7 Realities They Hope You Never Discover About Our Health Care System

Health care is BIG Business, so how would money be generated if everyone was healthy. So "Prevention" is frowned upon as alternative or unconventional, because the "System" sees it as a threat to its survival. The U.S. spends nearly $2 Trillion on health care. The prescription arena alone counts for nearly one quarter of a Billion dollars annually. The money is not in cures, it's in treatment.

• Our conventional health care system needs you to be sick. Although there is much evidence to support the effects of exercising regularly, dieting properly, living healthy and supplementing nutritionally to ward off illness and to live longer, the focus of conventional medicine still remains on treating disease instead of proactive prevention.
• The "System" treats the "syndrome", not the cause! The suppression of systems doesn't seem to be the most viable solution for our best minds to contrive, but this is exactly how it is all setup. You will be a loyal customer and friend to the end.
• The Big 4 Leading Diseases can be prevented. The American Cancer Society estimated that about 1/3 of cancer deaths are linked to diet and nutrition. According to the CDC regular exercise reduces heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer risks, and strokes by approx. 50%. Heart disease is the #1 killer of both men and women. 7% of the population is affected by Type II diabetes.
• Prescription Drugs Can kill. The list of side effects from just one pharmaceutical commercial alone should be enough to change our mindsets when it comes to taking the advice of someone that is "Practicing" on you. This is not an attack on doctors. It is just that some practices are just that---practices.
• Hospitals may be perilous to you health. 7.5 million unnecessary procedures are performed annually. Approximately 100,000 hospital deaths annually due to hospital acquired infections (HAIs). What is shocking is that this number exceeds the fatalities from AIDS, automobile accidents and breast cancer combined.
• Alarming increase in drug-resistant bacterial strains. Because of the misuse of antibiotics the "collegiate bacillus" has outwitted our medical professionals to the detriment of the masses.
• Conventional Medicine is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Conventional medical therapies account for an alarming 750K plus deaths per annum. This numbers just reflect the us stats.

The Solution
Exercise and High Quality Dietary Supplements: If you want to improve your overall health and lifestyle, you want to include super-foods that have high a ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)Value. This value measures the ability to counteract the oxidation process that takes place in the body. Antioxidants aid the body by preventing this chemical damage to your cells.

Some examples, are Camu-Camu from Japan, Cranberries, Pears, Kiwi, Bananas, Acai (pronounced Ah -Sigh-Eee) Brazil, Lychee from South China, Blueberries, Aronia Berry, Purple Grapes, etc... The Key Words in my "Solution" are "High Quality". So, do your due diligence when investigating a product for its efficacy!

Multi-Generational Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is a most divisive force within a family unit. It causes people to lie to those that trust them, to use violence against those that love them and above all, to loathe themselves. In many cases the abuse of drugs goes on for many years, causing an ingrained type of damage that becomes a feature of daily life. Yet amidst the pain and suffering that is caused by drugs, there often remains an inability for individuals to fully heal themselves. In fact says that the incidence of drug abuse amongst children of drug addicts remains disproportionately high, in spite of first hand experience with the devastating disease. This fact clearly outlines the need for and the significance of expert rehabilitation programs that counters the disease to the same extent that drug abuse has negatively impacted the family.

There are a variety of methods and programs that exist with regard to drug rehab programs but the priorities of almost all drug rehab programs are defined by the level of abuse of the drug addict. The process of successful drug rehab programs is usually based upon a series of fundamental needs which are designed to:

-Allow the immediate effects of the drugs in your system to dissipate

-Safely detoxify the body and remove lasting traces of drugs from the body

-Avoid relapse by undergoing individual counseling

-Identify the things that may trigger a relapse

-Undergo family or marital counseling as appropriate

The last point which relates to family and marital counseling can be extremely significant for the purposes of breaking a lasting cycle of abuse. Most rehab programs are keen to point out the need for families to tackle drug abuse and agree that the role of family and friends as a means of support cannot be overstated. Hand in hand with this issue is the need for individual members of the family to be reconciled with the pain of their experiences. Family members simply cannot provide a supportive network for recovering addicts if they are continuing to harbor resentment or unresolved issues that stem from the drug user. Secondly, the chances of forming a multi-generational pattern of drug abuse are far greater if family reconciliation is not undertaken.

Student Drug Abuse and Its Harmful Effects

Many students in the United States are abusing illicit drugs unaware of the harmful effects of these unhealthy habits. Substance abuse, whether it is habitual or occasional, not only impacts the health, but also has many other negative effects. Read through the article to know the facts and harmful effects of student drug abuse.

Drug abuse common in students

Young people are more vulnerable to drugs as they easily get attracted to the pleasure associated with the drug abuse. Furthermore, drug abusing friends and acquaintances in school have the greatest influence during adolescence.

According to the Monitoring the Future Survey 2010, about half (48.2%) of the 12th graders have used any illicit drug at some or the time in their lives. More than one-third (37%) of the 10th graders and one-fifth (21.4%) of the 8th graders reported that they have used an illicit drug at least once in their lives.

