Natural Awakenings Twin Cities April 2021

FREE 

HEALTHY LIVING 

HEALTHY PLANET 

BREATHE 

EASY 

Natural Remedies 

for Allergy Woes 

CLIMATE 

CHANGE 

WHAT A WARMING PLANET 

MEANS TO YOUR HEALTH 

Healthy Kids 

NATURE TO THE RESCUE 

Kids Come Alive Outdoors 

Feathered 

Friends 

Birds as Pets 

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April 2021 

3

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET 

letter from the publisher 

TWIN CITIES EDITION 

Publisher Candi Broeffle 

Editors Cheryl Hynes 

Randy Kambic 

Ad Sales Candi Broeffle 

SchaOn Blodgett 

Design & Production Sara Shrode 

CONTACT US 

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Subscriptions are available by sending $25 

(for 12 issues) to the above address. 

NATIONAL TEAM 

CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman 

COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne 

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Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert 

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Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 

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NaturalAwakeningsMag.com 

© 2021 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. 

Although some parts of this publication may be 

reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior 

permission be obtained in writing. 

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed 

locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please 

call to find a location near you or if you would like 

copies placed at your business. 

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in 

the articles and advertisements, nor are we 

responsible for the products and services advertised. 

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the 

appropriate use of any treatment. 

This month’s issue is dedicated to my mother, Sharon Broeffle, 

who we lost eight years ago due to complications of diabetes. 

April is the month of her birth, and for Natural Awakenings, 

our Sustainability Issue. Though I could honor her in our annual 

Diabetes Issue, I prefer to honor the woman who loved the Earth 

and is forever tied to its energies. 

I grew up in the ‘80s, a time of excess, rapidly advancing technologies 

and the “me” generation. However, my mother yearned Candi Broeffle 

for a more simple life and made a conscious decision to turn back 

time by removing all gas and oil appliances and replacing them with a wood heater and 

cookstove. Our clothing was cleaned in a wringer washer and hung on the line to dry. 

Thankfully, she kept the electricity, though we came to believe it was only so she could 

remind us to turn off the lights as we left the room. 

She worried about the Earth and the effects humans’ excess would have on it. Plastic 

bags were not allowed in our home and weekends were often spent cleaning the roadsides 

long before there was an Adopt-a-Highway program. She yearned to own solar 

panels and a windmill, but unfortunately the budget did not allow for this. 

My mother was deeply connected to nature, often telling us to take off our shoes or 

get our hands in the dirt so we could connect to the Earth. We would spend time in the 

woods, gathering fuel for the cookstove and showing gratitude to the trees who provided 

for us. She would spend hours with us laying in the fields watching the clouds pass by 

and trying to find the pictures hidden in their white fluffiness. She talked to the plants— 

in our home, gardens and forests—telling them how beautiful and strong they were and 

thanking them for their sustenance. She preferred the company of animals over that of 

humans, often saying they were more accepting, loyal and loving. 

My mother had a particular fondness for birds, so much so that she convinced my 

father to put in a large picture window in the living room so they could watch the birds 

come to the birdfeeders perched just outside. We didn’t own a color TV until I was 16 

years old, and only then because PBS was hosting a multi-week bird special and my 

mother wanted to see them in all their colorful glory. 

This issue would make her particularly proud with our focus on creating bee-friendly 

lawns; the health concerns caused by climate change; creating healthy, non-toxic homes; 

the importance of getting children into nature; and of course, the benefits (never the cons) 

of keeping birds as pets. Did I mention she had several parrots, parakeets and cockatoos? 

Mom, this one is for you! 

In Love, 

Candi Broeffle, Publisher 

Natural Awakenings 

Magazine is ranked 

5th Nationally in 

CISION’S ® 2016 

Top 10 Health & 

Fitness Magazines 

Natural Awakenings is printed on 

recycled newsprint with soy-based ink. 

4 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living 

magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the 

communities we serve with the tools and resources 

we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet. 

Contents 

14 

13 CATCH THE 

SPRING BUZZ 

12 

14 CLIMATE CHANGE 

AND OUR HEALTH 

The Human Costs of a Warming Planet 

17 UNDERSTANDING 

HARD FLACCID 

18 

18 HEALTHY HOME 

How to Detoxify a Living Space 

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS 

20 NATURE TO THE RESCUE 


22 BREATHE EASY 

Natural Remedies for Allergy Woes 

24 

HOW TO ADVERTISE 

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a 

media kit, please contact us at 763-270-8604 or email 

Publisher@NAtwincities.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th 

of the month. 

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS 

Email articles, news items and ideas to: 

Publisher@NAtwincities.com. 

Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. 

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS 

Email Calendar Events to: Publisher@NAtwincities.com. 

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. 

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 239-449-8309. 

For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit 

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. 

24 FEATHERED FRIENDS 

The Pros and Cons of Keeping 

Birds as Pets 

DEPARTMENTS 

6 news briefs 

7 business 

spotlight 

8 health briefs 

10 global briefs 

12 eco tip 

18 green living 

20 healthy kids 

22 healing ways 

24 natural pets 

26 calendar 

28 resource guide 


5

news briefs 

©DragonImages 

©AfricaStudio 

Finding Strengths 

in Your Differences 

Join business and relationship coach 

Candi Broeffle, Thursday evenings, 

beginning May 20, to create a more vibrant 

relationship with your spouse or partner. 

This virtual workshop will help couples 

find the understanding, self-awareness and 

communication skills they need to feel 

confident in their relationship and to nurture their life together, rather than degrade 

their relationship with resentments that cause separation and pain. 

Utilizing CliftonStrengths, couples will identify their top five signature themes that act as 

a filter through which they show up in their relationships. The purpose of this workshop is to 

discover opportunities to complement each other’s strengths and help build a better relationship. 

At the conclusion of this three-week workshop, both lifestyles—as an individual and as a 

couple—are enhanced with a greater sense of awareness and appreciation for one another. 

Learning to respect a partner’s differences can soften potential areas of conflict. Often, 

people fall in love with someone quite different from themselves. This is instinctual in order 

to create balance. However, when a partner is so different, it can feel alienating. This workshop 

was created to help couples understand, appreciate and work with their differences. 

“Whether you are planning your wedding or you have been married for 40 years, everyone 

who attends will learn a great deal about themselves and their partner,” promises Broeffle. 

Cost: $129/couple before April 23. $149 after April 24. Registration includes two online Clifton- 

Strengths assessments and a customized 90-minute personal debrief of its results. Workshop is 

limited to 10 couples. To register, visit ComposureCoaching.com. See ad, page 30. 

Your Open Channel 

Workshop with Nea 

Clare 

Developing and refining intuitive gifts 

can be challenging, but even more so 

when you are trying to do it on your own. 

Nea Clare, activation coach and spiritual 

teacher, is passionate about creating a safe, 

engaging and fun environment for people to explore, develop and refine their intuitive 

gifts. “We are all channels of Spirit, and our biggest challenge is getting to know what that 

is for ourselves,” states Clare. 

Beginning April 16, Clare is offering Your Open Channel, a five-week intuition 

development workshop for individuals who are already aware of and have started to 

work with their intuitive gifts and want to explore them deeper. Each session will include 

guidance shared by Clare, group practice, other sharing and discussion. 

Clare’s own journey into channeling began in a reiki share group, and she personally 

knows that personal experience is what creates clarity and confidence. “Each of us is unique, 

and the way we connect with Spirit and learn to work with our gifts is unique,” Clare explains. 

“In this workshop, I want you to learn to love working with your gift in your own way.” 

This workshop is for people who want to increase their confidence, connection and 

capability with their intuitive gifts. Psychics, mediums, channels, intuitive healers and 

medical intuitives are invited to apply. 

Cost: $59. Space is limited. Location: via Zoom. Dates: April 11, 18, 25; May 2 and 16. 

Register now, NeaClareScheduling.as.me/OpenChannel. See ad, page 30. 

Rounding the Corner 

Podcast Launches on 

April 25 

Co-hosts Nea Clare and Candi Broeffle 

announce the launch of a new podcast, 

Rounding the Corner, for those who are 

ready to make positive change in their 

lives. The initial show will be introduced 

at 10 a.m., April 25, on Green Tea Conversations 

radio show on AM 950. 

Rounding the Corner is about helping 

to become the best version of one’s self. It 

is for people who have been working hard 

to create the life they desire, yet do not 

feel like their efforts are really paying off. 

“We’re here to help spark you to take action 

to create a life you truly love,” explains 

Clare. “You get the support and knowledge 

of trusted coaches, and the opportunity to 

learn how valuable life coaching can be to 

helping you reach your goals.” 

Each week, the co-hosts will discuss 

topics such as overcoming anxiety and 

fear, finding more joy in life, strengthening 

relationships, and more. They will provide 

valuable insights and supportive tools 

to help participants shift their thoughts, 

emotions and behaviors to attract greater 

success and fulfillment. 

Broeffle shares, “Each show will 

include actionable steps you can use immediately 

to help you move into the life of 

which you’ve been dreaming.” 

Listeners can join the conversation as the hosts 

continue the discussion on the new social media 

platform, Clubhouse. For more information, 

visit RoundingTheCornerPodcast.com. 

Courtesy of Rounding The Corner 


usiness spotlight 

Parker University Embraces 

Collaborative Approaches to Health Care 

by Sheila Julson 

As society continues to embrace integrative 

health care models, students pursuing careers 

in wellness disciplines and health professionals 

wanting to enhance the skills they can offer patients 

are seeking formal training to meet current 

needs. Because of today’s growing demand for 

collaborative care, Parker University has developed 

curricula that employ more interdisciplinary 

approaches. 

“Eastern and conventional medicine both 

work well, but when you combine the disciplines, 

they work even better,” advises Dr. 

