7 billion people is under the control of allah at every moment. are you at all aware of these events taking place inside and around you at every single moment? the balances maintained at every moment are not only limited to space and the human body ; at the same time, quadrillions of plants, from more than 500, 000 species, all make photosynthesis, and oxygen levels are thus arranged in such a way that organisms can remain alive. within the last second that just passed by … two million species of animals and plants on the land, under the ground and in the depths of the seas continued their lives through their perfect systems. 100 billion birds from 10, 000 species and trillions of fish from 40, 000 species have spent that second hunting, migrating or looking after their young. the digestive and respiratory systems of every single one have functioned in perfection. their bones, muscles, eyes, feet and fins have all performed their tasks just as they should. for example, this fly has beaten its wings 500 times a second. while it is impossible for a human being to flap his arms 500 times a second, the trillions of flies on earth have beaten their wings 500 times within the second that just passed by. insects whose numbers reach extraordinary figures of 10 quintillion ( 10, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 ), from 1. 5 million species, have remained alive through their countless features such as their delicate insect antennae, the chemicals they use to communicate, the poisons they employ for offense and defense and their hunting and camouflage tactics. it is almighty and omniscient allah, he who is aware of all things, who keeps each one of these systems under his control simultaneously. while many living things in the animal kingdom continue their lives in a flawless manner, with their numbers more than the human mind could conceive ; in every second that passes by... every photon coming from the sun has traveled 300, 000 kilometers ; and thus colors have formed. every second, 16 million tons of water have fallen to earth as rain. the sun, which is one of the 250 billion stars in the milky way, which itself is one of the 300 billion galaxies in the universe, has converted 564 tons of hydrogen into 560 million tons of helium and thus provided light and heat for the earth. are you at all aware of these events taking place inside and around you at every moment? do you know how many leaves there are on all the trees on earth? or how many atoms there are


helium and thus provided light and heat for the earth. are you at all aware of these events taking place inside and around you at every moment? do you know how many leaves there are on all the trees on earth? or how many atoms there are in every leaf? have you ever wondered how many grains of sand there are on and in the world? or what the number of raindrops is? do you know how many billions of types of animals and plants there are in the world? or can you know how many people have lived ever since the time of the prophet adam ( pbuh ), how many are living now, or how many will live up until the day of reckoning? is it at all possible for you to know the number of cells in their bodies, or how many proteins are produced in those cells? but our almighty lord knows all these things we ' ve just counted, and he knows how many planets and asteroids there are in the vastness of outer space, how many stars there are, and how many electrons revolve around the nuclei of their atoms. each one of these acts occur by the leave of allah, lord of the worlds. allah is omniscient and he knows all things. the glorious numbers and details in the human body • apart from blood and reproductive cells, all the cells in the body manufacture some 2000 proteins a second. this process takes place in every single one of all the 100 trillion cells of all the 7 billion people living today. • the 100 trillion cells in an adult person ’ s body produce protein chains that flawlessly organize some 150, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 ( 150 quintillion ) amino acids every hour. note this ; in order to produce protein chains, every single one of the 100 trillion cells in the bodies of 7 billion people organize 150 quintillion amino acids - a number that the human mind would fail to grasp - every hour. • during every cell division, dna, a library that consists of 3 billion letters, 1 million pages and 1000 volumes, is copied. this wondrous process of division takes place with the same perfection in the 100 trillion cells of each and every single one of the 7 billion people living in the world. • a ribosome can add 20 amino acids to a protein chain every second. wide - ranging protein synthesis thus takes place uninterruptedly every second in every single one of the 100 trillion cells of all the people in the world. • there are some 10 billion


add 20 amino acids to a protein chain every second. wide - ranging protein synthesis thus takes place uninterruptedly every second in every single one of the 100 trillion cells of all the people in the world. • there are some 10 billion nerve cells in the brain, and communication between them is established by means of 100 trillion synapses. • 4 billion information exchanges take place every second between the two hemispheres of the brain. the brain deals with 750 million signals coming from inside and outside the body. • a single brain cell can transmit more than 200, 000 pieces of information at the same time. • do you realize that all these processes take place every second in every single one of the 10 billion brain cells in every single one of the 7 billion people on earth? • the white blood cells in the veins subject 10 billion cells in the body to health checks every 2 seconds. this check - up has taken place in all the people who have ever lived, and is taking place in the 7 billion people currently living today. • 500 different chemical processes are carried out in a single liver cell. • with every breath taken, more than 300 million air sacs in the lungs open and close to admit air into the body. these cells and sacs carry out the same tasks, without exception, in the bodies of all the 7 billion people that breathe in, every three seconds. the magnificient numbers and details in nature • the heart of the hummingbird, a tiny bird which has far better hearing than human beings and can see ultraviolet rays, beats 300 - 1200 times a minute. and the hearts of all the hummingbirds on earth beat 300 - 1200 times every single minute. • 40, 000 bees have to visit 6 million flowers to make 1 kilo of honey. • the fastest computers in the world can perform 16 billion arithmetic processes a second. yet the honey bee can perform 10 trillion processes in the same time while expending less energy. • bacteria provides the oxygen we breathe. cyanobacteria, algae and other micro - organisms in the sea give off some 150 billion kilograms of oxygen into the air every year. • a tiny ant has some 500, 000 nerve cells. thanks to this extraordinary system, ants are able to use very different forms of communication. they are able to perform many activities, such as hunting prey, following one another, building nests and fighting enemies thanks to this special nervous system. • more snowflakes than can ever be calculated fall from the skies every year, and each


communication. they are able to perform many activities, such as hunting prey, following one another, building nests and fighting enemies thanks to this special nervous system. • more snowflakes than can ever be calculated fall from the skies every year, and each one is different than all the others. allah has created systems that the human mind cannot fully comprehend, the details of which have still not been discovered. billions of details have been combined together and provided for people in the finest and most beautiful way. man can only live by means of his dna being copied every moment, the breath he takes in, the oxygen he inhales with every breath he takes, his heart that beats every single moment, the earth that constantly revolves, the food cycle, the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle, all the constantly moving atoms and countless other details. thıs is without doubt a very simple matter for almighty allah, who creates from nothing, who ordains all things as he wishes and who is mighty enough to create them as he wishes at any time. i seek refuge in allah from the accursed satan - the keys of the unseen are in his possession. no one knows them but him. he knows everything in the land and sea. no leaf falls without his knowing it. there is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and nothing moist or dry which is not in a clear book. ( surat al - an ’ am, 59 ) what people who realize these miracles going on at every moment must do is to reflect on the greatness of allah, lord of the worlds and give thanks to him for every blessing and every beauty. because as we have been informed in the qur ’ an, every person will be called to account for the blessings bestowed on him when the day of reckoning comes. i seek refuge in allah from the accursed satan - he has given you everything you have asked him for. if you tried to number allah ’ s blessings, you could never count them. man is indeed wrongdoing, ungrateful. ( surah ibrahim, 34 )


oil of oregano research & studies compiled by bee wilder the book entitled beyond antibiotics : healthier options for families, by michael a. schmidt, lendon h. smith and keith w. sehnert, has an entire section devoted to the antimicrobial ( antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral ) efficacy of essential plant oils. in this section they state that " one of the advantages essential oils have over antibiotics is that bacteria do not develop resistance to essential oils. " many essential oils exert their antibacterial effect by interfering with the bacteria ' s ability to breathe. on the other hand, antibiotics interfere with the life cycle, or metabolism, of bacteria, but since bacteria are very crafty creatures, they change their chemistry and genes, which makes the antibiotic less effective the next time it is used. as a result, new generations of antibiotics will need to be developed to stay ahead of these organisms. additionally, " another advantage to essential oils is that some actually stimulate immune function. " e. gildemeister and f. r. hoffmann are referenced in the book as testing the antimicrobial efficacy of certain essential oils as compared to a medium, phenol. phenol is an antiseptic substance found in lysol, pinesol and chloraseptic throat spray. the findings were quite a surprise to the investigators. oil of oregano was the most potent antimicrobial essential oil tested by the investigators, as it proved to be 21 times stronger than the volume 18 of the british naturopathic journal included an article entitled " kill and cure : the healing properties of wild oregano oil. " in the article, david potterton, nd summarized the findings of the world ' s foremost expert on oil of oregano, dr. cass ingram. according to dr. ingram, " oregano is the rolls royce of natural antiseptics ". it is, for example, far more active against noxious urinary pathogens than the typically relied upon natural compounds such as garlic, goldenseal and echinacea. the active ingredient, carvacrol, acts directly upon the mucous membranes of the urinary tract and bladder. it offers the unique advantage of destroying both urinary bacteria as well as yeasts, something that standard antibiotics fail to achieve. " in addition, according to the article, readers should get their hands on a copy of dr. ingram ' s book the cure is in the cupboard : how to use


