Acupressure is an ancient Chinese form of therapy that has gained increased visibility in the west in recent years. Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture in that pressure applied to certain key areas is used to restore balance to key energy flows within the body that have become imbalanced thereby causing illness.
Acupressure is based on the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, which is based on completely different theoretical underpinnings than western medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is not viewed as a machine--rather it is viewed as a collection of processes and energy flows that must be kept in balance. Any disruption of the energy flows can result in sickness, weakness, or even death. Therefore, all forms of traditional Chinese medicine, from acupuncture and acupressure to traditional Chinese herbal therapies are based on the concept of restoring balance to parts of the body that have become imbalanced.
To the uninitiated, acupressure may seem to be completely bizarre since often times the treatments are applied to parts of the body that are nowhere near the disorder or illness. For example, acupressure treatments for a headache might involve treatments that focus on the abdomen, the knee, or the hand. While nonsensical to a traditional western medical practitioner, this practice makes perfect sense to the practitioner of acupressure. Since blockages can occur anywhere in the body and lead to conditions that might not be localized at the point of the blockage, there is no reason to be surprised that an acupressure practitioner might focus on parts of the body that are not located physically near the point of illness or injury.
While practitioners and patients of acupressure are convinced of its efficacy, the western medical establishment has not joined the bandwagon. Numerous tests have been conducted to determine whether or not acupressure has a real, measurable effect on health and wellness and results have, to this point, been inconclusive. However, some would argue that trying to evaluate eastern techniques via western scientific practices is simply begging the question, and any such attempt is doomed to fail. However, western practitioners counter this argument by pointing out that illness or the lack thereof is perfectly measurable and any treatment, eastern or otherwise, can be verified experimentally regardless of its axiomatic underpinnings. And so the debate rages on.
While the issue of the efficacy of acupressure and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine may never be settled to the extent that the western establishment requires, its practitioners and patients swear by it. Only time will tell whether traditional eastern medical techniques will find a place within the culture at large. One could argue that that time has already occurred given the popularity of the practice.
October 31, 2006
October 29, 2006
A Short History of Leedsware Pottery
Leedsware pottery is universally recognized and admired for the elegant and timeless quality of its design. The plain creamware construction ensures that Leedsware pottery is enjoyed for its pure stylistic design elements. Leedsware pottery is made today using the exact specifications that were laid down centuries ago, so the buyer knows that any Leedsware pottery that he or she purchases is guaranteed to look and feel exactly the same as pieces purchased centuries ago.
As the name implies, Leedsware pottery originated in Leeds, England, in 1770 by brothers Joshua and John Green along with their business partner Richard Humble. The most successful products in the early days of the Leedsware pottery business were those made out of creamware, which is made from a special form of clay found in and around Cornwall. Creamware is at first glance a rather austere substance and seems a rather unusual choice for elegant and stylized Leedsware pottery pieces. However, a little consideration of the subject points out that by choosing such a neutral medium as creamware, the creators of Leedsware pottery ensure that the pieces will be respected in and valued because of their exquisite craftsmanship, not because of their material make up.
The Leedsware pottery company went out of business in the late nineteenth century. Fortunately for Leedsware pottery lovers everywhere, many of the original Leedsware pottery molds survived demolition and many of those that did not have been painstaking recreated from notes, records, and similar existing museum pieces. The modern Leedsware pottery company prides itself on creating pottery pieces that are identical in every way to the creations that were produced by the company in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The construction process is similar to what it was all those years ago, and many of the steps involve hands on craftsmanship.
Perhaps the hallmark of Leedsware pottery is the elegant and functional serving bowls and dishes that graced many of the finest homes in Georgian and Victorian England. Traditional British meals of the period were a multi course affair and this meant that the well to do British household had to have a substantial supply of quality serving ware to serve their meals in style. Leedsware pottery featured elegant serving dishes and bowls, tea kettles, serving trays, and fine Leedsware pottery drinking vessels.
In addition to meal time Leedsware pottery goods, the company also supplied a number of pieces for other uses. The Leedsware inkstand was a vital part of the writing desk for a man of letters of the day. The Leedsware pottery inkstand featured receptacles for ink, special compartments to hold pens, and a pot for powder that was used to dry the ink after writing.
As the name implies, Leedsware pottery originated in Leeds, England, in 1770 by brothers Joshua and John Green along with their business partner Richard Humble. The most successful products in the early days of the Leedsware pottery business were those made out of creamware, which is made from a special form of clay found in and around Cornwall. Creamware is at first glance a rather austere substance and seems a rather unusual choice for elegant and stylized Leedsware pottery pieces. However, a little consideration of the subject points out that by choosing such a neutral medium as creamware, the creators of Leedsware pottery ensure that the pieces will be respected in and valued because of their exquisite craftsmanship, not because of their material make up.
The Leedsware pottery company went out of business in the late nineteenth century. Fortunately for Leedsware pottery lovers everywhere, many of the original Leedsware pottery molds survived demolition and many of those that did not have been painstaking recreated from notes, records, and similar existing museum pieces. The modern Leedsware pottery company prides itself on creating pottery pieces that are identical in every way to the creations that were produced by the company in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The construction process is similar to what it was all those years ago, and many of the steps involve hands on craftsmanship.
Perhaps the hallmark of Leedsware pottery is the elegant and functional serving bowls and dishes that graced many of the finest homes in Georgian and Victorian England. Traditional British meals of the period were a multi course affair and this meant that the well to do British household had to have a substantial supply of quality serving ware to serve their meals in style. Leedsware pottery featured elegant serving dishes and bowls, tea kettles, serving trays, and fine Leedsware pottery drinking vessels.
In addition to meal time Leedsware pottery goods, the company also supplied a number of pieces for other uses. The Leedsware inkstand was a vital part of the writing desk for a man of letters of the day. The Leedsware pottery inkstand featured receptacles for ink, special compartments to hold pens, and a pot for powder that was used to dry the ink after writing.
