Julie-Anne Atkinson, naturopath, outlines some basic Q&A on the triggers and treatments for bad breath.
Q. What are some of the main causes of bad breath?
A. The thing to look at first is oral hygiene. You really need to ensure your teeth are properly cleaned and that the tongue is brushed – there are special scrapers you can buy for this. Often the tongue is a trap for bacteria. Flossing will remove any food debris trapped between the teeth. Meat, for instance, can be trapped between the teeth and ferment.
Cigarette smoking and alcohol can also trigger bad breath – particularly when large amounts of alcohol are consumed the night before.
Q. How can bad breath best be addressed?
A. It’s about maintaining good digestive health and a good level of bacteria in the gut and bowel. We would see benefits in replacing good gut bacteria through the use of a (live) probiotic supplement. This can often remedy bad breath.
The problem can also be tied in with bowel function. In other words, you may not be eliminating waste properly and your breath may be affected. To address constipation you should increase the amount of water you drink, increase your fibre intake, and of course, use a (live) probiotic supplement. Bitter lettuce greens can also be of help to your digestive system.
You can also have a non-invasive kinesiology check on your gut to see if it's a nutritional upset (intolerance to food) or parasite or other bacteria and treat it with homeopathics or natural tonics.
Q. When is bad breath symptomatic of other health conditions?
A. Often, in cases when cleaning the teeth might only mask bad breath for several minutes. In looking for underlying disease states, we examine digestion and check for infection. Sinusitis can also be a reason behind bad breath due to the build up of mucus. Gum disease also ties in with oral hygiene. A regular check up & clean with your dentist can catch dental issues early.
Q. What are some great tips for people wishing to keep their breath at its best? A. Doing a detox is a really good idea because you're addressing elimination via a range of different routes – your digestive system including the bowel, liver, and skin. Exercise is fantastic, too. Smoking can cause more mucus production, and this mucus can become stagnant, so giving up can assist in preventing bad breath. And chewing parsley mixed with lemon juice can also be helpful (yeah for Tabouli!).
Q. How do you know if you have bad breath?
Bright idea: the Australian Breath Clinic has developed a machine called the Halimeter which uses a gas sensor capable of detecting parts-per-billion quantities of several gases known to cause bad breath. .... or you could just ask a (good) friend to tell you the truth!
First published on 20/4/09 at:
http://www.blackmores.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?ArticleId=9123
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Eating healthy on a shoe-string
Get smart about saving money, while also making your health feel the love. Here are some tips:
1. Don’t go shopping on an empty belly
Hunger pangs can stir impulsive shopping. Have a healthy meal or snack before you hit the aisles, so you stick to what you need, rather than what your tastebuds dictate there and then. Also, take a list so you don't over-stock or miss essential purchases.
2. Be reward-program savvy
Take advantage of shopping incentives. Your local supermarket may offer a frequent shopper program, and even give you advance notice of specials. For example your local supermarket may have an ‘e-community’ which you can subscribe to online and receive ‘member offers’. Keep an eye on local newspapers, too – these often feature flyers for specials.
3. Keep a price journal
Take note of prices on items you buy regularly so you can better gauge when they’re on sale. With easily stored things such as canned foods and toothpaste, this approach can help you bulk buy when the price is right!
4. Stay seasonal
In-season produce is thought by some to better retain its nutritional value. It also has to travel less distance, meaning it’s typically cheaper.
The Victorian Government’s online health initiative, Better Health, and Tassie's "East Well" has great info on what’s in season etc. Better Health also lets you select fruit and veg, then click through to a recipe incorporating those ingredients. (links below)
5. Visit farmers’ markets
Most cities and towns host farmers’ markets. Because it often comes from local growers, this produce may be a little cheaper and a lot fresher than in supermarkets. Farmers markets may also be a good source of less-expensive organic produce. Also developing a relationship with vendors can help you stay abreast of what’s in season, when. (link below)
6. Berries below freezing
As well as being a great source of essential nutrients, berries amp up your antioxidant levels. That said, they can be pretty pricey. Save your coin by buying several berry punnets on special and freezing them. Alternately, buy bulk berries from the frozen food section – these are delicious blended with milk, honey, low-fat yoghurt and LSA mix (linseed, sunflower seeds, almonds) for a healthy morning smoothie.
