Just as our body and skin needs to be fed and cared for in a healthy and responsible manner, our mind and soul needs that same attention. This article deals with becoming aware of our thoughts, feelings and actions and being responsible for them (developing the ability to respond to life and others without blame or shame). There is a simple guidance often used in therapy that goes, “Name it, claim it and tame it.” It refers to being able to identify or name our challenges, emotions, weaknesses or faults; claim them or accept them as our own; and...

I ran into a former patient of mine (let’s call her Jane) in the grocery store a few months ago. She had stopped regular acupuncture treatments a few years ago once we had resolved both her chronic migraines and severe abdominal cramps (a result of endometriosis). I asked her how she was doing. “Great,” Jane said, “even though my symptoms started coming back a few months ago.” “Well, what the heck?” I said, “why haven’t you come back in for treatment?” “I haven’t needed to,” she announced proudly, “I’ve been using CBD oil.” Being in the natural health field...

Saranac Lake, nestled in the Adirondack Mountains in far upstate New York, started drawing people in the late 19th century. Interestingly enough, this town is known as a “healing” town as many visitors were looking for more than just a travel escape. They had tuberculosis, and in the days before antibiotics, the standard treatment was the “fresh air cure,” or sitting outside in the clean mountain air for extended periods in the hopes of recovering. On my first visit there, I could definitely see why – it is an absolutely stunning part of the country. I was excited to...

You’re asleep; and you’re having a nightmare. You walk to your bathroom mirror; you look up and you see your face 25 years older than it really is. It’s wrinkled, old and sagging. You think; how did this happen? What could have I done to prevent this? You panic and POOF….thankfully, it was just a nightmare. Then it makes you think; what will my face look like in 25 years? Well, let’s talk reality and examine the plum and the prune dilemma to illustrate. Let’s start with a very simple question. How does a plum go from looking plump,...

Summer is here and we are looking forward to our long awaited vacations. From international travel to a road trip to see Grandma, none of us wants to have a trip ruined by stress, sickness, injury or bad sunburn. Having spent years traveling back and forth across the country and hearing patient concerns about travel, I have gathered some helpful hints and travel essentials that are simple and can help ensure some uninterrupted R and R. Travel Anxiety How many people have you heard say, “I need a vacation from my vacation!” Travel is stressful and anxiety provoking. A...

Abbington Green B&B Inn and Spa literally is a dream come true on so many different levels. As a guest, it’s a dream to stay there and trust me, you’ll never want to leave. For owners Nick Poulos and Steven Donahue, it was a dream to own an Inn. Nick’s parents inspired him to travel and see the world. They also taught him that you have one life and if you have a dream, figure out a way to make it happen. For 15 years, Nick kept a file folder of ideas, articles, and clippings of things he wanted...

“Let Food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”    ~ Hippocrates, 4th century BC   A quick Google search will reveal a list of upscale “farm to table” restaurants in nearby Connecticut towns that serve a range of cuisines and types of experiences from small plates to prix fixe menu options. Anyone lucky enough to be able to enjoy a meal in a “farm to table” restaurant can attest to the taste benefits of eating small batch cooking of fresh, locally sourced food. Thankfully, the movement which was initiated by famous chefs for the benefit of their clientele,...

On a recent bright Sunday afternoon, five women and I enjoyed wine, cheese, coffee, and amazing conversation. Normally you don’t think of “coffee” with wine and cheese. What was also unconventional was what we were talking about: dreams, fears, and finances. What led up to that inspiring discussion? An enthusiastic reader of my professional eNewsletter, “Coffee with Caroline” invited four of her friends to her home, and over different foods and beverages that helped everyone feel as comfortable as possible, we talked about questions they had with strategies that all women should consider when it comes to their personal...