October 27, 2006
A Brief History of the Popular My Little Pony Toys
My Little Pony toys are some of the most successful toys in history, both as playthings for children as well as collectibles for adults. My Little Pony toys are small, plastic stylized horse dolls that are often brightly colored and feature flowing manes and tails. The different My Little Pony toys are identified by their color and individual demarcations. While most My Little Pony toys are modeled after realistic horses, there are also My Little Pony toys that are based on mythological creatures such as the unicorn and the winged horse Pegasus.
My Little Pony toys were introduced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro in 1982 following the release of the successful My Pretty Pony toys the year before. The My Little Pony toys were very popular throughout the nineteen eighties and went on to spawn a Saturday morning cartoon show, a number of animated movies, several books, records, and other related bits of media merchandise. The My Little Pony toys were so popular that many other toy manufacturers tried to produce knock off versions of My Little Pony toys, generally with little success. The fake My Little Pony toys (known as fakies to My Little Pony collectors) were never very successful as they were generally made of cheap materials and did not have the power of the Hasbro marketing machine behind them.
My Little Pony Toys are still very popular with children all over the world, but they are also enjoying new life as collector's items. It is not unusual to find mint condition My Little Pony toys selling for hundreds of dollars on online auction sites and other internet trading venues. The collector's trade has sparked a real increase in interest in My Little Pony toys and has made it one of the most beloved toy franchises in toy history.
It all started with what is now known as Generation 1 (or G1). The G1 My Little Pony toys were known as the Dream Valley My Little Pony toys and consisted of six ponies. The ponies were all what are now known as "Earth Ponies." Earth ponies are My Little Pony toys that are based on real horses in contrast to the Pegasus, unicorn, and other fanciful My Little Pony toys. Generation 2 My Little Pony toys introduced Pegasus and Unicorn My Little Pony toys in addition to more Earth Ponies. G2 was much more popular in Europe that it was in the United States. Current My Little Pony toys are Generation 3, and include both Earth Ponies and other My Little Pony toys.
My Little Pony toys are unique in their style and simplicity. They are valued both as playthings and as collector's items. Hugely popular for more than two decades, My Little Pony toys are among the most successful toys in history.
My Little Pony toys were introduced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro in 1982 following the release of the successful My Pretty Pony toys the year before. The My Little Pony toys were very popular throughout the nineteen eighties and went on to spawn a Saturday morning cartoon show, a number of animated movies, several books, records, and other related bits of media merchandise. The My Little Pony toys were so popular that many other toy manufacturers tried to produce knock off versions of My Little Pony toys, generally with little success. The fake My Little Pony toys (known as fakies to My Little Pony collectors) were never very successful as they were generally made of cheap materials and did not have the power of the Hasbro marketing machine behind them.
My Little Pony Toys are still very popular with children all over the world, but they are also enjoying new life as collector's items. It is not unusual to find mint condition My Little Pony toys selling for hundreds of dollars on online auction sites and other internet trading venues. The collector's trade has sparked a real increase in interest in My Little Pony toys and has made it one of the most beloved toy franchises in toy history.
It all started with what is now known as Generation 1 (or G1). The G1 My Little Pony toys were known as the Dream Valley My Little Pony toys and consisted of six ponies. The ponies were all what are now known as "Earth Ponies." Earth ponies are My Little Pony toys that are based on real horses in contrast to the Pegasus, unicorn, and other fanciful My Little Pony toys. Generation 2 My Little Pony toys introduced Pegasus and Unicorn My Little Pony toys in addition to more Earth Ponies. G2 was much more popular in Europe that it was in the United States. Current My Little Pony toys are Generation 3, and include both Earth Ponies and other My Little Pony toys.
My Little Pony toys are unique in their style and simplicity. They are valued both as playthings and as collector's items. Hugely popular for more than two decades, My Little Pony toys are among the most successful toys in history.
October 25, 2006
Homeopathy Treating Like with Like
Homeopathy is a form of alternate therapy that is gaining in popularity in recent years. The basic premise behind the practice of homeopathy is the concept of "like treats like", often called the "law of similars", which means that disorders can and should be treated by using the essence of the same thing that caused the disorder in the first place. Treatments used in homeopathy are exceedingly dilute solutions of a substance that can cause the symptom being treated when taken in a non diluted form. For example, nausea would be treated by mixing a tiny amount of a nausea producing agent in water. Indeed, treatments used in homeopathy are so very dilute that it is statistically unlikely that even a single molecule of the treating agent is actually present in the dose that is taken.
Homeopathy is based on the curious notion that the strength of the curative power of a substance is directly proportional to its dilution which runs counter to the fact that the potency of most substances is proportional to its concentration and inversely proportional to its dilution. In homeopathy, remedies are typically first mixed with water in some fixed proportion (typically one part in ten or one part in one hundred). The original solution is then further diluted with water using the same concentration. These dilution steps can occur thirty times or more. Following traditional homeopathy remedy preparation techniques, it is estimated that one would have to consume somewhere between twenty five to fifty tons of the remedy to ingest even a single molecule of the active agent. This means that it is virtually guaranteed that any homeopathy treatment is nothing more than pure water.
Proponents of homeopathy are not deterred by such mathematical arguments since they believe that the potency of the original curative substance is imprinted into the water and only strengthens with each dilution. Opponents counter that water must have come into contact with nearly every substance imaginable at some point or another and therefore every drink of water we take should already contain every possible homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy practitioners assert that the precise mixing technique is what gives the remedy its power, not random encounters.
Scientific experiments designed to test the efficacy of homeopathy have not proven either that the treatments are or are not effective. Some studies claim one way while others the converse, while others still are inconclusive. Regardless of the outcome, the people on either side of the argument tend to claim that experiments that favor the other side are somehow biased or flawed. This is a fairly common situation when alternative therapies are tested. The real issue is faith as it is unlikely that western science will ever accept the methods of homeopathy barring some earth shattering and completely unexpected developments in the fields of physics, chemistry, and/or biology.
Homeopathy is based on the curious notion that the strength of the curative power of a substance is directly proportional to its dilution which runs counter to the fact that the potency of most substances is proportional to its concentration and inversely proportional to its dilution. In homeopathy, remedies are typically first mixed with water in some fixed proportion (typically one part in ten or one part in one hundred). The original solution is then further diluted with water using the same concentration. These dilution steps can occur thirty times or more. Following traditional homeopathy remedy preparation techniques, it is estimated that one would have to consume somewhere between twenty five to fifty tons of the remedy to ingest even a single molecule of the active agent. This means that it is virtually guaranteed that any homeopathy treatment is nothing more than pure water.
