In the Middle East, water is a source of conflict and an opportunity for peace. From the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea and all along the River Jordan there is a need for cooperation over water. In the mountain aquifer under West Bank settlements there is conflict over its allocation. In fact, the World Bank just issued a report finding huge disparities in water use between Israelis and Palestinians.

Weeam Iriqat, a Palestinian woman who lives in Jericho, used to cross the River Jordan as a small girl. “The quantity of water was really high when you passed over the bridge. Now when we go to Jordan we don’t feel there is a river. The future of our entire region concerns water. The next war will be about water.” Water straddles political boundaries in the region and over the years there have been clashes. In fact, water was a factor in the Six Day War in 1967. The River Jordan is a vital lifeline to Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Syria. People depend on it for health, industrial productivity and agriculture.

No where is the crisis more apparent than on the River Jordan, the waterway that is a holy spot for Christians, Muslims and Jews. Ninety percent of the water in the river has been diverted, half of it to Israel for agriculture. What has complicated the scenario is that farming accounts for only 2% of Israel’s GNP. Israel’s settlements are green and flourishing and growing Palestinian villages are drying up even though there are more people desperate for water. The Dead Sea has shrunk by 30% in the last 50 years. Meanwhile, Jordan and Syria are still fuming because Israel transferred water from the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan a generation ago to make the Negev desert bloom and turn Israel into the dynamic country that it is.

At the same time Jordan and Syria diverted water from key tributaries leading into the river Jordan, further depleting the river and its abilities to be sustainable for the future. Political divisiveness is making it difficult to maintain and construct sewage and water projects. Israelis say they have boosted the fresh water supply to the Palestinians by three times the amount used there in 1967. The total consumption of fresh natural water in Israel rose from 1967 to 2006 by nearly 700%. Water consumption in the West Bank rose during the same period by 2300% for the growing population.

“The bottom line is there is a severe water crisis out there, predominantly on the Palestinian side, and it will be felt even worse during this coming summer,” says Gidon Bromberg who heads Friends of the Earth Middle East, (http://www.foeme.org) which is a unique collaboration of Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians cooperating on solving the water issues in the region. Gidon Bromberg, an Israeli, Nadeer Khateeb, a Palestinian, and Munqeth Mehyar, a Jordanian are working together as the leaders from each nation to solve the region’s water issues while creating the necessary conditions for lasting peace in the region. There is a peace island on the river and Friends of the Earth Middle East is trying to expand the zone’s special status. Mayors from Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian communities along the river are joining together to honor peace agreements calling for protection from pollution and recognition of the disparity in standards of living on each side of the river.

One specific example of cooperation is along the Green Line between the West Bank and Israel. Israelis built a water treatment plant while Palestinians a stones throw away had waste running into their water. With one pipe they are connecting their sewage systems together and both will see the benefits. The Palestinian mayor will buy back treated water for agriculture and the Israelis will make money selling the water. They don’t love each other but they are cooperating. Where political solutions are difficult, grassroots solutions for the mutual benefit of communities are leading to co-existence and cooperation.

Of course it is not simple. Everything is political in the region and all attempts at peace are exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, walls, checkpoints, settlements, the very existence of Israel, etc. The development of water-sucking West Bank settlements like Ma’aleh Adumim and the proposed expansion into another called Mevesseret Adumim, threatens to blow attempts at peace between Israelis and Palestinians out of the water. On a clear day you can see the mountains beyond the Jordan river from there. You can also see the contrast between the lushness of Ma’aleh Adumim and its Palestinian neighbor, Azariyah, which both get their water from an underground aquifer. Even so, those who are working to make the allocation of water more equitable, say the River Jordan has historically been the site for exchange between peoples, cultures and ideas and the interaction must continue between Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians, all who have a stake in water and peace.

By: Vicky Collins

Medical Tourism is the name given to the international traveling of patients to avail medical treatments. This is one of the most popular methods of availing healthcare nowadays. Many would think that traveling abroad for medical treatments would only add to the expenses and those on a budget may not even consider this. This is a completely wrong notion. In fact there are a lot of advantages for Medical Tourism, and the reason is the most popular destinations US, Germany, India and Hong Kong make large amounts of revenue each year from this. The advantages of Medical Tourism are thus, manifold.