Tammy Fogarty, dean of health and human 

performance. “We like to use a collaborative approach, 

not just in academics, but also in our on-campus clinics.” 

In addition to being ambitious, compassionate and energetic, students are prepared 

for careers as industry leaders with techniques and knowledge gained from real-world 

experience. Founder Dr. James Parker established a set of principles that continues to 

guide students on a campus that honors tradition but encourages innovation. 

Parker University offers a wide variety of degree programs, including bachelor’s degrees 

in integrative health, psychology, strength and human performance, as well as associate 

degrees in massage therapy, occupational therapy assistant and radiologic technology. 

Several online master’s degrees are also offered in functional nutrition, strength and 

human performance, neuroscience and clinical neuroscience, and public health. The university 

continues to offer the doctor of chiropractic degree. Due to their diverse offerings, 

Parker is fortunate to have a faculty from different health-related fields that contributes 

to its interdisciplinary approach to health and wellness. 

“In our programs, the curriculum encourages students to identify the root cause of 

an ailment or disease, and in some instances, they need to seek treatment options outside 

of one field,” Fogarty says. “Our chiropractic students, while going through the chiropractic 

program, are eligible to enroll in any of our master’s degree programs. When they 

graduate, not only are they chiropractors, but they also have a master’s in a complementary 

field. This gives them an opportunity to provide an interdisciplinary approach to 

health and wellness.” 

Fogarty cites Parker’s neuroscience program as another example of the university’s 

interdisciplinary approach. The new Synapse: Human Performance Center exemplifies 

this approach by offering the latest in neuroscience and evidence-based therapies for patients 

and brings together diverse healthcare professionals to one location. This prototype 

clinic showcases professionals from such 

diverse fields as chiropractic, neurology, 

physiology, occupational therapy, massage 

therapy and nutrition, working together to 

provide a patient-centered, collaborative 

approach to care. 

Fogarty says that when chiropractors 

attend continuing education seminars, 

they take an hour-long class in nutrition or 

exercise training to earn continuing education 

credits, but there’s no formal education. 

“So, what we can offer our students 

is to not only graduate with a chiropractic 

degree, but also a master’s degree in a 

related field they want to specialize in.” 

The master’s degree in functional 

nutrition is an interprofessional graduate 

program for chiropractors, doctors of osteopathic 

medicine, nurse practitioners, 

exercise physiologists and dietitians seeking 

to enhance their skills and promote 

nutrition education in a variety of settings 

at the mastery level. The program’s 

mission is to provide graduates with the 

ability to communicate the link between 

functional nutrition, health promotion 

and disease prevention with more extensive 

credentials. 

“We have chiropractors, nurses and 

nurse practitioners that are enrolling into 

the program,” Fogarty explains. “They 

are licensed professionals. Within their 

license, nutrition is included in their scope 

of practice, but they don’t have formal 

training. We’re starting to see more healthcare 

practitioners that want to be able to 

offer nutrition to their clients, but want 

more than just a certification.” 

Parker University is also developing 

bridge programs that more easily 

allow students to gain knowledge across 

disciplines to better serve patients. “We 

offer our students a variety of degrees so 

they can earn an associate’s, bachelor’s 

and a master’s degree in another field that 

supports a collaborative health approach,” 

Fogarty concludes. 

Parker University is located at 2540 Walnut 

Hill Ln., Dallas; Synapse is located at 2618 

Electronic Ln., Ste. 100, Dallas. For more 

information, call 1-800-637-8337 or 214- 

902-2429, or visit Parker.edu. 

Sheila Julson is a regular contributor to 

Natural Awakenings magazine. 


7 

Courtesy of Parker University

health briefs 

Drink Beet Juice to Lower 

Blood Pressure 

Hypertension is a global disease that particularly affects 

people in low-income communities, but a new study by 

the UK University of Nottingham suggests that beetroot 

juice may be a practical solution for people with high blood 

pressure that have little access to diagnostic help or money 

for medication. Researchers divided 47 people between 50 

and 70 years of age in Tanzania into three groups. For 60 

days, one group drank nitrate-rich beetroot juice and folic 

acid; another was given nitrate-rich 

beetroot juice and a placebo; and the 

third drank nitrate-depleted beetroot 

juice. The researchers found that 

systolic blood pressure dropped by 

10.8 millimeters (mm) Hg (mercury) 

in the nitrate-rich plus folic acid group 

and 6.1 mm Hg in the nitrate-rich and 

placebo group. Studies have shown 

that the high level of nitrates in beets 

is converted by the digestive system 

into nitric oxide, which relaxes and 

widens blood vessels. 

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B 12 and Prenatal Supplements 

Gain Official Nod 

In updated 2020-2025 dietary guidelines, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have endorsed the 

specific use of certain supplements, noting that under-consumption of some 

nutrients among Americans is linked to health concerns. 

The guidelines advise that infants being fed breast 

milk exclusively or partially should be given a 

vitamin D supplement of 400 IU per day beginning 

soon after birth and perhaps continuing 

for more than a year. Women that are pregnant 

or planning to become pregnant should 

take a daily prenatal vitamin and mineral 

supplement. Pregnant or lactating women 

that follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are 

advised to talk to their healthcare provider 

about supplementation to ensure that 

they get adequate amounts of iron, vitamin 

B 12 

, choline, zinc, iodine and omega-3 

fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 

and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The 

guidelines also state that some older adults may 

require vitamin B 12 

supplements, noting concerns 

over the amount of the vitamin absorbed 

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9

global briefs 

Group Hug 

Nations Band Together to 

Preserve One-Third of the Planet 

While human activity has transformed 75 percent of the 

Earth’s surface and 66 percent of ocean ecosystems, the 

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity 

and Ecosystem Services determined in a 2019 assessment 

that approximately 1 million plant and animal species are 

threatened with extinction, some in mere decades. In response 

to the crisis, more than 50 countries representing 30 

percent of the world’s land-based biodiversity, 25 percent 

of its land-based carbon sinks, 28 percent of important 

areas of marine biodiversity and more than 30 percent of 

ocean carbon sinks have united as the High Ambition Coalition 

for Nature and People (HAC 30x30), avowing to preserve 

30 percent of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. 

The group announced its goal at the One Planet Summit 

for Biodiversity in January, hosted by French President Emmanuel 

Macron, along with the World Bank and the United 

Nations. “We call on all nations to join us,” Macron said in 

the video launching of the plan. Biologist E.O. Wilson has 

called for the “conservation moonshot” of protecting half of 

the land and the sea. Goals include preventing biodiversity 

loss, solving the climate crisis and preventing pandemics. 

saac benhesed/Unsplash.com 

World Watchers 

Deforestation Alert System 

Mitigates Climate Change 

Deforestation, which contributes to warming the planet, 

is a key factor behind the 40 percent increase in atmospheric 

carbon dioxide since the beginning of the industrial 

age. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, the global average atmospheric 

carbon dioxide concentration in 2018 was 407.4 parts 

per million, higher than it’s been in almost 1 million years. 

Avoiding deforestation is much better than conducting 

reforestation efforts after the fact, and should be a key 

global climate change mitigation strategy, says Jennifer 

Alix-Garcia, a researcher at Oregon State University. 

The Global Land Analysis and Discovery System 

(GLAD), founded in 2016 by the University of Maryland’s 

Department of Geographical Sciences, is based on 

high-resolution satellite imaging from the NASA Landsat 

Science program. Subscribers can access data via a free 

interactive web application, Global Forest Watch. So far, 

forest loss has 

declined 18 percent 

in African nations 

where GLAD 

provided alerts 

when detecting 

deforestation 

activities. Previously, 

government 

agencies 

and other groups 

had to use reports 

from volunteers or 

forest rangers. 

sarah brown/Unsplash.com 


dulcey ima/Unsplash.com 

Wilderness Woes 

National Wildlife Refuges are 

Overwhelmed and Understaffed 

President Theodore Roosevelt designated 

Florida’s Pelican Island as the first unit of what 

would become the National Wildlife Refuge 

System in 1903 to shield brown pelicans from 

hunters. Now, the world’s largest set of 568 

refuges, encompassing 95 million acres dedicated 

to preserving wildlife, is under pressure 

from increasing numbers of visitors, maintenance 

needs and chronic underfunding. The 

system has lost more than 700 staff positions 

since 2011, despite growing by 15 refuges. 

Managers of the system under the authority 

of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 

report that staff morale is low. 

Local conservation nonprofits have stepped 

in with fundraising and volunteers, but the lack 

of resources throughout the refuge system is limiting its capacity to provide 

healthy habitat for birds and other wildlife. Essential infrastructure is crumbling 

and staff can’t provide the community outreach and visitor services they want 

to offer. The FWS oversees 25,000 structures and 14,000 roads, bridges and 

dams. Many of them have fallen into disrepair due to a lack of funding. Advocates 

claim that a remedy will require $900 million per year, while the system’s 

2020 budget was only $502.4 million. 

Honest Ingredients 

Protecting the Organic Marketplace 

Global sales of organic products 

totaled $90 billion in 2017 according 

to the 2018 edition of the study The 

World of Organic Agriculture, published 

by the Research Institute of Organic 

Agriculture and Organics International. 

In the U.S., the figure is $50 

billion, or 5 percent of all grocery store 

sales. Demand for organic products 

is increasing, more farmers cultivate 

organically, more land is certified 

organic and 178 countries report organic farming activities. 

The challenge is to safeguard organic standards from large corporations that 

buy up organic brands and try to weaken U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

requirements. This has led to an erosion of both organic standards and consumer 

trust in the organic labeling of products such as eggs, milk and grains. 

