I Drink Urine -ex--NDC MP of Ghana

Dr. Ofei Agyeman is a month away from his 63rd birthday and was born in a village near Mampong Ashanti called Kwiremfaso where his mother hailed from. His father, an indigene of Akropong, was a teacher in Ashanti Mampong. He had his 6-year training in naturopathy in Highbury, England, having had his secondary school education at the Presbyterian Secondary School in Odumase, Krobo.Naturopathy is the promotion of health and natural healing by a system of diet, exercise, manipulation, care, and hydrotherapy. Urine therapy falls under naturopathy and with a small following in Ghana, it sounds absurd to drink one's own urine. Perhaps, as Dr. Ofei Agyeman is suggesting, the Ministry of Health would have to embark on a programme of sensitizing Ghanaians about the importance of urine therapy. But whether this would attract more converts is a million-dollar question, especially in the more conservative segment of the African  society..

Eating Carrots Make You More Attractive

Those who eat fruit and vegetables such as carrots and plums are considered more attractive, say scientists. Their research has shown that men and women whose skin has a yellow glow are thought to be particularly attractive and healthy - and yellow pigments called carotenoids, found in certain fruit and vegetables play a key role in giving the skin that hue.Study's co-author Ian Stephen said that just two months of increased consumption could produce visible results. It could lead to new strategies for encouraging the young to eat more fruit and vegetables, he said.
"Telling people they might have a heart attack in 40 years' time if they don't eat more healthily is one thing," the Daily Mail quoted him as telling The Grocer magazine. "What we can do is say, "This is what you could look in a couple of months if you increased your fruit and veg intake",' he added. As part of the study by St Andrews and Bristol universities, 40 volunteers rated 51 Scottish Caucasian faces for healthiness and attractiveness.Source-ANI

 


 

 

Relationship Between Mitochondria and Longevity Studied

Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have found that slowing the engines of mitochondria, the tiny cellular factories, could extend your life span. Andrew Dillin and his colleagues demonstrated their experiment on the roundworm Ceanorhabditis elegans to show that perturbing mitochondrial function in subsets of worm cells sent global signals governing longevity of the entire organism."In this study we show how signals sent from distressed mitochondria are communicated to distant tissues to promote survival and enhance longevity," said Dillin.The identity of the signal sent from mitochondrially - distressed cells - a hypothetical factor called a 'mitokine' - remains unknown. "Imagine if we could perturb mitochondria in the liver, and make them send a mitokine to degenerating neurons. Instead of trying to get a drug into the brain, we could exploit the body's ability to send out a natural rescue signal," said Dillin. The team observed the relationships between mitochondria, energy generation and longevity and found that living long does not necessarily require prospering at the subcellular level."Many genes were related to mitochondrial function. If you disabled them, worms lived longer, although their respiration or metabolism was reduced. We wondered whether this is why animals lived longer," he said. However, there's a catch that was discovered in the current study."It was like you could manipulate mitochondria in a 30-year-old human and get an extra 15 years, while in an 80-year-old, you might only gain two or three years," he said. 
The study appears in the Jan. 7, 2011, issue of Cell.Source:ANI   

  



 

Medical College in Memory of Kalpana Chawla

The Haryana government revealed that it will be setting up a new medical college in the memory of astronaut Kalpana Chawla who was killed in the space.The medical college will be set up in her hometown of Karnal and will be associated with the Civil Hospital in the town with a 400-bed capacity which can be upgraded to 500 beds.Announcing the project, a government spokesman said, “The medical college to be set up over an area of 35 acres would have a 50-seat college upgradable to 100 seats. It will also have a 400-bedded hospital upgradable to 500 beds along with existing Civil Hospital.” Chawla is the first woman of Indian origin to go into space as part of NASA’s Columbia space shuttle which exploded when it tried to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in February 2003. 


 

 

Indian Kitchens May Have All the Ingredients for Cancer Cure

Indian kitchens may have all the ingredients to cure cancer, as cancer fighting properties are found in garlic, turmeric, capsicum, and saffron, which are commonly used to add to the flavor of Indian curries.
Dr Shrikanth Anant , professor of cancer research , University of Kansas explained how the search for alternative solutions to fight cancer was motivated by the need to avoid the serious side-effects of cancer therapy.He has been involved in the research on curcumin, for which human trials are on, following the success of animal trials. According to information available in medical journals, nearly 62% of cancer patients in the US prefer to consume medicines made of natural compounds.
"Cancer is a complex disease. No therapy is a silver bullet. It has to be a combination. So, we're looking at options that can make treatment more effective," Anant said.
Source-Medindia


 

Lead Poisoning Puts 28 Children in Hospital in China

An unlicensed battery factory is blamed for sending twenty-eight children including some as young as nine months old, to hospital in eastern China due to lead poisoning, state media said Thursday.
Doctors first detected abnormally high lead levels in the blood of three children in the town of Gaohe in Anhui province last month, prompting authorities to carry out tests on 280 children, Xinhua news agency said.