More Options: Medical Tourism gives you the option from choosing among a wide range and method for the treatment of your illness. You can compare the costs of the hospitals in the different countries, think about the communication and travel expenditures and then decide what is best for you.

More Affordable: If you think that travelling abroad would be more expensive, then think again. Especially in treatments of such really complex diseases, which require complex surgeries, the costs are more in countries like US or Canada, when the same treatment can be availed for less than half the amount is countries like India or Germany, and that too including the travelling and living costs. For this reason, medical tourists compare the rates in all the leading hospitals of the world and then decide where to start their treatment from. And this is a huge advantage for those on a budget.

More Advanced Treatments: Medical Tourism also gives you the chance to avail better treatments in terms of better use of technology and medical science, and which are either not available in your country or are too expensive to go through. It may happen that the hospitals in your country may not have the infrastructure to start these treatments, so you can always travel abroad to get the services.

Medical Vacation and Travels: The most entertaining and perhaps endearing point of Medical Tourism is the fact that you get to travel and heal in relaxed surrounding. When you are off for your treatments, you can spend the free time relaxing and enjoying yourself after your treatment is over as it is very much congenial for a healthy recuperation.

If you unfortunately succumb to illness, the do not think twice about crossing the borders of your country to avail the treatments. Nothing can be more precious than your health and medical tourism gives you the option to choose from what you think is the best for you.

By: Methew Alyx

We are often being told that red wine is good for our health, but do we really know why?

In countries where red wine is consumed in larger quantities, such as Italy and France, there is less of a problem of heart disease and fatal strokes. Whereas, in countries like North America and the United Kingdom, where red wine is consumed in smaller quantities the problem is considerably higher. The reason for this is down to chemicals in the red wine which include polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants, and are found in a number of different sources, including grapes/wine, as well as beer, tea, coffee, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, peanuts, and several other fruits and vegetables.

The skin of the red grape, (and so a constituent of red wine), contains Resveratrol which is a phytoalexin or naturally occurring antibiotic. This is produced when the plant is being attacked by bacteria or fungi, and is a vital antioxidant to the cardiovascular system. These antioxidants work by helping to reduce the damage from oxygen, caused by substances called free radicals, which can lead to cell dysfunction and the onset of heart disease and diabetes. Resveratrol is known to help increase the levels of HDL or good cholesterol, while trials are on-going as to its anti-cancer properties.

Is all cholesterol bad?

No, the body needs cholesterol, it is vital to ensure normal function. Without it, the body would not work, however, high levels in the blood system are associated with atherosclerosis, which is the main cause of coronary heart disease. The cholesterol is carried around the body by proteins called lipoproteins.

The two main types of lipoproteins are LDL and HDL:

LDL – low-density lipoprotein – is the bad, damaging type of cholesterol. Having excessive LDL cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk is worse if you have higher levels of LDL cholesterol with a lower level of HDL cholesterol. If you are at risk of developing heart disease and your LDL level is 100 mg/dL or higher, your cholesterol could be too high. HDL – high-density lipoprotein – is a good, protective type of cholesterol. HDL stops cholesterol build up in the walls of the arteries. If the level of HDL cholesterol is below 40 mg/dL, your risk from heart disease is much greater. The higher your levels of HDL cholesterol, the better. The average for men is around 45 mg/dL, and for women 55 mg/dL.
Cholesterol, food and red wine.

A major misconception many people have is that most food is full of cholesterol. This is not so, there is actually very little cholesterol found in foods. Those to be wary of are eggs, shellfish and offal. The type of fat in the food is the key, so when you choose a food, ensure that it contains unsaturated fat and not saturated fat.

Saturated fat (the bad fat) is found mainly in animal products such as sausages, butter, lard, bacon, pies, biscuits, cakes and pastries. This the fat that we need to cut down on. Excessive saturated fat raises cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Unsaturated fat, (the good fat), is found in oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, and fresh tuna, sunflower and olive oils, and nuts and avocados. These fats can greatly reduce cholesterol levels. Many of us need to cut down on the bad animal fats, and where possible replace them with a foodstuff high in polyunsaturated fat. By doing this, and having the occasional glass of red wine we will improve our health dramatically.

