Those of you who have had feline roommates know that cats only do a few things, and those things usually aren’t for your benefit.  Sometimes they bring you grisly surprises – some poor mouse’s delicately furred pants, or a rat sized squirrel mask – but they are never the type of surprises that can be put to good use.  Well, all of that is about to change.  Now, you can view your cat as a great investment, sure to eventually earn back his worth in benefits to your health.

What am I talking about?  The cat’s purr.  Once an enigma, the purr is now thought to be a natural healing mechanism that is probably responsible for the many tales surrounding the cat’s amazing ability to survive.

Research into the purpose of the purr was driven by the idea that, given the fact that cats purr even when in pain and near death, the purr cannot be explained away as a simple expression of contentment.  All cats purr, and the theory is that they wouldn’t expend energy purring in a weakened or pained state if it didn’t in some way increase their likelihood of survival.

Stories about cats’ ability to mend bones and documentation of their quick healing after surgeries and other types of injuries (like falling from high rises) give credence to the idea that the felids must have some extraordinary healing mechanism that other animals do not.  But wait, there’s more.  Like some kind of a real life, magic-healing video game sidekick, your cat may be able to heal you as well.

THIS JUST IN: Your Cat May Be Good For Something!

Through a series of studies researchers have found that “vibrations between 20-140 Hz are therapeutic for bone growth/fracture healing, pain relief/swelling reduction, wound healing, muscle growth and repair/tendon repair, mobility of joints and the relief of dyspnea.”  In its paper entitled The Felid Purr: A Bio-Mechanical Healing Mechanism (from which the foregoing quote was taken), Fauna Communications summarized its research recording and analyzing the purrs of forty seven members of the cat family.  They determined that all of the cats they sampled purred at a dominant frequency well within the theraputic range, and specifically within the ranges known to treat the aforementioned afflictions.

Although there is as yet no proof that the feline purr is a healing mechanism, many believe that there is more than enough evidence to support the conclusion that the healing benefits of purr exposure affects not only cats but also other living things within the range of their vibrations.  After all, what cat owner has not experienced even the unfriendliest cats’ pushy affection when his person is sick, injured, or sad?  My cat takes my slightest discomfort as an opportunity to bully his way into the crook of my arm and hunker down for a long, heavy purr.  I am fortunate enough to have one full-coverage cat, but if you can’t find one like mine you can always invest in several smaller ones to get the job done.

So, next time your cat attempts to trip you going down the stairs or tries to steal your chicken wing, remember what an amazing, important investment he is and think of how much his therapy would cost if you could purchase it in pill form.

Sources:

www.vetinfo.com

http://animalvoice.com/home.htm

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness and irritation.  Typically appearing on the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose, rosacea flare ups vary in intensity from a mild flush to painful, red inflammation and bumps on the skin.  In some cases, dilated blood vessels become visible in the face, and sometimes the eyes can become irritated. Over time, flare ups can become longer and more severe.  The most difficult (and less common) cases can result in cysts, thickened skin, and a knobby shape to the nose.  Although there is no known cure for rosacea, there are many treatment choices available.

The cause of rosacea is unknown but there are several theories that require further study, including the possibilities that it may be a blood vessel disorder, genetic predisposition, or have something to do with a type of skin mite that lives in hair follicles.

The symptoms of rosacea vary from person to person, as do the triggers that cause flare ups.  Although varied, most triggers have elements of elevated body temperature or some other cause of capillary dilation.  Common triggers include heavy meals and consuming meals high in simple carbohydrates, adrenaline, exercise, nicotine smoking, alcohol, bathing in hot water, allergic reaction, asthma, and “clock related” or systemic flushing which involves stress, anxiety, and natural daily changes in body temperature.

Treatment for rosacea also varies, and usually involves a combination of prescription medication and trigger avoidance.  Identifying and avoiding the cause of the flare ups is an essential part of rosacea management.  Laser therapy is another treatment option which has been successful for many rosacea sufferers.

