Natural Awakenings Greater Boston/Rhode Island November 2021 November 2021 edition of Natural Awakenings Greater Boston/Rhode Island. Inside: Fuel Your Digestive Fire, How to Die Well, Eat Well to Boost Mental Health, and More! Honoring Loss Thank you for allowing me the space for a little more of the gradual healing required to eventually remember Donna without the accompanying tears and heart-tugs of her physical loss. The day after Thanksgiving, on her birthday, our family will be celebrating her life in the manner of Dia de los Muertos. Read More » The Evolution of Patient Care Gain in-depth knowledge of biological medicine and be inspired by its possibilities with a livestreamed, two-day course on November 13 and 14, 2021, via Zoom. Read More » Fuel the Digestive Fire: Changing Our Diet to Match the Seasons Eating seasonally will not only greatly improve digestion, but also provide the necessary nutrients to keep the body balanced throughout the winter. Changing our diet to match the seasons helps to fuel the internal digestive fire during harsh New England winters. Read More » Bi-monthly Animal Bereavement Group Join Marcia Lani Zais from 4 to 5 p.m., November 14 and 28, 2021, on Zoom, to work through grief felt from the loss of a beloved pet. Zais is an animal communicator and an end-of-life doula for both people and animals. Read More » Holistic Health Rhode Island Jewel Sommerville, DAOM, founder of Holistic Health Rhode Island, practices Japanese and Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to effectively assess, diagnose and treat many conditions. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been an integral part of East Asian Medicine (EAM) for more than 5,000 years. Read More » PBS Launches New Health and Wellness YouTube Channel PBS is exploring everything viewers ever wanted to know about health, wellness and the human body in VITALS, a new, 30-episode digital series that offers an exhilarating tour of human health and all of its surprises. Read More » Congratulations, Dr. Margo Roman Dr. Margo Roman, DVM CVA, COP, CPT, of Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton, was awarded Holistic Veterinarian of the Year at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) conference in Reno, Nevada, on October 3, 2021. Read More » End-of-Life Doulas: Greater Boston/Rhode Island The idea of enlisting an End-of-life Doula may seem like a new or progressive idea, but the act of tending to the dying has existed as long as human civilization itself. In many cultures throughout history, "death doulas" have provided comfort and guidance for the dying and for their loved ones. Read More » EVENT CANCELLED! Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity Experience a full spectrum of life-changing business opportunities and self-development options at the live Opportunity Talks event. Read More » Floating to Let Go Floating involves lying on one’s back in a small shallow pool super- saturated with Epsom salt so it is dense like the Dead Sea making floating effortless. The tank is kept warm, at body temperature, dark and quiet, and most people find it very relaxing. Read More » Grounding Chaga Cacao Mix all ingredients together in a small saucepan on the stove on medium heat. Whisk together until all ingredients are well combined. Transfer to a mug and top with a few shakes of cinnamon. Read More » Homeopathy for Migraines and Headaches Homeopathy, a holistic and individualized natural medicine, offers many remedies for the treatment of migraines and headaches. Read More » Marlborough to Host New England's Largest Holistic Health & Wellness Event The 14th Annual Natural Living Expo, New England’s largest holistic health and wellness event, will return to Marlborough’s Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center on November 13th and 14th, 2021. Read More » Massachusetts End of Life Option Act Awaits Committee Assignment On October 5, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 380, removing major roadblocks to medical aid-in-dying access for the nearly one out of every eight U.S. residents that live in the Golden State. Read More » Research Suggests Botox Works to Treat Depression Today, Botox is FDA-approved for 11 therapeutic indications and most involve relief of pain including chronic migraines, overactive bladder, leakage of urine (incontinence) due to overactive bladder caused by a neurologic condition, cervical dystonia and spasticity Read More » On the Cover: Blue Sugar Skull by Kay Larch Artist Kay Larch finds ways to express her creative need for colorful and elaborate surroundings through painting projects, creating a series of acrylic paintings on canvas Read More » 10 Mindfulness Tips for Teens These 10 tips can help teens to practice more mindful living in their daily lives. Read More » Banned Invasive Weeds for Sale A study finds that about 1,300 invasive plants are sold at garden centers, nurseries and other retailers. Read More » Boost Cognition with Green Tea Compound A single dose of 100 milligrams of the compound L-theanine—the amount found in four cups of green tea—improved