A fi sau a nu fi...liber

Personal growth ,life-coaching,positive and transpersonal psychology , education for all,INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE. HAPPINESS, WELL-BEING,WISDOM, HARMONY, COMMITMENT TO LIFE MISSION AND VALUES

31/08/2008

Astronomy, astrology(ezoteric) and the events on Earth- News alers!

If we look westward, just as the sun is setting, we can see three bright objects in the sky. These will be visible through the first half of September 2008. The objects, as previously mentioned, are Mercury, Venus, and Mars. These objects will form a perfect isosceles triangle on September 1st. Then, something very peculiar begins to happen. Mars and Venus begin to move closer and closer to each other. In the occult world, Mars means war, and Venus means erotic love or false peace. Then on September 11th, 2008, exactly seven years to the date after the World Trade Center was attacked, Mars will appear to slam into Venus. The two objects do not actually collide, but they appear to as a sign in the heavens. As I seek the Lord in watching unto prayer, I sense a great and deep foreboding that seems to come from everywhere. Those who have binoculars can watch this event at sunset in the western sky. What great event is the Lord warning us about? Soon we will know!

Venus is the Goddess of War, Death and Creation. So we shall expect something big to happen on this date, weather a proper war, false flag or economic problems.

September 11th 2008 is exacly on a Thursday, the same day as in 2001, when the Twin Towers collapsed !

Is is only a " co-incidence" ( I didn't make a mistake in spelling!)

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Bone, flesh and cartlilage

Bone, Flesh & Cartilage
Dr. Christopher's Newsletter 1-8
by Dr. John R. Christopher

We have talked and written extensively, over the years, about what to do for the organs of the human body. It has been gratifying to have found specific herbal foods and aids for the liver, pancreas, heart, bowels, kidneys, etc.

We see maimed, crippled, burn-scarred people--who could surely have found a "better way to go" than that which was used on them, in many cases.

As a good example I would like to cite the case of two boys, about ten years of age, who were playing with gasoline and matches. Both of the boys' hands, up to the wrists, received third degree burns. The boys were taken immediately to the hospital where the surgeon pronounced, for both boys, "incurable third degree burns"! He told both sets of parents there was a choice in each case--either removing the hands at the wrist and attaching iron claws both right and left, or, with numerous operations and skin grafts, over a period of about one year in the hospital, the boys could keep their hands, but they would be just like mummified claws and could not be used as hands, but, in a claw-like manner, they would be able to pick up materials but the fingers would not move as would the ones on the metal hand. One set of the parents told the doctor to keep their boy there and, even though it would be a year and the cost very high, to go ahead and work on him as soon as possible. The other couple told the doctor they wanted to see another person first about their boy's condition and then they might come back.

As they had heard of our work, they brought their boy to the building when I was lecturing, to show me the boy's burned hands. The nails, much of the flesh, tendons, etc., had been so badly burned it made one shudder to look at it. The temporary preliminary bandages were put back on while answering their request as to what could be done instead of cutting off the hands or surgery and skin grafting. I gave them a formula to use that is based on comfrey. This is a paste made up of comfrey, wheat germ oil and honey. The paste was to be spread, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, over the entire burn area. They were instructed to watch the paste and if it had, in any areas, been absorbed into the flesh to add additional paste in these areas, not disturbing the condition below.

Within the week they returned to the hospital and the same doctor they had seen before examined the boy. He was amazed and told them that where the burns had been third degree burns in these past few days, they were now first degree burns. He asked them what in the world they had used, and they told him it was an old-fashioned remedy. The doctor then told them to continue using it and, further, there now would be no need for any surgery or skin grafting, because it looked as though the hands would heal perfectly with this procedure without any scar tissue. In a few weeks time the boy's hands were completely healed. Later the nails had grown back on, the tendons, nerves, muscles, flesh and skin were all renewed, and the hands were as perfect as they were before the burns.

The other boy was still at the hospital nearly a year later, with continual surgery and skin grafting. The cost was, we understand, well over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. When he was sent home his hands were two ugly "mummified-type" unbending claws, so sad-looking he wore gloves to hide them from view.

The parents that used the herbs spent approximately ten or twelve dollars for the first materials to apply (honey, wheat germ oil and comfrey) and only small amounts at times to replace the paste that was used.

The paste can be used for cuts, abrasions, burns, bruises, sprains, and an external aid to spread the healing up of broken bones.

If kept in a wide-mouth closed jar the paste will keep in a ready-to-use condition for many months. This is one of the fine emergency first aid helps you can have on hand. It is good to have some in your cars and in various places in the home or where you work, in case of an accident.
One day a lady came into my office in a frantic state of near hysteria. She told me that her fourteen-year-old daughter was at home and some neighbor ladies were with her, to keep her from doing harm to herself. That morning the mother had stopped her daughter from committing suicide. The girl, for several years, had a severe dermatitis that had baffled the family physician, dermatologists and allergy specialists. The skin problem was from the knees down to her feet, the arms from elbows down over the hands, and her neck and face were also covered with this dermatitis condition. The dermatologists said it was different from pityriasis, psoriasis, eczema, etc., and had no name for this thick, heavy scaling from which the girl was suffering. This young girl had become a recluse, refusing to go to school, church, parties, etc., and because of this terrible condition which was called "incurable" she was eating herself into an extremely oversized individual. The despair she was suffering was pushing her into a suicidal frame of mind.

I had never had such a case presented to me before and my "back was up against the wall." This was an emergency and I did not have the time to sit in a laboratory and figure out a combination to try on her. I offered a quick silent prayer for help and a formula came immediately to my mind. As it came I had the lady and her companion write it down. I told them to go to an herb shop or health food store and get the various herbs, mix them, and make a fomentation. She was to foment the legs, arms, neck and face areas, and also to have the daughter drink some of the tea. I felt confident enough to promise good results!

It was on a Tuesday morning that the mother had come to see me. On Friday the report came back that the scabs and scales had left the afflicted areas and the girl's skin had a good "healing glow" to it. The next message I received was six months later. The girl was now a choir leader at the school she had returned to, and she was again busy in church and social activities.

This particular group of herbs is one we called "bone, flesh and cartilage" formula. We found it would do many things besides skin problems.

A lady, who is connected with the publishing company that does some of our printing of books, had an experience that shows how well this particular formula works! One time, while traveling to the west coast on a lecture assignment she was in an accident with their family car and a large portion of one of her knee caps was torn off. This left a deformed knee and a lack of free action with the knee joint. One day, while eating at our Mother Nature's restaurant at the Orem Mall, she saw me and came over to my table where I was eating. She asked me if I saw any difference in her two knees. I could not tell which had been the badly deformed knee from the other, they were both perfect and healthy looking. I knew, of course, that she had used the bone, flesh, and cartilage herb tea as a fomentation over the injured knee area six days a week, week after week, and the knee cap grew back--as unbelievable as this may seem to others. We do recommend the drinking of some of the tea several times daily as well as the external use.

We have had many interesting cases with the use of this formula and how it has helped various serious conditions and many people.

Various times, while reading the iris of the eye, I have spotted impingement of the spine in the lumbar, thoracic, and sometimes troubles in the tail-bone area. Upon seeing the "area of malfunction" I would cite the problem at hand, as with the lumbar vertebrae being "out" the individual would be suffering severe backaches and ofttimes bowel and reproduction organ problems and, sure enough, the patient would exclaim, "That's true!" When there was the bent, broken or dislocated tail-bone, there would often be problems in the arms or legs, etc.
It has been our recommendation to put the fomentation of this particular formula over the malfunction area upon retiring at night and leave on all night, taking it off the following morning. This procedure is to be done six nights a week, week after week, until the spine stays in place "of its own free will and choice." The reason is that this herbal remedy is a food and feeds the cushion that is ofttimes ruptured or worn away, and also with its powerful cell-proliferating feeds the area to rebuild itself, according to the plans and specifications the good Lord has left as a pattern for repair. The same thing happens with the muscles, nerves, chipped and damaged bone, and the flesh and skin on the damaged area.

We have seen a number of cases over our years with the use of this great food package, curvature of the spine being straightened, even in some of the most severe (incurable!!!?) cases.
This group of herbs has in it various herbs that have, each of them, their own job to do, as follows:

Gravel root. This herb is a natural solvent for inorganic minerals such as calcium and other unwanted inorganic accepted but not assimilable substances. Dead inorganic calcium is accepted into the body but cannot be assimilated. No mineral can be assimilated into the human body unless it has gone through the process of osmosis through plant life (herbs). When an inorganic mineral is accepted into the body it is accumulative and continues to build up. This build-up can cause arthritis, rheumatism, kidney stones, gall stones, hardening of the arteries, cataracts, etc. This "building up" process must be reversed, so here we have an herb such as gravel root that will act as a solvent that will leach off dead inorganic calcium and other minerals in the same state. However, it will not have any influence on live organic minerals that can be assimilated directly into cell structure through the "delivery-system" of the blood stream. A true solvent, such as solvent herbs or steam distilled water acts as a magnet. The magnet will pick up dead inorganic iron and other metals but will not pick up wood, paper or higher vibrating materials. The solvent herbs or distilled water will pick up and leach off dead inorganic minerals, but will not vibrate to live organic minerals that have gone through plant life and can be assimilated into the body's cell structure. Dead, inorganic calcium is the type of material we want to get rid of, because this type of calcium can do us only harm. Some people panic--"What can I do to replace the calcium being leached out?" If you replace what you have just leached out it would be like cleaning out a garbage pail, and then replacing it with more of the same! Instead of doing this, let's replace the dead calcium by putting in a good organic usable calcium. To do this we have included into this formula oak bark, an astringent which is also high in live, assimilable calcium. Oak bark not only supplies good calcium but acts as an astringent that firms up the system while feeding the cells.

We include marshmallow herb which is extremely high in "live" assimilable protein for muscle rebuilding, and yet has another advantage--rather unique in a single herb. This plant, marshmallow, has the ability of being anti-gangrenous. We have used marshmallow a number of times to save patients from amputation of an arm or leg because of gangrene condition. This "blessing from heaven"--marshmallow-has cleared up the condition and saved many from losing parts of their body.

Mullein herb is included in the healing group of herbs because it is a special food for the glandular system. Unless the glands of the body are working properly, a healing cannot be complete. We have used three parts of mullein and one part of lobelia in many severe cases of gland malfunction. This is also a great aid for thyroid, swollen glands in various other parts of the body, mastitis when the breast is swollen way out of proportion. We have cleared this condition with this mullein-lobelia combination overnight. We use it externally as fomentation and also orally in tea, tablets or capsules. It has been used for injured testicles, swollen ovaries, etc., etc., with amazing success.

We include lobelia, the herb of many uses. It is antispasmodic--a catalyst for having the power to unite the other herbs in working efficiently and does so quickly! This herb is a nervine, and an anti-infection herb as well. Wormwood is an herb that relieves the body of pain in various areas but its other job is to destroy and remove parasites and worms from the body, as the balance of the herbal composition causes such a healthy condition of the cell structures that these scavengers (garbage men) are not required any more and are escorted out of the system with the wormwood.
Scullcap is an herb of nervine type that aids the spinal cord to be healthy and in a condition to deliver the messages from the motor-nerves to the whole body. Without efficient nerve response the body parts--glands, muscles, etc., cannot do their job.

