Archive for January, 2010
Is sleep really necessary?
January 31st, 2010 | 
Author: Perhaps if we eventually lived in a world where sleep could be eliminated, and we could experience stimulation of our senses around the clock, would sleep be something that would be missed? We could get so much more done; perhaps hold down two or three jobs, but would life be better? Has sleep gotten a bad rap because it is often viewed as unproductive time? It is not surprising considering that, to the average individual, it appears to be simply lying in a state of unconsciousness for 8 hours. When you are looking at time to borrow from, one would be hard pressed not to single out this behavior as a prime candidate.
Setting aside any physical requirement for the moment, what about the enjoyment aspect? Does sleep really impart some pleasure for us, or does it just seem like wasted time? Perhaps there is something soothing about the quietness of evening after the commotion of the day has subsided, and you get to enjoy just doing nothing except snuggling in the comfort of your bed, and listening to soft music while you explore your subconscious. One could apply the same rationale to eating. Would we miss the pleasure of eating if we could just take a pill and satisfy the physical requirement?
In the B.T. era (Before television), and even before the invention of the light bulb, our previous generation logged in an average of 10 hours of sleep per night. In contrast, today’s world is a 24 hr. society with no off button. The world of night and day that used to be so different has now become one where the boundaries have been erased. Computers are on 24 hours a day, and even the stock market can now be traded around the clock. Life is now a continuous stream of sensory overload with no likely end in sight. If science can rescue us from sleep’s demands, will we give in and sacrifice our faithful nocturnal companion that has breathed new life into our species every night for millions of years?
Science has endeavored to dissect sleep for hundreds of years now, and one thing all investigators can agree on is that it is mysterious. When one journeys across the sleep barrier at night, there are no notes that may be brought back to reveal the experience except for the possible dream memory, which only accounts for a small portion of the voyage. Many complicated and intricate devices have been strapped to subjects in an effort to study the body’s feedback as the wanderer makes his way through the sleep wilderness. This quest to find answers has not been in vain, however, much to our dismay, it is still not clear why we do it. Many theories exist, but given the vast complexity of the brain and body, none can explain everything.
So what about it makes the most sense? Perhaps we may be thinking that because all the intricate parts are complicated, that the explanation of the behavior must be also. Granted that the answer cannot be as simple as “Because we enjoy it”, due to the obvious fact that we cannot will ourselves to stay awake indefinitely. As formidable as we think we are, whether we give our consent or not, our brain will still pull the plug, and sleep will have it’s way. In fact, if we are severely sleep deprived, the basic need to sleep actually becomes an even stronger force than avoiding our impending demise. Once in the grip of sleep, our body is empowered to accomplish the various assignments that cannot be completed while we are awake. If so, evolution would have devised a way to manage this maintenance without subjecting us to the vulnerable state of unconsciousness with predators on the prowl. Sleep Scientists fortunately have been able to reveal many of the gifts imparted to us during our visit with the Sandman, such as the shoring up of the immune system, release of growth hormones, conservation of energy, and recuperation of the central nervous system, to name a few.
If you have ever been around someone who has gone without sleep for a day or so, it should come as no surprise that they are not operating at peak efficiency. The concentration is not there, energy is lacking, and problem solving as well as making decisions is indeed a struggle, not to mention the less than stellar mood. While this may only be a less than satisfactory day at the office, it can mean the difference of life and death to animals and organisms, since it often involves securing food, surviving contests, and battling the elements. At the risk of over-simplification, this most likely has a lot to do with why we sleep; simply because it enables us to be a more efficient life form. With that in mind, the answer to the question of whether sleep is important may not be as critical as when it faced our predecessors, but without a doubt, adequate sleep has a great deal to do with your quality of life. If you don’t want to look older than you really are, risk your life while driving, or have a depleted immune system, and a host of other maladies that threaten the survival of the fittest, then you may want to indulge. Besides, there is virtually nothing on the market today, no matter what the cost, that can do for you what sleep does, and best of all, its free!
As for the enjoyment, barring any medical condition, or sleep disorder, if you don’t find any pleasure in it, perhaps you are doing it wrong.