But remember, always drink your red wine in moderation, one glass of red wine for women and two glasses for men will lower the risks involved with heart attacks by between 30 and 50 percent. And of course take plenty of exercise.

Some of the varieties of red wine I would recommend are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Shiraz.

By: Rob Hemphill

Anyone whose ever tried to cook a decent meal, and get everything right knows how hard it can be. In fact it can seem darn right impossible at times. But let’s face it, if you’re not a professional cook or chef then you can’t really expect to have a professionally cooked meal, or can you?

With all of the different cooking networks and shows out there, it’s hard to watch without wishing that you could re-create the meals that they make at home, but the truth is that you either attempt and it doesn’t work out, or you don’t even attempt because you’re afraid that it won’t turn out well.

One of the biggest problems is that the tools that you have to work with in your kitchen, and the tools that the professionals that you’re trying to emulate use are probably like night and day. They have all of the best equipment there is to work with, and frankly that’s one of the reasons there’s turns out so much better. Chances are that if they had to use your old banged up pots and pans there stuff wouldn’t turn out nearly as perfect as it does. The tools and utensils are a huge part of their success.

One of the most famous chef’s in the world has recognized this fact and therefore has done his best to try to make great cooking tools available to you. Emeril Lagasse is a world renowned chef and restaurateur, made mostly famous from his cooking shows on the Food Network “Essence of Emeril” and “Emeril Live”. He started out working in a bakery as a boy, discovered his talent, and went on to go to Johnson and Wales Culinary School and graduated in 1978. He quickly rose up the ladder of the cooking world, becoming Executive Chef of Commander Palace in New Orleans. Proving himself as a Creole and Cajun expert he went on to open his own restaurant in New Orleans called Emeril’s. He now owns ten restaurants and has a multimillion dollar empire.

So, in case you were wondering, I think it’s safe to say that Emeril Lagasse knows what he’s talking about – and furthermore – what you need in your kitchen to produce superior food at home. Emerils latest invention that’s going to help you “kick it up a notch” is the Emeril Steamer from T-Fal. You probably know that T-Fal makes some of the best, if not the best non-stick surface pans in the world, so you know that with the expertise of these two giants combining forces the Emeril Steamer has to be exceptional, and it is!

The Emeril Steamer basically makes cooking for your family about as easy as it gets. The Steamer has 3 completely separate compartments for food so that you can create a dinner for your family without all of the food running and leaking together. You can tell that Emeril created his Steamer so that it’s as easy as possible to use. Essentially, you fill the water compartment, add your food to the three large food baskets, hit a button and “Bam” you’ve got dinner going (pun intended).

To top it off, the steamer cooks food quickly so that it’s not an all day project for making dinner. Once you hit the steam button you’re off and the turbo speed steaming has begun. There’s a reversible non-stick drip tray where all three compartments drip separately ensuring that all of your food has its own separate natural taste.

Another beauty of the Emeril Steamer is that if you need to add an ingredient all is not lost once you’ve hit the button. You can simply hit the button, shut of the steam, add your ingredients, and start it back up again without any problems.

Now a lot of people have a problem when cooking large meals because they’re not able to get the timing right, and therefore will end up with one thing finished and having to sit, waiting for the rest of the meal. That’s not a worry with the steamer because everything is cooking at the same time, and you can add as you go so if you’ve got meat for instance that needs to cook a bit longer, you can go ahead and cook that and add the veggies later and your fine.

Steaming is great way to eat healthy while at the same time keeping the food tasting great, locking the natural flavors in – and the Emeril Steamer will let you do exactly that. If you’re ready to make dinner easily and quickly without all of the fuss and mess, then The Emeril Steamer cannot be recommend enough.