Proponents of homeopathy are not deterred by such mathematical arguments since they believe that the potency of the original curative substance is imprinted into the water and only strengthens with each dilution. Opponents counter that water must have come into contact with nearly every substance imaginable at some point or another and therefore every drink of water we take should already contain every possible homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy practitioners assert that the precise mixing technique is what gives the remedy its power, not random encounters.
Scientific experiments designed to test the efficacy of homeopathy have not proven either that the treatments are or are not effective. Some studies claim one way while others the converse, while others still are inconclusive. Regardless of the outcome, the people on either side of the argument tend to claim that experiments that favor the other side are somehow biased or flawed. This is a fairly common situation when alternative therapies are tested. The real issue is faith as it is unlikely that western science will ever accept the methods of homeopathy barring some earth shattering and completely unexpected developments in the fields of physics, chemistry, and/or biology.
October 24, 2006
The Ultimate in Elegance Royal Creamware Fine Chine
Royal Creamware fine chine is perhaps the most sought after of all fine British porcelain. Royal Creamware fine chine is famous for its exquisite attention to detail as well as the overall quality of its design and fabrication. Royal Creamware fine chine is a testament to the quality of the fine china products produced in Great Britain in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
While Royal Creamware fine chine used to be distributed and sold primarily by local British purveyors of porcelain products, today the best way to obtain Royal Creamware fine chine is via the internet. The Royal Creamware fine chine online shop is located online at http://www.royal-creamware.co.uk/. From this website, you can browse and purchase every piece of Royal Creamware fine chine that is currently in production.
While Royal Cream fine chine consists of every type of porcelain artifact imaginable, perhaps the most exquisite example of the Royal Creamware dedication to detail is exhibited by the Royal Creamware collection of fine timepieces. The Royal Creamware daisy mantle clock is a perfect example of Royal Creamware quality and exactness. The gentle, sloping bell shaped body of the clock combined with the sharply angular base serves to offset the exquisite detail of the fine daisy tessellation pattern that engulfs and surrounds the face of the time piece. Never before has elegance met practicality in such a way. For those who need a timepiece that can be hung and displayed on the wall, the royal Creamware wall clock features a delicate dial surrounded by an austere yet elegant china face plate.
Another area in which Royal Creamware fine chine displays its utmost charm and elegance is in its delicate yet highly functional picture frames. Even the most ordinary photograph can be transformed into a photographic masterpiece if it is displayed in a Royal Creamware frame. The Nostalgia Photograph frame represents the ultimate in elegance and simplicity. Your photograph is displayed in an ovular presentation area surrounded by an airy pattern of relief that serves to focus the viewer's eye onto the content of the photo while still providing a veneer of elegance. Along the same lines, the Royal Creamware Rope Photograph Frame provides a simple yet functional backdrop to your photograph. The austere background works equally well with color or black and white shots and will enhance the appearance of the image without overwhelming it.
Royal Creamware is synonymous with high quality serving bowls that are both functional and ornate. The Royal Creamware Charlotte Bowl features a sturdy creamware stand with a light and breezy bowl structure replete with arches and trefoils. The handles resemble entwined branches and the overall aura of the bowl is that of a petrified fine wooden vessel.
Whether you are seeking a fine timepiece, a majestic picture frame, or an elegant yet functional serving bowl, you should consider purchasing Royal Creamware fine chine. As every piece is an exact replica of pieces that were created centuries ago, you can experience the best of British Victorian pottery by purchasing Royal Creamware fine chine.
While Royal Creamware fine chine used to be distributed and sold primarily by local British purveyors of porcelain products, today the best way to obtain Royal Creamware fine chine is via the internet. The Royal Creamware fine chine online shop is located online at http://www.royal-creamware.co.uk/. From this website, you can browse and purchase every piece of Royal Creamware fine chine that is currently in production.
While Royal Cream fine chine consists of every type of porcelain artifact imaginable, perhaps the most exquisite example of the Royal Creamware dedication to detail is exhibited by the Royal Creamware collection of fine timepieces. The Royal Creamware daisy mantle clock is a perfect example of Royal Creamware quality and exactness. The gentle, sloping bell shaped body of the clock combined with the sharply angular base serves to offset the exquisite detail of the fine daisy tessellation pattern that engulfs and surrounds the face of the time piece. Never before has elegance met practicality in such a way. For those who need a timepiece that can be hung and displayed on the wall, the royal Creamware wall clock features a delicate dial surrounded by an austere yet elegant china face plate.
Another area in which Royal Creamware fine chine displays its utmost charm and elegance is in its delicate yet highly functional picture frames. Even the most ordinary photograph can be transformed into a photographic masterpiece if it is displayed in a Royal Creamware frame. The Nostalgia Photograph frame represents the ultimate in elegance and simplicity. Your photograph is displayed in an ovular presentation area surrounded by an airy pattern of relief that serves to focus the viewer's eye onto the content of the photo while still providing a veneer of elegance. Along the same lines, the Royal Creamware Rope Photograph Frame provides a simple yet functional backdrop to your photograph. The austere background works equally well with color or black and white shots and will enhance the appearance of the image without overwhelming it.
Royal Creamware is synonymous with high quality serving bowls that are both functional and ornate. The Royal Creamware Charlotte Bowl features a sturdy creamware stand with a light and breezy bowl structure replete with arches and trefoils. The handles resemble entwined branches and the overall aura of the bowl is that of a petrified fine wooden vessel.
Whether you are seeking a fine timepiece, a majestic picture frame, or an elegant yet functional serving bowl, you should consider purchasing Royal Creamware fine chine. As every piece is an exact replica of pieces that were created centuries ago, you can experience the best of British Victorian pottery by purchasing Royal Creamware fine chine.
