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Monday, June 01, 2009

Gabriel Cousens M.D. discusses Swine (H1N1) Flu

Gabriel Cousens M.D. on the Swine H1N1 Flu Virus
"Although the war between the light and the dark has already been won, there are still some battles to be fought.  Please keep a positive attitude and be at Peace" Gabriel Cousens M.D.
 
Full Preparation, Prevention and Protection Protocol Below

Dear Friend,

Although everything is possible, the emergence of the swine flu pandemic can only happen if this is a genetically engineered virus.  As in the past with the avian flu pandemic in limiting serious amounts of the population, we pray this will also fail.  

There is one of the 72 names pronounced: nun lamed kaf, which is specific for nullifying plagues.  Gabriel encourages all people who get this to spend a little bit of time each day repeating this mantra with visualizations of this virus dying out and their attempt at creating a pandemic failing and visualizing the whole world being healthy and happy.

The previous protocol for protecting against the viral flu that the Tree of Life has put out in the past is very effective against this human bird swine flu and for protecting the immune system combined with adequate sleep, live food, good hydration, and a loving attitude. This protocol applies to building the immune system against all flus.

Previous vaccination programs have been between 0 and 14% effective according to the CDC and 1% effective according to Israli research.  Israeli research has also shown that vaccinations compromise the immune system.  Research at John's Hopkins over a 10-year period showed that 5 consecutive flu vaccinations resulted in 10 times greater amounts of Alzheimer's Disease, which fits with research by Russell Blaylock M.D. Neuro Surgeon, which suggests that one single vaccination can cause brain inflammation that can last up to 2 years.  

Gabriel recommends people have some level of preparedness and in advance an overall flu protocol. Gabriel also recommends getting a bio-photon machine, which neutralizes viruses and vaccinations.  These are available through the Tree of Life Dispensary.

Please contact our pharmacy (866 394 2520 ext 202/218) and order your supplies from the flu protocol ASAP!

Although the war between the light and the dark has already been won, there are still some battles to be fought.  Please keep a positive attitude and be at Peace. 

Gabriel sends blessings of health, peace, and joy to everyone.

Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D.(H), Diplomat of Ayurveda


Healthy Lifestyle Support Resources

Join GabrielCousens.com for ongoing online support with Gabriel Cousens M.D.
www.gabrielcousens.com
Call the Dispensary for Nutritional support
520 394 2520 ext 202 or 218
Call Reservations
for Detox, Education in Food Prep & Farming and info on Medical Whole Person Healing
866 394 2520 ext 201/216


Other Great Online Educational References: www.naturalnews.com


AVIAN FLU (or Any FLU)
PREPARATION, PREVENTION, AND PROTECTION
By Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
Article from September 2006 - Infomation still Essential and Accurate
 EMAIL US IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PDF OF THIS FILE

1. The key is to lead a healthy/happy lifestyle which builds the immune system. Leading as low stress, love-filled, and conscious a lifestyle as possible is the most important protector and builder of the immune system.
2. This includes adequate sleep—there is an estimated 100 million in the U.S. who are sleep deprived. Seven to eight hours is usually adequate, especially if it includes the hours between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am, when the immune system most actively rejuvenates itself.
3. Drinking high quality water about ½ the body weight in oz or so is urinating every 1-2 hours. Chapter 29, "Living Water," in Spiritual Nutrition gives a good description of safe, high energy water with an activated-distilled approach which is the most practical way to get the most pure water.
4. Adequate nutrition.
5. 15-30 minutes of sunlight per day.

 

In protecting oneself against avian bird flu it is imperative that we counter the destructive affects of the virus. To do this we suggest taking vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are collectively:
(a) Anti-viral
(b) Anti-oxidant
(c) Anti-inflammatory
(d) Anti-immune
(e) Anti-cytokine storm
(f) Alkalinizing
(g) Adrenal building.

 

The Avian flu viral infection has five components that affect us:
1. Cytokine storm à inflammation of the lungs. This is the main cause of death.
2. Effect of the virus on the cells.
3. Free radical overload as a result of viral infection that weakens people and suppresses the immune system.
4. The weak immune system before-the-fact is further compromised by the virus itself.
5. Adrenal exhaustion, potentially leading to a fatal case of hemorrhagic adrenals.

 

A proper approach to prevention and treatment needs to take into account all these factors.

 

Although an Avian bird flu pandemic is only a possibility, pandemics have occurred throughout history, and we should be prepared [ourselves, well beyond the approach of governmental organizations, which do not address any of the main preventative measures discussed here.] The following is a list of some of the major pandemics to make the point and possibility clear.

 

1485                      Flu-like malady in England where hundreds of thousands were sick. Many died.
1580                      first recorded epidemic in Europe which came to Asia and Africa.
1700                      Pandemics
1729-30
1732-1733
1781-1782
1830
1831
1833-1834
1847-1848
1878                      Fowl plague, now called the avian influenza.
1889-1890              Russian flu spread from Russia to America.
1900                      Major epidemic
1918 and 1920       Between 20 to 100 million died.
1924                      First outbreak of the avian flu.
1957-1958             Pandemic – 1 million people worldwide
1968-1969             Hong Kong Flu – 34,000 Americans
1976                           Swine Flu – Never really broke out. More people died from the vaccinations than the flu. There were 25 Deaths from the Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
1997                      H-5 N-1 Bird Flu There have been approximately 120 cases.

 

 

THREE LEVELS OF ACTION
As in many aspects of late, preparation is the key to success. This approach covers what to do in three separate situations, which we code:

 

GREEN LEVEL
No flu

 

YELLOW LEVEL
Avian flu has not arrived locally, but has begun to mutate and spread in the public sector

 

RED LEVEL
You have the flu
 

 

It is very important that we maintain a certain amount of awareness about this. In terms of preparation at the Green Level, the best thing we can do is: don't take a vaccination. The research is not definitive, but very suggestive that not only do vaccinations not help, but they can even hurt us. To be specific, there is research that shows that vaccinations actually decrease your ability to cope with viruses. That is a significant statement. Research by Dr. Haim Deninberg of Hadaza University in Jerusalem found that people that have been given flu vaccines had lower antibody levels against the three major strains of flu than those who had not been vaccinated. In other words, it in fact weakened the immune system. Flu shots may actually be creating a pattern of dependence. Some research in Finland showed two groups of elderly people given the flu shot had an only 1% lower incidence of flu than the placebo group. [CHECK THIS SOURCE] There are a lot of additional dangers to vaccinations. Vaccines contain toxic metals and compounds such as formaldehyde, mercury, and aluminum phosphate. Other things that are in various vaccines are: monkey kidneys, antibiotics, calf serum, and chick embryo. These are all foreign proteins which can cause an adverse reaction in the recipient. The reaction is something for children we definitely know of, but the Guillain-Barre occurs in primarily adults. We must consider the Guillain-Barre Sydrome, an auto-immune response of the nervous system which may leave one completely paralyzed from the neck down or cause death. I actually treated someone for a complete paralysis. What we find is that when immunity to a disease is acquired naturally, a possible re-infection is only 3%; whereas where a vaccination is administered the re-infection rate is up to 80%.
Finally, regarding our children, vaccines have been associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and autism. We need to be very careful about this whole picture.

 

 

once we understand that vaccinations are not the key and may weaken our defense system, or actually cause irreversible disease or death, we are more free to go to the fundamentals of health and building the immune system. it takes us back to something fundamental, which is our strategy.

 

This involves choosing to lead a really healthy, low-stress life, with lots of herbal and anti-viral foods such as: Garlic; shitake mushroom; aloe vera; onion; ginger; spirulina; cruciferous vegetables; elderberries; berries. We want to have Vitamin C, A, E; the minerals zinc and selenium; lomatium; astragalus; St. John's Wort; Echinacea; licorice; lemon balm; green tea; grapefruit seed extract[1]; and cat's claw. We want to keep our stress low, be at peace with the world, get plenty of hydration, and lymphatic protection.

 

This all means that although there are no guarantees, we are providing the maximum sort of protection for ourselves on all levels.

 

GREEN LEVEL

 

THE KEY APPROACH TO THE BIRD FLU IS PREVENTION. At the Green Level, this means a healthy diet. This is going to be an 80-100 percent live-food diet; a diet that inhibits free-radical production; enhances enzyme production; inactivates viruses; and is high in certain nutrients that build the immune system. One of the most important nutrients is Vitamin C. We want to have a diet that is high in vitamin C, and we recommend at the Green Level to certainly have lots of vegetables and fruit, and be taking a highly-potent C. The type that I recommend is a whole-food C, such as Pure Radiance C, Camu-Camu, or Acerola berries. The diet should be a low-glycemic diet that is high in vegetables, leafy greens, and sea vegetables. Also included are: Green superfood powders; grasses; sprouts; the superfoods: bee pollen, cacao, maca, spirulina (which has specific anti-viral effects), chlorella, blue-green algae (which has stem cell stimulants in it and anti-viral qualities), and goji berries. For some cayenne pepper works good as a carrier. Although garlic is not the best for meditation, garlic can be used at the Yellow Level, as it has potent anti-viral effects. Aloe vera, which has anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties and is a very high-ormus containing food.Noni is good, as well. These are extremely good anti-viral, immune-stimulating foods.

 

Other excellent foods and herbs at the Green Level include: Oregano; Cloves; Paprika; Thyme; Peppermint; Lemon Balm; Curcurum; Green Tea; Ginger is extremely good and has many antiviral qualities to it; St. John's Wort is also a very powerful antiviral herb; and Una de Gato.

 

Natural Cellular Defense (NCD) has specific anti-viral, antioxidant, and alkalinizing qualities. Studies show that it removes pesticides and heavy metals from the body, strengthening the immune system and making it an excellent Green Level supplement. I recommend 10 drops 3x/day at the Green Level. At the Yellow Level, 15 drops 4x/day, and at the Red Level, 3 drops each hour.

 

We should avoid all poultry products. Obviously the issue of poultry is akin to Mad Cow Disease—we would not be talking about Avian Bird Flu if the people were not exploiting the bird population. One way to make it clear is: don't eat the birds, or, "chicken and turkey are for the birds, they are not for human beings."

