Alternative Health, Alternative Medicine

Who"s running this joint?

2010-02-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

You"ve probably heard about the Istook Amendment. That"s the name being given to the amendment to the current spending bill that would have let certain certain congressmen, their staffers, and pretty much anyone else they authorize to look at the tax returns of any American for any reason. Like the Democratic prosecutor that"s trying to indict Tom Delay for breaking campaign finance laws. Hypothetically.

Talkingpointsmemo.com points out that it"s been four days, and still, no one knows how that language got into the bill.

Travelling With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

2010-02-04T16:28:00.000-08:00

I recently had a query about our travel probiotics. This is a product you start taking before you go on holiday and continue while on holiday. It uses special probiotic strains. The probiotics help to maintain a coating of friendly bacteria in the intestines to support natural immunity and digestive health. This means that unfriendly bugs find it difficult to get attached to the intestinal wall and multiply. Instead they are likely to be flushed away.

This was the query:

I am soon to travel to the Maldives and am an IBS sufferer and also have an intolerance to yeast. Can you tell me if this would be a good product for me please.

This was my answer:

I would expect the Travel probiotics to be very good for you. Check out my recommendations for irritable bowel syndrome too.

TREATING SPINAL INJURY WITHOUT SURGERY

2010-02-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Here is another major advantage of Magnetic Therapy if done correctly; spinal injury treatment without surgery. There are five strong static magnetic clinics in North America that I know of that are supervised by a competent MD. This one is located in Laguna Nigel, California. AMRi1.org

MME (Magnetic Molecular Energizing) provides a unique alternative to the risks associated with back surgery. Problems with surgery:

Long term problems with surgery: � Anesthesia risk with surgery� Infection risk with surgery

Positive aspects of MME: � No invasive surgery required� Faster healing� Much lower cost

See some Testimonials at: Advanced Magnetic Research Institute

Democrats never go to church?

2010-02-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

There is a post over at Illinipundit about Giuliani. I don"t want to comment on the discussion there, but point out something about the original editorial. That editorial, from the Washington Post, begins:

Social issues such as gay rights and gun control divide America so sharply largely because no one has found a single solution for them equally acceptable to both churchgoing conservatives and secular liberals.

Note the dichotomy there: the two groups in politics are, apparently "churchgoing conservatives" and "secular liberals". Even though an overwhelming majority of Democrats are religious -- and Christians, to boot -- only conservatives qualify as "churchgoing."

We saw this crap all the time in the last election, except that it wasn"t "churchgoing conservatives," it was "values voters." The rest of us being, apparently valueless, atheists that attend Black Mass during the new moon and probably would eat your face given half a chance.

It"s a dangerous assertion made worse by the fact that it"s probably unconscious at this point: that only conservatives have a moral compass. Of course, this meme has been brought to you by your "liberal" media.

Mugwort As Alternative Medicine

2010-02-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

Mugwort As Alternative Medicine

Mugwort has been used as an alternative medicine for thousands of years by different cultures. Both its root and leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

It is an effective remedy for a range of digestive complaints such as indigestion, dyspepsia, vomiting, flatulence, stomach acidity, diarrhea and cramps.
It is powerful in expelling intestinal parasites from the body.
It is a sedative to calm nervousness and tension.
It is a tonic for the liver and spleen.
It is a remedy for gynecological problems such as vaginal pain, menstrual cramps, uterine bleeding and heavy menstrual bleeding.
It is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat fungal infection.

Mugwort is available as teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures, dried leaves and roots. For pinworm infestation, use an infusion of this herb. It can also be used as a poultice for topical use. This herb is toxic if taken in large dosages and taken over long period. Pregnant and nursing women must avoid using mugwort. Those people who suffer from pelvic infection or uterine inflammation also should not take it. When the plant gets in contact with your skin it can also cause dermatitis in some people.

Mugwort is a very useful alternative medicine but make sure you do not exceed the recommended dosage.

And it annoys the pig

2010-02-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Squire (1) is engaging an Intelligent Design apologist over at his blog. He says he"s already received a response to his email, but only teases us with it. No details. The hints of biblical literalism he drops makes it pretty clear what the email contains, though.

I figure this sort of action is pretty much a waste of time. You can not do science if you go into something with your conclusion already decided on. Biblical literalist IDiods (heh, love that word) are so convinced of their interpretation of unquestionable scripture, that, when confronted with evidence that some part of reality contradicts it, they don"t doubt the Bible, they doubt the reality. You just can"t engage that level of zealotry on an intellectual level.

Science requires an open mind. It requires that you be willing to at least consider that you might be wrong, and question your preconceived notions. Radical notions require significant evidence, yes, but eventually they will be adopted if they are correct. ID is the antithesis of that.

(1) I assume that should be "Squire" and not "The Squire." The latter would just be too pretentious. Bordering on "The Artist" level of pretension. Which would have to be punished by being forced to repeatedly watch Doctor Who: The Movie. The atrocious FOX version.

Bank with a bank that represents your ethical concerns

2010-02-04T03:20:00.000-08:00

The UK Co-operative Bank has had a unique Ethical Policy since 1992, which has given their customers a say on what types of businesses they do, and don"t, finance. In the last 16 years, over �900 million of their customers" money has been withheld from businesses whose activities conflict with the policy. Issues have ranged from human rights to animal rights, the arms trade to the environment.

Sunshine makes ageless

2010-02-04T03:05:00.000-08:00

Newest research expressed that more woman spared time to feel sunshine, possibility biologically seen more youngly and ageing process farther out at its(the skin.

Like published [by] Foxnews, Minggu ( 10/11/2007) yesterday, a research done by King"s College London has yielded new invention that woman having high D vitamin content because obtained with help of sunshine. From food and nutrition of supplement gotten, in bilogis will assist woman thus more seen healthier and is young compared to the other.

Research led by Brent Richards to tell that study using responder 2160 womens having age between 18-79 years have also showed that man which seldom be hit sunshine is having opportunity is bigger hit heart attack.

" Result of this hardly impressing because they ( responden-red) has showed man who is having highest D vitamin content seen farther out in ageing compared to having low Vitamin D rate," says Richards.

" This thing possibly will assist explains how vitamin influence D with various disease correlating like heart sickness and cancer," adds Richards.

N-Acetyl Cysteine

2010-02-04T02:50:00.000-08:00

N-Acetyl Cysteine

May also be konown as: Acetylcysteine, NAC

What N-Acetyl Cysteine Does

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is an altered form of amino acid cysteine, which is frequently found in food and synthesized by the body.

N-Acetyl Cysteine aids the breaking down mucus. Double-blind research has found that N-Acetyl Cysteine supplements improve symptoms and prevent recurrences in people with chronic bronchitis. NAC may also protect lung tissue through its antioxidant activity.

N-Acetyl Cysteine assists the body to synthesize glutathione, an important antioxidant. In animals, the antioxidant activity of N-Acetyl Cysteine protects the liver from the adverse effects of exposure to several toxic chemicals. NAC also protects the body from acetaminophen toxicity and is used at very high levels in hospitals for patients with acetaminophen poisoning. It has also been shown to be effective at treating liver failure from causes other than acetaminophen poisoning (e.g., hepatitis, and other drug toxicity) and at preventing kidney damage caused by injections of iopromide, a contrast medium used in people scheduled to undergo computerized tomography (CT) imaging.

Supplementation with N-Acetyl Cysteine has been shown to reduce the proliferation of certain cells lining the colon and may reduce the risk of colon cancer in people with recurrent polyps in the colon.

Where is N-Acetyl Cysteine found?

Cysteine, the amino acid from which NAC is derived, is found in most high-protein foods. NAC is not found in the diet.

N-Acetyl Cysteine Uses

N-acetyl cysteine has been used in connection with the following conditions: bronchitis, angina pectoris, gastritis.

Who is likely to be deficient?

Deficiencies of NAC have not been defined and may not exist. Deficiencies of the related amino acid cysteine have been reported in HIV-infected patients.

N-ACETYL CYSTEINE (NAC) 600 mg. Capsules

He didn"t mean that kind of terrorist

2010-02-04T00:50:00.000-08:00

(This is a bit of a follow up to this post about Joe Scarborough advocating racial profiling in random bag searches.)

A guy was caught at an Oklahoma City airport today trying to sneak what looks to be a bomb onto an airplane. From his picture, it looks like he"s as white as I am.

But something tells me we won"t hear much call from the Right about racial profiling of white guys.

XL Stepper

2010-02-04T00:47:00.000-08:00

The XL Mini Stepper lets you work and tone your lower body while raising your heart rate and helping to increase your cardiovascular fitness. This smooth, low-impact stepper has large foot pedals with slip-resistant surface. Its five-function electronic display makes it easy to track your progress with time, step count, total count, calories burned, and scan modes. The XL Mini Stepper can support users up to 220 pounds. It"s backed by a 90-day limited warranty.
With the XL Stepper, you get the benefits of a traditional stepper - with a compact design that fits almost anywhere! The XL Stepper lets you work and tone you rlower body while raising your heart rate and helping to increase your cardiovascular fitness.
Detail click image above.....

What is ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

2010-02-03T21:32:00.000-08:00

Imagine living in a fast-moving kaleidoscope, where sounds, images, and thoughts are constantly shifting. Feeling easily bored, yet helpless to keep your mind on tasks you need to complete.

Distracted by unimportant sights and sounds, your mind drives you from one thought or activity to the next. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in a collage of thoughts and images that you don"t notice when someone speaks to you.

For many people, this is what it"s like to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. They may be unable to sit still, plan ahead, finish tasks, or be fully aware of what"s going on around them.

To their family, classmates or coworkers, they seem to exist in a whirlwind of disorganized or frenzied activity. Unexpectedly - on some days and in some situations - they seem fine, often leading others to think the person with ADHD can actually control these behaviors.

As a result, the disorder can affect the person"s relationships with others in addition to disrupting their daily life, consuming energy, and diminishing self-esteem.

ADHD, once called hyper kinesis or minimal brain dysfunction, is one of the most common mental disorders among children. It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children and perhaps as many as 2 million American children.

Two to three times more boys than girls are affected. On the average, at least one child in every classroom in the United States needs help for the disorder. ADHD often continues into adolescence and adulthood, and can cause a lifetime of frustrated dreams and emotional pain.

What are the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment?

In order to better understand how to deal with you or your child"s ADHD, we have compiled a number of resources for your convenience. These include articles, web site links, FAQ"s and online counseling sessions with our Clinical Psychologist, Michele Carelse (an expert in dealing with ADHD) as well as downloadable eBooklets on ADHD.

ADHD Treatments Resources FAQ. Learn More...

You should be Aware of these Types of Natural Healing Methods

2010-02-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Excluding regular medicine, the various types of natural healing includes all types of methods that contribute essentially to good health.

Now, the common and more popular ones are:
-Chiropraction
-Reflexology
-Hypnotherapy
-Reiki
-Ayurveda
-Massage

And this is naming just a few.

Still, natural healing can be classified into five major domains of practice: alternative medical systems, mind-body techniques, biologically based therapies, body-based therapies, and energy therapies and under each category, one will be able to find some common natural healing methods as indicated.

*Alternative Medical Systems:

-Traditional Chinese Medicine
-Ayurveda
-Homeopathy
-Naturopathy

Mind-Body Techniques

-Meditation
-Relaxation Techniques
-Guided Imagery
-Hypnotherapy
-Biofeedback

Biologically Based Therapies

-Herbal Medicine
-Orthomolecular Medicine

Body-Based Therapies

-Chiropractic
-Massage Therapy
-Rolfing
-Reflexology
-Postural Reeducation

Energy Therapies

-Bioelectromagnetic-based Therapies
-Reiki
-Therapeutic Touch

So there you have it, the various forms of popular natural healing methods categorized under their parent categories.

At this point, it is safe to say that the plethora of choices does depict that indeed all of these methods are quite popular and documented statistics are showing that they are all indeed more or less effective, so suffice it to say one may be missing out by not looking into the several options.

Here"s to health in "07 and beyond.

Aje

About the Author
Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Anti-Aging Solutions Blog today for more information on the Types of Alternative Medicine.

Should I watch the debate?

2010-02-03T15:38:00.000-08:00

I"m torn. It won"t change who I vote for. On the other hand, if the Couric interview and the following, now-infamous SNL skit is anything to judge by, there is some possibility that it will be entertaining.

Syndrome Wernicke

2010-02-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

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Syndrome Wernicke involves the brain disorder which calls loss of certain functions of a brain.

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This syndrome is called mainly because of undereating. There is other reason for this syndrome, and it is deficiency ??????? or Vitamin B1.

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Syndrome Wernicke can be called to people who are badly eating, however it is known, what even the alcoholism calls syndrome Wernicke.

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Syndrome Wernicke switches on an encephalopathy that means that there are repeated losses of the central nervous system, and it mentions peripheral nervous system and consequently mentions other part of a body.

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Syndrome Wernicke is extremely extended among alcoholics; it is one of signs of withdrawal of alcohol. A body of people which use alcohol, find difficult to absorb ?????? in a body, therefore though the person who uses alcohol, eats the balanced diet, it could suffer from syndrome Wernicke.

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There are some numbers of signs or syndrome Wernicke; they - memory loss just as inability to generate new memory, hallucinations, conversations, etc. Other syndrome - vision changes, people could test double vision, eye deviations of vision, the century, etc. there could hang down

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In case of other signs there is also a loss of coordination of a muscle; there could be an unstable and not co-ordinated walking, etc.

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After physical examination there could be the traces, found repeated losses of a nerve, there could be also wrong eye movements, at the person suffering from syndrome Wernicke, there could be the low body temperature, the lowered pressure. Taking into consideration, that the norm of pulse could be fast just as the warm norm also could be fast.

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If the person was alcohol during long time, there could be higher levels of alcohol in blood levels just as urine.

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However, viewing MRI could not show change in a brain fabric.

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However, deficiency ??????? can occur to the several other reasons as AIDS, a cancer, a dialysis, cardiac arrest, thyrotoxicosis, etc.

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To consider the person with illness Wernicke"s, it could be obliged to hospitalise such person so that if in initial stages about this illness it is possible to care and signs it was possible to operate.

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The corresponding care is required in the person who suffers with lethargy� who is coma. It is necessary to hold pass of an air line at full supervision over such people

The Dietary Benefits Of Green Tea

2010-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

Green tea seems to be the newest weapon to use with your weight control battles. Like other herbal teas you shouldn"t need milk or sweeteners to help with the taste. It is just so simple to make, and if you replace your coffee with the green tea, you are replacing one bad with one really good beverage. Don"t like green tea? Why not get the same benefits with green tea extract?

Research has shown that green tea helps to reduce weight by stimulating the body"s thermogenesis process, which increases the expenditure of energy and the oxidization of fat in the body. Many compounds found in plants have this effect. The special thing about green tea is that it does not increase the heart rate, and is therefore believed to be safer than diet pills such as ephedrine that also work by stimulating thermogenesis.

Green tea does not put pressure on the heart so is very safe for many of the overweight people who have or at the risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular problems. If you are in this unsafe group then using diet pills, especially those that contain ephedra are not an option. Drinking green tea and exercising at a moderate level will trim your waist line. Body cleansing is another option.

There are only two ways to lose weight: one way is by eating less (consuming fewer calories) and the other is by increasing expenditure of energy (using up more calories). Green tea works by increasing output and this can be by around 4%. Most scientists believe that this is caused by the high quantity of catechin that is in the tea and its extract.

Green tea has the added benefit of containing powerful antioxidants that may be beneficial to your health in many ways, strengthening the immune system and protecting against disease.

For people are sensitive to caffeine green tea contains caffeine. It is also recommended that if one decides to take green tea it would be best to limit other forms of caffeine in their diet, such as other teas, coffee or caffeinated beverages such as pop. Do not choose caffeine free green tea as the chemical process that occurs to remove the caffeine destroys the benefits from the plant.

If you choose to use green tea to assist in weight loss keep in mind you will need to watch what you consume. You will not be able to eat more to allow for the calories burnt off by green tea, or you won"t lose weight. By taking in less calorie along with the benefits of green tea in speeding up metabolism you will also feel more energy and over time lose weight. To speed up the weight loss by even taking in fewer calories and exercising weight loss can also be quicker.

Since green tea is accepted by everyone as a natural and safe food with added benefits of antioxidants and proven assist in weight maintenance or control. It can cheaply and easily be added to any weight loss program and can be taken in a variety of forms, such as tea, extract or tablets. The great benefit is it is inexpensive and easily to obtain.

About the Author:

Purchasing Isagenix is very simple - Purchase Isagenix from Independant Isagenix dealer

Burn Survivors- God"s Special children: Just Plain Love Children"s Literature for Burn Healing

2010-02-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

Burn Survivors- God"s Special children: Just Plain Love Children"s Literature for Burn Healing

Shared via AddThis

Natural Skin Care Remedies for Your Good Health

2010-02-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

People will spend a fortune each year on skin care products. However, there are still many people who have not tried natural skin are remedies. They are just as effective and much better for your skin as well.

Some of the non-natural options people choose are dermabrasions, chemical peels, botox and other procedures that are just not particularly good for you. Have you ever seen anyone who has had botox treatments? They look like they have a permanently surprised expression or no expression at all.

Natural skin care remedies will not involve the injecting of a potentially dangerous toxin called botulinum into your face, which is exactly what botox does. If you want your skin surgically "scuffed" to remove any irregularities then a dermabrasion is for you.

Obviously, this is not a particularly natural thing to undergo. If you want an acidic chemical applied to your face to remove a layer of skin then a chemical peel is what you need.

In order for people to maintain a youthful appearance, they do not need to undergo these drastic and at times very expensive options. Natural skin care remedies such as olive oil or green tea can be used as an effective method. The ingredients found in green tea products provide a natural antioxidant that helps to keep the skin hydrated, which helps to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

You can add natural skin care remedies to your bath in the form of herbal aromatherapy oils. In this manner, your skin is healed and cleansed by the essential oils. You can also use bath teas, which also helps to promote healthy skin and hair.

If you have a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis then these bath tea oils with help the cleaning and restoring your skin. It is also great for your hair especially if you have dandruff or an itchy scalp. There are many different natural methods to caring for your skin.

Another example of a home remedy is to mix equal parts of limejuice, rose water and glycerin. If you apply this to your face every night before bed then you will notice an improvement in your complexion as it makes the skin softer and helps remove acne and other blemishes.

In conclusion, why not choose natural skin care remedies over chemicals or other invasive choices such as botox. You will find many different types of natural methods and natural creams to choose from, find one that works best for you and stick with it.

