S H A R I N G W E L L N E S S

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Cell Phone Use May Be RiskyAt the end of July, Dr. Ronald B. Huberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, issued a warning to his colleagues and staff about the safety issues regarding the use of cell phones. Dr. Huberman states that his warning was based on early findings from yet unpublished data. He states that "recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer." He goes on to say. “Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there is sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory and to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use." He says, that in this case, science takes too long and believes people should take action right away, especially where children are concerned. This warning falls rapidly on the heels of an advisory issued by the Toronto public health departments, which states that teenagers and young children limit their use of cell phones. Specifically this advisory, believed to be the

first of its kind in Canada, warns that because of possible side effects from radio frequencies, children under the age of eight should only use a cell phone in the event of an emergency and that teenagers limit calls to less than ten minutes.The University of Pittsburgh released this warning, in part, due to an international expert panel of pathologists, oncologists, and public health specialists who recently declared that the electromagnetic field emitted by cell phones should be considered a potential human health risk. France, Germany, and India have already issued recommendations to limit your exposure to electromagnetic fields. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer

has been gathering more definitive data but its publication has been delayed for over two years. Another bit of information contained in the University of Pittsburgh report was a photo showing a much higher absorption rate in a 5 and 10 year old’s brain versus an adult’s. The electromagnetic radiation almost goes all the way through the 5 year old brain. (see picture on following page).There are other studies which indicate that there is not a connection and to date the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not shown a great deal of concern. But after reading Dr. Mercola’s slant on this, one may have additional concerns. In his article he says that because there is so much money being made off cell phones that the telecommunication industry will do their best to “spread misdirection, spin, and outright lies” in order to protect their interests. He points out that many government agencies, who are there to protect the American public, have, in fact, entered into a mutually beneficial relationship with the businesses they are supposed to regulate. The telecommunication industry spends almost $250 million dollars a year to lobby Congress. Dr. Mercola goes on to say; “Folks, please understand – there are NO

Cell Phones May Be HarmfulResearchers issue warning on cell phone usage, especially for children and teens.

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Candidates and CAMWill CAM be part of the candidates Heathcare Agenda?

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Food for Thought✓Fishing for the Future✓Find Peace in Your DayHot off the Press✓Practitioners use of CAM on the rise✓LA and NYC fight obesity✓Web Firms Gather Data Without Permission

Legislative Issues✓Drug Companies spend the Most on Congress✓Small Herb Company Takes on FCC

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Medical Research✓Surgery Without External Incision✓Granite Countertops & Radon✓Life Insurance After Illness✓Rising Cost & What to do.✓Wine Reduces Toxins✓Anxiety & DNA✓Hospitals & Quiet TimePage 6

Thoughts on StressWords Of Wisdom on Stress Green News✓FDA OKs Radiating Leafy Vegetables✓Silence is GoldenQuick Tips✓Remove ink stains✓Save bananas✓Clean vasesPages 6-7

A Monthly Newsletter Issue 24 September 2008

Let yourself be open and life will be easier -- Buddha

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agencies “out there” protecting you from these dangers. No one’s looking out for your health, aside from the occasional brave scientist or physician who dares to rattle the status quo.Dr. Mercola further explains:“The FDA is Bought and Paid For -- In the United States there are no less than three regulatory agencies that arguably have jurisdiction over cell phones. The first is the FDA, which is responsible by law for regulating any device that emits radiation. But over the past few decades, a series of changes in government policy have for the most part prevented the FDA from being the watchdog organization it was designed to be; these days, it exists mostly to give an imprimatur of government approval to industrial products. Starting in the mid-1980’s, various industries lobbied Congress to pressure the FDA into speeding up the approval of new drugs and products. Congress was reluctant to pour more money into the organization, so instead they came up with a novel plan: creating a “partnership” between the FDA and the industries it was intended to regulate.Now, the FDA collects “user fees” from companies, which have grown to account for a significant chunk of the agency’s overall budget. In other words, the FDA now receives corporate sponsorship from the very industry that it aims to regulate. They have been transformed from a corporate watchdog into a customer of those same corporations. They do very little regulating as a result, since they want to keep their “partners” happy.The EPA is Now Powerless -- The EPA has responsibility for any building or factory that emits radiation into the environment, such as a cell phone tower. In the early 1990’s, they planned to start regulating these towers.But the vast telecommunications industry used its lobbying resources to get a highly self-serving provision inserted into the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Since 1996, a cell phone base station is defined as a radiation emitting “device” rather

