Alternative Medicines - How to Lucid Dream and Awake in Your Sleep

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly? Ever wanted to be the President? Maybe you've always wondered what it would be like to time travel; perhaps even take a ride on the back of a brontosaurus. Once you learn how to lucid dream all this and more is available to you on command. The only limit to what you can do is your own imagination.

Put simply a lucid dream is a dream in which you become aware of the fact that you are dreaming. For most people the ability to differentiate between a dream and reality is only available when they are awake. It may happen like this: We have a nightmare that causes us to jolt awake. It may take us a few moments, but once we wake up we can usually reassure ourselves that "it was only a dream". If you have lucid dreams you are able to realize that you are dreaming before you wake up. Not only that, but if you're having a nightmare you can consciously pursue many options to make the dream less distressing.

Most people already have some level of lucid dreaming skill. Many people have had the occasional dream where the sequence of events is so unusual or unexpected that they can only conclude that they must be dreaming. Often when this happens the person will either wake up, or continue dreaming passively. Unless they have learned how to lucid dream, rarely will they be able to take control of the dream from that point and direct the action as they see fit.

Lucid dreaming can best be likened to writing and starring in your own movie. Once you have developed the ability to distinguish dream from reality whilst asleep, you'll find that the entire dream world is your movie set. Limitations that restrict you in your waking life simply no longer apply. Causality, Physics and even language barriers can be overcome simply by wishing it so. Want to fly? Try it and see what happens. Feel like a afternoon tea with Genghis Kahn? Grab some scones and your teapot and get comfortable. Leap over a building in a single bound? Stop a speeding locomotive with your bare hands? Tie your cape on and have at it.

As fun as this sounds, for most people it can be difficult even to recall a normal dream, much less be consciously aware of it while it is happening. Learning how to lucid dream is something that can be done easily with a little practice and determination.

If you want to learn how to lucid dream you'll need to first learn to recall your dreams. Often you might find that you'll recall a dream from the previous night only when something happens during the day to remind you. Dream recall is important for two reasons. Firstly if you can't recall your dreams it's possible that you may have achieved some level of lucidity and forget all about it when you wake up. Secondly the ability to identify common themes, symbols, people or places in your dreams will become an important aid to your becoming aware of a dream.

As you practice dream recall, you may discover that you regularly dream about penguins. Unless you see penguins frequently in your daily life the sight of a penguin may be enough to trigger a reality check inside a dream and cause you to become lucid.

Reality checks are the second important skill to master. Most people find it helps to regularly ask themselves the question: "am I dreaming at the moment?" Once this becomes a habit during waking hours the act of habitually performing your reality check in a dream should be enough to alert you to the fact that, this time, you are dreaming.

When I first began to learn how to lucid dream, I found that performing regularly scheduled reality checks or setting up triggers that would remind me to perform reality checks was just too difficult. Instead I found that I had success just by focusing on the intention to have a lucid dream. When I started to focus on dreaming as I went to bed, and dream recall after I awoke two things happened: My dream recollection increased dramatically, and in a week I'd had my first lucid dream.

Because lucid dreaming is a skill, you can expect to have some less-than perfect results to begin with. Let's suppose that flying is one of the main reasons you want to learn how to lucid dream. You might find that initially you'll have a dream where you either fly, or try unsuccessfully to fly. Because your dream recall is working, you recall the dream, but you won't realize that you were dreaming about it until the next morning. This should not be interpreted as failure. Indeed it's a signal that your unconscious mind is paying attention.

The best advice that I can give to you as you begin to learn how to lucid dream is to treat as you would any other skill. Have in your mind a clear understanding of why you want to be able to lucid dream: Do you want to create a dreamscape as your own private playground, or do you want to be able to do something very specific? Unless you're very clear on your desire to develop the skill, chances are you will have limited or no success.

Once you're clear on why you want to learn how to lucid dream, you need to focus your attention on it each time you think about sleep. Whenever you feel tired, remind yourself that sleep time equates to dream time. When you wake up make it a habit to exercise dream recall. Dream recall fades in direct proportion to your alertness levels so it's best to do this as close to the time you wake up as possible.

