Phenomenologicality

FLU - H1N5, H1N7 & H1N1 Swine Flu (from BBC)

2009-07-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:
FLU!
* has difficulty breathing or chest pain
* has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
* is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
* has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
* has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
* is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

COUGHS COLDS AND FLU!

Q&A: Advice about swine flu

Swine flu has spread across the world since emerging in Mexico and is now officially the first flu pandemic for 40 years. Experts fear millions of people will be infected.

What is swine flu and what are the symptoms?

SWINE FLU SYMPTOMS

Typical symptoms: sudden fever (38C or above) and sudden cough

1. Other symptoms include: Tiredness and chills

2. Headache, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing

3. Stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea

4. Aching muscles, limb or joint pain

Source: NHS

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1.

H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis.

But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.

Although the strain may have originated in pigs, it is now a wholly human disease.

It can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.

A fever - which is a temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF) - is the key symptom, combined with other complaints which may include a cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and aching limbs. Some people with the virus have also reported nausea and diarrhoea.

As with normal flu, the severity of symptoms will depend on treatment and the individual. Many people have only suffered mildly and have begun to recover within a week.

People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, but they cease to be a risk once those symptoms have disappeared. The incubation period may be as little as two days.

Apparently healthy people are dying from the virus. Does that means it is getting worse?

Experts say this does not change anything, and that if anything it is surprising that it has taken this long in the UK for someone without underlying health problems to die.

THE AT RISK GROUPS

People with lung disease

People with heart disease

People with kidney disease

People with diabetes

Those with immunosuppression problems either because of treatment or disease

Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma

Pregnant women

Children under five

Apparently healthy people can die of any flu-related virus if it causes complications such as pneumonia so these latest deaths do not give any extra cause for concern.

Indeed, so far, many people who have developed symptoms of infection have not needed drugs to make a full recovery, according to the WHO.

Flu expert Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, says about one in every three people who become infected will not realise they have had swine flu because they will have had no or only very few symptoms.

"About 98% of people who get infected will recover fully without any hospital treatment so I think the public needs to be reassured."

The real fear is that the strain will mutate and become more virulent which would pose a greater threat. This has been the feature of previous flu pandemics.

But this has not yet happened - and in any event it is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health - each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.

Avian Flu

Why are younger people more affected by H1N1 / Swine Flu?

In the UK the infection has been found to affect younger people more due to it spreading quickly in schools where there is a lot of mixing and where infections can quickly spread. This is not unusual and children are known to be important in the spread of flu. It is thought that older age groups may have some immunity as they have been exposed to previous H1N1 viruses.

Why has the UK been more affected than other countries?

The UK has a comprehensive flu surveillance system, hence more cases may be identified in the UK than in other countries with less comprehensive monitoring services.

Also, the spread of the infection in the early stages was linked to flights out of Mexico. With Mexico being a popular tourist destination for British tourists, Britain was one of the first countries alongside America and Canada to start seeing cases.

As the UK was affected earlier than some other countries the infection has spread to a higher number of people.

What should I do if I think I have it?

Anyone with flu-like symptoms who suspects they might have the swine flu virus are being advised to stay at home and contact the National Flu Service on 0800 1 513 100 or via the internet at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

The service allows sufferers to get access to anti-flu drugs without the need to consult a GP.

However, those with underlying health conditions, the under ones and pregnant women are still being advised to contact a doctor.

The GP route is also open to anyone who does not want to use the service.

In the initial phase of the outbreak, lab testing was done to diagnose the flu but this is no longer happening routinely.

How is it treated?

Two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, are effective at treating infection, reducing the length of the illness and cutting the chances that people will have serious complications.

Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others.

However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.

The UK government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic.

However, there is concern that if too many people start taking anti-virals as a precaution, it could raise the risk of the virus developing resistance, reducing the drugs' effectiveness. There is however no evidence at present that this is happening.

In any event there is little point taking these drugs as a precaution as each tablet only provides a day's worth of cover. Given that the virus may be with us for many months - or indeed years - taking a regular pill is ill-advised as the long-term side effects are not known.

The drugs can have side-effects, most commonly nausea and vomiting.

What measures then can I take to prevent infection?

As yet there is no vaccine, but manufacturers are trying to develop one. Good progress is being made and the first doses may be available in the UK by August. However the NHS says it may be next year before everyone can be immunised.

FLU PANDEMICS

1918: The Spanish flu pandemic remains the most devastating outbreak of modern times. Caused by a form of the H1N1 strain of flu, it is estimated that up to 40% of the world's population were infected, and more than 50 million people died, with young adults particularly badly affected

1957: Asian flu killed two million people. Caused by a human form of the virus, H2N2, combining with a mutated strain found in wild ducks. The impact of the pandemic was minimised by rapid action by health authorities, who identified the virus, and made vaccine available speedily. The elderly were particularly vulnerable

1968: An outbreak first detected in Hong Kong, and caused by a strain known as H3N2, killed up to one million people globally, with those over 65 most likely to die

Older people and those under 16 - as well as health workers and those with existing clinical conditions - will be given priority.

It is hoped that even if the virus mutates in coming months, the vaccine would still confer a high degree of protection against related strains.

In the meantime, avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.

General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza.

This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly.

It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people, and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product.

In Mexico masks have been handed out to the general public, but experts are sceptical about how useful this is.

Some suggest it may even be counterproductive.

What is the advice for pregnant women?

The Department of Health has clarified its advice on how expectant mothers should protect themselves following a series of apparently mixed messages.

Concerns were heightened after a woman with swine flu died last week shortly after giving birth prematurely.

Pregnant women are among the groups at increased risk from swine flu. It is important that they follow the advice about hand hygiene.

They may also want to avoid very crowded places and unnecessary travel, but experts stressed people should use their own judgement and should carry on with their daily lives.

Where can I get further advice?

Further information and advice on swine flu can be found at websites of leading health and research organisations around the world. The World Health Organisation gives background information on the virus.

The UK's government services website is carrying regularly updated health and travel information. The Health Protection Agency advises the public about what to do if returning from an affected area. NHS Choices outlines how swine flu is different from other flu.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is another good source of information.

The US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is counting the number of cases in the US.

You can also track spread of swine flu reports using unofficial sources. Google is mapping search term data as an indicator of flu activity both across the US down to state level and in Mexico. Healthmaps maps viruses using news reports. Social media guide Mashable lists a range of ways to track the virus .

Information and links to useful websites are being shared on Twitter, the micro-blogging service, while social networking website Facebook is tracking swine flu discussion amongst users.

Further questions from our readers have been answered by a UK-based expert.

And the BBC's medical correspondent, Fergus Walsh, is filing regular entries on his blog on H1N1.

HOW SWINE FLU OUTBREAK EMERGED

: Flu viruses mutate over time causing small changes to proteins on their surface called antigens. If the immune system has met a particular strain of the virus before, it is likely to have some immunity; but if the antigens are new to the immune system, it will be weakened.

Radio 4 BBC Swine Flu Broadcasted: April 30, 2009

HRT revisited

2009-07-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

With all the new talk and research about hormone replacement therapy and menopause we offer this COMMERCIAL post, as well as a link to the last posting. Using every resource and the expert advice of your MD offers every woman opportunities for empowerment and control. Talk with professionals, review the options and then decide what feels appropriate and healthy for you. As always, be critical and seek medical information and evaluation from professionals.

Another choice instead of hysterectomy

RELAX ~ don't say it .......

2009-07-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

Do It several times a day

Sit upright with your hands clasped behind your head.

Gently pull your elbows back as far as you can hold them in position

ANGER AND STRESS (& sex) USE THE SAME AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM PATHWAYS. Pay attention to your body! So that you can always be in control.

Eat little and often – learn to watch and pay attention to what your body is saying. Even fill in a ‘body clock’ to chart mood and physicality.
Smoking is supposed to calm the nerves, but researchers have found evidence that it might have the opposite effect.
The body will have a transition at roughly 4:00am and 4:00pm – learn to nurture at those times.
Remember that most people have panic/anxiety attacks when they are NOT stressed and when the crisis is over.
Each day stop and breathe several times. In breathe to the count of five (tensing your whole body gradually - finishing with tensing your shoulders) and then as you exhale to the count of five let your body relax down and outwards towards the tips of the fingers and toes.
If you think you have a task that is worrisome -- work out the steps beforehand. Then you are “chunking" it into manageable proportions that are not as stressful.
If you feel like you are going to stress out.... stop, shut everything down, breath and stretch, put your hands behind your head.... then think about what you want to do and go back to it.
Remember; work at a task in manageable 'bites' of around twenty minutes. Then stop, do something else or look up and away from the task, before returning. This means that you are rolling WITH your attention and learning curve instead of getting stuck on the plateau.
When your mind wanders to something that provokes anxiety – write it down and then defer dealing with it until a specific time later in the day. Write a short phrase – not a journal! Normally come back to your short list at a time when you are distracted, for example watching television, and can look at the issues without stressing out. Do not try for solutions - let your mind percolate naturally and with a night's rest you will find things easier the next day.
Don't stress about sleep - rest can be enough. Let your body do the 'talking'.
Describe your physical sensations both to yourself and to someone who is trying to help. Feeling anxious or panicked is about the body not the mind. So validate the sensations and that means that the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are lessened by treating this as something that will eventually be managed.
Eat something carbohydrate at 4:00pm with some liquid - even when you are off work
put hands behind head in a basket to disable chest wall muscles and calm down anxiety - several times a day. Simple chair stretching helps.
Change task every twenty or thirty minutes - this can mean just stop and look up and straighten your back but preferably do the hands as a basket exercise.
Try not to drink cold milk after 6:00pm. Warm milk releases tryptophan which is a natural ‘de-compressant’.
think of " anxiety " as physiological stress not paranoia/ in your head
at night take a shower and then stretch in the shower
Clench your body and breathe in to the count of five, then hold for one and breathe out for the count of five relaxing the muscles out towards your finger tips and toes. Do this several times a day.
SING in the car to music
Each night have ten minutes quiet time and DOODLE - teach the kids to do this too.... - take a half hour to unwind some time in the evening.
MINDFULNESS:

Anxiety normally starts to peak about half an hour after you get up. Anticipate it by doing some simple breathing exercises.

Mindfulness is about being in the 'now': being present in this body, at this time, doing this thing. It has a quiet, unassuming and unobtrusive nature. It is also non-judgmental and not characterized by emotional reactions. It is often linked with compassion ¹.

The simplest form of mindfulness, which can be practiced very easily without anyone noticing, is to focus on the breath for three inhalations and exhalations. Some people do this hourly. It involves taking in a deliberate breath and noticing the quality of the air as it enters the body through the nostrils and making its way to the lungs. Then, when exhaling, you focus on the air as it leaves your body.

It's worth taking a look at the way you breathe. Most people breathe quite shallowly, using only the top part of their lungs. For the purposes of mindfulness breathing, you should use the whole of your capacity. This means inflating the bottom part first, which can be done by allowing your belly to swell (a bit like a balloon). Next, fill the mid-section by expanding your ribs sideways. Finally fill the top part of your lungs.

If you are sitting down, you can augment this by noticing the feel of the chair underneath your buttocks and the ground on your feet.

This practice will bring you back to the present moment and is very grounding.

How to Win an argument – even if it is only in yourself!

2009-07-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Stop - Think - Act - Reflect!!!

Creating Your Rebuttal Voice

After making a commitment, the next hardest task facing you is to develop effective rebuttals to your self‑statements. It will help greatly to imagine a person as your rebuttal voice‑someone else who can stand up to your pathological critic when you're down. This person becomes the champion of your cause, your advisor, your teacher or coach. Here are some suggestions.

Healthy Coach. If you are athletically inclined, you might like the idea of a healthy coach. This is the person of experience who is committed to helping you win. He or she gives you pointers and pep talks, sets up a regimen of healthy things to do each day, and keeps you fit and motivated.

Accepting Friend. This is a friend who has known you for years and accepts all your quirks and failings. There's nothing you can't say to this friend and nothing your friend says can hurt you. This friend is totally on your side, ready with understanding, and able to remind you of your good points when you forget them yourself.

Assertive Agent. Picture a Hollywood or Broadway agent who is totally dedicated to you. He or she is out there shouting your praises from dawn to dark. Your agent thinks that you're the greatest, you can do anything, you're going right to the top, you can't fail. Your agent is a shoulder to cry on, a reservoir of confidence.

Rational Teacher. This is the stern but kindly, rational but warm teacher who lives only so that you may learn. He or she points out opportunities to learn and grow. Your teacher's comments are always factual and insightful, enlightening you and showing you how the world works and how you work in it.

Compassionate Mentor. This is an older, wiser person who has chosen to guide you in your development as a whole and healthy human being, This mentor has seen everything, lived through everything, and is an invaluable source of good advice. The chief characteristic of your mentor is a deep and abiding compassion for you and all living things. You are totally safe with your mentor.

You can choose one of these personae for your rebuttal voice or make up a voice based on somebody you know, read about, or saw in a movie. It could be a priest or rabbi, an admired movie actor, or even an alien from another galaxy‑whoever you feel safe with, whoever will help. You can even imagine an entourage of these people who go everywhere with you, speaking up to give advice and support as needed.

When you rebut your pathological critic, hear your imaginary support person speaking to you in the second person, addressing you by name: "No, John, you're not weird. You have a vivid imagination”

Rules for Rebuttal

But what should these rebuttal voices say? How do you refute distortions like mind reading or emotional reasoning that seem so right, so unassailable?

In composing an effective rebuttal to a distorted self‑statement, there are four rules to take into consideration.

1. Rebuttals must be strong. Imagine your rebuttals spoken in a loud, forceful voice. If you invent a coach or trainer or mentor to be your rebuttal voice, make that person strong and forceful. Your pathological critic is powerful, with years of experience in delivering devastating messages to you. You need to counter with equal or greater force. Try beginning your rebuttals with a loud mental exclamation that will shock your critic into silence: "NO!" or "SHUT UP!" or "LIAR!". You might even do something physical to interrupt your negative train of thought‑snap your fingers or pinch yourself.

2. Rebuttals must be nonjudgmental This means that if you have been indulging in global labeling, all those pejorative adjectives and adverbs‑"awful, disgusting, horrible"‑have got to go. Get rid of notions of right and wrong. Concentrate on what is, not what should be, You are not "stupid," you merely got a C in sociology. You are not "selfish," you just wanted some time for yourself.

Being very exact in your statements, rather than exaggerating or minimizing, will help remove the judgmental quality from your self statements. You are not fat, you weight 198 pounds. Your blood pressure is not astronomical, it is 180 over 90. You are not a boob at parties, you just don't like to talk to strangers unless they speak first.

3. Rebuttals must be specific. Think in terms of specific behavior or a specific problem. If your self‑statement is "Everything I do turns out wrong," make it specific: "Only three out of the eight people I invited came to my party." Instead of saying, "Nobody will ever love me again," say, "At this moment, I am not in a relationship." You are not without friends, you have three people you can call up if you want to. Your date wasn't cold and rejecting, he just said that he was tired and wanted to make it an early night.

Constantly ask yourself, "What are the facts? What would stand up in court? What do I know for sure?" This is the only way to find mind reading and emotional reasoning. If you feel that your boss disapproves of you, examine the facts: all you really know is that he didn't say anything about the memo you sent him and that he blinks a lot when he looks a,t you. Beyond that, it's all fantasy.

4 Rebuttals must be balanced. Include the positive as well as the negative. "Five people didn't come to my party, but three people did come and had a good time." "I'm not in a relationship right now, but I have been in the past and will be in the future. " " I weigh 198 pounds, but I have a kind heart." "I'm not the best‑looking guy in my class, but I know I'll achieve something in life."

When you use these rules to compose your own rebuttals, write them out on paper using the three‑column technique‑ You will probably have a long paragraph of analysis, refutations, and positive statements to rebut each negative self‑statement. When you are finished, underline or star the parts of your rebuttal that seem the strongest. These stronger statements are the ones you should memorize and use the next time your pathological critic starts attacking you,

CDC GUIDELINES FOR influenza A (H1N1)

2009-04-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

This document provides guidance ~ You cannot get Influenza H1N1 from eating pork, pork products, meat or poultry.

Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection (swine flu) can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. People with swine flu also can have vomiting and diarrhea. Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe.Severe disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and even death is possible with swine flu infection. Certain groups might be more likely to develop a severe illness from swine flu infection, such as persons with chronic medical conditions. Sometimes bacterial infections may occur at the same time as or after infection with influenza viruses and lead to pneumonias, ear infections, or sinus infections.

The following information can help you provide safer care at home for sick persons during a flu pandemic.
How Flu Spreads

The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.

People with influenza A (H1N1) who are cared for at home should:

* check with their health care provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema
* check with their health care provider about whether they should take antiviral medications
* stay home for 7 days after the start of illness and fever is gone
* get plenty of rest
* drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
* cover coughs and sneezes. Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often and especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into hands.
* avoid close contact with others – do not go to work or school while ill
* be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might indicate you need to seek medical attention

Medications to Help Lessen Symptoms of the Flu
Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for correct, safe use of medications

Antiviral medications can sometimes help lessen influenza symptoms, but require a prescription. Most people do not need these antiviral drugs to fully recover from the flu. However, persons at higher risk for severe flu complications, or those with severe flu illness who require hospitalization, might benefit from antiviral medications. Antiviral medications are available for persons 1 year of age and older. Ask your healthcare provider whether you need antiviral medication.

Influenza infections can lead to or occur with bacterial infections. Therefore, some people will also need to take antibiotics. More severe or prolonged illness or illness that seems to get better, but then gets worse again may be an indication that a person has a bacterial infection. Check with your healthcare provider if you have concerns.

Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome. For more information about Reye’s syndrome, visit the National Institute of Health website at

* Check ingredient labels on over-the-counter cold and flu medications to see if they contain aspirin.
* Teenagers with the flu can take medicines without aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®), to relieve symptoms.
* Children younger than 2 years of age should not be given over-the-counter cold medications without first speaking with a healthcare provider.
* The safest care for flu symptoms in children younger than 2 years of age is using a cool-mist humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear away mucus.
* Fevers and aches can be treated with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Examples of these kinds of medications include:

Generic Name Brand Name(s)

Acetaminophen: Tylenol®

Ibuprofen: Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®

Naproxen: Aleve

* Over-the-counter cold and flu medications used according to the package instructions may help lessen some symptoms such as cough and congestion. Importantly, these medications will not lessen how infectious a person is.
* Check the ingredients on the package label to see if the medication already contains acetaminophen or ibuprofen before taking additional doses of these medications—don’t double dose! Patients with kidney disease or stomach problems should check with their health care provider before taking any NSAIDS.

Check with your health care provider or pharmacist if you are taking other over-the-counter or prescription medications not related to the flu.For more information on products for treating flu symptoms, see the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/105_buy.html

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:

* has difficulty breathing or chest pain
* has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
* is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
* has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
* has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
* is less responsive than normal or becomes confused

Dialectical Behavior Therapy revisited

2009-02-23T15:20:00.001-08:00

BBC UK HEADROOM

With all the recessional woes and stress some of our least calm people have experienced problems with containing emotion. It might be a timely reminder that help can be available - at least in the Seattle area.

http://dbtseattle.com/ http://depts.washington.edu/brtc/ http://depts.washington.edu/brtc/sharing/publications/assessment-instruments
Harborview Mental Health Center: DBT Counseling Center
Provides Adult DBT
Phone: (206) 744-9600

William Levy MD
2519 31st Ave S
WA 98144
Levy is VERY good with stressed people and is superb at teasing out the biology from the psychology.
Phone: (206) 721-0421
or
David Lisschner MD
126 NW Canal St

Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 633-4544
solo practice, takes some insurance, slight reduced fee for students.
Relationships, mood and anxiety. Also works with the DBT Center of Seattle (www.dbtseattle.com).

http://phenomenologyexistent.blogspot.com/2007/10/reality-bites.html
http://phenomenologyexistent.blogspot.com/2008/04/alternatives-to-serious-self-harm.html

http://depts.washington.edu/brtc/clinical-services/affiliated-clinics

OTHER LOW COST resources:

UW Medical Center Outpatient Psychiatric Center, 206-598-7792
University of Washington, on Roosevelt
Provide 60-90 minute consultation and evaluation session, can provide ongoing if recommended.
Take most major insurance, no sliding scale - Need referral from therapist or health care provider.