 

It is important to be well hydrated with clean water. This keeps the system from getting congested and keeps the lymph going. A lifestyle that moves the lymph is important. One of the best and easiest ways to support lymph circulation is rebounding. Moderate exercise is also good for the immune system.

 

There are certain nutrients that are in the Green Level that are important. Zinc[2] may be the most important antioxidant known, and effects over 300 enzymes. A diet that is high in pumpkin and sunflower seeds is good. Zinc turns out to be extraordinarily important for protection and for healing/treatment of Avian bird flu. One of the dangerous aspects of the Avian bird flu is what we call the cytokine storm. This is an imbalance between Thymic Hormone-1 and -2, which results in inflammation and edema of the lungs and is the major cause of death in Avian bird flu. Zinc corrects the imbalance between TH-1 and TH-2. Zinc re-establishes the hormonal balance that prevents and ameliorates the cytokine storm. There is good evidence that zinc salts also potentiate ten-fold the anti-viral action of the human cytokine interferon Alpha. Zinc is an essential component of the specific SOD enzymes, which can significantly reduce mortality rates, following a lung infection. Zinc also decreases the severity and duration of viral and other infections. While it does not kill viruses and bacteria, zinc does stop them from reproducing, and is therefore useful to support the immune system. Zinc quickly dissolves and moves throughout the body fluids - especially saliva and nasal secretions - increasing the strength of the lung epithelial airways, so that they will become less inflamed. Unfortunately today there is a deficiency of zinc around the world, so we may want to add into the Level Green diet a zinc supplement. Generally, we recommend the Angstrom zinc supplements, because zinc is absorbed through the mouth, which is better than gut absorption. At the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center, we use Mother Earth's zinc. I recommend a teaspoon, 1-3 times/day to be held in the mouth. This is good in terms of just a tablet, around 25-50 mg/day is important. 50 mg is closer to a therapeutic dose.

 

Selenium is an important preventative nutrient at the Green Level ½ tsp 2x/day. There are natural sources of selenium, such as Ashitaba or 3 Brazil Nuts per day. You do need to be mindful of excessive selenium consumption.

 

Vitamin C is one of the other major protective nutrients. It is a super antioxidant. Under viral attack we get many free radical problems. It is a cofactor for enzyme reactions, and it inactivates viruses, and inhibits lung inflammation, and obviously, the cytokine storm. In oxidating environments Vitamin C increases the release of superoxides and nitric acid to counter the free radicals. Vitamin C is one of the most important things we can use to protect us. The average dose at the preventative level is 3 grams/day of the Pure Radiance C and up to 8,000 mg per half hour if there is actually an infection, so this is a large range of C. At the Red Level, one can use Vitamin C up to bowel tolerance (where one gets gas and slight diarrhea), and then slightly decrease the amount.

 

B-12[3] is another very important nutrient. B-12 has been shown to minimize the negative effects of the cytokine storm. [Cytokine storms are really the key physiology to focus on, in terms of the people dying from Avian flu.]

 

Vitamin A is another crucial nutrient. We get that in all our leafy greens, and we have a source of A to be used in an acute way that we can go up to 100,000 IU. We have to be careful with A—the beta carotenes will do it in a preventive way. The Vitamin A stimulates the [        ] in the upper respiratory tract.

 

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and Thio-Dox makes glutathionine, which is a powerful immune stimulant and antioxidant to take preventatively at the Green Level.

 

 

YELLOW LEVEL
The Yellow Level requires deeper attention. We want to keep to moderate exercise. We want to start to apply some of our herbal combinations. One is garlic. You can soak it in lemon juice 24-48 hours, or you can take allicin concentrates. You may want to take Echinacea preventatively; the mushrooms[4] Reishi, Shitake, and Maitake; Agaricus blazei; cordyceps;licorice root is very antiviral. Astragalus - known as loco weed - is specifically good for avian flu at the Red Level. Increase your amount of aloe vera. Russian Immune is also a good tonic. These are more specific Yellow Level preventatives. They really begin to protect the system in a good way.

 

 

RED LEVEL
During this time, the Green Level and Yellow Level diet of Phase 1 and 1.5 is where we are.[5] At the Red Level you may want to consider a green juice fast to best help your system alkalize.

 

At the Red Level, we are adding a whole other level of input by adding some very specific treatment protocols, which we have outlined. Vitamin C becomes 8,000 mg every 30 minutes;B-12 is already on board.

 

Our Red Level protocol includes a set of supplements, one of the primary ones is Sambucol, which has been shown to knock out a whole variety of flus—20 percent by day one and up to 90 percent by day three. One should take it at the beginning of the flu. Sambucol is a  commercial name for elderberry.

 

One of the things that we heard about the flu epidemic in 1917 was that many people died from hemorrhagic adrenals, due to adrenal stress. So we are adding Quantum Adaptogen at the Green Level once to twice a day depending, Yellow Level 1-2 tabs 2x/day, and at the Red Level, 3 tabs 3x/day. At the Yellow Level, we add Russian Choice Immune 1 cap 2x/day and at the Red Level 3 caps 4x/day. Supreme Protector 1 cap/day at the Yellow Level, 2 caps 3x/day at the Red Level. Also for adrenal support, Tachyon Siberian Ginseng called OS Gin, 1 drop/day. You can also use OS 25. Yellow 1 drop 2x/day, and then 1 drop 4x/day at the Red Level.

 

Immutol at the Yellow Level 1 cap 2x/day and 3 caps 4x/day at Red Level.

 

Illumination, which has star anise (what Tamiflu is made from). We start with 1 teaspoon/day at the Green Level. 1 teaspoon 2x/day at the Yellow Level, and 1 teaspoon 4x/day at the Red Level. It is excellent for the immune and adrenal system.

 

Flumonia, which has a special formulation with Lomatium in it, is used primarily at the Red Level 1 drop/hour. It is specific for SARS and Avian bird flu.

 

The Allicidin, from a garlic concentrate, 1-2 drops in the nose 2x/day with a squirt in the nose of Peaceful Mountain Sinusitis or Cold and Flu. At the Red Level, 1-2 drops in the nostril 4x/day, 1 squirt each nostril per hour.

 

Vitamin E has antiviral factors. Initially at the Green Level use 400 IU, and then at the Red Level going up to 800-1600 IU.

 

At the Red Level, Argentum 23, 1 tsp 5x/day can be used. It is specifically anti-viral and antibacterial. At the Red Level you can take Argentum 23 in a nebulizer, which we do offer at the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center. Appropriate amounts are 2.5 - 5 cc twice daily all the way up to hourly.

 

Rectal Ozone[6] is a powerful anti-viral to be used at the Red Level.

 

One of the great things that has been known for hundreds of years and has been used in various plagues is aromatherapy. We have designed one called Mighty Mite, which at the Yellow Level would be 5 drops daily. At the Red Level 5 drops up to 4x/day. It may have a hard effect on the liver, and should only be used for 4-7 days in a row. Another aromatherapy we have developed is Lung Lover, made from frankincense, myrrh, clove, ravensara, hyssop, eucalyptus globulus.

 

 

OTHER PREPARATIONS FOR A YELLOW OR RED LEVEL EVENT
There are things you may also want to prepare for your protection.

 

Have a mask. We recommend the North 5500 from the website www.approvedgasmasks.com

 

A good water supply – if everyone is sick there may be a water shortage. If you are on electricity, you water supply may go down in the event of an outage. As a backup, you may want to have a Katadyn hand-pump water filter and a Steripen, which uses ultraviolet light.

 

Toilet paper

 

Wind-up AM/FM Radio to keep up with what is going on, such as the Eton Grundig FR300, or others available at Radio Shack or Red Cross.

 

Stay off the Streets. You don't have to be in a panic, but be very much at peace. Stay off the streets because quarantines will be in effect. According to the CDC, there is no real difference between in symptoms between regular flu and avian flu in the initial stages. You do not want to be in a place where you are quarantined with other sick people who actually have the Avian bird flu.

 

CONCLUSION
The estimates are that if Avian flu were to become a plague, 1% of the population in the U.S. might die, and estimates are up to 30% of the population would get flu symptoms. Estimates are that up to one billion would die in the world. Using these very simple nutritional and life style approaches, we do not have to be a part of that 1 billion people.         

 

Following this approach, you have a very good chance of either protecting yourself completely against the flu or minimizing its effects on you.

 

May all those who receive this be blessed with this knowledge and information, and know that we can do something about this possibility. Preparation leads to prevention and protection.

 

MENTIONED APART FROM THE REST OF THE TEXT:

 

Immune Builder by Mushroom Science (shitake, maitake – a blend of _______ mushrooms
Host Defense by New Chapter – Another excellent mushroom blend (shitake, maitake, reishi, lion's mane
Influenzium (sp?) – A homeopathic
Thiodox + NAC

 

FURTHER RESOURCES
How to Beat the Bird Flu by Mike Adams,  http://www.birdfludefense.com

 

 
Green Level
Yellow Level
Red  Level

 

 

 

 

Diet/Lifestyle
80-100% Vegan/Raw Foods with periodic fasting
80-100% Vegan/Raw Foods with periodic fasting
80-100% Vegan/Raw Foods with periodic fasting
Pure Water
½ body weight in oz per day
½ body weight in oz per day
½ body weight in oz per day plus Green Juices or Green Juice Fast
Spirulina
1-3 T/day
1-3 T/day
1-3 T/day
Noni

 

 

 

Cacao
Up to 16 beans/day
Up to 16 beans/day
Up to 16 beans/day
Maca

 

 

 

Bee Pollen
1-3 T/day
1-3 T/day
1-3 T/day
Adequate Sleep
7-8 hours
7-8 hours
7-8 hours
Low-stress, Love-filled life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise
Rebounder 16 minutes/day
Rebounder 16 minutes/day
Rest – preserve energy for healing
 

 

 

 

Supplements

 

 

 

