By Dr. Adam Hughes, D.C.
Anyone with diabetes knows it’s important to manage insulin levels. Functional medicine offers unique tools to manage insulin and blood sugar — including diet, exercise, stress management, detoxification, and maximizing essential nutrients. To understand how all these tools apply, it’s helpful to know how insulin works.
Insulin and Blood Sugar: A Balancing […]
By Linda Wiggen Kraft
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
– William Blake
William Blake knew awe. His poem shows what happens when a person is captured by the sense of awe. In our […]
With Kate Schroeder, M.Ed, LPC, NCC
Going Forward In Our Life
Our soul is waiting for us to mirror back to it all its gifts and strengths. As children, we looked to our parents for this kind of mirroring, and in the absence of healthy parents or caregivers, often received inaccurate or faulty mirroring of who we […]
With Kate Schroeder, M.Ed, LPC, NCC
The holidays are officially upon us, and if you’re like most people, you are riding them out with mixed feelings, vacillating between anticipation and dread as you hustle off to the next party or family commitment, wondering how you will sit through one more minute of small talk, stress, or […]
Raising Funds for Environmental Work
36 Environmental Organizations working in Missouri – in One Package!
By Laura Neuman-Howe,
Deputy Director,
Missouri Environmental Fund
The organization “Missouri Environ-mental Fund” was established in 1993 as a workplace giving campaign for environmental organizations. The organization has been operating as “Earth Share of Missouri” for the past 12 years, but recently re-organized and is […]
By Kris Ash,
KARMA~NATURALS
Given our societal obsession with health, it is no wonder that we are always on the lookout for another way to increase our wellness. Endeavors such as regular exercise, massage therapy, proper diet, and meditation are important in maintaining optimal health. One physiological benefit of these choices is increased blood flow – a […]
By Johanna Schweiss,
USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator
At the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter, we know members of our community and members of our Chapter are as passionate about sustainability and green building as we are! And through our 3rd Annual Photo contest, we’re looking for photos that celebrate the transformation of the […]
NEW EXHIBITS
Through December 4
WORLD OF ART & ART OF RICH GORDON
Framations Art Gallery, 218 N. Main Street in St. Charles; for info, visit www.framations.com.
Through December 6
NEW IMPRESSIONS FROM HAMILTON
SNAPSHOTS & POLAROIDS
EVAN MEANEY: THE WELL OF REPRESENTATION
Through January 4
ATUA: SACRED GODS FROM POLYNESIA
Main Exhibition Galleries, St. Louis Art Museum; ticket required; for info, […]
St. Louis Area Fine Arts, Crafts & Performing Arts
Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Arts Editor
Shop Early, Shop Often For Art & Fine Craft
Have you noticed that the “holiday season” has crept earlier? I used to think that it began after Thanksgiving but serious shoppers start sooner than that. At the very least, this month seems the proper […]
The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, announced today that artist Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky of Eureka, Mo., and the students of McCluer South-Berkeley High School in Ferguson, Mo., have been chosen to design and create ornaments to be included in the 2014 Pathway of Peace in President’s Park in Washington, D.C. […]
With Cathy Schram
What is There For Holiday Stress & Winter Dry skin?
Q: My skin gets so dry during the winter months. What can I do to help prevent the itching and scaling?
A: Cold air outside and dry warm air inside usually does make our skin dry. Using a humidifier helps a lot, but there are […]
With Cathy Schram
What is there for stress & sleep?
Q: I heard that Ashwagandha is good for helping to relieve stress. What exactly is it?
A: Ashwagandha is an Indian herb, which is known as the ìginsengî of Ayurvedic medicine. Supplementing with ashwagandha over time can improve the body’s response to daily stress. Think of it as a […]
By Vera Gabliani, Ph.D.
Developing your skill as a parent is an ongoing process that benefits from a thoughtful focus. So many of us are busy and preoccupied with just getting through our day that we forget to be present and actively choose the way we are in relation to our children.
So here is a gentle […]
By Ed Smith
Coalition For The Environment
www.moenviron.org
2003 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Talks West Lake Landfill
In 1980, Lois Gibbs and her neighbors took Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials captive to gain the attention of then President Jimmy Carter for a complete buyout of their community after discovering it was built on top of a chemical waste dump. […]
By Heather B. Navarro
Executive Director
Coalition For The Environment
www.moenviron.org
A True Believer In Climate Change
UNAVUT, CANADA – Work just finished on the first LEED certified structure in the North Pole and not a day too early. Business as usual in the North Pole was interrupted early this morning when the northwest corner of Santa’s workshop sunk 6 […]
By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky
Healthy Planet Arts Editor
It was an ordinary day in late September when I received an email… from an assistant in the Missouri Governor’s Office, asking me to design Missouri’s ornaments for the National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C. this holiday season.