7. What’s the plan, Stan?
Keeping a weekly meal plan may save you from over-stocking your fridge and cupboards with items that ‘smile at you from the supermarket shelve’, but don’t neatly complement a meal you’ll make any time soon. This approach is also a good way of ensuring you weave variety into your meals.
8. Mind the expiry date
Pay concerted attention to the expiry dates when shopping so you’re not buying something you can’t use within time – sounds obvious, but a lot of food (and cash) is needlessly wasted this way. Also buy fresh veg frequently, rather than during your "big" shop - this helps you get the freshest available.
9. Check check, one two…
Is your docket correct? Double-check it to make sure nothing has been accidentally scanned twice. This especially applies at restaurants when treating yourself to an "eat out" night.
10. Lean and bean
Lentils, chickpeas and other pulses are a top way to make meals go further for less. Add lentils to rice, or toss a cup of chickpeas through your favourite salad. Their canned varieties keep for a long time, they are low-GI, a good source of protein and give you sustained energy.
Author: Jennifer Pinkerton
First published 05/03/09 at
www.blackmores.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?ArticleId=9485
Better Health: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcrecipes.nsf/InSeasonView/InSeason?OpenDocument
EatWell: http://www.eatwelltas.org.au/seasonpage.php
Australian Farmers’ Market Association: www.farmersmarkets.org.au
1. Don’t go shopping on an empty belly
Hunger pangs can stir impulsive shopping. Have a healthy meal or snack before you hit the aisles, so you stick to what you need, rather than what your tastebuds dictate there and then. Also, take a list so you don't over-stock or miss essential purchases.
2. Be reward-program savvy
Take advantage of shopping incentives. Your local supermarket may offer a frequent shopper program, and even give you advance notice of specials. For example your local supermarket may have an ‘e-community’ which you can subscribe to online and receive ‘member offers’. Keep an eye on local newspapers, too – these often feature flyers for specials.
3. Keep a price journal
Take note of prices on items you buy regularly so you can better gauge when they’re on sale. With easily stored things such as canned foods and toothpaste, this approach can help you bulk buy when the price is right!
4. Stay seasonal
In-season produce is thought by some to better retain its nutritional value. It also has to travel less distance, meaning it’s typically cheaper.
The Victorian Government’s online health initiative, Better Health, and Tassie's "East Well" has great info on what’s in season etc. Better Health also lets you select fruit and veg, then click through to a recipe incorporating those ingredients. (links below)
5. Visit farmers’ markets
Most cities and towns host farmers’ markets. Because it often comes from local growers, this produce may be a little cheaper and a lot fresher than in supermarkets. Farmers markets may also be a good source of less-expensive organic produce. Also developing a relationship with vendors can help you stay abreast of what’s in season, when. (link below)
6. Berries below freezing
As well as being a great source of essential nutrients, berries amp up your antioxidant levels. That said, they can be pretty pricey. Save your coin by buying several berry punnets on special and freezing them. Alternately, buy bulk berries from the frozen food section – these are delicious blended with milk, honey, low-fat yoghurt and LSA mix (linseed, sunflower seeds, almonds) for a healthy morning smoothie.
7. What’s the plan, Stan?
Keeping a weekly meal plan may save you from over-stocking your fridge and cupboards with items that ‘smile at you from the supermarket shelve’, but don’t neatly complement a meal you’ll make any time soon. This approach is also a good way of ensuring you weave variety into your meals.
8. Mind the expiry date
Pay concerted attention to the expiry dates when shopping so you’re not buying something you can’t use within time – sounds obvious, but a lot of food (and cash) is needlessly wasted this way. Also buy fresh veg frequently, rather than during your "big" shop - this helps you get the freshest available.
9. Check check, one two…
Is your docket correct? Double-check it to make sure nothing has been accidentally scanned twice. This especially applies at restaurants when treating yourself to an "eat out" night.
10. Lean and bean
Lentils, chickpeas and other pulses are a top way to make meals go further for less. Add lentils to rice, or toss a cup of chickpeas through your favourite salad. Their canned varieties keep for a long time, they are low-GI, a good source of protein and give you sustained energy.
Author: Jennifer Pinkerton
First published 05/03/09 at
www.blackmores.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?ArticleId=9485
Better Health: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcrecipes.nsf/InSeasonView/InSeason?OpenDocument
EatWell: http://www.eatwelltas.org.au/seasonpage.php
Australian Farmers’ Market Association: www.farmersmarkets.org.au
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Happiness ...
"What is happiness?
The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome.” So wrote Friedrich Nietzsche in 1895.