Samaritan Center of Puget Sound, 206-527-2266
564 NE Ravenna Blvd. (main office, have several satellite offices in Seattle, over 30 therapists)
www.pcscounseling.org
Accepts insurance, sliding scale available ($35-$95), low-fee services for under $30,000 annual income. Low-Fee Clinic is separate from their sliding scale provided by approximately 10 graduate student interns and Master

2008-11-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Hope & Change

Still I Rise - Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Today WE ALL RISE

PRAYER

2008-11-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

The advice we provide here was originally written for a children's book. However, whether you are a child, young person or an adult, prayer is easier than you might imagine! Millions of people of every age pray every day.

You don't have to know any prayers if you want to pray - in fact, words can often get in the way. Picture Jesus, and then say what is in your heart, what you feel.

Remember!
God hears every prayer - but not all prayers are answered in the way we might expect or desire: we don't always pray for his will to be done!

'Arrow' Prayers
can be offered to God anywhere, at any time.

But thankfully we don't live all our lives in moments of extreme crisis. What about day-to-day praying? We need to come closer to God, to experience His love for us and to try to make sense of where we are in the world. Prayer is the way we do this.

How to start?

Use your hand.
Your fingers can be used to bring to mind different things to pray for.

thumb
this is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that support and sustain you.

index finger
this is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.

middle finger
this is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments, members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world leaders and their governments.

ring finger
this is the weakest finger on your hand. It can not do much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.

little finger
this is the smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.

When should I pray?

Traditionally, prayer times have been morning and evening, but you can choose a time which is best for you. It helps to be somewhere quiet, where you can have some time for yourself.

Do I have to kneel?

Kneeling is the traditional posture for penitence and standing for praise, but you can pray anywhere - walking, standing, sitting, whatever feels comfortable.

What else do I need to know?

Be creative - use music, a stone, a feather, a flower, or a candle to help you focus - if you are very young, or elderly, be careful with candles!

Prayer activity is a discipline - it can be difficult at times, just like keeping fit, being on a diet, or keeping weeds down in the garden! Little and often is best, but don't give up! No prayer, however inadequate you may feel it to be, is ever wasted or of no value.

What next?

Build up a collection of favourite prayers and sayings -anything that speaks to you. You can find them in greeting cards, cuttings in the press or bookmarks and prayer cards. You could make a scrapbook for them.

Visit your local church bookshop and have a browse. Most cathedrals have shops with good resources.

Here are some books you might find helpful. The first two are designed for children, young people and families, but they contain very powerful material which is ideal for adults who are new to praying.

Pocket Prayers for Children - Christopher Herbert, pub NS/CHP 1993,
When You Pray - Gilling/Evans, pub Darton Longman &Todd (1995)
Praying through Life - Stephen Cottrell, pub NS/CHP 1998
Confirmation Prayer Book - Stephen Lake, pub SPCK 2002

Stress Hygiene

2008-08-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

All of us have been worried about the global economic situation, money, the weather as well as out own more personal issues. So revisiting stress seems appropriate.

on Waking

coffee, some carbohydrate, a little conversation,
10:00am-11:00am Buy a bagel, some liquid and a pack of muffins -

Put your hands behind your head and stretch backwards clenching up the whole of your body breathing in to the count of five. Hold for one second and then slowly release while breathing out to the count of five. The re-orientate and go on with your day.

1:00pm:

Do the seated exercise above Sit on seat with your hands on the seat of the chair. Pump your feet one at a time. Breathe in and tense up your body and push with your hands up and away from the seat. This can be done at any seat - including taking a break from driving

4:00pm:

Eat a bran muffin breathe as at 10:00am

6:00pm thru 9:00pm: with dinner, conversation, mull over some weekend plans Watch TV go for a walk. Do the seated exercise while you watch TV as well as massage the back of your neck:

Bedtime:

Take a shower, look at email/ read a book/ watch TV, then get into bed.

With light on or off put your body at a 45 degree angle. Put your hands behind your head and breathe in to count of five, hold for one and then breathe out to count of five. Repeat five times. Sleep

Think of a picture or event in your life that you can describe to someone you care about - try to do this before you ask any questions .... the idea is to get to talk with you about what has been experienced - to share.
Every other weekend plan a small outing that you could do.

NB Do not ask any question or seek any information that you can't handle. Concentrate on YOU becoming at home with yourself and establishing your own sense of home within.

Pick up on an activity that is just yours. And make a list of three things that you wished you had done before the age of 14yrs. Can be something as simple as back packing ..... don't be too thoughtful. This is about fun.

1. Remember, do some simple stretches several times a day. If you have time, say when watching TV, breathe in to the count of five while tensing muscles from fingers and toes up to shoulders - hold your breath for one second - then exhale, release breath, and let muscles relax for count of five. Let your shoulders slump forward. Slowly uncurl and notice how your body feels.

2. An easy quick exercise program - under twenty minutes a session at home with no equipment, 5BX . Adapt the more elaborate stretches to do under the massaging water of a shower. Start with hot water - stretch - and then gradually cool the temperature to a refreshing level.

Exercises

2008-07-03T18:59:00.001-07:00

Death By Flu Med!!!

2008-05-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

Many of us saw the Finale of House, when Amber dies, May 20th 2008. The science behind the show is accurate ~you CAN risk dying ........
Amantadine can result in serious complications, even if an overdose or poisoning was not to take place, the side effects alone are disturbing enough.

Amantadine, an antiviral drug that has been approved by the FDA in fighting influenz a, has many side effects and overdose effects.

So think carefully before you think of short term relief .......

Amantadine (flu medication) for anti-viral therapy blocks the M2 protein which prevent viral uncoating, which in turn inhibits the replication of the virus. Amantadine is a drug that is poorly regulated by the human body and most, approx 90% get excreted in its original form through the kidneys. However in patients with renal problems this can result in increasing circulation of the drug. As the toxicity leave is reached the symptoms include confusion, depression, aggressive, jittery, nausea, hypotension, and congestive heart failure. It is also noted that the patients may have exhibit ataxia, and hallucinations.Amantadine can cause Rhabdomyolysis, which I believe played a part in an earlier episode of House. Rhabdomyolsis is often a complication in crush/traumatic injuries, where muscle tissue breaks down causing an overload of myoglobin at levels that become toxic to the kidneys.

Treatment for Rhabdomyolysis is dialysis. Cut and dried, once diagnosed. The diagnosis is the tricky part.

Treatment for Amantadine poisoning is far more problematic, as it is an anticholinergic in some of its effects. Severe effects on the CNS are the results. Some effectiveness with intravenous physostigmine has been shown, but its dicey at best.

Declining effectiveness of amantadine

Early in the 2005/2006 flu season, the United States' Center for Disease Control [CDC] found rates of amantadine resistance to be much higher than in previous seasons. Looking at samples from 26 states yielded the following findings:

A total of 193 (92.3%) of 209 influenza A(H3N2) and 2 (25%) of 8 influenza A(H1N1) viruses analyzed contained point mutations resulting in a serine-to-asparagine change at amino acid 31 (S31N) of the M2 protein that conferred amantadine resistance.

A resistance rate of 92% for the major flu strain was called "alarmingly high". The CDC issued an alert to doctors not to prescribe amantadine any more for the season. Among some Asian countries, A/H3N2 and A/H1N1 resistance has reached 100%.

~Tamiflu .....

Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug manufactured by the Swiss Roche Holdings, is the only neuraminidase inhibitor approved for the treatment of influenza in the United States. Tamiflu treats influenza by trapping the influenza virus in cells that are already infected. It is approved for use on children over one year and on adults who have had symptoms for less than two days.

The first concerns raised about Tamiflu related to skin reactions. By December 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had received reports of severe, and sometimes fatal, skin reactions and allergic reactions. These included 24 cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a potentially fatal skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to a drug, and 14 cases of erythema multiforme, a similar condition. There were also several cases of anaphylactic reactions, including 17 cases of potentially deadly anaphylactic shock. These reactions caused three deaths in adults. On December 21, 2005, the FDA required an update to the Tamiflu label warning about these reactions.

So think carefully before you think of short term relief .......
Again, with all medical advice - seek professional care and information. Be aware - be safe.

Talk to your OB/GYN ~

2008-05-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

A younger woman was talking to us about this ....... if you are suffering then consider it.

Say No More with the NovaSure procedure, the quick, safe and simple one-time treatment with No Hormones and No Hysterectomy. NovaSure can treat excessive bleeding so that you can go on with your life.

Breathing again .......

2008-04-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Four Stages of Breathing in Yoga

Puraka (Inhalation)

Abhyantara Kumbhaka (Pause After Inhaling) Full Pause

Rechaka (Exhalation)

Bahya Kumbhaka (Pause After Exhaling) Empty Pause

Alternatives to serious Self Harm

2008-04-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

SING as loud as you can for as long as you need to ....

Doodle .....

Breath and imagine .......

"You may be wondering why someone would intentionally harm themselves. Self-injury can help someone relieve intense feelings such as anger, sadness, loneliness, shame, guilt and emotional pain. Many people who cut themselves, do this in an attempt to try and release all the emotions they are feeling internally. Others may feel so numb, that seeing their own blood when they cut themselves, helps them to feel alive because they usually feel so dead inside. Some people find that dealing with physical pain is easier than dealing with emotional pain. Self-injury is also used as a way to punish oneself. If they were abused, they may feel ashamed, guilty and blame themselves for the abuse, which in turn causes them to feel the need to punish themselves by inflicting pain to their bodies. Some people have such hatred for themselves and their bodies that they will carve demeaning names on their bodies as a way to remind themselves of how terrible they are. Whatever form of self-injury is used, the person is usually left with a peaceful and calm feeling afterwards. Since those feelings are only temporary, the person will probably continue to self-injure until they deal with the underlying issues and finds healthier ways to cope.

If you feel the urge to injure yourself, below is a list of suggestions that might help you to overcome that urge. Please be advised that not all of these suggestions will be helpful to everyone. What is helpful to one person, may not be helpful to someone else. These suggestions have been provided by individuals who self injured and what they found helpful to them. If you feel that a certain suggestion may in fact cause you to want to self injure even more, do NOT use that suggestion. Find ones that are helpful for you. Again, these are only suggestions and may not be helpful to everyone.

deep breathing
relaxation techniques
call a friend, your therapist or a crisis line
try not be be alone (visit a friend, go shopping, etc.)
take a hot bath
listen to music
go for a walk
write in a journal
wear an elastic around wrist and snap it when you have the urge to harm yourself
some people find it helpful to draw red lines on themselves with washable markers instead of cutting themselves
hold ice cubes in your hands - the cold causes pain in your hands, but it is not dangerous or harmful (some people find it relieves the urge to harm themselves for that moment)
punching a bed or a pillow (when nothing but a physical outlet for your anger and frustration will work).
scratch draw a picture on a thick piece of wood or use a screw driver and stab at the piece of wood. (can be another physical way to release your emotions without harming yourself.)
avoid temptation (i.e. avoiding the area in CVS where the razor blades are kept, etc.)
try to find your own creative ways as outlets for emotions.
learn to confront others/making your own feelings known instead of keeping them inside
go outside and scream and yell
take up a sport (a form of exercise can help you release tension, etc.)
work with paint, clay, play-doo, etc. (the person who suggested this mentioned that they would make a big sculpture and do whatever they wanted to it. They said it was helpful to calm the urge to self-injure, plus it gave them some idea of what might be underlying the pain.
draw a picture of what or who is making you angry
instead of harming yourself, try massaging the area you want to harm with massage oils or creams, reminding yourself that you are special and you deserve to treat yourself and your body with love and respect
go to church or your place of worship
wear a pipe cleaner or something that will fit on the places that you injure. One person did this as a way to remind herself that she could call someone instead of hurting herself and that she had other ways to cope.
break the object that you use to self-injure as a way to show that you have control over it.
write a letter to the person(s) that have hurt you and express how they made you feel. Theses letters do not have to be in perfect form and you do not have to please anyone but yourself. You do not have to give these letters to the people, but it is a great way to release the feelings that you are carrying within. After you write the letters, you can decide then what to do with them. Some people find destroying the letters help (i.e. tear them up, throw them in a lake, etc.)
do some household chores (i.e. cleaning)
do some cooking
try some sewing, cross stitch, etc.
recite a poem, prayer or anything else familiar the comforts you multiple times
write down all your positive points and why you do not deserve to be hurt
write in your journal why you want to hurt yourself and if you have hurt yourself, write down what caused it to happen so in the future you can prevent it from happenings - or find out what your triggers were
Play some kind of musical instrument. Even if you don't really know how to play, picking out tunes is a way to concentrate and help get rid of the urge to harm yourself.
yoga
allow yourself to cry. Getting the tears out can make you feel better. It allows the inside to release, as opposed to self abuse. Picture your "ickies" pouring out as you cry.
Take a shower
write down a word best associated with what you are feeling (i.e. horrible, sad, lonely, angry) and continue to write it down, over and over. Sometimes when you do that, the words looks silly etc., and it puts humor or a smile in your life.
sing a song on what you are feeling. It's another way to get it outside. Shout if you are made, etc. Let the words just come to you.
Scribble on paper. Clutch the pen in your fist. It's a way to diffuse it on to paper. (Get a few sheets so they don't tear.)
Take item you are self injurying with and use it against something else. For example, if you are using a razor blade, rip it across a towel. Sometimes seeing what "can" be done to an object can make a person think twice about using it on themselves. Can also give the feeling of "doing it"...the tangible aspect.
Make a list of reasons why you are going to stop cutting. Every time you get the urge, read the list to remind yourself why you shouldn't. Also remember to put on that list that you do not deserve to hurt yourself. You are important and special and you do not deserve to be hurt.

If you have any suggestions that have helped you in the past and feel might be helpful to someone else, please email Colleen and I will add it to the list.

It is very difficult for people to admit to someone that they harm themselves because there is usually so much shame and guilt that goes along with it. It's important to try and remind yourself that there is no shame in what you are doing and that it's okay to reach out and ask for help. In order to help yourself overcome this, you need to want to stop the behavior and you need to find a therapist that you like and trust to help you deal with the underlying issues causing you to do this to yourself. Sometimes treatment may also involve the use of medications such as Xanax and Klonopin. Hypnosis and relaxation techniques can also be helpful, and in extreme cases, hospitalization might be required for a short period of time. If there are support groups in your area, you may want to think about joining them for extra support.

Many people who self-injure keep it a secret because they feel like they are crazy, insane and evil. They fear if they tell anyone, they might be locked away forever. The truth is, people who intentionally harm themselves are in fact very normal and sane people, who are in a lot of emotional pain. They self-injure as a way to cope, because they were probably never taught how to deal with intense feelings and emotions in healthy ways. Unfortunately, when people hear about this form of self-harm, they do tend to place labels on these people as being psychotic and crazy, which is why so many people do not come forward and ask for help. Until society dispels all the myths surrounding self-injury and start to educate themselves on this subject, sufferers will continue to keep quiet and this form of abuse will continue to be a secret for a long time to come."

Colleen Thompson
Copyright © 1996 by [Colleen Thompson]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 28 Feb 2008 21:56:28 -0500.

Emmanuel Lévinas

2008-04-02T18:51:00.001-07:00

Existential Phenomenology, you asked ..........

"Lévinas derives the primacy of his ethics from the experience of the encounter with the Other. For Lévinas, the irreducible relation, the epiphany, of the face-to-face, the encounter with another, is a privileged phenomenon in which the other person's proximity and distance are both strongly felt. "The Other precisely reveals himself in his alterity not in a shock negating the I, but as the primordial phenomenon of gentleness."^[2]. At the same time, the revelation of the face makes a demand, this demand is before one can express, or know one's freedom, to affirm or deny. One instantly recognizes the transcendence and heteronomy of the Other. Even murder fails as an attempt to take hold of this otherness.

In Lévinas' later thought following "Totality and Infinity", he argued that our responsibility for-the-other was already rooted within our subjective constitution. It should be noted that the first line of the preface of this book is "everyone will readily agree that it is of the highest importance to know whether we are not duped by morality."^[3] This can be seen most clearly in his later account of recurrence (chapter 4 in "Otherwise Than Being"), where Lévinas maintained that subjectivity was formed in and through our subjected-ness to the other. In this way, his effort was not to move away from traditional attempts to locate the other within subjectivity (this he agrees with), so much as his view was that subjectivity was primordially ethical and not theoretical. That is to say, our responsibility for-the-other was not a derivative feature of our subjectivity; instead, obligation founds our subjective being-in-the-world by giving it a meaningful direction and orientation. Lévinas' thesis "ethics is first philosophy", then, means that the traditional philosophical pursuit of knowledge is but a secondary feature of a more basic ethical duty to-the-other."

Hakomi

2008-04-02T18:40:00.000-07:00

With acknowledgment to Wikipedia

Reality Bites!!!

Approach and method

According to the creator, Ron Kurtz, the Hakomi method combines Western psychology, systems theory, and body-centered techniques with the mindfulness and non-violence of Eastern philosophy.^[1] Hakomi is grounded in five principles: mindfulness , nonviolence, organicity, unity and body-mind holism.

An Outline of the Method by Ron Kurtz (excerpted from the 2008 Training Handbook, listed below in Further reading)

1. Assisted self discovery

(1) seeing the work as assisted self discovery is one of the major differences between this refined method and the original Hakomi and other psychotherapies.

(2) a second major difference between Hakomi and other psychotherapies, one that is unique to Hakomi at the moment, is simply that we do experiments in mindfulness.

Quote: The unique contribution of the Hakomi method is this: the method contains as a necessary element precise experiments done with a person in a mindful state, the purpose being to evoke emotions, memories and reactions that will reveal or help access those implicit beliefs influencing the client's nonconscious habitual behaviors.

(3) the method of assisted self discovery requires not only the skills of the practitioner, it also requires explicit commitments on the part of the person being assisted

2. Qualities and skills required of a practitioner

(1) practitioners must be able to sustain a compassionate and present-centered state of mind (Loving Presence)

(2) loving presence combines several habits of feeling, attention and mindset. It is an integrated combination of attitude, emotional state and focus of attention.

(3) compassion is the first and most important element, being present is the second.

(4) to be continuously present…

i. is to continuously stay focused on the observable behaviors of the moment, especially the client’s non-verbal activities which modulate communication and regulate the relationship, in particular: ii. the signs of the client’s present experience and the client’s general qualities and habitual behaviors iii. requires overcoming one of our strongest, most common habits, namely gathering information through questions and conversation.

(5) practitioners must become masters of reading the information in nonverbal behaviors

(6) six skill sets necessary used by practitioners are described in the outline that follows this one.

3. Commitments and skills required of the “client”

(1) often still called “the client”, but no longer thought of as the clients in regular psychotherapy are. Clients in the refined method may be thought of as self-studying, that is seeking after the truth of who one has become and how with help one may explore and resolve the issues that trouble and confine one. (2) the client must be capable of entering into a present-centered, experience-focused, non-controlling and vulnerable state of mind (mindfulness) (3) the client must understand that the process includes as a central element, experiments done in mindfulness. The client must be willing to enter into that process even though painful emotions may arise. (4) these are the commitments and skills required of people who are clients in the refined method of Hakomi Note: If the person is very anxious or easily distracted, or is someone who does not understand what the process actually requires, then the work can be difficult or impossible without some prior preparation.

