Self growth your way

Use of Miswak in Islamic culture and oral hygiene

2013-07-21T21:16:00.001+06:00

The use of Miswak is well spread in the Muslim population of the world, and is a common entity in Muslim countries. The reason for common use of Miswak by Muslims can be attributed to religious beliefs. The last messenger of Islam used it frequently and also instructed his followers to do the same and hence the practice continues widely in Muslim countries.

Note that it is used in place of the ordinary toothbrush and toothpaste. There are 70 benefits of Miswak as suggested by Islamic Literature and many of these have been scientifically proven and the rest haven’t been studied yet.

"The Miswak is a (means of) purification of the mouth (and a means of) pleasure of the Lord "(Al-Bukhari). "Had it not been for the sake of over burdening my Ummah I would have ordered them (to use) Miswak with every ablution"(in another report by Al-Bukhari).

It has also been narrated by reliable sources that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was emphatic in the daily use of Miswak, upon waking, before and after eating, leaving and entering his house, before ablution, and prayers. Furthermore it was a practice of all the Prophets (peace by upon them). Some scholars have mentioned upto 70 benefits from the use of Miswak.

Health benefits of Miswak

Kills Gum disease causing bacteria.
Fights plaque effectively.
Fights against caries.
Removes Bad breath and odor from mouth.
Creates a fragrance in the mouth.
Effectively clean between teeth due to its parallel bristles.
Increases salivation and hence inhibits dry mouth (Xerostomia)

Islam introduced basic oral hygiene by incorporating it as a religious practice. Islam teaches the importance of cleanliness of the body as well as of the mind. Several quotations are found in the compendium of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as to the benefits of Miswak in oral hygiene. For example: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), said: "Siwak purifies the mouth and pleases Allah'and said: Were it not to be a hardship on my community, I would have ordered them to use Siwak for every ablution.'

Thè use of Miswak is well spread in Thè Muslim population of Thè world, and is a common entity in Muslim countries. Thè reason for common use of Miswak by Muslims can be attributed to religious beliefs. Thè last messenger of Islam used it frequently and also instructed his followers to do Thè same and hence Thè practice continues widely in Muslim countries.

A Miswak or Siwak is still an alien thing to the western world. But, it’s a twig which a majority of people from Muslim countries use daily to brush their teeth. Although it might sound outdated to use twigs from trees for cleaning your teeth, studies conducted on Miswak proves otherwise. Studies have inferred that Miswak is better than toothpaste for preventing gum disease. It is being known as chewing stick in the western world and is being looked upon as a form of alternative medicine.

Useful links:
* http://www.miswakstick.com/

Get scientific research and other iformation: www.miswakstick.com

Medicinal properties of milkweed

2013-07-18T21:48:00.000+06:00

Milkweed is a great plant for the garden and provides habitat for many creatures. In addition to being a host plant to the monarch butterfly, milkweed offers many other benefits:

Milkweed flowers produce nectar that all butterfly species benefit from. Honey bees take nectar from milkweed flowers. With the decline of honey bee populations in the US, planting milkweed in your garden can help to provide feeding stations as they fly between crop fields and orchards.

Hummingbirds often use the floss from milkweed seed pods to line their nests.

Though weeds are considered unwanted plants, many species of weeds are being used as herbs from decades. Milkweed or Calotropis gigantea is a one of those useful weeds which is used as a medicinal plant. It is used in herbal medicine for a variety of ailments such as fevers, rheumatism, indigestion, cough, cold, eczema, asthma, elephantiasis, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Calotropis gigantea is known as milkweeds because of the sap they produce. It is also called swallow wort. The plant is known as aak in Ayurveda

Milkweed is the primary food source of the incredibly beautiful Monarch butterfly. This large shrub looks like a small tree, sports clusters of waxy flowers that are either white or lavender in colour. Each flower consists of five pointed petals and a small, elegant “crown” rising from the centre, which holds the stamens.

The plant has oval, light green leaves and milky stem. The flowers last long, and in Thailand they are used in various floral arrangements. They were also supposed to be popular with the Hawaii queen Liliuokalani, who considered them as symbol of royalty and wore them strung into leis.
In India, the plant is common in the compounds of temples.
Medicinal properties of milkweed (according to Ayurveda):

Dried whole plant is a good tonic, expectorant, depurative, and anthelmintic (anthelmintics or antihelminthics are drugs that expel parasitic worms)
The dried root bark is a substitute for ipecacuanha. The root bark is febrifuge, anthelmintic, depurative, expectorant, and laxative.
The powdered root used in asthma, bronchitis, and dyspepsia. The leaves are useful in the treatment of paralysis, arthralegia, swellings, and intermittent fevers.
The flowers are bitter, digestive, astringent, stomachic, anthelmintic, and tonic.
In inhalation therapy, smoke from the bark is inhaled for coughs, asthma, and to cause sweating. Calotropis contains chemicals that might help thin mucous and make it easier to cough up.
In large doses it acts as a purgative and an emetic.
Caution: Calotropis is not safe in high doses. It contains chemicals that can interfere with heart function, particularly at high doses. It can cause serious side effects including vomiting, diarrhea, slow heartbeat, convulsions, and death.

The use of Calotropis during pregnancy and breast-feeding is not recommended.

Health benefits of milkweed:
Milkweed helps in getting relief and cure from:

Cutaneous diseases
Pain relief from toothache, cramps, and joint pain
Digestive disorders including diarrhea, constipation and stomach ulcers
Parasitic infections including elephantiasis and worms
Cough
Ascites
Asthma
Bronchitis
Dyspepsia
Paralysis
Swellings
Intermittent fevers
Anorexia
Inflammations and
Tumors.

Extracts from the flowers of Calotropis procera have shown strong cytotoxic activity in the patients of colorectal cancer.

Reference:

http://ecoglitz.com/calotropismilk-weed/

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropfactsheets/calotropis.html

Get wisdom and wealth using Zircon stone

2013-07-15T21:25:00.000+06:00

Birthstones are gemstones that are associated with each month. These gem stones have been used for centuries. Precious stones, such as diamonds, zircon, or semi-precious, such as Lapiz Lazuli are few of the names. These gem stones are considered lucky for their particular months and for their healing powers during their months.

Benefits and qualities of Zircon stone:

Zircon along with turquoise are birthstones of Sagittarius (Archer): Nov. 22-Dec. 21. Zircon (birthstone) is associated with wisdom, honour, and wealth.

Zircon is a beautiful and natural gemstone that has been in existence for over hundreds of years now. Zircon is popularly known for its high diffusion and interestingly, it was used to emulate diamonds for many years. The gemstone named Zircon actually looks like a diamond. It shines more than diamonds; however it retains the shine for a very short span of time, on astrological replacement for diamonds.

There are a number of ways in which Zircon is used. Some of them can be mentioned as people born in December can use it as a conventional birthstone, Zircon pendants and rings are very popular among the jewelry lovers, it can bring in success, financially and also in general and it is helpful for the insomniacs. There is some mythological value related to this gemstone.

Zircon is found in many colors, including brown, red, yellow, green, blue, black, and colorless. The name "Zircon" is believed to have derived from the Arabic words, "zargun", meaning golden-color. Despite this color associated name, zircon actually occurs in virtually all colors. No relation at all to cubic zirconia, zircon is a bright, lustrous, highly brilliant gem, that occurs in large sizes with high clarities, making it a favorite amongst people who like bright colorful gems. Zircon, in its unchanged natural form appears colorless to pale yellow, or green. These colors are caused by minute quantities of thorium and uranium that replaces zircon in the crystal structure.

History:
Zircon has been around in jewelry for hundreds of years. It is known for its high dispersion and for many years was used to imitate diamonds. Zircon was regarded as the amulet for travelers in the Eleventh century, protecting them from disease, injury, and insomnia, as well as assuring a cordial welcome wherever their travels would take them. The gem was also believed to hold magic powers to fight evil spirits. During the Fourteenth century, zircon was popular as a safeguard against the Black Death, the great plague that wiped out one quarter of the population of Europe. The stone was believed to possess healing powers. It was prescribed to insomniacs to induce sleep, used as an antidote against poison, and as an aid to digestion.

Zircon relieves pain. It is said to whet one's appetite. Zircon also prevents nightmares and ensures a deep tranquil sleep. Mystical power: Zircon supposedly helps one be more at peace with oneself. Zircon is believed to provide the wearer with wisdom, honor and riches. The lost of luster on a Zircon stone is said to warn of danger. Jacinth helps rising one's self-esteem. The mineral zircon, known as zirconium silicate, is commonly found as a minor constituent in igneous rock such as granites and some kinds of metamorphic rock. Gem quality zircon stones are usually rare. These gemstones are formed mainly in pegmatites (coarse-grained igneous rock) and in fissures. But due to weathering of the gem-bearing rocks, most zircons are found in alluvial and beach deposits.

The most prized zircon is the red gemstone, which is rare. The pure intense blue and sky blue varieties are also highly valued, while the colorless, orange, brown and yellow stones are less expensive. Many zircons on the market are heat treated, and sold as blue, golden brown or colourless stones. Colourless zircons are the best imitators of diamonds, in appearance only, with a brilliant fire that is almost as dazzling as the real thing. However, the resemblance is superficial.

Zircon is a brittle stone, easily broken with a well-placed knock, due to internal stresses in the crystal caused by radiation damage and heat treatment. But despite its frail disposition, the stone is still highly valued because of its stunning beauty. Zircon is quite widely used in its three varieties. The first variety is called jacinth (also spelled hyacinth) and was used to a great extent in classical antiquity. It occurs in the clear, transparent red, orange, and yellow colors. The blue variety is called starlite or Siam Zircon, while the third colorless variety is called Ceylon or Matura diamond. Care and treatment: Zircon will chip and crack rather easily though it has a hardness rating of 7. As with all gems, protect zircon from scratches and sharp blows. Avoid hot water, sudden temperature changes and household chemicals. Store a jewelry made of zircon in separate boxes. Source: Jewelry for mother http://product-reviews.knoji.com/zircon-birthstone-possess-wisdom-and-wealth-for-wearer/

Relationships, honesty and Islam

2013-07-14T12:40:00.002+06:00

Islam builds ethical qualities in general and honesty in particular in several ways:
Allah orders the Muslim to be honest in all cases, in all deeds and words, to himself and others. Allah shows the Muslim rationally that honesty is the best policy, even on utilitarian bases.
Reward: Allah promises the honest person generous rewards in the first life and in the second life.
Punishment: Allah threatens the dishonest person with severe punishment for his dishonest behaviour.