It’s the fourth time I’ve been asked to take on this […]
By Angela Woodson, D.C., L.Ac.
While planning a newborn’s first chiropractic adjustment with new parents, having grace is always on the forefront of my mind. Recalling the time I was a new mother myself, I remember the feeling of being overwhelmed. Your tiny miracle takes your breath away, as well as your sleep. Not to mention […]
With Jean Ponzi
Selective Perception (Holiday Style)
A mental Mute button automatically controls my attention this time of year. When activated, it completely blocks my ability to perceive anything Christmas! This can kick on anywhere, anytime – but it happens most in retail environments.
I’ll be walking through unlikely aisles – in the drug store or supermarket – […]
With Jean Ponzi
Queen Sarah
There are great-hearted people in all times and lands all over the Earth whose sacred – and often unofficial – job is to keep our human celebrations lively, growing, truly meaningful, and full of joy.
This Celebration-Keeper work is so important that many ancient legends say if the ones who do it ever […]
By Chris Yonker
At last our much anticipated vacation to Colorado! A well earned time to slow down, connect to nature and each other! Tent, camping equipment, bicycles and suitcases packed we headed out for our planned adventure. The drive to our destination of Telluride was uneventful, Missouri familiar, Kansas tedious and Colorado fresh and invigorating […]
By Kateri Meyer
Owner of Traveling Tea
Did you know tea is like wine, in that its flavor profile is developed by its terroir, or the environment in which it grows? For example, Assam tea is a hearty and malty tea native to the Assam region of northern India. When I sampled the result of this same […]
On Saturday and Sunday, November 22 & 23, and Friday through Sunday, November 28, 29 & 30, 2014 from 9 am to 3 pm, come shop the 2,500+ sq. ft. marketplace of fair trade items from all over the world. Enjoy family activities, product demonstrations and sampling, education, movie showings, drawings for fair trade prizes, […]
Fifth Annual Green Ball to Benefit EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden
The fifth annual Green Ball will roll out the green carpet in the Delmar Loop to welcome the green-minded movers and shakers of St. Louis for a night of fun philanthropy. Presented by Moonrise Hotel, Green Ball 2014 will be held from 7-11 […]
The Missouri Botanical Garden is excited to announce its plans for an expanded “Garden Glow 2014,” the Garden’s second annual winter light exhibit. Visitors will have the opportunity to stroll through the Garden at night surrounded by a spectacle of unique light installations. The exhibit will open Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 and run through Saturday, […]
By Linda Wiggen Kraft
Healthy Planet Green & Growing Editor
Inspiration and information are two things gardeners can find online through blogs. Inspiration and information are both magical and practical. The best blogs are a combination of the two.
Blogs from different kinds of gardeners, florists, and crafts people come to my email inbox to fill my head […]
By Simon Yu, MD
Over the years, I’ve attended the annual “Medicine Week” conference in Baden Baden, Germany many times. This year I have the good fortune of delivering a presentation at the conference. This unique conference specializes in German Biological Medicine and is one of the most advanced Natural Healing medical conferences in Europe. Medical […]
By Crystal Stevens
This time of year reminds us of the warming tastes and sweet aromas of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The anticipation of the first snow and the excitement that fills our house each year around the holidays is such a pleasant feeling. While the little gingerbread men and gingerbread houses are equally fun and […]
By Terry Winkelmann,
Co-Founder, Go Local St. Louis
Go Local St. Louis, the new independent business alliance, urges you to shift your shopping this holiday season and think local first!