Natural Cellular Defense (NCD)
10 Drops 3x/day
15 Drops 4x/day
3 drops/hour
Pure Radiance C
1 tsp 3x/day
2 tsp 3x/day
1 tsp/hr and up to 8 gm buffered C
Vitamin A
1 lb leafy greens/day
10,000 IU/day
25,000 IU/Day – up to 1 month
Vitamin E
400 or ½ tsp
400 or ½ tsp
400 BID or ½ tsp BID
Probiotics
Daily dose
Daily dose
Double the daily dose
Angstrom Zinc
1 tsp/day
1 tsp 2x/day
1 tsp 4x/day
Angstrom Selenium

 

 

 

Quantum Nucleotide
1 cap 2x/day
2 cap 2x/day
4 caps 4x/day
Quantum Adaptogen
As you choose
1-2 2x/day
3 3x/day
Tachyon Cold and Flu (OS-10)

 

1 dropper/day
1 dropper 4x/day
Russian Choice Immune

 

1 cap 2x/day
3 caps 4x/day
Supreme Protector
1-2 caps 2x/day

 

 

Supreme Protector 2000

 

1 cap/day
1 cap 2x/day
Immutol

 

1 2x/day
3 caps 4x/day
Sambucol

 

 

1 tsp 4x/day
Illumination
1 tsp/day
1 tsp 2x/day
1 tsp 4x/day
Tachyon Siberian Ginseng (OS-Gin)
1 dropper/day
1 dropper 2x/day
1 dropper 4x/day
Flumonia

 

 

1 dropper/hour
Allicidin

 

 

12 drops 4x/day
Pacific Cold and Sinus

 

 

1 squirt 4/x/day
NAC

 

 

 

Ozone

 

 

Rectal ozone 1x/day
Immune Builder

 

1 - 1x/day
2 – 2x/day
5 – 3x/day
Host Defense
15 drops 2x/day
30 drops 2x/day
15 drops 4x/day
Mighty Mite

 

5 drops/day
5 drops 4x/day (Up to 4-7 days in a row)
Lung Lover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[1] Nutribiotic Liquid Concentrate with Citricidal, www.nutribiotic.com
[2] See Cousens, Gabriel, M.D. Spiritual Nutrition, pp, 453-454.
[3] See Cousens, Gabriel, M.D. Spiritual Nutrition, chapter 19, "B-12"
[4] There are some excellent mushroom combinations for the Yellow Level listed in the chart following this discussion.
[5] See Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine by Gabriel Cousens, M.D. for a detailed investigation of a vegan/live low-glycemic index diet and a food phases chart for guidance.
[6] For a thorough discussion of oxygen therapies including rectal ozone, see Flood Your Body With Oxygen by Ed McCabe.


Happiness Boosters

Joe Vitale, PhD
Hypnotic Marketing, Inc.

M ost people say they want to be happier, but how can they get there when they’re focused on what’s wrong instead of what’s right? Here’s terrific advice from Joe Vitale, PhD, president of Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. (www.mrfire.com), and author of Life’s Missing Instruction Manual (Wiley)...

Don’t listen to negative self-talk. You can’t stop your thoughts, but you don’t have to listen to them. When a troubling thought intrudes, remind yourself that "it’s just a thought, and I can let it go." You may need to enlist a friend or coworker to keep an ear open for negative comments. Ask him/her to ask you, "Do you really believe that?"

Focus on the positive. There is no rule that says you must be depressed when life hits a rough stretch. Being unhappy won’t help fix your problems, but it will make your life less pleasant while you endure them.

Don’t look to blame. Blaming others won’t improve your life. Rather than ask, "Whose fault is this?" ask, "What can I do to make the best of this situation?"

Change your ways. Your "nature" is just the role you’re currently playing. If you don’t like being considered argumentative, for example, pick another role. To change your nature, change the way you act. The new behavior might feel phony at first, but keep at it and it can become your nature.


E-mail this Article

Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Joe Vitale, PhD, president of Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. (www.mrfire.com), and author of Life’s Missing Instruction Manual (Wiley).

Friday, May 29, 2009

How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage

How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage

Steven D. Solomon, PhD

I t seems that every week we learn about another politician, sports star or celebrity caught having an extramarital affair. But public figures are hardly the only ones guilty of infidelity. Surveys show that between 40% and 60% of husbands and between 30% and 50% of wives will be unfaithful at some point during their marriages.

Loneliness is the most common cause of infidelity. Almost everyone who enters into marriage does so intending to remain faithful to his/her partner, but long-term relationships are difficult. Partners often drift apart. The romance and the excitement of the initial period eventually ends. Many people do not know how to recover the closeness of a relationship once it fades, so they look outside the marriage for the fulfillment that they no longer receive at home.


The secret to a fulfilling and faithful long-term marriage is maintaining "emotional intimacy" -- openness, trust, communication and caring between partners. When spouses feel this ­intimate closeness, they are unlikely to cheat.


Emotional intimacy is not just one skill -- it is a combination of several different abilities...


SELF-INTIMACY

In order to have an emotionally intimate relationship with someone else, you first must understand your own emotions. Men in particular tend to pay insufficient attention to their emotions.


What to do: Take one to two minutes a few times a day to ask yourself three questions -- What emotion(s) am I feeling right now? What specific situation is causing me to feel these emotions? What, if anything, do I need to do about this situation to take care of myself?


Example: I'm feeling anger... I'm feeling it because that guy cut me off on the highway... The best thing I can do to take care of myself is let the anger go.

Run through these questions two or three times each day for 60 days and you will become much more aware of, and in charge of, your own emotions.


CONFLICT INTIMACY

All couples fight, but couples with emotionally intimate marriages fight productively. They don't just try to win arguments -- they listen to their partners and come to understand their points of view, even if they do not agree.


What to do: When you are at odds with your spouse, try an established technique called Initiator to Inquirer or I to I. One spouse serves as "initiator." This spouse raises a troubling issue and shares his feelings and opinions on the matter. The initiator presents these thoughts as his perspective on the situation, not as the only way to look at it.


Example: The wife, as the initiator, says, "I felt hurt because it seemed to me as if you intentionally were trying to hurt my feelings," rather than "You intentionally hurt my feelings."

The other spouse's role is "inquirer." He is to repeat back the substance of what the initiator has said to show that he has heard and understood. The inquirer then asks questions that aid in understanding.


The inquirer is not allowed to question the validity of the initiator's feelings. When the desire to do so arises (and it will), the inquirer should silently remind himself that "this is not about me... it is only about my partner's perspective on the situation, and it is important for me to understand this perspective." When the initiator has had her say, the partners can switch roles. Avoid distractions during I to I time, and do not try this when one or both of you are exhausted.


This will not be a comfortable process at first, particularly if lots of negative feelings exist between you and your spouse. If you practice it two or three times each week for about 20 minutes at a time, it can become a very useful process for working through the marital conflicts that could lead to unhappiness. You and your partner will get good at fighting productively, which will end up bringing you closer.


AFFECTION INTIMACY

Being in love with your partner is not enough to prevent infidelity. You also must show your love and affection in the ways that your partner needs. Even a well-meaning spouse can run into trouble here if he fails to realize that the type of affection he is providing is not the type that his partner desires. Types of marital affection include...


  • Verbal. How often do you tell your partner that you love him? How often do you express your gratitude for the things your partner does for you?
  • Actions. How often do you do things just because your partner enjoys having them done? This might include buying a gift or doing some favor or chore for the partner that goes beyond your normal responsibilities.
  • Physical (nonsexual). How often do you hold hands, hug or kiss your partner? How often do you provide foot massages or back rubs?
  • Sexual. How often do you have sex with your partner?


What to do: Do not assume that your partner desires the same types of affection that you do or that you know what your partner needs because you have been together for years. Come right out and ask your partner what types of affection he/she would like you to provide more often. Get specifics. Then communicate your own needs. Do not take it personally if your partner says you have not shown enough affection. This reflects the partner's personal affection needs, not your own shortcomings.


Example: A man thinks he shows his wife plenty of affection by buying gifts, holding hands and helping out around the house. His wife feels he is never affectionate, because she wants verbal affection and he never says, "I love you."


If you fail to provide the types and amounts of affection that your partner considers appropriate, your spouse may stray. Provide the desired affection, and your spouse is less likely to seek it from others.


To tell or not to tell

My patients who have had or are having extramarital affairs often ask me if they should tell their spouses about the affair. I tell them that if the affair is ongoing and you have no intention of ending it, then you must. Infidelity is a major violation of marital trust, and the very least you owe your partner is the opportunity to deal with the violation as he sees fit, whether that means divorce, separation, couples therapy or something else.


If your infidelity has ended and you have no intention of repeating it, it might be better to leave the past in the past. Do not confess to unfaithfulness simply because it will feel good to get it off your chest. Telling your spouse could cause more pain and problems than it solves.


E-mail this Article

Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Steven D. Solomon, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist based in La Jolla, California. He has more than 20 years of experience in couples therapy. www.therelationshipinstitute.org. He is past president of the San Diego Psychological Association and coauthor of Intimacy After Infidelity: How to Rebuild & Affair-Proof Your Marriage (New Harbinger).


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Fw: OPEN NOW! NSF $$ Attacked



--- On Sat, 5/23/09, Natural Solutions Foundation <healthfreedomusa@mail.democracyinaction.org> wrote:

From: Natural Solutions Foundation <healthfreedomusa@mail.democracyinaction.org>
Subject: OPEN NOW! NSF $$ Attacked
To: stars2man@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009, 6:01 PM

EMERGENCY NOTICE

To All Natural Solutions Supporters:

This is an emergency appeal for help and support. No fancy graphics, none of the important information about health and freedom you usually get from our Health Freedom Action eAlerts... just this note to tell you Natural Solutions Foundation is about to be shut down - permanently - through a series of vicious attacks unless you help keep Health Freedom alive.  It's that serious.