Allah develops the habit of honesty in the Muslim through actual practice, i.e., through fasting and prayer. Thus Islam builds the habit of honesty in the Muslim through direct instructions, through rational arguments, through the reward and punishment principles, and through practice.

The health and longevity of the relationship depends upon honesty and trust. Honesty in a relationship is vitally important because it gives us the assurance that we can trust and rely on the person we love.

Honesty is the act of saying the truth whenever you are asked for it.

According to 'wikipedia': Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and denotes positive, virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness along with the absence of lying, cheating, or theft.

There are many Islamic terms derived from the Arabic word for honesty. For example, the word for friend is derived from the word for honesty, because a true friend is the one who will always be honest and truthful with you. Also, the word for charity is derived from the word for honesty. This is because when you give charity, it proves that you are honest in your belief in Allah (SWT).

Honesty is one of the manners that always accompany Prophets. Whenever Allah (SWT) mentions a Prophet in the holy Qur'an, he is described as being honest. This is an important trait of the Prophet, so that people would believe the message brought by the Prophet. If there is one trait that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was known for before Islam, it was that he was always honest and truthful. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was known in his community before Islam as the honest and trustworthy.

Honesty in words implies telling the truth in all cases and under all conditions.
Honesty also implies fulfilling the promise, whether written or given orally, in text and spirit.
Honesty also implies giving the right advice to the one who asks for it.
Honesty also implies doing one's work as sincerely and as perfectly as possible.
Honesty also implies carrying out duties as fully as possible whether the person is supervised or not.
Honesty means giving every person his due rights without his asking for these rights.
Honesty means doing the right thing in the right way at the right time.
Honesty means objectivity in judgment, objectivity in evaluation, and objectivity in decisions of all types. Honesty implies the right selection of personnel and the right promotion of personnel, i.e., selection by merit and promotion by merit, not by temper or favouritism or personal relations.

There are three types of honesty.
One part of honesty is tongue, then honesty of the intention and the actions.

The honesty of the tongue: This is the very famous type of honesty which all of us know. There are many examples to it, but first remember what the Prophet (PBUH) used to say in his supplication: O Allah grant me an honest tongue.

The honesty of the intention: This means that you want to perform an action with the pure intention that you do this for the sake of Allah (SWT).

Another type of honesty is in trade and at work. By being honest and truthful in your trade you will be on the same level as the prophets!

By being truthful and honest you can be with the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Prophet Musa and others. An example is that of a mechanic who is tasked with fixing your car. He brings you the bill and says that he has not betrayed anyone even though none of things needed to be done on the car!

Every one in their job has to be honest. Islam reach Asia through trade. An honest trader going to another country sells his merchandise. As someone buys a suit from him, he warns them that the suit has a slight defect. They say they can't see it but he says it is there so they wonder at his honesty and ask him about his religion.

Another type of honesty is in maintaining secrets.
Honesty is also in dealing with women. How can so many youth deal with women when their intentions are dishonest?
Let us look at a great example God (SWT) gave us in the Qur'an: Prophet Musa. When the people of Madyan went to collect water, he found two women standing to the side, not able to get to the well to get some water because of the crowds. He went up to them and asked them what was wrong in only two words.

The Virtues of Honesty: The Prophet (PBUH) said: Honesty leads to being virtuous, and being virtuous leads to paradise, and the person is honest and makes sure to be honest, until he is written with Allah to be an honest person.

Lying leads to disobedience, and disobedience leads to the hell fire, and the person lies and insists on lying until he is written with Allah to be a liar.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: If you guarantee me six things, I will guarantee paradise for you. Be honest if you talk.

Fulfill your pledges and agreements.
Return the goods people give to you for safe keeping.
Guard your private parts.
Lower your gaze.
Don't harm people with your hands

The Prophet (PBUH) said: Whoever guarantees (not to misuse) their tongue and their private parts, I will guarantee paradise for them.
Honesty is calmness and serenity, and lying is doubt and fear.
It is a major betrayal that you should say something to your brother while he believes you and you are lying to him.
The signs of the hypocrite are three: He lies in his speech, and if he promises he doesn't keep his promise, and if he is trusted with something he betrays.
We hear it often that "Honesty is the best policy." and it is true when it comes to being honest in relationships. We can only trust someone if he or she is honest with you. And you can only have a real relationship if it is based on honesty and trust. When it comes to relationship, honesty is real value that we should do to keep alive.

Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess, and yet all the honesty in the world ain't lawful tender for a loaf of bread. ~Josh Billings

More studies:

Rules for ‘Honesty’ in Relationships

Purpose and philosophy of Adhaan

2013-07-11T12:09:00.003+06:00

Both the Adhan (the call to prayer) and the Iqama are called in cities all around the world. The adhan, or Islamic call to prayer, is an integral part of the Muslim faith. Adhan (call to prayer) means ‘announcement,’ as states in the Holy Quran:

"And an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah and His Messenger are free from liability to the idolaters. (9:3)|"

One of the amazing facts that has been established is that there is not even a single moment when hundreds of thousands of Muazzins (callers to prayer) around the world are not calling the Adhan on the surface of this earth. Even as you read this material right now, you can be sure there are at least thousands of people who are hearing and reciting the Adhan

Purpose of Adhan:

The adhan serves a double purpose; as well as being an announcement of the time of prayer; it is, at the same time, an announcement of the principles of Islam and the significance underlying them. Of Tawheed, the Risalah, and so on.

The adhan is also used in connection with the birth of a child, when the father reads the adhan into the ear of his newborn child.
Muezzin (the person who calls the Adhan) approaches to the highest point available (preferably in a mosque) and call in a beautiful voice to announce to the world that it is now the time for prayer. The Muezzin stands facing the Qibla, and raising his hands to his ers delivers the Adhan in a loud voice.
Whether in a masjid or an open place, where two or more people are gathered and wish to pray the obligatory prayer together, one should make the Adhan.

History of Adaan:

A hadith from Bukhari recounts that the Prophet (PBUH)'s companions one day were discussing how to gather everyone for prayer. Some suggested using a bell as Christians do, and others advised using a ram's horn, following an ancient Jewish practice. Then Umar (R), one of the Prophet's companions, suggested having one person call others to prayer. The Prophet (PBUH) agreed, calling Bilal(R) to recite the adhan.

The Arabic text of the adhan is similar for all five recitations (with a slight difference in the adhan recited for the pre-dawn prayer, which adds the line "Prayer is better than sleep").

Arabic text and meaning in English:

Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
Come to prayer.
Come to prayer.
Come to Success.
Come to Success.
Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great.
There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.

In the adhan of fajr, one adds, after Falah, As-salatu khayrum-min an-nawm [twice].

Philosophy of Adhan:

As a Muslim we shouldn't seek any logic or reasoning for any Allah's or Prophet (PBUH)'s sayings but -----

Just for information sake... Tafseer can be made on the Adhaan:
Allahu Akbar is mentioned 4 times in the begginning to show
* Allah is greater than whatever is infront of you
* Allah is greater than whatever is behind you
* Allah is greater than whatever is to your right
* Allah is greater than whatever is to your left

The more technical points state that:
Allah is greater than the 4 Elements of science
Allah is greater than the 4 Famous Angels--------the list goes on because if you look many great thing came in 4 like The Khulafa e Raashideen were 4 etc. etc

As for Allahu Akbar being mentioned at the end 2 times, shows:

* Allah is greater than whatever is on top of you (7 skies)
* Allah is greater than whatever is below you (7 earths)

If you look at all the other statements in Adhaan is basic beliefs. So every time you reply to the Adhan you are renewing your Imaan

The reason you dont say:
Hay- Ya 3las- Salaah (3= ayn)
Hasten towards Salaah
Hay- Ya 3lal- Falaah
Hasten Towards Success

Is because you showing your hopelessness... saying that i cant come to Salaah which is most definitely success xcept by the will of All-Mighty Allah

In Fajr Salaah when...
As Salaatu Khairum minan Nawm
Salaah is better than Sleep
is mentioned
You should reply: Sadaqter wa bararter
You have spoken the truth & you are Free
(the logic behind this is of course the Muezzin is correct by saying Salaah is better than sleep.. Free meaning coz you have conveyed the message)

So next time you hear the Adhaan renew your Imaan

Reference: 'Ummah Forum'

Useful links:
* The Virtues of Adhan
* Tradition and Heresy in Adhan

Why-rich-people-are-not-usually-happier?

2013-02-28T10:25:00.000+06:00

It is very common question which humans are asking from decades. Because if money can buy happiness then rich people should be the happier but usually the case is different. How to know if money can really help us buy happiness?
Let's read some facts, figures and survey reports if money can buy happiness, and how money effects our lives and why rich people are not happier than the poor ones. These survey reports or finding are not the end of theories but it can teach us an some important life lessons about money, and happiness.

Americans have on average gotten much richer over the past several decades than they were in previous generations.
The inconvenient truth, however, is that there has been no meaningful rise in the average level of happiness.

In 1972, 30 percent of Americans said they were very happy, and the average American enjoyed about $25,000 (in today’s dollars) of our national income. By 2004, the percentage of very happy Americans stayed virtually unchanged at 31 percent, while the share of national income skyrocketed to $38,000 (a 50 percent real increase in average income).

The story is the same in other developed countries. In Japan, real average income was six times higher in 1991 than it was in 1958. During the post–World War II period, Japan was transformed at unprecedented speed from a poor nation into one of the world’s richest countries. But the average happiness of a Japanese citizen, measured on a scale of 1–4, stayed exactly the same at 2.7.

In some countries, there is even some evidence that economic growth can create unhappiness. This is generally the case for nations experiencing rapid and chaotic development and thus opportunities for great wealth for the first time.

Studies show that lottery winners, heiresses, and the 100 richest Americans are only slightly more satisfied than the guy toiling for his pay in the generic office-park cubicle. Still, mere mortals find it difficult to allow that an extra digit or two on the paycheck won't put a permanent smile on our faces.

We assume that a sportier car, a bigger house, a better-paying job, or that dress will bring us joy because, well, they did in the past, right?

Not really, says Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychology professor and the author of Stumbling on Happiness. "Research reveals that memory is less like a collection of photographs than it is like a collection of impressionist paintings rendered by an artist who takes considerable license with his subject," Gilbert writes. We forget that the new-car high deflated well before our first trip to the mechanic, and the raise came with stressful late nights at the office and a steeper tax tab.