Black walnut bark, or leaves is an herbal aid, not too well known. It has many values, but one of the main ones we use it is for its power to overcome fungus in the body. Walnut is high in potassium, calcium, iron, and many other much needed foods that are required for rebuilding worn-out organs in the body.

The final herbal aid we include in this great rebuilding fomentation is comfrey. This herb is a very efficient cell-proliferant. It is a food that makes the good cells grow rapidly, making such a healthy condition in the area that the weak and dead cells are evicted and replaced with new highly vibrating life. Comfrey is high in calcium, stops hemorrhaging, and is in the neighborhood of "twenty percent protein." This is a live whole (unprocessed) protein that can be readily assimilated into the cell structure for fast healing.

Before starting on a severe case or a mild problem, we have always advised our patient to go to the initial cause of the problem and start with the basic routine of healing. Clean out the bowels with the lower bowel tonic (see Newsletter #1 and use the mucusless diet as explained in our small book Dr. Christopher's Three-Day Cleanse and Mucusless Diet (Christopher Publications, P.O. Box 412, Springville, Utah 84663). Use this advice along with the herbal formula and faster results will be evident.

Just to give you some examples of results using this formula, and thinking positively, here are a couple of our cases:

A young man came to us with advanced curvature of the spine. He had been told that the case was so bad his back would have to be broken in several places to fuse it, but with no guarantee as to results. He tried our program and in shortly over six months he had a back that was straight and perfect. He had regained the three inches he had lost with the curvature and was now 6'6" as before the curvature. He could now go back to yoga and sports which he enjoyed.

In Mesa, Arizona, a young man in his middle twenties was brought into our lecture hall in a wheel chair. He was badly crippled with a combination of polio and arthritis. He was lifted out of his chair and placed on a pile of pillows. I would glance over at times and could see the severe pain he was suffering.

During the lecture we discussed the program we have just outlined. After the lecture he said he would like to try it. A practical nurse from another town offered to take him to her home and help him get well.

They followed the routine accurately and one year later we saw him again. Just before the lecture started, in the same hall as the year before, a young man walked down the aisle to the front of the hall and asked to speak. We granted him the permission. In his short talk he advised the people to listen to the lectures and put them to use. He told how he had listened one year before as he sat on the pillows in the hall and had the desire to start on this natural program. Prior to this night he had been told he would never be out of the wheelchair, unless it was to be in a hospital bed, the rest of his days.

With the help of the kindly nurse he was now able to walk so well that he was traveling on foot, house to house, selling, to try and pay off his large hospital and doctor bills. As he walked back to his seat he had tears of gratitude in his eyes.

There are many outstanding cases but these two can give you a picture of what can be done with good, wholistic program. Use it carefully and accurately for complete, long-lasting health.

The good Lord has given us the herbs of the field for food and for medicine. If we will follow His advice and use the herbs "with prudence and skill" and use them in their "wholesome" state, as He has given them to us; using them without processing and discarding some of the great values the whole herb has and throwing out some of the herbal parts that act as catalysts and protection against an ingredient in the whole, that isolated could do harm, but harmless in the whole herb. An example of this is quinine. Alone, in too large an amount, it can cause deafness, or in even larger doses can cause death. The quinine in the original Peruvian bark, from which it was isolated, is harmless when used in a tea made from the bark itself. It is the same quinine isolated that is a killer, but, as the scriptures say, "in its wholesome state" does nothing but good.

The sooner we, the human race, can return to the use of the whole herb, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds as was given us by our Creator, to be used the right way, the better. Man with his "great intellectual mind(?)" who tears apart and processes the "perfect" to suit his taste bud, and the product's shelf-life, is like "painting the lily"!

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Perfume risk to unborn babies

Perfume 'risk to unborn babies'

Sunday, 31 August 2008 13:48 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinbu...ast/7590641.stm


Pregnant women have been told that using perfumes or scented creams may increase the risk of unborn boys developing infertility in later life.

Edinburgh University researchers claimed a crucial window between eight and 12 weeks of pregnancy determined future reproductive problems.

They believe that exposure to chemicals found in cosmetics during this period may affect later sperm production.

But they stressed there was not yet conclusive proof this was the case.

The research team was led by Professor Richard Sharpe of the Medical Research Council's Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, based in Edinburgh.

Testicular cancer

During tests on rats, they blocked the action of androgens, which include male sex hormones such as testosterone.

The experiments confirmed that if the hormones are blocked, the animals suffered fertility problems.

Some of the chemicals which can block the hormones are widely used in the production of items such as cosmetics, household fabrics and plastics.

Prof Sharpe said the chemicals may also increase the risk of baby boys developing other reproductive conditions in later life, including testicular cancer.

He added that women planning on becoming pregnant should avoid putting any cosmetic products on their skin which could then be absorbed into their bodies.

There are lots of compounds in perfumes that we know in higher concentrations have the potential to have biological effects

Prof Richard Sharpe

He told BBC Scotland's news website: "There are lots of compounds in perfumes that we know in higher concentrations have the potential to have biological effects, so it is just being ultra safe to say that by avoiding using them your baby isn't at risk.

"If you are planning to become pregnant you should change your lifestyle. Those lifestyle things don't necessarily mean that you are going to cause terrible harm to your baby, but by avoiding them you are going to have a positive effect.

"We would recommend you avoid exposure to chemicals that are present in cosmetics, anything that you put on your body that might then get through your body into your developing baby.

"It is not because we have evidence that these chemicals categorically cause harm to babies, it is only based on experimental studies on animals that suggest it is a possibility."

However, Prof Sharpe said women were exposed to many of the chemicals he was concerned about through many other routes, as they are widespread in the air and in the fabrics of their homes.

He is due to unveil his findings next week at the Simpson Symposium in Edinburgh, a gathering of fertility experts organised by Edinburgh University.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said all cosmetics undergo testing and current legislation ensures public safety.

She added: "All cosmetic products including perfume undergo a rigorous safety assessment by manufacturers.

"The government's primary concern is the safety of the public. The current regulations achieve this."

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News alert !

A solar wind stream should reach Earth on Sept. 3rd
Weather, people moods, economy,finances, the holistic overview of the Celstial events on Earth facts
Everything is in Harmony, in the Sky and on Earth( Universal law)

EMERGING MOON: Tonight, August 30th, at 11:13 p.m. EDT (8:13 pm PDT), Jupiter's moon Io will pop out of Jupiter's shadow a smidgen to the east of the giant planet. This is your chance to watch an alien world materialize in the darkness

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Treatment for prostate cancer

Why a Common Treatment for Prostate Cancer Ultimately Fails

August 25, 2008
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr/news/story.cfm?id=2082


Some of the drugs given to many men during their fight against prostate cancer can actually spur some cancer cells to grow, researchers have found. The findings were published online this week in a pair of papers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The results may help explain a phenomenon that has bedeviled patients for decades. Hormone therapy, a common treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer, generally keeps the cancer at bay for a year or two. But then, for reasons scientists have never understood, the treatment fails in patients whose disease has spread – the cancer begins to grow again, at a time when patients have few treatment options left.

The new findings by a team led by Chawnshang Chang, Ph.D., director of the George Whipple Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center, help explain the process by showing that the androgen receptor, through which male hormones like testosterone work, is much more versatile than previously thought. Under certain conditions the molecule spurs growth, and at other times the molecule squelches growth – just like the same molecule does to hair in different locations on a man’s head.

The new findings raise the possibility that under some conditions, some treatments designed to treat prostate cancer could instead remove one of the body’s natural brakes on the spread of the disease in the body. The researchers stress that the results are based on laboratory studies and on findings in mice, and it’s too soon to know yet whether the findings apply directly to prostate cancer in men.

Understanding the effects of the androgen receptor gives physicians a toehold in efforts to develop more effective treatments for men with prostate cancer. That would be welcome news for the one of every six men who will get the disease during his lifetime. More than 28,000 men die from the disease in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Men’s risk from prostate cancer is about equal to women’s risk from breast cancer: Each year, about the same number of men get prostate cancer as women get breast cancer, and their risk of dying from the diseases is about equal, according to ACS.

Chang’s findings are most relevant for patients with advanced prostate cancer, who typically receive hormone therapy after other treatments such as surgery or radiation. With hormone therapy, physicians blunt the effects of male hormones like testosterone to bring the disease in the prostate to a halt. One form of hormone therapy works by blocking the androgen receptor. Androgen deprivation therapy is generally very effective for a year or two, but for reasons that no one has understood, the cancer ultimately returns.

“When a man receives hormone therapy, initially the treatment works well, and his PSA (prostate specific antigen) level goes down,” said Edward Messing, M.D., a urologist and an author of the paper. “But inevitably, the PSA will start climbing again, and that is usually the first sign that the treatment is beginning to fail. It’s a sign that the cancer in the prostate is making a comeback.”

In work funded by the National Cancer Institute, Chang’s team found that blocking the receptor indeed prevents some cells in the prostate from growing, just as scientists expected. But Chang’s team unexpectedly found that blocking the receptor actually spurs other prostate cells to grow.

“The androgen receptor acts differently in different cells in prostate tissue,” said Chang. “It’s always been assumed that blocking the androgen receptor will stop all prostate cells from growing, but we have found that that’s not the case. Since current treatment acts non-specifically on all the cells having androgen receptors in the prostate, blocking the androgen receptor will give mixed results.”

The team found that, as expected, the androgen receptor in prostate support cells known as stromal cells stimulates growth of cells, including cancer cells, in the prostate. He also found, surprisingly, that the receptor actually acts as a tumor suppressor in epithelial cells known as basal cells in the prostate.

Then Chang’s team knocked out the androgen receptor in specific sets of prostate cells and studied the results. As expected, when the molecule is turned off in stromal cells, growth of cancer cells in the prostate slows. But when the molecule is turned off in the epithelial cells, it removes one of the body’s natural inhibitors that prevents prostate cancer cells from spreading, making cells more likely to invade other tissues.

“While the androgen receptor is really driving prostate cancer, in another sense it appears that the receptor also normally inhibits the spread of cancer cells. It seems to have a dual role. Manipulating the androgen receptor can increase or decrease either of these actions depending on precisely how it’s done,” said Messing.

Chang says the molecule’s versatility in the prostate should not come as a surprise, since the molecule’s function elsewhere depends on its location.

“The effects of the androgen receptor on hair growth in men vary dramatically depending on where in the body the receptor is working,” said Chang. “When the receptor is very active in the mustache area, more hair grows. When it’s very active on the top of the skull, toward the front, hair falls out and men become bald. And the hair on the back of the head is insensitive to the receptor. The effects of hormones depend on the location.

“We found that the same is true within the cells of the prostate itself,” said Chang, who is a faculty member in the departments of Urology and Pathology and the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center.

Chang says it’s likely that the androgen receptor works differently in different cells partly because the assortment of molecular colleagues it works with within the body changes from situation to situation. Like a foreman turning to a pool of employees to get certain jobs done, the androgen receptor taps different molecules in different situations, forming intricate complexes or groupings that then accomplish various tasks. The receptor works very quickly, assembling a team within seconds, accomplishing a task, then disbanding and making its helpers available to form a brand new team for another task.