October 19, 2006
New Therapy for a New Age And Holistic Health and Beauty Therapy
From the Industrial Revolution onward, it seems that the west has become increasingly enchanted with the progress of science and technology. There is good reason for this science and technology have revolutionized the way that we live and the quality and quantity of life is unquestionably higher than what it was in times past. However, many have suggested that we have gone too far in our pursuit of science and have left older, alternative ideas in the dust. Many of these ideas are being rediscovered and applied to an increasingly interested society. Eastern ideas of health and beauty are becoming popular as are new age means of treating the whole person. Holistic health and beauty therapy has arisen as a popular supplement to the standard science based treatment options that have been available for years.
One popular form of holistic health and beauty therapy is aromatherapy. Many practitioners believe that certain scents are conducive to certain bodily reactions and, in this way, may be used to treat diseases or promote general health and well being. No one can argue that the sense of smell is our mostly strongly associative. It is amazing how often one smells a certain aroma and is transported back to another place and time where the aroma was encountered. There are real scientific explanations for this fact. The sense of smell is our most basic, primitive sense and is in many ways "hard wired" directly into the brain in a way that the other senses are not. For this reason, many people believe that aromatherapy is a valid and effective holistic health and beauty therapy.
Another popular form of holistic health and beauty therapy is herbal medicine. For years, naturally occurring herbs have been used to treat almost any illness that you can imagine. While no one is sure how our ancestors came by this knowledge, the fact that it has been used successfully for so long attests to its benefits. Many doctors have become aware of herbal therapies and are offering them in conjunction with standard medical practices. A word of caution--since herbal remedies are not regulated the way other medications are, you are never sure that what you are getting is what is advertised. Also, many herbal remedies can interact with other medications, so be sure to consult with your physician before trying an herbal holistic health and beauty therapy treatments.
Holistic health and beauty therapy is an increasingly popular alternative to the purely scientific medicine of the west. While some may doubt its efficacy, no one can doubt its popularity. Be sure to consult with your physician before beginning any herbal based holistic health and beauty therapy to make sure that the herbal treatments you will be using do not interact with any medications you may be taking.
One popular form of holistic health and beauty therapy is aromatherapy. Many practitioners believe that certain scents are conducive to certain bodily reactions and, in this way, may be used to treat diseases or promote general health and well being. No one can argue that the sense of smell is our mostly strongly associative. It is amazing how often one smells a certain aroma and is transported back to another place and time where the aroma was encountered. There are real scientific explanations for this fact. The sense of smell is our most basic, primitive sense and is in many ways "hard wired" directly into the brain in a way that the other senses are not. For this reason, many people believe that aromatherapy is a valid and effective holistic health and beauty therapy.
Another popular form of holistic health and beauty therapy is herbal medicine. For years, naturally occurring herbs have been used to treat almost any illness that you can imagine. While no one is sure how our ancestors came by this knowledge, the fact that it has been used successfully for so long attests to its benefits. Many doctors have become aware of herbal therapies and are offering them in conjunction with standard medical practices. A word of caution--since herbal remedies are not regulated the way other medications are, you are never sure that what you are getting is what is advertised. Also, many herbal remedies can interact with other medications, so be sure to consult with your physician before trying an herbal holistic health and beauty therapy treatments.
Holistic health and beauty therapy is an increasingly popular alternative to the purely scientific medicine of the west. While some may doubt its efficacy, no one can doubt its popularity. Be sure to consult with your physician before beginning any herbal based holistic health and beauty therapy to make sure that the herbal treatments you will be using do not interact with any medications you may be taking.
Succeeding at Self-Hypnosis
While many balk at the idea of hypnosis of any kind, many kinds of hypnosis are becoming more popular alongside other ‘non-prescription’ and ‘non-Western’ medical care. Hypnosis might be used to ‘cure’ a ‘problem’ such as helping one lose weight, and thus ‘curing’ obesity, but for the most part, hypnosis is about changing the body and the mind from the inside, out.
Self-hypnosis is one type of hypnosis, gaining in popularity both as a result of recent trends in alternative healthcare as well as being, for some people, the most attractive kind of hypnosis. Many who are unwilling to be hypnotized are willing to try self-hypnosis because in self-hypnosis the hypnotizer is also the hypnotized!
One might try self-hypnosis in order to lose weight, or perhaps to reduce stress or to increase happiness. Practitioners promoting hypnosis claim that hypnosis can be used for absolutely anything; there is no exact, fixed list of things/problems that hypnosis can treat. Self-hypnosis, as well as other types of hypnosis can be used for whatever it is that one wants to change in life.
Self-hypnosis is done by relaxing and putting oneself into a meditative state. It can be practiced by adults and children alike, in fact, studies have shown that children are very successful at self-hypnosis because they have developed imaginations and have not yet developed a truly skeptical or rational outlook. Self-hypnosis with children should be closely monitored and should not stand in the place of professional medical care.
In self-hypnosis, there’s nothing to lose. The fear of losing control in traditional ways of being hypnotized does not apply. If you’re curious and open-minded, give it a try; there’s nothing to lose and a multitude of benefits to gain.
Self-hypnosis is one type of hypnosis, gaining in popularity both as a result of recent trends in alternative healthcare as well as being, for some people, the most attractive kind of hypnosis. Many who are unwilling to be hypnotized are willing to try self-hypnosis because in self-hypnosis the hypnotizer is also the hypnotized!
One might try self-hypnosis in order to lose weight, or perhaps to reduce stress or to increase happiness. Practitioners promoting hypnosis claim that hypnosis can be used for absolutely anything; there is no exact, fixed list of things/problems that hypnosis can treat. Self-hypnosis, as well as other types of hypnosis can be used for whatever it is that one wants to change in life.
Self-hypnosis is done by relaxing and putting oneself into a meditative state. It can be practiced by adults and children alike, in fact, studies have shown that children are very successful at self-hypnosis because they have developed imaginations and have not yet developed a truly skeptical or rational outlook. Self-hypnosis with children should be closely monitored and should not stand in the place of professional medical care.
In self-hypnosis, there’s nothing to lose. The fear of losing control in traditional ways of being hypnotized does not apply. If you’re curious and open-minded, give it a try; there’s nothing to lose and a multitude of benefits to gain.