than a building. Since they are now defined as devices, the EPA has lost its authority to regulate them.The FCC is Bought and Paid For, AND Has No Power! -- Another result of the Telecommunications Act was to put nearly all regulatory power over cell phones in the hands of the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC. But the FCC is charged only with overseeing the fair and equitable use of the electromagnetic spectrum. They are not a regulatory agency with regard to health, the environment, or consumer safety. They have no regulatory authority to protect you.Even if they could, they most likely wouldn’t; like the FDA, they are making a great deal of money off of their corporate “partners”. The supposedly “public” electromagnetic spectrum is auctioned off to companies by the FCC. What’s more, after the dot-com crash of the late 90’s, many technology companies who had purchased the wavelengths found themselves strapped for cash. They owed money to the FCC, and no longer had any way to pay it. So the FCC cut a deal: they took a small percentage of the owed money as a down payment, and then agreed to collect the rest as the cell phone companies earned money from consumers  Essentially, the FCC is a mortgage holder for the mobile phone industry.The FCC now actually has a vested interest in the rapid deployment of technology and build-up of the industry, so that they can collect the rest of their money. They are not going to make any efforts to block anything the industry wants. This is a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse.”Another researcher Dr. Vini Gautam Khurana, an Australian neurosurgeon trained at the Mayo Clinic, has spent 14 months researching the topic of cell phones and brain tumors. He released his results in February 2008, which gathered data from over 100 sources and came to the conclusion that the use of cell phones and WiFi is an emerging global public health

concern. In the context of the fact that widespread mobile phone usage commenced in the mid-1980s (earliest in Northern Europe), with the first 10 years of widespread usage ending in the mid 1990s, and the fact that solid tumors may take several years to trigger and form, it seems plausible to expect that if no appropriate changes are made by industry and consumers alike, in the next 5-10 years the aforementioned alarming associations will likely be definitively proven in medical literature. Given this calculated “incubation time” and the commencement of mobile telephony's mass deployment in Sweden, it is no surprise that Swedish researchers were among the first to report a positive associationbetween cell phone use and brain tumor risk. A 2007 Swedish meta-analysis of the international long-term follow up data confirms this growing concern. To see Dr. Khurana’s paper click on http://www.brain-surgery.us/mobph.pdf

The above thermographic images taken at the University of Calgary show cell phone radiation. Because there will be over 4 billion cell phones in use by the end of this year, it is very important for us to take what ever precautions necessary to protect ourselves and our families from unnecessary health risks. In Dr. Huberman’s warning, he included a ten

Penetration of Electromagnetic Radiation

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point list of practical advice to limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones. The list is as follows:1. Do not allow children to use a cell phone,

except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.

2. While communicating via your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one-fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet. Whenever possible, use the speakerphone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a hands-free earpiece attachment may also reduce exposure.

3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone's electromagnetic fields.

4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on "flight" or "off-line" mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.

5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, make sure that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside so that the transmitted electromagnetic fields move away from you rather than through you.

6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes, as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure. For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.

7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.

8. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum because the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.

9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.

10.Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available on the internet.

To see how your cell phone rates on the SAR list go to http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020355-1.html?tag=mncol;txt.Cell phones have become an integral part of most Americans’ everyday life, but if we realize just how much harm we may be doing to our brains and our bodies, it’s worth the time and effort to take the precautions necessary. There is still much data to be gathered but with the time span of 15-35 years needed to measure the full extent of the possible injury we may be causing ourselves, it seems only prudent to err on the side of caution and take whatever action we can to protect ourselves and our families from unwanted electromagnetic exposure.