Chang’s team is working on ways to focus on these molecular “co-factors” as a way to target the androgen receptor differently in different cells, for instance, turning off the receptor in some cells while keeping it on in others, to fight prostate cancer. That type of cell-specific targeting is currently not possible.

The research in the laboratory involved tracking the disease in mice and also analyzing human prostate cancer cells in culture. Nevertheless, the work might include some hints for improving patient care. Possibilities include studying whether androgen suppression therapy might be used to target only specific cells within the prostate, as well as checking whether drugs designed to prevent cancer from spreading should be used in concert with hormone therapy.

Chang’s team included researchers Yuanjie Niu; Saleh Altuwaijri; Kuo-Pao Lai; Chun-Te Wu; William A. Ricke, Ph.D., assistant professor of Urology; Jorge Yao; Shuyuan Yeh, Ph.D., associate professor of Urology; Shengqiang Yu; Kuang-Hsiang Chuang; Shu-Pin Huang; and Edward Messing, M.D., professor and chair of Urology. Henry Lardy of the University of Wisconsin is an author on one of the papers.

For more media inquiries, contact:
Leslie White
(585) 273-1119
leslie_white@urmc.rochester.edu

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The bees are allowed again by poeple to LIVE!

Germany and France Ban Pesticides Linked To Bee Deaths; Geneticist Urges U.S. Ban

PrintJune 23rd, 2008 · 4 Comments
By Shermakaye Bass
http://www.greenrightnow.com/2008/06/23/ge...ave-the-bees/2/


In light of recent European bans of a pesticide linked to Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), at least one key bee expert is calling for a ban of the same pesticide in the United States.

“In the United States, drastic action is needed,” says Canadian geneticist Joe Cummins, explaining that U.S. farmers and beekeepers shouldn’t have to wait for more evidence or for an air-tight explanation for the complex syndrome, which threatens one in every third bite of food in the United States. Now most apiarists and scientists realize that pesticides are a factor in CCD, he says.

Cummins’ remarks, in an interview with GreenRightNow, come less than a month after Germany’s ban of clothianidin, a pesticide commonly used to keep insects off of corn crops. Germany banned the pesticide after heaps of dead bees were found near fields of corn coated in the pesticide, and in response to scientists who report that the insecticide severely impairs, and often kills, the honeybees that corn and other crops depend on for pollination.

The German government took the extraordinary action to protect bees and other essential pollinators, stating that there is now enough compelling evidence connecting the chemical to Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in that country.

The ban also will likely fuel the European debate over genetically modified food, which involves treating crop seeds to resist harm from pesticide treatments. Critics of such modified foods say they are harming the environment, and have unknown human consequences, for little or no crop gain. Some scientists in Europe have called for their ban.

Bee Colony Collapse has been threatening bees, and the crops they serve, around the world for the past several years.

In other parts of Europe, including France, studies of other pesticides have shown they are negatively impacting bee behavior – and contributing to the collapse of entire bee colonies. France has outlawed the use of the pesticide imidacloprid — which like clothianidin is classed as a “neonicotinoid.” Imidacloprid has been linked to disoriented behavior in honeybees – and may help explain why many CCD cases result in abandoned hives.

“I think the Environmental Protection Agency would be well advised to put an immediate emergency ban on the neonicotinoid seed-treatment pesticides. I would say on all pesticides,” says Cummins.

The ban in Germany, and Cummins’ call for a U.S. ban, should be no surprise to the EPA. The agency’s own fact sheet on clothianidin shows that it has known of the dangers to bees since it conditionally approved the chemical in 2003.

“Clothianidin is highly toxic to bees on an acute contact basis…It has the potential for toxic chronic exposure to honey bees, as well as other non-target pollinators, through the translocation [transfer] of clothianidin residues in nectar and pollen,” states the EPA report. “In honey bees, the effects of this toxic chronic exposure may include lethal and/or sub-lethal effects in the larvae and reproductive effects in the queen.”

But a U.S. EPA spokesman says the ban of clothianidin in Germany was the result of an unusual confluence of events. First, the corn being planted did not have a seed coating known as a “sticker” that ensures the pesticide adheres to the seed; second, its application using air-driven equipment blew the clothianidin into a nearby canola field which was in early bloom (and attracting bees) due to unusually heavy rains.

This all conspired to create “unusual circumstances” that resulted in the suspension of clothianidin, said spokesman Dale Kemery. The suspension is in force while Germany reviews how best to limit pesticide “drift” and harmful effects on bees, he said.

“EPA is reasonably confident that a bee kill incident similar to what occurred in Germany will not happen in the United States because the application of neonicotinoid seed treatment products here is restricted to commercial treaters who already use sticker coatings as a standard practice,” Kemery said.

Still, with sticker coatings recommended but not required in the United States, the EPA will be reviewing its policies on seed treatment labels and “developing a policy that will require polymers or other sticker coatings to be applied to seeds with the pesticide,” Kemery said.

The EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture are engaged in ongoing research into Colony Collapse Disorder; government authorities suspect that the bees are dying because of multiple stressors, including a virus that affects bees, drought and enforced migration as they are shuttled around the country to service a variety of crops.

Bayer CropScience, the maker of the clothianidin seed coating, also said the Germany incident resulting in the bee deaths was an aberration, resulting in part from unusually “high quantities of dust” during the sowing of seeds that had not been treated correctly.

“We are saddened by the loss of the bees and the situation which as resulted for beekkeepers in Baden-Wurttemberg,” said Bayer ecologist Dr. Richard Schmuck in a news release. The company is working with authorities to “further improve application technology,” the release stated, so the corn pesticide “can be made available to farmers again as quickly as possible.”

The international seed and pest-control company, headquartered in Monheim, Germany, reported that it also is working with manufacturers of pneumatic corn-sowing equipment to find ways to avoid “drift of product particles” during sowing.

Cummins, professor emeritus of genetics at the University of Western Ontario, recently published a paper for the London-based Institute for Science in Society called “Saving the Honeybee Through Organic Farming.” In it, he urges a concerted move toward organic farming in general, and the creation of “bee refuges,” or large farms that offer bees a safe haven from insecticide-treated pollens and genetically modified crops. He points to the latest data on CCD, which increased from a 25 percent loss in U.S. commercial hives last year to a 34-35 percent loss this past winter.

Pesticides compromise bee health is by lowering their resistance to parasites and disease, according to the French, German and other studies. In particular, neonicotinoids harm bees’ ability to fight parasites, especially fungal parasites, which are now being linked with mass bee die-offs.

“This is fairly predictable, based on what was found of the bee’s genetic makeup when the genome was decoded,” Cummins says, speaking by phone from Ontario, “and it became apparent the bee is a very exquisite animal but one which is not geared to exposure to pesticides. The immune system, as well, is not really highly geared toward defense against invaders, and so, what happens with pesticides is it clearly makes the animal more susceptible to attack by parasites, such as, in particular, the fungal parasites. Fungal parasites are really the bee’s main predator in nature.”

Cummins says that in addition to a ban – which the EPA could “easily do” – farmers (or states or federal governments) should create bee refuges in the form of organic farms. Long-term, he believes the majority of food production should go organic, though he realizes that’s not quite so easily done.

“I think the best thing to do now would be to set up organic farms, refuges for the bees, that basically would provide a last stand for the bees, a place where they could survive. Given the current losses this year, in addition to last year, the bee is certainly not sustainable.”


Pesticides are only one element contributing to CCD, Cummins admits, but it’s now become more widely accepted within the scientific community that they do certainly play a role.

“In fact, there are multiple of causes, and instead of wringing our hands and waiting for the final answers – which may not be forthcoming – we should act.” (Until recently, the link between insecticides, fungal parasites and CCD haven’t been broadly recognized.)

The good news is that seems to be changing – slowly.

In Germany, Cummins says, the government decided to take action when studies consistently showed highly toxic levels of clothianidin in corn pollen. “That was the reason they banned it. They couldn’t not ban it.”

In the U.S., pesticide levels have not yet reached a “toxic” level, the geneticist says, but he thinks it’s foolish to wait until the evidence is staring us in the face or fields lay fallow.

“I think the message [bees are] giving us is very clear. They really can’t defend themselves against pesticides.”

Copyright © 2008 | Distributed by Noofangle Media

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30/08/2008

Ayurvedic remedies

The Wonders of Triphala:

Ayurvedic Formula for Internal Purification

Dr. Michael Tierra L.Ac., O.M.D.
http://www.planetherbs.com/showcase/docs/triphala.html


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The most popular herbal remedies in the health food industry are those that promote bowel movement. The reason is quite simple since a very common problem for so many individuals is constipation and bowel irregularity. Consider how tremendously valuable a formula is that not only regulates bowel movement but at the same time does the following:

Improves digestion,
Reduces serum cholesterol,
Improves circulation (potentiates adrenergic function),
Contains 31% linoleic acid,
Exerts a marked cardio-protective effect,
Reduces high blood pressure,
Improves liver function,
Has proven anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties,
Expectorant, hypotensive.
Sound like a panacea? Well, it is practically just that.

Triphala, as it is called, is the most popular Ayurvedic herbal formula of India, since it is an effective laxative that also supports the body's strength. The constitution of vegetarian Hindus cannot tolerate harsh laxatives anymore than vegetarians in other countries. Because of its high nutritional value, Triphala uniquely cleanses and detoxifies at the deepest organic levels without depleting the body's reserves. This makes it one of the most valuable herbal preparations in the world.

How is Triphala different from other kinds of laxatives? There are two primary types of herbal laxatives. One is called a purgative and includes herbs such as senna, rhubarb, leptandra, buckthorne and cascara. These often contain bitter principles in the form of anthroquinones that work by stimulating the peristaltic action of the intestinal lining, either directly or by promoting the secretion of bile through the liver and gall bladder.

The second type of laxative is a lubricating bulk laxative, including demulcent herbs such as psyllium and flax seed. This is more nutritional and usually does not have any significant direct effect on either the liver or the gall bladder. Instead, these work like a sponge by swelling and absorbing fluid, thus acting as an intestinal broom.

Triphala combines both nutritional as well as blood and liver cleansing actions. It has little function as a demulcent or lubricating laxative, however. It possesses some anthroquinones that help to stimulate bile flow and peristalsis. The nutritional aspect is in the form of its high vitamin C content, and the presence of linoleic oil and other important nutrients that make it more of a tonic.

People who are in need of purgatives are those whose bowel irregularity is caused by liver and gall bladder congestion, usually accompanied, to some degree, by blood toxins. Those in need of demulcent laxatives are those with intestinal dryness caused by a variety of metabolic factors including a nutritional deficiency as well as a condition of excess hypermetabolic energy. Triphala will prove useful for all kinds of constipation except that caused by a lack of vital energy or chi. Even for the latter type, it will not further deplete such an individual and can be made to work well if it is combined with other chi, blood or yang-warming tonic herbs such as ginseng for chi tonification, tang kuei for blood tonification and prepared aconite for yang tonification.


Herbal healing is largely a matter of strategy. One approach may emphasize tonification while another emphasizes elimination. The problem with overemphasizing tonification is that it can lead to further stagnation and congestion in an excess condition. Emphasizing elimination through the overuse of purgatives in an already deficient individual can further deplete the body's store of minerals and essential B vitamins and can also cause an imbalance of beneficial intestinal microorganisms. The result is weakness with a likely tendency towards chronic fatigue and anemia. Since the body is always simultaneously involved with maintaining and gaining strength through good nutrition as well as eliminating waste, Triphala is unique in that it is naturally able to support both vital processes simultaneously.

