults that includes genetic and medical information, including white and gray matter volume in different regions of the brain.

The researchers found that the more alcohol people consumed on average, the greater the brain damage. Going from zero to a daily average of one alcohol unit (half a beer or half a glass of wine) is linked with the equivalent of a half a year of aging in 50-year-olds. Drinking an average of two units a day (a pint of beer or glass of wine) produces changes in the brain equivalent to aging two years.

The difference between zero and four units (two beers or glasses of wine) was equal to more than 10 years of aging.

“It’s not linear,” says study co-author Remi Daviet. “It gets worse the more you drink. There is some evidence that the effect of drinking on the brain is exponential. That means that cutting back on that final drink of the night might have a big effect in terms of brain aging.”

Men Need to Prioritize Emotional Health

Men have been taught for generations the art of neglecting their own emotional needs.

Recognition of emotions has been equated with weakness, and because of this, men have become far more emotionally unbalanced than women that are taught to pay closer attention to how they feel. Many men complain of physical imbalances in the body, and while very real, they are more often than not rooted in an emotional imbalance—which is why they do not fully heal—because they are not addressing the root issue.

Natural health providers can address emotional imbalances with many non-toxic methods that allow the body to come into balance while respecting its systems such as homeopathy and flower essence therapy, which balances emotions energetically. Brain tap incorporates both sound and light therapy in one device to help the brain re-synchronize the brainwaves. Meridian therapy and chiropractic care also works wonders in promoting connection of the spinal cord with the brain to transfer information.

We can take charge of our emotional health at home by doing simple things like breathing. Oxygen properly flowing through the body can do wonders for health. Meditation and reflection allow the brain to calm itself down, and earthing (walking barefoot in grass) literally connects the body to the earth for a proper charge.

Darryl Roberts, ND, is a practitioner at Haas Wellness Center, located at 3315 Springbank Ln., Ste. 102, in Charlotte. For appointments, more information or to set up a no-charge consultation, call 704- 837-2420, email DoctorDarrylND@gmail.com or visit www.DoctorDarrylND.com.

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mirzamlk/AdobeStock.com

Try Neem and Walking to Ward Off COVID-19 Symptoms

Cut Back on Booze to Protect the Brain

Dmitry Naumov/AdobeStock.com

health briefs

local health brief

mirzamlk/AdobeStock.com

Everyday Toxins are Multiplying Plastic water bottles have been linked to low testosterone in males and low libido in both sexes, generating an explosive market for prescribed testosterone. Research shows we have 10,000 times the level of phthalates we did just a decade ago coming from many sources, including plastic water bottles. They are decreasing blood testosterone in both sexes and at all ages.

We need to understand that environmental exposures and accumulations are not confined to lead, mercury, other heavy metals and halides, but we are getting poisoned by endocrine disruptors in the air, food and water. Mothers are downloading their toxins into the baby from conception up to delivery. When nursing, the toxins are disseminated via breast milk. If the baby is on formula, it is even possible for it to be exposed to the phthalates from the containers the formula comes in.

We must be constantly vigilant to detoxify and minimize exposure to these inorganic toxins, including a whole new and severe problem with pesticides, dioxins, PBDE, PCB, Bisphenol A and phthalates. Nutritional detox, foot baths and oral chelation are all important remedies and will need to become an everyday part of our lives to survive. Organic toxins are also carcinogens and neurotoxins, yet the public does not have the facts, and testing for these toxins is usually not covered by insurance. The tests are expensive, so most people accept treatment with hormones, which can be a contributor to their overall problem.

Kenneth Haas, DC, CCSP, is the founder of Haas Wellness Center, located at 3315 Springbank Ln., Ste. 102, in Charlotte.

For appointments, more information or to set up a no-charge consultation, call 704-837-2420, email Reception@HaasWellnessCenters.com or visit www.HaasWellnessCenters.com.

June Is GLASS

Recycling Month On your next trip to one of our Full Service Recycling Centers Please separate out your glass and place them in the Big Yellow Bin.

Learn more at

www.WipeOutWaste.com June 2022

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The Healing of the Modern Man Men Redefine Their Emotional Power

Merpics/AdobeStock.com

by Marlaina Donato

F

or generations immemorial, men have been builders of culture, solid providers and inspired adventurers, but gender roles and sometimes-conflicting cultural expectations have taken a heavy toll on both the individual and community.

The pervasive “tough guy” paradigm has denied half the human race its full emotional expression, resulting in amplified stress levels, compromised physical health, toxic aggression, broken families and a higher risk for addiction. According to research published in the American Journal of Men’s Health in 2020, death by suicide among men is almost four times higher than that of women and is partly attributed to the stigma of seeking treatment for depression. African American men carry the additional burden of racial and economic inequality, and their depressive symptoms are often more persistent and incapacitating.