About the Author
We provide information on natural body butters, scented massage oils, natural massage oils along with information on massage therapy continuing education. Visit us now for all your skin care information.By D.Karlson

Weight loss gurantee

2010-02-02T22:39:00.000-08:00

I was out riding my bike with a friend who�s decided to get fit. She�s doing the right things: taking more exercise and eating more healthy foods. I told her about the weight loss supplement we sell if she feels she needs some help to lose weight at any time. She was interested but asked: �Do they work?�

I felt like saying: �No, course they don�t � I just want your money!� but instead I told her about our guarantee:

60-day money-back guarantee even if you�ve taken the last one.

Everyone always queries this guarantee because they feel it�s too good to be true. But I feel confident in making this guarantee for everything in our online health shop because I only see stuff that I�ve researched and know is likely to work for most people.

Of course, there will be people who take a dishonest advantage from this guarantee, but I can live with that. What I want is for people to see this guarantee and know that they can trust what we sell to be effective � not for everyone in all circumstances � but for a lot of people who are looking for help to lose weight and improve their lives.

How to Introduce Holistic Medicine to Your Family

2010-02-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

Holistic therapies are increasingly gaining more and more acceptance around the world as scores of frustrated people seek alternatives to expensive modern medical practices. These people have slowly begun to recognize that the very same modern medical practices that they’ve relied on for so long, seek to treat the symptoms rather than cure the disease and avoid seeing the patient as a whole being in need of care not only for their body but their minds and spirits as well.

Interestingly, while individuals are turning to holistic medicine in record numbers, they are often wary of discussing such things with their friends and families out of the fear that they will be misunderstood.
Here are a few suggestions that will help you broach the topic of holistic medicine with your family:

Educate Yourself
Education is your first line of defense when faced with a discussion about an unfamiliar topic. Before you talk to your friends and family, read everything you can find on the subject of holistic health. Your local library branch or an internet search is a place to start, but you will also glean much more by actually seeing and being with holistic health practitioners and those on the holistic path. Reading books and information that are applicable to your own situation will make it much easier to field the unavoidable questions that will no doubt be forthcoming. Having such tools to use as a reference will give you confidence in introducing and discussing other health options with those who may be less supportive or knowledgeable.

Explain about Access to Affordable Health Care
When you first enter into the holistic discussion with others, it is best to approach it from a perspective that they are likely to understand right off the bat. Modern health care is prohibitively expensive and as such is out of reach for millions of people. Health care insurance �" if it is available at all �" can cost hundreds of dollars every month and still may not cover all of the costs associated with maintaining the health of you and your family. Regardless, even if you have the best health insurance seeking alternative healing arts modalities may be the best path for you.
Thankfully there are a number of holistic therapy options that are available to people irrespective of their age, current health condition or financial status.

Organize a Family Movie Night
One way to foster family togetherness is to incorporate a family movie night. In this relaxed atmosphere, discussions can take place in a comfortable and familiar environment, leaving many people much more receptive to new concepts. There are DVDs available on nearly any holistic therapy you can imagine and The Center for Healing Arts has made what to watch and share a simple task. Subscribers receive a new DVD every other month to review at their leisure, in the privacy of their own home.
According to founding director Victor Demko, sharing your newfound information is exactly what the Center had in mind. "Members of the center are encouraged to watch and share the DVDs with friends as part of creating a wellness mentality in their community. The DVDs can also be used to support friends and loved ones on their own wellness journey."

Guess Whos Coming to Dinner?
In some cases you might not feel comfortable bringing up the subject of healing arts alternatives with your family no matter how well informed you might be. This is unfortunate and something to be concerned about but if the support is not there then you simply require a different approach. If this is the case for you, consider looking through the telephone book for holistic practitioners in your area. You could also visit your local health food store to ask about the existence of such practices or support groups. When you have found a person with which you feel comfortable and whom you feel could help you make your case with your family and friends, invite them to dinner at your home so your family may meet others who are interested in the same healing arts modality as you and will help broaden the exposure for your family.

Your family may at first offer resistance to your new path but with persistence and doing your best not to judge them, sharing the holistic journey with your loved ones will pay off in the end. The important thing to remember is to not push them or force your “message” on them. Every person learns and absorbs information in different ways and at different paces and if you show them how important it is to you, they’ll no doubt come around soon enough. After all, your best health and happiness must be the goal and all movement in the right direction, however small, will get you to your destination.

About the Author

Divne Pointer is a novelist and freelance writer with a special interest in holistic health and a fan of http://thecenterforhealingarts.com The Center for Healing Arts" films on healing

Outside the Norm

2010-02-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

The woman snorts at you. "I know what happened to me. The doctor was wrong. Are you saying that my experiences aren"t a good indicator of what happens in reality? Isn"t that the entire basis of science?"

"Not always," you reply. "Science recognizes that individual observations can be off, and compensates for this by making many many measurements. Once something is confirmed over and over again we can be pretty certain it"s right, though never entirely certain - there"s always the possibility our method of observation was flawed, or we just got a really rare set of data. Nevertheless, it"s the best method we have, and it"s led to immense progress..."

"Oh give it up already!" you"re interrupted by a voice from behind you. "Science is nothing more than another system of belief."

"Science isn"t a belief system," you explain. "It"s a method of obtaining knowledge, not a set of knowledge which we already believe with no doubt." As you turn around to approach the newcomer, you face a visage you"ve seen highlighted in the media all too often: Scientology"s unofficial celebrity spokesman, Tom Cruise.

"Now you"re just playing word games," he says. "It"s not like it matters anyways; you"re already too late to stop us."

""Us"?"

"Never you mind; I"ve got work to do," Cruise says as he turns and walks off.

"Um, excuse me?" The lady you"d been talking to says. "What was all of that about?"

"I"m not entirely sure," you reply. "But I think I have an idea who might be behind this..."

Return to report your suspicions.

Head on to a different media outlet.

Like we needed more?

2010-02-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Just more proof Americans are stupid. Apparently, we believe that Iraq and Al Queso are intimately linked. As if partnering with a corrupt, womanizing dictator would sit well with a fanatical, ascetic, ultra-religious wacko.

From this article:

A new poll shows that 57 percent of Americans continue to believe that Saddam Hussein gave "substantial support" to al-Qaida terrorists before the war with Iraq, despite a lack of evidence of that relationship.

Evidence? We don"t need no stinkin" evidence. Fifty-seven percent? That"s almost enough for a Constitutional amendment.

Consumption of Calcium During the time

2010-02-02T06:54:00.000-08:00

Along age increase, various function of body organs starts declines, including bone. To anticipate problem, asupan calcium need to be improved.
Osteoporosis or pengeroposan of bone is not anymore property of the elderlies ( lansia). Group of young age also simply not free of disease risk iniPerubahan life style that is more and more indisposed become main leader of this problem.

Effect is less physical activityly done everyday, starts children until adult, and less asupan density calcium ( density) bone becomes is low so causing osteoporosis. � Children also might possibly experience osteoporosisApalagi, 41,7% gristle Indonesia resident is hit osteoporosis early. The osteoporosis for want of asupan calcium and vitamin D,� says specialist medical doctor gizi from RS Fatmawati dr Pauline Endang SpGK.

He adds, osteoporosis early can be suffered chlid at the age of growth. Usually is marked with pain at hand bone and foot/feet, form of foot/feet that is is diametrical not so that is in the form of letter X or O.

That is because his(its, asupan calcium since age early important for a period of chlid growth, especially that development of bone child of can grow normally according to age. But, vesting of calcium should not desist when full grown chlid. In consequence asupan calcium still hardly is needed to prevents osteoporosis at the age of stripper.

According to nutritionist from Yayasan Gizi Kuliner Tuti Soenardi, even has eaten food to contain calcium, there is matters which can pursue process the entry of calcium into body. If(when someone consumes alcohol, abundant coffee, less athletics, stres, depression, and smoking, hence calcium stepping into body will be pursued.
Vesting of asupan calcium must according to requirement and depends on its(the age. For age 0-6 months, required asupan calcium 400 magnesiums. For age 6-12 months is requiring asupan 600 calcium magnesiums. Age 1-10 years requires 800-1200 magnesiums.
� While age 11-24 years butuh 1200 - 1500 magnesiums. And age 25-65 years needs 1000 magnesiums. Asupan this obtainable calcium from milk, cheese, yoghurt, legume, and green vegetables,� he said, this stripper has not.
Data International Osteoporosis Foundation ( IOF) shows, 150 million in the world is detected osteoporosis and berisiko to experience bone break which can paralyse and reduces quality of life. Bone break incident at elderly also can menace soul.

We apologize for the inconvenience

2010-02-02T03:14:00.000-08:00

Well, the spammers are hitting full-force. In order to save myself the headaches of deleting every spam that comes by, I"m going to temporarily (I hope) enable word-verification for comments. Don"t blame me; they"re the ones forcing this.

Using Food Diary to Help You Stick to a Healthy Plan

2010-02-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

When you�re trying to lose weight, one of the smartest and easiest steps you can take is to keep a food diary. A food diary is just like what it sounds�a notebook in which you record your daily food intake. You can track of a number of things in your food diary or you can keep it simple, but in either case, this is a great way in which to help yourself stick to a weight loss plan.

There are a number of pieces of information you can record in your food diary. First, consider just listing your daily menu. This will help you actually see what you eat on any given day and notice patterns of unhealthy eating that you never considered before. Some like to also record calories, protein, fiber, fat, and other nutrients. Portion size may be recorded as well. If you truly want to use diary format, you can also list the reasons you�re eating other than hunger, the cravings you experience, and your feelings about your diet on any given day. It�s your diary, so do what is right for you.

When you start a food diary, keep in mind that you don�t have to keep a traditional journal by the bed with a lock and key. You can use whatever kind of recording and writing tools you like best. For some people, the traditional journal or just a plain notebook works fine. You can also keep a food diary on your computer. Simply open up a word processing program and keep the icon on your desktop. Others like to use Excel or other data entry programs, which help quiet a lot when it comes to adding totals at the end of the day. You can keep your food diary on a laptop or palm pilot, or slip a notebook into your bag during the day�whatever works best for your lifestyle.

Remember to update your food diary very day and review it at the end of each week in order to track your progress. You may wish to note in your diary when you hit certain weight loss goals or when you gain weight in order to look for causes. You can show your diary to professionals to make sure that you are staying healthy as well. Food diaries work great for many people, so you should consider starting one today in order to lose the most weight possible.

The Sum of Four Years

2010-02-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

I got the summary of my procedure logs from residency in the mail the other day. It"s kind of funny to think, "this is the sum of four years of victory and defeat, immense joy, and some of the most unimaginable pain you could ever think of", which all sounds melodramatic, but really is true. I can truthfully say that my residency was the best time of my life and the worst time of my life. I"m like Mowgli, but instead of being raised by the jungle creatures, I feel like I was raised by obstetricians, and my childhood can be summarized as follows:

Surgery on antenatal patients:
Appendectomy 1
Laparoscopy 17
Cerclage 9

Abdominal Hysterectomy:
Total/subtotal hysterectomy with/without removal of tubes/ovaries: 78
Radical hysterectomy (for cervical cancer) 2
Hysterectomy after Cesarean delivery 1
Other abdominal hysterectomy 13

Vaginal Hysterectomy:
Vaginal hysterectomy with or without removal of tubes/ovaries: 23
Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy: 9

Laparotomy:
Removal of ovaries: 7
Laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy: 4
Removal of Mass: 16
Myomectomy: 10
Other laparotomy* 98

Incontinence and Pelvic floor:
Urethral suspension: 1
Paravaginal repair : 5
Anterior/post repair: 32
Other incontinence repair: 24

Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery: 437**

Forceps Deliveries
Low/outlet forceps: 27
Mid/rotational forceps: 1

Vacuum Deliveries: 49

Cesarean deliveries: 226

Breech presentation delivered vaginally: 12***

Multifetal deliveries:
Twins: 18
Triplets+: 2

Low birth weight:
500-1000: 18
1000-1500: 23
1500-2500: 34

Operative laparoscopy: 91

Hysteroscopy/operative: 32
Hysteroscopy/diagnostic: 47
Other hysteroscopy****: 38

Conization of the Cervix: 35

Induced abortion (Medical or surgical): 88

Surgical sterilization: 117

Vaginal Ultrasound: 118

Miscellaneous: 353^

Endocrine/Infertility Surgery: 118
Uro-gynecology: 49
Surgery for invasive cancer: 76

Outpatient/primary care visits:
hypertension: 353
Diabetes: 173
Thyroid disease: 82
Dermatologic: 38
Gastrointestinal: 156
Respiratory: 46
Breast probs: 89
Geriatrics^^: 147
Behavioral medicine:292
Immunization: 45
Peds/adolescent: 59
Preventative care: 329
Other ambulatory: 277

For a total of 2086 outpatient visits in 4 years.

Wow. It"s really weird to see the most formative years of my life summed up in numbers like that (some of which I suspect weren"t documented quite right, like the 98 "other" laparotomies). I remember every single forceps, every single breech presentation delivered vaginally, and every single surgery for invasive cancer I did (half to 3/4"s of the cancer patients I operated on as a resident have now died of their disease).

* I don"t remember what other laparotomy really means... maybe exploratory laparotomy/lysis of adhesions?

** Um... I probably did more like 600-700, but I stopped counting after 2 years of residency

*** My favorite!!

**** I can"t imagine a hysteroscopy that"s not either diagnostic or operative, those are the only kinds there are!

^ Um.. what 353 cases did I do that don"t belong into those catagories above?

Putting the �Care� Back in Health Care

2010-02-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

The Doctors� Prescription for Healthy Living / Volume 9, Number 4

by Jeanne Ringe

Reprinted with Permission

Click here to download this article in PDF format

The FDA�s decision to keep Vioxx� and Celebrex� on the market was applauded by many who are dependent on these drugs. For patients with fibromyalgia, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are lifesavers�but at what cost?

There is no question they provide much-needed relief from the agony of living with chronic pain, but the relief lasts only until it�s time for the next pill. Long-term use can alleviate pain, but it can also create plenty of collateral damage in the body.

CASE STUDY�NSAIDs� TOXICITY

Dr. Alberto Pe�a of Sanoviv Medical Institute, an integrative medicine hospital just south of San Diego, says he has seen plenty of evidence of NSAIDs� toxicity.

Earlier this year, doctors at Sanoviv were concerned about high levels of proteins in the urine of a fibromyalgia patient, a clear indication of kidney trouble. She presented with chronic pain, exhaustion and swelling in her legs. After the Complete Health Assessment, Sanoviv�s threeday intensive functional and diagnostic testing, a team evaluated her medical condition, and prescribed a course of treatment that improved her condition and got her off the NSAIDs. What had they found? The NSAIDs had actually caused more problems for her than they had solved. Once she went off them and improved her diet, her kidney problems and edema disappeared, and the 31-year-old went home healthier, happier and pain-free.

Dr. Pe�a says he is seeing more and more young patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. He attributes it to poor diet, stress and overuse of NSAIDs. �If you eat tons of bread, soda, and animal fat, then take NSAIDs, your body will lose its ability to produce its own anti-inflammatory prostaglandins,� Pe�a says. But easing people off NSAIDs is not the complete answer. �You have to address the fundamentals of the case�what may really be the cause of the disease,� he adds.

THE SANOVIV SOLUTION

Sanoviv offers its patients (or �guests�) a healthy alternative to dependency on drugs like Vioxx, Celebrex, and other pain relievers.

Each guest is assigned a doctor, a dentist and a psychologist. Together, they monitor progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan. This holistic approach to caring for patients is at the core of the Sanoviv philosophy: to treat the person as an individual, with a genetic, an environmental, and a physical life story.

In addition to complementary medical treatments, plus a healthful (and as this reporter can attest, delicious) diet, the program includes gentle exercise, cleansing (colon hydrotherapy), massage and other therapeutic bodywork, and classes on nutrition, wellness and stress management. For $100 additional per day, a companion can share the room, meals and classes.

The beautiful oceanfront rooms, with nontoxic furnishings and organic cotton linens, ultra-purified water in all the taps, and professional, friendly staff and doctors, make Sanoviv a shining example of what good medical care can and should be in the twenty-first century.

Good things!

2010-02-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

First, an aside. I really need to update my links and things. It may not happen for a while. If I get time while I"m on call on Tuesday, I"ll do it then. To all the people whose blogs I mean to link to, I"m sorry!

I"m going to take a break from my usual whining and talk about something fun for a change. Or, maybe several fun things.

First of all, I have my first date in... almost a year today. :) She"s a critical care fellow. We met in the ICU. I"m nervous, but excited.

Next, I"m the ultrasound fellow for the month of March. I do miss the adrenaline rush of labor and delivery. I have to admit, emergent c-sections really are my favorite surgery; it takes 30min-1 hour (that"s about the extent of my attention span), there"s the aformentioned adrenaline rush, the outcome is good 90-95% of the time, and at the end, you get a baby! Right now, though, there is something sort of calming and restful about ultrasound. I spend all day in a dark room, talking to patients. I"m not responsible for their care, so most of the time, I get to say, "Want to listen to the baby"s heart beat?" or "Oh, look, the toes!", or "I think your baby"s sucking his or her thumb!" or "Do you want to know if you"re having a girl or a boy? Congratulations, it"s a boy (or girl)!".

So, mostly it"s a nice opportunity to kind of catch my breath. If I were a heart, this would be my compensatory pause after a PAC. I still work from 7am-7pm (Ultrasound is a 9-5 rotation but I have to work on all sorts of research and teaching things), plus call, and I try to put in 8 hours on either Saturday or Sunday to try to get some extra stuff done. But the level of stress related to the work I"m doing now is so much lower. The worst thing I ever have to do on this rotation is talk about birth defects to parents. Which, admittedly, is pretty tough, but its a different kind of tough.

The funny thing is, as a resident, I always thought that ultrasound would be my least favorite part of my job. You know, difficult, boring, etc. Well, it is difficult. I am learning to take pictures of heart valves on a heart that is moving (both beating and because the baby is moving) and about the size of the last digit on my index finger (or smaller, sometimes). I"m not very good at it yet, but I"m realizing that the challenge makes it fun. Watching the squiriming little fetus is fun. Also, ultrasound plays to my strengths.