If you think you may have rosacea, make an appointment to see your doctor even if your symptoms are mild.  Over time rosacea can progress and become worse, so early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in a patient’s overall experience.

Sources:

The National Rosacea Society

The International Rosacea Foundation

FCC Disclosure: JBNI Biodrux is the Producer of this blog and 33+ Curiously Effective Herbal Naturaceuticals

Television is supposed to be a diversion from the rest of your life, not the other way around.  Like any other purely pleasure based thing that humans enjoy, television is a sickly sweet, seductive addiction.  Both comforting and entertaining, TV can expand to fill every free space in your schedule, demanding attention like a chatty know-it-all camping in your living room.  Defeat the TV that dominates your living space, and use it for what it was meant: an entertaining, occasional diversion that you can enjoy with your friends and family.  You don’t have to eliminate television altogether, just try these small steps to regain control over your own domain.

Change the focal point of your living room. Are all of the chairs pointing at the TV?  If you have a box style TV try tucking it in the corner of the room.  If you have a flat screen, mount it on the wall and set it to display a pleasant background image.  You may want to get longer cables and hide your media equipment in a cabinet or shelf.  Turn the couches and chairs to face each other, and make sure that you have a sturdy, good sized coffee table that is big enough for everyone to fit around when you want to play games.

Cut the cord. Unsubscribe or physically unhook your cable or satellite service.  If you just can’t kick the cable, try using your dvr or Tivo to its fullest potential.  Program it to record just a few shows that are your family’s favorites, plus movies or educational specials, and never watch live TV again.  There is a big difference between having the television on in the background all evening and sitting down with your family for an hour to watch the latest Nat Geo special.

Learn to love movies. Sign up for an account with an internet movie rental service like Netflix and get a new movie in the mail every day.  Some newer televisions and video game consoles can access online movies directly through the TV.  There are quite a few really good movies out there that you have never seen, and many of them are amazing pieces of art with all the same elements as a good book.  www.rottentomatoes.com is a great resource for finding a movie that you will really enjoy.

Try watching your favorite shows online. There are always a couple of shows each season that are hard to miss no matter how much you hate TV.  Most shows are now available online immediately after they air, so you can watch them on your laptop or iphone.  Look on hulu, fancast, or on the show’s network website for the latest episodes.  Depending on the types of your equipment, you may be able to easily purchase a special cable for your laptop and watch online shows through your TV.

Get some good games. I know, there’s always someone who hates to play games but believe it or not, there’s a game for everyone.  There are lots of games out there that involve no strategy at all and are just designed to allow people to be silly and have fun.  Set, Sorry, and Apples to Apples are three great games everyone will like.

I’ve been hearing a lot of jibber jabber lately about generational differences and how mature individuals with a lot of life experience simply have a different way of looking at the world.  Of course, those things are true and the reason may be even more interesting than my mother’s explanation which mostly involves repeated assertion that her brain “just works differently” than it used to.

As it turns out, she is right.  Her brain does work differently than it did before – it isn’t as effective at filtering out irrelevant information.  At first thought this seems like an inevitable frustration that interferes with daily activities.  In fact, this phase of  cognitive adaptation may be just that – a previously unknown advantage reserved exclusively for those who’ve managed to make it to a late age through decades of watching the rest of us assimilate as much information as we can and still not know what we’re supposed to be doing.

“We found that older brains are not only less likely to suppress irrelevant information than younger brains, but they can link the relevant and irrelevant pieces of information together and implicitly transfer this knowledge to subsequent memory tasks,” – Karen Campbell, PhD student in psychology at University of Toronto

Recently, scientists have determined that although older brains are less likely to filter out irrelevant information, they are uniquely able to take that information, link it together, and then apply it to other memory tasks.  In other words, they’re seeing (and remembering) the whole picture, not just the outline of the most relevant information.

The older brain absorbs more information about its surrounding environment, links it together, and uses it to make a more informed decision.  Finally, my mother has proof that she is actually wiser than some people and she is certainly wiser than she once was.  So, to all of you older brains out there:  stay active, keep experiencing new things, maintain your health, and you may become the newest super-human, able to be both wise and independent, with a touch of silly behavior.