antiseptic powers, which comfort me every time i prescribe it for my patients. " for the complete guide to aiding numerous ailments with oregano, including allergies, asthma, bronchitis, candidiasis, colds, cold sores, diarrhea, the flu, gastritis, psoriasis, sinusitis and dozens of others, consult dr. cass ingram ' s book the cure is in the cupboard. in the article " a serenade for marinade " published july 5, 1999, in the knoxville news ( health and science section ), dr. f. ann draughon, a university of tennessee microbiologist, studied the effects of herbs on food safety. dr. draughon found that oil of oregano was the most effective at killing all pathogens tested against, including nine food - borne microbes : listeria monocytogenes, staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli ( commonly known as e - coli ), yersinia enterocolitica, pseudonomas aeruglinosa, lactobacillus plantarum, aspergillus niger, geotrichum and rhodotorula. the tennessee food safety initiative is a research program jointly supported by the u. s. food and drug administration ( fda ) and the ut agricultural experiment station. has oregano been tested and evaluated by the u. s. department of agriculture? yes. oregano had 3 to 20 times higher antioxidant activity than the other herbs studied. researchers at the u. s. department of agriculture have determined that herbs are higher in antioxidant levels than fruits, vegetables and even spices such as garlic. shiow y. wang, a biochemist at the usda ' s beltsville agricultural center in beltsville, maryland, stated in the november issue of the journal of agricultural and food chemistry that the herb " oregano had 3 to 20 times higher antioxidant activity than the other herbs studied. " additionally, oregano has 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries. this is an amazing discovery when considering the health benefits derived from consuming herbs like oregano. what does this all mean for the general public? antioxidants have become a synonym for good health in recent years. this is because antioxidants are a class of components that fight off the charged molecules


from consuming herbs like oregano. what does this all mean for the general public? antioxidants have become a synonym for good health in recent years. this is because antioxidants are a class of components that fight off the charged molecules known as free radicals, which cause chemical damage in the human body. free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that cause damage to cells, which can lead to an impaired immune system and infections. free radicals are also associated with degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer. our bodies produce free radicals as part of the everyday metabolic breakdown of foods we eat. free radicals are generated by exposure to radiation, rancid oils ( fried foods ), food additives ( food coloring, sugars ), chemicals ( pesticides, nitrates added to cured meats ) heavy metal pollutants, exposure to uv rays from the sun and smoking. according to researchers at the usda, the destruction of free radicals " may help fight the occurrence of heart disease and stroke. " what does the physicians ' desk reference for herbal medicines, 1st edition, say about oregano? indications and usage : the herb is used for respiratory disorders and complaints such as coughs and bronchial catarrh, and as an expectorant. in folk medicine it is used for dyspepsia, painful menstruation, rheumatoid arthritis, scrofula, urinary tract disorders, and as a diaphoretic. precautions and adverse reactions : no health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. are there any concerns about taking oregano and prescription medications at the same time? if you are taking a blood thinner such as cumadin™, it is recommended that you exercise caution, simply because oregano has a naturally occurring blood - thinning property which could be substituted for the traditional recommendation of an aspirin a day. according to the natural medicines comprehensive database, compiled by the editors of pharmacist ' s letter and prescriber ' s letter and available online at www. naturaldatabase. com, oregano is " likely safe " and has " generally recognized as safe ( gras ) status in the us. " possible interactions with drugs : the natural medicines comprehensive database states that " no interactions are known to occur, and there is no known reason to expect a clinically significant interaction with oregano. " possible interactions with lab tests : the natural medicines comprehensive database states that " no


drugs : the natural medicines comprehensive database states that " no interactions are known to occur, and there is no known reason to expect a clinically significant interaction with oregano. " possible interactions with lab tests : the natural medicines comprehensive database states that " no interactions are known to occur, and there is no known reason to expect a clinically significant interaction with oregano. " in 1977, at the second international congress of phytotherapy and aromatherapy in monaco, a french doctor named belaiche unveiled his oregano index that uses oregano oil as the base reference to compare the bactericidal action of other substances. the reason he chose oregano oil is because he determined by rigorous laboratory experimentation that, out of all natural essential oils, oregano was the closest to an ideal antibacterial agent. used the analytical technique of schroeder and messing, who measured the " halo " of bacterial inhibition in millimeters caused by specific essential oils in a bacterial culture medium maintained in petri dishes. he tested both the ability of essential oils to inhibit bacterial growth as well as to kill bacteria. belaiche also chose to use bacterial cultures taken from sick persons rather than cultures grown in laboratories. he tested essential oils on test groups of bacteria that ranged from 20 to 90 different types such as e coli, candida, staph, etc. based on these experiments, belaiche and other french doctors developed an " aromatogramme " or a chart measuring the halo of inhibition caused by individual essential oils on specific bacterial cultures. after exhaustive studies he concluded the following statements : aromatic essence ( oregano ) is almost always the leader. among the most active oils oregano is the " best of the best... " the essential oil of oregano has always provided me with amazing results in treating infectious besides oregano oil ' s bactericidal action, it also prevents spasms, convulsions and nervous disorders. in my estimation, the antispasmodic qualities help to synergize its wonderful antiseptic powers which comfort me every time i prescribe it for my patients. it is surprising that oregano oil has been known for a long time but is only now being recognized for its therapeutic and his colleagues devised a standard to determine which oregano oil would consistently provide therapeutic results. first they determined there were two constituents of oregano oil, namely carvacrol and thymol ( technically referred to as phenols }, which proved to be remarkable antibacterial agents. they analyzed


oil would consistently provide therapeutic results. first they determined there were two constituents of oregano oil, namely carvacrol and thymol ( technically referred to as phenols }, which proved to be remarkable antibacterial agents. they analyzed oregano oils from spain, morrocco, italy, and albania. they observed variations of 22. 4 % total of carvacrol and thymol in albanian oregano oil to 66. 5 % in spanish oregano oil. after careful study they decided to identify maximal therapeutic oregano oil as containing a phenol total above 50 % with a minimum of 40 % carvacrol and the rest thymol. during their tests in the 1970s they chose to work with the spanish oregano in the labiatae family of plants, specifically called floribundum mumby, or generally classified as origanum vulgare. the results of their studies indicate that therapeutic oregano oil is distinguished by its high percentage of carvacrol in comparison to thyme plants which have much more thymol than carvacrol. sometimes different species of thyme plants are also called oregano, but they are not as active as real oregano oil, nor as safe to use for human internal consumption. impressive results have been published about oregano oil ' s qualities. back in 1918, a french scientist named cavel did research on meat stock cultured in septic tank water. he found that thyme oil and oregano oil in very small doses were able to destroy and prevent the development of microbes. in 1992, two researchers at the university of bologna, italy ( caccioni and guizzardi ) studied the fungicidal effects of essential oils on harvested fruits and vegetables. they determined that carvacrol derived from oregano oil was able to almost completely inhibit spore development in fruits and vegetables at very minimal doses. from the common herb oregano may be an effective treatment against dangerous and sometimes drug - resistant bacteria, a georgetown researcher has found. two studies have shown that oregano oil - - and, in particular, carvacrol, one of oregano ' s chemical components - - appear to reduce infection as effectively as traditional antibiotics. these findings were presented at the american college of nutrition ' s annual meeting october 6 and 7 in orlando, fla. g. preuss, md, macn, cns, professor of physiology and biophysics, and his research team, tested oregano oil on staphylococcus bacteria - - which is responsible for


and 7 in orlando, fla. g. preuss, md, macn, cns, professor of physiology and biophysics, and his research team, tested oregano oil on staphylococcus bacteria - - which is responsible for a variety of severe infections and is becoming increasingly resistant to many antibiotics. they combined oregano oil with the bacteria in a test tube, and compared oregano oil ' s effects to those of standard antibiotics streptomycin, penicillin and vacnomycin. the oregano oil at relatively low doses was found to inhibit the growth of staphylococcus bacteria in the test tubes as effectively as the standard antibiotics did. aspect of the study examined the efficacy of oregano oil and carvacrol, which is believed to be the major antibacterial component of oregano, in 18 mice infected with the staph bacteria of the mice received oregano oil for 30 days, and 50 % of this group survived the 30 - day treatment. six received the carvacrol in olive oil, not oregano oil, and none survived longer than 21 days. six mice received olive oil alone with no active agents ( the control group ) and all died within three days. a repeat study corroborated these findings, which demonstrates that there are components of oregano oil other than carvacrol that have antibiotic properties. this investigation was performed only in test tubes and on a small number of mice, the preliminary results are promising and warrant further study, " preuss said. " the ability of oils from various spices to kill infectious organisms has been recognized since antiquity. natural oils may turn out to be valuable adjuvants or even replacements for many anti - germicidals under a variety of conditions. " study was sponsored by waukegan, ill. - based north american herb and spice. georgetown university medical center includes the nationally ranked school of medicine, school of nursing and health studies, and a biomedical research oil of oregano oregano products faq : 1. what types of research have been conducted using oregano p73? - ( note : only general research done on oregano and oregano oil are listed above. research done on oregano p73 was excluded. ) oregano oil - the most powerful plant - derived antiseptic