4. Experiments

(1) are done with the client in a mindful state (2) experiments are specifically designed to evoke reactions that will help bring unconscious material (such as foundational memories, underlying emotions and implicit beliefs) into consciousness (3) reactions to experiments are noticed in mindfulness and reported (4) reactions can be thoughts, feelings, images, impulses, memories, tensions or any combination of these

5. Nonverbal Behaviors

(1) there are two kind of nonverbal behaviors that are of primary interest: the external signs of the client’s present experience and observable indicators of core material. (2) noticing the momentary ones is one of the ways we build and maintain our relationship with the client. (3) noticing the habitual ones gives us clues to the memories, emotions and implicit beliefs that organize what the client can and cannot experience and is an important step in setting up and doing experiments (4) habits are often expressions of adaptations to powerful formative events and may point toward important, underlying issues that control the client’s behavior

6. Nonverbal Awareness: Tracking

(1) practitioners gather two kinds of nonverbal information, signs of the client’s present experience called tracking and indicators of core material (2) tracking is noticing what the client is doing and possibly experiencing, moment by moment. It is an essential part of being present. (3) we use the information gain by tracking to connect with and to stay connected with the client, by making contact statements (4) a contact statement names the client’s present experience, quickly and simply (5) tracking and contact are two basic techniques in the original Hakomi method

7. Nonverbal Awareness: Indicators

(1) practitioners train themselves to notice behaviors that could be indicators of core material. These are certain personal qualities and habitual behaviors of clients, such as postures, gestures, facial expressions, tones of voice and speech patterns. (2) A few simple examples of indicators are: habitually shrugging ones shoulders, or tilting ones head, or interrupting ones own speech, or speaking very quickly. The expression left on a relaxed face is a prime indicator. (3) habits like these are designed to operate automatically, without conscious attention. Habits like these allow consciousness to be preserved for the non-routine things that require fresh decisions. (4) indicators are one of the two main sources of experiments. (The second source involves listening to statements for implications and assumptions.) (5) Knowing how to create an experiment using indicators is essential. (6) the practice of searching for and using indicators has become a significant part of teaching and practicing the refined method.

8. Experiments and Their Effects

(1) experiments are done with the client in a mindful state. (2) when a particular indicator has been noticed and chosen, the next step is to get an idea for an experiment. (3) once you have one, you ask the client to become mindful and to signal when ready. (4) when the client signals that he or she is ready, you do the experiment. (5) if you’ve chosen a good indicator, and if you’ve done a good experiment with it, you’re likely to get a reaction that can begin the healing and discovery process for the client. (6) the reaction may also suggest or bring into consciousness the core material associated with it. (7) if the reaction is an emotional one, I do two things that weren’t done in previous versions of the method: I touch the client (More likely, I have an assistant touch the client.) and secondly, I remain silent while the client if the client turns inward and looks like he or she is doing inner work.

9. About Using Touch

(1) touching clients is normally not recommended for psychotherapists. This is primarily due to legal considerations. When I use touch, I first get permission and, since I use assistants and may have several other observers present, I feel quite comfortable using touch. (2) once permission has been established, assistants will generally touch without asking again. (3) for a client who is experiencing sadness as a reaction to an experiment, a gentle touch signals the client that we are aware that he or she is emotional, and that we are sympathetic and paying attention. (4) if there are signs that the client is working internally, (eyes closed, facial movements and nods of the head) we do not interrupt. We waiting patiently for the client to open his or her eyes, look at us and speak. (5) in these moments of silence, the client is integrating something, making sense of the feelings, memories and thoughts that arise in reaction to an experiment. (6) silence, accompanied by gentle touch, helps the client to stay with his or her experience

10. The Natural Course of a Healing Process

Mastery of the world is achieved by letting things take their natural course. — Tao Te Ching

(1) mental-emotion healing processes are often start after an experiment in mindfulness. These are spontaneous processes that will unfold given the right conditions. As best we can, we provide those conditions. Among them are:

i. the process must not be interrupted or interfered with ii. gentle touch or holding and comforting when appropriate iii. attention, silence and patience

(2) as part of the natural course of a healing process, memories and thoughts that make sense of the emotional reaction are drawn into consciousness the that make sense of it. And that’s exactly what we want to have happen! (3) during this process, we track for the external signs that the client is having memories and insights and is integrating the emotional experience, signs of deep concentration on the face and nods of the head, indicating realization or agreement with some idea. (4) during this process, the client is gathering memories and ideas and is making sense of them, making sense of what just happened and what happened long ago that left confusion, that left painful feelings unfinished and unsorted out. (5) after an experiment in mindfulness, clients often start doing this internal work. While doing this, they often have a precise memory that makes sense of their reactions and they may be able to articulate the implicit beliefs it created. (6) the process may cycle through emotions, associations, insights, memories, deeper emotions, more associations, and so forth.

11. Missing Experiences

(1) certain powerful formative experiences required painful but necessary adaptations. (2) for some of these experiences, the elements that might have promoted healing were missing. (Janet says, they couldn’t be made sense of and as a result, they didn’t get integrated. They remained “an irritation” unconsciously affecting feelings and behavior in a negative way.) (3) some aspects of those unintegrated experiences express themselves through habits and implicit beliefs that help manage the difficulties they are still causing. These habits are functions of the adaptive unconscious. (4) there is one fundamental missing experience: the presence of someone calm, sympathetic, patient and understanding to care for the suffering person and support healing process. (5) beyond this fundamental missing experience, there are a great variety of other healing experiences that can be created for the client. (6) during the healing process, the client, often relives an old painful event. Quietly comforting the client is one of the main components of the missing experience.

12. Integration

(1) slowly, resolutions are accomplished. New, more realistic beliefs are formed. Energy is drained away from the long struggle and becomes available for living this very moment. Confusion yields to clarity. A delicious joy is felt and the pleasure of seeing new positive possibilities arises (2) this is the process of integration, the natural course of things.

13. 'All the above elements help make the work simpler, faster, easier and more effective.

Latest Thinking

There is now convincing evidence that much of our behavior happens without conscious awareness. On this subject, I can recommend four books two articles. The words used to describe that part of the mind which carries out these behaviors is the “adaptive unconscious”. My study of and application of this idea is the first of four ideas which are the topics of this outline and the most important additions to my thinking over the last few years. The Adaptive Unconscious.

a. the actions of the AU are generally unnoticed, habitual, and many are indications of early adaptive learning, such as learning the grammar of ones native tongue. b. some characteristics of the operations of the AU, according to Wilson are, it is nonconscious, fast, unintentional, uncontrollable, and effortless. c. the operations of the AU can be observed to some extent when a person is in a mindful state. d. the paper on Cognitive Load by Swiller discusses the limitations of consciousness, as does V. S. Ramachandran in his book, Phantoms in the Brain. e. understanding the importance of the AU and its operations is basic to an understanding of the Refined Hakomi Method.

The Mental-Emotional Healing Process.

a. Healing, in general, is an inner-directed process. Early in the development of Hakomi, I stated this quite clearly, I wrote “The answer is within.” Meaning, within the client. I have also written, “The impulse to heal is real and powerful and lies within the client. Our job is to evoke that healing power, to meet its tests and needs and to support it in its expression and development. We are not the healers. We are the context in which healing is inspired.” b. mental-emotional healing is “coordinated and controlled” by the AU. c. often, our experiments, done with the client in mindfulness, initiate a healing process. This is marked by spontaneous thoughts and memories and/or the sudden experience of an emotion. d. we support the healing process in several ways:

i. when the client becomes sad, we offer a gentle physical contact, like a hand on the back. ii. when the client goes inside and shows external signs of processing—like eyes closed, little nods, quick changes in facial expression—we remain silent. This is because… iii. an emotion will draw associations to it, like memories and thoughts that help explain the presence of the emotion. A good thing to read about this is in a book called, Looking for Spinoza by Antonio Damasio (the key pages are 67-69). iv. all the attributes of loving presence are important during the healing process v. when spontaneous management behaviors arise, we support them if we have permission to do so. (The short term for this is “taking over”.) vi. we pay particular attention to the emergence of spontaneous events, like impulses, memories, thoughts and emotions. These are often clues to the direction the process should take and are signs of the operations of the AU. When such events occur, we try to utilize them in what we do next, like another experiment. This aspect of the process is called Following.

The Six Skill Sets

a. I have begun to see the process as requiring six sets of skills, as follows: i. State of Mind ii. Relational iii. Observational iv. Modeling v. Experimental vi. Support for Healing

b. these skill sets are described in more detail below. c. I also see the process as having three phases, as follows:

i. Preparation ii. Assisted Self-Study iii. Mental-Emotional Healing

d. I have come to believe that learning and practicing these skills is more important than spending a lot of time discussing theory. Although we do discuss theory some, I provide over 750 pages of reading materials to my training groups, which students can read at their own pace outside of class.

The Process as Three Phases and Six Skill Sets in Detail

Here in detail is an outline of the three phases and the six skill sets.

Three Phases

The three phases are: preparation, assisted self-study and mental-emotional healing. All three phases operate within a context characterized by an embodiment within a set of well- defined Principles.

Phase One: Preparation Phase

1. loving presence a. this phase is highly dependent on your own state of mind skills. b. search for inspiration (for compassion, appreciation, love) c. search for signs of the person’s present experience d. make initial observations of the person’s “qualities”.

2. develop a healing relationship

a. this phase requires good relational skills. b. this phase requires relating to the adaptive unconscious c. look for signs of cooperation and non-cooperation d. make adjustments to the person’s unconscious needs e. make contact statements about present experience

3. When the person seems ready for it, proceed to the…

Phase Two: Assisted Self-Study Phase

1. Search for non-verbal indicators as expressed by:

a. posture b. facial expressions c. pace d. qualities that describe the person e. gestures f. tone of voice

2. if possible, develop an hypothesis about the person’s models of self and world, based on the indicators you’ve observed.

3. develop and do an experiment with the indicator you’re chosen to work with.

a. these experiments are done with the person in a state of mindfulness in order to bring the actions of the adaptive unconscious into awareness b. the goals of such experiments are two-fold:

i. bringing the person’s unconscious models into consciousness ii. initiating phase three: mental-emotional healing

c. experiments can be attempts to offer a kind of mental-emotional nourishment that your hypothesis predicts the person will either have difficulty accepting or will experience as very nourishing, or... d. the experiment can be a way of working with an indicator for which you have no hypothesis. e. there is a form for doing experiments that is also described in detail elsewhere in these writings. f. get information about the outcome of your experiment

i. either by observing it, or… ii. by getting a verbal report from the person

4. given the outcome of the experiment:

a. refine or reject your original hypothesis about the person’s models b. do another experiment based on the outcome of the previous one. c. follow up each time with the getting information about the outcome d. keep refining your hypotheses, until…

5. the person’s models of self and world become conscious and clear to him or her, or…

6. the process moves spontaneously into the mental-emotional healing phase.

Phase Three: Mental-Emotional Healing Phase

1. this phase requires support for healing skills 2. this phase is marked by emotional expression, strong beliefs, early memories and… 3. behavior controlled by the adaptive unconscious

a. such behavior is sometimes described as “being hijacked”. it is:

i. “nonconscious, fast, unintentional, uncontrollable, and effortless.” ii. adaptive and usually learned early or under extreme conditions

4. during this phase, the primary tasks for the practitioner are:

a. support the person’s spontaneous management behaviors, such as:

i. changes in posture, such as closing up and/or dropping the head, spontaneous “protective” thoughts ii. tightening certain muscles, such as the shoulders, chest and stomach iii. holding the breath

b. provide signals of safety and caring, such as:

i. gentle touch ii. being calm, softening the voice and having a natural sympathetic facial expression iii. supplying Kleenex for tears iv. providing physical support where needed and accepted

c. contain the unfolding process by taking charge and directing the person’s behavior where necessary

d. follow up on the person’s spontaneous images, memories, impulses, and ideas as if these were signals from the person’s adaptive unconscious as to where the process “wants to go”. e. recognize periods when the person needs you to be silent, by…

i. watching for signs in the face that the person is doing internal work ii. waiting while the person has his or her eyes closed iii. when the person does open his or her eyes, wait until he or she looks directly at you and speaks, before you speak iv. listening to the person’s report about his or her insights, feelings and memories.

f. avoid interrupting the process by encouraging conversation

4. provide physical and verbal comforting and nourishment 5. provide the “missing experience”, that is the experience that was blocked by the person’s adaptations and distorted and/or unrealistic models of self and world. 6. allow the session to come to completion in a natural way when it feels right and/or the person signals that he or she feels complete, perhaps by saying “thank you” or by a few nods of the head or something similar.

The Six Skill Sets

I asked him, Do you know what gyroscopic precession is? He replied, No! So I said, But you can ride a bicycle, right? He said, Yes, of course! Well, I told him, That’s my point.

Riding a bicycle is a skill. One theory that explains certain behaviors of a bicycle in motion is the theory of gyroscopic precession. It tells you about the behavior of gyroscopes and why the wheels of moving bicycles are similar. It explains why a moving bicycle turns when you lean. But, you don’t need to know the theory at all in order to ride well. You only have to know how bikes act, which is very easy to learn from experience. With experience, you build a model that predicts how the world acts. Habits are expressions of these models and they are functions of the adaptive unconscious. To ride you need skills, not theory.

I’ve summarized the skills needed for the Hakomi Method and organized them into six basic skill sets. If you learn and practice these, you have a very good chance of becoming competent in the method. Although each skill is unique and can be learned and practice separately, they function within a session as an integrated whole. Here are the six sets:

1. State of Mind Skills

The main skill in this first set is a combination of two very important habits which set ones state of mind. The state of mind is called loving presence and it is an integrated combination of attitude, emotional state and focus of attention. These skills help a practitioner develop a state of mind and being that is expressed effortlessly through ones demeanor and actions. This state of mind has a profound effect on the development of relationships. a. of all six sets, this is the most important. Reaching and maintaining a present-centered, loving state is the first task of the therapist. Learning to do this is an essential part of the trainings. Some people are already good at this and are naturally drawn to the work. Learning how to look and listen to someone with the intention to find something that inspires and maintains compassion, as well as the habit of staying completely focused on what’s happening in the present, are the basic skills. b. Being present means keeping your mind focused on what is going on for you and the client right now, moment to moment. To train your mind to be present like that, you have to train it away from one of our strongest, most common habits, the habit of gathering information through asking questions and conducting ordinary conversations. Those are bad habits, if you’re trying to be present. So, you have to train your mind not to get drawn away from present experience by getting overly focused on ideas, stories and conversation. c. Other skills in this set are: i. being patient ii. being and staying calm Without these habits of state of being, not much in the way of a connection to a client and his or her adaptive unconscious will be possible. Without that connection, the process goes very slowly, if it moves at all.

2. Relational Skills

These are skills that build and maintain a strong connection with people. The principle ones are all about demonstrating these qualities and attributes:

a. through your behavior and a few short, accurate, non-disruptive contact statements, you show that you are aware of what the other person is presently experiencing. getting and staying in contact is the primary skill for connecting and staying connected. It creates the sense in others that you are with them, aware of their feelings and present experiences. It makes you able to anticipate their needs and work to provide help. b. through your tone of voice, pace, posture and gestures, you show that you are patient, sympathetic and non-judgmental. c. your facial expressions, head movements and gestures show that you understand what the person is saying, thinking and feeling d. you work to gain a general understanding the person’s present situation and history. You build a model in your mind that makes sense of the way they feel, think and organize their life e. you make a habit of keeping silent when the client needs time to think and remember f. ways to intervene to move the process forward are part of this skill set. They are discussed later in a section entitled, When and How to Intervene to Move the Process Forward.

3. Observational Skills

What’s needed most is a good set of attentional and recognition skills. Here’s a few of each:

a. Attentional Skills:

i. keeping your attention focused on present behaviors ii. regularly scanning the face and body for signs of present experience iii. regularly scanning the other’s behavior for possible indicators of unconscious material (Note: A list of indicators appears in this document as Appendix 1.)

b. Emotion and Attitude Recognition Skills:

i. recognizing emotions quickly by subtle changes in tone of voice and/or facial expression ii. recognizing statements implied through tone of voice and gestures. iii. being able to guess at the meaning of postures, gestures, etc. iv. “feeling” the emotions in others, through limbic resonance and mirroring v. recognizing the client’s need for silence vi. recognizing the signs of integration and memory processes

4. Modeling Skills

The bridge between observation and experiment is the ability to create models of the laws governing the behavior you’re observing. We could call these skills, modeling skills.

a. This is the method of science. Richard Feynman, the Nobel physicist, tells us the three steps of science are: make a guess; calculate the implications of your guess; and test your guess on the basis of your calculations. “If my guess is true, then if I do this, this will happen.” That’s the gist of it. b. we use our ability to observe behavior, especially indicators and our knowledge of indicators, to make guesses about the person’s beliefs and models of self and world. c. then we test our guesses by doing experiments. The outcomes of our experiments allow us to evaluate and refine our guesses. d. There is a mathematical theorem that describes how perceptions (sensory models of the world) are continuously updated in the nervous system. It’s called, Bayes Theorem, after the mathematician who discovered it. It describes mathematically how models and beliefs are changed in the face of new evidence. It helps us understand how some models can be believed so strongly. It suggests to me how models (beliefs, e.g.) can become so strong in the face of contradictory evidence or no evidence at all. e. The general idea of modeling this:

i. we need to make guesses about what beliefs (models) are organizing the client’s behavior and we need to do that by observing that behavior. This is a “reverse engineering” problem. ii. we need to be able to sense some general qualities of the client, to get a feel for who the person is and how he or she learned to be in the world. And we need to constantly refine our models by continuing to make new observations and to do new experiments. iii. modeling and experimenting is how we do it.

5. Experimental Skills

These are the skills you will need to create and execute good experiments.

a. creating hypotheses about core material from your observations of the client b. helping the client become mindful when doing experiments c. creating and executing experiments, using this form: describe how you’d like client to participate, get permission, ask for mindfulness and wait for signs or a signal that mindfulness is occurring, do the experiment, and observe its outcome or ask about that d. follow the spontaneous reactions to an experiment and use them to support the unfolding healing process (not as easy as it sounds) e. be able to follow up with another experiment, if that seems useful f. use the outcomes of experiments to think about missing experiences 6. Support for Healing Skills. a. supporting spontaneous management behaviors b. allowing time for the other’s internal processing (silence) c. following the spontaneous behaviors that arise in the person d. providing comfort and holding when needed and you have permission e. create and offer missing experiences

6. Support for Healing Skills.

a. supporting spontaneous management behaviors b. allowing time for the other’s internal processing (silence) c. following the spontaneous behaviors that arise in the person d. providing comfort and holding when needed and you have permission e. create and offer missing experiences

Practitioners of Hakomi look at people as self-organizing systems, organized psychologically around core memories, beliefs, and images; this core material expresses itself through habits and attitudes that make people individuals. Hakomi is a method for helping people transform their way of being in the world through working with core material and changing core beliefs. ^[3]

Hakomi relies on mindfulness of body sensations, emotions, and memories, and follows this general outline:^[3]^[4]

Create healing relationship: Client and therapist work to build a relationship that maximizes safety and the cooperation of the unconscious.
Establish mindfulness: Therapist helps client focus on and study how she or he organizes experience. Hakomi's viewpoint is that most behavior is habit automatically organized by core material; therefore studying the organization of experience is studying the influence of this core material.
Evoke experience: Client and therapist make direct contact with core feelings, beliefs, and memories.
State specific processing: If the client is ready, the therapist helps the client transition to state-specific processing. Hakomi recognizes three such states:
- mindfulness
- strong emotions
- child-like consciousness
Transformation: Client realizes that new healing experiences are possible and begins to have these experiences.
Integration: Client and therapist work to make connections between the new healing experiences and the rest of the client's experiences.

Acai

2008-03-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

The açaí palm (pronounced [asaˈi]) is a member of the genus Euterpe, which contains 7 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America, from Belize south to Brazil and Peru, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps. The genus is named after the muse Euterpe of Greek mythology. Euterpe are tall, slender, attractive palms growing to 15-30 meters, with pinnate leaves up to 3 meters long. Many of the palms that were once in the genus Euterpe have been reclassified into the genus Prestoea (Riffle, 2003). The species Euterpe oleracea is usually called Açaí Palm, after the Portuguese derivation of the Tupi word ïwasa'i, fruit that cries or expels water. The vernacular name is also sometimes spelled Assai Palm in English.