The Candidates and CAM--Kim Deane, intern from Tai Sophia.With a tense and exciting primary season, the presidential race heated up a little early this year. We became steeped in rhetoric before the conventions that normally would’ve been reserved for the final stretches of the campaign. Early August saw the nation’s pundits boiling things down to “change” vs. “more of the same”. Digging into the fine print of the healthcare proposals of both John McCain and Barack Obama yields some expected differences, but as far as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is concerned, there is a lot left to be desired from both camps this election season.Disappointingly, the mention of complementary and alternative medicine is virtually nonexistent in the healthcare proposals of nominees Obama and McCain.

Indeed, the only CAM practice receiving any kind of support is chiropractic. Before Obama had become the democratic frontrunner,

both Hilary Clinton and John Edwards had issued statements indicating their support for doctors of chiropractic. Today, Barack Obama remains the only candidate to have responded to a 2008 Federal Election Candidate Questionnaire by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in which he outlines his support for the association’s members on several different healthcare fronts. In a separate statement to the ACA, he notes the need to “shift our health care delivery system towards a culture of wellness and disease

prevention”. Obama’s platform for healthcare overhaul indicates that he supports “evidence-based” protocols, which differs slightly from McCain’s interest in having “federal research” related to “science-based care and cure of chronic diseases”. Beyond these points, there is no further mention of any complementary care in either proposal.We are living at a time in the modern age when CAM practices have never been more acceptable. Acupuncturists are reporting that many of their new patients are coming for treatment as a first-resort, instead of the usual “I’ve tried all the conventional medicine and none of it is working” they’ve heard for years. There was an acupuncture pavilion in the Olympic Village in Beijing. Even Oprah tried acupuncture, on national television no less, for the first time this year, and her resident health guru Dr. Mehmet Oz is a proponent.Acupuncturists now number around 30,000 in the US, and massage therapists are 250,000 strong. In contrast, there are about 70,000 chiropractors. So what gives the chiropractors their apparent advantage in the political arena? In a word – lobbying. The ACA is the only integrative medical association to have bought themselves a seat at the table where the game is being played: they have both an active congressional lobbying presence and a political action committee (PAC) donating to support their cause. Without these, members of the CAM camp, and their clients, will likely be left out of any meaningful discussions that could advance their cause and earn them greater legitimacy. It’s a legitimacy that has already been granted at the grass-roots level.A poll conducted by CodeBlueNow!, in conjunction with the Gilmore Research Group, asked voters in traditionally conservative Iowa and traditionally more liberal Washington state whether “basic healthcare benefits should include coverage for any licensed healthcare professional.” An overwhelming majority of those polled from both states – 75%, agreed*. Taken alongside what the candidates are recommending for healthcare reform, the fact that it seems like many Americans want coverage that isn’t even on the table as possible is a frustrating scenario. The bright side, though, is that the trend toward folks discovering complementary medicine has developed despite the fact that insurance coverage for such care isn’t the norm. If real change always starts with the ordinary person then in this case, we’re already ahead. *For full poll results go to www.codebluenow.org.

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Food for ThoughtFishing for the FutureWays You Can Make A DifferenceBased on Jennifer Smith’s article in the Moloka’i Dispatch, July 30, 2008Moloka’i is the most “natural” as in native Hawaiian of the inhabited Hawaiian islands. The population is still low, tourism is still having a minor impact on the island compared to the other islands, and native Hawaiians are fiercely proud of the relative “purity” of the island from a native’s perspective. These same traits make it difficult to fund some of the native restoration efforts.We thought our readers might be interested in helping fund the restoration of some of the ancient fishponds--and in so doing, help restore some of the ancient Hawaiian culture.For centuries, ancient Hawaiians looked to loko i`a, fishponds, for nourishment and livelihood; today, groups throughout the islands are turning to past knowledge in the hopes of reviving this rich cultural resource.Molokai alone hosts over 60 fishponds, which are among Hawaii’s greatest engineering achievements. The semi-circular walls of the ponds are meant to keep fish in, while allowing seawater to circulate. Unfortunately a lack of fresh water, an abundance of invasive mangrove and sea life, sedimentation from eroding uplands, and a lack of community involvement have caused Molokai’s fishponds to fall into a state of disrepair.