There is something so profound about the word impact. If we consider impact in terms of a meteor, rocketing from space, the fate of the world lies in the impact. But what about when we consider people? What does “impact” really mean to each of us? Kaplan Mobray is a famous motivational speaker and the author of the book 10Ks of Personal Branding. When I read the book for the first time, I was struck by aspects of his deep dive into personal branding: what do people say when you leave the room? What does your absence say about...

ome of the best weapons you can give your Warrior Goddess to help her successfully fend off breast cancer are very tiny. . . . Only small amounts of these tiny molecules are needed because they pack a mighty wallop against breast cancer. In biology, it’s normal for microscopic structures to contain immense potential.   ~ Waking the Warrior Goddess, Christine Horner, MD, FACS (3rd Ed.2013)   Early detection of breast cancer is certainly critical, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As noted in Part 1 of this two-part primer, an ideal approach to...

You know the feeling. You don’t look forward to talking to him like you used to. When you see him, he smiles and nods, but you sense that he’s not really listening. And more and more regularly – often late at night, when you are trying to sleep – that voice in the back of your head tells you that he’s not good enough; he doesn’t know what is really important to you. Yes – you have been together a long time. Yes – it was great in the beginning. But things have changed. You wonder whether he will...

Neurological diseases run the gamut in dogs and cats, from behavioral issues like anxiety and fear that can dramatically effect an animals’ lifestyle and management, to medical issues like seizures and autoimmune brain inflammation. We are fortunate that Lyme disease is not a known contributor to chronic neurological signs in dogs or cats, as cats have never been shown to get infected by Lyme organisms and dogs are easily tested and treated in the early stages of disease. Tick borne organisms do rarely cause severe neurological signs in dogs, but again, these are typically responsive to antibiotic therapy. While...

Diagnosed anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, and women are twice as likely to be affected than men. These statistics are based on those who actually sought medical attention. In reality, these figures are much higher. The good news is people who have chronic or occasional anxiety and/or panic attacks are often highly intelligent, passionate, caring, thoughtful, creative human beings. Your wonderful, creative mind that causes your anxiety is the very one that will lead you to a more relaxed, joyful life....

Lyme patients often present as complicated cases with various symptoms that can affect a multitude of body systems. Lyme patients are often more predictably helped by combining both Eastern and Western healing modalities. EAV or electrodermal screening is a modern twist on what has been utilized for thousands of years in the Eastern Healing Arts, where physicians looked at the flow of Qi (Chi) within the meridians to better understand what was going on with their patients, and how to best treat them. EAV is an excellent tool for uncovering issues within the body’s meridian systems and detecting signals...

All of us at one time or another can live amongst the midst of clutter. There can be many reasons why the clutter happens in our life but there is truly only one root cause. The clutter could be “situational”. Maybe there is a family member who is terminally sick, or you lost your job, or better yet just got a new job and you are a little overwhelmed. Hence, your home has taken a back burner and the clutter has built up. “Situational” clutter is easily remedied. Once that situation “calms” down, you can get back to the...

It seems like every few months, there is a new diet fad. Let’s talk about the most recent popular fad diets. Ketogenic Diet A healthier way to do a modified version of the ketogenic diet would be to eat a very reduced amount of carbs, say 50 grams, for short periods of time, periodically. But, in the counting of carbohydrates, be sure not to count non-starchy veggies, such as leafy greens and celery. Helpful products, such as MCT oil or supplemental ketone salts, that can help mimic ketosis and those can be helpful for some. There are also some...

Growing up in Yorkshire England, Chef Paul Pearson knew exactly what he wanted to do by the age of 12. He became fascinated with food and enjoyed eating out because of how special everyone felt. “I was keen to learn cooking and my grandmother taught me in the beginning,” he said, as we sat enjoying a plate of New England cheeses at Community Table, a favorite local restaurant known for its acclaimed food, cocktails and chic relaxed environment in New Preston, CT. For his first job, he worked for the renowned Chef Raymond Blanc at Le Petit Blanc in...

As a reader of Natural Nutmeg magazine, you are most likely a seeker of information on health and wellness, spirituality or our environment. You just love reading about these topics. In fact, it makes something stir inside of you. This is your Soul agreeing that what you are reading is truly in alignment with what you know to be truth for your life. This happens because you are a Soul Being having a Human Being experience and your Soul has been leading you on your unique life journey. How has the journey with your Soul been so far in...