Contrary to common myth, men are deeply emotional and responsive beings by nature. Centuries overdue, restrictive cultural definitions are slowly shifting to a broader psychosocial view of authentic manhood. Thanks to guy-friendly mental health resources, virtual and in-person support communities and diverse options in the alternative health field, more men are taking responsibility for their well-being and learning how to embody emotional freedom. They are stepping up to the plate as strong, sensitive leaders, something our world needs now more than ever.

Breaking the Chains and Choosing Authenticity The masculine expectation and requirement have been for most boys to “buck up and tough it out” during childhood and 14

Charlotte Edition

AwakeningCharlotte.com

adolescence, and this overt or sometimes very subtle conditioning can promote disproportionate power plays, homophobia and resistance to emotional intimacy well into adulthood. “Every society has ‘feeling rules’ that govern how emotions can be expressed publicly,” says psychologist Michael Reichert, executive director of the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives at the University of Pennsylvania and author of How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men. “Research tells us that boys are born as emotionally expressive as girls, but in a short time receive constant messages from their loved ones, schoolmates and TV shows that only certain emotions are okay for boys.” Such emotional restrictiveness has a profoundly negative impact on male development, he says.

For Todd Adams in Elmhurst, Illinois, cofounder of MenLiving.org and a Tony Robbins-certified life coach, recognizing societal trappings is key. “The first step is to have the awareness that we have been lied to for as long as we can remember about what it means to be a man. We have been conditioned to stay in the ‘man box’, which means if we show any type of vulnerability, our value from the outside, as well as from the inside, plummets.”

Reichert concurs. “My belief is that tragic outcomes—addictions, violence, suicide and premature mortality—are a reflection of how men’s human natures are thwarted by cultural norms.

Being confined to a man box is hazardous. We humans, including men, are built to express our hearts in close connections to others we love and who love us.”

Merpics/AdobeStock.com

The notion of going the distance solo is discouraged by Adams, whose organization helps men from all walks of life find support and connection through online meetings and adventure outings. “Once the awareness is there, I would invite family, partners, et cetera, to invite us to show up in a more authentic and human way,” he says.

Stress and the Physiology of Feelings For many men, emotions—other than “socially acceptable” anger and irritation—rarely see the light of day and instead morph into physical maladies such as digestive trouble, headaches, chest pain and high blood pressure. Unmanaged stress can also zap any zing in the bedroom. “I’m certainly not a doctor, but I’m sure there is a correlation for some about their emotional/mental/financial wellbeing being related to erectile dysfunction. The men that I work with often have a habit of not taking good care of themselves, and that lack of self-care ripples into other parts of their life, including their sexual life,” observes Adams. In spite of the fact that many others are struggling with the same condition, out of shame, it is often kept in the shadows. “My advice is that men find safe spaces to discuss these challenges with others. My hope is that men can discuss sexuality and intimacy as openly as women do.”

Josh Beharry, project coordinator of HeadsUpGuys.org, in Vancouver, Canada, an online resource hub for men battling depression, has spearheaded online stress assessment tests for more than 26,000 men over the age of 18 and found surprising consistency. “The results suggest that the two most common stressors faced by the men are a lack of meaning and feelings of loneliness, followed by financial strain, relationship difficulties and problems at work,” he says.

According to data gathered by Tulane University, human connection boosts immunity and wards off cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. For men especially, social bonds are critical in coping with life stresses. Forging new alliances and maintaining old ones can be challenging with or without a pandemic, but online communities offer additional support, camaraderie and nonjudgmental sharing, which can be especially helpful for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction and depression.

Beyond Talk Therapy Male depression can be hidden in plain sight, disguised as hitting the bottle to “relax,” or by working compulsively, engaging in highrisk behaviors or easily flying off the handle at loved ones. Beharry knows firsthand how insidious the disease can be and why seeking help sooner than later is vital. After miraculously surviving a horrific suicide attempt, he unexpectedly found hope and the will to live through walking, breathwork and human connection.

Being honest with others, as well as himself, was a turning point in his recovery. “For a lot of men, talking about dealing with depression feels like an admission of weakness or something to feel guilty about,” he says. “Try to think of emotional pain like physical pain. If you get cut, you bleed; that’s part of being human. Then you do something to treat the wound. Or if it’s deeper, you go to a doctor or a hospital. Denying painful emotions is like trying not to

bleed when you get cut or trying to pretend you’re not bleeding.”

For family members or friends concerned about a man’s mental health, he advises, “Vague assertions like, ‘You seem depressed,’ can make a guy feel attacked or put on the spot. Instead, it’s helpful to start by pointing out specific observations you’ve had about changes to his mood or behavior, such as, ‘You seem stressed out,’ or, ‘You haven’t been eating much,’ or, ‘You’ve been isolating yourself from friends or turning down plans more than usual.’”

It is estimated that 4 percent of men suffer from the physical and psychological consequences of trauma, and PTSD is certainly not reserved for combat veterans. While traditional therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are excellent for treating depression, other modalities offer light at the end of the tunnel for men plagued by traumatic overwhelm.