Brain still in developing stage

Adolescence is a critical period in everybody's life. During this period, the brain is still in a developing stage. So, young people are often impulsive, aggressive, emotionally volatile and are likely to take risks due to immaturity. They are also at high risk of drug abuse with such juvenile attitude. Further, taking drugs at this stage may arrest brain development causing various problems.

Poor academic progress

There is a strong correlation between the student drug usage and declining academic performance. Substance abuse during adolescence may disrupt the brain function causing critical problems with respect to memory, motivation, judgment, learning and behavior control. Drug abusing students often skip classes and fail to complete assignments. A combination of these factors contributes to their poor academic performance at schools.

Health issues - short and long-term

Illicit drug usage causes serious short-term and long-term health issues. Dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, etc. are some of the immediate effects seen in drug abused students. The teen drug abuse is also associated with depression, improper perception, and rise in heart rate, anxiety and panic. However, these effects remain for shorter period. With continuous use of drugs for a long time, teens experience long-term health issues which include life-threatening problems such as heart attack, respiratory failure, cancer, etc.

Involvement in crime

Students habituated to illicit drugs are seen with an unexplained change in behavior and attitude. They are often hyperactive, aggressive, irritated and fight for trivial issues with their peers and others. They may also involve in criminal activities. In addition, they frequently get into trouble including accidents and illegal activities. So, student drug abuse increases safety issues at schools and society as well.

Drug testing at schools/homes

Conducting regular drug tests at schools or homes helps to decrease substance abuse among students. Different types of drug testing kits are designed for school and home use. They can be easily available in the market. The fear of being tested positive at home or school encourages a teen to avoid drug usage.

The above mentioned harmful effects clearly state that the issue of student drug abuse cannot be neglected. It is very important for parents and teachers to monitor kids' regularly and take necessary precautions to prevent student drug abuse.

Signs and Symptoms of JWH018 (K2, Incensed Drug) Abuse

Reports of JWH018 and other incensed drug abuse cases are moderately low even though rampant selling of herbal smoke blends is evident in the market. This is mainly because lesser people are aware of the possible signs of abuse. Most weed users do not even complain any drug abuse effects from these kinds of substances. Thus, the suppose-to-be societal crisis becomes non-existent because nobody is paying attention to it.

Common Signs of JWH018 Abuse

Usually, those who abuse drugs or any substance do not admit that it causes a negative impact in their lives. If that is the case, it is vital for the surrounding families and friends to identify and understand the probable signs of abuse. Recognizing this following information about drug abuse helps in confronting the problem at hand.

1. Negligence of responsibilities whether in school, house or work due to drug use.
2. Occurrence of relationship problems with a partner, family members, employer, colleagues and even with friends.
3. Always running into legal troubles like robbery to sustain drug use, disorderly behavior and violence.
4. Noticeable demonstration of risk-taking behaviors such as driving when on drugs, unsafe sex and use of dirty paraphernalia.
5. Drug addiction or compulsively use of drugs despite the awareness of its dangers and risks.

JWH018 Addiction Symptoms

Although various substances give different kinds of effects, signs of addiction are all the same no matter what it is. Here are the usual addiction symptoms that manifests to during drug abuse.

1. Built up drug tolerance.
The user increases the dosage of drugs to experience the same effect when drug is taken in small amounts. Due to frequent use, the body's response to drug decreases. As a result, taking large doses is inevitable to achieve the desired experience.

2. Drug dependence.
Through the course of time and increase in frequency of use, the body becomes dependent on the drug itself. Consequently, the user cannot function normally when there is no drug. Abruptly stopping the use of the drug may result to appearance of withdrawal symptoms. In the end, the user continues to abuse drugs to avoid the withdrawal syndrome.

3. Uncontrollable drug use.
Simply means, the user do drugs quite often even more than he has planned. He cannot stop himself due to the urge of wanting more.

4. Obsession towards incensed drugs (K2, Spice, etc).
The user tends to spend most of the time thinking about the drug, how to procure it, when to use it again, possible new ways to heighten the effects and such. It is more like the user's life revolves around the drug only.

5. Lost of interest with usual favorite activities.
This means abandoning the usual hobbies, interests, sports and activities. The user tends to detach himself from the society and stays lock up in his room or in a place where he usually use the drug.

JWH018 (K2 and Incensed Drug) Abuse Effects

All types of drugs including herbal smoke blends have one thing in common; they alter the brain's function in controlling emotions, judgment, motivation, memory and learning. The best indicative factor in determining if they abuse drugs such as JWH018 is the manifestation of withdrawal symptoms. Reported drug abuse effects include:
* Profuse sweating during the day and especially at night
* Internal restlessness
* Palpitations and increase blood pressure
* Insomnia
* Headache
* Diarrhea
* Nausea and vomiting
* Tremors and in rare cases seizures
* Anxiety and paranoia without reason
* Manic episodes (hyperactivity, agitation)
* Sudden emotional and personality changes
* Feeling of depression and desperation.

