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Healthy Tips

Heart Disease Risk Factor Is Depression

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The power of your mind over your heart.
In one of the strongest indications of the power of the mind to influence the body, a growing collection of evidence finds that people who are depressed have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease…..click & see

In a study of almost 3,000 men and 5,000 women, depressed men were 70 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who weren’t depressed. While depressed women were just 12 percent more likely to develop heart disease overall, those who were severely depressed were 78 percent more likely. In fact, a 1998 study found that women who are depressed have a risk of dying from heart disease equal to that of women who smoke or who have high blood pressure.

The link works the other way around, too: While about 1 in 20 American adults experience major depression in a given year, that number jumps to about one in three among those who have survived a heart attack.

The more severe the depression, the more dangerous it is to your health. But some studies suggest that even mild depression, including feelings of hopelessness experienced over many years, may damage the heart. Other studies suggest depression may affect how well heart disease medications work.

Researchers aren’t sure what the connection between depression and heart disease is, but theories abound. One is that people who are depressed tend not to take very good care of themselves. They’re more likely to eat high-fat, high-calorie “comfort” foods, less likely to exercise, and more likely to smoke. But beyond lifestyle, there is probably also a physiological link between depression and heart disease. Recent studies found that people with severe depression tended to have a deficiency of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. People who are depressed also often have chronically elevated levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These keep the body primed for fight or flight, raising blood pressure and prompting the heart to beat faster, all of which put additional stress on coronary arteries and interfere with the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

A whole branch of medicine is devoted to the complex links between mental health, the nervous system, the hormone system, and the immune system. Called psychoneuroimmunology, this science is gradually sorting out how the mind-body connection affects our vulnerability to, or defense against, heart disease.

Overall, an estimated 10 percent of American adults experience some form of depression every year. Although available therapies can alleviate symptoms in more than 80 percent of people treated, less than half of those with depression get the help they need.

Quick Tips:

Get regular, moderate exercise. A 1999 study conducted at the Duke University School of Medicine found that exercising 30 minutes a day, three days a week, was just as beneficial in treating depression as medication alone.

Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids (from food and fish-oil supplements).

Take B vitamins, which are beneficial in preventing depression.

Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates. These foods help increase serotonin levels, a brain chemical that relieves a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

From : Cut Your Cholesterol

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Categories
Environmental Pollution

Tree planting, worm farming on World Environment Day

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Worldwide Pollution
Every day, earth becomes more and more polluted. Air pollution fills our lungs with deadly substances. Water pollution is rapidly eradicating what little freshwater we have left. Land pollution is causing once-fertile lands to become little more than deserts. While many solutions have been offered, NONE are successful. But there is hope! A REAL solution exists   overlooked by environmentalists, government agencies and scientists!

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This AND SEVERAL OTHER EMISSIONS HAVE POLLUTED THE EARTH

– Worries about global warming have increased around the world this year and many people want more government action to slow climate change, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Sixteen percent of more than 26,000 Internet users in 47 nations surveyed in March said climate change was a “major concern” against just 7 percent in a survey in October, according to the report by the Nielsen Company and Oxford University.

U.N. reports blaming human emissions from burning fossil fuels for warming that could lead to more heatwaves, desertification, floods and rising sea levels had apparently spurred concerns and far more media coverage

In the survey, about 40 percent of those expressing concern wanted governments to restrict companies’ emissions of greenhouse gases and wanted more investment in low-emission cars, houses and renewable energy.

Thirty-one percent thought people should recycle more. But only 3 percent said people should reduce air travel.

People in Switzerland, France, Australia and Canada were most worried about climate change, with more than 30 percent rating it among their top two concerns alongside issues such as the economy, health and job security.

The Group of Eight industrialized nations will meet in Germany for a summit from June 6-8. Among G8 nations, people in Russia and the United States were least concerned by warming.

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Australian protesters held a “picnic rally” against the logging of native forests while hundreds of Indian policemen swapped guns for spades to plant trees on Tuesday to highlight World Environment Day.

Across Asia, people learned about worm farming and composting, listened to lectures about renewable energy and cutting carbon emissions, while school children took part in plays and painting competitions.

Catholic nuns plant trees in a field, symbolising a deforested area, during a program to mark the World Environment Day in Manila June 5, 2007.

