Health & Prosperous

Propolis to us

2010-11-28T02:55:00.000-08:00

Human knowledge of the problems of nutrition, medicine and defense bodies of the bee products mostly come from human curiosity will be the relationship of bees and flowers. Propolis is a non-polar part of the honey. If honey is readily soluble in water, can be mixed with water (polar), propolis is not the case, are similar to oil, balm or wax, insoluble in water and only received the substances would dissolve in it. However, propolis can be mixed with honey, because the nature of a thick honey.

Propolis is a honey bee accessory, purposely built by worker bees for honeycomb becomes sticky to each other. The materials used to build the propolis is a mixture of vegetable gums, resin exudate, faded leaves were selected based on the instinct of bees, germination, pollen, beeswax, and enzymes that exist in the saliva of bees whose main function is used to protect the entrance to its nest at the same time sterilize every bee is about to go into the nest, also prevent penetration of unwanted air pollution, inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi and the nature of magic, which serves as a balm for wrapping the carcasses of animals killed in the nest (a kind of mummy process), therefore make propolis possess more "unique" than honey itself.

Local H1N1 cases nearly double to 52

2009-07-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Local H1N1 cases nearly double to 52

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 07/10/2009 2:54 PM | Headlines

The Health Ministry pledged Thursday to do everything possible to curb the spread of the H1N1 variant of influenza A, as the number of confirmed cases nationwide almost doubled to 52 in the last couple of days.

Minister Siti Fadillah Supari said her office was on high alert, after 24 more people from across the country were reported to have contracted the flu virus.

"We'll continue thermal scanning at airports to monitor the health of people entering the country," she said at a press conference in Jakarta, adding all 52 cases in Indonesia were of the mild variety.

Siti added the influenza A virus had now spread beyond the northern part of Sumatra, into Kalimantan province.

Sixteen of the newly suspected patients are undergoing treatment at three hospitals in Jakarta, while three others were admitted to Adam Malik Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra, one to Bali's Sanglah General Hospital, two to Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung, West Java, and two to Kanujoso Djati Hospital in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

"It seems like it has spread everywhere," Siti said.

Fourteen of the new patients had traveled aboard prior to contracting the flu. Three are foreigners, while the rest are Indonesian citizens.

The three suspects undergoing intensive medical treatment in Medan have tested positive for the flu.

Previously, health expert Handrawan Nadesul had warned of a wider spread of the flu.

"Influenza A spreads more quickly than bird flu, and Indonesia is always vulnerable because the country's bio-security is weak, due to our being a large country," he said recently in Jakarta.

"When there was an outbreak of bird flu, people still drove their vehicles to the market and back home to residential areas without having washed their tires," he pointed out.

"Tires can help spread the virus."

Siti said the H1N1 virus was no more virulent than the regular flu, but the Health Ministry would remain on the alert.

"We will prepare the target hospitals, the Tamiflu stock and the labs, and improve our public education campaign regarding the H1N1 flu," she said.

With health authorities in countries such as Hong Kong and Denmark reporting that some patients are showing resistance to Tamiflu, the WHO-recommended drug to combat the H1N1 infection, Siti said no such cases had been discovered in Indonesia.

"We will research that possibility," she said, adding if a patient was resistant to Tamiflu, prescriptions of other anti-influenza drugs would suffice.

The WHO has announced the majority of patients will experience mild symptoms and make a full recovery within a week, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.

Handrawan pointed out that despite the fact the H1N1 strain had a low mortality rate, countries like Japan and Singapore were taking more measures to contain its spread.

"They have gone all out and assigned workers to wipe clean the buttons in elevators or lavatory door handles."

Siti urged people to adopt hygienic and healthy habits, such as washing their hands and wearing masks if they had caught the flu.

"It is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of containing the spread of the virus," she said. (adh)

Spread the work and not HIV

2009-03-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict previously stressed the Catholic Church was in the forefront of the battle against AIDS. The Vatican encourages sexual abstinence as their answer to fight the spread of the disease. So the Catholic Church has a simple answer; if you are not married or you happen to be gay, or you do not 100 percent trust your husband or wife, don't have sex (are choirboys excluded one wonders?). Very easy for him to say! Well, in Africa, where the pope is currently on a recruiting drive, they seem to be losing the battle. Globally, there are an estimated 33 million (30 million - 36 million) people living with HIV. In 2003 a senior Vatican official claimed condoms had tiny holes in them through which HIV could pass, exposing thousands of people to risk.

The then head of the Vatican Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, said: "The AIDS virus is roughly 450 times smaller than the spermatozoon. The spermatozoon can easily pass through the *net' that is formed by the condom."

He added, "These margins of uncertainty ... should represent an obligation on the part of the health ministries and all these campaigns to act in the same way as they do with regard to cigarettes, which they state to be a danger."

The World Health Organization responded at the time by saying that "These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million people, and currently affects at least 42 million."

Anyone who condemns the use of condoms, or who supports any religious- or idealist-based opinion stated in this column, should also consider another statement made by UNAIDS in their 2008 report was that: "some of the most worrisome increases in new infections are now occurring in populous countries in other regions, one of them being Indonesia.

"The serious epidemic under way in Indonesia's Papua province is somewhat anomalous in Asia, in that HIV transmission appears to be occurring mainly due to both unprotected sex with a regular partner and paid sex.

In a province-wide population-based survey in 2006, adult HIV prevalence was 2.4 percent (2.9 percent among men and 1.9 percent among women).

"Given that only 14 percent of men who buy sex say that they use condoms with sex workers (Ministry of Health *Indonesia* and Statistics Indonesia, 2007), it is not surprising that high HIV infection levels *14 percent-16 percent* have been found among sex workers in parts of the province (National AIDS Commission *Indonesia*, 2006)".

Spread the work and not HIV. Be safe! Use a condom.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/03/27/spread-work-and-not-hiv.html

Key success in overcoming depression

2009-03-05T04:46:00.000-08:00

In economic conditions that are less well with the global crisis that has begun to crawl up to the joint economic community, it is possible we are experiencing depression.

In the process of achieving success, not less people will have depression or pressure on the people.
1.The termination of your relationship work?
2. Does not pass the exam?
3. Not be promoted?
4. Losers in a competition?
5. Gullible people?
6. Business go bankrupt?
7. Convicted doctor exposed to severe disease?
8. There is a continuous debt?
9. Time and time again failed to get a job?
10. On-line business or you work less?

Depression can be defined as a condition of mental depression, and can cause loss of life expectancy, the meaning of life, decrease or even lost a motivation, even sometimes a sense of trust to the self

Depression occurs because the pressure of living that is too heavy and the soul or mind, we're not able to bear, the fact of life is more cruel than we imagine. All are definitely want to improve or overcome the depression that happened but even more people are sometimes wrong step in overcoming this problem of depression, even given tips or get the person's bias to make the depression. The cause of depression is getting worse:
• All tips o the depression is not implemented properly, or even to sit silent and alone, or just know.
• Viewing a negative self -
• Rejecting or skeptical of advice, opinion or assistance of others.
• Blame others or blame circumstances themselves
• Less creative or glued on routine
• Reject the fact that there
• Lost on the presence of God / religion
• All must be designated as (perfectly)

Success can be when we can overcome depression. How to overcome depression, more precisely, may be able to help.

1. Trust and make themselves a positive image of yourself
Back to find the confidence that is beginning to overcome the depression you feel, and try to make ourselves a positive or how we construe themselves in a positive way with the following:
• Trust and believe that your time is remarkable
• Trust and believe you are a private good
• Trust and believe you have the ability
• Remove all prejudice against the poor themselves
• See back successes that you achieve

2. Continue to fight
Sometimes during the depression, we think our power is closed by one person or less. Try to think calmly and improve your defeat or error, there is still opportunity to improve in the future. Do not let us sink into the past and forget the bad thinking of the future better. Past that can not have changed, the future is still a "Golden Opportunity". Try re-ordering the following items for your future.
- Try to create a plan of what should be fixed on the things that make your depression
- The re-plan or goal that you want, try to rearrange your goals successfully
- Create a short-term plan as part of your long-term success.

The above needs to be done with realistic: do from the start today, using the resources that already exist, and the location of life in which you currently reside. Avoid making the program or the target is too high, so can not be done and can not be.

3. Build a sense of self
Back on depression, depression can occur due to pressures of life, what is the pressure, is the dissatisfaction of his own self, in fact this can be meaningful and positive negative, depending on how we use. Feeling satisfied that build and encourage a sense is satisfied that good, we really need, sometimes called the ambition that can generate enthusiasm, self motivation and cause. If you lose a job, dropped out of mourning, continued pressure in the bundle, or make your bankruptcy has become a depression.