I’m guessing that many would feel uncomfortable embracing this definition of happiness, maybe in part it’s because we’ve nodded in agreement with Lord Acton’s catchy caveat, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And who would want to risk corruption?
But what if we were to dig to the root, Latin meaning of power, “to be able”? Suddenly the word’s hard edge dissolves; power simply means efficacy — our capacity, as philosopher Erich Fromm put it, to “make a dent.”
Over the last decade the happiness quest has spawned bestselling books, courses, retreats, and even a “happiness conference.” Most seem to offer similar advice: Once our basic physical needs are covered, more stuff does little to boost our happiness. Friendships, family, self-acceptance, and meaning in our lives are the core determinants of our happiness.
I’m happy we’re talking about happiness, but disturbed, too, because I’ve noticed that most happiness gurus fail to mention power. And why is that a big mistake? Because most human beings are not couch potatoes and whiners. We are doers and creators. In fact, the human need to “make a dent” is so great that Fromm argued we should toss out René Descartes’ “I think therefore I am” and replace it with “I am, because I effect.”
Even much of what we call “materialism” is, I think, not about “things” at all. It is a distorted, ultimately unsatisfying attempt to feel powerful, with status through possessions forced to stand in for power (retail therapy). If true, then addressing powerlessness is a direct way both to foster happiness and to overcome planet-destroying materialism.
... addressing powerlessness is a direct way both to foster happiness and to overcome planet-destroying materialism.
There’s just one pathway to happiness in which this deep, human need for power is given pride of place: democracy. By this I mean democracy as a living practice that enables us to have a real say in every dimension of our public lives, from school to workplace and beyond.
Standing on a railroad platform in rural India with desperately poor people lying only a few steps away on grimy concrete, I turned to Jafri, a young Indian researcher traveling with us — he was helping some of his country’s poorest farmers escape the debt-and-toxins trap of chemical agriculture—and I asked: “How do you keep going?”
“I have to feel I am doing something to address the roots of suffering,” he replied, “or I couldn’t be happy.”
Including power in our definition of happiness changes everything.
But, if we add power to the happiness equation, our agenda shifts.
If happiness lies in covering basic needs plus satisfying personal ties and finding meaning, society’s role is limited. It need only ensure that essential needs are met and provide opportunities to pursue personal relationships and meaning. Even a largely totalitarian government could do that.
But, if we add power to the happiness equation, our agenda shifts. Maximizing happiness then requires engaging citizens in changing the rules and norms so that more and more of us are empowered participants. And, of course, joining with others in this exhilarating pursuit we achieve a double whammy: Such activity furthers the widely appreciated relational and meaning aspects of the happiness puzzle.
If we have treated freedom and happiness as virtually synonymous, my point is a really old one. We might do well to replace the maxims of Acton and even Nietzsche with one uttered by Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero 2000 years ago:
“Freedom is participation in power.”
Resource:
Author Frances Moore Lappé wrote this article as part of Sustainable Happiness, the Winter 2009 issue of YES! Magazine, where she is Contributing Editor.
The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome.” So wrote Friedrich Nietzsche in 1895.
I’m guessing that many would feel uncomfortable embracing this definition of happiness, maybe in part it’s because we’ve nodded in agreement with Lord Acton’s catchy caveat, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” And who would want to risk corruption?
But what if we were to dig to the root, Latin meaning of power, “to be able”? Suddenly the word’s hard edge dissolves; power simply means efficacy — our capacity, as philosopher Erich Fromm put it, to “make a dent.”
Over the last decade the happiness quest has spawned bestselling books, courses, retreats, and even a “happiness conference.” Most seem to offer similar advice: Once our basic physical needs are covered, more stuff does little to boost our happiness. Friendships, family, self-acceptance, and meaning in our lives are the core determinants of our happiness.
I’m happy we’re talking about happiness, but disturbed, too, because I’ve noticed that most happiness gurus fail to mention power. And why is that a big mistake? Because most human beings are not couch potatoes and whiners. We are doers and creators. In fact, the human need to “make a dent” is so great that Fromm argued we should toss out René Descartes’ “I think therefore I am” and replace it with “I am, because I effect.”
Even much of what we call “materialism” is, I think, not about “things” at all. It is a distorted, ultimately unsatisfying attempt to feel powerful, with status through possessions forced to stand in for power (retail therapy). If true, then addressing powerlessness is a direct way both to foster happiness and to overcome planet-destroying materialism.