Luckily, dedicated konohiki (caretakers), such as Uncle Leimana are teaching local keiki (children) about marine life at KahinaPohaku. The

picture is of Uncle Leimana with the keiki and was taken by Petra Gabriela Wegmann, a woman who travels between her home in Germany and her adopted home of Moloka’i to work with Uncle Leimana and other volunteers from the Friendly Isle who believe in the future of the fishponds and put in the hard work to revive what was once one of the island’s most thriving resources.Today’s konohiki are working to do more than repair walls. The restoration effort involves such things as educating the island’s youth, creating culture-based experiences, supporting responsible tourism, and promoting sustainability. While the ponds may never produce the abundance of fish they once did, community support is redefining Molokai’s loko i`a as epicenters for education, culture, and fellowship.

KahinPohaku is not the biggest fishpond on the island but it is certainly one of the most visible. This four-acre fishpond is located at the 19-and-a-half mile maker on the East End of Moloka’i. Passersby could probably recognize the pond from the highway by its outrigger canoe, surrounding coconut shacks, and breathtaking view of Maui.Literally translated, Kahinapohaku means Hina’s Rock; in Hawaiian culture Hina is regarded as the mother of Moloka’i. But caretaker, Leimana Raymond Naki, said the fishpond has a deeper physical and spiritual meaning. “It is a place where the rocks support each other,” under the water and above the water, Naki said. Uncle Leimana would know the true meaning of KahinaPohaku since he has been involved with the fishpond for nearly ten years and has dedicated himself to living there full time for the past three years. He and his ohana (family) gave up the comforts of electricity and running water to caretake the area and ensure its revitalization.Revitalization and restoration are understatements to describe what needs to be done for the fishpond, according to Uncle Leimana, who explained that it is not just a “project.”“By having Kahinapohaku it gives pride in our culture,” he said. “Our ancestors, our enemies, our neighbors ate from here.” However, today Naki said the fishpond is hurting. Contrary to what some may think, the Naki `ohana does not fish from KahinaPohaku. “Right now no one should be taking fish from the pond.”Kahinapohaku’s broken walls have prevented her from healing and replenishing the fish communities, according to Naki. “When the walls go up, the fish goes in,” he said. And it is with this belief that he continues trying to find the means to get the walls back up.It would take several months for a dedicated group of hard workers to get the wall back up, Naki said. He is looking for grants that would allow him to pay workers to come to the pond, but continues to thank the efforts of local volunteers. “You need the community support to take care of a fishpond this big,” he said. “For the past 10 years the community has come time and time again … my heart goes to those who come and work.”Education is the other aspect of Uncle Leimana’s plan for fishpond restoration. He regularly holds workshops at Kahinapohaku for local children, clubs, and the occasional island visitors. “Education is the key,” Naki said. He provides workshops on everything from traditional ways of laying net, to hula, music, and mo`olelo. While his services are open to anyone on the island, the kids keep

him going. “They give me the strength,” he said.For the past 2.5 years, Petra Gabriela Wegmann, a German transplant, has been bringing German tour groups and others, working side by side with the Naki ohana to promote the fishpond restoration.From attending a workshop in Munich that was being given by Maori and Hawaiian women a few years ago and being told, “It is time for you to come home to Hawaii,” Petra now knows more Hawaiian songs than German. She helps Uncle Leimana run workshops and teach the importance of revitalizing KahinaPohaku. She is passionate about the fishponds’ ability to educate children in ways that traditional classrooms cannot. The teaching duo encourages teachers to bring their students to the pond. "My classroom is round and it is an open space, they are not confined here," Naki said. “Some children don't belong in a box, in the classroom." Having never seen kids “so happy,” Wegmann said many don’t want to leave at theend of the day. “They can’t believe it’s really a school class.” Even when Naki is teaching about the fish in the fishpond, he makes sure to get the fish from elsewhere. “I fish outside because I respect the inside of this fishpond.”"To me we struggled as a Hawaiian people," Naki said. He described how the kanaka maoli (real people) suffered a great loss when they became a state. He said they lost their hula, music, `olelo, and were forbidden to speak their native language. Today Naki sees his continued hard work in the fishpond as a type of therapy, a reminder of his struggles as a youth. He said whether it is a fishpond or a taro patch, it is a way for the people to connect back to their culture."This is the path I needed to take to understand my people," he said, looking out at the cool water and warm stones of the breathtaking fishpond. “It is like starting over… it’s going to be hard, but we gonna’ make it.”“There will be fish … fish to provide for community and our families,” Naki said. “What we have here is real … the resources are real.”Should you wish to support this effort to restore the fishponds, you can send a contribution to:Raymond and Elano NakiP.O. Box 773Kaunakakai, HI 96748This is not yet a tax-exempt or non-profit undertaking so contributions would not likely be tax deductible.For ongoing information, you can go to