Somatic Experiencing, developed by PTSD psychologist Peter Levine during the last 50 years, targets trauma stored in the nervous system and gently helps a person to increase their tolerance for difficult physical sensations and buried emotions. It is also highly useful in addiction recovery. Therapeutic massage, yoga and regular exercise are all allies for men to combat stress, anchor into their bodies and access unconscious feelings.

In the end, little things add up to a whole lot of change for a man. “You are not alone. Take your responsibility in how you experience life. Empower yourself with resources—podcasts, books, therapy, coaching—whatever support might look like for you,” advises Adams.

There is no better time than now for the masculine to rise to a new level of greatness. “There is ample evidence that we are in a paradigm-shifting moment in the history of manhood,” says Reichert. “When I speak with parents, I say that there has never been a better time in all of human history to raise a son.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and multimedia artist. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

HELPFUL RESOURCES MenLiving, MenLiving.org A national program of virtual and in-person opportunities for men to forge healthy and nourishing connections.

EVRYMAN, Evryman.com An online men’s community group.

Good Men Project, GoodMenProject.com Includes articles on many topics including relationships, dads and families, advice and confessions, and ethics.

HeadsUpGuys, HeadsUpGuys.org A program at The University of British Columbia that provides support for men to prevent and manage depression.

June 2022

15

healing ways

Healing Trauma EMERGING THERAPIES OFFER FRESH HOPE

R

efugee children with tear-stained faces, the frail elderly being wheeled away from floods or fires, the sobbing families of gunshot victims—the faces of trauma are seen in every heartbreaking newscast. And the faces are even closer to us than that, walking down the street: a woman that recoils from touch, a child that has withdrawn into himself, a man with incoherent bursts of anger.

The trauma of death, cruelty and destruction has always been part of the human experience. In the U.S., surveys show that as many as 60 to 70 percent of people report being traumatized by 16

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sexual assault, accidents, violence, war combat or other causes, and as many as one in 11 may be diagnosed in their lifetime with the more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The encouraging news is that in the last few decades, a revolution has occurred in the recognition of how widespread trauma is and how deeply embedded it can be, not only in our behaviors but in our bodies. That, in turn, has led to effective and ever-evolving approaches to heal what’s been broken.

“Although trauma and PTSD are visible in the culture everywhere now, from films to popular literature and from legal to mental health fields, until 1980 the topic was virtually nonexistent,” says San Francisco psychologist, PTSD researcher and author Harvey Schwartz, Ph.D., who has treated trauma clients in clinical practice for 35 years. “After it became a legitimate diagnosis in 1980, long-overdue research and development of clinical protocols occurred, and today, almost every tradition and subculture within the mental health field has its own model of how to treat trauma.”

Shaping the ongoing dialogue has been the research of Boston psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, whose 2014 book, The Body Keeps the Score, has occupied the top rung of The New York Times bestseller list for three years. In magnetic imaging studies, he found that when a person is thrust into a terrorizing incident, the cognitive functions in the brain’s temporal lobe shut down and activity shifts to the self-defense mode of the amygdala. When the person responds by fighting, fleeing or freezing, physiological reactions kick in, which armor the body and trap emotions and thinking in that fraught moment, distorting future perceptions and experiences. He argues that any true healing of trauma must include “bottom-up” modalities focusing on the body rather than only mental “top-down” insights. He also insists that no single treatment alone is likely enough and no combination of treatments will be the same for every person.

Christine Songco, a Los Angeles dental hygienist and wellness coach, used cognitive therapy, journaling and meditation to relieve the trauma of a grueling bout with cancer, but hearing loud and angry voices still made her panic. What ultimately proved healing was an hour-long session of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), in which she followed a therapist’s prompt to move her eyes back and forth while memories surfaced. “It got to the root of my fear and anxiety and the source

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by Ronica O’Hara

TRAUMA TREATMENT OPTIONS Dozens of approaches are available for treating trauma, and experienced therapists often mix and match cognitive and experiential modalities to meet a patient’s needs.

“Choose the therapist over the method, as research repeatedly shows that the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in any successful therapy,” advises internationally recognized PTSD specialist Babette Rothschild, author of The Body Remembers, Revolutionizing Trauma Treatment and 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery.

Some primary approaches, with links to practitioners, are: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works to process the traumatic event and change negative thought patterns connected to it. Usually involving 12 to 20 sessions, it is the most thoroughly studied approach and has been shown to be effective for about half of patients with good, long-term retention of outcomes. Some variations are Cognitive Processing Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Find a practitioner at Tinyurl.com/CBTpractitioner.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy helps a patient overcome the fear and anxiety of a trauma by re-experiencing elements of it in a safe environment, using imagination and sometimes virtual reality. It is often used by cognitive therapists.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) uses sound, motion, touch, even a pencil to direct a client’s eyes back and forth, thus integrating parts of the brain; memories emerge, but without a heavy emotional charge. A key part of Veterans Administration therapy, it is recommended by the World Health Organization. Some studies show that 84 to 90 percent of single-trauma victims no longer have PTSD after three, 90-minute sessions. Find a practitioner at Emdria.org/directory.