The fruit, a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, similar in appearance and size to a grape but with less pulp, is produced in branched panicles of 700 to 900 fruits. Two crops of fruit are produced per year. The fruit has a single large seed about 7–10 mm in diameter. The exocarp of the ripe fruits is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of açaí and its maturity. The mesocarp is pulpy and thin, with a consistent thickness of 1 mm or less. It surrounds the voluminous and hard endocarp which contains a seed with a diminutive embryo and abundant endosperm.^{[citation needed]} The seed makes up about 80% of the fruit (Schauss, 2006c).

Harvesting and uses

Stem

Heart of palm, the soft inner growing tip of some palms (Euterpe edulis, Euterpe oleracea, Bactris gasipaes), is often consumed in salads.^{[citation needed]}

Fruit

Serving of açaí juice

The berries are also harvested as food. In a study of three traditional Caboclo populations in the Amazon region of Brazil, açaí palm was described as the most important plant species because the fruit makes up such a major component of diet (up to 42% of the total food intake by weight) and is economically valuable in the region (Murrieta et al., 1999).

The juice and pulp of açaí fruits (Euterpe oleracea) are frequently used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages. In northern Brazil, açaí (or jussara, which is one of the fruit's common folk names) is traditionally served in gourds called "cuias" with tapioca and, depending on the local preference, can be consumed either salty or sweet (sugar, rapadura and honey are known to be used in the mix). Açaí has become popular in southern Brazil where it is consumed cold as açaí na tigela ("açaí in the bowl"), mostly mixed with granola - a fad where açai is considered as an energizer. Açaí is also widely consumed in Brazil as an ice cream flavor or juice.

As açaí deteriorates rapidly after harvest, its raw material is generally only available outside the immediate growing region as juice or fruit pulp that has been frozen, dried, or freeze-dried. However, several companies now manufacture juices, other health drinks, and sorbets made from açaí berries, often in combination with other fruits.

[edit] Other uses

Apart from the use of its berries as food, the açai palm has other purposes. Leaves may be used for making hats, mats, baskets, brooms and roof thatch for homes, and trunk wood, resistant to pests, for building construction (Silva, 2005).

Comprising 80% of the berry mass, seeds may be ground for livestock food or as a component of organic soil for plants. Planted seeds are used for new palm tree stock which, under the right growing conditions, requires only months to form seedlings, although açaí palm has not been successfully cultivated outside of South America (Schauss, 2006c). Seeds are also used to make a variety of jewelry and souvenirs^{[citation needed]}.

In traditional medical practices, fruit and roots have been used for treating gastrointestinal problems and sap as an astringent^{[citation needed]}. The seeds are a source of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids (see below; Plotkin, 1984; Silva, 2005; Schauss et al., 2006a).

[edit] Nutritional content

Several early studies done on the nutritional composition of açaí were summarized by Rogez in a 2000 book in Portuguese entitled "Açaí: Preparo, Composição e Melhoramento de Conservação" (Schauss et al. 2006a). Other previous studies dating back to the 1930s and 40s were not always in agreement on nutritional contents.

A recent study using modern procedures and a standardized freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin powder found nutrient analysis results from 100 g (3.5 ounces) of powder to equal 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrates, 8.1 g protein and 32.5 g total fat. The carbohydrate portion includes 44.2 g of fiber (Schauss et al. 2006a). Having nearly one-third of its mass as dietary fiber, açaí is an exceptional source of this valuable macronutrient: a 100 g serving of the powder would provide all the recommended fiber needs for adults (20-30 g per day).

Açaí is particularly rich in fatty acids, feeling oily to the touch. It contains high levels of the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid (56.2% of total fats). It is also rich in palmitic acid (24.1% of total fats, a saturated fat) and the polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (12.5% of total fats). (Schauss et al. 2006a). β-sitosterol (beta-sitosterol), a phytosterol that competes with dietary cholesterol for absorption and so may reduce blood cholesterol levels, is also unusually rich (78-91% of total sterols) (Lubrano, 1994; Schauss 2006a).

A later study found vitamin C content was negligible, calcium levels of 260 mg, iron to be 4.4 mg and vitamin A equal to 1002 IU per 100 g of dry weight (Schauss et al. 2006a). A recent study found 19 amino acids in pulp and skin powder, with especially high contents of aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The amino acid content totalled 7.59% of the total dry weight (Schauss et al. 2006a).

Due to the large amount of waste that accumulates during the harvesting of the hearts of palm, sawdust from the left-over trunks of the açaí palms have been analyzed for possible uses including energy utilization. The inner layer of the trunk is mineral rich, and is significantly higher in all the minerals that were tested including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron compared to the outer layer of the tree. This inner layer could potentially be used as a source for these minerals. Ash content (often used as an alkaline source for saponification or in plant fertilizers) was also higher in the inner section of the tree. Levels of lignins, cellulose, holocellulose and gross heat production were slightly higher in the outer trunk layers, and cellulose levels were fairly high overall (Dyer, 1996).

Antioxidant phytochemicals

The dense pigmentation of açaí has led to several experimental studies of its anthocyanins, a group of polyphenols that give the deep color to berries, other fruits and vegetables and are high in antioxidant value under active research for potential health benefits[1]. A recent study using a standardized freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin powder found the total anthocyanin levels to be 319 mg per 100 grams (Schauss et al., 2006a). Cyandin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside are major açaí anthocyanins [2].

Twelve other flavonoid-like compounds were additionally found in the Schauss et al. 2006a study, including homoorientin, orientin, taxifolin deoxyhexose, isovitexin and scoparin, as well as several unknown flavonoids. Proanthocyanidins, another group of polyphenolic compounds high in antioxidant value, totalled 1,289 mg per 100 grams of the freeze-dried pulp/skin powder, with a profile similar to that of blueberries (Schauss et al., 2006a). Resveratrol was additionally found to be present in acai in this study, although at low levels of 1.1 microgram per gram.

A number of studies have measured the antioxidant strength of açaí. Unfortunately, the sources of açaí and preparations (e.g., whole fruit, juice, extract or soluble powder) for reporting the results vary. A recent report using a standardized oxygen radical absorbance capacity or ORAC analysis on a freeze-dried açaí powder found that this powder showed a high antioxidant effect against peroxyl radical (1027 micromol TE/g). This is approximately 10% more than lowbush blueberry or cranberry on a dry weight basis (Wu, 2004). The ORAC value for this freeze-dried powder was significantly higher than when other methods of drying the fruit were tested (Schauss, 2006c). Other powders with ORAC values this high include cinnamon (2675 micromol TE/g), cloves (3144 micromol TE/g), turmeric (2001 micromol TE/g) and dried oregano (1593 micromol TE/g) (Wu, 2004).

The freeze-dried powder also showed very high activity against superoxide, with a SOD assay level of 1614 units/g. Superoxide is thought to be the initial producer of other more potent reactive oxygen species, and thus protection against it is very important as a first line of defense for the body. Antioxidant activity against both peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals was also observed, although effects were milder than that seen against peroxyl radical and superoxide. Additionally, antioxidant molecules from the freeze-dried powder were shown to actually enter freshly obtained human neutrophils and inhibit oxidation induced by hydrogen peroxide, even at very low concentrations of the açaí powder including 0.1 part per trillion (Schauss et al., 2006b). A previous report using a total oxygen scavenging capacity assay also found that açaí has extremely high antioxidant effects against peroxyl radical, as well as a high capacity against peroxynitrite, and a moderate capacity against hydroxyl radical when compared with other fruit and vegetable juices[3] .

Only 10% of açaí's high antioxidant effects could be explained by its anthocyanin content[4], indicating that other polyphenols contribute most of the antioxidant activity. Schauss et al. similarly found that that ratio of the hydrophilic ORAC levels to the total phenolics in the freeze-dried fruit was 50, a higher value than the typical fruit and vegetable ratio of 10^{[citation needed]}.

Schauss et al. (2006b) also utilized the "Total Antioxidant" or TAO assay to differentiate the "fast-acting" (measured at 30 seconds) and "slow-acting" (measured at 30 minutes) antioxidant levels present in freeze-dried powder. Acai was found to have a higher "slow-acting" antioxidant components, suggesting a more sustained antioxidant effect compared to "fast-acting" components.

Antioxidant values of the seeds of the açaí fruit have also been reported (Rodrigues, 2006). Similarly to the berries, the antioxidant capacity of the seeds were strongest against peroxyl radicals, at a concentration in the same order of magnitude as the berries. The seeds had a stronger antioxidant effect than the berries for peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals, although still less than its effects against peroxy radical. The results of this study were not linear based on the concentration of the seeds that were used. The authors suggest the future use of the seeds (a by-product of juice making) for antioxidant benefits such as prolonging shelf-life of foods.

Other Research

Açaí, in the form of a specific freeze-dried fruit pulp, was shown to have mild inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2 (Schauss et al., 2006b), both of which have roles in acute and chronic inflammation.

Lower concentrations of the freeze-dried pulp were found to be slightly stimulating to macrophages in vitro. Macrophages are white blood cells that are an important part of the immune system of the body. Also in macrophages, freeze-dried açaí pulp was found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide that had been induced by the potent inflammatory inducer lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is part of the cell membrane of certain bacteria (Schauss et al. 2006b). This effect increased as the concentration of the açaí increased.

In 2006, a study performed at the University of Florida showed that açaí fractions containing polyphenolics could reduce proliferation of HL-60 leukemia cells in vitro. This was most likely due to increased rapid cell death (apoptosis) as fractions were also found to activate caspase-3 (an enzyme important in apoptosis) which was inversely correlated to cell death. (Pozo-Insfran et al., 2006).

Due to its deep pigmentation, orally-administered açaí has been tested as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrointestinal system (Cordova-Fraga et al., 2004). Its anthocyanins have been characterized for stability as a natural food coloring agent (Del Pozo-Insfran et al., 2004).

Super Antioxidant

2008-03-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Acai berry is a well-kept secret of the Amazon.

A secret to the Western world, the acai berry has been grown in the Amazon for years. People in the Western world are just now beginning to realize just how much this berry maximizes health through its amazing antioxidant powers.

For those who haven’t seen it, the acai berry, dark and purple in color, is enriched in a large number of healthy substances, including those with antioxidant power. This berry grows without cultivation atop palm trees which dominate the rain forests in the Amazon, especially in Brazil. The local people harvest the berries and use it to make a type of fruit pulp. This fruit pulp is flash-frozen in order to lock in its nutritional abilities.

The benefits of the acai berry

Researchers have found that the acai berries are filled with a specific type of antioxidant nutrient known as anthocyanins. In case you haven’t studied it, these are the same substances that provide the red color to red wine. Like red wine, acai berries share the same healthy effects. Acai berries also are rich in fiber and protein along with the essential fatty acids, omega-6 and omega-9.

These are the primary reasons why so many health aficionados are starting to take a long look at the acai berry and why it’s become so popular. Because it has the combination of fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber and protein, it is felt to be one of the perfect health foods by several experts.

If you are interested in the acai berry, there are places to buy them. The juice is also available. Many health food stores and retailers who specialize in whole foods have the berry available. Even some supermarkets will likely begin to sell the acai berry, especially as it gains in popularity. Some organic food stores are beginning to carry them.

If you like to surf the Internet, there are several internet sites that sell products created from the acai berry. Some of the best products include frozen juice made from the whole berry. The acai berry juice is probably one of the best and healthiest products made from this product. The juice retains many of the antioxidant and other substances found in the berry itself.

The details

At the organic food store or on the web, you need to find out who the best suppliers are and figure out how the acai berry is picked from the bush and stored at each supplier. All of these things can make a big difference in the nutrition you’ll find in the berry or in the juice. Only the wild berry should be used as opposed to any cultivated variety. Remember also that the berry must be flash-frozen and that it must not remain on store shelves for a long time. Packaging definitely affects health benefits.

The good news is that terrific manufacturers of acai berries exist, including those that both pick and package the berry for maximum freshness using the original methods of harvesting invented by the Amazonian farmers. The local farmers have had the most experience with the acai berry and they know the proper methods of picking the berry, freezing it and putting it in packages. These farmers have done a great deal to promote the acai berry and are willing to share this information with the rest of us.

cough, cold an the flu .....

2008-03-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Colds and Flu: Upper Respiratory Infections

On this page:

Symptoms of colds, flu, pneumonia and meningitis Symptoms of colds, flu, pneumonia and meningitis can be similar. Mistaking one for the other could mean an extended illness and serious complications. So how do you know what you have?

You can print a poster of this information for easy reference.

Colds are inconvenient but usually not serious and can be treated at home (see Tips for treating yourself for treatment suggestions). Symptoms may last 4-14 days and may include:

Runny nose and/or sneezing
Coughing
Sore throat
Head and body aches
Low fever (less than 101° F)
Congestion of the ears, nose, throat and head

Flu typically hits in Michigan December-March. Acute symptoms last 3-4 days, and cough may linger for 3 weeks. Gastrointestinal symptoms are rare. Your clinician may prescribe an anti-viral medication. Complications are not common in young, otherwise healthy adults. Symptoms include:

Rapid onset of symptoms
High fever (greater than 101° F)
Severe body aches and/or headache
Dry cough
Extreme fatigue
Chills

For more information, see Flu and Vaccination

Pneumonia can be serious and even fatal. See a clinician if you experience symptoms, which include:
High fever (greater than 101° F)
Cough that produces thick, brown or bloody phlegm
Chills
Chest pain while breathing

Meningitis requires immediate medical care. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical. Meningitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria, and bacterial meningitis can be fatal if untreated. If you experience meningitis symptoms, consult your clinician or go to an emergency room immediately. Symptoms include:
High fever (greater than 101° F)
Severe, sudden headache accompanied by any of the following:
Mental changes (e.g. agitation or confusion
Neck or back stiffness
Rash on any part of the body (commonly the armpits, groin, ankles)

For more information, see Meningitis and Vaccination

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When to seek medical care

You can print a poster of this information for easy reference.

Symptom:	Consider treating yourself:	Seek medical care:
Sore throat	Scratchy, sore throat Can swallow liquids Minor swelling of neck glands	Difficulty swallowing liquids White or yellow spots in throat Increased pain after 3 days

Fever	Less than 101° F	Greater than 101° F for more than 3 days Fluctuating above 101° F several times a day Shaking chills

Cough	Dry cough	Foul smelling, brown or bloody phlegm Persistant cough Chest pain Wheezing Shortness of breath

Runny nose, sneezing	Relatively clear drainage Mild sinus and/or facial discomfort	Foul smelling, brown or bloody drainage Severe sinus and/or facial discomfort

Headache	Mild pain Pain that improves with non-prescription pain reliever (e.g. acetaminophen, ibuprofen)	Blurred vision, dizziness, nausea or vomiting Neck or back stiffness Mental changes (e.g. agitation or confusion) Severe headache with fever greater than 101° F and rash on any part of the body SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY!

Body ache	General aches	Persistant pain in abdomen

Fatigue	Genaral tiredness	Excessive fatigue

Earache	Stuffy or clogged ears	Pain or discharge from ears

Tips for treating yourself

Listen to your body. If you feel well enough to exercise, it may help to counter the muscle weakness that often accompanies a cold or flu. Don't overdo it - cut back on the intensity and duration of your usual workout until your muscle fatigue abates, then build up again slowly. Intense activity may increase discomfort and lower your resistance to additional infection.

Drink plenty of fluids. Drink as much water and juice as possible - preferably two quarts per day - to help counter the dehydration that causes much of the discomfort associated with fever. Fluids are also important for loosening and removing secretions and stuffiness from the body. Fluids may also help soothe a sore throat. Alcohol tends to dehydrate, so try to avoid it.

Refrain from smoking. Smoking makes it difficult for your body to eliminate mucous from the lungs and may predispose you to bronchitis or pneumonia. This would be a good time to consider quitting! See Tobacco: You Can Quit!. If you choose not to quit, reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke while sick.

To relieve a sore throat, drink plenty of fluids. Gargle with warm water (you can add salt) to help reduce any inflammation. Keep your throat moist by using a vaporizer or sucking on throat lozenges or ice cubes made from fruit juice.

For congestion, try sleeping on your back with your head raised on two or three pillows. You may find additional relief with oral and/or nasal decongestants (see Non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications).

For sore nose and chapped lips, apply petroleum jelly or emollient lotion. A 0.5-1% hydrocortisone cream applied three times a day may also provide relief to a red, irritated nose.

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Non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications for colds and flu

The UHS Pharmacy 734-764-7387 sells a variety of non-prescription cold and flu medications.

Some overall tips:

It's usually best to take a single medicine targeted for a particular symptom rather than an all-in-one preparation.
Generic versions are as effective and usually cheaper than brand-name versions.
Use caution when combining medications. If you're taking more than one medication, consult your pharmacist or clinician.
Be sure to read warning labels, follow instructions and use medications only when necessary.

Analgesics reduce body aches, headaches and fever.

Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol, Panadol) is a painkiller and fever reducer. Doesn't irritate the stomach. Safe for people allergic to aspirin.
Aspirin is a painkiller, fever reducer and anti-inflammatory with relatively few side effects. May irritate stomach, so take with food. Not recommended if under age 19 due to association with Reye's syndrome.
Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Nuprin) is a painkiller, fever reducer and anti-inflammatory. May irritate stomach, so take with food.
Ketoprofen (e.g. Orudis, Actron) is a painkiller, fever reducer and anti-inflammatory. Has same effect as ibuprofen at a much lower dose. May irritate stomach, so take with food.
Naproxen sodium (e.g. Aleve) is a painkiller, fever reducer and anti-inflammatory. Pain relief lasts 8-12 hours, about twice as long as other painkillers. May irritate stomach, so take with food.

Antihistamines (e.g Benedryl, Chlortrimeton, Tavist-1) dry mucous membranes and make breathing easier.

May cause dryness of the nose and mouth.
Often cause drowsiness, so should not be used while driving or operating machinery.

Decongestants (e.g. Sudafed, Afrin Nasal Spray) shrink swollen nasal membranes and make breathing easier.

May act as a stimulant in some people.
Most effective when taken orally but may also be taken as nose drops or sprays.
Should be used with caution by people with high blood pressure.
Nasal drops/sprays are not advised for more than 3 days because they may actually increase congestion (called "rebound effect").

Cough expectorants (e.g. Robitussin) may loosen secretions and make coughs more productive.

Cough suppressants (e.g. Diphenhydramine syrup, Hold DM) reduce sensitivity to the cough reflex so you cough less. Good for coughs that prevent sleeping.

Lozenges and throat sprays (e.g. Chloraseptic, Cepastat, Halls) temporarily relieve the pain of a sore throat. Dissolve lozenges slowly in the mouth. Continuous use may cause nausea.

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Prescription medications for flu

Antiviral drugs, available by prescription, may decrease the severity and duration of illness if taken within 48 hours of onset of symptoms.

Antiviral drugs may also be used during a local outbreak to prevent influenza in people who are at high risk of complications and who have not been previously vaccinated.

Anitbiotics are not effective against the viruses that cause colds and flu. Viruses multiply within the body's cells where antibiotics generally cannot reach. And unnecessary antibiotic use disrupts the body's natural balance of organisms and increases resistance. For more information, see Antibiotics: Less is More.

Alternative treatments for cold and flu include chicken soup, echinacea, zinc lozenges and vitamin C. These treatments may reduce duration and severity of cold symptoms but their effects are not proven and they are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, so purity and dosage of products is not ensured.

UHS offers the following cautions:

If you use zinc lozenges, make sure to reduce intake down to Recommended Daily Allowance (15 mg for men and 12 mg for women) after your cold. Over the long term, too much zinc (more than 50-100 mg per day) may weaken your immune system, interfere with absorption of other minerals and lower your HDL ("good") cholesterol.
If you take vitamin C supplements, be aware that more than 500 mg per day may lead to cramps, diarrhea and kidney stones. Chewable vitamin C also erodes tooth enamel.

Please consult your clinician or the following resources for more information about alternative treatments:

Tips for Academic Success While Sick

Prevention Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick! And now you can print a poster of Cover Your Cough prevention tips.

Cover you nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. Throw the used tissue in a wastebasket.
If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items.
Stay home when you are sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible.
Get vaccinated. See Flu and Vaccination and Meningitis and Vaccination.