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www.alohacoaching.de and by following the English pages, read more about Petra Wegmann’s adventures with her Moloka’i ohana and the fishpond restoration.Find Peace in Your DayFor the past 20 years Martin Gray has taken photographs of more than 1,000 sacred sites. To find some stillness and quiet in your day while appreciating the sacred, go to www.sacredsites.com or www.ode.com and do a search for “Martin Gray.”

Hot Off The PressCAM on the Rise with PractitionersFrom the Health Freedom.netA survey done by Jackson and Cooper called “Heathcare Providers’ Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM),” was sent out to thousands of physicians with approximately 300 responding. The survey indicated that a significant number of healthcare providers are using some form of CAM to improve their own well-being or have included it in their patient care. The types of alternative care most familiar to those taking the survey were herbal medicine, massage, reflexology, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, chiropractic, and acupuncture treatments. Additional treatments which where included to a lesser degree were hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, Tai Chi, and Ayurvedic Medicine. The CAM practices were used most often in the areas of stress management, improvements of general health, pain management, improving mental alertness, and weight reduction. But also controlling diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension saw improvement.One very interesting result of the survey was that 62% of the practitioners responding do not think that insurance companies will broaden their scope of coverage to complementary and alternative medicine even if the treatments become more accepted. Most participating felt that there is a greater need for practitioners to receive more extensive training and education in the area of Integrative Medicine. For the full survey go to http://www.jacksoncoker.com/newsletter/Surveys/CAM.aspxLos Angeles and New York City Take Action Against Obesity From ReutersThe Los Angeles City Council voted to put a one year ban on new fast food restaurants in

the cities poorest areas in an effort to fight raising obesity rates. The unanimous vote was a result of a year’s worth of research which found

that 30% of the children living in communities in South LA are obese as compared to 21 % in the rest of the city. They are hoping this will encourage more grocery and fresh food stores to open.On July 18th, a ruling made earlier in the year went into effect in New York City. All chain restaurants are required to post calorie information on their menus. NYC is the first city to pass this ruling, but many other cities will soon follow. Over 2,000 restaurants are being affected by this ruling including McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and Subway. Health Inspectors can assess fines as high as $2,000.00 for not being in compliance. One study showed that 30% of New Yorkers consumed over 1,000 calories at lunch each day. Officials hope this new ruling could prevent at least 150,000 New Yorkers from becoming obese.Web Firms Gather Data Without Consent From the Washington Post 8/12/2008 A number of web companies, Google and Yahoo included, reported to Congress that they are using targeted-advertising technology without explicitly informing their customers. Google indicated that they have been using Internet tracking technology for a number of years, which more precisely follows web-surfing behaviors. Basically, this means that every time you double click while surfing the net, it is being tracked, recorded, and, in some cases, the accrued data sold to third parties without your consent. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is looking into legislation to protect our privacy. For the whole article go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102270.html