Posted in 
Top 5 Candidates for Breast Implants
It’s a fact that women all over the globe are flocking in droves to get breast implants. Advancements in technology mean that breast implant insertion is a much safer and less invasive procedure than it once was. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your breasts, and you’re considering a boob job, cosmetic surgery clinics have never been so reputable and prices have never been cheaper. But how do you know if you’re a good candidate for cosmetic surgery?
Here is a brief description of the top five types of candidate for breast implants:
1. Emotionally Stable Personalities
Before your surgeon even considers suiting up for surgery, he or she will need to assess your suitability for breast implants. Women with a history of mental illness, body dysmorphic disorder, and serious depression may not be good candidates.
Modern medicine is advancing at a phenomenal rate, but that doesn’t mean that your surgeon is a miracle worker! To be considered a serious candidate for surgery, you need to have realistic expectations about your implants and the impact they will have on your life.
2. Women with Asymmetrical Breasts
If asymmetrical or uneven boobs have been plaguing your life, you are not alone. Almost no woman has identical sized breasts, but the size discrepancy is much greater for some women than others. Significant differences can seriously undermine your self-confidence and even lead to depression. The good news is that breast implants can even out the difference by augmenting one or both of your breasts.
3. Women with “Flat” Chests
You might feel sad that you were at the back of the queue when big breasts were handed out! Breast implants will enhance your natural assets to the point where you feel comfortable breaking out the daringly low-cut tops. However, if you have a slender figure, the surgeon may be loath to enhance your chest by more than one or two cup sizes. Breast implants that are overly large can make slim women look “top heavy,” and the extra weight can cause back problems.
4. Cancer Survivors and Women at Increased Risk
Recently, there has been a huge surge of high cancer risk patients opting for a pre-emptive mastectomy. In part, breast cancer appears to be genetic, so breast implants offer a wonderful way to eliminate the worry without impacting the physical appearance of the chest region. Survivors of breast cancer may also opt for breast implants as part of their reconstructive treatment. Most report a great deal of satisfaction with the surgery and its impact on their lives.
5. Women Who Have Realistic Expectations
You will play an integral role in the planning of your cosmetic surgery. Although your surgeon will be happy to answer questions and address concerns, it helps to have a specific idea about what you would like your new breasts to look and feel like. Additionally, you need to understand that breast implants generally last less than ten years, meaning that future surgery will be required.
Though cosmetic surgery appears to be simpler than it once was, it is not without its risks. Become informed about the insertion procedure, the composition of the two main types of breast implants, and their potential complications. Once your surgery is complete, you can break out your new bikini and enjoy your newfound confidence!
Cranesbill is Used For Dysentery and Diarrhea
Cranesbill is a short plant of up to 0.5 metres, with very aromatic, deeply dissected, green-red leaves, small pinkish flowers and oblong pointed fruits which resemble a stork’s bill. Other species which are used in traditional medicine and as gardening plants include G. maculatum (American cranesbill), G. dissectum (English cranesbill) and G. sanguineum (bloody cranesbill). Geranium nepalerise and G. wailichianum are used for dyes and tanning.
Latin: Geranium robertianum
Common Names: Herb Robert, erba roberta, herbs a Robert (French), geranium robertin, Ruprechtskraut (German), czcuta rossa (Italian).
Origin
Originating in Europe and Asia, Cranesbill was naturalised in North and South America (G. robertianum); central and eastern and North America (G. maculatuni).
Parts Used
Whole dried herb (Geranii robertiani herba).
Actions
Anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal.
Properties and Uses
Cranesbill has been traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections and mild diarrhoea. It has also been used externally as a styptic, to cure slow-healing wounds, eczema and mucosal inflammations. Cranesbill has also been used in the treatment of stomach ulcers, heavy menstrual bleeding, and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Fresh rhizomes from G.robertianum are used by homoeopathic practitioners.
Dosage and Preparation
Cranesbill tea can be prepared using two teaspoons of the dried herb, or one teaspoon of the dry root. When used in homeopathy, it is usually at a potency of D1. Cranesbill is also available in capsules, powder, liquid extracts, creams and salves.