Money doesn't buy happiness, say a couple of Princeton University researchers who found the link between cash and a good mood to be "greatly exaggerated and mostly an illusion.''

Rich people spend more time in high-stress activities than people with modest resources or poor people, they found.

Those with the highest incomes spend more time working, worrying, shopping, taking care of the kids and exercising, and less time relaxing with a book or an uplifting news story (like this one).
At Princeton, economist Alan Krueger and psychologist Daniel Kahneman measured how people of different income levels spend their time, and which of these activities are enjoyable. (Though he's a psychologist, Kahneman won the 2002 Nobel Prize in economics.)

Their results: The rich are not lazing on the beach at St. Tropez for six months of the year, no matter what you see in the glossy photos in mutual fund ads. They're stuck in traffic, worrying about their kids and spending long hours at the office.
"The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory,'' the researchers announce today in the journal Science.

"People with above-average income are relatively satisfied with their lives but are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities.''
Pulling in the big bucks makes people more likely to say they are happy with their lives overall -- whether they are young or old, male or female, or living in cities or remote villages, the survey of more than 136,000 people in 132 countries found.

Another survey shows that a key element of what many people consider happiness -- positive feelings -- is much more strongly affected by factors other than cold, hard cash, such as feeling respected, being in control of your life and having friends and family to rely on in a pinch.

"Yes, money makes you happy -- we see the effect of income on life satisfaction is very strong and virtually ubiquitous and universal around the world," said Ed Diener, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois who led the study. "But it makes you more satisfied than it makes you feel good. Positive feelings are less affected by money and more affected by the things people are doing day to day."

Studies reveal another toll that money takes. An international team of researchers led by Jordi Quoidbach report in the August 2010 issue of Psychological Science that, although wealth may grant us opportunities to purchase many things, it simultaneously impairs our ability to enjoy those things.
Their first study, conducted with adult employees of the University of Liège in Belgium showed that the wealthier the workers were, the less likely they were to display a strong capacity to savour positive experiences in their lives. Furthermore, simply being reminded of money (by being exposed to a picture of a huge stack of Euros) dampened their savouring ability.

Useful links:

* Can money really make you happy?

Can Money Buy Happiness? This post includes a story about a forty-two-year-old forklift operator in Corbin, Kentucky, named Mack Metcalf who won $65 million Powerball jackpot. But did it change his life in a positive way or was he happier than before? Unfortunately he died at the age of forty-five, only about three years after his lottery draw, racked with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis.

* Can money buy happiness? Maybe, up to $75,000

* Does money buy happiness? New research says yes, to a point

Acupressure therapy basics- Part 2

2013-02-26T21:54:00.000+06:00

Today we are learning about what are the meridians and how we can locate acupoints.
Meridions and How to Locate an Acupoint:

Acupressure is an alternative and natural way of treating many emotional and physical disorders. Acupressure doesn’t require any visit to a professional and can be performed also by a layperson. The techniques of acupressure are simple and easy to learn. Learning basic knowledge about acupressure therapy can help you start this alternative therapy with ease and confidence yourself. You may need the guidance of a practitioner to perform acupressure therapy for first few sessions.

In acupressure therapy certain points on the body are manipulated in order to regulate the energies of the body. These points of manipulation are called acupressure points, acupoints, or pressure points. A normal acupoint is a special point at a channel. A human body has twelve normal channels and eight strange channels. There are 361 normal acupoints along 14 channels that include 12 channels.

All of the acupoints are on 12 channels. All of the acupoints have fixed location on a human body.

The human body channels energy (chi) along meridians, or pathways. These meridians have both yin and yang components, based on the direction of the energy flow on the body. Chi (pronounced chee, also spelled qi or ki in Japanese shiatsu) is the fundamental life energy, and it travels through the body in channels called meridians. There are 12 major meridians in the body that transport chi, corresponding to the 12 main organs categorized by Chinese medicine.

What are the meridians?

The meridians are channels which are 20-50 mill microns in diameter. They have a thin membranous wall and are filled with a transparent, colorless fluid. Each of the main meridians intricately develops subsidiary branches, some of which supply adjacent areas with energy while others ultimately reach the surface of the skin. The places at which the branches reach the skin`s surface are the acupuncture and pressure points. Several channels may converge at one point; therefore it is possible to affect several meridians at one time. The meridians cannot be seen with the human eye but scientists have been able to precisely map these energy channels or meridians using sensitive electronic instrumentation.

In addition, there are two single meridians following the midline of the body, one at the front and the other along the spine. Many points are distributed along the meridians. These points are essentially transformer stations through which bio-energy flows into the muscle structure to allow organized activity to take place.

In disease, imbalances develop in these energy flows, causing some of the transformer points to become irritated or congested. This results in pain or weakness in the surrounding muscles. Stimulating these points with special needles (acupuncture) or pressure (acupressure) helps to normalize impaired conditions. In addition, you may use electro-acupuncture to treat points with a weak DC current. Electro-acupuncture instruments are relatively cheap and easy to use.

These meridians have both yin and yang components, based on the direction of the energy flow on the body. Chi (pronounced chee, also spelled qi or ki in Japanese shiatsu) is the fundamental life energy, and it travels through the body in channels called meridians. There are 12 major meridians in the body that transport chi, corresponding to the 12 main organs categorized by Chinese medicine.

The meridians are channels which are 20-50 mill microns in diameter. They have a thin membranous wall and are filled with a transparent, colorless fluid. Each of the main meridians intricately develops subsidiary branches, some of which supply adjacent areas with energy while others ultimately reach the surface of the skin. The places at which the branches reach the skin`s surface are the acupuncture and pressure points. Several channels may converge at one point; therefore it is possible to affect several meridians at one time. The meridians cannot be seen with the human eye but scientists have been able to precisely map these energy channels or meridians using sensitive electronic instrumentation.

In addition, there are two single meridians following the midline of the body, one at the front and the other along the spine. Many points are distributed along the meridians. These points are essentially transformer stations through which bio-energy flows into the muscle structure to allow organized activity to take place. In disease, imbalances develop in these energy flows, causing some of the transformer points to become irritated or congested. This results in pain or weakness in the surrounding muscles. Stimulating these points with special needles (acupuncture) or pressure (acupressure) helps to normalize impaired conditions. In addition, you may use electro-acupuncture to treat points with a weak DC current. Electro-acupuncture instruments are relatively cheap and easy to use.

How to find or locate acupressure points?
There are many online sites with images showing the position of acupoints and meridians on the body. After getting the body or body part image, you can get an idea of the location of a specific point.
You can work most of the important acupoints by simply searching them out with your fingers. As you press into these areas, you are looking for the tenderest or tense areas. When you find them, squeeze or press gently but firmly in the area until you feel a change in the pain response, then move on. Even acupuncturists palpate an area for a tender spot for more accurate point location during acupuncture treatments. Points are typically in a dip rather than a bony protrusion.
Tip: If a point is sore, it needs work. You should feel sour or numb, but not knife-cut like pain when pressing. The acupoints are usually between or beside the bones and tendons or ligaments, on in a depression, never on the bones or blood vessels. If a point is not sore, leave it alone.
Finger pressure will work but most people get a better Healing Response using acupressure tools. They allow more pressure to be applied with less work, stress and potential damage to the massager. If a point is very sore, press only as hard as you can tolerate do not overdo it this is not a contest.
Light pressure for a longer period will give you the same results. Some people who are larger or less sensitive than others, may need more pressure to activate the healing response.
In Chinese medicine, the body is measured by cun (pronounced soon) which is a unit that equals the width of the patients thumb. The four fingers of the hand laid flat equal three cun.

Acu-Point Locations Abbreviations
HT-Heart Channel
SI-Small Intestine Channel
TB or SJ-Triple Burner Channel
Per or HP-Pericardium Channel
KI-Kidney Channel
BL-Bladder Channel
LV-Liver Channel
GB-Gallbladder Channel
LU-Lung Channel
LI-Large Intestine Channel
SP-Spleen Channel
ST-Stomach Channel
Ren-Ren Mai Channel

You can learn the basics of acupressure at home. Visit free websites such as acupressureonline.org. You can get basic instructions for different acupressure techniques.

Read books about acupressure. Most books offer detailed illustrations to find potent points for treating hundreds of ailments.
Watch instructional videos on acupressure. You can purchase them at any health food store or watch them for free on Youtube.com.

Useful links and related articles:

* How to Find Pressure Points on the Body

* Cure and healing through acupressure

* How to get Diagnose and Healing with Acupressure?

Comparison of Happiness Vs Money

2013-02-24T10:18:00.000+06:00

Which one is more important to you, money or happiness? We think that money can bring happiness and solve our most of the problems but does it really bring happiness and peace? This article is about discussion on happiness vs money and how we can manage with it to bring peace and harmony in life.

We all need money to live but more money does not lead to greater happiness. It would be stupid to want to be poor and pretend that money is bad or unnecessary. At the same time, you shouldn’t make money your goal in life. Money doesn’t necessarily bring you happiness, although it can contribute a lot by sheltering you from need, and providing you with peace-of-mind.

Money is important to help us live our life to the fullest. But at the same time, an increase in its inflow does not bring proportional happiness with it. You need to be aware of this.

Aaron Karo, comedian and author of the forthcoming book, "Ruminations on Twentysomething Life" says, “If you want to draw a line in the sand, happiness is having enough money so you don’t have to move back in with your parents."

Americans have on average gotten much richer over the past several decades than they were in previous generations. The inconvenient truth, however, is that there has been no meaningful rise in the average level of happiness.

Does Money Bring Happiness?
All of us have at some point in time or another seen extremely rich, wealthy and famous people unhappier than what we would expect them to be, given the amount of material benefits that they have. It is surprising that a large number of wealthy people do not seem to experience the happiness that one would expect goes with so much money and riches. A study conducted by University of Illinois indicated that more than 30 percent of the richest people in America were not as happy as the person who earned a modest income.

Have you ever noticed that most of the sulking, miserable people that you meet in everyday life are rich people?
The misery that these people go through is not because they don't have enough money to by two square meals. It occurs due to the fact that everyone seems to have more expectations from money. Money cannot buy you everything but in the minds of people who give up everything for money, it is difficult to accept that they strove so hard to achieve partial success.

