Allergies…have you been affected by them at some point in your life? Have you had to curtail outdoor activities during certain seasons lest you suffer with watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, sneezing or other discomfort? Does contact with animals transform you into a sniffling, itchy blob? Are your friends and family members impacted by your allergies? Your symptoms might be as mild as sniffles or as serious as anaphylaxis and they have prevented you from enjoying life completely and fully. You’ve likely explored different treatment options, traditional and non-traditional, without relief. It is possible that shamanism might be perfect...

You’re probably thinking…”this sounds way too good to be true.” And over the years, you’ve probably seen and tried many “miracle” cures for cellulite, but none of them worked. Liposuction or plastic surgery is an option, but both are very expensive, invasive and carry medical risks. Finally, an alternative is here and it’s called the Synergie® Aesthetic Massage System (AMS). Not only is it proven safe and effective by the FDA, but there is research behind the technology to boot. So, what exactly is cellulite and how does it form on the body? Cellulite is mostly made up of...

For many parents, the process of packing school lunches can be tiresome at times as we try to think up creative ways to get veggies into our kids’ mouths. And for the rest of us adults, it’s a frequent inevitability that we won’t meet our veggie quota for the day. Here is a fun and yummy recipe for dressing up those green beans and it makes a great addition to a healthy lunch. Ingredients: Green beans, washed and trimmed, enough to fill a mason jar ½ cup apple cider vinegar 1 ½ cup water 1 TBS sea salt ½...

It’s spring…the trees are green, the grass is lush after a wet winter, and the flowers are blooming beautiful colors. With this being so, your allergies may be blooming too! If this is you, you know the drill: red, itchy, watery eyes, sinus congestion, trouble sleeping, loving the looks of the outdoors, but having to keep your windows closed to keep that pollen out, and…having to minimize your time spent outdoors to keep your symptoms at bay. What a hassle! Allergic Rhinitis That’s the technical term for all those lovely allergy symptoms. It is what happens when inhaled allergens...

Do you have an adversarial relationship with food and eating? Has weight become an insurmountable preoccupation for you? You are not alone. Our frenetic lives have made us wage a war on ourselves and many of us live without joy and self-awareness. We suffer constant anxiety. More often than not, to deal with our stress, we use food as a palliative, a way to soothe ourselves. Mindful Eating (ME) helps people re-establish a healthy and joyful relationship with food and eating. The approach does not advocate diets or focus on weight but guides individuals in the practice of self-awareness,...

I haven’t been feeling well since last Fall. I was under a lot of stress in September so I thought it was just remnants of that, but as time went on and I continued to develop more and more symptoms, I knew it was time to visit my doctor. Now you would think that my being involved with ELM™ | Maine for the past couple of years would mean that I would go to a Naturopath or at least an Integrative Doctor, but to be quite honest, I just hadn’t made finding another practitioner a priority. So, in November...

Does eating make you feel tired, bloated or in pain? Do you feel certain that you are having food reactions but don’t know what to call it or where to start? We can start by classifying your reaction as sensitivity or an allergy. Food Allergy The word “allergy” is confusing because many people use it as a fully encompassing generic term for true allergic reactions and non-allergic adverse reactions, also called sensitivities or intolerances. Immune reactions can result from the different types of food allergies or food sensitivities you may possess. The most common foods causing allergic reactions are...

There are many reasons to hire a coach. The International Coach Federation (ICF), the foremost authority on setting high coaching standards, has a precise definition of coaching. The ICF defines coaching as, “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” Simply, your coach is your partner who helps you develop awareness of your natural strengths. Your coach is your advocate and the person that will hold you accountable to your commitment and your actions during the coaching process. Ask yourself these questions to determine if you need a...

For thousands of years, spring and love have been linked. They just go together like peanut butter and jelly. Spring is a time for rebirth when the earth awakens from winter dormancy. As the month of April arrives, the bees buzz, the birds sing and we fall in love. Turns out there is actually a biological reason behind this long-time phenomenon. According to Dr. Helen Fischer, a professor at Rutgers University and neuroscientist, it’s all about dopamine. What is dopamine? It’s a brain chemical that creates desire for something new and causes a sense of euphoria…like love. Think about...

It’s a good two months after the holidays, but many of us are still struggling with an addiction to sugar. High sugar intake can deplete your body of vital nutrients, increase your risk of disease, affect your mood, and suppress your immune function. Drinking 2 cans of soda, which contains approximately 20-24 teaspoons of sugar can suppress immune function for up to 5 hours after consumption! One of the main issues with sugar is that it competes with vitamin C in our immune cells, which lowers the ability to fight infection. Before we delve too far into our discussion...

Intravenous (IV) therapy, also known as “Myer’s Cocktails,” has been used for decades, but for many of us, we need to go back to the basics and understand what this is and how it can help. IV nutrient therapy is when vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients are infused directly into your bloodstream. When you take vitamins orally they often lose their potency and absorption power during digestion and you never receive their full effect. If you’re considering IV therapy, your first step would be to get a physical exam and have your blood drawn. A specific, personalized...