As far as doctors go, I"m not super gifted. My surgical skills lie somewhere between adequate and good, but I don"t have particularly gifted hands. I"m not the kind of person who can memorize Harrison"s Principles of Internal Medicine, either. I frequently have to look up med doses. I"m the poster child for the fact that you don"t have to be brilliant to be a doctor. I"m also not all that good with people. I mean, I"m fair. My social skills are better than those of say... a slime mold or an iguana. I just don"t really know what to say to patients a lot of the time, and I"m sure I come off as awkward. Having said that, I do have some strengths. What I"m good at is spatial relationships and pattern recognition. Ultrasound is all about spatial relationships and pattern recognition (oh, and cute pictures for the parents, I always forget the cute pictures!). I"m not great at ultrasound right now, but I"m learning, and I think that one day, I could be really good at it. I"m starting to be a little good, I think, because US has started to page me when one of their sonographers is sick or the MFM attending covering ultrasound isn"t around. So, that"s fun, because right now, I"m on the part of the learning curve where I"ve started to know a bit about what I"m doing, and I get better almost every day. That"s a very rewarding slope to be on.

The other nice thing is that fellowship is a little bit of a break from what I find the hardest thing about medical training. Usually, once you start to get comfortable in a role (3rd year med student, sub-intern, intern, etc.) it is then time to move on to the next role. So the amount of time that you spend just feeling comfortable and ok in your role is really very small while you"re in training. That"s stressful, but probably necesarry to make medical training as short as possible. Anyway, I"ve come to the point where I am starting to feel comfortable with my role as a fellow. The really good part? I have 2+ more years where I get to feel comfortable in this role. I like that.

So, life is good. I hope life is good with everybody else today, too.

Morbidity indicators

2010-02-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

But its rejection leaves a difficult question: if health is something less
that complete physical, mental, and social well-being, how is its scope
to be limited? Health professionals, researchers, and policy makers have
acknowledged the need for such limits, and have introduced the notion
of health-related quality of life (HRQL) as a way to set them. HRQL assessment
tools evolved from older mortality and morbidity indicators,
augmented by measures of functional status, subjective health experience,
and perceived components of �social health.� These instruments
were designed to assess the patient�s performance in, or satisfaction
with, areas of activity affected by her physical and mental functioning.
Since virtually all areas of activity are affected by health, however, these
measures had to limit themselves to the areas most directly or substantially
affected by health. Yet without an understanding of what counts
as �health-related� in this sense, that term does more to label than to
resolve the issue. The proliferation of HRQL instruments has not been
informed by a careful analysis of, or an explicit agreement on, that issue.

More Later

2010-02-01T02:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and Happy Holidays everybody (whichever holidays they are, I hope they"re happy!).

I just wanted to say I"m not gone, or rather... I"ll be back. I have my fellowship thesis defense in a week, so I"m drowning right now.

Wish me luck?

Sexual harassment is illegal!

2010-01-31T14:45:00.000-08:00

I"ve never tried posting a Google Video, um, video here, but this one cracked me up so much I have to try. I think I may have ruptured something.

How To-117: "How to Find Healthy Foods"

2010-01-31T12:45:00.000-08:00

How to Find Healthy Foods

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

It"s common knowledge that healthy foods are good for us. However, finding healthy food among the many products making exaggerated health claims can be difficult. Here are a few suggestions to help with your decisions:

Steps

Buy organic. Look for pesticide-free products.
Buy local. Food that travels less requires less chemical and preservative measures.
- Check out local farms. Many offer the option to buy in bulk.
- Visit a farmer"s market to buy what"s in season.
Select healthy fresh food. Look for sustainable seafoods and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Select whole food. Look for whole grains, legumes and nuts. A whole fish is preferable to processed fish-sticks.
Try a natural food store. Stores like Trader Joe"s or Whole Foods often carry healthier or organic versions of products that are less readily available locally, such as organic olive oil.

Tips

Buy in bulk. It tends to cost less.
Get a small freezer to store produce for the winter. They are inexpensive and energy efficient. Frozen food retains the majority of its nutritional value.
Cook from scratch to avoid pre-packaged food. Try cooking whole oats for breakfast instead of cereal.
Grow your own produce, if possible.
If you do not have a yard, try a window sill garden, a rooftop garden or an indoor herb garden.
Participate in a community garden project.

Warnings

Be cautious of pre-packaged food labeled as "healthy" or "organic". It has less natural nutrients than whole foods.
Many products make tricky health claims. Do your research. Take the time to ask questions.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Find Healthy Foods. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

What Are The Causes Of The Enlargement Of The Prostate Gland?

2010-01-31T04:24:00.000-08:00

Just recently, I have been out with my best friend, Glen. I have not seen him since last year. We talk of many things, people, places, things, and also about health. He wants to find out about the natural treatment for enlargement of the prostate gland and psoriasis. I will spend some time to get an article about psoriasis in another topic. For now, I think it is a good idea to share to you about the causes, symptoms and treatment of the enlargement of the prostate gland.

Improper diet which causes a diseased liver, kidney and bladder, also cause inflammation of the prostate gland. Enlargement of the prostate gland usually results if inflammation is ignored and not properly treated. So it is important to give proper attention if you noticed there is something unusual in your prostate gland.

You will be experiencing symptoms like: the hard lump is present in the fork of the thighs, or rectum, which becomes very painful when pressed. There is difficulty in urination and painful urination.

The treatment can be the same as the treatment for inflammation of the bladder. Drink plenty of pure water to wash out the kidneys and bladder of impurities.

A sitz bath at temperature of 105 to 115 F is excellent in relieving the enlargement when due to congestion. Remain in the sitz bath from twenty minutes to an hour.

The diet as given for inflammation of the prostate gland must be strictly adhered to. Massage is beneficial, and also the electrical vibrator.

Alcoholic liquors, tea, coffee, and the use of stimulating foods and drinks are strictly forbidden. Any person suffering from this disease must have a diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Soybean milk, swieback, potassium broth are also very good.

How To-111: "How to Prevent and Treat Dandruff"

2010-01-31T02:33:00.000-08:00

How to Prevent and Treat Dandruff

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Dandruff, a condition characterized by flaking, itchy scalp, is one of the most common dermatological conditions. Fortunately, while the exact cause of dandruff is not known, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of getting it, and effective treatments are available. So if it looks like a winter storm is following you--and only you--around everywhere, read on.

Steps

Eat a healthy, balanced diet. As if you needed another reason to eat right, it turns out that a healthy diet may ward off the flakes. Make sure to get plenty of zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, and B-vitamin, and avoid excessive yeast and sugar. Research suggests that dandruff is at least in part caused by a fungus that thrives in yeasty, fatty, sugary environments. Though this does not necessarily directly affect the conditions of your skin, your overall health will help with how your body responds to the fungus causing the dandruff.
Don"t worry, be happy. Stress challenges the body"s defenses and encourages all sorts of ailments, including dandruff, so relax now and don"t worry about wearing a black shirt tomorrow.
Limit your use of hair styling products. Hairspray, mousse, and gel may contribute to dandruff in some people. They may also cause excessive drying of the skin, which can cause flaking--or trigger allergic reactions. If you notice dandruff soon after you begin to use a new product, chances are the product is to blame. The exception to this would be using a therapeutic styling gel or spray formulated with tea tree oil.
Wash your hair regularly. Dandruff seems to thrive in oily hair, so regular shampooing can help you fight it off. If you already have dandruff, washing your hair may help you keep the symptoms (the flakes) under control until it goes away. Massage your scalp so that you clean your skin, as well as your hair. This is one time when the "repeat" directions in "wash, rinse, and repeat" may be useful. The first washing breaks up the waxy sebum, and the second washing helps rinse it all away.
Use a shampoo designed to treat dandruff. If dandruff persists despite regular shampooing, you may need something stronger. There are a variety of anti-dandruff shampoos available at your pharmacy or grocery store, and they usually work. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, and make a little extra time to shower, as most of these recommend that you leave them in for 5-10 minutes and lather twice.
Oil your hair with herbal oils or use special herbal gels. Gels from India have been known to help. Do this on a regular basis, at least twice a week for improvements.
Be aware that there are different active ingredients in dandruff shampoos. If one does not work for you try another. Ketoconazole (brand name Nizoral) is extremely effective against certain types of dandruff that are caused by a fungus. 1% ketoconazole is available without prescription in the US, 2% requires a prescription. The 2% is available without a prescription in Canada.
Be patient. While anti-dandruff shampoos may produce results after a few uses, it can take a week or two to see the difference.
Switch it up. If one type of anti-dandruff shampoo doesn"t seem to work, or if it works for a time but then doesn"t, switch to a product with another active ingredient (the active ingredient will be labeled on the bottle).
See your doctor if the problem persists after more than a couple weeks of treatment. There are prescription shampoos available, and prescription steroid creams may also help.

Tips

Try using a softer shampoo. During an interview, several barbers have said that the cause is often a harsh shampoo kills or drys out the skin.
Another possible remedy consists of pouring a generous amount of table salt into your hand before showering and covering your scalp in it. Gently rub it in, covering your whole scalp. Rinse it out in the shower, and shampoo normally.
It"s best to get your vitamins from food, rather than nutritional supplements. A quick Internet search will turn up foods you can integrate into your diet that are rich in zinc, Omega-3s, and B-vitamins.
If anti-dandruff shampoos aren"t working, or if you notice redness on the scalp or silvery or yellow flakes, you may not have dandruff at all. A number of other conditions can lead to flaking skin and itchy scalp. See your primary care physician or dermatologist.
A quick internet search will turn up all kinds of home remedies for dandruff. While some of these may indeed work, anti-dandruff shampoos are inexpensive enough to be adequate for most people.
Wear light-colored clothing (especially tops) while you have dandruff. Most people won"t even notice.
If you have hay fever, eczema, or other skin or respiratory allergies, your dandruff may be caused in part by an allergic reaction. In this situation, you may find it helpful to shampoo LESS frequently, so the natural oils that protect your scalp aren"t stripped away. Allergic people may also react to dandruff shampoos by generating MORE dandruff. If you think this may be the case for you, try washing your hair with conditioner only, or washing less frequently. CAUTION: Try this first during a vacation or a time when you will be less publicly visible, since your scalp will be very oily at first. It will take two weeks to a month for the balance of oils on your hair and scalp to adjust itself.
Rinsing your scalp with a rinse of 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to 3/4 cup water may help the problem. The natural acids will help loosen any sebum (dead skin and oils) that clings to your scalp and flakes to form dandruff. Rinse thoroughly with WARM, not hot, water. If you don"t rinse well, you will smell like vinegar. While apple cider vinegar is the gold standard of home remedies, white vinegar or lemon juice should work as well. Lemon juice may lighten dark hair.
To treat a bad case of dandruff, wash your hair with your usual shampoo and then rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash. You can follow with an ordinary conditioner.
Tea tree oil has antiseptic qualities that may help kill the fungus, and keep your scalp moisturized. You can buy a small bottle at many groceries and health food stores, and add 5-6 drops to your regular shampoo. Or just purchase a shampoo that contains tea tree oil.
Buy and use two or three different types of regular shampoo and don"t use the same one two days in a row. This way build up is minimized. For some reason this gets rid of lesser cases of dandruff.
Plain old fashioned Listerine (the original amber formula) works wonders on dandruff! In fact, up until the 1980s, the label even mentioned that it was effective on infectious dandruff. Daily or several times a week, saturate a cotton ball with Listerine and swab over your scalp. It really works!
Leave-in treatments like Scalpicin may be useful for particularly itchy scalps.
If the shampoos with the ingredients below don"t work, try others.
Wash your hair with cold water.

Warnings

Some anti-dandruff shampoos, such as those containing selenium sulfide or coal tar may discolor light or dyed hair.
Discontinue use of any anti-dandruff shampoo or medication if the condition worsens or spreads, or if you notice side effects. Consult your primary care physician or dermatologist if the problem doesn"t go away.
Tea tree oil may have adverse side effects. A recent article in the New York Times states: "In Boston at the annual Endocrine Society meeting in June, Clifford Bloch of the University of Colorado School of Medicine presented several cases of young men who had developed marked breast enlargement from using shampoos containing lavender and tea tree oils, which are widely used essential oil additives that present no problem for adults."
this study was fully rebutted by the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association (ATTIA) and in fact only one of the three subjects was exposed to a product containing tea tree oil in addition to lavender oil. It appears that the real culprit may be the lavender oil or other estrogenic compounds in shampoos. No other environmental or dietary factors were considered. Some foods such as soy and licorice contain very high levels of phytoestrogens.
Watch out for shampoos that are packaged to look like dandruff shampoos but only say that they will rinse away loose dandruff. Any shampoo will rinse away loose dandruff.
Using more than one anti-dandruff product may cause redness and irritation.
Avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). It"s a foaming compound that"s a mild irritant. Some people find that using specialist soap without SLS as a shampoo for a couple of weeks makes their dandruff go away. You"ll probably get it back if you switch back to ordinary shampoo. [1]

Things You"ll Need

Shampoo with one of these anti-dandruff ingredients: ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, coal tar extract, or sulfur. If one doesn"t work try another.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Mayo Clinic
American Academy of Dermatology Article on scalp care in pdf format
MotherNature.com
OTAN.us Some home remedies, from aspirin to olive oil to vinegar. (Even if those don"t work, you could put them together to make a pain-killing salad dressing!)
Dandruff Control Made Easy Articles and products to control dandruff and beautify your hair using tea tree oil and natural herbal ingredients.

^ http://www.health-report.co.uk/sodium_lauryl_sulphate.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Prevent and Treat Dandruff. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Why 60 Dem senators is not all that filibuster-proof

2010-01-31T01:55:00.000-08:00

There"s a lot of noise about Arlen Spector"s move to the Dems, which along with Al Franken (when he finally gets there, probably some time in 2011) makes for 60 democratic Senators.

But 60 democratic senators, while it sounds filibuster-proof, is nothing of the kind.

If the democrats try to rely on those 60 votes, where does the power lay? With the right-leaning democrats. It hands blue dogs the ability to bring on a Republican filibuster any time they have an issue that they want their own way on... and I don"t imagine they won"t use it a few times.

They can"t do it *every* time, but that doesn"t mean that they can"t do it at all. If there"s something they *really* want, you can bet that"s a bargaining chip they know they hold. Even if they don"t actually use it, the threat may be enough to get them what they want at the bargaining table.

Let"s wait and see how it all pans out.

Royal College of Alternative Medicine Woos Embattled Medical Doctors

2010-01-31T00:41:00.000-08:00

All interested Medical Graduates who have previously had their Conventional Medicine Practising Licenses either Inactivated ,Suspended , Surrendered or Revoked can now lawfully (and cost-effectively) retrain as Qualified Wellness Consultants through the Socially Disadvantaged Medical Graduate (SDMG) Programme of RCAM (Royal College of Alternative Medicine) ; thanks to the expediently swift intercession of the Eminent RCAM Provost , Professor Joseph Chikelue Obi.

Victimized Physicians who have recently been disciplined by the General Medical Council (GMC) of the United Kingdom, the Medical Council of Ireland and many other North American and Canadian Medical Regulatory Bodies (for extremely trivial offenses such as �stubbornly practising Alternative Medicine�) are also publicly encouraged to apply � as well as those working in impoverished Countries.

Interested candidates are strongly advised to urgently visit the official RCAM (Royal College of Alternative Medicine) website without any further delay ,( at http://www.RoyalCAM.org ), for more details - as RCAM firmly believes that no Qualified Medical Graduate should be perpetually deemed to be totally useless when it comes to helping others - nomatter what a few utterly misguided and woefully opinionated Conventional Medical Regulatory Bodies might �self-indulgently� desire to think.

At Home Remedies for Curing Acne Naturally

2010-01-31T00:27:00.000-08:00

Here it comes again. That soreness on your face. You just know a pimple is right around the corner. In fact, it will most likely rear it"s ugly head by morning. There are methods you can take to help cure your acne naturally. Before spending tons of money on over the counter medicines, try some of these remedies.

At the first sign of a pimple forming, treatment should start. Washing your face with a mild antibacterial soap is the first step. Good soaps to use may contain one or more of the following ingredients: tea tree oil, green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile. After your skin is cleansed, dab a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water on the offending areas with a swab. Hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria and should be applied on the pimple for up to a minute at a time. You can use a cotton ball or a swab and do this until it is healed. Tea tree oil is a great antiseptic that could be used instead of the peroxide.

Placing an ice pack on the pimple can reduce the swelling. Try doing this for 2 minutes and then take a break. Repeat as often as necessary. Masks applied to the face until they dry are very effective treatments in curing acne naturally. Try mixing baking soda with water and apply to the face. Rinse off after the mask dries. Applying an egg white mask can dry out the pimple. Leave this on for 20 minutes before rinsing off. A good oatmeal mask can be made by putting oats in a blender and adding a little apple cider vinegar and apply to the pimples for 20 minutes before washing off.

Some very good herbal treatments that can be used to cure acne naturally are chamomile, lavender, burdock root and echinacea. These herbs are usually very soothing and calming to pimples. Because they reduce swelling, they help to unclog pores. Another natural treatment is acidophilus. This good bacteria dwells in our intestinal track. Acidophilus aids in fighting against bad bacteria that can be harmful to your health. Acidophilus is a product that is taken orally and helps to kill the acne causing bacteria.

In order to be acne free, these four things need to happen in our skin care regimen. First, we must decrease the sebum production from our sebaceous glands. Second, we have to reduce acne bacteria. Then we must normalize the shedding of the skin. Lastly, eliminate the inflammation caused by acne. Curing acne naturally can be a hit or miss proposition. Homemade acne treatments can be safer, cheaper and more effective ways to deal with pimples. Following a procedure using only tested products should help you find a suitable cure much sooner.

If these natural cures are not effective in treating your acne, a dermatologist may be your next step. Mild acne may respond to some of these treatments. Don"t be afraid to seek out some over the counter medicines as they may be the answer to your problem.

About the Author

Cassie Ann has been interested in finding ways to overcome acne. Fighting pimples has been an issue in her family"s lives. To change your life forever, please visit http://how2getridofpimples.com and start feeling better about yourself today!

The Agony and the Ecstathy

2010-01-30T21:33:00.000-08:00

Let"s get it out right up front.

I"m an atheist.

I"ve been an atheist for several decades now. When I was three I believed in fairies. (Heck, I was for a good while convinced I had spoken with some once, though I couldn�t really understand most of what they were saying.) I believed in Santa Claus. I believed in ghosts (and for many years I was certain I saw one). As a kid growing up in rural Australia, I had regular exposure to mostly fairly mild forms of Christianity and not much else. We didn�t go to church, but it was just part of the culture. I had some religious instruction in school, but it was generally pretty low-key. I sort of picked up some of the beliefs of the society I was in, but even as a kid I was questioning the bits that didn"t make sense. I came to stop believing in fairies (though I couldn�t immediately explain the conversation I�d had as a three year old).. I eventually stopped believing in Santa Claus, though I kept it to myself � I didn�t want to interfere with anyone else�s enjoyment. I eventually stopped believing in ghosts.

