by Kay Lucas 

Those living in the Upstate know the hecticness of Woodruff Road. But do you know about all of its hidden gems, like Garner’s Natural Life? The go-to store for holistic-minded locals is Garner’s Natural Life. Sadly, many Greenville residents drive past their stores in the rat race of life, unaware of this local, family-owned business that has operated for 53 years.

Easily located with plenty of parking, Garner’s Natural Life is a breath of fresh air on a well-beaten path. Its light and soothing atmosphere will welcome you as you shop or learn about its many clean lifestyle products. Although the Woodruff Road store opened seven years ago, Garner’s was first established in the area in 1969. The store manager, Dan Guthrie, stated, “We are still having people come in saying ‘Oh, we didn’t know you were over here,’ because they are used to the Pleasantburg Drive location.” No matter which branch you choose, all four stores carry the same products. New-to-the-area people are also happily surprised to find an agrarian store in Greenville without needing to drive to a bigger city or buy online. “We are constantly being asked ‘Why don’t you have a store here?’ or ‘Let’s have one here,’ once everyone falls in love with the different options they have here.”

You can shop online or at any of their four South Carolina locations—two in Greenville and two in Columbia. Garner’s stays on top of the hottest trends. Guthrie declared, “Right now, there is a lot of hype about Irish sea moss and bladderwrack herb. The combination gives us all the minerals we need in our diet. Medicinal mushrooms are big right now. There is constant research being done on how they are beneficial to us. They are being used in traditional treatments as well as preventative.” Garner’s tries to keep on the edge of what is new, and Guthrie believes that we will see even more uses for medical mushrooms in the future. “Also, a lot of people are all about CBD right now.”

Riding the newest waves doesn’t mean Garner’s stops their tried-and-true products. Vitamins, supplements, chemical-free beauty products, and bulk herbs remain staples in their stores. When asked what Guthrie’s favorite thing Garner’s has to offer, he replied, “I love the bulk herbs; that’s what drew me here as a shopper before I was working here. I was studying herbalism and needed some herbs, but I didn’t know where I could find them. When I searched, I found Garner’s.”

Many people try to grow their own herbs. Unfortunately, circumstances don’t always turn out in our favor. Garner’s buy-by-the-weight dried herbs are always available, not to mention the variety. “There are over 200-some options in just the bulk herbs—and most all of them are organic.” Buying herbs like this is a great way to get them into your routine, even if it is simply to make them into a tea. Of course, if you are hesitant to make your own combinations, there is a large assortment of pre-packaged teas.

Going into a Garner’s Natural Life store is an experience. If only they could bottle the scent that hits you when you walk into the store. It’s a combination of all the different herbs, soaps, and essential oils they keep stocked on the shelves. The staff is knowledgeable, and their passion is to help people (and pets) with their health. The polite and friendly way they treat you will make you want to come back.

The owner, Candace Garner Newman, loves to decorate the stores to give that homey feel. There is even a corner with books, and oftentimes shoppers will take a seat and read up before purchasing. The staff prides itself on educating you and encourages research behind your decisions. Garner’s Natural Life offers a few fun items, like crystals, SoulKu necklaces, and Himalayan salt lamps. When it comes to Garner’s Natural Life stores, their products are as wholesome as their roots.

Garner’s Natural Life Greenville locations are 1601 Woodruff Rd. and 27 S. Pleasantburg Dr. Their most recent Best in the Upstate awards (2022) are Best Vitamin & Supplement Store, Best Wellness/Alternative Medicine, and Best Place to Buy CBD Oil. Visit GarnersNaturalLife.com. See ad, back cover.

by Kay Lucas

Let’s face it; relationships are filled with all kinds of struggles. We usually have no problem talking about them; sadly, we aren’t always as vocal about intimacy issues. When it comes to lack of libido, painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, inability to reach orgasm, low sensitivity, erectile dysfunction, or even self-image, Renew Health and Wellness is here to help. Yes, right here in the Upstate, there is a wonderful clinic to help with all those uncomfortable topics.