... addressing powerlessness is a direct way both to foster happiness and to overcome planet-destroying materialism.
There’s just one pathway to happiness in which this deep, human need for power is given pride of place: democracy. By this I mean democracy as a living practice that enables us to have a real say in every dimension of our public lives, from school to workplace and beyond.
Standing on a railroad platform in rural India with desperately poor people lying only a few steps away on grimy concrete, I turned to Jafri, a young Indian researcher traveling with us — he was helping some of his country’s poorest farmers escape the debt-and-toxins trap of chemical agriculture—and I asked: “How do you keep going?”
“I have to feel I am doing something to address the roots of suffering,” he replied, “or I couldn’t be happy.”
Including power in our definition of happiness changes everything.
But, if we add power to the happiness equation, our agenda shifts.
If happiness lies in covering basic needs plus satisfying personal ties and finding meaning, society’s role is limited. It need only ensure that essential needs are met and provide opportunities to pursue personal relationships and meaning. Even a largely totalitarian government could do that.
But, if we add power to the happiness equation, our agenda shifts. Maximizing happiness then requires engaging citizens in changing the rules and norms so that more and more of us are empowered participants. And, of course, joining with others in this exhilarating pursuit we achieve a double whammy: Such activity furthers the widely appreciated relational and meaning aspects of the happiness puzzle.
If we have treated freedom and happiness as virtually synonymous, my point is a really old one. We might do well to replace the maxims of Acton and even Nietzsche with one uttered by Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero 2000 years ago:
“Freedom is participation in power.”
Resource:
Author Frances Moore Lappé wrote this article as part of Sustainable Happiness, the Winter 2009 issue of YES! Magazine, where she is Contributing Editor.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Don't let yourself be dragged down by the economic meltdown
We are bludgeoned every day by the numbers: stock market declines, plummeting home values, swelling ranks of the unemployed, shrinking retirement portfolios (and the list goes on).
This is the essence of stress: Circumstances that intimately affect us but over which we seemingly have no control. But, there are some things that we can do -
We are not hopeless victims. We are not corks bobbing on an endless sea. So don't mortgage your serenity over these economic events, nor squander your peace of mind.
Know where the money goes.
Using just one credit card offers easy handling of expenses. (pay off the charges each month so there's no interest.) At the end of the month, review the statement and ask if we made good choices: "Did we really need that extra dinner out?" "Did I really need a new suit?". Apply what you learn.
Have a clear and realistic picture of income.
What happens if that hot horse does not win? What happens if the "can't miss stock" does not produce a big dividend? If we work on commission or have a cyclical income, what is the minimum average that we can honestly expect?
Be vigilant about cyber thieves.
With the increasing sophistication of would-be thieves and the amount of personal financial data accessible online, take precautions and proper safeguards are in place.
Keep tabs on all accounts.
Check regularly that there are no glaring inconsistencies, not just when the statement arrives.
Have an exit strategy.
Have a plan B. If I lose my regular income, how will I take care of myself and my family? It is far better to address these contingencies during the light and warmth of the day rather than in the darkness of the 11th hour.
Protect your ability to earn.
The most powerful equity we have is our ability to work/earn. Ill health affects both your productivity (value) and capacity to work. So take best care of yourself — by exercising, getting enough rest, watching your weight, fixing 'niggles' before they become pain or, worse, incapacitating.
Yes, we need to take care of our financial health and not hand over the reigns to some expert. We need to be proactive; we need to be preemptive.
We also need to safeguard our physical and mental health. We need to protect and invest in our greatest assets — ourselves.
Author: Edward T. Creagan, M.D
First posted on February 13, 2009 at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00562
This is the essence of stress: Circumstances that intimately affect us but over which we seemingly have no control. But, there are some things that we can do -
We are not hopeless victims. We are not corks bobbing on an endless sea. So don't mortgage your serenity over these economic events, nor squander your peace of mind.
Know where the money goes.
Using just one credit card offers easy handling of expenses. (pay off the charges each month so there's no interest.) At the end of the month, review the statement and ask if we made good choices: "Did we really need that extra dinner out?" "Did I really need a new suit?". Apply what you learn.
Have a clear and realistic picture of income.
What happens if that hot horse does not win? What happens if the "can't miss stock" does not produce a big dividend? If we work on commission or have a cyclical income, what is the minimum average that we can honestly expect?
Be vigilant about cyber thieves.