I did read the bible (we had one at home), but I didn"t take most of it at face value, and what little religious instruction I had encouraged me to consider at least parts of it as allegorical.

To be honest, the moment I had started to come to terms with my own mortality (by the time I hit my teens, I guess), I no longer had more that a mild susceptibility to belief in the more common notions of God. I guess you might have described me as a form of deist, though I didn�t know the term. By the time I was about 15 or 16 I described myself as an agnostic. But I still read the bible.

Reading the bible, actually reading it, studying it, comparing part with part, trying to understand what it"s actually describing and suggesting, was a fantastic cure for any lingering belief. It had some cool parts, sure enough, and some of the language was poetic, even beautiful (KJV), but it had parts that were pretty horrible.

I knew there were other religions. They couldn�t all be true. Suppose that one religion was in fact true. People almost without exception seemed to follow the religion of their parents. Why would the religion a person was just born into necessarily be that �right� one? That suggested that a certain degree of skepticism of the religion one grew up with was perhaps wise, unless there was evidence to the contrary.

I happened to read of Pacal�s Wager at about this time. There was an immediately obvious flaw, even to my teenage self. The same argument could be applied to any potential religion that offered the same deal � what made the one you just happened to grow up around privileged? I was astonished that Pascal had not seen it himself, since he was apparently a smart guy. (I am less astonished now, since I understand the context he operated in a little better. Oh, and I also see a number of other problems in the reasoning.)

Once I got to university, I looked around at other religions (I read a good chunk of the Koran, I discussed Buddhism with Buddhists, I found out about Hinduism and Wicca), but I never took any of it terribly seriously - it was more a matter of finding out about beliefs than pursuing one of my own. There was stuff in each of them that was pretty good. There was also stuff that was plainly silly.

I guess I would have continued to describe myself as an agnostic until at least my early twenties, but I had long before ceased to have any doubt of significance; I was maintaining a facade of doubt.

Why?

Well, unless you"ve ever expressed significant religious doubt, maybe you"ve never encountered it, but believers, even seemingly "mild" ones, seem by and large to be incredibly threatened by the mere presence of disbelief. Normally calm people can become quite agitated and upset. It concerns me that someone�s belief can be so fragile that the mere presence of disbelief can be so threatening. I don�t like upsetting people. I never have. So I avoided even admitting to it.

I maintained my less threatening agnostic facade well past its use-by-date simply to avoid offending people. Eventually I came to terms with that, and just said - "well, at least say it out loud to yourself". So I did. I said, quietly, "I am an atheist. To be honest, I really have been for a long time now."

What an incredible relief that was. It was like breathing after holding my breath for years. To stand up and look around at the here and now, and to at last be completely free of the small, petty, closed-in view of things that had turned my face away from the world.

It was a quiet moment of bliss, of ecstasy.

But it was not the end of my journey. I have continued to think, and read, and, listen. I will tell some of my stories here, and discuss some of my thoughts, and point to interesting things others say and write.

I still don"t like to upset people, but I have become convinced that it"s necessary to speak, and simply accept that people will be upset.

I"m an atheist. I"m mostly very happy. Sometimes I"m ecstatic

Introducing...RxWiki!

2010-01-30T21:26:00.000-08:00

I"d like to point you all in the general direction of RxWiki.

RxWiki is a wiki that only licensed pharmacists are permitted to edit; it"s being compiled as a resource for anyone, but it"s generally being directed at patients. I"ve been browsing it a bit myself, and I"m very impressed so far. Apparently they have a panel of pharmacists who review everything and approve articles, and they"re endorsed by the APhA.

I do take serious issue with their little blurb that"s currently on the front page about placebos. The information presented in the articles seems solid, though.

Check it out. I think it might just become my new source for links whenever I cite a drug name.

Ouch

2010-01-30T20:19:00.000-08:00

I accidentally crippled myself today. I awoke with a sore left shoulder/neck. I think just a trapezius muscle spasm (maybe I slept on it funny).

Then I shoveled myself out of a foot of fresh snow. It took over an hour of shovelling. I enjoyed it, actually (it was my jogging substitute). I walked about a mile through the new snow into the little village area and bought some eggs, had a pepermint mocha, and a nice stroll through the clean, fresh snow. My shoulder felt better, but now it really hurts. I don"t even know that I can do my dishes. Just carrying them to the sink was painful. I also wanted to clean my house, bake a coffee cake and do my laundry. Even my usual awesome cocktail of 1000mg tylenol + 800mg ibuprofen didn"t make it much better.

I think I"ll just take out the trash, finish the laundry, and take a hot bath and go to bed early. Maybe in the morning I"ll be able to throw the coffee cake together.

I think I"m just not good with pain. I find it extremely uncomfortable. It makes me want to do things like seek heat and rest.

(image credit)

IDEAL BEST HEALTH DIET

2010-01-30T20:13:00.000-08:00

We are re-reading a great book and want to tell you that it is even better than before. It may be the second or third most important book you could ever read---if you can apply any of it of course. If you only read one book on how to get and stay healthy all your life, this it IT!!!!

�Fasting and Eating For Health� by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

Don�t let the title fool you. It is not just about fasting but that information is priceless in itself. We have nothing to gain by recommending this book so highly. We just love it. You can find this at Amazon or you can Google his name etc. and get his web site. It will give you the answers you need and that society refused to share! Best of health from all of us to all of you.

Here are some more excellent articles:

Broccoli, cauliflower and genetic cancer

Lower Your Cancer Risks With Vegetables

The New Healing Modality

Mmmm, sacrelicious...

2010-01-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

Best. Slashdot. Post. Ever.

If you don"t think that what is in the Bible is literal, you CAN"T be a Christian.

So when Christ said "I am the door" (John 10:9), do you suppose he had hinges and a doorknob?

This response is a close runner-up.

When I read your comment, I imagined a female voice (such as that in your car) saying "Your Christ is ajar".

Stomach Bloating Help

2010-01-30T05:42:00.000-08:00

Stomach bloating can be a real problem at any time of the year and particularly at party time when you might want to fit into something slinky.

So we are here to help. Buy 1 pot of Optibac (high quality prebiotic and probiotic supplement) and get a course of Antibloat probiotics free.

The Optibac costs �8.80 and the free AntiBloat is worth �7.33. Carriage is �1.50 (for the UK)

Start with the Antibloat course and then move on to the Optibac when it�s finished.

Suitable for vegetarians.

Get more information and order online:

or you can place phone orders on 0844 412 4486 (outside the UK +44 844 412 4486) quoting the product code 4509 for the Optibac and asking for your free 4502 Antibloat

Get PAID for your Content

2010-01-29T22:03:00.000-08:00

IT"S UNBELIEVABLE Get PAID for posting and content gets posted back to Twitter
www.bukisa.com/join/7997

Hvorfor lader vi os lokke af alternative behandlingsformer og tankegange ?

2010-01-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

Det g�r mange fordi de mangler et helhedssyn p� eksistensen/virkeligheden, de har ikke fundet en mening eller m�l med tilv�relsen. De befinder sig m�ske i en eksistentiel krise, fordi meningen og v�rdierne i den sociale struktur og i vort verdensbillede er forsvundet. Mennesket er blevet socialt og emotionelt fremmedgjort og befinder sig i en dyb identitetskrise. Vores identitet er blevet noget den enkelte kan afpr�ve, �ndre og udvikle.

Den moderne astronomi og kosmologi g�r mennesket mere og mere ensomt og tilf�ldigt og derfor s�ger mennesket ind i sig selv. Den tekniske udnyttelse og praktiske brug af naturvidenskabelig viden skuffer mange f�lelsesm�ssigt. Naturvidenskabelige erkendelser forst�s ikke af almindelige mennesker. Mennesker foretr�kker da i stedet reinkarnation, energier og holistiske tankegange. Afstanden imellem behov for at tro p� noget og den naturvidenskabelig opfattelse af viden blevet for stor.

Hvad kan da alternative behandlingsformer tilbyde som det etablerede sundhedssystem ikke kan, og har det noget med religi�se tankegange at g�re ?

Hvis det er sandt, at moderne mennesker er blevet fremmedgjorte og mangler identitet, er det et k�mpe marked for alternative behandlere, at kunne tilbyde mennesker identitet, indhold, helhed og mening gennem holistisk behandling. Hvis man er fremmedgjort m� man bestandig sp�rge sig selv, hvorfor lever jeg og hvad er meningen med livet. Det er mennesker, som mangler helhed og medmenneskelig kontakt, de er frustrerede og ensomme, og f�ler, at de fungerer d�rligt. Alternative behandlere tilbyder dem et nyt verdensbillede og f�r derved skabt en tillid til systemet som spreder sig som ringe i vandet. P�virkning rummer ogs� mulighed for manipulation og magt. Religion giver et menneske b�de identitet og en helhedsopfattelse af virkeligheden, hvorudfra mennesket kan orientere sig i verden. Religion pr�ger hele menneskets opfattelse af virkeligheden. Derved er der en parallel mellem alternative behandlere og religi�se tankegange.

Hvad er det s� der g�r, at alternativ behandling "virker"? Alternativ behandling er ikke videnskabeligt dokumenteret og er derved udelukkende et sp�rgsm�l om tro. Det kan derfor ikke bevises, at det er metode eller teknik, der virker. N�r vi kommer os efter et sygdomsforl�b kan det have mange �rsager, f.eks. spontan helbredelse hvor kroppens immunforsvar har udryddet sygdommen. Det er n�ppe heller behandlerens karismatiske udstr�ling. Det er nok snarere menneskets forventning om at der kan ske en forandring. En selvopfyldende profeti, hvor mennesket er tilb�jelig til at handle s�ledes at �nsker g�r i opfyldelse. Dette er en grundl�ggende antagelse i den holistiske tankegang at patienternes forventninger og irrationelle f�lelser kan skabe resultater. Det kan ogs� v�re, at mennesker forn�gter dele af sandheden og overser eller overh�rer, det de ikke �nsker at h�re. Antag, at det er sandt, at mennesker mangler identitet, indhold, helhed og mening i tilv�relsen. Mennesker i denne situation, der s�ger alternativ behandling vil givetvis f�le sig bedre ved at de f�r d�kket deres emotionelle behov gennem en holistisk behandling. Derfor tror de, at behandlingen virker og det er selvforst�rkende for n�ste gang tror de stadig at behandlingen virker.

Mennesker der v�lger alternativ behandling mangler en tro p� meningen i livet, den alternative verden tilbyder en tro og en religion. Effekten af behandlingerne kan ikke bevises rent videnskabeligt men behandlingen "virker" uden tvivl bedre, hvis man tror p� det. S� alt i alt er det hele er et sp�rgsm�l om tro den ene eller anden vej. Tro flytter som bekendt bjerge.

Alternative Medicine : Secrets of Healing - Chronic Fatigue

2010-01-29T19:56:00.000-08:00

Chronic fatigue is one of the most widespread ills of our age. However it is not due to overwork (modern man does not work as hard as his ancestors did) but rather to a scattering of our forces.

Our energy supply depends not primarily upon nutritious food and other external causes, but upon our capacity for smiles, for enthusiasm. People lead one-horsepower lives when they forget how to smile, when they over-complicate their daily routine and clutter their minds with the debris of useless desires and preoccupations.

The person who can simplify his life and marshal his energies to do a few things well, instead of scattering his forces restlessly to the winds, will find that he has more than enough strength to do whatever he has to do. �The greater the will,� guru Yoganandaji used to say, �the greater the flow of energy.�

Will in this context means willingness�not physical or mental strain, but a pleasant, steadily increasing focus of the whole attention on a goal. Be willing in everything that you do.

Willingness begets energy. If you suffer from a lack of energy, try the following:

1. A technique for drawing energy into the body is to stand facing the sun. Raise your hands above your head. Feel the warmth of the sun striking your forehead at the point between the eyebrows, and the palms of your hands.

Feel that you are drawing warmth and energy into your body through those �windows.� After some time, turn your back to the sun, and feel its warmth upon the area of the medulla oblongata (at the base of the brain). Keep your hands raised above the head. Again, draw the sun�s rays into your body.

2. The next time you feel fatigue, do some deep breathing. Then fill your mind with the sense of wonder that a child feels, seeing this world with a fresh outlook.

Have nothing to do with the jaded vision of people who live always, as it were, with their eyes to the ground.

3. Fatigue, finally, is a symptom of self-centeredness. One who can forget himself in helping others and in giving them strength, will rarely find himself exhausted.

More on............... http://kaalchakra0.tripod.com

Resources on diseases, disorders and chronic illness, including medical news, information, articles, community message forums and chat rooms, email, books Psychic Healing and Spiritual Healing and/or Counselling metaphysical healing, non-physical healers, and spiritual technologies holistic medicine, alternative medicine, holistic healing, nutrition Complementary and alternative medicine information about common health conditions, including natural remedies, holistic healthcare, healing foods yoga techniques to acupuncture to herbal supplements, learn all about alternative therapies, medicines and nutrition Natural homeopathic medicine and healing resources, providing information on alternative methods of holistic healing and medicine. ayurveda Ayurvedic medicine Alternative medicine Holistic medicine Natural medicine Herbal Medicine Ayurveda Herbs Herbal Remedy Womens Health Food Alternative Health Therapies - Information guide about alternative therapies, natural therapies, alternative medicine, alternative medicines, alternative healing practices

Help yourself to give up Smoking

2010-01-29T16:53:00.000-08:00

Michele Carelse is a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Counselor. As an ex-smoker, I understand the difficulties involved with quitting smoking. Here are tips, tricks and methods to assist in your stop smoking campaign.

Natural remedies can help to prevent depression associated with nicotine withdrawal, reduce nicotine craving and soothe the restlessness, irritability and volatile moods often felt by people trying to quit smoking. Three natural remedies to Stop Smoking

In my opinion, not enough recognition is given to the fact that nicotine dependency is a serious addiction! Many people see cigarette smoking as a "Bad Habit" and feel that smokers should be able to "just stop"! Although there are many gums, sprays and patches available to help the person gradually wean him/herself off the cigarettes, most smokers are expected to "go it alone", be crabby for a few weeks and then be fine! If they fail, the insinuation is that they are weak, indulgent, inconsiderate, etc. The medical and moral support and understanding given to... Read Article

The God Delusion, Part 2 - The God hypothesis

2010-01-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

In the second chapter of The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins defines the concepts that he will later use throughout his book. Concepts such as religion, God, and faith will be defined in quite diverse ways depending on who you ask. I have met many people who claim that science, like religion, is just another form of faith. However, there is an important difference that is always overlooked by people making such claims, namely that scientific theories will change if evidence requires it to. Yes, yes, there is often a lag due to traditions, politics, and economics, but the scientific community did eventually accept that the earth was round, that the earth is about 5 billion years old and that the earth is not the center of the Universe etc. What is faith? Dawkins puts it well in The Selfish Gene:

"But that, after all, is faith? It is a state of mind that leads people to believe something�it doesn"t matter what�in the total absence of supporting evidence. If there were good supporting evidence then faith would be superfluous, for the evidence would compel us to believe it anyway. It is this that makes the often-parroted claim that "evolution itself is a matter of faith" so silly. People believe in evolution not because they arbitrarily want to believe it but because of overwhelming, publicly available evidence..."

Science is not a religion, science is a method in which all the available evidence is organized into theories that hopefully describes and predicts the world as we know it. In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins treats religious faith as if it was a scientific hypothesis. I think this is the correct approach, however, I know that many people will object and say that science and faith are two separate realms that we should not or cannot mix together. I think that such a view will lead us nowhere. Dawkins defines the God Hypothesis as follows:

"Instead I shall define the God Hypothesis more defensibly: there exists a superhuman, supernatural intelligence who deliberately designed and created the universe and everything in it, including us. This book will advocate an alternative view: any creative intelligence, of sufficient complexity to design anything, comes into existence only as the end product of an extended process of gradual evolution."

One point that Dawkins makes again and again in interviews is that he is not a lonely atheist. In fact it is a fair bet to assert that every human being is an atheist when it comes to most Gods. Not many people believe in Odin and Thor, and if you live in a western country it is also very unlikely that you believe in Shiva or some Voodoo God. In other words, everyone are atheists when it comes to most Gods, we who call ourselves atheists just go one God further� The following sentence I include just because I think it is hilarious. Though while causing me a pleasant laugh it also illustrates how illogical some of the reasoning among theists is:

"The Trinity: Do we have one God in three parts, or three Gods in one? The Catholic Encyclopedia clears up the matter for us, in a master piece of theological close reasoning: In the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another. Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God."

Does Christians believe in one God or three Gods? Please inform me someone, cause the catholic encyclopedia fails to enlighten me� This post cannot, of course, cover even a fraction of what is written in chapter two of The God Delusion, there is however one more issue that I find important and that I would therefore like to discuss. Socrates once said that the only thing that he knew for sure for sure, is that he doesn"t know anything. It is possible that we are all in the Matrix. For this reason it kind of annoys me when people say that they know that God exists, in my mind that is impossible, just like it is impossible for me to know that God does not exist, or that the theory of evolution is true. Sure, on a regular day know doesn"t really mean know, but many Christians claim to know that God exists even after this distinction has been brought up.

I think that God does not exist, I don"t know that he doesn"t exists, but I don"t think it is 50/50 either (in which case I would call myself an agnostic). I put myself in the same category as Richard Dawkins:

"Very low probability [that God exists], but short of zero. De facto atheist. "I cannot know for certain but I think God is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there."

Questions about healing

2010-01-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

Healing is cure by the transmission of energy from the healer to the patient. The healer usually regards himself as a channel of cosmic energy. Healing means to create whole lives, to create harmony and peace. Healers can be classified into two groups: Healers using helpers like angels, animals and spirits and healers that can transmit the energy without these spirits.

I wonder if healing is a gift?

Is healing a skill any human can be trained in and use?

I am a skeptic to anything that can"t be proved in � scientific way.

I consider healing as quackery.

I invite anyone in the line of healing to leave a message on my blog, tell me about healing and tell me why you think it works.

Health Warnings-1: "Soya Risk"

2010-01-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

A soya-basd diet is linked to low sperm count, suggests a new study by the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 25, 2008 (�Newscape�)

Asthma and Allergic Foundation of America website says soya contains 15 allergenic proteins and it may cause asthma, urticaria, eczema, allergic rhinitis etc. The relevant page from their website:
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=20&cont=522

For detailed article on Soyabean from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean

For a detailed article on �Soy - One of the nine most common food allergens� from Health Canada:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/allerg/fa-aa/allergen_soy-soja-eng.php

�The dark side of Soy� from AlterNet.org:
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/56087/

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, Asthma and Allergic Foundation of America, Health Canada, AlterNet.org and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Alternative Medicine Hotline : Speak directly to a Qualified Wellness Consultant with the FRCAM (Dublin) designation.