Finally, search for ways that your unconscious mind might be trying to use to alert you to the fact that it is doing its part to help. Taking flying as the example again, are you perhaps noticing that you see more planes or birds lately? Maybe you heard "Learning to Fly" by Pink Floyd when you turned the radio on. In the initial stages you want to notice and reinforce approximately correct results so that your unconscious mind will continue to work with you.

It may take a little bit of time, and your initial dream results may be less impressive (In my first lucid dream, all I could do was change one person into somebody I liked better) but once you've learned how to lucid dream, you'll never think about going to bed the same way again.

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Alternative Medicines - Rotavirus Diarrhea Remedies

Rotavirus is one type of virus that causes diarrhea, especially in young children. Infection is caused by group A rotaviruses, which are wheel-shaped viruses. . Rotavirus diarrhea usually lasts from 4 to 6 days, but may last longer and cause intermittent diarrhea in children who have compromised immune systems. Rotavirus infection usually occurs during the winter months. Some children have no symptoms of rotavirus infection while others may have severe vomiting , watery diarrhea, and fever. In some instances, there may also be a cough or runny nose. Rotavirus infections are responsible for approximately 3 million cases of diarrhea and 55,000 hospitalizations for diarrhea and dehydration in children under 5 years old each year in the United States. Although these infections cause relatively few deaths in the United States, diarrhea caused by rotavirus results in more than half a million deaths worldwide every year. Rotavirus infection is very contagious. Viral Gastroenteritis is caused by a variety of agents. Noroviruses, adnenoviruses, astroviruses and many others may be responsible for diarrhea.

This is especially true in developing countries, where nutrition and health care are not optimal. Rotavirus spreads very easily. The virus is transmitted by hand-to-mouth contact with stool from an infected person. The virus can be passed from one person to another by touching a hand contaminated by the virus. The virus can also be transmitted by merely touching a surface or object that has been contaminated by an infected person. Children with a rotavirus infection have fever, nausea, and vomiting, which are often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhea. Children who are infected may also have a cough and runny nose. The seriousness of infection generally decreases with the number of infections. First infections tend to be the most severe. Some children who become dehydrated need to have fluids replaced through a vein (intravenously) in the hospital. Children can become infected if they put their fingers in their mouths after touching something that has been contaminated by the stool of an infected person.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children in the United States. Rotavirus accounts for more than 500,000 physician visits and approximately 50,000 hospitalizations each year among children less than 5 years of age. Rotavirus is a non-enveloped virus of the family Reoviridae. It derives its name from its wheel like appearance when viewed under an electron microscope, from the latin rota, meaning wheel. Rotavirus can infect people of all ages, as well as many other animals, however, in humans its primary targets are infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, as is seen in AIDS. It is a seasonal disease in the United States, with most of the disease occurring in the winter and spring. Rotaviruses are transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Only 10 to 100 infectious virus particles are needed to cause infection.

Rotavirus Diarrhea Treatment Tips

1. Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.

2. Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.

3. Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.

4. Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces.

5. Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses.

6. Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten.

7. Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in acooked dish, such as a casserole.

8. Fruit juices and soft drinks can make diarrhea worse and should be avoided.

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Alternative Medicines - Mercury and human health

Mercury is a very dangerous poison. Basically, there are three forms of mercury: metallic, inorganic and organic. Although there is considerable debate as to which form is the most harmful, there is abundant evidence that indicates the inorganic form (also called ionic mercury) is the most dangerous. Ionic mercury is also the most difficult to remove from the body and in particular from the brain. Fortunately, few people are exposed to ionic mercury directly - most exposure is indirect. Unfortunately, a number of studies have shown that the other two forms are converted into ionic mercury within the tissues, especially in the brain. Therefore, any and all mercury exposure should be regarded as basically having the same potential.