So if you are unhappy and think that money is the answer to your problems – think again! Even if you were to win a lottery tomorrow, the pleasure that accompanies it wont last long. Pretty soon, you’ll be back to your original self. There is a saying that "if you are not happy here and now, you never will be".

How to manage money and happiness to bring harmoney in life?

Try to see money as a means of living better and making your dreams, projects and desires become a reality. Use the money that comes your way to provide comfort and protection for yourself, and for those close to you. Do everything in your power to have enough money to meet your needs, but only with the aim of improving your life, not amassing as much as you can and not spending it. Money is a form of energy that has to keep circulating, not stay blocked somewhere, whether it’s in your bank account or under your mattress!

If you have money, try to make it grow. If you don’t, do what’s necessary to earn some. Don’t confuse the moon with the finger you use to point at it. The moon is the life you want to be leading, while your finger is the money that will take you there. Use the energy of money for your own well-being, and also to do good and help the people around you. Don’t seek to be rewarded or recognized for any gifts you make, or they won’t be real gifts but a simple exchange of services – money given for something in return – making them useless from a spiritual point-of-view.

You’ll earn more money more easily if you stop thinking just about making money, and start imagining what you’d like to do with it, for yourself and for the people around you. That will attract the energy of Good Fortune to you. The big factors in determining happiness levels are satisfaction with your job and social relationships

Happiness is something that is inside of you and not outside, and accessing it just requires a little bit of training.

There are two kinds of happiness associated with money:
1) the happiness of owning money
2) the happiness of spending money

There are two kinds of misery associated with money:
1) the misery of potentially losing what one owns
2) the misery of not having enough money to satisfy one’s wants

Useful links:

*Can money buy happiness?

* Does money brings happiness?

* Money Buys Happiness When You Spend On Others, Study Shows

* Money Might Buy Happiness, But Happiness Might Not Be What You Want

Concept and meaning of Happiness in Islam

2013-02-22T10:07:00.001+06:00

Does Believing in God Leads to Ultimate Happiness?
Is there any link between our beliefs and being happy in this world?

Seeking happiness is human necessity. Going deep into the meaning of word 'happiness declares that 'Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy'.. Philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion. This article is an effort to explain the theory if believing in God leads to real/ultimate happiness and concept of happiness in Islam which agrees with the theory.
An undeniable reality is that permanent happiness cannot be achieved except by believing in God - The Creator - and following His guidance. Since it is He who created mankind, He is the one who knows what pleases and benefits them, just as he knows what saddens and harms them. A number of psychologists have affirmed that only a religious person lives with true content and serenity.

So if believing in God leads to ultimate happiness, then how can this be achieved?

There is now extensive research suggesting that religious people are happier and less stressed.

Surveys by Gallup, the National Opinion Research Center and the Pew Organization conclude that spiritually committed people are twice as likely to report being "very happy" than the least religiously committed people. An analysis of over 200 social studies contends that "high religiousness predicts a lower risk of depression and drug abuse and fewer suicide attempts, and more reports of satisfaction with sex life and a sense of well-being," and a review of 498 studies published in peer-reviewed journals concluded that a large majority of them showed a positive correlation between religious commitment and higher levels of perceived well-being and self-esteem and lower levels of hypertension, depression, and clinical delinquency.

If we examine all the orders and laws of Islam, we find that every single law or order aims at bringing happiness to the individual. This applies to Islamic regulations with regard to worship, economics, penal laws and all other aspects of life. Few laws and orders are:

The Belief in Allaah and Psychological Security:

When a person believes in Allaah, this belief gives him a strong feeling of security, which is a basic psychological need. This belief in Allaah gives the believer a strong support in critical moments and gives him continuous hope against all sources of despair. This belief gives strength to the sick and hope to the hopeless.

The Belief in Life after Death and the Feeling of Continuity

A Muslim believes in life after death. This belief gives the person a feeling of continuity. To a Muslim, death is not the end of life; rather it is a transition from the first life to the second one. A Muslim is not horrified by death because he knows that death is a change into another life.

A Connection with God: A Muslim prays five times a day. This prayer is a connection between the believer and Allaah. Without this continual daily prayer, the man-God connection becomes weak. The stronger the man-God connection is, the more obedient to Allaah man becomes.

Away from Tension: Islam regulates the relations of the two sexes and discourages any unnecessary intermingling of the two sexes. This helps both sexes to be away from any source of sexual temptation or tension.

One of the most elusive objectives of every human being is "Happiness." The Noble Qur'an reveals the secret of attaining perfect happiness in this life and forever. We learn from the Noble Qur'an that happiness is an exclusive quality of the soul. Thus, a body that attains all the material successes it longs for - money, power, fame, etc. - often belongs to an unhappy person. Happiness depends totally on the degree of growth and development attained by the soul, the real person. The Noble Qur'an provides a detailed map towards perfect happiness for both body and soul, both in this world and in the eternal Hereafter.

To reach true happiness, we need to know what is the purpose of our life, how to reach success in the hereafter, and to fulfill the requirements of reaching this success by following the commands of Allah (SWT) and His true religion.

Throughout the ages, the concept of happiness has been widely discussed by the great thinkers of the past oriental or occidental. The Greek philosophers have stated in clear a term that the ultimate happiness will take place through what they called virtues. They unanimously agreed that there are four cardinal virtues, namely temperance, courage, wisdom and justice. Thus a happy person is the one who possessed these cardinal virtues in their selves.

Unfortunately, happiness in the context of modern western man is never been defined in a definite manner. It has continuously changed depending of which philosophical school or line of thinking these definitions are derived from. Happiness in Islam does not thus refer to the bodily or material aspect of the human life. As a matter of fact, the abundant material wealth, excessive physical pleasure sometimes contributes to the prevention of the true happiness. How many cases have we seen people with abundant of wealth are deprived from gaining the true happiness in their life. Their material bounties, on the other hand, are the very origin and cause of their unhappiness.

Islam simply views material wealth is only one of the tools to a more absolute kind of happiness which goes beyond the boundary of the physical gain. This is the very reason God states in the Quran (Al-Kahfi 18:46)

“Wealth and children are temptation of the life of this world; the only things endure, are good deed, which is the best in the sight of your Lord as rewards and as the best hopes.”

It is interesting to see that the contrary of sa’adah is termed by the Quran as shaqawah, which conveys the meaning of great misfortune and misery in general. Shaqawah is the generic term which include within it many other terms also mentioned in the Quran as khawf (fear), huzn (grief), dank (narrowness), hasrat (profound grief and regret for something gone and never be experienced again). These terms are used in the Quran to denote those who turned away from God and spend his life in self-waste which than he discover after death how he has lost his soul and appeal toward God in turning back to worldly life to make good deeds.

The concept of happiness in Islam:

The concept of happiness in Islam is expressed in the Quran and Sunnah in a number of different ways. First, we find the Quran discussing the good life. Allah says: Whosoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, we shall make them live a good life, and We shall pay them a recompense in proportion to the best of what they used to do. [Surah al-Nahl: 97]

This good life is happiness itself. It is realized through faith and good deeds. This does not mean that we will not face difficulties in our good life. Our worldly lives, even when they are bolstered by faith and good works, are never free from distress and vexations. This world is the abode of toil, as Allah says: Certainly We have created man to be in toil. [Surah al-Balad: 90]

This world is the abode of tests and trials. Allah says: Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts) of hearing and sight. [Surah al-Insan: 2]

Allah also says: Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial, and to Us is your return. [Surah al-Anbiya: 35]

The concept of happiness is also expressed in the Qurun as a negation of wretchedness and misguidance. It is also expressed through by contrasting it with the description, of a narrow, straightened life.

Allah says: But he who turns away from remembrance of Me, his will be a narrow life, and I shall bring him blind to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection. [Surah TaHa: 124]

Wretchedness is the opposite of happiness. It is a state of being bereft of Allahs remembrance. The way to distance oneself from wretchedness is to follow the path of guidance. This is what brings about happiness.

The Quran also uses the concept of the openness of the heart to express happiness. Allah says: Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying, He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe. [Surah al-An`am: 125]

Another expression is the contentment of the heart. Allah says: Those who believe, and whose hearts find contentment in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find contentment. [Surah al-Ra`d: 28]

The contentment and openness of the heart are aspects of happiness which are achieved through keeping up the remembrance of Allah and through following the guidance of Islam. Total and perfect happiness is achieved through true devotion in worship to Allah, salvation from Hell, and admission to Paradise in the Hereafter.

To reach true happiness, we need to know what is the purpose of our life, how to reach success in the hereafter, and to fulfill the requirements of reaching this success by following the commands of God and His true religion.

Useful links:
* What happiness is (A chritian point of view)

* Islam and human happiness

* Real Happiness and Inner Peace

* The Way To Achieve Happiness

* Happiness is Submission to God Alone

* Happiness is a common goal that everyone strives to attain

Precaution about left over onions

2012-10-30T12:22:00.001+06:00

I have taken the idea of this post through an email which I received recently. As we try to save our time and money by reusing or recycling our food, we might use the left over onions for making food.
Are left over onions safe for reuse? The simple answer is no, left over onions are very harmful.

LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS

When someone gets sick, we blame oily foods while nobody cares about the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table. Mostly when we suffer from food poisoning, we assume that it might be due to the use of mayonnaise. Usually commercially made mayonnaise is completely safe. It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary."
The pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment.

When food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). It's probably the Onions, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

The fact is that onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. It is not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator. It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hot dogs at the baseball park!)

If you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down. Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

What should you do in a dental emergency?

2012-07-31T19:58:00.000+06:00

Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be serious and it should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage.
So what we should do in a dental emergency? First of all we should learn the basic of firs aid to handle dental emergency and after applying basic first aid, we should hurry to dental clinic for further treatment.
Dental emergency situations can be toothache, chipped or broken teeth, knocked out tooth, extruded or partially dislodged tooth or minor cases such as objects caught in teeth, lost filling and more.
In case of severe toothache,thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek.

Broken teeth: Rinse the mouth using warm water; rinse any broken pieces. If there's bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain.

Accidental knock out of the tooth is an emergency condition and it occurs when the person includes in an accident and the tooth is knocked out from its socket. The tooth as well as the socket must be kept in good care if the tooth wants to be fixed again. The dislocated teeth must be kept on its crown do not touch the part which go into the socket, if possible try to keep it in the socket itself on right way. If not possible due to pain or fear of swallowing the teeth, keep the teeth in saliva, milk, if both not available keep in warm water with a pinch of salt in it. The highest chances of saving teeth are there if you reach to the doctor within 1 hour of dislocation.
Emergency situation means applying first aid to the effected place and try to reach the dental health clinic as soon as possible. One of such places is: Family Dentist Rapid City.