reaction times and working memory of men and women. Read More » Boost Kids’ Learning Abilities with Exercise The right kind of exercise, particularly swimming, can help kids learn vocabulary better, suggests research. Read More » Buzz’s Fresh Herb and Apple Sage Stuffing Fresh herbs and apples add delicious flavors to this healthy holiday stuffing recipe. Read More » Cross-Laminated Timber Emerges in Sustainable Building A Swedish method of building using cross-laminated timber (CLT) is emerging as a climate-friendly alternative to traditional, concrete-based construction. Read More » David Crow on the Healing Power of Medicinal Plants David Crow, author of In Search of the Medicine Buddha and a foremost expert in botanical medicine and other natural health applications, shares the benefits of herbs and essential oils. Read More » Dying Well: Four Steps to a Good Death Proactive, concrete steps that ease dying—getting clear on our values and desires, having important conversations, attending to final decisions and opening to our spiritual process. Read More » Eat High-Flavonoid Foods to Reduce Cognitive Decline Eating foods high in flavonoids—the antioxidant-rich plant compounds found in strawberries, oranges, peppers and apples—can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent or more. Read More » Eat Well to Feel Well: Thanksgiving Fare That Boosts Mental Health Serve up healthier, nutrient-rich options this Thanksgiving to alleviate anxiety and depression, stabilize mood and promote mental health and wellness. Read More » Eco-Decor for the Home: How to Buy Sustainable Furnishings What to look for when shopping non-toxic, eco-friendly home decor items that are built to last and won’t pollute the environment. Read More » Entomophagy Industry Sees Growth The United Nations predicts that the rapidly growing industry of eating insects (entomophagy) could be worth $6.3 billion by 2030, so bug-based products may soon appear in local stores. Read More » EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos Pesticide on Food Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to neurological damage in children, including reduced IQ, loss of working memory and attention deficit disorders, can no longer be used on food. Read More » Goat Cheese Appetizer with Honey, Fig and Pistachios Layer honey, fig spread and chopped pistachios on a fresh goat cheese log for a healthy, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Read More » Greek-Style Green Beans (Fasolakia Lathera) Swap the traditional green bean casserole out for this healthy, vegan Greek-style recipe using potatoes, tomatoes and onions. Read More » Healthy Brain Strategies: How to Prevent Cognitive Decline The old paradigm of inevitable aging and cognitive decline is being shifted by functional medicine experts into a new paradigm based on the brain’s neuroplasticity. Read More » Honoring the Loss of a Pet: Simple Ways to Grieve and Heal Whether we lose a cat, dog, horse, bird or lizard, grieving an animal companion can be emotional. Here are ways to honor and celebrate the life of a beloved pet while mourning the loss. Read More » Live Healthfully to Mitigate Genetic Cancer Risk Exercise, proper diet, low body mass index and abstinence from smoking and drinking correlate with decreased cancer incidence, even in those with a high genetic risk. Read More » Lose Weight with Small Calorie Reduction A reduction of just 200 calories a day combined with aerobic exercise four times a week produced greater weight loss and better heart health in obese, sedentary adults than exercise alone. Read More » Mindfulness for Stressed Teens: School Programs Teach Healthy Coping Skills One of the most beneficial ways to help teenagers cope with the stress of these tumultuous adolescent years is through mindfulness education, helping them become calm and centered. Read More » Renovating the Recycling Stream Better recycling solutions are being introduced the remove the burden from the consumer and recyclers while making the process easier. Read More » Sacred Dance: Moving into Divine Energy Spirit-infused forms of dancing like African, Middle Eastern, ecstatic and yoga-inspired kundalini help us to stay in shape while also fortifying the body’s intrinsic life force. Read More » Seluisauganasda Cherokee Cornmeal Cookies A creative, nutritious way to celebrate indigenous tradition during the holidays with a cornmeal cookie recipe that includes ingredients to boost mental health. Read More » Simple Ways to Reduce Microplastic Exposure The microparticles that result from plastics breakdown are contaminating global waters, air, soil and snow, but with certain steps we can avoid adding to the toxic refuse. Read More » The Healing Power of a Hug Hugs have proven power to soothe and nurture us, and it’s not necessary to have another human to enjoy their physical and mental health benefits. Read More » Water Shortage in the Middle East The water table in the Middle East is becoming depleted due to persistent drought, high temperatures, poor water management and overuse, and climate change. Read More » In-Print