With the increasing sophistication of would-be thieves and the amount of personal financial data accessible online, take precautions and proper safeguards are in place.
Keep tabs on all accounts.
Check regularly that there are no glaring inconsistencies, not just when the statement arrives.
Have an exit strategy.
Have a plan B. If I lose my regular income, how will I take care of myself and my family? It is far better to address these contingencies during the light and warmth of the day rather than in the darkness of the 11th hour.
Protect your ability to earn.
The most powerful equity we have is our ability to work/earn. Ill health affects both your productivity (value) and capacity to work. So take best care of yourself — by exercising, getting enough rest, watching your weight, fixing 'niggles' before they become pain or, worse, incapacitating.
Yes, we need to take care of our financial health and not hand over the reigns to some expert. We need to be proactive; we need to be preemptive.
We also need to safeguard our physical and mental health. We need to protect and invest in our greatest assets — ourselves.
Author: Edward T. Creagan, M.D
First posted on February 13, 2009 at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00562
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Anxiety
Anxiety isn't necessarily a problem, it is a primitive protective mechanism after all. However when it becomes persistent and interferes with daily life, it's called an anxiety disorder and it can affect about one in 20 people!
Anxiety: It's a feeling of dread or apprehension accompanied by a tightness in the chest and physical symptoms like sweating, trembling and rapid heartbeat. It's often caused by some change in our lives over which we feel we have no control. It might be a new date, an exam or a work performance review... or it could be something more serious like ill health.
Sometimes simply the passage of time helps but for others the anxiety persists and becomes much greater – even overwhelming – and quite out of proportion to the situation. It can make normal, daily activities difficult or impossible. This is when anxiety becomes a disorder.
One of the intriguing aspects of the problem is that there can be large variations in individuals' responses to stressful events. Some people survive a traumatic event without getting any anxiety, while others are almost incapacitated by seemingly trivial events. There's no one cause, however researchers have identified the following risk factors -
Genetic predisposition
Anxiety disorders tend to run in families
Personal characteristics
Researchers believe that people who have low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be prone to anxiety disorders
Biochemistry
It's theorised that some people who are prone to anxiety may have too many or too few neurotransmitters in the brain, however this is poorly understood.
There are several different manifestations of anxiety disorders including
* Generalised Anxiety Disorder - fears and apprehension about minor things;
* Phobias - a fear of specific situations eg heights, closed spaces, water, dogs, snakes or spiders;
* Agoraphobia - This is a fear of public places, especially crowds;
* OCD - constant unwanted thoughts 'controlled' by performing elaborate rituals like washing hands or checking things over and over;
* PTSD - frightening thoughts and memories following a traumatic event.
Treatment
Many people consider anxiety disorders are not 'real' health problems or that they are best dealt with by 'soldiering on'. Only about a third of people with anxiety disorders seek treatment. Fortunately, there are a range of effective treatments available. Some work well for some types of anxiety disorders and not for others.
Sometimes more than one therapy is needed. The treatment is most successful if it's tailored to the individual and, for the majority of anxiety disorders, psychological techniques offer the most successful forms of treatment.
The main types of psychological treatment are relaxation techniques, structured problem solving, graded exposure, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and EMDR.
Drugs are not as effective as psychological treatments. They do reduce anxiety, but only while being taken - when the medication is stopped, the symptoms return - and drugs can impair performance and cause dependence.
What help? Of course you can have treatment as a private patient. However currently in Australia psychological services can attract a partial rebate from Medicare. You will need a referral from your GP for this - usually for five treatments followed by a review with your GP.
Want more information? http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/ada/
Resource: ABC Health & Wellbeing; Published 07/06/2005, Author Peter Lavelle
http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/stories/2005/06/07/1828950.htm
Anxiety: It's a feeling of dread or apprehension accompanied by a tightness in the chest and physical symptoms like sweating, trembling and rapid heartbeat. It's often caused by some change in our lives over which we feel we have no control. It might be a new date, an exam or a work performance review... or it could be something more serious like ill health.
Sometimes simply the passage of time helps but for others the anxiety persists and becomes much greater – even overwhelming – and quite out of proportion to the situation. It can make normal, daily activities difficult or impossible. This is when anxiety becomes a disorder.