To restore public trust, the Organic Consumers Association is committed to 

exposing the fraudulent players in the organic industry while fighting for stronger 

organic protections. At one time, states could develop their own rules for 

organic food production and processing. But in 1990, Congress passed the 

Organic Foods Production Act, which created the National Organic Program and 

the National Organic Standards Board. Foods labeled USDA Organic are the gold 

standard for health and sustainability. 

kate trysh/Unsplash.com 

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11

eco tip 

The Benefits of Planting Trees 

More Foliage Means Lower Temperatures 

Planting more trees can slow down climate change. Science magazine reports, 

“The restoration of trees remains among the most effective strategies for 

climate change mitigation.” The Arbor Day celebrations this month make it an 

apt time for taking actions that benefit both urban areas and open spaces. 

More than 166,000 square miles of forest habitat—approximately the size 

of California—in the tropics and subtropics have been decimated in the last 

13 years, and about 2.7 million square miles of forest worldwide remain 

threatened, according to a recent study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 

Some major ways to take action include: 

Avoid buying products linked to deforestation. 

Pressure lawmakers to make supply chains sustainable while 

balancing the need for regulation with the concerns of farmers 

and businesses. Urge policymakers to enact zero-deforestation 

policies and bolster the rights and control of forests for local 

communities and indigenous people, says the WWF. 

Donate spare change. By joining Plant Your Change for All 

(PlantYourChange.com), all debit or credit card purchases 

are automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar and the 

balance applied toward planting trees. Working together 

with the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) (ArborDay.org) 

and Eden Reforestation Projects, the initiative has already 

planted more than 3 million trees, offsetting 5 million miles of 

vehicle carbon emissions. 

Become a member of the ADF and receive 10 free trees, along with tree 

nursery discounts; help to qualify a community to receive the Tree City USA 

designation; or get involved with National Arbor Day, generally celebrated 

on the last Friday in April, but observed on different days in some states. The 

organization’s website includes ideas for conducting virtual celebrations 

if local chapters are not holding public events due to the pandemic. Also 

consider participating in other ADF programs such as the Alliance for 

Community Trees and NeighborWoods Month. 

Support the planting of city trees. 

According to a recent study from 

the U.S. Forest Service reported 

in Treehugger.com, the nation’s 

urban canopies, currently home 

to approximately 5.5 billion trees, 

provide roughly $18 billion in annual 

benefits via the removal of pollution 

from the air, carbon sequestration, 

reduced emissions and improved 

energy efficiency in buildings. 

thanamatAdobestock.com 


Courtesy of Russ Henry 

CATCH THE 

SPRING BUZZ 

by Russ Henry 

Spring is in the air and, soon, people will be reconnecting outdoors, smelling flowers 

and hoping to catch sight of bees, birds and butterflies on the breeze. Right now, pollinators 

need a friend, and everyone who has a lawn or landscape can play a critical role 

in uplifting the ecosystem in their own yard. Blooming trees and shrubs, pollinator patches 

and bee-lawns are a few favorite strategies for bringing in the bees. 

Pollinators do a big job that helps the whole planet, but they are facing the threat of 

extinction around the world. Bees and other insects buzz from flower to flower, delivering 

and blending pollen wherever they go. This allows plants to pollinate and make fruit 

and seeds. Without pollinators, we would lose over one-third of the food we eat. 

The state of Minnesota recently named a new State Bee to help bring attention to the 

plight and potential of pollinators. The Rusty Patch bumblebee is facing extinction due to 

habitat loss and widespread pesticide use. As an “indicator species”, we know that if Rusty 

goes, so too will many important pollinators because the plants and strategies that help 

Rusty likely help a big list of other native pollinators, too. 

There are many landscape features that can play critical support roles for pollinators. 

Blooming trees and shrubs like apple, basswood, crabapple, catalpa, dogwood, honey-locust 

and serviceberry are adored by bees and butterflies. Plant trees with compost and wood 

mulch also support their establishment. 

Pollinator patches are another perfect way to provide a happy place for beneficial 

insects. Plants like meadow blazing-star, Joe Pye weed and milkweed are mega-monarch 

magnets that will bring in droves of butterflies. Asters, bee balm and calamintha will feed 

honeybees and bumblebees throughout the growing season. 

Early spring is the perfect time to plan for a plentiful season of pollinator protection. 

Making plant lists, prepping sites and soils, signing up for garden coaching sessions and 

spreading compost are excellent early spring activities to keep gardeners buzzing until planting 

time. A strong pollinator patch plant list will include a wide variety of native plants that 

will bloom throughout the growing season. Spring is also the perfect time to start a new 

compost bin so the compost will be ready to spread by fall. Compost helps plants grow and 

bloom, and provides more support for Rusty and all his friends. 

Bee-lawns are causing a buzz in neighborhoods across Minnesota. Developed by pollinator 

advocates and championed by the University of Minnesota, bee-lawns are a low maintenance 

replacement for regular grass lawns. Filled with blooming, ground-cover flowers and 

short, native fescue grasses, bee-lawns support pollinators and people. Bees, butterflies and 

other pollinators can find the delicious nectar they need in a bee-lawn, and people save time 

and money because bee-lawns don’t need to be mowed. 

Local vendors have started selling beelawn 

seed mix and some landscape contractors 

offer bee-lawn installations. Starting 

a bee-lawn is easy with the right seed mix. 

The best bee-lawn seed mixes contain Dutch 

white clover, self-heal, creeping thyme, and 

four types of fescue grass, including sheep, 

hard, chewing and creeping red fescues. 

Together, this mix feeds over 80 species of 

Minnesota native bees. 

There are rapid and moderately paced 

methods for transitioning to a bee- lawn. 

Tools for the job include shovels, a sod 

cutter, a seed spreader, and a core aerator 

machine, all of which can be rented locally. 

For a rapid transition, strip away existing 

grass with a shovel or sod cutter. Aerate 

the ground thoroughly, spread bee-lawn 

seed and compost, and cover with a seed 

blanket. For a more moderate approach, 

aerate and overseed into existing lawns 

three times per season. Spring, late summer 

and early fall are the best times to overseed 

with bee-lawn mix. 

Bee-lawns transform outdoor spaces 

and grow health for the whole community. 

Pesticides and synthetic fertilizers can be 

avoided entirely, lawn mowers can go to 

rust, and pollinators are supported with 

all-season blooms after a lawn has been 

transitioned from conventional maintenance 

practices into a beautiful bee-lawn. 

This spring, Rusty Patch and his pollinator 

pals will be drawn into yards with 

abundant blooms from a variety of native 

plants, especially where large trees and 

shrubs are covered in flowers. Homeowners 

who want to see the most enchanting bugs 

that nature ever invented can start planning 

now to provide a peaceful place for pollinators 

to play in their own landscape. 

Russ Henry is a naturalist, 

gardener, soil health specialist, 

educator, and owner of 

Minnehaha Falls Landscaping. 

As a Certified Soil Life 

Consultant, he scientifically 

explores and supports soil health—the 

foundation for beauty and productivity in all 

landscapes. Henry has a passionate commitment 

to protecting and growing ecosystems 

across Minnesota. For more information, visit 

MinnehahaFallsLandscape.com. 


13

CLIMATE CHANGE 

AND OUR HEALTH 

The Human Costs 

of a Warming Planet 

by Sandra Yeyati 

cottonbro/Pexels.com 

Global warming is not just threatening polar bears far away in the Arctic, and its 

effects are not somewhere in the distant future. With every new wildfire, hurricane 

and flash flood, people are understanding that the warming of the planet 

poses dire consequences for human health right here, right now. It’s personal, and while 

some sectors of the population are unfairly and disproportionately impacted, we are all 

in harm’s way. 

This is no time to panic, say climate 

and public health advocates, but rather a 

moment for preparation, adaptation and 

mobilization. Prospects are hopeful as we 

tackle new realities together and evolve our 

conversations about climate change so we 

can build resilient, thriving communities. 

The good news is that many of the individual 

and policy changes we need to make 

are exciting opportunities for positive 

transformation and justice. 

usgs/Unsplash.com 

Health Threats in Our Midst 

The warming of the planet is becoming 

more noticeable. “That historic two weeks 

anywhere in the United States where it’s 

the heat wave of high summer is now six 

weeks to two months,” says Jay Lemery, 

M.D., professor of emergency medicine at 

the University of Colorado and co-author 

of Enviromedics: The Impact of Climate 

Change on Human Health. “There are parts 

of the Middle East now where you can’t be 

outside and meaningfully cool your body 

during certain parts of the day.” 

“With warming, we’re seeing drought, 

wildfires, hurricanes, extreme precipitation, 

flooding and sea level rise, all of 

which have health consequences,” says 

Surili Patel, director of the Center for Climate, 

Health and Equity at the American 

Public Health Association. “With rising 

temperature and heat waves, we’re seeing 

heat stroke, dehydration, diarrheal disease, 

cardiovascular distress and respiratory 

illnesses. Extreme weather like wildfires, 

hurricanes and flooding cause direct injuries, 

as well as vector-borne illnesses (Lyme 


disease carried by ticks or dengue fever 

and malaria by mosquitoes), mold and 

harmful algal blooms that happen when it’s 

really hot, but also show up in places that 

otherwise wouldn’t have because of the 

combination of heat and flooding.” 

Lemery notes that incidences of mosquito- 

and tick-borne diseases are moving 

higher in altitude and latitude, affecting 

historically naive populations that have 

not had levels of disease immunity, the 

infrastructure or cultural habits to protect 

them. “These are huge killers worldwide, 

and we’re seeing more and more of that,” 

he says. 

“When you have a warmer winter, spring 

starts earlier, trees bloom early and pollen 

season starts early too, and longer exposure 

to pollen increases your risk of having an 

asthma attack,” says Professor Amir Sapkota 

at the University of Maryland School 

of Public Health, adding that the Northeast 

is heavily impacted by this phenomenon. 