Toys and Safer Fun

2008-03-21T15:45:00.001-07:00

Stages ...... relationship

2008-02-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

CLL

2008-02-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

Chronic leukaemias, in which those affected may live with symptoms for years. In chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) there is an increase in the number of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. In chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) there is overproduction of another type of white blood cell called myeloids or granulocytes. These cells are abnormal, so are not able to carry out the normal functions of white blood cells, such as fighting infection. They also live too long, so over a period of time they replace the fully-functioning cells (white, red and platelets) in the bone marrow. This is a slow process and tends to get worse over time.

Chronic leukaemias begin slowly with a gradual feeling of tiredness. The spleen (an organ in the upper left abdomen that is part of the immune system) grows until it becomes massive, causing a dragging weight and pain in the upper left side of the abdomen.

Other symptoms may include:

gradual loss of weight;
aching in the bones;
nosebleeds;
unwanted and prolonged erections (priapism) in men;
fever, heavy sweating and night sweats;
swollen lymph glands especially in the neck, groin and armpits;
bruising easily;
lack of energy; and
breathlessness.

· Anaemia

· Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. Anaemia is a condition where the blood is unable to carry enough oxygen due to a low number of red blood cells, or because each red blood cell is unable to carry as much oxygen as normal. Common symptoms of anaemia include feeling tired, faint, or breathless.

· There are several different types of anaemia, and each one has a different cause. One of the most common causes is iron deficiency. Other causes can include pregnancy, heavy periods, poor iron absorption caused by certain intestinal (gut) diseases, bleeding from the intestines, and a lack of certain vitamins, such as folic acid and vitamin B12.

Basic dietary guidelines for an iron rich diet and iron supplementation

The do’s
1. Eat more iron rich foods. The very best sources of iron that is easily absorbed by the human body are:

Meat (especially organ meats like liver and kidneys)
Fish
Eggs (especially the yolk)
Cheese
Commercial breakfast cereals are fortified with easily absorbable iron so they can also make a good contribution.

2. Vitamin C improves iron absorption. Have a glass of fresh orange juice with your breakfast which could contain egg, the breakfast cereals, or a bit of fried liver.

3. You also need folic acid to assist in preventing anaemia. Folic acid is mainly found in green leafy vegetables, and you can also obtain a supplement if necessary.

4. Iron supplementation may help a lot. Iron sulphate tablets such as ferrous sulphate, taken in a dose of 300mg three times a day, are recommended. A dose of 300mg once or twice a day may be effective for prophylaxis of mild iron deficiency. The tablets should be taken between meals as iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach. However, this form of iron has side effects such as bloating, fullness and sometimes stomach pain and taking the tablets with meals may help to alleviate these side effects. Ferrous gluconate or ferrous lactate may have fewer side effects.

The don’ts:
1. Don’t go on a vegetarian diet without consulting your doctor and dietician.

2. Avoid iron-containing cocktails of vitamins since these generally do not contain enough iron and are expensive.

3. Drugs that reduce acid production by the stomach such as Cimetidine (Tagamet) may inhibit iron absorption and these tablets should not be taken simultaneously.

4. There are no quick fixes. It is necessary to continue iron therapy for four to six months to correct the anaemia and replenish stores.

http://www.bastyr.edu/

The Practitioner's Dilemma

2008-01-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is a question of what kind of service you may want to receive from a practitioners with regard to a therapeutic dialog. Above is a link to the new Bill before WASHINGTON State Legislature ~ below are comments from others outside of this blog.

Dispatches ......

Subject: [waproca] Re: In these days of uncertainty ......

Sure the safety of the public is important. But to persecute innocent, dedicated (approximately 17 thousand of us) folks who have been evidently successful in their businesses (to stay in business), and have paid Washington state taxes and for business licenses for many years, as registered counselors and hypnotherapists is a travesty beyond my comprehension.
I have been in private practice for 27 years, first in another state, and now here in Washington state for almost 14 years. In those 27 years, I have had one formal complaint (not regarding sexual abuse) out of thousands of clients and students! It was never taken further than a complaint because there was no valid reason for the client to continue and thus the complaint was dropped.
I have had literally thousands of hours of formal training and certifications in the counseling genre's of expertise and of my choice. In fact, I recently completed a two year practicum in Integral Therapeutic Techniques and certification with a PhD in British Colombia, Canada. I will always continue to educate myself as my greatest effort to do the best work for my clients.
After fifty plus years of life I am unwilling to go back to school for a degree, let alone 3,000 additional hours of observation. Isn't it proof enough that I have been successful in my private practice for 27 years? A wonderful teacher of mine said, "That's why they call it a 'practice' because, not only extensive education but, practical application is where all levels of practitioners learn best." As a matter of fact, I also have over a hundred written, and documented, testimonials of my client's successes and accomplishments as a result of my work. I am sure that my story is not unique, that there are many other registered counselors who have similar experience.
I think Gov. Gregoir's concentration to "protect the public" is intentionally a campaign ploy to get re-elected. "Safe Healthcare" are buzzwords that are near and dear to many peoples hearts and pocketbooks. I'm guessing that the 17,000+ of us that are registered counselors, in this state hopefully will not be voting for her again. That amount of people, plus our clients. spouses and friends, could be the deciding factor in voting her out of office. Referring to the article in the Seattle Times, she is spending FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS (plus a portion of the allocated TWO MILLION) of our tax money to destroy the careers and lives of legitimate, caring, alternative therapists most of whom have the public's safety in their minds and hearts.
If the statistics be known, many psychologists, family therapists, social workers and others, that are supporting the elimination of registered counselors, have been actually prosecuted a myriad of times more than we have for unethical and immoral behavior. Along with The Governess, they are pointing the finger at us and not aware that there are three fingers pointing back at them. My guess is that they are living under an illusion that they might make more money if they eliminate us because insurance companies are not paying them as much as 10+ years ago. I will bet that they find that this is illusory thinking.
All of this is truly a sad state of affairs.
What shall we do so we can continue to assist so many people that continue to be grateful they chose us as alternative professionals to assist them in their lives?
Respectfully submitted,

Gregoire pitches $8 million plan for patient safety

DAVID AMMONS
AP Political Writer

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday proposed tougher policing of health care professionals and more transparency of hospitals' patient safety records.

The governor, who has made expanded health care a centerpiece of her term in office, said patient safety is "the next logical step on the road to reform."

Compared with the more than $1 billion appropriated this year for state health care coverage, including an expansion to cover another 30,000 more children, her ideas for the 2008 legislative session have a tiny pricetag: less than $8 million.

Indeed, Gregoire said she expects full public access to hospitals' track records to be done without extra cost to the state treasury. She said she will introduce legislation giving consumers information about "adverse events," such as infections or patient deaths, at each hospital.

"With full disclosure, the health care system can learn from its mistakes and prevent new ones," Gregoire said in a policy paper released by her office.

Gregoire outlined her proposals at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after meeting with health care professionals from the area.

"All Washingtonians deserve safe, high-quality health care," she said. "We rightfully expect our health care providers to do their best and, above all, to do no harm."

Other proposals include:

-Strengthening standards for credentialing health care providers. This includes money for national criminal background checks for all out-of-state applicants seeking to get licensed in Washington. Gregoire said the $930,000 appropriation would pay for 13,500 background checks each year.

-Boosting standards for registered counselors. Cost: $560,000.

-"Rigorous" investigation of complaints against health care providers. Her budget will include $2 million for a 30 percent boost for investigations.

-A new state online database would provide a centralized look at all of the prescriptions an individual has from various providers, helping prevent adverse drug reactions or overmedication. Pricetag: $1.4 million.

-Helping hospitals train more nurses, to ease staff shortages. Pricetag: $3 million.

Royal Canadian Air Force 5BX fitness

2008-01-14T22:06:00.000-08:00

Simple Sleep .....

2007-10-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

Melatonin is a neurohormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland, from the amino acid tryptophan. The synthesis and release of melatonin are stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, suggesting the involvement of melatonin in circadian rhythm and regulation of diverse body functions. Levels of melatonin in the blood are highest prior to bedtime.

Synthetic melatonin supplements have been used for a variety of medical conditions, most notably for disorders related to sleep.

Sleep enhancement in healthy people

Multiple human studies have measured the effects of melatonin supplements on sleep in healthy individuals. A wide range of doses has been used often taken by mouth 30 to 60 minutes prior to sleep time. Most trials have been small, brief in duration, and have not been rigorously designed or reported. However, the weight of scientific evidence does suggest that melatonin decreases the time it takes to fall asleep ("sleep latency"), increases the feeling of "sleepiness," and may increase the duration of sleep. Better research is needed in this area.

Learning, memory and Alzheimers from Wikipedia

Melatonin receptors appear to be important in mechanisms of learning and memory in mice,^[32] and melatonin can alter electrophysiological processes associated with memory, such as long-term potentiation (LTP). Melatonin has been shown to prevent the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein in rats. Hyperphosphorylation of tau protein can result in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, a pathological feature seen in Alzheimer's disease. Thus, melatonin may be effective for treating Alzheimer's Disease.^[33] These same neurofibrillary tangles can be found in the hypothalamus in patients with Alzheimer's, adversely affecting their body's production of melatonin. Those Alzheimer's patients with this specific affliction often show heightened afternoon agitation, called "sundowning," which has been shown in many studies to be effectively treated with melatonin supplements in the evening.^[34]

^{FICTIONAL MEDICATION!!!!}

Reality Bites

2007-10-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

Marsha Linehan's Skills Training Manual DBT

Accepting Reality

This concept focuses on learning to accept reality as it is. Accepting it doesn't mean you like it or are willing to allow it to continue unchanged; it means realizing that the basic facts of the situation are even if they aren't what you'd like them to be. Without this kind of radical acceptance, change isn't possible.

Letting Go of Emotional Suffering

Learn ways to observe and describe your emotion, separate yourself from it, and let go of it. One of Linehan's basic principles is that emotion loves emotion, and this worksheet is designed to help you experience your emotions with amplifying them or get caught in a feedback loop.

Distraction

Distraction is simply doing other things to keep yourself from self-harming. Most of the techniques mentioned above are distraction techniques; you bring something else in to change the feeling. Using ice, rubber bands, etc, is substituting other intense feelings for the self-injury. Other things Linehan suggest substituting include experiences that change your current feelings, tasks (like counting the colors you can see in your immediate environment) that don't require much effort but do take a great deal of concentration, and volunteer work.

Improve the Moment

This worksheet focuses on ways to make the present moment more bearable. It differs from distraction in that it's not just a diverting of the mind but a complete change of attitude in the moment.

Evaluating the Pros and Cons of Tolerating Distress

As the name implies, this worksheet leads you through an evaluation: what are the benefits of doing this self-harming thing? What are the benefits of not doing it? What are the bad things about doing it? About not doing it? Sometimes writing this down can help you make a decision not to harm.

Self-Soothing

This, like improving the moment and distracting, is a distress tolerance technique. It's pretty straightforward: use things that are pleasing to your senses to soothe yourself. Some people find that active distraction works better for violent angry feelings and soothing is more effective for soft, sad ones.

Reducing Vulnerability to Negative Emotion

Prevention of states in which you are likely to self-harm is covered in this worksheet, which suggests ways of taking care of yourself in order to minimize the times when you feel the urge to hurt yourself. If you're balancing eating, sleeping, and self-care, you're less likely to be overwhelmed by emotion.

Interpersonal Effectiveness

Being clear about what you want and about your priorities in an interaction are crucial to good communication, and this worksheet offers a series of questions and steps to follow to help you determine how to approach a difficult interpersonal interaction.

Just Kissing .......

2007-10-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

We were just kissing

Syphilis:

It may sound like a disease that died out in the 19th century, but syphilis is still well and truly with us, and can have devastating effects if left untreated.

It is also a major problem in our cities.

What is it and how is it passed on?

Syphilis is a bacterial infection, sometimes called 'the pox'. It has several stages: primary and secondary stages, which are very infectious, and the third or latent stage, which occur if the infection is left untreated.

Syphilis is easily passed on through:

vaginal, oral or anal sex
sharing sex toys
intimate close body contact with syphilis sores or rashes
from a mother to her unborn baby

You can't catch syphilis from hugging, sharing baths or towels, or from toilet seats or swimming pools. But you can catch it from kissing near a sore or rash.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of syphilis can be difficult to recognize and can be missed. They can take up to three months to show after sex with an infected person.

Primary stage syphilis:

Three to four weeks after infection, one or more painless sores appear. In women, these may be on the vulva (lips of the vagina), urethra (tube where the urine comes out) or cervix (entrance to the womb). In men, they may be on the penis or foreskin.
Sores can also appear around the anus and mouth in both sexes and are very infectious. They may take up to six weeks to heal.

Secondary stage syphilis:

If the infection isn't treated, three to six weeks after the sores have gone the following symptoms appear: a non-itchy rash that covers the whole body; wart-like growths on the vulva or around the anus; a flu-like illness, including swollen glands, sore throat and headache; white patches in the mouth; patchy hair loss.
These symptoms can last several weeks or months. Second stage syphilis is very infectious.

What happens if it isn't treated?

Latent stage syphilis:

Once the sores and rash have cleared up, there may be no symptoms for many years. This is called third stage or latent syphilis.

Latent syphilis develops about ten years after first infection. It can cause very serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes, other internal organs and nervous system which can be fatal. The individual may suffer blindness, mania and other heart rending issues.

Tertiary Syphilis:

In tertiary syphilis, the spirochetes have continued to reproduce for years. Pockets of damage accumulate in various tissues such as the bones, skin, nervous tissue, heart, and arteries. These lesions are called gummas and are very destructive.

Lesions in the central nervous system produce neurological disease called neurosyphilis which can include tabes dorsalis, general paresis, and optic atrophy. Lesions of the heart, heart valves and aorta can lead to aneurysms, valvular heart disease, and aortitis.

Tertiary syphilis is less frequently seen today than in the past because of early detection and adequate treatment. The incidence of tertiary syphilis is approximately 5 per 100,000 individuals annually in the US.

Symptoms of tertiary syphilis depend on which organ systems have been affected. They vary widely and are difficult to diagnose. In individuals with tertiary syphilis the primary and secondary stages of syphilis usually have been long forgotten. Medical findings of aortic aneurysms and neurological problems require astute diagnostic ability to link them to syphilis. Some of the symptomatic problems are listed below.

Infiltrative tumors of skin, bones, or liver (gumma)
Cardiovascular syphilis which affects the aorta and causes aneurysms or valve disease
Central nervous system disorders (neurosyphilis)

Testing and treatment

Tests shouldn't be painful, but may be uncomfortable. They may include:

blood and urine samples
taking a swab from the sores
examining the genitals and entire body
an internal examination for women

Treatment is simple during the primary and secondary stages, and involves either a single antibiotic injection or two-week course of antibiotic tablets. It can also be treated during the third or latent stage, but any damage done to the body may be irreversible.

Any unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex should be avoided until treatment is completed and the infection has cleared up. Direct contact between the sores and rashes and a partner should also be avoided until treatment is complete.

To avoid re-infection, all sexual partners should also be treated.

All pregnant women in the UK are tested for syphilis.

Treatment can be safely given to pregnant women with no risk to the unborn baby. Left untreated, syphilis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

is of Gonorrhea bacteria.

This is becoming a major problem for all of us - not just those people who have casual sex - ALL of us!

Anyone who has sex can catch a sexually transmitted disease. Left alone any one of these diseases can have long term and dangerous results.

Gonorrhea

About 50% of all women and 10% of men do not show symptoms of "the Clap"

Any symptoms that do occur may be noticed one to 14 days after infection. Gonorrhoea in the throat rarely shows symptoms.

Symptoms in women:

strong smelling vaginal discharge that may be thin/watery or yellow/green
pain when passing urine
irritation or discharge from the anus
possibly some low abdominal or pelvic tenderness

Symptoms in men:

white, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the penis
inflammation of the testicles and prostate gland
pain when urinating
irritation or discharge from the anus

Testing and treatment

Tests for gonorrhea shouldn't be painful, but they may be uncomfortable. They involve:

giving a sample of urine
a genital examination by a doctor or nurse
taking swabs from the cervix (entrance to the womb), urethra (tube where the urine comes out), throat or rectum

Early treatment is simple and effective and involves a single dose of antibiotics. This is followed by a second test a month later to make sure the infection has gone. If complications occur another treatment may be needed.

It's important not to have unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex until treatment is completed and the infection has cleared up.

Once gonorrhea is successfully treated it won't come back unless a new infection is picked up. To avoid re-infection, any sexual partners should be treated too.

What happens if it isn't treated?

Without treatment, gonorrhoea can spread to other reproductive organs causing damage and serious long-term health problems.

In women, gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can lead to:

blocked fallopian tubes (the tubes which carry the egg from the ovaries to the womb), which can result in reduced fertility or infertility
long-term pelvic pain
ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb)

A mother with gonorrhoea can pass an eye infection to her baby at birth. If untreated, this can lead to blindness.

In men, gonorrhoea can lead to:

pain and inflammation of the testicles
inflammation of the prostate gland and infertility

Chlamydia

Signs and symptoms

Around 70% of women and 50% of men who have chlamydia show no symptoms at all; others may have symptoms so mild they aren't noticed.

Symptoms in women:

an unusual vaginal discharge
pain when passing urine
bleeding between periods
pain during sex or bleeding after sex
low abdominal pain

Symptoms in men:

white/cloudy, watery discharge from the tip of the penis
pain or a burning sensation when passing urine
testicular pain and/or swelling

Testing and treatment

The tests for chlamydia aren't usually painful but they may be uncomfortable. Either a urine test is done or a swab is taken from the urethra (the tube where urine comes out), the cervix (entrance to the womb), rectum, throat or eye.

Cervical smear tests and blood tests don't detect infections such as chlamydia.

Chlamydia is simple to treat with antibiotics, either a single dose or a course lasting up to two weeks. To avoid re-infection, any sexual partners should be treated too. If complications occur, another treatment may be needed.

Once chlamydia has been successfully treated, it won't come back unless a new infection is picked up.

In 2000, more than 39,000 cases of chlamydia were diagnosed among 16- to 24-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What happens if it isn't treated?

Without treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body causing damage and serious long-term health problems.

In women, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This can lead to:

ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb)
blocked fallopian tubes (the tubes which carry the egg from the ovaries to the womb), which can result in reduced fertility or infertility
long-term pelvic pain
early miscarriage or premature birth

Chlamydia can be safely treated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but if untreated can cause an eye infection or pneumonia in the baby at birth.

In men, chlamydia can lead to:

painful inflammation of the testicles, which may result in fertility problems
Reiter's syndrome (inflammation of the joints, urethra and eyes)

Pubic lice

Scabies

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV)

Thrush

Genital warts

Non-specific urethritis (NSU)

For information only - this does not represent medical advise. Please talk with your health care professional.

Acupressure Points for Stress Headache

2007-10-22T21:17:00.001-07:00

Simple Infection Prevention

STRESS!

2007-10-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

DO YOU:

1. find it difficult to say 'no' to additional commitments or responsibilities

2. feel like you have been under intense and sustained pressure for some time

3. feel like other people do not match up to expectations and you dare not delegate

4. you are being asked for more than you can give, or that you are tired of being considered the leader.

5. you just don’t give-a-damn, your work lacks interest , or your performance is not up to your standard – however hard you try!

6. An intense desire to run away. Panic

7. Feel irritable and tired, yawn a lot or swallow without real need

8. Food lacks flavor, nothing is funny, just want to sit …..

Symptoms of Burnout

Burnout will normally occur slowly, over a long period of time. It may express itself physically or mentally:

Physical Burnout

Feelings of intense fatigue

Vulnerability to viral infection

Immune breakdown

Mental Burnout

Feeling of lack of control over commitments

An incorrect belief that you are accomplishing less

A growing tendency to think negatively

Loss of a sense of purpose and energy

Increasing detachment from relationships that causes conflict and stress, adding to burn-out

Late Stages of Burn-Out

If you are in late stages of burn-out, feeling deeply demotivated and disenchanted with life get help from a good friend or someone who is honest in their perception of your behaviors. TALK, DESCRIBE and VALIDATE. Consider therapy.