This is to change, innovate, change your goals, improve skills, build a more positive character, and so on. This is a much more positive experience rather we just depression, self-pity and blame other people.

4. Improve relationships
We are sometimes busy in the routines, we forget to improve the relationship. Areas that need relationship is:
a) the relationship with self: self-control, meditation, self-dialogue, etc.,
b) relationships with other people and
c) relationship with God (increase of the faith).
Improve the relationship with yourself will make us quicker to control or withdraw from the situation that does not benefit us. If we realize that we are aware of depression and that we must immediately take action, of course this problem will be different.
• Improving the relationship with the human
Relations with the human help which we do business in overcoming depression. We must remember that human beings can be grouped into two:
a) there are people who are a source of depression for us, and
b) there are people who support a solution on the depression.
We need (at most) is the second group of people. Do not keep away until we all human, human to all the trauma, or do not believe in all humans.
• Improving the relationship with God
There are many way to a solution, we can improve the relationship with the gods, among others:
a) the increase of faith,
b) the teachings of the religion we choose to truly feel and believe we have a kind of "togetherness."
Togetherness here is not that " illusion" (not based and does not effect), but the togetherness that encourage us to do the positive and avoid the negative.

5. Increasing Tolerance
Sometimes we can not tolerate any mistakes that we made, we often demand perfection (from other people, from themselves and from this world). We should be more tolerance for build perfection, the tolerance we strive towards perfection gradually, sustainable improvement. Tolerance does not always want to perfect and more easily affected by depression at the time we want to overcome depression, for example, we just did not want to fail again (for the possibility of failure is always there), our anti-tolerance against the weakness of others (all have weaknesses), and so on.

So the solution in the depression that is capable of making a decision to start the activity or something to focus something interesting. How to overcome depression, which is a good way to decrease the level of fear, or optimistic in the future. Fast and does not despair when something does fail, the relationship at both the family and God. Do not forget to reach a success you need the ability to overcome the feeling of depression. So, can overcome the feeling of depression is a first step to achieve success

Rent it, and feel at home

2009-02-20T06:49:00.001-08:00

For some people, moving house - or even country - can cause hassles when trying to take the furniture. For others, a change in furniture style is a helpful, even essential, mood-refresher.

If either of these sounds like you, leasing your furniture could be the best option.

"Furniture rental makes it easier for those who often relocate, for example like expatriates," said Mellyza Zuladi, a consultant at Arbor & Troy furniture boutique.

"For expatriates, procedures for shipping furniture from their home countries may be complicated. Not to mention the expensive custom duties and the possible damage."

Thus, Mellyza said, leasing furniture can be convenient for those who need furniture quickly, while also wanting to feel at home in their new house.

"In other cases, some people get bored easily with their furniture style. For this reason, furniture rental also makes sense for them," Mellyza said.

Arbor & Troy furniture boutique has offered rental services since 2006, with options ranging from modern and classic styles to more customized ones.

"Customers are free to choose short-term or long-term rental periods," Mellyza said, adding the short term was between one month and 12 months, and long-term rental was for more than one year.

Rental fees vary depending on the packages chosen, she said. But as an illustration, Mellyza said that for a short-term period, leasing furniture for two bedrooms could be around US$100 per month.

"Meanwhile, for a long-term period, the price tag is from some $300 per month - this includes furnishings for bedrooms and living and dining rooms," Mellyza said.

According to Mellyza, furniture leasing can do more than just give relief to those relocating individuals or those seeking for an interior design mood change; it can also help people putting on a special event.

"Some of our customers are interested in leasing furnishings for special events such as exhibitions, seminars or photo shoots," she said.

Piccadilly furniture gallery also leases out furnishings for special events.

"The movie Ayat-Ayat Cinta *Verses of Love*, for example, used our ancient English-style furnishings," Girie, Piccadilly's marketing executive, revealed.

"And because our gallery has this atmosphere of classic English homes, some singers like Diana Pungky filmed their video clips here."

Piccadilly's prices for furniture rental depend on the customer's budget, she said.

"It's negotiable. But for renting the space, we have a fixed price of Rp 8.5 million for every four hours," she said, adding the gallery also provides a swimming pool for those planning a party.

- JP/Dian Kuswandin

Lethal drinking and youths

2009-01-31T15:24:00.000-08:00

A cheap but lethal home-brewed alcoholic cocktail, mixed with 90 percent alcohol, ginseng, vanilla, honey among other ingredients, has recently killed 14 young men in Semarang, Central Java. The men bought these materials from a small drink vendor (a warung) and died after drinking this cocktail, popularly known as oplosan in Indonesia. This was not an isolated event and it is important to note the high risks associated with drinking oplosan in the first place.

This potentially lethal practice is quite rampant, particularly among young men from lower socio-economic backgrounds, both in rural and urban areas of Indonesia. Last year for instance, the Indonesian media widely reported the deaths of young men who drank this cocktail in Surabaya and Madiun in East Java, Indramayu in West Java, as well as the deaths of several Thai citizens in Papua. It seems that these cases are merely the tip of the iceberg since not all deaths, health and social consequences related to this hazardous practice can be detected or reported in the media.

During my fieldwork in a slum area in Makassar, South Sulawesi, in mid 2008, I found that many young men drank this dangerous oplosan drink not only because of the chemical or pharmacological effects, but also because of the cultural meaning attached to this risky practice.

In addition, it is quite clear that drinking oplosan is a social event among young men. Many researchers have found the contradictory functions of alcohol as a social glue among young men even though alcohol may also trigger conflict or even violence among them.

Because most of the young men in Indonesia who drink oplosan are from a low socio-economic background, they usually pool money to buy the materials that they will mix to produce this lethal cocktail. One of the most important meanings that these young men attach to the practice of drinking oplosan is to achieve and maintain their masculine status.

Many of them mention that they participate in this risky and potentially lethal drinking practice to prove their manhood as well as to numb their frustration from their harsh daily lives.

Australian sociologist, R.W. Connell, the pioneer in theorizing masculinity, cited the tendency of “hyper-masculinity” among young men from disadvantaged backgrounds that push them to be involved in risky practices such as risky drinking, drug use, crime or violence.

According to Connell, unlike many young men from higher socio-economic backgrounds who also are involved in risky activities but mature more quickly because of work and marriage, young men from low socio-economic backgrounds usually engage in these risky practices earlier and longer.

They also lack the resources and support to mature quickly and identify with their masculinity through conventional channels such as education, employment and career. Many young men from deprived backgrounds engage often in these risky practices and later face severe health, social, economic and legal consequences or even death.

It is therefore important to note that repression alone cannot prevent many young men from drinking oplosan. As reported by many researchers, engagement in risky practices among young men from a low socio-economic background also has structural, cultural and gender dimensions. High levels of school drop-outs, low access to decent employment, boredom and the desire to prove their manhood - even through self destruction - push these young men into chronic alienation and marginalization.

Community development programs that increase educational attainment, employability and access toward health prevention and care programs, needs to be designed and implemented to reduce the marginalization of poor young men. It is also noteworthy that in most cultures there is a sense of exclusion for young men who lack financial independence and have no decent employment. These young men generally will suffer from lower self esteem and many of them compensate their misery with risky practices.

The feminization of labor - in which young females have better access to employment in the service sectors in urban areas – has also exacerbated the alienation of many young men. This gender dimension of unemployment and underemployment should be taken into account as well.

For more than 15 years in Indonesia, when we talk about gender it usually means talking about efforts to increase the well-being of girls and women. It is now urgent to also incorporate men and boys into the gender discussion.

Epidemiological data clearly shows that the mortality, morbidity, socio-economic and legal consequences of risky practices such as hazardous drinking, drug use, traffic accidents, unsafe sex, crime and violence are highly concentrated among men between 15-24 years of age, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the engagement of young men in these risky activities will also affect the well being of their female counterparts such as their mothers, their sisters or their partners. In many cases the engagement of young men in these risky practices may create physical, psychological, social and economic problems for females such as domestic violence, sexual violence, sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), social stigma, discrimination, exclusion or even death.

Finally, it is urgent to better understand the cultural context and the political economy of young men who undertake risky activities, in order to design and implement appropriate and comprehensive interventions.

Source: Sudirman Nasir , MELBOURNE | Sat, 01/31/2009 11:38 AM | Opinion

Seeking some rest and recreation in the hidden corner of Batam

2009-01-31T14:45:00.000-08:00

Let’s start by being brutally honest: At first glance, Batam Island does not really appear a great vacation proposition.