2010-01-29T08:46:00.000-08:00

Those who wish to talk directly to a Qualified Wellness Consultant over the phone can now do so by simply clicking on the following link via http://www.Commissioner.co.uk

You can also visit the Official RCAM Website at http://www.RoyalCAM.org and click on any of the Call Now buttons.

Thank You.

RCAM

Appendicitis Treatment At Home

2010-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

What causes appendicitis? Can it be cured without opening or surgical operation in the stomach?

Let us first examine what causes appendicitis before knowing what natural treatment can be done.

Constipation is one of the causes of appendicitis to an extent, wrong diet. These diets include the use of devitaminized foods such as white flour products, cane sugar and products, greasy and fried foods, tea, coffee, chocolate, and wrong combination of foods. These must be strictly avoided in appendicitis, as must alcoholic drinks, tobacco, and all stimulating food and drink.

The symptoms associated with appendicitis include: Nausea, pain and distress around the navel, constipation, quick pulse, and perhaps a rise in temperature of 100 to 102F. There is tenderness to the right of the navel and below, which is increased by pressure or movement. The patient frequently flexes the right knee to ease the pain.

The following treatment for appendicitis is effective as pain reliever for appendicitis. Cleanse the colon thoroughly with an enema, preferably herb. Take as much water as possible, as hot as possible. This treatment is of great value and will often relieve the pain immediately.

If using a herb enema, use either spearmint, catnip, white oak bark, bayberry bark, or wild alum root. But when herbs are not available, use plain water.

After the colon has been somewhat cleansed by enemas, and the pain continues, a very warm enema of catnip alone will greatly relieve. Then apply hot and cold fomentations to the region of the appendix and the full length of the spine. This will aid in the cleansing process and relieve pain.

At night, apply a poultice. Prepare as follows, using granulated or crushed mullein leaves. Take a large handful, add a tablespoonful of granulated or powdered lobelia, and sprinkle with ginger. Mix the herbs together with boiling water, making it thick enough to spread as a paste by adding powdered slippery elm or cornmeal. Apply the poultice as warm as the patient can stand, leave on until cool then repeat.

When suffering an attack of appendicitis, go on a liquid diet, drinking alkaline broths, fruit juices, and drink several glasses of slippery elm every day.

Waterrelated pseudoscience, fantasy and quackery, be amused

2010-01-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

If you need evidence that the world will believe anything, then take a look click on the Scalarwave Structured Water and be amused! It"s a miracle if anyone could take this seriously...

Home of scalarwave technology claim that children with various learning disabilities need their right brain functions to be stimulated, -with energy medicine in other words structured water.

Here is what the water can do (*LOL*):

My first experience of drinking the children�s formula was that somehow in an inexplicable way my childlike joy---a human birthright---was returned to me. It is a tremendous gift. I did not realize that I had lost this joy. I was standing in line at Starbucks when I saw a child dancing and twirling in ecstasy. I realized that this was precisely the inner experience that I was having. I also realized that the other adults did not even notice the child�s precious expression of joy until I directed their attention towards noticing. It was as though they were disconnected from the child�s effervescent expression of joy. I also found myself making up a song and singing out loud much to the amusement of the people who were fixing my latte. We all became amused as this creative expression and outburst was completely spontaneous. I had taken an event and a problem and turned it into a song. Fortunately they knew me quite well and shared my laughter and joy.

They have made a "bio-impedance test", they have testimonials, brain pictures and long descriptions about the structure of water and cells, -it"s sounds really scientific.

This links has nearly anything about water cluster pseudoscience.

The topic reminds me of the classic fairy tale "the emperor"s new clothes" written by H.C.Andersen.

Hypocrisy in Florida

2010-01-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

I don"t mean to harp on the Schiavo thing. It"s just that there"s basically a media blitzkrieg going on now about it, so it"s often in my mind. Good thing there isn"t anything important going on in the world right now to distract us from this coverage. Can you imagine what would happen how unimportant this would seem if we were involved in a war or something at the same time?

And the Christian right is being their typical hypocritical selves:

Tom Delay pulls the plug on his father

Robert Schiavo withdrew life support for his mother

I guess the correct term is "culture of life for you people, not me."

Also, there"s an article over at DailyKos that makes this point:

My answer is that the radical right hasn"t taken a moral position at all.
The radical right has not argued for reinsertion based on a moral position. Instead they are disputing the facts and claiming that Schiavo is not in a persistent vegetative state...
The radical right say there are "factual questions" about Terri"s condition and wishes that are open and have not been resolved. They aren"t arguing a moral position -- they are playing amateur detectives, marriage counselors and neurologists.

I want my meteor!

2010-01-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

It was June 8, 1998 when Pat Robertson decided to throw down God"s gauntlet to the homosexuals. You see, they wanted to do the unspeakable. They were going to sully Disney World (gasp) with their Gay Day. And they were going to enjoy it. Oh, the horror. The lesbians weren"t even going to wear veils, like decent women do. (I Corinthians 5-6,11) And, lo, it was said,

I would warn Orlando that you"re right in the way of some serious hurricanes and I don"t think I"d be waving those flags in God"s face if I were you.... But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It"ll bring about terrorist bombs; it"ll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor.
-- Pat Robertson

It"s been nearly six years since that, and not a single meteor has struck Florida. I want the meteor I was promised, dammit!

Russell"s Teapot

2010-01-29T03:46:00.000-08:00

http://russellsteapot.com/comics/

Some great stuff there.

What is the Condition Called Psoriatic Arthritis?

2010-01-29T00:44:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Arthritis is an illness that affects millions of people. There is no cure yet for it. It is known for the swelling of joints and scaly patches of skin. This type of arthritis is related to the skin condition of psoriasis and it also affects millions of people around the world. If you or someone that you know is dealing with psoriatic arthritis it is necessary to do the right research for this condition in order to completely understand its symptoms and treatment options that are out there for the pain. With learning all that you can about psoriatic arthritis and all the drugs that treat it you can get a better understanding of how to treat it. Your doctor will be able to provide you with the right information so that you can read on it and use the different organizations that are located on the Internet and at the centers across the country.

Lots of people are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and experience swelling of the joints in the body. This will include the wrists, knees, back, elbows, and fingers. This condition will also bring gray areas of skin that are very dry around the knees, elbows and lower back. The people that are suffering from the condition will often have fingers that appear sausage like and pitted nails or cuts around the fingernails. The cause of the condition is not known but experts think that a combination of genetic predispositions and the environment play roles in the development of psoriatic arthritis. You can find these problems at any age and with any gender or race. The most common age for psoriatic arthritis will start between age 20 and 50.

This is a condition that is tricky because the patients are dealing with the two fused diseases. One is of the skin and the one of the joints. It is important to talk to your doctor or have another medical professional helping you with treatments. There are many drugs that can have a negative reaction to it. There are different options other than medication that you can use to treat this disease. Some exercises will work well with those patients that have swelling in their joints. You can also have skin therapy to treat psoriatic parts of the disease.

Heat and cold can be used to treat psoriatic arthritis. Rest is very important too. Using splints and surgery are not usually used but the options are available for more of the extreme conditions. Cosmetically this is a disease that can be treated with laser surgery light treatment. There are other corrective cosmetic surgeries too. You can talk to our doctor to find out more on this disease and your options for treatments.

Health Tips-18: The Six Tastes and their Application in Treatment

2010-01-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

The Six Tastes and their Application in Treatment (especially Diabetes)
Though the West classifies food taste into four categories: sweetness, bitterness, saltiness and sourness, India classifies food taste into six categories, the additional two being "pungent" and "astringent".

Indian Naturopathy experts say one can keep good health and overcome diseases by eating raw, uncooked, natural food. One can easily find websites and books suggesting various types of natural food depending upon the condition of the individual. The general idea is if our food is balanced and contain all the six tastes in the right proportion, our system is strengthened and it can tackle most of the ailments. But since we generally avoid "bitter" and "astringent" food and prefer sweet and spicy food, our system gets weakened.

Two important points from various Nature Cure experts are:

1. Bitter-tasting food generally strengthens blood vessels; and,

2. Astringent-tasting food generally improves blood circulation.

As such, these these two tastes are important and one should not avoid them. They should be taken in moderation like every other taste. Too much of anything is generally not good.

Bitterness contrasts sweetness. As you may probably know, medical experts tell us that excess blood surgar can damage small blood vessels in the heart, eyes and the kidneys and that is why diabetes is called a silent killer. When excess blood sugar damages small blood vessels in the eyes, it impairs one"s vision and one can even become totally blind suddenly. Once a diabetic loses his eyesight, there is no way he can get it back. This has happened to many.

Likewise, when excess blood sugar damges the small blood vessels in the heart, heart ailments including massive heart attack could happen. That is why experts advise you to keep your blood sugar under control.

There are some relevant articles on this topic, which you can see for yourself if you want:

1. "Taste" (Article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Basic_taste

2. "The Six Tastes of Ayurveda" (Article from HealingLifestyles.com)

http://www.healinglifestyles.com/index.php/nov2006-balancedliving-cuisine

3. "Diabetes Mellitus" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes

4. "Diabetic Retinopathy" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_retinopathy

5. "Diabetic Retinopathy: Treatment and Prevention" from ABC of Diabetes:

http://diabetes-abc.blogspot.com/2007/10/diabetic-retinopathy-treatment.html

6. "Diabetes: Short-term Complications" from Diabetes Information Guide:

http://www.reddiabetes.com/Diabetes_Short_Term_Comlications.html

7. "Diabetes: Long-term Complications" from Diabetes Information Guide:

http://www.reddiabetes.com/Diabetes_Long_Term_Complications.html

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, HealingLifestyles.com, ABC of Diabetes and Diabetes Information Guide.

The Acetaminophen Blues

2010-01-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

Nearly everyone I talk to has a favorite pain-reliever. It isn"t always a branded product, and I"d love to conduct an informal survey or track customer buying habits in my store as I couldn"t find any data I wanted online, but right now all I have are informal observations. Most of the people I talk to take either ibuprofen or acetaminophen for everyday aches and pains, with a few opting for Aleve or combination products like Excedrin. And they quickly become annoyed if they can"t find their favorite product; Excedrin PM and Tylenol PM are identical except for the packaging, and one customer I spoke with yesterday was very certain that there was some other product called Excedrin Migraine PM that was nowhere to be found on our shelves.

Then there are the oddball homeopathy fans who spray diluted capsaicin into their noses when they have a headache. Apparently they even have a formula for prostate trouble. I am having an incredibly difficult time wrapping my brain around the idea of spraying hyperdiluted pepper oil and saw palmetto into your nose because it"s stuffy and you"re coincidentally having trouble urinating.

I could probably go on about what"s wrong with the aforementioned products all day, but that would be silly when I can bring up something that"s actually useful.

A lot of patients are a little confused on the whole anti-inflammatory issue. Most of them assume that NSAIDs, the most common OTC anti-inflammatory drugs for oral administration, are automatically better at relieving pain than acetaminophen (or paracetamol if you"re on the other side of the pond). And that simply isn"t true.

Acetaminophen, hereafter referred to as APAP, is a real miracle drug in a lot of ways. In fact, its mechanism of action is not perfectly understood. It provides pain relief via a slightly different mechanism than NSAIDs; like NSAIDs, it blocks the effect of substances called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins have various short-duration effects on tissues, one of which is to sensitive nerve endings to pain stimuli; in essence, prostaglandins lower the threshold required to make the neurons associated with pain fire. NSAIDs prevent prostaglandins from being formed entirely by blocking the effect of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase, or COX. APAP appears to block prostaglandin synthesis, but not in peripheral tissues; at least one theory suggests that APAP has an effect on the same receptors that the THC in marijuana. I say APAP is a miracle drug because it does this without the side-effects that NSAIDs have, asprin included, and it provides equal pain relief to aspirin milligram for milligram. APAP does not damage the stomach, thin the blood, or affect kidney function. It"s very safe at appropriate doses, non-addictive, and it"s even okay to use in pregnancy!

Because NSAIDs block the formation of prostaglandins by COX at the site of injury, they provide both relief of inflammation and pain. But for many minor causes of pain, an anti-inflammatory component is unnecessary. At least one study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that anti-inflammatory effects were not necessarily especially valuable in muscle injuries. In fact, the study compared simple APAP with Merck blockbuster Vioxx and found APAP to be just as effective without causing the poor atheletes to keel over from strokes! (Just kidding about the strokes. Sorta.) And for patients with mild-to-moderate pain due to osteoarthritis, the American College of Rheumatology, recommends APAP as first-line treatment unless significant inflammation is present.

NSAIDs are commonly cited by patients as being better for pain relief, and even a lot of pharmacists will immediately reach for the ibuprofen when it comes to recommending a painkiller, but the pain-relieving component is ultimately more important in many cases than the anti-inflammatory component. And for that, APAP is often just fine. APAP isn"t necessarily the best drug for all pain relief; that"s something to discuss with your personal healthcare provider. But it"s often a good first choice for mild pain, especially since the inflammatory response is a part of wound healing. It"s cheap, too, even compared to other pain-relievers, perhaps aside from uncoated aspirin tablets.

Electablog

2010-01-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

It"s sad that some of the best political writing I"ve seen in quite a while has been in blogs. The press isn"t really interested unless it"s been released as a White House talking point (They"re true because they"re said a lot!) or your garden-variety soundbite. It"s as if, as a nation, we are uninterested in having serious debate about the (yes, complicated) issues that face us today. Instead we get: nonstop claims that Kerry is the most liberal Senator in the US (false); we get lurid photos of Abu Ghraib prisoners, but no discussion on whether or not we are willing to accept tortue in extraordinary circustances; hell, CNN spent time talking about changes to the stage at the DNC before Kerry"s speech.

One of the excellent political blogs that I"ve come across is Electablog, written by Dave Pell. His site puts my little exercise in navel-gazing to shame. He"s smart, funny, well-written, and actually sensible. And now I find out he"s cute, too! Check him out on CNN. Cute and, unfortunately, married. Oh well, at least the good guys have another one on our side.

Update: Followup post here after I noticed the aboutablog.com link

Effective Acne Treatment

2010-01-28T15:51:00.000-08:00

For an acne treatment to be effective it needs to treat the reason for the outbreak. Acne is most often associated with teens, but in fact anyone of any age can be inflicted with the problem. Although acne is not considered to be a severe disease, it does have serious and negative effects on a person"s self esteem and confidence.

If you have acne you know what it"s like to spend almost every waking minute worrying and wondering about the treatments you are using. Many people can not feel good about themselves if they have blemishes and they find it difficult to socialize at all if they suffer from acne.

A lot of the acne treatments you buy without prescriptions are formulated to suit young skin, so if you are suffering with adult acne, they probably won"t be ideal for you. Some products can provide short term improvements, but they fail to deal with the underlying causes deeper in the skin.

It is important to be aware of what is in acne medications you are using. This will make it easier to know which products are the same as past ineffective ones.

If your skin is sensitive, try natural products before stronger medications. Sometimes all it takes is regular cleansing with the right ingredients for your skin and your acne will be gone for good.

Just because someone you know recommends a product that has worked well for them doesn"t mean it will provide the same results for you.

When you take a medication internally there will often be side effects such as dry skin, itching and irritation which can sometimes even lead to more breakouts. Quality acne products will often offer a money back guarantee if you don"t see results within a month, which proves they have faith that it works.

Benzoyl peroxide is a common and popular acne fighting ingredient in a lot of products. It will dry up pimples and kill bacteria, but excess drying can cause more breakouts as well.

The real answer to treating acne lies in nutrition: natural foods like green vegetables, whole grains foods rich in essential fatty acids can rebalance hormones, sebum production and vitamin levels.

A good way to work out which foods could be contributing to your acne problem is to make a record of everything you eat. Eliminating different types of foods for a month or two at a time will help you work out what is best for you. Women should also track menstruation to determine if the problem may be related to hormones.

Water is also extremely important to eliminating acne. Your skin is attempting to excrete toxins from the body that could otherwise be washed out with water. Drinking plenty of water and sweating through exercise will eliminate toxins from your skin.

Some people may notice when they are worried or feeling stressed, they have an outbreak of acne. This is due to the hormonal changes that occur during times of stress and staying healthy is the best way to combat this as well.

There are so many different acne treatments on the market and if you have tried over the counter products and find they haven"t worked your next step is to visit the doctor for a prescription. Alternatively there are skin specialists who deal with laser therapy, micro dermabrasion and other effective, yet costly procedures.

Harleen makes is easy to understand your acne treatment needs. Learn about this skin condition and the treatment options in the market. To receive a Free Acne Treatment Guide visit website.

http://www.uacne.com

Random Updates and Other Stuff

2010-01-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

In this post, I will give updates about situations from other posts. In order to help with my sense of boredom, having been offered (?threatened with) hospital admission by my PCP if I didn"t stay home from work at least until Monday. Needless to say, I declined (?refused). My cable"s better than the hospital cable anyway. If I"m going to lay around feeling bad, I can do that easily at home.

First off, in reverse chronological order, is unsettled. The update is that that mom died about a month after her c-section, before she ever woke up. The upside is that as she lay in the ICU getting sicker, and sicker her family was able to come to some amount of peace with her illness, and made appropriate, caring decisions about her end of life care. The other good news is that that baby is going home to a family that is really loving and caring.

Then there"s the resident in Dear Dr. Resident. He got a talking to by me, in which I explained that it was important to care about the patients and if he really didn"t like obstetrics, maybe he should consider physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) or pathology or some other specialty that he might like. He also got a much harsher talking to from the program director, and he has one last chance to do a good job this month. If he fails his current rotation, he will be on academic probation with the understanding that he will do an extra 4 months of residency as remedial training. If he does a good job, then he skates by. All in all, that"s probably pretty fair.

Lastly, and least in Doctor as Patient, I whined about my gout, which my PCP thinks is probably due to the stress of having been so sick. No need to treat it unless it happens again. She kept me in her office for a 2 L bolus of Normal Saline, urged me to never wait that long before coming in again, threatened to admit me and tried to convince me to accept admission (yeah, right!). If I"m well enough to blog and watch tv and get cranky because I"m bored and I don"t feel well, I"m well enough to be at home. I"m also forbidden to work until 5/14, and had some blood drawn and tests schedualed. She"s nice to me, my non-compliant ways torture her.