One of the intriguing aspects of the problem is that there can be large variations in individuals' responses to stressful events. Some people survive a traumatic event without getting any anxiety, while others are almost incapacitated by seemingly trivial events. There's no one cause, however researchers have identified the following risk factors -
Genetic predisposition
Anxiety disorders tend to run in families
Personal characteristics
Researchers believe that people who have low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be prone to anxiety disorders
Biochemistry
It's theorised that some people who are prone to anxiety may have too many or too few neurotransmitters in the brain, however this is poorly understood.
There are several different manifestations of anxiety disorders including
* Generalised Anxiety Disorder - fears and apprehension about minor things;
* Phobias - a fear of specific situations eg heights, closed spaces, water, dogs, snakes or spiders;
* Agoraphobia - This is a fear of public places, especially crowds;
* OCD - constant unwanted thoughts 'controlled' by performing elaborate rituals like washing hands or checking things over and over;
* PTSD - frightening thoughts and memories following a traumatic event.
Treatment
Many people consider anxiety disorders are not 'real' health problems or that they are best dealt with by 'soldiering on'. Only about a third of people with anxiety disorders seek treatment. Fortunately, there are a range of effective treatments available. Some work well for some types of anxiety disorders and not for others.
Sometimes more than one therapy is needed. The treatment is most successful if it's tailored to the individual and, for the majority of anxiety disorders, psychological techniques offer the most successful forms of treatment.
The main types of psychological treatment are relaxation techniques, structured problem solving, graded exposure, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and EMDR.
Drugs are not as effective as psychological treatments. They do reduce anxiety, but only while being taken - when the medication is stopped, the symptoms return - and drugs can impair performance and cause dependence.
What help? Of course you can have treatment as a private patient. However currently in Australia psychological services can attract a partial rebate from Medicare. You will need a referral from your GP for this - usually for five treatments followed by a review with your GP.
Want more information? http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/ada/
Resource: ABC Health & Wellbeing; Published 07/06/2005, Author Peter Lavelle
http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/stories/2005/06/07/1828950.htm
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Age of Aquarius ... the beginning?
“When the moon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars.
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius…”
So goes the song in the musical “Hair”.
Tomorrow (14 Feb 09), the Moon is in the 'seventh house' and Jupiter aligns with Mars!
Just a bit of hippie, new age nonsense? Or should it be taken seriously as a visionary prophecy? Let’s take a look at the significance of astrology in events of spiritual importance.
Western astrological thought indicates that we have just gone out of the Piscean Age and entered the Aquarian Age. Each Cosmic Age lasts about 2,000 years and has its own atmosphere and world view due to the influence of the prevailing zodiac sign on all of the planets during their transit, as well as their configurations and the relationships between them.
Dan Costian (PhD), author of “Bible Enlightened”, relates how in each Cosmic Age a new avatar or incarnation of the Divine took birth on the earth in human form in order to reveal another aspect of spirituality to human beings. In the Age of Gemini (c6000 – c4000BC) this divine incarnation was Rama, in the Age of Taurus (c4000 – c2000BC) it was Krishna, and in the Age of Aries (c2000 – 1BC) it was Abraham, Moses, Zarathustra, Confucius, Lao-Tse and Socrates. In essence, the planets ‘set the scene’ by providing the atmosphere or mood of the time to harmonise with and to reflect the message of the incarnation of the divine of that Age.
The Age of Pisces extended from about 1AD to about the year 2000. The avatar or incarnation of the divine in this Age was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The early Christians used the symbol of the fish, the sign of Pisces, in order to recognise each other. The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem had been foretold by the prophets and was heralded by a star in the East, which guided the Three Wise Men to the baby in the stable.
So what can we expect the Age of Aquarius to be like? Eccentricity, originality, independent thought, love of innovation and contempt for tradition are all strong traits of Aquarius so we can expect that there will be a shake up of the old order and a questioning of all ideas about society, religion and relationships. This will lead to a search for new ways of being. Under the influence of Aquarius people will not accept what others tell them and like to learn through their own experimentation and experience.
Aquarius encourages the progress of humanitarian and social causes so the Aquarian Age is one where pure love and altruism prevail. People work selflessly for the good of the whole, without exploiting or manipulating others.
Unity and integration are themes of the Aquarian Age. We can look forward to a truly multicultural world where individual differences are valued and respected while at the same time we are able to work co-operatively for the good of everyone. The sign opposite Aquarius is Leo which has an ennobling and enriching influence
Originality and innovation are qualities of Aquarius so we can expect inventiveness and creativity in all spheres of life.