Many people have suffered and died from mercury poisoning. The following are two incidents of mercury poisoning that gained the attention of the media:

* Mercury was dumped into Minamata bay in Japan from 1932-1968. Over 5,000 people suffered from mercury poisoning and 456 died. Children were born severely deformed and mentally retarded.
* In 1971 50,000 people in Iraq were poisoned and 5,000 died after they ate bread contaminated with mercury.

Although these were dramatic and tragic events the largest sources of mercury poisoning are:

* Dental fillings
* Contaminated fish
* Vaccines
* House paint

Almost 50% of dental fillings are the metallic form of mercury. The American Dental Society, until just recently, covered up the evidence that the mercury was released in vapor form and that 80% of that mercury vapor was absorbed into the body. Several studies have shown that blood levels of mercury rise several times when people with amalgam fillings chew or drink hot liquids. This is significant. Consider that in 1990, the EPA outlawed the use of mercury-filled interior latex paint because studies found that people living in houses covered in this paint had dangerously high mercury levels in their bodies. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set the safety limit of mercury in the air at 50 ug per cubic meter (50 ug/m3). Measurements of the air in the mouths of people with numerous amalgam fillings have exceeded this level (reaching as high as150 ug/m3). This has particular implications for pregnant and breast feeding women.

Fish and other seafood are contaminated by waste from coal burning furnaces and pesticides and herbicides containing mercury. The sea floor also produces natural sources of mercury. As a result, a large number of previously safe seafood are contaminated with mercury. The mercury enters all sea creatures, but some are more toxic than others. Fish that eat other fish have the highest levels and in general the larger the fish, the higher the concentration. Certain fish should never be eaten, because of their extremely high methylmercury levels. These include:

* shark,
* swordfish,
* king mackerel and
* tilefish.

Select fish and other seafood that are low in mercury, such as salmon (from the Pacific) or pollock, or shrimp. However, Gulf shrimp is contaminated with a number of industrial chemicals as well as mercury, especially since Hurricane Katrina. Although most vaccines had their mercury removed as of 2001, the flu vaccines and the Rho immune globulin vaccine still contain mercury. Vaccines contain a special form of mercury called ethylmercury, which is found within the preservative and antiseptic thimerosal. Recent studies have examined ethylmercury and found that in fact it is much more toxic than methylmercury (the form found in fish). In the brain it is readily converted to the more toxic mercury ion. Vaccines containing mercury are strongly link to autism.

Toxic Effects of Mercury

Mercury is fat soluble and it accumulates in fat containing tissues such as the brain, heart, kidneys and liver. It reacts with a number of important structures and chemicals in the organs. Mercury concentrates in cell nucleus, and in even low doses it can cause damage to DNA. Damaged DNA can lead to cancer and degenerative brain disease. Changes, or damage, to DNA can be passed on to subsequent generations, so any children you have after the damage can inherit the problem or risk it produces.

The heart is especially sensitive to mercury toxicity. One study of people with an often fatal disorder called idiopathic cardiomyopathy found that their heart muscle contained a level of mercury that was 22,000 times higher than that seen in hearts of other people the same age. This disorder causes heart failure and people with the problem can require a heart transplant. The elderly with pre-existing heart disease, who receive yearly flu vaccines, are particularly at risk as the flu vaccines still contain mercury.

The brain is another organ that is particularly sensitive to the accumulation of mercury. Most of us have heard the old saying mad as a hatter. This saying originated from the felt hat industry during the 17th through the 19th centuries. It was commonly observed that people who worked in the industry walked as if they were drunk. They were also quite irritable and exhibited bizarre behavior. It was discovered that a form of mercury used in the manufacture of felt hats was to blame.

Mercury can alter how the brain functions, particularly the memory, concentration, motor control and behavior. Depression, memory loss, moodiness, irritability, a lack of interest in events, a desire to be alone, shyness and outbursts of anger are all signs of mercury poisoning. Low doses of mercury, even for short periods, can cause changes to brainwaves observed on an electrocortigram.