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If you are in Danger of Burning Out...

If you feel that you are in danger of burning out, or are not enjoying your life, the following points can help you correct the situation:

First:

Learn to say NO to commitments that you do not want to take on - otherwise you will be in severe danger of burning out as you become unhappy with your situation. Involvement must be fun, otherwise there is no point in doing it.

Re-evaluate your goals and prioritize them , even change the way you look at them

Evaluate the demands placed on you and see how they fit in with your desires or choices

Identify your ability to comfortably meet these demands.

If you are over-involved, reduce the commitments that are excessive

If people demand too much emotional energy, become more unapproachable and less sympathetic , then try consciously to involve other people in a supportive role. You owe it to yourself to avoid being bled dry emotionally.

Learn stress management skills

Examine other areas in your life which are generating stress, such as work or family, and try to solve problems and reduce the stress

Get the support of your friends and family in reducing stress

Daily:

Ø Ensure that you are eating a healthy, balanced diet - a bad diet can make you ill or feel bad. Watch your caffeine and alcohol intake . Eat several snacks a day and avoid taking your main meal of the day at night.

Ø Acknowledge your own humanity: remember that you have a right to pleasure and a right to relaxation

Ø Check in with your body several times a day – are you hot, cold, skin dry … and take steps to correct that. To be aware and de-escalate try

Ø Meet with yourself in the morning to plan your day and at night to review and prepare.

Ø When you get home do something that ends your work day

General Issues:

Exercise the body to shake off the dust. It will revive you. The best

cardiovascular activities include walking, swimming, and

jogging. But anything physical works. Simple Office Stretches

Leave your work at work. If you must lug home

work, get it done early in the evening. Better yet,

do it in the office and leave it there.

Don't schedule all of your leisure time. You live by a

schedule all day long. Leave yourself some "open space."

Get plenty of veg-out time. If you are well rested, problems do

not always seem so large. Try napping for less than 20 minutes.

Pursue a project or hobby. Find something that

requires so much concentration that you forget about

work for a while.

Find a friend. Enlist a trusted listener. Talking a problem

out won't make it go away, but it will relieve some of the

stress associated with the problem.

Don't procrastinate. Having something "hanging over

you" can cause more tension than the project is worth.

Don't feel that you must do everything. You can't and

you won't. So why worry about it?

Keep a "things to do" list. Review it daily and do at

least one or two things. But limit yourself to what is possible.

As the list gets smaller, you will

feel a sense of accomplishment.

Recognize and accept your limitations. Most of set

unreasonable and perfectionist goals for ourselves. But,

we can never be perfect, so we can come to feel a sense

of failure or inadequacy no matter how well we perform.

Think “I Want …..”

Learn to tolerate and forgive. Intolerance and judging

others often lead to frustration and anger. Try to really

understand the other person's concerns and fears.

Learn to plan. Disorganization breeds stress. Having too

many projects going at the same time leads to

confusion, forgetfulness and a sense of uncompleted

tasks. Plan ahead. Develop your own method of getting

things done in an orderly manner.

Learn to play. You need to escape from the pressures of

life and have fun regularly. Find pastimes or hobbies

regardless of your level of ability.

Rid yourself of worry. A study has shown that 40

percent of the items people worry about never happen;

35 percent can be changed; 15 percent turn out better

than expected; 8 percent involve needless concern; and

only 2 percent really deserve attention.

Things to Do : and some words for thought!

Body Check

Mind Vacuuming

Bridges

Awareness

Imagine Possibilities

Validation and Vulnerability

Renunciation

Storytelling

Ghost Elimination

Felt-Sense Experience

Meaning

Simple Office Stretches

Ø A. Defer and Revisit:

When a thought bothers you to the point where it interrupts your flow, write a phrase down and promise that you will come back to it later. Then it is out of the back of your head and onto the paper.

Designate a ‘worry period’. Take ten minutes ( no more than half an hour) and sit down with your list.

What can be resolved note for action. What can’t be resolved just note

Get up and change task – do something nice for yourself.

Ø B. Fun or Funny:

Each day look for conversations, scenes, or items that are interesting or fun. Note achievements and write down a phrase that will help remind you when you recollect later that day. If you have a partner – share these with him or her each day

Ø C: Lucid Dreaming:

If you can’t sleep, relax – tell yourself a story and just rest. Weave an issue into the dream by use of metaphors … and above all, do not worry about not sleeping.

Ø D. Food:

Honey and warm milk ( and for some people carbohydrates ) are good relaxants.

Try and eat four smaller meals a day remembering that 4:00am and 4:00pm are Nature’s alarms.

Ø E. Doodle and Coloring

Ø F. Stop Comparing

Ø G. Stretch and breathe frequently throughout the day.

Ø H. Think Wishes not Needs

Try not to set goals but look at aspirations or things that you would like to do. Then you will not feel dissatisfied if you do not realize goals, and you will enjoy the journey.

Ø Chunking

– not Chinese food but a way of managing tasks by doing them in short (20-40 minute ) bursts. Start and end with something you can complete and break up the bursts by a change in task – even looking up and beyond the immediate surroundings.

Ø J. Business Meetings : both domestic and professional

Ø K. An adventure a week!

… And now for some extraneous words --- Looking through the eyes of the other …. And come upon one’s self as Stranger.

Fore-give-ness - rehearsal - passion - the message is more important than the messenger - real-job and job-job – choice not need

HRT

2007-10-22T20:30:00.000-07:00

Hormone Replacement Therapies:

From being the magic potion that rescued women from the schizophrenia of hormonal imbalance, we now find that the physiological price for Hormone Replacement Therapy may be an impossible one.

Soy may take care of the hot flashes but it may even increase some of the more subtle signs of aging. Memory lapse, indecision, anger and anxiety are all part of the body's arsenal to get us to slow down. modern life does not facilitate such gentle change.

We are expected to function as we always have done. but to also compete with younger men and women who have acquired more familiarity from living through the technical advances rather than learning them as the need arises.

This is why women , whatever the risks, return to synthetic HRT. Often the results are predictable and we can continue with our lives putting the risks on the 'back burner ' for another time..

Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternatives
Due to the now well-known knowledge of the serious hormone replacement therapy side effects, post-menopausal women everywhere are wondering what hormone replacement therapy alternatives are available to treat their menopausal side effects. Women should visit their doctors to learn more about their treatment options that may include lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and possibly short-term hormone replacement therapy alternatives. Depending on the particular symptoms most often experienced by the individual woman, medications exist that may help relieve them and can be hormone replacement therapy alternatives.

Hot flashes and night sweats are often experienced by post-menopausal women and hormone replacement therapy claimed to treat this symptom. Women may wish to discuss with their doctors the possibility of taking a low-dose antidepressant as a hormone replacement therapy that has been shown to help some women with hot flashes. Antidepressants are known to impair sexual response and have other side effects as well so it may not be right for every woman.

Menopause also causes bone loss that hormone replacement therapy helped women to maintain. There are other medications available for bone loss, but all drugs have side effects and must be considered depending on the individual. For more information on hormone replacement therapy alternatives and your legal rights, please consult with your doctor, friends, relatives and any resource that can provide you with the information that can best suit your needs and your lifestyle.

Diindolylmethane (DIM) is an estrogen boosting supplement that is metabolized safely by the body, avoiding generation of the potentially damaging free radicals. It is also used for prostate health and pre-menstrual tension.

5-HTP: a natural alternative to some anti-depressants that work with the neurotransmitter serotonin. A precursor to L-tryptophan and serotonin. It is helpful for sleep, anxiety and as a 'mood smoother'. This should not be taken if you are on any other anti-depressant prescribed by your doctor.

Relora: used for stress, anxiety and weight balance.

Hylands: Calms Forte ~ homeopathic remedy for sleep, calm and stress. Hyland's Calms Forte™ provides natural relief of symptoms of simple nervous tension and sleeplessness. Hyland's Calms Forte™ is all natural and works without contraindications or side effects. Easy to swallow tablets are perfect for daytime or nighttime use. Like all homeopathic medicines, Hyland's Calms Forte™ will not interfere with other medications or alcohol.

Most Popular Traditional Medicines for Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternatives
For the six million American women that were using hormone replacement therapy at the time of the study's release, the doctors and medical groups were not prepared for the number of questions and concerned patients that unfolded because of the unanticipated event. Doctors were forced to take their phones off the hook because they themselves did not have the answers for what their patients should now do regarding hormone replacement therapy alternatives. Hormone replacement therapy had become such a common prescription that every year 70 million prescriptions were written for hormone replacement therapy that doctors encouraged almost every woman that had not had a hysterectomy to use when beginning menopause. The American College of Obstetricians has just issued guidelines on the most popular hormone replacement therapy alternatives to treat menopause:

Soy and Isoflavones (plant estrogens found in beans, particularly soybeans) - High isoflavone intake (about 50 grams of soy protein per day) may be a helpful hormone replacement therapy alternative in the short term (2 years or less) in relieving hot flashes and night sweats. Taken over the long term, it also may have beneficial effects on cholesterol and bones. While safe in dietary amounts, the consumption of extraordinary amounts of soy and isoflavone supplements may interact with estrogen and may be harmful to women with a history of estrogen-dependent breast cancer and possibly to other women as well.

St. John's Wort - May be helpful as a hormone replacement therapy alternative in the short-term (2 years or less) to treat mild to moderate depression in women (when given in doses of less than 1.2 milligrams a day.) A recent study showed it is not effective in treating severe depression. It also can increase skin sensitivity to the sun and may interfere with prescription antidepressants.

Black Cohosh - May be helpful as a hormone replacement therapy alternative in the short term (6 months or less) to treat hot flashes and night sweats. It seems to be extremely safe, although studies have been small and brief, none longer than six months.

Chasteberry (also known as monk's pepper, Indian spice, sage tree hemp, and tree wild pepper) - This may inhibit prolactin, a natural hormone that acts on the breast. It is touted for breast pain and premenstrual syndrome. There are very few studies in menopausal women as used as a hormone replacement therapy alternative. A study of women with premenstrual syndrome found they reported improvements in mood, anger, headache, breast fullness, but not bloating and other symptoms.

Evening Primrose - This plant produces seeds rich in gamma-linolenic acid, which some experts believe is the nutritionally perfect fatty acid for humans. Although evening primrose capsules are taken for breast pain, bladder symptoms and menopausal symptoms, there is little or no evidence that they work as hormone replacement therapy alternatives. The one high quality study of effects on hot flashes found that evening primrose was no better than placebo.

Dong Quai - A study aimed at reducing hot flashes found that dong quai as a hormone replacement therapy alternative was not better than placebo - although the 4.5-gram dose used in the study was lower than that typically given in Chinese medicine. The herb is potentially toxic. It contains compounds that can thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding, and make the skin more sensitive to sun, possibly increasing skin cancer risk.

Valerian Root - This has traditionally been used as a tranquilizer and sleeping aid, which can be used as a hormone replacement therapy alternative. But the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which sets manufacturing standards for medicines, does not support its use, and there have been reports of heart problems and delirium attributed to sudden withdrawal from valerian.

Ginseng - Most of the many types of ginseng (including Siberian, Korean, and American, white and red), are promoted for relieving stress and boosting immunity. A study of menopausal women by the leading ginseng manufacturer found the product did not relieve hot flashes but did improve women's sense of well being if used as a hormone replacement therapy alternative. Analyses of ginseng products have found a troubling lack of quality control: some contained little or no ginseng, contained large amounts of caffeine, or were tainted by pesticides or lead.

Wild and Mexican Yam - There are no published reports that show wild and Mexican yam cream as a hormone replacement therapy alternative is effective in helping menopausal symptoms. The hormones in wild and Mexican yam do not have any estrogenic or progestational properties, so they are not expected to help women with these symptoms

No money has been exchanged or favors given for any content on this site or page. Please seek information and professional help before using these suggestions.

Prevention of Infection

2007-10-18T17:29:00.001-07:00

Are there any preventive measures I can take?

Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. There is no need or efficacy in using anti-bacterial soap. In fact using these products strengthens the bacterium. The action of friction of rubbing/scrubbing the skin for 20 seconds is the most efficient protection.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Cough into your elbow not your hand. Use strong paper handkerchiefs to avoid droplet transmission. Wash surfaces with alcohol or chlorine bleach. Use diluted chlorine bleach in laundry.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds, handkerchiefs, dirty dishcloths, unwashed food or bandages.
In professional settings wear the right clothing and change into street clothes when you leave. Many hospitals now use fast-acting, special antiseptic solutions, like alcohol rubs or gels - you may find dispensers placed by patient’s beds and at the entrance to clinical areas for use by staff and visitors.
The most important type of isolation required for any potentially resistant medical infection is what is called Contact Isolation. This type of isolation requires everyone in contact with the patient to be very careful about hand washing after touching either the patient or anything in contact with the patient. If the organism is in the nose or lungs it may also be necessary to have the patient in a room to prevent spread to others by droplet spread. Because dust and surfaces can become contaminated with the organism, cleaning of surfaces are also important.
DO NOT USE SOMEONE ELSE'S TOWEL OR STORE/KEEP DAMP SPORTS EQUIPMENT/CLOTHES AROUND. LAUNDER FREQUENTLY AND DRY THOROUGHLY.

Where the common cold is concerned, the best preventive action that works is avoidance of the virus. Because cold viruses are transmitted by droplets or respiratory secretion, therefore handwashing is probably one of the most effective ways of keeping the cold at bay. When in the company of someone who has a cold ⁴, avoid touching your eyes or nose - there might be infective droplets on your hands - and if possible, clean possibly contaminated surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant. Avoid sharing easily contaminated things with an infected person ⁵, and keep you personal hygiene items far away - or make sure they can be cleaned properly. (These are all just common sense measures) Maintenance of a healthy immune system is also important if you are to avoid a cold. There is currently no vaccine for the common cold because there are just too many viruses to target, and the said viruses have a tendency to evolve over a short period of time.

Studies have shown that viruses can survive on human hands for several hours and that they can be spread by direct contact. As well as through coughs and sneezes, a person may pick up the virus on their fingers by touching an infected object or person.

2007-10-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

MRSA, SARS, FLU, AVIAN FLU, TB, MENINGITIS, COMMON COLD, HIV, & Super bugs of every hue ……….

In 1918 the schoolgirls in America jumped rope to a new chant:

I had a little bird
And its name was Enza
I opened the window
And in-flew-Enza

Is there a vaccine effective against Avian or Bird Flu H5N1 in humans?

No. Currently available vaccines will not protect against disease caused by the H5N1 strain in humans. WHO is urgently working together with laboratories in the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network to develop a prototype H5N1 virus for use by leading vaccine manufacturers.

An available vaccine prototype virus, developed using the 2003 strain of H5N1 (which caused the two human cases in Hong Kong), cannot be used to expedite vaccine development. Initial analysis of the 2004 virus, conducted by laboratories in the WHO network, indicates that the virus has mutated significantly.

In the 20th century, the great influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, a form of Avian Flu, which caused an estimated 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide, was followed by pandemics in 1957-1958 and 1968-1969

~Are there drugs available for prevention and treatment?

Yes. Two classes of drugs are available. These are the M2 inhibitors (amantadine and rimantadine) and the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanimivir). http://www.tamiflu.com/ These drugs have been licensed for the prevention and treatment of human influenza in some countries, and are thought to be effective regardless of the causative strain.

Thirteen grams (0.46 ounces) of star anise are required to produce the equivalent of 10 Tamiflu capsules prescribed to treat one person contaminated with avian flu.

That means that the effective dose for avian flu could be 12 capsules a day at 75mg a capsule, use for 10days. Start the first day of symptoms - fever and severe chest pain. PLEASE seek the advice of a professional first. This is theory - not fact.

But, prevention is always better.

Are there any preventive measures I can take?

Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. There is no need or efficacy in using anti-bacterial soap. In fact using these products strengthens the bacterium. The action of friction of rubbing/scrubbing the skin for 20 seconds is the most efficient protection.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Cough into your elbow not your hand. Use strong paper handkerchiefs to avoid droplet transmission. Wash surfaces with alcohol or chlorine bleach. Use diluted chlorine bleach in laundry.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds, handkerchiefs, dirty dishcloths, unwashed food or bandages.
In professional settings wear the right clothing and change into street clothes when you leave. Many hospitals now use fast-acting, special antiseptic solutions, like alcohol rubs or gels - you may find dispensers placed by patient’s beds and at the entrance to clinical areas for use by staff and visitors.
The most important type of isolation required for any potentially resistant medical infection is what is called Contact Isolation. This type of isolation requires everyone in contact with the patient to be very careful about hand washing after touching either the patient or anything in contact with the patient. If the organism is in the nose or lungs it may also be necessary to have the patient in a room to prevent spread to others by droplet spread. Because dust and surfaces can become contaminated with the organism, cleaning of surfaces are also important.

MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or Multiply Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (S aureus).

MRSA is created by antibiotic usage. Contrary to news reports, many of the patients with MRSA in hospital have brought the bug in with them; this has been proven by swabbing patients on admission. MRSA is endemic in nursing homes. MRSA rates are more related to overuse of antibiotics than poor hospital hygiene - the USA has a massive problem with resistant bacteria (vancomycin-resistant enterococci as well as MRSA).

S aureus is of course not the only bacterium to have gained drug resistance; it is merely the most famous. Drug resistant tuberculosis is also well known and this is indeed deadly. Some patients in New York have recently (at the time of writing) been effectively imprisoned in order to ensure they complete their course of antibiotics and limit the spread of drug resistance in this lethal bacterium. Streptococcus pneumoniae - responsible for many throat and lung infections - has also been reported to be gaining drug resistance and again there are more.

Symptoms	Common cold	Influenza
Nose	Drips like a leaky faucet; nose often gets clogged up with discharge; bad attack of sneezing. Sinus membranes are usually inflamed	Not affected
Cough	Yes; hacking cough	Yes; dry cough (no phlegm)
Sore throat	Sometimes	Common
Fever	Usually slight; may reach 102°F in infants, young children	May reach 104°F, but subsides after two to three days
Headache	Localized	Prominent; nonlocalised
Body aches	Rare; slight	Common (head, back, arms and legs)
Nausea	No	Yes
Other symptoms	May lead to complications such as middle ear or sinus infections	Burning eyes, loss of appetite; patient may suffer chills and debilitating weakness
How long it lasts	Two to 14 days	May last longer than the common cold

So what Can We Do about This?

There are a number of ways around the problem of drug resistance. Some have been already been applied and used with a mixed level of success, while some are still in the realms of theory. Just a few of the possibilities are mentioned here:

§ Limit the use of antibiotics - In the past antibiotics were overused and this is one of the causes of the rapid spread of drug resistance. They were formerly given routinely in hospitals mainly to prevent the outbreak of dangerous infections in already sick patients. Also, in farming, some antibiotics were put into animal feed to again prevent disease among animals. The drawbacks have clearly outweighed the benefits on this issue and so the overuse of antibiotics is now frowned upon. There is a growing trend to use them only when a clear bacterial infection has taken place and this should slow the spread of resistance.

§ Development of new drugs - The oldest of the methods and the most often used. If bacteria become resistant to our current array of antibiotics, simply make some more. The development of methicillin to get around ß-lacatamase-based resistance is the most famous case of this.

Unfortunately, this is more easily said than done. To develop and make a new drug is an expensive and long drawn out process as well as being of high financial risk. A pharmaceutical company typically has to put a drug through 5-10 years of trials before it is given a safety certificate to go on the market. A drug can fail at any stage of this process and more importantly, drug resistance now tends to develop more quickly than this. Bacteria can be resistant to a drug before it is available on the market.

Pharmaceutical companies are still researching into new antibiotics, however. The financial rewards of finding a new 'penicillin' with no resistance yet in place are potentially enormous.

§ Combination therapy - Another method that has already been successfully employed - although again, bacteria have found ways around it. There are a class of molecules known that prevent the action of ß-lactamase enzymes. If such a drug (clavulanic acid is a well known example of this type of drug - a ß-lactamase inhibitor) is used in combination with a penicillin then the ß-lactamase inhibitor stops the ß-lactamase enzyme from destroying the penicillin which can then get on with its job of killing the bacterium freely. Unfortunately, some bacteria can simply pump out clavulanic acid and this means that the penicillin may be destroyed. Other combination therapies may also be of use however.