 

A woman dances in a field, symbolising a deforested area, during a program to mark the World Environment Day in Manila June 5, 2007.

More than 50 people halted logging operations in the southern Australian state of Victoria, calling for an end to native forest logging, the Wilderness Society said.

“Trees are giant carbon pumps, sucking carbon from the air and pumping it into the ground, trunks and branches. To protect us from the impacts of dangerous climate change, this destruction must stop,” said Luke Chamberlain, a campaigner for the society.

Hundreds of policemen India’s western state of Gujarat pledged to turn barren areas into fruit orchards by planting mango and guava trees.

“We will keep our gun and baton aside and pick up a spade to plant trees all around our offices,” said Sujata Solanki Majumdar, a senior police officer in Gandhinagar, the state capital. “If the cops go green, then the people will follow too.”

In Vadodara in central Gujarat, housewife Savita Dabhi sat outside her home, cooking a four-course meal for her family and friends on a solar cooker to promote the benefits of renewable energy.

TOP ISSUE
Global concern about climate change has risen dramatically over the last six months and consumers increasingly expect their governments to act, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

The survey by the Nielsen Company and Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, found 42 percent of global online consumers believe governments should restrict companies’ emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

A G8 summit of rich nations this week could pave the way for a world deal on how to tackle global warming.

Rich nations and major developing nations such as China, India and Brazil are under pressure to agree targets to cut emissions and to start talks on shaping the next phase of the U.N. Kyoto Protocol climate pact, which runs out in 2012.

This year’s World Environment Day focuses on the theme “Melting Ice — a Hot Topic?” to complement International Polar Year 2007.

The United Nations said subtropical Vietnam, which has a 3,200-km (2,000-mile) coastline, could be one of the worst-hit countries if sea levels continue to rise at current rates.

In the central coastal city of Danang, members of the Youth Union planted trees and picked up rubbish from beaches. The government chose the city for the day’s events because of an increase in the frequency of typhoons and floods in the region.

The United Nations Development Programme said on Tuesday that if global sea levels rose by one meter, Vietnam would face losses of $17 billion per year, one-fifth of the population would lose their homes, 12.2 percent of the most fertile land could be lost and the southern Mekong Delta would have unprecedented flooding.

China, one of the biggest polluters and facing public anger over foul air and water, said on Tuesday it had slowed, but not reversed, a rising tide of pollution from frenetic industrialization. China is the world’s largest emitter of sulphur dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels and smelting and causes acid rain.

About 100 environmentalists gathered in a city park of Banda Aceh, capital of Indonesia’s Aceh province, to show their support for a logging moratorium that will be announced on Wednesday by the provincial governor

Wearing T-shirts saying “Save the forest with your hands, support the logging moratorium”, the activists formed a human chain around 500 tree stumps made of papier-mache and held a minute’s silence.

Source:http://today.reuters.com/news

Categories
News on Health & Science

Misery is the secret to happiness

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The key to a happy relationship could be accepting that some miserable times are unavoidable, experts say. Therapists from California State University, Northridge and Virginia Tech say accepting these problems is better than striving for perfection.

And they blame cultural fairytales and modern love stories for perpetuating the myth that enjoying a perfect relationship is possible. The report was published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

The authors, Diane Gehart and Eric McCollum say it is a “myth that, with enough effort we can achieve a state without suffering.” And they say healthcare professionals may not be helping the situation. “The field of mental health perpetuates this myth with the very concept of ‘mental health’, which implies a state without suffering,” they say.

But this belief can eventually cause people to believe that with enough effort they can eliminate suffering. And experts say this is an unrealistic aim in relationships, and striving to achieve it can lead people to feel they have failed.

Jan Parker of the Association of Family Therapy said: “The authors are right to point out that the pursuit of relationship nirvana can be potentially damaging.”

She said it was important to explore what people mean by a happy and healthy relationship, because nobody’s life or relationship can be in a permanent state of happiness—there will always be more difficult times.

She said couples need to build strengths, such as understanding, in their relationships to help them cope in these hard times and appreciate the good times.

Nadine Field, a consultant psychologist, said it was a “fantasy” that any relationship could be perfect and that striving for such an impossible state could lead to bitter disappointment.