By: Bruce D Hunter

The Denver Post recently came out with an article written by Douglas Brown that stated (Death of full-time jobs fosters “gigonomics” trend). People hunting for employment have become fully engaged with adapting with an economy that has become stingy with full-time jobs. Many people have discovered that they can make a living by working two, three or even four part time jobs to make ends meet. Economists and others who wrestle with employment issues have dubbed the trend “gigonomics”.

There is no question more people are working part-time jobs today than when the recession started in December 2007. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are now 4.4 million more workers toiling at part-time jobs for economic reasons than there were 18 months ago. In all, the bureau counts 9 million people falling into this category.

For most people falling into this category find it can be very stressful, but for others it has opened up new doors, flexibility, opportunities and experiences that they never would have had if not for “gigonomics”.

I have been predicting the “gigonomics” employment practice for over 6 months and believe that once “gigonomics” has arrived in the work place, it will never go away. But, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Some companies have taken all the good from the “gigonomics” concept, added sound structure and organization to foster this growth into the future work place.

Some employee leasing companies have developed an employment concept that offers companies the benefits of utilizing professional, mature, experienced workers on a full-part time basis. Companies gain the advantage by increase in production out-put, reductions in incidents and accidents while at the same time reducing labor and overhead costs. This concept is simple, condensing the average work week hours to 20, not 40, eliminates the majority of non productive hours. This does not work for all vocations, but many can fall into this category. Studies by independent organizations reflect these results over an average 8 hour work day:

1. According to the study by the American Management Association, workers spend a day dealing with email. – 1.47 hours
2. Bathroom & water, general brakes, 4 a day x 5 min ea. – .20 hours
3. General conversations/gossip with co-workers – .25 hours
4. Smokers, ? pack a day smoke brakes, 5 min each – .50 hours
5. Talking on phone and cell phone with unsolicited vendors, family and friends – .30 hours
6. Average non-billable hours per employee per day at 77% billable – 1.84 hours

TOTAL NON PRODUCTIVITY HOURS DAY – 4.56 hours

This math indicates that the majority of employees are billing their clients for non productive work to maintain their billability. Program Managers should do the math on their employees to establish their own conclusion.

It also indicates that some positions could be modified to a partial work week and still produces the same results. Marketing, Sales, Estimating, and Consulting just to name a few.

To the best of my knowledge the 40 hour work week was arbitrarily selected years ago as an average work week, with no real means to back it up. So we ask, is the 40 hour work week really necessary for all professions?

Traditionally part-time employees are labeled just what the name means, part time. But, this is changing also. More and more company employees falling into this category are being labeled full-part time, meaning they have the same job, with the same company consistently week after week. Employees gain stability by finding an additional full-part job with another non-competitive company to complete their work week. The employee gets the benefits of working full time and has no need to look for “full time positions”, but is leased out to two different companies in the same week. Most employee leasing companies offer a full benifit package for full-part time workers that they employ.

The companies get the benefits of their professional experience, improved productive and at the same time reducing their burdened overhead cost and increasing their revenue margins, and still consider these employees as theirs while consistently working full-part time.

Our world is changing faster that we can adapt. Markets have expanded globally and competition is greater than it has ever been. Drastic measures have to be made just to stay in business. But, is downsizing the answer? Is reducing cost the only answer? While both will help reduce overhead, they will also contribute to less revenue and will only hurt companies in the long run, including compounding the problems of the economy. Totally eliminating positions is not the answer, but modifying them could be. There is another way without all the doom and gloom of layoffs.

The world is what we make of it and we need to make it right! The same goes for companies. Change can be either bad or good, but change we must.

Edward Ballog

By: Edward Ballog

Almost every year there are headlines touting the health benefits related to drinking wine. The good news is there really are health benefits to wine consumption. These benefits are based on moderate consumption. The American Heart Association classifies “moderate consumption” as one to two four-ounce glasses of wine per day. Here’s a list of benefits that should make you very happy to be a wine lover.

Reduces High Blood Pressure
A 2007 study by the Harvard School of Public Health of over 11,000 men published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that moderate wine drinkers with high blood pressure are 30% less likely to have a heart attack than non-wine drinkers.

Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
A 2006 study by Queen Mary University in London, and published in Nature discovered that the tannins in red wine contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease.