The truth is another important aspect of Aquarius. All falseness and corruption should disappear. The appearance or exterior will be less important while the essence will be of utmost importance.
We can look forward to an end to ‘blind faith’ in religion and to a time when the mystical knowledge that has been hidden and kept secret will be revealed.
And on 16 September 1983 in the USA Shri Mataji said:
“Now very interesting it is to see that this Kundalini is the one which is called as the Kumbha – in Sanskrit language, means the Aquarius. We call it Aquarius, as one of the signs, and is the same as Kumbha in Sanskrit language. So it is the Age of Aquarius, is the Age of the Kundalini. Secondly is the Age of the Kundalini which will nourish, which is the Mother within you, which will rise, will give you the completeness of it, and which will connect you with your Spirit which ultimately gives you the enlightenment by which you become collectively conscious.”
Returning to the song ‘Age of Aquarius’
“Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius
Aquarius”
It would seem that these lyrics written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni in 1967 for ‘Hair’ were in fact prophetic and have proved to be good predictors of what was, and is still, to come.
Resource: originally posted by Kay Alford from Lyneham (Canberra) on 14/05/2008 at
http://www.theword.ezyzine.com/ThreadView.aspx?tid=4444
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars.
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius…”
So goes the song in the musical “Hair”.
Tomorrow (14 Feb 09), the Moon is in the 'seventh house' and Jupiter aligns with Mars!
Just a bit of hippie, new age nonsense? Or should it be taken seriously as a visionary prophecy? Let’s take a look at the significance of astrology in events of spiritual importance.
Western astrological thought indicates that we have just gone out of the Piscean Age and entered the Aquarian Age. Each Cosmic Age lasts about 2,000 years and has its own atmosphere and world view due to the influence of the prevailing zodiac sign on all of the planets during their transit, as well as their configurations and the relationships between them.
Dan Costian (PhD), author of “Bible Enlightened”, relates how in each Cosmic Age a new avatar or incarnation of the Divine took birth on the earth in human form in order to reveal another aspect of spirituality to human beings. In the Age of Gemini (c6000 – c4000BC) this divine incarnation was Rama, in the Age of Taurus (c4000 – c2000BC) it was Krishna, and in the Age of Aries (c2000 – 1BC) it was Abraham, Moses, Zarathustra, Confucius, Lao-Tse and Socrates. In essence, the planets ‘set the scene’ by providing the atmosphere or mood of the time to harmonise with and to reflect the message of the incarnation of the divine of that Age.
The Age of Pisces extended from about 1AD to about the year 2000. The avatar or incarnation of the divine in this Age was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The early Christians used the symbol of the fish, the sign of Pisces, in order to recognise each other. The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem had been foretold by the prophets and was heralded by a star in the East, which guided the Three Wise Men to the baby in the stable.
So what can we expect the Age of Aquarius to be like? Eccentricity, originality, independent thought, love of innovation and contempt for tradition are all strong traits of Aquarius so we can expect that there will be a shake up of the old order and a questioning of all ideas about society, religion and relationships. This will lead to a search for new ways of being. Under the influence of Aquarius people will not accept what others tell them and like to learn through their own experimentation and experience.
Aquarius encourages the progress of humanitarian and social causes so the Aquarian Age is one where pure love and altruism prevail. People work selflessly for the good of the whole, without exploiting or manipulating others.
Unity and integration are themes of the Aquarian Age. We can look forward to a truly multicultural world where individual differences are valued and respected while at the same time we are able to work co-operatively for the good of everyone. The sign opposite Aquarius is Leo which has an ennobling and enriching influence
Originality and innovation are qualities of Aquarius so we can expect inventiveness and creativity in all spheres of life.
The truth is another important aspect of Aquarius. All falseness and corruption should disappear. The appearance or exterior will be less important while the essence will be of utmost importance.
We can look forward to an end to ‘blind faith’ in religion and to a time when the mystical knowledge that has been hidden and kept secret will be revealed.
And on 16 September 1983 in the USA Shri Mataji said:
“Now very interesting it is to see that this Kundalini is the one which is called as the Kumbha – in Sanskrit language, means the Aquarius. We call it Aquarius, as one of the signs, and is the same as Kumbha in Sanskrit language. So it is the Age of Aquarius, is the Age of the Kundalini. Secondly is the Age of the Kundalini which will nourish, which is the Mother within you, which will rise, will give you the completeness of it, and which will connect you with your Spirit which ultimately gives you the enlightenment by which you become collectively conscious.”