Psychedelics are emerging therapies for PTSD, with psilocybin (magic mushrooms), ketamine and LSD potentially offering deep healing when administered under the supervision of a trained therapist. MDMA is the closest to obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval: carefully designed Phase 2 and initial Phase 3 clinical trials show twothirds of PTSD patients shedding debilitating symptoms. For more information, visit Maps.org/mdma.

Trauma-informed Yoga focuses on grounding practices to restore disrupted physical sensations rather than emphasizing poses themselves and has proven helpful for sexual assault victims and veterans. Dozens of teacher certification programs exist, and it can be done virtually at home.

Brainspotting is an emerging outgrowth of EMDR that involves helping a client fixate on a location in the eye that pinpoints specific traumatic memories. Research is scant, but suggests it may be as or more effective than EMDR. Find a practitioner at Brainspotting.com/directory.

Somatic Experiencing has a client pendulate between subtle sensations of trauma in the body and safe, peaceful feelings, which allows the trauma to be gently released. Although extensive research remains to be done, more than 120,000 professionals in 30 countries have been formally trained in it. Find a practitioner at Directory.TraumaHealing.org.

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Internal Family Systems explores different “parts” of a personality held together by a benevolent core consciousness, which allows those parts damaged and hurt by trauma to express themselves and feel self-compassion. It is recommended by leading trauma theorist Bessel van der Kolk. Find a practitioner at Ifs-institute.com/practitioners.

Emotional Freedom Technique shows a client how to tap certain rhythms related to acupuncture meridians on the face and the rest of the body while actively reframing traumatic memories. In a small study of veterans with PTSD, 86 percent no longer met diagnostic criteria after six, one-hour sessions. Find a practitioner at Members.iceeft.com/member-search.php.

June 2022

17

of my trauma without hours of therapy talking sessions, but I do think the other work I did set the stage for EMDR to be effective for me,” she says.

Schwartz says that two major approaches to treating PTSD have emerged: cognitive and experiential. Cognitive, or “talk therapies,” supported by academic research and insurance companies, emphasize mentally processing painful memories to manage such symptoms as nightmares, flashbacks and explosive

anger, often using anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. They can include such strategies as narrative recall, slowly increasing exposure to the traumatic material, mindfulness training and deep breathing exercises.

“Cognitive approaches help survivors learn how to become an expert of themselves so that they can respond to their trauma in a healthier way,” says psychologist Sabina Mauro, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, author of The Mindfulness Workbook

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for PTSD. This type of therapy can take months to years and effectively treats about half of PTSD sufferers.

Experiential approaches, which have been researched less, but have engendered substantial therapist enthusiasm, do a “deep dive” to work through traumatic patterning embedded in a person’s mind, body and psyche. “They help people restore not only their nervous systems, but their capacity for self-trust and self-forgiveness and their capacity for connection to their bodies and others,” says Schwartz.

These modalities mostly focus, at least at first, on physical sensations rather than intellectual comprehension. For example, Somatic Experiencing defuses deeply held, fear-based contractions in the body by integrating those sensations with peaceful alternatives. EMDR, once an outlier but now practiced globally and endorsed by the World Health Organization, uses eye movements to lower the emotional charge of a traumatic memory. Internal Family Systems repairs a wounded psyche by relating a person’s deeply felt, damaged “child parts” to their essential goodness.

To re-inhabit parts of the body frozen in the past by trauma, patients may be encouraged to use somatic meditations, trauma-informed yoga, acupuncture, massage and martial arts, as well as art, music, dance and other forms of expression.

Psychedelics, which if used carefully can open a trauma sufferer to a larger sense of purpose, may become a legal option in a few years. In a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase 3 clinical trial on MDMA (previously called ecstasy), 67 percent of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD after three therapist-guided sessions.

Says Schwartz, “It can feel like a supermarket of options out there, so people need to read, become informed consumers and combine treatments at times. We have to think of the mind, the body and the spiritual as all needing attention and integration.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

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conscious eating

Planet-Friendly Pours THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE WINE AND SPIRITS

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by Sheila Julson

I

conic food and beverage magazines such as Bon Appetit and Food & Wine affirm that sustainable and socially responsible wines and spirits are becoming a major force in the market, yet consumers wanting to pour an Earth-conscious tipple need a sobering amount of research to sort through what’s truly eco-friendly.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require wine makers to list ingredients on labels or regulate the use of terms such as “natural” and “sustainably grown.”