We were preparing a new Blast and were going to tell you about the exciting news - Dr. Rima's Advanced Medicine organization, which endorses the Natural Solutions Foundation, has just come out against ALL GMOs... we were going to tell you about the growing alliance between health freedom advocates and natural farming groups to fight the (sic) "Food Safety" bills... we were going to tell you about our efforts to secure your right to self-quarantine in the event of a weaponized flu pandemic, instead of being forced to take a vaccine that might kill you...
until this vicious attack took place and we had to change our direction from health freedom information and action to making sure Natural Solutions Foundation, the largest and most effective health freedom organization in the world, stays alive. 

After all, if Natural Solutions Foundation were not making the kind of headway we are, why would we be attacked?  Why would we be the subject of constant disinformation and why would our funds, and funding, be attacked the way they have been?

So instead of news and action steps, we have an emergency to deal with.  It is called "survival".  Right now we have to tell you that we are about to lose access to our internet communication platform, Democracy in Action (DIA), the online facility that lets us send these eblasts to a quarter million people (not counting the several million more to whom they are forwarded).  We also have to tell you that we cannot pay the Natural Solutions Foundation's bills for this month because of this attack.  The money that we intended to pay them with has been taken from our bank account as part of the continuing attack on us, leaving us many thousands of dollars short.

We've already told you about the cyber attack we've been under, in which an "attack bot" was sending tens of thousands of fake $1 'donations' to us; and how even though we believe that their system should have caught the obviously fraudulent 'donations' (about which we notified them), the unfriendly corporation known as "authorize.net" decided to charge us ten cents for each fraudulent transaction - even after we purchased their so-called "Fraud Protection Suite" for a montly fee.  That means that the more than 100,000 fraudulent transactions the bot generated have cost us an enormous amount of money.  Authorize.net simply took those disputed charges from the Foundation bank account into which credit card purchases and donations were automatically deposited.  To date they have now taken thousands of dollars from our Foundation bank account, including all of your DIA donations from last month, leaving us with a negative account balance. We can't pay DIA. We can't pay our bills.  We can't attend the Codex meeting in Rome this coming July. Soon we won't be able to communicate with you at all.

Why?  Because today we received this note from DIA: "...past due balance ($6,450). This is unacceptable and if the remainder of the two invoices is not paid by the end of this week we will suspend service and potentially terminate our relationship..."

That's it folks. Unless we raise about $7,000 immediately to pay DIA, we will be terminated by our communication platform. No more concerted efforts that have had such powerful effects...

And unless we raise another $10K to pay our outstanding monthly expenses, and enough money to go to Codex in July, we will be on the outside, looking in... without being there for you.

You can see what we've accomplished with your help at: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=195

It is really ironic that if everyone reading this email blast did, in fact, what the bot was supposedly doing, making donations of small amounts, we would not have this problem.  The fact is, however, that less than 4% of our primary mailing list readers (and that list is about 1/4 million people) donate.  Of the secondary list -- millions of people (!) a much, much smaller percentage donate.  Yes, they take action, and for that we are most appreciative, but they do not donate.  "Let George [or Jose, or Pierre, or Sasha, or Ng, or Warantai] do it!" 

The truth of the matter is that health freedom belongs to every one of us and we need your help, large or small, and we need it now.

You will only be able to donate through our PayPal portal since we have shut off the credit card system that uses authorize.net or through sending checks or money orders to us at

Natural Solutions Foundation
PO Box 722
Maryville MO 64468

We need your help to keep us alive and helping you by carrying out the battle for your health freedom.

Please, please give generously today: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=189. Recurring donations, whatever their size, are urgently needed.  All donations are tax deductible in the US.  Donations are accepted from supporters all over the world.

If everyone who normally opens this eblast donates even a few dollars every month, Natural Solutions Foundation will survive. It is up to you.  Is it worth $5 or $10 or more? We believe it is and we urgently hope that you think so, too. Large numbers of supporters open every blast: we need your help now!

Among our innovations on your behalf is the thrust to demand the right to self-quarantine if a Pandemic (real or imagined) is called, rather than be forced to take weaponized vaccines for a weaponized virus.

So, for as long as our communication platform remains available, send a message to Congress, your Governor and State legislators: we want our right to self-quarantine, in the event of a pandemic, to be legally secured:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27275

Remember, there is no one but you who can make sure that the Natural Solutions Foundation, your health freedom voice, stays alive.  We believe you want us at Codex in July.  We believe you want our Health Freedom Action eAlerts.  We believe you want our information and we believe that you want our Health Freedom Action Steps as part of the vast army of Mouse Warriors riding the Freedom Mouse for your own well-being and the well-being of those you love.

Now is the time to show that our belief in you is justified.

Help us recover from these devastating attacks and emerge stronger and more powerful than ever.  Codex Commission meeting is coming in July.  We want to be there for you.  Help make sure it happens.  We want to continue to inform and activate the health freedom community. Help make sure it happens.

If there is an Angel out there who can help us put our finances back in order, we need you to contact us immediately. Please contact our counsel Ralph Fucetola at ralph.fucetola@usa.net.

Please, please give generously today: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=189.

Thank you, each and every one of you, for your donations, large and small.  Each one will help to ensure that the Natural Solutions Foundation survives to continue the battle for YOUR health freedom.

Yours in Health and Freedom,

Maj. Gen. Albert N. Stubblebine III (U.S. A. Ret.)
President

Rima E. Laibow, MD
Medical Director

Ralph Fucetola, JD
Counsel

Natural Solutions Foundation

www.HealthFreedomUSA.org
www.GlobalHealthFreedom.org
www.NaturalSolutionsFoundation.org
www.Organics4U.org
www.NaturalSolutionsMarketPlace.org

PS: If you are a customer of our virtual stores, www.Organics4U.org and www.NaturalSolutionsMarketPlace.org you probably recieved the following letter from Gail Coba, our wonderful Customer Service lady:

From: Gail Coba <marketplaceinfo@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, May 23, 2009 at 1:32 AM
Subject: An Important Message from Natural Solutions Foundation
To: healthoptions@hughes.net

Dear Supporters and Customers

The Natural Solutions Foundation's Marketplace "online Mall" has been attacked by Credit Card Hackers.  We have had to suspend our credit card processing with Authorize.net.  We do have Pay Pal in place and that system is working fine.  We don't want to put your information at risk, nor ours - so we are asking our customers and supporters to continue their patronage using the Pay Pal system for now. 

We are investigating the security of other systems for those of you who prefer another option.
We plan on bringing a more secure online system into place very very soon.  We will dispatch another email to you personally to advise you.

Please know that this change is necessary only because fraudulent charges were being tested in the Natural Solutions account.  We found that with all the security features in place, that the real orders received, were being rejected along with the fraudulent orders.

We truly apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, however it is a necessary step to insure our security and we will correct this situation as soon as possible. 

If you have a monthly recurring charge on your credit card - that is not with Pay Pal, please contact me immediately.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me.  Thank you for your patience with this concern.

Gail Coba
Marketplace Operations
Natural Solutions Foundation - Dr. Rima Laibow
marketplaceinfo@gmail.com

------------------------

Unsubscribe: http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/healthfreedomusa/unsubscribe.jsp

Manage subscription: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/profile/login.jsp?redirect=%2Fo%2F568%2Fprofile%2Findex.jsp


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Leaked Agenda: Bilderberg Group Plans Economic Depression - United for Freedom

United for Freedom

Love is the Only Engine of Survival..

Leaked Agenda: Bilderberg Group Plans Economic Depression

Elitists divided on whether to quickly sink economy and replace it with new world order, or set in motion long, agonizing depression

Leaked Agenda: Bilderberg Group Plans Economic Depression 060509top2

Monday, May 11, 2009

Mother's Day Procolamation, Julia Ward Howe

Mothers' Day Proclamation: Julia Ward Howe, Boston, 1870

Mother's Day was originally started after the Civil War, as a protest to the carnage of that war, by women who had lost their sons. Here is the original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870, followed by a bit of history (or should I say "herstory"):

......................................

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.

Julia Ward Howe
Boston
1870


Thank You Jesus Christ for Creating The Way of Your Word!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

eAlert: Pandemic… Be ProActive and Take Some Steps to Feel Less Helpless

eAlert: Pandemic… Be ProActive and Take Some Steps to Feel Less Helpless: "But there is also little doubt that there is no reason to have declared a “Health Emergency” in the US for a disease which has impacted fewer than 20 people and killed none of them. What pandemic? Who pandemic? Could it be that this pandemic is a totally orchestrated event to make sure that there is an excuse for closing down those few liberties and constitutional rights which still exist after the last devastating 8 years? The “left neocons” continuing the process the “right neocons” started?"

SCAM SCAM SCAM - CREATE FEAR FEAR FEAR...

"Bear in mind that once a global pandemic is declared, just as the US assumes supreme dictatorial powers through Patriot I, II, III, BARDA and other legislation, Executive Orders and Homeland Security Directives, and as the States assume similar powers through the Emergency Medical Powers Acts, passed at the urging of the Homeland Security cabal, so the UN will, according to already prearranged agreement, become the supreme political governing force on the planet."

Monday, April 13, 2009

Publications — Compete.org

Publications — Compete.org: "Publications"

The Council on Competitiveness was founded in 1986 during a time when the United States was facing its most dire economic challenges since the end of World War II. The country had slid from being the world's largest creditor to its largest debtor, its position as a global leader in technology and innovation was declining and American industries were losing market share to international competitors. To meet these mounting challenges, two-dozen industrial, university and labor leaders joined together to found the Council, a forum for elevating national competitiveness to the forefront of national consciousness.

The 21st century poses new challenges to American competitiveness–globalization, high-speed communications, enterprise resilience and energy sustainability issues are forcing organizations at all levels to rethink and redefine how U.S. companies will remain competitive. After two decades, the Council on Competitiveness continues to set an action agenda to drive U.S. productivity and leadership in world markets and to raise the standard of living for all Americans.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

THE HAPPINESS STUDY

Use Your Mood to Improve the World

Good health can be both the cause and consequence of being happy. That's why two pioneering scientists wanted to see if they could actually measure how happiness works in groups. What they discovered took everyone by happy surprise -- the happiness of others, even those you don't know, has a direct influence on your happiness.