Active Ingredients
An essential oil can be extracted from Cranesbill leaves, but it has an unpleasant smell since it contains geraniol, germacren D, limonene, linalool and terpineol. The main phenolics of Cranesbill leaves include ferulic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, kaempferol and quercetin. Cranesbill has a high concentration of gallo- and ellagitannins (up to 30%).
Geraniin is the main compound in Cranesbill.
Pharmacological Effects
Cranesbill’s tannins are astringent and have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects because of their ability to non-selectively disrupt and cause proteins to lose their tertiary structure and secondary structure. These tannins have anti-diarrhoeal effects, can form a protective layer over skin and mucosa and thereby have a vasoconstricting effect on small vessels, which will produce fluid loss from the skin.
Warning
Severe diarrhoea (especially in children) can be dangerous due to the risk of dehydration and must be treated by a health care professional.
Status
Traditional medicine.
Where to buy
ZooScape.com has a great selection of Cranesbill products.
Is Cardio Overrated For Fat Loss?
Have you heard that “doing cardio” is one of the best ways to lose fat?
Well if that’s true, how come every time you go to the gym, the same people are on the treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes and they never seem to change?
What’s going on?
The TRUTH is that the last thing you should do for fat loss is cardio.
That’s right, the last thing.
You see, there is an equation to the fat loss formula that most people just don’t understand. In fact, many people not only don’t understand it, but refuse to accept it when it’s presented to them because it’s so far off from what they’ve heard.
Here’s the equation, in the correct order:
70 + 25 + 5 = 100.
Seventy is the percentage of importance given to eating. That’s right, eating. Your very first and most important step in the fat loss equation is getting your eating down right.
You must eat foods that give you energy and allow your body to liberate stored energy – fat. These are foods that are found in nature and not made by man. These foods are lean cuts of meat, poultry, and fish. Nuts, seeds, berries, fruit, and vegetables. If you don’t see your favorite food in the above list, then you shouldn’t be eating it for fat loss.
Twenty-five is the percentage of importance given to strength training to build muscle. Muscle is what gives your body shape. It is your “metabolic machinery” – the stuff that actually burns the fat. So it stands to reason then that the more muscle you have, the more fat you can potentially burn.
Also, several scientific prove that resistance training burns more calories per unit of time than traditional cardiovascular exercise. But the best part is after resistance training your body requires even more calories to recover from the resistance training as it rebuilds your cells.
Five is the percentage of importance given to cardiovascular activity to burn fat. Most traditional forms of cardiovascular activity only burn calories while they are being performed. Some, like High Intensity Interval Training, burn calories afterward, but there is still the lack of fat burning associated with the tissue repair that goes along with strength training.
So, if you want to burn fat, your best bet is to get your nutritional house in order, then engage in a hearty strength training program, and finally add some cardiovascular exercise. This model works very well for fat loss when followed.
Give it a shot and start burning fat today!
How to Pay For Tubal Reversal Surgery
Many women who’ve had a tubal ligation later decide they want to become pregnant or reverse tubaligation side-effects, and therefore seek a tubal reversal. This procedure can cost several thousands of dollars that many women cannot afford to pay out of pocket. There are several options available for funding a tubal reversal. Keep in mind that there are the doctor’s fees, anesthesia fees and costs associated with the surgical facility among other costs.
If a woman cannot pay the entire amount up front, she can save the money. While this might take a while it can be done. Then the amount will be paid in full and there will be no future bills to worry about. If it’s difficult to save money because there isn’t much left over after paying for necessities, then one should consider cutting out things that are more of a luxury than a necessity, such as cable TV. Perhaps one could cut out their morning coffee binges and pack their lunch. With these small savings, over time one can easily rack up enough money to pay for their surgery.
Another option is to pick up a second job to help in saving for tubal reversal surgery. One would be able to save quickly with the additional income provided by a second part-time job.
Another funding option would be to finance the surgery through the doctor providing the surgery. Many surgeons will having a payment plan in which you can finance the costs of the surgery and all other costs associated with the surgery. If you cannot finance through the doctor, you may try to get a personal loan from the bank. Interest rates will be more favorable than using a credit card. But, you may find you need use a credit card to pay for the surgery.