In reality, the most notable effect of drug abuse is actually denial. It is the most evident sign of abuse. The mind decreases its ability to rationalize due to the increase urge of using these herbal smoke blends. It maybe one of the main reasons why there are lesser reports of drug abuse cases. Users are not aware that they already addicted to it. The lack of awareness about drug abuse result to continues use of these legal incensed drugs.

Juicing For Health - Fifty Fascinating Facts

1. If you are juicing for health, it is useful to remember that fresh juice starts to lose nutrients as soon as it is made. If you want to retain the full benefit of your effort, drink the juice immediately or as soon as possible.

2. Some juice extractors, such as the centrifugal-ejection type, generate enough heat during operation to do some damage to the delicate structure of the juice. The resultant oxidation destroys nutrients.

3. Masticating juicers use a more gentle process, preserving more of the valuable nutrients. This also enables you to store the juice for a longer period.

4. If you have to store the juice for a while, make sure that the container is airtight, add a few drops of lemon juice, and keep it refrigerated.

5. When juicing for health, a clever gadget named PumpNseal can be used to vacuum seal juice in any jar. Removing the air enables you to store the juice for longer periods without nutrient loss.

6. In general, masticating juicers offer extra features, such as accessories you can use to mill, grind, puree, to make pasta, and to come up with the most delectable frozen desserts. When juicing for health, these extras will give you a fairly varied repertoire in the kitchen. A raw food diet will become more feasible in the process.

7. If you are concerned about a high noise level, rather choose one of the masticating models.

8. Remember to remove hard pits from fruit such as peaches. You won't eat these and neither will your juicer! Don't ruin the blades! Apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanide. Be sure to remove these before juicing.

9. Most body-building, leafy greens have strong flavors. Cucumber is a terrific disguise for this, and has the added advantage of containing important nutrients. Maximise the benefit by using one that doesn't need peeling.

10. If you are juicing for health, use organic produce as far as possible. Otherwise wash everything thoroughly.

11. Often the greatest concentration of nutrients lie just beneath the rind or skin.

12. Don't peel carrots, but do remove their greens. Rhubarb greens also need to be removed. There may be a problem with toxicity if you juice these.

13. Do peel citrus, mango and papaya. These peels are not usable and may even be harmful to you. The skins of oranges and grapefruits contain toxic substances. However, the white, pithy part just below the skin, contains valuable bioflavonoids. Aim to retain as much of this as possible.

14. Soft fruits such as peaches, melons and strawberries will produce a much thicker juice than harder textured fruit such as apples. Combine the two to improve the results.

15. Rather blend banana and papaya. They don't juice well. If you have one of the masticating juicers with added features, you can try these as a frozen dessert. Juicing for health isn't suppose to be a punishment, after all! Enjoy something sweet regularly.

16. Follow soft fruits with harder textured produce, to facilitate clearing the pulp.

17. Juicing leafy greens becomes much easier if you roll the leaves into a little ball, before feeding it into the machine.

18. Wheat-grass is exceptionally nutrient-rich, and has a taste strong enough to equal its value! If your juicer can manage it, start with tiny amounts and increase the quantity slowly.

19. It is claimed that the benefits of drinking wheat grass juice includes cleansing the lymph system, building the red blood cells, removing toxic metals from the cells, nourishing the liver and kidneys, and restoring vitality.

20. Wheat-grass needs to be consumed in juice form, as the body cannot process the plant fibres.

21. Wheat-grass is gluten-free, in spite of its name. Gluten is found only in the seed kernel, and not in the stem and grass leaves of the young plant. It should therefore be safe for individuals with a gluten intolerance.

22. Drink freshly made juice daily and concentrate on using as wide a variety of produce as possible, to ensure that your body receives a bit of all the most beneficial micronutrients.

23. Your need for expensive supplements in the form of vitamin and mineral tablets, will diminish significantly, if you are juicing for health on a daily basis.

24. Many ailments will improve if juice forms a regular part of your diet. For example, cabbage juice is one of the most healing juices in case of ulcers. In this case, use under medical supervision.

25. If you experience water retention, juices such as celery, cucumber, cranberry, and watermelon are extremely helpful.

26. A general rule is that a pound of produce will give you about a cup of juice.

27. One cup of carrot juice is equal to about four cups diced, raw carrots. Carrots are much easier to consume in liquid form. Your body is also able to assimilate them better.

28. Vegetable juice is a low-calorie snack and contains no fat. Use it as part of a sensible eating plan, and experience the wonderful results.

29. Fresh juices act as a healthy, harmless appetite suppressant, and craving curber.

30. Vegetable juice can also help to stabilize blood sugar levels. It has much less sugar than fruit juices and about 50% less calories, yet it will satisfy that sweet tooth every time. Try carrot or a combination of carrot and parsley juice when a craving hits you, and the juice jolt will give it a knock-out before you know it!

31. A water fast may leave you feeling drained, while a vegetable juice fast will give you an energy surge. Fasting should always be done under supervision.

32. If you really don't like the taste of certain vegetables, try juicing these and adding them to some of your favorites. You probably won't even notice the difference in taste, but your body will certainly notice the difference in nutritional value!