The coauthor of this novel study on happiness, James Fowler, PhD, told me how the research was done. First his team combed through the records of 5,000 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, many of whom had identified one another as spouses, friends or neighbors. His team established a happiness baseline for these participants by checking their periodic answers to questions regarding their happiness over the past 20 years (1983 to 2003). Then they used a sophisticated statistical analysis tool to create a map of social connections among the initial 5,000 and other participants within the Framingham study. It showed how one person's happiness rippled like a network, creating a cascade of happiness that increased the likelihood of others being happy too.


They discovered that there were various degrees of influence depending on the degree of social connection and that it was quite predictable. For example, within your social network, the happiness of someone with whom you have frequent and regular personal contact, called an immediate social contact (for instance, your spouse or closest nearby friend), increases the likelihood of your happiness by an average of 15%. The happiness of a second-degree contact (for instance, your closest friend's spouse) increases your chances for happiness by 10%, while the happiness of a third-degree contact (your closest friend's friend's friend) increases it by 6%. In other words, your happiness is directly influenced by strangers.


MORE SPECIFIC LEARNINGS FROM THE HAPPINESS STUDY

  • Proximity is key. The closer your happy friends and family live to you, the greater the probability that their happiness will affect you. For example, the happiness of your next door neighbor is more influential than the happiness of a neighbor who lives down the street.
  • More social connections adds to your happiness. The bigger your social network of nearby happy friends and family, the greater the likelihood of your happiness.
  • Unhappy people cluster together in unhappy networks. As the saying goes, misery loves company.
  • Whether or not you were happy in the past and whether your social contacts are happy are more important predictors of happiness than your income, gender or education.
  • Happiness is more powerful than unhappiness. The happiness of a friend increases the probability of your happiness by 9%... while his unhappiness decreases the chances of your happiness by only 7%.
  • It's not fleeting. The impact of another's happiness on your happiness lasts about a year, on average, before fading.

HAPPINESS 2.0: ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS

Dr. Fowler and his coauthor Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, MPH, are now looking at the question of whether happiness spreads the same way via the Internet, specifically using the Facebook network. They assumed that those who posted smiling pictures of themselves with smiling friends were happy. Since Facebook automatically tags or uploads your photos to those registered as your "friends," they were able to trace the paths of these happy pictures. They found that smiling friends had photos of other smiling friends and so on and so on. (People who didn't smile in their photos, didn't have photos with friends who smiled, who in turn also didn't have photos of smiling friends.) Again -- happiness begets happiness and the same goes for unhappiness. Next they'll study how contagious online happiness turns out to be.


REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE

Dr. Fowler himself has been moved by his findings. "I think our study shows that the best thing we can do for ourselves is to connect to friends and family," says Dr. Fowler. "I have been personally affected by the study -- I have now seen the evidence that my happiness potentially ripples out and touches the lives of dozens or even hundreds of other people. In this very challenging time, creating a ripple of happiness can result in a tidal wave of change."

Source(s):

James H. Fowler, PhD, professor of political science, University of California-San Diego.


Monday, March 30, 2009

PolitiFact | Sorting out the truth in politics

“I want you to hold our government accountable. I want you to hold me accountable.” — Barack Obama

“Okay, we will.” — PolitiFact

Tracking Obama’s promises

PolitiFact will be tracking Barack Obama’s promises during his presidency and will be rating the progress of each one. >>more

Caffeine: Health Benefits, Health Risks: Health Newsletter

Caffeine: Health Benefits, Health Risks

Date: 3/30/2009
Posted By: Jon Barron

Caffeine -- it's the world's most popular drug. People drink it with alcohol to ramp up the effect. They drink it after alcohol to sober up. They take it to get rid of headaches, cure cancer, and prevent Parkinson's. Then again, the state of California is looking to put warning labels on any product that contains added caffeine. So what gives; is caffeine saint or sinner, miracle drug or prenatal nightmare?

In truth, it's all of the above. The devil, as usual when it comes to natural substances, lies in the details. And that's what we're going to explore in this newsletter, the truth behind caffeine.

The world's most popular drug

Pure caffeine is a bitter-tasting white powder that looks a lot like cornstarch. It is moderately soluble in water at body temperature and readily soluble in boiling water. It was first isolated from coffee in 1820, after which it was quickly recognized that the mood-and-behavior-altering properties of both coffee and tea depended upon caffeine. Whether it's in the form of coffee, tea, chocolate, kola nut chewables, guarana, or yerba matte, hundreds of millions of people around the world (including 90% of Americans) start their days with a jolt of caffeine or use a jolt during the day to keep them "going." And yet, almost no one who consumes it knows much about it. As a point of clarification, not all forms of caffeine are the same. Depending on what other alkaloids and antioxidants come with it or how it's bound with fiber, the "caffeine experience" can be quite different from beverage to beverage. Each caffeine complex actually has a different name depending on its source such as guaranine as found in guarana, mateine as found in mate, and theine as found in tea. Another point of distinction is that not all caffeine is actually caffeine. Chocolate, for example, contains theobromine, a very close relative of caffeine -- but only 1/10 as stimulating.

caffeine crazed

Although caffeine is not addictive in the same sense that many hard drugs can be considered addictive, it definitely affects the brain and body and stimulates them in a manner similar to the amphetamines such as cocaine. They all work by blocking adenosine's ability to slow nerve cell activity in preparation for sleep, and instead increase the speed of nerve cell activity and of the neuron firing in the brain. (The caffeine molecule is structurally similar to adenosine, and binds to adenosine receptors on the surface of cells without activating them -- an "antagonist" mechanism of action.) And if this were not enough by itself to keep you awake, the increased neuron firing in the brain causes the pituitary glands to release hormones that tell the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline, which gives your body a boost, so it can remain active and alert.

Another effect of blocking adenosine is that it causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which also serves to prevent the brain and body from sleeping. (As a side note, it's probably worth mentioning that the ability of caffeine to close blood vessels in the brain is why many pain relievers contain caffeine. If you have a vascular headache, the caffeine in Anacin, for example, will shut down the blood vessels, thus easing the pain.) And finally, both caffeine and cocaine increase dopamine production in the brain, so you experience a temporary "high." Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that activates "pleasure centers" in the brain and, quite simply, makes you feel "good." Naturally, the pleasurable effect produced by dopamine manipulation plays a major role in caffeine addiction.

And speaking of addiction, as I mentioned in the last paragraph, caffeine is not an addictive drug in the same sense as cocaine and/or heroin. Nevertheless, because of caffeine's role as an adenosine antagonist, anyone who consumes as little as 300 mg of caffeine a day (the equivalent of just 3 cups of drip coffee) will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly cut off their caffeine supply. The problem is that the bodies of individuals who regularly consume caffeine adapt to the continual presence of the drug by substantially increasing the number of adenosine receptors in the central nervous system in an attempt to compensate. This is known as the "tolerance effect." This makes the body much more sensitive to adenosine -- and consequently less sensitive to caffeine. In effect, this forces you to consume more and more caffeine over time to get the same stimulatory effect. On the other hand, any reduction in caffeine intake will effectively increase the normal physiological effects of adenosine because there are now so many more receptor sites created by the caffeine in the first place. The problem is that as caffeine clears those sites, they will be free to take in adenosine, but at an accelerated rate because there are so many more of them. The net result is unwelcome withdrawal symptoms including fatigue, depression, irritability, tremors, jumpiness, not to mention deprivation of deep sleep, and, of course, headaches, as the blood vessels in the brain begin to once again dilate.

Caffeine facts

red bullThanks to the popularity of energy drinks, caffeine is now omnipresent, but its level of concentration can vary widely. A piece of chocolate may contain as little as 5mg, whereas some energy drinks may contain as much as 160 mg. And for that matter, some medications and diet pills can run as high as 200 mg of caffeine. Buzz city!!!

One of the major problems with caffeine is that it can severely impact sleep patterns. Yes, if you have a morning cup of coffee, 75% of it will clear your body by the time you go to bed. But if you have a couple of cups of drip coffee in the morning, that means you will still be going to sleep with some 50 mg still percolating in your veins -- more than enough to disrupt the depth and quality of your sleep. And if you drink coffee throughout the day, or as an afternoon pick-me-up, the level in your blood at bedtime will climb dramatically. So while, yes, you may yet fall asleep, it is likely the quality of that sleep will not be up to par.

Another problem is that caffeine is a diuretic and can dehydrate you. Some experts claim that the fluid you consume in drinking coffee or energy drinks more than compensates for the fluid you lose through extra urination, but the facts don't bear that out. Claims to the contrary are based on erroneous studies on dehydration and misleading sound bites.

Caffeine and alcohol don't mix -- either while drinking, or for sobering up after drinking. The problem is that caffeine is a stimulant, whereas alcohol is a depressant -- complete opposites. That means that caffeine doesn't negate the effects of alcohol; it only makes you "think" it does. Consuming caffeine creates the impression that you're getting sharper and more sober. But the truth is your reaction time and judgment are still impaired. Mixing alcohol and caffeine make you more likely to have accidents -- either in your car or while operating heavy machinery.

There is also the problem that there are at least 32 epidemiological studies of caffeine that have found an increased risk of adverse developmental or reproductive outcomes. To put that in layman's terms, studies have linked caffeine to both lowered birth weight and a significant increase in birth defects.
And caffeine is a growing problem for kids. The consumption of soft drinks by children has literally doubled in the past 35 years, with soda replacing milk. A 2003 study of Columbus, Ohio middle schoolers found some taking in an astounding 800 milligrams of caffeine a day -- more than twice the recommended maximum for adults of 300 milligrams. And that was in 2003, before the energy drink craze hit full bore. With the advent of energy drinks in the last five years, those numbers have only grown.

So how much caffeine is too much?