Reduces the Risk of Colon Cancer
A 2005 study of over 2,000 individuals over a four-year period published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology and conducted by Stony Brook University found that moderate consumption of wine, especially red wine cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45%.

Lowers the Risk of Stroke
A 2006 study of more than 3,000 individuals conducted by Columbian University over an eight year period found that moderate wine drinkers reduce their chances of suffering a blood clot-related stroke by 50%.

Reduces the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
A 2005 study of more than 300,000 individuals over a 12 year period conducted by Amsterdam’s VU University Medical Center found that moderate wine drinkers have a 30% less chance of developing type-2 diabetes than non-wine drinkers.

Reduces the Risk of Cataracts
A 2003 study of over 1,000 individuals in Iceland, and published in Nature found that those who consume wine are 43% less likely to develop cataracts than those who drink beer.

Longevity
A 2007 Finish study published in the Journals of Gerontology of over 2000 men over the age of 29 concluded that wine drinkers have a 34% lower mortality rate than those who drink beer or hard liquor.

So, Cheers! To Your Health!

By: Cheryl Bond-Nelms

It’s important for you to notice what and how well your child understands what is said to him versus how well he picks up clues from situations.?Why is it important??If your child does not understand language, he isn’t going to use language well for his age.

Many parents have told me during speech-language assessments, “Oh, he knows where to throw away the tissue after he wipes his nose.”?On closer examination, it becomes apparent that the child does not understand the spoken direction, “Go throw your tissue in the trash,” but rather that he has learned what he is supposed to do and always does-throw the tissue in the trash.

There are many things families do routinely in their homes.?Many children who don’t understand spoken language well are fairly good at learning some of these routines.?They know where things are, they know what to do with them, and they know what action follows another.

If you really want to know what your child understands and how well she understands, you have to check it out in an unfamiliar/non-routine situation without pointing to or looking at the thing you are talking about.?For example, a child might understand, “Get the spoon,” if it just fell on the floor, and she heard it fall, but she might not understand, “Get the spoon” if you say it “out of the blue” while standing in the middle of the kitchen away from the location of the spoons.?This is a test and not a teaching step, but it is important for you to find out.?

Here I will share with you some steps to follow to help your child learn to understand and follow directions that you give.?You need to go on to the next step only if your child did not follow the direction–either he didn’t understand, or he didn’t comply.?Praise him as soon as he does what you asked by saying the key words again in your praise, for example, “Good!?You put your shoes over by the door.”?

Here’s a hierarchy to follow:

State a direction without adding any gestures. Restate the direction using the same words so he has another chance to process the same words. Restate the direction using the same words and providing gestures or demonstration of what he is to do. Say the direction a different way, perhaps providing more information. Say it again and assist him to do it ["hand over hand"-your hands guiding him through the task.] As he is doing the task, comment, “That’s it!?Your are putting your jacket on the chair.” [or whatever it is you asked him to do] Remember to praise when done using the words from the first presentation of the direction:?”Good-you put your jacket on the chair.”

Give your child directions to follow throughout the day that are at his level of understanding, gradually making them more challenging either by making them longer or saying them in ways you haven’t tried before.?Get his attention and then state the direction without pointing or otherwise gesturing.?Use the hierarchy as needed to help him succeed.?

As your child learns to understand more of what you say, his expressive language skills are likely to increase, also.?

By: Mary Lou Johnson

Spiritual Vitamins

Our Solar System has just rotated through our Galaxy and now resides (for the next 2000 years) in an orbit around our Galactic Sun that we have named “The Age of Aquarius.”

It is the Age of Science, the mind and Quantum Physics. The materialistic Scientists who still believe in the ‘Big Bang Theory’ and the ‘Chaos Creation Theory’ are talking and writing the Laws of Quantum Physics to death already.

We do not live in a world of words. We live in a living, expanding, creation Universe. It was created by the Big ‘G” the Creator God.

The Universe is energy, we are energy, thoughts are energy. The Laws of Quantum Physics and Attraction are Laws based on energies not words. Our health is energy or the natural flow of energy through our energy centers, chakras.