Because of its high nutritional content, Ayurvedic doctors generally do not regard Triphala as a mere laxative. Some of the scientific research and practical experience of people who have used it down through the ages has demonstrated that Triphala is an effective blood purifier that stimulates bile secretion as it detoxifies the liver, helps digestion and assimilation, and significantly reduces serum cholesterol and lipid levels throughout the body. As a result, it is regarded as a kind of universal panacea and is the most commonly prescribed herbal formula.


A popular folk saying in India is: "No mother? Do not worry so long as you have Triphala." The reason is that Indian people believe that Triphala is able to care for the internal organs of the body as a mother cares for her children. Each of the three herbal fruits of Triphala takes care of the body by gently promoting internal cleansing of all conditions of stagnation and excess while at the same time it improves digestion and assimilation.

We herbalists believe that the longevity and innate power of herbs such as those of Triphala are, when ingested, energetically absorbed and imparted to our reserves. This belief exists with herbs such as wild ginseng, where specimens that have "weathered" decades of climatic stress have been found to contain the highest concentration of ginsenosides. The Ginkgo tree is another of those long lived plants whose evolution extends back over millennia to the time of the dinosaurs.

The three fruits of Triphala (Harada, Amla and Bihara) each correspond to the "three humours" or "tridosha" of Indian Ayurvedic medicine. According to Ayurvedic theory, the body is composed of three doshas or humours. Vata is sometimes translated as "wind" which corresponds to the mind and nervous system. Its nature is dry, cold, light and activating. The second is pitta which is also translated as "fire" or "bile." It is responsible for all metabolic transformations including the digestion and assimilation of food as well as assimilation and clarity of thought and understanding. The nature of pitta is primarily hot, moist and light. Kapha is sometimes translated as the "water" or "mucus" humour and is responsible for all anabolic or building functions such as the development of muscle and bone tissue. Its nature is cool, moist and heavy.

Harada, having a bitter flavor, is associated with the vata humour and with elemenst of well air and space. It treats imbalances and diseases of the vata humour. Harada possesses laxative, astringent, lubricant, antiparasitical, alterative, antispasmodic and nervine properties. It is therefore used to treat acute and chronic constipation, nervousness, anxiety and feelings of physical heaviness.

Among Tibetans, Harada is so highly revered for its purifying attributes that it is the small fruit that is depicted in the hands of the "medicine Buddha" in their sacred paintings or tankas. Of the three fruits, Harada is the most laxative and contains anthroquinones similar to those found in rhubarb and cascara.

Amla has a sour flavor and corresponds to the pitta humour and the fire element in Ayurvedic medicine. It is a cooling tonic, astringent, mildly laxative, alterative, antipyretic. It is used to treat fire imbalances that include ulcers, inflammation of the stomach nd intestines, constipation, diarrhea, liver congestion, eruptions, infections and burning feelings throughout the body. In various studies, Amla has been shown to have mild anti-bacterial[1] properties, as well as pronounced expectorant[2], anti-viral[3] and cardiotonic[4] activity.

Amla is the highest natural known source of vitamin C, having 20 times the vitamin C content of an orange. The vitamin C in Amla is also uniquely heat stable. Even when subjected to prolonged high heat, as in the making of the Ayurvedic tonic formula called Chyavanprash (Amla, as the primary herb comprises 50% of the formula), it loses hardly any of the vitamin C that was present when it was freshly harvested off the tree. The same is true of Amla that has been dried and kept for up to a year. This age and heat stable form of vitamin C that Amla possesses is due to the presence of certain tannins that bind and inhibit its dissipation.

Bihara is astringent, tonic, digestive and anti-spasmodic. Its primary flavor is astringent and the secondary is sweet, bitter and pungent. It targets imbalances associated with the kapha or mucus humour, corresponding to the earth and water elements in Ayurvedic medicine. Specifically Bihara purifies and balances excess mucus, treats asthma, bronchiole conditions, allergies and hiccoughs.

Ama is a term denoting a substance associated in Ayurveda with chronic disease patterns and symptoms of aging. It is described as a kind of sticky buildup of material that clogs the circulatory channels. In many ways it is nearly identical to the accumulation of excess cholesterol and blood lipids described in the West. Both conditions seem to contribute to a wide variety of circulatory disorders ranging from senility to rheumatic conditions, cancer and heart disease. It is interesting that in Traditional Chinese Medicine there is also a pathological condition associated with the heart called "invisible mucus" that is similar to the descriptions of both excess cholesterol in the West, and ama in Ayurveda.

One of the body's reactions to coping with stress is to increase the production of corticosteroids. The accumulation of these stress hormones can also contribute to the formation of cholesterol. Internal stress and the resultant buildup of cholesterol can be caused by the abuse of stimulants, spicy, hot foods such as garlic and cayenne, excessive aerobic exercise and repression of the emotions. It is interesting that some of the very substances and activities that can lower cholesterol in some, when not utilized in a holistic, balanced manner, can act as a stimulant and add further stress that would precipitate the further accumulation of cholesterol. Triphala is one of two[5] Ayurvedic formulations that are specific for eliminating Ama and cholesterol from the body.

Triphala is a completely balanced energetic formula, being neither too cold, nor too hot. When taken regularly over a long period, it gently effects the elimination and purification of Ama from the tissues of the entire body. The three fruits have been scientifically studied and confirm some of its known traditional benefits. These include the lowering of cholesterol, reducing high blood pressure, benefiting circulation, improving digestion and regulating elimination without causing any laxative dependency.

One Indian study reported by C.P. Thakur, demonstrated the enormous value and effectiveness of Amla, in reducing serum, aortic and hepatic cholesterol in rabbits[6]. In another study[7], extracts of Amla fruit were found to decrease serum free fatty acids and increase cardiac glycogen. This helps to prevent heart attacks by providing significantly greater protection and nourishment to the heart muscle.

Studies of the fruit of Bihara[8] found that it contains up to 35% oil and 40% protein. The oil is used in soap making and by the poorer classes,as a substitute cooking oil for ghee. The sweet smelling oil is 35% palmitic, 24% oleic and 31% linoleic. Linoleic oil is an essential fatty acid important for increasing HDL cholesterol, associated with a healthy state and reducing LDL cholesterol, considered to indicate a higher-than-average risk for developing coronary-heart disease.

One of numerous studies of Harada[9] demonstrated its anti-vata or anti-spasmodic properties by the reduction of abnormal blood pressure as well as intestinal spasms. This confirms its traditional usefulness for heart conditions, spastic colon and other intestinal disorders.

With all the virtues of the three individual herbs, Triphala has many wide and varied uses as a therapeutic herbal food. Before considering pathological indications for which Triphala would be appropriate, we should never ignore the value of taking it on some regular basis whether once daily or once or twice a week simply for health maintenance. Triphala, having great nutritional properties, will help to prevent sickness.

I remember meeting a yogic master who was in his late eighties and staying in Santa Cruz for a few months. Being clear of mind and body, he could out walk anyone, both in terms of speed and distance. Besides his practice of meditation, he considered the fact that his remarkable fitness and health was primarily due to the fact that his diet consisted primarily of Kichari(mung beans, rice, ghee and spices, i.e., cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt) and a daily dose of Triphala as the primary herbal tonic.

I have numerous reports of individuals with chronic constipative tendencies who were able to regulate their bowels with the use of Triphala. One patient with a history of bowel irregularity was suffering from pyorrhea. After taking Triphala twice a day for three months, she was completely cured. Another patient who was at least 40 pounds overweight began taking Triphala and lost 20 pounds in a month with hardly any modifications in her diet. The reason is that because such severe obesity is usually accompanied by congestion of the internal organs of elimination, including the liver and bowels. As a result, digestion is compromised with the poorly assimilated food contributing to the organ congestion. For such conditions, Triphala can be highly effective in removing stagnation of both the liver and intestines.

Regardless of any other herbs being used, Triphala can be prescribed singly or adjunctively whenever there are symptoms of inflammation, heat, infection, obesity and other conditions of excess. Because of its combined tonic and eliminative properties, it is generally quite safe to give even for deficiency diseases including anemia, fatigue, candida, poor digestion and assimilation. Unlike other eliminative and cleansing herbs, Triphala may be safely taken for symptoms of wasting heat that frequently accompanies diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and AIDS.

There are two ways to take Triphala, as a powder or tablet. Traditionally Triphala is taken as a churna or powder. One would stir in two or three grams of the powder with warm water and consume the entire amount each evening or divided into three doses throughout the day. Since for most it does not possess a flavor that one would look forward to experiencing, it is convenient that Triphala is available in tablet or capsule form. Generally the dose is from two tablets 1-3 times daily or four to six tablets one time daily. Children may only require one or two tablets in the evening.

The larger dose is more laxative while the smaller dose tends to be more gradually blood purifying. A smaller dose might be one or two tablets three times daily. One should increase or decrease the dose according to one's bowel movements. Since there are no problems in using Triphala, the dose can be adjusted upwards from the suggested amount.

Triphala is also widely taken for all eye diseases including the treatment of conjunctivitis, progressive myopia, the early stages of glaucoma and cataracts. For these conditions, it is taken daily both internally as described above, as well as externally as an eye wash. Steep one tablespoonful of the powder or six tablets in an 8 ounce glass of water overnight. In the morning, strain the infusion through a clean cloth. The resultant tea is used to sprinkle over the eyes or used in an eyewash with an eyecup that can be readily purchased at most drug stores. One can drink the remainder in one or two doses, morning and evening. Taken in this way for at least three months, Triphala becomes an herbal eye tonic.

As stated, there can be different reactions to the same dose of triphala. For some it causes too loose bowels while in others it may have little or no effect. As a result, it may take two or three days to regulate the dose that is best. After the constipative tendencies are removed, usually within 15 days of daily application, it will no longer cause loose bowels.

Presently Triphala is distributed and available in the U.S. from a few different sources. The powder can be purchased in most Indian food import stores in larger cities. Tablets are currently manufactured and distributed by Planetary Herb Formulas as well as a few other companies.

I have used Triphala as a regular part of my clinical practice for at least ten years. I know that other Ayurvedic doctors both here and in India also regularly prescribe Triphala for most of their patients to be taken at least once each evening. For centuries, Triphala has been known and used as a standard household health supplement much as vitamins are in the West. In many households, Triphala is taken on a weekly basis by all family members to prevent disease and maintain health.

In India, Triphala is considered the greatest and most versatile of all herbal formulations. With the presence of such a vitamin C rich herbal food as Amla, it possesses unique nutritive tonic and eliminative properties. Both the public and therapists of all disciplines should be able to benefit from its unique therapeutic virtues.

Planetary Products was the first to introduce Triphala to the U.S. herb market. It is no wonder that it is one of the best selling formulas in the entire line. Triphala is traditionally taken and works best when taken as a powder. The average dose is from one to two teaspoons of the powder in a little water once in the evening or three times daily for blood and general body purification. It can also be taken regularly once a week with great benefit since it promotes balanced cleansing and detoxification. The tablets are for convenience since many find the powder too have too unpleasant a flavor for the more spoiled tastes of Westerners. Triphala has been found to be very effective for helping to control weight gain, chronic constipation and as an adjunctive treatment for many chronic degenerative conditions.