§ Let some antibiotics lie 'fallow' - It has been observed that when the selective pressure to become drug resistant is removed, some bacteria will lose the DNA that leads to drug resistance. In other words they return to a more native state. It has therefore been proposed that it might be possible to use a rotating regime of antibiotics. Some antibiotics will be used for a period of time while others are not used at all. Hopefully, the bacteria would become resistant to those in use but would lose their resistance to those not in use. One could then switch the therapy and the situation would reverse, the bacteria would gain resistance to the new drug but would lose it to the old one. The cycle could then start again. This is analogous to the old three-field system in farming.

While possible in theory, this has yet to be tested in practice. Also, it is known that under certain conditions, bacteria can form spores and these spores can lie dormant for thousands to millions of years. Bacillus 2,9,3 is an example illustrating this. This allows the possibility that a bacterium that is multi-drug resistant could resurface at any time, rendering this method useless.

§ Use of Bacteriophages - Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically attack bacteria. It is proposed to use these as a way of killing drug resistant bacteria. These viruses have probably been around for as long as bacteria (billions of years) and so are excellent at their exploitation of them. Bacteriophages are specialized in invading bacterial cells only and so cannot affect our own cells. This is potentially, therefore, an exceptionally safe therapy for us.

The word bacteriophage literally means "to eat bacteria".

Once the phage has entered the body, it attaches itself to the bacteria causing the infection, and shoots in its own DNA to make the bacteria start producing bacteriophages. Within 30 minutes, up to 200 new phage are created, according to Dr Dixon, and in the process the bacteria die.

The job done, the phage automatically start to disappear.

And if the bacteria become resistant to the phage, as they have done to antibiotics, a new phage matched to the new bacteria can be developed. In order to inhibit resistance, a cocktail of phages would most likely be used in treatment.

The great escape: Ending period pain

2007-10-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

26 September 2007

NewScientist.com news service
26 September 2007
Hannah Hoag

US approves birth control pill that blocks menstruation
23 May 2007
Abortion pill could become daily contraceptive
17 July 2007
Stay on the pill, or switch to a coil?
28 October 2006
Male birth control moves closer
6 May 2006
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Playing the system

THEY are a rite of passage for young women and a sign of likely fertility and health. For some women they are welcome proof that they are not pregnant. But generally speaking periods aren't much fun. What with radical mood swings, migraines, cramps, bloating and nausea, at best they are an irritation, at worst they require medication.

Now, though, women can choose to opt out entirely. In July, pharmacies in the US began stocking a new oral contraceptive designed for women "interested in putting their menstrual cycle on hold". The pills can be taken 365 days a year with no need to break for a monthly bleed. Other forms of hormonal contraception are on the cards too. Researchers are experimenting with ways to keep periods at bay by blocking the body's own progesterone.

All of this has reignited the debate over whether it is healthy for women to disrupt their monthly cycle and even stop having periods altogether. Some say that the rate at which the average western woman menstruates could actually be bad for her health - causing an increased risk of ovarian cancer and many other disorders. Others argue that long-term exposure to the hormones in birth control pills could be harmful, that it's wrong to medicalise menstruation and that not having periods could mask signs of infertility until it's too late.

The regular contraceptive pill has changed very little since it was first licensed in the 1960s. Today's pills contain a much lower dose of hormones than they did back then, but the concept remains the same. Most are made of synthetic versions of the key reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which prevent pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg. They also thicken the cervical mucus, making it nearly impossible for sperm to pass into the uterus.

The pill was designed to be taken for 21 days in a row, followed by a week of either placebo pills or no pills at all. Over the first 21 days, the endometrium - the lining of the uterus - reinforces itself, building up tissue into a lush nourishing environment in anticipation of a fertilised egg, which of course will never arrive. When the pills run out, the drop in progesterone triggers the expulsion of this blood vessel-rich tissue, mimicking a period.

However, not all women follow this schedule. Some choose to take the pill every day, skipping the seven-day break or placebo pills and avoiding any bleeding. Women have been doing this ever since the pill was formulated. Some did it for convenience, others to rid themselves of unwanted symptoms. Patricia Sulak, an obstetrician at Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine in Temple, is among the many physicians - and women - who challenged the idea of the seven-day break early on. "I did my medical residency in the early 80s. Many of us were on continuous pills then, and we have been recommending it to many of our patients since," she says.

Now, after more than 20 years of clandestine menstrual suppression continuous contraception is becoming mainstream and the standard pill regime is beginning to look a bit passé. In recent years, some pharmaceutical companies have repackaged their pills into products that allow women who take them to have just four periods a year. One, Seasonale, was approved by the FDA in September 2003, while Seasonique was approved in May 2006.

Yearly cycle

Lybrel, manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Wyeth, is the first oral contraceptive to be approved for continuous use. The drug, to be marketed as Anya in Canada and the European Union, is taken daily, turning that time of the month into that time of the year - and only then if a woman chooses to stop taking the pills. David Archer, director of the Clinical Research Center at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, oversaw some of the clinical trials for Lybrel. He says there's no real reason to stop after a year. "If you have done well the first year, why not go on for a second?" he says.

Sulak is among a growing group of medics who feel that having fewer periods is a good thing and that a monthly period may even be bad for a woman's health. Richard Anderson of the Centre for Reproductive Biology at the University of Edinburgh, UK, agrees. He says he can think of no medical reason why women need to experience a monthly bleed. "It really just reflects that you haven't got pregnant and that there is no embryo trying to implant into the uterus," he says.

In fact, bleeding every month is not necessarily the norm. Anthropological studies of women in contemporary hunter-gatherer societies show that they have far fewer periods than western women and suggest that women in pre-industrial times had far fewer periods than women today. In the 1980s, Beverly Strassmann, now at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, spent more than two years living among the Dogon people of Mali in west Africa. She found that menstruation was a relatively rare event: between the ages of 20 and 24, women had on average just two periods a year. Strassmann calculated that a Dogon woman has only around 110 periods in her lifetime. The rest of the time she is pre-pubescent, pregnant, lactating or post-menopausal. In contrast, the average woman in New York, London or Toronto has 350 to 400 periods between menarche and menopause. Her first period arrives earlier, she bears children later, has fewer of them, and doesn't breastfeed for as long.

“Having a monthly period is not necessarily the norm. It may even be bad for a woman's health”

All these factors lead to almost incessant ovulation and menstruation. Sulak reels off a list of problems that may be associated with or worsened by uninterrupted menstrual cycles: ovarian cancer, increased risk of endometriosis, anaemia, uterine fibroids, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder - a severe, disabling form of PMS. "We weren't designed to have decades of periods," she says.

But while taking the pill continuously might reduce your risk of developing some of these conditions, the pill brings health concerns of its own. Few long-term studies have addressed potential risks to breast, bone and cardiovascular health, but there have been high profile scares. For example, since 2004, the FDA has required that Depo-Provera, a long-term injectable contraceptive, include a warning about how it may lead to reduced bone density.

More generally, women with a history of cardiovascular disease, or who are obese, those with high cholesterol levels, and smokers over the age of 35 face a greater risk of blood clots that could lead to pulmonary embolisms, strokes or heart attacks when taking any contraceptive pill. Some studies have shown that the pill may bring an increased risk of cervical cancer.

As well as health concerns, long-term use of oral contraceptives can have unwanted side effects. Unpredictable bleeding is a common reason for women to stop taking the pill and Lybrel is no exception. During a phase III clinical trial more than half of the 2134 women who took part dropped out, many of whom cited bleeding as the cause. Of those that remained in the study, 40 per cent still experienced irregular bleeding after 12 months.

Faced with these problems, researchers are now looking at different forms of contraception altogether. Rather than using synthetic oestrogen and progestin to control the menstrual cycle, they are using antiprogestins to block the body's own progesterone. This is the hormone responsible for the build-up of blood vessels in the uterus, so if this can be prevented, there is no lining to shed and no period. Antiprogestins would also suppress ovulation, making them potential contraceptives.

The first antiprogestin was synthesised in 1980. Since then more than 400 others have been identified, but only a handful have been tested in humans. Some say antiprogestins herald a revolution in reproductive science, offering control of menstruation without the need for long-term exposure to oestrogen and progestin. "You won't get a contraceptive that is more effective than current methods and intrauterine devices, but you can get one that has added health benefits," says David Baird, a reproductive biologist at the University of Edinburgh.

Baird and his colleagues have been studying the contraceptive properties of the antiprogestin mifepristone for many years. In early clinical trials the hormone has lived up to its potential as an extended-use contraceptive. Most recently the team compared it with the progestin-only pill - also called the mini-pill - in a trial with 97 volunteers. More than 80 per cent of the women who took mifepristone daily for six months did not experience any bleeding or spotting, or had less than two days of bleeding or spotting per month (Human Reproduction, vol 22, p 2428).

Another study published in June demonstrated an alternative approach. Researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Beaverton tested an intrauterine device (IUD, also known as a coil) that released an antiprogestin called ZK 230211 directly into the uterus of macaques. Robert Brenner, who led the study, found that although there was extended bleeding immediately after the IUD was fitted, the longer it was in place, the less likely the macaques were to experience bleeding or spotting. And although the study did not directly test the device as a contraceptive, Brenner believes such a device could potentially offer a long-term, reversible option with minimal breakthrough bleeding and few side effects (Contraception, vol 75, p S104).

"There is no doubt that antiprogestins can suppress bleeding," Brenner says. "The question is what is the best drug and the best way to deliver that drug?" To him, an IUD makes sense, because the actions of the antiprogestins remain largely localised, minimising any unwanted effects elsewhere in the body.

Body blocking

As well as acting on the endometrium, progesterone affects the ovaries, breast tissue and brain. If the antiprogestin is swallowed, as it is in Baird's trials, it will distribute itself throughout the body and may be more likely to cause side effects. Although Baird reported no major adverse effects in his study (minor side effects included abdominal pain, headaches and mood swings), a phase III trial of a larger number of women would give a better idea.

One particular concern is the fact that the body would be constantly exposed to oestrogen without the inhibitory effects of progesterone. Since endometrial cancer is often linked to exposure to excessive oestrogen, some researchers are concerned that blocking progesterone might make endometrial cancer more likely. In Baird's trial, almost half of the women had some changes to their uterus, although none had over-proliferation of the endometrial lining that could be the early signs of endometrial cancer.

In the west, IUD uptake has lagged behind that of the pill, but Sulak and Anderson say they have recently become more popular, particularly the new hormone-containing coils such as Mirena, which slowly releases a progestin called levonorgestrel over five years. According to its manufacturer Bayer, 90 per cent of women who use Mirena can expect less menstrual bleeding and 20 per cent have no periods after a year. However, many women find the amount of breakthrough bleeding that occurs in the first three months unacceptable, Brenner says, which is why he began testing the antiprogestin IUD.

Antiprogestins seem to have great potential for contraception and the suppression of periods, but their use is controversial. In 1980, soon after researchers at the French pharmaceutical company Roussel Uclaf discovered mifepristone, also called RU-486, the drug was found to be able to abort pregnancies. Since then mifepristone has been widely used in Europe and the US in combination with another drug, misoprostol, for medical abortions.

This fact has dogged the development of antiprogestins as contraceptives, say Brenner, Baird and others. "It has made it anathema among those opposed to abortion, especially in the US. Many drug companies have shied away from developing this class of drug because of the controversy associated with its use in medical abortions," Brenner says.

Baird has no further plans to study the hormone as a contraceptive. "It has reached a stage where we can't take it any further until a commercial company takes it on for phase III development," he says. "You're talking about an investment of between $5 million and $8 million. The companies are convinced there is a market for it, but it is a question about whether they want to get into this area."

It's hard to say whether or not antiprogestins will make it to the clinic. The pill is approaching its 50th birthday, and while there are many more choices available for women today, there is still no sign of the perfect contraceptive. Let's hope it arrives well before it reaches 100.

Hannah Hoag is a freelance science writer based in Montreal, Canada

From issue 2623 of New Scientist magazine, 26 September 2007, page 40-43

2007-09-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Philosophy

Moderation Management

2007-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

When you have made the healthy decision to drink less, and you stay within moderate limits, you should not experience any health, personal, family, social, job-related, financial, or legal problems due to alcohol. The suggested guidelines below allow for a degree of individual interpretation, because moderation is a flexible principle and is not the same for everyone. The suggested limits, however, are more definite.

A Moderate Drinker:

considers an occasional drink to be a small, though enjoyable, part of life.
has hobbies, interests, and other ways to relax and enjoy life that do not involve alcohol.
usually has friends who are moderate drinkers or nondrinkers.
generally has something to eat before, during, or soon after drinking.
usually does not drink for longer than an hour or two on any particular occasion.
usually does not drink faster than one drink per half-hour.
usually does not exceed the .055% BAC moderate drinking limit. (see Note 1 below)
feels comfortable with his or her use of alcohol (never drinks secretly and does not spend a lot of time thinking about drinking or planning to drink).

The MM Limits:

Strictly obey local laws regarding drinking and driving.
Do not drink in situations that would endanger yourself or others.
Do not drink every day. MM suggests that you abstain from drinking alcohol at least 3 or 4 days per week.
Women who drink more than 3 drinks on any day, and more than 9 drinks per week, may be drinking at harmful levels.

Men who drink more than 4 drinks on any day, and more than 14 drinks per week, may be drinking at harmful levels.
Notes:
Standard drink: one 12 oz-beer (5% alcohol), one 5-oz glass wine (12% alcohol), or 1 and 1/2 oz of 80-proof liquor (40% alcohol).

These "number of drinks" limits are LIMITS and not TARGETS. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) charts are more accurate than number of drink limits because they take into account weight, sex, and rate of drinking. If you are very light in weight use the BAC upper limit of .O55%. Some researchers advise a limit of one drink per day for older adults (55+).

The limits used by MM are based on research published in 1995 in the American Journal of Public Health, by Dr. Martha Sanchez-Craig, Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Canada and other published limits.

PLEASE CHECK WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM IS SUITABLE FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION. Consider consulting a trained Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program/Counsellor or AA.

Coeliac Disease Diet

2007-09-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

Treatment

The only treatment for CD/DH is the lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. When gluten is removed from the diet, the small intestine will start to heal and overall health improves. Medication is not normally required. Because osteoporosis is common and may be profound in patients with newly diagnosed CD, bone density should be measured at or shortly after diagnosis. Consult your physician regarding specific nutritional supplementation to correct any deficiencies. The diagnosed celiac should have medical follow-up to monitor the clinical response to the gluten-free diet. Dietary compliance increases the quality of life and decreases the likelihood of osteoporosis, intestinal lymphoma and other associated illnesses.

Adapting to the gluten-free diet requires some lifestyle changes. It is essential to read labels which are often imprecise, and to learn how to identify ingredients that may contain hidden gluten.

Be aware that hidden gluten can be found in some unlikely foods such as: cold cuts, soups, hard candies, soy sauce, many low or non-fat products, even licorice and jelly beans.

Gluten may also be used as a binder in some pharmaceutical products. Request clarification from food and drug manufacturers when necessary.

Potential harmful ingredients include:

unidentified starch
modified food starch
hydrolyzed vegetable protein - HVP
hydrolyzed plant protein - HPP
texturized vegetable protein - TVP
binders
fillers
excipients
extenders
malt

Coeliac Disease

2007-09-14T17:29:00.001-07:00

Coeliac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 133¹ Americans. Symptoms of coeliac disease can range from the classic features, such as diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition, to latent symptoms such as isolated nutrient deficiencies but no gastrointestinal symptoms. The disease mostly affects people of European (especially Northern European) descent, but recent studies show that it also affects Hispanic, Black and Asian populations as well¹. Those affected suffer damage to the villi (shortening and villous flattening) in the lamina propria and crypt regions of their intestines when they eat specific food-grain antigens (toxic amino acid sequences) that are found in wheat, rye, and barley³. Oats have traditionally been considered to be toxic to coeliacs, but recent scientific studies have shown that this is not the case.

Because of the broad range of symptoms coeliac disease presents, it can be difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can range from "mild weakness, bone pain, and aphthous stomatitis to chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and progressive weight loss.³" If a person with the disorder continues to eat gluten, studies have shown that he or she will increase their chances of gastrointestinal cancer by a factor of 40 to 100 times that of the normal population⁴. Further, "gastrointestinal carcinoma or lymphoma develops in up to 15 percent of patients with untreated or refractory coeliac disease³." It is therefore imperative that the disease is quickly and properly diagnosed so it can be treated as soon as possible.

Based on the figure mentioned above we can extrapolate the total number of people in the United States with coeliac disease: 2.18 million (based on the total population: 290,356,028⁵). It is very important that doctors understand just how many people have this disease so that routine testing for it is done to bring the diagnosis rate in line with the disease's epidemiology. Testing is fairly simple and involves screening the patient's blood for antigliadin (AGA) and endomysium antibodies (EmA), and/or doing a biopsy on the areas of the intestines mentioned above, which is still the standard for a formal diagnosis.

The only acceptable treatment for coeliac disease is strict adherence to a 100% gluten-free diet for life. An adherence to a gluten-free diet can prevent almost all complications caused by the disease³. A gluten-free diet means avoiding all products that contain wheat, rye and barley, or any of their derivatives. This is a difficult task as there are many hidden sources of gluten found in the ingredients of many processed foods.

Symptoms

Celiac Disease may appear at any time in a person's life. The disease can be triggered for the first time after surgery, viral infection, severe emotional stress, pregnancy or childbirth. CD is a multi-system, multi-symptom disorder. Symptoms are extremely varied and can often mimic other bowel disorders. Infants, toddlers, and children often exhibit growth failure, vomiting, bloated abdomen and behavioral changes.

Classic symptoms may include:

abdominal cramping, intestinal gas, distention and bloating
chronic diarrhea or constipation (or both)
steatorrhea -- fatty stools
anemia - unexplained, due to folic acid, B12, or iron deficiency (or all)
weight loss with large appetite, or weight gain

Other symptoms:

dental enamel defects
osteopenia, osteoporosis
bone or joint pain
fatigue, weakness and lack of energy
infertility - male/female
depression
Aphthous ulcers

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) is skin manifestation of celiac disease characterized by blistering, intensely itchy skin. The rash has a symmetrical distribution and is most frequently found on the face, elbows, knees and buttocks. DH patients can have gastrointestinal damage without perceptible symptoms.

Putting Brains on the Couch

2007-09-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

By Sharon Begley

Newsweek

"The American Psychiatric Association is updating its immense (911 pages) diagnostic manual, which offers 20 forms of bipolar disorder alone. "But it's still just a checklist of symptoms, which different physicians can interpret differently," says psychiatrist James Greenblatt, who directs the eating-disorders unit at Waltham Hospital in Massachusetts. For him and a growing number of psychiatrists, the search for a modern, objective diagnostic tool has led to the past: the electroencephalogram, first used in 1929 to record the brain's electrical activity. "EEGs let you look at patients the way cardiologists do with EKGs, focusing on physiology, not symptoms," says psychiatrist William Richardson, who is at Overlook Hospital and in private practice in Summit, N.J. Brain measurements like EEGs not only offer the possibility of better treatment for mental illness, however. They also show that the line from brain to mind can meander like a mountain stream.

For an EEG, which typically costs about $150 and takes 45 minutes, a patient has about 20 electrodes pasted to his scalp, where they measure the electrical activity of neurons—brain waves—directly beneath. In the 1980s, researchers tried to base diagnoses on EEGs, but it didn't work. The same squiggles could mean different illnesses, and one illness could be marked by different EEGs. The new use of EEGs skips the diagnosis (a label like "anxiety disorder") and goes straight to a recommended treatment. An EEG is compared with a database that includes 13,000 pairings of EEGs with which drugs helped in each case. A California company called CNS Response, which runs the database, finds a match and sends the physician an analysis indicating which drugs patients with that EEG are sensitive or resistant to.