October 18, 2006
Herbal Supplements Old Treatments for a New Age
Recent years have seen a remarkable upswing in the interest of herbal supplements by an increasingly health conscious west. As many people grow wary of the established western medical system (and increasingly unable to afford the skyrocketing price of western health care) the lure of herbal supplements has been increasing. Herbal remedies have been used in traditional medical practices for thousands of years. Presumably the practice was common in the early western world as well as in the east, but it is only in the orient that true herbal treatments have survived into the present day. For this reason, much of our current knowledge of herbal supplements is based on knowledge that has been transferred from east to west.
Herbal supplements can be delivered in a number of ways. Herbal teas are a very commonly used herbal supplements delivery method. This involves heating the active part of the herb (the leaves, stem, roots, seeds, or other part) in heated water and then drinking the mixture. Herbal tinctures are solutions of the active part of the herb in alcohol.
Fluid and solid herbal supplement extracts are herbal supplements that have undergone chemical processes to isolate the most active component of the herbal supplement and may then be delivered in pill or fluid form. Herbal supplements can also be delivered as creams if the active ingredient is easily absorbed through the skin. Some herbal supplements are delivered as essential oils. Essential oils are applied to various parts of the body and, due to their highly volatile nature, are typically inhaled. Aromatherapy is an example of essential oil treatment with herbal supplements.
There are a number of herbal supplements on the market that have a variety of health benefits. Artichoke is said to lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, and Echinacea extract is a commonly used herbal supplement to ward off the symptoms of common cold and flu disorders. Garlic is thought to lower cholesterol levels as well and also has beneficial effects in regards to blood pressure and platelet generation. Peppermint is often used to treat disorders of the digestive system and Saint John's Wort is a commonly used herbal supplement that supposedly provides relief for sufferers of depression and anxiety.
Many people who take herbal supplements to treat various disorders do not realize that herbal supplements can often interact with traditional western medications. The ingredients in herbal supplements, however, are often very potent and can cause severe complications when combined with western medications. It is therefore advisable that anyone who chooses to use herbal supplements should consult their primary care physician to make sure that the herbal supplements that they are planning to take will not negatively interact with any other medications that they may be taking.
Herbal supplements can be delivered in a number of ways. Herbal teas are a very commonly used herbal supplements delivery method. This involves heating the active part of the herb (the leaves, stem, roots, seeds, or other part) in heated water and then drinking the mixture. Herbal tinctures are solutions of the active part of the herb in alcohol.
Fluid and solid herbal supplement extracts are herbal supplements that have undergone chemical processes to isolate the most active component of the herbal supplement and may then be delivered in pill or fluid form. Herbal supplements can also be delivered as creams if the active ingredient is easily absorbed through the skin. Some herbal supplements are delivered as essential oils. Essential oils are applied to various parts of the body and, due to their highly volatile nature, are typically inhaled. Aromatherapy is an example of essential oil treatment with herbal supplements.
There are a number of herbal supplements on the market that have a variety of health benefits. Artichoke is said to lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, and Echinacea extract is a commonly used herbal supplement to ward off the symptoms of common cold and flu disorders. Garlic is thought to lower cholesterol levels as well and also has beneficial effects in regards to blood pressure and platelet generation. Peppermint is often used to treat disorders of the digestive system and Saint John's Wort is a commonly used herbal supplement that supposedly provides relief for sufferers of depression and anxiety.
Many people who take herbal supplements to treat various disorders do not realize that herbal supplements can often interact with traditional western medications. The ingredients in herbal supplements, however, are often very potent and can cause severe complications when combined with western medications. It is therefore advisable that anyone who chooses to use herbal supplements should consult their primary care physician to make sure that the herbal supplements that they are planning to take will not negatively interact with any other medications that they may be taking.
October 17, 2006
Classic Elegance--The Hartley Greens Pottery Company
The pottery produced in Georgian and Victorian era England has become famous for its intricate design, ornate pattern work, and clear translucent creamware pottery. The Leeds Pottery company was originally founded by brothers John and Joshua Green in the late eighteenth century. Later William Hartley came on board to lend his particular expertise and the company changed its name to the Hartley Greens pottery company.
Hartley Greens pottery is still available today since many of the original molds survived after the company closed and the factories demolished in the late eighteenth century. Since the Hartley Greens pottery company is dedicated to closely following the original manufacturing processes of the pottery, you can be assured that any piece of Hartley Greens pottery that you purchase will look, feel, and smell just like an original would have.
Hartley Greens pottery is famous for its superb line of dinnerware pieces. Well to do households of the Victorian era made emulating the trends and fashion of royalty a constant obsession. In this very class conscious society, Hartley Greens pottery was seen as a must have for any household that wanted to cement their position among society's upper echelon. Since meals of the time were typically served in many courses, there had to be enough dinnerware on hand to accommodate the different stages of the meal. For this reason, a large number of dinnerware pieces were created by the Hartley Greens Pottery Company.
Nothing says old world British elegance better than Hartley Greens pottery tea sets. Tea time in Victorian Britain was a serious affair indeed, and Hartley Greens pottery tea sets were the perfect complement to this delightfully British tradition. Indeed, Hartley Greens pottery tea sets are still commonly seen at tea time in Britain.
Hartley Greens pottery also has a line of elegant yet functional pitchers and jugs. The Country Lass Jug shows a country lass on the relief of the pitcher and has a bulbous shape with a flared neck. The Country Lass jug makes the perfect addition to a traditional English breakfast where it is perfectly at home housing milk or juice. The hunting scene jug is similar to the Country Lass jug except it features an exciting fox hot scene in the relief.
Mugs are a specialty of the Hartley Greens Pottery Company. The standard by which all other ceramic mugs are measured is the Hartley Greens Leeds Mug. The Leeds mug is a solid creamware mug in a pleasing cylindrical shape that features a unique intertwined double looped handle with leaves at the terminal points. If you prefer ale to coffee, then you should consider the Hartley Greens Pottery Company Melbourne Tankard. The Melbourne Tankard is a mighty vessel that measures five inches in height and is the perfect vessel in which to enjoy ale or mead.
Hartley Greens pottery is still available today since many of the original molds survived after the company closed and the factories demolished in the late eighteenth century. Since the Hartley Greens pottery company is dedicated to closely following the original manufacturing processes of the pottery, you can be assured that any piece of Hartley Greens pottery that you purchase will look, feel, and smell just like an original would have.