“There are more than 70 additives that are allowed in wine that don’t have to be disclosed on the label,” explains Brad Kruse, who with his wife, Allie, owns Nonfiction Natural Wines, a Milwaukeebased specialty wine retailer. “The only real requirement relating to additives is the declaration of sulfites, which makes it trickier, because even wines with no added sulfites have to have the warn20

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ing on the label because some naturally occur in the wine.”

Some wine labels tout that they’re made with organic grapes or grapes that are farmed sustainably. “But those may still have a host of other additives or lots of added sulfites,” says Kruse.

Certifications can act as a shortcut to locate eco-friendly wines.

Demeter USA, for example, certifies vineyards that follow strict biodynamic rules for how the wine is farmed and processed, including limiting sulfites. But many small producers that operate naturally don’t bother obtaining certification.

Independent wine shops with knowledgeable employees can help consumers choose wisely. Kruse recommends looking for the name of the importer on the back label, saying, “If you learn a handful of importers that focus on naturally made wines, such as Louis/Dressner, Zev Rovine or Jenny & Francois, it can be a quick way to find a good option.”

Sustainability in the Vineyards

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Rudy Marchesi, the former chairman of Demeter USA, practices biodynamic farming at his vineyard, Montinore Estate, in Forest Grove, Oregon. “We view our farm as one whole organism, below and above the ground,” he says.

Biodynamic farming, founded by philosopher Rudolf Steiner a century ago, requires using nutritionally rich compost teeming with microbiology of fungi and bacteria, as well as synchronizing specific farming practices with the seasons. These practices help the vineyards buffer droughts and weather swings, resulting in a consistent product that reflects the region. “Wine connoisseurs and collectors look for wines that have a sense of place and tell the story of where they’re from,” Marchesi says.

¼ oz cherry liqueur 2½ oz sustainably produced rye 1 oz sweet vermouth 2 dashes angostura bitters 1 dash cherry bitters 1 maraschino cherry

Distillers Move Toward Sustainable Practices Alcohol is an agricultural product, so producing a sustainable spirit starts with the grain itself, says Herman C. Mihalich, founder and distiller of Mountain Laurel Spirits, in New Hope, Pennsylvania. “Rye is a much less resource-intensive grain to grow compared to crops like corn,” he says. The recipe for the company’s signature Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey calls for malted barley and rye, but no corn. “Rye doesn’t need much fertilizer and few, if any, pesticides. It’s easy to grow and it preserves soil because it’s a fall planting crop that helps prevent erosion,” he says.

Their grains are sourced from a nearby farmer, and they save water by capturing cooling water from the still’s condenser and storing it in a tank, then using it to clean tanks and make spent mash that can be used for livestock feed. The bottles are made locally by Stoelzle Glass, in Monaca, Pennsylvania.

When seeking sustainably produced spirits, customers have to do their due diligence, Mihalich says. “It requires a little digging and asking the right questions: What grains are you using and from where? How are you using water?”

When Extreme Chef host Marsh Mokhtari and his wife, Jan, founded Gray Whale Gin, they rotated proprietorship with two existing distilleries instead of using land and resources to build a new one. A vacation in Big Sur inspired the couple to “capture California in a glass” and make a product with ingredients found along the gray whale migratory route between the Baja Peninsula and Oregon. They hired a professional forager to collect juniper berries along the coast. “Juniper for most gin is sourced from Italy or Macedonia,” says Mokhtari. “We predominantly use juniper berries from California, which are light purple and larger, with a cedar component.” They also source mint and limes from sustainable farms in California.

Gray Whale Gin gives back through a partnership with the environmental nonprofits Oceana and 1% for the Planet. They recently joined with Oceana and former California governor Jerry Brown to support responsible swordfishing practices off the California coast.

Coat a chilled cocktail glass with cherry liqueur.

Add the remaining ingredients over ice in a a shaker. Stir and strain into the cocktail glass.

Garnish with the cherry.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey.

WHALE HELLO THERE 2 oz sustainably produced gin ½ oz fresh lime juice ½ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz agave syrup Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the gin, lime juice, lemon juice and agave. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass, or over a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve immediately.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Gray Whale Gin.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

June 2022

21

natural pet

Misbehaving Dog Walks WAYS HUMANS GET IT WRONG

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by Karen Shaw Becker

O

ne of the primary activities we do with canine family members is to take walks because they love them and benefit from them. But just as some dogs, for a variety of reasons, are difficult to walk, some people are less-than-ideal dog walkers.

When we’re teaching our canine BFFs how to behave at the end of a leash, most of us aren’t nearly as concerned with our own behavior during these outings. We assume we’re doing everything right, and it’s our furry sidekicks that need correcting. But believe it or not, we’re just as capable of bad behavior during walks as the other way around. Here are a few reasons why.

NOT ALLOWING SNIFF TIME. A dog’s most acute sense is that of smell. She explores and experiences the world through her nose. Smell is a dog’s “first sense,” much as sight is ours. Just as we depend on our eyes to inform us of the world around us, dogs depend on their noses.