Parts of the island are best described as an eyesore, with highly utilitarian industrial and commercial premises stretching over large swathes of the land.

And let’s be frank about the land itself, too – flat for one thing, with soil – exposed through the island’s numerous excavations – in an unappealing orangey-yellowish color that looks infertile and grubby.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, there is one more thing to add: Better things lie ahead.

As you travel from the island’s Hang Nadim airport to the area known as Nongsa, the industrial and commercial buildings – and that grubby-looking soil – gradually give way to dense thickets of shrubs and low-lying plants.

Keep going. This unkempt shrubbery then gives way to something else – to signs of humanity taming this wilderness and making it into something lovely and fresh. You have arrived at the dreamy vacation area of Nongsa, Nongsa is in the northern coastal region of Batam Island, with attractive inlets and beaches that add up to an idyllic and tranquil setting for some rest and recreation. There are golf courses here for those so interested, but it is much more the coast, the beaches and the resorts along the waterfront that attract visitors.

The resorts at Nongsa range from the pristine and ultramodern to the more traditional and tropical made from timber and bamboo with thatched roofs. Some of the modern architecture is impressive but those who find all that concrete and steel clinical and cold with may prefer the more “traditional” architecture with its natural materials.

Regardless of the style of architecture, the common theme here is the sea and the Strait of Singapore that Nongsa looks out onto. The shores and skyscrapers of Singapore are visible in the distance – no prizes for guessing why Singaporeans account for many of the holidaymakers.

Singapore is but a 45-minute ferry ride away, making it all too easy for those city-dwellers to escape their crowded city-state for the tranquility of Batam’s resort, the ferry dropping them at the very well-constructed and -managed ferry terminal known as Nongsapura.

Thanks to Nongsapura, getting to and from the resorts is easy and comfortable, with ferries setting off at regular intervals to destinations in both Singapore and Malaysia. These speedy ferries deftly negotiate busy waters, weaving around the huge cargo ships and tankers that pass through the strait. Before all that, though, comes the Nongsa River.

The Nongsa River connects the island to the strait. Like much of the rest of Batam Island, it is surrounded by dense vegetation, which lends it a distinctly wild air. Trips upriver to view exotic birds and wild monkeys are possible, although most people find it hard to drag themselves away from the coast.

One of those coastal attractions is Nongsa’s impressive and expansive marina open to private vessels. Otherwise, there are plenty of watery activities to help while away the holidays: fishing, snorkeling, parasailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing and banana boating.

The downside of all these water activities is the water itself – or more particularly the clarity of the water. It is perhaps only to be expected that with this strait being a major marine thoroughfare – dozens of massive ships pass through the Strait and often time clouds of exhaust fumes can be seen belching from their enormous engines – the water is going to be on the murky side of pristine.

The problem of pollution is also evident in the work of the cleaners raking the beaches each morning, burying the less desirable offerings that have been washed up on the shore.

Never mind – there is no need to swim in the sea, as the resorts all have their own swimming pools replete with fountains and waterfalls, and a mix of depths to please everyone from children and the more serious swimmer. Given this, the sea may be better left alone as a backdrop for the resorts.

Otherwise, the environment in Nongsa is generally clean and well kept, creating great benefits for the local wildlife. In the thick lush forests, visitors can see exotic and colorful birds going about their business of foraging and nesting. At night, bats sweep across the sky, gorging themselves on the abundant fruit hanging from the trees.

Nongsa and its resorts may be quite different from the rest of Batam Island, but are created ideally for rest and recreation. The detail in the construction and management of the hotels and resorts means taking a vacation here can be very pleasing and satisfying – regardless of first impressions.

Source: Simon Marcus Gower , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 01/21/2009 2:21 PM | Travel

Obama reverses abortion-funds policy

2009-01-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama continued his march to reverse contentious Bush administration policies, ending the ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about it.

Obama signed a memorandum reversing the ban Friday afternoon, a day after he ordered the closures of the Guantanamo Bay prison and secret overseas CIA prisons, a review of military trials of terror suspects and a ban on torture.

The president's focus on foreign policy comes even as he tries to deal with economic issues, Americans' biggest concern at a time that the economy is struggling. On Friday, he met with Republican and Democratic leaders at the White House to discuss legislative hurdles as he strives to get his massive economic stimulus plan enacted.

Liberal groups welcomed Obama's decision on the abortion funding ban, while abortion rights foes criticized the president. The abortion measure is a highly emotional one for many people, and Obama's action came one day after the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.

Critics have long held that the rule unfairly discriminates against the world's poor by denying U.S. aid to groups that may be involved in abortion but also work on other aspects of reproductive health care and HIV/AIDS, leading to the closure of free and low-cost rural clinics.

Supporters of the ban say that the United States still provides millions of dollars in family planning assistance around the world and that the rule prevents anti-abortion taxpayers from backing something they believe is morally wrong.

The Bush policy reversed by Obama had banned U.S. taxpayer money, usually in the form of Agency for International Development funds, from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion. The rule also had prohibited federal funding for groups that lobby to legalize abortion or promote it as a family planning method.

Both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who will oversee foreign aid, had promised to do away with the rule during the presidential campaign.

"This policy has made it more difficult for women around the world to gain access to essential information and healthcare services," Clinton said in a statement. "Rather than limiting women's ability to receive reproductive health services, we should be supporting programs that help women and their partners make decisions to ensure their health and the health of their families."

Known as the "Mexico City policy," the inflammatory ban has been reinstated and then reversed by Republican and Democratic presidents since Ronald Reagan established it in 1984.

In a move related to the lifting of the abortion rule, Obama also is expected to restore funding to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), probably in the next budget. Both he and Clinton had pledged to reverse a Bush administration determination that assistance to the organization violated U.S. law.

The Bush administration had barred U.S. money from the fund, contending that its work in China supported a Chinese family planning policy of coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization. UNFPA has vehemently denied that it does.

Congress had appropriated $40 million to the UNFPA in the past budget year but the Bush administration had withheld the money as it had done every year since 2002.

Obama also is expected at some point to lift or ease restrictions on federal money for stem cell research, an issue that divides people along similar battle lines, but there was no word about any action on that Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has expressed interest in pressing legislation on stem cells in the first 100 days of the new Congress if the new administration doesn't act.

Some scientists want broader use of embryonic stem cells than is allowed, hoping for new treatments for many diseases. Obtaining stem cells from four- or five-day-old embryos kills the embryos, and many opponents see that as taking life.

On his third full day in office, Obama reached out to key U.S. allies, phoning British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Saudi King Abdullah, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. He also spoke with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Obama also turned his attention to the biggest worry of Americans - a recession expected to be the deepest since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Speaking briefly before the meeting of legislative leaders at the White House, Obama urged bipartisan support for his stimulus package.

"I recognize that there are still some differences around the table and between the administration and members of Congress about particular details on the plan," he said. "But I think what unifies this group is a recognition that we are experiencing an unprecedented, perhaps, economic crisis that has to be dealt with, and dealt with rapidly."

Many Republican lawmakers believe the $825 billion package is too costly, and that too much of the spending is for long-range projects that will not boost the economy quickly. Obama and Democratic leaders promised to consider their recommendations.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, told reporters after the meeting that the Republicans "had some constructive suggestions, which we'll review."

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader in the Senate, said at the National Press Club that he believes the measure will clear Congress by the mid-February target date set by Obama.

Source: The Associated Press , Washington | Sat, 01/24/2009 9:15 AM | World

HIV/AIDS cases reach 2,208

2009-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

The number of HIV/AIDS cases in Denpasar reached 2,208 in July, 2008, of which 95 percent were adoloscents or in the productive age group, an official says.

Eighty-five out of the total cases have died due to the disease, Denpasar municipal administration secretary Nyoman Aryana said Thursday.

Speaking at the opening of a basic training course in Sanur Kauh village, Sanur, Aryana said the data was just the tip of the iceberg as it was difficult to detect the real number of people infected with the virus.

Aryana urged all sectors of the community to actively take part in the campaign to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Denpasar Health Office head, and head of the training course committee, Luh Putu Sri Armini said the course was designed to give people comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AID and how to curb transmission of the virus. – JP

HIV/AIDS cases jump by 350% in Jambi

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS (ODHA) in Jambi has increased by more than 350 percent, with 953 people reported last year compared with 262 people in the previous year, an official has said.

Head of the Infectious Diseases Control and Mitigation Office of Jambi Province, Azwar Djouhari, said that of the 953 people, 105 had developed AIDS.