Hartley Greens pottery is famous for its superb line of dinnerware pieces. Well to do households of the Victorian era made emulating the trends and fashion of royalty a constant obsession. In this very class conscious society, Hartley Greens pottery was seen as a must have for any household that wanted to cement their position among society's upper echelon. Since meals of the time were typically served in many courses, there had to be enough dinnerware on hand to accommodate the different stages of the meal. For this reason, a large number of dinnerware pieces were created by the Hartley Greens Pottery Company.
Nothing says old world British elegance better than Hartley Greens pottery tea sets. Tea time in Victorian Britain was a serious affair indeed, and Hartley Greens pottery tea sets were the perfect complement to this delightfully British tradition. Indeed, Hartley Greens pottery tea sets are still commonly seen at tea time in Britain.
Hartley Greens pottery also has a line of elegant yet functional pitchers and jugs. The Country Lass Jug shows a country lass on the relief of the pitcher and has a bulbous shape with a flared neck. The Country Lass jug makes the perfect addition to a traditional English breakfast where it is perfectly at home housing milk or juice. The hunting scene jug is similar to the Country Lass jug except it features an exciting fox hot scene in the relief.
Mugs are a specialty of the Hartley Greens Pottery Company. The standard by which all other ceramic mugs are measured is the Hartley Greens Leeds Mug. The Leeds mug is a solid creamware mug in a pleasing cylindrical shape that features a unique intertwined double looped handle with leaves at the terminal points. If you prefer ale to coffee, then you should consider the Hartley Greens Pottery Company Melbourne Tankard. The Melbourne Tankard is a mighty vessel that measures five inches in height and is the perfect vessel in which to enjoy ale or mead.
October 11, 2006
Bach Flower Remedies--Homeopathy with a Floral Twist
Bach flower remedies are treatments for disease that resemble homeopathy in many ways. For example, Bach flower remedies utilize the diluted extracts of certain flowers to induce a state of harmony within the patient. Bach flower remedies are by their very nature non scientific, and seek to treat the spiritual and emotional side of illness that Bach flower remedy practitioners believe is the root cause of all disorders.
Bach flower remedies were invented (or, as practitioners might say, discovered) by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician. After an exemplary career as a western medical doctor, Dr. Bach became disenchanted with the western deconstructionist method of medical treatment and began to search for a more holistic method of treating the whole person, not just the individual parts. Dr. Bach fervently believed that the root causes of disease were not material but were rather a result of an imbalance between the soul and the mind. Such disorders could clearly not be treated by relying on western medicine, which only seeks to treat the body. Therefore, Dr. Bach began a quest to seek out alternative forms of therapy to treat the imbalance that he believed was the root cause of all disease. In this way, Dr. Bach more resembled traditional Chinese medicine practitioners who believe that all disorders are caused by imbalances than he did his western medicine colleagues who all believed that disorders could be treated by isolating the point of sickness and treating that point.
Dr. Bach believed that the essence of naturally occurring flowers could treat the bodily imbalances that were causing disorders and therefore he developed a system of treatment using the extracts of flowers diluted in a solution of brandy. Dr. Bach's system maintains that the efficacy of the flower substance is not influenced by repeated dilutions as a certain material essence remains in the solute. In this way, Bach flower remedies resemble homeopathy, which utilizes incredibly dilute solutions of various substances to treat illnesses and injuries.
Perhaps the most famous of the Bach flower remedies is the so called "rescue remedy" which is a combination of multiple flower extracts, including that of the Star of Bethlehem, the cherry plum, the rock rose, and others. Rescue remedy is said to be an effective stress reliever that is also useful for anxiety attacks and depression. Rescue remedy is typically administered with a small dropper or as a cream that is rubbed into the skin.
Other flower remedies include more than four hundred distinct flower remedies that can be used to treat anything from unfounded fear to strange dreaming to self hated and envy. Clearly, the western medical establishment is skeptical at best of the Bach flower remedies and only time will tell if the flower remedies become accepted in the future.
Bach flower remedies were invented (or, as practitioners might say, discovered) by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician. After an exemplary career as a western medical doctor, Dr. Bach became disenchanted with the western deconstructionist method of medical treatment and began to search for a more holistic method of treating the whole person, not just the individual parts. Dr. Bach fervently believed that the root causes of disease were not material but were rather a result of an imbalance between the soul and the mind. Such disorders could clearly not be treated by relying on western medicine, which only seeks to treat the body. Therefore, Dr. Bach began a quest to seek out alternative forms of therapy to treat the imbalance that he believed was the root cause of all disease. In this way, Dr. Bach more resembled traditional Chinese medicine practitioners who believe that all disorders are caused by imbalances than he did his western medicine colleagues who all believed that disorders could be treated by isolating the point of sickness and treating that point.
Dr. Bach believed that the essence of naturally occurring flowers could treat the bodily imbalances that were causing disorders and therefore he developed a system of treatment using the extracts of flowers diluted in a solution of brandy. Dr. Bach's system maintains that the efficacy of the flower substance is not influenced by repeated dilutions as a certain material essence remains in the solute. In this way, Bach flower remedies resemble homeopathy, which utilizes incredibly dilute solutions of various substances to treat illnesses and injuries.
Perhaps the most famous of the Bach flower remedies is the so called "rescue remedy" which is a combination of multiple flower extracts, including that of the Star of Bethlehem, the cherry plum, the rock rose, and others. Rescue remedy is said to be an effective stress reliever that is also useful for anxiety attacks and depression. Rescue remedy is typically administered with a small dropper or as a cream that is rubbed into the skin.
Other flower remedies include more than four hundred distinct flower remedies that can be used to treat anything from unfounded fear to strange dreaming to self hated and envy. Clearly, the western medical establishment is skeptical at best of the Bach flower remedies and only time will tell if the flower remedies become accepted in the future.
October 10, 2006
Acupuncture--Real or Pseudoscience?