“Here in Colorado, in the summer heat, 

we have these huge swaths of wildfire 

smoke hanging over Denver, and people 

come in to the emergency department. 

Their inhalers aren’t working anymore, and 

they’re having chest pain and shortness of 

breath when they’re on oxygen at baseline,” 

says Lemery. “These are people normally 

able to walk across a parking lot with their 

walker and their oxygen, but now they 

can’t. We see this all summer long, and 

we admit them for asthma exacerbation, 

shortness of breath and COPD (i.e., emphysema), 

but what we don’t write down is 

that the air quality is the worst it’s been all 

year, or that it’s the hottest day of the year.” 

“Air pollution contributes to climate 

change, but it also gets into your lungs 

and irritates them, exacerbating chronic 

respiratory illnesses, and can even lead to a 

heart attack,” says Jennifer Roberts, director 

of the Path of Positive Communities 

program at EcoAmerica, noting that the 

biggest culprits are carbon emissions from 

coal-burning power plants, diesel fuels and 

ground-level ozone, which is created when 

pollution reacts to heat and sunlight. 

“With sea level rise, things are flooding 

more often and we get septic tanks 

overflowing, sending fecal matter into 

our drinking water supplies and expos- 

OSORIOartist/AdobeStock.com 


15

ing us to diarrheal diseases. We also see 

offices and industrial sites getting flooded 

and, whether it’s paint, fertilizers or other 

toxins, those get into our water and it’s very 

unhealthy,” Roberts says. 

The Most Vulnerable Among Us 

Certain segments of the population are 

more at risk. “Lower socioeconomic groups 

are suffering more from extreme heat 

events. The urban heat island effect, which 

unfortunately correlates very well with 

poorer neighborhoods, means that they’ll 

have heat waves seven to 10 degrees hotter 

in their neighborhoods than surrounding 

places with more green space,” Lemery says. 

“You see the public health infrastructure less 

robust to be able to attend to communities 

of color—like you saw with COVID. There 

are also physiologic vulnerabilities. Climate 

change affects the very young, the very old 

and the very sick much more because of 

their preexisting vulnerabilities, and then 

we have geographic vulnerabilities—people 

who live on the coast without sea walls or 

in flood plains. As sea level rise proliferates, 

and that data is really straightforward, 

they’re going to be going under increased 

storm surge stress and flat-out flooding.” 

Achievable Public 

Health Solutions 

The experts agree that it’s important to 

frame climate change as a public health 

issue because it brings a sense of urgency 

to act. “If it isn’t a crisis, if it isn’t something 

we’re seeing every day on the front page, 

then you forget about it. And when you 

forget about it, the funding doesn’t come,” 

says Patel, whose work focuses on underprivileged 

communities that need special 

attention and funding. 

Sapkota advocates for the development 

of early warning systems so that 

local health departments can anticipate 

and adapt to impending extreme weather 

events, directing resources to the most 

impacted and vulnerable communities. In 

some cases, moving people out of flood 

plains and vulnerable coastal areas through 

eminent domain might be needed. 

Lemery believes that doctors are in a 

prime position to counsel their patients 

on preventive measures against climate 

tomas anunziata/Pexels.com 

hazards with “credible messaging repeated 

over and over again with clarity and no 

hedging: Wear a mask. Stay indoors during 

high-heat events. Don’t let children play 

outdoors when the air quality index is at a 

dangerous level.” 

There are many ways to mitigate threats. 

As experts point out, we know what to 

do, and it’s just a matter of putting our 

attention and resources on their implementation. 

“One of the biggest ways is let’s 

remove the sources of harmful spewing 

pollution—move away from coal, oil and 

gas—and invest in clean sources of energy, 

which will also create jobs in these new 

industries,” says Patel. 

Another big step would be to promote 

mass transit and active transportation— 

walking and biking—over individual, gasguzzling 

vehicles. Patel advocates for local 

investments in bike lanes and sidewalks 

that encourage the switch. Both Lemery 

and Roberts express excitement about 

clean-running electric cars as potential 

game-changers in transportation. 

Planting trees and vegetable gardens are 

easy, community-building solutions. “Trees 

are very beneficial to everything from 

shade to water filtration to producing oxygen 

and taking up carbon,” says Roberts, 

who adds that much can be done to restore 

and protect streams, ponds and lakes from 

the ill effects of pollution and development. 

“You get volunteers to clean up the gunk 

and increase regulations for developers to 

keep stuff out of the waterways.” 

Eco-Anxiety and Making 

Positive Change 

Jessica Schiff, a second-year master of 

science student at the Harvard University 

T.H. Chan School of Public Health, struggles 

with eco-anxiety—the depression, 

anxiety or dread associated with climate 

change. She says, “It impacts the decisions I 

make for my life and the future, just trying 

to think about overall impacts. Where is 

my food coming from? Do I want to have 

kids or adopt? Should I live in the suburbs 

or the city because of transportation and 

fossil fuel consumption? This all adds a 

layer of unease or uncertainty about the 

future. Sometimes I look at Greta [Thunberg] 

and how far she’s taken things, and 

feel guilty about not taking things to such an 

extreme. Is it hypocritical for me to care about 

climate change but still eat meat occasionally 

or take a plane to explore the world?” 

Schiff deals with eco-anxiety by taking 

action. “We’re not going to reverse climate 

change at this point, but that doesn’t mean 

that we shouldn’t take steps to slow it down 

or reduce emissions. There are many small 

things we can each do, like biking or walking 

instead of taking a car or bus and reducing 

our use of plastic. It’s a process. You 

can’t do it overnight, but if you make a lot 

of small changes, and if everybody makes 

small changes, that has a bigger effect.” 

Roberts acknowledges the power of 

small, individual actions, but stresses that 

we should not let the big polluters off the 

hook. “We need to continue to press for 

policy changes, holding polluters accountable, 

passing regulations based on protecting 

human health and climate, requiring 

cleaner cars and buildings, and more. 

That’s the only way we will get to the scale 

of change needed to truly bring global 

warming to a halt.” 

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. 

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com. 


©Antonioguillem 

Understanding 

Hard Flaccid 

A 

recent webinar by Herman & Wallace 

Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute 

entitled “Sexual Medicine in Pelvic 

Rehab” featured the most current information 

on pelvic conditions, including Chronic 

Pelvic Pain Syndromes (CPPS). One 

syndrome, Hard Flaccid (HF), is so new to 

the medical world that most physicians have 

not heard of it. Indeed, a quick search on 

PubMed reaps only four research studies— 

all completed in 2020. Urology News in the 

UK published an article in November 2018, 

but people have been talking about it in chat 

rooms since around 2015. 

HF may be mistaken for the more 

common Peyronie’s syndrome. They both 

share some symptoms such as pain, erectile 

dysfunction, loss of girth and shortening 

of the penis, and possible curvature of the 

penis. Whereas Peyronie’s tends to occur in 

the person’s 50s or 60s, caused by a build-up 

of scar tissue around the erectile tissue in the 

penis and a possible genetic propensity, HF 

happens to men in their 20s and 30s with 

unknown etiology, although they almost 

always have a history of trauma to the penis. 

The name reflects the decreased blood 

flow to the area, causing the flaccid penis 

to remain partially hard. Men with HF 

by Melissa Cathcart 

also have decreased urine flow, sensory 

changes in the penis (numbness, tingling), 

constant cramping in the pelvis, and the 

glans remains flaccid during erection. Deformities 

such as indentations, hour-glass 

figure or a narrowed band toward the base 

sometimes occur. 

Chronic pain causes psycho-emotional 

issues for an individual such as 

depression and anxiety. It may interfere 

Meditation 

of the Month: 

April Blog Posts: 

https://AnnetteRugolo.com/blog/ 

Abundance Meditation: 

https://wwwannette.studio/ 

Abundance-Meditation 

Download this meditation to: 

Abundance 

• Receive more abundance in your life 

• Release blockages that prevent you from 

receiving abundance 

with sexual pleasure, erode self-esteem or 

decrease quality of life. A good support 

system, regular exercise and good sleep architecture 

are essential to maintaining the 

rhythms of life that will help manage daily 

stress that can exacerbate chronic pain. 

For those who feel they may have HF, 

get help immediately. While it is never too 

late to seek out assistance, chronic pain is 

harder to treat the longer it is left untreated. 

A pelvic floor specialist can administer acupuncture, 

biofeedback or cognitive behavioral 

therapy. Instruction in meditation/mindfulness 

techniques and breathing techniques 

will likely be given in order to down-regulate 

the nervous system. A plan of stress reduction 

will be discussed with a therapist who 

may also instruct how to use a pelvic wand 

for myofascial release and give exercises to 

perform at home. Medications or surgery are 

rarely required for CPPS conditions. 

While there is much more to be 

learned about this particular disorder, HF 

can be treated now within the parameters 

of CPPS. There is hope and there are men 

who are finding lasting relief from this pain. 

Melissa Cathcart is a 

licensed acupuncturist, 

manual therapist, corrective 

exercise specialist and pelvic 

floor specialist working out 

of South Minneapolis. For 

more information, call 612-735-9993 or visit 

DynamicFunctionalHealing.com. See ad, 

page 8. 

AnnetteRugolo.com 


17

green living 

Healthy Home 

How to Detoxify a Living Space 

by Yvette Hammett 

As the world moves into its second year of a viral pandemic, 

many of us are still spending most of our time at 

home—working, exercising, hanging out with family and 

as with any other year, cooking and cleaning. There’s no better 

time to take stock of these surroundings and purge them of any 

toxins—gases, inhalants or fumes—that may be contributing to a 

harmful environment. 

tatiana/Pexels.com 

Start with the air. Research shows that indoor air is two to five 

times more toxic than the air outside, due to inadequate ventilation. 