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Antipsychotic drugs-stroke risk

Antipsychotic drug 'stroke risk'

Thursday, 28 August 2008 00:06 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7586627.stm


More people than previously thought could be at higher risk of having a stroke caused by their antipsychotic drugs, say UK scientists.

Previous research suggested only some types of the drug increased the risk, particularly for people with dementia.

However a study published in the British Medical Journal says all forms of antipsychotics boost the risk, in all patients.

A mental health charity said patients on the drugs must be closely monitored.

This is another warning that all antipsychotics should be prescribed with great thought and care

Marjorie Wallace
Sane

Antipsychotic drugs are generally used to control psychotic symptoms in patients with disorders such as schizophrenia, and some severe forms of depression.

They are also thought to be widely used to control symptoms of dementia such as aggression, leading to accusations they were being used unnecessarily as a "chemical cosh" in some circumstances.

They fall into two types - newer "atypical" and older "typical" antipsychotics.

When the first concerns were raised in 2002, these focused on the "atypical" drugs.

These worries led to a recommendation from drug safety watchdogs in the UK that they not be given to people with dementia, and the government has been urged to strengthen this in England in its forthcoming dementia strategy.

The latest findings, from researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, confirm the fears over dementia patients, but raise wider concerns.

They identified 6,700 patients from a GP database, all with an average age of 80, and concluded that there was more than a tripling of risk for dementia patients taking any sort of anti-psychotic drug.

Patients without dementia taking any sort of antipsychotic had a 40% increase in risk.

The researchers repeated the recommendation that patients with dementia should not be prescribed these drugs.

'Last resort'

Neil Hunt, from the Alzheimer's Society, said that doctors now needed to heed these warnings.

"The over-prescription of antipsychotics is a serious breach of human rights, these drugs should only be a last resort.

"The forthcoming National Dementia Strategy is a crucial opportunity to stop this dangerous over-prescribing and we look forward to its launch in the autumn."

Marjorie Wallace, the chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said that while the drugs were capable of transforming lives, different patients reacted differently to their side-effects.

"This study should remind us all that antipsychotics are powerful drugs which can both be essential for some people, while carrying other risks.

"This is another warning that all antipsychotics should be prescribed with great thought and care and be subject to rigorous follow-up."

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29/08/2008

Yogi food-the food of Gods

KICHARI: The Food of The Gods

(Kichadi, Kichari)
By Michael Tierra
http://www.planetherbs.com/showcase/docs/kichari.html


With his ageless axiom “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine, your food,” Hippocrates, regarded as ‘the father of medicine” might as well be referring to kichari. This delicious mainstay of Indian cuisine consists of split yellow mung beans called dahl, and white basmati rice cooked together with ghee (clarified butter) and mild spices. In fact, kichadi may well be the most perfect therapeutic recipe of all because it detoxifies the entire system, while kindling the body’s digestive fires called ‘agni.’ Unlike other fasts or restricted diets, following an exclusive diet of kichadi with the addition of some steamed seasonal vegetables and fresh fruits and perhaps a few tablespoons of yogurt mid-day, supplies all the bodies’ nutritional needs and will cause no nutritional deficiencies.

A yogic sage who at the time of our meeting was in his early 90’s, adhered to an ascetic practices of an exclusive year round diet of kichari. He was physically fit, mentally alert and could out distance all of his younger students’ speed in walking on the beach. Every ayurvedic doctor in fact all people of India are raised to appreciate the benefits of kichari to enhance the treatment of disease. Thus it is widely prescribed as the primary food in panch karma, ayurvedic cleansing therapy. It’s no wonder that enjoying a breakfast of freshly prepared kichari at a Northern California retreat center, the a respected Ayurvedic doctor, Vasant Ladd exclaimed that this was not only food but also medicine.

Kichari, called Indian dahl, is served in all Indian restaurants and is a mainstay of traditional Indian households. All traditional East Indian people know that when one is weakened or sick they should eat only kichari for a speedy recovery.

The reason is simple; since it is generally recognized by systems of natural medicine throughout the world, that the majority of all diseases begins in the stomach with faulty digestion. In areas of the world were food is scarce, it would be unthinkable to treat diseases caused by inadequate nutrition with raw foods, liquid fasts of vegetable and fruit juice as these would not supply the adequate amount of protein and complex carbohydrates and would only cause more degenerative wasting. However, kichari would be ideal for such individuals, being an easily assimilated porridge of rice and beans. In the West, where food is abundant and excess is more likely to be the underlying cause of disease, raw foods and juice fasting may be more appropriate as an initial fast to eliminate and detoxify excess waste clogging the circulatory vessels and organs of the body, however as a long-term diet it creates deficiency weakness which kichari would not. Further, for most busy people, extreme fasting regimes are impractical and the bouts of incapacitating hypoglycemic episodes along the way can be a challenge. Kichari on the other hand achieves the same eliminating and detoxifying goals in a smoother, more balanced way, allowing one to continue their normal daily routine and without any of the concomitant bouts of low blood sugar. Thus kichari diet is safer and provides a more balanced, gradual approach to detoxification while maintaining adequate amounts of required complex carbohydrates and protein in the diet without causing nutritional deficiencies.

Iin India, where its indigenous medicine known as Ayurveda, is deemed ‘the mother of natural healing,” there is a millennia old tradition that if one eats only kichari for at least three weeks, it will cure all diseases. The reasons as stated are that kichari is a delicious, light and easily digestible food that supplies all one’s nutritional needs while affording the internal organs the opportunity to recover from dietary excesses and/or deficiencies that are the foundation for disease.

Few of us are sufficiently in touch with how food affects our mental states and emotions. Although, increasingly individuals are recognizing the hyped feeling that comes from consuming too much sugar, the heavy, dull feeling from an excess of dairy, fats and red meat or the ungrounded , spaced and unfocussed effects from too much raw foods, vegetable and fruit juices. An entire book as been written describing the depressive state called ‘sugar blues[1]’ that occurs as withdrawal symptoms from excess sugar consumption. Volumes have been written about this latter phenomenon but now there is an entire disease complex popularly known as ‘Syndrome X’ which is a constellation of conditions involving possible erratic blood sugar fluctuations, high blood pressure, overweight, particularly with weight carried around the middle, abnormalities of blood lipids, particularly triglycerides and gout. Kichari ameliorates all of these physical conditions by balancing body and blood chemistry and one of the first notable experiences is a greater sense of inner calm and stress relief. For many, this can be felt in as little as three days after beginning the kichari diet.

Over three decades of clinical herbal and acupuncture practice in Northern California I and my daughter, Shasta Tierra have prescribed kichari to our patients. We have corroborated ageless Indian wisdom that an exclusive diet of kichari enables and enhances all other natural therapies and can be used with great benefit for a wide range of diseases from colds and flu, depression, diabetes, gynecological disease, cardio-vascular disease, arthritis, digestive disorders, liver disease, arthritis and cancer. Shasta Tierra, who is an acupuncturist and herbalist, working in San Jose, California is locally well known for prescribing kichari both for the treatment of disease but also to promote fitness and general health.

Many are amazed how such a simple, easily prepared dish with so many health benefits such as kichari possesses can also be so delicious and satisfying.

Kichari and weight loss

An exclusive diet of kichari for at least one to several weeks is the safest and best way to lose unwanted pounds. One respected martial arts and qi gong exponent uses kichari as his personal self healing method for healing and safe and effective weight control. He would reduce weight initially with an exclusive diet of kichari, after achieving the desired weight; he might then only eat kichari for one or two meals each day for ongoing maintenance. In this way he is able to lose and then maintain his ideal weight while continuing with his physically strenuous and demanding daily workout schedule.

Ayurveda Tridosha and Sheldon’s Somatypes

In Ayurveda the human constitution is evaluated according to the three basic body types, Vata - sensitive, nerve oriented, Pitta – fire oriented and Kapha – water oriented. This is called tridosha and is the cornerstone for all ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda teaches that each individual is naturally born with a predominance of any one or a combination of any of these three basic types and that this dominance is reflected in one’s overall constitution, personality as well as their day to day climatic and dietary preferences and aversions. Thus the term ‘dosha’ means ‘fault’ because an imbalance of any of these is deemed the cause of disease. Ayurvedic treatment then goes on to prescribe dietary, herbal, activity and lifestyle changes that are specifically intended to restore balance or tridosha.

This ancient medical theory has its modern scientific counterpart with the more contemporary theory of somatypes developed in the 1940’s by American psychologist, William Sheldon[i]. This is a respected scientific principle of physiological and psychological medicine probably with unintended marked similarities with the Ayurveda tridosha system. Sheldon corroborated three body types, endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph with human temperament types. These are described below with their Ayurvedic tridosha counterparts:

· The endomorph which corresponds to Ayurvedic Kapha has a more phlegmatic, naturally rounder shaped body with a greater tendency towards stockiness along with congestive and digestive disorders. They are more prone to conditions and diseases exhibiting an excess fat, fluids and mucus. Their complexion and hair is lustrous and more oily. Temperamentally they are slower responders but with a tendency towards greater tolerance and pleasurable self-indulgence. Negatively they can be succumb to greater rigidity and ‘stuck’ manners of being. The stereotype is “the fat, jolly person.” This is indeed a stereotype and only represents a tendency.

· The mesomorph or Pitta type is centered on muscle and fiery energy. Sheldon says that they are centered on muscle rather than the fat tissue of the endomorph and the circulatory system. Similar to pitta dosha, they tend to be of a more medium build with a tendency to be impetuous and quick, courageous, active, dynamic, assertive and competitive. In contrast, while the kapha individual has greater stamina and endurance for the long haul, pitta types tend towards more dynamic bold initiation and risk taking. The stereotype is: : “type A personality,” “jock” or “GI Joe.”

· The ecotomorph or Vata type is thinner, more hypersensitive, introverted and moody. Thus they are metaphorically compared to air with less involvement with the physical act of doing and more with the mental process of ideation. Thus ideally the vata type is more likely to be the ‘seer,’ or visionary or negatively the one tending towards deranged mental states. The stereotype is the “hypersensitive individual,” “thin skinned.”

Correspondingly an ayurvedic doctor, will prescribe diet, herbs and lifestyle according to one’s dosha imbalance. It is possible to further fine tune the basic recipe according to ingredients, proportions, consistency and spices based on one’s dosha propensity. The result is the same, which is the ability of kichari to restore metabolic balance while eliminating toxins called ‘ama’ and kindling ‘agni’ which is digestive or metabolic life fire.

One basic kichari recipe is as follows:

1 cup split mung dal (yellow)

2 cups of white basmati rice

2 tsp of ghee (clarified butter)

½ tsp turmeric

½ tsp of coriander powder

½ tsp of cumin powder

½ tsp of whole cumin seeds

¼ tsp of rock salt

8 cups of water (6 cups when using a pressure cooker)

This is suitable for all body types. However for those who may be more of a kapha or vata type, one may want to make a more heating version of kichari by adding:

1 inch of fresh minced ginger root

½ teaspoon mustard seeds

1 scant pinch of hing (asafetida)

and either red chilli or black pepper omitting or limiting the inclusion of dairy or yogurt

The pitta type on the other hand would use less warming spices and slightly more dairy and yogurt while the vata type uses slightly more warming spices with the addition of dairy or yogurt.