Azwar said that, according to data from the province’s health agency, of the 262 people reported as living with HIV/AIDS in 2007, 86 had developed AIDS.

“It’s already become our collective problem,” he said, adding that the people with HIV/AIDS were living in 10 regencies and cities.

Azwar said HIV/AIDS could be spread through unsafe sex, needle-sharing and blood transfusions, as well as passing from pregnant women to their babies.

The highest incidence of HIV/AIDS infections in the province is among injecting drug users,
who account for about 61 percent of the whole, with 41 people reported as HIV positive, 66 people as having AIDS and 36 deaths last year, Azwar said.

He said 25.42 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS were infected through heterosexual intercourse and 6.78 percent from homosexual intercourse.

Of the whole, 1.69 percent were women infected by their husbands, and 0.1 percent were prenatal transmissions.

“So far we have not come across any cases of HIV/AIDS transmitted through blood transfusions,” he said.

Azwar said HIV/AIDS could be avoided through such means as abstaining from sexual intercourse, having only one sexual partner, using a condom and using sterile needles for injecting drugs, tattooing and body piercing.

“Don’t get infected and don’t infect others,” he said.

Azwar said people living with HIV/AIDS could live a normal life by taking antiretroviral drugs that suppressed the virus in their blood — until the virus reached an amount that could not be detected by a test.

Facts on HIV/AIDS in Jambi
- 61 percent of ODHA were infected through injecting drug user
- 25.42 percent of ODHA through heterosexual intercourse
- 6.78 percent from homosexual intercourse. 1.69 percent were women infected by their husbands,
- 0.1 percent were prenatal transmissions.

Medicsight seeks FDA clearance to market colonography software in the US

2009-01-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

Medicsight PLC, developer of Computer-Aided Detection software (CAD), is seeking clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to market its colonography product throughout the country.

In a statement, the company said it submitted Premarket Notification to the FDA for clearance to market of its ColonCAD image analysis software, a move that will prompt a FDA review process.

Medicsight has completed a large multi-reader CT colonography trial involving the review of several hundred patient datasets to support the submission.

The company has already received regulatory approvals to market ColonCAD throughout Europe, Canada, Australia, China, and Brazil.

The outcomes of the US National CT Colonography Trial demonstrating the efficacy of CT colonography as a primary screening examination for colorectal cancer, and the inclusion of CT colonography in the 2008 American Cancer Society guidelines for colorectal cancer screening, increasingly supports the predicted growth of the US CT colonography market, the company said.

Medicsight added it cannot predict when, or if, clearance will be gained.

Medicsight's ColonCAD and LungCAD software use an advanced CAD algorithm to analyse CT scans of the colon and lung and automatically highlight suspicious areas that may be indicators of disease. CAD may highlight areas easily overlooked by the reviewing radiologist, such as small lesions or regions that are hidden from view behind folds in the colon or normal structures and surrounding tissue in the lung.

Source: www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk

Wind Early Warning Danger

2009-01-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Day, Dina (32) requested permission to go home more quickly from the office. Since the morning, Dina felt dizzy and nauseous. "I entered I wind", he said in Fahmi (35), her husband by phone on a house, Dina order of chicken porridge and hot tea to reduce the uncomfortable feeling. She spread eucalyptus oil to the entire body, before sleeping out. Come nightfall, are also not yet built, Fahmi recently home office. Access to rooms, rates are still sleeping, but .... is not breathing anymore! Or has died

She seems, are holding pain shortly before died. In addition to panic, her husband also confused, knowing far, for this condition are good only. Even his wife is quite skillful women have a lot of activity each day, Consequently, the disease of "hidden" if their lives that Dina?

According to dr. Djoko Maryono, DSPD, DSPJ, internist and cardiology experts from the Pertamina Hospital Center, which is experienced by Dina Angina Pectoris. The people we call as the first regular sitting of the wind.
Symptoms are similar to common colds, only a little more weight. Not surprising. The disease tends to does not matter

Colds this one was not common colds. "That's called a light wind is one of the symptoms of coronary heart disease, which if not immediately be handled has a direct died only in 15-30 minutes after the first attack" dr. Joko reminded.

Therefore, the death occurred as result of not “kerokan The oil or wind”, such as the Dina, but not because the detection of deviation in the heart of people. Even, if after office Dina go directly to the hospital or the doctor, and not even “kerokan home”, it was not related to the disease, may still die was safe.

The characteristics of headache, nausea, and recognized that experienced people Angina Pectoris is nearly similar to normal flu disease. Only people also feel crowded chest, pain in the hearts, perspiration out of corn, and the body is cold. Unfortunately, this often does not realize as indications of interference in the heart that are critical.
According to dr. Joko, 20% of complaints Angina Pectoris the check to the doctor or hospital was detected as acute coronary heart disease. It is an interruption in the heart due to the difference in the coronary vessel, so that blood is not able to deliver oxygen-oxygen needed by the network of walls of the heart cavity. Therefore, if not detected since the beginning, has a Sudden death can be experienced.

Angina Pectoris disease itself is not a comfortable feeling linger, which occurred more than 5 minutes, due to the decrease in blood pressure that the heart pumping. As a result, the heart requires more oxygen. Because the heart is not capable of pumping perfectly, the blood vessels take the form of reaction recovery contraction to charging sufficient oxygen in the heart pump was contraction that cause cold sweat on the skin.

By The Way: Post-Xmas musings on peace, hope

2008-12-28T21:06:00.001-08:00

In our “eclectically” put together living room I always feel a sense of overall well-being, which is heightened during this season.

I find that incomprehensible, surrounded as I am with keepsakes from our meandering journey — a journey visited by sudden hairpin turns and steep dips and climbs along the way. Many of our Christmas/seasonal mementos are still shadowed by their aura of anxiety, fear or sorrow.

For example, a picture of our family sits atop a table. It is sunrise on Mt. Kenya, Africa, and we have made the three-day hike in time to greet the Christmas morn’ of 2001. Having been yanked out of Pakistan immediately after 9/11 and leaving everything behind, we were temporarily posted to Nairobi and this was our desperately needed “alternative Christmas”.

So I sit here surrounded by external reminders of a chaotic life, but I find that in this space I experience take-your-breath-away peace.

I decide to record this slice of seasonal contentment. Personality and years of professional habit snap to attention, ready to dissect it into categories delineated by space and time. But I tell my attendants to take the night off. Somehow I know this sense of peace has arisen from the whole and not from the sum of its individual parts.

Physics tells us we live in an “observer-influenced” world. But what does “observer-influenced” mean? Is it not possible that acts done with love, kindness and compassion are creating much more than just good feelings. Could they be changing molecular structures?

Isn’t this the subject of poets, mystics and lovers? Throughout religious history, theologians have written about how God has chosen to work with humanity — how God, Divinity, Ultimate Reality adds to, enhances and supplements our flawed attempts at doing good. Hence we are “co-creators” with God, in an “observer-influenced” world.

So let’s assume I have co-created this space with Divinity. Using basic principles of order and beauty that reflect attributes of God, I have tried to create a place of rest for my family.

Perhaps the love and, yes, the sorrows inherent in these mementos contribute physically to this peace. Much has been written about the benefits of sorrow and suffering, somehow they add to the whole in ways we will never fully understand.

Maybe each one comes with its own fairy dust and mixed together it creates a matrix flecked with gold, binding life together, and my soul perceives this shimmering apart from my physical senses.

Regardless, it’s an experience characterized by a sense of completeness. This experience fills me with hope for two reasons. First, if we can find one place outside of ourselves where we feel tangible peace, we can know that peace exists. That in spite of our failures, the injustices of life and its disappointments, peace can exist. And second, my efforts matter. This is significant, especially in our postmodern society. To believe there is no purpose in life, that we are just molecules in the cosmic soup, strands of DNA fighting to survive for the sake of surviving, is a metaphysical decision. There is no proof that that statement is true and to believe so is a leap of faith.

Yes, it is also a leap of faith to believe that choices we make to increase the good in the universe matter, and that we can co-create with Ultimate Reality, Divinity, God.

However, most of humanity throughout history would agree that their experiences fit with the latter statement of faith. Are we to deny the reality of our experiences? To deny the historicity of our lives?

Rationally, I have yet to plumb the depths of this experience but I have recorded what I could. Peace settles upon me, permeating me. It is enough.