High mercury levels in the brain, blood or spinal fluid has been found in people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer s and Parkinson s disease and Lou Gehrig s disease. Studies have found that people with Alzheimer s disease have blood mercury levels twice as high as those who were free of the disease. This would also explain the 10-times increase in Alzheimer s disease observed in elderly people who get annual flu vaccines for five years. Several studies have shown improvement in MS patients who had their amalgam fillings removed and subsequently went through chelation to purge them of mercury.

What You Can Do

* Try to avoid mercury as much as you are able, including in atmospheric pollution, dental fillings, contaminated seafood and avoid vaccines that contain mercury.
* If you have concerns you can have your urine, hair and stool checked for mercury levels. If the levels are high (above 10 ug/g of creatine) you can use a chelation agent to remove the mercury.
* Perspiration removes mercury. Exercising will increase the perspiration, but a new study found that exercise redistributes the mercury and this concentrates the mercury in the brain and heart muscle.
* Garlic extract neutralizes much of the toxicity and removes a great deal of the mercury from the brain over time. The advantage of this natural substance over drugs is that it can be taken all the time.
* A purified extract of the Chlorella plant have been shown to chelate mercury, and they can be taken daily.
* Vitamin and mineral supplements are useful. In particular, vitamin E protects DNA against mercury damage. Also alpha-lipoic acid, zinc and selenium have proven roles. Zinc and selenium play a major role in protecting the brain against mercury toxicity. It is thought that selenium protects fish from the damage caused by mercury.
* You need cleanse your body of toxic material, including mercury, so that everything is able to work effectively.

Conclusion Mercury is a dangerous toxin that should be avoided as much as possible. Avoidance is not impossible but does require attention to the sources of mercury discussed above. If you believe you may be suffering from mercury toxicity, possibly because you realize that you have had significant exposure and recognize that you have several relevant symptoms, I recommend you consult a naturopathic doctor who will be able to assess your condition and if necessary, order some tests and recommend appropriate treatment.

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Alternative Medicines - Garlic and Onion

Since ancient times, garlic and onion were always present in even the smallest herb gardens. Both were so widely cultivated for food and medicine purposes around the world, that the wild forms of these two members of the lily family are long gone.

Characteristic aroma and medicinal value of alliums (bulbous plants of the lily family, including: onions, garlic, chives, leeks and shallots) are brought about by sulfur and carbon compounds that neutralize harmful bacteria.

Garlic’s taste has just as many fans as garlic’s “repellant breath” (according to Pliny, Roman’s naturalist and author, 23/24-79 A.D.) has enemies. So much so that in ancient Roman times some of the temples would not let entering those who ate garlic. The fear of “foul odor” stretched as far as affecting the use – or the lack of use - of onion and garlic in fine urban cooking recipes.

At the same time, common Roman folk used both onion and garlic as cure-all in rural areas where both were also among important food staples.

On the other hand, alliums used as aphrodisiac were highly valued by ancient Romans and Greeks and were therefore widely used in love potions, mixed with some other herbs.

While wealthy Romans were picky about when, where and how to use garlic and onions, ancient Egyptians accredited them both with magical powers and swore oaths to onion and garlic as if they were equal to gods.

Nevertheless, garlic is a traditional remedy, used for all kinds of infections, especially before the rise of antibiotics. During the World War I soldier’s wounds were being dressed with garlic. Other uses for garlic have always been: chest and ear infections, colds and flu, digestive infections, rid of intestinal parasites, circulatory problems and strokes, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing blood sugar and even supporting conventional antibiotics and warding off their side effects.

Onion, milder in aroma, now grown and used as a vegetable, also has a long list of traditional medical virtues. Some are similar to those of garlic, but onion has also been used for preventing oral infection and tooth decay, and to stimulate hair growth and circulation. Onion juice, mixed with honey is a traditional treatment for colds.

The list of historically proven benefits of alliums is long. The smell, though, stays strong. Luckily, Mother Nature provided us not only with natural antibiotics but also with herbal solutions for “stinking exhalations”. One of them is raw parsley leaves. Chew – and sweeten your breath (especially after enjoying raw garlic or onion – for whatever reason).

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