The group, which formed in September and already has nearly 100 members, promotes the idea of keeping your income circulating in your community by shifting your shopping to […]
St. Louis is a town with plenty of good food. Our unique culinary traditions have always drawn from the diverse farming community around us – and now, as more and more of us want to see a more sustainable restaurant industry in our town, diners can dine green with confidence when they see a “GDA-certified” […]
By Crystal Stevens
When it comes to the holidays, many classic American side dish recipes come to mind such as green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, canned cranberry sauce, and the infamous instant mashed potatoes. Some folks really enjoy these holiday favorites. Unfortunately, standard holiday dishes may not be the healthiest as they tend to […]
November 3
Author and journalist Paddy Woodworth
will present his latest publication, “Our Once and Future Planet: Restoring the World in the Climate Change Strategy,” which has been described as a worldwide assessment of ecological restoration as a conservation strategy, on Monday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. at the Missouri Botanical Garden. COST: The lecture and book […]
This large, family owned Nursery & Garden Center is a local gem nestled in a valley at the eastern edge of Washington, Missouri. Second-generation family members now own and operate the business that was started in the spring of 1951 by Don and Bernie Hillermann. Over the company’s 63 years of business, it has gained […]
By Dr. Doug Pernikoff, DVM
Christmas is a wonderful time for family and friends to share the miracle of life, with all the love and merriment of the holiday season. Our homes are adorned with holiday lighting, poinsettia plants and mistletoe. Lots of goodies like brownies and other wonderfully fattening foodstuffs, and of course, the central […]
By Kathleen H. Christ, LMT, NCMBT
Being one plane, train or automobile from the next deadly infection that is now traveling worldwide has greatly heightened our attention and concerns for maintaining a strong immune system – our true, best and only defense. If this is also running parallel with economic distress, then families need the easiest […]
By Vera Gabliani, Ph.D.
In these times of rapid changes, uncertainty and heightened fear, many parents worry about how they can help their children to feel safe and secure. One important way of supporting your children is knowing how to create a space of calm and safety.
Much like when your child was younger and you would […]
By Kari Hartel, RD, LD
Program Coordinator, Cooking Matters, Operation Food Search
Fall is upon us and with it comes a variety of cool-weather vegetables. One of the best ways to fully enjoy the delicious, intense flavor of vegetables is to roast them. Roasting vegetables amplifies their natural sweetness, concentrates their flavor, and provides a beautiful browning […]
By Dr. Raj Banerjee, DC
Dr Banerjee’s Wellness Centre
314-282-3990
Dear Seeker of Health & Fitness,
Have you had any of these in your life? Injury, pain, surgery, infection, illness, divorce, financial stress, job stress, poison ivy, giving birth, irritable people, starvation diets, the menstrual cycle, eating junk foods, drugs and medication, excessive cold or heat, staring […]
By Ava Frick, DVM
Trying to help your pet lose weight can be frustrating. Traditional “weight loss” diets often lack sufficient levels of the vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that animals specifically need based on individual idiosyncrasies. The bottom line is that what is on the bag is not enough. Changing how a body recognizes and […]
By Rachelle L’Ecuyer
One of the pleasures of dining in historic downtown Maplewood is the prevalence of “farm to table” practices embraced by many of its food purveyors putting good food on the table for you. However, that isn’t how a business becomes a St. Louis Earth Day’s Green Dining Alliance (GDA) member. (www.greendiningalliance.org) GDA member […]
By Michael Cohen
Medicare Supplement insurance is available for those of us who are 65 and older! When was Medicare started? In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill for the start of Medicare. Medicare pays only for Plan A which covers part of your stay in the hospital. The average cost of Plan A […]
Why not create a life that’s intelligent, relevant, and fun? Mind Fest classes are planned to be informal entertaining learning experiences offered one evening a week.
“Mind Fest classes are exactly the type of classes that make you think ‘I always wondered about that, but didn’t know who to ask’, or, ‘I never heard of this, […]
With so much interest in healthy lifestyles today, there are many avenues someone who would like to enter this field could pursue professionally. Missouri College offers several programs focused on healthcare and wellness careers as well as other fields.
Whether you’re looking for hands-on involvement in caring for patients’ healthcare needs or in work that supports […]
With Pat Tuholske, Naturalist
Wreath as Prayer
I have walked the Ozark woodlands and meadows for many seasons hunting the wisdom of the wild plants. I gather goldenrod, sumac berries, rose hips, spangle grass, sweet everlasting, pinecones, acorns and other wild offerings to weave into wreaths. I have come to realize that wreath weaving is my spiritual […]
By Simon Yu, MD
Is it possible that parasites are still a problem as a global environmental problem in this modern age? Recently, I gave two similar lectures on parasites at the American Academy of Environmental Medicine in New Mexico and at the Medicine Week in Baden Baden, Germany in November, 2014. My lectures focused on […]
By Dr. Doug Pernikoff, DVM
Thanksgiving is that wonderful time of year, our woodlands adorned with fall flora, cool weather changes, and the portal for Christmas and New Year’s seasons following close behind. What’s to Worry?!?!? All that great food! Bad for our waistlines, and maybe, worse for our beloved pets!!