This condition, coupled with fumes from synthetic fibers, 

makeup, paints, cleansers or even a baby’s plastic toys, can 

contribute to health issues and a less environmentally beneficial 

abode. A straightforward solution—in addition to getting rid 

of the pollution-causing objects—is to open the windows and 

use fans to recirculate the air. A high-efficiency particulate air 

(HEPA) filter can safely remove many contaminants, but don’t 

spritz a commercial air freshener: A University of Washington 

study found that eight widely used air fresheners released an 

average of 18 chemicals into the air, some of them hazardous, 

including the likely human carcinogen acetaldehyde. 

Purge plastics. Perfluorinated compounds PFAS and PFOS, 

known as “forever chemicals”, are found in nonstick cookware, 

Coming Next Month 

MAY 

Top Women’s 

Health Concerns 

Plus: Sustainable Fashion 


water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant 

fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, and 

products that resist grease, water and oil. 

They have been found to cause a wide 

range of health problems from kidney and 

testicular cancers to endocrine disruptions. 

Consider doing a clean sweep of the 

house to determine which of these can be 

replaced, paying special attention to plastics. 

“If you really limit plastics to a few 

things, you are fine,” says Heather Patisaul, 

Ph.D., a neuroscience and toxicology expert 

at North Carolina State University. 

Reconsider kitchenware. Eliminate all 

nonstick cookware, Patisaul advises. “Use 

ceramic and other materials that do not 

have perfluorinated chemicals.” 

Debbie Steinbock, a nutrition counselor 

at Mindful Family Medical, in 

Boulder, Colorado, suggests replacing 

plastic storage containers, which can 

leach chemicals when heated. “Use a cast 

iron skillet and use glass jars and mason 

jars for food storage.” 

Chuck out toxic cleaners. Many commercial 

kitchen, bathroom and other 

cleaning products are loaded with chemicals 

linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive 

disorders, hormone disruption and neurotoxicity. 

They can be particularly toxic 

for children: A recent Canadian study 

found that repeated use of a disinfectant 

reduced beneficial gut bacteria in toddlers, 

probably contributing to obesity. A good 

place to start in cleaning out the cleaners 

is at the Environmental Working Group 

(EWG) website ewg.org; its Healthy Living 

Home Guide evaluates the health risks of 

2,500 cleaning products. It also advises a 

simple strategy of using vinegar and water 

or baking soda. 

Get the lead out. Andrew Rooney, deputy 

director at the National Toxicology Program 

of the National Institute of Environmental 

Health Sciences, sees lead, which 

causes brain damage and other serious 

defects, as a major risk present in water 

supplies and the paint of older homes. 

“The thing I want to emphasize is there is 

no safe level of lead exposure, so eliminating 

exposure sources is the best protection 

for your health,” he says. 

Drinking water contamination comes from the distribution lines and plumbing fixtures, 

with lead leaching out from repairs or adjustments. “Having your household water 

tested by a certified lab is the best option to determine if you have water issues,” he says. 

Consult state and local health agencies for guidance on lead paint or lead in the water 

lines and how to remove it. Also consider a water filter: ConsumerReports.com has a comprehensive 

rating of models from pitchers to under-sink setups. 

Take it a step further. The new EWG downloadable Healthy Living app makes it easy to 

use a smartphone to check out 120,000 products for toxic ingredients, including cosmetics 

and foods. “It has a barcode scanner to scan your favorite lipstick or shampoo, and 

it will pop up an ingredient list and give it a score,” says Patisaul. The database includes 

ingredients not found on packaging and scores products on a zero to 10 scale. “It pretty 

much has to be water to get a zero,” she says. 

Yvette Hammett is an environmental writer based in Valrico, Florida. She can be contacted 

at YvetteHammettHull49@gmail.com. 

Kari Seaverson DDS 

John Seaverson DDS 

The Earth is what we all 

have in common. 

~Wendell Berry 

Tooth by the Lake 

HOLISTIC GENERAL DENTISTRY 

Experience healthier dentistry 

1401 Mainstreet 

Hopkins, MN 55343 

952-475-1101 

ToothByTheLake.net 

be pure. be natural. be you 

HALAL BEAUTY & WELLNESS 

WWW.SILKROADWELLNESS.COM 


19

healthy kids 

Nature to the 

Rescue 


by Ronica O’Hara 

As Angela Hanscom of Barrington, New Hampshire, watched her preschool 

daughters at play, she realized that a surprising number of their friends had 

problems with balance, coordination and muscle weakness, conditions she was 

attuned to as a pediatric occupational therapist. Teachers told her that compared to past 

years, young children were falling out of chairs and bumping into each other and walls 

more often—all evidence of poor proprioceptive skills, the “sixth sense” ability to feel and 

position the body in space. 

Hanscom also realized that almost none of the children played outdoors, which “fascinated 

and scared” her. Nationwide, even before the lockdowns and online schooling 

image courtesy of Meraiko 

brought on by the pandemic, the average 

child spent seven hours per day looking 

at screens and only seven minutes per day 

playing freely outdoors. Recent studies 

show that today’s children have poorer 

hand grip strength, slower running speeds 

and lower cardiovascular fitness levels 

than previous generations. Meanwhile, a 

growing body of research finds that spending 

time in nature makes kids happier, 

healthier and more functional. 

Hanscom’s solution was to establish 

TimberNook, camps in which children 

from 18 months to 14 years of age are 

encouraged to explore natural settings in 

imaginative, largely unstructured, minimally 

supervised play. Now in its eighth 

year, 38 TimberNook-affiliated camps are 

located in the U.S., Canada, the UK and 

Australia. Hanscom’s book, Balanced and 

Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play 

Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable 

Children, has garnered more than 300 fivestar 

reviews on Amazon.com. 

“Children thrive physically, mentally and 

emotionally when they are given frequent 

outdoor play experiences, especially with 

other children. When children do not get 

enough of these opportunities, it comes at 

a great cost to their development,” she says. 

Journalist Richard Louv, author of the 

seminal Last Child in the Woods, agrees. 

“The scientists who study the human 

senses no longer talk about five senses, 

they list conservatively nine or 10, and 

some believe that humans have as many as 

30 senses,” he says. “Yet today, children and 

adults who work and learn in a dominating 

digital environment expend enormous 

energy blocking out many of the human 

senses—including ones we don’t even 

know we have—to focus narrowly on the 

screen in front of the eyes. That’s the very 

definition of being less alive. What parent 

wants his or her child to be less alive? Who 

among us wants to be less alive?” 

That dawning realization is motivating 

parents and teachers to find ways to 

get their children actively involved with 

nature in ways that open their senses 

while also moving their bodies. This often 

means hitting the local trails and nature 

preserves, sometimes with binoculars, 

bug jars, bird and plant guides and a 


scavenger list in hand. “‘Hiking’ can be 

a bit of a drag to young children, but 

‘exploring’ (while still hiking) helps open 

their minds to the beauty and wonder of 

the outdoors,” says Tanya Gray of Woodstock, 

Georgia, a homeschooling blogger 

at TwoPineAdventure.com. 

To improve kids’ hearing, Lilach Saperstein, 

an Israeli audiologist who hosts the 

podcast All About Audiology, asks children 

to close their eyes and describe only what 

they hear. “The wind, the rustle of leaves, a 

running water stream, crickets, birds, their 

own breathing, the swish of their sleeve 

or pant—this is a great way to introduce 

mindfulness, as well.” 

To awaken sight, sound and smell, Boston 

plein air artist Diana Stelin hands kids 

paper and art supplies out in nature. “Allowing 

kids to sit with sounds around them 

and with smells of various seasons makes 

them truly feel part of our grand universe. 

It also allows their minds to quiet down 

and reset, making them pay more attention 

to detail, to their inner landscapes and to 

people around them.” 

To engage the sense of taste, Malorie 

Thompson, editor of TheVeganInsider.com, 

takes her children foraging for edible 

plants on treasure hunts on a trail or 

around their Northern California neighborhood. 

She says, “Bonus activity: use the 

foraged food to make a meal afterward!” 

Most of all, nature should be both physical 

and fun. “Point excitedly at the full moon, 

shout at it and say hello. Pick up leaves and 

chestnuts and rocks and create beautiful art 

together. Stop to smell the twigs and flowers 

and roll on the grass—who can make 

it faster down the hill? Make sandcastles 

and animals. Tie colorful ribbons on tree 

branches. Look for the shapes of animals in 

the clouds,” says Milana Perepyolkina, of 

Salt Lake City, who wrote about forest bathing 

in Gypsy Energy Secrets. 

“The only way to get your children to 

be excited about nature is for you to be 

excited about nature first,” she notes. 

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be 

reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com. 

Family Time in the Woods 

Richard Louv, a prominent nature writer and a co-founder of The Children & Nature 

Network (C&NN), offers 500 ways for families and communities to connect to the 

natural world in his book Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life. Here are 

more wise words. 

Be a hummingbird parent. One parent says, “In the range from helicopter to neglect—I 

probably fall a bit more toward helicopter. In fact, I call myself a hummingbird 

parent. I tend to stay physically distant to let them explore and problem-solve, but 

zoom in at moments when safety is an issue (which isn’t very often).” Notice that she 

isn’t hovering over her kids with nature flash cards. She stands back and makes space 

for independent nature play—albeit not as free as she experienced as a child; this play 

is important, nonetheless. 

Create or join a family nature club. Nature clubs for families are beginning to catch 

on across the country; some have membership lists of 400-plus families. The idea is 

that multiple families meet to go for a hike, garden together or even do stream reclamation. 

We hear from family nature club leaders that when families get together, the kids 

tend to play more creatively—with other kids or independently—than during singlefamily 

outings. C&NN’s Nature Clubs for Families offers a free downloadable guide on 

how to start your own. 