Source: The Jakarta Post | Sun, 12/28/2008 8:29 AM | Headlines

Students build trust with inmates

2008-12-06T15:53:00.000-08:00

Ten female inmates at Tangerang penitentiary listened to instructions given by Ian Pierson, while he led a group of students from the British International School in a workshop Wednesday.
The mixed group of students and inmates followed the step-by-step instructions, ordering them to walk into each other with their eyes closed.
Some of them stopped after hitting others standing as a human wall, but some others failed to do so because they stopped before they could reach the instructed destination.
"You stopped before you could reach the human wall and that's because you are afraid of falling down. You already know that you will not fall, but you are still scared," Pierson told the group.
He said this happened because the group members couldn't trust that those standing as the human wall would stop them from falling.
"The main purpose of the activity is to train the inmates to control their emotions, and to gain the patience and concentration needed to build trust," Pierson said.
One of the inmates, Herlina, 18, who is serving the last month of her one-year prison sentence at the penitentiary for drug possession said she was very pleased to participate in the activity.
"This is a rare opportunity for me to be able to communicate with people outside the prison and I can also improve my knowledge through interaction with the (visiting) students," she said.
Another inmate Monika, who is sentenced to four years in jail for a drug offense, said she was also happy to be involved in the activity because she could learn how to control her emotions.
"I did enjoy every part of the activity because I will never find the training anywhere else," she said.
The visit was part of the Creativity Action Service (CAS), the final requirement for grade-13 students before their graduation.
"We are all required to perform creativity action service for 150 hours as the last grade to get our diploma," a student, Albert, said.

source: Multa Fidrus , The Jakarta Post , Tangerang | Sat, 11/22/2008 12:53 PM | City

solar energy could take care of some of our needs

2008-12-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

A lot of time has been spent on solar energy in recent days, down here in the Netherlands. Quite some profound newspapers and magazines (among which Elsevier, which is the Dutch conservative version of Time) are busily informing readers about the profound impact solar energy could have.

If Western governments are willing to invest in energy, Elsevier explained, we could provide 80 times the energy we need on a yearly basis. 80 times.

Of course, transforming the current system into entirely solar based will take years, decades even, and it will cost a tremendous amount of money. Other research has indicated that Western economies could indeed even suffer tremendously, possibly collapse if we would take this gigantic step.

But something has to change nonetheless. It is silly for us to depend on foreign oil and other energy sources that are wasteful, limited, costly and that make us dependent on other, often hostile governments.

So, if solar energy could take care of some of our needs but if we would ruin our economy if we would truly launch a massive project aimed at making solar energy our sole source of energy what can we do? The answer is simple: aside from solar power we should use wind and nuclear power.

Nuclear power is ‘dirty’ and it is difficult to get rid of the ‘garbage,’ but it is also highly effective and relatively affortable. Every single country in the West, in the world actually, could build nuclear facilities, which can be built much safer today than a few decades ago.

Wind power is quite similar to solar power of course; it is clean, but costly for us to invest in on a massive scale.

A balance has to be found between those three energy sources if we want to be able to function without ruining our economy and we have to take our time. There is no need to act as if we, the West, have to become energy independent in five years time.

The above has, of course, been noted by many others. The following has not, or, at least, it has not gotten the attention it deserves: what will happen to countries we depend so heavily on for oil now? What would happen to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran and others if we would use solar, wind and nuclear power?

The answer is that these countries’ economies will collapse. They will be ruined. The collapse will be so devastating that massive riots, possibly civil wars will break out. Fathers will not be able to buy food for their children. Mothers will not be able to buy or even knit clothes for them let alone themselves. These economies depend so heavily on oil that our energy revolution would ruin them completely, leaving nothing behind except for massive instability.

As we have learned in the last couple of decades, instability in other parts of the world, and especially in Africa and the Middle East, causes instability at home. The more poverty exists in the Middle East, the more youngers will radicalize and the more likely it is that extremists will take over. They will use these countries as platforms for terrorist attacks against the West and it interests. In short, a massive Western energy revolution would make the world much less safe.

This means that when we commit ourselves to aforementioned revolution, we will need to come up with a plan for oil producing and exporting countries. It means we will have to invest in them, we will have to help them become less dependent on oil.

In turn, this means that we will have to spend many billions, trillions even perhaps, more. An energy revolution is not limited to ourselves. Its impact spreads throughout the world, it will influence many lives. Millions will lose their job and their home. Unless we help them.

It would be great to see politicians taking this subject seriously and articulate plans that would make us less dependent on foreign governments, and on oil, while explaining how they would help those governments deal with the loss in oil sales.

Until they do, all the talk about an energy revolution, let alone energy independence, should be considered void and useless.

Osteroporosis, dislocated prey

2008-11-14T17:14:00.000-08:00

You know fossil? This word refers to the part of the left to find a creature, who died hundreds or thousands of years ago. Usually the form of bones. We can imagine. How our bones strong, lasting up to hundreds of years. Yes, bone is the most powerful organ. He was two times stronger and harder than granite stone.

However, one idea, though strong, bones are not much more than the granite. This organ is very light. No wonder if the framework with 206 human bone that is only contribute to weight 12 percent of total body weight. Extraordinary, is not it?

Networks bone cells become stronger because of the presence of calcium. This is the most we need to make bones strong and stable. When rarefied bone mass, there is osteoporosis (porous bones). Their most vulnerable women, although men also have the same potential.

Off high-risk women affected due to porous bone hormone estrogen backer is the presence of calcium decreased, even disappeared. In addition, women's bones are smaller than the bones of men.

Since the Content
Try to note our grandmother or grandfather. At that usually they are worn not appear gallant again. The body's bend look. Or if not so, high body dwindle to a few centimeters.

What is the cause? No other result rarefied bone. Tenyata disease osteoporosis, including the gauche. Without ba bi cafeteria, built on top of Penrallt suddenly appear.
Prof.. Dr. Ichramsjah A. Rachman, Sp.PD-KG, stated that the clinical disease is considered difficult because there is no pain in the bones when to be rarefied progress, even in advanced stages.

Generally, pain relief precisely due to lack of estrogen that occurs on or off women off post. Therefore, decreasing the body is only one sign of the secondary that can be monitored. Thus, the bone in osteoporosis prey quiet.

Then, how to bone out the way we did not porous? First, we must know that bone formed from the various elements. There are vitamins, some minerals. Calcium, including basic materials forming bone. Similarly vitamin D. Together with other materials such as minerals, protein, phosphorus and bone mass formed
Like a wall, protein functions as the cement and calcium-phosphorus is a stone.

Since we are still in the womb, at birth, teenagers, to adults, bone formed. Reached its peak during the age of 30. Start this age of calcium that we have the tube will be removed. You need to know that calcium is spending to help the muscles that can berkontraksi, set the heart rate, blood pressure control, also send a message along the nerve.

I rarely out of calcium and wasted a free, especially in the smoker, penyuka-fried gorengan, coffee, alcohol, many sugar and salt, or user of drugs and steroid groups antasida.
Avoid all materials and this habit, so the recommended Dr. Samuel Oetoro, MD. These materials to stimulate calcium in the number of out many.

Eating Healthy and Avoid Stress
Conversely, healthy lifestyles will maintain the rate of calcium in the body. Drink milk, eat fish, and consumption of vegetables, green, and the consumption of calcium supplements if necessary. Do not forget also, avoiding consumption of saturated fatty acid.

Meanwhile, the good fat such as fatty acid Omega-3 from fish in the sea, fatty acid Omega-6 from corn, and the fatty acid Omega-9 from the beans and olive oil must be precisely asupannya. That all foods that increase the calcium.

Do not forget, you need to manage stress. When stress, hormones kortisol body will be issued through the brain. Kortisol is katabolik hormone, causes destruction of protein in the body. The result, calcium is removed from the bones will be more.

So do not stress, break ends. At least we sleep a day for six hours. Less than that, hormones, growth will be reduced. In addition to creating new, to help break tercukupinya production of growth hormone. This hormone duty to set the balance of hormones, including managing the absorption of calcium in the bones
source: www.gayahidupsehatonline.com

Seriously crazy early, Reasonable occurred in the information age

2008-11-14T17:03:00.001-08:00

Seriously crazy early mean seriously crazy that occurred outside the will, can not be controlled, and cause inconvenience for the concerned and partner. If you often or always experience this, it means you have seriously crazy early.

Seriously crazy early no relation to afford not to sexual intercourse many times in one day. This means that, although you could perform sexual intercourse many times, seriously crazy early can still happen.

Similarly, if you are only capable of sexual intercourse once a day, are not affected seriously crazy early. That was seriously crazy early. Can also seriously crazy, which tends to occur faster as a result of Erectile Dysfunction. So, because ereksi disrupted, seriously crazy tend to occur quickly.