When the gas in your car is clogged or blocked up the car stalls and can not move. When your energy flow is blocked up, you stall (illness).

In this marvelous New Age we find ourselves in, we must use our minds to create new methodologies to attract more life-giving energy into our lives and to keep it flowing.

The simplicity of the Laws of Quantum Physics tell us that there exists an infinite Ocean of thinking, intelligent energy out of which the Universe and each one of us is manifested.

This ocean of energy was placed there by the Creator God as part of the Creative Plan.

It is called the Quantum Ocean and in reality it is the Mind of God. It responds to our thoughts and emotions and manifests into our individual minds, as well as into the mass mind of Humanitiy. All thoughts and emotions become a reality.

Therefore it is up to us to think good healthy thoughts into the Quantum Ocean and recieve good healthy energy in return.

Thoughts are things, symbols are things, words are things. We must use the Law of Attraction by selecting thoughts, symbols and words that bring into our lives what we want. Not what we don’t want.

We could turn the whole medical profession around if we could stop thinking, talking and studying dis-eases which no one wants. Each time a disease is talked about, each illness that is thought about, or shown on TV; the disease or illness is EMPOWERED. So, why not consider a new way of thinking? Why not think in terms of HEALTH? Think of being HEALTHY, not being sick. Talk about HEALTH, Think about HEALTH, and study how to be HEALTHY. Give disease and sickness no thought or attention whatever. Do not even mention the diseases that are in vogue. Do not watch commercials or TV programs having to do with ill-health. Remember where you place your attention is what is drawn to you.

We all want health, wealth and happiness. Here is a powerful exercise I call “Spiritual Vitamins for Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

Words are powerful. Written words are Resonant Frequencies to energy fields in the Quantum Ocean. When you consciously look at a word and mentally breathe it into your self, you are making a connection to the energy field in the Quantum Ocean pertaining to the word.

The wold health written boldly on a piece of paper is connected to the health energy in the Quantum Ocean.

Take at least a dozenpieces of 8 1/2″ by 11″ 120 pound cardboard stock (vary the colors if you like) in the center of each sheet boldly write or print out one Key word. One word that represents an energy in the Quantum Ocean that you want to manifest in your life. Here is a list, but you can choose your own.

HEALTH

WEALTH

LOVE

STRENGTH

HAPPINESS

PEACE

JOY

HARMONY

CONSCIOUSNESS

WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE

EQUANIMITY

Sit comfortably in your chair. Relax and breathe slowly and deeply with the twelve cards in your lap.

Now take one of the cards in your hands – ‘Health’. Look at it and mentally say “I am now inhaling Health into every cell in my body.” Take a deep breath while still looking at the card. Three times.

Place the card on the bottom of the pile in your lap and pick up the next card ‘Wealth.”

Breathe in “I am Wealthy.” Go through all twelve cards and you will be giving yourself ‘Spiritual Vitamins’ that will start to attract HEALTH, WEALTH, and HAPPINESS into your life.

How long will this take? Be patient and persist.

By: Ellis Peterson

A glass of fine red wine provides the classic accompaniment to a dinner at an upscale restaurant or a cozy supper at home with family and friends. But now, emerging research suggests that red wine might have health benefits to make it doubly welcome at the table.

However, the detrimental effects of excessive alcohol consumption are well known, and many people might avoid red wine because of concerns that the health risks associated with alcohol might outweigh red wine’s positive effects. In order to make a decision about whether drinking red wine is likely to contribute to your good health, there are a few basic facts that you should keep in mind.

The Pros And Cons Of Red Wine

Like any alcoholic beverage, red wine will become destructive to your health if consumed in excess. There are two major dangers associated with alcohol consumptions. The first is liver damage over time, which unfortunately is not a risk solely for people who drink in excess.

Individuals, who are on certain forms of prescription medication, or over-the-counter pain relievers, may be at risk for liver damage even if they drink in moderation. When considering whether red wine might be good for your health, be sure to talk to your doctor about any medications you may be taking and whether these will make you vulnerable to liver damage.