Premature Ejaculation Occurs Frequently
Men with the problem of sudden, rapid ejaculation often don’t know how to prevent premature ejaculation. It may occur once or twice and go unnoticed or become a huge focus in their life causing even more performance anxiety. Once this occurs, there’s a devastating cycle that begins to erode all the pleasure found in sexuality. As time progresses and premature ejaculation occurs more frequently, men often find excuses not to initiate sexual intercourse.
Couples that experience premature ejaculation on a regular basis as part of their sexual life often don’t communicate their distress to one another. The partner with the problem is afraid that he’s a failure and his life partner will tell him so if they open the subject for discussion. The life partner feels they have a relationship with a selfish lover, knows their partner has a true problem and wants to help or feel unloved and frustrated. Nobody wins when a couple doesn’t talk about the problem but opening up the subject is difficult and devastating if it’s left silent too long.
While there is some help through traditional methods, often the treatment is either very expensive and not covered by health insurance or somewhat dangerous even to healthy men. Non-traditional methods frequently work better but it requires time and patients to find the right one. Not every treatment works for every man.
Until couples face the problem of premature ejaculation in their relationship or the man finds a way to overcome the premature ejaculation, the decline of the relationship continues. Because of this, thousands of men are using certain home remedies when dealing with this problem.The results that have been reported have been extremely positive.Not only have people been getting great results, they are also able to do it from the comfort of their home and prevent premature ejaculation effectively.
The Things to Be Known in Ethnobotanicals
Ethnobotanicals play an increasingly important role in day to day life. These are plants that have some heavy relationship to humans. The plants are cropped by the Mazatec Indians in Mexico and then shipped in right to us. They like high-humidity and it’s a good idea to mist them a pair times a day for the first couple weeks you get them. You can gradually start to acclimate with them to your home environment. Those plants are simple to grow as a house plant. They perform nicely in a sunny window. Just make sure the soil stays damp.
Nature has plenty of variety of plants, animals, insects, and so on. Many not yet classified. It has naturally occuring resources still intact, but we should learn from cultures that are in contact with nature so we do not continue making the same mistakes time after time again. It’s important to gain an ecological consciousness that will exist among people around the globe, this is what unites us. Ethnobotanicals is an important subject, more than it might appear to be too many that have never heard of the matter.
One kind of this herbal is Kava; it is traditionally used for issues such as agitation and sleeplessness and has been employed by a wide selection of folk from NASA astronauts to German pharmaceutical firms for this purpose. Given its shortage of side effects and the great superiority of stress in industrialized societies, as well as the link between stress and many chronic diseases, this is a vital plant indeed.
Another case in this herbal studies on humans is Chinese Herbal cures and Acupuncture to treat infertility. It has been reported how ladies diagnosed as sterile, with an opportunity of pregnancy of 5-20% and with 2 years of medication treatment accomplished nothing. Achieving infertility in a natural way is less violent or draining that with normal medicine. Again, the natural way of treating the whole body, not just a determined organ yielded great results. Many patients after using the herbal tea for three months and acupuncture managed to achieve pregnancy.
Ethnobotanicals in drug tests could come up depending on the chemical components of the herb, and the sort of drug test used. It ought to be noted that many drug tests don’t work superb; a few reports indicate they’re unsound in both ways. Some kits will show negative in pretty much anything, whether or not the tester is using the kit still high and the most mortifying ones, some test show up positive with the most remotely seemed like chemical, and here is where the problem begins, as many kits will react to over the counter medicines.
If the drug test is searching for a determined drug, weed for instance, the user may be on a number of other drugs and turn out negative, as the test in truth showed no pot. This is one of reasons drug test are not proving to be very useful, substance users have learned what drugs are ‘safe’, that is, not frequently tested in drug tests and keep going with consumption.
Consciousness and a higher interest of nature conservation is imperative, progress holds a lie behind itself. We think or feel we live better, but there is not any harmony in ‘civilized men’ and nature. We are loosing or have lost data on the way to live in this world with the correct balance. How to cure ourselves naturally, to be physically fit is sometimes an objective hard to accomplish. In today’s polluted world, we can get sick just by drinking water. The best way here is study all the conditions before using ethnobotanicals and you may visit the site for more relevant information