Also, there have been requests for book recommendations. I love Gabbe"s "Normal and Problem Pregnancies", and I"m really looking forward to the new edition. My own personal thought is that if you have Gabbe, you don"t need Williams. But the new Gabbe comes out in less than a month, so don"t buy the old one. I love Creasy and Resnick for more in depth info on many problems of pregnancies. But, for a basic reference, you don"t really need it. Oh, if you"re a medical student and not planning on doing family medicine or obstetrics and gynecology, I would stick with the shorter and easier to read Hacker and Moore (although I haven"t read the new edition).

If a test occurs in the woods and no one"s around...

2010-01-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

"Oh yeah, name one!" the student challenges you.

"How about the various tests of astrology?" you counter. "Astrology working goes against almost everything we know about physics, but it"s been tested all the time, and it"s found wanting every time. You could say the same thing for homeopathy."

"Bah, those tests were heavily flawed."

"I haven"t even told you of any speciic tests and you"re already assuming they"re flawed? Just because they don"t agree with what you think, eh? I could give you paper after paper, and you"d be hard pressed to manufacture flaws for all of them. At least for scientific claims we actually have papers; it seems all too often that we get obscure references to some poor evidence for some claim."

"If you"ll excuse me," the professor says. "We actually have a guest speaker today (against all my recommendations), and I don"t think security can hold him back any longer."

"Very well," you say, and take a seat.

The professor walks off stage and is promptly (and quite surprisingly) replaced by celebrity nutjob, Tom Cruise. After introducing himself, he starts off is speach, "How many of you have ever had a question that no one could answer?" Everyone in the class raises their hand.

"What if you were guaranteed that whatever you asked, you"d get an answer. What would be the best question you could ask? Well, tonight, I"m giving you the opportunity. Through the revelations of Scientology, I"m able to answer absolutely any question you might pose. So, shoot away."

Taking your chance, you shoot up your hand. Your enthusiasm is noted by Cruise, and he calls on you first. You ask, "I"ve noticed a lot of very strange events going on today, and I"m sure others have as well. What"s causing all of this?"

"Ah, I"m glad you asked," he replies. "Tonight is a project organized by the Church of Scientology in order to prove to people our validity. In order to do that, we"ve loosened the boundaries of reality, so a few extra things may slip in, but rest assured, we"ll take charge of it all soon enough. Next question..."

Well, no reason doing anything else, you have your answer. Time to go back and report what"s going on.

THE TRUTH ABOUT RIFE

2010-01-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

THE TRUTH ABOUT RIFE TECHNOLOGY, MACHINES, THERAPIES, INFORMATION

What are rife frequencies about? What is a rife machine and what does it do? I heard it can cure things that medical science says are incurable. How do I tell which information is true and correct and which may be fake and hype and just plain fraud? Is there a genuine rife technology out there that could save our lives? This is a crucial issue now that cancer has become public enemy #1 ahead of heart disease. What do we do when the next flu epidemic sweeps through or one of the exotic and incurable diseases escapes and finds its way to our land, (see Recent Outbreaks)? How about bio terror?

Most people have never heard of Dr. Royal Rife and his amazing microscope and his frequency machine. We believe, as do people who have been fortunate enough to avail themselves of the real deal, that rife technology is the best and last hope mankind has to fight and win against the coming onslaught of diseases that are becoming more and more immune to antibiotics and other conventional approaches. If you do the research or read the book by Barry Lynes, �The Cancer Cure That Worked�, you will realize that we have all been horribly cheated by the vested interests that control our government and medical system for their own extravagant profits. (See Politics in Healing by a past politician who knows of what he speaks.)

There is so much bad information and so many devices that are called �rife machines� that the very term of rife is becoming somewhat tainted even before the public has a chance to learn what it is all about. But, wherever there is counterfeit money, there has to be real money. Just so, there are good rife machines that actually work to one degree or another. But, that is enough to trump allopathic medicine that can only pronounce, �Go home and die, there is nothing medical science can do.� Well, that is true, but only because they have suppressed some very effective cures and therapies. This is absolutely beyond doubt and is proven by much documented information if you choose to look.

However, we cannot in this limited space explain and justify rife technology as one of the greatest discoveries of all time. This you can do with a little research. What we want to do is warn you of the many interlopers and fakes, and quasi scientific approaches that are out there. The point we are making is; just because you call cow manure a rose does not make it smell sweet! Be careful and cautious. Study and pay your dues to understand the concepts involved. This will help you make a determination among all the various sites, gurus, devices, etc.

We have found several good sources for rife information. The pre-eminent site may be Physicist Gary Wade�s site:

www.rifeenergymedicine.com

We think his papers are clear and easy to understand and very good science as well as being completely practical. He is one of a handful of people who really comprehends what Dr. Royal Rife was actually doing and has the practical, hands-on know how to build a real rife machine that makes use of present technology to achieve what Rife had hoped for! His device is a wonder and should be the first and last that you look at. For basic good information on Rife, one of the best and original sites is:

www.rife.org

There are other brave and talented people like James Bare who also have a good handle on rife technology albeit a slightly different approach. You can find his comments and those of others on the Rife Forum which is also an excellent source of information and discussion.

Just beware of the really bombastic sales and marketing gimmicks that lead you in a Google or Yahoo search to a site that is obviously set up to sell products. Be cautious of grandiose and outlandish claims for cures and the like. This is hyperbole and makes the case for rife more difficult to build. Someday we pray it will be an easy and legal choice for MDs to use rife machines in the USA and other countries that are stuck in the medical stone age. The ones we know in this pioneering science, even when they are marketing are always tasteful and put you first in making it easy to access the information you require. In the coming months we will also highlight some other suppressed and unorthodox medical methods that are getting cures in other countries even as we speak. Note: Watch the FDA very carefully. They are on the hot seat and have a real chance to become one of the good guys if they side with us the people and not with their former masters, the giant pharmaceutical companies and equipment manufactures. Good Luck.

Wooden ticking coolness

2010-01-28T06:26:00.000-08:00

I"m not usually one much for do-it-yourself projects (although I have been known to pick up a hammer now and then if I know some people renovating their house...), but this wooden clock project looks cool. This guy put one together, and has some interesting photos and details on making one. I"m tempted to give it a try, but do I really need another project?

(Via BoingBoing.)

Treating Diabetes at Sanoviv

2010-01-28T05:56:00.000-08:00

There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

Sanoviv Medical Institute and Health Retreat excels at treating chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes. While traditional Western medical treatments focus on insulin and medications, the Sanoviv approach emphasizes diet, nutrition, exercise, psychological issues and lifestyle modification, all in a beautiful, serene setting.

There�s a brilliiant physician at Sanoviv whose focus has been on blending the best of allopathic (traditional) medicine and alternative medicine to treat conditions such as diabetes.

Dr. Alberto Pena is revitalizing modern medicine by applying a variety of leading-edge therapies to treat patients with illnesses such as diabetes, lupus, arthritis, Parkinson�s and Alzheimer�s disease.

He affiliated with Sanoviv Medical Institute in 1999 to validate the powerful principles of alternative medicine His whole-body approach and deep-rooted passion for healing are charting new paths toward medical breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as diabetes.

Performing detailed medical examinations at Sanoviv, Dr. Pena becomes intimately acquainted with his patients and their lifestyles. He knows that less-than-optimum lifestyles contribute to various disease states, including diabetes. Fortunately, these conditions can be reversed by improving one�s nutrition, exercise and stress-coping habits.

A driving inspiration for Dr. Pena has been his father, an oncologist. While growing up, Dr. Pena watched his dad successfully pair alternative therapies with conventional cancer treatments.

To see Dr. Pena, watch several of his interview videos:

If this is the first time you"re visiting the Sanoviv web site, be sure to watch our Virtual Tour video (see below) to better understand how Sanoviv works and what we can do to treat your disease with a customized program.

If you have any questions, please contact us through our online form or by phone.

Aloha, BBQ

2010-01-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

I would have sworn I"d written a blog post about the closing of the Happy Wanderer "international cafe" on Green Street and the opening of some Hawaiian barbeque place, and how it probably wouldn"t manage to stay open the rest of the week. I guess I was wrong, and only blogged it in my head.

Anyway, the Hawaiian barbecue place has now closed, too. No big surprise there. I just don"t understand why businesses have such a problem on Green Street. I think the real estate must be horribly expensive. That, and no one actually wants to *go* there, so they rely on the captive student audience.

Which makes the fact that they"re not just putting in a Noodles and Company at Green and Sixth a bad idea, but also that they"re building a whole new building to put it in. There"s also another building going up on Green around, oh, Fourth, I think. Passing by that one this afternoon, it struck me that it might be a parking structure. Which is good, because they took over pretty much the only parking lot in the area to put it up, whatever it is.

It"s really amazing how fast those buildings go up. The old Wendy"s went away in a day. They spent a long time once the building was gone, working on the foundation and, um, other building-type stuff. The metal superstructure went up in just a couple of days. Putting the brick front on the building seems to be taking a while, but that involves lots of hand-work, I guess. I just hope it will be a useful building once the Noodles goes out of business.

Nightfall

2010-01-28T03:20:00.000-08:00

"Is anyone here a doctor?" you call out.

You hear a few affirmations, one of which manages to push his way to the front. He comes up and gives Infophile a cursory examination before proclaiming to the room, "This man... has been shot!" Consistent with the laws of narration, a bolt of lightning can be seen and heard striking outside immediately after this statement.

"Um, that wasn"t much of an examination. I don"t even see a bullet wound on him. Are you sure you"re a real doctor?" you ask.

"Of course I am!" the man replies indignately. "I"m Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, also known as the father of homeopathy. And this makes me particularly well-qualified to examine this individual as he"s not only been shot - he"s been homeopathically shot. That is, he"s been shot by no bullets at all!" Another bolt of lightning.

"We really have to start screening these things, at least to get rid of the obvious psychos," a fellow skeptic comments. "A modern woo is bad enough, but here"s someone who thinks he"s a woo who"s been dead for over 150 years."

"Hmph, crazy am I?" Hahnemann says. "If you"re so certain who the crazy one is, then how about you take a look outside?"

Another skeptic rolls her eyes and replies, "Fine, fine. But do you mind telling us in advance what you expect us to see? If you don"t make a prediction beforehand, you can come back and claim later that anything odd we see was what you"d expected."

"Just look," he says. "Trust me, it"ll be enough to assuage your doubts."

"Um, I think we have a problem here..." you hear from a skeptic who"d gone off to check outside during the previous exchange.

"What is it?" you ask.

"I think it"s Bigfoot... and he"s being abducted by aliens."

You"re about to rush out to confirm for yourself (a claim like this just has to be confirmed firsthand), but when Hahnemann starts to speak, you just have to stop to hear whatever he has to say next: "So you see! It"s already too late. When your eyes were distracted from the actual world, we staged a coup. It now works according to our rules!" Hahnemann breaks into a maniacal laugh as his body fades away. As it vanishes, a ghost-like apparition breaks out of it and disappears through a wall.

"...Okay, did anyone else just see his body disappear and a ghost rush out?" you ask timidly. You hear grumbled assent from the rest of the skeptics assembled. "...Right. So, what next?"

"Well, do we really have to do anything?" one skeptic asks. "If homeopathy actually works, couldn"t that be a good thing?"

"Sure," another replies, "until someone uses its principles to kill someone by shooting them with no bullets."

"Okay, well what about other alternative medicine? What if stuff like "Traditional Chinese Medicine" actually works?"

"Okay, that might not be so bad, but we"re going to get some of the negative claims of alties along with it. Now you can expect that everyone who had mercury-containing vaccines will actually become autistic, or that morning-after pills will actually do nothing."

"And what about woo that contradicts other woo? What"s going to happen in those cases?"

"I"ll tell you what"s going to happen," a new voice says, as a figure steps out of the shadows on stage. "Reality will be torn apart, until there no longer is such a thing as an objective reality. It"s how many of them already see the world, and soon enough it will be the case. By my estimates, we have only tonight to fix things. After that, it"ll be too late."

"Wait a second... you"re Infophile!" a nearby skeptic exclaims at the newcomer.

"Heh, not quite. I"m his alter ego, Nate Black. Back in January, Infophile received word of an attempted coup by the other faction, so he set up plans to counter it, the primary of which being me. I was created for this very moment, such that even if Infophile were taken out of the picture, someone would be around who knew what was happening.

"So, here"s the situation. Woos have struck at the foundation of reality, and it"s now determined by the popularity of ideas. Simply put, the argument from popularity actually works now. Many like-minded woos have grouped together so that in certain areas, their beliefs will take form."

"Wait, hold on," one skeptic says. "You"re going to have to excuse me if I"m a bit skeptical of all of this. Woo taking over the world in one night? Seems very far-fetched, even taking into account the Bigfoot abduction sighting and the ghost of Hahnemann."

"Perfect. Keep up that attitude and we might have a chance. The firmer your grasp on reality, the better you"ll be able to fight back. But just remember, now isn"t the time to get stuck in an Ivory Tower of skepticism. Tonight, we have to fight.

"Now, there"s a ton of varied woo out there that we"re going to have to fight, so we"re going to have to split up to take on the woo we"re each best capable of fighting. Don"t worry about traveling; I"ve got "connections." You"re probably best at predicting where the woos are going to start to group, so you tell me where you think you"ll need to go."

They could be going after the media...

They"re going to be trying to take over education.

We need computer penicillin

2010-01-28T03:13:00.000-08:00

For the past few days, I"ve been my firewall [1] has been catching a huge upswing in the number of computers attempting to connect trying to connect to mine of port 445. It"s hundreds per day, sometimes five to six per minute. They"re mostly from various level3.net IPs, similar to mine. (I think my ISP rents lines from Level3.) That"s one of the ports that WinXP uses for sharing folders, but I think this is primarily due to variants of the Korgo virus attempting to spread.

For crying out loud, who on Earth these days connects a Windows machine to the Internet without some form of virus protection? We don"t live in an era where you have to click on some emailed attachment anymore, some of these viruses spread just through defects in the Windows networking layer. It"s not just unwise, it"s irresponsible not to have a virus scanner running on your computer. It"s not like they"re particularly expensive.

It"s almost enough to get me to switch to a Mac.

[1] ZoneAlarm Basic, free for personal use. Download here.

Simple Diet for ADHD

2010-01-27T22:56:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. An ADHD diet is the easiest way to make a positive improvement with your health.

Have you read about this recently. The FDA said it has examined the same study data as the Canadian health authorities but had not concluded the risk of sudden death was "strong enough" to justify suspending sales of the drug [Adderall].

Studies have shown that in many cases ADD has been linked to diet, which includes food allergies and nutritional deficiencies. The first step in a diet for ADHD is modifying your child"s eating habits. You can begin by eliminating certain foods or adding other food items to the ADHD diet which may reduce symptoms or eliminate them altogether.

According to Dr. Frank Lawlis, a healthy diet is important for children and adults. Eating the right foods can maximize concentration and assist learning capacity. A diet for ADHD that includes healthier foods can immediately reduce ADD symptoms in many cases.

The following foods have been investigated and found to have negative impacts on children"s health: Artificial colors and preservatives; sodas, diet sodas, and artificial sweeteners; processed milk and milk products.

Other foods to reduce or eliminate are junk foods, sugars, processed foods, eggs, chocolate, and fried foods.

There are several foods and supplements that you can include in a modified ADHD diet. The two food items discussed by many studies are protein and flax seed oil, or some fish oils are good as well.

Protein is very good for the ADHD brain. Doug Cowan, Psy.D. recommends a good quality protein powder that can be found at a health food store. He says, �Get protein powders that are mostly protein and very little carbohydrate.� He suggests making a protein shake and including it with breakfast and another shake in the late afternoon around 3pm.

Protein Shake

Diet for ADHD, make a cup of coffee. Pour the hot coffee into a blender with about 6 oz of ice. Turn on the blender for a bit. Add a good quality protein powder. You can buy a protein powder with vanilla flavoring for additional flavor. Add between 15 and 20 grams of protein to the cold coffee in the blender. Turn on the blender again.

Another option is to use General Mills" International Coffees, or something like that, with a flavor that you or your child will like. Doug Cowan, Psy.D. says �Yes, I know I"m breaking my own rules here, as these coffees have dried milk and some sugar, but I"m trying to get your kid to actually drink the thing, and also get some caffeine mixed with the protein.�

Caffeine can have some side effects. If your child has problems with the caffeine in the coffee then don"t bother with the coffee in this diet for ADHD. Usually, though, the caffeine in the coffee helps the person to focus better. The protein helps to feed the brain.

Flax seed and flax oil are the best source of omega-3 essential fat. When preparing daily foods, mix about a spoonful into foods, or add to salad dressings, etc.

Make no mistake about it. A diet for ADHD is the easiest way to make a positive improvement with your health. Your ADHD diet can include other natural remedies for maximum benefit. It is one of the many choices you can make when you explore alternative therapies for ADHD.

Wayne McDonald is a health enthusiast who has been researching natural remedies for various health conditions for many years. Find out more about some of the most effective treatments for ADHD on his site at www.adhd-natural-solutions.com

Closed Set

2010-01-27T22:48:00.000-08:00

(click image for larger version)

Choosing the Right Acne Remedy

2010-01-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

When looking for natural acne cures, you want to make sure that you are getting not only the right product, but one that will work effectively. Because there are different levels of severity in acne, not everyone will need the same product. In addition to that, acne is caused by different things for different people. In some cases, it is even thought to be a hereditary problem. However, no matter what the cause is, there is an acne remedy that will be effective for just about every type of acne.

Most acne remedies claim to be effective in a very short amount of time. While this is a tempting feature to dive into, there are many cautions that should be taken. For one, it is usually a "fast acting" acne remedy because it is a highly potent drug. This means that it will be harsh on the skin and might cause more damage than it will do in providing help for acne. In addition to that, it could lead to other dangers on the skin. For example, many acne remedies contain elements that are vulnerable to the sun. Because someone with acne is less likely to put oily sunscreen on their face, they will increase the chances of getting sunburn because there is so much medication on their face.

Many acne remedies can be very helpful. Not only do they cure you of acne, but they can often improve your overall skin condition. There are many long term benefits that people forget about. When someone is looking for acne remedies, they usually try to find something that will help in an instant. Either that, or they will discontinue use of the treatment once they notice their acne disappearing. However, it is important to keep using natural acne cures for long periods of time to ensure that the acne doesn"t return.

About the Author
For more resources regarding Acne Treatment or even about Natural Acne Treatments and especially about How To Get Rid Of Acne please review these pages.