Legislative IssuesDrug Lobbyists Spend the Most to Influence CongressFrom the Center for Public IntegrityThe Center for Public Integrity (CPI) released a new report with an analysis of the federal lobbying data for 2007. Industries and special interest groups spent over $17 million for every day that Congress was in session with the drug industry leading the spending. The

report indicated that the pharmaceutical industry spent $168 million in 2007, a 32% increase from the previous year. This increase means that the amount spent by drug interests on federal lobbying in the last ten years is in excess of $1 billion. In 2007, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, trade association for the drug companies, was the largest spender at over $22.7 million. In 1992, there were approximately 675 lobbyists; now, there are over 1,274 working on behalf of the drug industry. To see the full report go to http://projects.publicintegrity.org/rx/report.aspx?aid=985. The American Association for Health Freedom who works tirelessly to make sure that our individual consumer rights are not taken away and that industries such as Big. Pharma are held accountable can’t begin to compete monetarily, but they can support us to take action and to be better informed. To find out what you can do to help, or to be on their action list contact www.healthfreedom.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=49

Herb Company Fights FTCFrom the Health Freedon.netNative Essence Herb Company is suing the Federal Trade Commission saying the FTC is in violation of the company’s First Amendment rights by not letting them print the historical use of herbs in treating serious disease. Richard A. Jaffee, Esq., the attorney representing Native Essence Herb Company, says, “Herb sellers should be able to tell consumers that an herb has a long historical use to treat a disease…and that the FTC’s prohibition of this kind of truthful information is unreasonable and unconstitutional.”Despite the fact that the FTC had received no complaints about Native Essence, in April they told the New Mexico herb company that they must remove the data on herbs on their website saying it contained false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims, which included their claim that some of the herbs had been used for thousands of years by Native American and other cultures. Much of the historical information contained on Native Essence’s website was procured from government data. Mark and Marianne Hershiser, the owners of Native Essence, did remove the data from their site but decided to file suit to overturn the FTC advertising guidelines. Their wish is to get a judgment which will allow them and all other herb sellers to provide the consumer with historical information found on government websites and other recognized legitimate sources. Native Essence Herb company is a very small business taking on a giant. Their battle is our battle with regard to freedom of information. If you would like to support them in anyway, click on http://www.herbalinformation.com/main.html

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T H O U G H T S O N S T R E S S From the Internet, passed along by Laura Abramson, Reiki practitioner, for our readers.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a  glass of water and asked "How heavy is this glass of water?"Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.”"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.""So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."“So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.”Some great ways to deal with the burdens of life:

- Accept that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.

- Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

- Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

- It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

- Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

- The second mouse gets the cheese.

- Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

- Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.

- We could learn a lot from crayons...some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

- Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

- A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

- Drive carefully--it’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

Medical ResearchNew Technique Allows Surgery Without External IncisionFrom the U.S.News & World Report Aug. 8, 2008 Surgeons at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center performed the first Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery(NOTES) in the United States to remove a gallbladder without making any external incisions. This surgery involved the insertion of an endoscope through a small incision, about 1 inch in size, behind the uterus and into the body cavity of the patient. The surgeons were then able to detach the gallbladder and remove it through the small incision. This NOTES procedure is part of an on going clinical trial and has been in research for over 15 years. It has a number of advantages over traditional endoscopic surgery such as less pain, lower risk factors, less scaring and a quicker recovery time. A similar operation was performed in 2007 but the surgeons removed the gallbladder through the uterus and it required numerous internal incisions. Going through the uterus, versus the abdominal wall, also is less painful and allows for a quicker recovery. Researchers are hoping to perform other surgeries using this NOTES procedure such as appendix removal and abdominal exploration as well as biopsies. The NOTES procedure was developed in the United States at Johns Hopkins University but was first performed by surgeons in India and Brazil.Are your Granite Countertops Hot??From the New York Times July 28, 2008 and Dr.Mercola.comA recent article in the New York Times alerted us to the issue of radon and radiation in

granite countertops. This is not the first time this issue has been raised but recently the EPA has been getting an increase in the number of calls from radon inspectors,

reporting radiation measurements well above the accepted background levels and asking questions regarding safety issues concerning this very common building material. In fact, the use of granite for kitchen countertops is up tenfold in the last decade. As the increase for granite has grown more sources have been needed. One distributor indicated they have over 900 varieties of granite from over 63 countries. With the increase in more exotic types of granite there have been reports of more “hot” or potentially hazardous countertops being found, particularly granite slabs being mined in Brazil and Namibia. The New York Times articles described a situation