33. Your skin may become slightly yellow if you consume large quantities of carrot juice. This effect is harmless and will disappear once you reduce your consumption.

34. Juicing for health is more beneficial if you consume juice that is at room temperature.

35. Ginger gives a bit of a bite to juice. Try it! It has anti-inflammatory properties. Stomach irritations, nausea and motion sickness can be relieved by taking ginger.

36. The nutrients in the juice you drink, is taken up immediately by all the cells in your body. Your juicer magically transfers the produce into pre-digested food. This means that your body is able to make maximum use of all the enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

37. Juices help you to maintain the proper PH in your body, which is important in preventing diseases like cancer.

38. The phytochemicals in the juice also helps to remove carcinogens from your body.

39. The properties in many vegetables, such as cucumber and carrots, will improve your skin, hair, and nails. If you up your intake of fresh juice, expensive beauty treatments may become a thing of the past.

40. Juicing for health is anti-ageing and puts the spring back in your step.

41. Children love the sweet taste of carrot juice. It is easy to add other, perhaps detested veggies to the juice, without them noticing it.

42. Remember that, it you have kids, they may be more willing to try the juice at first if you turn it into a smoothie. Try apple, carrot and grapes or strawberry. Put ice-cubes in a blender, and pour in your juice mixture. Add some frozen yoghurt or sherbert if you want, and blend to the desired thickness.

43. A good way to add extra flavor and sweetness to juice, is to use fresh or shredded coconut.

44. You can also add some cranberries if you like the taste. Cranberries have an extremely high antioxidant content. In addition, they may help you to avoid urinary tract infections.

45. Scientists recommend 8 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables to be consumed per day. A substantial portion of the population don't even reach 20% of the ideal. Juicing for health is the easiest way to bring you closer to this goal.

46. Although juicing removes some of the fibre, the process allows you to ingest a much more concentrated, easily assimmilated form of enzymes, minerals and vitamins. Just be sure to boost your fibre intake, by eating fibre-rich foods such as cereals and whole grains.

47. It is believed that sugar cane juice has properties that help to prevent tooth decay. In contrast, eating sugar cane often, will result in frequent visits to the dentist.

48. There is also evidence that there may be some wound healing and immune strengthening properties in sugar cane. In addition, the juice has a soothing effect on the digestive system, especially when combined with fresh ginger.

49. Juicing for health isn't a cure-all! If your lifestyle is unhealthy in general, don't expect juicing to magically wipe out the negative effects of all the things you know you probably shouldn't do!

50. If you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, nursing or have any illness, you need to get medical advice before starting a juicing for health program. The same rule applies to small children. Some juices are quite potent and may do more than good under certain circumstances.

Christmas Holiday!

Photograph by TinyApartmentCrafts

I shall be on annual leave from Thursday 20th December 2012 until Sunday 13th January 2013 (inclusive).

The entire University, including the Library will be closed from Saturday 22nd December until Tuesday 1st January (inclusive).

Please check the Library website at: http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/opening for further details.

Happy holidays everyone, see you in the new year!

Young Offenders Failed By Care System Says New Report

Photograph by Richard Masoner/Cycledelicious

An new report by HM Inspectorate of Probation "Looked After Children: An inspection of the work of Youth Offending Teams with children and young people who are looked after and placed away from home" reveals that children in care in England and Wales who've been in trouble with the law are being failed by youth offending teams.

The Inspectorate of Probation raised concerns about children placed far from home, and some youth offending team staff who thought little about the emotional impact of being in care.

The report looked at 60 children, from about 3,000 supervised by the teams. It found about a third of children were placed more than 100 miles away from home, and nearly two-thirds were placed 50 miles away.


Basic checks were not made when placing these "vulnerable and potentially dangerous" children into homes, the report said, adding that examples had been found of sex attackers being placed with abuse victims.

Youth offending teams and and other agencies did not "always work effectively together in the best interests of the children", and poor planning and assessment meant insufficient protection for two-thirds of the children.


You can read more on this story on the BBC News website here.

Drug Rehabilitation in a Drug Abuse Rehab

The drug abuse rehab centers treat addicted individuals and they are generally gender specific. There are a number of drug rehabilitation centers that are available these days, the information of which is available both in the online and the live world. An addicted patient has to choose upon a particular drug rehabilitation center. A standard drug rehab center would help a patient to drive out all the dependencies. At the same time, it is the mode of the innovative and resourceful treatment, which would ensure the drug restriction in everyone's life. The modern drug rehab centers work upon numerous innovative treatment techniques and measures that would ensure the drug moderation.

There are various treatment methods that are followed in a drug abuse rehab. The primary attribute of these treatments comprise interaction with the patients on a personal screening basis. This personal or private screening can help in clarifying and displaying certain aspects of the addicted individual. The mass education is also a very important step, which can create a huge impact the treatment of a drug misuse or drug abuse. The initial screening method is gradually uplifted and the addicted individuals are allowed to interact socially with public within limited boundaries.