If we can imagine how it would feel to take walks with our eyes half-closed, then we can empathize with how it feels to our dog to be prevented from stopping to sniff things. It’s unnatural, slightly intimidating and, ultimately, boring. Dogs need lots of outdoor sniffing opportunities to help them learn about the world around them and stimulate their minds.

For a change of pace, instead of a normal walk, try taking the dog on a “sniffari”, letting him take the lead. Allow him to sniff whatever he pleases and make all the navigational and investigational decisions.

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IGNORING THE DOG. Unfortunately, there are pet parents that do everything but pay attention to their dogs during walks.

The daily activity becomes so routine that they do it without giving much thought to the furry fellow at the other end of the leash. This is a bad habit primarily for the danger it can pose to the dog that is often busy looking for dead or possibly deadly things to pick up in his mouth or interesting places to lift his leg (like a car door).

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There is also the potential on walks for unexpected things to happen, like an unfriendly dog appearing seemingly out of nowhere or a car swerving dangerously close. Staying focused on our dog and our immediate environment affords the opportunity to react quickly when necessary, keeping both owner and pet out of harm’s way.

If boredom prevents being fully present on a walk, change the scenery. Instead of heading outside in the same old direction, buckle the dog in and drive a few blocks away or to a neighborhood park or nearby

hiking trail. Everyone will find new things to see, smell and experience.

CHOOSING THE WRONG TYPE OF COLLAR, HARNESS OR LEASH. Many pet parents don’t realize the importance of choosing the right type of collar, harness and leash for their dog. Certain dogs should wear a harness and should never be leashed or even handled by the collar.

These include dogs that pull or lunge while on a leash, those prone to tracheal collapse or a seizure disorder, and dogs with chiropractic issues involving the neck or back. Choke collars and other outdated training devices can cause pain and injury to a dog’s neck and in extreme cases, strangulation. They should be replaced with safer alternatives.

For walks, training sessions and whenever the dog will be on leash, use either a head collar or no-pull harness. Be wary of retractable leashes, which have the potential to injure both dogs and their owners. Flat leashes should be no longer than six feet.

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MULTITASKING. This almost always involves a cell phone. If we have a phone to our ear while walking, we have only one hand available for our dog. And even if earbuds are being used and the phone is in a pocket, it’s impossible to be present for both the pet and the person on the other end of the line. The dog will inevitably be the loser in this deal.

And if texting, searching the internet or even listening to a podcast or audiobook while walking, our attention is not on the dog.

One of the most important gifts that can be given to our dog whenever we interact with him, including on walks, is our undivided attention. Put down the phone and other distractions and let him know through our focus how much he means to us.

Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals. Visit DrKarenBecker.com.

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140 Valleydale Rd • 980-314-3880 17131 Lancaster Hwy • 980-314-3845 MeckMulchMadness.com Supports a 360˚ from your yard to our facility and back again.

Mecklenburg County upcycles your yard waste to create highquality STA approved compost and beautiful mulch at a very affordable price. See ad, page 13.

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN

Claudia Josephine Design 860-796-3415 ClaudiaJosephineDesign.com

Proving that sustainable, ecofriendly design can still be stylish, Claudia creates classic, functional and beautiful interiors. Certified Green Accredited Professional.

Maria Killam True Colour Expert.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BENTON INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE & THE SKIN CENTER

16415 Northcross Dr, Ste B, Huntersville 421-B S. Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte 704-775-6029 • BentonIntegrative.com The Carolina's only Integrative practice offering membership based Direct Primary Care and Functional Medicine wellness programs. Wellness programs are individualized to the patient and address the root cause of illness.

See ad, page 2.

GARDENING THE PATIO FARMER

Charlotte, NC • ThePatioFarmer.com ThePatioFarmer@gmail.com @thepatiofarmer on IG and FB Confidently grow food at home with Consultations, Installation and Maintenance Plans. Also, check out Plant Club for in-depth gardening know-how. Contact us today and start enjoying food from your own plants.

HOMEOPATHY CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Dr Michael Smith 6404 Bannington Rd, Ste A 704-486-2448 CarolinasNaturalHealth.com C h a r l o t t e ’s o n l y d o c t o r specializing in homeopathy—a power system of natural medicine that stimulates your body’s natural ability to heal, without side effects. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral issues, eczema, auto-immune disease, hormonal imbalance, and much more. See ad, page 11.

HYPERBARIC THERAPY NIRVANA HYPERBARIC INSTITUTE

146 Medical Park Rd, Ste 110 Mooresville • 704-471-4100 NirvanaHBO.com

Dedicated to healing, forwarding the science of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and providing patients a tranquil place to heal. Highly effective in treating many conditions, some covered by insurance. See ad, page 2.

