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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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July 2020

Ear Acupuncture Stroke Recovery
Help Recover from Stroke with Ear Acupuncture

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Researchers have found that acupuncture in the ear can help speed rehabilitation of stroke patients.

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Ayurvedic Bacopa Motivation
Boost Motivation with Ayurvedic Bacopa

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Anhedonia—the clinical name for a lack of motivation and inability to feel pleasure in life—can be helped by Bacopa monnieri, also known as Brahmi, an Ayurvedic herb.

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Chlorhexidine Mouthwash
Avoid Chlorhexidine Mouthwash to Reduce Cavity Risk

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Chlorhexidine gluconate, a mouthwash commonly prescribed by dentists for gingivitis, actually increases acidic levels in the mouth, leading to an increase in cavity-causing bacteria.

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Deforestation Human Diseases
Forest Loss Leads to Spread of Human Disease

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Viruses like COVID-19 that jump from animals to people will likely become more common as people continue to transform natural habitats into agricultural land, says a new study.

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Nature Outdoors Cognitive
Natural Thinking: Spending Time in Nature Increases Cognitive Performance

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Nature may improve cognitive function by improving memory formation and recall, specifically that of short-term or working memory, and goal-oriented or directed attention.

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Ultraviolet Radiation Skin Inflammation
Healthy Glow: Ultraviolet Radiation Suppresses Skin Inflammation

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

In research that could help target new treatments for skin cancer, scientists have identified how human skin suppresses inflammation after exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

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Music Heart Health Medicine
Sweet Serenade: Music as Medicine

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Listening to music for 30 minutes a day can lower post-heart attack anxiety and significantly reduce future cardiac risks, reports a new study.

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Pregnant Woman During Pandemic
COVID Kids: Stress Can Impact Sperm and Future Offspring

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Fear and anxiety brought on by major stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic may have a lasting impact on a man’s sperm composition that could affect future offspring.

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Woman Practicing Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness and Meditation May Promote Longevity

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

Mindfulness and meditation techniques have been linked to anti-aging and longevity, as marked by longer telomere length, a biomarker of human aging.

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Couple Taking Selfie at Beach
Eco-Friendly Beach Tips: Maximizing Sun and Surf During Crises

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM

It’s more important now than ever to soak up vitamin D to bolster the immune system, but social distancing and other health and environmental precautions need to be practiced at the beach.

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Cow at Beef Factory Farm
Beyond Factory Farms: ‘Big Meat’ Comes at High Cost

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM ● By Melinda Hemmelgarn

The industrial factory farms that monopolize the livestock industry at great cost to the environment are getting a pushback from people and organizations exploring sustainable options.

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Bare Feet on Organic Green Grass Lawn
Greener Green Grass: Why Organic Lawns Make Eco-Sense

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM ● By Julie Peterson

The use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on lawns damage both the environment and our health. Here are ways to naturally, organically and sustainably grow green grass.

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Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
Outdoor Feasts: Inspired Picnics and Healthy Grills

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM ● By Marlaina Donato

Whether firing up the backyard grill or having a picnic, these healthy, plant-based recipes are perfect outdoor meal ideas to savor this summer season.

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Strength Stability Exercise Pose
Balancing Act: Exercises for Strength and Stability

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM ● By Marlaina Donato

Protect yourself from falls and injury with core-strengthening balance training, yoga and tai chi exercises and poses designed to increase agility.

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Mother Calming Child's Anxiety
Calming Kids: Ways to Turn Anxiety Around

Jun 30, 2020 09:30AM ● By Ronica O’Hara

In these uncertain times, many kids are feeling anxious, but parents can use these straightforward strategies to help lower childhood anxiety.

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Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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