FALL DETOX CLASS AT BREATHE BOOKS
Announcing the 3rd Annual Holistic Fall Detox Class
this October at B
reathe Books in Hampden!
The Holistic Fall Detox Class is a 4-week course designed to promote safe and gentle detoxification while reconnecting individuals back to their “most well” selves.
Rooted in the principles of naturopathic medicine, Dr. Emily’s Detox Class empowers participants with an in-depth understanding about how to address the underlying causes of disease and minimize exposures to dietary and environmental toxins which impact health. Along with an exploration of naturopathic therapeutics such as nutrients, herbs, and hydrotherapy treatments, participants will be guided through a progressive elimination diet to support detoxification and to help identify food allergens.
CLASS TOPICS:
Week 1: Love Your Liver
Week 2: Trust Your Gut
Week 3: Calming Down the Troops of Inflammation
Week 4: Detox in the Everyday
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LOCATION: Breathe Books 810 W. 36th St. Baltimore, MD 21211
DATES: Tuesdays October 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th
TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
TO REGISTER: Contact Breathe Books at (410) 235-READ (7323)
COST: $295 (early registration)
Testimonial:
I am so glad that I took the course as I saw some amazing results! I had been living with joint pain similar to rheumatoid arthritis pain for a good year and a half. The blood tests ran by western doctors told me I had nothing “medically” wrong with me. The detox diet taught me that our bodies can heal themselves, but we sometimes need to help that process along by being very mindful of what we are putting into our bodies. After following the detox, and figuring out what foods makes my body react, I am now pain and swollen free. I couldn’t have asked for a more informative and fun course.” – M. M., Baltimore
Add comment September 2, 2010
Love Your Skin from the Inside Out
The cosmetic industry is full of products that make claims to “defy the aging process.” While
these creams and ointments may be marketed to hydrate, moisturize, and revitalize, they may do so at the cost of your health. A large majority of conventional skin care products contain chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, food dyes, and other preservatives. Some of these chemicals act as “endocrine disruptors,” meaning that they can interfere with normal hormone functioning and may be linked to conditions such as thyroid disease and breast cancer. Learn more about the safety of your cosmetics here.
Instead of spending $40 on that overly marketed moisturizer this summer – nourish your skin from the inside out with simple diet and lifestyle modifications to create radiant skin:
- Hydrate: While you are outside watering your garden this summer, remember to replenish fluids for yourself as well. Healthy skin depends on optimal hydration to promote circulation and soften collagen.
- Fend off Free Radicals: Increase foods in your diet that are rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, beta carotene, and anthocyanidins (found in dark berries). Antioxidants slow the aging process by protecting cells from damage and inflammation.
- Fatten Up!: Omega-3 fatty acids found in flax oil and fish oil not only help repair damaged and inflamed skin, but they also improve skin elasticity and reduce dryness. Other food sources of “good fats” for the skin include olive oil, avocado, walnuts, and almonds.
Add comment July 6, 2010
Sunscreen Safety
Now that summer is officially underway, it is time to trade in those winter woolly boots for flip flops and intensive skin salves for chapped dry skin for high-grade SPF sunscreen. Protecting yourself and your family from the growing intensity of the sun’s rays may not be as simple or as safe as grabbing the cheapest SPF 50 spray-on sunscreen from the drugstore shelves. Most traditional sunscreens contain numerous chemical compounds that absorb through the skin and can disrupt healthy hormone functioning (also known as “endocrine disruptors”). According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research group dedicated to raising awareness about environmental exposures that impact health, only 8% of 500 sunscreens tested were deemed both safe and effective. The top rating sunscreens are mineral-based and do not contain oxybenzone or vitamin A (which may be harmful to skin with exposure to UV rays). To check the rating for your sunscreen and to read more about sun safety, visit the EWG’s 2010 Sunscreen Guide.
Add comment June 1, 2010
BRINGING WELLNESS TO CAPITOL HILL
Every year the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) sponsors an amazing event that brings the field of Naturopathic Medicine to the attention of our nation’s congressional leaders. The Federal Legislative Initiative, or “DC FLI,” takes place in early May involving several days of training and preparation before sending forth over 150 naturopathic physicians and naturopathic medical students ready to lobby for changes in healthcare that will increase access to naturopathic sevices for more Americans. During this year’s Lobby Day on May 3rd, I had the privilege of visiting the offices of Senator Cardin and Congressman Sarbanes from Maryland as well as Senators McCaskill and Bond and Congressman Clay from my home state of Missouri.
Our specific requests included:
- Adding naturopathic physicians to federal loan reimbursement programs that support primary care physicians working in rural and under-served communities.
- Incorporating a more specific definition of “integrative healthcare practitioner” into future Healthcare Reform Bill revisions.
- Protecting the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA) as it is written to ensure safe access to quality nutritional supplements.