most people who need pacemakers can expect to have fewer symptoms, be less likely to faint and in some instances live longer than they would have without the pacemaker. your mother has now joined tens of thousands of people who have received these implanted electronic marvels which now include some types which can now stimulate more than one chamber at a time, or can “ resynchronize ” the heart to make it perform better, or can terminate dangerous arrhythmias ( internal cardioverter / defibrillator or icd ). the use of these latter devices has virtually exploded onto the scene and into the newspapers over the past few years with the publication of research studies demonstrating that they may save more lives than some medicines. when a patient receives one of these devices, they are given a booklet, and teaching about their individual heart conditions, and the reason that the pacemaker was implanted ( this term sounds better than “ stuck in ” ). the booklets don ’ t cover everything ( though they try ) as technology is constantly changing ( who ever would have thought of portable cell phones when we put in the first pacers in the 1960 ’ s, pacer batteries lasted less than 6 months back then, but 6 to 15 years now ). fortunately, several decades of experience have made these devices quite safe, and the newer devices are not often seen as limiting an active lifestyle. the major source of limitations associated with these devices is based on the underlying heart condition. for older patients whose only cardiac issue is a very slow heart rate and requiring a pacemaker, the inability to operate a jackhammer, or use a body - fat measuring scale shouldn ’ t be an issue. i ’ ve listed below some of things that most people want to know about pacemaker / icd interactions in the hope that this will answer your questions and those of others in the same situation. for devices such as airport security, and theft deterrence devices, walking through at a reasonable pace will limit exposure and diminish chances of a problem. with respect to cell phones, keeping them at a distance from the pacer / icd ( the other side ) and the conversations short will diminish chances of a problem. devices that are generally considered safe for patients with pacemakers and internal cardioverter / defibrillators ( icd ) - most household devices such as radio, television, cd / dvd players, clocks, watches, remote controls, garage door openers, air purifiers, washing machine and dryer,


psychosis - info for carers, siblings and workers psychosis is a condition which impairs a person ' s sense of reality. it affects approximately 1 in 50 people over their lifetime, and most commonly occurs later in adolescence and young adulthood. males tend to experience symptoms a few years younger than females. a number of theories have been suggested as to what causes psychosis, but much more research is needed. there is some indication that psychosis is caused by a combination of biological factors in early development which contributes to an increased risk of developing psychosis in later life. having a family member with a history of psychosis is another known risk factor. symptoms may be triggered in response to stress, substance use, or social changes / disruptions in vulnerable individuals. psychosis can happen to anyone, but like other illnesses it can be treated. most young people can recover to live full and satisfying lives. what are the signs of psychosis? the term psychosis refers to a group of symptoms that reflects a change in a person ' s sense of reality and may lead to changes in their mood. the symptoms vary for each person and may change over time. when a person becomes ill in this way, it is referred to as a psychotic episode. signs of a psychotic episode can include : - changes in thinking - everyday thoughts can become confused, making a normal sentence unclear and difficult to understand. someone who is living with psychosis may have difficulties following a conversation or remembering things, and their thoughts can seem to speed up or slow down. - false beliefs ( delusions ) - a person may strongly believe that something is real when it isn ' t. the person is so convinced about their delusion that even the most logical argument won ' t change their mind. for example, they may think that cars parked outside their house mean that they are being watched by the police. this can at times lead to them becoming suspicious of the people around them. - hallucinations - some people may see, hear, taste, smell or feel which isn ' t real. a common feature of psychosis can be auditory hallucinations, in which a person may hear voices that no one else can hear. these voices may comment on their activities or give them instructions. - changes in mood - a person may experience rapid mood changes for no apparent reason, such as feeling unusually excited or depressed. some people may feel strange and cut off from the world. it may feel to the person that everything is moving in slow motion. as a result they may experience less emotion,


mood changes for no apparent reason, such as feeling unusually excited or depressed. some people may feel strange and cut off from the world. it may feel to the person that everything is moving in slow motion. as a result they may experience less emotion, or show a narrower range of emotions to the people around them. - changes in behaviour - someone with psychosis may demonstrate odd or unusual behaviour, often when responding to their hallucinations or delusional thinking. they may also demonstrate an increase or a decrease in their energy, or changes in their sleeping patterns. - social changes – someone experiencing psychotic symptoms may demonstrate a withdrawal or isolation from friends and family, such as staying in their room or refusing to attend social gatherings. - changes in functioning - given the impact of psychotic symptoms, there is often a decline in someone ' s school or work performance. they may also demonstrate deterioration in their self - care including personal hygiene. what are the types of psychosis? everyone ' s experience of psychotic symptoms is different, and when someone is experiencing their first episode it may be difficult to make a clear diagnosis. it may sometimes be only with the opportunity to look back over the progression of symptoms that a diagnosis can be made. psychotic symptoms / episodes can occur in a number of mental illnesses, including : - bipolar disorder - psychotic symptoms may feature as part of this disorder ( which used to be referred to as manic depression ). when present, they tend to fit in with the person ' s mood. for example, if depressed a person may hear voices telling them to commit suicide. when experiencing an elevated mood, however, they may believe they have special abilities which are out of keeping with their normal functioning. - brief reactive psychosis - psychotic symptoms may appear a major stress in a person ' s life, such as a death in the family or a change in living circumstances. symptoms can be severe, but a person can make a full recovery in as little as a few days. - drug - induced psychosis - using or withdrawing from drugs, especially cannabis or amphetamines, can cause psychotic symptoms. these may resolve as the effects of the substance wear off. in other cases, the symptoms may last longer but begin with a drug - induced psychosis. - organic psychosis - sometimes psychotic symptoms may appear as a result of a head injury or physical illness which disrupts brain functioning. - psychotic depression - psychotic symptoms can develop in very extreme cases of depression. however, someone with psychotic depression does not experience an elevated mood as occurs in bipolar disorder.


appear as a result of a head injury or physical illness which disrupts brain functioning. - psychotic depression - psychotic symptoms can develop in very extreme cases of depression. however, someone with psychotic depression does not experience an elevated mood as occurs in bipolar disorder. schizophrenia - an illness in which psychotic symptoms have lasted for at least six months. the types and length of symptoms vary from one person to another, and contrary to popular opinion people with schizophrenia can often lead fulfilling lives in learning to manage their illness, thereby preventing ongoing psychotic episodes. psychosis is often misunderstood by the general public. the early signs of psychosis may also be difficult to detect, and can be mistaken for the normal changes of adolescence. symptoms may also be viewed differently by people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background. the impact of psychosis can be very traumatic for the young person and can disrupt their life at a critical developmental stage. the longer it takes to receive effective treatment, the longer it is likely to take for symptoms to go away. delayed help also increases the risk of further episodes. it is therefore important to get help as soon as possible. noticeable and persistent changes in the young person ' s behaviour and moods should not be ignored. earlier treatment of psychosis increases the likelihood of the young person having a good recovery. young people with their first episode of psychosis may be reluctant to seek treatment because they don ' t think anything is wrong or they hope their symptoms will go away. due to their distorted thinking including delusional beliefs, they may also believe that people taking an interest in their symptoms may be trying to hurt or trick them. help is needed for the young person to find out what is happening and what treatment is required. families also need support to understand what is happening and how they can help. in very severe situations a person may need to be assisted involuntarily by use of the mental health act. in recent years, research has led to the development of improved medications and therapy. selection of the right treatment options for each individual will be determined by an assessment undertaken by a trained professional, such as a psychiatrist or mental health professional. having someone to talk to is an important part of treatment. mental health workers can provide reassurance and information for the young person and their family. ultimately, determining the best treatment will depend on factors such as personal preference, how severe the symptoms are, how long they have been present for and the apparent cause. a person with psychosis will need regular appointments to assist them. sometimes admission to hospitalisation is required.


best treatment will depend on factors such as personal preference, how severe the symptoms are, how long they have been present for and the apparent cause. a person with psychosis will need regular appointments to assist them. sometimes admission to hospitalisation is required. living in their normal environment rather than going to hospital minimises distress and disruption for the young person and their family. hospitalisation is generally only considered when the psychotic symptoms place the person or others at a level of risk that cannot be managed by them remaining in the community. medication is usually recommended as a part of the treatment of psychosis to assist recovery and prevent further episodes. a psychiatrist can determine if medication is needed. there are several different types of medication that may be recommended and young people usually start on low doses. details on how much to take and when to take it should be discussed with the treating doctor, who will monitor any side - effects associated with the prescribed dose. this is vital so that the type or dose or medication can be reviewed to minimise any side effects that may prevent the person from staying on medication to assist in their recovery. it is important to continue taking medication to prevent the occurrence of another psychotic episode, and ceasing medication should only be done with medical advice. in addition, it is important for the person to learn additional strategies to cope with stress and learn to recognise warning signs of any future episodes. because of the potential impact of psychosis on a person ' s functioning, treatment may also include assistance with practical tasks such as getting back to work or school, securing accommodation or obtaining financial help. throughout treatment, it is important for the person with psychosis to be actively involved in their recovery. sometimes they may need to sort out secondary problems such as catching up on the school they have missed, or dealing with the depression arising from their experiences. they need to be informed of their rights, and have the opportunity to ask questions. a good outcome for someone with psychosis includes the following components : - early detection ; - rapid start of treatment ; - short duration of untreated psychosis ; - participation in developing treatment plans that include recovery and maintaining functioning. - optimal treatment including medication, individual counselling, family support, psychosocial treatment and information ; - a supportive social network ; - a stable living environment ; - structure and calm ; - meaningful occupations : work, study and hobbies ; - someone to share their experiences with ; - good physical health ; - rapid and lasting absence of symptoms ; and - realistic expectations and hopes for the future. helping a