Common Dental Problems
The chipped tooth occurs when the teeth involved in a collision. It is usually a severe painful condition due to the exposure of nerves. The less the pain the less the emergency become. It is always possibility to do a root canal treatment and fix the chipped tooth back on its position with dental adhesives. But it is necessary to keep the broken piece safe as mentioned above.

If there is situation like particles lodged in between teeth, don’t try to remove it with pin or sharp objects; it usually causes much pain. If it is hard to remove, apply some warm compress from outside and reach for medical help.

Loosing of the teeth fillings are very irritating and painful condition since it exposes more nerve endings to the oral cavity, it is advisable to stick some non sugar gum into the hole since sugar will irritate the nerve endings and cause pain. In soft tissues injuries if there is much bleeding, always apply gauze over the injured part if there is bleeding, for 10mins. It will help to stop bleeding and can go for medical help on mean time cold compress can be used from outside the cheeks on the affected gum since it will reduce the blood flow by vasoconstriction.
You may check the faq section of the site to know about 'what to do in a dental emergency?'
http://www.byrnedental.com/
3825 Canyon Lake
Dr Rapid City

"Sponsored Post"

How to maintain joint flexibility and health?

2012-07-05T19:20:00.002+06:00

We know that ageing process affects muscles, bones and joints. Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis are few bone and joint related health conditions observed in older people.
How the elderly or ageing people can maintain joint flexibility and health?

The answer is that regular exercise, nutritious diet can help you achieve the goal of a healthy life even at old age. Regular exercise helps reverse joint stiffness, builds muscle, and boosts overall fitness.

Increasing muscle and bone fitness through exercise can reduce or reverse the risk of disability and disease.
Inactivity decreases joint motion and flexibility. Inactivity can lead to weak muscles and deformed joints. One of the great benefits of exercise is to help you achieve and maintain your ideal weight which is highly beneficial to your joints.

Eating a higher quality diet. Vitamin D also supports a healthy immune response. Get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids from krill or high quality fish oil. Omega-3's support your joint health.
If you’re already using the above strategies, and still want additional support for your joints, consider using a ‘joint-specific’ supplement.

How to find joint specific supplements?
Suggestion: BioCell Collagen is one of those specific supplements which help maintain joint flexibility and health.
Independent laboratory analysis shows that BioCell Collagen naturally contains Type II Collagen Proteins (60-65%), Chondroitin Sulfate (20%), Hyaluronic Acid (10%), Glucosamine and other Proteoglycans.
Each of these is found throughout the body and is required for healthy connective tissue (joints, skin, cardiovascular etc.).

GNC Jupiter FL offer BioCell Collagen which is a safe dietary ingredients.

Another product offered by 'GNC' is "Jusuru Pet Blend" which contains scientifically proven ingredients specifically formulated to support normal joint structure, function and flexibility, as well as promote optimal overall health and well-being. Jusuru Pet Blend has the added benefit of providing a shiny, healthy coat. That means your pet will feel and look fantastic!
Link: GNC Jupiter FL

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Ageing effects on muscles bones and joints

2012-07-03T19:45:00.000+06:00

Ageing (aging) is a normal process for all living things. We usually observe that as we get older, our muscles or bones become weaker. Muscles, bones and joints are affected by the ageing process. Some joint and bone related health conditions are common in older people, such as Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
We are learning about "How ageing effects on muscles, bones and joints?"

Muscle and bone conditions common in older age:

Osteoarthritis – the cartilage within the joint breaks down, causing pain and stiffness
Osteomalacia – the bones become soft, due to problems with the metabolism of vitamin D
Osteoporosis – the bones lose mass and become brittle. Fractures are more likely Rheumatoid arthritis – inflammation of the joints
Muscle weakness and pain – any of the above conditions can affect the proper functioning of the associated muscles.

Age-related changes in muscle:

Muscle loses size and strength as we get older, which can contribute to fatigue, weakness and reduced tolerance to exercise. This is caused by a number of factors working in combination, including:
Muscle fibres reduce in number and shrink in size.
Muscle tissue is replaced more slowly and lost muscle tissue is replaced with a tough, fibrous tissue.
Changes in the nervous system cause muscles to have reduced tone and ability to contract.

Age-related changes in bone: Bone is living tissue. As we age, the structure of bone changes and this results in loss of bone tissue. Low bone mass means bones are weaker and places people at risk of breaks from a sudden bump or fall.

Bones become less dense as we age for a number of reasons, including:
An inactive lifestyle causes bone wastage.
Hormonal changes – in women, menopause triggers the loss of minerals in bone tissue. In men, the gradual decline in sex hormones leads to the later development of osteoporosis.
Bones lose calcium and other minerals.

Age-related changes in joints: In a joint, bones do not directly contact each other. They are cushioned by cartilage that lines your joints (articular cartilage), synovial membranes around the joint and a lubricating fluid inside your joints (synovial fluid).
As you age, joint movement becomes stiffer and less flexible because the amount of lubricating fluid inside your joints decreases and the cartilage becomes thinner. Ligaments also tend to shorten and lose some flexibility, making joints feel stiff.

Many of these age-related changes to joints are caused by lack of exercise. Movement of the joint, and the associated ‘stress’ of movement, helps keep the fluid moving. Being inactive causes the cartilage to shrink and stiffen, reducing joint mobility.

Researchers now suggest that many factors associated with ageing are due to inactivity, and that performing physical activity can help to reduce or reverse the risk of disability and chronic disease.

Exercise can prevent many age-related changes to muscles, bones and joints – and reverse these changes as well. It’s never too late to start living an active lifestyle and enjoying the benefits.

References:
www.betterhealth.vic.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov

Eye Vitamins to improve eye health and vision

2012-06-27T10:27:00.000+06:00

Eyes, like all other organs, need certain vitamins to stay healthy and work well into our later years. Proper nutrition and a good eye vitamin formula is vital for healthy eyes and may play an important role in the fight against cataracts and macular degeneration. Certain eye vitamins can literally decrease your chances of getting an age-related eye disease by 25%.

Why we need effective eye vitamins?
As we age, the importance of vitamins increases drastically for a couple of reasons. Our body starts to naturally get tired from working for so many years, and needs more vitamins and nutrients to keep it working healthily and properly. Second, our body tends to have a harder time digesting and processing the vitamins that we do get in our regular diet. This is why people over the age of 50 need to take vitamins even if they have healthy eating habits. Lastly, there are some vitamins and nutrients that help prevent the eye from certain age-related eye diseases, and that are not found in many common foods. This is why you should consider taking vitamins for eye health well before you reach middle age.

Can certain eyesight problems, such as age related visual decline, be reversed or improved?
If you're looking for ways to improve eye health, the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) recommends eating foods high in beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E, zeaxanthin, lutein, Omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and zinc. Research has shown that these nutrients can protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. Herbs like gingko and bilberry have been used to treat various eye problems. However, according to the National Institute of Health's National Library of Medicine (NLM), there is not enough scientific research to prove their effectiveness.

Eyesight vitamins, various herbs and nutrients have a positive effect on eyesight. Supplements may not to be very helpful in serious and advanced eye disorders, but they play an important role in mild to moderate cases of visual decline that occurs normally with the aging process.
Supplements that support healthy vision
The lens, retina, macula, and other parts of the eye involved in eyesight can be protected with the proper intake of antioxidants. Almost all the antioxidants likely have a positive influence on eye health, including vitamin C, Vitamin E, and alpha lipoic acid.

The two major categories are carotenoids and polyphenols, substances in herbs, fruits and vegetables that are good for eye health.

Vitamins and Minerals For Eyes:
Vitamin A : Improves night vision. Food Source for vitamin A is dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, spinach, broccoli, eggs, cheese and butter are also great sources. Vitamins and Minerals For Eyes:
Vitamin B complex is good to reduce redness in eyes and can help eyes that are sensitive to light. Food Sources for vitamins B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin): pastas, breads, milk, dark green vegetables, mushrooms, tuna, nuts, avocados, bananas, liver.
Carotene allows the formation of visual purple in the eyes, which helps improve weak eyes. A good source of carotene is: carrots, broccoli, cabbage and peas.
(Source: Vitamins & Herbs For Healthy Eyes)
Rebecca Prescott at 'Buzzle' suggests: Top 6 Vitamins And Herbs For Eye Health

These 6 vitamins, herbs, and phytonutrients help alleviate the problem of sore, dry eyes, and maintain good vision:

1. Bilberry - Bilberry is a herb used for both gastrointestinal and eye health. The active ingredients are called anthocyanosides, which are a type of flavanoid. Anthocyanosides are antioxidants that help improve the flow of blood through the capillaries in eyes. They help eyes adjust quickly to changes in light, and improve sharpness of vision. Bilberry has also been shown to be effective in stopping the progression of cataracts when taken with vitamin E. It's also used to treat diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

2. Vitamin A - Vitamin A is important for good night vision, and may play a role in preventing cataracts.

3. Grapeseed - Grapeseed is good for the peripheral circulation in our eyes. It also strengthens the capillaries.

4. Eyebright - Eyebright makes a great eye home remedy. Steep it in hot water to let the herb infuse, then remove the herb and cool the remaining liquid. You could put it in the freezer to cool it down quickly if you don't have any infused eyebright on hand in the fridge. Once its cool, use it as an eye bath, or a compress. It's great for sore eyes, and has an anti-inflammatory and soothing action.

5. Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Research from Harvard Medical school has found that taking omega 3 oils reduces the chance of getting dry eyes. Try taking 3 to 6 grams of a good quality fish oil supplement daily.

6. Lutein - Lutein is one example of a type of plant nutrient known as carotenoids. Better known examples include beta carotene and alpha carotene. Carotenoids are responsible for giving fruit and vegetables their distinctive colors, and the brightness of a fruit or vegetable is a good indicator of how much carotenoids it has in it. Those with a rich color have a higher concentration.

Lutein, beta, and alpha carotene are converted by the body into vitamin A. And lutein is found in very high concentrations in the macula of the eye. Lutein is used to help prevent macular degeneration, which is a big problem for people over 40 years of age. Macular degeneration can lead to blindness. Lutein is thought to work as an antioxidant in this capacity.