She said this disappointment could then cause people to focus on the negative aspects of a relationship, and lead to more disappointment and resentment.

She said: “People need to try to understand their partners through communication, rather than demanding perfection of them.”

The authors recommend using mindfulness, a Buddhist meditation technique, to help cope with family suffering.
The technique requires individuals to focus on their present thoughts and actions, and is already used by some psychiatrists in the UK.

They say although Buddhism is considered a major religion, the technique is taken from Buddhist psychology which could be useful aside from Buddhism’s spiritual beliefs and practices.

The authors say family therapists can integrate the principles into their work to help patients change the way they relate to the forms of suffering that can occur in intimate relationships, such as abuse, divorce, rejection, and loss.

Source:The Times Of India

Categories
Herbs & Plants

Indian Mallow

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Botanical Name: Abutilan Indicum.
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Abutilon
Species: A. indicum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malvales

Synonyms: Sida indica, Sida grandiflora, Abutilon graveolens, Sida rhombifolia

Common Names : Indian Abutilon, Indian Mallow

Vernacular Names:
Kanghi, Kangahi, Kakihiya, Kakahi, Nusht-ul-ghoul, Darakht-e-shaan (Unani); Thuthi (Siddha); Coongoonie (Hindi); Petaree (Bengali); Perin-tutte (Tamil); Nugubenda (Telagu) Thama-khyoke (Burmese); Anda (Cinghalese)
Sanskrit name: Atibalaa
Telugu name: Duvvena Kayalu “duvvena benda”

Nepal: Poti (Majhi); Kangiyo (Nepali)

China: Dong Kui Zi, Mi Lan Cao

Malaysia: Kembang Lohor

English: Country Mallow, Flowering Maples, Chinese Bell-flowers
Atibala, Kankatikaa, Rishyaproktaa, Vaatyaayani, Vaatyapushpi, Valikaa, Bhaaedwai, Uraksha gandhini, Naagbala, Vishvadevaa, Gavedhuka (Ayurvedic);

Habitat : Abutilan Indicum is native to tropic and subtropical regions. Present in sub-himalayan tract and hills upto 1,200 m and in hotter parts of india. It also occurs within parts of the Great Barrier Reef islands of the Coral Sea.

Description:
Abutilan Indicum is an annual shrub that can grow up to 2m high. It is an erect wood plant with velvet-like heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are stalked measuring 2.5-10cm long with 2-7.5cm wide, ovate or orbiculate to cordate, irregularly crenate or dentate, acuminated, minutely hoary tomentose on both surfaces. The flowers are orange-yellow in colour, solitary, axillary and bloom in the evening, with 4 cm diameter, maturing into button-shaped seed pods.The fruiting carpels 15-20 in number, flat-topped, forming a head, measuring 2-2.5cm across, black and hairy. The fruits are hispid, scarcely longer than the calyx and the awns are erect. The seeds are three to five in number, kidney-shaped, dark brown or black in colour, tubercled or with minutely stellate hairs.

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.The plant is covered with an aromatic oily substance.This oil coating is pronounced in well grown plants. Its bark,roots, leaves and seeds are all used in medicine.The plant contains an alkaloids asparagin.

Cultivation and uses:

Velvet leaf has been grown in China since around 2000 BCE for its strong, jute-like fibre. The seeds are eaten in China and Kashmir in India.

Velvet leaf grows primarily in cropland, especially corn fields, and it can also be found on roadsides and in gardens . Velvet leaf prefers rich and cultivated soils, such as those used in agriculture.

After being introduced to North America in the 1700s, velvetleaf has become an invasive species in agricultural regions of the eastern and midwestern United States. It is one of the most detrimental weeds to corn, costing hundreds of millions of dollars per year in control and damage. Velvetleaf is an extremely competitive plant, so much so that it can steal nutrients and water away from crops.

The roots and the bark of the plant increases the secretion and discharge of urin, besides providing to be pulmonary sedative.The herb is laxtative and tonic. It promotes libido and is useful in relieving feverishness and producing a feeling of coolness.

Chemical Constituents:

Gallic acid, asparagine, fructose, galactose, glucose, beta-sitosterone, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, fumaric acid, p-beta-D-glycosyloxybenzoic acid, leucine, histidine, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and galacturonic acid, alantolactone, isoalantolactone, threonine, glutamine, serine, proline, glycine, alanine, cycteine, methionine, isoleucine, valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, lysine, arginine.