More than 200 were found to have excessive lead in their blood, and those hospitalised -- aged nine months to 16 years -- were suffering from "moderate to severe" lead poisoning, the report said, citing a hospital official. Inspectors from the local environmental protection bureau found that Borui Battery Co. Ltd., which had been operating illegally, was the cause of the problem. They closed down the plant as well as another factory in the area.
Excessive levels of lead in the blood are considered hazardous, particularly to children, who can experience stunted growth and even mental retardation.
In October 2009, nearly 1,000 children tested positive for lead poisoning in the central province of Henan. Smelting plants in the area were found to be responsible.
Such incidents have exposed the dark side of the country's economic boom.
Rapid industrialisation over the last 30 years has left China, the world's second-largest economy, with some of the world's worst water and air pollution and has left widespread environmental damage.
Source-AFP

Wives Thrash Polygamist in Pakistan Who was Planning 5th Marriage

Polygamist in Pakistan was thrashed by his wives for planning to marry for the fifth time.
According to the Telegraph, polygamist Mian Ishaq was reportedly attending a friend's wedding reception with his third wife when his first two spouses, identified as Mehvish and Uzma, arrived at the place.

The two women showed up with relatives and reportedly began overturning tables and threatening Ishaq's life, before attacking him with their shoes until police hauled them away.
Uzma told the press that her husband deserved to be beaten.
"We know that he is trying to marry a fifth time, and he should be publicly humiliated for his behaviour," AOL News quoted her as reportedly saying.
But Ishaq says the number of his wives has been greatly exaggerated -- adding that his first two wives have filed for divorce and are trying to force him to sell his home.
According to UPI, he called their accusations "a blatant lie".
"I am willing to swear on my life that I only have three wives," he stated.
Source-ANI


 

11 crore yoga postures to be staged in Pune

A three-day international conference on yoga and physical education will begin on January 11 at the Sir Parshurambhau (SP) College. A rally will be organised as a part of the meet on the
inaugural day.
The chief convenor of the event, Raghav Ashtekar, told reporters on Friday that around 130 representatives from 13 countries would participate in the conference.
He said, “The conference will be inaugurated by University of Pune vice-chancellor Raghunath Shevgaonkar. Students from 700 schools, along with hundreds of yoga enthusiasts, will perform record 11 crore suryanamaskars (yoga postures done in a particular sequence).”
Swami Govindadevgiri and international badminton player P Gopichand would attend the ceremony.
On January 13, Swami Swarupanand Saraswati would attend the valedictory function. Dr Nitin Unkule and Dr Nayana Nimkar, among others will take part in a panel discussion. Various cultural events will be organised, including mallakhamb and dance based on yoga postures.

China's Smoking-related Deaths Set to Triple by 2030

An international panel of health experts have warned that deaths from tobacco-related illnesses in China could triple in the next two decades. A joint report by Chinese and foreign experts have blamed the cigarette industry for blocking anti-smoking efforts. By 2030, over 3.5 million Chinese could die each year from smoking-related illnesses, compared with 1.2 million deaths in 2005, according to the report "Tobacco Control and the Future of China".The report, released Thursday, said China would almost certainly miss a deadline to implement an indoor ban on smoking, a pledge made when China became a party to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2006. Under the framework, China agreed to enact national legislation banning indoor smoking by this year. State media have said the deadline is January 9.However, no such ban has been put in place and smokers in China continue to light up freely in restaurants and office buildings. "The tobacco industry has become the largest 'health-hazard' industry," said the report, sponsored by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. China is now the world's largest tobacco producer and consumer and tobacco is the country's top killer, the report said. Cigarette industry interest groups have seriously undermined anti-smoking efforts and are a key barrier to effective tobacco controls, it said.An arrangement in which China's tobacco monopoly acts as the lead entity in implementing the 2006 tobacco control framework effectively allows the industry to use government authority to promote cigarette sales and impede adoption of anti-smoking policies and laws, it added.
Source-AFP

   


 

 

Malaika Arora Khan is now a yoga junkie

Kareena Kapoor has led many of her friends to follow yoga. Malaika Arora Khan is the latest to be added to the list that includes  the likes of Saif Ali Khan, Tusshar Kapoor and Amrita Arora Ladhak.Says Malaika, "I have been learning yoga for some time. Kareena and Amu (Amrita Arora) introduced me to it. Payal Gidwani has been training me. I do yoga thrice a week at home with Payal, alternating it between gym and pilates. Now I really look forward to my sessions with Kareena and Amu. We are yoga junkies."While Malaika has been introduced to asanas by Kareena, Malaika's husband Arbaaz has been a 'yoga junkie' for many years."Arbaaz is into rituals and holistic healing like yoga and vipassana but stopped completely for more than a year.Once he became a producer with Dabangg, he got caught up in pre and post-production work and stopped doing it completely. I have been asking him to start doing it again."Besides doing yoga thrice a week for an hour Malaika also works out thrice a week. "I am mostly into weight-training with my trainer when at the gym."The yummy mummy is planning to bring out a book on healthy food habits and workouts.  "I love talking about healthy food, home-made remedies and giving health tips.So yes, I have been thinking about writing a book on how to have a sexy body without starving yourself."