Source:

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. “Older Brains Make Good Use of ‘Useless’ Information.” ScienceDaily 25 January 2010. 25 January 2010 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120161237.htm#.

Fungi are one of the five kingdoms of life, and represents hundreds of thousands (if not millions including those yet undiscovered) of organisms ready at a moment’s notice to interfere with your life.

Fungi do not have chlorophyll.  Rather than photosynthesizing, fungi feed on dead matter, recycling our planet’s natural waste and creating opportunity for new life.  Unfortunately, sometimes they start early, feeding on things which we still really need like skin or space station portholes.

Various fungi can cause innumerable health issues.  When a doctor can’t figure out what is causing your symptoms it just might be because you have one of the fungi that the medical community hasn’t identified yet.

Fungal infections can occur anywhere on the skin, and often grow from the inside out – like a fairy ring in the forest – leaving the skin broken and irritated. This is why a fungal infection often looks like a red, round patch and is also known as “ringworm” (a.k.a. Tinea or Dermatomycosis).  Candida is another common fungus.  Normally present on the skin, sometimes Candida can form localized skin and nail infections.

Coccidioidomycosis

As with Candida, many fungi are present on a healthy body, and flare up when a person’s immune system is compromised or if the body is otherwise out of balance.  Some fungal infections can be quite serious, such as Coccidioidomycosis, which is present in the southwestern United States, Central and South America.  Coccidioidomycosis is caused by inhaling fungal spores, which then can spread through the body causing flu-like symptoms and is sometimes fatal to those with already compromised immune systems.

Fungi are difficult to kill, and usually require treatment with anti-fungal drugs over an ongoing period of time.  The people who are most vulnerable to fungal infection are those on immunosuppressant drugs or who have illnesses which compromise the immune system.

Sources:

Merck online manual

DrFungus.org

The answer to that question is probably “yes”.  Scientists speculate that there are likely at least 200,000 species of fungi existing in nature, although only half of that number has been identified and classified.  These known species are commonly divided into five phyla:  Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota, and Mycophycophyta.

The significance of fungi is easily understated.  A sublime combination of complexity and simplicity allows fungi a very powerful position in our universe – a Shiva-like existence that at once destroys and paves the way for new life.

What makes fungi so powerful?  Diversity, and the nearly immortal ability to survive.  In 2000, crew members on the International Space Station Mir discovered and that a mysterious film was spreading over and deteriorating one of the station’s portholes.  After returning to Earth (at a external reentry temperature of nearly 3000 degrees Fahrenheit), it was determined that the film was a colony of fungi and bacteria which somehow was able to be present and thrive, partially destroying a titanium mounted, enamel coated extra-hard quartz glass porthole.  This particular fungus was one of over one hundred fungi found on Mir.  In fact, the issue of fungus in space is an especially dangerous one because microorganisms tend to mutate significantly in space, possibly because of the high levels of radiation as compared to those found on Earth.

If such an organism were to be cultivated on Earth the result might be catastrophic.  For example, an organism that is able to use metal as a habitat might result in a metal-consuming biological weapon.  Of course, there are extensive decontamination procedures in place to prevent such sci-fi outbreaks, but if fungi are as resilient as they appear to be it might be wiser to leave them in space.  After all, we civilians aren’t even allowed to transport apples from one county to another – are special NASA wet naps really good enough to protect humanity from irradiated space fungi?  We hope they are.

Yes, Fungus Is Amazing.  What Does This Have To Do With My Health?

Sources:

Fungi – General Characteristics, Nutrition And Ecology, Evolution, Classification, Zygomycota, Conjugating Fungi, Ascomycota, Sac Fungi

Space Fungus: A Menace to Orbital Habitats, Yuri Karash

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/discovery

FCC Disclosure: JBNI Biodrux is the Producer of this blog and 33+ Curiously Effective Naturaceuticals

Is your partner too sensitive?  Or perhaps you are actually too snarky?  How do you know which it is?  Unfortunately, both may be true.  Often, after having chosen a snarky mate, a person will become more sensitive or will choose to become snarky themselves.