Useful links: * The eye digest

* Health benefits of vitamins

First published at 'knoji'

Acupressure for lower back pain

2012-06-02T08:40:00.000+06:00

Acupressure massage or therapy is useful for reducing pain and improving body function and level of disability in low back pain. Acupressure massage for lower back pain is a safe solution as it has been found effective in reducing low back pain in terms of disability, pain scores and functional status.
Acupressure massage is the same technique of applying fingertips pressure at specific points on the body used in acupuncture. The doctors at the 'National Taiwan University' found an 89 percent reduction in physical disability compared with physical therapy and the benefits of the treatment were sustained for six months.

There are two acupressure points which can help you get relief from lower back pain.
These acupoints are GB30 and B48:

Acupressure point B48:

The B 48 is called the “Womb and Vitals”
Location: One to two finger widths outside the large bony area at the base of the spine (sacrum) and midway between the top of the hipbone (iliac crest) and the base of the buttocks.

These points (at both side of the body) are also excellent for postpartum recovery.
Benefits:  Relieves lower-backache, sciatica, pelvic tension, hip pain and tension, bladder weakness, urinary problems, hemorrhoids, lower backaches, and pain that goes down the leg.
For Sciatica: These acupressure points are the most effective spots on the body for relieving sciatica and hip pain. To relieve this pain, get a one-pound sack of beans and lay on your side so the sack of beans presses into these points. Adjust the position of your legs so it hurts good.

Acupressure point GB 30:  It is also called Jumping Circle.
Location: In the lower back (between the second and third vertebrae) two to four finger widths away from the spine at waist level.
Benefits: Relieves back aches, sciatica and fatigue. It also helps get relief from frustration, irritation, hip pain, and rheumatism relaxing the tendons and restoring joint mobility.
These points are above B48 and very effective at relieving the exhaustion of back pain. Use this point whenever you are feeling frustrated or irritable. This point is also beneficial for rheumatism.

How to massage for effective relief?

You may get help from a family member but if you are alone then use soft tennis balls to get acupressure massage. Place balls against the wall. Use of socks for this massage is recommended as it helps keeping the ball in position. Put ball between wall and back muscles. (stay off spine). Squat pressing ball into the wall and move up and down, left and right. If your sore press lightly and than move to other side. Rotate each side until soreness goes away.  .

These points can be very tender, so light touch may be needed.
Apply firm and steady pressure on this point for at least 60 seconds on both sides as often as necessary.

Remember: Drink water at the end of your exercise session or any time you begin to feel thirsty.

According to a report published at 'Science Daily':

Researchers in Taiwan found that acupressure conferred an 89% reduction in disability compared with physical therapy, after adjusting for pre-treatment disability. This improvement lasted for six months.
Benefit was also greater in the acupressure group for variables such as "leg pain," "pain interferes with normal work," and "days off from work/school."
This study shows that acupressure is more effective in alleviating low back pain than physical therapy in terms of pain scores, functional status, and disability, say the authors. The effect was not only seen in the short term, but lasted for six months.

Download pdf of 'Self help acupressure guide for back pain'

References:
- www.acupressure.com

- www.dailymotion.com/video/xmtzgg_acupressure-points-for-lower-back-pain_lifestyle

What is criminal justice system and role of Criminal Defense Lawyer?

2012-06-01T07:55:00.000+06:00

Lawyer is someone who is licensed to maintain stability within the scope of justice and his social authority. There are certain types of law practitioners and their roles vary depending. A defense lawyer or attorney’s job is to assist the state in properly convicting people of crimes.

The criminal justice system is a three-part system consisting of the judge and jury, the prosecutor, and the defense lawyer. Each part of this system has a specific role. The role of the judge and jury is to render an impartial decision based solely on the facts presented and the laws applicable to the charged offense. In order to decide impartially, the judge and jury must be able to hear arguments from both sides. The prosecutor's role is to argue the side of the state that seeks to prove the defendant's guilt. The defense lawyer's role is to argue on behalf of the defendant.

Roles of a criminal defense attorney:
* S/he investigates the case thoroughly and makes an assessment of the severity of the accusations. According to this assessment, s/he will prepare to present a strong defense at the court on your behalf.
* A criminal attorney often wants to prepare crucial papers and documents for the case. For preparing the requisite documents, an attorney frequently obtains warrants for search and interrogation purposes. With the aid of this warrant, s/he schedules interviews and gathers info to defend you.
* Based on the gathered documents and info s/he then prepares a complaint against your arrest.
* S/he appeals for your bail and for lowering your penalties and punishments. S/he defends your case efficiently and presents your case strongly against the opposition.
* S/he fights out the case just before the law and proves your points. If you are accused wrongfully, a criminal defense attorney proves your innocence and appeals to the court to release you right away.

Punta Gorda residents often search for criminal lawyers from websites over the Internet. One such reliable website for hiring criminal defense lawyers is Criminal Defense Lawyer Punta Gorda

Contact: Criminal Lawyer Punta Gorda

Reference: http://www.racialjusticecollaborative.org/

(Sponsored post)

Living at cul-de-sac and how to overcome the negative effects of it with feng shui rules?

2012-05-31T19:41:00.000+06:00

A cul-de-sac is the end of street, forming a round dead-end and is often created in residential neighborhoods. This is believed to have bad luck or "negative Feng Shui" living at such place. This article offers the tips or ideas to overcome bad or negative of living at cul-de-sac following feng shui rules. The reason behind the theory is that 'the house which sits at the very end of a cul-de-sac has all the energy from the street pooling in front of it and pushing on the house, to create more drama or hardship than what the house itself might indicate.'

What is cul-de-sac?

A culdesac or cul-de-sac is a dead end street. It is a street that is not connected to other roads, and it provides both a way in and out of an area. In America or Australia, it is sometimes called a court, which is a cul-de-sac with only one way in and out on the same road. These dead end streets exist around the world, and they have existed for thousands of years. They were first seen in Egypt in an area that was found in the El-Lahun village that was estimated to be built in 1885 BCE.

In the UK, street signs more often display "cul-de-sac" rather than an English translation, or "no through road". U.S. Federal Highway Administration rules state: "The Dead End sign may be used at the entrance of a single road or street that terminates in a dead end or cul-de-sac.

According to wikipedia "A cul-de-sac" (literally "bottom of bag") is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road (UK, Australian and Canadian English) or court (American English and Australian English) meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet. In the United States, a cul-de-sac is notably longer than a court. It is recognized that cul-de-sac and looped streets inherently remove car traffic through them and restrict access to residents only. Culs-de-sac may also be called "no through roads", especially in Australia where they are signposted as "No Through Road".

Geomancy (feng-shui) is the branch of classical cosmology, which gives a blue print for us to build our homes in splendid harmony with the elements of our natural environment. The Chinese exponents of Feng-Shui believe that where you live and how you allocate and arrange the elements of your home or workplace can significantly affect the harmony of your health, wealth, and happiness.

Many feng shui practitioners agree that living at the end of a dead end road is not the most desirable location and it is advisable to try not to get stuck in such a location. To start with, the chi energy coming to a house placed at the end of a road is usually fast, so the energy is pernicious and non-beneficial. Instead of bringing good fortune, it brings misfortune.

Over the years, several major new buildings in downtown Taipei have remained unoccupied and their owners have gone broke because they failed to follow the dictates of Chinese geomancy during construction. People believe that bad fortune comes along the street and hits the last house in the cul-de-sac.

A remedy: The real concern with a cul-de-sac is that usually the homes have pie shaped lots. The remedy is to square off the yard using hedges or trees. As to the "stagnant" qi, in the old days a dead end road in China was truly that. It was a walled off street. Today, there is traffic (although occasional) still moving through the cul-de-sac. It is not so bad. Focus on if the lot needs to be corrected though.

Cul-De-Sac Cure from 'Wofs'
The cure lies in harnessing the energy that flows down the road towards your house. If you can capture the chi and transform it into good sheng chi before it enters your home, you would have effectively transformed bad chi into good chi, and changed bad feng shui into really good feng shui. This is because feng shui is really about capturing and creating good chi. The cure lies in harnessing the energy that flows down the road towards your house. If you can capture the chi and transform it into good sheng chi before it enters your home, you would have effectively transformed bad chi into good chi, and changed bad feng shui into really good feng shui. This is because feng shui is really about capturing and creating good chi.

The best way of transforming chi energy is to first force it to slow down. Chi energy slows down when it meets with an obstacle, which can be a wall, some trees, boulders or any kind of structure. Chi energy also slows down when it encounters a body of water. To force oncoming chi that flows along a road to decelerate, the best way is to build a wall - something about five feet high.

The wall is like a shield that makes the oncoming chi stop, but this is not what we wish to create. The idea is not to make the chi stop altogether - the intention is only to slow it down, after which we need to capture the “slowed down” chi energy, then allow it to accumulate before it enters our house. This way, excellent feng shui chi gets created, bringing good fortune. Chi is transformed in different ways. With a wall, you can create a round or square hole to let the chi flow through and on the other side of the wall, you should have a small courtyard, in front of the door. The courtyard acts as your bright hall where the transformed chi settles before entering the home. Inside this courtyard, you can grow auspicious plants such as bamboo, pine trees or a variety of fruit trees.

Look at the sketches below and let these suggest ways for you to create something similar in your home. These are also well designed landscape features that happen to possess strong feng shui advantages. These ideas reproduced here come from various consultations we have done for clients living at the end of cul de sacs. All had been experiencing some problem or another, mostly associated with setbacks at work, falling victim to office wars, and losing out again and again to competitive colleagues in the promotion stakes.

All three clients went on to enjoy rather spectacular career rises within a year after we helped them create the feng shui remedy for their cul-de-sac houses. One got promoted to a very high and important public position. Another went on to become the CEO of a foreign company with a fairly large presence in Singapore and Malaysia.

They also loved the design features factored into our feng shui cure. As you can see, the cures were not all exactly the same - we used a wall made of bricks for the house where the road was coming from a South direction (fire), a figure of 8 water pond where the road was coming from the Northwest direction (metal) and in the third, a link house with not much space, we created a trellis planted with creeping vines that effectively slowed down the oncoming chi. There was no need for a “hole” in the trellis, as it had been made of soft bamboo with an interwoven design. In this third house, the road was coming from a North direction (water).