Get the safety information you need. Become familiar with good resources for safety 

tips in the outdoors, including those with information on how to guard against ticks. 

Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s cdc.gov. AudubonPortland.org 

offers tips on living with a variety of urban wildlife. 

Dentistry: Are You Missing Vital Information? 

Avoid Putting Toxic Materials In Your Mouth / Body! 

Doctors have said, “99% of Disease Starts In The Mouth,” How Is Your Oral Health? 

Holistic Dentistry is an 

important component in ANY 

health & wellness program 

An approach to dentistry that 

promotes health and wellness instead 

of only treating “dis”ease. 

Call or visit our website for more info: (715) 426-7777 

Dr. Laughlin has spent thousands of hours 

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21

healing ways 

Breathe Easy 

Natural Remedies for Allergy Woes 

by Ronica O’Hara 

As the one in five Americans suffering from allergic rhinitis can miserably testify, 

the fragrant breezes of spring aren’t much fun when they bring on sneezing, 

coughing, watery eyes and a runny nose. The fifth-most common chronic disease 

in the country, allergic rhinitis—also known as hay fever—is aggravated in spring by rising 

pollen levels, but can occur year-round from exposure to mold, household dust mites, 

pet dander and vehicular air pollution. 

Common remedies like over-the-counter 

antihistamines and decongestants bring 

their own share of afflictions, including 

drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision and 

dizziness. “By undertaking natural therapy 

for allergies, however, one can avoid and 

mitigate the unpleasant symptoms of allergies 

with no need for medication,” says 

Carrie Lam, M.D., an integrative and functional 

medicine doctor in Tustin, California. 

“Instead of loading up on drugs, you 

can take care of yourself in a more natural 

way and avoid nasty side effects.” Here are 

some non-pharmaceutical approaches. 

Probiotics: In a 173-person, double-blind 

study, a probiotic blend of Lactobacillus 

gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterum bifidum 

G9-1 and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2 

lowered hay fever symptoms and improved 

participants’ quality of life during allergy 

season, report University of Florida researchers 

in the American Journal of Clinical 

Nutrition. (Read labels to locate these 

strains in yogurts, kefirs and supplements.) 

Sublingual Immunotherapy: To desensitize 

the body, small amounts of specific 

allergens in the form of tablets or liquid 

drops are placed under the tongue, making 

it a gentler and safer process than allergy 

shots. Numerous studies have shown it to 

be safe and efficient in the treatment of 

respiratory tract allergies, reports JoAnn 

Yanez, ND, executive director of the 

Association of Accredited Naturopathic 

Medical Colleges (AANMC). After getting 

a diagnosis and a first dose from a health 

practitioner, the tablets or drops can be 

taken at home. 

laura negrato/AdobeStock.com 

Quercetin: Found naturally in apples, 

berries, red grapes, red onions, red wine 

and black tea, this antioxidant inhibits the 

release of histamine and hampers the IgE 

antibodies formed during allergic reactions. 

As a 400-milligram (mg) supplement, 

it takes about a month to kick in. 

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): When 

freeze-dried as an extract or used as a tea, 

this prickly roadside weed is a nontoxic 


natural antihistamine. In one study, 58 percent of participants 

found that 300 mg per day relieved their symptoms. 

Omega-3s: Anti-inflammatory fatty acids found in such foods as 

tuna, salmon, walnuts and flaxseed oil can help reduce symptoms, 

research suggests. In a Japanese study, eating fish lowered 

respiratory symptoms for women, while fast food and sugary 

drinks worsened respiratory stress. 

75 th 

th ANNIVERSARY! 

Nasal Rinse: Using a neti pot with saline solution to rinse allergens 

out of nasal passages provides quick relief for stuffy, runny, 

irritated noses. In one study, people using them reported a 64 

percent improvement in chronic sinus symptoms and a better 

quality of life. An ancient Ayurveda technique popularized by 

Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz, the pots cost about $20 in pharmacies. 

Nasal sprays, although easier to use initially, aren’t as effective, 

studies show. 

Unpasteurized Honey: “Local honey contains tiny amounts of 

pollen from nearby flowers, which can make you less sensitive 

when you’re exposed to them outdoors,” says chiropractor and 

nutritionist Josh Axe, Nashville-based author of Ancient Remedies. 

A Malaysian study of 40 hay fever sufferers found that high 

doses of local honey, taken along with an antihistamine, reduced 

sneezing and nasal decongestion more effectively than the antihistamine 

alone. 

Acupuncture: Based on established research, the American 

Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 

recommends acupuncture for hay fever patients that want to 

avoid pharmaceuticals. 

Homeopathy: To stimulate the body’s natural healing process, 

homeopathy uses highly diluted doses of herbs and other substances. 

Although it’s best to work with a homeopath, two helpful 

remedies commonly found in health food stores are Allium cepa 

30C, for watery eyes, sneezing and a runny or irritated nose; and 

Kali bichromicum 30C, for persistent sinus congestion with thick 

nasal discharge. 

Anti-Allergen Cleaning: Simple steps recommended by 

AANMC to lower airborne allergens include using a highefficiency 

particulate air (HEPA) filter in the vacuum cleaner; 

replacing AC filters frequently; changing out of clothes and 

showering when coming in from the outdoors to rinse off pollen; 

leaving shoes outside; changing the air filter in the car; and 

avoiding toxic inhalants with synthetic ingredients like perfumes, 

body sprays, scented candles, room sprays, air fresheners and 

dryer sheets. 

Ronica O’Hara, a natural health writer, can be reached at 

OHaraRonica@gmail.com. 

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23

natural pet 

Feathered 

Friends 

The Pros and Cons of 

Keeping Birds as Pets 

by Julie Peterson 

Kata May is a 

30-inch-tall, 

blue-and-gold 

macaw. “It’s nice to 

come home and 

have a conversation 

with a snuggly 

bird,” says Joshua Luther, 

who took over care of the avian 

when he was 13 years old and she was 

11. Now 17 years later, Kata May holds 

a commanding presence in Luther’s 

home in Columbus, Wisconsin. “She’s set 

up where our dining room should be, so my wife 

and I can sit and talk or play with her.” 

Luther notes that the cherished pet has a bit of a temper and can 

bend the bars on her $1,000 cage if she’s bored or angry. Considering the bird has a bite 

force of 1,800 pounds per square inch, it’s sensible to keep her happy, which could be for 

another 50 years. 

Complex Commitment 

Birds follow only dogs and cats as the country’s favorite companion animals, according to 

the American Veterinary Medical Association. Lovebirds, budgies and canaries have an average 

lifespan of eight or more years, but can live to be 20. Typically, larger birds live longer. 

Because it’s common for birds to outlive their owners, the Avian Welfare Coalition, based 

in St. Paul, Minnesota, helps ensure these pets are included in wills and estate planning. 

Birds need to chew, and if they play outside their cages, must be kept away from hazardous 

items. Besides droppings, birds also create dander and dust. “Cleaning her cage and the 

room is a two-hour project every week,” says Luther. 

There’s also the potty mouth. Kata May learned some unsavory phrases from her previous 

owner. She sometimes screams, “Shut the hell up!” or, “Turn that #@%&ing thing up!” 

to get the TV at the desired volume. 

Babette de Jongh, an animal communicator and romance author in Bay Minette, Alabama, 

once knew a bird that routinely screamed, “Fire!” resulting in 911 calls. 

“Birds can be loud,” says de Jongh. “They generally try to be louder than the ambient 

noise in the room.” 

Luther agrees, saying, “You can hear my bird yell from a city block away.” 

Happy and Healthy 

Talking birds are delightful. Some mimic 

human language, others understand word 

meanings and use them appropriately. 

“Birds are as intelligent as a young child 

and as emotionally temperamental as a 

toddler,” says Mary Miller, who has raised 

budgies and the small- to medium-sized 

parrots known as conures at her home in 

Buffalo and has worked with other birds 

in rescue facilities. 

Luther agrees that birds don’t just 

mimic what they hear. “They understand 

like a 2- to 3-year-old child. When we are 

cooking dinner, she will ask, ‘For me?’ or, 

‘Can I have some?’” 

Kata May also articulates her fondness 

for the pizza delivery person with, “I love 

you!” Then, “Mmmmmm, thank you,” in 

anticipation of a treat. 

Even without words, birds are excellent 

companions. “If raised correctly and interacted 

with on a regular basis, birds can 

be very affectionate. They are highly intelligent 

and social animals, so they form 

deep and lasting bonds with humans,” 

says de Jongh. 

Nutrition is key to a raising a bird. 

Leslie Moran, a Reno-based holistic 

animal nutrition and care consultant, 

is working to end avian malnutrition 

through the Healthy Bird Project, which 

conducts nutritional research on exotic 

species. Traditional grain and seed mixes 

lack essential nutrients and contribute to 

unbalanced protein intake for caged and 

companion birds. Moran’s goal is to move 

passakorn/AdobeStock.com 


the food industry toward the inclusion of 

more wholesome choices. “Fresh fruits 

and vegetables can be purchased at the 

grocery store, but parrots need specific, 

high-quality, tropical bird food, which 

can be hard to find,” says Luther. 

Keeping a tropical animal healthy also 

requires bathing, temperature control, 

clean air and water, exercise and mental 

stimulation. Costs vary. Owning a small 

parakeet could include the purchase 

or adoption price ($12 to $65); cage 

($30 and up); food; toys; and checkups 

(typically less than $200 a year). A large 

macaw might cost $500 to $5,000. Supplies, 

food and vet care could top $2,000 

the first year. 

Don’t Shop, Adopt 

Birds are available from breeders and 

pet stores, but there are many needing 

adoption. Sanctuaries struggle to care 

for animals with such long lifespans and 

complex needs, including diet, space, 

intellectual stimulation and emotional 

bonding. Lacking proper care, birds may 

develop mental illness and pluck out 

feathers or bite, but happy birds can be 

snuggly, social and fun. 