; - structure and calm ; - meaningful occupations : work, study and hobbies ; - someone to share their experiences with ; - good physical health ; - rapid and lasting absence of symptoms ; and - realistic expectations and hopes for the future. helping a young person with psychosis it is not uncommon for family and friends to go through a series of their own stages in response to a loved one experiencing psychosis, from the initial crisis to seeking help, needing reassurance, feeling relief and a possible return of anxiety as the person recovers well enough to return to their everyday world. family and friends may also be involved in supporting a person ' s access to treatment, with confidentiality ideally not being used as a barrier to providing assistance to support people. if you are involved in someone ' s treatment, consider the following strategies to assist their recovery : - identify the key people in the treating team, and attend relevant appointments prepared with questions and relevant issues ; - if you don ' t understand what you are being told, say so and ask for clearer explanations ; - ask where you can access additional information ; and - if cannabis or other substance misuse is a problem, ask the treating team what can be done about it and talk to the young person themselves about it. let them know where you stand on their substance use, and encourage them to seek help to reduce or ideally cease their use. it can be very distressing watching their experience of psychosis, and can generate a range of feelings including grief, anxiety, confusion and guilt. listed below are a number of strategies that may help in supporting someone when they are at the acute phase in particular. offer support and encouragement throughout, and convey that while you may not always like or agree with your behaviour, you still care for them as a person ; - understand that the person might be talking and acting differently due their psychotic symptoms ; - don ' t take it personally if they say hurtful things while unwell ; - when someone is in the midst of an acute episode they may seem more child - like, and so may need a comforting environment and support in making decisions ; - don ' t get involved in long disagreements about their fixed ideas or beliefs. instead, listen with interest to demonstrate empathy and develop understanding to discuss this with them further when they are well. it is important to generally maintain a calm environment, as conflict can contribute to the stress experienced by everyone ; and - take care of yourself by acknowledging and expressing your feelings, obtaining information about the illness and how to cope with it and drawing upon


well. it is important to generally maintain a calm environment, as conflict can contribute to the stress experienced by everyone ; and - take care of yourself by acknowledging and expressing your feelings, obtaining information about the illness and how to cope with it and drawing upon your own sources of support. this fact sheet was based on : - the family health kit ( nsw health 2002 ) and the early psychosis prevention and intervention centre 2006 fact sheets. information for siblings - how to get help your child ' s general practitioner, teacher, guidance officer, school counsellor or school health nurse. if more specialised assessment or intervention is required, general practitioners, schools or other health professionals can make a referral to a child and youth mental health service ( cymhs ) if they are under 18 years of age. if they are over 18 years, they will need to be referred to an adult mental health service. for your local clinic, look under health in the white pages telephone directory or call 13 health ( 13 43 25 84 ). your general practitioner may refer you to other specialists who work with children and young people such as a private practitioner. in an emergency contact your local hospital emergency department. occasionally a young person may need to be assessed and treated using the powers of the mental health act. the brisbane north youth service provider directory has details of many services, and can be accessed at : www. health. qld. gov. au / rch / professionals / bnyspd. pdf or you could also consider one of the following : - alcohol and drug information service - free confidential counselling and information service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. phone : 1800 177 833. - association of relatives and friends of the mentally ill - support and information for significant other / s of those affected by mental illness. call their head office on ( 07 ) 3254 1881 or see www. arafmiqld. org for local support groups. - community action for the prevention of suicide - not - for - profit association that aims to provide a practical non - clinical support service to coordinate care, attention and support for people at risk of suicide, those who are concerned for someone at risk, and the children of someone at risk. phone ( 07 ) 3870 8359 or see www. caps. org. au. - family connections program - correspondence - based program developed for family members where a relative has developed psychosis. phone 1800 153 340 to register your interest. - 13 health ( 13 43 25 84 ) - - for general health information and referral.


. - family connections program - correspondence - based program developed for family members where a relative has developed psychosis. phone 1800 153 340 to register your interest. - 13 health ( 13 43 25 84 ) - - for general health information and referral. includes the child health line. - indigenous youth health service - provides assistance on all health issues relating to aboriginal and torres strait islander youth. phone ( 07 ) 3393 0055 ( b / h ). - kids help line - free national telephone counselling for children & young people 24 hours, 7 days a week. phone 1800 55 1800. - lifeline - free counselling and support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. phone 13 11 14. - mental illness fellowship of queensland - provides services and support for people living with schizophrenia and other serious mental illness, and their families. call their brisbane office on 07 3358 4424 or see www. mifa. org. au / mifq / for local support groups. - national cannabis information and helpline - phone 1800 30 40 50. - parentline - counselling and support for parents, available 8am - 10pm, 7 days a week. phone 1300 30 1300. - queensland transcultural mental health service - provides mental health assistance and information to people from culturally diverse backgrounds. phone ( 07 ) 3167 8333 ( b / h ) - sane australia - national charity aimed at enhancing mental health through campaigning, education and research. phone : 1800 187 263. - www. beyondblue. org. au - national, independent, not for profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance disorders. - www. copmi. net. au information and resources for children, young people, families and service providers assisting families affected by parental mental illness. - www. counsellingonline. org. au counselling via text - interaction for information and support for those seeking help with their own drug use or use by a friend or family member. - www. eppic. org. au information about melbourne ' s early psychosis prevention and intervention centre, including written information about psychosis in eleven languages. - www. headspace. org. au website for the national youth mental health foundation, which aims to support australian young people with mental health and related problems. - www. health. qld. gov. au / mentalhealth queensland mental health branch website developed for the community, service providers, non - government organisations, consumers, carers and families, providing information on mental health and


and related problems. - www. health. qld. gov. au / mentalhealth queensland mental health branch website developed for the community, service providers, non - government organisations, consumers, carers and families, providing information on mental health and related issues and initiatives. - www. health. qld. gov. au / mhcarer queensland health website for information and support for those caring for someone with a mental illness. - www. kidshelp. com. au - kids help line online counseling available for young people. - www. livingisforeveryone - australian government suicide prevention strategy website. - www. ncpic. org. au - national cannabis prevention and information centre ; provides information on all issues relating to cannabis. - www. opendoors. net. au up - to - date information and resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people, including direct email links to workers. - www. reachout. com. au interactive forum for young people to access support and assistance. - www. somazone. com. au - information for young people about health and well - being issues. - www. suicidepreventionstudies. org provides information and resources to help young people with suicidal and self - harm behaviours, and the people who care for them. this fact sheet was updated in april 2009 by the child and youth mental health service of the royal children ' s hospital, children ' s health service district, brisbane, to raise awareness and provide information to families, young people and community members. this and others fact sheets in the series can be downloaded from : last updated : 21 march, 2011


to play or not to play? for kids with bleeding disorders, that is the question — at camp, at school, at home, anywhere. most sports and other physical activities have some level of risk. the severity and type of bleeding disorder vary, so what may be unsafe for one person might be a perfect match for another. ( however, contact sports, such as football and hockey, are not recommended for people with bleeding disorders. ) there ’ s no one - size - fits - all answer. however, there is a new workbook that will help you make an informed decision. my game plan is a five - page booklet with questions that help kids — and adults — evaluate their physical abilities and any limitations placed on them by their hemophilia or other bleeding disorder. for example, it asks you to list your problem joints and to note any pain you may have. then, you are asked to describe the benefits and risks of the activity you want to play. “ rather than telling you what sports are safe and what aren ’ t, it ’ s a tool that will help guide a discussion, ” says physical therapist sherry herman - hilker, pt, of the university of michigan ’ s pediatric hemophilia and coagulation disorders program in ann arbor. “ it ’ s a discussion in which kids are involved, rather than one that simply leaves the decision up to a nurse or physical therapist. ” my game plan, which herman - hilker helped develop, was inspired by an experience at the hemophilia foundation of michigan ’ s camp bold eagle in holton. in 2007, campers played a game of capture the flag, a bold eagle favorite. but something alarming happened. nineteen of the nearly 60 campers experienced bleeds or other injuries during the three - hour game. the camp ’ s head nurse, jim munn, rn, ms, nurse coordinator at the university of michigan ’ s pediatric hemophilia and coagulation disorders program, says the reaction among staff was quite emotional. “ we always expect a few injuries, ” munn says. “ that ’ s what happens when kids play. but 19? we had to ask ourselves, ‘ did we do this to the kids? what could we have done better? ’ ” ready, set, go to play capture the flag, players are split into two teams. each team has a “ flag, ” usually something colorful and easy to carry. the ideal playing field is large — at camp bold eagle, the game is played


ready, set, go to play capture the flag, players are split into two teams. each team has a “ flag, ” usually something colorful and easy to carry. the ideal playing field is large — at camp bold eagle, the game is played over the entire 50 - acre site. the field is divided into two territories. flags are placed deep inside each team ’ s territory, and players have two primary missions : to steal the other team ’ s flag and to defend their own. capture the flag is not a full - contact sport, but at bold eagle, it involves a lot of running and dodging over different types of terrain. players can fall or collide with one another. courtesy of university of michigan hemophilia and coagulation disorders program after seeing one injured camper after another, herman - hilker, the camp ’ s physical therapist, wanted to ban the game. but many counselors had attended the camp as children and treasured their memories of playing capture the flag. their passion for keeping the game matched herman - hilker ’ s own desire to get rid of it. listening to them, she says, was a game - changer. “ the debate shifted from ‘ how do we get rid of it? ’ to ‘ how do we keep it, but make it safer? ’ ” that debate led to the workbook, which was distributed at camp bold eagle the next summer. after completing it, each camper met with a health center staffer to decide the best and safest way to play. those for whom running puts them at risk were assigned positions that were more stationary, but still integral to the game. “ that year we did not have any injuries, ” says herman - hilker. the workbook can be used to evaluate any physical activity. “ it gets kids to take a serious look at an activity and to critically analyze it, ” says herman - hilker. “ then they talk about it with their parents and their healthcare provider. ” herman - hilker recalls one 8 - year - old boy who wanted to play football. after filling out the workbook, he realized it was not the right sport for him. “ he came to that decision on his own, ” she says. munn says the workbook can be used by adults with bleeding disorders as well. “ i ’ d give it to a 30 - year - old who was thinking of joining a soccer league, because the same questions about safety apply, ” says munn. “ we


cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and malfunctions due to chronic injury. scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, partially blocking the flow of blood through the liver. scarring also impairs the liver ' s ability to - control infections - remove bacteria and toxins from the blood - process nutrients, hormones, and drugs - make proteins that regulate blood clotting - produce bile to help absorb fats — including cholesterol — and fat - soluble a healthy liver is able to regenerate most of its own cells when they become damaged. with end - stage cirrhosis, the liver can no longer effectively replace damaged cells. a healthy liver is necessary for survival. cirrhosis is the twelfth leading cause of death by disease, accounting for 27, 000 deaths each year. 1 the condition affects men slightly more often than women. 1 minino am, heron mp, murphy sl, kochanek kd. deaths : final data for 2004. centers for disease control and prevention web site. ( pdf, 3450 kb ). updated october 10, 2007. accessed january 20, 2008. what causes cirrhosis? cirrhosis has various causes. in the united states, heavy alcohol consumption and chronic hepatitis c have been the most common causes of cirrhosis. obesity is becoming a common cause of cirrhosis, either as the sole cause or in combination with alcohol, hepatitis c, or both. many people with cirrhosis have more than one cause of liver damage. cirrhosis is not caused by trauma to the liver or other acute, or short - term, causes of damage. usually years of chronic injury are required to cause alcohol - related liver disease. most people who consume alcohol do not suffer damage to the liver. but heavy alcohol use over several years can cause chronic injury to the liver. the amount of alcohol it takes to damage the liver varies greatly from person to person. for women, consuming two to three drinks — including beer and wine — per day and for men, three to four drinks per day, can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis. in the past, alcohol - related cirrhosis led to more deaths than cirrhosis due to any other cause. deaths caused by obesity - related cirrhosis are increasing. chronic hepatitis c. the hepatitis c virus is a liver infection that is spread by contact with an infected person ' s blood. chronic hepatitis c causes inflammation and damage to the liver over time that can lead chronic hepatitis b and d


. jaundice occurs when the diseased liver does not remove enough bilirubin from the blood, causing yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes and darkening of the urine. bilirubin is the pigment that gives bile its reddish - yellow color. gallstones. if cirrhosis prevents bile from flowing freely to and from the gallbladder, the bile hardens as gallstones. sensitivity to medications. cirrhosis slows the liver ' s ability to filter medications from the blood. when this occurs, medications act longer than expected and build up in the body. this causes a person to be more sensitive to medications and their side effects. hepatic encephalopathy. a failing liver cannot remove toxins from the blood, and they eventually accumulate in the brain. the buildup of toxins in the brain — called hepatic encephalopathy — can decrease mental function and cause coma. signs of decreased mental function include confusion, personality changes, memory loss, trouble concentrating, and a change in sleep insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. cirrhosis causes resistance to insulin — a hormone produced by the pancreas that enables the body to use glucose as energy. with insulin resistance, the body ' s muscle, fat, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. the pancreas tries to keep up with the demand for insulin by producing more, but excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream causing type 2 diabetes. liver cancer. hepatocellular carcinoma is a type of liver cancer that can occur in people with cirrhosis. hepatocellular carcinoma has a high mortality rate, but several treatment options are available. other problems. cirrhosis can cause immune system dysfunction, leading to the risk of infection. cirrhosis can also cause kidney and lung failure, known as hepatorenal and hepatopulmonary syndromes. how is cirrhosis diagnosed? the diagnosis of cirrhosis is usually based on the presence of a risk factor for cirrhosis, such as alcohol use or obesity, and is confirmed by physical examination, blood tests, and imaging. the doctor will ask about the person ' s medical history and symptoms and perform a thorough physical examination to observe for clinical signs of the disease. for example, on abdominal examination, the liver may feel hard or enlarged with signs of ascites. the doctor will order blood tests that may be helpful in evaluating the liver and increasing the suspicion of cirrhosis. to view


of the disease. for example, on abdominal examination, the liver may feel hard or enlarged with signs of ascites. the doctor will order blood tests that may be helpful in evaluating the liver and increasing the suspicion of cirrhosis. to view the liver for signs of enlargement, reduced blood flow, or ascites, the doctor may order a computerized tomography ( ct ) scan, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging ( mri ), or liver scan. the doctor may look at the liver directly by inserting a laparoscope into the abdomen. a laparoscope is an instrument with a camera that relays pictures to a computer screen. a liver biopsy can confirm the diagnosis of cirrhosis but is not always necessary. a biopsy is usually done if the result might have an impact on treatment. the biopsy is performed with a needle inserted between the ribs or into a vein in the neck. precautions are taken to minimize discomfort. a tiny sample of liver tissue is examined with a microscope for scarring or other signs of cirrhosis. sometimes a cause of liver damage other than cirrhosis is found how is the severity of cirrhosis measured? the model for end - stage liver disease ( meld ) score measures the severity of cirrhosis. the meld score was developed to predict the 90 - day survival of people with advanced cirrhosis. the meld score is based on three blood tests : - international normalized ratio ( inr ) — tests the clotting tendency of - bilirubin — tests the amount of bile pigment in the blood - creatinine — tests kidney function meld scores usually range between 6 and 40, with a score of 6 indicating the best likelihood of 90 - day survival. how is cirrhosis treated? treatment for cirrhosis depends on the cause of the disease and whether complications are present. the goals of treatment are to slow the progression of scar tissue in the liver and prevent or treat the complications of the disease. hospitalization may be necessary for cirrhosis with complications. eating a nutritious diet. because malnutrition is common in people with cirrhosis, a healthy diet is important in all stages of the disease. health care providers recommend a meal plan that is well balanced. if ascites develops, a sodium - restricted diet is recommended. a person with cirrhosis should not eat raw shellfish, which can contain a bacterium that causes serious infection. to improve nutrition, the doctor may add a liquid


well balanced. if ascites develops, a sodium - restricted diet is recommended. a person with cirrhosis should not eat raw shellfish, which can contain a bacterium that causes serious infection. to improve nutrition, the doctor may add a liquid supplement taken by mouth or through a nasogastric tube — a tiny tube inserted through the nose and throat that reaches into the stomach. avoiding alcohol and other substances. people with cirrhosis are encouraged not to consume any alcohol or illicit substances, as both will cause more liver damage. because many vitamins and medications — prescription and over - the - counter — can affect liver function, a doctor should be consulted before treatment for cirrhosis also addresses specific complications. for edema and ascites, the doctor will recommend diuretics — medications that remove fluid from the body. large amounts of ascitic fluid may be removed from the abdomen and checked for bacterial peritonitis. oral antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection. severe infection with ascites will require intravenous ( iv ) the doctor may prescribe a beta - blocker or nitrate for portal hypertension. beta - blockers can lower the pressure in the varices and reduce the risk of bleeding. gastrointestinal bleeding requires an immediate upper endoscopy to look for esophageal varices. the doctor may perform a band - ligation using a special device to compress the varices and stop the bleeding. people who have had varices in the past may need to take medicine to prevent future hepatic encephalopathy is treated by cleansing the bowel with lactulose — a laxative given orally or in enemas. antibiotics are added to the treatment if necessary. patients may be asked to reduce dietary protein intake. hepatic encephalopathy may improve as other complications of cirrhosis are some people with cirrhosis who develop hepatorenal failure must undergo regular hemodialysis treatment, which uses a machine to clean wastes from the blood. medications are also given to improve blood flow through the kidneys. other treatments address the specific causes of cirrhosis. treatment for cirrhosis caused by hepatitis depends on the specific type of hepatitis. for example, interferon and other antiviral drugs are prescribed for viral hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis requires corticosteroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system. medications are given to treat various symptoms of cirrhosis, such as it


or more complications may develop. in some people, complications may be the first signs of the disease. - the goals of treatment are to stop the progression of scar tissue in the liver and prevent or treat complications. - treatment for cirrhosis includes avoidance of alcohol and other drugs, nutrition therapy, and other therapies that treat specific complications or causes of the disease. - hospitalization may be necessary for cirrhosis with complications. - a liver transplant is considered when complications of cirrhosis cannot be controlled by treatment. hope through research the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases ' division of digestive diseases and nutrition supports basic and clinical research into liver diseases — including cirrhosis — and liver transplantation. researchers are also studying - the mechanisms of cirrhosis reversal in the early stages of the disease - potential new approaches to the management of complications of - the long - term outcome of new drugs to treat portal hypertension - the development of therapies to prevent and treat the recurrence of hepatitis c after liver transplantation participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. for information about current studies, visit www. clinicaltrials. gov. for more information american liver foundation 75 maiden lane, suite 603 new york, ny 10038 – 4810 phone : 1 – 800 – go – liver ( 465 – 4837 ) or hepatitis foundation international 504 blick drive silver spring, md 20904 – 2901 phone : 1 – 800 – 891 – 0707 or united network for organ sharing p. o. box 2484 richmond, va 23218 phone : 1 – 888 – 894 – 6361 or 804 – 782 – 4800 you may also find additional information about this topic by visiting medlineplus at www. medlineplus. gov. this publication may contain information about medications. when prepared, this publication included the most current information available. for updates or for questions about any medications, contact the u. s. food and drug administration toll - free at 1 – 888 – info – fda ( 1 – 888 – 463 – 6332 ) or visit www. fda. gov. consult your doctor for more information. publications produced by the clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both niddk scientists and outside experts. this publication was reviewed by bruce a. runyon, m. d., loma