where the countertop measured over 100 times above the acceptable ambient radon level. Dr. Mercola says in his newsletter that “he believes it’s safe to say that not all granite emit dangerous levels of radiation, and you’re more likely to have high radon levels in your home due to radon in your water, than due to your spiffy countertops. Luminous watches and smoke detectors are other sources of radon emissions that could be greater than that of your average granite countertop.” But the most important thing to do is to test for Radon and radiation levels in your existing countertops or the specific sheet of granite before you have it installed if you have any concerns. The EPA says homeowners should take action if their radon gas level in the homes exceeds 4 picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactive emissions), which equates the same risk for cancer as smoking ½ pack of cigarettes per day.Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It’s most dangerous for those with compromised lung capacity, children and developing fetuses. Radon is a natural, radioactive gas that comes from the earth. Soil and rocks contain uranium and when it decays it produces radium, which in turn gives off radon. It naturally dissipates into the air. The problem is when it comes into ones home usually in the basement area and accumulates. David J. Brenner, Director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University, told the New York Times that the risk of getting cancer from a granite countertop in one in a million, but he sees the validity of using another product or checking the radon levels before using granite. Lou Witt, a program analyst with the EPA’s Indoor Environment Division, said the agency is not studying health risks associated with granite countertops because of a “lack of resources.” Researchers at Rice University in Texas and the state of New York are currently studying granite countertops. The Marble Institute of America plans to develop a testing protocol for granite. If you want to get your home tested to find a certified technician your can contact the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (www.aarst.org). Testing costs between $100 and $300. Do it yourself kits can be gotten at the EPA website www.epa.gov/radon as well as from state and local officials. Kits that test for radon, not radiation cost $20.00 to $30.00 and are available at hardware stores.Life Insurance After IllnessFrom Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, Summer 2008 Apparently, some life insurance companies arereconsidering their eligibility rules so if you’ve had cancer or other illness that has precluded you from being able to obtain life insurance, you may wish to do some further research. Hartford and Empire General are two

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companies cited in the article. It also cites AccuQuote as a brokerage that works with dozens of insurance companies. There are still a lot of rules around what kind of cancer, what stage of cancer, how long you’ve been healthy; and the same kinds of issues for other conditions, so there will not be coverage for everyone.Rising CostsFrom Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, Summer 2008Hospital care costs 38.4% more than it did 5 years ago according to the 2007 Annual Report on Medical Care Inflation. The rate varied widely across the U.S., from 31.7% inflation in Cincinnati to 16.6% in Kansas City. Dental care costs are up by 26.7% and prescription drugs by 20.9%.Cutting CostsFrom Medco Health SolutionsThis pharmacy-benefit manager offers a free consumer guide, Prescription for a Healthy Nest Egg: Half a Dozen Ways to Lower Your Drug Costs and Stretch Your Retirement Dollar. Download it at www.medicareadviser.com or mail a postcard with your request and return address to Prescription for a Healthy Nest Egg, P.O. Box 8007, Parsippany, NJ 07054-8007.

Medicine with a Fine BouquetFrom The Week, July 25, 2008Scientists at Hebrew University in Jerusalem fed some rats ground meat and fed others the same ground meat infused with red wine extract. Subsequently, the wine-dosed rats showed lower levels of the fat-derived toxins. This study seems to help explain the so-called French paradox--the relatively low heart disease rate among wine-drinking French people despite diets high in cheese, butter, meat, and other forms of fat. The reason may be that the toxic chemicals released when digesting the fats of beef and turkey may be neutralized by antioxidants present in red wine called polyphenols.