Method of preparation

Wash the rice and dal together to eliminate the excess starch which is done when the water runs clear. Add eight cups of water and cook the covered rice and dal until it becomes soft and tender. Saute the mustard seeds, whole cumin seeds, hing, cumin powder, coriander powder and turmeric together with the ghee in a separate sauce pan for a few minutes or until the aroma begins to permeated the air. Stirr the cooked rice and dal into the pan and cook until it is done. Add rock salt, and the cilantro leaves just before serving.

Another recipe is as follows:

2 cups of white basmati rice

1 cup split yellow mung beans

8 to 12 cups of water, depending on how soupy the resultant final product

2 tsp of ghee

1 tsp of ground cumin seed

1 scant tsp of coriander seed

¼ to ½ tsp of turmeric powder

3 to 5 whole cardamom pods

1 to 2 tsp of powdered ginger

pinch of rock salt or powdered kelp

pinch of hing (asafetida)

Again this is a more heating kichari useful for individuals with a tendency to gas and bloating and weaker digestion.

Why White Rice?

Rice is universally regarded as one of the most perfectly balanced foods. The difference between naturally brown and white rice is that brown rice has all of the out skin or bran intact while white rice has been mechanically polished to remove part or all of the bran depending on one’s digestive capability. Japanese Macrobiotics favors the use of brown rice but they also advocate chewing each mouthful of food 80 to 100 times. For most this is extremely impractical and overly rigid especially since many older people may not even retain all of their teeth for proper chewing. White rice has less of the whole food nutritional elements of brown rice but it is better assimilated. Further, by adding beans or other proteinaceous foods to white rice what is lost nutritionally is mostly replaced.

Basmati rice is preferred because it is the best nutritionally and the most delicious variety. It is more expensive because it yields less per acre than all other types of rice. Assuming that one is taking kichari because they are in a weakened state and must have food that is easily digested, polished white basmati rice would be the best to use.

However, recognizing that just as our outer physical body must be moderately challenged to develop one might use more whole grains such as brown rice to maintain digestive strength. The rule is that when one is weaker white rice used with kichari is best. However, to develop and maintain digestive power one can make kichari with whole brown basmati rice or a judicious mixture of both.

As an aside, in rural villages throughout Asia, people would bring their rice to the local miller. Depending on their need, they could specify how much of the bran to leave or remove in the milling process. For older people or individuals with weaker digestion, more or all of the bran is polished away.

Gourmet Kichari

First: ¼ cups split yellow mung beans

½ cups of rinsed white basmati rice

1 cup of chopped or grated carrots

1 cup of chopped parsnips

1 tbsp of chopped fresh ginger.

Combine these together and cook in a stock pot covered. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer.

Second: 3 tbsp of ghee

½ cup of chopped onions

1 tsp of mustard seeds

½ tsp of dry roasted coriander powder

½ tsp of dry roasted cumin seed powder

(dry roasting is simply to put these powders onto a dry skiller until the slightly brown)

½ tsp of turmeric powder

1 chopped or torn dried chili pepper

½ tsp of fresh ground black pepper

Heat the ghee in second pan and then add the mustard seeds, after they begin to pop, add the onions and spices and fry until slightly brown.

Third:

Combine everything together, ideally into the second pan.

Add ½ tsp of rock salt

½ lemon or lime juice, freshly squeezed

3 to 5 fresh basil leaves (or one can use chopped coriander leaves).

Serves 4 to 6 people.

The following two preparations are from Secrets of Ayurveda by Maya Tiwiri published by Lotus Press

Kichari – Rice and Bean mixture

8 c water

1 ½ c white basmati rice

½ cup yellow split mung beans

1 tsp powdered rock salt

½ tsp ajwan seeds,

½ tsp coriander seeds

½ tsp cumin seeds

2 tbsp ghee.

Bring the water to a boil in a large stainless steel pot (never use aluminum or a water soluble metal when preparing food). Wash the rice and beans and add to the boiling water, along with the salt. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 25 minutes. In a small cast-iron skillet, dry roast the seeds for a few minutes over low heat, until they are golden brown. Grind them into coarse pieces using a mortar and pestle or a suribachi. Heat the ghee in the same skillet and add the crushed seeds. Sizzle for 2 minutes, then pour into the rice and beans mixture. Cover and continue cooking on low heat for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let the kichari sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Thick Kichari – Rice and Bean mixture

1 tbsp dried tamarind

10 c of water

1 ½ brown basmati rice

½ cup whole green mung bean

1 tsp powdered rock salt

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

½ tbsp black peppercorns

2 tbsp of ghee

Soak the tamarind in 1⁄2 cup of hot water for 5 hours. Bring the 10 cups of water to a boil. Wash the rice and beans and add to the boiling water along with the sat. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 40 minutes. Rast the seeds and peppercors in a small cast-iron skillet for a few minutes or until they crackle. Heat the ghee in the same skillet and then add the crushed seeds and immediately pour into the rice and bean misture. Use a small spoon to mash the tamarind into a pulp and add, along with the soaking water and roughage, to the rice and bean mixture. Stire, cover and continue cooking on low heat for an additional 15 minutes, until the Kichari becomes a thick porridge. Remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Remove the tamarind roughage from the kichari before serving.

For vata and pitta types the following is recommended:

Basmati Rice Kichari

Four servings:

1 ½ cu white basmati rice

½ c yellow split mung beans

½ tsp powdered rock salt

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tbsp ghee

Bring the water to a boil in a large stainless steel pot. Wash the rice and beans and add to boiling water along with the salt. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. In a small cast-iron skillet, heat the ghee and add the cumin seeds. When the seeds turn golden brown, pour the mixture into the kichari. Stir, cover and continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes over low heat. Serve while still warm.

Maya Tiwiri suggests that both Vata and Pitta types may substitute equal amounts of bulgur, cous cous or jasmine rice for the white basmati rice. Vata types may also add a pinch of asafetida along with the salt.

For Kapha types she suggests the following:

Millet Kichari

Four servings:

5 c water

1 ½ cup millet

1/c c yellow split mung beans

¼ tsp powdered rock salt

5 fresh or dried neem leaves

1 tsp corn oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

Prepare similar to the preceeding recipes.

Following is a personal favorite recipe that admits of many variations. It was developed by my former student and herbalist Darlena L’Orange.

Spring kichari: a stew with vegetables.

1 cup of split yellow mung beans 1 cup of white basmati rice

1 tablespoon (or less) of ghee or sunflower oil 1 tsp of cumin seeds

1/2 tsp of cumin powder

1 tsp of coriander powder

1 tsp of turmeric

1/2 tsp of mustard seeds

1/4/ -1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) 1/2 tsp of salt

1 tsp of fresh ginger (peeled and grated)

6 inch piece burdock root (peeled and chopped) 1 parsnip sliced or turnip roughly chopped

1 bunch of dark leafy greens (kale, chard, or dandelion greens which are slightly bitter)

Ideally, the beans and rice are better cooked separately. They should both be presoaked overnight. With beans I like to add a 4 to 6 inch piece of kombu seaweed which can even shorten the soaking process to as little as two hours. Besides adding a rich abundance trace minerals that are naturally found in good quality sea vegetables, soaking and cooking beans will also shorten the soaking process.

Warm ghee or oil in a pot, add cumin, coriander, turmeric, and mustard seeds. Sauté for a few minutes while stirring regularly. Add beans and rice and stir with spices, Add 6 cups of water and salt, ginger, and burdock. Let cook until beans and rice are very soft (30-45min). Add veggies and cook another 15 min (you may need to add more water depending on the consistency you like.)

These are only a few of the many was to adjust or augment the basic rice and beans kichari. One can consider making more like a soup or porridge or a somewhat thicker stew, possibly serving with a whole wheat chapatti (flat, unyeasted wheat paddy or with the addition of a few tablespoons of yogurt. Just as the grains can be varied one can also vary the type of beans. For instance green mung can be used, or black beans.

Comparisons with other cultures that rely on a basic rice and beans diet as the foundation for healing

The fundamental combination of rice and beans, which form the basis for Kichari is also the basic therapeutic diet of many traditional cultures worldwide:

The Chinese traditional medicine recommends congee (long cooked rice porridge) and tofu for regaining strength and for weak digestion. Often this is with the addition of various other foods and herbs according to the indications of the patient.
The traditional Japanese diet recommends the use of brown rice, beans and miso (fermented soya bean soup) for healing.
The Central American people and curanderos recommend that patients consume only corn and beans perhaps with steamed vegetables as their primary therapeutic diet.
Throughout the Caribbean the basic therapeutic diet consists of black beans and rice called “moors and Christians” by the local people.


How to make Ghee.

Ghee or clarified butter is the secret of delicious French cooking. It is the clear oil with the more saturated fats removed from butter. It restores vitality, mental clarity, clears the skin and enhances digestion. All of these attributes along with its delicious buttery flavor, make it the most desirable of all cooking oils.

It is easily made in the kitchen. Simply obtain a pound or two of unsalted butter. Place it in a skillet atop a low flame. The butter will melt to a liquid and eventually the fat solids will congeal and settle to the bottom. Be careful to not burn it. After a period of time, carefully decant the clear golden butter oil (ghee) into a wide mouthed jar to which one should have a metal spoon to absorb some of the heat and prevent the jar from cracking. Discard the white fat solids.

Ghee does not need to be refrigerated and will keep unrefrigerated virtually indefinitely. One can therefore store it in a jar on or near the cooking area.

The Spices of Kichari

The three spices turmeric, cumin and coriander are the basis of Indian curry mixes. Besides adding wonderful exotic flavors to foods, these also have potent medicinal properties.

The Healing Power of Turmeric

Turmeric (curcuma longa), which imparts a wonderful yellow color to food, is one of the most potent herbs for the liver, digestive and cardiovascular systems. It is also a powerful antioxidant. Counteracting free-radical damage or oxidation implicated with the aging process and in all chronic degenerative conditions including arthritis and cancer. Think of oxidation as something akin to cellular, organic ‘rust,’ with similar negative degenerating effects on the body as rust has to metals. Turmeric, which has been used for thousands of years to impart a wonderful flavor and golden color to meats, poultry, grains and vegetables, is high in polyphenols called curcuminoids that have been shown to be more effective than vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and even the OPC;s (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) found in grapeseed and pine bark, making it one of the most effective herbal antioxidants.

Turmeric a potent Cox-2 inhibitor
Inflammation implicated in osteoarthritis and a wide number of chronic degenerative conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer’s, are caused by prostaglandins, which are produced through the cyclo-oxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2) enzyme systems. Prostaglandins are known to be over-expressed in inflammation, but certain prostaglandins are beneficial and protective.

Many drugs advertised and sold for osteoarthritis are COX-2 inhibitors and the best known are celecoxib (Celebrex) and rofecoxib (Vioxx). They are considered a better and more potent version of the traditional Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. All of these relieve pain by reducing inflammation. However, they are all known to have serious long term side adverse effects especially on the liver.