Thankfully, our profession’s core philosophy of encouraging individuals to take a more active role in their own health was well-received by the legislative aids we met with on the Hill. One day we hope that naturopathic medicine can help meet the growing need for more primary care physicians in our country’s challenged healthcare system. Until then, we will keep bringing ideas and recommendations for shifting the “healthcare conversation” back to health and healing to the offices and ears of those who can implement change.
How can you participate in this change? Visit the AANP website and sign up for the Action E-List to receive alerts when you can e-mail your congressmen and congresswomen.
Let your voice be heard!
Add comment May 11, 2010
Honor Your Mother
In my family, we hold a mystical and supernatural belief that my maternal grandmother reincarnated as a monarch butterfly. Before she passed away nearly 15 years ago, my mom asked my grandma (between her drifts in and out of consciousness) to appear to her as a butterfly in her garden as a sign that she had experienced a peaceful passing yet was still nearby. A year or two after Grandma’s death, I woke one morning and wandered into the kitchen to find my mom joyously tearful. She explained that this was Grandma’s birthday and the night before she had prayed for a sign. “And there is this butterfly in my garden that just won’t fly away!” Sure enough, I went outside and saw a monarch butterfly fluttering about in her garden – remaining so still at times that you could touch it. We found the appearance of a monarch butterfly to be all the more convincing as my grandma had beautiful red hair! There have been many other Grandma sightings over the years during significant times in our family’s history. This photo was taken during a trip my Mom, sister and I took to Costa Rica where Grandma joined us for a visit.
Gaia, or Mother Earth, is always reaching out to create connection…through subtle breezes to calm the mind or with inviting fragrances that remind us to stop and smell the roses. While we all have different experiences of Mothering or being Mothered, stories of love, sacrifice, grief and healing are universal. At this time of honoring those people in our lives who nurture us, inspire us, feed us good food and empowering words – let us also remember and honor our dear Mother Earth who waters the same seeds she plants and support us all in growing in harmony with Nature.
Add comment May 10, 2010
SPRING DETOX CLASS
Isn’t it time you learned how to Love your Liver?
Dr. Emily’s Spring Detox Class at SEEDS offers you an opportunity to learn simple wellness practices to promote detoxification, enhance liver function and optimize digestion. In this 4-week class series, each session will cover a different wellness topic with the incorporation of a progressive elimination diet to help identify food sensitivities.
Week 1: Love Your Liver
Week 2: Trust Your Gut
Week 3: Calming Down the “Troops” of Inflammation
Week 4: Practicing Detoxification in Everyday Life
2 Class sessions are being offered at:
Seeds Center for Whole Health (3600 Roland Ave. Ste 4)
Wednesdays April 21st, 28th, May 5th, & 12th – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Saturdays April 24th, May 1st, 8th & 15th – 9:00 am – 10:30 am
COST: $250
TO REGISTER: Contact Dr. Emily at (443) 226-7665
Add comment April 14, 2010
Sources of Inspiration
Nearly ten years ago, my journey towards becoming a naturopathic physician was just beginning. A large leap of faith had landed me amongst over 100 1st year ND students crowded into an auditorium at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington for orientation. Hints and highlights about what to expect for the next four years of our lives gradually unfolded with each speaker who stood before us – everything from tips on how to protect our livers from the formaldehyde in the gross anatomy lab to reminders that arriving to Bastyr at all reflects a deeper calling towards becoming a healer. But what still stands out most to me from those few days of absorbing all that this new world of natural healing and learning had to offer was my first introduction to homeopathy from Dr. Ellen Goldman. At that time Dr. Goldman was the head of the Homeopathy Department at Bastyr, and when she stood before my class with her true passion and love for this modality echoing through words, I knew that when I “grew up,” I wanted to practice homeopathy. I wanted to listen deeply to a patient’s story and have a place to understand why the patient stuck his feet out of the covers at night or craved bacon. I wanted to be able to address fears of thunderstorms and chronic respiratory illnesses all with the same medicine. At that moment, I became inspired.
Before I was able to take any of Dr. Goldman’s classes, she retired from her position at Bastyr and moved to Florida. I still remembered how she lit that spark in my soul for homeopathy and often shared the story when patients asked me how I came to study and practice this form of medicine. Much to my surprise and joy, I recently saw Dr. Goldman at the National Center for Homeopathy Conference in Alexandria, VA this past weekend. I was so excited to share with her what a gift she had given me without even knowing it nearly ten years ago. She, too, found joy in this story as many of us would in learning about a seed we’ve planted that later comes to full bloom. I’ve been blessed with many mentors who continue to guide and shape my experience as a healer. My hope is that my patients will be the ones who most benefit from this circle of learning and teaching, mentorship and inspiration.
Add comment April 14, 2010
Add Wellness to that Spring in your Step…
Dr. Emily will be spreading the word about the benefits of naturopathic medicine at several different venues in the Baltimore community this Spring, and you are welcome to attend!