the hfe act ( and other legislation ) the hfe act 2008 is divided into three parts : - amendments to the human fertilisation and embryology act 1990 - miscellaneous and general. the main new elements of the act are : - ensuring that the creation and use of all human embryos outside the body - whatever the process used in their creation - are subject to regulation - a ban on selecting the sex of offspring for social reasons - requiring that clinics take account of “ the welfare of the child ” when providing fertility treatment, and removing the previous requirement that they also take account of the child ’ s “ need for a father ” - allowing for the recognition of both partners in a same - sex relationship as legal parents of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos - enabling people in same sex relationships and unmarried couples to apply for an order allowing for them to be treated as the parents of a child born using a surrogate - changing restrictions on the use of data collected by the hfea to make it easier to conduct research using this information - provisions clarifying the scope of legitimate embryo research activities, including regulation of ‘ human admixed embryos ’ ( embryos combining both human and animal material ). read the legislation when was the hfe act 2008 implemented? the hfe act 2008 came into force in three stages : phase one : on april 6 2009 part 2 of the act, the revised definitions of parenthood, took effect. phase two : in october 2009 the amendments to the 1990 legislation take effect. examples of these amendments include research on human admixed embryos, and removal of the ‘ need for a father ’. phase three : in april 2010 people in same sex relationships and unmarried couples are able to apply for orders allowing them to be treated as parents of children born using a surrogate. development of the hfe act 2008 in 2005, the house of commons science and technology select committee published a report on human reproductive technologies and the law. this inquiry investigated the legislative framework provided by the 1990 act and challenges presented by technological advance and “ recent changes in ethical and societal attitudes ". in light of the committee ’ s report, and legislative changes that had already been made, the department of health undertook a review of the 1990 act. they then held a public consultation based on their review of the act, and following this published a white paper, review of the human fertilisation and embryology act, within which government presented its initial proposals to revise the legislation. following this stage, a


a simple prayer before the deity with hands folded and placed near the heart is the most common form of praying in hindu religion. but there are also various other acts that hindus perform while praying like lighting the lamp, offering flowers and leaves, burning camphor or offering food etc. in hinduism, each act performed has a symbolic meaning. sprinkling of water and sipping while doing puja sprinkling of water symbolically performs the purification of the surroundings. sipping of water is purification of oneself. lighting of lamp it symbolizes removal of ignorance and ushering in of knowledge. the wick in the traditional oil lamp symbolizes ego and the oil or ghee used symbolizes our negative tendencies. when we are lit by self knowledge, the negative tendencies ( oil ) melt away and finally the ego ( wick ) perishes. ( more details in this post ) burning of camphor burning of camphor symbolizes the destruction of our egos and arrogance. when ego melts what is left is the pure self. lighting of incense and agarbathis this is used for fragrance which symbolically suggests the presence of the deity and the love of deity. performing aarati or waving of lamp around the deity waving of lamp and camphor around the deity is symbolically an act of surrender. breaking of coconut symbolically breaking of coconut is act of destruction of one ’ s ego. coconut kernel and the water is also considered to be the purest form of offering that a devotee can make. ( more details in this post ) offering of betel leaves and betel nuts betel leaves and nuts symbolize fertility and is usually offered for the birth of children at home. it is also part of all important pujas in south india. bells rung during puja the bells that are rung during puja are to keep out other noises and it is also a means of celebrations. bells rung in the beginning is done to ward away evil forces. offering of food or nevediya symbolically, offering of good indicates a thanksgiving to the deity. it is an act of sharing god ’ s bounty. it is then distributed as ' prasad. ' what is offered should be shared with the poor and the needy. offering of flowers flowers are offered basically because of their fragrance and due to the association of a particular flower with a particular deity. for example bilva leaf is associated with lord shiva and tulsi with lord vishnu. puranas have stories which explain why a particular flower is associated with a particular deity. on the symbolic


the association of a particular flower with a particular deity. for example bilva leaf is associated with lord shiva and tulsi with lord vishnu. puranas have stories which explain why a particular flower is associated with a particular deity. on the symbolic level, the flowers and leaves are picked up with five fingers and is offered with all five fingers. it is usually placed at the feet of the deity. the five fingers symbolically indicate the five senses and thereby surrendering of it before the deity. flowers are also offered by bringing it close to one ’ s heart. this symbolically suggests that one is offering the soul or atma to the deity. walking thrice around the deity or pradakshina in some places mainly in temples people walk around the sanctum sanctorum three times in clockwise direction. it is symbolically to cross the nether world, earth and heaven to reach brahman. ( more details in this post ) knocking the two ends of forehead before pujas in some devotees knock the two ends of forehead before beginning prayer and puja in arms crossed across the chest and holding ear tips in south india, hindus while praying knock both the sides of forehead and then put arms crossed across the chest and hold ear tips and then sits and stands before the deity a few times. this is known was thoppukaranam in south. it is a sort of self - imposed penance and praying for forgiveness.


" and when he desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, he revealed ordinances and created laws ; among them he established the law of marriage, made it a fortress for well - being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in his most holy book. " 1 when families are strong, much is right with the world. in the loving matrix of the family, we can develop our full potential as individuals. family life is the source of some of our happiest and most satisfying feelings. when families are weak or fragmented, however, almost nothing goes well. the most stressful times of our lives often stem from family troubles, and the overall deterioration of family ties worldwide manifests itself directly in some of humanity ' s most egregious social problems, from child abuse and homelessness to alcoholism and even modes of development that are not environmentally sustainable. the unity of humanity the essential message of the baha ' i faith is unity. baha ' u ' llah, the founder of the faith, taught that there is only one god, that all the world ' s major religions have been revealed by god, and that the entire human race is one. humanity has collectively come of age, baha ' u ' llah said, and the time has now arrived for all people to unite into a peaceful and integrated global society. this message of unity has been embraced by increasing numbers of people since 1844, when the baha ' i ' faith was founded. today, the worldwide baha ' i community is among the most diverse and widespread organizations on earth. indeed, members of the baha ' i faith reside in more than 200 countries, making it the second most widespread independent world religion after christianity. the world ' s five million baha ' i ' s come from virtually every nation, ethnic group, trade, profession and social or economic class. the theme of unity in diversity extends to baha ' u ' llah ' s teachings about the family. baha ' is understand that the family is the basic unit of society. unless this all - important building block is healthy and unified, society itself cannot be healthy and unified. traditional yet progressive in many respects, the baha ' i teachings on the family are quite traditional. for baha ' is, the family centers around the marriage of two people, man and woman. monogamy and faithfulness are upheld, as are the virtues of honesty, trustworthiness and mutual respect. the


on the family are quite traditional. for baha ' is, the family centers around the marriage of two people, man and woman. monogamy and faithfulness are upheld, as are the virtues of honesty, trustworthiness and mutual respect. the role of mothers, especially because they are the first educators of children, is exalted. as well, the personal moral standards promoted by the baha ' i teachings condemn many of the agents that contribute to the break - up of families. alcohol is forbidden to baha ' is, as are mind - altering drugs. any form of violence or abuse is strictly contrary to baha ' i teachings. at the same time, however, many aspects of baha ' i family life are not traditional. in its social principles, the baha ' i teachings are quite progressive and the expression of these principles in daily life has in many respects transformed the institution of marriage so as to withstand far better the crosscurrents of modern society. in particular, the distinctive nature of baha ' i family life stands out in at least three areas : 1 ) the characteristic diversity that one finds within baha ' i families, 2 ) the commitment of baha ' is to the equality of women and men, 3 ) the application of consultation, a nonadversarial method for decision - making, in arriving at family decisions. the response to baha ' u ' llah ' s call for human unity can be seen in the sheer diversity of baha ' i marriages. baha ' is pay little attention to differences in race, nationality and ethnic background in choosing mates and international marriages - - as well as cross - racial marriages - - are extremely common in baha ' i communities. testimonies of triumph the marriage of truitt and behin white offers an example of a marriage that crosses traditional racial, religious and international bounds. truitt, an african american who was born in texas in 1950, was raised initially as a southern baptist. at age 19 he became a baha ' i, and in 1973 he traveled to india and attended a baha ' i conference for youth in bangalore. there he met behin mihrshahi, a baha ' i from india and they have lived since both there and in the united states. they have two children : a daughter, ruha, and a son, jamal. the whites realize that as an interracial and intercultural couple, they stand out from the norm almost everywhere they travel. but for them this visibility is a source of pride. " i realized after we came here to the united