Starting with libido—this is where the cheetah or zebra question comes into play. Are you the one chasing your partner, or is he/she chasing you? Rarely do two people have the same sex drive, especially as we age, and often hormone levels are primarily to blame. Renew Health and Wellness offers Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BRHT), a plant-based solution for anyone suffering from hormonal depletion or imbalance. Renew has licensed medical staff to evaluate and assess where you are and where you need to be.

AnnaMarie Cantrell, Clinic Manager at Renew Health and Wellness, explained, “Bio-identical hormones are chemically identical to the hormones our bodies were making. When we introduce them to our system, our system embraces them instead of putting up a standard.” The clinic will place the grain of rice- sized pellet under your skin every three months. This is a natural, holistic option that very rarely has side effects, unlike what has been used in the past. Cantrell said, “The past few decades, many women’s health studies have focused on hormone replacement, unfortunately creating a negative narrative, as synthetic hormones (such as birth control or other HRT primary care providers would typically prescribe) can increase risk of cancer, blood clots, strokes, and other unpleasant high-risk scenarios.”

As we age, our bodies produce fewer hormones, and this can start in our mid-20s. While there are thousands of hormones, Renew Health and Wellness focuses on three hormones:  estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Getting our hormone levels up and balanced will help your sexual wellness and protect you against cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s/Dementia. So, we get preventative benefits from having these hormones back in our bodies. It’s not only about hormones. Renew Health and Wellness offers sexual wellness procedures too, such as Platelet Rich Placement (PRP) shots—these reinject your own blood into your sexual tissue to create more collagen for elasticity and helps with self- lubrication, Vibra treatments—works from our body’s response to micro- injuries (our body sends new blood cells creating new blood vessels to rejuvenate our sexual organs), and Renew Pulse Therapy sends vibrations to develop new blood vessels and break up plaque and calcification of our arteries as we age. Therefore, men have longer, harder erections without a pharmaceutical solution. Cantrell said, “[We] use your body’s own natural healing process to fix itself.” This means no troublesome side effects that lead to embarrassing ER visits. Treatments vary for each individual, and the professionals at Renew will determine the best plan to fix your symptoms. Some patients notice results after one treatment.

Renew Health and Wellness offers solutions if you struggle with body image, too. They have many skin rejuvenation procedures to help with cellulite, skin tightening, wrinkle reduction, acne, scars, and more. Of course, most of us have body image problems due to weight gain. Renew Health and Wellness provides a 12-week medically monitored weight loss program called Clean Start. This program includes diet, exercise, HCG or Semaglutide and MIC injections—a cocktail of fat burners and vitamins that enhance weight loss in a safe and natural way. The goal is to reset your metabolism and retrain your brain to pull from fat storage to energy while modifying your appetite and tastebuds. “We want to transition you into whatever you want your eating habit to be for the rest of your life,” Cantrell said. “Again, it’s re-healing your body to be that healthier version of yourself.”

Renew Health and Wellness website, RenewMeToday.com, states:  Reaching a healthy weight with a monitored weight loss program helps balance hormone levels and helps improve sexual wellness. Living at an unhealthy weight affects you mentally, emotionally, physically, and sexually. Still, when you reach a healthy weight and nourish your body, you’ll experience benefits in every area of your life. When asked about the feedback Renew Health and Wellness receives, Cantrell replies, “No matter what someone comes in for, they say, ‘We wish we would have found you sooner.’” And she loves that “We change our patients’ lives.” Intimacy dysfunction shouldn’t be a taboo topic and growing older doesn’t mean saying goodbye to your libido.

Renew Health and Wellness of the Upstate is located at 526 Howell Rd., Greenville. To schedule your free consultation, call 864-408-8877 or visit their website at RenewMeToday.com. Receive up to $500 off when you mention Locally Grown!

by Maya “Amber” Sherer,
Master Herbalist and CBD Specialist
 – Joi Natural Wellness 

Your kidneys are two organs located in your lower back. They play a vital role in maintaining your body’s optimal well-being. They filter your blood, remove toxins and produce urine. You need proper kidney function to stay alive.