Of course, even the best relationships harbor the occasional misspoken tease or snarl.  But, if you often find yourself hurting each other’s feelings you may have a communication problem or one (or both) of you might be a jerk.  The real challenge is figuring out if either of you is unreasonably sensitive or, in some cases, not sensitive enough.  Ask yourself these questions:

Are you easily offended? When interacting with others (i.e. not just your spouse), do you often become irritated or upset at someone else?  If you are too sensitive it will show in your experiences with other people.  Frequency is the key.  The more often you become sulky, irritated, or put out the more likely it is that you are an unreasonably sensitive person.

Are you offensive? Do you upset or anger other people on a regular basis?  The answer to this question may be less obvious to the offender (you) than it is to the offended.  In fact, it may be best to ask a close friend because many people who fall into this category are unaware of others’ reactions to their behavior.  If you get into arguments with people that you don’t know, or if you regularly get into spats with friends and family, it is likely that you are somewhat insensitive.

the idea here is that if you have an attitude problem it won’t be limited to your interactions with your partner

Of course, the idea here is that if you have an attitude problem it won’t be limited to your interactions with your partner.  If you are otherwise a well balanced, socially aware person but are overly sensitive or aggressive with your mate, you may have deeper relationship issues that need to be addressed in other ways.

It is normal to occasionally offended or hurt by someone else, and to sometimes put your foot in your mouth.  But if you are easily hurt or a little too prickly do your relationship a favor and try to remember that about yourself next time you’re feeling sulky or argumentative.  Until we learn to cheat death by transferring our minds into newly cloned bodies, there just isn’t enough time to waste it snarking at your spouse.

FCC Disclosure: JBNI Biodrux is the Producer of this blog and 33+ Curiously Effective Naturaceuticals Including Serenadin for Mental Grounding and Leitzin for Emotional Energy and Relief

Are you one of those people who feel like they should keep a journal, but can’t start or maintain one? As habits go, this is a fairly easy one to change. All you have to do is figure out how to make it easy for yourself. Although the method of procrastination is unique to each shirker, here are a few common pitfalls and tricks that might help you identify what’s holding you back and get around it.

Choose the right kind of journal. When most people think of a journal, they think of a leather bound notebook full of blank pages, intimidating and full of expectation. If you get overwhelmed by the idea of chronicling your life or if you are afraid that you won’t have enough to write, try a calendar style journal.

Use a datebook, calendar, or pocketbook sized calendar (my favorite) and write down all of your appointments. Then, start including short notes about things you want to remember. All you need are short entries like “sushi with Harold & Bunny,” or “cat stole my turkey sandwich” and you’ll end up with a concise little journal of memory-triggering notes that can serve as a record of your life. You may find that you have more to write about than you thought! If you are so inclined, use the calendar journal as an outline for a more detailed version.

Perhaps you are the type of writer who doesn’t like to write? Try keeping an audio journal. Inexpensive, pen sized mp3 recorders are easy to find. Keep one in your pocket or purse, and when a thought strikes you record it into your daily file. Later, you can edit the clips into a sound file, or transcribe it if you prefer the written form.  Or just forget about it and never listen to it again.  At least it will exist, which is better than an empty journal.

Some people are busy and find it hard to make time to maintain a journal. If you’re one of those people, try an electronic version of a journal like blogging or your computer’s word processing program. If you spend a lot of time working or in transit, computer or iphone applications can make it more convenient to write a short note on the fly.

FCC Disclosure: JBNI Biodrux is the Producer of this blog and 33+ Curiously Effective Herbal Naturaceuticals

Mineral baths have long been recognized by some cultures for their theraputic value. Practiced since ancient times by the Japanese, Greek, and many other cultures, bathing is not only relaxing for the mind and body but is also an excellent longevity treatment.

Relaxation is important for a person’s overall health, but even more important are the tangible health benefits of a mineral soak. Often forgotten, magnesium plays an essential part in the function of the human body. Magnesium is necessary for over 300 biochemical reactions that take place in the body, and plays a part in the health of your bones, heart, muscles, your immune and nervous systems, and many other essential functions.