The next form of treatment method becomes highly influential for restoring back normalcy without any drug dependency and involves motivation, encouragement and physical well-being and so on. Thus, the influence of a drug rehab facility becomes crucial for drug rehabilitation. If it is done with the best, eradication of drug abuse from one's life is possible.

Strengthening the Immune System - Big Reasons Why You Should Do It

A lot of people are interested on strengthening the immune system. Why not? The less we know about something, the more we are subject to whim. Not only will knowing more about our health, both when something ails you and when you feel fine, help you live a healthy lifestyle; it will also reduce your fears of a health impediment to your quality of life.

This perception has long been the focus of Ayurveda, a perfected health care system practiced for over 5,000 years. Keeping ourselves healthy in the most holistic and natural way is the main focus of Ayurvedic therapies. Ayurveda is all about maintaining a good balance in our body, mind and spirit through a healthy lifestyle, proper diet, exercise and herbs.

Strengthening the immune system should always start with basic good health habits. Let me share a few proper habits that are often overlooked, but may have a significant impact to our health:

1. Washing - when we are growing up, we are always told by our parents to wash our hands before we eat. The same practice should be applied before we touch our face. Even if you are very careful with your hygiene, it's still highly possible for you to pick up bugs or viruses if you forget to wash your hands properly before you touch your mouth, face, eyes or nose.

2. Strengthening the immune system involves proper nutrition - It is never enough to just take a couple of milligrams of vitamin C daily. Your body's cells may not be able to absorb the vitamin C completely if you lack magnesium and/or calcium intake. Always remember that vitamins and minerals work hand in hand. For example, if you take an iron supplement without vitamin C, then most likely your body may not be able to take in the iron completely. Clearly, taking a complete multi-vitamin will prove to be more beneficial than taking a single supplement alone. This is very important since we don't normally eat nutritious food everyday.

3. Rest - Yes, you need ample rest so that your bodily systems will regain its balance and be in perfect shape. Get a good night's sleep. People need at least 6 to 8 hours of good, uninterrupted sleep for optimal health. If your schedule is very irregular or erratic and you often get poor sleeps, then it's wise to do something about it so that you can help your immune system can do its job properly.

Make an effort in giving your immune system a boost. This may translate to making some changes in your routine and lifestyle, but you can be assured that all your efforts will be worth it!

Will Alternative Therapies Help You Solve Your Sleep Apnea Problems?

The use of alternative therapies is becoming more and more popular as more folks recognize that natural methods of curing and treatment have sound medical foundations. These are the folks who remember that aspirin originally -- with the ancient Greeks -- started as a distillation of willow bark. In short, nature often provides the resources to fix what's wrong with you.

How's Your Weight?

Be honest, now. If you're having sleep apnea problems, there's a very good chance that you're overweight by at least 15 pounds. That extra weight often goes to the neck ("double chin" anyone?) and results in a restricted airway. If you're overweight, try losing those extra pounds and see whether that doesn't resolve the problem. There are other benefits to losing the extra weight, too; but you probably already know -- you've already heard way too much from friends and family -- about those benefits, so I won't go into them here.

In addition to losing weight, or while you're in the process of losing weight, you might also try sleeping on your side. This tends to help keep the airway open as it makes it more difficult for the musculature to collapse.

How's Your Diet?

Homeopathy practitioners believe that there is a connection between sleep apnea and loss of energy. Thus, diet is something that you should pay attention to if you're struggling with sleep apnea. You should probably consider reducing the amount of sugar in your diet, along with foods you may be mildly allergic to -- perhaps so mildly allergic that you're unaware of it. A homeopathic practitioner will consider your situation and may recommend other foods and additives that you should stay away from.

The homeopathic practitioner may recommend one or more herbal medicines. These recommendations are often based upon your particular personality. Lachesis is frequently recommended to extroverted individuals. If you're extroverted, charismatic, swift to anger and other mood swings, then you may be the perfect candidate for lachesis. On the other hand, if you're introverted or have a history of pain and discomfort -- either emotional or physical pain -- then you may be susceptible to treatment with homeopathic opium.

How Does the World Smell To You?

Aroma therapy has been shown to be useful in dealing with sleep apnea episodes. Using vervain essence in oils, candles, and atomizers has a tendency to relax you. In addition to helping you deal with your sleep disorder, this relaxation also tends to lower stress and high blood pressure. Vervain and assorted other flower/essence remedies can be found at most health food stores or can be found on-line. If you are not already familiar with aroma therapy, you should investigate this form of non-invasive alternative therapy for yourself.

How's Your Serotonin?

There evidence that sleep apnea is sometimes related to your serotonin levels. The nerves that control your breathing require a certain amount of serotonin in order to be effective. Additionally, your body's serotonin receptors control which hormones are released into your body, and when they're released, and in what amounts. Cortisol is one of those hormones controlled by serotonin -- and cortisol controls, among other things, the muscles that make breathing possible.

Researchers have concluded that sleep apnea often results from failures within the serotonin system. They further contend that the use of a serotonin precursor, such as 5-HTP, can be highly beneficial if you're suffering debilitating sleep apnea. Doctors who recommend 5-HTP suggest that you consume 100 to 300 mg (milligrams) of 5-HTP before you go to bed so that your sleep will be more restful and less disturbed. 5-HTP is also alleged to improve your concentration and productivity throughout the course of the day.