HYPNOTHERAPY LAKESIDE COUNSELING & HYPNOTHERAPY

Amy Bernstein, LCSW, LISW-CP, CH 8211 Village Harbor Dr, Cornelius 704-252-1568 www.LakesideTherapy.com Create new healthy habits this spring! Hypnosis helps with anxiety, worry, depression, sleep, health, clarity, confidence, healthy weight and more. Customized hypnosis recordings included.

Schedule your free 15-minute call today.

INTEGRATIVE HEALER KATIE SUTTON

Intuitive Channel, Guided Meditation Coach 828-246-3335 ZenWithinAcademy.com Katie synthesizes a unique blend of healing modalities with selfactivation techniques–from sound and vibrational therapy, to intuitive channeling, to guided meditation– in order to deliver healings tailored to each person's needs.

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH COACH ASHLEY LOGAN WELLNESS LLC

Charlotte www.AshleyLoganWellness.com ashley@ashleyloganwellness.com @ashleyloganwellness on IG and FB

Duke Integrative Medicine Certified Health and Well-being Coach who works in partnership to empower and support you in achieving your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness goals. Book a free discovery call today

INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICIAN INFINITE HEALTH, PLLC

Sheila Kilbane, MD 2201 Park Rd, Ste B 704-626-6771 • SheilaKilbane.com Dr. Kilbane is a board-certified integrative pediatrician who specializes in finding the root cause of illness including reflux, eczema, allergies, recurrent ear and sinus infections, asthma, constipation, abdominal pain and more.

NATURAL FERTILITY APOGÉE FERTILITY

610 Jetton St, Ste 210, Davidson www.ApogeeFertility.com 704-401-7428 (text) ApogeeFertility@gmail.com One of the few Mercier Therapy practioners in NC, Christan assists women in natural fertility and hormone balance. Supports all ages wanting natural approaches to pelvic issues. Book free phone consultation today.

See ad, page 8.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN CAROLINAS NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Dr Michael Smith 6404 Bannington Rd, Ste A 704-486-2448 CarolinasNaturalHealth.com Diabetes, Depression, Digestive Disorders, ​A llergies, Autoimmune disease, A ​ nxiety,​ ​ ADHD. C h a r l o t t e ’s o n l y d o c t o r specializing in homeopathy. We focus on treating YOU to uncover the cause of your health condition and empower you to better health!​ See ad, page 11.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS ACID-REDUCING

MINERAL BASED MultiforceHealth.com Info@MultiforceHealth.com Achieve the right balance between alkalinity and acidity to support immune system and optimum health.

Manufactured under pharmaceutical standards.

Vegetarian, gluten and soy-free and available in 3 natural flavors. See ad, page 9.

ORGANIC SALON ORGANIC SALON LKN

427 E Mills Ave, Mooresville 704-883-6564 www.OrganicSalonLKN.com Harnessing nature's beauty with professional organic products while creatively designing the ideal hair routine and style to fit your life. Call today for a free consultation. See ad, page 21.

RETREAT CENTER BLUE UNICORN MOUNTAIN RETREAT

152 N Main St, Hillsville, VA 850-380-0561 BlueUnicornRetreat@gmail.com www.BlueUnicorn.PlanetaryPeace.com Join us in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Pranic Healing Courses, yoga, meditation, energy healing sessions and more.

April-October. Dr. Kenneth and Connie Williams, Senior Certified Pranic Healing Instructors. See ad, page 23.

June 2022

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SCALAR ENERGY PRODUCTS SUPRAGANIC HEALTH

Natural Awakenings appreciates the generosity of its distributors throughout the area. Pick up magazines monthly at:

401 E Arrowood Rd Sundays at 9:30am UnityofCharlotte.org

Scalar energy wellness and spiritual awareness aids.

Simple, practical, inexpensive, and imprinted with targeted scalar frequencies to help the body repair itself or work with your consciousness. Free shipping. 15% discount with NAM522.

Unity features a vibrant Sunday Celebration Service at 9:30 AM, with inspiring messages from a rotating slate of guest speakers. Unity supports your well-being, prosperity and spiritual journey.

appreciates the generosity HARMONIC WISDOM Certified Vibrational Sound Coach Please consider supporting of its distributors 586-291-3320 • Charlotte throughout these the area. major distributors by www.HarmonicWisdom.com

Please considershopping supportingthere and picking these major distributors by up the magazine each month shopping there and picking from one of the racks. up the magazine each month Thank you! from one of the racks.

Natural Awakenings Thank you!