If you are able first sexual intercourse many times, but now no longer able, I think it is not something strange. It shows you are not disturbed.

Decrease the frequency of sexual relations, the fair along with the length of the marriage. There are several causes. First, already familiar with the psychological and physical stimulus received. Second, the physical and psychological barriers that occur because of increased age, occupation, for example, mental burden, disease, and other physical interference.

The Quality Important
So the decreasing frequency of sexual relations occurred fair. What is important is how the quality and the ability to control ereksi seriously crazy. On the other hand, how the female sexual function. Sexual satisfaction should be based in the context of couples, not just one party only.

I think the more you exactly how to assess and control functions ereksi you seriously crazy, rather than focused on the longer afford not to make 5 times a day. If you interfere ereksi functions, should be solved with a check first. Similarly, if the seriously crazy early. Erectile Dysfunction and seriously crazy early can be overcome with better handling through the right.

Although you are a sportsman, does not mean you will be free from sexual does not work or other diseases. Regular exercise is one of the ways to optimize the function of various organs.

However, not only with regular exercise all diseases and sexual function disturbances may not occur. Sports, which exceed the size could cause interference various functions and is fatal.

I suggest you consult and get the checks to get the correct treatment is also true. That sexual does not work now increasingly can be overcome with good

We Need Supported the Cancer sufferer

2008-11-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

Family people are often faced with a difficult situation. What is more wise to bring the space-intensive or let patients accompanied by medical equipment in the room cold?

Not easy to conditions such as this. Moreover, the process is quite heavy and relatively long in the treatment must be faced. "Chemotherapy makes us become very difficult because they will feel nausea continually flagellate," said the mother of a cancer sufferer serviks. Actually, nutritious food to be the main factors supporting the success of cancer treatment.

In fact there are many more difficulties faced by people with cancer, including the right to get information and a variety of diseases that are faced. Yuniko, a former breast cancer sufferer, revealed, "I remember when, after surgery and will undergo chemotherapy. Thirst will be information on what will make my face a lot to ask. "

Yuniko continue the story, when a period of chemotherapy on the run, runny nose, cough Her younger sister quite severe. Because entries have been received to keep the source of the disease agat not infected and infected, the mother of one child were some days isolate themselves in the room.

"I laughed, and finally ask yourself sister quick treatment. Actually, that the sick should in isolation, "said Yuniko in the book, I Have Cancer It Doesn't Have Me.

Sometimes people who experience one can vary with experience of the other cases because each requires different treatment. Take for example, chemotherapy treatment that a patient must be patient with one another.
"Despite suffering the same number of breast cancer chemotherapy, which can be run differently," he said. Sutjipto, Sp.BOnk.

W Important
The emergence of a community become a very important vehicle for people with cancer. Moreover, when the community provides many things that can be used by people to improve the quality of their lives.

Called CISC (Cancer Information and Support Center), fist to info aware Yuniko the importance of this vehicle. "This is the place where the quality of life in the psychosocial aspects of my increased rapidly through togetherness and sharing a sense," a time.

In this group, every cancer sufferer and of course the family can share many things, from the serious to the light. An opportunity which was attended GHS in a waiting room at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital chemotherapy, Jakarta, describes clearly one of the benefits of this community.

A mother who confused, "Do I have to eat meat or not?". "It can still eat meat, the original limited. I'm so relieved, "he said.

A mother who discloses another, "I feel at least to forget from this burden. The existence of this community, I feel there is a friend, a friend. I no longer feel alone. There are many friends who experienced pain and difficulty of the same, "Yuniko talked a little long.

After several months of chemotherapy through the last, Yuniko not bald plontos again. New hair began to grow and aft. Women age 45 years, it started again as before the illness.

Today, the Yuniko attend the meeting tens of breast cancer survivors. Acquaintances and hear the experiences of a fellow sufferer provide valuable inspiration for the name of the owner Yuniko Deviana this. He was sitting with several survivors who have to survive dozens of years, even more than 20 years!

This generate expectations because of previous cancer sufferer think he will not live long.
"I'm self witnessing how they look healthy. Optimism apparently able to make my life before rotating back as I was doing cancer, "said Yuniko

Apiterapi, Sengat dan Madu Lebah

2008-11-14T16:48:00.001-08:00

Oleh admin; www.gayahidupsehatonline.com

Disebutkan dalam Alquran surat An Nahl ayat 68-69, di dalam madu lebah terdapat obat yang menyembuhkan bagi manusia. Produk turunan yang dihasilkan lebah ada 13 buah, di antaranya madu, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, bee venom, lilin lebah, madu sarang, roti lebah, larva lebah, dan phedra.

Kata aphitherapy (apiterapi) adalah perpaduan bahasa Latin, aphis berarti lebah dan therapy, pengobatan. Apiterapi didefinisikan sebagai upaya pengobatan komplementer untuk tujuan prefentif, kuratif, dan rehabilitasi menggunakan lebah dan produk turunannya.

Ribuan Tahun
Penggunaan madu lebah untuk kesehatan, kata Dr. Adji Suranto, Sp.A, dari Perhimpunan Dokter Indonesia Pengembang Kesehatan Tradisional Timur (PDPKT) DKI Jakarta, telah diketahui sejak ribuan tahun lalu. Lukisan karang zaman batu (6000 SM) memperlihatkan kegiatan honey hunting.

Bukti tertua penggunaan madu untuk mengobati infeksi kulit dan luka, borok, penyakit mata dan telinga, tertulis dalam keramik bangsa Samaria (2000 SM). The Ebers Papyrus (1550 SM) mencatat resep-resep madu untuk pemakaian luar, yaitu untuk terapi kebotakan, luka bakar, abses, dan pereda nyeri.

Madu juga dimanfaatkan untuk menyembuhkan luka usai pembedahan, termasuk sunat, supositoria, mengurangi peradangan, serta meredakan kaku sendi. Hingga tahun 1990, katun yang direndam dalam jus lemon dan madu masih digunakan sebagai alat kontrasepsi.

Penggunaan sengat lebah untuk terapi nyeri sendi dan artritis telah lama dilakukan oleh bangsa Yunani. Pelopornya adalah bapak kedokteran modern, Hippocrates.
Tahun 1888, Dr. Philip Tere dari Perancis meneliti hubungan antara sengat lebah dan rematik. Sebelumnya, tahun 1864, Prof. Libowsky melaporkan kesembuhan pasiennya yang menderita rematik dan neuralgia setelah diterapi dengan sengatan lebah.

Pengobatan menggunakan sengat (bisa) lebah dikenal sebagai apipuntur. Apipuntur, kata Dr. Adji, adalah bagian dari apiterapi. Apipuntur memanfaatkan bee venom dan metode akupuntur. Lebah untuk terapi ini jenis Apis mellifera dan Apis cerana. Apipuntur sendiri merupakan bagian dari apiterapi.

Sengat atau racun lebah sangat baik untuk menormalkan segala aktivitas pembuluh darah dan saraf. “Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sengat lebah mengandung melitin, apamin, peptida 401 (MDC), inhibitor protease, dan norepinephrine,” kata dokter yang mendalami pengobatan komplementer sejak tahun 1999 ini.

Apiterapi secara umum dimanfaatkan untuk meredakan gangguan rematik, masuk angin, flu, salah urat, hingga penyakit berat, seperti darah tinggi, diabetes, dan kanker. Cara ini pun diklaim efektif untuk mengobati penyakit degeneratif, seperti stroke.

Kombinasi
Dalam praktik apipuntur, dituturkan Dr. Adji, sengat lebah yang dimasukkan ke dalam tubuh dilakukan dengan dua cara, yakni langsung (direct bee sting) dan lewat suntikan berisi racun lebah. “Racun lebah diambil dari antibodi murni seseorang yang sudah sering disengat lebah,” katanya.

Jumlah sengatan tergantung pada jenis penyakit. Namun, satu sengatan di titik-titik tertentu dianggap cukup sebagai perkenalan. “Dalam terapi berikutnya, titik-titik tersebut disengat lagi, tetapi tidak boleh lebih dari 10 sengatan,” ujar pria satu anak ini.

Membunuh Rasa Jenuh Bekerja

2008-10-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

Betapa pun tingginya semangat kerja, pasti ada masanya Anda merasakan jenuh pada pekerjaan. Ketika rasa jenuh itu begitu mengganggu, konsentrasi kerja jadi terhambat. Akhirnya, pekerjaan menumpuk dan tak bisa diselesaikan dengan baik. Jika itu yang tengah terjadi pada diri Anda, mulailah melakukan langkah-langkah berikut.