Asthma And Economic Development

2010-01-27T20:34:00.000-08:00

An intersting article has just been published in PLOS Medicine on the incidence of asthma in Ghana.

In Africa, asthma has typically been thought of as being very uncommon, and indeed in many African dialects there is no word for asthma or the symptoms, such as wheezing, that asthmatic children experience. This is a major contrast to what happens in the UK and other developed countries.

Unfortunately the study is showing that asthma, or at least exercise-induced bronchospasm is on the increase. Two studies of 3 schools in 1993 and again in 2003 showed the proportion of children with exercise-induced bronchospasm increased in all three schools; overall this proportion went up from 3.1% to 5.2%. Children from the rich city school were most likely to have exercise-induced bronchospasm at either survey date. However, children from the poor city school experienced the biggest change over the time period studied, with more than double the proportion of children having exercise-induced bronchospasm in 2003 as compared to 1993.

"God delusions cloud a world of wonder" opinion-piece in The Age

2010-01-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Worth a look, I think:

God delusions cloud a world of wonder

Very Biblical...

2010-01-27T19:39:00.000-08:00

It looks like the bigotry of the father is being visited upon the son. Just a couple of days ago, I blogged about Zach, sent to an ex-gay boot camp by his small minded family. It turns out that Zach is indeed real, and his last name is S-------.

And wow, is his family ever small minded. Zach"s father is quoted on CBN (I won"t link, so as not to increase their Google PageRank):

We felt very good about Zach coming here because� to let him see for himself the destructive lifestyle, what he has to face in the future, and to give him some options that society doesn"t give him today,� S----- said. �Knowing that your son... statistics say that by the age of 30 he could either have AIDS or be dead.

Now, clearly, Mr. S is a pig. But I want to know what was left out in that bold ellipsis? CBN has already been ... shall we say "creative" with their editing.

Now I do think Mr. S is something of a bigoted nitwit, but it"s hard not to think that he"s doing what -- in his own mind -- is best for his son. After all, who wants their children to burn in hell for all eternity? But Mr. S has said that he put his kid in there so he wont "have AIDS or [be] dead" by the time he"s 30. Why, then, would he put his son in the care of a man that says he"d rather see his "patients" dead rather than still gay at the end of the program?

Updated (27 Aug. 2005): I took out the last name. The kid"s sixteen; doesn"t seem right to list his full name on the public Web.

Sciatica Treatment Effective, Natural Remedy

2010-01-27T19:19:00.000-08:00

Article courtesy of Native Remedies

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the longest peripheral nerve in the body, and runs from the lower back through the pelvis and buttock area, right down to the back of the lower leg. It is an extension of the lower end of the spinal cord and is made up of the lumbar and sacral nerve roots from the spine.

The sciatic nerve runs out of the lower spine, behind the hip joint and down the back of the thigh. Its function is to send signals from the brain to the muscles of your leg and from the leg back to the brain � therefore helping to regulate movement in the limbs. Movement and feeling in the legs and feet are largely dependent on the sciatic nerve, which is very important to quality of life and maintaining normal mobility. Because it originates in the spinal cord, the health of the spinal cord and its vertebra plays a large role in the healthy functioning of the sciatic nerve.

The natural way

There are many things which can be done to support the health and functioning of the sciatic nerve.

Maintaining the health and strength of the vertebra and surrounding tissues is very important. Practice good back health and be sure not to put strain on the lumbar region. Regular back exercises, as well as exercise like swimming and walking, can help to support the integrity of the spine.

Be sure you maintain a healthy posture and consider taking up yoga or Pilates which can help to strengthen the central core of the body. Sleep on an orthopedic mattress to support your back at night.

There are many things which can be done to support the health and functioning of the sciatic nerve.

Be sure you maintain a healthy posture and consider taking up yoga or Pilates which can help to strengthen the central core of the body. Sleep on an orthopedic mattress to support your back at night.

Eat a healthy diet and take daily supplements known to benefit the health of bone, cartilage and nerves. These include zinc, magnesium, calcium, Vitamin C and manganese. Avoid cigarettes and excess alcohol

What is SciatiGon?

SciatiGon is a 100% safe and effective natural remedy for supporting the health of the sciatic nerve, spine, and nervous system.

Get more info on SciatiGon for supporting the health of the sciatic nerve

How has SciatiGon helped others?

�...I started looking on the internet ...and found your SciatiGon remedy. I ordered it immediately and started taking it the minute it arrived. Within 3 days I was feeling better ...Thank you for a life-saving remedy... I have no idea what I would have done if I hadn�t found SciatiGon!" -Myra, AL, USA

�Hi, I hope that you are well. As for me, I am doing much better. Firstly, I would like to thank you for your prompt service and delivery; I am amazed that quality and service still exists... The way you performed your duties was of excellent experience and I am a very satisfied customer who will in the future recommend people to conduct business with you and your company-- well done for your efforts and support. Secondly, a short note to say how impressed and grateful I am to have used SciatiGon. I have been suffering for a very long time with excruciating pains; I have tried a lot of different medication and visited a lot of doctors wasting a lot of time and money and in the end nothing helped ...I could not wait to open this parcel as I was desperate to end this pain and suffering... During the course of the day the pain was subsiding slowly and by 8:00pm that same evening I was 70% feeling much better and relieved. This was like a miracle I thanked my HEAVENLY FATHER in sending me in your direction, I feel like a new person again; this has made me positive and I can now resume to perform my duties as before. I will continue to take [SciatiGon]... I have trust and faith in you so you can expect more orders from me in the future. Many thanks and best regards." -Mark K.

Get more info on SciatiGon for supporting the health of the sciatic nerve

Related Products:
* To support nervous system health and relief from occasional aches, pains, and spasm associated with the nerves, visit Triple Complex Nerve Tonic

Drink more water

2010-01-27T17:45:00.000-08:00

Drinking enough water is really important, so I love the part of the WaterAid site which reminds us how important water is. You can use the interactive form to estimate how much water you should be drinking, download a little pop up programme to remind you to drink water, and find tips and games too. It"s definitely worth a visit.

All that is free, but while you"re there you might like to think about making a donation to WaterAid"s work in many different countries in Africa and Asia.

eating beans and peas

2010-01-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

I love beans and peas.I particularly like sprouted chick peas. It"s easy to do. I just soakthem for about 10 hours, drain and rinse them and then leave them without any additional water. I rinse them 3-4 times a day. I like them when the sprout is just appearing (which takes no time at all). John likes them when the the shoot is about to sprout some leaves. He dosen"t always get a chance to eat them, as I"ve often eaten most of them at the eralier stage!

I"ve just posted an article on the benefits of eating beans on Health & Goodness web site:

http://www.healthandgoodness.com/nutritiondiet/eating_beans.htm

Orac is hosting this week Skeptics� Circle no. 13

2010-01-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

Something is in the air and you"ll have to check it out over at Orac"s place. It"s the thirteenth meeting of the Skeptics" Circle filled with good skeptical writing and this sad news, so get out of the swimming pool....

Forceps Are Your Friends

2010-01-27T09:22:00.000-08:00

No, seriously. They are. This is, obviously, going to be the long awaited post about why it is I like forceps.

First, a little history about my relationship with forceps:

I have to admit, that in a way, it was forceps that inspired me to go into obstetrics. I saw an attending and a second year resident do forceps, and I thought, "I really gotta learn how to do this." So, in a way, my romance with the blades was love at first sight.

So, then, in residency, I would carry forceps around with me, find indications, and page willing attendings saying, "I think she needs forceps". In this way, I accumulated enough experience to do them after I graduated from residency. I loved them then and still do now.

Now, I attempt to do forceps whenever there"s a reasonable indication. My goal is to make sure that at least some of the residents get enough experience to be able to do them when they graduate.

So, why do I love them so? Partly, it"s because they seem almost magical. These steel spoon-like instruments can safely deliver babies. It used to be a secret art, because if a woman or a child would die in childbirth, it was considered God"s will. They would accuse midwives and obstetricians who used forceps of being in league with the Devil. I also love them because the skill is an uncommon one, these days, and it"s fun to be able to do something that not everybody can do. So, partly, it"s an emotional issue, a matter of pride.

But, it"s also a matter of evidence. There is evidence that vacuum assisted deliveries are more likely to be associated with injuries to babies than forceps. There"s a higher risk of potentially dangerous injuries like subgaleal hemorrhages. There are circumstances (premature infants for example) where a vacuum isn"t safe, and although you don"t want to have to do any kind of operative delivery, there are cases (like when the baby"s down at +3 with a terminal bradycardia and the mom can"t push well) when you have to get the baby out and a c-section isn"t a good option either. Additionally, I can get a baby out much faster with forceps than with a c-section. I can usually get the baby delivered in less time than it takes to push the mom down the hall and get her anesthetized for a c-section anyway.

Also, a patient has to be able to push in order to perform a vacuum assisted delivery, and forceps are useful in certain circumstances (myasthenia gravis, certain heart conditions, history of brain surgery) where the mom can"t or shouldn"t push for very long.

Last, but not least, the literature suggests that you are less likely to have a failed forceps delivery (fail to get the baby out) than a failed vacuum delivery. I find this is true. I have never had a failed forceps. I have had a couple of failed vacuums in my time, although some of that may be selection bias, I"m not sure.

So anyway, these are the reasons that I love forceps.

Image gratefully borrowed from WHO.

Homeopathy Information

2010-01-27T02:25:00.000-08:00

I regularly get the newsletter from Eugenie Rowson. It"s full of information and advice about homeopathy. Go check out her web site and sign up: www.theresaremedyforthat.com

Two cents on immigration

2010-01-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

... just not my two cents.

With all the immigration noise going on lately, it seems to me that this letter in the NY Times is the best and most succinct analysis I"ve seen:

The value of the illegal immigrant to our economy is his illegality. If you understand this fact, you understand the problem.

So long as he retains his illegal status, he can be paid less, denied health care and dismissed at will. This is what those corporations that employ undocumented workers value the most. And this is why a "guest worker" program will never succeed.

When today"s illegals become tomorrow"s federally recognized guest workers, the jig will be up. Because of their legitimate status, guest workers will have to be treated like human beings. This will not sit well with those employers who thrive on illegals today.

By adopting a "guest worker" program, we will be creating millions of legitimate workers, and those hard-pressed employers will be forced to seek out (and "invite" into our country) another illegal group willing to be paid less, denied health care and dismissed at will.

George Moss

Columbus, Ohio, April 10, 2006

How To-72: "How to Stop Bleeding Gums"

2010-01-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

How to Stop Bleeding Gums

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Bleeding gums are not uncommon, and most often, the culprits are either brushing too hard or flossing infrequently. Beyond lightening up with the toothbrush and/or flossing more regularly (every day, so that your gums get used to it), you can stop the bleeding naturally, with ingredients you"ll find in your cupboard.
---6-4-08---
And how will flossing reach 3 to 4 mm or more under the gum line to eliminate the infection? The surface of your tooth is not infected, the tissue around the root of the tooth is infected.
Plain water pressurized irrigation is the only way to keep the wound (and it is a wound)clean and the bacteria out. You are removing loosely attached plaque before it becomes attached and allows bacteria to grow. Use it the am and before bed. There are models now that hook up to your shower and are very easy to use with no mess. A mixture of lemon and honey is not going to cure a periodontal infection.

Ingredients

Half a lemon
With a glass of Jahmela(just kidding)
1 cup of warm water
1 teaspoon of honey

Steps

Squeeze the juice out of the lemon.
Mix it with the water.
Add the honey.
Stir it all up.
Drink it, making sure to swish it all throughout your mouth before you swallow.

Tips

This drink should be taken every morning.
Massaging the gums gently with coconut oil also helps.
Massaging your gums gently with warm water and a soft toothbrush helps toughen them up. Tougher gums are less likely to bleed.

Warnings

This remedy does not replace a dentist"s attention. It is for temporary relief from bleeding gums. See a dentist as soon as you can because the problem could be serious.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world"s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stop Bleeding Gums. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Skeptic"s Circle #66

2010-01-26T17:20:00.000-08:00

Ook.

Ook! Eek ook-ook OOK!

Tips For Being Green - Or More Green!

2010-01-26T15:33:00.000-08:00

A lot of people want to be more green but see it as being expensive and difficult. If you"re on eof these people, I"ve just posted some quick things you can do on Health & Goodness.

Pau D"Arco A Natural Antibiotic & Powerful Anti-Fungal

2010-01-26T14:42:00.000-08:00

We can be grateful to American Indians for a multitude of herbal and natural medicines. Pau d"arco has a been used as a medicine by the indigenous people of the rainforest. The Pau d"arco tree is a broad-leaf evergreen that grows to a height of 125 feet and produces violet colored flowers which accounts for it"s often being called the "trumpet tree". It grows well in Peru and Argentina high in the Andes. It can be found growing in the low-lying areas of Paraguay and Brazil. It"s use goes back in history to before the Incas. Pau d"arco tree was used to make hunting bows and as a medicine. It was observed by indigenous people that when the tree was alive and even after it was cut down, it never developed growth of mold, mildew, or fungi.

The Guarani and Topi Indians refer to the tree as "tajy, which means "to have strength and vigor" i.e. good health. Tribal medicine people peeled off the tree"s bark in long strips. They then separated the inner and outer layers and used the inner bark to make healing teas. Pau d" arco has crystalline oxygen infused in it"s inner bark, which is rich in iron, calcium, selenium, vitamins A, B-complex and C., magnesium potassium and sodium. These pau d"arco nutrients make give it antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal action which stimulates the immune system and fights disease. Indigenous people of South America have used pau d"arco for treating malaria, anemia, colitis, respiratory problems, colds, cough, flu, fungal infections, fever, arthritis and rheumatism, poor circulation, skin irruptions and sexually transmitted disease.

Lapachol, which is a photochemical, is present in the inner bark of pau d"arco trees has been documented as an effective natural medicine for use in treating abscesses and tumors. However, for it to be used to treat conditions such as cancer, the amount of lapachol, found in pau d" arco, required to provide and effective dosage, would be toxic if used as the exclusive treatment. It can however, be used along with other cancer treatments. Pau d"arco is given free by the Argentina government to cancer patients and also leukemia patients because of it"s blood purifying qualities and because it has been know to reduce pain caused by cancer and it"s treatment because of pau "d arco"s anti-inflammatory effect.

Pau d"arco contains selenium which is one of our body"s natural defenses against yeast infections, vaginally as well as for topical skin treatment. It"s antifungal action aids in the elimination of candida. Because of it"s antifungal properties, it is useful for fighting fungi that promotes athlete"s foot and other skin infections caused by fungi. It has also been shown to be effective in treating other infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, strep, and dysentery. Pau d"arco has a cleansing ability so is very useful for relieving intestinal infections, destroying parasites, and restoring colon health. A number of infection fighting substances known as napthoquinones seem to destroy certain disease causing bacteria, without destroying beneficial bacteria. This makes it an excellent natural antibiotic.

As a preventative, pau d"arco has been shown to help build our immune system with the stimulation of macrophages that fight disease. Pau d"arco has a high iron content that contributes to the elimination of wastes, the assimilation of nutrients and increasing oxygen supply to needed areas of the body. It helps improve hemoglobin and red blood cell corpuscles.. It therefore can be used for relief from chronic fatigue. Pau d"arco blood cleaning qualities makes it an excellent anti-allergy, anti-rhumatic, astringent, and cardiotonic. It is also often used to balance high blood pressure. It helps tone, balance and strengthen the heart. Pau d"arco helps to neutralize the poisons involving the liver which aids the liver in it"s blood cleansing function.. By improving the health of our blood and it"s flow we greatly increase the effectiveness of our immune system.

Pau d"arco is very useful in treatment and relief of colds, flu, herpes and hepatitis because of it"s antiviral qualities. It therefore is an excellent alternative or synthetic prescription or over-the -counter cold and flu "treatments" that often only suppress symptoms without actually curing the cause or may carry the risk of unwanted, sometimes harmful, side effects e.g drowsiness, etc.

With our concern about the undesired side effects of prescription antibiotics i.e. destroying beneficial bacteria or becoming ineffective because of bacterial mutation, we can find in pau d"arco ,a powerfully effective natural antibiotic alternative. As is true of many natural health care remedies, pau d"arco has many general health care benefits beyond the specific intended purpose. For example, if we use pau d"arco for relieving a cold, we will also benefit from it"s cleansing action of our blood and liver, fighting of yeast infection, elimination of intestinal parasites, etc. We an also benefit from it"s general immune building properties while treating a specific health condition. Once again, we benefit from the experience and wisdom of indigenous people, as they discovered and developed the use of pau d"arco another of Nature"s powerful gifts, a natural antibiotic.

About the Author
Jennifer has more than twenty years experience with all natural health care products. More information about natural health care products e.g. pau d"arco is available at => http://www.sweetmedicineessentials.com

Randi�s money

2010-01-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

Sylvia agreed to the suggested protocol for a definitive test of her claimed powers, for the JREF million-dollar prize.

The number of days that have passed since she accepted goes up day by day.

Psychic"s don"t get their power for things that benefit themselve. In other words, if that million was going to charity, and it was up to her to get it there, she would take up this challenge. Then why doesn"t she take the challenge? What (outside of the fact that she"s a liar and fraud) is keeping her from winning the challenge on those terms? And what would there be to prevent Sylvia (or any other psychic) from handing the money over to a charity immediately upon receiving it?

Psychic power is only testable when love is the motive. Otherwise it fails. Does love of money count? Is this a 100% applies-to-everyone rule or is it just a general principle? Can we assume that anyone who has made money out of their super-psychic powers is a fraud or is that just a good guess? I"m pretty sure Sylvia loves money.

Sylvia Browne stated on George Noory"s Coast To Coast that the JREF does not really have the $1,000,000 to award a successful challenger that proves a genuine paranormal power under controlled circumstances, even though it has been repeatedly told that the money is being held in trust by the financial planning firm of Goldman, Sachs, and Co. Why doesn"t she contact Goldman-Sachs and ask them?

Science has tested psychis claims for over one hundred years and have found nothing.

I"ll make a prediction for 2005: Sylvia Browne will continue to refuse to honour her statement that she would accept the JREF challenge.

Some few links:
Sylvia Browne: Psychic Guru or Quack?
Sylvia Browne near the death
Google: Sylvia Browne

Curing Yeast Infection with Apple-Cider Vinegar

2010-01-26T10:41:00.000-08:00

You probably would not be too surprised to learn that your yeast infection could actually come from a number of different types of yeast? In most cases, it is a type of yeast that is known as Candida and it can certainly be the source of a lot of discomfort and trouble for us humans.