Deep Stress Relief. Solfeggio tuning fork frequencies to help facilitate balance, change, and rejuvenation of mind, body, and spirit. “Everything in life is vibration.” A. Einstein. Call today for free consultation.

appreciates the generosity SPIRIT AND SOUND of its distributors Barbara Griggs, LSH, CVSP, CVSC throughout theNatural area. Awakeningsbarb.griggs04@gmail.com 248-321-6098 appreciates the generosity Please consider supporting of its distributors www.SpiritandSound.net Call today for free consultathese major distributors by the area. throughout tion. Discover avenues to overshopping there and picking come uncertainty and fear. As a up the magazine each consider month supporting Please licensed spiritual healer, intuitive, and Certified Vibrational Sound from one ofthese the racks. major distributors by Practitioner/Coach, let's awaken Thankshopping you! there and picking the strength and commitment necessary to honor your journey. up the magazine each month from one of the racks.

SPIRITUAL CENTERS Thank you!

HEARTLIGHT SPIRITUAL CENTER

Rev. David Hulse, Spiritual Leader 7300 Mallard Creek Rd 704-599-1180 HeartLightCharlotte.org

We are a Spirit-Guided, HeartCentered, Christ-Conscious, Loving Family providing an empowering, universal, Christ-centered message grounded in the teachings of metaphysics. Sunday Service 11:15 am. Email Shine@HeartLightCharlotte.org.

See ad, page 8.

Charlotte Edition

UNITY OF CHARLOTTE

704-920-0963 • Charlotte www.SupraGanicHealth.com cs@supraganichealth.com

Natural Awakenings appreciates the generosity SOUND & of its distributors Natural Awakenings throughout the area.VIBRATIONAL THERAPY

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SPIRITUAL CENTERS

AwakeningCharlotte.com

SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAIN CHARLOTTE

SustainCharlotte.org

A nonprofit organization working to inspire choices that lead to healthy, equitable and vibrant communities across the Charlotte metro region for generations to come.

Become a member today.

VETERINARIAN ATRIUM ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Kim Hombs, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CTui-Na 6520 McMahon Dr 704-542-2000 AtriumAnimalHospital.com Comprehensive holistic/ integrative animal medicine practice in the Charlotte region.

Alternative vaccine approaches, double certified acupuncturist and herbalist, cold and class 4 laser, TCM food therapy, Tuina, animal rehabilitation with underwater treadmill.

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE

Gastonia • 704-271-9757 Matthews/Ballantyne • 704-243-8560 CWLI.net Developer of the "40 Day Transformation" system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

gaston county natural guide Connecting Gaston County to leaders in natural health, wellness and green living. To find out how you can be included in the Gaston County Natural Guide, email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com.

ORGANIC MARKET & SUPPLEMENTS

SPA HC WELLNESS CENTER & SPA

1308 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia 704-823-1577 HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

ORGANIC MARKETPLACE

1012 S New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-864-0605 OrganicMarketplaceNC.com 9am -7pm M/F, 9am-6pm Sat. Reliable community partner, local source for education, organic foods, personal care, products, supplements, aromatherapy, organic wine/beer and pet products. See ad, page 23.

Offering traditional and alternative therapies seven days a week to help you achieve optimal health, wellness and balance. Colon hydrotherapy, massage, far-infrared sauna therapy, energizing foot spa and yoni or v-steam.

WEIGHT LOSS CAROLINAS WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE

Lidia Adkins, CFMP, DC, PKT 216 S. New Hope Rd, Gastonia 704-271-9757 • CWLI.net

Developer of the “40 Day Transformation” system, a physician designed and administered functional approach with programming tailored to the unique metabolism needs of each individual, to provide safe and sustained weight loss. Call for a free consultation.

To place a listing call 704-499-3327 or email Ads@AwakeningCharlotte.com

Healthcare with a holistic approach NorthEast Internal & Integrative Medicine combines traditional primary care with evidence-based, alternative medicine therapies to promote wellness.

We offer: • Acupuncture

• Yoga

• Aromatherapy

• Preventive

• Massage

• Treatment

therapy • Nutritional therapy • Osteopathy • Therapeutic touch

annual physicals of chronic disease • Non-narcotic treatment of chronic pain • Healthy lifestyle changes

Schedule an appointment today at 704-403-7050 704-403-7050.

Our services are covered by most insurance plans.

NorthEast Internal & Integrative Medicine 707 Memorial Blvd., Concord, NC 28025 AtriumHealth.org/NorthEastInternal Publication: Natural Awakenings Specs:7.5” x 4.75”

Client: Atrium Health NE Internal & Integrative JuneMed 2022 Job#: ATRP-06847

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Help Your Body Heal Itself

With The Proper Natural Tools

Book your FREE consultation today.

DoctorDarrylND.com

$100 OFF New Patient Exam

CODE: DOCTORDARRYL100

Specializing In:

DIGESTIVE ISSUES EMOTIONAL WELLNESS WEIGHT LOSS CHRONIC PAIN

DARRYL ROBERTS, N.D. Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor

704-837-2420

Non-Invasive Therapies designed to treat pain, addictions and internal disorders.

3315 Springbank Lane, Ste 102, Charlotte, NC 28226 ~ DoctorDarrylND@gmail.com ~ DoctorDarrylND.com