Homeopathy 101: The Art of “Less is More”
An introduction to the art and practice of homeopathy.
When: Thursday March 25th 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Where: Evolvewell Healing Arts Studio (4800 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD)
Cost: FREE
Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine Symposium
How Can Nature Heal You?
When: Thursday April 8th 7:00pm
Where: Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus – Krieger Room 205
Cost: FREE
Spring Detox Class – 2 Class Offerings!
A 4-week course designed to promote safe & gentle detoxification while reconnecting you back to your “most well” self. Class includes a guided elimination diet plan, a deeper understanding about how to care for your liver and GI tract, recipes and weekly wellness plans to help reduce inflammation and support natural detox pathways in the body.
When: Wednesdays 7:00pm – 8:30pm April 21st, 28th, May 5th, 12th
OR Saturdays 9:00am – 10:30am April 24th, May 1st, 8th, 15th
Where: Seeds Center for Whole Health (3600 Roland Ave. Suite 3)
To Register: (443) 226-7665 or dremilytelfair@gmail.com
Cost: $250
Add comment March 23, 2010
Retreat
The concept of retreat was introduced to me as early as grade school when one to two days per year were devoted to building community amongst my classmates, nurturing a spiritual connection, and generally stepping away from daily patterns that interfere with personal growth. Thankfully, I have continued the tradition of devoting time to retreat throughout the years which has been a vital part of sustaining balance and wellness during my work as a naturopath and while living in a world where stresses and challenges also reside. Retreat can be just as much about disconnecting from what drains and depletes our energy as it is about reconnecting with what support and heals us. The true learning occurs while integrating that reconnection back into daily life.
During my recent trip to Belize, Central America, I retreated to a land rich in mystical Mayan culture and full of respect for the diversity of life rustling in the leaves of the jungle and swimming in the depths of the sea. During my stay on the mainland, I toured the famous Ix Chel Medicine Trail founded by Dr. Rosita Arvigo who studied with a native Mayan shaman who lived to be 103 years old. Along the trail I learned about the traditional Mayan uses of native plants such as Allspice berries for toothaches and the bark of the Gumbo-limbo tree as a natural anti-biotic. My adventures to the local Belizean Cayes landed me at a small yoga retreat resort called Ak’bol (www.akbol.com) where I waded in the still blue-green waters of the Caribbean Ocean, held steady Warrior poses against the ocean breezes, and dined on omega-3 rich wild caught fish fresh from the morning’s catch. I am grateful to the Belizean people for their hospitable spirits and sincere appreciation for the beauty of Nature that surrounds them.
I arrived back in Baltimore just as Spring was beginning to emerge – perfect timing! The moment-to-moment shifts in Nature that occur this time of year have helped to keep me connected to the same awe and excitement I felt in gazing out at the crystal blue Caribbean water or spotting a toucan hidden in the trees. Now blooming daffodils and budding cherry blossoms help me recall a sense of retreat.
Below are a few spots in the Baltimore area where I have found a sense of retreat:
Sherwood Gardens: Near 4100 block of St. Paul St.; The Tulips are Coming!
Teavolve Cafe: Harbor East; Enjoy local musicians while you sip your tea!
Visionary Art Museum: Downtown Baltimore, MD
Shambhala Center: Baltimore, MD; Open Meditation Thursday evenings
Bon Secours Spiritual Center: Marriotsville, MD; Walk the Labyrinth
I welcome learning about your stories of retreat or place/experiences that have helped you reconnect to your wellness. Please feel free to e-mail stories to dremilytelfair@gmail.com.
Add comment March 23, 2010
Homeopathy – Upcoming Learning Opportunities
If you have been curious about the mystery and marvel behind the “little white pellets” in the supplement aisle of your local health food store, then you may be interested in attending one or more of the upcoming classes and workshops exploring the philosophy and practice of Homeopathic Medicine:
HOMEOPATHY 101: If you missed the first class offered n December 2009, now is your chance! It’s the class you’ve been waiting for to learn the ins and outs of Homeopathy. Dr. Emily will guide you in safely using common homeopathic remedies as adjunctive care for acute conditions from bruises and bee stings to fevers and the flu. Remedy kits will also be available for purchase.
When: Thursday February 25th 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Where: Seeds Classroom (3600 Roland Ave)
Cost: $50 (individual), $75 (couples)
Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania Annual Meeting
Autism: A Holistic Perspective
This two day conference will feature Sally Fallon, president of the Weston Price Foundation and author of Nourishing Traditions as well as local homeopathic practitioners sharing patient cases and examples of how homeopathy can support children and families affected by Autism.
When: Thursday & Friday March 11th – 12th
Where: Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
For more information visit: www.harmanyequine.com or call 717-644-3812
Add comment February 3, 2010
