Expo Focuses on 'Natural and Organic Living'

By Laura J. Mondul
Special to the Herald Courier

GRAY, Tenn. – Mitzi Pyles sees it as a once-radical idea gone mainstream. Kimberly Torbett-Dishner sees it as a better way to raise her son. George Cox sees it as an option with fewer or no side effects.

It’s a holistic approach to health, nutrition, medicine and healing – and it was offered and explored in depth over the weekend as more than 30 vendors and hundreds of patrons gathered at the Green and Natural Living Expo at the Appalachian Fairgrounds.

“People have so much going on these days, they are just not aware that these alternative therapies are available,” said Pyles, the event coordinator for the expo. “Natural and organic living has been thought of as something from the 60s. Now everything is coming back around and it’s not so radical – it’s practical to be more natural, and it’s becoming a necessity.”

Pyles’ sentiments were echoed by expo vendors and patrons Sunday, many of whom cited their reasons for “going green” as the ongoing health concerns they feel have not been resolved through traditional avenues, and escalating health care and pharmaceutical costs.

Torbett-Dishner, a Piney Flats native who is an independent representative for Wildtree natural foods, became interested in natural foods when dealing with her son’s attention deficit disorder. She said she first assumed he had food allergies, but after a series of painful and expensive allergy tests, determined he did not have any food sensitivities. After checking the ingredients on her usual menu, she began buying products with no preservatives, colorings or additives, and noticed a remarkable change in her son’s attitude.

“When I watched his diet, I could tell a real difference,” she said. “As a mom, you just sort of know when something is working for your child.”

Cox said the expense of traditional medical treatment, and long-term effectiveness play key roles in decisions to explore alternative therapies.

“Many of our customers are turning to natural relief because it is less expensive and it has no side effects, like most pharmaceuticals do,” said Cox, an aromatherapist with Natural Options Aromatherapy of Bellville, Ohio. Cox has a background in the medical industry, but said he has found natural healing to be preferable.

“Oftentimes, the side effects of the drugs are worse than the condition they are supposed to be treating, and people don’t want that,” Cox said. “Natural therapies don’t have these side effects.”

Holistic advocates and practitioners also cite diet and environmental pollutants as a factor in ailments that are becoming more prevalent in our culture, such as allergies, cancer, behavioral issues, diabetes, skin problems, and depression. The holistic belief is that humans contaminate their bodies with toxins from the environment, in foods, and even in skin products and soaps, all of which contribute to these chronic health issues. Treatments include not only a healthy diet and natural products, but also massage therapy, aromatherapy, chiropractic care and herbal remedies.

Many “green” advocates note that the concept of natural living is not new, but rather a return to an older mentality in which individuals developed their own products and food naturally and without chemicals.

“In older times, every lady of the house used to have a ‘stillroom’ with plants from the garden,” said Arleen Fox of Lady Emily Products, which offers organic skin care products. “Our culture got away from this and went to chemicals. Now, people are getting back to this more natural way of life.”

The notion that getting back to the earth is catching on is behind Kathryn Carmack’s business. Carmack, of Kingsport, Tenn., makes her own soaps by hand at home. Marketed as Conscious Living, her products are now distributed at Food City stores throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.

And Cox, the aromatherapist, now teaches his skills to nursing students at Cincinnati State College in Ohio. He said he also has used aromatherapy in nursing homes with great success.

Pyles said she and others at the expo are just trying to provide more education on the subject.

“Holistic and green living are focused on preventative health care,” she said, “and creating healthier bodies and a healthier environment.”

To learn more about holistic services in the Tri-Cities area, visit the expo’s Web site at www.GoGreen–Natural.com. Also, at 7 p.m. Friday, the Center for Life Expression and InnerSea Yoga, one of the vendors at the expo, will host a free ladies night at his business in Johnson City. The event will feature healthy foods, education and prizes geared toward exploring healthy living. For more information, call Maura Heavey at (423) 282-5483.