Rosemary Wellner, of Mountainside, 

New Jersey, has owned parakeets, cockatiels 

and lovebirds. Currently, she has two 

parrots, the oldest is 24. “Many people do 

not understand… but birds feel true attraction 

for their companions—and who 

doesn’t want to be loved?” she says. 

Julie Peterson is a health and wellness writer. 

Reach out at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com. 

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25

calendar of events 

WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 31–MAY 19 

Women Transform Their Bodies from The Inside 

Out – 5:30-7:30pm. This eight-week, holistic, live virtual 

workshop seeks to bring you back into balance and 

empowers you to reclaim your true, natural, feminine 

beauty. From a place of compassion and acceptance, 

you can change your relationship with your body, and 

change your life—by going deep within, listening to 

the wisdom of your body, and taking care of yourself. 

You’ll learn to address your underlying needs and 

meet the hunger that resides in your soul. Cost: $599. 

BarbaraBrodsho.com/A-Holistic-Approach-To- 

Honor-Your-Body. See ad, page 8. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 10 

Beyond Soul Food: How Did We Get Here? – 

12-2pm. As we experiment together with soul food 

recipes, we’ll dig a little deeper to uncover the relationship 

between this history and its connection to our 

overall food system, culture, power, our health and 

the impacts therein. Free. Online. MSMarket.coop. 

featured event 

Your Open Channel 

Workshop with Nea Clare 

Developing and refining intuitive gifts 

can be challenging, but even more so 

when you are trying to do it on your 

own. Beginning April 16, Nea Clare is 

offering Your Open Channel, a fiveweek 

intuition development workshop 

for individuals who are already aware 

of and have started to work with their 

intuitive gifts and want to explore it 

deeper. Each session will include guidance 

shared by Clare, group practice, 

other sharing and discussion. 

April 11, 18, 25, May 2 and 16 

6-8pm. 

NeaClareScheduling.as.me/OpenChannel. 

See ad, page 3. 

THURSDAYS, APRIL 15-29 

How to Meet a Fairy – 7-8:30pm. Are you being 

called to heal and to reawaken your connection to 

Mother Earth? Are you ready to make a conscious 

connection with your earth guides and elementals? 

in this three-week webinar, you will connect with 

your personal earth guides, learn about your body 

elemental and how you can work together for the 

healing of your body, experience individual and 

group healings to release karmic energy that created 

separation, and more. $98. AnnetteRugolo. 

com. See ad, page 17. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 

Harmonic Alignment Forum with the H.A.O. 

– 6:30-8:30pm. 2021 is going to be a year of acclimating 

to a new way of being. We have crossed 

the threshold into the Aquarian Age and are now 

attuning to the Harmonic consciousness (Divine 

Feminine). The Harmonic Alignment Forum 

is a monthly channeled lesson by The H.A.O. 

(Harmonic Alignment in Oneness) as channeled 

through Nea Clare. Participants will be invited to 

join a guided meditation, receive sacred teachings 

and join in the open Q &A. $44. NeaClare.com/ 

events. See ad, page 30. 

featured event 

Discover Your Highest 

Purpose 

Sri Harold Klemp, the spiritual leader 

of Eckankar, shares wisdom through 

stories and spiritual insights that bring 

meaning, connection and humor to the 

workings of Spirit in everyday life. 

Fridays at 7pm 

Watch on Channel 6 or via MCN6.org 

For more information, visit Eckankar.org, 

TempleofECK.org or Facebook.com/ 

Eckankar. See ad, page 3. 

save the dates 

FRIDAY, MAY 7 

10th Anniversary Midwest Women’s Herbal 

Conference: Healing the Earth, the People and the 

Plants – May 7-9. Keynote speaker Rosemary Gladstar 

and many other amazing herbalists and healers. 

Enjoy a healing community and rich learning 

environments as well as an artisan marketplace and 

more. Early registration discount available until Apr 

1. MidwestWomensHerbal.com. See ad, page 31. 

THURSDAYS, MAY 20, 27, JUNE 3 

Finding Strength in Difference: A Workshop for 

Couples Who are More Different (aka Complementary) 

than They Realize - 6:30-8:30pm. Utilizing 

CliftonStrengths, couples will discover the 

understanding, self-awareness and communication 

skills they need to feel confident in their relationship 

and to nurture their life together, rather than 

degrade their relationship with resentments that 

cause separation and pain. Cost: $129/couple before 

April 23. $149 after April 24. ComposureCoaching. 

com. See ad, page 30. 

ongoing events 

Please call or check the websites 

to ensure the classes or events 

are still scheduled for that week. 

ongoing 

Free Online Classes – The University of Minnesota 

is among the largest public research universities in 

the country, offering undergraduate, graduate and 

professional students a multitude of opportunities 

for study and research. ClassCentral.com/ 

university/minnesota. 

Midtown Global Market – Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. 

& Sun 10am-6pm. If you’re looking for a more 

unique shopping experience, head to the Midtown 

Global Market, where more than 50 vendors sell 

food and trinkets ranging from local produce to 

Somalian Pastries, Middle Eastern olives and 

Asian spices. There are also cultural events – 

from musical performances to Irish step-dancing 

lessons. Free. 920 East Lake St, Minneapolis. 

MidtownGlobalMarket.org/visit. 

tuesday 

Weekly Guided & Silent Meditation – 11-11:30am. 

Led by a Prayer Chaplain in the Meditation Room, 

this meditation is the same one going on concurrently 

at Unity Village. It alternates affirmative prayer 

and silence. Donation based. Online. UnityOfThe 

ValleyMN.org /events-classes. 

thursday 

Hatha for Everyone – 6-7pm. Everyone is 

welcome to this weekly drop-in class. All levels. 

Relieve stress, achy joints, improve balance at all 

levels and increase your sense of well-being. $12. 

Online. TheMeditationCenter.org. 

Free Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Join us for a free 

weekly meditation. Online. FreeMeditation.com. 

friday 

Gentle Yoga for Every Body – 10:30-noon. A welcoming 

environment for students of all shapes and 

sizes. $15. Online options. RiverGardenYoga.com. 


IN POSITION TO HELP OTHERS! 

Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and Parker University’s 

health and wellness degrees are a great option for anyone wanting to help improve the lives of 

others through natural, non-invasive health and wellness. 

Is a career helping through natural health and wellness for you? Do you want to bring your career 

and practice to the next level? Check out these degrees Parker University has to offer. 

• Master of Science — Functional Nutrition 

• Master of Science — Strength and Human Performance 

• Master of Science — Neuroscience 

• Master of Science — Clinical Neuroscience 

• Bachelor of Science — Psychology 

• Bachelor of Science — Integrative Health 

Parker University has been named the second fastest growing university in North Texas and the 

fourth fastest in the state of Texas. 

For more information on these or other degrees at Parker University or to speak to an 

advisor today, call us at 800.637.8337 or email us at askparkeradmissions@parker. 

edu. Ready to apply? Go to Parker.edu today! 

Accreditation 

Parker University is a not-for-profit university and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of 

Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

community 

resource guide 

Connecting you to the leaders 

in natural health care and green 

living in our community. To find 

out how you can be included in the 

Community Resource Guide, email 

Publisher@NAtwincities.com. to 

request our media kit. 

ACUPUNCTURE 

DYNAMIC FUNCTIONAL HEALING 

M. Cathcart, L.Ac. 

5313 Lyndale Ave S. Minneapolis 

DynamicFunctionalHealing.com 

Comprehensive holistic care for 

active adults seeking to enjoy the 

pain-free, energetic life they crave. 

Services include acupuncture & 

herbs, manual therapies, manual 

lymph drainage, corrective exercise, 

pelvic floor rehab and micro/ 

nano needling. “Because your 

quality of life matters.” 

ZUOBIAO (ROY) YUAN, LIC. AC, 

Bhakti Wellness Center 

7550 France Ave. S, Ste. 220, Edina 

Roy@BhaktiClinic.com • 612-859-7709 

Dr. Yuan has practiced acupuncture 

and Chinese medicine since 

1993, and is a current faculty 

member at American Academy 

of Acupuncture and Oriental 

Medicine. His expertise includes 

cancer care, musculoskeletal 

disorders, mental disorders, infertility, 

digestive disorders and 

eye disease such as macular degeneration. See ad, 

page 2. 

BODY WORK 

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE & 

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY 

Barb Ryan, LMT • 612-922-2389 


7550 France Avenue S, #220, Edina 

Specializing in persistent and 

chronic pain and mysteries of the 

body. Also providing care to 

clients seeking the experience of 

deep relaxation and more selfconnection. 

Skilled and compassionate 

care. See ad, page 2. 

BREAST HEALTH 

AROMATHERAPY NATURE’S WAY 

Healthy Girls’ Breast Oil 

Joyce Sobotta • 715-828-0117 text or call 

Holistic breast health consults 

with education on the lymphatic 

breast self-massage for improved 

circulation. Consultations 

about pure essential oils for 

emotional and physical health. 

Custom blends created for you. 


CHIROPRACTIC 

GOLDEN SUN CHIROPRACTIC 

Una Forde, DC • 952-922-1478 

International Village Arcade Building 

220 West 98th St, Suite 7, Bloomington 

Quality chiropractic care. Experience 

holistic healing and gentle 

chiropractic adjustments that 

allow the nervous system to relieve 

such symptoms as headache, 

back, neck pain and numbness 

which allow your body to 

return to a state of balance and 

well-being. 25 years’ experience. 

COACHING 

ANNETTE RUGOLO 

Soul Coach, Author 

and Teacher 


We are in a time of fast evolution 

and we have the opportunity to 

release deeply held emotional 

and mental patterns along with 

karmic lifetimes that are keeping us stuck. The tools 

I have acquired and honed for more than 20 years 

will help you move beyond the stuck places in your 

life and help you align with the light of your soul. 