Munni's diet

MorningOne glass of warm water with honey and lime
One litre of warm water

BreakfastOne small bowl of seasonal fruit
Idli or poha or upma or porridge

12 noon

A glass of vegetable juice with amla

One egg white with two brown toasts

Lunch

Brown or red Goa rice
2-3 vegetables
Chicken or fish

One bowl of sprouts as salad4 pm

Idli or poha or upma or one peanut butter sandwichDinner (have latest by 8 pm)

Soups or salad. A light meal but no lentils (daals).

Night

If hungry have an orange or carrots or any seasonal fruits or dry fruits like figs, almonds and apricots.

Health Tips

* Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper
** NO carbohydrates at night

***Don't starve eat healthy and everything but in moderation. Avoid fried foods. Have a diet for    the week and binge on Sundays

**** Cook everything in extra virgin olive oil

*****Have plenty of carbs through the day like sweet potatoes, potatoes and brown bread. Have potatoes in their jackets roasted.

***** If you eat healthy, you will go a long way

Courtesy:NDTvMovies 

 

 

 

  

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple blood test developed for Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers have been able to detect "markers" in the blood that identify the disease three to five years before any memory loss occurs.The breakthrough means that treatment for the disease could be started before irreversible brain damage has been caused – dramatically slowing down progression.The same technology could also make it easier to spot other disease such as Parkinson's and hard-to-detect cancers, said the researchers.Around 750,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia, more than half of whom have Alzheimer's.At present the only way for sure to know if someone has suffered from the condition is to carry out a brain examination after their death.

Source:Daily Telegraph

INTERNATIONAL YOGA & NATUROPATHY SEMINAR

INTERNATIONAL YOGA & NATUROPATHY SEMINAR
DATE-19-20 FEB 2011
PLACE-TALKATORA STADIUM NEW DELHI
INAUGRATION THROUGH PRESIDENT PATIBHA PATIL,DR A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM,SWAMI CHIDANAND MUNI,DR PRANAV PANDYA,SWAMI RAM DEV JI.
CONTACT-(DR ANANT-9899792730,DR D.N.SHARMA-9313231321,DR VINOD KASHYAP-9953882605)
EMAIL-info.surya@gmail.com
Organisation-I.N.O. ,Surya Foundation & Bala ji Nirogadhaam Naturopathy & Yoga Center
Registration only 600rs+500rs for room
ALSO CONTACT FOR STALL ONLY 5000 RS

Chinese crack ayurveda obesity cure

Chinese scientists have unravelled the mechanism through which the bark of birch trees can prevent diet-induced obesity, an effect long recognised in traditional Indian medicine but not adequately probed through modern science.

A team of biomedical researchers in China has shown through experiments in mice that a molecule named betulin extracted from birch bark can decrease the synthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids and triglycerides, reduce arterial blockages, and increase sensitivity to insulin.

Their study, published yesterday in the journal Cell Metabolism, suggests that betulin may serve as a leading compound for control of high levels of cholesterol and diabetes. Betulin appears to lead to lower expression of genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis.

While Ayurvedic texts describe birch bark, or bhojpatra, as a possible remedy for obesity, and betulin had previously been identified as an active ingredient of birch bark, most traditional formulations involve a cocktail of several herbal substances.

Several public research institutions in India have long been trying to build scientific credence for traditional medicine claims through experimental verification but betulin’s mechanism of action in obesity has remained largely uninvestigated.

The Chinese team has shown that betulin inhibits the actions of a class of proteins called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins which are involved in activating genes that play a role in the synthesis of cholesterol, fatty acids and triglycerides.

“We believe this is a promising natural compound,” said Bao-Liang Song, a biologist at the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Shanghai, who led the study.

“We’ve found the mechanism of action through which betulin acts and identified what we believe are good molecular targets for reducing cholesterol and fatty acids,” Song told The Telegraph in a telephone interview.

The Chinese researchers treated two groups of mice, which had been given a high-fat loaded diet, with betulin and a standard cholesterol-lowering agent called lovastatin.

The findings suggest that betulin may have similar or even better effects than lovastatin. For instance, betulin decreased lipid levels in the liver and fat, more than what is achieved by lovastatin, and betulin also improves sensitivity to insulin through its effect on fatty acids and triglycerides.

Song said more studies would be needed to establish the safety of betulin for routine use in humans but future strategies might also seek to apply knowledge about its mechanism of action to design new derivative molecules that might be even more effective.