Anxiety = Hyper-vigilanceFrom The Week, July 25, 2008Dr. Ned Kalin has reported that research with rhesus monkeys shows anxiety to be very different from depression. Anxiety is not cyclical but appears to be a result of a personality trait denoted by hyper-vigilance and constant worrying. Some of the monkeys routinely produced more stress hormones than the other monkeys even when they were in safe, non-threatening situations. Brain scans revealed an unusual level of activity in the amygdala (brain region that regulates emotion and reactions to stress triggers). This research seems to show that the brain machinery underlying the stress response is always on in these individuals--even when others perceive themselves to be safe and secure. This, and the close parallel of the rhesus monkey to human

biology has led researchers to believe that some people are biologically predisposed to be anxious.Quiet Time on Hospital WardsOde Magazine, July/August 2008Some hospitals are experimenting with having a “quiet hour” to give patients and staff a break from the usual bustle of noisy activity. In some hospitals, they are piping in soothing music during the hour. In some, they are closing unit doors, patient doors, dimming lights, muting cell phones and pages, posting signs for “quiet time,” oiling IV poles and other equipment so they don’t squeak. Both patients and staff report valuing the quiet time.

Green NewsFDA Approves the Irradiation of Green Leafy VegetablesFrom USA Today 8/21/08 & organicconsumers.org Effective Friday August 22, 2008 the FDA has approved food producers to begin irradiating spinach and iceberg lettuce in amounts high enough to kill E. coli and other dangerous germs. The Food and Drug Administration said the radiation treatment would also make the green leafy vegetables last longer and give them a greater shelf life. This action comes two years after the E coli outbreak, which was linked, to contaminated spinach. Brian Kennedy a spokesman for the Grocery Manufactures Association (GMA) indicated with the recent outbreak of salmonella found on hot peppers from Mexico, the FDA wanted to fast track an important tool to help the industry improve safety of fresh produce. Food producers have been irradiating meat, particularly ground beef, poultry, shellfish and spices for a number of years. The FDA’s review on other food being considered for irradiation is ongoing.The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has some concern about this new ruling. It sent the FDA a petition back in 2006 urging the FDA to adopt a series of preventive measures starting at the farm. Some were common sense measures like:1. Farmers and processors should be required to keep a written food safety plan specific to the environmental conditions on that particular farm.2. FDA should develop uniform standards to evaluate those plans, for water quality, worker sanitation, and manure use and management.3. Written plans should be audited once per season, either by FDA or a 3rd party auditor (whose audits should be reviewed by FDA).The CSPI also feels that the FDA should require the spinach and lettuce be clearly marked with the radura symbol shown in this article and the words "treated with

irradiation.” They believe consumers have the right to know and be able to make choices to avoid these foods. The Organic Consumers Association states on its website -- that irradiated fruits and vegetables benefit

the packers and the grocer, not the farmer or the consumer. The consumer receives an inferior product that appears fresh, but has depleted vitamins and enzymes. They further state that irradiated ingredients and foods are prohibited by the USDA's National Organic Standards. To check the full story go to www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_14271.cfm

Listening Is WorshipFrom Diane Daniel’s article in ODE Magazine, July/August 2008Gordon Hempton is working to save the sounds of silence in Olympic National Park, Washington State’s rain forest--one square inch at a time. He is working to preserve only natural sounds and eliminate mechanical noise from the UNESCO World Heritage Site which is also an International Biosphere Reserve and a wilderness area.Gordon is a professional natural-sound documentarian, audio ecologist, and one of the world’s top sound recordists. Watch for his next published work in the spring of 2009 when Simon and Schuster’s Free Press will publish his book, One Square Inch of Silence: One Man’s Quest to Save Silence in a Noisy World. The co-author is journalist, John Grossmann.

Quick TipsInk Stains. Remove ink stains from carpet using 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol (70% strength also works but 90% is better). Apply to a white cotton cloth and dab stain carefully--you don’t want to spread the ink. Suck it out with a wet/dry shop vacuum or blot carefully with a dry cloth. Don’t rub! Repeat steps until ink is removed. May not remove the stain completely. Most effective when used soon after the stain occurs.

Save your bananas! Take them apart when you bring them home, they will not ripen as fast.

Clean Vases. Fill your vase and drop in 2 Alka-Seltzer tablets. Swish, rinse, and it should be free of stains.

* * * * *There isn't anything that I cannot be or do or have, and I have a huge Nonphysical staff that's ready to assist me, and I'm ready.

--Abraham-Hicks 01/12/07 Boca Raton

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