How's Your Skepticism?

There are those who, in their own minds, tend to equate "alternative therapy" with "quack medicine." Hopefully you've come to recognize -- as has much of "the medical establishment" -- that alternative therapies such as acupressure, acupuncture, aroma therapy, and many more have a scientific basis underlying their effectiveness. If you have not yet considered alternative therapies as a potential treatment, perhaps it's now time to do so. Alternative therapies should be an adjunct to traditional medical treatment, not a replacement for consulting your doctor.

Library Christmas Opening Hours

The ecard created by by Grzegorz Łobiński for the EcardSphere project.

Merry Christmas to all my blog followers!

Just to remind everyone: All University buildings (including the Library) will close from Saturday 22nd December 2012 - Tuesday 1st January 2013.

The Libraries will re-open on Wednesday 2nd January 2013.

Term begins again on Monday 7th January 2013.

24:7 Library Opening In 2013

In response to student requests Learning Resources will be piloting 24:7 opening hours  in 2013 at two campuses:

• Luton, Park Square LRC
• Bedford, Polhill Library

This will provide students print resources, study space and access to PCs for 168 hours per week.

 

 24:7 opening will be available from 7th January 2013 to 21st July 2013 in first instance.

The Need for Good Drug Abuse Intervention

Ideally, you want a drug treatment professional to help your organize your drug abuse intervention for maximum impact. This person can help you to stay focused on your goal. Your goal should be to get the drug addict to recognize the existence of the addiction, how that addiction is impacting everyone, and the need for change.

Surprisingly, those in the midst of a drug addiction seem to be the last people to know they have an addiction. They are often comparing themselves to the worst of those around them and coming out favorably, rather than analyzing the quality of their decision making. Drug abuse begins to take a toll on every aspect of the drug addict's life long before the addict is aware of any problem.

Somehow, the drug addict manages to start making more mistakes and alienating the people around him without noting any link between the behavior changes caused by drugs and the career and social results. This is why your primary drug abuse intervention goal is to get the drug addict to recognize the existence of a damaging addiction.

What Does Drug Abuse Intervention Entail?

What makes a good drug abuse intervention difficult for all involved is the bluntness required. Accurate accusations of harm done must be made by the participants. Nobody likes to have people gang up on them with character attacks, but drug addicts tend to be so dense that little else will be understood.

It is just as hard for those making the attacks to see the turmoil caused in the addict as it is for the addict to go through that turmoil. But, if you really care about the drug addict, you must care enough to do a drug abuse intervention. Without such an intervention, the individual may never confront his addiction. The results of this are often fatal.

As you might expect, the drug abuser is unlikely to take all of this criticism silently. Often, the drug addict will fight back in unexpected ways. In rare cases it may get physical. But defensive, emotional attacks aimed back at each accuser are very common.

Again, you have to care enough about the afflicted individual to go through this process. Try to remember that the attacks from this person are driven primarily of a fear of being out of control of one's own life. The drug addict typically doesn't want to use the drugs as often as he does, yet is unable to resist them on his own.

It is best to go into the drug abuse intervention with a plan developed by the professional helping you with it. Each stage of the intervention will be choreographed to move from confrontation to evidence to reassurance of acceptance to a plan of action to overcome the addiction. Do your part in the drug abuse intervention to help your loved one get better.

The Dream Of Low Cost Health Insurance

With prices for daily living items escalating and expenses running rampant the opportunity to find low cost health insurance would be welcomed by many of today's cost watching consumers. Let's be honest, without health insurance it would be near impossible to pay for medical treatments based on their rather steep prices.

Low cost health insurance isn't a bonus that someone earns, in reality it should be a right granted to everyone for the simple reason that you never know when you may need it. You could be fine one day and the very next suffering from a myriad of injuries or sickness that seem to effect so many healthy people everyday. Even if it turns out that you are suffering from a mild ailment, if you end up riding in an ambulance to the hospital the cost associated with that simple procedure can be quite large for folks without a low cost health insurance plan to cover such an event. You don't want to be in a position to find this out the hard way so affordable health insurance is a must need for everyone.

So how exactly does low cost health insurance work? For starters, health insurance is like any other monthly bill that you have. However, don't treat this like it's a phone bill or an electricity bill. Failing or forgetting to pay this one could be disastrous to your medical health. The monthly payment or premium entitles you to medical treatment that is covered by your health insurance as opposed to your having to pay the amount out of your pocket yourself. Normally, when you sign up for low cost health insurance you will be required to pick what's known as a primary care provider or physician which basically means you choose a doctor from a list that is provided. This doctor will then determine the types of treatment you will require. Unfortunately, there are many political and internal issues that seem to plague our health care industry between the doctors and the health insurance companies with the consumer caught in the middle. Issues like these are better discussed in their own article or in the daily newspapers and on the TV news.