The other major risk is the danger associated with driving while intoxicated. Luckily, this danger is easy to avoid if you take some time to plan your evenings. A designated driver takes the risk out of evening get-togethers where a bottle of wine will be shared, and many people live within walking distance of excellent restaurants where a good glass of red wine can be enjoyed.

Taken in moderation, red wine has many benefits that far exceed the risks. For healthy individuals with no predisposition to liver problems, red wine is a source of abundant flavonoids, a type of antioxidant linked to a many indicators of good health.

Flavonoids have been particularly associated with good cardiovascular health and show the potential to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties.

These potential health benefits are the result of a compound called reservatrol, which can be found in the skins and seeds of red grapes. This compound puts red wine in a class of food sources of antioxidants, a group which also includes dark chocolate, green tea and citrus fruits.

When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of red wine, it is important to consider the fact that red wine’s benefits represent small amounts of protective and positive value over time.

Increasing the amount of red wine you drink will not increase the positive health outcomes associated with red wine and in fact would probably undermine any benefit that you might be receiving. While the dangers of liver damage and drunken driving are significant, there is also a slight elevation in the risk of breast cancer associated with alcohol consumption.

For this reason, many health experts advise women to drink no more than one alcoholic beverage per day and men to drink no more than two.

By: Jon Kelly

Craniosacral therapy (CST) was developed about 30 years ago by John Upledger, DO. Dr. Upledger originally studied the practice of cranial osteopathy, which was devised by William Sutherland, DO in the early twentieth century, but adapted it based on his own research and personal observation during his career as an osteopathic physician.

Craniosacral therapy is based on several theories. The first of these is that the bones of the skull do not fuse completely in early childhood as is usually believed. Also, in his early career Dr. Upledger observed, while assisting during a surgical procedure, that the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord – the meninges – actually move rhythmically. At first it was thought that this rhythm was due to the heartbeat, but Dr. Upledger discovered that the rhythm of the meninges is a different pattern from that of the heartbeat.

Craniosacral therapists are taught to detect and evaluate the movement of the meninges by just holding the head and the base of the spine – the sacrum – very still and focusing on what they feel with their fingers and hand. After the evaluation, it is possible to very slowly and gently “adjust” the bones of the skull, so that the cerebrospinal fluid – the fluid lining the brain and spinal cord – can flow more naturally.

Craniosacral therapy is used for a wide range of symptoms, including neck and low back pain, chronic fatigue, temporomandibular joint syndrome, fibromyalgia and even emotional issues like depression and anxiety. It is especially good for chronic conditions that may have a neurological component, like coordination problems, hyperactivity and learning disorders. It has even been used to treat autism; Dr. Upledger has found that the meninges of most autistic children are unusually tight and that it is possible to loosen them during a CST treatment.

Craniosacral therapy is performed with the client lying on a treatment table while the therapist holds the head and/or the sacrum. The therapist’s hands then move slightly as they do the needed adjusting. It may not feel like much is happening during the treatment; the therapist needs to maintain their concentration, so they don’t talk much and the client, because they are not moving much themselves, may fall asleep. The effects are subtle and it can take a lot of sensitivity to notice them at first.

And what are the effects? To begin with, the client may notice that they are calmer and can concentrate more easily. Their posture or coordination may improve and they may have less pain; perhaps that nagging headache they’ve had is now gone. Or maybe they feel more optimistic about life in general. The issues in their life that have been a source of anxiety no longer seem so challenging – or hard to get over. (Because it has such a wide range of benefits, CST can be used in conjunction with other therapies, including emotional treatment.)

Craniosacral therapy can help people of all ages, from infants to elders. About the only time it is definitely not recommended is when there is a high-risk condition located in or affecting the brain or spinal cord, like an aneurysm or intracranial hemorrhage. The craniosacral therapist will obtain a medical history and may consult with a physician or other practitioner before doing a treatment.

Craniosacral therapy can be practiced by massage therapists, but it is not massage. It can be done by osteopathic physicians, but it’s not an osteopathic adjustment. It takes special training to do this sort of work. But many people – practitioners and clients alike – swear by it and would never try anything else.

By: Michael Russell