* Buat prioritas
Ketika Anda tak dapat memusatkan pikiran ke pekerjaan, strategi terbaik adalah dengan menempatkan diri dalam autopilot. Rata-rata, setiap tiga menit para karyawan mengganti topik pekerjaan mereka, menjawab email yang masuk, menelepon, atau membuka dokumen baru. Mulailah dengan membuat daftar semua tugas yang harus dikerjakan. Susun tugas Anda berdasarkan prioritas. Selesaikan setiap tugas sebelum mengerjakan tugas berikutnya. Kedengarannya sangat sederhana, tetapi cara ini dapat membantu Anda untuk lebih fokus.

* Istirahat
Setiap jam atau setiap menyelesaikan suatu tugas, sebaiknya istirahat selama 5 menit. Tinggalkan meja kerja dan hirup udara segar atau sekadar menyeduh segelas teh untuk menghangatkan tubuh. Bila keadaan memaksa Anda terbelenggu di meja kerja, gunakan waktu 5 menit untuk merenggangkan diri, berselancar di internet, main game solitaire, atau hanya sekadar menutup mata selama beberapa detik.

* Tidak mau diganggu
Orang yang suka mengganggu, biasanya pada saat-saat seperti ini jadi orang yang paling mengesalkan. Tunjukkan bahwa Anda sedang tak ingin diganggu. Bila punya ruangan sendiri, tutup pintu. Tunjukkan bahwa Anda sedang tak ingin diganggu. Bila tak punya ruangan sendiri, Anda dapat memperlihatkan sikap sibuk dengan memusatkan perhatian pada ketikan dan layar monitor komputer atau memasang earphone sambil bekerja. Jadwal ulang agenda rapat dan kurangi beban kerja yang berlebihan.

* Hindari kafein
Ada orang yang merasa dengan minum kopi dirinya akan menjadi lebih segar. Tetapi dia tidak menyadari, kafein dapat membuat detak jantung menjadi lebih cepat dan meningkatkan stres. Hindari mengonsumsi kafein. Sebaliknya, minumlah air putih yang banyak.

* Relaksasi
Olahraga rutin terbukti bisa mengurangi stres. Anda dapat menggunakan sedikit dari jam makan siang untuk mengendurkan otot-otot yang tegang. Keluarlah dari gedung dan jalan kaki. Lakukan latihan melemaskan otot-otot yang tegang. Angkat bahu setinggi mungkin, tahan beberapa detik, lalu lepaskan. Lakukan 10 kali dan perasaan tegang akan hilang. Tahan gerakan yang melepas hormon endorfin yang membantu menstimulasi kepekaan terhadap kesehatan.

* Tata ulang meja kerja
Cara Anda menata tempat kerja dapat membantu Anda merasa relaks. Menurut salah satu penelitian, menempatkan satu atau dua macam tanaman di tempat kerja dapat mengurangi stres dan memperbaiki produktivitas. Anda tidak memiliki jendela? Ciptakan hijau-hijauan artifisial. Foto keluarga atau foto yang paling Anda sukai atau bahkan kenang-kenangan pada waktu liburan yang paling mengesankan juga dapat memberikan tempat pelarian secara psikologikal.

* Mengkhayal
Kumpulkan brosur-brosur tentang liburan ke tempat-tempat yang sangat ingin Anda kunjungi atau tempat yang pernah dikunjungi. Bila sedang jenuh, keluarkan foto-foto tadi, tataplah, dan bayangkan Anda sedang berada di sana. Tutup mata dan bayangkan suara serta aroma tempat tersebut.

* Tarik napas
Bila sedang dilanda stres, kita cenderung menarik napas dengan cepat dan pendek-pendek. Lakukan sebaliknya, yaitu tarik napas dalam-dalam. Cara ini mengalirkan oksigen ke darah dan menenangkan pikiran.

* Sadari kenyataan
Semua orang pasti pernah merasakan betapa waktu berjalan sangat pelan. Anda tidak dapat dan tidak perlu menghindarinya. Terima kenyataan bahwa ada hari-hari di mana Anda tidak dapat memusatkan 100 persen perhatian pada pekerjaan. Jadi, ikutilah tips di atas tadi agar dapat melewati hari Anda, menunggu saatnya pulang kantor, kembali ke rumah, dan istirahat agar keesokan harinya Anda dapat memulai kembali hari dengan lebih baik.
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Sumber Kompar: Selasa, 28 Oktober 2008

To BEE or Not To BEE

2008-10-11T23:01:00.000-07:00

As I passed through my living room on a warm summer day, I noticed a bumblebee buzzing against a window pane. Because I am telepathic with animals, I immediately began to speak with the bee. I said “hello” in my usual way, and told the bee that I wouldn’t harm it. What I felt was anger, fear, and frustration mixed together.

I spoke aloud, then, hoping to get the bee’s attention. “I know you want to be outside. There is no food for you here. I will help you back outside when you are calmer.” I left the room.

A short while later, I came back and found the bee sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, silent and still. I spoke to it again. “I am placing this plastic container on the floor next to you.” I set down a clean, empty container about 8 inches away. “If you want to go outside, climb into the container, and I will take you out.” I left the room.

Fifteen minutes later I found that the bumblebee had climbed into the container and was waiting for me. I told the bee that I would lift and carry the container as gently as I could and would place it outside. I asked the bee to trust me to do this and to stay inside the container until we were out of doors.

Slowly and very carefully I lifted the container. When I opened my front door, before I could even step onto the stoop, the bee flew off. I heard a small voice, as if from a distance, say, “Thank you.”

Every form of life on this planet is sacred. When we recognize this and behave as if it were true, we reap the benefits of our belief. Two experiences with yellow jackets, a type of hornet that lives in the ground, were powerful lessons.

On the first occasion, I was planning to transplant some day lilies. I called on the Overlighting Deva (nature spirit) responsible for my property and also the one responsible for the lilies. I asked permission to mow the grass in the area where I wanted to plant the flowers and was told to go ahead. My mower is a walking one, and the section of grass I need to cut was very small. I went up and back several times over an area about 4 feet by 6 feet. Then I put the mower away.

Upon returning to the patch, I noticed an insect flying upward and away. A second insect passed it going in the opposite direction, down towards the ground. I stopped moving and watched. A second pair of insects flew past each other in the same pattern. They looked like yellow jackets.

From my childhood, I knew that yellow jackets do not like their nest disturbed and are very sensitive to vibration. An uncle of mine, who knew little of country life, had once offered to mow our lawn. Without realizing it, he had moved over a yellow jacket nest and was swarmed.

I looked around cautiously to see where these hornets were landing. There was a small hole in the ground right where I had mowed. The yellow jackets ignored my presence entirely. I decided to speak with them.

“I hope I haven’t disturbed your nest,” I began. “I am sorry if the mowing bothered you in any way. I was going to plant flowers here, but now, in respect for you home, I will not dig up the ground. However, please realize that you have built your home in an inconvenient spot. In the fall, I will need to rake up the leaves here. I will honor your space, but please do not renew your nest here next year.” I was carefully not to disturb the nest for the rest of that summer and fall, and I had no trouble with these insects.

The following autumn, in October, when it was quite cool and the flowers in my large bed had all died, I went out to cut the dead leaves and stalks from the irises, day lilies, and peonies. It was a cool day, and I wasn’t thinking about insects. I just assumed everyone would be gone by this time of year.

Much to my surprise, I disturbed a nest of yellow jackets in the middle of the flower bed. I had not bothered asking permission to work in the flower bed. I might even have stepped right on their nest. As soon as I saw them flying around, I ran into the garage. One determined yellow jacket followed me all the way in and stung me. The insect reminded me that I had told them not to build a nest in the lawn. I had not specified that the flower bed was off limits as well. In addition, I had not asked permission to work in that area.

The sting had hurt. The message was clear. When we are disrespectful to beings whose form is smaller than our own, we show lack of respect for all Life. The next time you encounter an insect, stinging or biting or not, think of it as an opportunity for you to show respect and appreciation. Each form contributes to life on Planet Earth. If there are too many holes in the Web of Life, it will fail entirely and humanity will disappear. Have you honored an insect today?

by: Nedda Wittels

Nature versus Nurture

2008-10-11T22:57:00.000-07:00

The nature vs. nurture debate is one of the biggest debated issues in the child development theory. Which has more bearing on a child’s development, environment or genetics? This debate is “of the degree to which environment and heredity influences behavior” (Feldman, 2003) and whether “a child’s development is governed by a pattern built in at birth”, which is Nature, or whether it is shaped by experiences after birth”, defined as Nurture (Bee, 2000). No theorist has quite yet determined which of the two define a person’s actual behavior style, their have been many disputes whether one theory has the most influence, but no actual determination of the best theory. The Nature vs. Nurture debate has brought most theorists, researchers and teachers, to ask, "Why are people the way they are?" We wonder: Were we born that way? Were we injured by someone or something? Is it cultural? Did our parents raise us that way?” (Thurber, 2003).