son, jamal. the whites realize that as an interracial and intercultural couple, they stand out from the norm almost everywhere they travel. but for them this visibility is a source of pride. " i realized after we came here to the united states that, as an interracial family, people would be looking at us, " said behin. " but we want to show that it is alright to be from different races and to be married. because of our belief in the oneness of humankind and in promoting unity, we feel more than comfortable in our relationship. " as in most religions, the marriage vow is considered sacred in the baha ' i faith. yet, although the baha ' i view on marital fidelity might be viewed as traditional, the faith ' s emphasis on the equality of women and men and its promotion of consultation as a tool for problem - solving mean that the roles of husband and wife within the marriage need not be traditional at all. neither dominates. decision - making is to be shared. women are encouraged to pursue their own careers. and fathers are not exempt from household duties or child rearing. perhaps most importantly, marriage is seen fundamentally as a spiritual union. one passage from the baha ' i sacred writings describes marriage this way : " the lord, peerless is he, hath made man and woman to abide with each other in the closest companionship, and to be even as a single soul. they are two helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned with the welfare of each other. " 2 this emphasis on spirituality enables baha ' is of diverse backgrounds to come together harmoniously. take the marriage of tadaaki and mary nouguchi, a baha ' i couple living in japan. their marriage is unusual by japanese standards because tadaaki is a native of japan and mary is american - born. in japan, international marriage is rare because of cultural attitudes that discourage close contact with outsiders. " sometimes, when i am out with my wife, i see japanese people pointing at us and talking about us, " said tadaaki, who is a professor of english literature at ritsumeikan university in kyoto. " but i like to believe that we are part of a process where people can come to accept such marriages and can begin to say, ' yes, it is different to marry a foreigner, but it is also quite normal. ' " the pair met in the early 1960s when mary came to japan to study japanese. " when i first came to japan, i believed


begin to say, ' yes, it is different to marry a foreigner, but it is also quite normal. ' " the pair met in the early 1960s when mary came to japan to study japanese. " when i first came to japan, i believed that i would never marry a japanese man, because they tend to be so male chauvinistic, " said mary. " but then i met a number of japanese baha ' i men who were very helpful with their families and who obviously had good marriages. because the baha ' i faith stresses the equality of men and women and the importance of family life, i believe, these men made sacrifices in their careers and in their social status in order to have better relationships with their wives. and i found tadaaki to be this sort of man. " at the same time, mary has made sacrifices of her own, sacrifices which she feels would have been next to impossible were it not for the emphasis on life ' s spiritual reality. in traditional japanese society, for example, the oldest son is expected to care for his parents when they get old. from the start of their relationship, tadaaki said he would like to have his parents live with them. although it is unusual for americans to live with parents - in - law, mary readily consented. " i have several american friends who are not baha ' i who are married to japanese men, " she said. " they simply would not put up with having the in - laws in one household. but as a baha ' i, i believe that the family is the basic unit of society. if we can ' t have unity in the family, we can ' t have unity in the world. so i encouraged tadaaki ' s parents to come live with us. " of course, not every baha ' i marriage goes well. while the spiritual insights provided by baha ' u ' llah ' s teachings can provide great assistance to the individual in facing up to the trials and stresses of modern life, baha ' is would be the first to admit that they are not perfect. the baha ' i teachings permit divorce, although it is strongly discouraged. and if a divorce is sought, the marriage partners must spend at least one year living apart and attempting to reconcile. if after that " year of waiting " either partner, or both, finds that he or she simply cannot continue, a divorce can be granted. many marriages are saved during this year of reflection. it provides a buffer against hasty decisions and rash emotions, and it gives both parties a


waiting " either partner, or both, finds that he or she simply cannot continue, a divorce can be granted. many marriages are saved during this year of reflection. it provides a buffer against hasty decisions and rash emotions, and it gives both parties a chance to rebuild their relationships in an atmosphere that is detached from the stresses of living in the same household. one of the key purposes of baha ' i marriage, beyond physical, intellectual and spiritual companionship, is children. baha ' is view child rearing not only as a source of great joy and rewards, but as a sacred obligation. for rebequa getahoun and her husband, marshall murphy, the importance of children has played a central role in their family life. ms. getahoun, a native of ethiopia, married mr. murphy, an american, in 1973. they have three sons : rahim, born in 1974, yohannes, born in 1976, and yosafe, born in 1979. " after rahim was born, we made a conscious decision to lower our standard of living by living on one salary so that i could stay home with the children, " said rebequa. " we felt that once we started having children, they were our primary responsibility. so we choose a simple life, so that we could create that kind of family atmosphere for our children. that atmosphere included not only a strong sense of parental love, but a determination to ensure that everyone in the family, both children and parents, are treated with respect. " the limits of personal rights " in our family life, we have made a concerted effort to respect the rights of each member, and not to allow any one member of the family to abuse other members, " rebequa said. " this includes teaching that there are limits to rights. because we have found that, especially in this american society, individual rights seem to know no bounds. and therefore the concept of limits is a difficult lesson to teach children. " that is probably one of the most valuable lessons that a family can give to society, to raise individuals to be keenly aware of their rights, and also of the responsibilities that come with those rights, " rebequa said, " because the model for society is the family. when we learn respect and cooperation and equality in the family, we learn it for society. " baha ' is understand that each child is born as a blank slate. there is no predisposition to evil or to good. " children are even as the branch that is fresh and


and equality in the family, we learn it for society. " baha ' is understand that each child is born as a blank slate. there is no predisposition to evil or to good. " children are even as the branch that is fresh and green, " say the baha ' i sacred writings. " they will grow up in whatever way we train them. " 3 accordingly, baha ' is understand that when they are raised in the loving atmosphere of a unified family and are provided with parental models for honesty, truthfulness, obedience, respect and unselfishness, children will indeed grow spiritually and gravitate towards good behavior. moral and spiritual education baha ' i communities, and not just parents, also devote considerable effort to the education of children, and especially to their moral and spiritual education. " the education and training of children is among the most meritorious acts of humankind, " say the baha ' i sacred writings, " for education is the indispensable foundation of all human excellence and alloweth man to work his way to the heights of abiding glory... " 4 classes for children on moral and spiritual values are a common feature of baha ' i community life, and many baha ' i communities have established public preschools as a service to the community at large. in fiji, for example, a baha ' i kindergarten at lomatvunu has become a model institution for the country. likewise in swaziland, baha ' i preschools established in a half a dozen cities in that small southern african kingdom have been widely recognized and commended ; the government has even worked closely with baha ' i teachers in developing its national curriculum for early education. a progessive model to summarize, baha ' u ' llah ' s teachings about the family contribute to the creation of a distinctive home life for baha ' is. while baha ' i is traditional in its emphasis on chastity before wedlock, faithfulness within marriage, and the abhorrence of divorce, baha ' i family life is at the same time progressive because of teachings that promote equality between the sexes, full and frank consultation on family problems and new educational models for child rearing. the recognition of humanity ' s spiritual reality translates into a respect for all members of the family as individuals, while at the same time engendering a warm and loving sense of unity and security within the family unit. the result is a model for modern, integrated families that offer to the individual a safe haven from the world at large, while at the same


while at the same time engendering a warm and loving sense of unity and security within the family unit. the result is a model for modern, integrated families that offer to the individual a safe haven from the world at large, while at the same time promoting his or her spiritual, intellectual and emotional growth. brad pokorny, a journalist and writer, formerly of the boston globe, is currently writing on issues of sustainable development. he has traveled to many countries, visiting baha ' i communities around the world. his forthcoming book, a journey through the baha ' i world, is to be published by one world publishing in oxford, england. notes : 1. baha ' u ' llah, baha ' i prayers ( illinois : baha ' i publishing trust, 1954 ), 105 ; 2. ' abdu ' l - baha, selections from the writings of ' abdu ' l - baha, ( chatham, england : w & j mackay limited, 1978 ), 122 ; 3. ' abdu ' l - baha, ibid, 136 ; 4. ' abdu ' l - baha, ibid., 129 selected bibliography : baha ' u ' llah. baha ' i prayers. wilmette, illinois : baha ' i publishing trust, 1954 ; baha ' u ' llah. gleanings from the writings of baha ' u ' llah. wilmette, illinois : baha ' i publishing trust of the usa ; baha ' u ' llah. the hidden words. london : nightingale books ; ' abdu ' l - baha. selections from the writings of ' abdu ' l - baha. chatham, england : w & j mackay limited, 1978 ; selections from the writings of the bab. baha ' i publications ; effendi, shoghi. god passes by. wilmette, illinois : baha ' i publishing trust of the usa ; hatcher, william s. and martin, j. douglas. the baha ' i faith : the emerging global religion. san francisco : harper & row. ; baha ' i marriage and family life. ontario : baha ' i canada publications ; the promise of world peace. oxford, england : the universal house of justice, one world publications.