Acupuncture is perhaps the most visible and well known form of traditional Chinese medicine to the west. The image of a patient stuffed full of needles is an intriguing one, and people are often curious to know how anyone could believe that illnesses and injuries could be treated with such a curious practice. However, as any trained acupuncture practitioner knows, the placement of the needles is not random, but is rather based on thousands of years of theory that forms the basis for the entire tradition of ancient Chinese medicine.
There has been a huge upsurge in alternative therapies in the west in recent years. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the skyrocketing cost of health care. However, there is also a deeper, more subtle reason for this new interest. Many feel that the west has lost touch with the spiritual dimension of life, and the deconstructionist theories of modern medicine are one of the best examples of this. Traditional Chinese medicine and other holistic therapies are becoming popular as a means of restoring what many view as a lost sense of balance to western society.
While the reasons for the interest in acupuncture and other forms of holistic therapy are easy to understand, the real question of whether or not acupuncture and other types of traditional Chinese medicine are effective in a medical sense remains at issue. Many claim that any improvement in a condition treated by acupuncture is actually due to the body's natural healing abilities possibly combined with a placebo effect.
Numerous scientific studies have attempted to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating diseases and injuries. The results of these studies have been mixed, and the other side often blames the results on preconceived ideas held by the experimenters.
The reason for this sharp conflict between acupuncture and traditional western medicine is based on the fact that the two traditions have entirely different theoretical underpinnings. Western medicine views the body as a massively complex machine. As such, the body is composed of component parts that must work together in order to function properly. In this view, diseases can be isolated to certain body components and treated at the component level. In other words, if one experiences kidney failure, then the kidneys should be treated. Likewise, those who are having trouble with their eyes should have their eyes treated. This is so obvious to someone who has grown up in a western culture that any suggestion otherwise seems silly. Nevertheless, the traditional Chinese view of the body is quite different. Traditional Chinese medicine views the body as an emergent phenomenon greater than the sum of its parts. Disorders are caused by blockages or imbalances in energy flow. Therefore, treatments need not be localized at the point of disorder--rather they should be located at the point of the blockage causing the disorder.
It seems unlikely that eastern and western medical traditions are going to find common ground in the near term. Nevertheless, acupuncture is growing in popularity and seems to be here to stay.
There has been a huge upsurge in alternative therapies in the west in recent years. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the skyrocketing cost of health care. However, there is also a deeper, more subtle reason for this new interest. Many feel that the west has lost touch with the spiritual dimension of life, and the deconstructionist theories of modern medicine are one of the best examples of this. Traditional Chinese medicine and other holistic therapies are becoming popular as a means of restoring what many view as a lost sense of balance to western society.
While the reasons for the interest in acupuncture and other forms of holistic therapy are easy to understand, the real question of whether or not acupuncture and other types of traditional Chinese medicine are effective in a medical sense remains at issue. Many claim that any improvement in a condition treated by acupuncture is actually due to the body's natural healing abilities possibly combined with a placebo effect.
Numerous scientific studies have attempted to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating diseases and injuries. The results of these studies have been mixed, and the other side often blames the results on preconceived ideas held by the experimenters.
The reason for this sharp conflict between acupuncture and traditional western medicine is based on the fact that the two traditions have entirely different theoretical underpinnings. Western medicine views the body as a massively complex machine. As such, the body is composed of component parts that must work together in order to function properly. In this view, diseases can be isolated to certain body components and treated at the component level. In other words, if one experiences kidney failure, then the kidneys should be treated. Likewise, those who are having trouble with their eyes should have their eyes treated. This is so obvious to someone who has grown up in a western culture that any suggestion otherwise seems silly. Nevertheless, the traditional Chinese view of the body is quite different. Traditional Chinese medicine views the body as an emergent phenomenon greater than the sum of its parts. Disorders are caused by blockages or imbalances in energy flow. Therefore, treatments need not be localized at the point of disorder--rather they should be located at the point of the blockage causing the disorder.
It seems unlikely that eastern and western medical traditions are going to find common ground in the near term. Nevertheless, acupuncture is growing in popularity and seems to be here to stay.
October 06, 2006
The Power of Touch--Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese form of therapy that has gained increased visibility in the west in recent years. Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture in that pressure applied to certain key areas is used to restore balance to key energy flows within the body that have become imbalanced thereby causing illness.
Acupressure is based on the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, which is based on completely different theoretical underpinnings than western medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is not viewed as a machine--rather it is viewed as a collection of processes and energy flows that must be kept in balance. Any disruption of the energy flows can result in sickness, weakness, or even death. Therefore, all forms of traditional Chinese medicine, from acupuncture and acupressure to traditional Chinese herbal therapies are based on the concept of restoring balance to parts of the body that have become imbalanced.
To the uninitiated, acupressure may seem to be completely bizarre since often times the treatments are applied to parts of the body that are nowhere near the disorder or illness. For example, acupressure treatments for a headache might involve treatments that focus on the abdomen, the knee, or the hand. While nonsensical to a traditional western medical practitioner, this practice makes perfect sense to the practitioner of acupressure. Since blockages can occur anywhere in the body and lead to conditions that might not be localized at the point of the blockage, there is no reason to be surprised that an acupressure practitioner might focus on parts of the body that are not located physically near the point of illness or injury.
While practitioners and patients of acupressure are convinced of its efficacy, the western medical establishment has not joined the bandwagon. Numerous tests have been conducted to determine whether or not acupressure has a real, measurable effect on health and wellness and results have, to this point, been inconclusive. However, some would argue that trying to evaluate eastern techniques via western scientific practices is simply begging the question, and any such attempt is doomed to fail. However, western practitioners counter this argument by pointing out that illness or the lack thereof is perfectly measurable and any treatment, eastern or otherwise, can be verified experimentally regardless of its axiomatic underpinnings. And so the debate rages on.
While the issue of the efficacy of acupressure and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine may never be settled to the extent that the western establishment requires, its practitioners and patients swear by it. Only time will tell whether traditional eastern medical techniques will find a place within the culture at large. One could argue that that time has already occurred given the popularity of the practice.
Acupressure is based on the framework of traditional Chinese medicine, which is based on completely different theoretical underpinnings than western medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, the body is not viewed as a machine--rather it is viewed as a collection of processes and energy flows that must be kept in balance. Any disruption of the energy flows can result in sickness, weakness, or even death. Therefore, all forms of traditional Chinese medicine, from acupuncture and acupressure to traditional Chinese herbal therapies are based on the concept of restoring balance to parts of the body that have become imbalanced.