According to the Mayo Clinic, for most adults, moderate doses of caffeine -- 200 to 300 milligrams (mg), or about two to four cups of brewed coffee a day -- aren't harmful. But heavy use -- more than 500 to 600 mg a day, or about four to seven cups of coffee -- can cause a whole host of problems, including: coffee beans

  • Insomnia
  • Nervousness
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Nausea or other gastrointestinal problems
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Muscle tremors
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety

Caffeine and the law

There's a popular song from the last 40 years that goes, "I fought the law, and the law won." When it comes to caffeine and caffeine enhanced drinks, that may turn out to be remarkably prescient. A couple of years ago, the State of California announced that state environmental health officials were considering whether or not the caffeine found in soda and energy drinks was harmful to your health, especially for pregnant women. In addition, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is considering placing warning labels on caffeine enhanced drinks if California Health Officials actually conclude that caffeine is a harmful substance.

And if that were not enough, the State of Utah announced earlier this month that they are considering taxing caffeine as a new stream of revenue for the state.

Make no mistake -- whether either of these initiatives ever goes live or not is irrelevant. The bottom line is that caffeine is now in legislative crosshairs around the world. Europe already requires a warning label on high caffeine energy drinks, and France has actually banned Red Bull.

Caffeine -- the miracle drug?

So much for the negatives. Caffeine/coffee also has a bright side. At least six studies have shown that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three studies showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research has shown that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of colon and liver cancer by some 25%, slash the risk of skin cancer by some 40%, drop the risk of liver cirrhosis by 22%, and lower the risk of gallstones by nearly half.

Coffee might even offset some of the damage caused by other vices. Some research indicates that people who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't.

There's also some evidence that the caffeine in coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.

And of course, caffeine is widely used for its stimulating and alertness properties, as well as its ability to enhance athletic performance.

Note: not all of the benefits associated with drinking coffee or tea can necessarily be attributed to caffeine. In many cases, they might be specific to the antioxidants found in those beverages (see below).

So, caffeine yes -- caffeine no?

As I mentioned at the top of the newsletter, when it comes to caffeine, the devil is in the details. With that in mind, let me offer my recommendations.

  • coffee manNatural caffeine is preferable to "added" caffeine. Natural caffeine comes packaged with a number of powerful antioxidants such as:
    • Chocolate: flavonoids, procyanidins, epicatechin, cocoa phenols.
    • Tea: epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin. Not to mention theanine, which is not an antioxidant, but rather, a profoundly beneficial amino acid.
    • Coffee: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and melanoidins.
  • The Mayo Clinic says under 300 mg a day is fine. I set the figure much lower -- at about 100 mg a day. That still allows for 3 cups of green tea a day. The exception to this guideline is that if you take your caffeine bound to fiber, as in guarana (not guarana extract), the caffeine releases over time rather than in powerful bursts, which allows you to consume more without the negative side effects.
  • Don't use caffeine as part of a daily ritual such as "every morning" to start the day. Use it selectively, if possible, to get a boost only when needed. And take at least two days off each week -- totally caffeine free -- to allow all caffeine to clear from your body on a weekly basis.
  • And as much as possible avoid consuming caffeine while pregnant.
Incidentally, one of the reasons for this newsletter is that this past month has been Caffeine Awareness Month. And speaking of caffeine awareness, check out the caffeine calculator at CaffeineAwareness.org, which will calculate how much caffeine you personally are consuming each day.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

13. H.R.1148 : To establish the Food Safety Administration to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional contamination, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] (introduced 2/16/2007) Cosponsors (22)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Agriculture
Latest Major Action: 2/27/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Monsanto's dream bill, HR 875

To begin reversing GM contamination will require ending the power biotech companies such as Monsanto exert over our government and through that, over our food.

HR 875, was introduced by Rosa DeLauro whose husband Stanley Greenburg works for Monsanto.

The bill is monstrous on level after level - the power it would give to Monsanto, the criminalization of seed banking, the prison terms and confiscatory fines for farmers, the 24 hours GPS tracking of their animals, the easements on their property to allow for warrantless government entry, the stripping away of their property rights, the imposition by the filthy, greedy industrial side of anti-farming international "industrial" standards to independent farms - the only part of our food system that still works, the planned elimination of farmers through all these means.

The corporations want the land, they want more intensive industrialization, they want the end of normal animals so they can substitute patented genetically engineered ones they own, they want the end of normal seeds and thus of seed banking by farmers or individuals. They want control over all seeds, animals, water, and land.

Our farmers are good stewards. That is who is threatened by Rosa DeLauro's bill (and because of that, we all are). At a time in this country when wise stewardship and the production of anything real - especially good food - is what is most needed, it is our best stewards whom Rosa DeLauro threatens, under the cruelly false name of "food safety."

And now Monsanto wants its own employee, Michael Taylor back in government, this time to act with massive police power as a "food safety tsar" from inside the White House. This is the man who forced genetically engineered rBGH on us (unlabeled, and without warning) when the Clintons placed him over "food safety" in the 90s. HR 875 would give him immense power over what is done on every single farm in the country and massive police state power to wield over farmers and punishments to break them at will.

The following quotes show Monsanto and its biotech ilk are not "stewards" at all. Their inhuman focus on profit has led to inhuman, insane, sickening products that require intense corruption of democracy and science institutes and media, to foist them on country after country which don't want them.

It is our farmers who stand between us and this outrage which masquerades as science, as food, as normal business, as government. And it is our farmers who need not only protecting but actual freeing from government intrusion, control and harm.

Vegetarians and vegans do not identify with farmers who raise animals but what is at stake here is critical for all of us. "First they came for the Jews" is an apt reminder of what matters in standing with each other because the overwhelming bureaucratic burdens, the record requirements, the warrantless inspections, the end of farmers' markets, the criminalization of seed banking, the ten years in prison for stepping out of line in any way -- this will next be applied not to animals breaking out of fence onto a neighbor's farm, but for such things as not spraying pesticides on an organic farm to eradicate earthworms (now listed as an invasive species) because the government's "food safety tsar" has deemed it necessary.

HR 875 is the beginning. This time, it is about handing over control of our food supply to enhance profits of the chemical industry. This time it is aimed with ferocity at farmers who keep animals. Next time it will be totalitarian control.

Rosa DeLauro and Stanley Greenburg have a great deal to account for in attempting through a mislabeled bill with hidden intent to wipe out our farmers and harm all of us. HR 875 gives Monsanto greater power and opens doors wider to the following ...

News for a Synergic Earth : Thinking Globally and Acting Locally

Thinking Globally and Acting Locally

This class is over, but the slides and handouts are still available for downloading.


Future Positive: Humanity's Synergic Alternativeon March 31, 2005: Future Positive Slides
The Games of Life: Adversity, Neutrality, and Synergy on March 24, 2005: Games of Life Slides
Mastering Calmness on March 10, 2005: Calmness Exercise Outline, Mastering Calmness Exercise
Beyond Blame, Guilt & Punishment on March 03, 2005: Beyond Blame, Guilt & Punishment Slides

The World of "IS" and "Ought to Be" on February 24, 2005: The World of "IS" and "Ought to Be" Slides
A Manual for the Dual Mind on February 17, 2005: Dual Mind Manual Slides
Self & Other: A Relationship on February 10, 2005: Self & Other Slides
Reality Rules! on February 3, 2005: Reality Rules! Slides
Understanding Cancer on January 27, 2005: Understanding Cancer Slides
Controlling Anger in Self & Other on January 20, 2005: Controlling Anger Slides & Handout
Understanding Anger & Fear on January 13, 2005: Understanding Anger & Fear Slides, Mastering Calmness Exercise
Understanding Stress on January 6th, 2005: Understanding Stress Slides, Understanding Stress Handout

Use natural substances such as spring water, whole fresh foods and spices to strengthen your body

Scientists Tracking Path Between Emotions and Health

It's interesting to see that the concepts of Chinese medicine -- in particular the interplay of mind, body and spirit (emotion) and their role in health as well as disease -- are beginning to seep into mainstream medicine. Here in the Western world, physicians have been trained to separate mental, physical and emotional symptoms. In contrast, Chinese medicine views the patient as a whole, with each part intimately connected. Now, here in the US, an increasing number of studies tie emotional health with physical ailments, in particular heart disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders... a step in the right direction, even though the scientific community continues to focus on finding the physiological "root" of illness as they apply their cause-effect mentality in an attempt to identify, isolate and manage "the problem." But the Chinese take a very different approach, looking to the whole body system and the concept of balance in every aspect, including between emotions and the physical self.


THE CHINESE VIEW OF THE WORLD

I spoke with Jeffrey Zimmerman, OMD, doctor of Chinese medicine, practitioner of acupuncture and founder of the OptiMotion system of body alignment, who explained that in Chinese medicine, feeling any emotions intensely is considered an imbalance. When there is balance among the mind, body and spirit, everything that happens, good and bad, is processed naturally, in a fluid way. It's all experienced as normal, without great intensity. Getting "stuck" in emotions is what blocks energy, inviting or creating an opportunity for illness and unrest.


Chinese medicine asserts that each organ has an emotional spectrum. A Chinese medicine practitioner asks a patient about his/her state of mind and identifies relationships between the responses and the internal organs. The concept is that when one emotional state dominates, smooth flow of energy (known as qi) to specific organs is impeded, so the emotion and the organ must be treated concurrently.

  • FEAR: The kidneys and the work they do, including elimination of waste, are associated with strength and willpower -- and on the negative end of the spectrum, with fear.
  • GRIEF: The lungs and respiratory system are connected to our sense of order and can move along to perfectionism and, at the opposite end, grief.
  • ANGER: The liver, which filters toxins, supports planning and decision-making -- the skills needed to manage life well. At the far end of the spectrum, the liver is connected to anger.
  • SADNESS/JOY: The heart is the center of the body and soul and not surprisingly, is connected to sadness as well as to joy.
  • WORRY: The stomach/spleen, responsible for digestion, can be the source of sympathy on one end, worry on the other.


CONNECTING THE DOTS:

EMOTIONS AND ILLNESS

The emotional-physical ties are not as direct and simplistic as Westerners would like them to be, but the dots can indeed be connected. To better understand how, I spoke with Kathryn White, PhD, LAc, a practicing psychologist and acupuncturist who is the president and chief academic officer, American University of Complementary Medicine (Beverly Hills, California), which focuses on what she calls Chinese Classical Medicine (CCM), one of many different forms of practicing the ancient art. She told me that at the heart of CCM is the concept that all disease has roots in a need to change in one of three basic aspects of life -- physical, emotional or lifestyle -- that comes up against an inability or unwillingness to do so. Sickness can be an expression of these conflicts.