Source:The Telegraph

Homeopathy: A Time-Tested Treatment for the Flu

If you are looking for a safe and reliable treatment for the flu then perhaps homeopathy is for you. My own clinical experience of 20 years has repeatedly confirmed the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for the flu. Not to be confused with the term "holistic," which means any approach to health that takes into account the whole person, "homeopathic" refers to a specific holistic medical therapy that involves matching the symptom profile of the sick person with the symptom profile of a corresponding homeopathic medicine.
If you catch the flu and would like to try homeopathic treatment it is best to consult a well-qualified homeopathic medical professional. It should be noted that homeopathic medicines are FDA approved and regulated, and all of the ones discussed here are classified as over-the-counter. Homeopathic medicines are exceedingly safe and are available for purchase in many natural food stores, pharmacies and even some grocery stores.
Medical historians tend to overlook the full history of the 1918 influenza epidemic. Records indicate that death rates for those receiving homeopathic treatment were significantly lower than those using the conventional therapy of the time (mostly aspirin). One report noted that there was a 1.05 percent mortality rate in 26,795 cases of influenza treated by homeopathic physicians compared to an average death rate of 30 percent for cases treated by regular doctors of the time (1).
Biography:
Larry Malerba, D.O., DHt is the author of "Green Medicine: Challenging the Assumptions of Conventional Health Care," published by North Atlantic Books and distributed by Random House. He has been a practitioner, educator and leader in the field of holistic medicine for more than 20 years.

Homeopathy gaining ground among masses in Pakistan

At present more than 1,100,000 homeopathic doctors are treating about 1.5 billion people worldwide. Homeopathic medicines are widely prescribed by physicians in U.S., Europe and Asia.
It has also been observed that sales of homeopathic medicines are witnessing an increase of 20 to 35 per cent each year. Doctors, scientists, researchers, corporations and the general public all have been contributing to accelerated expansion in the homeopathic products.
Public is now involved in boasting the benefits of homeopathy by demanding better treatment from all physicians. Homeopathy is fast becoming popular in the world.
These achievements by homeopathy were undoubtedly due to the harmful nature of allopathic remedies compared to the non-toxic nature of homeopathic remedies. Chemical drugs are dangerous as for example medicines used for treating a cancerous tumor certainly disturb other systems of the body. Similar is the case for allopathic medicines for other ailments.
Homeopathy, however, works equally well both for viruses and bacterial infections. It has proved its effectiveness in times of epidemics. For example, during the 1830’s cholera epidemics in Europe homeopathic doctors had 80 per cent recovery rate of their patients. Whereas conventional doctors achieved only 50% recovery rate.
Homeopathy treats the whole person and not just the part and herein lies its success. Mind and body influence each other and imbalance in one system causes imbalance in the other. Many a time allopathic doctors fail to either diagnose the disease or they diagnose it wrongly. In both the cases the patient continued to suffer. One of such patients, Syed Hussnain, once told me his story in the following words:
“My digestion is very weak with no appetite. I also suffer from blurred vision, illusion and delusion. I have fear of the unknown, anxiety and aversion to work. I do not sleep at night and have pains, aches and frequent urination at night. I cannot apprehend things and have forgetful memory. All these complaints aggravate after lying down on the bed. My health condition has put me in a very embarrassing position. Only slow walking gives me relief. I visited an international standard hospital in the immediate vicinity of my residence. I have the facility of annual complete medical check up on the expense of my office. There an eye specialist has examined my eyes first. Then I have gone to the cardiac specialist and have had my heart examined. I have also been to the neurologist. I have had my chest examined. I have been physically examined from head to foot, and they wrote in their reports good luck, this gentleman has no disease.”
Syed Hussnain asked if I am not sick, what do all these symptoms mean? My reply was that these symptoms are the language of nature, depicting internal nature of your sickness.
Many a time patients say all my medical test reports are clear but I am sick. Here homeopathy replies, “An individual’s medical diagnosis is not as important as his or her symptoms as everyone experiences illness in his or her own way.” Homeopathy defined good health as the balance of a person’s psychological, mental and emotional aspects.
Most practitioners of allopathic medicine attempt to treat an illness by targeting the affected part of the body. They identify the causative agent of the illness, such as a virus or bacteria and treat it. Conventional doctors usually tend to be more aggressive in the usage of medicine.
Remedy should be chosen that treat the whole person and not just the part. Homeopathy can alleviate almost any health problem. This may seem strange to grasp all the disorder by one remedy, but as you know every single tiny function of our body operates as a WHOLE, all of the time. You cannot treat one thing without affecting the rest.
Courtesy:
Dr Asghar Ali Shah
Homeopathic Physician
Source:International The News

Lankan ayurvedic system to conquer foreign terrain

Two fully fledged Sri Lankan Panchakarma Ayurvedic hospitals will be set up in Japan and Germany, Indigenous Medicine Secretary B D Dahanayake said.
Each hospital will cost around Rs 40.5 million.
Discussions in this regard were held between Indigenous Medicine Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayake and investors from several countries.
The hospitals will be set up in Sendai, a major city in northeast Japan and Frankfurt a leading commercial city in Germany.
He said this decision was taken in response to the growing demand for ayurvedic treatment. Each hospital will be provided with 15 Ayurvedic doctors. Volunteers will be recruited after careful selecting process by an appointed Board.
He said a Sri Lankan lady who is in Germany has donated a building to the Indigenous Medicine Ministry to build the hospital.
Source:Daily News Srilanka