As the owner/director of Fuller Yoga and instructor for 20 years I’ve seen a lot. But more importantly I’ve heard a lot; of excuses that is. I’ve heard everything from “yoga is too hard” to, “it’s boring”, to, “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga”. Starting something new over the age of 29 is not easy, I get it, but in this case the benefits, from increased flexibility to decreased stress levels, will far outweigh the challenges of being a beginner. I tell my students to take at least 3 yoga classes a week to really feel the benefits...

Dear Robin: I have tried many diet and exercise plans to lose the 30 pounds that I have gained over the course of my adult life – but I just can’t seem to do it. The most frustrating part is that I am well-educated about the adverse impact this extra weight has on overall health, and yet I cannot find the stamina to maintain a program to finally take the weight off, keep it off and regain my health. I am so frustrated. Could there be a spiritual or energetic reason for my holding on to the weight?     ~...

Lelaneia Dubay began making cranberry liqueur for holiday gifts starting in 2008, then in 2011 beset by gluten and chemical sensitivities, she created the liqueurs in her kitchen for her own enjoyment. Fast forward to 2013 to a neighborhood party in Hartford’s West End, to which Lelaneia brought two bottles of liqueurs as hostess gifts. There happened to be a few local restaurant owners and mixologists present. They unknowingly tasted the liqueurs and were blown away. They called it ‘magic in a bottle,’ and said there was nothing else like it on the market. At first Lelaneia was hesitant,...

As a rule, all parents know that their kids are different from each other. This difference can be viewed in different ways—with my kiddos it is very evident in their tolerance and ability to take supplements. As winter rolls around, it’s easy to support our kids’ immunity by giving them some basic supplements to boost their immunity while they spend their days with lots of other children that may be sick. My son has no problems swallowing supplements—he definitely takes after my husband! My daughter, on the other hand, is much more ‘picky’. Last summer, my sister-in-law taught me...

There is simply no doubt that the incidence of autoimmune disorders has been rising sharply over the past several decades in the Western industrialized countries, particularly the United States (See figure 1). The question is why has there been such a sharp rise in the incidence of these disorders? The answers may very well be found in the current medical research, but you would probably never know it by visiting a doctor. This may be because this situation serves as an example of the giant chasm that often exists between Western medical research, which is often outstanding, and the...

Each year obesity-related conditions cost over $100 billion and cause an estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the United States, making a very strong case that the obesity epidemic is the most significant threat to the future of this country. Can you be both fat and healthy? No. According to detailed studies, obesity is more damaging to health than smoking, high levels of alcohol consumption, or poverty.      ~ Michael T. Murray, ND,      & Joseph Pizzorno, ND –      The Encyclopedia of      Natural Medicine (3rd Ed.2012) You may feel unattractive with your more-than-a-few extra pounds, but do you realize how much they...

Have you heard of this thing called “leaky gut”? What does it mean to have a leaky gut and what symptoms would you experience? More importantly, what can you do about it? Read further and you will have a better understanding of the primary importance of maintaining the integrity of your gut as one of the major first lines of defense for your body. You will also learn about what conditions may be associated with a breach in this protective gut barrier, and what power you have to restore this fundamental protection. Our bodies are so beautifully and intricately...

Seasonal detox programs have become a new fad as part of our health and wellness culture. Weight loss is often a motivator to try a detox and often consumers find that detoxification plans not only help to shed some excess weight, but can also clear symptoms related to inflammation. While it may seem like a new fad, detoxification is a powerful approach many naturopathic doctors use to address health concerns related to tissue inflammation, organ congestion, and total toxic body burden. Detoxification involves clearing toxins, (metabolic wastes) from our tissues by methods of neutralizing, transforming, and eliminating them through...

Everyone seems to have a detox plan. The best ones I’ve seen come with a balance of avoiding the “bad” and increasing the “good”. For example: reducing sugar and increasing veggies; cutting back on carbs and leaning into proteins; less time on screens and more experiences with people; nurturing good vibes and avoiding toxic relationships; more sleep, less caffeine. You get the picture. As the days get longer and the horizon gets brighter, you may intend to apply similar principles towards your landscape. “Detox” is not necessarily about dealing with heavy metals or toxic chemicals. Rather, it’s a trend...

How do you feel when you think about your financial situation? If you experience anxiety, uncertainty, or other unpleasant symptoms, you are not alone. Finances are a significant concern for many people. A 2017 study by Guardian Life Insurance Company of America entitled “Mind, Body, and Wallet,” found that money is cited as the #1 source of stress for a majority of American workers. The same survey showed that worry about personal finances is the leading cause of emotional stress and contributes to lower physical wellness. But managing your money does not have to be an upsetting experience that...

Being a solo business owner and entrepreneur can sometimes feel lonely. You may not have someone else you can ask questions to or bounce ideas off of that knows what you are going through. Having a coach helps you to make and execute a plan for your businesses success, keep you on track with your goals, and acts as a sounding board for important decisions in your business. Having a business coach will help to keep you from making the same mistakes others have. No one can be an expert and knowledgeable in all areas of business. Surrounding yourself...