It is an antidote to stress and the most powerful relaxation mineral.  – Mark Hyman, M.D.

Magnesium deficiency is rarely reported in the United States. Still, there is some question as to whether most people have enough magnesium stored in their body to experience the resulting health benefits, which may help prevent illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and immune dysfunction. So many minor symptoms are related to low magnesium levels that some physicians consider magnesium deficiency to be severely under-diagnosed.

An Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) soak will allow your body to absorb magnesium through your skin and help your body eliminate toxins. Sometimes referred to as the “third kidney,” your skin is your largest organ and shares the job of eliminating waste and detoxifying your body. By keeping your body’s magnesium store healthy and supplementing your kidneys’ detoxification efforts, regular mineral soaks will help you live a longer life. Just add about 2-3 cups of Epsom salt to a hot bath, get a good book, and relax!

Online References:

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp

http://www.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/magnesium-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available/363180

JBNI is the producer of this blog and maker of over 33+ Herbal Naturaceuticals including Noagin for longevity.

Now, you can ask all your most serious medical questions at JBNI’s Team of Scientists and Physicians http://jbni.us/forum

Men and women both deal with hair thinning and then hair loss. Men lose hair due to decreasing testosterone and increasing LDL Cholesterol that lead to microcapillary clogging (yes, I’m saying that french fries are a major cause of hair loss). Also, genetic factors can cause people to lose hair faster – some families tend to lose hair as soon as their early twenties.

If you think that you are losing too much hair, don’t be discouraged. Hair growth is directly related to circulation, and there are quite a few things that affect circulation that you can use to your advantage.

After all, how can you eat your pudding if you don’t eat your meat?

Eat your red meat. Eating protein causes the body to go into a state of ketosis. Ketosis burns sugar and fat. Sugar and fat in your system lead to LDL cholesterol buildup in your circulatory system. When your circulatory system is clogged it inhibits the delivery of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your hair follicles, thus preventing optimal hair growth. Red meat is an excellent source of protein, so if you want to boost your hair growth eat more red meat – the rarer the better. After all, how can you eat your pudding if you don’t eat your meat?

Massage your scalp three times a day with very hot water. Massage promotes circulation to the areas that have been restricted by clogging of microcapillaries.

Soak with salt water. Use kosher sea salt or epsom salt and soak the affected area. You may want to soak a washcloth and then apply it to your scalp. A salt soak will draw toxins from your body through osmosis, which means that it is easier for your blood to transport oxygen and nutrients to your cells

If all of this isn’t good enough for you then to supercharge your hair loss prevention and help it grow back, look into Cirrin – an herbal formula that promotes clear blood circulation (and one of our best selling products). In fact, it’s not just for hair loss – you also should feel a greater blood flow and athletic ability due to it’s arterial, vein, and capillary clearing power. The Noagin Super Antioxidant contains Astaxanthin and Zeaxanthin that is scientifically known to dramatically stop LDL cholesterol from clogging your scalp blood vessles. To accelerate Cirrin’s effects, take it in addition to increasing your protein intake, scalp massages, and salt soaks.

How will you know if your efforts are paying off? Pay attention to your fingernails. If your nails are growing faster, then, by the same action, your hair is growing faster as well. Sometimes the loss is faster than regrowth, so the difference may not be immediately dramatic because regrowth takes time. Still, in the short term you will be losing less hair than you would if you were neglecting these important factors.

An easy way to tell how well Cirrin is working is to simply write down the dates of when you clip your fingernails and how often. You’ll find that after taking Cirrin, you will clip your nails more often. Most women don’t have to write down the date – they know Cirrin works because they have regular hair salon appointments that get more and more frequent. In fact, many women complain that in addition to purchasing the Cirrin, they also pay more per year to their stylist!

JBNI produces this blog and 33+ Naturaceuticals for Your Extreme Health Demands Reference Video: How to Reverse Hair Loss