At one point in time health insurance was a standard benefit for the employees of many companies unfortunately, the rising costs that were mentioned earlier in this article have also hit the health insurance benefit packages that most folks should be entitled to but are seemingly disappearing overnight. Low cost health insurance would be welcomed by many companies wanting to provide better benefits to their valuable workers.

Low cost health insurance may be possible with larger companies based on the fact that many health insurance organizations offer discounted rates to organizations that are large in stature and size. The opportunity for a employee to receive a nice health insurance benefit at a reduced cost still exist in companies that receive this favorable treatment from the health insurance providers.

Sadly, many companies, especially smaller or brand new ventures are unable to afford the necessary premiums needed in order to provide health insurance for their employees. As a result the workers for these companies must then find their own individual health insurance plan, usually through a health insurance broker or by surfing the Internet and visiting all of the health insurance websites currently located online. For those consumers finding low cost health insurance may be slightly more difficult and any health insurance that is truly affordable may not cover many of the ailments that strike many folks on an everyday basis.

Low cost health insurance can be obtained in today's high price society. It just takes a little more effort on the part of the consumer but in the long run it's well worth it. after all this is your health we're talking about.

Dawsonera Maintainance 8th December 2012

This weekend 8th December 2012 Dawsonera Ebooks will be preforming an essential upgrade to their system which should improve its performance.

This means that between the hours of 10am - 6pm Dawsonera Ebooks will be unavailable.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this period.

Child Arrests Continue To Fall Says Howard League

Photograph by J D Mack

Figures compiled by the Howard League for Penal Reform suggest that the number of children arrested by the police has fallen by a third since 2008. 

Police arrested 209,000 under-18s in 2011, down from 315,923 in 2008. The Howard League said 10 forces in England and Wales had halved the number of children taken into custody.

 The figures, compiled through a freedom of information request to all 43 police forces in England and Wales, include more than 2,100 children aged 10 - which is the age of criminal responsibility - and 11.

The director of campaigns at the Howard League, Andrew Neilson, said a move away from a mandatory target system for police was likely to be the main reason for the third successive fall.

He said: "In 2008, the first year we have data for, the target culture was coming to an end.

"At that time, police services were being ranked on the number of arrests they were processing, and to a degree children were low-hanging fruit that helped the police reach their arrest targets.

"While some police services still use these targets informally, we are seeing a move back towards a discretion-led, common sense approach, and that's reflected in the figures.

"I suspect there are a lot of things that the police are doing to reduce arrests, ranging from restorative justice disposals to triage arrangements at police stations, where a youth offending team worker will interview a young person to see if there are any welfare issues."

Florida Health Insurance - Take Advantage of the Internet's Price Transparency

Florida health insurance companies are now feeling the effects of the increased price transparency that the Internet brings. Now longer is it a process of days or even weeks to obtain multiple health insurance quotes from top Florida health insurance companies. The simplest and most efficient way to obtain health insurance in Florida is simply to make the top health insurance companies in the state (Golden Rule/United Healthcare, Aetna, and Humana) compete for your business!

If you cringe at the thought of a United Healthcare agent, an Aetna agent, and a Humana agent all clustering around you amongst a swarm of other Florida health insurance agents and trying to push their company's policy upon you then read on; for health insurance shopping on the Internet has simplified everything. There are numerous Florida health insurance websites that offer Florida health insurance quotes but there are quite a few very important distinctions between the different types.

There are two main types of websites that offer Florida health insurance quotes to Florida health insurance shoppers: Marketing Organizations and Insurance Agencies.

Marketing Organizations do not sell insurance, are not regulated by any insurance department, and generally have no knowledge whatsoever concerning Florida health insurance. However, they can offer consumers a somewhat appealing service. How can they assist in purchasing health insurance?

They act as a middleman between Florida health insurance shoppers and Florida health insurance agents. When Mrs. Smith in Tampa, FL requests a health insurance quote then the marketing company sells her information as a lead to 5 or more Florida insurance agents.

Ignoring the privacy issues and the issue of the qualifications of the health insurance agents that will be purchasing your information there is the larger and more practical issue of do you really want to have 5+ insurance agents aggressively seeking your business?

Imagine that each health insurance agent is taught in their sales training to call you at least 5 times and email you at least 3 times before "giving up" on you as an insurance prospect: that means that you have received 25 phone calls and 15 emails from various insurance agents!

The second type of website that offers Florida health insurance quotes is the website that is run by an insurance agency (note that it is very important to find only an independent Florida insurance agency - meaning an agency that is not tied to working with only one health insurance company but can show you health insurance quotes from all of the top Florida health insurance companies. This is also why we will ignore the quasi third group of websites that offer Florida health insurance quotes: the health insurance carrier websites themselves. These can be a good service but very time consuming. There is a better way to shop for Florida health insurance. Read on-).

Most independent insurance agency websites offer a feature that will allow you to request Florida health insurance quotes. However, there is a much better way to shop for Florida health insurance! Rather than waiting for your request for health insurance quotes to be filled; look for a website that offers instant and LIVE Florida health insurance quotes from top Florida health insurance companies.