Accurate Outcomes for IVF can be Predicted by a New Model

Infertile couples can be provided with an accurate assessment of the likelihood of having a successful outcome following in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) by using couple-and treatment-specific factors.A new prediction model created by Scott Nelson from the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland and Debbie Lawlor from the University of Bristol, Bristol, England, and published in this week's PLoS Medicine, provides a more accurate and contemporary assessment of likely outcomes after IVF than a previously established model, partly because the new model includes intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes. Between 2003 and 2007, 163,425 IVF cycles were completed in the UK, of which 23.4% resulted in at least one live birth. The authors used the data collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on 144,018 of these cycles (the other cycles had missing data) to develop a detailed statistical model for the outcomes of IVF. According to this model, several factors including increasing maternal age, increasing duration of infertility, and the use of the woman's own oocytes, were associated with a decreased chance of couples having at least one live birth. By contrast, a previous IVF live birth and the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection were associated with increased chances of success. In addition, the authors found that the chances of preterm and low birthweight after IVF were increased if donor eggs were required and intracytoplasmic sperm injection was not used. However, before this new prediction model can be used to guide clinical decisions globally and be used to counsel patients outwith the UK, it needs to be validated using independent IVF data. To facilitate the external validation of their model, the authors are currently generating a free web-based prediction tool (www.ivfpredict.com) and iPhone application IVFpredict. The authors conclude: "Pending external validation, our results show that couple- and treatment-specific factors can be used to provide infertile couples with an accurate assessment of whether they have low or high risk of a successful outcome following IVF.

"Source-Eurekalert

 

  
 

 

Millions of Kids Affected by Misuse of Antibiotics: Experts

More than a million Chinese kids have been made deaf by misuse of the antibiotic streptomycin, say medical experts. 

Yang Zhiyin of the Chinese Medical Association said that of the 1.8 million deaf children on the mainland, 60 percent lost their hearing because of improper drug use, largely related to streptomycin, reports the China Daily.Each year on the mainland about 200,000 people die from adverse drug events and 40 percent of the deaths are related to the abuse of antibiotics, Yang told the Beijing-based Health News. Many Chinese households habitually stock antibiotics at home and most people have taken antibiotics without a doctor's guidance, said experts. "Drug abuse, particularly the overuse of antibiotics, is widespread on the mainland, which is more than a purely medical problem. It's a complicated social issue," said Huang Liuyu, of the Institute for Disease Prevention and Control of the People's Liberation Army. But he also added that doctors should be the first to be blamed for the situation. "Some doctors tend to prescribe the most advanced antibiotics for patients who could be cured with commonly used ones. Some do this to achieve the quickest and best result, while others do it to receive kickbacks from drug companies," he said.Yang said that each Chinese consumes an average of 138 grams of antibiotics a year, more than 10 times that taken by a person in the United States.

Source-ANI

 

     

 
 

Evidence-Based Guidelines for Osteoarthritis Not Being Followed by Most Practitioners

Clinicians who care for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are not following standard care guidelines that are based on current medical evidence, says a new research.Researchers noted physicians were prescribing medications for pain and inflammation, or opting for surgical interventions rather than recommending weight loss plans or exercise programs to OA patients. Details of the this study are available in the January 2011 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology. 

A 2002 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated OA to be the fourth leading cause of years lost due to disease (YLD) worldwide. OA disability is quickly becoming a major public health concern with experts suggesting that by 2020 the number of people with OA will have doubled due to growing obesity prevalence and the aging of the "baby boomer" generation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), arthritis and other rheumatic conditions cost the U.S. $128 billion in 2003—a 24% increase since 1997. Much of the cost burden in arthritis care can be attributed to OA which accounts for a large volume of surgical procedures including total joint replacements. Dr. David Hunter from the University of Sydney in Australia and New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and colleagues reviewed how standard clinical practice diverges from evidence-based recommendations in the management of OA. "We present a potential roadmap for optimizing the quality of OA healthcare for those developing and enforcing policy decisions, and for clinicians on the frontlines of OA management to enact practice change," commented Dr. Hunter.

 
 

 

Do Women Like The Idea of Marrying Rich Men?

Dr Catherine Hakim, from the London School of Economics, is of the opinion that even though women often speak of financial independence and a career, this may not actually represent what they want. Though women will never admit, especially at a time when there is so much talk about gender equality, all that women ever want is to marry rich  and well-educated men.In Dr Hakim’s words, “Women’s aspiration to marry up, if they can, to a man who is better-educated and higher-earning, persists in most European countries. Women thereby continue to use marriage as an alternative or supplement to their employment careers. It is thus not surprising that wives generally earn less than their husbands, and that most couples rationally decide that it makes sense for her to take on the larger share of childcare, and use most or all the parental leave allowance.” According to Dr Hakim, many women were not honest enough to admit that they preferred a partner with a fat income.  “It has become impossible to say ‘I wouldn’t mind being a housewife,’” she said. “It is so politically incorrect that a lot of women don’t want to admit it.” Source:MedIndia


 

 