One simple illustration: Chinese medicine respects the body's natural ability to expel toxins by vomiting them up, sneezing them out or through urination or defecation. Medicine that treats the symptoms gets in the way of this natural process, sending the toxins from the now-suppressed symptoms into the body's energy channels where ultimately they can get stuck and cause serious disease. Treatment must address the entire person, not just the symptoms.


LESSONS FROM CCM

Both Dr. White and Dr. Zimmerman have suggestions for using these basic concepts to promote personal health and well-being and eliminate toxicity that intrudes on our mind, body or spirit. Here are some of their tips...

  • Live in harmony with the seasons. The winter months can be valuable for rest and rejuvenation... in the spring, you can ramp up activity. Summer is the time to expand and expend the most energy in many activities, while in autumn we can benefit by slowing down and retreating from all that busyness.
  • Follow the light. "In the old days people got up with the sun and went to bed soon after it set," says Dr. White. "The instinct to follow light is a good one -- it both increases longevity and protects health." One idea she suggests is to become aware of your mental and physical posture throughout the day and learn to use it consciously. To gear up for productivity at work in the morning, for example, many people strike the type-A jutting-chin, fast-talking, vigorous-thinker posture... which can be physically, mentally and spiritually exhausting if maintained all day. Make an effort to ease into a more relaxed posture, slowing down your speech, thoughts and pace when you go home at night. By the time you are ready for bed, you should have relaxed and slowed to the point that you are truly ready for sleep... if so, it will come easily to you.
  • When illness sets in, respect your body and mind -- take time off to heal. Within reason, it's a good idea to "tough it out" if you have a cold, for instance -- let the cough and congestion run their course untreated by drugs, so your body can rid itself of the pathogen. Use natural substances such as spring water, whole fresh foods and spices to strengthen your body and provide the resources required for recovery.
  • Recognize that your disease may be happening for a reason. Perhaps you are working or playing too hard (or both) which is putting your body out of balance or maybe you are not taking proper care of yourself. Review and readjust for a better balance.
  • Remember, true healing always involves increasing your awareness. Any illness is a call and an opportunity to evaluate your internal state. Are you heartsick about something... suffering from anxiety... in a troubled relationship? This is your chance to sort through the problems that are creating toxicity for you and figure out what might help you heal, in every way.
  • Use daily reflection as a conscious tool for balancing your energy. "Think about what things are truly important to you and how you are using your chi (spiritual and physical energy) to work toward those goals," suggests Dr. White. "Ask if you are getting caught up in a spiral of need for things that don't really matter."

The principles of Chinese medicine should not be understood to mean that having physical, emotional or lifestyle problems indicates you are doing something wrong. Life, it teaches, is school and it gives all of us the lessons we need to learn. Deal regularly with your issues and be willing to confront whatever comes your way. This will make you less likely to have pathology and more likely to obtain real and deep meaning from your life.

Source(s):

Kathryn White, PhD, LAc, a psychologist and acupuncturist, is the president and chief academic officer, American University of Complementary Medicine, Beverly Hills, California. 


Jeffrey Zimmerman, OMD, once a classical musician and now a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, acupuncturist, martial artist and Qigong master in Westport, Connecticut. www.jeffreyczimmerman.wordpress.com/.


Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Master Cleanse Recipe

Master Cleanse Recipe: "For a single or a glass of the master cleanse, the recipe require that you have 10 ounces of filtered water, two table spoon of maple syrup, two tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. If you wish to make a daily servings of 60 ounces at one go then you will need 60 ounces of filtered water, 12 tablespoon of maple syrup, 12 tablespoon of lemon juice and ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. But remember when you are preparing the master cleanse, you must use freshly squeezed lemon juice. This is because canned or processed juice already has lost much of its benefits.

Another factor to note is that you must use organic grade B maple syrup and not sugar filled syrup. And although the Cayenne pepper looks as if it can be excluded, it is actually very important. The cayenne actually helps to break down the mucus and promote a healthy blood flow. Beside this, it is also a rich source of Vitamins B and C. If you wish to add flavor to the lemonade, just use decaffeinated tea because caffeine constrict the blood vessels. During the master cleanse, we actually wishes to promote a good flow of the blood so that the waste and toxin can be easily removed from the body."

Death In The Air

Death In The Air: "HIV/AIDS may have been man-made, a concern currently being considered by the U.S. General Accounting Office in response to requests made by Ohio attorney Boyd Ed Graves and Democratic Congressman, James A. Traficant, Jr. His investigation involves the theory that HIV emerged from laboratory experiments conducted during the 1960s and early 1970s when biological weapons contractors intermingled immune-suppressive viruses during a “Special Virus Cancer Program” administered by the National Cancer Institute."

Leonard Horowitz

Leonard Horowitz: "Ebola-Nature, Accident or Intentional?, Viruses: AIDS and Learn about the ancient, newly discovered 'healing codes' that can repair DNA. Find out who hid these codes in the Bible and using them today for good and evil. Rejoice in the discovery of the electro-magnetic sound frequencies for creation, destruction and miracles. Learn everything you need to know about vaccines that could have given rise to cancer, chronic fatigue, MS, ADD, Autism and other immune system disorders. Learn about the documented evidence from a leading vaccine developer who states that vaccines had been heavily contaminated with cancer viruses. Learn what you can do to protect yourself and your family."

Namaste March 09 | Chopra Center

Namaste March 09 | Chopra Center:

In addition, here are 7 empowering steps you can take in your life right now:

  1. Develop a meditation practice today. Start with one of our guided meditations or find a PSM teacher in your town. Or you can learn to meditate at a Chopra Center workshop or retreat.
  2. Take the dosha quiz and understand your mind-body constitution to bring balance into your life.
  3. Experience nature – touch a natural body of water, walk on grass, sit under a tree, stand in the rain.
  4. Write a poem about how great you are.
  5. Commit one act of love today – make amends to someone you’ve hurt; forgive someone who hurt you (in person, on the phone, or in writing).
  6. Take a step toward clarity by making one powerful decision right now – it can be a baby step . . . throw something out that no longer serves you, wash your car, get rid of paper congestion, clean a closet, a room, or even a drawer. Give away an item of clothing.
  7. Perform a vital physical practice – go to a yoga class, learn pilates, go for a vigorous walk, practice deep breathing for 15 minutes, nourish yourself with a massage treatment.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Compassion Meditation Research

The Power of Compassion

Can good thoughts for the well-being of others also keep you healthy? For centuries people have turned to various forms of meditation to quiet their minds, improve their concentration, decrease anxiety, soothe pain and facilitate healing. Research led by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher and an American physician adds yet another benefit to that already impressive list -- their study found evidence that practicing a particular kind, called compassion meditation, may help reduce the type of inflammatory responses to stressful interpersonal situations that have been linked to the development of both mental and physical diseases. People who practiced compassion meditation regularly also had less distress and anger in response to stress.


CHANGING THE WAY WE SEE OTHERS

At Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, 61 healthy students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group participated in six weeks of twice-weekly classroom training in a non-religious version of compassion meditation while the other group (the control group) spent a similar amount of time in health discussions. Meditation teacher Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhD, director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership and a study author, explained that lojong (as the meditation practice is called) means training or transforming the mind. Where we're all conditioned to identify certain people as friends and others as enemies, lojong teaches us to challenge those assumptions. "It helps us see that others are no different from ourselves, that all people have the same problems and common aspirations," he explained. "It has a cognitive component that teaches us to reshape our relationships with ourselves and others to better connect each of us to all of humanity."


To perform lojong meditation, students first learned how to do "meditative concentration" on their breathing, which helps stabilize the mind and refines their attention. Next they practiced mindfulness and meditation, to train them to increase their non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and bodily sensations and were instructed to focus on the universal desire of all people to be happy and avoid suffering. Finally, the students sent out their desire for happiness in a circle that expanded outward... first on themselves... then on loved ones... then to strangers... and finally, to those whom they disliked. They were instructed to concentrate on generating compassion for all people. These students were also given a CD to use to help them practice compassion meditation at home daily, keeping online records of when they meditated and for how long.


A control group spent classroom time in group discussion about issues related to the physical and mental health of college students. Topics included stress management, substance abuse, sexual behavior and health, and depression and anxiety. This group also participated in role-playing exercises and mock debates on the topics they studied. As a way to maintain an equal time requirement with the meditation group for at-home participation, students in the control group were asked to write weekly opinion papers, two to three pages in length, on self-improvement topics. Study participants were recruited from their Emory University health education class and randomly assigned to either the meditation or the control (health discussion) group.


A SURPRISING OUTCOME

At the end of the study, students in both groups were asked to participate in a "stressful task" based on a widely used laboratory psychosocial stress test. Researchers measured their biological responses, including blood levels of the stress hormones cortisol and  interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is a marker of inflammation. The researchers anticipated a difference between the meditators and the control group, but that actually turned out to be insignificant, said Charles Raison, MD, assistant professor in Emory's department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and senior author of the study. What was significant, however, was a reduction in inflammatory markers that correlated with how frequently subjects meditated. The more often subjects practiced compassion meditation, the lower the levels of inflammation in their blood after the stress test.


WHY THE RESULTS MATTER

We know that inflammation puts wear and tear on the body and that has a cumulative negative effect on health. Dr. Raison called it "promising" to see that engaging in a discipline that helps retrain the mind to be more compassionate not only makes people kinder, but also healthier. His co-author Dr. Negi agrees, noting that by teaching a broader acceptance of others, this type of compassion meditation can be "an instrument of health that might be of benefit to people in all walks of life."


For more information on how to do a lojong practice, look for books including Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living (Shambhala Library), by Pema Chödrön... Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance and Compassion (Times), by the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman, PhD... and Quiet Mind: A Beginner's Guide to Meditation compiled by Susan Piver (Shambhala).

Source(s):

Charles Raison, MD, is an assistant professor, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.

Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhD, (also known as Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi) is senior lecturer in religion and director, Emory-Tibet Partnership.


Sunday, March 01, 2009

Don't Believe Everything the Media Says

Medical Studies: Don't Believe Everything the Media Says

JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH
Harvard Medical School

W hen the media reports on medical news, complex research gets reduced to sound bites -- which may be misleading. Find a full account of the study (try www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus) and ask...

Are this study's results consistent with other evidence? Accuracy usually involves consistent results from different researchers... using different types of studies... and involving different people. Example: The link between smoking and lung cancer that has been seen in so many studies.


Is it an observational study or a randomized clinical trial? An observational study tracks behavior and health outcomes without intervening in participants' lives. This can uncover "associations" but cannot prove a cause-and-effect link. Example: The apparent health benefits of vitamin supplements seen in observational studies simply may reflect that people who choose to use such supplements tend to have more healthful habits overall.


In a randomized clinical trial, researchers actively intervene by assigning participants at random to receive treatment or a placebo -- making this the "gold standard" of research.


Is it an animal study? Animal studies allow far greater control than human studies -- but results from other species may not apply directly to people.


How many participants were there? The larger the study, the less likely its findings are due to chance.


How long did the study last? A long-term study may detect risks or benefits that go unnoticed in shorter studies. Example: Hormone therapy using estrogen plus progestin increases risk for breast cancer -- but only after four to five years. A two-year study would not uncover this relationship.


Did the study look at actual disease outcomes? Because it takes years for certain diseases to develop, many studies examine "markers" of disease. Example: Lower cholesterol levels suggest a reduced risk for heart disease -- though cholesterol reductions do not always lead to actual decreases in heart disease risk. Research looking at concrete outcomes, such as the occurrence of heart attacks, is more reliable.


Who were the participants? A study is less valid if participants are not typical of the people who use the therapy. Example: The first clinical trial of estrogen therapy to reduce heart disease was done on men, not women!


What does increased risk really mean? It is scary to hear that a risk factor (such as exposure to a toxin) increases risk for a certain disease by, say, 50%. But suppose that two cases of disease normally occur per 10,000 women who haven't been exposed to the toxin. In that case, a 50% increase would mean that toxic exposure leads to three cases per 10,000 women -- which isn't so scary.


E-mail this Article

Bottom Line/Women's Health interviewed JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH, a professor of medicine and women's health at Harvard Medical School and chief of the division of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, both in Boston. She is one of the lead investigators for two highly influential studies on women's health -- the Harvard Nurses' Health Study and the Women's Health Initiative. Dr. Manson is the author, with Shari Bassuk, ScD, of Hot Flashes, Hormones & Your Health (McGraw-Hill).


Simple elixir called a 'miracle liquid' - Los Angeles Times

Electrolyzed water cleans, degreases -- and treats athlete's foot. The solution is replacing toxic chemicals.

By Marla Dickerson
February 23, 2009
It's a kitchen degreaser. It's a window cleaner. It kills athlete's foot. Oh, and you can drink it.

Sounds like the old "Saturday Night Live" gag for Shimmer, the faux floor polish plugged by Gilda Radner. But the elixir is real. It has been approved by U.S. regulators. And it's starting to replace the toxic chemicals Americans use at home and on the job.

  • Miracle liquid
  • Creating magic water.

    Creating magic water.


    The stuff is a simple mixture of table salt and tap water whose ions have been scrambled with an electric current. Researchers have dubbed it electrolyzed water -- hardly as catchy as Mr. Clean. But at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, some hotel workers are calling it el liquido milagroso -- the miracle liquid.

    That's as good a name as any for a substance that scientists say is powerful enough to kill anthrax spores without harming people or the environment.

    Used as a sanitizer for decades in Russia and Japan, it's slowly winning acceptance in the United States. A New York poultry processor uses it to kill salmonella on chicken carcasses. Minnesota grocery clerks spray sticky conveyors in the checkout lanes. Michigan jailers mop with electrolyzed water to keep potentially lethal cleaners out of the hands of inmates.
In Santa Monica, the once-skeptical Sheraton housekeeping staff has ditched skin-chapping bleach and pungent ammonia for spray bottles filled with electrolyzed water to clean toilets and sinks.

"I didn't believe in it at first because it didn't have foam or any scent," said housekeeper Flor Corona. "But I can tell you it works. My rooms are clean."

Management likes it too. The mixture costs less than a penny a gallon. It cuts down on employee injuries from chemicals. It reduces shipping costs and waste because hotel staffers prepare the elixir on site. And it's helping the Sheraton Delfina tout its environmental credentials to guests.

The hotel's kitchen staff recently began disinfecting produce with electrolyzed water. They say the lettuce lasts longer. They're hoping to replace detergent in the dishwasher. Management figures the payback time for the $10,000 electrolysis machine will be less than a year.

"It's green. It saves money. And it's the right thing to do," said Glenn Epstein, executive assistant at the Sheraton Delfina. "It's almost like fantasy."

Actually, it's chemistry. For more than two centuries, scientists have tinkered with electrolysis, the use of an electric current to bring about a chemical reaction (not the hair-removal technique of the same name that's popular in Beverly Hills). That's how we got metal electroplating and large-scale production of chlorine, used to bleach and sanitize.

It turns out that zapping salt water with low-voltage electricity creates a couple of powerful yet nontoxic cleaning agents. Sodium ions are converted into sodium hydroxide, an alkaline liquid that cleans and degreases like detergent, but without the scrubbing bubbles. Chloride ions become hypochlorous acid, a potent disinfectant known as acid water.

"It's 10 times more effective than bleach in killing bacteria," said Yen-Con Hung, a professor of food science at the University of Georgia-Griffin, who has been researching electrolyzed water for more than a decade. "And it's safe."

There are drawbacks.

Electrolyzed water loses its potency fairly quickly, so it can't be stored long. Machines are pricey and geared mainly for industrial use. The process also needs to be monitored frequently for the right strength.

Then there's the "magic water" hype that has accompanied electrolyzed drinking water. A number of companies sell so-called ionizers for home use that can range from about $600 to more than $3,000. The alkaline water, proponents say, provides health benefits.

But Richard Wullaert, a Santa Barbara consultant, said consumers should be careful.

"Some of these people are making claims that will get everybody in trouble," said Wullaert, whose nonprofit Functional Water Society is spreading the word about electrolyzed water. "It's time for some serious conferences with serious scientists to give this credibility."

Most of the growth has happened outside the United States.

Russians are putting electrolyzed water down oil wells to kill pesky microbes. Europeans use it to treat burn victims. Electrolyzing equipment is helping to sanitize drinking water in parts of Latin American and Africa.

The stuff is a simple mixture of table salt and tap water whose ions have been scrambled with an electric current. Researchers have dubbed it electrolyzed water -- hardly as catchy as Mr. Clean. But at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, some hotel workers are calling it el liquido milagroso -- the miracle liquid.

That's as good a name as any for a substance that scientists say is powerful enough to kill anthrax spores without harming people or the environment.

Used as a sanitizer for decades in Russia and Japan, it's slowly winning acceptance in the United States. A New York poultry processor uses it to kill salmonella on chicken

It's big in Japan. People there spray it on sushi to kill bacteria and fill their swimming pools with it, eliminating the need for harsh chlorine. Doctors use it to sterilize equipment and treat foot fungus and bedsores. It's the secret weapon in Sanyo Electric Corp.'s "soap-less" washing machine.

Now Sanyo is bent on cleaning up Japan's taxis with a tiny air purifier that fits into a car's cup holder. The device uses electrolyzed water to shield passengers from an unwelcome byproduct of Japan's binge-drinking business culture: vomit.

"There was some concern about the spreading of viruses and bacteria via the taxi, not to mention the . . . stinky smells," Sanyo spokesman Aaron Fowles said.

Sanyo's taxi air washer isn't yet available in the U.S.; commuters will have to hold their noses for now. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have approved electrolyzed water for a variety of uses.

PuriCore of Malvern, Pa., and Oculus Innovative Sciences of Petaluma, Calif., have developed treatments for chronic wounds. Albuquerque, N.M.-based MIOX Corp. sells municipal water-purifying systems. EAU Technologies Inc. of Kennesaw, Ga., caters to both ends of a dairy cow, with alkaline water to aid the animal's digestion and acid water to clean up its manure.

Integrated Environmental Technologies Inc. of Little River, S.C., is working with oil companies to keep wells free of bacteria and with high schools to sanitize sweaty wrestling mats and grungy football equipment that spread skin infections.

Electrolyzer Corp. of Woburn, Mass., is going after the hospitality market. The Sheraton Delfina purchased one of its machines. So has the Hyatt Regency Chicago and the Trump International Beach Resort near Miami.

Patrick Lucci, Electrolyzer's vice president of marketing, likes to bombard prospects with scientific studies, then give 'em the old razzle-dazzle. He'll swig the processed salt water before he mops the floor with it.

"Try that with bleach," he said.

The unit in Santa Monica looks a little like an oversized water heater, with two tanks side by side -- one for making the hypochlorous acid sanitizer, the other for the sodium hydroxide cleanser.

Rebecca Jimenez, director of housekeeping, heard grumbling from the cleaning staff when the hotel brought the machine in last fall. Housekeepers doubted that the flat, virtually odorless liquids were really doing the job. Some poured the guest shampoos into their bottles to work up a lather.

"If it doesn't suds up, it doesn't work," Jimenez said. "That's the mentality."

Still, she said, most have come around and are enjoying working without fumes and peeling skin.

Minnesota food scientist Joellen Feirtag said she was similarly skeptical. So she installed an electrolysis unit in her laboratory and began researching the technology. She found that the acid water killed E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other nasty pathogens. Yet it was gentle enough to soothe her children's sunburns and acne.

She's now encouraging food processors to take a look at electrolyzed water to help combat the disease outbreaks that have roiled the industry. Most are dubious.

"This sounds too good to be true, which is really the biggest problem," said Feirtag, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. "But it's only a matter of time before this becomes mainstream."

marla.dickerson@latimes.com