Turmeric offers all the beneficial effects of the COX-2 inhibitors but it is beneficial to the liver without any of the harmful side effects of the pharmaceutical drugs. A study from the UK found turmeric able to inhibit the production of COX-2 making it a very effective and safer natural alternative for a wide variety of joint ailments including arthritis.

Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in a variety of over-the-counter drugs, most notably Tylenol. Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of calls to the Poison Control Centers across the United States. It is estimated that acetaminophen poisoning calls exceed 100,000 per year. Studies indicate that acetaminophen overdose results in over 56,000 injuries, 2,500 hospitalizations, and an estimated 450 deaths per year.

The most significant risk involving acetaminophen is acute liver toxicity. Data acquired from the U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group registry indicates that nearly 50% of all acute liver failure in this country is linked to acetaminophen poisoning. There have even been reported cases of acute liver toxicity in individuals whose acetaminophen dosage did not exceed 4 grams/day. Surprisingly, a dosage of 4 grams/day falls within the recommended dosage for Extra Strength Tylenol.

Turmeric and the liver
People who suffer with joint problems are known to be chronic users of NSAIDS. In fact Tylenol (acetaminophen), the leading cause of calls to the Poison Control Centers across the United States resulting in an estimated 56,000 injuries, 2500 hospitalization and an estimate 450 deaths per year[2]. Turmeric, on the other hand, has shown some amazing results in animal studies in helping the liver eliminate dangerous toxins. When fed curcuminoids (the active compound in turmeric) animals have shown a higher than average blood levels of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase, which is the key antioxidant the liver makes to detoxify our bodies. In fact glutathione, which is naturally produced by our bodies, is the most powerful of all antioxidants. Unfortunately it is not nearly so effective when taken orally. Turmeric enhances general detoxification and liver metabolism by stimulating the flow of bile which also helps to help digest fats. It is therefore effective for the prevention and dissolution of gallstones..



I have personally found turmeric to be effective for treating gall bladder inflammation as well as acute and chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Other health conditions for which Turmeric is beneficial

It is doubtful that any organ or cell in the body would not find benefit from turmeric. The specific areas we’ve mentioned thus far include the joints and the liver, however, considering that turmeric helps in the digestion of fat, it is described as lipotropic, meaning that it prevents excess fat buildup, thins and emulsifies fat for easy movement through the bloodstream. As a result turmeric helps to keep the veins clear by promoting healthy levels of cholesterol and regulate blood pressure.

Cortisol is a hormone created in response to stress. Again it is implicated in a wide range of chronic degenerative conditions including diabetes. Turmeric sensitizes cortisol receptor sites which encourage this hormone to move out of the blood thus slowing signs of aging in all body tissues including facial skin. Turmeric is an effective gynecological herb that is effective for regulating and relieving pains associated with menstruation.

Turmeric and the Nerves
Turmeric has been shown to aid in the treatment of Multiple sclerosis (MS) by reducing the IL-2 protein that can destroy the myelin sheath.

The Healing properties of Cumin

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is widely used as both a healing herb and a culinary spice throughout most parts of Asia, Mexico and South America.
It can be either be ground, roasted, added to foods whole or boiled in water to treat many common ailments. It is used alone or in combination with other herbs and or with rock salt or sugar to treat many illnesses. It is commonly used as an aid to digestion and the seeds will freshen the breath which is why it is commonly added to foods. Cumin seed, like the seeds of other plants in the umbelliferae such as celery seed, have a special affinity for the urinary tract treating diseases of the bladder and kidneys. When combined with turmeric and peppercorn it becomes an effective digestive aid and immune stimulant.



The Healing Properties of Coriander
Coriander seed is an aromatic stimulant, a carminative (remedial in flatulence), an appetizer and a digestant with a beneficial stimulating the stomach and intestines. It is generally beneficial to the nervous system. It is commonly prescribed to relieve the ‘griping’ effects of purgatives



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[1] Sugar Blues by William Duffy

[2] http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/tylenol



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[i] William Sheldon. The Varieties of Human Physique: An Introduction to Constitutional Psychology. New York: Harper, 1940.

——— The Varieties of Temperament: A Psychology of Constitutional Differences. New York: Harper, 1942.

——— Varieties of Delinquent Youth: An Introduction to Constitutional Psychiatry. New York: Harper, 1949.

——— Atlas of Men: A Guide for Somatotyping the Adult Male at All Ages. New York: Harper, 1954.

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The benefits of blue light for tumors

Blue Light Used To Harden Tooth Fillings Stunts Tumor Growth

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...80624110831.htm


ScienceDaily (June 28, 2008) — A blue curing light used to harden dental fillings also may stunt tumor growth, Medical College of Georgia researchers say

"The light sends wavelengths of blue-violet light to the composite, which triggers hardening," says Alpesh Patel, a rising MCG School of Dentistry junior. "The light waves produce free radicals that activate the catalyst and speed up polymerization of the composite resin. In oral cancer cells, though, those radicals cause damage that decreases cell growth and increases cell death."

Mr. Patel, who has been working with Dr. Jill Lewis, associate professor of oral biology, Dr. Regina Messer, associate professor of oral rehabilitation and oral biology, and Dr. John Wataha, adjunct professor of oral rehabilitation and oral biology, studied 10 tumor-bearing mice, five treated with the light and five untreated.

He exposed half the mice to the blue light for 90 seconds a day for 12 days. Then the tumors were extracted and each one was split into two sections. Half were used to create slides for tissue analysis, and half were frozen to prepare protein extracts.

Tissue analysis indicated an approximate 10 percent increase in cell suicide, or apoptosis, in the light-treated tumors. The frozen protein extracts revealed a nearly 80 percent decrease in cell growth in the light-treated tumors.

"The decrease in cell growth, combined with increased apoptosis, helps explain why the tumors didn't grow as much because you have cells that aren't dividing and you have cells that are committing suicide," Mr. Patel says.

Dr. Lewis predicts treating the tumors with blue light sooner will increase the rate of apoptosis, possibly preventing the tumor from ever becoming measurable and easing treatment.

"One desirable feature we've observed with the blue light is that non-cancerous cells appear unaffected at light doses that kill tumor cells," says Dr. Lewis. "We're thinking that some day, blue light therapy may serve as an adjunct to conventional cancer therapy. Patients may, therefore, receive lower doses of chemotherapy, which would decrease the adverse effects most cancer patients experience from standard chemotherapy regimens."

Mr. Patel presented his findings at the 2008 American Association for Dental Research Student Research Group DENTSPLY/Caulk competition, winning third place in the basic science category. He and rising junior MCG School of Dentistry student Beth Rainwater were two of only seven students nationwide to be selected for the competition.


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Adapted from materials provided by Medical College of Georgia, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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Lack of happiness and self-control!

Cocaine deaths reach highest level since records began

More people died after taking cocaine last year than in any year since records began, many of them middle-aged men.

By Martin Beckford, Social Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 5:10PM BST 28 Aug 2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...ords-began.html


Figures show 196 people in England and Wales died after taking the Class A drug in 2007, up from 23 when the statistics were first compiled in 1993.

The data published by the Office for National Statistics also show a 35 per cent increase in the number of deaths involving the heroin substitute methadone in a year, to 325.

There was a 16 per cent rise in the number of deaths involving heroin and morphine, with the drugs claiming 829 lives in 2007 compared with 713 the year before.

Deaths involving amphetamines, half of which were ecstasy, rose slightly to 97.

The figures also reveal a sharp increase in the number of older men dying after taking drugs.

Throughout the 1990s, men aged 20-29 were most likely to die from taking drugs.

However since 2003 drug deaths have been highest in men aged 30-39, while the death rate among men aged 40-49 has increased by 45 per cent in the past five years.

A spokesman for drugs charity Addaction said: "The massive increase in cocaine deaths is the most worrying, as it is still seen as a safe middle-class drug.

"People think they can copy celebrities and do a quick line because it doesn't have the same stigma as other Class As but it's actually just as destructive.

"It's particularly worrying that middle-aged men are now continuing to use drugs as they get older.

"At one time young people would dabble then stop as they settled down but these kind of figures suggest an epidemic."

In total 2,640 people died from drug poisoning last year, an increase of 3 per cent on the previous year's figure of 2,570.

The deaths include those of drug addicts, accidental overdoses, suicide and homicides involving both legal and illegal substances.

Of these, 1,914 were men - the highest number since 2002 and a rise of 7 per cent on last year.

However the number of female drug deaths is at its lowest level since the ONS began compiling the figures in 1993, with a fall of 8 per cent to 726.

The number of deaths involving the legal painkillers paracetamol and co-proxamol fell to 242 last year, the lowest on record.

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28/08/2008

The 13th zodiac sign

Astrological Attributes of Ophiuchus

The 13th Sign of the Zodiac



http://aquarianmysteries.com/ophiuchus2.html


The constellation, Ophiuchus, has been known since ancient times, and is better known as Serpentarius, the Serpent Holder. It is included in the list of 48 constellations described by Ptolemy. Ophiuchus is depicted as a man handling a serpent; his body dividing the large snake into two parts, giving way to the symbol used today as an Asclepius - the medical staff. Astrologers have not included Ophiuchus in the wheel of Astrological signs because the Sun spends only about nineteen days in this 13th sign of the Mazzaroth. Not that there wasn't a 13th sign in the Heavens, but as far as Astrologers were concerned, the Sun traveled from the constellation 'Scorpius' and then proceeded directly into the sign of Sagittarius. In reality, this was not the case. The Sun, for 19 days of the year, travels through the star constellation 'Ophiuchus' before entering Sagittarius from Scorpius - see chart below. thus The sign of Ophiuchus is patterned after the original 'Serpent Holder', Enki, a Sumerian god.

The signs of the Zodiac are for the most part, the highway, or path on which the Sun takes it's yearly journey across the heavens - as it would appear to Earthlings. These signs are actually star constellations occupying space in which the Sun appears to travels in an earth year. The original twelve signs/constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are quite familiar to everyone, however, the thirteenth sign and constellation, [Ophiuchus], is in fact, not well known. To acknowledge a 13th sign now would seem awkward for astrologers, who like the tidiness of 12 signs that rule over the 12 houses of the Zodiac. The heavens are alive and they do change after a few thousand years and the astrologer who wants to maintain accuracy must change along with the signs in the heavens.

The constellation of Ophiuchus is the only sign of the Zodiac which is linked to a real man. This man lived in ancient Egypt around the 27th century BCE, and his name was Imhotep [again patterned after Enki]. Many of the same attributes of Imhotep can also be found in the Biblical Hebrew man Joseph, son of Jacob - [see comparison chart for these two men in separate article]. Imhotep is credited with many accomplishments including the knowledge and use of medicine. It is said of Imhotep that he brought the art of healing to mankind. The symbol of a serpent [or snake], which is still widely used today to represent the medical profession, was used to represent Imhotep. Imhotep was also known as 'Aesclepius' to the ancient Greeks, but by any name the attributes are still all the same. The attributes listed below describe the Serpent Holder, Imhotep, i.e. the Hebrew Joseph, and Aesclepius. The keyword descriptions seen below, originated with Betty Rhodes, and are the attributes for the 13th sign of the Zodiac - Ophiuchus:


LIST OF KEY WORDS DESCRIBING THE SIGN OF OPHIUCHUS

interpreter of dreams, vivid premonitions,
attracts good luck and fruitful blessings,
serpent holder, lofty ideals,
a seeker of peace and harmony,
doctor of medicine or science, natural-pathic,
adds, increases, joins, or gathers together
poetical, inventive nature, expanding qualities,
seeks higher education and wisdom,
overseer, supervisor of work,
fame - either grand, or completely misunderstood,
longevity, aspirations of healing the ills of man,
architect, builder, reaches for the stars, figuratively and literally,
tax assessor, or levys taxes,
astrological talents, intuitive,
large family indicated, but apt to be separated from them when young,
the number twelve holds great significance,
foresight and good fortune to benefit from hard times,
has secret enemies in family or close associations,
many jealous of this subject,
notable father, apple of father's eye when young,
high position in life expected [depending on aspects] highest fame and legend comes after death
feelings of granular, wise, genius mentality,
likes to wear clothing of vibrant colors, and plaids in particular,
receives the favor of those in authority.