The ‘S’ Word is Bad for the Teeth

We all know that stress affects the heart and the head, but latest news has it that stress can damage the teeth and gums as well.Experts say, that stress is indicated also by the mouth, gums and teeth. While some can have trouble from mouth sores, others may clench and grind their teeth or suffer gum disease.Experts say, that stress is indicated also by the mouth, gums and teeth. While some can have trouble from mouth sores, others may clench and grind their teeth or suffer gum disease.Grinding teeth, medically termed as bruxism, can lead to chipping of teeth, tiredness of jaws, and headaches. Relaxation techniques such as meditation and use of mouth guards can help to a great extent.Often, when we are stressed, we may give brushing or flossing a miss. This leads to improper oral hygiene. The ideal way is to combat stress with exercise, which elevates the mood and helps energize the body. This will leave us with more energy and interest to ensure oral hygiene. It is imperative to brush the teeth twice a day with a good fluoride containing toothpaste. It is also important to visit the Dentist regularly for a routine checkup. Consumption of healthy food is a must to improve dental health. 
Source-Medindia

 

  

Detox is The New Mantra for Weight Loss in 2011

To give a fillip to the New Year resolutions that revolve around losing weight and, getting in shape, it may be good to start any weight loss programme with detoxification.Though researchers are divided about the effects of detoxification in the absence of conclusive evidence, yet, many strongly believe that detoxification is a good way to improve metabolism, get a glowing complexion, shed weight, and generally feel great.So, how does one start this process of detoxification? You can start by either giving up or abstaining (for a certain period) from meat, caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol, refined sugars, and processed foods. This cleanses the system, gives a boost to metabolism and energy levels, and can help lose weight. Include as many raw vegetables and greens in your diet as possible. Fibrous foods accelerate waste removal from the body. Keep the protein intake organic and natural. Drink a lot of water, atleast eight glasses a day. This helps the skin and digestive system to flush out toxins. Take up some form of exercise like yoga, swimming or walking. This energizes the body, improves circulation and flexibility, burns calories and helps you lose weight. 
Source-Medindia

 

Zeroing In On Zero Therapy

Dadawadi hall in Ayanawaram in Chennai was abuzz on Saturday with many success stories of those whose lives were touched by ‘Zero Therapy’. This form of therapy lives up to its name of doing precious ‘nothing’ with the body, by living as close to one’s raw self as possible and completely avoiding anything that is not natural. Even the use of tooth paste, soap, shampoo, or medicines is completely taboo in this form of therapy.Take the case of Hitesh Vajawat (35), who owes his ‘ability to talk’ to zero therapy. He had given up on life in 2006 when he lost his voice, and all hope after Doctors warned him that he may not get his voice back. Zero therapy proved effective for Hitesh, who made very simple food changes, and now he is a ‘telling’ example of its miraculous healing. Zero therapy owes its existence to Vipin Chand Bomb, an entrepreneur by profession, with many ideals, the strongest of which is vegetarianism. What started as a move to encourage more people into vegetarianism, led to the birth of zero therapy.Vivek bomb , who coordinated the event in Chennai explained, “None of us in this hall have seen a medical specialist of any kind for ages. The last I went to a doctor was in 2004 before my marriage. After that now under zero therapy I follow certain food habits that keep me immune from all kinds of diseases including diabetes.” 

Source:MedIndia

 

 

 

TASUDMA to conduct workshop for members on new Ayush guidelines in Jan

The Tamil Nadu Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani Drug Manufacturers Association (TASUDMA) will be conducting a workshop for the technical staff of its member units in January of this year for creating awareness among its members about the Ayush department’s quality certification scheme and the new guidelines introduced by it recently.Top officials of the department of Ayush, regulatory officials of the state drug control department and experts from ADMA and ISM industry will be invited as resource persons, said Dr Vijay A Mehta, president, TASUDMA.The Ayush department has recently introduced a voluntary quality certification scheme to ensure efficacy of herbal products based on the Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy. The companies which are selling products within the country have to obtain Ayush Standard Mark certification and those engaged in exports should obtain Ayush Premium Mark. The manufacturing units have to qualify for the new protocols introduced by the department in getting licenses for new drugs. The workshop will give the participants awareness about all these technical problems, he said.The president of TASUDMA said the association has a membership strength of 78 manufacturing companies and representatives of all of them will be invited to the workshop-cum-seminar. He further said those who are not members of the Association, can also attend the workshop in order to attain knowledge about Ayush schemes. Tamil Nadu has a total of 500 licensees for the manufacture of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani drugs.The participants will be given training on GMP, GLP and GCP by experts from the field. Classes on new product development, marketing skills development, new guidelines for clinical trials, screening and validation of traditional medicines as per WHO protocols and identification of raw materials are necessary for the technical staffs of the big and small units and they have to be updated with them, said Dr T Thirunarayanan, technical advisor to TASUDMA.Last year the association inked a pact with the Tirunelveli based Manonmaniam Sundarnar University for standardization of medicinal plants. The University has allotted 6 acres of land to TASUDMA for cultivation and identification of medicinal plants. Dr Vijay Mehta said for the development of herbal drugs for treating the diseases of animals, the association will sign a MoU with Madras University soon.TASUDMA conducted 12 meetings and 2 seminars in the last two years and gave training to 22 technical staff of various companies in Quality Control aspects.Recently a group of manufacturers have severed their ties with Dr Mehta’s Association and floated a parallel association in the name of Indian Medicine Manufacturers Association.