Medicinal uses:

Used in much the same way as marsh mallow as a demulcent.  The root and bark of Indian mallow are mucilaginous and are used to soothe and protect the mucous membranes of the respiratory and urinary systems.  A decoction of the root is given for chest conditions such as bronchitis.  The mucilaginous effect benefits the skin; an infusion, poultice, or paste made from the powdered root or bark is applied to wounds and used for conditions such as boils and ulcers.  The seeds are laxative and useful in killing threadworms, if the rectum of the affected child be exposed to the smoke of the powdered seeds (Herbs that Heal, H.K Bakhru, 1992)  The plant has an antiseptic effect within the urinary tract and can be used to treat and can be used to treat infections.

Traditional medicine:
In traditional medicine, A. indicum various parts of the plant are used as a demulcent, aphrodisiac, laxative, diuretic, sedative, astringent, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and analgesic and to treat leprosy, ulcers, headaches, gonorrhea, and bladder infection. The whole plant is uprooted, dried and is powdered. In ancient days, maidens were made to consume a spoonful of this powder with a spoonful of honey, once in a day, for 6 months until the day of marriage, for safe and quick pregnancy.

The plant is very much used in Siddha medicines. The root, bark, flowers, leaves and seeds are all used for medicinal purposes by Tamils.[citation needed] The leaves are used as adjunct to medicines used for pile complaints. The flowers are used to increase semen in men.

Fevers:The leaves should be dried in the shade and powdered for use when required for any kind of fever. A decoction can also be extyracted from the herb.

Respiratory Disorders: A decoction of the herb can be given in bronchitis,catarrh and biliousness.

Skin Problems: The drug made from Indian Mallow has a very soothing effect on the skin and the mucous membranes.Its paste can be applied either by itself or mixed with coconut oil on the affected parts in case of abscess, carbuncle,scabies and itches.

Boils and Ulcers: A poultice of the leaves can alsop be applied on boils and ulcers. Its seeds are laxative and very effective in curing piles.

Threadworms: The seeds are useful in killing thread worms, if the rectum of the affected child be exposed to the smoke of the powdered seeds.

Other Uses:Indian mellow is useful in allaying irritation of the skin and in alleviatimng swelling and pain. Its decoction can be used effectively as fomentation on the painful parts of the body.It can also be used as a mouthwash for toothache and soft gums.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
Miracle Of Herbs,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abutilon_theophrasti

http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_IJK.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abutilon_indicum

http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83494:abutilon-indicum&Itemid=139

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Positive thinking

Short Getaways

Taking A Day Trip
We tend to think of a vacation as something that requires an enormous amount of preparation, but small daylong excursions can be just as refreshing and fulfilling as their lengthier counterparts. A short drive can be the channel that transports you into a world of novel experiences and blissful relaxation. Solo day trips can be a wonderful way to unwind from the stresses of routine existence while simultaneously feeding the soul. And when you choose to share your day trip with someone you care about, a leisurely drive becomes a chance to talk about childhood, recall favorite songs, or simply spend time enjoying one another’s presence.

You may be surprised to see how many day-trip possibilities exist within a mere hour’s time from your home. Forests, beaches, lakes, mountains, rivers, and deserts can serve as the perfect spot for a minivacation. The physical and mental rejuvenation you experience in an unfamiliar and engaging setting are enhanced by meditation, journaling, deep breathing, or just being still with nature. Though the cost of gasoline can make taking a day trip seem frivolous, and our commitment to environmental well-being may cause us to hesitate before utilizing our cars in this manner, there are numerous ways we can effectively offset our carbon signature while still seeing to the needs of ourselves on a soul level.

Since day trips tend to require much smaller investments of time and money than traditional outings, you can enjoy a diverse range of experiences day by day. On one weekend, you may be motivated by a need to connect with your natural heritage to explore a vast state park or nature preserve. On another, your curiosity can inspire you to visit a historical site that has long piqued your interest. In the end, where you go will often be less important than your willingness to broaden your horizons by removing yourself from the environment already so familiar to you. Each minigetaway you take will imbue your existence with a sensation of renewal that prepares you for whatever lies ahead.
Source:Daily Om

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