ACTUAL TRUE ZODIAC

ARIES = APRIL 19 - MAY 13
TAURUS = MAY 14 - JUNE 19
GEMINI = JUNE 20 - JULY 20
CANCER = JULY 21 - AUG 9
LEO = AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15
VIRGO = SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 30
LIBRA = OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 22
SCORPIO = NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29
OPHIUCHUS = NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 17
SAGITTARIUS = DECEMBER 18 - JANUARY 18
CAPRICORN = JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 15
AQUARIUS = FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 11
PISCES = MARCH 12 - APRIL 18



Of the sign Ophiuchus:

"Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." GEN 41:40-44

Caduceus vs the Staff of Asclepius



The Caduceus [above] depicts two entwined snakes set upon a rod, and was the ancient symbol of Hermes, the Greek god of merchants. Today, it is a common and popular symbol of the medical and allied professions.

Asclepius (an ancient greek physician who was deified as the god of medicine) is traditionally depicted as a bearded man wearing a robe that leaves his chest uncovered and holding a staff with his sacred single serpent coiled around it symbolizing renewal of youth as the serpent casts off its skin. The single serpent staff also appears on a Sumerian vase of c. 2000 B.C. representing the healing god Ningishita, the prototype of the Greek Asklepios.

The probable medical origin of the single serpent around a rod: In ancient times infection by parasitic worms was common. The filarial worm Dracunculus medinensis aka "the fiery serpent", aka "the dragon of Medina" aka "the guinea worm" crawled around the victim's body, just under the skin. Physicians treated this infection by cutting a slit in the patient's skin, just in front of the worm's path. As the worm crawled out the cut, the physician carefully wound the pest around a stick until the entire animal had been removed. It is believed that because this type of infection was so common, physicians advertised their services by displaying a sign with the worm on a stick.



Ophiuchus, the Snake Charmer

http://www.eastbayastro.org/articles/lore/ophiuchus.htm

is the thirteenth of the twelve constellations of the Zodiac. It is the forgotten constellation, perhaps, for the Sun actually spends more time before the stars of Ophiuchus (19 days) than it does in neighboring Scorpius (6 days). Also, the stars in this area of the sky are less than magnificent. There are only four stars that exceed a rating of magnitude three. Alpha, Ras Alhague, is a magnitude 2.1 star somewhat less than midway on the line from Vega toward Antares. Eta Ophiuchi, Zeta, and Beta follow at 2.6, 2.7 and 2.9 magnitude. These stars can be found above Scorpius and below the stars of Hercules. Aquila is to the east. The center of the constellation crosses the meridian at about eleven p.m. in early July.

For binocular viewing there are six star clusters in this area of the sky, all with Messier numbers: 9, 10, 12, 14, 19 and 62. Another, M107, is dimmer and would require a telescope for study. Still other globular clusters exist in this region, making 22 in all.

A number of double stars are here, too, including Sabik (Eta-Ophiuchi), a pair of third-magnitude stars separated by one second. 70-Ophiuchi is another interesting multiple star, which José Olivarez has considered in his Observations column. The colors of the stars are said to be yellow and purple. This star system was discovered in 1779 by Sir William Herschel. It is part of an olden asterism made up with other stars in this region of Ophiuchus. The stars form the letter V that suggests the Hyades in Taurus, the Bull. In 1777, a Polish astronomer, Abbé Poczobut of Wilna, asked the French Academy to honor the last Polish king, King Stanislaus Poniatowski, with a constellation. The designation did not last, however, although “Poniatowski's Bull” may still be found on some star charts.

Æsculapius was an immortal man who had been schooled by the centaur Chiron in the arts of botany and medicine. So he was knowledgeable of the various herbs and plants and a student of nature. One day, it is said, he was in the house of a friend when he killed a snake. He watched in astonishment when another snake slithered into the room with a particular herb in its mouth and with it restored the slain reptile to life. Recognizing the plant, Æsculapius soon had learned to use its mystical powers to heal the sick and resurrect the dead. It is from this history and from the ability of a snake to cast off its skin and assume a new revitalization that serpents have become symbols for healing. The staff of Æsculapius, with a snake coiling about the rod, is well known in today's medicine. Unfortunately, this symbol is often confused with the caduceus of Mercury, which is a doubly-winged wand entwined by two snakes. Truly, however, the symbol of Mercury is the symbol of messengers.

Æsculapius, the first doctor, sailed on the famous voyage of the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. Following the journey, he continued to heal the sick and to advance the practice of medicine. On the death of Orion, he was about to attempt to restore the life of this great hero when Pluto, lord of the underworld, intervened. Pluto reasoned that his realm would decline if Æsculapius were allowed to revive the dead. He appealed to his brother Jupiter to agree that death should be the ultimate end of mortal man, not to be trifled with even by the most skilled of physicians. Jupiter, king of the gods, struck Æsculapius with a thunderbolt and ended his life on Earth. But in tribute to the accomplishments and skill of the great physician, Jupiter placed him among the stars, where today he is known as Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer.

Antiquated star maps show a larger constellation, depicting the physician clutching the serpent that wraps about his body or shoulders. Now, however, the serpent itself is represented and is given two identities. Stars to the west are those of the head, Serpens Caput, while the tail section, Serpens Cauda, writhes eastward toward Aquila, above the shield of Scutum.

One of the most interesting objects that you can't see in Ophiuchus is the Pipe nebula. On dark, clear nights you won't see it because this absorption nebula lies in front of the spectacular Milky Way. It is one of the largest dark-cloud formations that can (cannot?) be seen from the Northern Hemisphere.



From the crisp, clear skies of the “Legendary White Mountain Star Party,” Axel Mellinger photographed the Pipe Nebula south of Theta-Ophiuchi, above the tail of Scorpius. He used a 135-mm lens and Kodak Ektapress Multispeed PJM film.
Please find a remarkable collection of Axel's work at his site: http://moore4.cchem.berkeley.edu/~axel/.
Ophiuchus, not so well known as neighboring Scorpius or Sagittarius of the Zodiac constellations, has much to draw your attention during summer evenings.
Ophiuchus, The Burning Tower, and The Doppelgänger Universe



Approximately 13,000 years ago the Atlantean's were facing almost identical trials and tribulations as we are today. Their choice: Nuclear Holocaust or human utopia. They were aligning with Ophiuchus - the lost 13th sign of the zodiac - which symbolizes alignment with the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, - and the choice of ascension for mankind. There are radioactive isotopes that look like cluster bombs in northern Scandinavia and the northeastern united states that date back to Atlantean times - and many have theorized that this was an ancient nuclear war between the Atlanteans and rival factions - which ultimately resulted in their annihilation.

Hopefully we decide to alter our Doppelgänger history - to rise above such a catastrophe and end the time loop once and for all.

When the book of time turns to blank pages - and the prophets are blocked from viewing the future - It is not written that this will be the end of all things - but a new beginning - A phoenix from the ashes - an opportunity for the human race to write a new book - and fill it's pages with all the beauty of the cosmos. Once and for all - we can claim our rightful position - on the throne of creation - as exploratory citizens of the universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AlJYWO_g_w

Giant Particle Accelerator Discovered In The Sky

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...80125224810.htm


ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2008) — ESA’s orbiting gamma-ray observatory, Integral, has made the first unambiguous discovery of highly energetic X-rays coming from a galaxy cluster. The find has shown the cluster to be a giant particle accelerator.

The Ophiuchus galaxy cluster is one of brightest in the sky at X-ray wavelengths. The X-rays detected are too energetic to originate from quiescent hot gas inside the cluster and suggest instead that giant shockwaves must be rippling through the gas. This has turned the galaxy cluster into a giant particle accelerator.

Most of the X-rays come from hot gas in the cluster, which in the case of Ophiuchus is extremely hot, at 100 million degrees Kelvin. Four years ago, data from the Italian/ Dutch BeppoSAX satellite showed a possible extra component of high-energy X-rays in a different cluster, the Coma cluster.

“Two groups analysed the data. One group saw the component but the other did not,” says Dominique Eckert, Integral Science Data Centre (ISDC), University of Geneva, Switzerland. So Eckert and colleagues from ISDC launched an investigation into the mystery.

They turned to Integral and its five-year, all-sky survey and found that ESA’s orbiting gamma-ray observatory did show an unambiguous detection of highly energetic X-rays, coming from the Ophiuchus cluster of galaxies. These X-rays can be produced in two ways, both of which involve high-energy electrons.

The first option is that the electrons are caught in the magnetic field threading through the cluster. In this case, the electrons would spiral around the magnetic field lines, releasing synchrotron radiation in the form of X-rays.

The electrons would be extremely energetic, carrying over 100 000 times the energy of the electrons in the alternative scenario, which is that the electrons are perhaps colliding with microwaves left over from the origin of the Universe and now bathe all of space. In such collisions, the electrons lose some energy, emitted as X-rays.

Determining which of these scenarios is correct is the next job for the team. They plan to use radio telescopes to measure the magnetic field of the galaxy cluster. They also plan to use the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) in Namibia. This giant telescope looks for the brief flash of light generated when highly energetic gamma rays collide with particles in Earth’s atmosphere. If HESS sees such flashes coming from Ophiuchus, then the astronomers will know that the synchrotron scenario is correct.

Either way, the electrons themselves are most likely to be accelerated to high energies by shockwaves travelling through the cluster gas. The shockwaves are set up when two clusters collide and merge. The question is how recently Ophiuchus swallowed its companion cluster.

In the synchrotron scenario, the highly energetic electrons cool very quickly. If the team find this to be the case, then the collision must still be in progress. In the case of microwave scattering, cooling takes a long time and the collision could have taken place at any time in the past.

Once the scientists know, they will be able to properly understand the history of the cluster. One thing is already certain; nature has transformed the galaxy cluster into a powerful particle accelerator, perhaps 20 times more powerful than CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which begins operation in Switzerland this summer.

“Of course the Ophiuchus cluster is somewhat bigger,” says Stéphane Paltani, a member of the ISDC team. While LHC is 27 km across, the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster is over two million light-years in diameter.”

Journal reference: 'Integral discovery of non-thermal hard X-ray emission from the Ophiuchus cluster' by D. Eckert, N. Produit, S. Paltani, A. Neronov and T. Courvoisier is to be published in a forthcoming issue of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Adapted from materials provided by European Space Agency

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