Wild foods, foraged from Western North Carolina’s biodiverse environment, give a boost to health as superfoods high in nutrients, say leaders of local “weed walks.”

Wild foods, foraged from Western North Carolina’s biodiverse environment, give a boost to health as superfoods high in nutrients, say leaders of local “weed walks.”
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue‘s unexpected moratorium on animal intakes has raised a number of questions among people in the Asheville animal rescue community. Brother Wolf president and founder Denise Bitz recently announced plans to close the Joyce B. Cambron Adoption Center in Asheville and open a pet and farm animal sanctuary in Leicester in its place. […]
The main reasons pets are surrendered are related to behavior problems and not spaying or neutering animals. Addressing these issues in annual visits can help save pets’ lives.
The president of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Denise Bitz, yesterday accused a former member of the nonprofit’s board and one-time foster parent of the year of fomenting “a local cesspool on a social media.” The comment was one of many contentious exchanges taking place this week on Facebook following Brother Wolf’s announcement it will be closing […]
In Heart Health Month, local cardiac care experts weigh in on ways to improve heart health.
Regular checkups for your pets can prevent many diseases and ensure that you have a healthy companion.
A variety of local spiritual leaders and practitioners, from a rabbi to a Buddhist monk, weigh in on the existence of past lives and explore the possibility that recalling them can have healing benefits.
The Japanese art of shinrin-yoku, or forest “bathing,” has come to WNC. Forest guides help people experience the woods in an intentional manner, while the forest itself acts as therapist to promote healing.
Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary founder Nancy Brown and Mars Hill professor Scott Pearson talk about wolfdogs — how they evolved from wolves, why they need protection and how they can be better appreciated through understanding their nature and instincts.
Local human services and nonprofits offer a variety of programs that create social connection, health and vitality for Asheville’s many retirees.
Local professional organizers talk about how creating more organized spaces in your home and office can lead to better health, a calmer mind and higher productivity.
Asheville-area play experts discuss the importance of play for adults and note the variety of fun and play-driven activities offered by local organizations.
Until he cared for his dying daughter two years ago, Said Osio could not have imagined having a conversation about death. As her caregiver, he realized, “There is a belief in our culture that if we talk about death with someone who is ill, it’s in a way acknowledging defeat.” Osio co-directs Third Messenger, an informal […]
Knowing what to feed your pet is not always a simple or straightforward matter. Local veterinarians and animal experts weigh in on the best diet for your canine or feline companion.
Four Asheville ministers speak of their vision and understanding about what it means to help those in need. The encounter of helping another person, they say, can be transforming for both the giver and receiver and holds the potential to change the world we live in.
Does prayer work? And how? Local prayer leaders and pastors who spoke with Xpress are in general agreement that the answer is “yes” — but it often depends on your definition of a successful outcome. “I believe God still performs miracles, [but] he’s not a vending machine,” says Michael Lombardo, who serves as director of pastoral […]
Dance and movement can help people heal emotionally and physically, say Asheville practitioners.
In the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressures of gift buying, parties and family gatherings yet forget about that old Thanksgiving stalwart — gratitude. But thankfulness may be the best gift you can give yourself and others this time of year. “The holidays can be a really challenging time,” says Asheville psychologist Deborah Barnett. […]
For Western North Carolina residents with chronic health problems, help is nearby. Mars Hill resident Peggy McConnell has several chronic conditions, including atrial fibrillation, which wakes her up in the night. Although she is receiving regular medical care, last May, McConnell decided to get extra help: She enrolled in Living Healthy, a six-week workshop sponsored by the Land of Sky Regional Council, a multicounty agency […]
On Halloween we honor our ancestors and remember that death is an inevitable part of life. But the process of death and dying is changing in Western North Carolina, as alternative death and burial practices become more prevalent.
Western North Carolina’s first recovery rally happens Saturday, Sept. 19, at Lake Junalaska, with a recovery walk around the lake. The event will draw together health care professionals, law enforcement officials and people in recovery.