You will receive tools of empowerment that will 

help you continue on your life’s path and soul’s 

journey. See ad, page 17. 

COMPOSURE COACHING 

Candi Broeffle, MBA, CPC 

Candi@ComposureCoaching.com 

763-270-8604 

ComposureCoaching.com 

Master your business so you can 

practice your passion. Business 

coaching for purpose-driven entrepreneurs 

to clarify your vision, 

build your confidence and create 

a soul-centered strategy. Call today 

for a free Discovery Session 

and get on your path to business 

success. See ad, page 30. 

COACHING 

SOUL PURPOSE COACH 

& HOLISTIC HEALER 

Barbara Brodsho, MA 

612-444-9751 • BarbaraBrodsho.com 

Providing spiritual guidance to 

help live your purpose and thrive 

utilizing your soul’s Akashic 

Record. Discover your soul’s 

innate gifts, create a vocation that 

aligns with your soul’s passion, 

and gain new perspective, clarity 

and insight about your life’s 

challenges by understanding the 

lessons your soul chose to experience. Schedule a free 

discovery session to learn how to create a purposefilled 

life. See ad, page 8. 

SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT ACTIVATOR 

Nea Clare 

NeaClare.com • Nea@NeaClare.com 

You are a Divine Being! Are you 

longing for clarity, spiritual connection 

and access to personal 

wisdom? Let’s talk. Book your 

session today and save 25%, 

using code: IAMWISE. Email 

Nea for a free consult. See ad, 

page 30. 

DENTIST 

HEALTH CENTERED DENTISTRY 

N7915-902 St 

River Falls, WI • 715-426-7777 

HealthCenteredDentistry.com 

Whole Person Dentistry observes 

and deals with the mind, 

body and spirit, not just your 

teeth. This approach to dentistry 

encompasses both modern 

science and knowledge 

drawn from the world’s great 

traditions in natural healing. See ad, page 21. 

NATURAL SMILES DENTAL CARE 

3434 Lexington Ave. N., Suite 700 

Shoreview • 651-483-9800 

NaturalSmilesDental.com 

We’re an integrative 

practice committed to 

promoting dental wellness 

and overall assistance to 

the whole person. We 

desire to participate in the 

creation of healthier lives, 

while being sensitive to physical, philosophical, 

emotional and financial concerns. See ad, page 11. 


DENTIST 

PURE DENTAL 

Dr. Amy Ha Truong 

6230 10th St. N., Ste 520, Oakdale 

651-731-3064 • PureDentalMN.com 

Pure Dental offers integrative, 

holistic, alternative and 

biological dentistry for your 

dental health. We take pride in 

providing quality, holistic dental 

care and service for our patients. 


SEDATION AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY 

1815 Suburban Ave, St. Paul 

ToothBuilder.com 

651-735-4661 

We are a holistic dental practice 

devoted to restoring and 

enhancing the natural beauty of 

your smile using conservative, 

state-of-the-art dental procedures 

that result in beautiful, long 

lasting smiles! We specialize in 

safe removal of infected teeth as 

well as placing ceramic implants and restorations. 


TOOTH BY THE LAKE 

1401 Main St, Hopkins 

952-475-1101 • ToothByTheLake.net 

We build a foundation of trust 

by treating our patients as 

individuals. Understanding 

how uneasy some patients 

may feel about their dental 

visits, we make a difference 

by providing a relaxing and 

positive experience. See ad, page 19. 

ENERGY HEALING 

EMOTION CODE HEALING 

Master Hong 

Certified Emotion Code Practitioner 

11012 Cedar Lake Rd., Minnetonka 

952-513-7285 or 914-708-9463 

Chronic pain? Suffering from 

emotions? Relationship problems? 

Life not going as planned? The 

Emotion Code is a tool I use to 

help you break through any 

emotional and spiritual blocks so 

you can live your best life. Trial 

session only $35. 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALING 

ANNETTE RUGOLO 

Master Dowser 


Is the energy of your home depleting 

you or supporting you? 

If you feel like you are hitting 

your head against a brick wall, it 

may be the wall of dense energy 

in your home. To more easily 

expand into our light and our 

soul purpose, it is important that 

the spaces we live energetically 

support us. Contact me for more 

information on dowsing, environmental healing and 

space clearing. See ad, page 17. 

ESSENTIAL OILS 

AROMATHERAPY NATURE’S WAY 

Joyce Sobotta • 715-828-0117 

AromaTherapyNaturesWay.com 

Education about pure essential 

oils and the lymphatic system 

available on my website. I offer 

consultations and custom blends 

that work synergistically for a 

wide range of emotional and 

health concerns. See ad, page 8. 

GRAPHIC DESIGN 

CAMPFIRE STUDIO 

Sara Shrode, Graphic Designer 

612-554-6304 • CampfireStudio.net 

Sara@CampfireStudio.net 

Ignite the possibilities of 

your next project by 

having Campfire Studio 

design it! Innovative, fullservice 

graphic design studio that takes the essence 

of a campfire—warmth, stories, community—and 

infuses it into every design project we do. 

HEALTH FOOD STORES 

MASTEL’S HEALTH FOODS 

1526 St Clair Ave, St Paul 

Mastels.com • 651-690-1692 

Mastel’s Health Foods is Minnesota’s 

oldest health and wellness 

store. We carry a full line of 

vitamins, minerals, supplements, 

herbs and more. We emphasize 

organic, biodynamic, biodegradable, 

holistic and hypoallergenic 

products and pride ourselves on 

stocking hard-to-find items. See 

ad, page 8. 

HOUSING - SUPPORTIVE 

BROEFFLE LATIMORE 

ADULT FOSTER CARE 

License #1102359 • 763-600-6967 

8600 Northwood Parkway, New Hope 

Providing a caring and supportive 

home for adults, no 

matter their abilities. With 

28-plus years of experience, 

we offer a nurturing and family-like 

environment for up to 

four residents who are elderly and/or have developmental 

disabilities. Residents receive assistance 

with personal cares, meal prep and feeding assistance, 

medication administration, transfers and 

mobility, transportation and advocacy. We treat your 

loved one like family. 

INTEGRATED HEALTH 

BHAKTI WELLNESS CENTER 

7550 France Ave. S., #220, Edina 

612-859-7709 • BhaktiClinic.com 

Bhakti provides a holistic 

environment where independent 

practitioners come 

together to offer an integrative 

path to wellness; mind, 

body and spirit. Our providers offer chiropractic, 

energy therapy, massage, microcurrent therapy, 

acupuncture, psychotherapy and much more so that 

you can feel your best, remain healthy & thrive. See 

ad, page 2. 

MASSAGE/STRETCHING 

HEALING TAJ 

Theodore Rick 

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) 

International Village Arcade Building 

220 West 98th St, Ste. 7, Bloomington 

HealingTaj.com • 763-913-6722 

“I love massage, but too often it 

feels good temporarily and then 

the pain and tightness comes back 

again. I have found with AIS that 

by stretching and lengthening the 

fibers, almost like a yoga/massage 

that the pain doesn’t come back 

again,” Warren King. 

PHYSICIANS 

DR. ISAAC M. ENGHOLM 

Deploy Health Family Practice/ 


7550 France Ave. S, Ste. 220, Edina 

DeployHealthFP.com • 612-712-4423 

Dr. Engholm’s practice offers 

unlimited office visits, 

with most lasting over an 

hour. He offers telehealth 

and home visits at no additional 

charge and his patients 

can call 24/7, which reduces the need to utilize 

after-hours urgent care or emergency room visits. 

Memberships are $75/mo for adults, and $25/mo for 

children (added to adult member). See ad, page 2. 


29

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As a Licensed Psychologist, 

Fran provides holistic, traumainformed 

therapy to help clients 

identify areas of potential 

growth, obstacles to growth, 

and processes that facilitate 

healing and transcendence. She 

also provides QEEG (brain 

mapping) and neurofeedback 

services that facilitate increased brain efficiency. 


RADIO/PODCASTS 

Let's Talk Natural Wellness 

In-depth interviews with natural health 

professionals who share the latest 

information for you to lead a 

healthier, happier life. 

Sundays from 10-11 am 

Podcasts available at AM950Radio.com 

AM950 THE PROGRESSIVE VOICE 

OF MINNESOTA 

AM950Radio.com 

The only Progressive Talk Radio 

station in Minnesota. We strive to 

provide the best progressive 

programming available and 

feature national talkers Thom 

Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Mike 

Crute and Brad Friedman. We are 

also dedicated to local programming that creates a 

community forum for important Minnesota Progressive 

issues. See ad, page 32. 

SKINCARE - NATURAL 

SILK ROAD WELLNESS 

Annie Qaiser and Sameen Khan 

SilkRoadWellness.com 

Silk Road Wellness is the 

first fully halal-certified 

wellness brand in USA. A 

bold fusion of East and 

West, the distinctive skincare 

and wellness line is a 

unique combination of 

traditional healing systems, prophetic traditions and 

contemporary natural beauty standards. All products 

are free of artificial coloring, preservatives and fillers 

and are packaged in eco-friendly and reusable 

packaging. See ad, page 19. 

SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS 

ECKANKAR TEMPLE OF ECK 

7450 Powers Blvd., Chanhassen 

952-380-2200 • Eckankar.org 

Are you looking for the 

personal experience of 

God? Eckankar can help 

you fulfill your dream. We 

offer ways to explore your 

own unique and natural 

relationship with the 

Divine through personalized study to apply in your 

everyday life. See ad, page 3. 


CELEBRATING 27 years in THE business of 


31

Natural Awakenings Twin Cities April 2021

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