Source:Pharmabiz

Rajan Zed Calls Religions to Join Hands For Tackling Poverty

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was applauded by Hindus for his concern for families struggling with economic troubles. Presiding over New Year's Eve vespers service in Vatican City marking the final hours of 2010, Pope held a public prayer and asked for solidarity with those living in poverty or deprivation, according to reports.Well known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that poverty was a monumental crisis and biggest challenge facing world today and it should be dealt at an emergency level. Religions joining hands on this issue would be the most effective way to deal with it. Religion was the most powerful and far-reaching force in our society and could prove very influential in handling common concerns like human improvement, peace, ecological responsibility, social and economic development, etc., Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.Pope Benedict heads the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest of the Christian denominations. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.




 

 

Here are Top 10 Tips on How to Stick to New Year's Resolutions

Most people who make New Year's resolutions fail to keep them within one week of starting, a new study has found. Now tips have been offered to help them reach their goals. 
Professor Wiseman, author of '59 Seconds: Think A Little, Change A Lot', insists we can all achieve our goals by making some quick, simple changes, the Sun reported.
And the top 10 tips to help us see our resolutions through are: 
1. One Thing At A Time: any of us make the mistake of trying to achieve too much instead of deciding on what is important to us and making just one resolution. 
The chance of success is greater when we channel our energy into changing a single aspect of our behaviour at a time. 
2. Plot Your Success: 
Find a way of charting your achievements. Keep a journal, or cover your fridge or notice board with graphs or pictures. 
3. Try Something New: 
Repeating resolutions you have failed to keep before is a recipe for disappointment. Set a new goal, or approach an old aim in a new way. For example, instead of trying to lose a set amount of weight, vow to exercise more.
 

US FDA Warns Against ‘Sexual Enhancement’ Drinks

The US food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the distributors of two sexual enhancement drinks are withdrawing the products from the market following its censure. 
The agency posted on its website a statement by Drive Total Energy on the voluntary recall of Rock Hard Extreme and Passion Coffee, the products under a cloud now.
The products contain Sulfoaildenafil, an analogue of Sildenafil, an FDA-approved drug used in the treatment of male Erectile Dysfunction (ED), making these products unapproved new drugs. The active drug ingredient is not listed on the product label, the agency has said.
The undeclared ingredient may pose a threat to the consumer because the interaction of the analogue with some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take other prescription drugs. Erectile Dysfunction is a common problem in men with these conditions, and consumers may seek these types of products to enhance sexual performance.
To date, Drive Total Energy is not aware of any reports made to the FDA concerning any adverse effects associated with the use of Rock Hard Extreme or Passion Coffee. In addition, Drive Total Energy currently has not received any complaints from its customers, the firm claims. Still as a matter of abundant caution and concern for the health and welfare of our customers, the firm is voluntarily notifying its customers of the FDA’s findings, the statement from Drive Total Energy said.

Courtesy:MedIndia
 
 

Addiction Counseling Booming in Pakistan

Alcohol is easily available across Pakistan, prompting rising alcoholism and a growing trade in clinics trying to treat middle-class patients. 
Pakistan has been dry for much longer- since 1977- and drinkers risk severe punishment: 80 lashes of the whip under strict Islamic laws, the Guardian reports.But the law is ignored, as alcohol is widely available in the country, and for those who go too far, addiction clinics offering help are quietly flourishing.
The last time a Pakistani drinker received 80 lashes was under the Islamist dictator Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s, however the culture has changed these days. Former president Pervez Musharraf made little secret of his fondness for a drink; neither does his successor, Asif Ali Zardari, the report said.
Waiters serve scotch on the sidelines of society weddings and corporate functions, and ministers drink openly at functions but hide their glasses when photographers come around, it added.
According to the report, demand for alcoholism counselling is so brisk in Pakistan that many clinics now take out prominent newspaper ads, some depicting a depressed man nursing a glass of scotch- a rare public nod towards a thinly veiled drinking culture.
"There's plenty of business," said Dr Sadaqat Ali, a leading addiction counsellor whose chain of clinics treated 500 alcoholics this year.
He counted bureaucrats, politicians, army generals and even the families of mullahs among his clients. "That's our target market. We call it the golden triangle: rich, educated and influential," he said.
 