Nurture theorist feel that children learn as they grow and develop their personalities based on what they have learned throughout their life or the environment that they were raised in. It is impossible for one to grow up and not be influenced by their environment. “Recent behavioral genetic research has shown that genetic propensities are associated with individual differences in experiences and thus, what may appear to be environmental effects can reflect genetic influence” (Gilger, 2001). Advocates of the Nurture theory feel that learning is a step by step process that is acquired though out a child’s life. Psychologist Robert Feldman (2000) explains, “Environmental factors play a critical role in enabling people to reach the potential capabilities that their genetic background makes possible. Had Albert Einstein received no intellectual stimulation as a child and not been sent to school. It is unlikely that he would have reached his genetic potential” (Feldman, 2000). Nurture is the basis for figuring out the question of why we become who we are.

The importance of one’s environment is recognized as early as the gestational stages of life. Pregnant women are advised to use caution while they are expecting because of the idea that the intrauterine environment can affect the unborn child positively or adversely. Pregnant woman have to make sure they receive proper nutrition, exercise carefully, and not smoke or use drugs. These are precautions that are taken in order to control the environmental impact on the fetus. Environment affects our behavior even in the early stages of our lives (Feldman, 2000).

While many parents would like to believe that the type of environment that they create for their children will determine what type of person their child will grow up to be, many behavior psychologists would disagree. Since the late 1800’s scientists have been perplexed by this issue and have conducted studies on siblings, identical twins and fraternal twins in efforts to determine which factor has the most bearing on the molding of a child’s brain. Studies have consistently shown that as much as 50 percent of all temperamental and behavioral tendencies are determined by genetics (Glass, 1999). These traits include extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness and openness to experience. IQ studies show the most genetic influence of 80 percent (Glass, 1999).

Studies of twins separated at birth and raised in different environments show that the twins still end up more alike than many would predict supporting the argument that genetics play a large role in personality development (Glass, 1999). Most behavioral scientists will admit that all behavioral traits are partly heritable (Pinker, 2003). Twin studies have also revealed differences in twins reared in the same environment. One twin may be shy, while the other is extroverted. This finding shows that genes are not everything and that there are other factors that determine one’s personality that can not be explained by family environment (Pinker, 2003). Some scientists feel that the other factor that influences a child’s behavior is the unique environment that children create for themselves (McEluwe, 2003). The unique environment includes the peer groups that children seek out. For example, smart children will seek out the brainy group while aggressive children will seek out the punks. However, some scientists will say that the decisions a child makes in determining their unique environment are also determined by their genetic makeup, strengthening the argument of Nature being the prevailing influence on personality makeup (McEluwe, 2003).

Although behavioral scientists have determined that genetics play a large role in personality development, they have yet to determine how genes interact to determine a particular personality trait. What scientists have found is that there does not appear to be a single gene for a particular trait, but that genes show their effects by working together in complex combinations (Pinker, 2003). For example, there is no single gene for musical talent. Whether a child will be musically inclined will be determined by the way that child’s genes interact with one another. Some parents would like to believe that by creating an environment rich in music while the child is young will develop the child’s talent towards music. However, despite assumptions like this, there is no evidence that shows long term effects of growing up in a particular environment (Pinker, 2003).

Whichever side of the nature vs. nurture debate one favors, one can not entirely exclude one side over the other. Research has shown evidence that both a child’s genetics and environment will have some influence on that child’s personality development. This debate is not new. Philosophers have explored both sides of the debate for centuries. Recent studies show that many traits are heritable, however the question of whether genetics or environment have the most bearing on a child’s development still perplexes theorists. There is also the question of how many heritable traits remain dormant due to a child’s environment. Although there are convincing arguments for the importance of each factor, it must be recognized that both environment and genetics will ultimately have some bearing on a child’s development. As adults responsible for our youth we must take whatever measures we can to ensure that our children are given the best possible environment to cultivate their young minds to their highest potential.
by: Debbie Cluff

References

Bee, H. (2000). Child and Adolescent Development (9th ed.) [e-text]. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Feldmen, R. (2000). Essentials of Understanding Psychology (4th ed.). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts.

Glass, J. (1999, December). Nature vs. Nurture. Parenting, 13, 156.

Gilger, J. (2001, November/December). Genotype” Environment Correlations for Language-Related Abilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34 (6), 492.

Pinker, S. (2003, January 20). Are your genes to blame? Time, 161, 198.

McEluwe, C. (2003, December 30). Nature-Nurture debate; Slate asserts personality decided by inherited traits. The Charleston Gazette. Pp. 5A.

Thurber, C. (2003, January/February). Nature and Nurture: Human Behavior. Camping Magazine, 76 (1), 32.

Learning Problems in Children

2008-10-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

Children can experience learning problems because of several reasons. Some children excel at studies while others strive hard. In this article, we discuss the different behavioural and learning problems that students aged 5-15 face.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is reading problem. The children find it difficult to read what they have written. Dyslexia is characterised by the difficulty of brain in separating and processing written and verbal language. These children find it difficult to learn spelling and to read fluently. They also confuse between similar looking letters like b, d, p, q, etc. They also tend to skip letters, words or sentences while reading.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is the difficulty to write. Students with this problem may be smart at reading and memorizing. Such students also show signs of diminished motor coordination and find the tasks like tying a shoelace.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is problems associated with numbers. They interchange the places of digits. This problem makes it difficult for the children to learn mathematics.

Dysnomia

Dysnomia is characterised by lack of ability in memorizing names or words. Pupils with this problem find it difficult to remember the word for objects, places or things.

Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is characterised by lack of or poorly developed skills in skilled tasks like typing, sewing, etc. Such children can also show signs of difficulty in controlling sound and speaking and can be slow at eating or drinking.

Children with these type of disorders may be smart at one or more special skills. For example, Ernest Hemingway is believed to have suffered from Dyspraxia.

Helping the children and instilling in them a sense of confidence is essential for the development of such children and to help them lead successful lives.

by: Dev Sri

Melia Propolis & Biyang

2008-10-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

MELIA NATURE INDONESIA "HEALTH & PROSPEROUS"

PRODUCT form:

1. Melia Propolis

2. Melia Biyang

Melia Propolis is a product of bees that oxygen-rich substances essential for the very useful man. Propolis is produced by bees from the sap extracted from the plants that produce mucus, especially the shoot-plant sap is the basis of the material forming of propolis. Rubber is brought to the hive by worker bees and mixed with wax (similar wax) and the pollen of flowers. With the help of bee saliva, the mixture is made into flexible, and this is of propolis. Propolis has a color variation between chocolate brown and dark greenery. For the bee, of propolis is a substance that is fundamentally important that they need to sterilization hive attack from bacteria, fungi and diseases. Has been estimated that 200,000 honey bees produce content of 20 grams of propolis each year.

Melia Propolis benefit :

The use of propolis as a natural material for human health continues to be used at this time and showed a remarkable improvement in line with the Science research scientists about the usefulness of Propolis as a mixture of drugs in the world of medicine.

Melia Biang: Human Growth hormone is a hormone produced by the gland PITUITARY. Human Growth hormone will be reduced in line with the growing age. At the age of 60 years volume growth hormone only by 25% if compared with the age of 21 years.

The factors that make the process of human aging much faster than that should factor is not healthy lifestyles.

Growth hormone reduction of the volume will cause the system to decrease the body's metabolism and aging symptoms such as memory decline,
hair color changed, wrinkling, wrinkling, stamina, not prime, easily tired, very vulnerable to disease, and decreased sexual power.

Melia Biyang attend to the production of human growth hormone naturally. BIYANG word comes from the English BE YOUNG.

Melia Biyang benefit :

Improve the system of metabolism
Increasing the strength of bones

Help restore hair color and growth
Stimulate the bodies organs are vital: the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen and kidney

Increasing power remember
Adding physical and mental stamina
Increasing the capacity of sexuality
Accelerating the process of healing and improve immunity
Helping the healing high blood / stroke