With instant LIVE Florida health insurance quotes you have the best of both worlds: you receive the benefits of competitive pricing by viewing the top Florida health insurance companies quotes side by side (the strong point of the marketing organization website model) as well as personal, expert help (the strong point of the insurance agency website model). Not to mention the added benefit of viewing the health insurance quotes from the different health insurance companies in the same format - enabling easy side by side comparisons of benefits. This allows for a true "apples to apples" comparison.

View up to 20 LIVE Florida health insurance quotes from top Florida health insurance companies like Aetna, Humana and Golden Rule/United Healthcare all in less than 20 seconds! View LIVE Florida health insurance quotes now and take advantage of the Internet's price transparency!

New Survey Suggests Adult Social Care Is Suffering Under Cuts

Care for vulnerable older people has been suffering - both in quality and quantity - because of funding cuts, a survey of 200 social workers suggests.


In the survey by Age UK and the College of Social Work, more than 85% of respondents said they had seen the impact of cuts in the past year.

Of those, 95% said the cuts in England presented "a risk to the dignity of their older clients".

The Department for Health says the care of older people is a priority. Councils across the country have been facing a funding squeeze under the coalition's spending cuts.

Since 2004, social care funding has stagnated, and then decreased, Age UK said. This is despite an increase of more than 250,000 people aged 85 or over, the group most likely to require social care.

The charity said the funding given this year was half a billion pounds less than when the coalition came to power in 2010.

You can read more on this story on the BBC News website here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20566307

How to Look After Your Health

In this day and age we, the public, are subjected to the ever increasing cost of medical treatment. In the USA there is no National Health Service like there is in the UK, and it is essential to have good insurance cover. In the UK, the NHS sinks ever deeper under the pressure of trying to keep the population healthy and more and more people have to see consultants on a private basis, and there is a definite need for private medical insurance as an adjunct to NHS treatment.

The "system" shows cracks due to constant pressure. Insurance costs go up not only because of cost of treatment, but also because of the number of times those in the medical profession are sued. Our culture of "sue for whatever you can get" hurts the individuals in the end.

How can we help ourselves to maintain good health? Awareness is a great start. The medical profession put out a lot of literature to encourage us to check ourselves for various things - indicators of potential breast cancer, prostate cancer and so on. We are encouraged to go for a medical on a regular basis so that illness or disease may be identified at an early stage. We are encouraged to look after our diet, not drink too much and to get some exercise. There is a lot which we can do ourselves.

There is more that a lot of us could be doing as well. We need to take responsibility for our own health. The medical profession is there to help us but we need to be pro-active in our own health and well being. It is far too easy for us to abrogate responsibility in the sense that we many times knowingly put ourselves at risk (perhaps through unnecessary contact with others who we know are not unwell, or through drinking too much, not exercising enough, using sun-beds, not using sunscreen, not checking our breasts, etc) more because we "turn a blind eye", thinking "that won't happen to me" than for any other reason. We rely on the fact that we have the NHS or insurance and so if anything goes wrong they are there for us - we act in a way that infers that our health is "their" responsibility, and not our own. This is wrong.

Our own health is our own responsibility. We need to be aware of our own body and do our best to ensure it functions to its maximum potential. There is no point bemoaning the fact that you cannot afford treatment, or you cannot get an appointment for several weeks or months, if you have not met the "system" half way. Please don't get me wrong, many of us are conscious of what we should be doing and diligent in looking after our own health.

Another thing we can do in this day and age is to arm ourselves with information. The more aware you are, the more informed you are the better choices you can make. Google is a wonderful thing. You can get bags of information on anything and everything. There is information on main-stream medical treatment and also on the many complementary health therapies which are available. These therapies are there because there is a need for them. They are not to be dismissed.

If you take the attitude that your health is your own responsibility, then it is up to you to inform yourself of your healthiest options. It's up to you to look into preventative health instead of just waiting until you have a symptom and then going to the doctor for a pill to "fix it". How can you change your lifestyle which could have the effect of eliminating the cause of that symptom?

It is often the case that a doctor looks more to cure the symptom as opposed to treating the cause. This is because of how the "system" works. Years ago, when you had a "family doctor" they knew your family; they knew your circumstances and had a far greater insight into the myriad of things which impact upon one's health. These days we have "group practices". Your GP can change from one day to the next and they have no insight into your circumstances. This is why it is so important these days to take greater responsibility for your own health.

The fact is how you think and the lifestyle you choose has a massive impact upon your health. How you think tends to be reflected in the physical state of your body. Your mind and body are intrinsically linked. If you feel anxious your muscles tense, if you feel happy your eyes dance, if you feel sad your shoulders slump. These are obvious examples of how your mind is reflected in your body. It is more difficult to observe the effect of thoughts upon internal organs or parts which are not visible, but the impact of your thoughts will be felt within your body. Every thought you have triggers off neurotransmitters in your brain which in turn send signals to every cell in your physiology.

This is why I spend such a lot of my time developing hypnosis downloads aimed at helping everyone to help themselves.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for health and well-being.