 

Homeopathy is timeless and without limit

Homeopathy is an ancient idea, recognised by keen observers of nature. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was born around 460 BC. He recognised that diseases come from natural sources, rather than the superstitious sources popular at the time. He became a careful observer. He recognised that each case is individual. He also recognised that when treating a hitherto unknown case, he could use similar remedies, from similar cases.As well as recognising that a body can heal itself, he understood the importance of cleanliness, of a good diet and of exercise: ideas that took a couple of millennium to become common practice.
Paracelsus (1493 - 1541) was an alchemist and a doctor. He was outspoken against doctors doing more harm than good. He stated: "All things are poison, for there is nothing without poisonous qualities ... it is only the dose which makes a thing poison." This is close to the homeopathic principle of using minute doses of the substance, even poisons. He believed that health rested on "the inner harmony of man", something homeopaths easily identify with.
William Cullen (1710 - 1790), a Scottish physician and lecturer on chemistry, wrote A Treatise of Materia Medica in 1789.
In 1790, Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of modern day homeopathy, translated this work into German. It was here that he discovered the idea that cinchona bark produces the very same fever in a healthyperson that it so capably heals in a sick person. This was a eureka moment for Hahnemann and he experimented with this idea on himself. When he took a dose, he developed the same symptoms it was known tocure. And so, based on ancient wisdom, modern day homeopathy was born.
Samuel Hahnemann was a highly intelligent man, far ahead of his time. He was a doctor, a chemist and a linguist. (He was proficient in Latin, Greek, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic and French.) He was interested in philosophy and literature.
His change from practicing medicine to discovering homeopathy came about after he found it unacceptable to continue with the current medical practice of doing more harm than good.
He spent the rest of his life experimenting, observing, developing the complete philosophy of homeopathy and writing guide-lines for following practitioners. One of his most important instructions is:
"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health, or removal and annihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily comprehensible principles."
He clearly understood the nature of disease, the nature of the medicines and the nature of man - the three key areas fundamental to healing.
The 100 odd medicines he developed homeopathically are still as much in use today, for exactly the same reasons, as they were 200 years ago. There may have been large changes in our environment and in our technology, but there have been no changes in who we are and how we respond to outside pressure.
Much good can be done by using some of the common remedies in home prescribing. However, this highly sophisticated medical modality works best when it is practised by a competent professional homeopath who works by understanding the mental and emotional state the person is in. This is when miracles can occur, when the incurable is cured.
Homeopathy is one of the few modalities of health which fully appreciates the mind-body connection.
Homeopathy works as well on animals as it does on people.
Based on highly ethical procedures, all homeopathic testing (called provings) are done on healthy people.

About the author

Madeleine Innocent has been a full time professional homeopath since 2000, is a writer and homeopathic coach. She teaches homeopathy at local colleges, has her own on-line coaching and treats people and animals both in person and by telephone.
You can follow her blog at
http://www.twolegsandfour.blogspot.com

India, US to jointly promote ayurvedic, herbal products in US

Both India and the US will work together to promote ayurvedic and herbal products in the US. Senior officials from US and India discussed  the issue in detail recently.

The meeting also focused on the scope of developing market for traditional medicines in the US. According to Dr P V Appaji, executive director, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), “There is a growing need for data on safety and  efficacy among drug regulators of the countries around the world.  Need of the hour is to improve our understanding on regulatory requirements so that we can penetrate these countries. In the  meeting we have expressed our interest in adopting the same  style that the Chinese have adopted in the US for promotion of our ayurvedic and herbal products in the US.”

Aiming to step up ayurvedic exports to the US, Dr Rajeev Kher,  joint secretary, Department of Commerce had a meeting with  professor Ikhlas A Khan, director, FDA Programme, NCNPR and Centre for Research in Indian Systems of Medicine (CRISM)-USA.  A proposal was made for more interactions, meetings and exchange of dialogs with the US officials and regulatory bodies for understanding the US requirements for herbal product registration.

He stressed that there is a need to have more interactions with  officials of different countries to help all the players in the trade  of ayurvedic products to understand consumer demands and quality parameters in International market and develop methods  of production that meet those demands of product quality and efficacy.

Dr Appaji informed that at present, over Rs.42000 crore worth of bulk drugs and modern ayurvedic medicines are exported from  India to various countries and of which about Rs.600 crore worth  is pure ayurvedic products. This year the exports of ayurvedic products have seen a 20 per cent growth. However there is hope  that in the coming financial year it will be over 25 per cent.

“We hope to see more of such meetings so that we can promote responsible trade and commerce of ASU products and help in improving market opportunities for companies that sell these  products,” Dr Appaji said. This meeting was held in Delhi subsequent to the buyer seller meet, organised by Pharmexcil at the 4th edition of the  World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo held in Bengaluru from December 9th to 13th. The main objective behind organising the buyer-seller meet was to tap the export potential and the future  course of the ayurvedic products in the international market in the coming years. Dr Appaji, pointed out that the buyer seller meet with the Indian companies. “Though we cannot disclose the business  attracted lot of interest from the international community in having business  that had taken place during this event, we can assure that we had a   positive response from companies. The interest level had gone  up like anything with good number of business leads under the belt for many Indian companies.” The business meet deliberated on many key points that will direct the future course of the export market. Around 180 Indian companies had participated in this buyer seller meet along  with over 39 overseas participants from 15 countries. The  buyer seller meet was also attended by Michael Mcguffin,  president, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), USA.  The overwhelming participation and the subsequent meetings clearly proved the global popularity of ayurveda and associated  fields and India's position in it. Source:Pharmabiz