Useful links:
* How to Buy a House with Good Feng Shui
* Feng Shui of a House in a Cul-de-Sac: Feng Shui Tips to Attract Better Energy

First published on: 'knoji;

Nutrition myths and interesting facts

2012-05-27T18:44:00.001+06:00

We all know that word 'nutrition' relates to food and nutritious food means 'the food which provides us the necessary nutrients to stay healthy'. This article provides you information about myths and facts which everybody should know.
According to Wikipedia :'Nutrition/ nourishment or aliment is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life.'
Another definition is: “Nutrition” is derived from “nourish,” which is from the Latin nutrire, meaning to feed, nurse, support, and preserve--literally, “she who gives suck.” Essentially, nutrition refers to the variety of ways the body makes use of food.

There are six major classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, minerals, protein, vitamins, and water. These nutrient classes can be categorized as either macronutrients (needed in relatively large amounts) or micronutrients (needed in smaller quantities). The macronutrients include carbohydrates (including fiber), fats, protein, and water. The micronutrients are minerals and vitamins.

Myths about nutrition:

The Greeks and Romans regulated nutrition on the theory of the four humors circulating throughout the body (warm, cold, moist, dry). Classical physicians tried to correct an excess of cold and moist “humors” by providing hot, dry foods and vice versa. For example, a woman’s body was seen as wetter and colder than a man’s and, therefore, she was to avoid food that would make her even colder and wetter, such as fish, eels, and meat from newborn animals.
Many parents during the Roman empire who were influenced by doctors such as Soranus and Galen often denied their babies colostrum (protein-rich breast milk) believing it was too thick and not good for the child’s digestion. They regularly gave their babies to a wet-nurse (though the mother’s milk was usually the best) and were likely to wean their babies onto foods that lacked adequate nutrition, such as diluted cereals and mixtures of honey or wine with softened bread.
Most likely due to poor nutrition as children, many Greeks and Romans were shorter than people today. Men from Pompeii, for example, averaged 5 ft. 5-½ in. and women averaged 5 ft. 2 in.
The Ebers papyrus (1350 B.C.) suggests placing drops of crushed and roasted ox liver in the eyes of people suffering from night blindness. While Egyptians most likely were not aware of vitamin A, liver does have high levels of the vitamin which help maintains normal vision in dim light.
Alaska Natives have the highest rates of botulism in the world due to the way they butcher and store indigenous food (such as seals) under the ground in plastic bags.
A 1552 B.C. Egyptian papyrus provides an early description of what seems to be diabetes and specifically mentions polyuria (frequent urination). Up until the eleventh century A.D., diabetes was typically diagnosed by “water tasters” who drank the urine of those thought to have diabetes. Those who had sweet-tasting urine were thought to have diabetes mellitus (Latin for “honey”), or Type 1 diabetes.
Ancient Mesoamerican cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec used chocolate as medicine and as a medium in which other medicines were taken.

Nutrition facts:

Salt is the most common seasoning mentioned in the Bible. Salt was a vital mineral that was not only essential to life, but also preserved other foods critical for survival. Salt was so important that it was also often used as a form of currency or as a unit of exchange.
Temperature can affect appetite. A cold person is more likely to eat more food.
Minerals constitute 4% of our body weight. Unlike carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, they do not furnish energy. Minerals include calcium, iron, and sodium.
A deficiency of calcium/vitamin D during infancy or childhood results in rickets (deformed bones). The bones can become so weak that they can’t withstand the body’s weight, causing bow legs or knock knees. Once malformed, bones cannot be straightened. A person will usually swallow around 250 times during dinner.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, neural disorders, and psychotic behavior. Women who are planning to get pregnant are encouraged to have healthy levels of Vitamin B12 to prevent potential birth defects.
Americans collectively consume approximately 900 billion calories each day.
In the United States, it is estimated that every adult unconsciously consumes one pound of insects each year due to garden produce, poor restaurant and home hygiene, and commercial foods for which the USDA allows a certain amount of insect fragments. Peanut butter, for example, is allowed to have 30 insect fragments per 100 grams.
Some children and pregnant women crave non-nutritive substances, such as paint, plaster, rocks, and dirt. These cravings may suggest the person lacks certain minerals, such as iron.
Americans eat nearly 40 billion hamburgers a year.
An adult can starve to death within 8-12 weeks. In the final stages of starvation, adults can experience hallucinations, convulsions, severe muscle pain, and irregular heart rhythms. Organs weakened by starvation may actually burst if food is given too quickly.
The best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase exercise. Experts suggest aiming for a weight loss goal of one pound per week.
Improved nutrition (as well as vaccinations and antibiotics) has extended the average U.S. lifespan from 30 to 40 years old in the early twentieth century to 70 to 80 years old today.
Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. Weight gained after one’s early twenties is linked to higher chances of suffering from heart disease, cancer, infertility, gallstones, asthma, and even snoring.
Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. All parts of an egg are edible, including the shell which has high calcium content.
Okinawans are thought to live longer than any other ethnic group and they have healthier hearts and bones. This is largely due to their cultural practice called Hara Hachi Bu, which means they eat just until they are 80% full. Their diet is rich in complex carbohydrates and plant-based foods and is low in fat. They are also physically active. A person will eat an average of 35 tons of food in his or her lifetime, or 1,500 pounds of food a year.

Reference:
http://facts.randomhistory.com

Anti-aging effects of He-Shou-Wu Root

2012-05-26T07:10:00.002+06:00

He-Shou-Wu or 'Polygonum multiflorum' is a tonic herb hosting numerous health benefits. It is known as a powerful kidney and liver tonic. Studies show that He-Shou-Wu extract improves the cardiovascular system, enhances immune functions, slows the degeneration of glands, increases antioxidant activity, and reduces the accumulation of lipid per-oxidation.

He Shou Wu/ aka: ho-shou-wu, heshouwu, or shouwu; sometimes mistakenly called fo-ti, is obtained from the tuberous roots of Polygonum multiflorum. It is one of the more commonly used Chinese medicinal materials, and has a special reputation for preventing or delaying the graying of hair, even reverting gray hair to its original color, as well as having other benefits for the hair, such as treating alopecia. The herb is used for a variety of other therapeutic actions related to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) categories of nourishing blood and yin.

Medicinal properties: Detoxicant, laxative, liver protectant, antioxidant, antibacterial.

He-Shou-Wu is an effective anti aging herb. It also reduces the risk of fatal diseases like cancer and heat attack strokes. He Shou Wu was shown to have effects on the antioxidant system superoxide dismutase (SOD), accumulation of lipid peroxidase, and enhancement of cell-mediated immune responses.

Major known ingredients: chrysophanic acid, emodin, rhein, chrysophanic acid anthrone, lecithin.

Since the ancient china, he shou wu has been well known for its benefit to make hairs dark and people healthy. It helps with liver function and gets rid of fatigue, benefit the skin, strengthen the bone and muscles, and heart so that it also improves neurosis and sleep disorder.
It helps anemia by generating blood, dysmenorrhea, uterus infection, chronic constipation and so on. And he shou wu is the very powerful in lifting the energy of the elderly. Its effect on the kidney function keeps people from having grey hairs and shedding and if taken for a long term, it also prevents the aging.

There are more health benefits of this tonic herb He-Shou-Wu:
Traditionally this herb is said to increase essence and blood. This combination of attributes indicates that it would increase fertility in a woman and sperm in a man since essence and blood are the two necessary qualities required to bare a child.

He-Shou-Wu is good to strengthen the muscles and tendons. It is also very beneficial for the nerves. It is used for backaches, knee joint pain, traumatic bruises, and neurasthenia. It has been used to lower blood pressure. Many people say it helps them to fall asleep at night also.

Reference: http://www.naturalnews.com/023021_tonic_herbs_Chinese_medicine.html#ixzz1sYRQEK8P

Responsibilities of personal injury lawyers

2012-05-26T06:39:00.001+06:00

When dealing with personal injury matters with lawyers and attorneys, we need to know what kind of professional services we can expect from them. What kind of responsibilities a personal injury lawyer have?

We know that "A personal injury lawyer is a lawyer who provides legal representation to those who claim to have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, company, government agency, or other entity."
Thus, personal injury lawyers should be knowledgeable and have experience with regard to the area of law known as tort law, which includes civil wrongs and economic or non-economic damages to a person’s property, reputation, or rights.

Responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer:
A personal injury lawyer is responsible for

Interviewing prospective clients
evaluating their cases to determine the legal matter
identify the distinct issues rooted within the plaintiff’s larger problem
extensively research every issue to build a strong case
Personal injury lawyer may have to take his client's case to trial if a settlement can not be reached

If we sum up professional responsibility of a personal injury lawyer, then it is "to help plaintiffs obtain the justice and compensation they deserve for their losses and suffering through advocacy, oral arguments, client counseling, and legal advice".

These responsibilities encompass professional codes of conduct set forth by state bar associations where the lawyers are licensed. Once licensed to practice lawyers are legally permitted to file legal complaints, argue cases in state court, draft legal documents, and offer legal advice to victims of personal injury.

While the guidelines vary according to state, the basic codes of conduct state that a lawyer must knowledgeably evaluate legal matters and exercise competence in any legal matter undertaken. Moreover, personal injury lawyers owe their clients a duty of loyalty and confidentiality and must work to protect their clients’ best interests. He must also adhere to strict standards of legal ethics when dealing with clients.

Personal Injury Lawyer Atlanta are trained and licensed to practice and handle cases that fall under tort law including; work injuries, automobile and other accidents, defective products, medical mistakes, slip and fall accidents, and more.
Contact: Injury Attorney Atlanta

What is Muslim dietary practice and what are forbidden foods?

2012-05-24T22:02:00.001+06:00

Muslim dietary practice is fundamentally about obeying God. All practising Muslim believers obey God Almighty by eating the allowed foods (halal) and avoiding the forbidden foods (haram) which are mentioned in the Qur’an and in the sayings of the final prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). In Islam several animals are considered unclean and their consumption is forbidden (haraam), except in case of necessity; while others are permitted (halaal), as long as they are slaughtered in the proper manner and with blessings given to God.
'Halal' means lawful or allowed. Halal with regards to food and drink means that it is permitted for Muslims under the Islamic Law (Shari'ah). Halal food and drink does not consist of anything which is deemed unlawful.

'Haraam' means unlawful or forbidden. Haraam with regards to food and drink means that it is not permitted for Muslims under the Islamic Law (Shari'ah). It is considered a sin for a muslim to knowingly consume haraam food.