the european union has decided on a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels subsidies in the new climate agreement, to be readied by 2015 in qatar, where water costs more than a litre of petrol. it is ironic that qatar, which has the world ’ s highest per capita carbon emission, is not a signatory to the cancun pledges for reducing emissions and give huge fossil fuel subsidies, happens to be hosting the conference of around 200 countries. it was in this context that eu climate commissioner connie hedegaard wanted the inclusion of a plan to phase out first subsidies and then fossil fuels, the biggest contributor to climate change, in the new agreement — to be framed by an ad - hoc committee on the durban platform. india and china, which oppose the plan, claim it is not feasible unless richer countries give a financial commitment on the phase - out plan in the developing world. india, china, brazil and south africa made it clear on tuesday that they will not agree on a discussion about key emerging sectors — upscale use of renewable energy sources, efficiency in domestic transport and production methods, low carbon economy and controlling farm emissions — without a specific commitment on the provision of funds till 2020. the issue came up when the group of island nations proposed a specific agenda of items to be discussed under the durban platform from next year. the proposal also said that the countries would have to make their submissions by march 15, 2013. the union cabinet did not give india ’ s climate negotiating team the mandate to finalise agenda items, and only agreed on a plan to decide the items for the agenda in the coming year.


the american presence in europe was a consequence of world war ii. when the fighting in europe ended in may 1945, some 2. 6 million u. s. troops occupied much of western europe, including the former axis territories of italy, the federal republic of germany ( frg, west germany ), and part of austria. although american military planners had foreseen the need for a limited occupation, they had not anticipated the antagonisms that would develop into the cold war with the soviet union, nor had they envisioned that u. s. forces would assume a role far beyond that of short - term occupation and constabulary duties or that these troops would still be in europe more than a half century after the end of the war. after may 1945, the united states removed significant numbers of men from the continent for the anticipated allied invasion of japan. following the japanese surrender that august and given the worsening of relations between the western powers and the soviet union, the united states redeployed considerable military assets to europe, including b - 29 strategic bombers and naval units. a year after the end of the war, u. s. forces in europe numbered some 278, 000 men. the first major european crisis faced by american forces in europe came with the soviet imposition of a blockade of west berlin in june 1948. rather than risk a shooting confrontation with the soviets, u. s. president harry s. truman decided to airlift supplies into the city. when the soviets raised their blockade and the airlift ended in september 1949, some 2. 3 million tons of supplies had been delivered, and the west had registered a significant victory. that same year, the north atlantic treaty organization ( nato ) came into existence. in june 1950 the korean war ( 1950 – 1953 ) began, imposing a severe strain on already - stretched u. s. resources. the truman administration made the political calculation that it could not afford to maintain as large a presence in europe as its allies would have preferred, although in december 1950 president truman pledged to send four additional divisions to europe to bolster nato defenses. that deployment began the next year. at the same time, truman named general of the army dwight d. eisenhower as nato ' s first supreme allied commander europe ( saceur ), a post he took up in january 1951. part of the american solution to defend europe with reduced strength was president eisenhower ' s new look defense posture. this policy, also known as " more bang for a buck, " was opposed by general of the army omar bradley, chairman of the joint chiefs


part of the american solution to defend europe with reduced strength was president eisenhower ' s new look defense posture. this policy, also known as " more bang for a buck, " was opposed by general of the army omar bradley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. it placed greater reliance on nuclear weapons in the event of war with the soviets. beginning in 1955, nuclear weapons were stored in germany, britain, italy, and turkey. ten years later these weapons numbered slightly more than 7, 000 warheads. that number would remain constant until 1979, when it began to decline ; by 1986 about 4, 500 remained. following the korean war, washington demonstrated the primacy of europe in its military policy. u. s. troop strength increased so that by 1955, the american commitment stood at 356, 800 men, a dramatic difference from the low of 80, 000 troops deployed there in 1950. in the early 1960s, flexible response replaced the new look. flexible response held that the deployment of a larger number of ground troops would permit more options in the decision - making process before the employment of nuclear weapons. one consequence of this policy was that until 1968, troop levels never went below 300, 000 personnel. the late 1960s saw substantial changes in the american military presence in europe and in european attitudes toward the americans. the war in vietnam became the first priority. by 1968, with troop levels in europe at 268, 000 personnel, below - strength units endured maintenance and supply problems, low morale, heavy drug use, and racial conflict. at the same time, the crime rate, especially violent crimes against local civilians, increased dramatically. during this time, changes in the u. s. economic situation became apparent. the value of the dollar declined vis - a - vis many local currencies. the standard of living and contributions to the local economy were declining, and many soldiers and their dependents lived in near poverty. in addition, organized opposition from peace activists protesting the deployment of nuclear weapons as well as terrorist bombings of military facilities seemed to demonstrate that americans were not as welcome as had once been the case. in the 1980s, the deployment of pershing ii missiles and cruise missiles led to increased hostility toward the american military presence on the part of many west europeans. although nuclear weapons had been in europe for almost thirty years and pershing missiles had been deployed since 1965, deployment of the improved pershing iis in the early 1980s proved controversial. the government of west germany, however, approved deployment of pershing missiles in 1983. before the year ' s end,


years and pershing missiles had been deployed since 1965, deployment of the improved pershing iis in the early 1980s proved controversial. the government of west germany, however, approved deployment of pershing missiles in 1983. before the year ' s end, the first units were declared combat - ready. the number of pershing iis, all positioned in germany, reached a maximum of 118 until 1990, when their mission was considered completed. the pershing missiles were not the only source of controversy, as the united states also stationed cruise missiles in west germany, the united kingdom, italy, and belgium. these deployments were vocally opposed by a number of people in the localities of the deployments. military dependents were an important part of the american presence, whether they lived on base or off the economy. in the mid - 1980s, half of the approximately 326, 000 u. s. military personnel in europe had dependents there. while there were many benefits to families being located with the military, there were also problems. not the least of these were concerns over the evacuation of military dependents in the event of a warsaw pact invasion. u. s. military strength did not match that of the warsaw pact or even its soviet elements. in the mid - 1970s, americans fielded 9, 000 tanks against the soviets ' 40, 000, 22, 000 armored vehicles against 40, 000, and 6, 000 artillery pieces as opposed to 18, 000 soviet guns. the one area of american quantitative superiority was in tactical helicopters : 9, 000 american attack helicopters to 2, 000 for the soviets. in the areas of tactical attack airplanes, the united states maintained in europe only some 300 ( about 15 percent of the nato total ). these faced more than 7, 200 warsaw pact airplanes. in the same time frame, the disparity in manpower was even more stark. to oppose the total american force of more than 300, 000 personnel, the soviets deployed 825, 000 men in east germany, czechoslovakia, poland, and hungary. this was in addition to 425, 000 indigenous soldiers from those countries. it was for that reason that nuclear weapons early on became and remained an integral part of american strategy during the cold war. robert n. stacy duke, simon w., and wolfgang krieger, eds. u. s. military forces in europe : the early years, 1945 – 1970. boulder, co : westview, 1993. ; isby, david c., and charles kamps, jr. armies of nato ' s central front


tropical waves characteristics interval / period of 3 - 4 days between waves - lasting from one week to several weeks - propagating at 10 - 15 kt wavelength of 2, 000 - 2, 500 km extend vertically between sfc - 5km a westward traveling tropical wave manifests quite well on the lower atmosphere. in the absence of satellite imagery, raobs, ship synoptic and surface observations are the best tools for finding these perturbations. knowledge of climatology across the region is key for tropical wave detection, as shifts on the prevailing wind flow will be the first clue of an approaching tropical wave. over the eastern caribbean, the prevailing easterlies will take a more ne component as a tropical wave approaches. as the wave axis moves over the area the easterlies will return, but as it passes the winds will take an ese component. over the southeastern caribbean the tropical waves are harder to find, as their circulation tends to be masked by the itcz anchoring low over the gulf of panama. over panama - costa rica the flow during the wet season has a ne component, except when a tropical wave moves west across the region inducing an ese rotation of the mean flow. strong waves can then draw the itcz north across panama / costa rica into the southern caribbean.


this is the second presentation this year from clinical nutritionist sotiria everett and part 2 of our nutrition and lupus series. in this presentation, ms. everett focuses more specifically on the heart and renal ( kidney ) disease as these relate to nutritional considerations for people with lupus. ( see part 1 for a more general overview of nutrition and its importance for people with lupus. ) ms. everett began her presentation by discussing some important general facts about heart disease. heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the united states. heart disease is a slow and silent process. often patients will not feel any symptoms, so it is important to be aware of the risk factors that are at play. factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use, diabetes, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition can put people with lupus at an even greater risk for heart disease, or for worsening symptoms. it is important to understand that there are a lot of “ little ” things you can do to help reduce your risk. ms. everett next highlighted some of the important issues that relate to lupus and heart disease : all of these risk factors are important to be aware of. there is still much you can do to limit or lessen your risk from future disease. ms. everett highlighted that although we are unable to change risk factors like our genetics, gender, and age, there is still much we can do to lessen our risk. some techniques that ms. everett discussed included controlling risk factors of heart disease by increasing physical activity, going to physical therapy, practicing healthy eating habits, seeking out a nutritionist, joining a smoking cessation program if you are a smoker, controlling your weight, and so on. it is very important that you keep in close contact with your doctor in order to control and monitor lupus and the medicines you take. ms. everett describes these all as therapeutic lifestyle changes, and not a diet or something you will do once in a while. to maintain a healthy weight, it is important to know approximately how many calories you need to eat each day. ms. everett discussed that men require about 2200 - 2400 per day, whereas women require about 1800 - 2000 calories per day. try and exercise for at least 30 minutes daily to help maintain your weight. it is important to reduce abdominal obesity where waist circumference for men should be below 40 inches and, for women, below 35 inches. it is also important to maintain your body mass index ( bmi