Yeast can be found in out bodies all the time. But from time to time it grows too fast and becomes a problem. And because of these enormous quantities, the immune system of your body basically gives up as far as yeast is concerned.

It is not really necessary to fill your yourself up with antibiotics, as there are several natural cures for yeast infections that are available, one of the more known ones is apple cider vinegar. Do not start pouring apple cider vinegar into your more private parts, you need to drink the vinegar in order for it to work well.

If you find it tastes horrible you can mix apple cider vinegar into your favorite juice and drink it that way. Special tip: drink it cooled, it will often help a lot to make it more pleasant.

Your body is a little out of balance regarding the yeast and the apple cider vinegar helps to restore that balance. That way the body will be able to cope again with the yeast and get rid of the infection. Apple cider vinegar is also good for your over-all well being.

There are people that truly convinced by the qualities of apple cider vinegar and they consume that stuff every day for ages. As reported by many sources, they do not get sick very often. And getting a yeast infection is then also quite impossible. When your body is perfectly balanced it is very capable of healing itself.

You might get the idea that it is a rather simple cure. But as you know, the simple things usually work like a charm. Just a few glasses of thinned apple cider vinegar, consumed over a few days, will make the yeast infection go away. Once you get the hang of it, you probably do not want to stop drinking vinegar.

Consuming apple cider vinegar daily can help to keep the yeast infections from coming back and it is very possible that you will feel better in general. This wonder fluid can certainly be part of your natural health remedies.

About the Author:

Learn how to get rid of yeast infections and Throat yeast infection. No more itching, odor or pain or your money is refunded. Get Rid of that Yeast Infection Right Now and For Good!

How To-3: "How to Stop Your Craving for Soda"

2010-01-26T08:18:00.000-08:00

How to Stop Your Craving for Soda

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, dying for soda? Are you tired of the stained teeth and constant caffeine rushes? Well in order stop craving soda, it takes will power and patience!

Steps

First, determine which sodas are caffeine free. Buy caffeine free soda!
Buy other liquids, like milk, orange juice, apple juice, or lemonade.
Hide your stash of soda and every time you feel like wanting a soda, drink a large glass of water.
If you wake up in the night and head to the kitchen for a soda, pour yourself some milk instead.
Fill up your empty Sprite bottles with cold water, and your Coca-cola bottles with tea.
Your body naturally gets addicted to all the sugar and caffeine, so find another sugary supplement, like a small bag of candy or a fat-free Snickers bar. Even cake! (THAT doesn"t stain your teeth!)
Work out and get exercise. Then drink lots of water to make up for your loss of liquid.

Tips

Dont cut cold turkey. Buy less and less soda over a month or more. Drink less and less.
At parties dont drink alot of soda. Drink lemonade or tea.

Warnings

Don"t cut cold turkey!

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world"s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stop Your Craving for Soda. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Healthy Ways of Dealing with Stress

2010-01-26T06:12:00.000-08:00

There are certain unassailable characteristics of existence, and among them, there are two that are fairly common for all. The fact that change is inevitable and that change is likely to cause stress is almost a �given� in life today. Events, circumstances and people that once made us happy can suddenly stop having that magical affect on us after time. Even the happiness that we receive from accomplishing goals, acquiring material possessions, and attaining status in life is temporary. All these aspects are bound to change with time, and events that provided relaxation and happiness themselves at one time can become a source of stress.

Continuous emotional stress can be caused by the manner in which we think and the decisions that we choose to make. Constant stress can incapacitate you, sometimes permanently. It can cause physical and mental disorders including anxiety, gastric problems, back pain, depression, fatigue, tension headaches, weight gain/loss and cardiovascular diseases.

Stress medication, both over-the counter medicines and prescription drugs, although convenient, are not a healthy option. They only provide temporary relief and are also addictive. The basic goal of stress management should be to avoid unnecessary medication and look for natural stress relief measures. Coping with stress and overcoming worry basically involves changing perceptions, attitude and one�s approach to life. It is about seeing seemingly stressful events as challenges rather than threats.

The first and foremost task to accomplish is to stop worrying about things that you have no control over. Why worry about the weather when you know you cannot change it? Why complain, fume and fret about a traffic jam when you know you are already late for work? Similarly, many life situations are not under your control. People act and react according to what they perceive as right. Accept life as it comes to you. Remember, in the end, you are responsible only for your own actions and not for what others do. Accepting that you can only control your actions and not those of others can only lead you to a positive acceptance of the way things are.

Do your best according to your ability and leave the rest to unfold on its own. If some particular thing is bothering you, attend to it first. Make preparations in advance of the event.

If a relationship is turning sour, try your best to resolve the issues frankly. If things do not change despite your attempts, accept the situation and try to see the positive side of the situation. If a spouse refuses to cooperate irrespective of what you try to do to make things better, letting go may be the best option in any case!

Accept change and see how you can convert an apparent threat to a positive challenge. Positive thinking is a habit that you may need to inculcate and nurture. This may need to be done till it becomes second nature to you.

Be realistic when you set goals for yourself. Aspire for only as much that you are capable of achieving.

Exercise regularly. Physical exercise releases the body�s own analgesics that provide mental and physical stress relief. A half-hour walk in the evening will help in digestion and it will make sure that you sleep well and stay relaxed.

In spite of the fact that stress hurts, it is pertinent to understand that constant stress hurts even more. But there is something that we can learn from stress, too. In many cases, the result of a traumatic experience is a changed person, and in most such cases, those changes are usually for the better.

Get more info on PureCalm for Stress and Anxiety

Cure Acne Through the Best Acne Sensitive Skin Treatment

2010-01-26T04:12:00.000-08:00

Acne is one such skin problem that can happen to anyone irrespective of age and sex. Either you are a teenager or an adult; this problem can affect you anyhow. The cruelest thing about this disease is that even after its cure, it leaves behind ugly dark spots that destroy the whole charm of the face of a person. So, if you are an adult and suffering from this skin problem then you must go for acne sensitive skin treatment.

There are many people who think it is impossible to cure acne or to remove its dark spots. However, it is important to note that this thinking is completely wrong. Nowadays, it is possible to remove pimples as well as dark spots completely but for that, it is important to choose the right treatment with right skin care products.

Before selecting the acne treatment, it is important to see the actual condition of the pimples. For instance, if you have few pimples with blackheads, then you can go for using the good skin care products to get rid of them. However, in case your whole face is covered with pimples, then instead of taking any chance, the best advice is to see a dermatologist as only he can provide the best treatment.

If we talk about the skin care products available in the market, then it is noteworthy that today you can get all sorts of skin treatment products for all types of skin. If you are worried for the price of these products, then too you need not to worry at all. It is so because these products are available in all price range and so you can find the best one suitable to your requirements and budget.

With the help of a good acne sensitive skin treatment, you can get rid of the problem of acne completely.

For curing acne completely, it is important to go for the right Acne Skin Treatment. For best results, you can select the best products at http://www.skinacneremedytreatmentproduct.com/exposed-acne-treatment-reviews-acne-free-with-a-new-home-product-for-skin-sensitive-care-treatment.php.

Event-RADIANT PEACE WALK / MEDITATION

2010-01-26T02:54:00.000-08:00

EVENT DATE 6/25/2005 get more info

RADIANT PEACE WALK / MEDITATION
Los Angeles California
Franklin Park (near Coldwater Canyon & Mulholland
Please join us at The International Day of Radiant Peace Celebration
We will meet in the main parking area at 11:45am and begin our GROUP MEDITATION at High Noon by the little duck pond. FREE DRAWINGS for prizes & Radiant Hands-on Sessions. Everyone gets something Radiantly Valuable!
R.S.V.P. to Joyce Kenyon - 310-285-3817 or 323-822-1879

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-01-26T00:57:00.000-08:00

It"s been a busy few weeks around my small corner of the world, but there"s no way I"d miss the opportunity to take two minutes to wish those of you in the blogosphere a happy Thanksgiving.

May you surround yourself with good company on the outside and fill yourself with excellent food on the inside!

Rheumatoid Arthritis And The Vegan Diet

2010-01-26T00:11:00.000-08:00

Here"s some interesting research on the benefits of a vegan diet for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis published in the journal Arthritis Research And Therapy:

Introduction
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vegan diet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on blood lipids oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and natural atheroprotective antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PCs).

Methods
Sixty-six patients with active RA were randomly assigned to either a vegan diet free of gluten (38 patients) or a well-balanced non-vegan diet (28 patients) for 1 year. Thirty patients in the vegan group completed more than 3 months on the diet regimen. Blood lipids were analyzed by routine methods, and oxLDL and anti-PCs were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data and serum samples were obtained at baseline and after 3 and 12 months.

Results
Mean ages were 50.0 years for the vegan group and 50.8 years for controls. Gluten-free vegan diet induced lower body mass index (BMI) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and higher anti-PC IgM than control diet (p <0.005). In the vegan group, BMI, LDL, and cholesterol decreased after both 3 and 12 months (p <0.01) and oxLDL after 3 months (p = 0.021) and trendwise after 12 months (p = 0.090). Triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein did not change. IgA anti-PC levels increased after 3 months (p = 0.027) and IgM anti-PC levels increased trendwise after 12 months (p = 0.057). There was no difference in IgG anti-PC levels. In the control diet group, IgM anti-PC levels decreased both after 3 and 12 months (p <0.01). When separating vegan patients into clinical responders and non-responders at 12 months, the effects on oxLDL and anti-PC IgA were seen only in responders (p <0.05).

Conclusion
A gluten-free vegan diet in RA induces changes that are potentially atheroprotective and anti-inflammatory, including decreased LDL and oxLDL levels and raised anti-PC IgM and IgA levels.

Read the full article.

Are Your Kids Hooked on Prescription Drugs?

2010-01-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

Information on and natural remedies for the treatment of children"s medical conditions.

While most parents worry about their children falling under the influence of illegal street drugs, few probably lose sleep over the effects caused from doctor-prescribed medications, used to treat every ailment from ADD to weight loss in children. Studies show that American children receive three times the drug treatments for common medical conditions than European children, according to a report recently published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health.

There are several cultural differences that may be correlated to the significantly higher amount of kids on medication. Differences in diagnostic testing may be linked to higher rates of medication, as well as a greater number of child psychiatrists in the United States versus Europe. Heavy direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising is also widely accepted and touted in the United States, subsequently leading many to seek out �quick fix� approaches at the doctor�s office.

In mainstream North American culture, medications are generally not viewed negatively, but rather almost as impulse purchases rather than researched decisions-- often taken without proper supervision or weighing the short and long-term side effects and contraindications.

However, perhaps parents should carefully think over the possible side effects and cautions before signing their child up to a potentially life-long dependence on prescriptions. Particularly in cases of suspected ADD/ADHD in children � disorders without a concrete diagnostic test available � conventional treatment may not fully address the underlying causes and issues, but rather just suppress the problem. Parents should also consider the many herbal and homeopathic remedies which can help maintain harmony, health and systemic balance in the brain and nervous system, without side effects or sedation.

While there is a place for conventional medicine, it should not be viewed as the only solution... and more people need to recognize that taking a proactive approach to wellness can prevent ailments from developing or worsening.

In combination with a healthy lifestyle, natural remedies can help maintain healthy consistent behavior, clear focus, and optimum performance by providing a sound platform to support wellness and vitality.

How has BrightSpark helped others?

"I just want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Native Remedies. Let me first start by saying that, never having a brother, I thought that our son"s behavior was that of a "typical boy". We have a boy now 4 1/2 and a daughter 3 1/2. What really sparked us to start looking at ... the differences in behavior towards activities such as coloring and making puzzles, detailed oriented vs. short spurts of attention... The idea of giving our growing child a pharmaceutical drug was just not an option for us, so Native Remedies was "truly a blessing". We started our son on BrightSpark and Focus Formula, and within 7 - 10 days there was such a difference in our son: he was able to sit through an entire family meal (huge for us), his appetite improved, his sleep improved (he was always restless), and he was able to verbalize an emotion pertaining towards a song (I cried - he had never done this in the past). We have since made changes in food choices, scheduling of daily routines, and now include MindSoothe Jr., which has helped us all out. I now see our son take the time to think about what he wants to express, and that makes my heart sing. Thank you all so much." - Renee J., USA

Get more info on BrightSpark for Child ADD and ADHD

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Naturopathic Medicine Schools Integrate Various Healing Methods

2010-01-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

The promotion of good health, rather than the curing of disease, is a growing concern of a more health-conscious public today. Naturopathic medicine plays an important role in the general health of the population, and naturopathic medicine schools are receiving greater recognition now than ever before.

The practice of naturopathy takes into consideration the influence of nutrition and exercise on a patient"s physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, while the main focus of traditional Western medicine has been to discover what has gone �wrong� with or how to �fix� a diseased body.
Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are those medical and health care practices and therapies not considered to be part of conventional medicine. However, these practices and therapies have evolved due to understanding gained through well-designed scientific studies and research, adoption of therapies by conventional medicine, and changing approaches to traditional health care. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is found in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the government agency working for greater recognition of alternative and complementary healthcare treatments and practices in the U.S. through research and dissemination.

Complementary and alternative medicines are not parallel entities. Complementary medicine is often combined with traditional medical therapies to promote total health. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, replaces conventional medicine with complete and independent alternative medical systems of theory and practice developed long before conventional medicine. Alternative medicines include homeopathic medicine, Chinese medicine, naturopathy, Ayurveda, mind-body medicine, manipulation (chiropractic, massage), energy therapies (placing of hands), bioelectromagnetic-based therapies (use of electrical current), and others.
Today, hospitals and physicians are more often practicing the integration of complementary and alternative medicine into conventional Western medicine. Hospitals and health maintenance organizations are recognizing the many benefits of CAM therapies, insurance companies are covering some CAM therapies, and integrative medicine centers are forming close ties with medical schools and teaching hospitals.

To learn more about Naturopathic Medicine Schools, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Visit our Natural Healing Directory and find Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Naturopathic Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante

Jill Stanek disproves her own argument

2010-01-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

Jill Stanek is the conservative columnist that has been arguing against the HPV vaccine because it will encourage promiscuity in young women. Debbie Halvorson, the Majority Leader in the Illinois State Senate, recently spoke out about her own HPV infection, precancerous cells, and hysterectomy and is speaking out in support of the HPV vaccine. Jill Stanek then likened her to a porn star in a column.

In a recent post on her website, Stanek now is proposing that male circumcision be mandated for boys if the HPV vaccine becomes mandated for girls. Her justification is a recent Lancet study in Africa that shows a significant reduction in HIV infection rates in men due to circumcision. The reduction was so significant that the study had to be terminated prematurely because to continue with it would have been unethical.

I"m not writing this because I want to discuss circumcision and HIV prevention. (Though the fact that a simple procedure could save many lives is nothing but good news.) I want to point out the fact that Stanek has now disproved her own argument.

The whole premise that girls will become promiscuous if the get the HPV vaccine is fairly ludicrous on its face, but it"s the standard argument conservatives put forward for anything that helps prevent STD infection (other than celibacy). Now that we have determined that circumcision protects against HIV infection, will we see an explosion in promiscuity in circumcised men? Of course not. Looking at the same Lancet study, the rate at which the men had sex was basically the same for the circumcised and uncircumcised men.

So, what I don"t get is, if giving girls a vaccine to protect them against HPV makes girls slutty, why is Stanek calling for the circumcision of boys to protect them from HIV?

UPDATE: Stanek appears in the comments and writes:

You clearly don"t understand sarcasm.

Oh, don"t be silly. Of course I understand sarcasm. I was trying to point out in this post that if circumcision protects against HIV, then -- by Stanek"s very own argument -- circumcised men and boys should be more promiscuous the uncircumcised men and boys. As such, Stanek should be arguing against the circumcision of young boys. After all, if a girl views getting the HPV vaccine as license to have sex, then it is reasonable to conclude that a boy protected against HIV will do the same. Yet there is no anti-circumcision campaign among conservatives.

The conservative argument against the vaccine says the girls who have been vaccinated will be more likely to be promiscuous. One could also make an argument that girls who have had the HPV vaccine are more likely to be aware of the dangers, prevalence, and infectiousness of HPV, and may actually avoid sexual contact. Conservatives have produce no actual evidence that their argument is correct. As far as I know, they haven"t even attempted any studies. Data collected by rhetorical argument is not valid data.

For the record, I"m very much pro-vaccine. I think its existence is a great thing and I hope it saves many lives. I"m also mildly anti-mandate.

Your Turn

2010-01-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, I can"t really predict "whatever you want," so here"s what you"re going to do. Go open up a text-editing program, such as Notepad. Write in whatever the hell you want to finish off this dream. Once you"re satisfied, drag the window over the big empty space below, and that"s what you do.
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Okay, ready to wake up now.

The kids decided not to teach Intelligent Design in U.S. Schools

2010-01-25T09:28:00.000-08:00

I found this unintelligent piece over at fantasy world � the author George Konig predicts science will remove from the schools within ten years. He does not mention any names of the scientists who have given up and any reasonable person would consider his claim to be nonsense.

I propose his article to be something like this (short version):

The kids decided not to teach Intelligent Design in U.S. Schools

There are several excellent articles on Evolution and Intelligent Design to mention like evidence for evolution and Survival Of The Flimsiest.

Most creationists� and believers of ID have already given up on the hypothesis of Intelligent Design because of lack of proof. Researchers did not know what to look for, and because the hypothesis was not testable, they made no research published ever.

They finally had to accept evolution as a fact because of scientific findings in the last twenty years and because of evidence for historical evolution like genetic, fossils, anatomical etc.

Due to the unwillingness of religious people in the education field to accept Evolution - for their own personal reasons - the debate have and will continue until the court in Pennsylvania put and end to all the nonsense.

In fact, many people of faith accept evolution as the scientific explanation for biodiversity.

End of article!

Proponents say Intelligent Design provides scientific answers for gaps and inconsistencies in the theory of evolution. They think an unnamed "designer" or "Goddidit" fills in the "gaps" and "problems" in Darwin�s Theory of evolution.

However, problem with science has always been that a new discovery will lead to thousands of new questions.

With Intelligent Design, we do not need to find out and we could stop learning.

On the other hand, we could accept that "Science is hard."

The scientific community will not accept teaching pseudoscience in schools, and they will fight back unintelligent arguments like Goddidit with reasonable arguments, I think.

H1N1 Flu - Can Antioxidnats Help?

2010-01-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

In a press release (november 1st 2009) entitled "Scientists discover influenza"s Achilles heel: Antioxidants" from the Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology the scientists say: our research shows that antioxidants may prove beneficial in the treatment of flu. Read more >>

Check out our antioxidant supplement here.

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