Forbidden Foods

Pork, lard or any porcine substance
Gelatine from animal source which is not halal
Meat that is not slaughtered in the prescribed Islamic way. Muslims must pronounce the name of Allah on all animals while slaughtering.
Meat coming from a lawful animal which died before slaughter
Blood (direct or indirect)
Any food or drink with alcohol in it (all intoxicant and hazardous drinks)
Any human substance or part
All carnivorous animals and birds of prey
Some non halal additives (E numbers like E120, E441, E542 etc)

Useful links:

* Faithandfood Fact Files - Muslim
* Eat of the good things provided for you
* Muslim dining etiquttes

Meditation Provides Cognitive and Psychological Benefits Keeping Us Happy and Relaxed?

2012-05-23T22:19:00.001+06:00

I started meditation for stress relief and discovered there were more benefits of practicing it. There are many other benefits which you may not know yet, so this article helps you learn 'how meditation practice offers cognitive and psychological benefits also leading us to a way which keeps us relaxed and happier.
I experienced that meditation, can reduce the negative energies in our system leading to happiness. The state of relaxation and happiness encouraged me to continue practicing meditation for many years.

New research and studies show that Meditation may affect in brain aging and mental fitness. "Research has found that meditation reduces the production of stress hormones like cortisol and increases the production of neurotransmitters that help us feel happy and relaxed."

Meditation may reduce stress-induced cortisol secretion and this could have neuroprotective effects potentially via elevating levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Meditation may also potentially have beneficial effects on lipid profiles and lower oxidative stress, both of which could in turn reduce the risk for cerebrovascular disease and age-related neurodegeneration. Further, meditation may potentially strengthen neuronal circuits and enhance cognitive reserve capacity.

At psychological level: Meditation helps to encourage positive thinking and develop patience and understanding, helping those who meditate to come to terms with ‘what is’ rather than fighting endlessly for ‘what should be’ or often ‘what should have been’.

At physiological level: Meditation slows breathing steadies the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and shifts activity away from the right hand side of our brains, concerned with speaking, making judgements and logical thinking, to the more intuitive, non verbal left hand side.

Mental benefits of meditation are:

Relaxation
Concentration
Creativity & Mental Expansiveness
Heightened Sense of Awareness
Improves Learning Ability and Memory
Lowers Incidents of Depression
Decrease in Neurotic Tendencies
Decrease in Irritability and Moodiness
Increased Emotional Stability
Vitality & Rejuvenation

Psychological benefits of stress reduction

Decreased anxiety
Better pain control
More optimism, less depression as indicated by elevation of serotonin
Greater self-awareness and self-actualisation
Improved coping capabilities
Improved well being and as an addition to psychotherapy
Reduced reliance on drugs, prescribed/unprescribed, or alcohol
Improved sleep
Reduced aggression and criminal tendency
Greater efficiency and output and reduced stress at work
Improved response time and reflexes
Improvement in perceptiveness of hearing and other senses
Improved concentration and memory
Facilitation of healthy change of undesired personality trait.

When you meditate, you allow mental activity to slow down in a natural way while your alertness is maintained and indeed enhanced. After meditating, you will feel mentally refreshed. You will feel calmer, more relaxed and have a greater sense of well-being. Benefits increase with regular practice.

Meditation leads to a feeling of being at ease with the world. Like many people who meditate, you may find that you have greater self-esteem, self-confidence and inner peace. You're able to concentrate more easily and and your ability to learn and remember improves. Meditation helps you to feel less anxious about issues that previously caused you stress, and many benefits arise out of a calm state of mind. You become a better listener and exhibit greater empathy, which in turn leads to closer and more fulfilling relationships. Calmness brings with it the capacity for more accurate judgement and enhances problem-solving skills. Being calm results in having greater patience and tolerance and gives you the composure to act in considered and constructive ways.

A large body of research has demonstrated that meditation produces comprehensive improvements in mental health, enhancing positive features and reducing various forms of psychological distress. In another statistical review of 42 independent research results, meditation was found to be effective in increasing self-actualization-an overall measure of positive mental health and personal development. Further analysis revealed that the technique is exceptionally effective in developing three independent components of this dimension: emotional maturity, a resilient sense of self, and a positive, integrated perspective on ourselves and the world (Journal of Social Behaviour and Personality)

Michael Anderson in his book “Mindfulness Meditation” (Australian Institute of Emotional Intelligence, Torquay, Victoria, 2004) describes meditation as an “opportunity to develop your mental skills”. Our increasing mental, emotional, and psychological skillfulness can then be applied in day to day living, not just in the moments of quiet meditation. Getting more control over our mental and emotional environments helps to clarify and simplify life,

Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers report the results of their study, the first to document meditation-produced changes over time in the brain's grey matter.

"Although the practice of meditation is associated with a sense of peacefulness and physical relaxation, practitioners have long claimed that meditation also provides cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout the day," says Sara Lazar, PhD, of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program, the study's senior author.

"This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing."

"It is fascinating to see the brain's plasticity and that, by practicing meditation, we can play an active role in changing the brain and can increase our well-being and quality of life." says Britta Hölzel, PhD, first author of the paper and a research fellow at MGH and Giessen University in Germany. "Other studies in different patient populations have shown that meditation can make significant improvements in a variety of symptoms, and we are now investigating the underlying mechanisms in the brain that facilitate this change."

Amishi Jha, PhD, a University of Miami neuroscientist who investigates mindfulness-training's effects on individuals in high-stress situations, says, "These results shed light on the mechanisms of action of mindfulness-based training. They demonstrate that the first-person experience of stress can not only be reduced with an 8-week mindfulness training program but that this experiential change corresponds with structural changes in the amydala, a finding that opens doors to many possibilities for further research on MBSR's potential to protect against stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder." Jha was not one of the study investigators.

More studies and useful links:

* The benefits of meditation
* Meditation vs. Medication: Your Path to Happiness?
* Physical and mental benefits of meditation
First published on: 'knoji'

Seasonal allergies and prevention techniques

2012-05-23T21:50:00.002+06:00

Household techniques and nutritional supplements can help you get relief from seasonal allergies. There are no guidelines for reducing your risk of allergic rhinitis because it is not fully understood why some people develop allergic reactions to certain substances while others do not. Still herbal remedies can be helpful as prevention measures.
Seasonal allergy symptoms include runny noses, congestion, rashes, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, coughing etc.
Seasonal allergy prevention techniques:
These techniques help you reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens):

Seasonal allergy sufferers should remove their shoes inside the house and machine-dry laundry instead of using clotheslines to keep pollen particles outdoors and off clothing, bedding and carpets. For allergy sufferers who are sensitive to dust mites, removing carpets and washing linens in hot water once each week effectively lowers dust mite levels.
Filtering the air by usage of 'air filters, or in ventilation systems can remove more than 80 percent of airborne allergens. Tabletop air purifiers---as well as dehumidifiers, which remove the moisture that sustains mold spores---also support allergy prevention efforts.
Stay indoors on dry, windy days — the best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.
Remove clothes you've worn outside; you may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
Don't hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels. Wear a dust mask if you do outside chores.

Alternative treatment through the use of nutritional supplements:

Do you buy vitamins online? Many of us don't know that we can now buy supplements online. There are many online sites which offer alternative treatment and herbal formulas. 'SuperGoodStuff' is one of natural dietary & nutritional health supplements store.

Blocked or stuffy nose is one of irritating symptom of seasonal allergies. 'SuperGoodStuff' offers nasal wash or nasal decongestant products to get relief from allergic symptoms.

'Sponsored post'

Treatment options for immunity disorders

2012-05-23T21:39:00.000+06:00

There are many treatments for immune system disorders. Traditionally antibiotics are used to treat common infections. More complicated and complex diseases are treated with a variety of different immune system boosters. These could include steroids, bone marrow transplants, gene therapy and stem cells or immunizations.

There are some effective immune system boosters (recommended by conventional medical and holistic advice) such as a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition, adequate sleep, regular exercise and reducing stress.

Alternative treatments have become popular now-a-days, and can be used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments. Popular choices in helping to deal with immune system disorders are hypnosis, yoga, biofeedback, aromatherapy, homeopathy and acupuncture. Other options such as hydrotherapy, massage and reflexology are claimed by some to have positive effects on illnesses and disease due to immune system problems.

Nutrition experts say much of what our bodies need to fight off infection can be found in foods. Each of the foods should be eaten every day to boost immunity, nutritionist Heidi Skolnik told Good Morning America . "We should eat these daily, as often as we can, especially in this weather," she said. Plenty of rest is also essential to keeping our immune systems up, she said. Health experts also advise a flu shot as an immune booster.

Reference: http://www.mindbodyhealth.com/boost_immune.htm

http://www.immunesystemboosterssite.com/page-3.html

Useful links:

* How to boost immune system naturally?

* Best Natural Immunity Boosters-Vitamins Strengthen Immune System

* How to boost your immune system

Personal Injury lawsuits and consultation of an Attorney

2012-05-19T19:31:00.000+06:00

According to 'wikipedia': 'Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property.'

The most common types of personal injury claims are road traffic accidents, accidents at work etc. More categories are:

Tripping accidents
assault claims,
accidents in the home,
product defect accidents
holiday accidents
medical and dental accidents (medical negligence claims)
conditions of industrial disease cases, including asbestosis and peritoneal mesothelioma, chest diseases, vibration white finger, occupational deafness, occupational stress, contact dermititis, and repetitive strain injury cases.

If the negligence of another party can be proved, the injured party may be entitled to monetary compensation from that party.
Consultation of an Attorney: Unless your injuries were very minor (i.e. very minor soft tissue injury from a 5 MPH fender bender), you should consult with an attorney very soon after your accident.
A good personal injury attorney can help you gather key evidence and provide valuable advice on how to document your injuries and damages.
For example:
Personal Injury Attorney Utah have experience handling complex cases from Immigration to Criminal Law to Personal Injury. Our mission is to provide competent, effective, aggressive, well prepared representation in the most efficient manner. We strive to create a comfortable environment for our clients and are dedicated to being responsive to their special needs and requirements. We strive to provide personal and competent service at a cost that is competitive with the market place.

You may contact them at Liberty Law PLLC. With a free consultation, discuss your case and story and get the advice for the best way to proceed.
Personal Injury Attorney Utah serves the Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo areas.

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