Returning to the song ‘Age of Aquarius’
“Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
Aquarius
Aquarius”
It would seem that these lyrics written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni in 1967 for ‘Hair’ were in fact prophetic and have proved to be good predictors of what was, and is still, to come.
Resource: originally posted by Kay Alford from Lyneham (Canberra) on 14/05/2008 at
http://www.theword.ezyzine.com/ThreadView.aspx?tid=4444
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Is It Safe To Order From Overseas Pharmacies?
A growing number of consumers are engaging in the potentially risky practice of purchasing medications and supplements from unregulated websites that ship from foreign countries.
The (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions about this practice, especially about ordering prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Many drugs that are available from overseas pharmacies should be monitored by a health professional for effectiveness and for potential adverse events, FDA officials have said.
There are several different types of internet pharmacy portals, and some of them do follow safe medication practices. In the best-case scenario, a valid, legal prescription from a licensed prescriber is transmitted to the internet pharmacy, which then fills the prescription and mails it to the patient.
In countries that do require valid prescriptions, physicians may approve the orders without knowing anything about you (the patient). In this case, you don't know anything about the physician's qualifications either.
In contrast, legitimate prescriptions may be transmitted to pharmacies overseas yet may be filled with counterfeit, expired drugs, illegally diverted, or adulterated drugs. Even worse, you can order prescription medications online without first acquiring a legitimate prescription, as this gives access to potentially toxic or addictive medications without the oversight of a healthcare provider.
The dangers of bypassing a licensed prescriber and obtaining medications overseas are myriad. Perhaps the most troubling is the lack of a valid prescription, because you may be self-diagnosing and self-treating. Purchased medications may be addictive, be potentially toxic, or require special monitoring. There is often no assurance that the dosage is correct, nor is there screening for drug-drug or drug-disease interactions.
Additionally, some overseas internet sites sell drugs that have not (for very good reasons) been locally approved. Other concerns about drugs obtained overseas include inadequate or inaccurate labeling, inappropriate packaging and questionable storage and handling.
Online pharmacies are subject only to the laws and regulations of the countries where they are based. For example, in Canada and Australia, a valid prescription must be supplied before the medication is dispensed. However, in Mexico, many prescription drugs are sold over the counter and can be ordered over the Internet without a prescription.
So - Stay safe: consult your health professional and buy local.
Resource: Darrell T. Hulisz, RPh, PharmD
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Posted on 1/2/09 on
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/585137?src=mp&spon=17&uac=82196DX
The (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions about this practice, especially about ordering prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Many drugs that are available from overseas pharmacies should be monitored by a health professional for effectiveness and for potential adverse events, FDA officials have said.
There are several different types of internet pharmacy portals, and some of them do follow safe medication practices. In the best-case scenario, a valid, legal prescription from a licensed prescriber is transmitted to the internet pharmacy, which then fills the prescription and mails it to the patient.
In countries that do require valid prescriptions, physicians may approve the orders without knowing anything about you (the patient). In this case, you don't know anything about the physician's qualifications either.
In contrast, legitimate prescriptions may be transmitted to pharmacies overseas yet may be filled with counterfeit, expired drugs, illegally diverted, or adulterated drugs. Even worse, you can order prescription medications online without first acquiring a legitimate prescription, as this gives access to potentially toxic or addictive medications without the oversight of a healthcare provider.
The dangers of bypassing a licensed prescriber and obtaining medications overseas are myriad. Perhaps the most troubling is the lack of a valid prescription, because you may be self-diagnosing and self-treating. Purchased medications may be addictive, be potentially toxic, or require special monitoring. There is often no assurance that the dosage is correct, nor is there screening for drug-drug or drug-disease interactions.
Additionally, some overseas internet sites sell drugs that have not (for very good reasons) been locally approved. Other concerns about drugs obtained overseas include inadequate or inaccurate labeling, inappropriate packaging and questionable storage and handling.
Online pharmacies are subject only to the laws and regulations of the countries where they are based. For example, in Canada and Australia, a valid prescription must be supplied before the medication is dispensed. However, in Mexico, many prescription drugs are sold over the counter and can be ordered over the Internet without a prescription.
So - Stay safe: consult your health professional and buy local.
Resource: Darrell T. Hulisz, RPh, PharmD
Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Posted on 1/2/09 on
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/585137?src=mp&spon=17&uac=82196DX
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