So many goodies! The general rule […]
A Holiday Message (and a few tangents)
One of the best things about being 63 years old is the many holiday memories that come to mind this time of year. All the wonderful Thanksgivings at my Uncle Jim’s and Aunt Begie’s home with all the family. The Christmas mornings with my brother Bill and sister Jill. […]
By the time November rolls around in St. Louis, most of the leaves are off the trees, except for a few tough oak leaves which are the last to bloom and the last to fall. I will have raked at least once by the time you read this and another sweep around the yard or […]
By Amy Davis, M.D.
We experience stress in various ways. Injuries, infections, allergies, poor sleep, work, diet, toxins and then there is LIFE!
We are bombarded with stressful events throughout our lives, good and bad. Exciting events like a wedding or new baby can be stressful. Difficult experiences result in emotions like fear, sadness, grief and anger. […]
The St. Louis – Jefferson Solid Waste Management District is a regional agency that was created in 1993 to assist the public, private and nonprofit sectors in establishing and expanding waste reduction and recycling. The District includes the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jefferson County and St. Charles County. For more information visit […]
By Kari Hartel, RD, LD
Program Coordinator, Cooking Matters, Operation Food Search
As winter settles in around us, we often start to slack off when it comes to physical activity. It’s not difficult to see why this happens – it’s cold and snowy outside, which limits the ability to do fun, outdoorsy activities, and we fall into […]
By Jeannie Breeze
St. Louis is a heart center where all the arteries come together (the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Meramec). Each year at World Peace Day, we acknowledge the truth that peace begins with us, and we understand that what we imagine and create here in the heart circulates into the body of our Mother […]
With Christine Kniffen, MSW, LCSW
Like my Facebook page via my website in order to get alerts to new episodes of my “Quick Tips on Love” video series on YouTube and upcoming seminars. www.ChristineKniffen.com.
Plenty of people experience some “blah” feelings during the winter, becoming bored and cooped up during the cold weather. They may not have […]
By Linda Hoff
Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. They are very clean, almost crisp to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. Pure essential oils are translucent and range in color from […]
The Art of Entertaining
Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Need the perfect party appetizer or meal? Call The Art of Entertaining to order party trays, appetizers, salads, breakfast dishes, or a full dinner for the holidays. Low sodium, low calorie, and gluten free meals are also available which are ideal for the person […]
By Teresa Garden, DVM
Many cultures throughout the world have known and revered mushrooms for their medicinal powers for hundreds of years. Modern research can now explain what the ancient healers already knew through practical experience. Studies indicate medicinal mushrooms contain polysaccharides (beta glucans), lysozymes, and triterpenes, which have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumor properties. Mushrooms can […]
By Kimberly V. Schneider
I start hearing it sometime in November each year: “I can’t wait until next year! I need a fresh start.”
If you’ve had a difficult year, the sentiment is understandable. We all have challenges every year, but some times are more challenging than others, and if you’re in one of those times, there’s […]
By Monica Stoutenborough
How often do you read about a new supplement or diet plan that is the easy and quick way to find the good health you are searching for? We’ve been led to believe that each and every ailment has a magical fix that does not require any effort on your part and that […]
Feeding plants and your lawn a nutritious diet of compost throughout the year is the key to the best lawn on the block! Top dressing your lawn with compost in autumn is key to making it the greenest on the block come spring. Top dressing, an industry secret among ground crews at golf courses, involves […]
By Don Fitz
Things happen which make environmentalists keep their eyes open. December 2014 episodes of Green Time TV look at antibiotic resistance which can be traced to factory farming, social and environmental problems with cannabis prohibition, social environments of black children, and promises to reduce carbon emissions.
Nearly 80% of antibiotics sold in the United States […]
By Dr. James Feinberg,
Child Clinical Psychologist
More and more boys are being referred to me because they have not benefited from prior mental health treatment. Are these boys really untreatable or is something else amiss?
In my experience, many so called “treatment failures” can be traced back to an inadequate evaluation. Because most parents don’t know what […]
By Dr. James Feinberg
Child Clinical Psychologist
Previously (in part I), I addressed how an inadequate psychological evaluation typically results in a treatment failure. Lack of rapport, lack of experience, lack of intensity, and poor boundaries are additional reasons why boys do not benefit from mental heath treatment. Let me explain:
First, no boy is going to trust […]
By Christine Kniffen, MSW, LCSW
Ready For A Lovely Fall Romance?
Like my Facebook page via my website in order to get alerts to new episodes of my “Quick Tips on Love” video series on YouTube and upcoming seminars. www.ChristineKniffen.com.
So, you have just met someone and you find yourself ready to fall in love again. The big question […]