To the uninitiated, acupressure may seem to be completely bizarre since often times the treatments are applied to parts of the body that are nowhere near the disorder or illness. For example, acupressure treatments for a headache might involve treatments that focus on the abdomen, the knee, or the hand. While nonsensical to a traditional western medical practitioner, this practice makes perfect sense to the practitioner of acupressure. Since blockages can occur anywhere in the body and lead to conditions that might not be localized at the point of the blockage, there is no reason to be surprised that an acupressure practitioner might focus on parts of the body that are not located physically near the point of illness or injury.
While practitioners and patients of acupressure are convinced of its efficacy, the western medical establishment has not joined the bandwagon. Numerous tests have been conducted to determine whether or not acupressure has a real, measurable effect on health and wellness and results have, to this point, been inconclusive. However, some would argue that trying to evaluate eastern techniques via western scientific practices is simply begging the question, and any such attempt is doomed to fail. However, western practitioners counter this argument by pointing out that illness or the lack thereof is perfectly measurable and any treatment, eastern or otherwise, can be verified experimentally regardless of its axiomatic underpinnings. And so the debate rages on.
While the issue of the efficacy of acupressure and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine may never be settled to the extent that the western establishment requires, its practitioners and patients swear by it. Only time will tell whether traditional eastern medical techniques will find a place within the culture at large. One could argue that that time has already occurred given the popularity of the practice.
October 04, 2006
The Skinny on Slimming and Diet Supplements
Since Jane Fonda’s heyday the focus in weight loss has drastically changed. The ‘no pain, no gain’ aerobics and exercise philosophy was abandoned by some for simpler forms of exercise, such as running, biking, and skiing. For others, aerobics was abandoned for pill popping. While it’s been more than proven that diet pills are bad for us, bad for the heart, etc., a large number of people continue to search for ‘safe’ slimming and diet supplements that do not fall into the category of ‘diet pills’.
Slimming and diet supplements have gotten into the media recently. Remember all the hoodia hype? Some proponents still claim that it’s ‘100% safe’ while many doctors continue to find it ill-advised to use it as a diet supplement. Just because it doesn’t cause cancer in rats doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing to ingest on a regular basis. The biggest problem with slimming and diet supplements is that they are not rigorously tested by the FDA. Some supplements are not tested at all.
Always remember when viewing or hearing advertisements for slimming and diet supplements that the goal of the advertisers is to sell their products and not to help you lose weight. Be careful when using supplements regularly since the effects are not fully known. The best advice is to not use slimming and diet supplements, but to look at the active ingredients in them that are known to be 100% safe, and then use those items. For example, many such supplements have green tea extract in them. While the benefits or drawbacks of the supplements are still in question, the benefits of green tea are widely known, and the drawbacks are nonexistent.
Slimming and diet supplements have gotten into the media recently. Remember all the hoodia hype? Some proponents still claim that it’s ‘100% safe’ while many doctors continue to find it ill-advised to use it as a diet supplement. Just because it doesn’t cause cancer in rats doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing to ingest on a regular basis. The biggest problem with slimming and diet supplements is that they are not rigorously tested by the FDA. Some supplements are not tested at all.
Always remember when viewing or hearing advertisements for slimming and diet supplements that the goal of the advertisers is to sell their products and not to help you lose weight. Be careful when using supplements regularly since the effects are not fully known. The best advice is to not use slimming and diet supplements, but to look at the active ingredients in them that are known to be 100% safe, and then use those items. For example, many such supplements have green tea extract in them. While the benefits or drawbacks of the supplements are still in question, the benefits of green tea are widely known, and the drawbacks are nonexistent.
October 03, 2006
Royal Creamware Fine China : la Crème de la Crème
Royal Creamware Fine China has been a British china institution for over 230 years. Inspired by royalty, loved, bought, and used by royalty back then, and still is being used as such today. Royal Creamware specializes in a minimalist cream-colored, colorless, collection of fine china.
Austere is a good word for Royal Creamware Fine China. It is classic china, a standard in upper-class homes across the United Kingdom and around the world. Products are typical fine china products: teapots, plates, soup plates and gravy boats are standard issue. The collection also boasts coffee pots and chocolate pots…and being from the United Kingdom, Royal Creamware Fine China has a multitude of teapot designs.
This fine china is more expensive than your average American china, but folks are still flocking to Royal Creamware Fine China just like they’re flocking to Apilco or to Noritake. Pottery and china seem to be a domestic domain in which fads do not rule; classics retain their appeal.
If one looks at some examples of Royal Creamware, it is obvious why these pieces maintain their allure. The pieces are simply beautiful; the lines are clean, the shapes are classics, and there are no designs or colors to interfere with the beautiful shape and line of the piece itself. Such beauty attracts buyers with classic taste, buyers looking to admire their tableware, not be wowed by the picture of the butterfly on it.
When it comes to classics, less is truly more—-in design that is, not in price. Royal Creamware Fine China fits the bill famously.
Austere is a good word for Royal Creamware Fine China. It is classic china, a standard in upper-class homes across the United Kingdom and around the world. Products are typical fine china products: teapots, plates, soup plates and gravy boats are standard issue. The collection also boasts coffee pots and chocolate pots…and being from the United Kingdom, Royal Creamware Fine China has a multitude of teapot designs.
This fine china is more expensive than your average American china, but folks are still flocking to Royal Creamware Fine China just like they’re flocking to Apilco or to Noritake. Pottery and china seem to be a domestic domain in which fads do not rule; classics retain their appeal.
If one looks at some examples of Royal Creamware, it is obvious why these pieces maintain their allure. The pieces are simply beautiful; the lines are clean, the shapes are classics, and there are no designs or colors to interfere with the beautiful shape and line of the piece itself. Such beauty attracts buyers with classic taste, buyers looking to admire their tableware, not be wowed by the picture of the butterfly on it.
When it comes to classics, less is truly more—-in design that is, not in price. Royal Creamware Fine China fits the bill famously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)