That would be humdrum if, say, the analysis said "Prozac" for a patient with depression. But according to studies of hundreds of patients—CNS Response is launching larger trials this fall—"in some three quarters of patients the EEG database leads the physician to something he wouldn't have thought of," says CNS president Len Brandt. One middle-aged woman, for instance, suffered from depression for years, even after Richardson prescribed one antidepressant after another, marching through Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Zoloft and more. Her EEG, it turned out, matched those of patients who had responded to Depakote, which is used for bipolar disorder and impulse-control disorders. She showed no signs of either. Yet on the drug and continued psychotherapy, her depression lifted in a week.

The EEG matches aren't perfect. For about one quarter of patients, the $500 analysis suggests treatments that work no better than what they'd already tried. It has proved most beneficial in stubborn cases and in those with no obvious first-line drug, such as eating disorders and addictions. A 16-year-old was repeatedly hospitalized for bulimia, purging up to 10 times a day despite being on the usual antidepressants, for instance. But her EEG pointed Greenblatt toward an anticonvulsant and a stimulant—not a duo anyone would have prescribed. She overcame her bulimia and is now in college.

Still, EEGs have not exactly taken psychiatry by storm. "It's a gross oversimplification to believe that the sum total of neuronal firing could give you anything worthwhile in terms of diagnosis," says Michael First of Columbia University, who is leading the team updating the diagnostic manual. "The scans are not specific for the illness." He's right: that's what those 1980s studies, trying to match symptoms to EEG, found.

But rather than being a fatal flaw, maybe it sheds light on the age-old conundrum of how brain gives rise to mind. One reason for the sometimes-odd pairings of illnesses and drugs is that many different brain states can produce the same mental symptoms, and many different symptoms can arise from the same brain state. Now replace "symptoms" with "mind." The path from electrical firings to mind is less mechanical than neuroscience dogma suggests. The mind has not yielded all its mysteries quite yet."

With Jeneen Interlandi

21st Century Psychiatry

Referenced EEG/Brainwave Testing

EEG & Psychiatry

2007-09-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Souvenir

2007-09-11T15:13:00.002-07:00

Abandoned cars
"One of the tragedies about this car park is that for many weeks after when I returned to my apartment, many of these cars were still there. They belonged to a lot of the people who would drive in from Jersey and upstate and go to the Trade Center. It's rather sad how many of those cars were there."

Dom Foulsham was in New York on business on 11 September 2001. He was staying in a Manhattan apartment, just south of the World Trade Center, and was woken when the second hijacked plane hit the south tower. His first instinct was to pick up his camera and begin taking pictures.

This post will be removed when appropriate.

Candida

2007-09-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

Candida is a little fungus that occurs naturally in the blood and which eats and processes excess sugar. Unfortunately, in doing so it also causes a craving for more sugar in the person ----- and this in turn can result in some very dramatic mood and behavior manifestations. Candida species are ubiquitous fungi found throughout the world as normal body flora. Unfortunately, candidiasis is also the most common mycotic infection, causing a variety of diseases.
A hefty dose of inexpensive yeast-fighters and some help in weaning off excess sugar works well to restore a healthy balance.
Sugar is a problem because it occurs in all foods and one does not have to be addicted to candy to have this problem. Often notice if people are having panic that sometimes looks like rage, this can be a sign of candidiasis.
species: Candida albicans, C albicans, Candida tropicalis, C tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, C parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondi, C guilliermondi, Candida lusitaniae, C lusitaniae, Candida krusei, C krusei, Torulopsis glabrata, T glabrata,

Candida Control Five-Point Plan

This needs to be followed for at least three months.

Kill it - Orally - Caprylic acid or raw garlic, Pau d'Arco herb, Nystatin (from your GP¹). Tea tree oil applied (diluted) to skin, and a few drops added to laundry conditioner, to help prevent the rest of the family becoming afflicted. Underwear can also be microwaved if you can't use tea tree oil, eg, if you're seeing a homeopath. You can also add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to bath water.
Starve it - Eliminate from diet all sugars (including fruit sugar) on which it feeds, and all yeasts, moulds and fungi (which encourages its growth).
Scrub it Out - Using Psyllium Hulls or Slippery Elm. These gently remove the dead candida cells from your gut and help absorb the toxins released by them - especially when they are dying, which can cause 'die back'. This is an exacerbation of your symptoms when you start to eliminate the candida. These toxins, re-absorbed, cause your symptoms in the first place. Psyllium and Slippery Elm can be bought in capsules or loose.
Replace it - Using multi-bifidus available in capsules, or from live plain yoghurt². When candida proliferates, the yeast cells clump together to form fungal sheets on your mucous membranes. In the gut, this slows down absorption of vital nutrients. When the fungal sheets are killed and scrubbed off, it leaves patches bare of the normal healthy gut flora which help us digest our food. Multi-bifidus or yoghurt encourages the re-growth of these.
Strengthen Your Immune System - With regular treatments from your homeopath. Herbs like Echinacea are extremely helpful, as are multi-vitamins and vital minerals, to replenish those lost by malabsorptions due to Candida.

Don't encourage its re-growth. It will come back quickly if you re-introduce sugars, yeasts and moulds too quickly. Avoid IS inhibitors - herbicides and pesticides on food, steroids, etc.

It is worth noting that in the case of Candida Albicans, or thrush, which is sexually transmittable, both partners should be treated, whether or not symptoms show in the other partner.

Twin Labs: Yeast Fighters:

High Potency Freeze Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic (milk free) (supplying 2.5 billion viable cells) 1000 mg
Concentrated Odorless Garlic Extract Powder (equivalent to 1500 mg of fresh garlic) 100 mg
Natural Caprylic Acid 100 mg
Biotin 900 mcg
Fiber Blend (psyllium seed husks, guar gum, apple pectin) 3000 mg
In a concentrated specially prepared herbal tea extract base of pau d'arco, onion, black walnut, echinacea and golden seal root.

Symptoms include:

Tired or lethargic
Poor memory
Feel drained, depleted or exhausted
Numbness, burning, tingling
Stomach pain
Joint pain or swelling
Muscle aching or weakness
Constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or belching
Bothersome or persistent vaginal itching, burning, or discharge
Prostatitis
Erectile dysfunction
Loss of sexual desire
Endometriosis or infertility
Menstrual irregularity or cramping
Anxiety attacks or crying
Cold hands and feet, feel chilly
Irritable or shaking when hungry

Natural Remedies

Alternative practitioners recommend individualized programs that usually combine diet and supplements. Supplements are introduced gradually to avoid a temporary worsening of symptoms called a "die-off" or Herxheimer reaction. This is because when candida are killed, they release protein fragments and toxins that can trigger an antibody response from the immune system.

Improvement in symptoms is usually noticed after two to four weeks.

Acidophillus
The beneficial bacteria acidophillus is thought to control candida by making the intestinal tract more acidic, discouraging the growth of candida, and by producing hydrogen peroxide, which directly kills candida.

Reasearch has shown that supplementing with a hydrogen peroxide-producing strain of acidophillus, DDS-1 greatly reduced the incidence of antibiotic-induced yeast infections.

These beneficial bacteria also help to restore the microbial balance within the digestive tract.

Fiber
One teaspoon to one tablespoon of soluble fiber containing guar gum, psyllium husks, flaxseeds or pectin can be mixed in an 8 oz glass of water two times per day on an empty stomach.

Enteric-coated essential oils
Enteric-coated capsules containing oregano oil, peppermint oil, and other volatile oils are thought to prevent the overgrowth of candida. It is usually recommended for at least several months. A standard dosage is two capsules two times a day with water, in between meals. Pure volatile oils can be quite toxic in this amount so the liquid form of these oils should never be ingested, and the capsules should not be broken open before ingesting.

Enteric-coated garlic
Garlic capsules that have been enteric-coated to open when they reach the intestines are often be used in combination with the volatile oils. Once capsule two times per day taken with the enteric-coated volatile oil is a typical recommendation.

Other valuable supplements are caprylic acid from coconuts, oleic acid from olive oil, oregano oil, and pau d'arco. There are many combination products formulated for candida that contain these herbs and supplements.

Some experts suggest that an elimination diet is useful. It allows one to pinpoint what foods are exactly causing the reactions. Elimination diets should be followed for a month to allow for accuracy. Not only do they work with excess candida but also for ADD/ADHD, yeast infections, diabetes and IBS - to name but a few disorders.

Eat only range-fed turkey and lamb, baked or boiled potatoes and sweet potatoes (with salt and pepper only), rice and millet as your only grain, cooked green and yellow squash for your vegetable, and for fruit, pears and diluted pear juice. Drink a rice-based beverage drink in place of milk on cereal or in cooking. Do not yet use soy beverage. Take a calcium supplement. (Rice products, such as rice beverage, rice-based frozen dessert, rice pasta, rice flour, and millet are available in nutrition stores.)
At the end of two weeks, or sooner if symptoms subside, gradually add other foods to your diet, one every four days, starting with those less commonly allergenic (such as sunflower seeds, carrots, beets, salmon, oats, grapes, avocado, peaches). Wait a while before you add wheat, beef, eggs, nuts, and corn. Avoid for the longest time dairy products, soy products, peanuts, shellfish, coffee, tea, colas and other beverages containing caffeine, chocolate, gas-producing vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, green peppers), tomatoes, and citrus fruits. Vegetables and fruits are often tolerated in cooked form sooner than in raw form.
Keep a record of the foods you eat and the problem behaviors; try to correlate re-emergence of symptoms with what you've eaten in the past day or so. This gives you a clearer perspective and helps you stay objective.

Do not starve yourself. It may feel, the first day or two, as though there is not enough for you to eat; but you can still eat a nutritious diet. You just have to eat more of the "safe" types of food until you determine what you can tolerate. Make written notes as you go along. Remember that a successful final eating regimen may even include "problem foods" on a treat basis! Good Luck.

Anxiety Redux: Theanine

2007-09-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

There are many studies concerning the efficacy of L-Theanine on anxiety and/or emotional agitation. In general they indicate that it is a supplement that is worth the research and exploration.

"The results showed some evidence for relaxing effects of L-theanine during the baseline condition on the tranquil-troubled subscale of the VAMS. Alprazolam did not exert any anxiolytic effects in comparison with the placebo on any of the measures during the relaxed state. Neither L-theanine nor alprazalam had any significant anxiolytic effects during the experimentally induced anxiety state. The findings suggest that while L-theanine may have some relaxing effects under resting conditions, neither L-theanine not alprazolam demonstrate any acute anxiolytic effects under conditions of increased anxiety in the AA model.

The acute effects of L-theanine in comparison with alprazolam on anticipatory anxiety in humans. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2004 Oct;19(7):457-65.

Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction

2007-09-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Preliminary research on a few herbal supplements — such as DHEA, ginseng and propionyl-L-carnitine — suggests that they may provide benefit as an erectile dysfunction treatment in some men. But no adequate clinical trials have evaluated either the effectiveness or the safety of supplements in treating erectile dysfunction.

Natural treatment can support erectile function by improving overall health. Erectile dysfunction due to vascular disease may readily respond to nutritional changes and herbal support.

Nutrition
Good nutrition may help improve erectile dysfunction.

Eat whole, fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits (lots of richly pigmented berries to support vascular integrity), vegetables, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and mackerel).
Avoid sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods, and caffeine.
Eliminate food sensitivities. Use an elimination and challenge diet elimination and challenge diet to determine food sensitivities.
Drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 oz of water daily).

Supplements
Supplements are intended to provide nutritional support. Because a supplement or a recommended dose may not be appropriate for all persons, a physician (i.e., a licensed naturopathic physician or holistic MD or DO) should be consulted before using any product.

Recommended doses follow:

Bioflavonoids – Take 1000 mg daily.
Flaxseed meal – Grind 2-4 tablespoons daily. Flaxseed meal is a better choice due to its fiber, lignan, and vitamin content, but flaxseed oil (1 tbsp daily) can be substituted.
Inositol hexaniacinate – Take 1000-3000 mg daily to improve circulation and lower cholesterol. Diabetics should not take this supplement.
Selenium – Take 200 mcg daily.
Vitamin C – Take 1000 mg 3 times daily with meals.
Vitamin E – Take 400 IUs daily.
Zinc – Take 30 mg daily.

Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicines usually do not have significant side effects when used appropriately and at suggested doses. Occasionally, an herb at the prescribed dose causes stomach upset or a headache. This may reflect the purity of the preparation or added ingredients, such as synthetic binders or fillers. For this reason, it is recommended that only high-quality products be used. As with all medications, more is not better and overdosing can lead to serious illness and death.

These herbs may be used to treat erectile dysfunction:

Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) – Traditionally used for male impotence, though no current studies support this usage.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa) – Traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and for various sexual disorders; however, there are no current studies to confirm its effectiveness.
Ginkgo biloba – Increases arterial blood flow, which may have a positive effect on male sexual function.
Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) – Used for erectile dysfunction and lack of libido.

In addition, one popular herbal medicine called yohimbe — which is marketed as a sexual stimulant — can be dangerous if used in excessive amounts. Adverse side effects include high blood pressure and heart failure.

Here are five natural remedies that are used for erectile dysfunction.

1) L-Arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid that the body uses to make nitric oxide, a substance signals smooth muscle surrounding blood vessels to relax, which dilates the blood vessels and increases blood flow. Relaxation of smooth muscle in the penis allows for enhanced blood flow, leading to an erection.

L-arginine is found naturally in foods such as meat, dairy, poultry and fish.

It is also available as oral L-arginine supplements, which some product manufacturers market as a "natural Viagra").

There have only been two studies to date, however, evaluating the effectiveness of L-arginine for erectile dysfunction.

One study involved 50 men who took L-arginine (5 grams a day) or a placebo. After six weeks, significantly more men taking L-arginine experienced an improvement in sexual function compared with men taking the placebo. Interestingly, it only benefited men who had initially low levels of nitric oxide.

Another study using a smaller dose of L-arginine and a shorter treatment duration found no benefit with L-arginine use. The study involved 32 men with erectile dysfunction who took oral L-arginine supplements (500 milligrams three times per day) or a placebo for 17 days. Oral L-arginine was no better than the placebo.

Side effects may include digestive complaints. High dosees of L-arginine may stimulate the body's production of gastrin, a hormone that increases stomach acid. For this reason, L-arginine may be harmful for individuals with ulcers and people taking drugs that are hard on the stomach.

L-arginine may also alter potassium levels in the body, especially in people with liver disease. It should not be taken by people who are on medications that alter potassium levels, such as potassium sparing diuretics and ACE inhibitors. For more information about L-arginine, read the L-Arginine Fact Sheet.

2) Propionyl-L-Carnitine

One study examined the use of two forms of carnitine, propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in 96 men who with erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery. One group were given a placebo, another group took propionyl-L-carnitine (2 grams per day) plus acetyl-L-carnitine (2 grams per day) and sildenafil (Viagra) when needed, and the third group used Viagra alone.

Propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine were found to enhance the effectiveness of sildenafil, and result in improved erectile function, sexual intercourse satisfaction, orgasm, and general sexual well-being compared to Viagra alone.

Another study examined the effectiveness of propionyl-L-carnitine supplements plus sildenafil in men with erectile dysfunction and diabetes who were previously unresponsive to Viagra alone.

Participants in the study received either propionyl-L-carnitine (two grams per day) plus Viagra (50 milligrams twice a week) or Viagra alone. After 24 weeks, propionyl-L-carnitine plus Viagra was significantly more effective than Viagra alone.

3) Gingko

The herb ginkgo is used for erectile dysfunction, particularly in people who experience sexual dysfunction as a side effect of antidepressant drugs. It appears to relax smooth muscle and enhance blood flow in the penis.

In one study of 60 men with erectile dysfunction, there was a 50 percent success rate after six months of ginkgo treatment. Two additional studies, however, found that ginkgo was no better than a placebo.

For more information about ginkgo, read the Ginkgo Fact Sheet.

4) Zinc

Siginificant depletion of the mineral zinc, associated with long-term use of diuretics, diabetes, digestive disorders, and certain kidney and liver diseases, has been shown to lead to erectile dysfunction.

5) Ashwagandha

The herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is sometimes called Indian Ginseng because it is thought to have similar effects on the body. It is thought to increase energy, stamina, and sexual function. No studies, however, have examined whether it is effective for erectile dysfunction in humans.

Side effects of ashwagandha may include drowsiness. It should not be combined with sedative drugs.

Yohimbe (Not Recommended)

The bark of the west African yohimbe tree is a source of yohimbine, a compound that has been found to stimulate blood flow to the penis, increase libido, and decrease the period between ejaculations.

Yohimbe is not recommended, however, because it is potentially dangerous, even in small doses. Side effects may include dizziness, anxiety, nausea, a severe drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, fatigue, hallucinations, and paralysis.

Kegel Excercises

The first step is to properly identify the muscle group to be exercised.

As you begin urinating, try to stop the flow of urine without tensing the muscles of your legs. It is very important not to use these other muscles, because only the pelvic floor muscles help with bladder control.
When you are able to slow or stop the stream of urine you have located the correct muscles. Feel the sensation of the muscles pulling inward and upward.

Helpful hint . . . If you squeeze the rectal area as if not to pass gas, you will be using the correct muscles.

Now you are ready to begin exercising regularly.

Once you have located the correct muscle, set aside two times each day for exercising. Morning and evening are good times for most people, but the important thing is to choose times that are convenient for you so you can develop a routine.

Set 1: Quick Contractions (QC) -- tighten and relax the sphincter muscle as rapidly as you can.
Set 2: Slow Contractions (SC) -- contract the sphincter muscle and hold to a count of 3 (gradually work at increasing the count to 10). Make sure you relax completely between contractions.

In the beginning you should check yourself frequently by placing a hand over your abdomen and buttocks during your exercises. You should not feel the muscles of your abdomen, buttocks, or thighs tighten. If there is movement of these muscles you should continue experimenting until you are able to isolate the pelvic floor muscles.

You should see improvement of your bladder control in 3 to 6 weeks. Keep a record of urine leakage to monitor your progress.

Phenomenologicality

FLU - H1N5, H1N7 & H1N1 Swine Flu (from BBC)

Q&A: Advice about swine flu

HOW SWINE FLU OUTBREAK EMERGED

HRT revisited

RELAX ~ don't say it .......

How to Win an argument – even if it is only in yourself!

CDC GUIDELINES FOR influenza A (H1N1)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy revisited

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Hope & Change

PRAYER

Stress Hygiene

Exercises

Death By Flu Med!!!

Declining effectiveness of amantadine

Talk to your OB/GYN ~

Breathing again .......

The Four Stages of Breathing in Yoga

Alternatives to serious Self Harm

Emmanuel Lévinas

Hakomi

Approach and method

Acai

Harvesting and uses

Stem

Fruit

[edit] Other uses

[edit] Nutritional content

Antioxidant phytochemicals

Other Research

Super Antioxidant

cough, cold an the flu .....

Colds and Flu: Upper Respiratory Infections

Toys and Safer Fun

Stages ...... relationship

CLL

The Practitioner's Dilemma

Royal Canadian Air Force 5BX fitness

Simple Sleep .....

Learning, memory and Alzheimers from Wikipedia

Reality Bites

Just Kissing .......

We were just kissing

Syphilis:

What is it and how is it passed on?

Signs and symptoms

Testing and treatment

Treatment is simple during the primary and secondary stages, and involves either a single antibiotic injection or two-week course of antibiotic tablets. It can also be treated during the third or latent stage, but any damage done to the body may be irreversible.

What happens if it isn't treated?

Chlamydia

Signs and symptoms

Testing and treatment

What happens if it isn't treated?

Acupressure Points for Stress Headache

STRESS!

Symptoms of Burnout

Body Check

HRT

Hormone Replacement Therapies:

Prevention of Infection

The great escape: Ending period pain

Web Links

Yearly cycle

Body blocking

Moderation Management

The MM Limits:

Notes:

Coeliac Disease Diet

Treatment

Potential harmful ingredients include:

Coeliac Disease

Symptoms

Classic symptoms may include:

Other symptoms:

Putting Brains on the Couch

Souvenir

Candida

Natural Remedies

Anxiety Redux: Theanine