The Proper Care of Kidneys

Begin your day with water instead of coffee; it encourages your body to flush out unwanted toxins. Eat low sodium meals; become a cautious label reader. Maintaining glucose and blood sugar levels is the name of the health game. Hemoglobin A1C tests are available through primary doctors. Knowing yourself and your family history is crucial to your wellness journey. Avoid inflammatory pain medication (NSAIDs) and always know what you are allergic to.

Herbal support is God’s medicine cabinet, but with this you need to know the proper dosage. More isn’t always better; follow the recommended amount. Reduce the stress and reuse that energy into maintaining a better relationship with your hormones and cortisol levels so your blood pressure stays balanced. Take deep breaths and find an exercise routine that works with your daily schedule and light stretching in the morning works wonders!

“There’s a Tea for That”

Taking a lot of supplements can be frustrating; that’s why the loose-leaf tea option is an enjoyable way to reap the benefits of plant medicine. Here is a list of kidney-supporting herbs that some can be teas as well:

Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) is a weed that has diuretic properties. In layman’s terms, it helps move excess fluid out of your body by increasing your urine output.

Chanca Piedra (Phyllanthus niruri) has been known to support kidneys in reducing/dissolving kidney stones.

Juniper Berries aid in boosting fluid removal and purifying the kidneys.

The pairing of Uva Ursi and Marshmallow decreases fluid build-up around the heart.

Cleavers activates the lymphatic system to release toxins from the bloodstream. This weed can be safely ingested as a tea.

by Debbie Kimmel

Yes, canning can be intimidating and scary, but there is a very easy way to start canning without pressure cookers and water bath canning! It is called the Open Kettle method. It is a perfect way to get your feet wet in the canning world without the fear of blowing up a pressure cooker. I have had great success canning tomatoes with this method. Below are the steps to can tomatoes using the Open Kettle Method:

ITEMS NEEDED:

• Tomatoes • Glass Jars (preferably Mason)

• Cookie Sheet                  • Metal Lids /Metal Rings                              

• Jar Funnel                        • 1 tsp. Non-Iodized Salt per jar

DIRECTIONS:

Place clean jars on a cookie sheet and heat in oven at 250 deg F. (20 min)

Boil lids in small pot to sterilize, pull out and dry on clean paper towels. (1min)

Boil water in large pot and blanch tomatoes for one minute and peel skin off.

Remove blemishes, and cut tomatoes in small chunks and place in large pot.

Heat tomatoes slowly at medium-low, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high till boiling.

Skim any foam off the top.

Take jars out of oven and place next to pot of tomatoes on cookie sheet or towel. Ladle hot tomatoes into hot jars using a jar funnel. Fill to an inch below top of jar. (Near the lowest ridge of the jar opening)

Add a tsp of salt to each jar.

Wipe top of jars from all tomato residue with damp paper towel so lids will seal.

Place lid and rings on each jar. Tighten down rings tightly.

Flip tomato jars upside down. Always use oven mitts to handle the jars.

After 5 minutes, flip the jars right side up and they will vacuum seal within 30 minutes- to 24 hours.

If the lids compress down, and you hear a “Ping” they have sealed. Tomatoes can be stored on the shelf for up to a year. If a lid does not seal, put in the refrigerator and use within a couple of weeks.

The trick to being successful with this method is to work fast with the very hot tomatoes and very hot jars to ensure the lids sealing. Some people may choose to do one jar at a time until they get the process down. I will do about 4 at a time so I can keep everything hot while going through all the steps. 

Safety Alert: You cannot mix foods and safely use the Open Kettle method as the mixing of the foods will alter the pH of the food and cannot safely be preserved without pressure canning. 

Just the other week I was craving some spaghetti and meat sauce but didn’t want to go to the store. Looking around my kitchen I found the ground beef in the freezer, the canned tomatoes in the pantry and the pasta in the cupboard and it was a great feeling to whip up my dinner from everything I had stored. 

Although the tomato season is over, buy some from the store and practice for next year’s summer harvest!

Debbie works a full-time job away from home; her “Home Sweet Homesteader” column includes what she is currently working on as she aspires to be a “Homesteader” in her own backyard in Greenville, SC.